Chapter Three

I had just finished cooking when the door bell rang.

I rushed to open the door, removing the apron while at the same time adjusting my hair.

I smiled at Tariq and as always he didn't smiled back.

I reduced my smile and looked at him, his lips formed into a smile but not at me, I turned to see Akka standing behind me.

I smiled at her as she spoke, "Tariq we were just waiting for you,come on lunch is ready."

Zeenat Akka headed to the dining room while i stopped Tariq on the door-steps.

"Akka doubts our relationship," i said.

"Huh?"He asked.

"We need to act like real couples infront of her."I suggested.

He passed his hand through his hair and said,"she knows... she knows about our divorce."

"What? How?"

"She is the one who helped me filed the divorce," he muttered.

"No it can't be, why would she do that?"

"Munchkin! Tariq! Where are you guys?! Am waiting," Came Akka's voice from the dining room.

"Let's have lunch, we will talk later," Tariq said he then held my hand and led me to the dining room.

As we entered the dining room, Zeenat Akka coughed slyly and said, "am sorry if I broke your romantic meeting but am really very hungry," she then pointed to our enclosed hand.

I tightened my grip around Tariq's hand to avoid the spilling of tears.

Tariq stood before me and whispered, "what's wrong?" Our hands still held together.

A tear rolled down my cheek and before Akka could see, I told Tariq "am not hungry I will eat later." And left the dining room rushing into my bedroom.

Why would Akka help Tariq filed for divorce?

I thought she wanted me to be happy with Tariq.

I sat on the floor beside my bed, tears kept on rolling down my cheeks.

After about two minutes, Tariq entered the room and sat beside me.

We sat in silence at first and then he spoke,"Let's go and eat?"

Without looking at him i Said,"you go and eat i will eat later."

He stood up and went away.

After about five minutes I felt him sit beside me with one plate of food filled with Hydrabadi biryani and the other filled with pasta.

"What are you doing?" I asked Irritated that he brought food near me.

Just by the scent I felt like snatching the plate away from him.

He shrugged and answered,"eating..you are the one who told me yeah that "you go and eat i will eat later." So that's what am doing! Eating..why you got a problem with that?"

I shook my head in denial.

He took a bite from the plate of pasta and spoke, "although you never made pasta but this tastes exactly like that from my fave Italian restaurant,the same thick sauce and perfect spices, yummm...."

I know he is just doing all this to make me eat.

He then took the plate of hyderabadi biryani and took a mouthful.

"I sure as hell used to hate the combination of rice and nuts but not after eating this, you know what? The reason I told you to make this for today's lunch is not because Zeenat likes it, it's because there was one time when I came home late at night and I was very hungry, I had to eat the lunch that you had cooked and since then I love the combination of rice and nuts."

"It was you who finished it that day?" I asked.

He nodded and I spoke,"and here I was thinking whether I ate while sleep walking."

"You sleep walk?" He asked.

"That's not the main thing, the main thing is do you think bringing plates near me will allow you to eat alone? Never in million years okay?" I said and as he was just about to put the spoon In his mouth I hurriedly brought my lips towards the spoon and ate it accidently brushing my lips with his.

Realising what just happened I muttered an apology.

He smiled and fed me another morsel with the spoon.

He then spoke,"honestly? I came here to feed you, and you know? You should never ever take out your anger on food."

I nodded,"i know and am sorry for my behaviour."

He fed himself and spoke, "Let's finish this and then I have to go and see if Zeenat has eaten or not."

"You left Akka in the dining room alone?" I exclaimed.

He shrugged and fed me a morsel.

After finishing eating he stood up to head to the kitchen and I also followed him.

Meanwhile in the kitchen.

"Munchkin, why did you just leave like that?" Akka asked.

"Am sorry Akka."

Akka smiled and said,"its ok, anyway I made chocolate milk-shakes for dessert."

"Chocolate milk-shakes?" Asked Tariq making faces.

"Dont tell me! You dont like chocolates milk-shake?" I asked smiling mischievously.

He nodded passing his hand through his hair and then spoke,"but since you like it then there must be something good about it yeah? So... um... I'll give it a try." He then looked at Zeenat Akka and smirked adding,"hope you made it taste nice."

Akka rolled her eyes and challenged,"try and you'll know."

I added,"Akka makes the best chocolate milk-shake."

He stood beside me, tucking my strand of hair behind the ear and spoke,"now I'll have to try it."

I nodded taking two glasses and handing one to him and the other I started drinking.

What's wrong with Tariq? Why is he acting like this? Trying to be closer to me, talking in longer sentences with me, caring for me.

We had just finished our milk-shakes when Akka spoke,"so where are you guys taking me for an outing?"

"Outing?" I asked.

I dont know much about this place, am always around the neighbour-hood only.

Tariq stated,"ok ladies, let's get ready for an outing then." He then left for our room.

Akka came towards me and asked,"what's wrong Zeren?"

I shook my head in denial and answered,"you dont have worry about me Akka."

I was still angry at her for helping Tariq for divorce.

And I want to know the reason why she helped.

"Why are you talking like this?"

I turned around not ready to answer but she held my hands and muttered,"Munchkin."

I shut my eyes closed, and after a good deep breathe i opened my eyes to see her curious ones.

"Why are you acting as if you care?" I asked my voice speaking, I can break into tears anytime.

"Acting? I do care," she told.

Before I could tell her more I heard Tariq call for me.

Without speaking anything I left.

Entering the room i saw him rummaging through his cupboard, "what are you doing, Tariq?"

"Where is my black shirt?" He mumbled from inside the cupboard he then peeked outside to look at me and spoke,"why the hell do you even touch my clothes? Why is my cupboard so neat?"

"You have problems because it's neat? And your black shirt isn't it the one you are wearing right now?" I stated totally Irritated at his childish behaviour.

Just looking for a shirt he is already wearing he messed up the whole room.

He stood straight staring at his reflection on the mirror adjacent to the cupboard and muttered an "oh!"

He then turned towards me his face all in confusion and then a smirk was replaced on his lips and he said,"but this is not the one am talking about."

"But you don't have any other black shirt Tariq, maybe if I remove a sweat shirt will it do?" I say and went near the cupboard to remove for him the sweatshirt.

Just as I reach the hanger, he holds my hand and shouts," No! A sweat shirt? Do you know how freaking hot the weather is outside?"

I roll my eyes and mutter,"Then don't wear anything at all, this way it's better than whining like a girl."

"Am not whining like a girl and also I don't mind not wearing anything on top but then won't you be afraid that your sister will fall for me as well?"He states.

"I guess it's fine by me. Afterall you guys already know each other since school plus she is single and you'll also be single soon and there won't be a problem if you guys ever dated during your college years, she is intelligent unlike me plus she is also helping you for our divorce." after I say the last four words his body get stiffened and after taking the sweatshirt from my hand he mutters,"Let's just go and finish this outing plan."

He then enters the bathroom to change into the sweatshirt I offered him to wear.

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I locked the main door of our house as Tariq and Akka heads towards the car.

After confirming the locked door is locked properly I too head towards the car only to find Akka sitting shotgun to Tariq.

It's not that I felt bad or something but I just thought that maybe that seat was always for me, his wife.

I keep these thoughts aside and excitedly seat behind the driver's seat.

I was just waiting for Tariq to start the car but he didn't instead he turned to look at Akka and said,"you should let Zeren sit here, she is my wife."

For the first time Tariq ever spoke in my support caring for me.

But that was enough for me, so when Akka apologised I just smiled at her and replied,"its fine Akka, am comfortable here behind."

"Hmm... but you know what Tariq? You Should get used to not being around her, what will happen of you after the divorce?" She spoke casually.

My breath got stuck in the middle of my throat I couldn't breath.

It was like I was drowning.

Tariq was right, Akka did knew about the divorce.

"So you knew?" I asked.

She looked at me wide eyes and feigned dumb by asking, "knew what?"

"Dont act Akka, you know what am taking about, I am talking about the divorce," i state, suddenly all feeling relieved like there was a huge burden on me which has now gotten off.

"Actually I n..never..-" but I interrupted her "cut it short Akka, he had already told me about it." I then looked at Tariq and said,"Let's just go and finish this outing plan."