The Love Thief (Short Stories collected)

Ambling around the living room, lost in her thoughts, Hafsa Siddique once again dialled his number and the put the phone on her ear. The voice of the caller girl came from the other side, informing that the number she is dialling is switched off. Taking a deep breath in, Hafsa sat on the sofa.

Where are you? She asked in her heart, as she again looked at the wall clock. It was past midnight and he has still not returned from office.

He has never been this careless before. Whenever he had to work late, he would at least msg her. But today, no msg from his side came, nor he is receiving her calls. Hafsa was now apprehensive, all the horrible thoughts starting making place in her mind. She didn't want to think anything bad happens to him but her thoughts were getting as grimy as the night.

"Ma'am! I've found it." Maid's voice startled her.

"What?" Taking her hand away from her temple, Hafsa stood up, and asked.

"Your earring. It was laying near the shelf." The maid showed her the small golden, diamond-studded earning.

Hafsa checked her left ear. True, her earring was missing. She took it from the maid and again wore it.

"Oh and heat the food again then you can go, I'll do other thing by myself." When Hafsa saw the Maid was still standing there, she understood her hesitancy, and told her.

Nodding her head, the maid left.

Hafsa once again sat down on the sofa, and picked a magazine from the coffee table to distract herself from negative thoughts.  But she couldn't focus on it.

Her heart was anxious in his thoughts.

•••

The sound of the doorbell woke her up from her slumber, she quickly ran towards the main door.

"Assalam-Alaikum!" There was he, Daniyal Malik, the reason behind her restlessness. Hafsa took a relief breath out when saw him perfectly fine.

"Walekum-Assalam!" Slowly, she answered and stand aside to let him enter.

But when he entered, she breathed in a strong fragrance that wasn't his. In the eight years of their marriage, Hafsa knows his smell very well, he only uses forest spice, and it was definitely not that. The fragrance was something feminine. Like the mixture of jasmine and roses.

In her thoughts, Hafsa didn't notice when Daniyal already left for their room.

What I am thinking. Scolding herself, Hafsa removed all the qualms from her mind and also left.

•••

"Um, Dinner?" When Hafsa entered their room, she saw him already changed and comfortable in the bed, which made her questioned.

"Have you ate?" In return, Daniyal asked her.

"I never eat without you" She reminded him with a sullen face.

How could he forget that? He knows very well that she only eats when he is present at the table.

"Then come, let's eat together." Getting down from the bed, Daniyal held her hand in his, and said.

Although, Hafsa was starving, but it died when she saw Daniyal wasn't hungry. He was playing with his food rather than eating. she understood that he must have eaten something in the office, he was a dining table just for her. This thought made her more upset.

These days, he was acting unsual.

When they returned to their room, Hafsa went to changing room to put something comfortable. Before changing her dress Hafsa looked at herself one last time, she was wearing a long white frock churidaar with golden embroidery and a simple organza dupatta.

White wasn't her favorite color, she hated wearing white or any other light shade color. She used to think it never suits her pinkish pale skin. But one week after their marriage, they had to go to a business party and Daniyal picked her to outfit. It was a white saree with red embroidery and a red blouse.

"White will really suit you." She still remembers his words. From that day she started buying more white clothes.

After her marriage, she has literally done anything to everything to make herself according to his likeness.

Shaking her head, she changes into a comfortable purple-colored nightgown.

"Didn't you work enough in the office?" Hafsa asked when she saw Daniyal was still up and working on his laptop.

"I'm sorry actually it was... Forget it, I'll do it in the study room. You must be getting disturbed by the keyboard noise and its light." Daniyal was telling her then shook his head, removing the comforter away from him, he was about to get up.

"I didn't say that." Said Hafsa, irritatedly as she lay down, her back facing Daniyal,

A soft smile fall on his face, as he shut his laptop and put it on the side table.

He also lay down, and put his hand on Hafsa's waist. He was tired, that's why he falls asleep instantly.

Feeling his tender breath on her neck, Hafsa turned to him. It has become one of her habits to look at his sleeping face. At that moment, Hafsa forgets everything. Like how restless he made her just an hour ago.