Sheikh And The Princess 1 (3 page)

***************

It was amazing, Sadhiya thought, as she
sipped her morning coffee while going through some magazine of
young children. Night after night, it felt, as if, she was growing
younger. Each morning, her face glowed. She had never felt so happy
in her entire life and now this! She had never expected herself to
fall in love like this! That too, to a complete stranger1 A
stranger, who in these past days had come more close to her heart
then her parents, friends or even her sister’s! Does love makes you
like this? This much happy? She felt like dancing with glee every
morning when she came out of the bathroom and glanced at her image
in the mirror. Reyhan, on the other hand, had opened up so much to
her. True, he never said, he loved her but there was no need to!
His actions spoke more forcefully then the words. The words will
come too. She was sure of it. She will just have to wait and be
patient for the time being. Last night, during the aftermath of
their lovemaking, Reyhan had suggested the plan of their honeymoon
to her. “Reyhan,” she had asked him the very question which could
have disrupted the entire mood, “Why did you lie to me in the
beginning about “not having sex at all”? “ I thought,” he answered,
after a moment of hesitation, “that, maybe you were not prepared
for the thing.” He was lying, something told her but she decided to
drop the topic there and then. Something’s are meant to be kept
secret for a while! Maybe Reyhan will tell her some other day… one
entire month had passed and she felt like conquering the world.
Suddenly, fine bone china dropped from her hand and crashed on the
floor splitting the brew everywhere. Was the sun too bright or was
she was feeling woozy for some other reason? Before she could call
out for help, Sadhiya passed out on the balcony.

************

Reyhan checked around all the drawers
in his study for the document and when he couldn’t find it there,
he made it to the bedroom and started shuffling the paper’s there.
Medical Bills, some more bills, magazines, books and…Reyhan’s hand
stopped as they came in contact with something glossy! What’s this?
He wondered as he took out the glossy envelope and opened it.
Before he could control it, a couple of photographs landed on the
floor. Picking them up, his eyes went wide, as he noticed that they
belonged to Sadhiya! She was in them with a man! Reyhan’s blood
seemed to have taken a sudden agitation as he went through each one
of them. She was laughing and the other person was laughing too.
One of them, the man had his arms around her waist. In another he
was hugging her. In another, she was on his back hugging him by his
neck. The love and the adoration which was depicted in these stills
un-nerved him. Who was he? Her boyfriend before marriage! Or
someone…she is still in love with…but if that was the case, why
then, she never mentioned anyone of that sort? Was she scared? No,
his heart said, this is not true. This must be some friend of
hers…but you don’t take pictures with friends of these kinds! Not
unless, you love that friend…

**********

She turned left and then right! Will
this dress suit for tonight’s dinner? Sadhiya was not sure and gave
her dress one more glance. After all, it was Reyhan’s birthday
today. She had so many plans set up. The first and basic one was to
inform him about her pregnancy! Sadhiya was on cloud nine after the
news was delivered to her by the doctor who had arrived that day
when she had fainted. Now and then, she would give her belly a
loving look, wrap her arms around it as if, already glimpsing the
new-life inside it. She could well imagine Reyhan’s delight too. He
will be so happy. After so much persuasion, he had finally agreed
to it. Coming to Reyhan, he was behaving rather differently these
days. During their meal times, table remained quiet as if there was
no one in the house. In bed! That was the other side of the story.
His love-making too, for some strange reason, had gone rough! Hard,
if she would say it! He never kissed her tenderly or caressed her.
It was just a rough kiss on the mouth; once or twice he had bitten
her on the neck. When she had complained, as if somebody had woke
him up from a sleep, he thrusted inside her slowly and then, before
she could climax, he’d stop! Kissing on her forehead, h e would
part from her and the rest of the night? She had no idea where he
slept these days? Something was eating him from inside. But, what
was it? Was it something that she said? She doesn’t remember
anything of that sort. She had forbidden the doctor to tell
anything to him about her surprise. She wanted to be the one to
give it to him. She also had a gift of twin wrist-watch for him. He
was…reluctant, distant these days, if she can say so. As if, he
didn’t wanted to be there in the room with her! As if, her mere
sight filled him with hatred! Sadhiya shivered but couldn’t help
it. He was acting, as if, she was his enemy!

What was up with him? She thought.
Whatever it is, she will make sure that after tonight any kind of
secret does not prolong between them. After the dinner get’s over,
she will gift him her heart as well by confessing her love for him.
Yes, that would be an ultimate priceless gift for him. Smiling and
straightening herself, taking a red rose in her hand, she proceeded
towards the balcony where the evening had been set up.

***********

Walking with dancing steps, Sadhiya
made it to the balcony and slowed her progress when she saw Reyhan
standing near the railing, staring out at his kingdom. He looked
enchanting as always. She could feel the shivering and shaking of
her entire self and ask for some little strength from the almighty
himself. “Good Evening,” she smiled and he turned around at her
voice.

**********

Oh, the lord! His mouth went dry as he
saw her in such a sensuous black dress. The Goddess of temptation
was standing in front of him and it took all his strength to not to
pick her, carry up to the room and ravish her like a cave man.
Sadhiya’s innocence seduction techniques sometime had disastrous
effect on his control, Reyhan conceded but how he wish, even her
inner self could be as innocent, as her physical self was! True,
she had been a virgin but her heart? It was black as a hell hole!
He had to say no now, before it gets too late!

*******

Trembling and walking up to him,
tiptoeing on her feet, she kissed him on the cheeks as she said,
“Happy birthday Reyhan. May you have your heart’s desire this
year,” he smirked as he took the flower from her outstretched hand,
“ trust me,” he said, “ I wanted to but, you see, we don’t really
get everything we wish for.” His mood appeared black. For some
anonymous reason, his tone scared her. “What’s up with you?” she
punched him playfully in order to lighten up the mood, “You don’t
appear to be very happy. Come on, it’s your birthday. Drop the
seriousness for some time.” He remained silent and didn’t say
anything. Sighing she straightened his tie and said, “Come, let’s
have something.” During the dinner time, again Reyhan’s silence ate
her up. “Dinner is good,” she said so as to commence some sort of
talk. He nodded with no verbal reply!” Blue looks good on you,” she
said. He nodded. “Reyhan, I need to tell you something” she started
but clamped her mouth shut. What should she say? Where to start?
“Blurt it out,” he gulped some wine down. He didn’t even notice
that she has not touched her wine! Her mood fell down slightly but,
then too, she was able to cheer herself up, “How do you feel about
parenthood?” “It’s Ok,” he said and then looked at her
inquisitively, “Why do you ask?”

“
I am pregnant,” she blurt
it out. There, she thought, clear and out. Her face was all smiling
as she made that proclamation. To her utter surprise, he got up
from his seat, walked up to the railing and said, in a cold steel
voice, “Whose child is it, Sadhiya?”

**********

Sadhiya felt, as if, somebody thrashed
her across her cheek. Hard, mercilessly and without even an ounce
of pity! Her head went light as if oxygen has left her entire body!
“What!” she stuttered as she left her seat, stood up and went near
him. It has to be some sort of cruel joke. “What sort of joke is
this, Reyhan? Of course, it belongs to you. Stop throwing this kind
of cruel statement’s at me. You know…” she turned him so that he
may face her. “Really?” he turned at with the hints of mockery
playing on his face, “You expect me to believe that. Tell me
Sadhiya, if I may be wrong, how can an infertile man produce
children?

********

This takes the trophy, Sadhiya’s mind
cried out as she stared at her husband dumbly. Infertile? Reyhan
was an impotent? No, that was impossible. There had to be some sort
of mistake there. It cannot be, it cannot be… “What are you talking
about?” she asked, “How can you be infertile when this child
clearly belongs to you. Wait a minute,” her heart stopped in her
chest as she asked him, “Are you telling me that I have gone with
someone else and…?” she could say nothing further. He doubted her
fidelity? How dare he? Who gave him the right? How can he doubt her
like this when she had slept with none but him? “Oh, come now,” he
looked at her irritated, “don’t act innocent. It’s not, as if, you
were not aware of this thing…” “I was not aware of this thing,
Reyhan” her voice had gone all wobbly and she wiped the core of her
eyes, “How do you expect me to know it when no one told me about
it?” “Oh,” he raised his brow and mocked her, “You mean to tell me
that Jamal mentioned nothing of this sort to you when he had that
talk with you in the garden. When you both were roaming there,” “He
did mention the accident…” “And he never mentioned doctor’s report
to you, did he?” his eyes went wide and mocking her once again, he
moved passed her as he said, “Doctor’s report had it, Sadhiya. It
was the reason I changed. It was the reason, why I never planned to
get married in first place. It was the reason, why I said, we can’t
consummate this marriage. Why do you think I said those things to
you in the first place?” “But, you said…that night…” “I lied; I
thought that Jamal had mentioned each and everything to you. I
thought that you are aware of yours and mine situation now. Why,
Sadhiya, why?” his scream resonated in the air and shook Sadhiya
head to toe. Things were making so much sense to her now. “If you
wanted children, you could have told me. I was aware that by
marrying, I was putting someone’s entire life’s happiness on stake
but I did it for the sake of my people and my guardian. No one knew
about this thing apart from Jamal and I had forbidden him to tell
anyone but you. It was important for you to understand. This is the
reason I bedded you, hoping that you must have understood the
situation by now. I am an infertile Sadhiya, an impotent. A person,
who can never have the good fortune to hear the gurgle of his own
blood,. I was about to talk to you about adopting someone but, when
doctor informed about your waiting pregnancy, I was shocked.”
Sadhiya was standing there like an effigy. Nothing came to her
mouth. All her heart told her was…there was some mistake somewhere.
“I don’t believe you,” she said, “You are mistaken,” “It’s Ok,” he
sighed, “You don’t want to tell me but, I know who is the father?”
saying that before Sadhiya could say anything, Reyhan showed her
the glossy stills. The photo’s where her love and she was standing
with some happy smiles on their faces. “He is the father, isn’t
he?” Crash! Sadhiya’s palm made such a hard contact with Reyhan’s
face it was a little wonder nothing or no one came on the balcony
to see what all the fuss is about.

“
Sheikh Reyhan of Buktsar,”
Sadhiya’s eyes were filled of rage, anger and unspoken hatred, as
she uttered those words. “Never ever in my wild dreams had I
imagined you to be of such low, cheap and vulgar mentality? Isn’t
it enough that you are calling me an infidel when I have been
making every sort of effort to make a little space in your heart by
various efforts? I planned this dinner for you tonight thinking
that, when I will inform you about our little miracle you will be
filled with love and respect for me. Leave that, you are accusing
me of sleeping with someone else? How dare you? Who gave you the
right? This child is ours whether you accept it or not. Don’t you
have any shame in your heart for your actions? With whom did you
see me in these days than your sole self? You are calling this
person my extra-marital affair?” saying that, she threw those
photos on Reyhan’s face. His cheek was swollen red with the slap
but his eyes were like hers, Red with anger!

Her patience had vanished from such a
long argument and she could feel the slight headache building in
her temples as she said, “I don’t know about you Reyhan but I was
about to confess my love for you tonight. I love you, this was what
I was about to say but thank god,” she laughed a heart-wrenching
laugh, “I didn’t. Person like you don’t deserve those words from
me” she turned and was about to walk away from the spot when
something stuck her. “One more thing,” she turned, “I am sure that
something was wrong with your physical self but it has nothing to
do with your ability to produce children. I am living for Sehar
tomorrow morning, Reyhan. If you have decided that I am an infidel,
might as well just part our ways so that, in future, when your
child will ask for his dad, I will tell him or her that dad never
wanted him in the first place If the situation become too much,
send me the divorce papers. I will sign it, thinking that I gifted
you something worthy for an entire life.”

That thrown on his face, Sadhiya ran to
her set of rooms.