Chapter 3

                                    

                                          
Farhan
                          
It's eleven pm when i finally decide to go home. Since we went out and got ice cream, I've been idly driving around town.

                          
It's obvious i don't want to go home, to meet my wife.

                          
The word itself was disturbing. How can i have a wife? And why did it have to be her!

                          
Oh God. 

                          
Imran is fast asleep on the passenger seat. I smile down at the image of him peacefully sleeping with ice cream dried over his lips

                          
I know relationships are supposed to be selfless but I'm doing this for you buddy and you're so going to pay me back when you grow up. I'm going to be sharing my name and a lot more with that girl, lady, woman, whatever she is.
                          
I turned my keys in the lock and pushed open the door. After walking into the dimly lit house, I locked it back and made sure it was closed before i turned around to a face i wasn't expecting. 
                          
"Where were you?" Ma glared at me with that famous scowl of hers. I should have known it was coming. 
                          
"Out" i said and made past her towards the stairs.
                          
"His room is that way"
                          
"I know" i said. "He's sleeping in my room today"
                          
"A room that doesn't belong to only you now" she said and took him away from me. More like seized.

                          
"Goodnight" she stormed away down his corridors.
                          
I push the door to my bedroom slowly, afraid to wake her up.
                          
This is your room you buffon! You can walk in however you want.
                          
I don't want to wake her up because i don't want to have to see her. The coward in me confessed. 
                          
She had her room for crying out loud, couldn't she sleep there!

                          
I got in and quietly head for the dressing room to change out of my clothes and  get into my side of the bed without waking her up.

                          
This dream of mine is shattered as i see her sitting up on the bed. Great. 
                          
I begin to turn around and head for the bathroom instead.
                          
"Hi"

                          
Silence 

                          
"where's Imran?"

                          
Silence

                          
"Are you just going to ignore me?"

                          
'that's the plan, yeah.' i thought and walked into the toilet barging the door behind me to leave that effect i wanted. Yes, i can be a drama queen if i want. I am my own man. I answer to no one. No one.
                          
I decided to take another shower despite having one before i left. I made sure i took a lot of time in there. Maybe she would fall asleep. As i was about to walk out in nothing but a towel tied around my waist, i painfully  realised i can't even do that anymore. I had a dishdasha hung on the bathroom rail. I slipped into it and walked out. To add to my list of misery, my 'beloved' wife was still wide awake. Just calm down farhan. Ignore her.

                          
I glared at her before i walked to my side of the bed and laid on it. At least one thing was right about today. She didn't dare lay on my side of the bed. She would have seen the worst of me. Trust me, i haven't done nothing yet.

                          
"I don't really care anymore whether you're going to talk to me or not but i sure hope you listen to me. Whatever sick, devilish impression you have of me, I'm not going to change it. I just want to make it very clear that whether you accept it or not, this is a relationship. One in which I'm now the mother of imran, so I'll appreciate it if you kept your opinion about me away from him. It'll make everything easier for all of us. The poor kid has seen enough of life already. My intentions towards him are good. Believe it or not, he's my son now. And i don't mean as a piece of paper defines it. I took full responsibility the day i agreed to marry you and i would not have you come in my way. I would like it if you gave me the due respect i deserve and respect my decisions towards him. He's our son, i would never harm him in any way. "

                          
I listened to this woman's speech without any interruptions and dwell upon it. 
                          
1 i never told Imran anything negative about her even though i knew A LOT.
                          
2 what is that about due respect? I'm not going to pretend to be in a happy relationship with her. Farhan doesn't pretend and he's not about to start.
                          
You numbskull. If you don't pretend to like her at least in front of imran, he'll know something is wrong.
                          
Fine, only to imran. To the rest of the world, I'm not pretending. 
                          
And then my thoughts were rudely interrupted by what comes out of her mouth in barely above a whisper. Ok not rudely.
                          
"Or you too"
                          
I was beyond surprised at her confession.
                          
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-Aminaj