He was left staring as he saw Hooreen coming toward him.
A black Abaya, with a red Hijab; a clean face free of makeup, possessing extreme innocence and simplicity. Kayan noticed the glistening moisture in her eyes even from a distance. There were traces of fear on her face. Each of her steps felt like a heavy weight. She stopped near him. She didn't make the mistake of looking up at him again because his enchanting eyes had troubled her greatly. Kayan opened the door with a slight smile. After she sat down, he also sat and started the car.
"You are not allowed even a single leave from school, and didn't I tell you that my permission and will should be included in your every action? So how did you plan on not coming without telling me...?" He said in a simple tone, but the warning in his voice was clear.
"Y... Yes... that... I... was going to tell you... but I...?""But what...?""That... I... didn't... have... your... number...?" Gathering her courage, she finally told him, and a smile appeared on Kayan's face. He took out the latest iPhone 14 Pro Max from his pocket, gave it to Hooreen, and said:
"My number is in this, and so is Waleed's, and besides that, the numbers of the caretakers of all the houses are also in it. Whenever needed, you can call at any time. Along with me, all my servants will be at your service." His tone was playful at the end. Looking at the phone in surprise, she said:
"I... cannot... take... this...""Why can't you take it...?" There was sternness in Kayan's tone. Swallowing hard, she said:
"I... already... have... a mobile..." At her words, Kayan's smile deepened.
"Are you by any chance talking about this mobile...?" From his other pocket, he took out Hooreen's mobile, which she had left there on the day of the Nikaah, and after which she had not taken another mobile nor felt the need; if she ever needed one, she would use her Papa's or Mama's phone. Seeing her phone in Kayan's hand, the color drained from her face. She had lied to Kayan. Kayan stopped the car and said in a harsh tone:
"I had also told you never to lie to me, yet you did...? You will be punished." At his words, expressions of fear appeared on Hooreen's face, causing her to bite her lips again in front of Kayan. This action of Hooreen's once again fueled Kayan's emotions. He leaned over Hooreen and took her lips into the captivity of his own. All of Hooreen's resistance was useless against Kayan. He pulled away. The hollows of her eyes were filled with tears. He extended the mobile toward Hooreen again, which she took silently because she didn't want to put herself in trouble by refusing anything he said. She turned her face and began looking at the scenery outside the window, the real purpose of which was to control her fear and ignore Kayan. Kayan started the car again.
"Instead of the outside views, grace me with your gaze. I have come here to see you and talk to you, and there you are, sitting with your face turned away.""You... talk less and trouble me more..." She mumbled under her breath, but all of Kayan's senses were directed toward her, so he heard her mumbling.
"It is your distance that has troubled me. The day I close this distance and start troubling you, you will drown in the colors of modesty just by thinking about coming into my refuge, just as your cheeks began to glow just now when I closed the distance slightly. When I erase all distances, then you will know what my 'troubling' is like...?" Saying this meaningfully, he caught Hooreen's arm and turned her toward him. Her head bumped against Kayan's shoulder. She immediately sat up straight, but this time her face was toward Kayan and her head was bowed. Hearing Kayan's words, her face had become redder than before with embarrassment, which Kayan was watching with great interest while driving, and at the same time, he was talking to her about various things, to which she was giving simple and short answers.
When she entered, Samara was standing near the reception door. Hooreen ignored her and began marking her attendance. Sitting on her chair, Samara said sarcastically:
"Wow, what's the matter? On the first day, an entry straight into Sir's office, and on the second day, you're coming with Sir in his car...? Your speed is impressive. Teach us the tricks to trap rich boys as well." At Samara's words, Hooreen's face began to burn with anger. Kayan, who was coming inside, also heard these words. Hooreen silently left the place, casting a reproachful glance at Kayan as she went. Kayan went to Samara. Seeing him, she stood up from her seat. He spoke in a harsh tone:
"Lady, it would be better if you minded your own business. You made an entry into Mr. Akbar's house as soon as you arrived, and that too in everyone's absence... If you utter another word against Hoor, that is the way out. Not only will you lose your job, but your family will also receive your 'splendid' pictures." His tone was quite sarcastic at the end.
"Yes... Sir... Sorry..." Samara was paralyzed with fear. Kayan had truly shown her stars in broad daylight. Ignoring her, he went into his office and began checking all the cameras. He saw Hooreen in the 9th-grade boys' class. He made that view full screen. He kept watching her. She was teaching the children quite well, occasionally smiling at something a child said, and he got lost in her smile. At something a child said, she was laughing heartily. Seeing her laugh, Kayan's lips also smiled. His entire focus was on Hooreen when, suddenly, he saw her smile vanish, replaced by expressions of anger and exhaustion.
She was laughing at the children's talk when Sir Arham entered the class and said:
"Students, tomorrow our new Director will visit the entire school and will come to your classes as well. He might ask questions regarding studies, so everyone must prepare well and come in a proper uniform tomorrow. Is that clear...?" He was talking to the children, but his eyes were fixed on Hooreen.
"... Yes, sir," all the children said in unison. They also didn't like this teacher. All the children were very protective of Amna and Hooreen. There was a unique bonding between those two and the children.
Hooreen wanted nothing more than to scratch that despicable man's face. His gaze was piercing her very uncomfortably. She left from there. Arham's back was toward the camera, which is why Kayan was unaware of Arham's filthy gaze, whereas the changes on Hooreen's face had made him realize a lot. A deep seriousness clouded Kayan's face. He wanted to confirm once before doing anything, whether he had guessed correctly from the expressions on Hooreen's face, and if that were the case, no one knew what would happen next.
She had a headache. She left the class before the period was over, came into the staff room, sat on a chair, and put her head on the table. Her life was passing very peacefully and enjoyably, but Kayan had come and turned it upside down. She could neither do anything nor say anything. She was lost in her own thoughts when Amna came to her and spoke with concern:
"Hooreen, why didn't you take your period...? I was telling you not to give the Principal and her cronies any chance, but you didn't listen to me.""Friend, what happened? I only came five minutes ago, and that too because my head was hurting a lot." She said with exhaustion, to which Amna spoke worriedly:
"Hooreen, those 'decent' ruffians of yours have caused a riot in the class. It came down to a physical fight, to the point where Mohed and Ahmed even got injured. Samara and Mahjabeen have gone to the Sir's office with those children along with the Principal.""Amna, so much happened in these five minutes...? Amna, this is not my fault... I wasn't feeling well." Hearing her words, she said while crying. At the mention of Kayan's name, fear began to grip her. It wasn't her fault, but she knew she would still be held responsible, and those three would go and poison Kayan's ears, just as they used to do with the previous Director. It had always been this way; they held high positions that they took unfair advantage of, and everyone would listen to and believe only them.
"Hooreen, nothing will happen to you crying like this, friend... stop crying." Amna was trying to quiet her when an attendant came and told them that Sir was calling Hooreen and was quite angry.
Hooreen's remaining courage also vanished. Amna spoke, giving her heart:
"Hooreen, don't cry at all when you go there. Tell Sir clearly whatever the matter is.""I won't go, Amna...""Hooreen, things will get worse if you don't go, so you go and talk; I'll stand right here outside." At Amna's persuasion, she knocked on the door and entered. Her gaze fell on Kayan, who was busy with a file. Sensing Hooreen's presence, he set the file aside and, with a serious tone but mischief in his eyes, spoke to Hooreen:
"Do you know why you have been called here?" At Kayan's formal manner, Hooreen's remaining courage gave way. She nodded slightly and said in a choked voice:
"Sir... that... my... fault... isn't... I... had... a headache... so... I... left because of that... and... that..." Saying this much, she burst into tears. Kayan was flustered by her crying. He immediately came to her and, cupping her face in his hands while wiping her tears, said:
"Hoor, my life, stop crying at least. I only called you to tease you. I haven't even said anything yet, and you started crying like this? I know it's not your fault. If your head was hurting, you should have rested; why did you go to take the class? Did you eat anything? Did you take medicine?" In response to his questions, she spoke again:
"Sir... honestly... I... it wasn't... my... fault..." Kayan pulled her to his chest.
"My Life, I know you're not at fault. And don't say 'Sir', say 'Kayan'. I want to hear only 'Kayan' for myself from your mouth, not 'Sir'. Tell me one thing, though." She pulled away from Kayan and looked at him inquiringly, to which he said:
"Can't you talk without stuttering and stopping?""N..No... no...""And why is that?""You... scare... me... a lot..." At her slip of the tongue, she bit her lip. A smile appeared on Kayan's face. Moving closer to her, he said:
"Tell, how do I scare you?" Hooreen said, swallowing hard while maintaining distance:
"With... these... actions... of yours..." She was gesturing toward Kayan, coming close.
"This is my love for you, which you will surely understand one day." Her body was trembling slightly as Kayan came closer. She just wanted to leave from here.
"May I... go...?" Kayan gently took her hand and pulled her even closer. Kayan's warm breath was scorching her, making her face turn reddish. Kayan was enjoying her state. The moisture in her eyes stopped him from teasing her further. He made her sit on the sofa and, sitting near her while holding her hand, said:
"Hoor, I am your husband... I love you immensely. I can never even imagine harming you in my dreams of harming you. Stop being afraid of me, running away, and ignoring me. There should be love for me in your heart, not fear." She began to feel apprehensive due to Kayan's enchanting eyes overflowing with emotion, so she bowed her head.
"Alright, go, but first eat something and take medicine. I'll order food.""No... I... will eat with Amna... may I go now...?""Yes, go." Upon receiving Kayan's permission, she hurried toward the door as if running. In her haste, her head was about to hit the door, but Kayan reached out just in time, so her head hit Kayan's hand instead of the door. She stepped out without looking at Kayan, while he laughed.