2. SPACE

"Sometimes the best thing you can do for someone you care about is to give them time and space to think."

Sharmeen's P.O.V

She looked outside the plane window as her plane took off and she let out a long relaxing sigh that she was leaving Hyderabad and heading for Jeddah. All of a sudden she could feel the heavy chains loosen up and the suffocation that had enclosed upon her for days lifted as she smiled with tears in her eyes happy that she had managed to escape. She needed this and she was glad that she got it.

She opened her purse and pulled out her mobile which was on flight mode as she eagerly opened her inbox. She read the message again as she sighed deeply brimming with gratitude for Adyaan for allowing this to happen in her life. Thank you so much! A regret seeped in that she never said that to him. She should have but something held her back from doing so and now she felt guilty about it.

Her thoughts flew to a week back when there had been huge chaos in her in-laws' place when her parents requested to send her along with them to Jeddah so she can give her intermediate second year's exam and complete her education.

Her mother-in-law didn't welcome the idea and her father-in-law chose to remain silent as she hoped them to approve. She remembered how tensed and suffocating the air grew as she heard her Mother-in-law mock her parents who head their head low in shame.

"All that we have faced is because of your daughters and yet you want to educate them...what for?" Her mother-in-law spit poison when she spoke disapproving of their request. "I have been betrayed by the eldest one at the last minute as I can see how irresponsible you are in bringing her up and now you want to take Sharmeen away. She is our daughter-in-law now and we cannot trust you."

They didn't know what to say as her mother tried to talk and convince her but she went on lashing out at them as she was still not happy about this alliance as it was evident to everyone that Sharmeen and Adyaan weren't on any terms as a couple.

"I will never allow this at any cost. You should leave!" Her Mother-in-law said finally putting all her Mom's efforts down the drain as Sharmeen couldn't believe that she was being so unreasonable. She didn't know what sparked in her as she stepped in and without another thought spoke up.

"Khaala...I will be going with my parents to Jeddah and completing my education." She said boldly though her knees trembled and she shivered inside. She wasn't the type who would disobey elders or lash out but she couldn't tolerate the way her in-laws addressed her parents.

"Shammu...you go inside...we are talking!" Her mother scolded as she squirmed in her seat and her mother-in-law got another opportunity to lash out.

"Excellent! Now your little one has also developed a mouth of hers and I never expected she had a tongue so swift that she would refuse to obey us. You haven't taught them anything..." She said shaking her head.

"Khaala..you need to talk to me and stop insulting my parents," Sharmeen spoke up now as whatever fear that made her tremble just left her. "Whatever Didi did was her choice and my parents had no clue about it so stop blaming them. They gave their best to us and I married your son to save both the families from shame and humiliation so they repaid for the mistake. No point blaming them anymore."

My mind had stopped working and only my tongue moved as she had no idea from where all this was coming from.

"Really? We married you because after what your sister did...Nobody would take you as a wife." Her Khaala snapped sharply as Sharmeen internally smirked at her Khaala's mental status.

"But you did...that means I did fit in that criteria...Right? Or else you are saying that you chose trash for your son....who would do that?" She said shaking her shoulders and frowning as her parents stared at her in awe. They haven't ever seen this side of hers.

"But....we..." She was tongue-tied as she started to think fast.

"And stop telling my parents that they didn't teach us, daughters, anything because it was your son who had been dying to marry my elder sister and even before we were adults....we were betrothed and we have our little minds to choose what is right and wrong. You are our elder and we respect you from the bottom of our hearts but if you cross your line and humiliate our parents on our behalf....we are not going to stay mum." Sharmeen replied clearly as her mother in law sulked in her seat and her thudding heart began to slow down. She was irked by her Mother-in-Law's treatment towards her parents and they deserved respect no matter what it takes.

Her parents looked at her in awe as she saw tears of pride shine in their eyes as she nodded assuring them that they don't have to listen to every other person's words and feel ashamed of a crime that they are not even responsible for.

"Ya Allah! I am so glad you heard everything!" She heard her Mother-in-law exclaim as she turned to dread to see him and turned into ice when she saw Adyaan standing and viewing the whole scene. "You heard your little wife using her wise words on your parents...I think she needs a piece of mind."

Now she could feel her heartbeat ten times faster as she clenched her hands knowing that whatever happened wouldn't be approved or acknowledged by Adyaan. After all, she had humiliated them back by answering them rudely.

"Well...what is this all about?" He said standing beside her as she refused to meet his eyes though she could sense his gaze on hers. The hairs on her neck rose as she felt nervous and ashamed.

"Your In-laws wants to take her back to Jeddah so she can write her exams but I don't trust them anymore after what happened at the wedding. Now the ball is in your court and whatever you decide...we will approve." My Mother-in-Law said putting everything at Adyaan's shoulder as he frowned reconsidering and my heart sunk inside my chest.

"When are your exams?" He asked her as she felt numb and didn't reply. Everyone eyed them and he repeated the question politely.

"March...this was a winter break which ends next week..." She replied hesitantly her eyes going from her Dad to her Mom who looked at him expectantly.

"Three months to be precise...Hmm." He hummed thinking and after a long dragging minute he spoke up. "I am leaving for hostel tomorrow and won't be back for two months so I guess you should go and write your exams."

"Really?" Sharmeen gasped as finally, their gaze met as he smiled assuring her that he was not joking.

"Addyyy...but son.." Her Mother-in-Law tried to interfere when he cut them a little firmly.

"That is my decision Mamma....she needs her education and she can continue to study further and as much as she desires. There is no hindrance for it." He said clearly as Sharmeen smiled amidst all the tension as her parents were happy and blessed Adyaan. Adyaan's parents disapproved of his decision as it was visible on their frowning faces but chose to accept their son's will.

The next morning she woke up to find him all ready and packed to leave. He studied in Gulbarga which was a few hours from Hyderabad and though she had an urge to thank him for yesterday every time they came face to face, it just died down.

They had been that way from the night they married. They would try their best to avoid each other or even make eye contact even if by chance they are stuck in the bedroom. The silence and emptiness stretched between them with words shared only when necessary. Their presence would muffle each other and they let their thoughts take over. They shared twenty days of their married life ignoring and avoiding each other.

Sharmeen brushed and stepped out to find Adyaan gone. She heard a car beep as she rushed to the balcony and see him embrace his mother before he sneaks inside the cab without even giving her a second glance. She had no idea if she was grateful that he was going or she regretted he was leaving as the emotions that she felt were mixed.

She saw the cab leave as she came inside realizing that suddenly the room felt spacious and empty. Weird. She pulled her dress from a cupboard and selected her jewelry, her phone beeped. She picked it up and checked who it was and so many butterflies flew from her stomach through the blood to all around her body when she read the message.

"All the best for your exams. Give your best. Have a safe journey and take care. Addy."

She had read that message hundredth time as her thoughts conflicted whether she should reply to him or let it be. That's how a week passed by and she never replied....not even before the plane took off.