yelled.
Already incensed with the situation, Shahira replied, “We’re going to Europe. The children
wanted…”
“And Hussain is taking them. Even you?”
Shahira didn’t know whether to laugh or bemoan Nudrat’s open hostility. She poured tea for her
unwanted guest and admired her audacious fashion sense. Her shirt fitted her like a second skin and
had two holes cut out from the sides to showcase her slim tapering waist. Well, all the male drivers
and cooks were having a grand time.
Just as the maid handed Nudrat her teacup, surprise, surprise, Hussain walked in.
“Just the man I wanted to see!” Nudrat abandoned her teacup and gushed at Hussain, who looked
slightly bemused.
“Hello Nudrat.”
They kissed on both cheeks, and arm entwined with Hussain’s, Nudrat dragged him with her to the
chaise longue.
“Shahira, pour Hussain a cup too. No sugar and just a drop of milk. Isn’t that right, Hussain?”
Shahira rolled her eyes at this ancient trick.
Hussain watched her reaction with amusement, and then tripped her up by saying casually, “Oh,
Shahira knows exactly what I want from her.”
Giving him a disdainful look, she retorted, “Would that be my famous hareesa with parathas,
cooked in desi ghee?”
Hussain gave a delighted laugh and said, “How about some hemlock instead?”
“Oh, I’m sure you’re immune.”
Nudrat was horrified. “Shahira, how can you talk to Hussain like that?”
“Oh, Nudrat this is just...foreplay,” Hussain said, giving Shahira a sultry look.
Shahira nearly dropped her cup.
“Talk about too much information, right?” She laughed nervously and shot him a quelling look.
Hussain was watching her with intense hawk-like eyes and Nudrat was watching him watch her
with growing alarm. What was going on between these two? Shahira made the tea according to
Nudrat’s specifications and was about to hand the cup to the maid when Nudrat leapt up, “I’ll get it.”
She swayed forward on her five-inch heels to fetch the cup, providing a titillating view of her
fabulous body to Hussain. Shahira blushed and looked away.
“I’m surprised you’re dragging Shahira along with you to Europe. I mean, the poor darling will
feel so out of place. It’s really too bad of you to treat her like a nanny.”
Hussain’s eyes turned icy. Taking the cup from Nudrat he said in a warm tone that made the clear
warning in his eyes all the more deadly.
“This is just a small bribe for the kids, before I whisk away my gorgeous wife for a long overdue
honeymoon. I was thinking of the Bahamas, but Shahira isn’t very fond of beaches, so maybe we’ll do
the lesser known gems of Europe.”
Nudrat’s cup tinkled and her smile wavered. Shahira glared at Hussain. What was he trying to
pull?
“Aw. Hussain is so forgetful. What we finally decided was that instead of wasting all that money
on two trips, we’ll donate the money to charity. Nudrat’s will do just fine, wouldn’t it?”
Shahira gave Hussain a sweet smile. He smiled back with a mischievous gleam in his eyes
knowing full well what she was up to.
“Hussain,” she said ever so sweetly, “do write a generous check for Nudrat’s charity. Nothing will
give me more pleasure.”
So that’s what she thought of him? She thought he liked money that was why he didn’t stay. He
couldn’t blame her. That would be the natural conclusion for anyone who was familiar with his
lifestyle. She didn’t know him though. And he wanted to change that.
He also wanted to have some fun at her expense while doing so. With a smile he said, “Shahira my
love, just say the word.”
Why was he giving Nudrat the impression that they had more than a contractual relationship? Was
he trying to make Nudrat jealous? But that made no sense because Nudrat was obviously available, so
what kind of game was he playing?
Hussain was already writing a check. Oh, okay Hatim Tai.
Sweetly, she said, “Please make it a nice big one,
Already incensed with the situation, Shahira replied, “We’re going to Europe. The children
wanted…”
“And Hussain is taking them. Even you?”
Shahira didn’t know whether to laugh or bemoan Nudrat’s open hostility. She poured tea for her
unwanted guest and admired her audacious fashion sense. Her shirt fitted her like a second skin and
had two holes cut out from the sides to showcase her slim tapering waist. Well, all the male drivers
and cooks were having a grand time.
Just as the maid handed Nudrat her teacup, surprise, surprise, Hussain walked in.
“Just the man I wanted to see!” Nudrat abandoned her teacup and gushed at Hussain, who looked
slightly bemused.
“Hello Nudrat.”
They kissed on both cheeks, and arm entwined with Hussain’s, Nudrat dragged him with her to the
chaise longue.
“Shahira, pour Hussain a cup too. No sugar and just a drop of milk. Isn’t that right, Hussain?”
Shahira rolled her eyes at this ancient trick.
Hussain watched her reaction with amusement, and then tripped her up by saying casually, “Oh,
Shahira knows exactly what I want from her.”
Giving him a disdainful look, she retorted, “Would that be my famous hareesa with parathas,
cooked in desi ghee?”
Hussain gave a delighted laugh and said, “How about some hemlock instead?”
“Oh, I’m sure you’re immune.”
Nudrat was horrified. “Shahira, how can you talk to Hussain like that?”
“Oh, Nudrat this is just...foreplay,” Hussain said, giving Shahira a sultry look.
Shahira nearly dropped her cup.
“Talk about too much information, right?” She laughed nervously and shot him a quelling look.
Hussain was watching her with intense hawk-like eyes and Nudrat was watching him watch her
with growing alarm. What was going on between these two? Shahira made the tea according to
Nudrat’s specifications and was about to hand the cup to the maid when Nudrat leapt up, “I’ll get it.”
She swayed forward on her five-inch heels to fetch the cup, providing a titillating view of her
fabulous body to Hussain. Shahira blushed and looked away.
“I’m surprised you’re dragging Shahira along with you to Europe. I mean, the poor darling will
feel so out of place. It’s really too bad of you to treat her like a nanny.”
Hussain’s eyes turned icy. Taking the cup from Nudrat he said in a warm tone that made the clear
warning in his eyes all the more deadly.
“This is just a small bribe for the kids, before I whisk away my gorgeous wife for a long overdue
honeymoon. I was thinking of the Bahamas, but Shahira isn’t very fond of beaches, so maybe we’ll do
the lesser known gems of Europe.”
Nudrat’s cup tinkled and her smile wavered. Shahira glared at Hussain. What was he trying to
pull?
“Aw. Hussain is so forgetful. What we finally decided was that instead of wasting all that money
on two trips, we’ll donate the money to charity. Nudrat’s will do just fine, wouldn’t it?”
Shahira gave Hussain a sweet smile. He smiled back with a mischievous gleam in his eyes
knowing full well what she was up to.
“Hussain,” she said ever so sweetly, “do write a generous check for Nudrat’s charity. Nothing will
give me more pleasure.”
So that’s what she thought of him? She thought he liked money that was why he didn’t stay. He
couldn’t blame her. That would be the natural conclusion for anyone who was familiar with his
lifestyle. She didn’t know him though. And he wanted to change that.
He also wanted to have some fun at her expense while doing so. With a smile he said, “Shahira my
love, just say the word.”
Why was he giving Nudrat the impression that they had more than a contractual relationship? Was
he trying to make Nudrat jealous? But that made no sense because Nudrat was obviously available, so
what kind of game was he playing?
Hussain was already writing a check. Oh, okay Hatim Tai.
Sweetly, she said, “Please make it a nice big one,
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