The Contract by Zeenat Mahal Read Free Book Online

she said softly, “Shahaan, Natasha wants to show you
    something.”
    She was devastated for her son, and angry at Hussain for giving him false hope. She glared at him,
    not realizing her misery was reflected in her eyes. How dare he bring her son to this point? It was all
    his fault, the selfish, insensitive man.
    “Shahaan, go with your mother. We’ll chat later, okay?” Hussain said looking at him lovingly, like
    a father would, and Shahira’s fury increased. What right did he have to play with the emotions of a
    child, her child! She may be his employee but her son was not. Giving Hussain another censorious
    glance, she marched off with Shahaan.
    If looks could kill, Hussain thought, sardonically. He was pretty sure he hadn’t deserved it, and he
    sure as hell wasn’t going to take it. She wasn’t his real wife to be throwing tantrums at him. His
    thoughts went to Shahaan who’d bestowed such an honor on him. He felt a strange tug at his heart that
    was both regret at having to break the little boy’s heart and a feeling of joy and gratitude. He
    shouldn’t get involved. Wasn’t that exactly why he’d employed the teacher? To keep away from all
    this responsibility?
    Putting it out of his mind, he wandered off to mingle.
    The mandatory dances had started and as usual, Shahira was on the dance floor. Today, she didn’t
    look as happy or carefree, just more beautiful. They’d done two numbers already, one of which had
    featured Natasha paired with Shahira. She took care of her, he realized with a sudden surge of deep
    gratitude towards her. As far as he could see, she made no distinction between the two children. He’d
    made a good decision.
    “Hello, stranger.”
    He turned, saw Nudrat walking towards him and smiled.
    “Hello, Nudrat.”
    They lightly touched their cheeks, and Nudrat said in a seductively low tone, “Are you still mad at
    me?”
    Hussain smiled tolerantly and replied politely, “Not at all, Nudrat. You’re one of my oldest
    friends. You know how busy I’ve been.”
    At that moment, one of his cousins, easily old enough to be her father, was the object of Shahira’s
    frank admiration and basking in it.
    “So, how long are you staying this time?” Nudrat asked a bit loudly.
    He looked at her and shrugged, “I’m not sure yet.”
    His gaze wandered back to Shahira. She was now dancing with the old cousin, looking the
    happiest he’d seen her all evening. She was an enigma. She looked after the neglected, old, very
    young, and the sick but she wasn’t a pushover like most nice people tended to be. He smiled and
    wondered what she’d say if he told her what he’d started to dream about, of late.
    Seething inwardly, Nudrat went to the powder room, refreshed her lipstick and tried to calm down.
    The unknown brown sparrow from nowhere was younger, sure, but she lacked experience and
    sophistication. What did Hussain see in that girl? She’d never seen him pay so much attention to any
    woman before, not even Rutaba, who had been beautiful. The brown sparrow wasn’t even from the
    same class. No way was she going to let her be a problem. Besides, Shahira didn’t have the guts to
    fight dirty—as she could—and most of all, she lacked her cunning. Smiling, she blew a kiss to herself
    in the mirror.

    * * *

    The languorous looks that Hussain kept throwing at Shahira were making her very nervous. They
    had a pact, and she was not going to ever let that happen to her again.
    She noticed Nudrat stayed beside Hussain nearly all evening. There was something about her body
    language that made Shahira uncomfortable. Then she caught Nudrat brush something off of Hussain’s
    jacket front, and the way her hand stayed on his chest for a bit too long, Shahira understood at once
    what was between them. All those times that Nudrat had asked and coaxed information about him,
    she had been using her under the guise of friendship.
    The realization made Shahira angry. Nudrat had wheedled out the