The Contract by Zeenat Mahal Read Free Book Online Page A

little information she could about
    Hussain, and she’d never suspected anything, fool that she was. Long ago she’d decided that she
    would never be used again by anyone and from that moment, Nudrat ceased to be her friend. She had
    forgiven enough transgressions for a lifetime.
    She couldn’t help looking at Hussain contemptuously, making certain that they both knew that she
    knew. He seemed to find her silent reprimand amusing because he smiled at her mockingly, laughing
    at her, no doubt. She served dinner soon after, making sure everyone was having a good time, when
    Hussain cornered her on her way to the kitchen.
    “I can’t understand people with double standards. One should disapprove only if one is above
    reproach. If I were dancing and flirting to my heart’s content I wouldn’t dream of looking down my
    perky little nose at others.”
    Shahira replied calmly, “You’re mistaken. I wasn’t being censorious. However it’s indecent and
    cruel to subject people to behavior which is hurtful. Secondly, people who have dirty minds see filth
    everywhere.”
    “Whatever helps you sleep at night, sweetheart. Just don’t set an example for my daughter that I
    wouldn’t want for her. Maybe you could be more discreet in your flirtations?”
    Shahira wanted to retort something nasty but she noticed that Shahaan had gone to sleep in Aunty
    Salma’s lap. She made do with a heated venomous look at him and made her way towards her
    mother-in-law, apologizing, “Sorry Aunty, I didn’t realize he’d gone to sleep. I’ll take him.”
    “He’s my grandson, Shahira, this is what grandmothers do. What are you apologizing for?”
    Shahira had never forgotten for an instant that she was not actually. This was a job. She did not
    have expectations beyond the terms of the contract. She didn’t expect anyone to look after her, or her
    son. They’d been, and still were, on their own, and even though she’d grown very fond of Aunty
    Salma and had grown to love Natasha, she still didn’t expect anything in return. She didn’t have the
    right.
    She was about to pick Shahaan up, when Hussain came out of nowhere, casually lifted him, and
    said, “Don’t you think he’s a little too heavy for you to carry? He’s a big boy as he would tell you if
    he were awake.”
    “Please don’t bother.”
    “It’s not a bother.”
    Without a backward glance he climbed the stairs to Shahaan’s room. Shahira followed slowly.
    “I’m sorry about what I said earlier. I was out of line and you’ve been wonderful to Natasha. I’ve
    no complaints on that account and you were just having fun. So, please forget I said anything.”
    He sounded sincere. She didn’t reply and followed him up the stairs. He was laying Shahaan down
    on the bed by the time she caught up with him.
    “Thank you. That was very kind of you. I could have asked one of the servants to help. You don’t
    have to do…any of this.”
    She paused awkwardly as she made Shahaan comfortable. She didn’t want his apologies or his
    help—just distance.
    Hussain stood where he was and then asked in a very low voice, that sounded almost ominous,
    “And what exactly is ‘any of this’, Shahira?”
    She felt ungracious saying it, but she’d decided to broach the subject before it was too late. She
    had every right to protect her son. Who else did he have?
    “I mean that you’re a very busy man. Shahaan is a child and children tend to make very quick
    attachments and I don’t want to see him get hurt. You don’t even have time for Natasha, your own
    flesh and blood. What place can Shahaan possibly have in your life? But children don’t understand
    these things, do they? They just know how to love. And we forget their feelings are stronger and purer
    and their understanding intuitive. So they know more, much more than we give them credit for. I don’t
    want to see my son hurt any more than he already has been.”
    Shahira caressed her son’s cheek lovingly and