Pretend It's Ok

A loud ring and vibration sounded causing Zayn to jump out of the bar stool he was sat in. He looked around wiping the drool rolling down his chin. Zayn glanced around the room like a crazed maniac. Much to his disappointment, it was all indeed a dream. Touching Melinda, holding her and giving her soft kisses like it had been before was nothing but a dream. Zayn wanted so bad to believe his sex life with Melinda was like that.

Alas, it wasn't and he was fully aware of his current situation with it. It had never been this way before, why had it started now? Why is it the way it is? He couldn't figure it out, but he knew one thing was for certain.

His cravings were acting up. Badly...

Zayn slumped back into the chair running his fingers through his hair roughly while groaning in irritation. Zayn stretched his arms out with a yawn. His back wasn't making anything easier either. Sleeping on a bar stool isn't really the best technique for your back. Zayn then felt a vibration from his phone. He took a look back at his missed call - which read Mere Pyaar (my love in Urdu). Zayn rolled his eyes thinking if he should call back.

For a while, Zayn had been a little different. It wasn't so much as a whole 180. He was lost, you can say. Being in the public eye was a very difficult lifestyle. He was aware of the regulations and consequences of being famous nonetheless. Zayn loved the limelight don't confuse his sadness for that reason. What guy didn't like female attention? Zayn just felt everything get pushed more and more down his throat with immense force. The fans screaming got more annoying than anything, the lack of sleep made it hard for him to hide his exhaustion and the constant performing the same songs over and over had gotten under his skin. He was smothered. He didn't know how to react to any of it.

More cameras, more fans, more threats and more drama were linked to the newly wedded couple.

Zayn was the type to keep his private life...well, private. He was trustworthy and reliable; two things Melinda could never deny. She loved that about him, but his patience grew thin with it all. If having a life partner was this hard at the beginning he couldn't imagine having children anytime soon. Especially with the major slump in their marriage.

"Ugh...", he groaned into his palms.

"Would you like a drink, sir?", the bartender asked wiping the counter with a wet blue rag.

Zayn stared up at the dark-haired blue-eyed man longer than he should've. He didn't know why he was staring up at him. He shook his head chuckling a bit, "I don't drink..." Zayn smirked getting off the stool, "Thanks anyway."

He placed his black hat onto his head flattening anything left of his signature quiff. Zayn was tired and yearned so badly to just curl up into his bed with his wife. Speaking of which, another vibration surged through his arm. He looked down at the screen the light blinding him slightly. A small smile came across his face. "Hey baby.", he cooed into the phone.

Melinda didn't mean to gasp when hearing the soothing and comforting voice her husband use to possess rang through her ears. The beautiful tone was so familiar yet still so foreign to her. She didn't want anything to ruin his mood. "H-hi honey." Zayn could tell she was grinning wildly which only made him do the same. "Wh-when are you coming home? I made some biryani, samosas and stuffed grape leaves for you."

Zayn's eyes grew wider, "NO WAY!! Wait..." His facial expression change into a confused one, "How did they let you cook in the hotel?"

"I didn't. I went to my mother's house.", she giggled with legit joy. Zayn's heart was soaring. "Hurry the food's getting cold."

"Say no more. I love you.", when hearing the line reciprocated he pressed the red end button.

Zayn felt at ease knowing that Melinda was smiling because of him and not crying. He felt utterly guilty for taking out everything on her when he was doing it the wrong way. Instead of making love to Melinda and releasing stress, he lashed out on her and left her cold during the nights. It was indeed him most of the time. Melinda often would call him obsessively wondering where he was and accusing him sometimes.

Zayn didn't take much offense to it. Should he? Everyone looked at him like some bad person. Sure he had a past, but who hasn't?

Hearing the familiar elevator doors of the hotel made him sigh in relief, "I feel safe." Zayn pressed on the button that read 20.

"And that you should...", a short dirty blond-haired woman added.

Zayn glanced downward to the petite girl. She had green eyes that glistened like polished emeralds and straight hair shining like silk.

"I'm Katherine.", she gestured her hand towards him.

He smiled taking her hand in his, "Zayn..."

Zayn's eyes widened as she closed in the distance between them. "You're very exotic looking.", her eyes squinted towards him seductively studying his very detailed features.

Zayn always received compliments about his looks. His face was perfectly structured, his shoulders broad and his body toned to perfection. Zayn was the ideal tall, dark and handsome every woman craved. His beauty is considered a blessing. Sometimes it got him into trouble.

"Thank you.", he slid his hand out of her grasp. "I'm very married as well.", he turned the other way glancing at the numbers displayed in red LED lights. 10.

"Even better...", she moved in again.

Zayn was not attracted to the woman in front of him regardless of her beauty. Of course it had nothing to do with the ring on his finger. He just physically wasn't attracted to her nor any other woman. Simply no female had the exotic rare beauty of his own wife. She possessed something more to her features that none other could find. Zayn was still trying to find it himself. He wanted nothing more than to just open the elevator doors and fall out. Anywhere he landed felt safer to him than in the small rectangular box he was currently trapped in.

Katherine - the sultry mistress - whispered into his ear, "I like a challenge..."

Zayn backed up hearing a ding. Falling out the elevator onto the carpet, he picked up his ringing phone placing it against his ear quickly. "He-hello...", he smiled at the woman which the elevator doors were now covering. "Hi honey."

"What the fuck?", a loud response rang in his ears. "Malik, what's going on?"

"Some crazy lady just tried seducing me in the elevator!!", he shrieked in horror.

"Oh.", the line stayed quiet for a moment before Gharram continued. "How are you?"

"Good. I'm about to walk in the suite.", Zayn said searching his pockets. "How are you doing? Anything I can help you with?"

"Yeah, find Harry!!", she sounded more frantic than anything. "I'm here at the fashion show and he's nowhere to be found."

A faint scream in the background interrupted, "I'm right here!"

"There's the bitch!", Gharram grunted. Zayn laughed knowing what to expect next. "Where the fuck have you been? I tri-...", she hung up on Zayn's face continuing her rampage.

Zayn shook his head still laughing. He opened the door smelling the aroma of chicken, seasonings and spices. He closed his eyes as he shut the door. The smell of home was all too familiar. He wanted nothing more than to devour the plate that was ready for him. Zayn could already taste the savoury tender chicken his mouth mixed with well-cooked seasoned rice.

"Melinda.", he called out for her hanging his jacket on a hook. "Melinda...", he extended her name taking off his sneakers and kicking them neatly to the side of the door. "Melin-...", Zayn ceased hearing a faint voice off in the distance.

"Tumko dekh ke yoon lagta haikoi bichhda khwab aaya hai. (Looking at you, I feel as if some dream, separated from me, has come back.)...", the faint sound of Hindi rang through his ears. Zayn closed his eyes taking in the beautiful voice that filled the empty suite.

Zayn walked closer placing his wallet and key card on the table where the food had been ready and heated for him to enjoy. He passed it not taking any notice of the plate. Something about the voice lured him as if in a trance. He couldn't take his mind off of anything else but the beautiful lyrics. The meaningful melody captured his soul into a cage demanding his attention. He reached the door of the master bedroom hovering his hand over the knob steadily.

"...Barson lambi raat se guzre (as if we've passed through a years long night). Subaha ka jhonka laut aaya haiand (Now the morning gust has arrived back...)", she continued.

Zayn was in awe as he slowly opened the door. Melinda sat on the window sill watching the lively landscape in front of her with her iPhone on the deck player listening to old Hindi songs. The view of the New York Skyline at night glittered in the distance. Melinda was dressed in black sweats, with a black tank top, her head covered with a black hooded sweater and her knees huddled into her chest. Zayn didn't say a word, he didn't move a muscle, his breathing relaxed and his heart was study.

He just watched.

Zayn barely seen this side of Melinda. It was a rare sight for him at least.

"Bahot der jaagi, bahot door aayi (I kept awake for very long, I came too far away)...", Melinda sang with a droplet falling from her eye. "Khwab ne chhodi na meri kalai (But this dream didn't let me go)..."

Zayn walked up sitting in front of her feet. Melinda's eyes widened towards him in surprise as if she didn't want him to hear. She didn't know what to do or say. Her mouth hung open waiting for him to do something...anything. Melinda felt her breathing stop immediately with her eyes stuck on his. Zayn noticed that she hadn't slept correctly, but the thing that kept him in a state of shock was her ability to remain beautiful without so much as trying.

The streams of moonlight projecting on her exotic features revealed every flaw, every crease and every emotion on her face. Melinda moved her legs so that she had one leg hanging off the ledge. Zayn's body reacted instantly moving his hand to her cheek. Melinda closed her eyes taking in the intimate feeling of her husband's skin against her's. Slowly her eyes open seeing his hazel pools of honey a few inches away. His lips were but a mere centimeter apart from Melinda's.

Zayn felt the overwhelming sensation of his pulse beating against his ribs. The aroma of Melinda seeped into his nose leaving him breathless to everything she did. He felt her cool breath linger with his as he brushed his lips against her supple ones. Zayn smirked slowly curling his lip as her breath hitched. He could see the fear escape her eyes as his smirk formed into a smile.

"Kab se meri saans ruki thi (Since so long was my breath stuck)...", she sang staring at Zayn's lips.

Zayn cupped her face in his hands staring not only into her milk chocolate eyes, but into her very heart grasping what she's been yearning for... attention and care. "Mujhe saans aayi (I breathed again.)...", he finished the line and sealed it with a kiss.

Melinda felt every inch of Zayn's absence release from him. The apology hadn't been said, but she didn't need him to. She felt him enter her and she wanted nothing more than to keep him there. Zayn missed the feeling of her silk plump lips. He kissed her everyday but none was like this. This kiss sent shock waves through his veins. He felt more than love. He felt more than affection. He felt more than passion.

For the first time in a long time, Zayn felt his wife. Zayn felt her.

Zayn felt Melinda.

Notes