The clouds looked down at the two souls who shared the same trauma of pain. They had both lost their parents. She had lost a sister; he had lost a brother. And their criminal was same. They were both done brutally wrong by the same person and had everything snatched away from them. And right now, she had never felt more related to anyone in terms of her pain.

As of this moment, they were one.

She held onto him tightly, as if he was a part of hers, while everything about their past kept replaying in her mind. For the first time in her life, she had finally found someone who was her in their raw form; in whom, she could see her broken self. And she had no intention of letting him go so soon.

Or so she thought because just as the sky thundered viciously, it tore their hug too. One time he had hugged her to provide her solace. This time, she did it to give him the same solace. But one thing remained same.

Both times that moment of solace had been broken by her.

Just like now when she pulled away from him with a jerk under the thunderous sound the sky made to alert her. In the plethora of their emotions, she had completely lost it. But now, her senses were coming back as she shot up on her feet, instantly, trying to pull herself together.

"What happened?" He asked as he followed suit, not ready to let go of her warmth so soon. He craved it too damn much.

"Nothing...umm..." She said as she cinched the cashmere closer and looked sideways to construct words. "It's getting pretty late, you should go now."

"What's going on? Is everything alright?" He put a hand on her shoulder and she flinched under his touch.

He stepped back, feeling dejected.

Everything was alright just a few minutes back. Then what happened now?

"Do you not believe me?" His voice was too low as if not wanting it to reach her ears, too afraid of the answer.

"No, I do believe you. It's not that, trust me, it isn't." She shook her head. "It's just that...this hug. It's wrong."

"Oh." Expressions of contemplation carpeted on his face. "I'm sorry." He said after a few seconds.

"No, it's alright. We both just lost it in emotions." She looked down, tucking the strand of her hair behind her ear as the wind did nothing to help keeping it in place. He nodded as he tried not to look at her, but it was hard. If he could, he would look at her all day and all night.

"What happened to your hands?" He asked as his gaze landed on her bandaged hands. She looked up at him and studied the lineaments of fright and concern etched on his face. Seriously, what was this man? She wasn't used to this kind of affection and concern. She would never get used to it.

But Azlan Shehryar will make sure she would.

"Nothing. I was just cooking and the oil spilled on my hands." She brushed the topic away with a nonchalant shrug, but he still wasn't convinced.

"Did you go see a doctor?" His brows knitted as the lines of scowl became prominent on his forehead.

"Yes."She huffed as she lied.

"Sure." His tone sarcastic.

"I'm not lying. Stop acting like you've done a PhD in me." She rebuked.

Oh, just how much he had missed this side of hers!

"Alright, alright." He threw his hands up in surrender. "Just take good care of them, okay doctor?"

He used air quotes at the last word and that was enough to push her wrong buttons.

Her nostrils flared as she hawed at him with anger. "Seriously. I really shouldn't have called you here, you don't deserve it, you...you" She stammered, looking for the right words. "...you undeserving swine! Yes, that's what you are."

"You know, I've always kinda liked your colorful vocabulary." A smile graced his lips – a rich, heart full one.

Finally after days and days of sufferings, Azlan Shehryar smiled and the reason was none other than Safa Hayat. The only cure he needed.

She snorted. He was about to say something but, that was the moment, the first drop of rain decided to fall.

"It's started drizzling. We'd better reach home now." She said as she looked up, earning a nod from him. "I mean I mine, and you yours." She added, making him chuckle.

Safa Hayat.

Back to her element.

Lighting up his world.

Always and forever.

As they stepped on the thin bridge which only had enough space for one person to walk at a time, he turned around towards Safa walking by him closely. The wind had started picking speed and he was afraid she might lose her balance and fall in the river.

"Please, concentrate. I have no intention of getting my clothes drenched with water in my way of helping you in case you fell in the river." He jibed from behind her and she looked up.

"Don't worry! It'd be a cold day in hell the day I asked for your help." She chided, and that was exactly when her foot slipped and she staggered back as she shouted. "Help me!"

In an instant, he grabbed her hand, but didn't pull her back. "You sure you need my help?" He asked, the side of his lips curled up in a smug while half her body was lolled backwards.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she stared at him with ire quite perceptible in her eyes. Without teasing her any further he pulled her back. Not ready for it she instantly held him from his shoulder as his shirt bunched up in her fist- their faces too near, it made him gulp, all the mirth flushing away from his face. Even in this staunch darkness, he could read her eyes. So enchanting and beguiling. A canvas full of stars. She smirked, marveling at his ashen face as she stepped to the side.

"Next time, don't try to mess with me, Azlan Shehryar. In this game of two, you are the only one who will always lose." She said before stepping back.

This was the first time ever she had taken his name in front of him, and it did something to him. Something he couldn't explain but was too evident from his face.

Pulling himself together, he extended his hands towards her and she held them. Taking small and calculated steps backwards while keeping his attention both on the bridge and the woman in front of him so she wouldn't lose her composure he tried his best to maintain his. Crossing the bridge hand in hand, they finally reached to the opposite side and made their way towards the annex.

"It's okay, I can go on my own." She stopped midway.

It was past midnight, and he knew was she very much capable of going alone, but he just didn't want her to.

"I know you can, Safa. But sometimes it doesn't hurt to let someone else take care of you."

She was taken aback by his response. Of all the things he could've said, this wasn't something she was expecting. Looking him in the eyes, gave a slight node.

She was definitely never getting used to this much care and affection.

******

Sameena knocked at Azlan's study room door and getting the cue entered inside. The smile on her face was an indication she wasn't here just for nothing. The woman had something on her mind. Sprawled on the chair with his arms crossed on the table, he asked her to sit down with his entire attention focused towards her now.

Taking her seat on the chair opposite to his, she put a small box on the table. Azlan raised an eyebrow in question. She opened the box with an excited smile and the sparkly thing reflected straight in Azlan's eyes.

"It's a ring." She said with exuberance.

"I can see that." He eyed the silver mess.

"It's a family heirloom. I want you to give it to Safa."

The smile on her face could be seen from miles away. Ever since she had got to know about things settling between Azlan and Safa, she had already started planning about their wedding without even asking the two. Mothers.

"What?" He was visibly shocked.

Sameena sighed.

"I want you to propose to Safa with this ring whenever you're planning to do so."

"I'm not planning any such thing, mom." He shook his head.

"What do you mean you're not planning on doing such thing? Don't you want to marry her?"

Heaving a deep sigh, he leaned forward.

"I do, mom. I really do. But the question is: does she?"

"Of course, she does." Her voice had an edge to it.

"And how do you know that?"

"You both are back to being normal. Isn't that enough of an indication?"

He chuckled humorlessly.

"No, mom. It's not an enough of indication. Neither you nor I know what's going on in her head right now. The woman has been through hell through the hands of her own people. It will take her time to get used to this new setting. Her trust had been broken brutally and now putting the same trust in others wouldn't be easy for her. I don't wanna put any kind of pressure on her. She needs time and space, and I very much intend on giving her that. She deserves it."

Even though Sameena had reservations, she nodded in understanding. She didn't know the dynamics of their relationships – if they even had any in the first place – so it was better if she didn't interfere in it. It would only mess things up more and that was something she definitely didn't want. She just prayed everything would go well, because God knows, both of them needed it.

And both of them could only find it in each other.

Standing up, she turned around to take a leave but Azlan clearing his throat had her halt in her tracks.

"You can leave the ring though."

His eyes were now concentrated on the laptop in front of. A smile reached Sameena's lips and she put the black box back on the table.

******

Arham Nawaz always seemed as normal as a person could be. With his jaunty personality and easy going vibe he had this ability to go along with different situation and get along with people without much trouble. No one could ever tell this person with a smile always plastered on his face had had a rough life. That's how good he was at keeping his problems to himself. He didn't believe in advertising his problems and drawing unnecessary attention towards himself. Might be the reason he built such a good rapport with Safa in no time.

Because people who've been trough dark times can sense someone had a tragic past when they meet them. It's like an unspoken bond. A silent understanding. They just know it.

He was 10 when his mother died in a tragic car accident and it didn't take his father more than just a year to marry someone else. He had an inkling Nawaz had known the woman since a long time because he had heard her name mentioned in umpteen fights his parents used to have every now and then.

Love was the first emotion he was introduced to when he was brought to this world. The bond he had with his mother was unbreakable. For her he could sacrifice his life in the blink of an eye.

His relationship with his father wasn't bad either. They shared a good bond, too. A normal son-father relationship. Arham was an only child and Nawaz loved him to no extend, but what does it matter when that love isn't reserved for your mother? Nawaz's behavior towards Zahida only made Arham bitter towards him no matter how much he tried to contain himself. And when just a month after Zahida's death Nawaz came home with a very cheerful Khushbu, that was the last nail in the coffin.

That moment the first emotion he was introduced to turned into ashes, and their house became a house of ashes.

Khushbu was a typical stepmother they show in movies and soap operas. She drove the father away from son. But would her efforts have ever borne any fruits had the father really loved his son? No one can come between a parent and a child so Khushbu wasn't even the problem in all this. It was Nawaz and only Nawaz.

His schooling was done in boarding school and he never even complained. It was good staying away from that house which was just a skeleton of bricks and cement. Seeing another woman in his mother's place would only leave an acrid taste in his mouth and bitter wasn't the taste he preferred. So even in his vacations he would prefer not seeing his father and would just stay locked up in his room all day.

Everything changed when he finally started his college. There in his class, someone caught his attention. Someone who was so reserved that it drew people towards him. In no time, he became the most highlighted person of the college magazine even by sticking to the background. Azlan Shehryar somehow always had a knack of drawing clout towards him. Maybe it was his down to earth and no nonsense attitude, or maybe it the riches the man hailed from.

But with Arham it was different. He didn't approach him just because of the fame or the strong family background. He genuinely wanted to be his friend because something unknown had told him the unknown. Azlan had a tragic past and he could sense it.

The two became friends in a short span of time. And then good friends. And then finally, best friends who could confide in each other anything without any fear or embarrassment.

Sameena Shehryar became second mother to Arham. The warmth she exuded was same as of Zahida and it was after eons he finally felt like he still had a mother. She was full of love and he was fully devoid of love. She filled the empty crevices of his life that need to be filled with motherly love only. She embraced him as another child and never treated Azlan, Raina, and Arham any differently. For her, all three were her children and all deserved the same love and respect. Their house became a home to him. Not just a skeleton. But a kingdom built out of love, happiness, respect, and warmth.

The second type of love he was introduced to was when he met Asmara. She had come in his life with quiet steps. He had known her since a long time when Safa wasn't even in the picture. But never had he ever felt this way towards her. She was that detail of his life that would always fade in the background. Someone he would never give even a second thought.

But slowly and steadily that woman started marking her territory in his life and took the reins of his heart so silently, so secretly that he didn't even get to know. And now here he was, with his heart in his sleeve and her taking her seat in the background. As always.

Only this time, she had not faded. Neither from his mind nor from his heart. This time, Asmara Zanjani had taken a permanent place in the confines of Arham Nawaz's heart.

And he had no intention of giving this place to anyone else.

It would be either hers or no one.

So what if she didn't what him? He loved her and that was enough for him. Because love is selfless and unconditional. He wouldn't force her. He would stay in the background and always cheer for her, pray for her to have a happy life.

But with that man would she ever be able to have a happy life? She came from a family built on patriarchal system. Women had no say in it. Their voices were as neglected as animals when they are about to be sacrificed. And that's what they meant in that family. Goats for sacrifice.

He didn't want Asmara to live the same fate other women of her family had. None of them deserved this torturous life. He wanted to help her get out of that hell hole. But how much can you help someone who doesn't want to help themselves in the first place?

In her way of helping her he didn't want to suffocate her or force anything upon her, because that would leave no difference between him and the men of Zanjani family. But he couldn't just sit quiet. And he wouldn't. He'd drag her out of that mess. That was his promise to himself.

And Arham Nawaz never made promises he couldn't fulfill.

******

"Your turn now." Safa said from where she was comfortably sprawled on the couch opposite to Asmara.

She had just divulged Asmara about the issues between her and Azlan getting resolved, sparing the details though. It was Azlan's secret and now that he had trusted her enough to make her a part of it, it was wrong that she advertised it in front of others. Asmara didn't prod her either. She was mature enough to understand that.

Now that Safa was done with her side of the story, it was Asmara's time to spill. She had been noticing a change in her stance, and the shift in her and Arham's equation as well. Suddenly the comfort between the two had vanished into air and both couldn't see eye to eye with each other anymore. Being an observant person that Safa was, all this wasn't hidden from her. In her own mess, she hadn't gotten the chance to interrogate Asmara earlier, but now that things had been resolved, the haze from her mind had been lifted and she was seeing through clearly.

"What about me?"

Asmara posed in confusion taking another sip of the tea absentmindedly, and cursing silently under her breath as the tea intensified the bitter taste it had left in her mouth just a minute back when she had sworn to not ever drink tea made by Safa.

News Flash: Safa Hayat sucked at making tea.

Making coffee was her only forte but that particular night when she had come back home and gone inside the kitchen to make herself a good cup of coffee, her hand had protested against opening the coffee beans jar. He heart had told her this time she didn't need any toxin to help her stay awake and away from nightmares. This time she could fall asleep without any inhibition. Because this time, her heart was at peace.

So she had left the jar right there and taking calculated steps towards her room, slipped under the covers of her bed. And as it turned out her heart was right because just as she had closed her eyes, only one image flashed across her mind. Within few seconds, she had gone to a deep and peaceful slumber.

That night, after ages, Safa Hayat had slept without any reservations and fears.

"What's going on between you and Arham?"

She said as if it was quite obvious and Asmara almost choked on her tea. Snatching the cup from her hand, Safa put it on the table.

"What gave you the idea there's something between me and him?"

"Humph. Let me think." She faked contemplation as she put a finger on her chin. "Maybe because you two just can't stop staring at each other and whenever either of you catches the other, you both just tear your eyes away as if caught stealing something."

"Okay, that was far-fetched."

"But fetched nonetheless."

Silence ensued between the two for a while which was broken by Safa only.

"You do know you can tell my anything, right?" She asked, holding Asmara's hand.

"It's not that easy, Safa." She sighed.

"But do you love him?"

She paused, but nodded nonetheless.

"Then there's your answer."

"But it's not that simple. It's complicated."

"Love is never simple, Asmara. It always comes with its fair share of complications but if you're lucky enough to even have it knocking at your door, then you've got to be the unluckiest person to turn your back on it."

"You know my family, Safa. They won't ever let this happen." Her eyes welled up. Too hopeless and distraught as if they had been carrying the pain of years.

"Who even needs their permission in the first place? Pardon my French, but let's be honest, your family if full of..." she paused for a second but said it nonetheless, "well, full of scumbags. Asking them isn't even the option because it's not even their right. It's yours. You should get to decide for your life, not them."

"Easier said than done." She chuckled humorlessly and a sad smile reached Safa's lips.

Who would know it better than her?