A loud knock on the door disturbed her deep slumber. She woke up rubbing her temples which were throbbing with immense pain.

"Come down for breakfast, bacha ."

Entering her room, tayi ammi sat beside her smiling seeing the innocent girl sitting in front of her. The innocent girl who was an exact copy of her late parents.

"Are you fine ?"

Her smile lost her colour when she saw Maria groaning and it seemed she was in pain.

"Haye Allah, mera bacha aapko to bukhaar ho raha hai."

Her frantic expressions could be seen from her face, making Maria emotional. She wasn't her mother yet she cared for her like her own daughter.

No you can't trust anyone... No one... She is his mother, yours is dead... No matter what they say and at the end of the day they will ask you to return their favours which they did after your parents died...

"I am fine."

She smiled politely not wanting her to worry her.

"No, you are not. Wait here I'll bring breakfast and medicine for you."

She looked at her sternly, warning her not to get up from her place and was returning to leave when Maria stopped her.

"Wait...I don't want to eat alone and I am coming down for breakfast."

Wearing her slippers, she got up hastily from the bed ready to leave with her.

"No, you are not. You need rest. So stay here like a good daughter you are."

Her steps halted when tayi ammi held her hand stopping her from going down.

"Main mein theek hu Tayi Ammi. Don't worry. Also, I have to go to college to collect my certificates, so I have get up anyways."

She protested clearing her point to which her tayi ammi sighed agreeing with her.

"Okay get ready... Have your breakfast and then I'll give you medicine. We'll be waiting downstairs. Come fast."

"Ji."

Taking a quick bath she rushed towards the dinning room without drying her wet hair not wanting anyone to wait for her.

"Walk slowly princess. You'll hurt yourself."

Aaqib Ahwaan primed seeing her hastily walking towards them.

"I am so sorry for making you all wait."

Sitting poisely on her seat she apologetically looked towards dado giving her a guilty look, who gave her a small smile in return making her feel confused with dado's actions. She didn't liked late comers and seeing her smile was confusing her.

"Take this and then I'll give you medicine."

Tayi Ammi said filling her plate, making her turn to look at her. Now she understood why dado didn't scolded her. It was because she knew about her fever.

Giving her a small smile she quietly ate her breakfast not looking up to avoid him as much as she could. She knew he was looking at her but she didn't dared to look up. His one look and she'll melt. His one look and she'll surrender.

Again.

"I don't want you getting sick, doll. Mustafa's marriage is getting finalised and as his closest friend you have to be there at forefront in everything. So get well soon."

Dado adviced giving her a small smile unaware of the emotional turmoil her granddaughter was going through.

Maria nodded humming to what dado said unable to form any word. It was getting difficult for her to breathe. The talks of his marriage was suffocating her, throbbing her heart with pain.

Stop thinking... Just smile and continue your facade cause it's easy. It's easy to pretend you are happy than it is to explain your misery. It's easy for you cause you are good at keeping things inside your heart.

Taking a deep breath and ignoring his continuous stare on her, she quickly ate her breakfast wanting to leave as soon as possible.

"I talked with Bashar and they gave their nod for the proposal and invited us to their house to finalize the dates. So, I want everyone to be ready in the evening."

Aaqib Ahwaan announced in his authoritarian voice stabbing her heart, making her leave her spoon and hold her hands which were shivering with the turn of events, but she kept quiet just like she always did. She kept quiet feeling pain curse through her veins like poison letting it rot her insides.

"I will not be going Abba. Not when my brother is lost or maybe dead."

Exclaimed Osama who opposed going to for his elder brother's alliance.

"Neither will I and you can't force me Abba cause I won't listen."

Aamina too joined Osama glaring at Mustafa who was sitting unfazed observing the whole scene.

"You both will. Everyone will, except my princess as she is not well and I don't want to exert herself. I am your father and you both will do as I say."

"But Abba...."

Aamina tried speaking again when her father shut her up with his one glare angering her to the extent that she left not bothering to finish her breakfast.

"You are bringing the neice of the woman who hates her and I won't be surprised if Asmara too hates her just like her aunt."

Osama warned his father sarcasm dripping in his voice looking at Maria who was sitting quietly, too speechless to say anything.

"Shut up Osama I won't listen anything about my wife."

Mustafa growled earning a chuckle from his brother.

"Aren't you are caring too much for the girl you are infatuated with, not the girl sitting beside you. And for a fact she is your would be wife and the girl sitting beside you is your best friend whom you have forgotten for a girl you met few days ago. Did you forget how her aunt treats her or I need to remind you bhaai ?"

Osama answered fiercely not caring about the situation feeling frustrated with his brother's stupid decision to marry Asmara.

"Bakwas band..."

"Stop....please stop... I don't want you two to fight because of me. It hurts me to see you like that."

Maria pleaded looking at Osama who's eyes softened seeing her pained expressions and nodded assuring her not to fight again.

"Start respecting Asmara she is going to be your bhabhi."

Mustafa warned to which Osama rolled his eyes looking down.

Make me, brother.

His words made her stand up not able to take more pain. It was enough. She had enough. His words were painful piercing her heart. Her heart who was the sole reason of her sufferings.

Her stupid, naive heart.

"I a-am getting la-late. Allah hafiz."

Looking down she announced not able to meet anyone's eyes fearing her facade to be seen. She'll be exposed and everything will be over.

"Take your medicines and don't go by metro today. Mustafa is leaving too and he'll drop you."

She stopped hearing her Taya Abba's voice and at an instant her eyes met his who was already looking at her intently with an unreadable look.

"I'll go by myself."

Breaking their eye contact she looked up at her taya faking a smile, assuring him she is fine going by herself.

"No. You are not well and I don't want you to exert yourself at all. Either you are going with Mustafa or you aren't going out."

"But Taya Abba..."

She didn't wanted to go with him when she was trying her best to avoid him. When she was trying to distance her heart from him. Maybe then the pain she was feeling would be less. Maybe then she would be able to save herself from misery she was about to face.

"Come I'll drop you."

Mustafa said looking directly in her eyes, standing up taking his briefcase and left outside to get his car leaving no room for discussion.

Not taking his words seriously she too went outside after taking medicines and started walking towards the gate to go, when the honk of his car stopped her, making her groan.

Opening the gate of his car he gestured her to sit inside but instead she denied.

"Taya Abba is not here so you don't have to drop me. I'll go on my own."

"Ander baitho."

Her words fell on deaf ears as he wasn't ready to listen and ordered her to sit inside the car.

"I don't want to go...."

"Fauran ander baitho warna main khud zabardasti tumhe ander bithaunga."

His harsh frustrated tone made her flinch in fear rooting her to the spot where she was standing as she saw him coming out of the car, dragging her to sit inside after holding her hand in a tight vice grip not caring about the bruise forming on her delicate wrist.

"How do you do it ?"

She asked her voice heavy with emotions, rubbing her red hand trying to soothe the pain caused by him.

This pain will go but what about the pain inside your heart . How will you be able to overcome it ?

"Do what ?"

"Dard dena, jaise saamne wale ke koi ehsasaat hi na ho."

She answered him with a broken smile, her eyes carrying the burden of pain residing inside her heart. He immediately turned his gaze towards the road not able to look inside her beautiful broken orbs.

"Then stop feeling for me and you'll not be hurt at all."

I wish. I wish, I had that power to shut all my emotions and see to how much extent you can go to hurt me.

He answered coldly and continued driving, silence enveloping them as no one intiated to talk. There was nothing to talk. Nothing left to talk about and if there was anything existing, it was pain. Nothing else.

Her throat felt heavy hearing him. She was feeling sick more than she already was and wanted nothing than to leave his presence before she could breakdown.

•

"Maria ?"

Haya asked seeing her friend lost in her own world. There were stress lines marred on her forehead making her feel tense for her.

"Are you okay ?"

She again asked holding her hand which broke her out of her trance, startling her.

"Huhh... You said something ?"

"You don't look fine to me. Tell me if something's wrong. You know you can share anything with me."

Like a good friend she was, Haya read her eyes which were full of pain and misery which she was trying her best to hide by smiling pretending everything to be okay but Haya could detect the sadness lingering inside her eyes.

"And please don't lie cause I can read your eyes well."

Haya pleaded squeezing her hands to which she gave her a broken smile, her eyes glistening with pearl like tears.

"H-he is getting ma-married."

Her words stumbled, withering her heart in pain after uttering those words.

"What!! Then you should go and tell him how you feel because I know for sure he'll cancel everything for you. He will never hurt you."

Haya was shocked hearing Mustafa was getting married. She knew how much her friend loved him. Her eyes screamed her love for him. Even when Maria was unaware that she had fallen for him Haya was the one who teased her with his name. Everytime they were together Maria talked about him making Haya sure that she had feelings for him.

"You think I never did. Haya I confessed I loved him but he mocked my feelings as an infatuation. He even asked me to undo my feelings towards him. Haya, tell me what to do. My heart, it burns everytime he reminds me that he is getting married. It pains everytime he hurts me. It kills me everytime to see him unaffected seeing me hurt."

She cried hugging her friend who was rubbing circles on her back trying to soothe her, to give her comfort even if it was for few moments.

"You can't force him to love you just like you can't stop your heart from loving him. But you can stop yourself from hurting by creating distance. Distance yourself from him and try to focus on things you love doing. It will help you to distract your mind from him."

Aur agar meri saari khushiyan hi unhi ke naam se shuru hoti ho tab main Kya karu ??

Her heart screamed reminding her of him again.

"If he doesn't loves you that doesn't mean something is wrong with you. It means Allah has planned something much better for for you. Leave it on him. Let him decide for you."

Haya smiled wiping her cheeks which were wet from tears.

She was about to answer Haya when her phone beeped indicating someone messaged her which happened to be Osama.

(Osama) - Traitor, you left me alone to deal with that witch Tabassum Aunty and her over sweet neice Asmara. I missed you so much.

(Maria) - You were not alone monkey Aamina aapi was with you. And remember I am out for work plus I am unwell.

(Osama) - I know. I know. Just wanted to inform you the wedding is fixed and nikaah is after a week as bhaai was too eager to get married. I am telling you I don't like that girl at all. She is so full of herself. Don't know what bhaai sees in her but I'll never accept her as my sister in law. Cunning witch.

Anyways, Come back soon. I am waiting for my favorite girl.

(Maria) - Will reach home in an hour or so.

Putting down her phone she broke down again making Haya tense seeing her to which she took her phone, reading her chat with Osama.

"Hey.... Shhhh... Everything will be fine. You'll be fine. Don't cry as you can't stop what's written. You can only pray and wait for your prayers to be answered."

But sometimes prayers are answered when you regret asking for them in the first place. When they hold no importance to you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Salam guys,

Look who's back.😜

I am extremely sorry for the late update. I seriously am but I wasn't able to get time to write as I was busy with my sister's wedding and now when it is done it would take few days for me to get back to the flow as well as recover from the exhaustion I am feeling after her marriage.

Bear with me guys.

Till next time,

Allah Hafiz.