THIRD PERSON'S POV

The next day Maria went towards the breakfast table with a big smile on her face to start a new and fresh day, trying to enjoy her limited days at her Abba's house. Yes, her home was in Mumbai now. Ahwaan villa was just her Abba's house.

She was happy after so long and longed to stay like that only. Her motive was simple and clear. It was to ignore Mustafa Ahwaan and stay happy. Staying away from him was her key to happiness.

But as much as she succeeded avoiding him the whole day she wasn't able to avoid him at the dinning table just like now. He was sitting across her giving her his best smile whenever their gazes clashed with each other. There was a time she loved seeing him smile but right now his smile was making her feel annoyed and she was ready to bash him if he didn't take his irritating gaze off her.

"Baba Noor want coco cake..."

She sighed in relief when little Noor diverted all his attention towards herself.

"Baby they are finished. See, none is left."

From the corner of her eyes she saw him cooing his daughter who was in no mood to listen to him. Maybe she was stubborn just like him.

"No. Noor want coco cake."

She pouted and gave him an innocent look, gathering big fat tears in her eyes which were ready to flow if her father denies her again.

"She is a chocolate pancake fan just like you and stubborn too. Now she won't stop until she gets what she wants."

"Oh..."

Osama whispered inside her ear clearing her confusion on coco cake.

She was ready to speak when they heard Aamina speaking

"Noorie. You can have it tommorow baby. There is no need to cry."

Going towards Noor she tried taking her from her brother but she jerked her hands off her and started wailing loudly getting everyone's attention.

"No. No. No...."

Clutching her father's shirt she sobbed keeping her head on his shoulder wetting his shirt with her tears, paining his heart.

"Noor. You can have my pancake.."

Not able to see the little girl cry Maria spoke turning everyone's head in her direction including Noor's who's tears were long gone replaced with a big smile.

"It's okay....Wait !!! Noor..."

Mustafa looked towards her direction to decline when Noor jumped from his lap and ran towards Maria with a wide innocent smile melting her heart then and there.

Opening her little arms she pouted trying to sit on her lap, making Maria startle with her actions. After contemplating for few seconds she smiled picking her up settling little Noor on her lap and fed her ignoring a shocked Mustafa.

"You shouldn't have called her. She is turning stubborn and doesn't stops till all her wishes are fulfilled."

Mustafa sighed sharing a look with Maria who was feeding Noor.

"So you were okay to let her cry just because she is stubborn ?"

Giving him an annoyed look she turned her concerntration towards Noor who was tugging her hand with an open mouth asking her to feed her.

"It's not like that....."

"Its okay, you don't have to answer me. She is your daughter anyways."

She interrupted shutting him up.

"She likes you."

Osama informed Maria pulling cheeks of little Noor who was happily sitting on her lap, eating her favourite chocolate pancake.

"I mean to say that she is always shy in front of new people but with you.....it's shocking. I guess she likes you otherwise she won't have come near you considering you are new to her."

"Ohh..."

"Noorie you like her ?"

He turned towards Noor pulling her chin towards him, trying to pry answer out of his neice to prove his point of her liking Maria.

"Aachu Noor no talk when eat. Otay ?"

Noor shook her head answering her uncle with a cute pout on her face remembering well what her father taught her.

"Otay..."

Osama answered her in the same tone mimicking her voice to which Maria laughed seeing him failing miserably.

On the other hand Mustafa was mesmerized seeing her laugh freely with a carefree look on her face but her laugh changed quickly to that of a scowl when she noticed him staring at her.

•

"Your hair are losing their shine, guriya. Didn't you oiled them in Mumbai ?"

Dado complained untangling her long red tresses from her braid ready to oil them.

"No, I didn't because there was no one to oil my hair."

Maria pouted and turned to look towards dado who smacked her arm in a playful manner.

"Or say you were too lazy to do so."

"You could say that."

She winked at dado to which she smiled in return shaking her head on her childish behavior.

"I missed your massage dado."

Maria moaned when dado's fingers touched her scalp massaging it with hot oil. It was so soothing, making her close her eyes in content.

"Its so relaxing that I can fall asleep anytime."

Her voice came out low just like a mere whisper telling she was about to fall asleep but was interrupted by Noor who was playing with a ball and it directly landed on Maria's head, alerting her.

"Ouch.."

Rubbing her head she looked around to find the culprit when she saw a scared Noor standing beside dado.

"Noorie say sorry to her."

Dado asked her to say sorry to which she nodded, taking few steps and stood before Maria holding her ears with an apologetic face.

"Sorry."

"It's okay."

Giving her a small smile she caressed the cheeks of the small girl who gave her a toothy grin.

"What happened now ?"

She was still standing before her looking at her intently with a glint in her eyes. She was grinning ear to ear as if she found some treasure.

"Are you prwincess aliel ?"

Her eyes were filled with hope but it died instantly when Maria declined her.

"No, I am not Ariel."

"But you look aliel."

Noor pouted pointing towards her red hair which were shining more in the sunlight making them appear more red than they actually were.

"But I am not Ariel Noor."

She felt guilty for wiping the big smile off the little girl's face but it had to be done. She would have been broken if she got to know that she wasn't Ariel.

"I call you aliel. My aliel."

And the lost glint was back on her face with full force along with her happy giggles which Maria along with dado was unable to resist and they too laughed with her.

•

"Itni raat ko kya ban raha hai ?"

Rabia Ahwaan came downstairs to drink water when she saw Maria inside kitchen preparing something.

"Biriyani."

She chirped, answering her while stirring the ingredients with the spoon.

"You should have asked me to make it for you, bacha."

"Koi baat nahi tayi ammi. Murat ko mere haathon ki hi biryani khaani hai."

Giving her a small smile she assured her tayi ammi that it was no big deal for her.

"Murat ? The same friend Aamina told us about... Right ?"

She questioned wanting to confirm about the guy Aamina told them was coming with Maria to attend her wedding.

"Hmmm. The same one."

Maria confirmed, clearing her doubt.

"He is coming today ?"

"Yes, in few hours."

"You should have told us that he is coming today so that we could have send someone to pick him up."

Her expressions changed to that of a surprise hearing about Murat's arrival.

"It's okay. He'll manage."

"Okay till then I'll go and wake everyone up to welcome him."

She looked frantic and was about to leave to wake everyone up when Maria stopped her from doing so knowing it was already very late and it would take few more hours for him to reach Delhi.

"No. There's no need to disturb anyone because he'll reach here till 3:00. I'll ask him to meet everyone in the morning."

"Are you sure ?"

Rabia Ahwaan was sceptical to leave when Maria turned towards her to make her understand that it was okay and they all could meet him early morning.

"I am. So, now you go and sleep. It's already one."

Holding Rabia Ahwaan's hand she asked her to sleep giving her an assuring smile to manage everything on her own.

"Shabba khair."

Rabia Ahwaan left for her room, giving her one last look. She too turned towards the stove, resuming cooking.

She was done with the preparation within half an hour so she decided to take a small nap before Murat's arrival and settled herself down on the sofa closing her eyes.

Her state of peaceful slumber ended when she felt someone tapping her shoulder to which she opened her eyes only to find the pair of dark brown orbs standing close to her.

"Allah...."

She opened her mouth to scream when a large rough hand concealed it stopping her from doing so.

"It's me."

Mustafa whispered removing his hand from her mouth, not wanting to scare her more than she already was.

"I can see that and It was just an instant reaction."

"Ohh."

Rolling her eyes she stood up from the sofa taking her phone from the side table and started walking towards the kitchen to heat dinner for Murat.

"What are you doing here ?"

"None of your business."

She glared at him for disturbing her and continued doing her work.

"Can't you just have a civil conversation instead of glaring at me ?"

He asked standing close to her, well it was not so close but close enough to irritate her.

She ignored his question and turned around picking dishes from the cupboard to set them on the dinning table.

"Are you avoiding me ?"

"Answer me."

"Now you are testing my patience birdie...."

That was her cue to turn towards him as she had enough of his so called 'attention seeking' drama.

"And you are testing mine. I already told you that I am not interested in talking with you. So Please do me a favor and LEAVE.ME.ALONE."

Taking a few deep breaths she tried controlling the anger she was feeling. Never in her wildest dreams she would have imagined getting angry at him. At the same man who once was responsible for bringing out the best in her and now, he was responsible for bringing out her worst side.

"I won't."

Not when I can have you again. Forever.

You won't ? Okay, then I am leaving."

She turned to walk out realising he won't leave. She was happy Murat was coming and didn't wanted to spoil her mood fighting with him.

"Wait.... Listen to me for once."

He too ran after her stopping her by holding her wrist to turn her towards himself.

"Dekhiye aap...."

She was about to answer him when a familiar voice called her out melting all her anger replacing it with a huge smile on her face, making her look more beautiful than she already was.

"Dove!!"

"Murat!!"

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

Salam,

Who's happy with Murat's entry ?

How is little Noor ? Isn't she adorable ?

Let's see what happens next.

And Don't forget to vote and comment.

Your comments makes me happy and encourage me to write more.

Till next time,

Allah Hafiz.