IMPORTANT NOTE AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER

Murat held her wrist and took her towards the garden area which was at the back of the cabin. His hold was tight but that was not which scared her, it was his expressions which send chills down her body.

"Sit here."

His voice was calm but his eyes, they held thousands of emotions in them, one of them which was anger and it could be easily detected by her with one look.

"Murat I...."

"Keep quiet."

Keeping his index finger on her lips he stopped her from speaking and narrowed his eyes at her before he himself started speaking.

"I don't know what's wrong with you dove. Have you forgotten everything ? Ya ye tumhari mohabbat sar chadh kar bol rahi hai..."

His mind again wandered off to the scene he witnessed and it was exploading his brain. He was furious when he saw her on top of that man and that man had the audacity to smirk at him which was very ridiculous according to him.

"I am regretting convincing you to come here. I really am."

Running a hand through his hair, he took a long breath to calm himself knowing anger was not good, not only for him but his dove too who was sitting in front of him with a scared look in her eyes.

"Murat I.... Can I speak ?"

Her voice was very meek and the way she innocently took his permission melted his anger then and there, replacing it with a small smile.

"Boliye..."

The smile lasted only for few seconds as he wanted to showcase his seriousness in front of her.

"I didn't collided with him deliberately nor did he. I was running trying to save myself from Osama who was after me and that I was the time we both collided. I swear it wasn't deliberate. Believe me, please."

She pleaded, holding his hand afraid he was angry and won't forgive her at all but he squeezed her hand in return and gave her a small reassuring smile.

"I believe you, dove but I don't believe him at all...."

Taking a deep breath, he tried calming raging emotions inside him, which were fighting with him to come out but he fought them well, not allowing them to take over him.

"I have seen you going through tough times, which took you years to overcome..... I literally saw you dying, dove. You resembled a living corpse that time........"

His eyes teared up remembering those horrible days, where she used to cry on his shoulders continuously for hours, where she used to starve herself and he literally had to force her to eat and that was not even the end of it. She used to get nightmares every night which made her fear sleep resulting in sleepless nights.

She was a mess and it took a lot of efforts by both of them to get her to the right track.

"I won't let you ruin yourself again. I won't. You are my only family left and I can't afford to lose you."

A lone tear leaked out of his eye, which he quickly wiped without her notice because she was looking down in guilt even when she did nothing wrong.

It was then she met her eyes with him. Both of them were hiding their tears from each other, not wanting to trouble the other.

"I am sorry... I sorry for troubling you...But I promise you won't lose me ever. You won't lose your only family Murat. I promise."

Her words brought a big smile on his face and he embraced her tightly, not noticing a pair of teary brown eyes crying with them, crying for the wrongs he did to the poor soul, crying for the burning he was feeling inside his chest seeing her with someone else. He was feeling anger, frustration at the same time.

"I made you emotional. Didn't I ?

So, let's go for an ice-cream. Shall we ?"

He wasn't able to see tears in her eyes so decided to cheer her up with

ice- cream, which clearly brought back her usual cheerful self.

"Of course!!! Let's go."

Chirping she stood up, passing her hand towards him, helping him to get up and they both happily left the cabin for ice-cream.

Not able to take more if their closeness Mustafa turned back on his heels seeing thier retrieving backs, rushing towards his room, alerting Aamina who was coming downstairs after cleaning herself up.

"Bhaai.... What happened ?"

She immediately locked his room and sat beside him waiting for him to speak up.

"Please go out, Aamina... I need sometime alone."

He pleaded but she shook her head and held his hand, telling she was with him and she won't go until he tells her what was disturbing him.

"I won't.... So, start speaking up if you want me to leave. I'll leave as soon as I you are done."

Her words brought a faint smile on his face for a second seeing his baby sister with him.

"Stubborn... Aren't you ?"

Ruffling her hair he asked, to which she patted her own back, stating proudly

"Indeed....Aapki hi behen hu. Now tell me what's bothering my brother ?"

Thinking for few seconds her expressions to that of seriousness when she guessed the reason of his pained expressions.

"It's about her... Isn't it ?"

He nodded meekly, closing his eyes for few seconds before continuing

"I am afraid that.... I'll lose her...Again.

I am afraid I'll lose her to Murat. Maybe he is the best for her but I need her. I need her to survive Aamina....."

Bhaai.... Please khudko sambhalein."

She rubbed his back seeing him cry and held him tightly to comfort him.

"Main.... Main use dobara khud se door jaate hue nahi dekh sakta..... I don't think I'll be able to take it."

He was voice was filled with helplessness, with so much pain that made her tear up too.

"Bhaai why don't you...."

"Don't even think to talk about it. Aaj to bol diya hai lekin aainda ye baat apne muh se mat nikalna. I am warning you."

He warned, eyes turning ice cold in an instant.

"But bhaai..."

She tried to explaining him when he scolded her, when she stood up giving up seeing his stubborn attitude.

"Ek baar ki baat samajh nahi aati Aamina."

"As you wish bhaai... Good luck winning her back because you have a long way to go."

Patting his back she turned to leave giving him a smile.

"Aapka rasta itna lamba hai ke mujhe lagta hai aap beech raste mein hi thak jaayenge..."

She didn't wanted to discourage him but she didn't wanted him to have high hopes too. She knew he had a long way to go and it won't be easy for him to win her.

"Meri manzil hai wo.... Maybe I'll get tired in the middle but I can't give up upon her. Heck, giving up is not even an option because if I lose her , I'll lose myself too."

His voice was filled of passion, with determination telling he was ready to fight for her, for himself because if not now, it will be too late.

"You won't lose her."

I know, you won't...

The look in his eyes said it all and she knew he'll do everything in his might to win her back.

•

"Kitna maza aaya... Haina ?"

Maria giggled, raising her eyebrows towards Murat who nodded in return happy to bring back her smile.

"Yes, definitely.... Maza kaise nahi aata main saath tha to maza aana Laazmi tha."

She rolled her eyes at his habit of praising himself and smacked his arm, glaring at him.

"Achaa... You enjoyed because I was there. Remember I am the awesome one here, not you."

He laughed loudly when he saw her glaring at him for taking all credits, and held his ears for an apology when he saw her glaring.

"Okay! Okay! I agree you are the awesome one."

She grinned as soon as she heard that and patted his back, praising him.

"Good..."

A yawn escaped her mouth to which she stepped towards her room to sleep, when she heard him speaking, halting her in her tracks.

"Dove.....Keep smiling like this, always."

All she could do was nod her head and then enter her room. Her room was dark and she wasn't able to get a clear vision, only the outline of the objects, moonlight being the only source of light.

Mustafa on the other hand wanted to confess his feelings and was waiting for her to come back but as soon as he saw her laughing and enjoying with Murat his temper flared up, ending him up in her room. He was ready to confront her, now.

Knocking her door once, he waited for her to open the door which she did thinking Murat came back but her expressions changed to that of shock finding Mustafa on the door.

"I want to talk with you..."

He entered her room as soon as she opened it, knowing well she won't allow him to enter it.

"But I don't want to.... So, you can leave."

She confessed keeping a stoic face which she mastered during those four years away from the family. Showing him the open door she asked him to leave but he wasn't in the mood to, not before having a talk with her.

"Leave or I'll call Murat."

She threatened, her voice sounding cold but it wasn't her threats that angered him, it was Murat's name from her mouth which enraged him.

"Don't ever take his name in front of me."

Taking small steps towards her, he answered challenging her.

"Why ? what will you do then ? Hurt me ? You know what you can't hurt me anymore. I have taken that power away from you. You won't be able to hurt me cause now you don't matter to me anymore."

Her words were powerful as well as painful at the same time. They were pinching his insides, making it difficult for him to breathe.

"I won't do anything. I just...."

Words faltered from his mouth, making him intake a long breath before speaking again.

"Forgive me... Give me another chance to make everything alright. "

She laughed. Hard. Forgive him ? Has he lost his mind asking for her apology or is he trying to lure her into his trap. Had he forgotten what he did ? Had he forgotten she was the reason behind his miserable life ?

"Why do you want my apology ? Remember, I am the same girl whom you called a nightmare.... I am the same worthless girl who used to feed on Ahwaan's money. Main wahi ladki hu jispe aapne taras khaake hazar ehsaan kare the. I am the same girl who was infatuated with you.... Did you forget that all ?"

Her words stabbed him again and again on his heart reminding him of everything he did. Reminding the wounds he gave to the girl he ever loved. Reminding him the admiration he killed which she held only for him in her heart.

"I am sorry for I never believed you loved me. I am sorry for calling your love infatuation towards me. I am so sorry little birdie, forgive me and give me another chance. I promise I'll not let you down this time."

He pleaded looking at her but she didn't want to hear him. She didn't want to hear any of his apology. They were over. They were not even one for anything to get over.

When she didn't answered he himself went towards her and cupped her cheeks in his large hands, warming them with his warmth and then he asked the most dreaded question. He feared it but he wanted her answer. He wanted to know if she still loved him after all these years.

"Don't you. Don't you, love me anymore ?"

Her eyes teared up a little answering him. It was reminding her of the pain she went through. Of all the agony she felt just because of her stupid feelings and heart. It reminded her of the things she did in his love, for his happiness even when it hurt her to do it.

"My feelings don't matter. They never did, because everything was about you. It was always about what you wanted. You said I was infatuated with you, I accepted my defeat. You wanted Asmara, I convinced Abba to marry you both. You wanted your nightmare to get over, I left Delhi. So, It was never about me."

"You didn't answered my question Maria. Don't you love me anymore ?"

He again asked, trying to read her.

"I don't think my answer matters."

She whispered meekly with a small painful smile removing his hand from her face, pushing herself against the wall taking its support.

"It does."

"It doesn't cause even if I loved you It wasn't strong enough to make you stay...."

She answered, before pausing to pull herself together before answering him.

"Aapko Asmara se mohabbat hai mujhse nahi so it was obvious you both were meant to be together."

She stated what she believed and she was sure about it even when she never asked him about it. She knew it well.

"I don't love her."

He stated calmly looking in her eyes to show he wasn't lying.

"You do. I saw it in your eyes."

She remembered the day at mall when they both were busy with each other as if the world didn't mattered to them.

"Tumne galat dekha hoga."

He was now getting irritated with her statements but she wasn't ready to listen to him at all.

"You don't have to lie about it. I know you love her. She was your wife and.."

She was blabbering hurting her own self when he screamed warning her to shut up.

"Shut up or I will..."

"Or what ? You can't order me to keep quiet cause I won't. How dare you ask me to....."

He shut her up smashing his lips on hers. His kiss was fierce, like fire. He was putting his everything into that kiss. His love, his jealousy, his anger, his wait. Everything was conveyed to her with that kiss whereas she was frozen in his arms like a statue who lost her ability to speak or to react. He was punishing her for accusing him for loving Asmara.

Finally, after kissing her for what it seemed as an eternity he rested his forehead on hers and whispered softly

"I don't love her because I love....YOU."

There wasn't even a second when I loved her because I only loved you.

His words snapped her out of her trance letting her know she was kissed.

He kissed her and she let him.

Realisation dawned upon her and she was so enraged that she held his collar tightly and spat venomously

"AND I HATE YOU.... I HATE YOU SO MUCH MUSTAFA AHWAAN."

She screamed even when she knew the reality of her heart. She said that because she wanted to hurt him for kissing her without her permission. She said that because she couldn't put herself to slap him for stealing her first kiss. No matter what, she couldn't bring herself to stoop so low to slap him and why should she slap him when she could cause him pain with words, just like he did. She said that to soothe the burning pain which she made her feel miserable every single day from past four years. She said that because she wanted him to go though the same pain of rejection.

"You don't... I know you don't. Your eyes, says it all....."

He smiled, pointing towards her eyes and left after giving her a last look giving her what she wanted. She saw hurt in his eyes and somewhere inside her it hurt her too, but then she stopped herself for feeling bad for him, knowing he deserved it. It was nothing compared to her pain. It was nothing compared to the sleepless nights she had.

It was nothing.

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Salam everyone,

A long chapter for you all....

But let me tell you that I am not going to update if I don't get feedback. I am losing motivation to write so motivate me to write.

It takes few seconds to comment and you all could atleast do that. For me. I put all my efforts just to make you guys happy so you could atleast vote and comment.

Till next time,

Allah Hafiz.