THIRD PERSON'S POV

As soon as those words left her mouth, Noor embraced her tightly showcasing her pearly whites, her puffy cheeks more prominent, placing sloppy kisses on Maria happily.

"My mama."

One word. Countless emotions.

Her whole world changed with that one word. A new set of emotions ran inside her when Noor called her 'mama' and the feeling was out of the world. It was like someone gave her new life, a beautiful one. A lone tear leaked out of her eye in happiness.

"Mama."

Her eyes shined with happiness as if she found treasure for which she was yearning for years, since childhood. Even when she was surrounded by a big family and a loving father, there always was a void in her heart which was now filled.

A mother's affection couldn't never be replaced by anything in the whole world. It was priceless.

"Yes, your mama."

Matching Noor's enthusiasm she smiled kissing her nose, inhaling her baby scent feeling calm. Her heart felt peace in her presence. Her daughter's presence. If she got any good marrying Mustafa then it was Noor and now she would do anything for her happiness. She had been deprived of a mother's love since birth but now she won't. She had her mother and she would get her all her love. She would no more crave for a mother's affection.

"You will love me. Haina ?"

She was expectantly looking at her mother with her big charcoal orbs, sucking her little thumb, while the other one was placed her mother's cheek, making her resemble like a cute little bunny. Her innocent, yet powerful question shaked her to the core but it didn't faltered the answer she was about to give Noor. Her daughter. Her child.

"I will."

Kissing her forehead Maria answered with finality to which the little girl in her lap clapped loudly, grinning at her mother.

"Aul mere baba ?"

Her smile faltered as soon as she heard his name but she managed to put on a fake smile for the sake of her daughter.

"What about him baby ?"

She knew what Noor was asking but couldn't stop herself from questioning her. Did he really wanted love and that too from the girl whom he only considered as a responsibility ? The same girl whom he rejected four years ago marrying Asmara whom he liked very much.

Maybe he wanted love but not her's. She was not the one he yearned for. She was never 'the one', it was always Asmara and will forever remain so. She would never try to take the place which never belonged to her. Yes, they might be married but that didn't mean she would forget everything and move on.

He only married her to make her more vulnerable, to lure her in his trap when his beloved wife was no more. She was just an easy option for him, nothing else or maybe his ego was hurt when she rejected him and now he wanted to take revenge on her.

What rubbish are you thinking, Maria ? How can you think so low of him ? He is the same man who saved your life when you were caught in a freaking fire. He was the one who wiped your tears, when your parents died. He was the one who comforted you, when you woke up to nightmares and lulled you to sleep, while he himself had sleepless nights because of you. He was the one who used to celebrate your happiness, whether it was about you getting good grades or you winning some trophy. He was the one who fulfilled your every wish no matter what it was, no matter what time it was. Your every wish was his command.

He was the one who sacrificed his share of pancakes just because you were insane after them. He was the one who always took your side no matter what. He was the one who protected you as a shield during every mishap. He was the one who always took blame for late night drives and got scolded by Abba because of your obsession with ice-creams. His eyes were the ones to cry everytime you got hurt. He was the arrogant, cold hearted Mir Mustafa Ahwaan for everyone, but for you he was your hero. Only yours.

What he was for the world, he wasn't for you. Remember only you were able to calm him down when he got angry. You were only the one who could bring smile on his face after a long tiring day. Did you forgot everything just because he chose someone else over you ? It wasn't his fault that he fell for Asmara just like you fell for him. It wasn't his fault that he only took you as a friend.

It wasn't........

My heart went on and on defending him just like everytime but mind had its own points and it wasn't ready to lose this time. It was a war which my mind was determined to win against the heart who was ready to fight for its love.

Nothing is rubbish. It's you who is too blind. It was never about him loving me back. It was about how he broke all his promises one by one. It is about how he mocked my feelings, calling them infatuation. It is about how he forced me to convince Abba for his marriage, knowing well how much it was hurting me. It is about how he kept on hurting me everytime, deliberately. It was about how he forgot everything we shared just because I fell in love.

You say he saved my life, but wasn't he the one who sucked it out of me like I was nothing, leaving me empty ? You say he wiped my tears, but wasn't he the one who made me cry endlessly ? You say he was the one who comforted me while I went through nightmares, but wasn't he the one who gave me more nightmares to run from and was the reason I nearly destroyed myself ? You say he celebrated my happiness, but wasn't he the one who celebrated my doom, while I was breaking everyday unable to do anything. You say he fulfilled my every wish, but wasn't he the one who made me fulfill his biggest wish. You say he protected me as a shield, but wasn't he the one who pushed me away like a piece of trash. You say he always took blame for everything I did, but wasn't he the one who blamed me for ruining his life, calling me a nightmare ?

You say he cried everytime I was in pain but wasn't he the one who silently watched when I was breaking in front of him. He saw I was breaking, bit by bit, piece by piece but he didn't did anything and stood there silently watching my destruction. He forgot me just like a stranger. He pushed me away from him like I never mattered. He......

"Mama..."

It was Noor who broke my trance and I looked up at her, finding her looking at me with her questioning gaze. It was then I remembered her question. I don't what to answer her. I don't want to lie to her just because she is a small child.

Oh really!! you could lie to yourself but you can't lie to her. Such a hypocrite you are, Maria.

Heart mocked and I could help but agree with it, after so long.

"I can't love him baby because I love you."

She pouted hearing my reply, but then her eyes sparked again and I prayed for her not to ask me a difficult question me as I dont know how will I answer her this time.

"I can shale mama. Baba taught me shaling."

"But noorie...."

"Aapko pata hai ek baal maine baba ko aapki photo ko kish kalte hue dekha tha aul main gusha ho gayi thi because baba only loves and kiss Noor but he said I am a good girl and I should shale."

What! He kissed my photo. Did he missed me ? Did he regretted everything he did ? Or was he guilty because I left ? Or was it just a hoax ?

Ughhh.... Don't think about it Maria. It will only weaken your resolve to make him regret marrying you. Just remember you have a mission to complete and you have to succeed in it.

Yaad rakho tumhe Mustafa Ahwaan ko unki nani yaad dilani hai.

"So, I will shale with baba. Otay Mama ?"

"Okay baby."

Kissing Noor's cheeks I assured her to share her love with her baba which obviously I wasn't going to, but I agreed just for her satisfaction and because I want to see her beautiful smile.

"I love you mama. Itna saara."

Her words and the way she excitedly had spread her arms widely describing her love towards me warmed my heart and I couldn't help but engulfed her small frame in my arms and kiss her head pouring my love towards her.

"I love you too Noorie."

After spending some quality time together we both headed down towards the kitchen area as he asked me to prepare dinner for him. It's not like I have forgiven him or something but something had to be done for my mission and I am not going to back down till I irritate him and make hime regret marrying me.

I will be a good wife who will do his every work only to make it more difficult for him. I'll irritate him to the extent he'll stop bugging me.

Ahhh... I am feeling like an evil person but I don't care. I just want to prove my heart that all his claims of loving me are nothing but lies. That way I'll able to protect it from any harm from his side, also it will be easy for me to detach my heart from him.

Feeding Noor, she tugged her inside her blanket after she fell asleep and waited for Mustafa to come home just like a good wife. She even refused to eat dinner with her family informing she will eat it with her beloved husband which was shocking for everyone but no one dared to speak anything happy for the progress in their relationship oblivious of the plans she had in her mind.

"What are you doing here at this hour ?"

She was re heating the food when she heard him leaning towards the kitchen door watching her intensely without blinking his eyes. His sleeves were rolled up, his hair messy, eyes seeming tired after a long day which vanished as soon as their eyes met. He felt alive with her one glance. For a second she got nervous under his gaze but then she remembered her mission which made her forget all her nervousness and switch on her acting button.

"I was waiting for you."

Blinking innocently, she looked at him him who stilled in his place for seconds before finding his voice back.

"What!"

He couldn't believe his ears. Maybe his heart was playing sick games making him believe things which weren't going to happen soon. She won't wait for him ever, and just like always he was dreaming, taking in all her features before he wakes up and the beautiful dream gets over.

"Why are you so shocked ? Weren't you the one who asked me to keep my promise to cook you food after a long tiring day ?"

Her voice snapped him out of his trance and he realised it wasn't a dream but reality. She really was standing in front of him, waiting for him. A big smile made its way to his face and his voice faltered for she remembered her promise.

"Yo-you took it s-seriously ?"

"Of course, I did. Main aapki tarah jhoote wade nahi karti."

Her reply wiped the beautiful smile off his face. Of course she was Maria and it was getting too hard for her to act all sweet in front of him, when her too sweet self could made him suspicious of her behaviour.

"I...."

"Leave it. Come, I'll serve you dinner."

Grabbing his hand, she took him off guard. Again. She wanted to shock him and it was funny for her to see his shocked face.

"O-okay..."

Was she planning to give him a heart attack with her sweet behaviour ? He didn't knew and he wasn't interested to find it out, too lost in her.

Hiding her grin she served him the extra spicy butter chicken she prepared specially for him, patiently waiting for his response.

"How is it ?"

There she saw it and hid her smile seeing his eyes which were bulging out due to its amazing taste. It wasn't bad but too spicy for his poor stomach.

"A-amazing."

A long painful sigh escaped his throat, before he answered her with wobbly lips as they were too numb, feeling burning sensation on them, his eyes turning misty due to the spice he consumed.

"Then why are you crying ?"

Biting her lip she controlled herself from reacting funnily and waited for his reaction only to be turned down, getting shocked with his reply.

"I.... Tears of happiness. Yes, they are tears of happiness. Thank you."

Trying to control burning sensation in his chest he managed to give her a small smile not wanting to break her heart by rejecting food prepared by her. It was first time she made something for him after their marriage and he won't dare reject it no matter how it tasted. He would accept everything she provided him with even if it was bitter gourd he hated.

"Welcome...."

She was shocked hearing his response over the extra spicy food she made. He didn't rejected it rather savoured it like a starved man. How did he managed to eat all of it without even complaining ? Was he real ?

"Wait.... I need water. My throat is parched and... "

His words faltered feeling chilli burn his insides but his expressions didn't gave slightest hint of his discomfort yet she saw it, afterall she was the one who added extra spice to his food for his discomfort and now when she was successful, she herself was feeling guilty for doing it. She thought he will scold her for putting so much spice but he didn't. His behavior was confusing her and instead of getting him annoyed she herself was falling into the pit of regret.

Chillies was a bad idea. Infact it was sadistic on her part to put him through so much of misery.

"I'll bring it."

Without hearing his full sentence she rushed towards the kitchen area not able to see him in pain as it was hurting her too along with him. Taking a deep breath she filled the jug with chilled water and went back, providing him with water.

"Here."

He gulped down the whole glass in one go one after another, feeling his throat soothing with the cold liquid, managing to give her a small smile.

"Thank you for the dinner. It was amazing."

Except it was a little spicy. No, it was very spicy but I won't tell you. I don't want to hurt you more.

Giving her a genuine smile he thanked her. It was then after seconds he realised she was lost somewhere in her thoughts and snapped his fingers in front of her face to get her attention.

"Aapko kuch chahiye ?"

"No, I just wanted to thank you for the dinner."

Smiling he forwarded his hand to caress her cheeks to which she flinched back as soon as his hand came in contact with her skin. Realisation hit him and he retreated his hand back within a second, taking her response as her rejection.

"Yo-your welcome."

She wasn't able to look in his eyes and rushed towards her room without sparing him any glance feeling guilty for things she did. It was cruel on her part to do something like that.

You are so cruel Maria. You went too far. You should be ashamed of yourself.

No, it's okay. You are a human and they are bound to make mistakes.

And you can definitely irritate him without paining him.

Seeing her retreating back he thought he went overboard and cursed himself for scaring her off, thinking he made her feel uncomfortable with his advancement, not knowing of the ongoing war between her heart and mind because of him.

Who would win the battle ?

The stubborn heart or the determined mind ? Only time could tell.

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Salam everyone,

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Till next time,

Allah Hafiz 😇