Mahira Khan.

I stir in my slumber irritated at the interruption of my blissful sleep. Before I even open my eyes, I can hear a loud conversation amongst familiar voices.

One, I am certain belongs to Dad."What happened between you guys? That Hira had to starve herself, if it was a serious issue why didn't you consult us? ", Dad's voice bellowed and if I am not hallucinating, he seems pissed off. I try blinking to open my eyes and see if this another parallel world.

"I.....actually.....that....", if I did not have an issue to solve right now, I would have gone into fits of laughter. What I wouldn't give to see is infamous Mohsin Baig stuttering!

"You are only increasing my suspicions, speak up before I...."

"Papa, it's not his fault. I was the one that brought this upon myself. Please don't blame Mohsin. I am ashamed of my actions. Last month when I agreed for the reception, it was with ulterior motives. I wanted to avenge the pain that Husnain put us through. In fact, I had been planning this whole thing for three years now. But we did not frame him, he was actually involved in those crimes. In all of this, I failed to realise that I was using Mohsin for my own advantage until few days ago when Phupi knocked some sense into me while I confessed the whole truth to her." My voice gets shaky recalling that horrific encounter.

"She was extremely upset with me, she still is. She believes since I did not value Mohsin while I had the chance, I do not deserve him anymore. I think so too. That was why I purposely fought with him two weeks ago, said words that I absolutely did not mean and hurt him irrevocably." I make sure to keep eye contact with him as I confess.

His face is blank, not a muscle twitching in acknowledgement. In fact, he was the one who broke eye contact first. For some reason, the tears that had gathered in my waterline begin spilling. Mom rubs my back, trying to console me and Dad sighs in disappointment. I wipe my eyes trying to finish my pathetic speech, "Mai sharminda hun Papa, khud par ghin aa rahi hai. I am sorry Mohsin, for unknowingly undermining your worth. I deserve this agony." I breathe haggardly, trying to gather myself again.

After I have stopped sniffling, the silence in the room prevails. The tension is thick and I bet nobody here knows what to say. Surprisingly, Mohsin breaks the trance, "Mamu, I knew about her intensions when I agreed to the reception. She had made it clear she needed my help and I was a willing participant. I don't see how this is entirely her fault. If she is wrong, so am I."

Papa scrutinizes us for a few more minutes in heavy, awkward silence. I am sure he is contemplating whether we should remain in this bond after this or not but no matter what he or the other family members have to say, I have made up my mind I am going to fight for Mohsin. no matter the circumstances or people, I have learnt it the hard way that i have no real life without him. I definitely wouldn't go down without a fight.

"I didn't expect such foolishness from you Mahira but what is done is done. Both of you had reasons for how you acted, even if they are senseless. Let bygones be bygones, now what you have to do with this relationship is your call. If you choose to part ways, and mind you with mutual consent, be my guest. Nobody will stop you guys, you can be free from this burden and live the rest of your life without having to see each other. Perhaps, both of you could find better partners....", the rest of his words are a blur to me.

A life without having to see Mohsin's cold, hazel eyes boring into mine, without seeing his annoying as fuck poker face and his obnoxious 'I am a prick' attitude seems impossible. Life then would be colorless, with no adventure of decoding his blank eyes, with no more fun of getting on his nerves. By the time I am back into reality, Dad has his eyebrow raised at me, mocking my lost expression. Just great! Glad he finds my misery amusing. Both of them leave us alone again, departing to fill my discharge formalities.

I slump back on the bed, holding my head between my hands. How do I fix this? What if Mohsin wants nothing to do with me anymore. My head begins throbbing again at the prospect of losing him.

He walks to the bed and I look up at him confusingly when he removes his sneakers and sits on the bed placing his head against the headrest. He slightly opens his folded knees, patting the space between them.I crawl towards him, turning my back to his front and settle between his legs. I cautiously place my head in the crook of his neck, grabbing his left hand as I instinctively begin playing with his ring.

His embrace is warm, his spice cologne filling my nostrils. I sigh in content after a full fifteen days. I tilt my head slightly towards his neck and rub my nose against his jaw which has a stubble now.

"When did you last shave? You always liked it without hair. " I ask him while his free hand rubs my side.

He doesn't answer at first, so I pout thinking he is still angry at me.

"Last week. After that, I was busy getting piss drunk, cursing my wife. I didn't have the time to shave or even dress up for that matter." His low voice spikes my heart beat, something about his hot breath hitting my neck is erotic. I didn't think I would live to see this day after how I behaved with him the other day.

"I am sorry, so sorry baby. I swear I did not mean even one word that I spewed that day. Phupi was so angry that her words got to my head. I felt like I didn't deserve you and pushing you away was the best thing to do. But the last few days have knocked sense into me. The only thing I did was lock myself up in my room and cry all day." I slide his ring slightly, then place a chaste kiss on the skin that had the ring previously.

" I spoke to Mama about it. Even if she was upset, she had no right to make decisions on my behalf. She even regrets being rude to you." I gasp at his words , getting up and turning to look at him if he is serious.

When he shows no signs of cracking up, I punch his chest as hard as i can."You knew it all along, didn't you? Still, you didn't respond to any of my messages. You jerk!"

He grabs my hand, pulling me closer such that our chests touch enough to create waves of ecstasy through my body. "What about the time when you said I was still a kid? How much of that did you mean?", his nose is running all through the dip of my neck and collarbone.

His hands sneak under my gown which has buttons from behind. He is doing it on purpose, rendering me vulnerable and too speechless to respond. I pant like a freaking dog, tightening my hold on his shoulders to keep myself from falling on him completely.

His fingers don't seem to like my silence, so they increase their pace exploring every inch of the skin on my waist. I finally moan when he bites my earlobe, his tongue working magic on my sweet spot.

"Answer me, spitfire."

I try to redirect my focus on his question as another moan spills out of me when his fingers squeeze my buttocks.

"None. No part of that sentence was true. My heart unfortunately chose you to race for." Right that instant, I feel a sting on my collarbone, before I can hiss, it is soothed by his sinful tongue.

That's enough torture, I grab his face and crash my lips on his. The moment they meet, a groan emerges out of his throat and I swear I have never seen anything more sexy. Sooner than anticipated, our tongues clash and obviously he would dominate it, not that I'm complaining.

After a heavy make out session, we part far enough for both of us to breathe. He places his forehead on mine. His thumb circling my jaw and I know instantly that's all I will ever need to cheer up my mood. His mesmerizing hazels with specs of golden stare at me with a sense of ownership that leaves butterflies jumping in my stomach.

His fingers automatically wrap my locks around them in ringlets, "Don't ever think of abandoning me again. Tumhare bina mai jeena bhool jata hun." I shake my head immediately, sniffling as I cherish this precious moment.

"Kabhi nai, I promise."

"Aur khabardaar agar mujhe dubara aise daraya to. Khaana tumne choda tha, jaan meri nikaal lete Sir." A smile breaks on my face in spite of the tears.

"Only if you promise to feed me forever." His eyes widen and after contemplating for a second or two, he nods.

" Deal."

I grin, extending my hand to shake with him as if we are singing the biggest deal of the year, surprisingly he places his in mine.

"To forever, Mr.Baig!"

"To forever and the afterlife, Mrs.Baig"