Sandal's POV:

I stepped outside the car and was greeted by the old familiar-looking houses, faces and front door of my house. Most of the neighbourhood kids yelled my name wave their hands at me.

Ahmed also came beside me.

"Are we going inside or not?" He asked.

"Oh sorry. Come." We walked over to the door and Ahmed open his palm in front of me, "Keys."

It took me a minute to register what he said.

Oh my Allah! Keys...

" Ah... I don't have keys." I said to him biting my inner lip.

"What?" His voice was deadly.

"Sorry!"

"Sorry?... what do you mean by sorry? ... how can you be so stupid? You came all the way from Karachi to Peshawar and you forgot to bring the keys." He scolded me in low voice and I kept quiet looking at the floor.

"Now what are you doing? Let's go to a hotel." I nodded and walked back to the car but Ahmed didn't come with me. I looked back and found him pushing the gate after unlocking it. My mouth drops open and I ran back to him.

"H-how did you?" I pointed to the gate and he shows me the house keys in his palm.

"How did you get those?"

"Well... I have my source." He grabbed my hand and dragged me inside... to my home.

"Everything is changed." I mumbled

The front yard where Papa had done gardening... was gone, leaving dried dead stems behind. After crossing the front yard, Ahmed opened the main door.

I step inside first, "Assalam o Allaikum." I unconsciously said out loud and waited for an answer.

I felt my stomach drop when the answer never came. I looked at Ahmed from the corner of my eyes. Standing near the entrance he was carefully observing me. I was sure that if I break down now, he will drag me to Karachi and never let me come here again.

Taking a deep breath I walked to Areeba's and Hareem's room, taking in every single detail. Then I went to Ami and Papa's room, somehow it felt a bit different, I get the same feelings from mine and Palwisha's room and when I entered Shoaib's room, I found it empty. There was nothing except his bed. His pictures, trophies, computer, CD collection everything was gone.

"Where is this stuff?" I mumbled.

"Ahmed, come here... for a second."

"Hm?"

"His stuff is gone."

"Yeah,... we took care of it."

"Took care of it? ... what do you mean? And who are we.?"

"We will talk about it later... for now, let's go for lunch." He ate breakfast early so it was obvious he would be hungry.

"Okay!" I glanced at Shoaib's room once before walking outside.

~*~

Ahmed's POV:

We didn't go back to the house directly after lunch. First, we buy some groceries, to help Sandal divert her mind. Then we circle around aimlessly on city streets till night. I asked different things about her life here and customs. We stop to have tea, to eat ice cream.

My goal was to make her tired, so she could have a better sleep. Otherwise, her mind keeps revolving around past events, which was not good for her health. After having dinner with Afghani Palao we came back home. She took a quick bath and made a cup of tea for me.

"Aha!.. love you, wife...I really need this tea right now." I took the cup from her hand.

"Where will you sleep?"

"With you of course, in your room." I shrugged and for some reason, she blushed.

"Actually, we only have a room cooler in our house, with no air conditions. So, I was thinking will you really be able to sleep without it?" She was flustered, which made her face glow crimson colour.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine." I ended this discussion to enjoy my hot cup of tea.

~*~

Sandal's POV:

As I thought, he couldn't sleep without air condition. The night was cold due to recent rain, but I guess he was not used to sleeping like this. I looked at him helplessly as he changed his position again. To be honest with me, there was a little part of me who was enjoying his restlessness. I never slept with lights on, but I changed myself for him and now it was his time to adjust. But I couldn't help myself from worrying about him. I crept towards him and slowly puts my arm around his torso. At the edge of falling asleep, I felt him putting one arm under my head and the other held my hand tightly.

~*~

My eyes shot open when I felt cold water droplets on my face. When my vision settled, I found my husband's smiling face hovering over me. His hairs were damp and the sharp fresh fragrance of his shampoo and body wash told me that he had just come out of a bath.

"Wake up sleeping beauty." He said shaking his head and a few more droplets dripped on my face.

"D-don't do that..." I said squeezing my eyes shut.

"Oh! You don't like to wake up this way?" I heard his voice and nodded.

"Hm...! Then how about this?" Suddenly I felt his breath on my neck, as he brushed his lips against my neck, making me shiver. He chuckled, sliding his fingers on my shirt and burying his head in my neck. His cold body and warm breathing against my skin, making my heartbeats race and created chaos in my mind.

"A-Ahmed?" I tried to move him, but he was so heavy.

"You are so warm..." He whispered as he snuggled close and wrapped his arms around my body.

Calm down me... calm down ... calm down ... I can't do it...

"I-I cannot breath." I lied when I failed to calm myself.

He slowly got up, as if he was doing a huge favour for me and said, "Go get fresh hurry. I am so hungry and they will be arriving soon."

"Who?" I asked frowning, still not able to fully control my breathing.

"Your family ... Hareem's school will be starting the day after tomorrow. It was best if she takes good rest."

"Wha- Why... didn't you tell me before?"

He leaned closer and kissed my forehead, "I'll give you every answer you want. But not now. Okay. " I nodded and he got up from me so I can get off the bed.

~*~

One thing I noticed after our wedding is that Ahmed eats a lot and he wants his every meal on time. He could leave coffee but not tea. He wants his morning tea, afternoon tea and after dinner tea on time. Thinking about his hunger, I quickly brush my teeth and took a shower. I rushed over to the kitchen and found 'Halwa Puri' on the dining table.

"Hurry up wifie, serve the breakfast."

After breakfast, I made tea for us and sit on the couch opposite him. I glanced at him, busy on his phone as ever, talking to someone in his usual business tone. Don't remember since when I started to like his voice so much that I would hear him talking for hours.

He has an odd habit of spinning anything in his reach when he concentrates like now he was spinning his teacup on the coffee table.

His habits can easily be understood by spending little time with him but there are things that made me worry. He was demanding, desired the full attention of his family and friends. He wants obedience and got angry when things go against his will. He needed things to be done as he said and when he said. He usually kept things to himself, only gave enough information which he believed was sufficient for things to work out. These habits may come in handy in business but in relations, this could cause a huge problem and I have a feeling that I will be facing something soon. I sighed and looked away.

I don't know if I have the guts to handle him...

____________________________________