After some unproductive weeks, Zoya was extremely busy catching up to the topics and preparing for her upcoming exams, whereas Zaib's deadline for the new project was approaching.

Soon spring flowers bloomed across the gardens; the sun shone brightly over the city- Zoya welcomed the weather change as she had grown tired of the gloomy mornings. As spring holidays emerged, she planned on spending every precious second with her husband.

"Zaib, how about we go out somewhere today?" She spontaneously asked while washing the two dishes from their lunch.

They had just eaten some chicken biryani- Zoya finally understood the hype. When Zaib first talked about the mouthwatering rice like it were the love of his life, she had grown bitter and vowed never to taste it!

But oh how the tables turned.

When she tasted the delicacy, it felt like a bundle of exotic spices and flavour unknown to her taste buds burst into her mouth, elevating her to another plane. The rice peppered with traditional hot spices and juicy chicken melted into her mouth, leaving a sensational memory of enjoyment.

After that, she had plagued him almost every week to cook biryani.

"I—have a meeting today, unfortunately," he muttered. Zoya quickly nodded in disappointment.

"That's alright, we can go some other day," she replied, feeling her heart drop. She wanted to spend more time with him, but his workload was only more brutal during the spring break.

She suddenly felt arms snake around her waist and jolted. Zaib was sitting on the couch like a second ago; but every damn time, he reached by her side in a second. Was he secretly a vampire?

"I'm sorry," he whispered against her ear. A dizzying chill ran down her spine- she gulped, easing in his hold.

"Don't be," she scolded, eyeing him. "Should I be sorry when I'm studying and can't spend time with you?" Her sensible words made him feel reassured in a way only his wife knew.

After all, the couple had their fair share of work to do throughout the year. This lifestyle wasn't any newer challenge for the two.

"You know you're the best thing that's ever happened to me, right?" He told her, his eyes bright with sincerity as he stared into hers. She understood- she always did.

Her eyes pooled with gratitude and relief.

"Maybe this marriage was just a mistake."

The sudden bad memory pricked her, as it did at the worst of times.

She didn't want to bring up anything related to that painful fight, but it stuck to her like glue. It was like a blister you forget about but every time you press it, you feel the pain resurface. His words were just like the forgotten blisters; she wanted to ignore them forever, but her heart dared not forget.

That night would always haunt her, becoming a source of anxiety to her at times. She had been actively trying to block that negativity out of her mind, but she hadn't received enough closure to move on.

What if she was a bad wife?

"Why're you crying?" His alarmed voice pulled her out of her trance. His thumb slid against her cheek as he wiped her tear away.

Taken aback, she glanced at him: his concerned gaze surveying her with terror. He caressed her cheeks worriedly.

"I'm just—" she stuttered, her mind not working to the best of its ability. This time, however, she was smart enough to know that lying was not the way out.

"I'm sorry—you said something when you were mad. I just remembered it," Zoya reluctantly confessed.

She felt ridiculous reliving the details about their argument. Zaib said cruel things in his state of fury, but she was taking everything word for word. She shouldn't be dwelling on bygones.

"What did I say?"

His stern gaze struck her like lightning; she quickly straightened up. She wrapped her arms around his waist and nestled her face in his chest as if it would protect her from this dreaded confrontation.

"Zoya, what did I say?" His tone hardened.

She internally cursed herself for not keeping her stupid tantrums to herself. She looked up at Zaib pleadingly, but he remained unaffected, intently gazing at her.

"You told me this marriage was a mistake."

He flinched as soon as the words were said. His mind went blank for a moment as he registered the forgotten pieces of that night. The fight was so hazy in his memory- he didn't bother recalling anything from that awful day.

Had he said something so unforgivable?

His chest throbbed as he scrambled through memories of that night. He only remembered his spite and despair; his forlorn heart. Ravaging deeper into his mind, the spiteful words became clearer than daylight. As if his words were suffocating him, his breaths hardened.

He peeled himself away from her.

Zoya instantly closed the gap between them by wrapping her arms around his waist again.

She frowned as he refused to meet her gaze. She gently placed her hand on the side of his face.

"Zoya..." he was quiet in the quiet room, but she still heard him volumes; she listened to the desperation in his words and his lost gaze seeking redemption.

With a shaky breath, he spoke up, "It meant nothing. Absolutely nothing. It didn't come from anywhere. It's an embarrassing memory where I said something regretful. I didn't even remember saying it until now." He caressed her cheeks.

Her eyes grew heavy as he intently stared at her and kissed her forehead desperately. He couldn't believe his actions towards the woman he loved so dearly. No matter what, she didn't deserve to hear that.

"I'm so sorry," his voice broke. Zoya felt a tug in her chest and threw herself into his arms, crying silently.

The bitter words and silent tears drenching his shirt made him feel sick like he was doused with an icy cold bucket of water. His heart paced; his frown grew darker. Surely, Allah had been listening to his words. The creator is all-hearing, all-knowing; He hears our darkest secrets. If God heard him in his atrocious moment of anguish, would He be angry?

"I can never thank the Almighty enough for the day you and I became one," he rasped, tightening his arms around her waist as if he were scared she'd vanish into thin air.

He swore to make it up to her and planned upon praying voluntary prayers to ask Allah for forgiveness. In his moment of heat, if Allah listened to him, he'd be too scared to face his Lord. Zoya's presence in his life was like a protective shell. He couldn't ever imagine abandoning that part; he'd prefer to let his soul shatter than live a life without her.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:

Zoya sat sulkily rereading another novel for the day. With her university closed and Zaib's constant absence, she was bored out of her mind. She tried occupying herself with everything and eventually turned to knitting. It's another story that she completely butchered her first attempt at stitching Zaib a scarf.

Today, however, she wasn't just bored; she was like a bear with a sore head. Her discomfort piqued from the morning when Zaib kissed her like usual, wore his suit like normal and left for work... like usual.

Everything so perfectly normal.

He forgot her special day.

She smiled sourly at the rumpled strings of an unfinished scarf sitting on the desk. Then she threw her book to the side and grabbed her phone.

Messages were awaiting her.

Happy birthday, dear. May Allah protect you and bestow his mercy upon you

- from baba and mama.

Happiest birthday to my stunning, breathtaking, delicious best friend! I am so incredibly excited to get back and give you your gift! Till then, enjoy this day with your lucky husband and I'll steal you away when I'm back. I love you, Zoe.

You're so old now~

Don't you dare ask me for any gifts. Last year you made me spend so much on that useless night cream. Why in the world would you buy a cream just for the night? Is it illegal to use day cream at nighttime? Skincare brands are scamming you, baby sister.

All these messages: none from the one she desperately wanted. Zoya didn't want to seem ungrateful, so she spent some time replying to everyone's heartfelt messages, excluding Bilal's because he was annoying and the text didn't even wish her a good birthday!

Then she sat, staring at the clock on the wall. Yesterday, Zaib had indifferently mentioned a crucial meeting with an overseas client, so he would probably come home extra late tonight. She let out a defeated sigh and wandered into the kitchen, looking for something to eat. In a foul mood, she wasn't going to prepare herself anything delicious, so she grabbed peanut butter and bread from the shelf.

Eyes darting towards the fridge, a little sticky note caught her attention. She squinted her eyes to read the minuscule notice.

'Zoya, collect a parcel for me today. It'll arrive by three. -Z'

She scowled at his note. Her workaholic husband even remembered about some parcel but not her birthday. She bitterly turned away, losing her appetite.

There was a sudden ring of the doorbell and Zoya assumed it was Zaib's parcel, so she sauntered out to the door, fumbling on her hijab in the process. She opened the door slightly.

There stood a tall man with a bouquet of stunning violet orchids in his hand. The flowers blocked the man's face completely. Bemused, Zoya stared at the flowers and noticed a shopping bag in the man's other hand; she wondered if this were the parcel Zaib had asked her to collect.

"Happy birthday to my gorgeous wife," the man pulled the bouquet away. Zoya's eyes grew wide as she gasped.

Her husband stood before her with a charming smile on his lips and a dizzying spark in his eyes. Instantly, her anger dissipated. Even though she was bubbling with hot fury a minute ago, Zaib's presence was like a drop of cool water in a steaming pan, straight away bringing her temperature down.

She was speechless while Zaib chuckled and pulled her by the waist, embracing her as he kissed her cheek. He handed her the bouquet, then the bag, and announced.

"Get dressed. We're going out."

-:-:-:-

The entire car-ride, her impatience made her jumpy and giddy. Zoya stared at her lap and blushed looking at her outfit.

Inside the shopping bag, which her husband had bought, was an elegant dress. The silk turtleneck dress, blindingly white, made her seem like a fallen angel from the skies. Her lean body complemented the dress's lightness; it swung around her waist, not hugging her curves yet still managing to highlight her slender waist.

Her heart palpitated as she thought of him visiting a shopping mall to buy her an outfit for her birthday.

"You remembered this whole time! My morning was ruined and you were just pretending!" She voiced out her annoyance.

He laughed. "Zaib, it's not funny!" She scolded.

"It's fun. Teasing you is so fun," He clicked his tongue in satisfaction. "You're so cute when you're complaining. I couldn't resist the opportunity," he explained with a wink.

She almost punched his arm; it took every ounce of her being to withhold her clenched fist. Once he stops driving, she'll teach him a lesson. The car went around a few lanes and by the time Zoya realized where they were heading, Zaib parked the car.

Zoya's exuberance arose as she stared at the local masjid towering them. Zaib chuckled at the fascinated glint in her eyes as she pushed the door open and dashed towards the pavement like an excited puppy.

Something in Zaib's heart melted upon seeing her so happy; he never wished to see her frown again. He promised to Allah that he'd move mountains to cherish this precious woman and love her effortlessly, so she could lean on him and give him all her love.

He followed her inside; she was already embracing a group of girls and patting their heads. News spread throughout the masjid like wildfire. The new couple had officially come to visit. The children circled, grinning ear to ear.

"Zaib!" The boys surrounded him and Zaib fist-bumped them all one by one, accumulating jolly laughs from them all.

Amid the chaos, Zaib noticed the little girl whose sarcastic and witty humour always enlightened him and might've slightly destroyed some of his self-confidence: Maya. She was the tallest from the girls and eagerly embraced Zoya, saying something which made his wife laugh.

Maya turned towards him and rolled her eyes. "Why're you back?" She expressed her disappointment.

Zaib took the hit. "Well, if you wanna see my wife, you'll have to bear with me kiddo," he chimed, clearly testing her patience.

Zaib's attention deviated when he heard his wife groan and intervene. "Please don't start again, you two!" She reprimanded, widening her eyes at her childish husband specifically.

Zaib narrowed his gaze back. Why was she siding with the spoilt bratty kid instead of him?

"Kids, we'll be back with ice cream," she announced and grabbed her sulky husband's hand, pulling him along with her while the kids cheered excitedly.

She led them to the ice cream shop around the corner. Zaib's silence hinted at his annoyance from earlier; she inwardly chuckled. It was a mystery how this stubborn-petulant baby could switch to a mature-workaholic man just in a moment. Never in a million years would she have thought of Zaib Khan to have such an expression on his mature face.

They approached the ice cream shop; Zoya ordered all chocolates except one butterscotch for herself and chocolate mint for her grudging husband. Zaib narrowly eyed her and then huffed.

"Why're you ordering my favourite ice cream? You should get me simple chocolate." She grinned at him and then nodded. "I ordered you simple chocolate. Maya likes chocolate mint," she played along; Zaib's eyes shook with resentment.

He glared at her, removing his hand from hers. She almost giggled before the shop owner gave them a tray full of all the chocolate ones- he handed them the other two in a separate bag.

Zaib grabbed the chocolate ice cream along with the spoon from the tray and was about to dive in when Zoya shouted for him to halt. "No! I'm kidding! Zaib, yours is in the bag!" She confessed.

Zaib chuckled with an evil glint in his eyes. "Zoya sweetheart, if you lie to me again, I'll throw you over my shoulder and I don't care who's watching," he rasped as she quickly wiped the smug off her face, knowing that he was capable of doing it.

The lovebirds walked back to the masjid and joined the carpeted floor with the children surrounding them; everyone enjoyed their ice creams.

"Mushu, you've not visited for so long! Was Zaib keeping you, hostage, at his place?" Maya, the sneaky brat accused, making Zaib chuckle.

"Maya, if I'm capable of caging your Mushu then I won't have a problem kidnapping you sweetie," Zaib threatened and she cowered away fearfully.

The kids chuckled at the ridiculous ongoing banter between the two and Zoya only rolled her eyes, exasperated at them; she felt like she was babysitting two toddlers with unconventional hatred for one another.

"Mushu, I love your dress!" Maya gleefully fancied. All the girls agreed in unison. Zoya smiled warmly. "Zaib gifted it," she told them and Maya's eyes widened as if she were pricked with needles.

"It's not even that pretty," she puffed.

Zaib smiled painfully.

God, that girl doesn't shut up.