Haya had to ask Taimoor to drop her at Mariyam's place for her nikkah since Ali had an exam and he was at college. It was Mariyam's nikkahand Haya was going to parlor with her. Grabbing her white sari , which matched the theme , she hanged it in the back seat. As she slid into the passenger's seat.

His cars always smelt same. Like him.And I love it. God , he is intoxicating. How does he manage to smell this pleasant . Why cant be he sweaty and just less attractive.

"Wear your seat belt kitty , then you'll blame me for murdering you". Taimoor said interrupting her not so decent thoughts.

" Don't call me that. "She replied as she buckled the seat belt.

But you like this nickname. Haya you are such a hypocrite .

"I never call you "that". It's either kitty, shortie or Haya."

Haya rolled her eyes at his smartass reply. There was a time when his smartass replies pissed her , irked her but these days she was finding them refreshing and amusing . They made her smile . Sometimes she'd even consider them pure genius . From the vain , narcissistic, conceited Taimoor , he was now funny , striking, stunning and HER'S.

"If we are going for nicknames then whatever you say, Mandy ". Haya replied as she gave him her you-didnt-see-that-coming smile.

"Mandy ? " He asked as he looked in her direction , with confusion hoping that she would elaborate which she did gladly.

"Mandy from The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy. You rarely smile, and your facial expression remains perpetually disgruntled like Mandy. You are emotionless, power hungry, sinister and manipulative ." She explained.

"Wow your vocabulary is improving. What are you reading now a days?" Taimoor asked looking rather amused . "Wait. I forgot something. " she said only to get a "what now" look from him.

"Like Mandy your nose is so small it's not visible", Haya said as she folded her arms in victory and a satisfied smile played on her lips.

Taimoor looked in the review mirror. Was his nose really that small? "I thought noses were off the limit ." He said as he touched his nose feeling a-lot more self-conscious.

"Mine is. Yours is off the radar. " She said and broke in laughter.

This was an epic comeback . She felt like patting herself. What a victory. DAMNNN... She thought.

What Haya had discovered in pass month was that Taimoor was a really patient with her. He had hardly lost control with her apart from that dinner when he had completely lost it. Her comebacks, sarcasm and insults never made him lose temper. Unlike her , he had always accepted them gracefully. And she was beginning to appreciate that.

The car came to halt as they had arrived at the farmhouse. But she didn't care. She was laughing because she thought it was funny. His nose wasn't that small. But was she going to tell that to him? 'No!!!'

In between the laugh , she managed to say. "No wonder...giggles... you.... never....get offended." And she laughed out loud. Clutching her stomach as it started to pain.

"Is it really that small? " He asked as he came close to her face leaving only few inches between them. She was staring into her eyes sobering up. Like a dear caught in head lights ,she was confused. She saw the sparkle in his eyes then. He was doing it on purpose.

"Huh......." she managed to say.

This close proximity was doing wonders to her.

She should have left the car before making the last comment.That was she'd be a safe distance away from him. But she didn't .Because she didn't want to .

"Haya.... " he whispered.

"Hmmmmm",she said as she bit her lips and bowed her head. His eyes were captivating her. But he forced her chin back up. Her checks were getting redder and it was getting hotter in the car even with the air conditioner working at its full capacity .

"What have I told you about the lips? " He asked. He was so close; she could feel his minty breath on her face. He pressed his cold fingers on her chin sending sparks down her as he pulled her lower lip from the other hand .

"Next time I see you biting them , I'll bite them for you." He warned.

"Understood ?... "

Haya, who was mind bogged nodded in response. Her brain was dysfunctional. Her eyes were busy staring at his beautiful face. She held her hands in closed fist to avoid touching his face. She had this overwhelming urge to touch those perfect cheek bones.

Regaining her wits, she responded with "Okay Teacher." As if she was some kindergarten who just got told by her Teacher to bring stationary from tomorrow on-wards. She grabbed her dress from the back and got out of car. Smiling on her way inside the farmhouse, which was now getting decorated with lights and flowers. wedding preps were going with the flow.

Haya was going to Mariyam's room when her phone beeped. She looked down at the screen to find a message from Mandy "We are not done yet!"

Sure we aren't . We never are.

**********************************************************************************************

"Mariyam for the last time ,stop panicking you look so MashAllah " Haya told Mariyam as she tried to set her dupatta. Mariyam was losing her shit. She thought that the eye liner of her left eye wasn't crooked enough. Sigh . Wedding jitters and all. Haya had to accompany Mariyam to the parlor on Aunty's request so now she had to bear with her anxiety and 'sub thek hai na' questions!

"Mariyam , babe you look perfect. Everything is spot on. Now stop panicking and get going. We need to get to the venue. Barat anay wali hai yaar .(the wedding party is about to arrive. )" Haya reassured her as she escorted Mariyam out of the parlor.

Haya was wearing white shaffoon with full blouse and sleeves.She hated showing extra skin, it made her unconfortable so all her saris had full blouses. Her hair were curled into beachy waves , with light makeup and jumkas she looked like a vision in white. Haya was beyond satisfied with her look. After helping Mariyam getting in the car , she sat beside her and whispered soothing words through the whole ride to wedding venue.

The venue was decorated with white and pink flowers mainly roses and tulips. The stage was covered with white roses. The round tables and cahirs had white cloth on, a bouquet of white roses rested on the top of the tables. Haya, searched through the crowd for Taimoor but couldn't find him. Maybe he was late or coming with the Barat since it was his best friend's wedding. So, she decided to go back to the bridal room. Haya was about to turn , when she heard a whisper "looking for someone?" and her breath hitched. She was startled. "Can you just stop creeping me out?" ,she asked as she gave him an annoyed look.

Taimoor was wearing a white embellished prince coat and with kurta pajama .And had his black sunglasses on as it was an outdoor event . Her heart was screaming "hottieeeee" but her brain told her to focus. They were enemies until he tells her that she is the love of his life. His better half. She had to keep it that way until he confessed and there was no looming confession . She couldn't fall for him. He would crush her soul into pieces and her heart too. AFTER LOSING everything , she can't lose herself too . She won't be able to recover from this blow.

"Hey kitty , how are you suddenly tall ? Looks like the complian we got last month for you, works like magic." He said as he gestured towards her explaining how her head which reached his shoulder was above it.

"I can't say about complian but those brain development tablets I keep mixing in your coffee turned out to be fake. What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to come with the Barat?" , she said as she turned to leave.

"Barat is just here , I'll reenter with Barat. And about what I am doing here, Bua sent Gajray she made for you." He said as he handed over the red gajray to her. Ugh , gajray were her weaknesss. Bua!I love you !!! Haya thought as she dreamily looked at the hand that held them. Haya's eyes were sparkling as she looked at them and wore them . " I love Bua. Look at them. Just so perfect. And she made them for me. Ugh" Haya said as she showed her gajray adorned wrists to him. Haya was about to leave all when his voice stops her dead in track. "Haya , wait. " ,he said as he pulled her back which made her loose balance thanks to her heels and she collided into his chest.

His cologne. Damn it. She wanted it too. The cologne. IT WAS LIKE HER DRUG. She had sneaked into his bedroom and ransacked the room looking for it when he left for a week because his cologne felt home, and she was feeling homesick. She was disappointed when she didn't find it but later she had realized how stupid it was. He had taken it with him.

Gathering courage to look at his face she tried to sound annoyed "Hands off. You'd ruin the gajray!" she said as she smacked his hand off her wrist. "Is there any other snarky comment you want to pass ? Because I've got places to go."She had expected him to compliment her. And the fact that he hadnt , dampened her mood.

"Yeah!" He said seriously in that husky voice of his." You look gorgeous.", he whispered the last part. His voice was raw with emotions. It was like they were in the bubble. Just him and her. Everything around them disappeared.

Haya was staring at those sunglasses while Taimoor was shamelessly staring her. . Haya felt that she was vulnerable . That he could see right through her while she couldn't even get past the sunglasses. She didn't know with what intensity he was looking at her thanks to the sun glasses camouflaging his eyes, but her heart believed that he meant it when he had complimented her. Even with the glasses on , she could feel that he was staring her. Blushing, she lowered her gaze only to hear a 'snap'.

Great just great. She thought. The cameraman had captured them when she was literally into him.. And when the pictures came out everyone would be gossiping about it. Snatching her arm away from him, Haya turned to leave. She was halfway through when she turned. "Taimoor !"She called out his name to get his attention.

"I would have said the same about you, if not for the nose " she said as she smiled and left. Taimoor looked at her receding figure And all he could think was that "She is exquisite." She had the face of an angel. Her skin was flawless and when she blushed under his heated gaze, it took all of his self control to not to kiss her. Her eyes fascinated him. They were the most appealing shade of brown he had ever seen. Actually they weren't brown. They were somewhere between brown and amber.Right now she was looking like a hoor who'd come to earth just to antagonize him. Her mouth was full, rosy, and damn appealing.

"God, she is something" Taimoor whispered the last part to himself as he stared in her direction.

Soon, the barat arrived and with Barat came Taimoor, who kept glancing at Haya who with Mariyam's cousins was showering the rose petals on the Baratis in welcome. Some girls from the groom's side, who were lesser known to the fact that Taimoor was married kept flattering their eyelashes at him . Haya, shouldn't care less. But she did. They were flattering their lashes at him trying to get his attention. Haya was watching all this and a frown appeared on her face. She hated that the redhead barbie was contentiously trying to flirt with her husband! Haya glared at the barbie who was trying to get her husband's attention but the barbie was so focused on him she didn't feel Haya's death glare which pricked her some more.

Taimoor was intently watching Haya , who was throwing the receptacle part of rose, at the redhead who was shamelessly flirting with him.And it took all of his self control in keeping a straight face. He didn't give a fig about the red head but seeing Haya all worked up , he felt like smiling at the red head. Mainly because Haya was such a joy to watch when she was pricked about something. She was certainly pricked now. She was trying not to frown as she was welcoming the guest but she was failing miserably.

Few minutes later , Taimoor decided to finally relieve her and so he looked in her direction and mouthed 'I only have eyes for you' . Her face turned flame red , embarrassed that he had caught on that and Taimoor laughed.Little , did she know that he never missed anything related to her. The loud booming sound drew several startled glances in his direction . Even the redhead gave him a confused look.

Soon Moulana Sahab arrived for nikkah. Mariyam said "Qabool hai" thrice while her mother had kissed her forehead. And her father had these tears in his eyes as he patted Mariyam's head. Mariyam's brother, Ibrahim gave her a hug and wiped her tears which were had escaped the lashes. He even joked after her ruining the makeup and scaring Dulha bhai , which earned a smack on shoulder. Haya couldn't help but remember her nikkah, where everything was a mess. Haya couldn't help it .She reminisced her nikkah as the involuntary comparison began in the back of her mind. Her nikkah ,where everything was in complete turmoil. She hadn't experienced this sort of affection and love at her nikkah. Tears welled in her eyes and Haya decided to run away from the people. It was making everything worse. Running away from the crowd Haya found an abandoned bench .

Haya sat there, feeling all alone and miserable, her eyes burned, her hands were resting in

her lap. It didn't take her long to start feeling sorry for herself and so she cried some more.She cried because she missed Mama and Baba Jani. She cried because they didn't trust her enough. She cried because she felt alone. Because she was alone.She was crying when she was offered a handkerchief.

Suddenly feeling self-conscious ,Haya looked up to find Taimoor. She took the offered handkerchief and after dabbing her face , she held it out for him "What are you serious? You want me to tuck that back into my pocket? " ,Taimoor said with a horrified expression. "No . Dumbo, I want you to wipe black smudges of my mascara or eyeliner if there are any." She said.

"There are none. So keep it." ,he said as he sat down beside her pulling her in his arms.He started rubbing the tension right out of her shoulders in such a soothing way she couldn't help but snuggle up against him.He rubbed soothing circles around her back. Haya never wanted to get out of those arms. He held her, shielding her from her own negative thoughts. When he held her in her arms, she lost the ability to think straight, protecting her from the memories which haunted her. She was in his arms, her head resting on his chest as she sobbed and wiped her nose .She didn't want to soak him in her misery.

" Why are you suddenly so nice?" Haya asked in hoarse voice with her eyes bloodshot and swollen due to her crying, as she looked up to meet his eyes.

He leaned in the bench and faced her . He looked into her eyes when he answered and Haya found herself wondering why he had taken her entire life ,to look at her like that. Like she mattered. Like he cared. Like she was important .

"Because you are letting me", He had said so softy .It was barely audible. But she had heard it . It had caught her completely off guard. Her head rested on her chest , his arms around her. She was safe and warm and protected.

A shiver of pleasure made her neck tickle. The tenderness in his voice felt like acaress. She knew it probably wasn't proper to be pressed up against his side but she was too weary to care. So, what if people found us ? We are married. Haya reasoned with her alter ego who kept arguing with her , telling her how indecent it was .

Besides , she needed protection against the chilly winds of Islamabad. Taimoor was so incredibly warm. She told her alter ego that she only wanted to borrow a little of his heat.

After few minutes of harmony which felt like forever, Taimoor whispered ."We are quite a pair." Haya turned her face upwards at him , her eyes full of questions.She wasn't getting the context. " To even out my Mandy's nose you got pinocchio's. " , he said with a straight , serious face. And Haya punched him in the shoulder. Haya knew he was trying to distract her . He knew that anger would make her forget her misery. It always did. And so he was trying to get her riled up . His concern touched her. Little did he know that he was a distraction, enough. Haya thought.

" I know you are enjoying it right now kitty but we need to go back ". Taimoor said.

"Sure Mandy. Whatever you say. " Haya said as entangled herself from him and got up smothering the pleats of her saree, Haya ran a hand through her wavy hair. Taimoor offered her his arm which she took and they both marched back to the reception area.

Sometimes, especially the times like these, Taimoor made Haya dream about 'the-happily-ever-after' they could have, which she had given upon on. Sometimes, he made everything so easy. Existing, so easy. Who would have thought that Taimoor who use to pull her hair when she was 7, would be the one wiping her tears when no one did?Not me ! Her alter-ego whispered back.

Back on the stage, Mariyam was sitting there with Shahmeer , looking exquisite and most of all happy. Haya couldn't help but beam at her .She was thankful that Allah had blessed Mariyam with someone like Shahmeer who was ready to fight her demons ,who was going to be her guardian angel. Her warrior husband. She was looking at them , who were seated on the loveseat, facing each other. They were lost in each other. Shahmeer's khala was reciting some dua , and he had taken his shoes off. Realizing that this was the opportunity to steal the shoes, Haya went for them.Only to find Taimoor guarding them. DAMNATION, she thought as she headed towards Taimoor.

"So, you are here to steal the shoes ? I thought we were a team. " he said as he raised his dark black bushy brows at her, faking a hurtful expression .

"We are . That's why you need to get aside and let me be done with it." Haya replied as she tried to reach for the shoes which resulted in Taimoor placing those shoes on the chair behind him.

"So you aren't going to let me have them ? " she asked him, raising her perfectly sleek brows.

"No , " he said with determination as he gave her that apologetic smile.