behind her to sitting on the cold floor in front of her. He holds her shaking hands in her providing his warmth.

She sighs,"I was married to him about 5 years ago by our parents. I was a timid naive girl who walked into his house. At first, everyone was good but then his mother and sister would always asked me to do things. I did what they asked but they would always take something out and show him. They would not let him spend time with me and everytime he wanted to take me out someone from his family will join us and his mother would always say how he was wasting his money. I ignored them because he was good to me behind the door but when it comes to standing for me he would do exactly what his family would say. He never took stand for me and when I would ask him about it he would say to bear with him and he will always be good to me and all. I believed it and everyone told me that we have to sacrifice a lot and other people do much more so I should be grateful. One day, his family blamed me for having an affair with another man who was originally his sister boyfriend and he slapped me in front of everyone. My parents didn't say a word to support me and instead disowned me. After that, his family tortured me more and asked him to give me divorce which he did not even hesitating for a second. The lawyer asked me the price I wanted for the settlement so I decided to take this hotel under me. They always hated it and they were not able to generate much from it. I kind of always felt this had more potential so I asked them to hand it over to me and they did believing I will fail it".

He control his anger as much as he can wrapping his arms around her small figure tightly as she weeps her sorrows away.

"It's ok, my love, they never deserve someone as amazing as you. Just know and believe that". He whispers as he laid her sleeping form on the bed

He sits beside her moving the strand of hair behind her ear looking at her red cheeks from all the cry. He really wishes he sees that man one more time so he can teach him what a real man is.

He didn't heard much of their talks but he remember the moment he saw her with the man and the expressions on her face as she talked he left his important clients immediately wanting to do something. He knew he annoyed the client but he could care less at that moment even now.

He was glad that he was there when she needed him the most. The feeling of satisfaction finally settles in him for the first time ever by doing something so small. He feels so much better than he have ever felt in years.

His eyes starts to shut down as the peace fills him in and he sleeps next to her.

******

The next day he opens his eyes before she can for a second he remains disoriented but then he remembers that he is with her. He feels something on his hands his eyes move towards her figure that is curl into him sleeping peacefully.

At first, he panics because if she wakes up and see this she is going to kill him but then he stops just as his gaze focuses only on her face. She looks so beautiful yet so fragile. He wants to keep her from any pain that worlds offers but he knows too well that he can't hide her forever.

He can support her.

He promise this to her silently that no matter what even if she hesitate or steps back in fear he will stay by her side.

*****

"About yesterday-". Sofia started

He tilts his head,"Forget about it".

"What?". She asked confused

"Forget about him. I want you to forget he ever existed in your life". He said firm

She is taken back from the strong tone,"Really?. And what should I remember?".

"Me". He replied in a second

She looks at him weirdly,"Are you on drugs?".

He laughs,"No, but I am serious. I don't want you to meet that man anymore and I want you to only be and remember me".

She rolls her eyes,"You need to forget about him".

"I don't even care about him to begin with". He said smiling

"Just focus on your work, Zuhair". She said hiding her smile

******

Ahmad turns to look at Khadija working on her computer for the past three hours continuously. No matter how much he tries to get her attention she never gives him any. Right now, he is surrounded by the ladies in the office as he fake laughs with them with have no effect whatsoever.

He sighs.

He watches her tears brimming with tears as she quickly walks away from her seat. His heart speeds up at the mere thought of him making her cry as he also follows behind her.

She uses the stairs running upstairs since their office is on top floor a few stairs after is the rooftop she comes to when she is done with everything. She has some breaking point too especially when she cannot do her work right which is her source of everything.

She sits on the cold floor wrapping her hands around herself crying on her own.

He searches around for her hurriedly while worry fills his sense at her crying alone. He sees her crying in a corner, her body shakes from the sobbing. He walks closer to her bending down in front of her.

"Khadija". He whispers softly

She raises her head at the sound of his voice a little surprise at how he finds her all she knows is he was too busy earlier to be here.

He sees her tears filled face he uses his hand to wipe her tears away but she hides her face back again crying.

"What is it?". He asked

"Go away". She said angrily

"No, tell me what is it?". He asked firm

She raise her head again looking at him,"I have a very important report but I am not able to do a thing".

He wraps his hands around her bringing her to himself feeling his heart skip a beat,"It's ok. I will help you. When is it due?".

"Tomorrow". She replied

******

Khadija opens her laptop looking at the report with Ahmad as they work together to finish the work. They work hours looking at the screen doing as much as they can.

He looks at her who have her eyes close as her head rest on the table. He smiles caressing her cheeks lovingly moving back to doing her work.

The next morning she finds herself laying in the bed. She looks around worried that she might have not completed her task and she have to submit today.

She moves outside to find him sleeping beside the close laptop. She moves closer looking at his peacefully sleeping face and smiles. She looks at her laptop to find a note attach on it

'You work is done, don't stress'.

Khadija enters her chairwoman office presenting the report which she actually likes. She excited exit the room looking for Ahmad.

Ahmad waits impatiently for her to come out of the office because his nervousness is reaching the peak.

He sees her running towards him with the most biggest smile he had ever seen on her face making his heart flutter.

She high five him,"We did it".

He smiles back at her,"I always knew we were the best partner in the world".

Then on, he makes it his mission to be next to her as much as possible. He spends his time sitting beside her even if she didn't talk much and focuses on her work he stays and observe her. Bringing her tea is the best part because he have her attention and her bright smile to look at.

Just like that each day they did a little good to each other. Khadija starts working in home to provide them with cooked meals instead of the food outside and together they work to build a home.

But, there is always someone who breaks it.

*******

"How can you marry someone else". Zeeshan asked crying looking at Sofia

Sofia frowns,"You married a girl after a month of our divorce. How dare you ask me about my personal life?".

"Why?. Why didn't you wait for me some more. I told you I will come for you". He said angrily

She glare at him,"I am not liable to listen you anymore. You asked me to just wait wait wait all the time we were married and you didn't do a thing that you told me. How is that now you believe that I wasn't characterless?. How is that now you trust me?. You slapped me for it then why can't you leave me alone now".

She walks back into her condo with a heavy heart. She never imagine she would have to face him again. It was her past that returned after this long. The more he sees her the more it hurts. She starts to remember each day she spends with him in that place where her respect was taken from her.

She leans her back on her her apartment door closing her eyes as tears escape her eyes.

He hears the sound of the bell hoping it's her this time he quickly opens his door walking outside but he halts when he sees her standing there defeated.

He walks near her placing her thumb on her cheeks clearing the tears away.

She opens looking at the pain reflecting in them. He kisses her forehead bringing her to himself.

"What's wrong, my love?". He asked softly brushing his hand in her hair

"H-He is not leaving me alone, Zuhair". She said broken

He clench his hands in anger he should have not went out for his meeting today.

"I want him to leave me alone. Each time he comes in front of me saying he loves me and he wants me to be with him reminds me all the hurt he gave me. Why can't he live his own life and let me live mine. It hurt so much to feel all those feeling again, Zuhair". She cried

"I promise he will not come in front of you anymore". He said firm

*****

"Now I know what work you actually do". Khadija hears her mother scream

She turns around looking at her shock because she doesn't live anywhere near to begin with.

Her mother takes a step forward slapping her hard,"How can you pretend to be hardworking when you are here doing all this?".

She looks at her mouth with tears filling her eyes before her mother can raise her hand on her again Ahmad covers her behind him.

"You need to talk to her when you are calm". He said softly

"Calm?. Our sister is here doing dirty work and making us think she is doing so much for us to be liable to her all her life and you are saying calm?. If I can I will kill her right now". Her brother said

"Y-You are back?". Khadija asked

"I have been back a while ago and this is what I get to see when I come back". Her brother said angrily taking a step,"I am going to take her home to teach her a lesson".

Her brother holds her hand tightly pulling her with him but Ahmad holds her hand stopping her.

"She is my wife and there is no way you are taking her anywhere without my consent". Ahmad said angrily

"Wife?. You marry him without our permission?". Her brother said raising his hand to slap her but Ahmad hold his hand pushing him back

"Is there a problem?". They hear Zuhair voice

Zuhair walks closer to them looking at each of them.

"Are they troubling you, Ahmad?". Zuhair asked firm

Looking at such a powerful figure both mother and son runs away from the place. Zuhair asks Ahmad the last time if he needs help to which he denies still holding onto his crying wife.

"Ahmad, we lied to them (Zuhair and Khadija) and they have helped us every time". Khadija said crying,"We place them into a fraud marriage by changing their documents of contract and then doing everything. What will they do when they come to know?".

"This is not the time or the place to talk". Ahmad said taking her inside making her sit on the couch

He brings the first aid kit forwarding her hands looking at the dark red marks of fingers on them.

"What's wrong, Khadija?". He asked as he trace medicine on the marks

"I have been looking at my chairwoman face and all I think about is how she helped me when my family throw me away and I betrayed her". She cried

"What do you mean?". He said confused

"Years back, my father died and my mother and brother sent me to the city with a few money to work for them. I had no idea how I can find a job when I have no qualifications or sense to do any work. I had no place to stay and I tried working in a restaurant but that didn't end well because one day I throw something on someone rich and he was after my life ever since and made sure I never get a job again. I lived on street and whatever money I had I sent that back home because my brother wanted to go outside of the country to study. One day, someone came to me with a offer to buy me and that the work he had will pay me enough money to live comfortably. I knew it wasn't right, I was naive but no job fulfills wishes that fast until the job is wrong. I ran away from him to the main road to escape him but he followed until I almost hit someone car". She pause smiling at little even when tears freely falls down her face,"I saw her for the first time before I pass out. The next day she was right by my side taking care of me and since I was too weak from not eating and living properly she helped me and took me with her. She gave me the job and eveything and look what I did to her".

******

Khadija sits in front of Sofia as she weeps uncontrollably.

"I am sorry for what I did. It was all my fault". She cried looking down in shame

"What is that you exactly did?". Sofia asked calmly

"I was the one who suggested this wedding and I was the one who did everything. It wasn't his fault at all". Khadija explained

"You know that day I saw you was one of my hardest day because that was the day my husband divorced me. I was running away in my car when you came in front of it stopping my actions. You were the reason I stayed behind and the night I took you to hospital doctor told me that you wouldn't live but then you started fighting back. That courage made me have some of it too to stand in front of my ex husband again. You always fought and you made me who I am today, Khadija. But, even when you disappointed me today I think this is the time I truly repay you before anything else".

*****

"It was my fault. I asked her to do all of this. She never did a thing". Ahmad said sitting in front of Zuhair

Zuhair looks at him,"Are you sure she wasn't at fault?".

"No, she didn't do a thing. She is innocent. Whatever you want to do with me you can do it but don't hurt her". He pleaded

Zuhair looks at his wife entering his office with Khadija behind her. To be honest, he is thrilled by having her coming to his office for the first time.

Sofia sits beside him while Khadija sits beside her husband.

"We already know". Sofia said looking at them,"That night when Ahmad was fighting with those men and Zuhair helped I was there too and we heard you two talking".

Ahmad and Khadija looks at them shock as Ahmad speaks,"T-Then why didn't you-".

"Because we were disappointed at the start that you did something like this to us but then we realised that we made you desperate enough to do that. We were wrong in so many parts just like you and even though you did something bad it didn't end in something bad instead because of you two we found each other and love each other". Zuhair explained

Sofia holds Khadija hands,"I forgive you for everything. But, you know within that even if the year is up you don't want to end this. You know you both love each other and this is the only way we both can repay you. You cannot end this because of the guilt when we already forgive you. You both need to talk this out".

*****

"So, which one of you confessed first?". Ahmad daughter asked curiously

Khadija looks at him with a smug but before she can speaks he places his hand on her mouth,"You don't need to know that".

"No, I want to you. Come on, tell me". Their daughter asked whining

"Yes Ahmad, tell her". Khadija said smirking

"It was me, obviously". Ahmad said with a smug

"Oh, no way...". Khadija argued

"Are they fighting again?". Sofia asked her husband

Zuhair looks at the duo nodding,"Yes, like the past years".

"I wonder what will you say when our daughter asks the questions". She says chuckling

"Keep our Sanam and Uzair away from their daughter. I don't ever want any of them asking me that question". He said shaking his head

"Why?. Scared?". She asked

"Scared?. Me?. No way, remember I am the one who punched your ex to moon and back?". He said

"Yeah, right. Remember I slapped your ex too?". She asked

"Oh I remember alright. I remember when she appeared how angry you were and thank the lord I told you how she married me or money and ran away with a large amount with her boyfriend or I don't even want to think what would have happened". He said sighing

"You never knew about my ex then why did you saved me?". She asked curiously

"Because I was in love with you and I accepted you as my wife long back. Watching you speak to other men makes me angry and that was the reason I was there". He explained

"Oh, this reminds me I have a meeting with Michael yesterday". She said hiding her smile

"You are not going alone". He said

Then they argue.

"Are they fighting again?". Khadija asked looking at them

"They are such a baby. Why do they even fight?". Ahmad said

*****

"So, baba (father), who was the one who confessed first?". Sanam asked curiously

Zuhair looks at her while she just laughs at her daughter questions.

That was them.

Second chances are rare and with a little more patience and trust things can turn into something better.

With a little more courage to be with the one you love you may end up building a house of happiness.

This is what they did.