. She asked confused

"Hanifa, I am his sister". Hanifa replied chuckling

"That's unfortunate". Hajar mumble

"Don't even talk to her she will make you mental like her". Momim said holding his sister's hand

"The only mental here is you". Hajar said

"You know you shouldn't be talking to me like that". He said

"You shouldn't be behaving like this either". She replied

"I am your boss". He argued

"Forcefully and unfortunately". She replied shrugging

Hanifa chuckle stopping their bickering.

"How are you his sister of all people?". Hajar asked

"Excuse me, she should be my sister of all people". He said

"I ask myself that every day". Hanifa replied dramatically

"Don't worry. Every time he annoys you call me and we will murder him". Hajar said

"You are planning my murder?". Momim asked shocked

Hajar raises her eyebrows, "You have no idea how many times in a day I think about all the ways I can kill you like for example I am thinking if I were to stumble you and you fall down from the building would it be too suspicious?".

His eyes widen as he gulps, "You wouldn't do that".

She shrugged, "Don't test me then".

"Let's go, Hanifa before she does anything". He said pulling Hanifa with him

Hanifa chuckle waving to Hajar before walking inside the office.

"Where would you find that one?". Hanifa asked curiously

"Don't ask". He said brushing his hair back

"I like her". Hanifa said happily

"Please don't". He said sighing, "That woman drives me insane".

"That is the reason I like her. Also, mom is adamant on marrying you. See you I am stealing your assistant for a coffee". Hanifa said running out of the office

*****

"You could have asked". He said groaning

"Well, you should have told me". She said crossing her arms on her chest

"I am leaving. My head hurts talking to you". He said

"And my-". She started

She heard her phone ringing frowning she takes the phone out watching as the call ended from the unknown number but she has a text.

She opens the message, "I am here"

Her heart stopped.

"You were saying?". He said watching her as the phone drops from her hand and her face completely pale," Hajar?".

She didn't reply.

He looks at her concerned moving closer to stand in front of her, "Hajar".

Her eyes turn to look at him in confusion as her mind remains blank.

"Huh?". She asked, "I-I have to leave early it's an emergency".

"Is your mother ok?". He asked following her as she collects her things but she didn't reply either, "Is she ok?".

"I have to find out. I am leaving, sorry. Your schedule is already sent so please follow-". She started

"Just leave. I will see everything". He said dismissing her

She runs to the elevator running to get her a taxi. Thankfully the salary for this job was good enough for them to have a better life. In two months, they shifted their house and she can afford a lot of expenses without a hassle.

She enters the house, "Ammi, Ammi".

Hajar watches as her mother came out of the room worried and she walks towards her hugging her tightly.

"He is here, Ammi". She cried

Her mother stood shocked.

"What?". She asked

"He is here. He was calling me and then he texted me". Hajar explained

They heard a doorbell and squeal in fright.

They look throw the hole only to find it black deciding not to open the door they stayed inside quietly not wanting whoever is outside to know.

******

"What do you mean?". Momim asked angrily

"As I tried telling you before she was a victim of abuse by fiancee before she was forced to move". Mahmood explained, "After her fiancee assaulted her she had no option than to leave her degree last year and run here".

"I cannot believe this". He said raged as he brushes his hair, "And you said that psychopath was banging on her door and most probably called her that time too?".

"I am certain it was him calling her to say he was here. We were able to send some security to push him away from their door but he doesn't look like someone who will stop". Mahmood said

"We have to stop him. I don't want that man near them". Momim said as anger seems to take over him, "If he tries to come near them kill him I don't care. No one who treats a woman like that should be alive".

"Sir-". Mahmood started

"No, it's an order. Shoot him as soon as he's near them. I don't want anyone to be a reason for them to be the way she was earlier". He said gritting his teeth as he tries not to go on a rampage and kill that man himself

Mahmood merely nodded knowing him. He knows he wouldn't listen to him no matter what. So, he called his sister.

"What happened?". His sister asked as she enters into a now broken and messy room, "What made you this angry?".

"Did you knew she was abused?". He asked

Hanifa gasp, "S-She was?. I just thought she acted a few times but I never thought-".

"What do you mean acted?". He asked

"Well, she wouldn't go into public places much. She always stayed in a cafe or somewhere quiet. Whenever a man looks at her she feels uncomfortable and would sometime run to the bathroom. When she comes back she looks pale and bothered. She wince and flinch at times which looks natural to other but isn't. Her eyes always seems anxious there were more but I just overlooked them". She explained, "I never thought of that".

He grunted, "I never thought either no after watching you I thought I would recognise someone in the situation in the first glance. She is too good for us to believe that she was abused".

"Everyone is different than me. But I can try speaking to her!?". She suggested

He nodded.

******

She enters Camilla's cafe after so long looking for Hanifa. She waves at her when she finds her and sits in front of her.

"How are you?". Hanifa asked smiling tightly

She chuckles, "I am good. Why do you look so tensed?. All ok?".

"Yeah". Hanifa said, "I wanted to talk about something".

"It's on the house". She heard Camilla say as she places their tray

"Camilla". She said hugging her tightly, "I missed you".

"Me too, child. But I am happy for you". Camilla said smiling, "Now talk I have work".

"I will join you later". She said smiling as she sees her walking away

She sits back down looking at Hanifa, "Go on, speak what you want to".

"I will be straight I know you were abused". Hanifa said

Her eyes widen as fear gripped her, "What?. How?. Did you tell anyone else?".

"Hajar-". Hanifa started

"No, I don't want anyone to know about this, please". Hajar said scared

Hanifa holds her shaking hands, "I used to be abused too from my fiancee but Bhai (brother) saved me. It was because one day I managed to trust him to protect me and he did. You have to speak to stop these people".

"I don't want to talk about this anymore". Hajar said softly, "Please, keep this to yourself".

******

"What happened?". He asked his sister as soon as she enters

"She will not agree". She said sighing

"What do you mean?". He asked confused

"Bhai (brother), sometimes we need a different kind of comfort instead of the one I provided her with".

"I don't understand". He said groaning

"Marry her". She said softly

His eyes widen, "What?".

"Yes, I will ask Ammi to send the proposal this weekend so you have before that if you want to disagree. If you don't, you will marry her". She said stern

He gulps, "But- what if she thinks I have the alternate motive?. And as much as I know her she won't agree just like that".

"True. I will convince her mom because I know she loves her the most she wouldn't be able to disagree with her". She said

"You have everything planned". He said sighing

"If I can save one life why not?". She asked smiling, "I will see you again".

*****

"What is the meaning of this?". Hajar asked him

"Look, it's all my sister doing". He said honestly

She narrows her eyes at him, "Why?. She cannot just do that without asking me".

"Well, she does things like that". He said, "I am not that bad that you are this angry".

She rolls her eyes, "I am not interested in being married".

She tries to calm her heart down thinking about the marriage. But she cannot the more she thinks the more scared she gets. She wishes the answers were clear and easy but the more she looks the harder they get.

"Hajar". He said making her snap from her thoughts and he looks at the pain in her eyes, "I promise I won't ever do anything to hurt you intentionally. I will respect you and your family. I will fulfil all my duties, I promise".

She sighs, "You don't understand".

"I might not at the moment but I will". He said smiling

"You seems too adamant on marrying me and here I thought you wanted your payment. Wait, is this in the-". She started.

He knew it.

"No, it isn't. I am sorry about my behaviour before". He said nervously, "What will you do?".

She shrugged, "It's not like you gave a choice. Your sister planned a good strategy to trap me".

"So it's a yes?". He said excitedly

She shrugged.

*****

To be married seems like a thing she used to laugh at a month ago. Not because she didn't want to get married she wanted to but the fears in her don't allow her to open up.

Yes, she has married a month ago.

All she had done since then is fight with him to no end. His mother doesn't mind them fighting instead she enjoys it.

The only good thing is that he demanded that her mother stayed with them which had a disadvantage because she always gets angry at her for fighting with him.

Like, she is the one wrong.

She groans.

She had another fight and this time her mother forced her to stay up until he is back and apologise to him. She feels herself drifting to sleep on the couch and soon she was sleeping.

He enters inside the house as quietly as he can walking towards the stairs when he sees the light in the lounge. He frowns walking towards the lounge and his eyes find his wife sleeping on the couch.

Smile gaze his lips immediately watching her there. No matter how much they fight he always love coming back home. The fight was all nonsense he always starts just to not have her worry and stress about the marriage.

He knows she fought with herself when she married him. He can see the fear, anxiety and stress on her face. So, he decided the best way is to fight with her to keep her with him and away from those thoughts.

"P-Please, leave her". She whimper

He came out of his trance when he finds her struggling in her sleep as she begs someone for someone. Her cries only intensify and he sits in front of her shaking her.

"Hajar". He called loudly

Her eyes snap open but the suffocate surface as well. She tries to normal her breathing but the nightmare keeps her from it. Her chest burn badly as the scenes start to replay and-

"Hajar". She heard him say

She blinks her eyes as her view clear a little she finds his concern filled eyes looking at him and she lung forward wrapping her arms around him. For the longest moment, they stayed like that not saying a word not that she wanted to either.

The thought of losing the one you love in front of you isn't the easiest.

******

"Hajar". She heard someone say

She turns to Hanifa's husband - Ayub looking at her smiling.

"You don't mind me here, right?". Ayub asked gently

She had been hearing about him for a month. She wasn't talking to him initially since being around male seems to fasten her heart. But then she heard how amazing of a man he was to his wife and how he groomed her into a bright woman she is today.

"Sure". She said softly

"This party is very boring". He started

"Tell me about it. The more I stay the more I want to sleep". She said looking at him talking to his fellows

It is actually fascinating for her to watch him turn into a different kind of person in a split minute.

"Is it that bad?". He asked and she looks at him confused, "Marriage? Is he that bad?".

"I never said it was him who is the problem. I just have too much baggage with me". She said softly

"Share it to lessen it". He said smiling, "He had an idea of it anyway why not share it?".

"What if he cannot take it?". She asked

"How about we test it?". He suggested

"How?". She asked

"It's a few steps if you are in then I will tell you". He said grinning at her as the plan form in his head

"Look at them". His sister pointed to the duo smiling at one another

He sighs, "At least there is someone she smiles at like that".

"Give her some time she will smile for you too". His sister encourages, "And when she does-".

"I will protect it at all cost". He promised

"You better or you will deal with me". She threatened

"I don't know why all woman in my life always after my life". He said groaning

"So, what's the step?". Hajar asked looking at Ayub

"The first is the best weapon of a woman". He said haughtily

She raises her eyebrows as he said the next words, "Crying".