the cafe looking at the door every other second.

"Why is she that excited?". Hamood asked Imaan

Imaan smiles softly, "Just wait for it".

The door opens again and this time Hawaa eyes widen when she finds her father (real) entering inside. She leaves her seat running towards him hugging him tightly.

"I missed you, Abbu". She said softly holding him tighter

Her father smiles wrapping his arms around his now-grown daughter after so many years of hoping he could. His eyes fill with tears as he enjoys holding his daughter feeling as if she was still that small little baby he held the day she was born.

"I missed you too, beta". He said hoarsely from trying to stop his tears

"That's her father". Hamood said watching them turning to Imaan who was also crying

Hawaa takes her father handing walking back to their seat.

"How have you been?". She asked smiling

"I am sorry about everything, beta. I wish I can stop it". Her father said sadly

"Arey Abbu, don't be sad". She said softly, "We can meet again now with no one stopping us. I am happy about that only".

Her father nodded, "What about your mother?".

"I don't consider her that". She replied

"Beta-". Her father started

"Leave that. Tell me did you marry someone?". She asked curiously

Her father chokes on his drink-making her giggle, "I take that as a no then".

"Beta". Her father said

"It's fine. I just wanted to know. How about marrying again?". She said happily

"No-". Her father started

"Nah, you don't get to say. I will manage everything on my own". She said grinning

Her father sighs, "You are exactly like me. You don't listen to anyone".

She smiles even brighter, "That's the best thing I have heard in my life".

Her father smiles, "How is your husband?".

She shrugged, "He is good".

"What does that mean?". Her father asked frowning

"I will tell you someday". She replied

Hamood watches her smiling so beautifully for the first time in his life. Granted they grow in the same place and he had seen her growing but he had never seen her being this happy. Her lips into a sweet and cute smile. Her face and eyes glistening like that.

"It's because of her father". Imaan said, "She had always longed for her in her life but she was banned to ever meet him. I have her talk to him a few times in which she always cries for him but there was no way she can meet him without putting him in danger".

"How?". Hamood asked

"Her mother's husband had power and influence so he took Hawaa away from her father and her complete custody over to his name. He placed a ban on them to ever see each other which with his dis-owning her finally came to end". She explained

Hamood nodded watching her talk and talk while her father had this look on his face which says that he had missed this so much. That he can hear her talk all day if he had to.

That her father loves her.

*****

Hawaa sits in front of his mother who is looking at him for the longest time making her somewhat anxious.

Why is she anxious?.

"I can't believe this". His mother said sighing

"You don't?. I can't believe he married her without asking us". His aunt said, "Someone like her instead of my daughter".

Those words didn't settle well for her and she turns to her daughter who is looking at Hamood like he is some food she is going to eat.

Gross.

"Well, what can I say now I am his wife and there is nothing much we can do about it". She said shrugging

"We can". His aunt said, "Divorce her".

"What?". Hamood said after a long time of saying nothing

"It's simple. You have two options you divorce her or you marry my daughter and kick her out". His aunt said

She clenches her teeth.

"How about this?. You never speak about my wife and my relationship like a joke again and we will still be meeting or you can just walk away". He said angrily

His aunt holds her daughter hand walking out of the house.

"You know that was rude". Hawaa said

"So what you want me to divorce you?". He asked glaring at her

She opens her mouth but he walks away angrily leaving her confused.

"I didn't mean like that". She mumbles

"I know". His mother said making her squeal a little because she forgets about her

"Oh, sorry". She said thinking about ways to lessen his anger

She enters inside the kitchen what's seems like a century. She never cooks back in her mother place because of all the chef they appointed.

She does know how to cook.

Maybe.

She tries to cook his favourite Puloa for him. She tries to read the recipe online following it in cutting all the things needed.

"What are you doing?". His mother said making her shriek

"Arey Khala, Hamood is angry at me so I am making his favourite food". She said adding in the spices

"How do you know his favourite food?". His mother asked shocked

"You and Imaan khala always talk about him". She said softly

"You listen to us?". His mother asked

"You and Khala are the only one I truly listen to". She replied smiling genuinely at her

"She never deserved you". His mother said walking away

She cooks for about two more hours because of her poor knowledge and skills in cooking.

She places it in a plate praying that his anger dissolves when he eats this. She walks with the plate towards his door knocking on it and he opens the door after a few moments glaring at her.

She smiles at him pointing to the tray in her hand.

"You made this?". He asked accusing

She pushes him angrily placing the tray on the table walking back outside.

"Hawaa, I didn't-". He started but she closed the door hard

He sighs.

He has no idea why he was so angry at the thought of divorcing her and the thought of her considering it was even worse.

"You shouldn't have talked to her like that". His mother said opening the door entering inside, "You know that, right?".

He nodded, "I didn't mean it like that".

"Neither did she but did you hear her?. No, you assume it". His mother said disappointed walking back to the door, "You know she never cooked for anyone before and because of you she has cuts on her hands she didn't even tend to".

With that, she closes the door just as hard as her daughter in law leaving him in guilt.

He groans.

He walks out of the door trying to find her to know from a worker that she is in the garden outside. He walks outside to find her sitting on the bench moving her feet back and forth.

He sits beside her with a huffed, "Are you mad at me?".

She didn't speak moving aside on the bench.

He moves towards her, "So you are".

She didn't speak again moving to the side only to fall down on the ground this time. She squeal then glare at him when she heard him laughing.

"Don't be this mad that you cannot even see where you are heading to". He said after his session of laughing

She sits there still glaring at him then he sighs sitting down in front of her speaking softly, "I am sorry".

She looks at him for a moment then sighs, "Fine. Did you eat?". He shakes his head, "Come on, I am hungry and we have classes tomorrow".

"What's your plan for tomorrow?". He asked standing up forwarding his hand

She looks at his hand suspiciously but then he smiles making her smile taking his hand.

"I am going to meet Abbu, why?". She asked walking inside

"Nothing. I was thinking about what to do about the situation of having your sister and that man in the same university". He said and she feels that when he said that man there was certain anger

She shrugged, "It doesn't bother me".

"It bothers me". He said gritting his teeth

She turns around grinning at him making his heart flutter at the sudden action, "Why?".

He rolls his eyes pushing past her placing a hand over his heart to calm it down, "Well he talks shit about you that's why".

"He does talk shit". She agreed, "But who cares?".

"I do". He said walking away to his room to bring the tray back down

She heats her plate of food sitting on the table when he comes down and they eat their food.

******

She looks ahead of her where he is sitting talking to some of his friends. She saw Ali entering inside but it didn't bother her and her eyes still remain on Hamood.

To watch him is somehow becoming mesmerising like how his lips curl into a beautiful smile or when he frowns when he didn't get something or when his eyes shine when he understands it. To his contagious laughter that flutters her heart.

She smiles.

"You seem awfully happy". Ali said standing on the side of her table

Hamood stops talking to his friend when he finds everyone looking their way.

"You did try your best to break me but I am not sad to tell you that a coward like you running away on his marriage day is the best thing you ever did to me". She replied smiling at Hamood who eyes trains on her

"You are delusional if you think he will-". Ali started

"Look, Ali, I understand that you can't seem to get over me and be with my sister but you need to move on because it's starting to seem like you wanted to actually marry me". She said angrily since he isn't going away

The teacher enters and Ali was about to sit beside her when he was pushed away and Hamood sits beside her glaring at Ali, "Stay away from my wife".

Those stupid tingling in her stomach.

She bites her lips to prevent the smile on her face but it came on her lips anyway.

She remembers last time after dinner.

"Show me your hand". He said while they sit on the couch watching TV

"Why?". She asked confused

He turns towards her forwarding his hand asking her to place her own.

She did.

He winces watching the small cuts on her finger looking back at her angrily while she just grins.

"I didn't even notice them". She said honestly

"How can you not?". He asked shaking his head at the amount of worry he had to do in future because of her

He takes out bandage wrapping it around her fingers, "I swear if you do this again I will ban you from ever entering inside the kitchen".

She just smiles sweetly.

She feels him holding her hand under the table making her eyes widen but since they are the very end no one is going to notice relaxes her. He draws meaningless circle on her hand while she tries to pay attention to the class but couldn't.

She groans.

This is not fair.

The lunch rolls in and she stands in line talking to him about everything and he just keeps looking at her lovingly something that doesn't sit well with two people.

Her sister and her husband.

They stand behind them noticing them. Hawaa orders her food smiling at Hamood who takes his food just when she was about to step ahead her sister place her foot tripping her.

But Hamood was quick to action holding her elbow steadying her before she falls down with her food. He pulls her back making her face him and her eyes closed.

She breathes heavily scared of falling down.

"Open your eyes, Jaan (life)". She heard his soft voice say making her eyes open immediately, "It's ok. You are ok".

She nodded still looking at his eyes steadying her back on her feet but still holding onto his hand. He holds her hand tightly comforting her. She cannot miss the tingly from him calling her Jaan.

"Don't be such a drama". Her sister said more angry at them

"How about you stop being a bully?". She asked angrily

"What if I don't?". Her sister asked challenging

"How about I tell everyone then?". She asked smirking making her go pale

"What is she talking about?". Ali asked

"Nothing". Her sister said walking away followed by Ali

"Come on, let's go eat". Hamood said taking her to his table

"I like my table more". She whined looking at him

She smiles tucking a strand of her hair away, "We can go there then".

She grins at him nodding happily and he can't help but chuckle.

******

"So, how is everything?. It's been a month since you are married?". Her father asked softly

"It's good". She said shrugging

"Are you giving him a chance?". He asked

She sighs, "I don't know. I am scared".

"Beta, if you can love someone wrong imagine how it will be to love someone who you know will be staying by your side forever". Her father said

"I never loved Ali". She said honestly, "It was all because he was-".

"Because he was the first male that was able to walk past your wall?". Her father completed her sentence, "I know".

"You had your heartbroken what's the use?". She asked

"Life will never not break your heart. It tests your heart like it tests your faith. You cannot expect to not be hurt by the one you love. Nikkah- is the first pure step towards someone to love and you and Hamood entered directly into it. You and Ali were never in that step and as much as I know he wasn't that close to you either". Her father said wisely

She nodded, "It's just we talked a month he didn't know much about me but he sends his proposal and Ammi accepted it. Then we used to talk but not much and then the wedding came and the disaster".

"Maybe it wasn't a disaster but a blessing. Give him a chance too. It's only fair". Her father said

She nodded.

"I will". She said smiling, "Which reminds me that I have to plan your wedding and talk to the bride".

"Beta". Her father said

"Please, please, please". She whined making him give up

******

"You are actually going to marry him off?". Hamood asked smiling at her ranting about her day to him

She turns to look at him, "Obviously. He deserves to be happy".

Hamood nodded, "Whose the bride?".

She grins at him and he raises his eyebrows when he realises, "No way".

"Yes. Isn't it amazing?". She said happily

He nodded, "They deserves to be happy".

She nodded tried moving closer to him and he wraps his arms around her.

She slept.

He feels her holding onto his shirt tightly in his hold like every night.

He chuckles.

*****

"I swear these bus driver drives like crazy". He said angrily as one bus almost hit them

She sighs.

"That is true". She said nodding

He holds her hand playing with it.

"I remember you cook really good". He complimented

She smiles at him, "Thank you".

"You are being awfully nice lately. You do all my work like it's your duty". He said even though he likes it

"Because it is". She said simply because she loves doing it

His heart skipped a beat before he can ask further her phone rang and she answers it.

"Jee Abbu?". She asked

"Beta, just tells me who I am marrying this is childish". Her father asked for the millionth time

"Did you just say I am childish?". She said fake mocked making Hamood chuckles which receive a punch

"Behave Hamoodi and look at the road please". She said smiling

"Don't call me that". He whined and she sticks her tongue at him

Her father chuckles making her happy.

"Just tell me. I am getting married in a week anyway". Her father said

"No, I will tell you on the day you will get married". She said cancelling the call

"You are really evil. You have them both convinced and scared as to who they are marrying". Hamood said

"Look, Hamoodi, they should have been married ages ago. They are just too dense and waste this much time". She said nodding to herself

"God, that name". He groans parking the car in the university place, "If that man does something today I will kill him".

She chuckles entering inside the university.

Just as they enter she finds her sister and this time she calls her.

"Actually I wanted to inform your mother that my Abbu is getting married next week". Hawaa said grinning at her sullen face, "Just tell her it's with her most favourite person on earth".

"How can you do this to her!?". Her sister said angrily

"Returning the favour". She replied walking away

******

"So, we have the guest and clothes ready?". She asked his mother

His mother nodded, "I don't even know why I am doing this".

She smiles, "I just pray all happens nicely".

His mother nodded.

"Did you buy your dress?". His mother asked

She shakes her head making his mother facepalm herself.

"Hamoodi". His mother yelled and she giggles at the name

"Ammi, I said not that name please". He whined coming down

"Take your wife shopping. How can you not do that until now?". His mother said angrily

He sighs, "Chalo, biwi (wife) before my Ammi buries me".

That received him with two slaps on his hand. One from his mother and another from his wife.

"Don't say things like that". His mother said

He chuckles kissing his mother cheeks holding his wife hand walking out.

They drive peacefully for a moment until a bus driver comes beside them with his bus moving side to side.

"What is wrong with him?". Hamood asked angrily

"Hamood, just speed up and move away from him". She pleaded

"No, I am not going to do that". Hamood replied

"Hamood, please-". She started when the bus hit Hamood's side hard and their car hit something hard