of the fountain after she had no chance to escape

"I just don't want to stay here". She said in a low voice playing with her hands

"You are lying". He stated turning to look in her eyes as his eyes narrow dangerously making her gulp, "You are hiding something you don't want anyone to know about".

"Is it bad?". She asked looking at him making his eyes widen for a fraction of moment before he controls himself from swaying towards her

"What do you mean?". He asked watching how she pulls at the side of her dress clearly anxious and it wasn't his fault that he looks scary especially since she had tried to run away maybe it's better she remains scared of him

"Is it bad that I don't want a part of myself to be known by anyone?". She asked looking at the ground feeling the pain in her chest as she just wants to cry all night again, "Not every part of someone's life is for everyone to know. Is it bad that a part that broke me, I want it hidden?".

"Trying to run away and escape to a more cruel situation is acceptable?". He asked narrowing his eyes at her making her flibble in her place

"I just don't want to be a burden to anyone. The price of being a burden is too high for me to pay again". She said tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear

"I know that's a lie and you are not a burden to us. My mother loves you like everyone else here". He said softly this time trying to make her understand

She shakes her head, "Please let me leave. I can't stay here".

"I promise you that I will not look into your background and neither allow anyone to do so". He promised sincerely

She looks into his eyes finding nothing but honesty, "What if my past devil comes haunting?. They will destroy everyone".

"Then I promise to fight them off with you. There will be no way I am allowing anyone to take you away from us without a good fight. I don't think they will stand a chance especially if you start to fight back because the devil is strong only until your step down, the moment you start to fight back even the devil shakes in fear and run away".

"People are worse than the devil".

"Because they are lead by him and master always teaches his student better than himself".

She sighs, "I still don't want to stay here idle. It's not right".

"Then work for me". The words escape his lips so fast that he was surprised by them too but he continued, "I mean come and work at our house. My mother doesn't like having just anyone around which is why we have no worker beside the gardener and gatekeeper. She is old now but wouldn't rest, she adores you so I think she will rest if you are there and not damage her health from excessive work".

"Is her health bad?". She asked concerned because she liked the woman

He smiles at her concern," She is just ok. She needs to cut down on her stress and work".

"I don't understand why parents are that way". She said sighing as she remembers her own

"Your parents are no more, right?. If you don't mind me asking when did they die?". He asked politely not wanting to offend her

"Almost three months ago". She said gulping visibly trying to hold herself together

He watches her visibly stiffen then proceed to shake as she rubs her hands together.

"I wanted to apologise". He said softly trying to take her attention away

"Apologise?".

He nodded, "I held you that day without your permission. I am sorry".

She thought for a moment before she realised what he meant making her cheeks turn red from embarrassment. She had never allowed any men to touch her even though she was unconscious then now her mind tries to make her feel the way it must have felt to be in his arms which is even more embarrassing.

"I-It's fine". She said softly not looking at him

"Thank you. So, it's decided I will come tomorrow morning to pick you so we can go home. Pack your bags before 9 AM and we can leave then?". He asked and she nodded, "Ok. Ammi sent a few things I will go bring them inside".

She nodded watching him head outside while she starts to move back inside the house after she failed attempt. She shudders when she realises his words were right. As much as she hates for her past to come to light, the world outside is nothing but darkness not anyone can walk through without ending in a quicksand.

It's not until she heard a whimper when she was on the top floor that she realised that she was going to leave that child alone here. Her heart clenched remembering how she was at peace with her just yesterday and today she was abandoning her for no good reason. She heads to her room holding her in her arms watching as she cuddles sleepy in her arms. She decided to head back to the fountain because their favourite place now.

She sits down placing her in her lap while she makes baby sounds looking around amazed. She smiles caressing her cheeks looking at the fountain. She chooses to believe because we are being pressed down by such fantasies that running away and walking in the world will open gates to us.

It does, to some people.

The world is turning dark and scary. Not that it is no more a safe place, it is a place no one wants to live in. Thinking of western countries and idolise them like freedom and more is wrong on many levels. The outer appearance of everything can be made pretty but what's lying inside is the truth.

We choose to believe and we choose to not hear the truth. But, it's there all along.

If she had stepped away from this orphanage the monster outside would have ripped her apart. She had no place, no work and nothing on her beside people after her head. She didn't think the things through and perhaps she was only overwhelmed by the feeling of freedom which is usually associated with running away that she didn't realise other things.

Running away is shown as a solution and in the back of mind, that is the only solution. But, running away from one problem and entering into a world is the solution?. Will the things that come after will all be pretty?.

Nothing is ever pretty, that's the reality we try to escape.

Instead of running away from problems why not face them head-on?. Why not stay and fight them off?.

Running away is not a reality.

It's a fantasy that we love but will break us apart.

The point being, that we continue thinking and overthinking about finding solutions to all our worries by running from them that we drain ourselves, our mind and body to face the reality of the situation and when the situation hits back which it is meant to we fall back.

He walks back inside with the things when he finds her walking outside. Being curious he follows behind her after placing the things as his mother instructed going outside. He stands at the door to outside leaning on it watching as she sits down on the grass in front of the fountain and the baby playing in her lap.

The moment stilled when he finds a genuine smile embrace her lips and under the shine of the moonlight with her face filled with emotions that all spoke of were in between pain and peace he found himself drawn towards her. That smile was beautiful and he has to say that it brings a certain youth to her.

Just a few minutes ago, he had heard her talking even though her voice was timid and soft he had at least heard her speak, that's a progress. He hadn't thought someone as delicate as she is left in his harsh world without any security. He was glad that his mother found her before the wild dogs attacked her but had his mother actually saved her?.

The reasons for him offering the job to her was because he knows the fragile state, she is in she needs to be somewhere safe and sound. Being out in the world will bring and attract her harm and it was far better to have her under his shadow where he will be at ease to know no one will harm her at least from the outside. He wasn't much sure about how her inner battle can be won and how he can provide her help.

He stands there until she holds the baby to her chest humming softly to her some surah he couldn't recognize until he saw how peacefully the baby slept. Once she was done she stands from her place turning around looking directly at him. His eyes widen slightly before he masks all his emotions because he knows at this hour of the night his emotions were all visible. Because in the dark the emotions are at full display because we think that it's when we can hide from the world our true self and display it without care.

But, the fact was that if one has the right person day or night doesn't matter anymore. And for that moment, in that very moment, he realises that he didn't wish to hide his emotions from her. That even when it's night and he was trying to hide away he wanted her to study him. To be curious and to come towards him.

"Ap yahi hain?". She asked softly breaking his trance (you are still here)

"Ji. Kyun nahi hona chahiyeh?. Agar ap kahti hain toh chala jata hoon". He said hiding his smile watching as her eyes widen and she shakes her head vigorously obviously not catching his joke (yes. I shouldn't be here?. If you say it I will leave right now)

But will she be able to know it's a joke when he said it with a straight face?.

"Nahi nahi. Yeh jaga apki hai ap to your rah saktay hain". She said biting her lips as she looks down at the baby who cuddles into her sighing (No-No. This is your place, you can stay here)

"Is something wrong?". He asked watching how her face turned sad

"I have to leave her here alone". She said sadly looking at him, "I don't want to abandon her".

"You can still meet her". He chipped in

She shakes her head, "But what about when she cries for me and I am not there?".

He thought for a moment the consequences of this plan but when it comes to her he wasn't exactly thinking about anything.

"Then bring her with you". He said watching the shock on her face, "It will be fine. Since she is under our care we can take her out of here. Everything that you need for her we can buy it tomorrow. We can leave whatever is here for the other children. I am sure my mother won't mind and it's just both of us in that big house adding two more people won't be trouble".

"Are you sure?". She asked unsurely but look down at the baby holding her shirt in her hand tightly

He nodded, "I will pick you at 9 AM. I won't tell Ammi anything so it's a surprise however I will speak to the supervisor about all this to inform them about the changes, ok?".

She nodded walking him to the door as he walks away she stayed there looking at him.

Before he could enter his car he felt in his heart to have just one glimpse or he will regret it. So, he turned around looking at her standing there with her hands around the baby holding it securely looking directly at him. The tugging on his heart tightened making him surrender to it so he turns around leaving quickly.

He had a doubt that his mother will not accept help and it was just parents nature. They sacrifice without much words for their children but they never allow their help to them. They will do everything on their own because they have been taught and trained in that manner.

That's just how they are.

He picked her at sharp 9 AM a little satisfied that she was on time. She had the baby in her hands as she enters inside his car.

"What's her name?". He asked looking at the baby eyes moving to him as she looks at him curiously holding her finger in her tiny fist

"Zainab". She said cooing her making her giggle

"She likes you". He commented watching as the baby eyes were fixed on her

She smiles, "I guess".

"We will go and buy the stuff you need before he heads back home, ok?". He asked and she nodded so he drove to the market near his house

He holds the cart while she holds the baby entering inside heading to the baby section as she buys what she had made a list with the orphanage manager.

"This will look good on her". He said holding a shirt

She couldn't help the laugh the escape her lips watching the shirt.

"Are you calling my baby a cow?". She asked jokingly

"Cow is cool too. No need to discriminate". He argued amused at her change in personality

He didn't know until how her laughter was even better than her simple smile. If her smile made her look young than her laughter made her look enchanting. The two opposites just like her personalities.

Just how many shades does she have inside of her?.

"Fine. I guess we can take this". She said with a small smile as she turns to look at the tiny shoes in the rack

The next few minutes went on with him buying every kind of ridiculous clothes for Zainab and she didn't say anything because he looks better with his goofy self and she feels comfortable in his presence. Also, because she didn't know a simple shopping spree can be this fun and he can enjoy it to this extent.

She didn't know about using his money and she did talk to him about it to which he simply said that he wanted to buy them for Zainab and if she didn't allow it he will just come back and buy more of them alone. Since she enjoys this time with him she agrees to him.

"Is there something you want for yourself?". He asked halting in his steps to look at her, "If you want I can carry her while you go and buy whatever is that you want. If only that makes you comfortable".

She thought about it for a moment and she cannot exactly have him come with her to the female section nor she can easily see whatever she wants with Zainab in her hands. She looks at him wondering if he will be ok with Zainab.

"Have you held a baby before?". She asked unsurely

"Excuse me, Miss. That is very offensive, what do you take me for?". He asked dramatically making her laugh

Maybe he should do it more often just to hear her laugh.

"An idiot". She replied making her own eyes widen at her words, "I am sorry".

He chuckles, "I am an idiot sometimes don't worry about it. If you stay with my mother you will hear more than just an idiot in my honour from her".

She shakes her head with a smile, "Your mother is amazing".

"Yes, she is".

"You never told me". She said shifting Zainab because her hands were numb, "Have you ever held a baby?".

"No". He said truthfully, "But there's a first for everything".

"I suppose".

She moves closer to him making his breathing hitched because he was sure she didn't realise how her body heat to travel to him and how her scent washing over his sense numbing them to anything she was explaining to him.

It was only her.

".....will you?". She asked snapping her finger in front of his face watching as his gaze bore into her making her blush, "Will you hold her now?".

This was the second time he had witnessed her blushing and it was absolutely adorable.

"Yes". He said forwarding his arms as she gently places Zainab in his hands teaching him the way to hold her without hurting her in any way

He didn't realise until he held Zainab in his arms just how fragile babies are. He had heard from his father how he felt the connection to him when he first held him in his arms and just how all responsibility didn't look hard anymore. Because of the feeling of a new life at your hand makes you forget everything. The fragile body looking up at you is enough to be a better man, for some people.

Because he had spoken to the manager this morning to clear her about the new changes when she informed that Zainab was indeed abandoned by a mother under pressure from her husband and his family to either throw her away or bury her alive.

Having to bury one child alive needs a new kind of monster to be. No one can ever harm their own child unless they are sick.

He felt it in his bones when he held Zainab looking down at her as she looks at him with her beautiful duo eyes, not even a word left her lips yet he was at his knees for her then how is that her parents did that?.

It can never be understood by anyone.

He already knew Zainab name he just wanted to hear her talk and that is why he asked her.

"Are you ok?". She asked watching how he looks at Zainab, "I can take her--".

"No. I am fine. I will take care of her. Promise. You can go". He said smiling lightly trying to keep his emotions at bay

"If you need me, call me".

"You don't have a phone".

"Right". She said shaking her head at her own words, "I can be silly sometimes I mean if you need me find me".

"I am an idiot and you are silly, aren't we the best match". He said chuckling

"Maybe". She said playing along with him, "Find me, ok?".

"I will always find you".

She nodded walking away to buy herself some things remembering that she needs to take in consideration the price so when she learns she can pay it back to him.

She was looking through some clothes when her eyes fell on a few people talking to him. She frowns because they look familiar but they went away before she had a chance to look at them.

It wasn't until she was walking back to him that she finds a man standing at the counter looking through something that the chill run down her body. Her whole body went into pilot mode losing her sanity in a split second making it incredibly hard for her to simply breathe.

You have ruined us.

You deserve death.

Those words filled her ear repeating over and over again making her lose her balance as she was about to hit the ground when someone held her hand making her stand on her feet. She finds someone coming in her blurry vision that was filled with tears and few of them rolling down her face as she tries to look at the person until she finds him.

He was blocking their view from her unknowingly shielding her away from her fears.

"Why are you crying?. What's wrong?. Did someone hurt you?. Just tell me who and I will deal with them". He said concerned as he watches her weeping like a child which triggered the real child in his hand making her cry with Laiyana, "Shhh, stop crying. It's all ok. I am here. You are safe with me".

"Please take me home".

"Who did you see?".

"My worst nightmare".