"You could have warned me-"The man muttered from besides me as he stretched his legs.

Ignoring his comment, I dribbled the ball harder on the ground.Clenching my jaw, I turned towards him only to cast a hard glare to him.

"I am serious, if I was blind and you were suspicious, you could have warned-"

"I.Could.Have.You-"I interrupted emphasising on my words.

"Wasn't this enough that you were marrying someone who loved you more than life itself, Salah"I added getting furious at his choice of words.His green eyes were angry as he clenched his fists.

"I know, I made a mistake but dammit I loved her, Arsalan."He breathed out, running his hands through his hair.

Suddenly I was at loss of words.

Love

Love

Love

Love

"Shahwar-that girl who lives to only see a glimpse of you, was ready to sacrifice her love for a woman we barely knew, Salah.How could you not see it."

"I don't know."He muttered standing up.The ball rolled off my hands as Salah dribbled it, walking to the basket.A sigh left my lips.

"Karma is a bitch."I muttered.A chuckle left Salah's lips.

He was just bruised with love and it'll take time for him to heal.

"Ammi-"I knocked at her bedroom door, twisting the knob.The large room was as always neat and clean.The tea-pink curtains swaying with the wind as the room wafted with the smell of fresh jasmines.Each corner and edge of the room was spotless.

As I stood before her vanity table, a small sad smile grazed my lips.My chest tightening with heaviness.Along with my mother's perfumes and cream jar, the other half of the table empty, vacant of any other article.

I could almost imagine Abbo's colognes and watches present there.The liking he had to collect wrist watches.

A soft hand touched my shoulder as I flinched at the contact, turning around to see the beautiful woman stand before me.

Her warm eyes looking up at me with pride.

"Come sit."My mother said before she sat on the bed.I sat down too, my eyes tracing the patterns on the bedsheet.Ammi's warm hand reached towards mine as she held it.Silence filled every corner before her soft voice broke it.

"Your sisters are worried for you and so am I.Would you tell your mother what is disturbing you?"She asked as I glanced at her.Her eyes assessing my face,

"If you are disturbed because of what is happening around then my son, happiness and sadness comes with time.Time will bring happiness, sadness,good and bad.But it doesn't means that we would lose to time.Time will change and will bring happiness-"Her lips stretched into a smile but I could read her eyes, the story they hid of the deepest secrets.

I nodded slowly, sighing.Encouraging her to continue.

"When Shahwar and Salah's wedding was fixed I thought that after how many years we were going to experience such happiness.Imraan's wedding was too rushed so it happened in a blink.After your father's death, this was the only time that happiness was blinding us but..But good times would soon shine upon us.Just trust in ALLAH."I nodded firmly this time.

"I do trust in ALLAH."She smiled at me.My hand was still in her warm one, but I could feel the coldness erupting in my skin.My breaths quickening as I wondered how to ask her.I needed sometime and it was enough now.

Today or tomorrow, I had to face it.

Gaining the courage, I leaned down placing my head on her lap.Closing my head, I only saw darkness, the darkness that was filling me up.

"Ammi you -you know that I-I didn't do anything."My words were like a whisper but they echoed loud across the room.The woman's hand stiffening in my hold.I didn't dare look up at her.

Silence fell upon us and non of us wanted to break it, but it was meant to.

"Arsalan, my shehzaday.I believed you that time.Five years before, I believed you and I still believe you.Nothing can change the truth.My jaan, what are you asking me?"Her voice was shaky and I knew that tears decorated her face.I looked up to her as her hand left mine and stroked my hair, her eyes searching my charcoal ones.

"I am ready to know ammi.I want to know all of it."I expressed, swallowing the huge lumps in my throat.A small gasp left ammi's lips as she bent down to kiss my forehead.I closed my eyes, preparing to know the secrets of my life.

"Arsalan, know that your father loved you very much.He loved you more than anything dear to him in this world.You were his pride, his happiness.You were the light in his home while your sisters were his home.He loved you all so much.And so he trusted you too.He trusted you with everything.And he knew you would never break his trust-"A cry broke her words but I didn't stop her.Although the words were stinging me and clawing at my skin but it was once and for all.I had to listen, had to know.

The next half hour, she told me everything I needed to know.The reason of my still existence.She cried and went silent for a few seconds and I let her get over the time she had lived with, I let her take her time to expose the scars.I didn't interrupt and nor did open my eyes.

Living it all like a bad dream.Nightmare.

Her words teleported me back to the times we've lived, went through.As it all ended, a hiccup left her lips making me look up at her.

Her teary brown eyes were so light in colour that they almost felt like honey as they stared off somewhere in space.Her next words piercing through my skin like a bullet till my shivering heart burned in ashes.

"Arsalan, even when he was on his death bed.He missed you, he said, Naheed tell him that his father believes in him and trust him.Tell him and don't let him ever feel guilty about it.Tell him I love him.Tell him.These were his exact words.His last words before he no longer breathed."My mother's words were a soft whisper.

I sat up on my place as ammi cried softly behind me.The late afternoon vanishing away with the coming evening.My head was very heavy and I massaged my temples before getting off the bed.

"Where are you going?"Ammi asked me making me stop in my tracks.

"I am going for a walk.I'll be late."I informed not turning to look at her.Too afraid she'll see past my shields.

Hours later, I strolled mindlessly on the sidewalks of Abbottabad.My feet having a mind of their own as they lead me to the small mountainous hills as I climbed further up and up.

I was well aware and awake to know where I was headed.Standing onto the edge of a small cliff that wasn't much higher than the gigantic mountains behind me but higher enough to give the full view of the beautiful lighted city.I inhaled the air deeply as much as can, getting breathless all of a sudden.

The horizon was dark with swaying clouds and cold winds as they blew in from all directions.The stars peeking down on Earth from behind their white veils.

Amal

Amal

Amal

She was like sky-

I shrugged the thought off looking up at the moonless sky.My cold hands digging deep in the pockets of my black hoodie as I once again continued towards my destination.

My eyes casually roamed around in the silent environment till the bright lights greeted me.Making me move walk towards them as they lead me on.

The sound of rushing water reached my eyes as I glanced at the flow of cold rushing water.It was a stream that went down onto the smaller hills coming from up the higher mountains and merging somehow in the river.It was an attraction for the tourists as the stream was lined with tea and snacks serving stalls.Few charpoy beds and plastic chairs were kept in the flowing water and people sat on the beds to feel the rushing water push beneath them.

Enjoying in the cold water whilst the stalls served them with warm snacks and tea.The lights from the stall reflected through the flowing water as I silently passed the enjoying families and tourist.Searching for an isolated and quiet spot, I walked up the naturally formed or manmade steps through which water passed.They weren't exactly steps but a slight slope from which the water came from the mountains.The small rocks made them look like steps.

Sitting down on an isolated place very near the stream, I brought my feet before me.Undoing the knot on the laces, I pulled off my socks.Folding up my jeans from the ankles I dipped my feet in the freezing water.

Almost icy water, it took a few minutes before I felt my skin getting numb.It was very cold and that is what I loved about all the streams here.The water would be so freezing that it would make you numb within minutes.

The place where I sat was quiet isolated and the stall lights weren't even disturbing as the stars from above casted their glow upon the ground.

Pulling out my hand from the warmth of the hoodie, I ran it through my hair as the wind had already messed them up.

My mind wandering back to ammi's words.All of her word.

It was hard to accept and expect.It had been four years almost five but I wasn't convinced.My family had defended me all those years ago and believed me but I wasn't naive to not notice the hesitancy that lingered in their gazes.The look they carried in their eyes when they looked up at me.The glint they had for me was gone and replaced with something I couldn't decipher.

My Uncles and Aunties were like this with me before that unfortunate night.It seemed as if they were still doubtful.And I feared that what I thought about them would be true.

That they ARE doubtful of me.

Tell him and don't ever let him feel guilty about it.Tell him I love him-ammi's words from a few hours back whispered across my ears as I fixed my eyes on the water that shined with stars.

Shining star, I flinched at the words.

"Sofia, what do you exactly mean?"I asked the woman, raising my eyebrows at her.Her glare intensified more and so did mine.

"There is nothing to mean.You are not to talk to another women.That it very clear and simple."She spat out.Her hands settling on her hips.

Narrowing my eyes at her, I said clenching my jaw hard.

"I do not take orders from you."

She stepped closer to me, her slender finger poking over my chest as she sneered furiously,

"I am not ordering you darling.I am just warning YOU.Because if you don't stop-"

An evil smirk plastered her face as her dark eyes searched my face,

"I'll kill them all."The words rolled off her tongue so easily as if she was spelling pizza.My eyes widened for a fraction of time before they narrowed again.

"Don't talk silly.I can do whatever I want."I said sitting on my chair.She folded her hands across her chest.

"And then I'll do whatever I want to do."She spat out again, her voice raising with her anger.

"Sofia, its better you go and work."I said pointing to the door.She just shook her head and sat down on the chair opposite from mine.

"Arsalan honey, stop doing this.Don't defy me.When I say something you HAVE to do it.When you talk to some other women it kills me , it burns me."She said, her voice soft this time.

I inhaled in a deep breath, looking emotionlessly at the woman who sat before me.

"Well it should not, you should have control over yourself.And please stop with the sweet names.They are not working on me."I casted my eyes down as they traced the words on my laptop screen.

"I cannot stop with the sweet names and whatever you are doing to me."I bit the inside of my cheek, still not looking up at her.

"You know, you are the shining star in my dark sky.The tides in my ocean.You are my everything."She said dreamily looking at me.

"Miss Sofia, I think you should go and check your emails."I stated quietly looking down at the laptop again.

"You work so much Arsalan.My daddy can give you so much that our kids would even live happily.We wouldn't ever have to work.My daddy can provide enough for us."She said grinning.I scrunched my eyebrows standing up from my chair.

"Sofia, I respect you.And so I request you to leave my office this once."I pointed to the door, trying to keep my anger at bay.

"Arsalan."She called out standing up too.

"Why don't you see it!Why are you so immune?"She yelled out.Her eyes turning fiery as she marched towards me.

Her hands fisted my blazer as she pulled me forward.Her face only inches from mine as she stared hard at me.

"I will go out only from the door, but not from your life.Because you are MY life and I cannot stop living.Listen clear here.I can ask my father for anything and he can provide me anything so its better, that I don't ask him to get you to me.And damn if you don't stop playing funny with me I'll regret even saying it."She sneered backing off leaving me baffled with her words.Anger bubbled in my veins.

She was heaving breaths out.

"I think you can find another company for your internship.I am cancelling your internship form this instant."I said.

"Don't even think about it because it won't help anything.Do the hell you want.But I'll still not leave you."She spoke before turning around and walking off.

SORRY FOR UPDATING LATE..