"Well, sorry to say Arhaan Ahmed Sir, you left my sister when she needed you the most," Zain said.

"Zain, let it be" Seher pleaded to know too well that this gonna end on a bad note.

"No, Seher. Zain is right. Arhaan did wrong." This time even Ahad supported Zain.

"And she did it, right? She chose someone else other than me, other than us" Arhaan shouted.

Zain saying this, things because he left his sister is okay, but Ahad, his brother is supporting her too. He knows that everyone will support her only, but this is not expectable. For him, everyone is seeing Seher's pain only, what about him? His pain, his suffering.

"She chose your Mother Arhaan," Ahad said.

"That doesn't mean she was right" Arhaan never expected His Seher to choose anyone before him, not even his mother maybe not even Saira.

"She was, is and will always be right for us, for everything. You are the one at fault because you left her and she faced everything all alone. Her body clock literally cycles like New York.

She never tells anyone that doesn't mean don't know, she takes care of your every need even when you are not here. From your daily schedules to weekend plan damn even your bar payments were done by her though she hated drinking, and you are saying she is wrong." Zain said

"Arhaan you have no idea what.." Seher stopped Ahad before he could say anything that will cause more chaos.

"That's it okay. Let it be. We are not here to discuss our past or Ahad's present. Let it pass now. For now, I want you people to plan Hadiya's wedding. Because I am not planning to go back to the haweli today and it's Monday already Friday is her nikkah. Ask her to come here Ahad and we will plan it out."

-----

Hadiya and Ayaan come by the evening, and the planning starts which is surprisingly fun.

"Hadiya suno bhagg ke kar le paise save honge hamare" Ayaan with his nonsense.

"Ahad bhai ney chappal marni hai apko."

"Yaar kuch bhi"

"Ayaan apke waha baccho mein sirf Arsalaan hi hai?" Seher asked.

"Yes"

"Okay, then there will two close kids in total"

"Ashana is coming?"

"I asked Maa to bring her along, can't leave her alone"

"Ashana?" Ayaan asked seeing Arhaan confused.

"Yes, she is our family only. Two years ago her parents, my khala and her husband passed away in an accident, she was only five at that time, since then we officially adopted her, she lives with Maa and sometimes with me." Seher said.

"Okay."

"So as per Zain's plan..."

"Yeah... so Friday is Nikkah and Rukhsat, Thursday will be mehendi and sangeet that's basically us dancing, and Wednesday the Manjha and dholki. Today is Monday and we have booked the caterers and other things double checked so yeah anything else?" Zain said.

"And there will be only a few guests, I already told that to Nana Jaan."

"And he agreed? Well that's surprising"

"Tomorrow afternoon be I will there in Haweli for the decorations, Hadiya ask Sadia aunty to be there please."

" Okay Aapi"

"And..."

" Alizeah bhabhi left, Haider bhai himself ask her to leave."

"I will talk about it later."

Zain Amir. Hadiya and Ayaan.

The wedding decides to be simple with close relatives. Apparently, only a grand reception will be held after one week. The matter with Alizeah is still hanging with all the Haweli matters. Seher knows that she has to face it soon, but today she wanted a break for herself.

Ignoring Arhaan the whole day, she remains busy in planning. By the time night falls, Hadiya and Ayaan are ready to leave.

Walking in towards their cars, Zain stopped Hadiya.

"Hadiya?"

"Yes, Zain?" She looked at him with expectations. Hadiya knows Zain wants to say things, she herself has things to say.

"You... Have a happy life, Hadi," But Zain Amir is not someone to show their vulnerability to all, not even Hadiya Khan. And she knew that for a long time now.

So this time feels like the ultimate last meeting. Last time calling her Hadi, last time watching her leave, and finally letting her go towards the happy life she deserves.

//nazron se na karna tum bayaan

wo jis se inkaar nahi...//

"I will." The guilt is there in her voice but then one should never feel guilty for choosing their own happiness. Zain Amir held a great part of her heart once, but that's the beautiful past she can never be with.

Her eyes travel towards Ayaan, his knowing smile, and she knows what she did is right. Ayaan is the happiness she wanted for herself. Ayaan have his flaws and She has hers, they both are imperfect matching each other perfectly.

Ayaan is aware of Hadiya's past, she herself told him everything, and he really doesn't have any issue with that. Her honesty and simplicity make him fall for her, hard. So with that Hadiya left with her Ayaan, towards her happiness.

maana ki hum yaar nahi,

........................................

"I am proud of you Zainu" Seher said. Seeing Zain on the terrace all alone she knew her not so little brother needs her. After all, facing the very first heartbreak is not easy.

Accepting rejection in unsaid words, in silence. Letting the first love go is not easy, never will. But Zain Amir did it, with utmost perfection and his smile. Her 23years old brother did it without a single word.

lekin muskaan ho aisi

ki jis mein iqraar nahi,

"Aapi.." Ans Zain now got it. Seher knew, she always has. There's nothing in his world, about him that can be hidden from her. Zain is her little brother, and she wants the best for him.

"I know" Seher confirmed.

"And you didn't say anything," He said the thing bothering him the most.

Seher knowing about his unsaid words is nothing new to him, but what's shocking is that she kept shut. She knew about his love for Hadiya Khan, she knew how Hadiya chose Ayaan against Zain but she kept silent.

She knew why Zain rushed to her house after getting the news of Hadiya's marriage. That night when she said those words, she was not talking about herself, she was talking about him, telling him to let it go. Hadiya is past and Zain has a wonderful present for himself.

"Why didn't you?"

"Aapi because it is not about me. I loved her and she knew it. But aapi she would never choose me. And saying everything to everyone will only make it complicated. So I let her go. And I am okay with it.

Our forever exist for some days and I am honestly happy with those memories. I don't think relationships are my thing now."

"You know Hadiya wants something from her life, something like a family, Ayaan is the family she wants. And Zain you want someone who will live for herself first then for you.

Hadiya is good but not what you ask for. She is calm and you want a storm, so it's good to let go."

And he did. Zain Amir did let Hadiya Khan go with Ayaan Khatoon. Zain and Hadiya used to be college mates but after that, they broke apart, Hadiya was never much serious about that and Zain let it pass like that.

Years later when Zain got to know about her wedding, old memories stuck in his mind. He knew he was in love with her and she is not. That the thing about unrequited love, it can never be forced. He never told Hadiya about his feelings in words, maybe because he thought she will get them without words. But her happiness lies with someone else.

Even today, Hadiya waited to let him scream at her, to accuse her of the betray she had done to him.

She left Zain and chose Ayaan.

But for Zain, things are not this complicated, he likes to keep it simple.

For him it is simple, Hadiya chose her happiness which lies with Ayaan. She loves Ayaan and not him.

And he accepted the fact with open arms. Something Seher taught him to do.

No matter how bitter the truth is, we have to swallow it raw, tasting it fully and allowing it to absorb in our system.

//phool jo band hai pannon mein to,

usko dhool bana dena

baat chhire jo meri kaheen to

usko bhool bata denaa...//

Zain knew, his unrequited love for Hadiya is the bitter truth. Her choosing Ayaan, and rejection is the raw part which he swallowed that night.

And letting her go today finally is tasting it and now talking with Seher means absorbing all these in his system.

Zain loved her selflessly, unconditionally with care, but he never asks her to stay. He did ask her if she wanted to or not, and she said she didn't.

So Zain Amir let her go without a single thought.

Despite knowing her better than anyone else, he knows he can't be with her forever. So he let her go and buried his feelings.

He knows that first love will stay in his heart but he also knows he has plenty of chances to have a happy life too. It is still not his time, but it will be there soon.

So this is the happy ending of his first love, she chose her happiness, Zain chose that too, for her.

For Arhaan Ahmed Khan happiness is easy to define. It's always been one name, Seher Mirza. But since when he came back here, he never fails to observe the changes that took place in the last two years.

How Seher has mastered the skill of fake smiles, how she deliberately avoid talking to him, how Zain always tries to protect her here and now, how Ahad feels guilty around Seher for something, how she is not comfortable around the stairs and how every now and then she zones out.

She has become so silent, hardly talks more than necessary, the Ruhaan topic is avoided in front of him and mostly how she is not afraid of thundering anymore. And the last part is something he is hating the most because it proves how without him she learnt to survive on her own.

Seher had always been an independent girl but in front of him, she was just like a little kid, nagging him for his undivided attention. He used to pamper her a lot, sometimes a lot more than needed. Seher never used to ask for anything from anyone, not even to Saira, but Arhaan had always been an exception. On her 18th birthday, she asked him for her favourite novels and he did fulfil her every wish. So now seeing her like this engulfed in her cocoon, his heart feels heavy. He is dying to talk to her and now it's the time.

.....................................

Seher is sitting on the terrace, Zain left a few minutes ago. The cool breezes touch her face and the feeling of someone's presence make her heart lose a beat. But this time she decided to face it. How long can she avoid this? Arhaan is going to talk to her, and one day this will end. Either he will leave again or stay behind. But in both cases, they need to talk. Calming her nerves as much as she can she slightly shifts from her position making space for him to sit beside her.

The scene in front of him is nothing but beautiful. Seher is looking eternal in those moonlights. Sensing that she is ready to talk, he takes the place next to her, placing a cup of coffee.

Baitho kabhi sath mere bhi do

Baatein karo baatein karo

Silence engulfs them only the crickets are being heard.

"Coffee with extra cream and sugar, the way you like it." Arhaan started

"For what?"

"For everything Love, precisely a sorry for all my deeds."

"Don't call me that, Arhaan," Seher said with a defeated sigh.

Kaisi akeli si khamosh si Hai raat bhi khud mein hi khoyi si

Tanhaayia thodi kam hoyi si Naate karo baatein karo..

"I will, you know that I will. So stop fighting on that. For a fact we have many more things to fight for, as I think we should start talking."

"What's there to talk Arhaan? You left me when I asked you to stay, and you never came back which I accepted, so there is nothing to talk about now." She taunted.

"Well apparently Love your taunts will not work on me. So it starts from the end, okay?"

"Generally people start from the start."

"We are always been unique you know."

"Yeah of course" And this is what their relation is, mature enough to talk like friends. They knew that no matter what their relationship will be like old days only, and now they are talking like old friends do.

Aao jara rashme rone sune Pal saare deeware kone sune

Ek bewajah betuki si kahani mein Apne bhi kirdaar hone sune..

"So, who is Ashana?"

"Remember Zoya Khala ?"

"Zain's mother sister if I am not wrong."

"Yes, Ashana is her daughter. Two years ago her parents died in a road accident. Since then Ashana is living with Maa."

"That proves why she didn't stop making cookies."

"You met her?"

"Of course."

"Yeah of course"

"Love, if we have an issue that doesn't mean I will stop looking for Maa."

"You stopped looking for her as far as I know."

"I said sorry okay."

"The thing is Arhaan you sorry will not change anything. You sorry will not end the pain she endured because of you. Your sorry will never bring back things that were lost, so keep your sorry to yourself, Love"

"Seher. Look I know I did it wrong but you could have just gone there to me right. You left this place too, so why didn't you just go to me. I was waiting too. You came that night when I was at the hospital to New York but you left the very next day, without even saying a single word. I know we have differences Seher but if I was not taking a step ahead, you did the same thing right. You could have come to me, Seher."

"I could have but..."

"But what Seher? speak up. "

"I need time to tell you that. It's too painful for me to visit the past Arhaan and I am not ready for it. Many things changed after you left. You have no idea what we lost, and I don't know how to tell you even. I am just not ready. But maybe one day I will, just I need some time."

Arhaan sighed, he can't force her to tell him everything. He was not there for two years, and these two years this girl had been on her own, taking care of things that is not even her to think about. And she made herself stand here where she is today.

Ruhaan Rizwan praises her so much, and along with those praises, Arhaan didn't miss his unsaid feelings for Seher.

To say he was jealous would be understated but then again if it's Seher Mirza, there is nothing to be thought of. She will always wait for him and he is pretty sure about it.

"How's the coffee by the way?" He asked.

"Same, the way I like it."

"I love this talk, you know over a cup of coffee under the night sky."

"I know."

"Well you were spying on me, I know that. So can I know the reason for that?

"Why were you doing all these? Taking care of me when I was ill, making my schedules even checking my finances too. I pay Haris to do all these."

"I didn't spy on you okay. And Haris have never have done it before. Well initially I was not ready to do anything for you, then Haris called me one day when you fainted, so I have to rush to New York, since then I started doing everything again.

Look Arhaan I was angry, still, I am. But one thing I can never deny is my feelings for you. Taking care of you, doing all your pieces of stuff comes naturally to me, even when you are not with me. Asking Haris and Asimina about you is something I have done always, so that doesn't count."

"Seher?"

"Yeah.."

"Have you never thought of moving on in life as in with someone else, like Ruhaan is a really nice guy.?"

"I know Ruhaan is a great guy, and I am really blessed to have him in my life. But just as a friend nothing more than that. And about moving on, so Arhaan Ahmed, I was fourteen since when I knew only one person that's you, my whole life is rotating keeping you in the centre, so sorry I never thought of moving on. I was just waiting for you. Mujhe toh hamesha sey apka intezaar tha."

"Why did you even wait for me, Seher? All these years you did everything for me, taking care of my every need even when I was not with you whereas I never even called you for once?"

"Because I love you Arhaan." This made Arhaan chuckle, the same answer yet so different consequences.

"Now what made you laugh at me, Arhaan Ahmed."

"You love calling me that Seher Mirza, don't you. And to answer your question, my love, remember today Ahad told us about his divorce, I was so angry and when I asked why he let Maya go, the reply was the same, 'because he loves Maya'. Now how can this be possible? You waited for me because you love me, and he let her go because he love her."

"That's the thing about love is. It is different for everyone around. For Ahad, it cost him a lot which we don't even know, but maybe a bit late yet he understood that his Maya is his love but her happiness is not with him.

And now when they are not together, all I want is a great life for both of them, they deserve it, more than anything she deserves it.

Now coming to me, I waited because my love is a selfish one. You know I was selfish because waiting for you is a much easier job than thinking of a life without you. I know you left, but you left with a goodbye and my Arhaan is not someone to do so, I always knew you will come back to me, one day you have to come back home.

Arhaan life teaches us many lessons, and eventually, we grow up with those perhaps love is the only hope that kept us going forward. My love for you, for our family, kept me going all these years.

There were many days I wanted nothing but you next to me, then there were days I hated you and hated myself more for loving you, there were days when even death seemed a better option than living and there were days where Ruhaan became my only companions."

Ruhaan Rizwan has always been a great friend to Seher.

Sometimes Seher felt guilty because she is well aware of his feelings, then one day he told her 'when you have some sort of feelings for a certain someone, you certainly don't make a contract with them to reciprocate those feelings. Feelings are not business deal right, certainly, we don't seek profit and loses in them, we just feel them.'

And since then the awkwardness between the two was gone.

Ruhaan never crossed his boundary, he had always been there as a friend. Though he was not aware of Arhaan being Seher's husband, simply because the name Arhaan Ahmed Khan was never taken in her life for two years.

She did everything silently, taking care of all his needs.

"Zain asked me once did I stopped loving you?"