"Coffee."

Nemrah handed Daim his mug while both were standing in the Balcony of her apartment. Daim was there just to make sure she doesn't get the wrong idea about this situation. After the conversation with Shehryar he was sure how serious he was to bring Alizeh back to his life and Daim wanted all of them to just leave both of Shehryar and Alizeh as they were. They both were mature enough to decide for themselves and this time he didn't want anyone else doing anything for them whether it was for their good or bad.

"Worried for Alizeh?"

Nemrah sighed nodding.

"Very much."

"You don't have to. She'll be fine."

"With your friend around? I don't think so."

"Nemrah, he isn't that bad."

She rolled her eyes when he took a deep breath.

"Come on, Look at me."

With a scowl set on her face she turned to him. He smiled and held her from her shoulders.

"I know all these years you were with Alizeh. You have seen her suffering. So have I! I have seen Shehryar going through hell too."

"But it was his fault..."

"Don't start with that. They both were at fault. Shehryar was yes, more than Alizeh but still. You have learnt everything from Alizeh's perspective but I have seen all this in front of me. If Shehryar made some grave mistakes Alizeh too had her share of faults. They both were immature that time. They took a hasty decision and couldn't stand by it. But now the things are changed. They both are mature. They are clear about what they want in their life. Let them take the reins of it in their hands. Their families have done enough damage already."

"But Alizeh has moved on. She wants to marry Umair."

"Is she in love with him?"

Nemrah was tongue tied.

"No right? No matter how much she denies but she was and still is in love with Shehryar."

"But Daim.."

"Nemrah, Please! Let's these two try to solve their issues. Let them be."

Nemrah kept on looking at him and then nodded. A smile appeared on Daim's lips. Hugging her sideways he said his good byes and left from there leaving her deep in thoughts.

She could never forget how mentally disturbed Alizeh was when she met her for the first time four years back. The accusations of Alizeh's mother and aunt, and her shattered relation with Shehryar had made Alizeh depressed. When Nemrah met her she was in dire need of a friend with whom she could open up. Once they were past that awkward initial phase they both found the ultimate best friends in each other. Nemrah had seen Alizeh's struggle. Not only in life generally, but with her inner self as well. She'd made a peace with her life and Nemrah didn't want her to go back those dark times ever again.

What if Shehryar left her again?

What would Alizeh do then? And would she able to trust him again? Nemrah had no idea. She could only hope this time around things settle well for her best friend. She just wanted her happiness.

_____________________

"How long will it take you there?"

"I don't know Amma. Nemrah needs my help. I guess I'll have to stay here till the wedding."

"Yeah. Do that. Nemrah has always been there for you and it's important that you do the same. Don't fret about me. I'll be good. I'm also going to join you in few days anyway."

"Yeah. I'm happy for her. Like real happy. And you should see her face. Beaming with happiness."

Alizeh said smiling over the phone, all the while looking for her hair tie. She was supposed to be at Nemrah's place right now as it was a day before her date got fixed. Daim's family was coming to her apartment as travelling all the way to Sakardu wasn't easy. The wedding was supposed to take place in a hotel at the outskirts of Lahore.

"That's really nice to hear. What's the boy does for a living?"

Mehar asked casually.

"He is a businessman"

"And what's his name?"

Alizeh paused for a bit and then sighed.

"Daim Sikandar."

"I think I've heard this name before."

"You most probably have. I do know him."

"How?"

She took a deep breath.

"He is Shehryar's best friend."

There was a complete silence on Mehar's side. After a few seconds she spoke.

"This means he and his family would be there too?"

"Obviously."

"Then we are not attending this wedding!"

"Amma! This is not fair!"

"It is! I don't want those people anywhere close to you!"

"We are attending this wedding for Nemrah! She is my best friend the only person who was with me during my hard times. When I facing depression she was with me. Her family always supported us. Now when we have to be a part of their happiness we are backing out?"

"But Hussain family..."

"They are no one to us! We will go there just like all other guests. Please don't argue. For me?"

Mehar wasn't convinced but had to give in. Alizeh placed the phone on the table and closed her eyes. She had said they would attend this wedding Just for Nemrah but facing those people who were her family once wasn't easy for her either

"Relax. Alizeh! It is just the matter of few days after which we will go back to our life. Back to Sakardu. Away from him. Away from all this. Right now your only priority is Nemrah. No one else."

She gave herself a pep talk and picking up her bag left the room to go to Nemrah's. _______________________

It was a lazy Sunday for Daim. His mom was out to take care of the things they would need to take along to Nemrah's for date fixing ceremony. His parents and he had a long conversation with Laiba telling her about this wedding of her brother and to say she was excited was an understatement. She had promised to reach as soon as possible taking the first flight from Sydney to Lahore.

He smiled remembering his crazy sister and opened the fridge to gulp some chilled water when the doorbell rang.

"Whoever is there this early better have a solid reason for ruining my morning?"

He grumbled realizing that the housekeeper had gone with his mother to help her with the stuff. Groaning, he pulled opened the door only to be shocked seeing his mad gang standing there.

"Surprise!"

A bright smile reached his face. Ahmed and Haris hugged him congratulating for the wedding while Areej, Tahreem and Laiba were jumping excitedly.

"Damn! According to my information you were pregnant, woman."

Daim chuckled hugging Areej who rolled her eyes and smacked Ahmed's arm.

"This over protective husband of mine. It's just the start and I can travel. And mind you Mr. Husband.."

She turned towards Ahmed.

"I'm not going back! Pakistan is bliss!"

They laughed knowing too well how right she was.

"Where are mum and dad? I really want to eat something made by mum right now."

Laiba said looking around.

"Mum is out to buy some things for the coming ceremony and Dad has gone to meet his club members. As your brother can never make even a coffee himself he is unable to serve you all."

Laiba shook her head and went to Kitchen.

"So how is Nemrah? And dude! Haris just told me it's kind of love plus arranged marriage. What's with that?"

Daim smiled sheepishly.

"Actually Mom had seen her in the hospital once and after that she was pestering me to go and meet her so she would take things forward. I wasn't ready but one look at her and.."

"And you were clean bowled!"

Haris took a sip of his beverage which Laiba had just placed on the table for them all.

"Um... yeah kind of."

"Aw! This means love at first sight? How dreamy is this."

Areej said making him look down.

"Dude, are you for real? I mean blushing and stuff?"

"Shut up Haris! As if you haven't done it before! Remember our first kiss? You were looking like a tomato after it while I was normal."

Haris glared at Tahreem for leaking such private information on which she just shrugged her shoulders. They all were having a gala time together. Discussing Daim's wedding along with talking about the good old times when Daim took out his phone.

"Let me message that workaholic asshole. He should be here."

"Yup do that! I myself was going to call Shehri. It has been so long since we have a get together like this."

Daim nodded at Ahmed and immediately texted Shehryar.

"It's Sunday. He must be at home or is he romancing with his office even today?"

Tehreem asked making herself comfortable on the couch.

"He isn't in office right now."

"So what's up with him? How's his life?"

"Quite messed up."

All of them looked confusedly at him. He took a deep breath.

"Alizeh is back."

"What?"

He nodded looking at shocked faces of his friends.

"Where was she all these years? And she is back? How?"

Areej couldn't help asking more. Daim didn't want to disclose many details about what Shehryar had told him. He just wanted his friends to know the fact that Alizeh would be there in the wedding.

"I don't know many things guys. It's just she showed up in his office. She was one of the designers from a firm with which Shehryar's company has been merged. "

"Is he okay? I mean seeing her after so many years?"

Laiba took her part in the conversation.

"Actually he is more than Okay. He wants her back."

There was a complete silence in the living room after that.

"He thinks it's high time they both sort out their differences."

"And you are telling this to us so we could do something for them?"

Ahmed was happy to know about the progress Shehryar had made in his relation with Alizeh.

"I'm telling you all just because Alizeh is going to be there in all rituals because she is Nemrah's best friend. And no! We are not going to do anything. I hope you guys remember what happened last time when we tried to help them"

"How can we forget? They both ended up together in bed."

Tahreem said on which the guys rolled their eyes.

"But guys it would work this time! I mean make up sex is the best part of these fights. All..."

"Shut Up, Tahreem!"

They all shouted making her flinch and shut up immediately.

"With so much happening in their life, sex is the last thing on their mind! Got that? Now just take all this normally. We won't remind them any of the past incidents and we'll be just like before. The only task for us is, not to make things awkward for both Shehryar and Alizeh."

He raised his brow and soon got a nod from all his friends but Laiba was still in some thoughts.

"Laiba?"

She looked at her brother and nodded slightly.

________________

_____________________

Rodaba was surprised to see him getting ready in his casuals which was an indication he wasn't going to office. But if he was, then he better be ready for another lecture. She never liked his workaholic nature anyway. She cleared her throat on which he turned back.

"Where my handsome son is going?"

"To meet his mad gang. They all are at Daim's place."

"They reached! My children are here! Tell them to visit me soon. This wedding is going to be awesome. All of you friends will be together after so long."

"Yeah..."

"Nemrah's family lives in Sakardu right?"

"Yeah. She shifted here permanently just a few months back."

"I'm happy for Daim. Honestly I can't wait for his wedding. Many times he put some sense into this thick skull when even I couldn't. A true friend."

Rodaba pointed towards his head making him roll his eyes but with all the talks about Daim's wedding, his thoughts drifted towards Alizeh.

"You want to say something Shehri?"

He looked into her eyes.

"Mom, You don't know but Nemrah...she has a very close friend.."

"Ahan. So?"

"And that friend ...I mean seeing that friend people from our family won't be very pleased. I just..."

"Is that friend my daughter in law? Is she Alizeh?"

Excitement was evident from Rodaba's voice.

"Yeah. She is."

Rodaba smiled brightly but then her face fell.

"How is she? Did you meet her? Is she fine? How is her family?"

"She is Okay. Fine! More than fine!"

"And how she reacted seeing you after so long?"

"We aren't getting into the details are we?"

Rodaba rolled her eyes.

"Shehri, Allah has given you a chance. I'll not spare you if you don't try to mend things between you two! You.."

"Mom..."

Rodaba stopped and looked at him.

"I'm not letting her go. Not this time."

She felt she heard wrong.

"Really? You won't?"

"Yes! If only your dear daughter in law gives me a chance."

"You'll have to earn it. That's the way."

"Tell me something I don't know."

She cupped his face.

"I'm happy that my son is trying. I tell you once you put down the guards of your ego around you everything will be perfect. Don't lose hope. Her place is here. In your life and you both will soon realize it."

"But what about Aapa and Dado?"

"Oh don't worry about them! Mom's here for what?"

He smiled and hugged her lightly. Rodaba closed her eyes and thanked Allah Almighty for knocking some sense in Shehryar's brain.

_____________________________

_______________________

"Damn! I missed you!"

Tahreem hugged Shehryar making him chuckle. His crazy friends were the same. They were giving him hugs after hugs and he was just smiling realizing how damn much he missed all of them having some time together. No matter the guys had been meeting each other on several occasions but it was after so long he was meeting Laiba , Areej and Tahreem.

"If only she could be here..."

A voice from his heart made him uncomfortable all of a sudden. To ignore looking sad in front of his friends he took part in the ongoing conversation.

"So what's the plan?"

"We are giving a visit to Nemrah! Now itself!"

"But guys..."

Daim tried saying something which the ladies ignored royally.

"Come on! Move your lazy asses! Hurry up! It's Sunday and she must be at home. Right, Daim?"

Daim blushed hard at their teasing. Shehryar looked at him all surprised. Daim Sikandar and blushing? Unbelievable! He shook his head and followed his extra excited gang to the parking lot of the mansion.

__________________________

"This place stinks! How do you even live here?"

Alizeh grumbled dusting the various items on the shelf. Nemrah bit her lips sheepishly. She wasn't a clean freak like Alizeh. She didn't have the time. Or the mood.

"I thought one mom was enough for the lecture."

"Trust me your lazy ass can get four and still you'll not even bother clean a thing in this house."

Alizeh left the cloth of the shelf and pulled her hair in a bun again. They were giving Nemrah's apartment a decent dust free look but that was quite a task seeing the unorganized mess Nemrah was.

"It's ...It's so tiresome!"

Nemrah held her head dropping herself to the ground.

"Look at this apartment! From where it gives you the impression that tomorrow my in laws are coming here to fix the date? I can't find the essentials nor have I decent clothes to wear! And on top this house needs cleaning! You should never be a psychiatrist, Alizeh. You can't give your attention to your own house!"

Alizeh smiled at Nemrah's confused face and sat down beside her.

"Now blame your duty. Stop being dramatic. Take it easy. Auntie is coming in few hours she'll take care of everything related to the kitchen and gifts for the family. All you have to do is clean this house and then get ready."

"What about the dress?"

"We'll go shopping. After all your wedding dresses is my duty. So get up! You just need a reason to lie down don't you?"

Alizeh giggled making Nemrah get up from the ground.

"I'm going to wind up kitchen cleaning. You go sit down in the sitting area I'll be right back with your coffee. You need one."

"Yes please!"

Nemrah shouted making Alizeh shake her head.

_____________________________