Nemrah closed the door with a smile on her face. Daim's friends had just left her place. They were amazing bunch of people and had included her in their close knitted group almost immediately. She grinned at Daim who had stayed back. They both were about to sat down on the sofa when the door bell rang. Nemrah sighed and turned back to open it.

A ragged looking Shehryar was standing there much to her shock.

"Mr. Hussain?"

Daim who was busy texting looked up. He hurriedly came to the door and invited Shehryar in.

"What's up dude?"

Shehryar glanced at Nemrah with hooded eyes.

"I need some answers from your fiancée, Daim."

"From me?"

Nemrah asked shocked. What answers did he want from her?

"Yes. As you know a lot about my wife."

Nemrah took two steps back.

"In that case I can't offer you anything! There is no way I'll discuss my best friend with you!"

"She is my wife, Miss Nadeem."

"The wife you pushed away from your life."

"You think I wanted her out? You have no clue about anything."

"Really? Then why the hell she left your house in the middle of the night?"

"I did my best to find her!"

Daim looked between his friend and fiancée and pleaded Nemrah from his eyes no to lose her calm.

"Please, Miss Nadeem. Your stubbornness will prove no good to both of us. How was she when you met her for the first time! Just tell me!"

"It doesn't matter anymore. You weren't there beside her so just let it go."

She turned to leave when his plead reach her ears.

"Please! I have to know...I..Just...."

There was this desperation in his voice, there was vulnerability, and there was helplessness. Nemrah didn't know the man would give up so easily. Slumping down on couch she began.

"Four years back when I met her at Doctor Rida's clinic she was having sleeping problem, nightmares, and wouldn't be able to shake her mind off the negative thoughts. It was the very beginning of her depression. I found her truly deserving of my own efforts too as I was assisting Doctor Rida those days. And that's how she opened up to me about her shattered relation with you, the way your family treated her, accusations, the questions on her character, she told me everything. And you know what you did to her? She wasn't able to trust anyone after leaving you. She used to say that a person keeps on going when they know their biggest support is all time with them but when that support too move away from them, tell them that they are a mistake, That's what your breaking point is! It shatters you! It makes you feel nothing!"

She stopped and sighed.

"I can't entirely blame you Mr. Hussain. She loves her family and won't say anything against them but I know her mother and aunt too are responsible of what her life has become. When you two eloped Mehar auntie lost her trust In Alizeh. She still doesn't trust her completely even after all these years. She thinks Alizeh is only capable of ruining her life and can't take her decisions by herself. That's why Mehar auntie always imposes her decisions on Alizeh. She cares for her daughter's reputation, she cares about what people will say but in all this she doesn't care about just one thing. What her daughter wants. That's the whole problem."

Getting up she came close to Shehryar.

"I have seen her fighting her demons. I have seen her accepting her new life. I have seen her struggling to make her way through this world. It wasn't easy but now it's the past. She is quite satisfied in her life Mr. Hussain. Umair is her good friend. He is chosen by her mother. That's why she agreed to marrying him. But I know one thing. In all this happiness isn't involved anywhere. She is not happy but she won't show it to anyone. Not her mother. Not me."

He gulped listening to what Nemrah had said. Alizeh had faced so much just because of him and his family. Just because his one word they both were living in hell. Just one word from him changed so much. Just one word drew them far away from each other.

"I never knew..."

He whispered dejectedly.

"I know why she doesn't want to come back to me. She can never forget the past but believe me, Nemrah. I did my best. I tried my best to search for her. I wasn't happy letting her go. Circumstances weren't in our favor nor were my families. And on top I too lost my calm. You both are right. I'm no one to ruin everything she has done all these years. She truly deserves someone better. But I'm a selfish Man. I can't let her go because I can't do without her. Not anymore. I made mistakes and I'll correct them. I need her back and you might not believe it but she needs me too. Now, more than ever. We need to sort out our issues. And this time around I'll be a better version of myself. I promise."

Nemrah was looking at him wide eyed. The man was in love with her best friend there was no denying. His every gesture was telling her how badly he was regretting all this and wanted to go back in time and change things. He turned back and wiped a lone tear that escaped his eye which didn't go unnoticed by Nemrah and that was the time when she knew Shehryar deserved a chance. If only Alizeh let him in.

He didn't wait anymore and left from there.

"He will be alright. Don't worry. Needs some time alone."

"He will? I had never thought he will be this disturb after knowing this."

"Told you. He loves her."

"I can see that.."

Daim smiled knowing finally Nemrah knew they both deserved to be together. She glanced at him and mumbled.

"I wish they both come together soon. I wish they work out on what has left between them."

"They will, love! They will"

Diam whispered back hugging her.

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.

.

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She was sitting on her bed all lost. Shehryar had come to know about her depression. Would he ask her something? Would he want to know what she went through all these year? If so then he would have to go empty handed. She won't tell him anything about her past and sufferings. He wasn't with her when she needed him so now If he would be here or not didn't make any difference.

Her phone rang which brought her back to her senses. Umair was calling again. Taking a deep breath she picked it up.

"Hey!"

"Hi, Umair. How are you?"

"I'm fine Alizeh. Just came back from Karachi. What about you? How is your project going on? And why aren't you picking up my calls?"

Project?

A sarcastic smile appeared on her lips.

"I was busy with things. And as far as the project is concerned, I left it midway and resigned from the job too."

"What?"

Umair was shocked.

"What was the problem?"

"There were some Issues. Let's just forget it. I'm coming back to Sakardu and to my normal life in a few days. It just Nemrah is getting married so I'm quite tied up."

"Wow! Is she? Congratulate her from my side too. I'm waiting for you here."

She didn't say anything in reply.

"Yeah. I'll do that. Bye, Umair"

She hung up the call. Right now she wasn't in a mood to talk to anyone all because of that stubborn husband of hers.

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A week later

Shehryar glanced below through the window of his seat and then leaning against it, closed his eyes. He was travelling back to Lahore after finalizing an important deal in Islamabad. He was asked very strictly from his best friend to wind up his work as soon as possible. The venue of the wedding was finalized and it was the Lake House Daim's family owned at the outskirts of the city. They all were now looking forward to Daim and Nemrah's wedding. The guest would start arriving tomorrow. He was going to take care of things by himself there if it was needed. After all it was his best friend's wedding.

During past whole this week he hadn't seen Alizeh even for once. He was busy wrapping up important meetings. He knew he had wronged Alizeh in many ways. And he regretted every single thing now. But that didn't mean he wouldn't try winning her back. Shehryar Hussain never gave up on anything. Five years back his ego won but still he wanted things to work between them. He wanted her to just once come back to him and everything would be alright but whom he was kidding? His hurtful words had drawn them apart so bad that there was no way back. She left him and soon the pain of losing her changed into fury. He stopped talking about her. Showed as if he didn't care but deep inside it was hurting like a sharp knife piercing his heart. And to know she too went through hell had made his heart bled more. He came to know no matter what the world say, what his or her family says the fact was there. They both could never be happy without each other. He wanted to heal her. He wanted her to be free from all burdens. To give this relation a chance. To give them a chance.

He would try his best.

It won't be easy to pacify her but he would do it.

After all he was her husband.

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"Okay Nemrah! I heard you!"

Alizeh smiled and hung up the call. Mehar who was sitting at the bed looked at her.

"Amma, she is adamant. She needs my assistance in getting ready. Can you believe it?"

Mehar shook her head chuckling.

"What are you waiting for then. You should've been there with her anyway."

"Come on! You've just come from a long journey. I had to be here to take care of your medicines first."

"I'm fine!"

"Still. Rest was needed for you. I'm telling you Amma you won't neglect your health there. You can help out Nemrah's mom with the preparations but no hard work! Or you can just have some rest. That'll be best. I'm just going to pick our luggage and call the taxi."

Alizeh said making Mehar nod. She wasn't as upset over the fact that Hussains would be there as Alizeh was expecting her to be. Alizeh had assured her there won't be any drama involved and they would just focus on the wedding which was enough for Mehar. Sabeen had refused to accompany them much to Alizeh's relief.

For the first time in many days she was just excited about her friend's wedding and wanted this feeling to stay for a long time.

_______________________

_________________________

Nemrah and Her mother greeted them with happy faces. Mrs. Nadeem had taken Mehar with her to show her the preparations leaving both the best friends alone standing in the balcony of Nemrah's room.

"I have asked the housekeeper to bring your luggage here. You'll stay with me and please! No arguments!"

Nemrah said sternly making her chuckle. She looked around and couldn't help but praising the beauty this house was.

"The place is amazing."

"It is! I fell in love with it at first sight. Daim's family really has an attachment to this house. When they suggested that the wedding is arranged here I was relieved. There in Sakardu it'll be freezing! Can you imagine a bride with teeth clattering while she's posing for the camera?"

Alizeh couldn't stop her laugh.

"That would've been one hell of a sight."

"Shut up! By the way Daim and his friends have reached there even before us. They are staying on the other floor. The whole groom side is there."

Alizeh didn't say anything further. She nodded looked around admiring the greenery and enjoying the pleasant November evening breeze when her eyes fell on the porch where a black SUV had just stopped. She saw Shehryar walking towards the car with a small smile on his face. He opened the car door and helped Rodaba out of it. From the other side Mrs Naseem and Samia came out.

The family she had left five years back. She was seeing them after so long. So many memories were coming back to her. She hid herself behind the pillar so no one would notice her. Her eyes were filled with tears seeing the happy faces of them all. How sorrows and grief were not for some people. She was about to turn around when Shehryar looked up and his eyes crashed with hers. She averted her gaze and left from there.

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Alizeh placed Nemrah's dress on her bed and turned towards the bathroom door where she was currently having her shower.

"Nemrah! Your dress is on the bed. I'm going to Amma's room. She has my bag with her."

Nemrah hummed from inside. She was walking through the corridor when her eyes landed on Shehryar and Laiba who were standing in a corner. Shehryar was clasping the hook of her bracelet while she was looking at him with a smile.

"Seriously if you girls can't even wear these things properly why you even buy them in first place?"

Laiba giggled at his frustrated voice. He took a step back after finishing the task when his eyes fell on Alizeh who was standing at some distance looking at them. She tucked her hair behind her ear and making an awkward movement resumed her walk towards her mother's room.

"Damn!"

He cursed under his breath and was about to run after her when Laiba pulled him with her.

"Daim must be waiting for us! Come!"

He wanted to protest but couldn't. Looking in the direction Alizeh had gone to, he took a deep breath and followed Laiba to Daim's room.

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