They were lost in a paradise of their own. His hands were resting on her waist while hers in his hair. He was still kissing her in the gentlest way possible when the spell broke by loud horn of a car stopping at the porch.

Her eyes jerked open.

What was she doing?

He was looking at her when she took two steps back clutching her shawl close to her chest. Breathing heavily she stared at him for one last time and ran out of there.

"Damn!"

He ran a shaky hand in his hair. Her reaction had told him she was considering what happened between them a mistake.

They were back to the square one.

He heard commotion to his side and soon enough his friends were walking towards him.

"Dude, why are you standing here in the rain?"

"I was just going to my room..."

He said and took a step towards the main door. Right now he wasn't in a mood of talking to anyone.

"Hey, Shehri. Wait! We were trying your number all the while. Why didn't you pick up? And where were you and Alizeh?"

"My car broke down and when driver got there, Alizeh and I came back. She is in her room inside ..."

Nemrah nodded and soon all of them dispersed towards their respective rooms. Entering his own he heaved a sigh and dropped himself on the couch.

His all efforts of bringing Alizeh back seemed in vain now. She would shut him out again.

_____________________

The morning dawned with new hopes for some and remorse for others. The function was going start in a few hours leaving Nemrah biting her nails.

"Alizeh! I'm feeling so nervous!"

But Alizeh who was lost in her own thoughts didn't hear her out.

"Alizeh!!"

"Hun?"

She and looked at Nemrah confused.

"Where are you lost? Are you Okay? "

"I'm fine. What were you saying?"

"I'm feeling nervous!"

"And why? You shouldn't be! Just relax. Try to enjoy every moment of your big day."

Alizeh smiled and made Nemrah sit at the bed. Soon the room was filled with Nemrah's relative aunties, who had come to see her. Alizeh excused herself and came out of the room. Her mind was a mess right now. What happened between her and Shehryar last night was bothering her big time. She admitted his efforts had started melting her heart but she hadn't decided anything about giving him a chance when all this happened.

He kissed her and she participated equally.

Forgetting everything.

It wasn't supposed to be done this way. She shouldn't have done that.

"But as if you had a control over your own self last night."

Her mind reminded her of the way she reciprocated to the kiss. She shook her head and walked towards her mother's room trying everything possible to avoid recalling the toe curling encounter with her husband.

____________________

_________________________

She was descending the stairs to hand over the basket of flowers to decorate the stage which was settled in the middle of the huge garden area outside. The function was about to start and the preparation were being given the final touch. Alizeh was doing everything to avoid Shehryar as much as she could. Facing him would be very much awkward after what happened conspired between them.

She was turning to the corner when someone stood in front of her blocking her way. She looked up and found a smiling Umair.

"Hey, Alizeh!"

"Umair! How come you are here?"

"Surprised are we? Well yeah here I'm! Actually I never knew mum was invited at the wedding as she and Mrs. Nadeem work at the same college. When she mentioned about it I immediately tagged along. Just to meet you. Where is Mehar auntie by the way?"

She tucked her hair behind her ear nervously. Umair was here and knowing Shehryar she knew he won't like it.

But why was she taking so much tension about what Shehryar would think? She smiled at Umair when he engulfed her in a hug shocking her some more.

"I missed you!"

She didn't know if she could say the same as she was always occupied with the thoughts of her husband or more precisely busy with him. She opened her mouth to say something when her eyes clashed with an angry pair of chocolate brown pools. He was standing at the middle of the stairs looking at her and Umair with anger written all over his face. She immediately pulled away from the hug when a shout came like a blessing to her.

"Alizeh! Nemrah is calling you!"

"I have to go Umair."

"See you at the function then and yeah we have lots of to catch up!"

She nodded absentmindedly and walked towards the room. Shehryar was still standing there now looking at her with blazing eyes. She glanced away and swiftly ran passing by him.

Entering the room she closed the door with a bang when Nemrah shouted.

"Alizeh! Where were you! I have asked you to be by my side all the time."

"Easy, Nemrah! I went down to help with the preparations. Did you take your bath? Gul will be here anytime now."

She took the name of Nemrah's makeup artist.

"I just take your attire and accessories out of the bag. In the meantime sit down and stop fidgeting."

Alizeh bent down opening Nemrah's bag when Nemrah stopped her.

"What happened?"

Nemrah asked looking straight into her eyes.

"Nothing!"

"Don't even try to lie! Tell me right away."

"Umair is here."

"What?"

Alizeh nodded worriedly.

"He told his mother is your mom's colleague. And she is invited so he came with her."

Nemrah slapped her forehead.

"I totally forgot! Mama must have invited them."

"Don't worry Nemrah. There won't be any drama. I can assure you. Please don't spoil your mood."

"Drama? Who cares for drama Alizeh? I'm worried about you. Shehryar is here so is Umair. It has become messy for you."

"Not at all. I know Shehryar won't do anything stupid."

Nemrah smiled at her reply.

"So much of confidence in your husband, Alizeh?"

"No! It's not like that. He promised me to keep all this out of the wedding."

Alizeh ignored the looks Nemrah was giving her and turned around when Nemrah held her hand.

"Alizeh, you are going to marry Umair after getting divorce from Shehryar. Then why aren't you even one percent happy seeing him here?"

Alizeh didn't know what to answer.

"I know you are confused. You can't understand what is happening to your heart and mind but let me tell you a thing. You want to give Shehryar a chance."

"No!"

"Oh Come on! You surely want to. Your heart is telling you again and again to do it but you aren't. You won't get anything by always doing things for others. Do a favor on your own self and go back to Shehryar. I have seen the love for you in his eyes. Don't deny yourself this chance Alizeh!"

Alizeh didn't say anything. She took out her dress from her bag that she was going to wear for the ceremony. Nemrah snatched it from her and turned her around.

"By ignoring me you can't ignore what you should be doing as of now. I have said what as a friend I should have. Rest is up to you. "

Gull knocked at the door and entered inside. Nemrah gave a knowing look to Alizeh who stood there thinking about what Nemrah had said.

___________________

___________________

She left Nemrah's room all ready for the function. Nemrah's words were still reverberating in her ears. She was passing by the corridor when a hand held her from her waist and the next moment she was inside the room against to the wall. Shehryar shut the door and looked into her eyes searching for something. Anything.

"Why am I not surprise."

He ignored her sarcasm and came straight to the point.

"What he's doing here?"

Alizeh sighed. She knew this was coming.

"He is a guest. Why he is invited you can ask to Nemrah's family. I should get going...."

He held her from her waist cutting whatever she was saying. She looked up at him. His eyes held a fear. A fear of losing her, a fear of her slipping out of his reach, a fear of losing her even before getting her.

"He had no right to hug you."

"He is my friend. He ca..."

"And you are my wife!"

He hissed making her surprised. There was this gleam of uncertainty in his stance which left her shocked. Seeing her startled he cupped her cheek and said in the gentlest way possible.

"I don't know many things. But I'm aware of my mistakes Alizeh. I know I wasn't the ideal husband back then. Heck! I'm still work in progress. But there is one thing I'm very much sure about. I'm not willing to lose you this time around. I can't..."

She closed her eyes feeling him bending down to her level. He waited for a second and at last started kissing every nook of her face. Her forehead, eyes, cheeks, ear lobes, temple, Everything.

She clutched his suit coat tightly when he mumbled.

"I freaking can't. I have a life time to make it up to you and I want it. To earn my chance. If only you let me."

She opened her lips to say something but couldn't. She had never seen this kind of desperation in him.

"Shehryar I..."

Her words died in her throat when a voice hit her ears.

"Alizeh!"

She pushed Shehryar aside and ran towards the door. Mehar was standing in the corridor shouting her name. She stood next to her mother calming her breaths.

"Yes, Amma?"

"Where were you? It's time to take Nemrah to garden. All of the girls are ready. They are waiting for you."

She nodded when Mehar's eyes fell on Shehryar who was standing in front of the same room from which Alizeh had just came out.

"What were you doing with him?"

Mehar asked looking at Shehryar.

"Nothing ...we were just talking."

"Talking? Alizeh, stay away from him. Umair is here and so is his mother. What they will think if they see you with him? Now go to Nemrah! Go!"

She said sternly. Alizeh nodded meekly and ran out of there.

______________________

Nemrah was made to sit beside Daim and the smiles on their faces were heartwarming. All of their friends were busy in teasing the couple but Alizeh was least bothered. Her own thoughts were enough to keep her occupied. Her encounter with Shehryar a while ago had made her understand what Nemrah was saying. And Alizeh was shocked to realize her heart wanted this.

To give Shehryar a chance.

Call it foolishness or stupidity but that was it.

Alizeh couldn't play with Umair's feelings nor could she let her mother build false hopes. She excused herself and came in search of Mehar. It was better to talk to her as soon as possible before she did something in front of Sumaira.

Alizeh was looking around when she found Mehar at the far corner but she wasn't alone. Umair's mother was with her. Alizeh frowned. What was she doing there with Sumaira auntie?

She stood close to the pillar trying to know what was happening.

"But we could talk there too Sumaira. Why you brought me here?"

Mehar asked smiling pleasantly at Umair's mother.

"I wanted to talk to you regarding an important Matter Mehar."

"What is it?"

"Just few days ago I came to know about Umair's likeness for Alizeh. He talked to me about it and told me about her past as well."

"Then what do you suggest?"

Mehar asked with hopeful eyes.

"It's a no from my side."

Mehar looked at her confused.

"Umair is my only son. Like every other mother I too have some dreams about his wedding, His future. But with Alizeh there won't be any happiness and future I know!"

"Sumaira! It's wrong. You are..."

"Don't take me wrong. Alizeh married before, under what circumstances I don't know. But what happened? I know she was not alone at fault but the truth is your daughter is in between of nowhere. She is neither divorced nor married. Tell me after thinking about my condition here. If you were the mother of a son would you marry him with a woman like Alizeh? No right? Umair is not as sensible as he should be to think about marriage. He doesn't understand but I know what is better for my son. Please Keep Alizeh away from him and I'll try to keep him away from Alizeh."

Alizeh closed her eyes when a tear rolled down her cheek. This was what she was afraid of. Mehar tested the bitter reality. She was building her castles in air and Sumaira just erased it all.

Not being able to hear anymore Alizeh left to have a much needed talk with Umair. He hid the fact about his mother's refusal and was still hiding.

She didn't notice another person was close by and had noticed what happened there.

Rodaba turned her chair around and dropped her face in her palms. She had seen the way Mehar was talking to Umair. Her smiling eyes had alerted Rodaba. She wanted to know to what extent things were between Umair and Alizeh but this conversation between Mehar and Sumaira had cleared the air. Rodaba was feeling so bad for both Alizeh and Mehar. Somewhere, in all this, all of them were too responsible. She couldn't sit like this anymore. Shehryar was very much ready to bring Alizeh back. He was repenting and now Rodaba knew the time had come to take things in her hand.

She would have a talk with Mehar after the ceremony ends.

___________________________

"But, Alizeh what you want to talk with me?"

Umair said following Alizeh who was walking inside the house taking long steps. She stopped in the living area and stood in front of him.

"You talked to your mother about us? What did she say?"

Umair frowned and looked away.

"I haven't talk to her yet. I'm waiting for your divorce procedure to start."

"Liar. You are again lying Umair!"

"Alizeh! What are you..."

"You talked to your mother and she refused! Am I right?"

He bit his tongue and looked at anywhere but her.

"Look at me Umair! You shouldn't have done that. You knew I was never ready for this marriage. I was only doing this for my mother and had asked you many times if your mother was okay with it. You always said you didn't talk to her. But you did! She refused still you didn't tell me anything about it. Why you lied to me?"

"Because I knew if I did, you would end everything between us. I didn't want that. I love having you in my life."

"But not at the cost of you losing your family. I had made it clear to you. All I did was being sincere Umair. And you! You just lied! Do you know what your mother said to Amma? If you had come straight to us when she refused this proposal, it wouldn't have happened."

"Alizeh! We can sort it out. I'm sorry for what Ma..."

"No Umair. I was never ready for this relation and now I know it is better for none! Just forget it."

"' Alizeh..."

"Please Umair! What will you do? First help me getting the divorce, then marry me without your mother's consent and then what? It will all came crumbling down! The decisions made against your parents never work Umair. I'm a living example in front of you. So just leave it. I'm still your friend but after what has happened I can't think of you and me in that sense. Good luck."

She turned around and left the place. Umair looked at her retreating back and sighed dejectedly. He was always afraid of this and at last it happened.

_____________________

"Finally we are married. This was exhausting to be honest."

Nemrah exclaimed taking a deep breath. Her comical expressions made everyone laugh around her. The wedding got completed just a while ago and now she was surrounded with her friends after getting the blessings of her elders.

"And I'm glad I'm the next one in line after this moron."

Nemrah chuckled at Laiba while Daim rolled his eyes. He had met Aqib today at the ceremony and as protective he was of his sister, he couldn't deny Laiba and Aqib were deeply in love.

"Come on! You can dream all you want but we all know who'll be setting down next!"

Tahreem pointed towards Alizeh earning a glare from her friends for her bluntness. Alizeh shifted uncomfortably in her seat. This was awkward.

"Well it's not a surprise to us Tahreem dear. Your friend is trying everything possible to settle down anyway."

An auntie remarked sitting close by. Alizeh had sensed the sarcasm in her voice. She glanced around. Almost all the people were now looking at her making her feel nervous.

"Uzma auntie it was just some teasing. Leave it please."

Nemrah said controlling her temper.

"Oh please dear. Since the time wedding functions have started I'm noticing this girl. I pity your choice as a best friend Nemrah. This girl is not what she looks from her innocent face."

Alizeh stared at Uzma with slightly teary eyes.

"Yesterday I saw her with Daim's best friend. Then today I saw her with another man. What is she? A man magnet?"

Nemrah rolled her eyes gestured her mother to stop Uzma's sharp tongue or else she wouldn't be responsible for the consequences.

"Aapa, stop it now. Alizeh is a very nice girl. You are judging her wrong."