~~~AISHA's POV~~~

I was woken up by someone quite rude. They poked my shoulders and it felt like they were stabbing me. Oh! It can't be Atif. He knows how much I hate it when someone wakes me up like this.

I tried moving but, my body ached. It was stiff as hell and it felt like I was jammed somewhere. Slowly parting my eyelids, I was not greeted by the bright light but, 2 ladies standing in front of me. I frowned as I looked around me and then bellow me. That's right! That little boy still slept in my lap and that's why I felt like I was jammed somewhere. God, I don't even know his name yet.

"O madam- bache ko le ke jaane ka ae," one of the ladies said. Alka, read on her badge. She was wearing a khaki and blue coloured sari. Police constable?

I looked to my far left and spotted Waqas and Atif sleeping with their mouths wide open. On my left, I saw Malvika and Megha, sleeping, hugging each other. I sighed and looked at the officer again.

"K- kahan le jaana hai?" I asked, not being able to stand up.

"O hamko nai pata- bacha le jaana ae matlab le jaana ae," Alka said. She sounded more like a villager to me.

I looked down at the cutest little thing ever in my lap and looked up again, "you can't just take him. Where is his family? Call the inspector first."

The other officer, Bindu, huffed, "shaam ke saath baje chick chick nakko karo. Le jaane de na bache ko. Subha baat karna jisse bhi karni ho. Han?" This one sounded more Maharashtrian to me. My maid talks like that, for Gods Sakes.

"No! I'll talk to the inspector first. You don't have any written orders," I said firmly and they gave me a dead glare. "Atif? Waqas?" I called out when I thought that these ladies won't listen to me. My useless husband yawned and changed side but, didn't wake up.

"I can't let you take him. Where will you take him anyway? Let his family come and get him," I told the two ladies and they groaned. The conversation didn't go any further as we were interrupted by a male officer.

"What's happening here?" He asked Alka and Bindu and then turned to me, "ACP Deshmukh." He extended his hand and I shook it.

I straightened the little boy and resting his body against my shoulder, I stood up. "Where is his family and where are you guys taking him?" I asked, getting straight to the point.

"He has no family except his father. Her distant aunt refused to take him in so, he needs to come with us," the ACP said and I felt weak in my knees. He doesn't have anyone except his dying father.

"But, where will you keep him?" I asked, containing myself. I realised that Waqas and Atif were in their feet now.

"We will have to keep him at the police station tonight but, tomorrow he will be sent to the orphanage until his father wakes up," he told me, sounding so effin' proud of his plan while my eyes widened.

"What?!" I chocked, "you are going to keep him at the police station near all those criminals?"

"Don't worry- he will be kept in a separate cell."

"You are out of your mind ACP! How can you do this to a little boy?!" I spat, yelling, and the little boy stirred in my arms, "he is not going anywhere- I won't let him! At least not until we hear about his father! Plus It's safer than keeping him in the lock up."

Thinking about him, spending a night in a lockup, almost like a criminal- pained my heart. Why does such an innocent and beautiful soul has to go through this?

ACP dekhmuskh glared at me, like trying to defeat me with his gaze. When I didn't look away, he turned to Alka and Bindu. "Take the boy from her. Now!"

Both the ladies stepped towards me while the ACP moved away. They tried snatching the boy away from me and I felt like they were ripping me apart in many ways. The boy's cry filled the lobby as he grasped my shoulder in his tiny hands and Atif stepped forward.

"Hey hey hey! You don't have to be so impatient about it. Chill man!" He said to the ACP, who jerked him away. "Tell her to chill Mr Atif! That's your name, right?"

Atif's eyes shifted to me and the boy's cry became louder. He wrapped his arms around me, while I tried my best to push away the ladies.

"Ok. Ok fine! Please at least think about the boy! He needs someone to take care of him especially when he is stuck in such an unfair situation," Waqas stepped forward and Atif moved towards me, "a lock up is way too much for him. Plus he seems too attached to her."

"Please!" I begged, loud enough but, the ladies refused to let go of me. "Arey chodo yaar!" I screamed at them, furiously and the ACP jumped to look at me.

"Please Mr Deshmukh, think about him," I cried as I approached him. The boy still crying on my shoulder. "At least until his father wakes up. I promise I won't stop you after that. But, right now, it will be too much for him to go through."

Deshmukh shot Waqas a glared and then turned to me, " How could I be so sure that you will not harm this boy? the law doesn't allow this."

"Just the way you left him alone to rot in this hospital until now," came Malvika's voice and I turned to look at her, "he was here, unattended, with a nurse coming in every once in a while. If it wasn't for this lady here, I don't think he would have survived- considering how much he cried for his parents."

Deshmukh sighed and shook his head, "fine but, only until I arrange a good orphanage for him."

His statement relieved me but broke my heart at the same time. At least this little angel doesn't have to spend his night at the police station but, the fact that he will be sent to an orphanage- it just hurts. The sound of it makes me feel bad.

"Thank- thank you so much!" I managed and the soon the three of them left.

Malvika squeezed my shoulder in assurance and I touched her hand to acknowledge that. Waqas weakly smiled at us and then moved over to Manik's room. He peeked through the small glass window and Malvika went to stand with him. She rested her hand on his shoulder and he shook his head. As much as he was blaming himself for all this, it wasn't his fault. I guess it was just written in our destiny.

But, I still wish ki yeh Manik ki jagah meri kismat main likha hota. So much pain he must have gone through due to all those stitches on his face. Allah Ka shukar hai ki uski aankhein bach gayeen nahi toh Waqas bohot buri tarhaan se toot jata. Woh kabhi na maaf kar pata apne aap Ko.

I sighed as I turned to Atif. He stood there silently. I approached him and rested my hand on his shoulder. However, he jerked my hand away, "you dragging yourself exactly where you were a couple of weeks ago!"

He threw his words at me and with one angry stare towards the boy, he walked out. I stood there, thinking about what he had just said. So much hatred evident in his eyes.

~~~HUSSAIN's POV~~~

I let out a soft yawn and looked to my left. Preet slept their like a baby with a cute smile spread across her lips. I felt my own lips twitching upwards as I raised my hand and gently touched her cheek with the back of my hand, trying not to wake her up.

Suddenly a loud noise filled the room and I jumped. I frowned as I looked around but, relaxed when I realised that it was just her alarm clock. Hovering over her, I turned it off and then balanced myself on the bed with my elbow. Resting my face on my palm, I stared at her, waiting for her to wake up. Preet stirred a little before parting her eyelids. She looked at me, from behind her ever-so-long eye lashes, and smiled. I returned her smile with a soft kiss on her forehead. I still don't know how she manages to see from behind those eyelashes.

"I love it when you wake up to pray with me," I said, looking down at her.

She rolled her eyes and pouted, "I'd love it more if I woke up without an alarm like you do."

I chuckled but, said nothing. Three years ago, I didn't expect her to do even this much for me. I respect her more for respecting my religion- even though she doesn't really pray with me. She would just silently sit there and smile at me- just like I do when she recites Gurbaani.

After praying, I folded my mat and kept it in its rightful place. Preet yawned and I smiled at her, "I think you should get back to bed."

"I would but, I don't feel like it anymore," she sighed, "I just feel a little-"

However, it was cut short when she ran towards the bathroom. I frowned to myself and followed after her. As I entered the washroom, I saw her throwing up in the sink. Worried, I went upto her and held her hair away from her face. I stood there, caressing her back, while she hovered over the sink. Why is she throwing up?

"What happened? Are you ok? You think we should see a doctor? Let's go see a doctor! You seem pretty sick!" I panicked and she...... Chuckled?

"Relax, it's just morning sickness, Hussain," she panted, wiping her face with a towel. "Morning sickness? When did that happen?"

She sighed loud enough, "lets go and sit down first?" Nodding, I led the way. She seemed quite weak so, I bent down and picked her up. She gasped and looked at me with wide eyes. I smirked at her, expecting her to say something but, she didn't. Instead she rested her head on my chest and I gave her a soft peck on her head.

After lowering Preet on the bed, I sat at the edge of it. Frowning at her, I demanded answers. She looked weaker than what she did a couple of minutes ago and even after throwing up, she was smiling.

"Hussain seriously, it happens in the early stage of pregnancy. It's completely normal," she chuckled and I raised an eyebrow. "But, it's the first time I noticed it- come on, don't make things up. I know you are trying to avoid seeing a doctor."

I stood up and kept my hands on my waist while she lightly threw her head back, laughing at me. "I am just lucky it's not that serious- trust me, it's completely normal and they will go away in a few weeks. But, Seriously Hussain, Go and do some homework- you know nothing about this."

Preet slipped under the blanket and turned off the table lamp from her side. The morning light filled the room through the slightly parted curtains. "So jao- subha detail main samjha doongi pakka," Preet's sleepy voice caught my attention and I ran my hand though her hair before walking over to my side.

In no time, she fell fast asleep again while I kept gawking at her. God! I love her. And the chubby her is a lot cuter. I just can't wait for the mini her.

"You have a lot of homework to do," Jessica's words came back to me. But, that's exactly what Preet told me to do. Man!

Am I really not prepared for the whole being the new daddy thing?

~~~SHEHRY's POV~~~

I stared at the dark sheet of clouds above me. I am dead sure it will rain any moment. And maybe it will wash away the mess from our lives too. I sighed, throwing my head in my hands. How do I clear all this mess? I should talk to her when she is awake and not when she is fast asleep. But how?

Kahoon ga kya uss say? Kahaan se baat shuru hogi? I don't even know how to comfort her. Thinking about her, moistened my eyes again. She looked so scared- so weak last night. Seeing tears in her eyes killed me- it broke my heart- it pained me like hell. Even when I went to her room, she looked like she was in so much pain and I knew she wasn't sleeping. I could just tell by the way she shivered under my touch. A part of me was glad that she pretended to be asleep because I doubt that I would have been able to express myself if she wasn't. But, a part of me crushed at the same time. She didn't trust me enough to share her feelings- her pain- with me.

Uska dard baant na chahta tha main par usse woh bhi manzoor nahi tha. Akhir chal kya raha hai uske dimagh main? Chahti kya hai woh?

I shook my head and rubbed my face. My eyes shifted from the window to the wall clock that proudly hung right next to it. It was almost prayer time so, I got up and cleared my thoughts. I prayed for her- for us. After prayer, I decided to get some water before trying to fall asleep. I had stayed up all night and I still didn't feel like sleeping at all.

I was walking back from the kitchen when I saw the lights of her room switched on. She must be praying, I thought myself and silently stood there. I couldn't decide if I should go and talk to her or not. When my mind kept telling me to not disturb her at this hour, my heart chose to do the opposite.

I knocked on the door and waited for her to call me inside. Impatiently, I tapped my foot on the ground. A couple of moments passed yet, she didn't. I knocked again and received no answer. Sighing, I stepped away from the door. Maybe she just doesn't want to talk to me. Maybe she hates me for not being there for her. Maybe? Hah! No. Of course she hates me! I have failed her. I know it!

Disappointed, I was about to leave when I heard a sob and without thinking twice I barged in. My eyes fell on her, lying on the bed, facing away from me. Her blanket was down to her waist now but, her sleeping position was still the same.

My eyes stung as I looked down at her bandaged forehead. She still wore the same clothes as last night and my blazer still wrapped around her. That reminded my of the bruise on her arm and the....... And the torn dress. I closed my eyes tightly when a pang of guilt hit me hard in my chest. Clenching my jaw, I ran a hand through my hair. I could have been there for her. Main wahaan hota toh uss Imraan ko Asmaara ke aas paas bhi nahi aane deta. But I was not there. Kyun nahi tha main wahaan? Why?

I realised that I couldn't stay there any longer so, I decided to leave but, my heart ached to glance in her way for the last time. I turned to just look at her but, ended up lowering myself, next to her. I sat there on my knees, staring at her puffy eyes and trembling lips. I wanted to kiss the tension and the pain away from her face. Slowly leaning forward, I rested my chin on the mattress and rolled my lips inwards when her warm, uneven breath fanned my face. I saw moister on her eyelids- thick drops still coated her eyelashes. The thought that she had cried herself to sleep, made me feel even worse.

"Bohot dard ho raha hai na?" I whispered to myself, "I am sorry I wasn't there for you."

Reaching forward, I pulled out a tissue, from the box that was kept next to the bed, and softly rubbed it between her eyes, trying not to wake her up. It soaked up all the tears and I couldn't resist wiping the last drop off with my fingers. I gently rubbed the back of my fingers over her eyes and she tightly squeezed them together. Was she.......?

"You must hate me right now," I gulped the pain in my throat, "lekin uss dard ke badle main tumhein bohot saari khushiyaan dena chahta hoon. Ek mauka bhi nahi dogi?"

I moved my fingers along her face and tension visibly grew on her face. I frowned and got up. I was right- Yeah, she is awake. She doesn't want to talk to me or even look at me and here I am, bothering her. What the heck are you doing Shehry? Just Go away! I voice inside my head said and I quietly obeyed.

I turned around to leave when I felt a tight grip around my wrist. Her fingers-
So soft, so cold yet warm. I halted in my tracks but, chose not to turn around.

"Please don't go," she finally whispered- almost crying and I instantly turned around. Going down on my knees again, I stared at her closed eyes.

"I know you are awake, at least look at me?" I pleaded, softly caressing her hair, "please?" She shivered under my touch and broke into more fresh tears.

I closed my eyes tightly before getting up and sitting at the edge of the bed. "Get up," I asked her as I slowly helped her to sit up.

She refused to look in to my eyes and I chose not to force her either. She cried and I didn't stop her. I just sat there, silently holding back my own emotions. Pichle teen saalon se dil main jo bhi samet kar rakha hai sab nikal do aaj. Share your pain with me- and why share? Sab Mujhe de do. Main usse tumse kaheen door chor aaunga.

As I waited for her to calm down, I passed her the bottle that I had filled up for myself. She gulped a good amount of the liquid down her throat and passed the bottle back to me. I looked down at her before leaning in to softly kiss her head.

"Mujhe ghar le chalo, please?" Was the first thing she said to me and that, too, without looking up at me.

I looked down at her and cupped her face in my hands. "Aise? Iss waqt? Subha-"

"Please!" She raised her hands hands held mine. I closed my eyes and sighed at that touch of her's.

I shook my head and nodded, although she couldn't see me, "sure."

I got off the bed and she pulled herself out from under the covers. Her dress all messy. Why didn't she change?

I moved aside to give her space and she just stood there, in front of me, like a statue. Her grip on my blazer was too tight and I wished that I was that blazer- protecting her, guarding her so closely.

I shook away my thoughts and helped her with the crutch. Picking up Daljit's car keys from the key stand, I carefully closed the main door behind us. The morning wind rubbed against my skin and I would have greeted it warmly if I wasn't so hurt inside- if she wasn't so hurt. Opening the car door like a gentle man, I waited for her to sit first. Once she was settled in, I went over to my side and opened the maps on my phone.

The car ride was painfully silent. So silent that I couldn't hear our heart beats. It took quite a lot of strength but, I finally raised my free hand and rested it on her's. Her hand shivered under mine as a gasp escaped from her lips and I gulped. Oh God, I didn't mean to scare her.

I tried intertwining our fingers but, her tightly clenched fist blocked me out. Just like her eyes. Why is she doing this to me? I wanted to pull my hand away but Preet's words kept jumping back in my head. She needs to be loved and cared for. She needs to know that she is not alone in this.

I smirked to myself while Asmaara kept trying to pull her hand out of my grip. Main bhi thehra ek number ka dheet ! Haath ek baar thaam liya toh bas thaam liya. Soon she gave up and loosened her fist. I slipped my fingers between her's. Though she didn't wrap her fingers around mine, I still felt a little relieved. I looked at her with an ear to ear smile but, she wasn't looking at me- in fact, even I couldn't see her face at all. All thanks to her ghani kaali zulfein.

Please not the sarcasm there.

Once we reached her house, I parked the car outside the main gate. I didn't want to get out as I didn't want to let go off her hand. I could just hold it for an eternity. But, she had something else in mind. Before I could stop her, Asmaara pulled her hand away and stepped out of the car. I frowned as she started to hop away.

"Asmaara wait!" I shouted, absentmindedly, and hurriedly got out of the car. She stopped but, didn't turn around. I sighed and approached her.

We stood there silently as I couldn't come up with words. Saley moon phad aur Kuch Bol! I scolded myself. Suddenly my eyes fell on my blazer that teased me. It felt like it was looking at me, showing off how it was so close to her while I stood like two meters away from her.

"Woh my blazer...."

Asmaara looked up and then down at herself. "Oh.. I am sorry," she mouthed and began taking it off while I frowned at her.

"No stop!" I quickly covered the distance between us. She finally looked into my eyes with confused, puffy eyes. I wanted to search all my answers in them- then and there- but, how? The moisture was all I saw.

"I was- I was just saying that... It looks... Perfect on you," I whispered slowly and she blinked, lowering her gaze. My eyes traced along her cheek as a drop finally left her eye. I wanted to hug away that tear.

"Mujhe baba se baat karni hai. Bye," she mumbled, basically asking me to...... To get my ass out of there?

She turned around to leave and I just stood there. Unable to say anything, I took a step back and looked away before running a hand through my hair. With my heart beating as fast as it possibly could and Preet's words swirling inside my head, I turned to her and pulled her elbow, forcing her to look at me. Her hair still falling down the side of her face and I hated the sight of the bruise near the left side of her lower lip.

Raising my hand to her face, I carefully tucked her long brown locks behind her ear. She closed her eyes as I traced my fingers down the side of her cheek, resting them near the bruise. It must hurt a lot. Another drop of tear left her eye and stabbed my heart. Finally resting my fingers under her chin, I made her look up. Asmaara slowly allowed her eyes to open, still shivering. I blinked, looking straight in to them.

So much pain, I could see but, failed to take away. Bohot kuch kehna tha uss sey but, my heavy throat failed to form words. She kept glaring at me from behind those pools of tears that sat above her waterline while I kept fighting my urge to kiss her. Instead, I raised my hands and rubbed my thumbs along her waterline.

Finally giving up, I pulled her closer. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I hugged her as tightly as I could, securing her in my arms. Telling her that I am there. She gasped first but, then I felt like she was shaking. As she silently cried against my t-shirt, I impatiently waited for her to return the hug. Her crutch fell out of her grip and I closed my eyes, waiting for her to let me in- to let her guards down for me.

She raised her arms to not hug me back but, to push me away. "Mujhe baba se baat karni hai. Please let me go," she sobbed as she pulled away. She turned around quickly and Walked inside while I stood there with my hands still hanging in the mid air.

At least look at me once. Please! I kept wishing but, she didn't.

Why?

><><

Hey Hi Hello People!

It's hard for me to not write haha. It was supposed to be a short one but, oh well. LOL.

How are you guys?

How was the update?

Oh I don't think I'll be updating any time soon now. Three days left for my first exam and it feels like I don't really care about them as much as I should. Weird, right?

LOVE ALWAYS