Hey!!

Eid Mubarak to all those celebrating <3

New Readers welcome aboard :D

AND SEE!! I kept my promise !! :D
Leave me loads of comments like last time and I'll update jaldi jaldi again <3 <3

Don't forget to read chap 45, a lot of you haven't done that yet.

~*~

A lot of Roop's parts I know but, I am just trying to develop her character in these last 2-3 chaps <3

Yeah! It's ending very soon. I don't plan on writing any bonus chapters yet but it will have more than one epilogue because I'll be gone during my exams and I want to end this book before they start.

Oh and!!
I am planning on writing a book on Waqas that would almost be like bonus chapters for this one as it will be about their kids growing up while Waqas' story will develop. I don't feel like leaving him hanging like this /.\
However, you don't have to read it and I will inform you here when the bonus chaps for that book are up and you can just read those. You will still be able to relate to them  <3

~<>~

~~~ROOP's POV~~~

"Roop!"

Asmaara: And you ditched me because?

Asmaara: actually you know what? I don't want to read your lame excuses.

I read the two texts from her which came while I was trying to type my reply. I just woke up and so typing was hard for me and she was angry because last night I left without informing anyone. I had told her that I would stick around and I didn't even tell her before leaving.

I sighed and kept my phone aside. There was no point explaining anything to her as I didn't want to grab anyone's attention. And what if she questions Waqas about it? He hates me enough already.

"Roop!"

"Roop!"

I heard bhabhi's voice again and I quickly got out of my bed. Looking at my phone's watch, I realised that I overslept; maybe because I hardly slept last night.

"Coming!" I yelled as I sprinted downstairs.

"Kahaan mar gayi tumhaari behen," I heard her groan as I slowly entered the kitchen.

"Stop it Bisma!" Tariq bhai sighed yet not so effectively.

"Lo aa gayeen maharani," bhabhi addressed me in the same way as she usually does.

"Bisma!" Bhai said again while I stood there, fiddling with my fingers.

"Why are you getting angry at me? Did I say anything wrong? I don't think so," she chuckled, smiling at me, "dekhein toh zara, first she spends my husband's money on such expensive outfits and then uses them as night suits. Kaheen ki rani nahi toh aur kya hai?"

I looked down at my clothes and sighed. I didn't end up changing last night.

"Haan toh mere paise hein aur meri behen hai- tum beech main kyu Bol rahi ho?" Bhai asked her, closing the newspaper.

"But bhabhi, Nosh bought me this because I-"

"Lo bhai, ab neighbours ke aage bheek maangni bhi shuru kar di?" She jeered, shaking her head while I just stared at her with my jaw dropped, "kya kaha usse? Ki hum tumhein kapre bhi nahi dila sakte?"

"Stop it Bisma, you are really testing my patience now," Bhai banged his fist on the table. Bhabhi scowled at me.

"Look at how your brother is talking to me only because of you," she commented before going back to her breakfast. I shook my head and sat down on the chair.

"Betho betho aur muft ki rotiyaan toro," bhabhi whispered, shaking her head and I just didn't feel like eating anymore.

"Roop, how was the function last night?" Bhai asked me, ignoring bhabhi ranting that kept going on in the background.

"It was nice," I told him, glad that he was trying to change the atmosphere. It was nice until Waqas showed up.

"I didn't even realise when you came home last night. Bata deti toh main pick kar leta," he said and I smiled, shaking my head. "I took a cab."

"Udao mere shauhar ke paise.. Aur udao," bhabhi whispered, sighing. It wasn't that loud but, I still heard it.

The door bell rang and she looked at me with a raised eyebrow, like telling me to open the door. I stood up and walked out of the kitchen.

"Tum kyu pick karte? Aur kaam nahi hai jo uski drivergiri karne chale?" I heard bhabhi's whisper.

"Bisma! Bohot ho Gaya.... She is only here for a few days. Stop it now..."

"Tell you mother to stop! Pehle khud yahaan pari raheen aur ab isse hamaare gale baandh diya hai. Dekhna iski shadi ke waqt bhi tum se hi saare kharche nikalwayengi woh... Huh."

My stomach dropped at her words. I rolled my eyes and batted my eyelids constantly to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall out.

If That wasn't my family last night; even this is not my family. I miss mama, baba and Api.

~~~WAQAS' POV~~~

I think I have been doing this too much lately, but it has to be done, right?

I rubbed my hands against my denim jeans and pressed the door bell one more time. I was standing in front of Roop's door step once again just to apologise for my behaviour. Honestly, I suck at controlling my mood.

The door knob twisted, revealing Roop in the the same dress that she wore last night. It was a long yellow anarkali with silver and white border along the bottom. I guess light shades compliment her skin tone very well.

Ehm focus Waqas, I told myself and looked up at her face. She had swollen eyes. Maybe she just woke up?

"Woh.... Hi," I said, awkwardly. She kept frowning at me like she was trying to figure out if it was really me or not.

"I just came to-"

"Who is on the door?" Someone called from inside and Roop instantly looked behind her. "W-Waqas hai!" She yelled out so the person could hear it inside.

"Uhh.. Aaj Asmaara ki Mayoon hai," I said, confused. All I had to say was sorry.

"I know," Roop nodded, of course she knew.

"Haan toh.. N-nosh wants you to.. To go with her," I added and she nodded again. "I know that too."

"And-"

"Waqas, what is it?" Roop asked, folding her arms in front of her. I gulped, groaning inside my head.

"I just came here to-"

"Ab darwaze par hi mare rehna hai kya?" The same voice yelled from inside and I frowned.

"You came here to what?" Roop asked, ignoring the voice.

"What is your problem Bisma? Since morning you have been taunting her. What happened to you all of a sudden?"

"I am not taunting her. I am just letting her know that she has stayed here for long enough already."

"She is my sister! She can stay here for however long she wishes to!"

"Yeh sahi hai, hum kaam karein aur sari zindagi yeh hamaare paiso pe araam!"

"Enough!"

"Isse hi rakh lo ghar Pe. Main hi chali jaati hoon."

We awkwardly stood there while all those voice kept coming from inside. Two people were definitely arguing over Roop's stay here. The lady wanted her to leave.

I looked at Roop who was looking at the floor, breathing rapidly. Her fingers were digging into the door's wooden frame like she would create holes in it any second.

"Roop..." She slowly looked up at me with glossy eyes and I felt even worse about my last night's behaviour. It pinched my heart.

"Waqas... I just.. I am sorry. Bye," she banged the door on my face while I just silently stood there.

The footsteps suggested that she ran away from the door. I turned around to leave, rather shocked, while I could still hear the voices coming from inside.

That lady- whoever she was- I didn't like her already.

~~~AISHA's POV~~~

"Great!" I squealed as I pinned Asmaara's hair in a nice bun. I grinned when Asmaara smiled approvingly.

"I wish I was there too guys!" Jess sighed from the iPad's screen while Asmaara face-timed her, "babe, you are looking stunning."

"Ugh! I miss you Jess!" Asmaara pouted like a little girl. "We miss you too," I yelled at the screen and Jess laughed.

"Trust me, I so wish I was there!" She said. "Look, I have an important call to attend.. I'll call back yeah?"

Jess ended the call and I fixed the yellow earrings that Asmaara wore. "Beautiful," I mouthed and looked up at Malvika, who was leaning against the wall.

"What do you think?" I asked her and she shot us a smile. Which looked forced.

"Are you ok?" I asked her. She stood up straight and looked at Asmaara before looking at me, "why wouldn't I be?"

"Uhm, I guess I need to use the washroom," Asmaara got up to leave. Maybe she thought the awkwardness was because of her.

"Oh no, You are staying! You are one of us now so you get to be a part of all this," I told her, keeping a hand on her shoulder.

She shook her head and smiled, "You guys should carry on. Not everything is supposed to be told. I need to call Roop anyway."

"I thought you weren't talking to her," I raised an eyebrow at her. She release a soft laugh before shaking her head again, "Naah, she is too cute to be angry at."

I sighed, smiling, "yeah I like her too."

"I guess everyone does," Malvika commented, grabbing our attention. We frowned at her while she looked away and gulped.

"What is it?" I asked, grabbing on to Asmaara's hand. I had a bad feeling about this.

"Nosh asked me to convince Waqas."

"Convince him for what?"

Malvika blew air out of her mouth and lightly rocked back and forth before looking at me again.

"To marry Roop."

Ok! I did not see this coming. What? Wait- no. Oh come on! Isn't it complicated enough already?

"Malvi-" before I could say anything, the bedroom's door opened and Kashish came in with Rishab in her arms.

"Yeh Dekho- kuch nahi kha raha."

I smiled at Rishab who had his arms stretched out for me. "Mumma sath khayega?" I asked him as I went over to take him in my arms. He nodded, grinning at me.

"I'll check on Manik," Malvika said and hurriedly left the room.

I looked at Asmaara and she blinked at me. I guess we both didn't know what to do.

~~~SHEHRY's POV~~~

"I think this thing reacted on my face," I said in the earpiece while I washed my face.

"Stop scaring me, will you?" Asmaara sighed from the other side, "the ceremony is going to start here and I am scared now. What if I end up having breakouts on our wedding day?"

I chuckled at how scared she sounded, "no worries. I'll still love you."

"I still can't believe you did that last night."

"I can do that again. Then you will start believing, I guess?

"No please!" She gasped, making me laugh, "Rabia didn't let me sleep last night. She wouldn't stop teasing me. I have had enough of it already."

"You like your ring?" I asked. I could imagine her playing with it right now.

"Love it."

"More than me?" I asked.

"Ummm..."

"Asmaara!" I called her name with a hint of warning in my voice.

"Ami's choice is so good, kya karoon?"

"Ami's choice is good and what about ami's son?"

"I don't know about ami's son but Ami's daughter is a sweetheart... Just like ami."

"Fine. Then marry ami's daughter," I said, sounding like it really pissed me off.

"Eeh besharam," she commented instantly.

I chuckled slightly before wiping my face with a towel.

"Actually, not a bad idea," she said and I raised an eyebrow at my own reflection in the mirror.

"You know what? I am coming to see you," I told her. She gasped.

"You are not! I am telling you, don't even dare."

"Na baby, tell me what I want to hear and I might think about sparing you," I smirked to myself.

She huffed on the other end, "you are annoying."

Acha?

"See you in five."

"Ok fine! I love you too. Ab theek hai?"

"Perfect!" I smiled. "Uhh you are supposed to say it back," she reminded me.

"Really?" I asked, teasingly. "Shehry!" She winced, making me laugh again.

"Asmaara."

"Hmm?"

"I'll see you tonight."

"No, can you n-"

I ended the call before she could tell me not to visit. And no, I wasn't planning on visiting. The boys chose to throw a party for me and I will be attending that; it just felt like the perfect way to tease her and to keep her waiting at the same time.

Sometimes I can be evil.

I chuckled before reexamining my face in the mirror. It was red and I could bet on my life that there was something wrong with that turmeric paste.

"Mom!" I screamed, walking out of the washroom.

What if I end up getting all the weird spots now?

~~~PREET's POV~~~

"Eww take it away, I hate the smell," I groaned as Rabia walked past me with the bowl of turmeric paste. It made me sick for some reason.

I sat on the couch, securing my belly with my arms, as the ceremony began. Ladies began applying haldi on Asmaara's face. She was already glowing these days and now this; I bet she would be the most beautiful bride ever. She could have been one three years ago too, if only she wouldn't have ran away like she did. But I guess, sometimes things are meant to happen in a different way. Shehry and Asmaara were always meant to be together but, kismat se zyada aur waqt se pehle, kisi ko kuch nahi milta.

"Come on, it's your turn," Malvika tapped my shoulder before she pulled out her hand for me to hold. I shook my head, scrunching my nose, "no, I am fine."

"Oh come on."

"This smell makes me want to throw up," I told her and she nodded, sitting beside me, "aren't you going?"

"Naah, Asmaara looks horrified enough. I don't think I want to apply that thing on her face."

I laughed, remembering how she was freaking out half an hour ago, "apparently Shehry told her something is wrong with that paste and now she thinks she might end up with red spots or something."

"What?" She chuckled, "Why would he?"

"I don't know," I shrugged, "pange le raha hoga."

"Oh come on, that's so not Shehry. He is the most calm one," she said and I agreed with her. He is the calm one out of all four. Surprising enough but he is.

"If that's not so Shehry like then who do you expect this from?" I asked anyway. I knew the answer already.

"It's so-" suddenly she paused and sighed "I don't know."

"It's so Waqas... Right?" I asked again. She looked up at me and smiled. "Y-yeah."

I allowed the silence to sink in between us. No, the room wasn't silent, in fact there was loud dholak sound in the background. Ladies were singing and dancing where Asmaara was seated. She looked at me and grinned. I blew her a flying kiss. My best friend is going to be my bhabhi very soon.

"Tujhe kabhi usse pyaar nahi hua?" I finally asked Malvika. She awkwardly shifted in her seat and turned to face me, "hua na."

"Then wh-"

"Waqas Se bhi Hua, tujhse bhi Hua, Hussain se bhi Hua, Aisha se bhi hua," she completed. I frowned at her and she chuckled, "did I confuse you?"

I rolled my eyes, nodding.

"Preet, I know he loves me but, he is not in love with me," she said, making me even more confused, "there is a difference between the two. When you love someone there is this strange, Unbreakable bond between them and you... There is this connection between the two of you. It's like you know you will always be there for them even though you are not together all the time.... like your family and friends. But when you're in love with someone, you need that person with you all the time. You want them. Like, you want to own a part of them. You can't help but fall for them whenever you see them."

"Waqas loves me but he doesn't need me or want me. I have something that just triggered his college crush that he had on me," she looked at me and smiled, "yeah I always knew that he liked me. I was just a stupid effed up teen back then who was desperately looking for a secure relationship, I was looking for a person who would dominate me- i wanted that sense of security and care. I was just so scared to leave college all on my own. You can ask Hussain how I used to be a coward back then. I just didn't want to enter the real world alone. If Waqas would have shared his feeling with me back then, I would have said yes without even caring. But now, things are different."

"I am not that teen anymore. I like to be dominating. Taking care of things is better than being taken care of. I don't want to hide in a man's embrace now. It just won't work for me and Waqas knows that. In fact, that's what makes him admire me. You know he sometime calls me 'Jhansi ki rani' because I am always on my toes," she laughed a little before sighing, "he loves me for who I have become now but he is not in love with me. He just admires this independent side of me. It's just that we were spending so much time together at a point that he thought he has to be there for me all the time and that he can't live without me. Of course he would think that; he loves me after all. But, he loves you too- he wants to be there for you as a brother, right?"

I nodded at her question, still trying to understand her words.

"He loves Shehry too because they are cousins and he feels like he should look out for him as he is the oldest but can he just go on and marry Shehry for that? No, right?"

"He wants to be with me because he loves Manik. He wants Manik to have that father figure and he wants to be that figure for him. His feelings for me just come with the package... After all, he can't just stick around all his life if he and I are not officially together. Waqas just wants this relationship because he wants to be there for Manik. He cares for him. He loves him... And he is scared that one day, I would want to go away and Manik will go with me. And so, he wants me too so he could take care of both of us."

"Then let him," I told her in a whisper, "even if it's for Manik because Manik clearly loves him."

Malvika looked at me like I was an alien. She closed her eyes and sank deeper in the couch. "Fine, I'll say yes to him. Happy?"

"You will?" I asked, almost screaming. I couldn't believe this.

"Lekin uske baad kya? What will happen when he would want something out of this relationship that I won't be able to give him? For instance, some time, attention, love.... Maybe .. Maybe a child?" She asked, making me frown again, "my priorities are just my work and Manik. I don't think I want to shift my focus to anything else and I am sure he would understand. I know, for my sake he would adjust with literally everything, he would compromise. But does he deserve that? No, he doesn't. I don't want him to adjust and compromise for me all his life. He deserves better. Someone Better than me."

"Preet, after Raj left me pregnant the first time, I built walls around me that no one could break... And then he came back and left me with Manik.... I still haven't let those guards down and I will never. In fact they have become stronger now. They made me who I am today. A strong and independent woman. I can face the world alone. They made me realise ki Har larki ki life main ek mard ka hona zaroori nahi hota. Jin larkiyon ke husbands ki death ho jati hai ya talaq ho jata hai- kya woh jeeti nahi hein? I lost my father, yet I stood strong and worked hard for myself and now, I just want to work hard for Manik so that one day when he will be old enough to question me about his father, I would be able to tell him how we don't need that man in our life. And trust me, I am not being a selfish bitch here... I am thinking for Waqas' betterment more than mine. I am just not that girl anymore who would need a guy in her life. And Waqas deserves better because I know I won't be able to give him what he is worthy of. I just don't have those feelings for him. They say that's in a relationship, sometimes one person's love is enough but Waqas' love is not enough because he is not even in love with me. He thinks he is because of his feeling for me from years ago that were triggered again when I needed his help with Manik but I'll show him that he is not."

"I respect your Point Malvika but, by repeating that he doesn't love you, you can't make him fall out of love," I told her. She chuckled.

"That's correct, but he has to be in love to fall out of it," she said, "like I said, I have something that triggered his crush once again."

"And what's that-"

Manik!

Malvika noticed how I realised it before I even had a chance to ask and She shook her head. "But how? I mean how can you tell?" I asked her.

"Trust me, I know these boys more than you. Waqas is just so childish sometimes but he cares deeply. He just cares too much about Manik and I that he has started to believe that he is having all those feeling for me again and that he would never feel for someone else so deeply when that's not true. He admires me maybe but he is definitely not in love... And even if he is, he needs to fall out of it because I'll hurt him more if I stay than I ever will if I leave."

"Malvika-"

"Come on you two!" My question was yet again interrupted. This time, it was Aisha, "everyone is dancing, come on!"

I shook my head while she pulled Malvika's hand. "Acha tu chal- main aayi," Malvika said to her and Aisha rolled her eyes before walking away.

"Ek baar shadi ho jaane de, I'll prove it to you," She whispered to me before walking away to join the ladies for a dance.

I kept staring at her back, feeling lost. Waqas does care a lot for those who he loves. Family or friends- doesn't matter. Maybe She is right, he loves Manik way too much that he doesn't want to even risk losing him. He wants Malvika because he wants Manik- that's the only way he can make sure that Manik won't leave ever. Right?

I don't know, she just confused me completely.

My phone rang and I smiled down at it, shrugging away all the thoughts. It was hussain. Getting off the couch, I made my way towards Asmaara's room and sat down on the bed. "Hey! How's your night, with the boys, going?"

"Just the way yours is going with all the ladies," he replied. I could hear loud music behind him.

I looked at the wall and chuckled, "you are dancing too?"

"Too? Preet, are you dancing?!" He almost yelled in the phone, "get off the floor now. I told you to not move around too much. Doctor told you to Stop stressing your mind and body, remember? I don't want to take you to the hospital unless it for, you know."

"Relax mommy! I am not dancing, in fact this turmeric smell makes me sick," I chuckled, making a face.

"Ohh, you want me to come and get you, we could go somewhere until that smell is gone," he suggested and I smiled. "Naah, I'll be fine."

"Uhh hussain, ek baat poochu?"

"Hmm poocho?"

"What's the difference between loving someone and being in love with someone?"

He snickered on the other end, "w-what? What's wrong with you? Yeh kaisa sawal hai?"

"Bolo na!" I demanded and he sighed.

"I guess loving is when you love someone or something unconditionally. Like you parents or your accessories or your pets.... And being in love is when you just have this huge place in your heart for just this one person. Someone who isn't perfect at all but they are the best for you... I don't know.. Us humans are like a jigsaw piece and that one special person just fits perfectly with us."

And now I need to figure out love through jigsaw puzzle?

"Like us!" Hussain suddenly said, "like I fit so perfectly with you. I am a complete idiot but, you still love me."

I gasped at his words, "You are not an idiot!"

He giggled, "see my point? You hate me when I snatch those stupid sweets away from you but you still love me at the end of the day. You can't help it, can you?"

"I wish I could," I retorted, teasingly. He chuckled, "trust me, you could never. You know why? Because you are in love with me. We have a different level of understanding.. A strange kind of bond that we never had with anyone else. At least I didn't. We don't just care for each other like we care for our loved ones, we don't just look out for each other like we do for our siblings and friends. But, we know we need each other to survive... It's like, every time I see you, my heart jumps and tells me that it's beating because I have you and so I should never let go."

"You are going off track," I told him, grinning at his words. "See what being in love does to you?" He laughed and I shook my head.

"So basically love is what we feel for everyone and everything we care about. We don't need constant reminders of those, we know they are a part of our life and we should take care of them. Whereas, Being in love is when this one stupid person comes along and becomes your need. You just want to consume them in every way you can because they make it seem like everything is perfect when it's really just their company you feel perfect in," he finished, "now you get it?"

Sort of..

"You think Waqas is in love with Malvika?" I asked finally and he sighed. "Is that what it's all about? Well, I don't think so."

"I don't see any difference between when he looks you or Aisha and when he looks at Her. I guess he feels for her more deeply because at the end of the day you will always have me, and Aisha will have Atif while Malvika won't have anyone."

"She said the same," I told him. "Aa raha hoon yaar!" Hussain yelled, maybe at one of his cousins.

"Honestly, If Malvika says it isn't love then probably it isn't," hussain chuckled, "She is the mature one out of the two."

And he is the one in love, I sighed, or maybe he is not? I guess I'll have to wait for her proof.

"Acha listen, I have to go now," Hussain said and I nodded to myself, "no dancing please. Ok?"

"Yeah, I guess I am going to sleep anyway. I feel tired right now."

"But, It's only 5:30!" He said, I could imagine him frowning. "I know. I just want to take a nap."

"Are you feeling ok? You want me to pick you up?" He asked.

"Seriously, stop it. I am not coming home tonight. It's my best friend's nikah tomorrow."

"Oh come on, I am missing you already!" He complained, making me giggle. "I don't care."

"But, I can visit right?" He asked.

"What? It's only one night, Hussain!"

"So what? You see I am in love with you. I can't help it. I need you," he said putting more emphasis on 'in love.'

"Yeah, I'll use this when you will leave me for those stupid shoots."

"Let me visit and I'll take you with me on those stupid shoot."

"Is that so? Fine! Don't blame me when those ladies Kick you out."

"Oh no they won't! They won't even realise that I visited."

"What do you mean?"

"Keep that window open!"

"Wait-" he ended the call and I looked down at my phone. Oh crap! He doesn't even know which room I am staying in.

No problem. Aa jao bachu! Yeh scene dekhne wala hoga.

~~~ATIF's POV~~~

"Yeah, bye," I ended the call and turned to Waqas again. He smirked at me weirdly, "Saaley do din hue nahi baap bane hue aur do do minute main phone kar raha hai."

"Toh aur kya, I just want to be at home already and cuddle with him. It's like someone needs me," I grinned at him, remembering Rishab's innocent face when he slept wrapping his tiny arms around me last night, and he nodded. His face looked worn out.

"What happened?" I asked him as he took a sip of his drink.

"Nasha," he whispered, putting down the glass. I looked at him with my eyes widened. The hell is he drinking?

Suddenly he laughed, making me frown, "sharab nahi hai. It's something silly the waiter served me."

I looked at him to search his face for any clues, "how would I know?"

"Arrey sachi! I feel completely in control and it's not even like I have forgotten anything."

"Forgotten?"

"Log kehte hein sharab sab kuch bhula deti hai. But, Hussain's words are still ringing in my head," he sighed. I watched as he twisted the glass, rolling its base one the table, "what did he say?"

"He thinks Malvika is right and I am being an idiot by running after her," he said and I nodded.

I some what agree to it but, it's mostly because for some reason she always bugged me. She always ended up hurting Aisha unintentionally. She just never realised how Manik affected Aisha and that just made me not like her at all.

All of a sudden Waqas got up from his stool, pushing it back with so much force that it almost fell.

"Where are you going?" I asked him as he started marching away.

"Malvika Se Milne."

\~<•>~~<•>~/

Hola!

I guess you already see where this is heading?

I feel bad for Roop and Waqas.

Malvika finally kept her point across. Is it clear yet? She has a lot more to say in the next chapter..

Honestly, I believe love isn't everyone's need. It's just our mindsets because we are told from the start that a Prince Charming will come on a white horse one day and so we just wait for him. This is why most of you want Malvika to say yes to Waqas because you think he is her prince. She too waited for her prince and ended up falling for Raj instead.
Now her 'prince charming's' perception is ruined completely and she has replaced that goal with another one where she wants to work and be good enough so one day her son would look up to her and be proud of her. Love isn't everyone's priority or need. She knows it can never be her's and so she doesn't want to get in a relationship where Waqas might have to give more than she will ever be able to. She is only just saving him all the future pain and disappointment by breaking his heart now...

Love Always <3

~Srishti

Since you guys kept asking :p