*Flashbacks are in bold

Here we go"

Hareem took two steps back after zipping the small bag. Her eyes went towards the lonely figure standing close to the window looking at nothing in particular. The hollowness was radiating off her. Her eyes were not focusing on anything but still they had a story of their own to tell. Hareem stood next to her holding her from her shoulders.

"Waniya, I know this is not easy. You are angry with almost everything and everyone and rightly so. But he is ashamed and very much sorry. He's trying his best to mend things up. And it's better if you go from here. There's nothing for you anyway. Just heartbreak and few memories which are going to scar you for years to come. It's better to just let go. Embrace what he's offering you."

Hareem patted her arm and giving a last glance around left the room.

Waniya didn't say anything in reply. Her mind was a mess right now. She wasn't feeling any such emotions she was supposed to, given the fact that she was going back home.

Home.

A sarcastic smile appeared on her lips. What mockery was made of this one word. Home? What was that?

Few days back, she hadn't thought life would change drastically. Had things been normal, there would be so much happiness surrounding them. She was carrying a part of both her and him inside of her. They were in that phase of their married life which was nothing short of a bliss for any couple out there. After all their love had gotten a new definition all again.

His unconditional love for her.

Which was once there in his heart but not anymore.

Things took such a bad turn that she couldn't do anything. She had no fault still she suffered the most.

Why?

Because she loved Ahmer Ahsan dearly.

And he loved his family more than that.

"Come on, Waniya."

The voice of Hareem reached her ears and she closed her eyes when a lone tear escaped from her closed lids.

It was time to go back to home which was now just a shelter for her.

__________________

He leaned against his car and glanced at the house in front of him with something akin to pain in his eyes. This was the same house his sister had left few days back. His family had vowed to never look back again. But there was string still attaching them to this damned place. The chord which was severed brutally without having any fault.

Waniya Moeez.

Or better Mrs. Waniya Ahmer

The woman he had loved madly.

The woman who was the sunshine in his dark life. Who taught him so much.

The same woman he broke with his hatred.

His wife who suffered so much just because of him.

He closed his eyes when it started feeling unbearable to look back at the mistakes made.

"I know I made mistakes, Waniya but no! Not anymore. I'm here to take you with me and hell if I ever let you go again. You and my baby are my only priority from now on! Just you two."

With a never faltering determination, he stood in the entrance. Never entering inside. From a distance he could see Waniya hugging her father with a face devoid of any emotions. There wasn't anyone around other than Hareem. Good, because he wasn't sure if he'd be able to contain himself if any other person from that lot were here.

She'd made her way towards him. Just few steps. But seemed like centuries were contained in these few steps.

Her eyes hadn't met his. She just looked ahead and sat down at the passenger seat of the car. Ahmer sighed. A sigh which had both regret and longing in it.

The feeling hadn't sunk.

They were afloat.

But the anchor was nowhere to be found.

______________________

5 Years Ago

The grand wedding of Alishba Ahsan and Hayam Ihtasham was going on smoothly. The spacious wedding venue was decorated and shining with all the lights and brightness of happiness. The air was filled with the promise of a happy ever after which was being written today. Alishba was dressed in a bright red lahenga and was glowing with all the happiness life had blessed her with. Hayam was also beaming. Ahmer captured an other precious moment in his camera lens and got off the stage to check on the preparations.

He was going towards the sitting area to the groom side when someone collided in him from the back making him stumble. He was about to fall down but straightened himself and with tight jaws and his world famous anger turned towards the culprit only to be come across the brown eyed beauty clad in a pink lehanga looking at him. He was lost for some time but immediately recovered.

"Can't you see where are you going?"

"I'm sorry! But I'm in a hurry."

She showed him the shoes in her hands as if showing a prize.

"Gotta hide it somewhere so Hayam Bhai still has his bank balance intact leaving this place."

Ahmer raised his eye brows. She was Hayam's relative? Interesting.

"Okay but who you are?"

"I'm Waniya, Hayam Bhai's cousin. Now move aside!"

She pushed him away when he stood in her way. The images of his grandmother with his cousins was flashing in his mind. How she was telling them that getting the money out of the groom was their right as they were all his sisters in laws. As Alishba had no sister of her own so these rituals were going to be done by their cousins and her friends only. They were planning to hide the shoes but the groom side had a plan of their own. Ahmer could tell.

"I think I can help you."

"Really? How? And who you are in first place?"

A smirked appeared on his lips. He came a bit closer making her look on confusedly.

"Introductions later. Now come."

_____________________

Waniya was satisfied that Hayam's shoes were hidden in a safe place now. Nobody from Alishba's family could ever think of winning the ritual and getting money out of Hayam. Grinning proudly, Waniya stood close to the stage looking over at the last of the ceremony.

"It's time."

She reached where her cousins were already waiting for her with the shoes.

"Now that the shoes are in our custody you guys won't get any money!"

Hareem said holding the bag. Being the only sister to the groom , she was looking quite serious about winning this. She could see the sulking faces of Alishba's cousins and most importantly the not so pleased look on her Dadi's face.

"This ritual is so ours."

Waniya shouted excitedly when someone placed the shoes in front of her. She turned around abruptly and found Ahmer giving her a victorious smile.

"I don't think so."

He gave the box to his cousins who were now shouting and hooting after getting what they wanted.

"This is gold! Put the money, Dulha bhai!"

Waniya was shooting daggers in Ahmer's way. She got tricked. Stomping her feet she started walking away from there not noticing he was just after her.

"Hey!"

"What?"

She snapped giving him a frustrated glare.

"I'm sorry but that was the only way of winning you see."

"You are not sorry. And by tricking and fooling others you can't win. Ever."

He smirked seeing her red nose due to anger.

"But I can get money out of your cousin which is pretty much the same. Ahmer Ahsan, by the way. Nice to meet you."

"The sentiments aren't the same. Bye!"

She pushed his hand away when her cousins started calling her. Giving a last disapproving look to him she went away leaving him amused and surprised both at the same time.

"Waniya..."

He whispered her name. God knows why but he knew they would meet again. That too very soon.

____________________

Alishba was well settled in her house. Hayam was the best husband she could wish for. She used to miss her family but the immense love her in laws had given her filled the void.

But same was not true for Ahmer. He was left alone with his parents in this huge mansion. He missed his sister terribly but was happy that she was doing great in her life. He used to meet her once a week. Her new family was the sweetest people he ever met and always welcomed him with open arms.

It was an usual Sunday evening when he turned his car on the way of Alishba's house after completing his gym session. Parking the car, he was walking towards the main door when he heard someone giggling from the lawn. His eyes darted towards the vision in white. Her long hair were tied in a bun while she was watering the plants with a warm smile on her face.

Waniya.

He remembered how every time her thoughts used to brighten up his mood. She had left for Islambad after the wedding got completed. He came to know from Alishba that she was Hayam's first cousin. His uncle Moeez Amjad's daughter who owned the branch of family business in Islambad. She was the only daughter and her mother had died when she was just a kid. Because she didn't have any siblings she was very much attached to Hayam and Hareem who both loved her like their own sister.

He took a step forward seeing her so engrossed in the task in hand. She was tending to the roses now when a sharp thorn pricked her finger.

"Careful."

She looked up and found a warm pair of dark eyes.

"You!"

She shouted when he bent down in a welcoming gesture.

"We met again."

He smirked seeing her annoyed expressions.

"I'm as enthusiastic about it as I was that day. You are still a cheater and I'm still not happy seeing you. Go away."

She made a face and turned back the flowers.

"Come on, Forget it will you? I said sorry before."

"Oh you really did not!"

"Seriously. May be. I say it now. I'm sorry. That was pretty low of me."

He extended his hand towards her.

"Won't happen again."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

She placed her hand in his while in the corner a new rose bloomed bathing in the sun rays.

____________________

Life has its own strange ways of testing people and her life had put her through so much that had left nothing in her. Nothing to fight. Nothing to let go.

Having Ahmer around was what she desperately wanted few days back.

Not anymore.

The man driving the car, She had loved him dearly but she no longer wanted him in her life.

Life was surely playing a nasty game with her. She could feel Ahmer stealing glances in her way.

But she couldn't even look at him.

He was the same man she would spend hours talking to but today she had nothing to say.

Nothing to ask.

Nothing to demand.

Because she no longer felt she had any right on him.

_________________________

He parked his car and reached the table hurriedly where a grumpy Waniya was sitting looking at her watch.

"Hi."

He smiled at her when she shot him an angry glare.

"You are late Mr Ahmer Ahsan!"

"Yeah, and sorry as well."

He chuckled and took the seat in front of her. They had planned to have lunch together but as usual he was late and now he knew he would have to do anything he could to pacify the stubborn Waniya who was clearly not very pleased with him at the moment.

After that encounter at Alishba's house they have started meeting every week whenever he would visit Alishba. Waniya was staying there as it was her off from university while Ahmer himself was enjoying life before going back to States again to continue his business studies. He was three years senior to her and their educational fields were different. Not only subjects their personalities were poles apart as well. He was an easy going guy with a temper but she hardly got angry, and whenever she did it was mostly on him. He was the cool kid but she was down to earth. He was difficult to understand but she was an open book. He was pretty closed off for the people he was stranger to but had a heart of gold but she was sweet and caring both from inside as well as outside.

And may be this contrast in their personalities was the reason that they had come so close in such a short span of time. They both termed it as friendship but somewhere they also knew it was something more than that.

Something deep.

Something they couldn't deny.

"So we are good now?"

"Yes we are! But dare you come late next time. I'll not give in so easily."

He chuckled when he remembered why he was here.

"Waniya."

"Hun?"

She replied busily drinking her shake.

"Semester resumes in five days."

He saw her stiff for a moment. But then the usual smile was back on her face.

"Wow. Seems so soon."

She was acting all nonchalant but he could see the sadness shinning in her eyes. Going back meant an year of not seeing each other. An year of him not visiting and an year of staying apart until he visited back the next break.

"Waniya, Look at me."

She looked up with slightly teary eyes and then smiled brightly.

"I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too."

She had started talking about the other stuff related to his stay in the USA but his mind was stuck at only one thing.

How he would spend this time without her?

___________________________

He was at the airport to catch up his flight and to his surprise along with his parents, Alishba and Hayam were too there to see him off. And the best thing was they had taken Waniya along. He was staring at her face while talking to his sister when Suddenly Waniya got up and left to the washroom. Alishba looked at her retreating back and then turned to him.

"Why do you think I've brought her with me here?"

"So that she meets me before me flying off to USA."

"Idiot!"

She hit his forehead.

"An year is long enough, Ahmer! Just go and tell her what you feel for her. Your confession will prove a balm to her aching heart when you will be away. Go!"

"Aapa, how do you..."

"I'm your sister. I know everything. Now get a move!"

He nodded and almost ran towards where she had left to.

He found her standing close to a pillar near the coffee shop. Smiling, he had taken just a step towards her when the announcement of his flight boomed in the airport premises.

Waniya looked up and found him staring at her. A tear rolled down her cheeks when in two long strides he reached her side and cupped her face. Their noses were just inches apart. His fingers were running the on her cheeks as if memorizing every feature of her in his memory.

"Promise me you'll wait for m. Promise me. I love you and I want to know I'm going away with something to make this wait bearable. Do not forget me, please."

"I should be the one to say this. Don't you dare forget me! You are not allowed!"

He chuckled when the announcement was made once again.

"Go...And I love you too."

"Something to bright up the coming damp days."

Pecking her forehead he left her hand when she kept on gazing at his retreating back as if trying to capture him in her eyes.

The plane took off and a long year of wait had started for Waniya Moeez the same instant.

_______________________

The car was running on the road smoothly. Ahmer glanced at the woman beside him but her eyes hadn't me his for once.

She wasn't looking. Not even when he wanted her to look.

Served him right but this felt so wrong.

How would things ever get back to normal? Ahmer had no clue.

Everything was afloat. So far away from the bank.

And an anchor wasn't even a possibility at the moment.