*Flashbacks are in Bold

He stroked her hair in his sleep and circled her waist to bring her closer. After baring his heart in front of her just a few hours back, he had slept after some time but Waniya wasn't that lucky. Her mind was a mess. She hadn't thought he would say something like this. She always knew he was back to her, getting her back into his life just for the sake of their baby. This new revelation had left her unsettled. He was ashamed of his doings. He was keeping a distance just to ensure he wouldn't hurt her even more. She was in a new conflict now. A part of her heart was asking her to let go of the past and embrace him back in her life, while the other was scolding her for even considering this option. No matter what his reasons were, he had let her down. She was on the verge of losing her baby because of the situation he put her into. They were always so open in their relation. Was it so necessary for him to shut her out just because he didn't want to hurt her? Even if his intentions were not bad still his ignorance did more harm than good. And what about she saw with her own eyes at his office? Him hugging Seemab? What was his explanation of this?

Past few days had changed her so much. She had turned into a cynical woman from a happy go lucky girl. Everything used to look fishy. Every emotion superficial. Everyone on a purpose to do her any harm they could. She had faced so much that she had forgotten there were few people who loved her to bits. The man sleeping next to her was the one who claimed to be one of them. She took a deep breath. It was way too early to forget everything and move on. She couldn't do it. He had a long way to go if he wanted her forgiveness.

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Sometimes life puts you in situations where you can't understand what's going on around you. But you're sure of one thing. It's real. Everything happening around you is real.

His condition wasn't different. The woman in his arms was the one he could give his life for. But her condition had left his heart into pieces. Her pale face. The dark bags under her eyes. She had lost a considerable amount of weight as well. He didn't know what was happening, only one sentence echoing in his ears.

"Save our baby. Don't let me down...this time...please.."

A baby? Their baby?

He held her from her arms when a worried Hareem came rushing to them.

"Let her get to the doctor."

Hareem said frantically. Soon the doctor was also there taking Waniya inside. Hareem just looked at Ahmer. She knew he needed answers but right now Waniya shouldn't be left alone. So giving him a nod, she had gotten inside.

Ahmer stood there looking at the closed door. The voices around him were amild buzzing while the noise inside of his head was deafening.

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Hareem looked over at Ahmer's slumped form and sighed. She had just narrated the whole story of what had happened. Waniya was inside and the doctor was looking after her. Both Rehana and the nurse weren't anywhere to be found.

"This is it I guess."

Hareem mumbled and then there was silence.

A silence in which Ahmer was dying a thousand deaths every second. His world had tumbled and the ground shook beneath him. He staggered backwards. Waniya was pregnant. She was abandoned. Knowing her family he could join the dots and every revelation was making his heart sink deeper in the pit of nothingness.

A heart is never as loud as a glass when it breaks but the effect is almost the same. The glass cuts onto flesh and the broken pieces of a heart cuts onto soul. His soul was being cut into pieces. Shreds.

How much Waniya had endured all alone? How much she had suffered without him being by her side? How many times she must have called him? Mumbled his name. Cried out in pain. In anguish. In despair. In loneliness. How many times she must've gone through the state between hope and hopelessness? How many times she'd have reached out hold onto something. But every time would've sat back seeing there was nothing she could hold onto.

Does love make someone cruel? He wasn't intending to be but had ended up being merciless with her. The woman he would've never thought of even giving an inch of pain but had pushed her into the sea of nothing with his own hands. Unknowingly but he had. Waniya had loved Ahmer Ahsan the most and she had suffered the most on his hands only.

He could've fought the world for him. He had that in him. Whenever had he let the world stop him from getting to her? Nothing had stopped him from going against all odds and marrying her. Nothing had stopped him from holding her hand proudly. No distance, no communication gap, no scheming of any family member, no disapproval of his mother had been able to stop him. Then what had happened now? Why he let everything control his and her relation? Everything but them.

There aren't mistakes in love. There are sins. And he had committed a sin by abandoning his own love.

His emotions were all over the place. Extreme love for the little angel she was carrying inside her, unexplained remorse for not being there for the woman he loved, dread on the possibility of knowing what she had to face, and a rage that knew no bounds for the people responsible for this state of hers. Most of all the self-loathing on not being the husband Waniya deserved.

He didn't even register when Hareem had slipped out from beside him. When an other doctor had come and told him his patient was alright.

He felt nothing. Just a pang of guilt and self-repulsion. And that moment he knew, no matter what position he had in Waniya's heart and life anymore but he had dropped himself to the lower pit of his own hell. Because he deserved it.

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Ahmer woke up when the sun rays bathed the room with their yellow hue. Waniya was snuggled close to his side resting her face on the pillow while her hand was on her tiny bump. A smile appeared on his face. This was the sight he would always want to wake up to. Tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear he kissed her forehead.

He didn't have many hopes from their conversation last night. He knew he had told her his part of the past. The things he had done consciously without knowing the consequences. But he also knew this woman in front of him had endured so much. Mere words won't erase the bad memories. He could just hope things would go in a positive direction from now on.

Waniya stirred in her sleep and slowly opened her eyes.

"Good morning."

He had caressed her faces with his fingers. She kept on looking at him. Gazing still. Not flinching. Not backing away from his touch. Was it a good sign? He hoped it was.

"Morning."

She had slowly pulled her face out of his grip making him sigh. The hostility towards him had decreased a bit but that was still not even close to enough. He wanted his old Waniya back. The one who would throw tantrums at him. The one who would kick him, give him angry looks or grace him with her snarky remarks whenever he would do anything to infuriate her. This version of her was not well accepted by him. This indifference was painful. This close off Waniya was hurting him but more than that the factor that she was losing the feel of who she was, was hurting him.

She sat up pushing her hair out of her face. Her third month of pregnancy was starting in a day or two and soon she'd start showing. He was very particular about her diet and medicines. Every instruction the doctor had given them, he was working on it accordingly. His eyes roamed at her form. She was clad in her night clothing. She'd always been on the lean side. It had taken him just few seconds understanding that her night clothes were soon going to be tight. Pregnancy hormones were showing their effects. Her body was starting to fill up in places making her old clothes tight. How didn't he notice this before? She needed a change of clothing.

"I have an important meeting in an hour. You take your breakfast and then get ready. We'll go shopping."

"We have plenty of time to go baby shopping. I don't feel like going anywhere. "

She had said getting up and walking towards the bathroom.

"I was talking about shopping for you. You need new clothes."

Her head whipped towards him.

"I don't need new clothes. The ones I have are enough."

"They're not. I want you to be comfortable in every sense."

"How thoughtful of you."

She scoffed reaching to grab the knob of bathroom door when he reached her side taking large steps.

"Waniya when you'll stop shutting me out? You want show me your anger and how much of an douche-bag I've been? Do it. In fact you're doing it quite well. But in all this don't refuse what is necessary. You need it. Even though you admit it or not."

"I don't have money to buy myself new clothes."

His eyes filled with disbelief.

"Seriously, this is the best excuse you can come up with? Money is no issue! What's the use of all this then? "

He pointed around throwing his hands up in the air.

"It's your money."

"And you're my wife. This is my baby. You both are my responsibility. Waniya, we won't want to start the day with another argument. You want to throw tantrums at me I'm more than willing to be at your service but in this matter there won't be any discussion anymore. You don't want to come? Fine. I'll go buy you clothes myself. I think that's fair enough."

She clenched her fists and shot him daggers through her blazing eyes.

"You know you're an insensitive prick who cares for only his big fat ego. Do what you want to do! You oaf!"

She shouted and slammed the door shut on his face. His lips twitched upwards. Finally there was a sign of his old Waniya who would tell him to go to hell if she wanted to. Who would fight him not shut him out. Strange that an argument was giving him hopes but he couldn't help it.

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Waniya sat on one of the plush chair placed in the garden area of the house. The argument with Ahmer this morning was still fresh in her mind. When she entered his life again she had promised to herself she wouldn't show him any emotions. Her emotions will be bottled up in heart only. But today morning's argument wasn't exactly how she wanted it to be. He was successful in doing what he pleased and she had to let him be. What could she say? An insensitive prickle and an oaf? Seriously? It was like old times when she would call him names but would agree with him eventually. She didn't want things the same way. She couldn't let him take decisions for her. Right now she was very much angry with him and didn't want anything to do about it. She had to bring up her guard once again.

Feeling movement to her side she knew she wasn't alone anymore. Glancing up at the person her eyes zeroed on Alishba who was standing there smiling at her kindly.

"Bhabhi."

An awkward silence had fallen between them. She didn't know what to do. Since the time all the hell broke loose in their lives she and Alishba hadn't talked much. She didn't even know if Alishba was mad at her or was wry of the fact that the daughter of the same people who ruined her life was in her house once again.

"Do you mind if I join you?"

Alishba asked looking at her expectantly. Waniya nodded. Alishba smiled once again and sat on the other chair under the shade of a large tree. She eyed Waniya's untouched plate of fruit pieces and narrowed her eyes at her.

"You're going to finish it. Not for yourself but for your baby."

"I have no mood of eating it."

"Come on! Few pieces won't do any harm. Hurry up!"

Waniya grimaced and took a bite of Apple slice in her mouth. Alishba gave her a triumphant look. Once she was finished Waniya smiled at her. Alishba's gesture earlier had told Waniya that Alishba wasn't keeping a grudge in heart for her. The revelation was soothing because she had been a target of people's wrath more than she could ever endure.

"Bhabhi...I mean Apa... How are you? How you're holding up?"

A sad look etched on Alishba's features.

"I'm fine, Waniya, better than I had thought to be."

Waniya nodded not knowing how to take this conversation forward.

"You know, no matter what people say. No matter what they make you believe but don't think you were even one percentage responsible for what happened with me. "

"Bhab..Aapa.."

Waniya tried saying something when Alishba shushed her.

"No, Waniya. No one's responsible for anything that happened with me. Not even I'm. Whatever happened were the consequences of my blind faith in a person who didn't deserve it even a tiny bit."

Waniya looked anywhere but her. The fact that she belonged to the very person who destroyed this angel like woman was making her nauseated.

"You know what it feels like to see the only person who you've ever loved accusing you for his wrong doings when you have no control over your flaws. It breaks you. When the only person who meant the world to you turns his back towards you, the same world shatters into tiny pieces. The pieces you can't even put together, the pieces which will soon turn into ashes. Because when loyalty and love are sucked out of a relation, all that left is ashes. And not every time things take a rebirth from ashes stronger than before. Some things are meant to be remaining in the ashes without even once giving a chance to grow back."

"Trust me, Aapa. I know. I know the feeling."

A chuckled escaped Alishba's lips.

"Oh, trust me you don't. Believe me you don't. I know you're mad at Ahmer for abandoning you. But did you ever think maybe he had any reason for it?"

"He.. he told me. He didn't want to hurt me anymore than he already had."

She gulped. Even admitting it to her was looking difficult but she had to.

"That. I'm his sister Waniya. I know my brother can be a pain sometimes but he would never hurt anyone intentionally. He's always protective of his loved ones. He can go to any measures to make sure they're safe and sound. And if he thinks it's him who's being a problem for them, he'll distant himself. That's what he did to you. His remorse of yelling at you and venting his anger when you clearly weren't responsible for anything scared him. He was afraid in such a delicate situation he might end up doing anything more drastic. His way of dealing things was wrong but his intentions weren't."

Alishba took her hand in hers.

"No one can understand your pain like I do, Waniya. I might sound like a hypocrite but you're lucky to have him. No matter what. No matter how many issues you have with your loved ones cheating is never an option. Leaving someone stranded is never an option. And blaming someone else for your doings? Not an option at all. Life's being cruel on you but it has also given you someone who will do anything to bring a smile on your face. Who will always be there for you. You've got issues? Work on them. Don't shut him out. Don't repeat the mistake he did. Because not everyone is lucky enough to have this kind of support in their lives. I'm always there for you. Because I know what you and Ahmer share is more than just love. It is something which can't be described. Give him a chance. Make him work hard to get your forgiveness but don't leave him. Because if he needs you, you need him too. Think about it, honey. For me. Because I love you both. And I won't ever want to see you both suffering the same pain I've suffered."

She patted Waniya's cheek who was weeping softly by now. She rested her head on Alishba's shoulder and both fell into a comfortable silence.

Sometimes all you need is just silence to make sense of few things.

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He was still sat there absentmindedly when the words of the doctor sounded in his mind once again. Waniya was inside. He visibly gulped. The mere thought of seeing her into the eye was scaring him. His shoulders slumped. Opening the door with a thudding heart he peaked inside and saw her caressing her stomach absentmindedly. Her face was relieved. The doctor had definitely told her that the baby was fine.

Their baby.

As on cue her eyes darted towards him which filled with tears while an accusing look settled on her face. The pain was excruciating. Her eyes were flashing with hurt, pain, betrayal, and accusation. She turned her head sideways when angry tears rolled down her cheeks. He took a step forward as on instinct. Protecting her was his out most priority.

"Don't! Leave."

She whispered. Her voice was strained from all the emotions it contained.

"Waniya...."

"Please! Just leave."

His hands turned into balls seeing her shutting him out. Nodding at her he left the room when a strangled sob escaped her lips. He closed the door and leaned against it. His own eyes were all teary.

Everything was messed up but he was a man on mission. He would right all the wrongs.

----

Evening

After having that conversation with Alishba, Waniya had retired to their room. The emotional upheaval was making her tired. She was in no mood of doing anything after that. Not even thinking about what Alishba had said. She would do it some other time.

She took a much needed nap and when she woke up it was past nine at night. Ahmer was back from office and was working on his laptop sitting on the couch. He shot her a smile which she returned with a scowl. Her stomach was rumbling as she didn't have anything to eat for past three hours.

She was about to get up when her eyes fell on the numerous shopping bags placed on the corner of the room. Her eyes narrowed.

"Before you start arguing with me let's have our dinner. I'm starving and so is my baby. I'm not sure about you though."

Waniya gave him a glare and smoothed out the creases on her shit. She was walking towards the bathroom when a sudden knock stopped her in her tracks. Ahmer beat her and got up immediately. The house help was there with their dinner. Dinner was a silent affair. Only cringe worthy thing was

When Ahmer would be focusing more on her than his dinner. After making her have her medicine he sat down on the bed while she walked towards the closet and took out her usual night wear. He rolled his eyes when she without giving him any chance to show his disapproval, entered the walk in closet. Standing towards the floor lengthy mirror on the wall she examined herself in it and indeed he was right. She had felt it too and now she was seeing it from her eyes. Her old clothing was tight for her to wear. But she won't give up so easily. He couldn't persuade her by buying her few night gowns. She had just got hold of the zipper of her blouse when he barged inside using the spare key as she had locked the door behind her.

"What the hell! I'm changing. Go away!"

He didn't listen to her protests and stood dangerously close to her. His front was touching her back. Slowly he had turned her around towards her. Her hair were tied in a messy bun and eyes were looking anywhere but at him.

"I know you really do not want anything from me. I have kind of lost the right of asking something out of you. But that's my problem, Waniya. Not yours. Do not hold yourself just because you don't want anything from me. I will keep on doing things for you. You think I'm being a typical man who's trying to please his wife with gifts and all after messing up their relationship just to get her back. This isn't that, Waniya. Things will never win you back to. My action will. All that I've bought today is your necessity. You have right on. Everything I own in yours. I'm the same Ahmer. Trust me on this, please."

He had cupped her face. Their noses were touching with her tears drops getting lost in the junction.

"The same Ahmer. All yours. Who's always in love with you and is always sorry for what he did to you. I'm trying to make it up to you, Waniya. You have the right to do whatever you want to. Hit me. Push me. Do it. But do not refuse the things which are needed to be taken care of."

Waniya had taken a step back. Ahmer looked at her. She had kept a straight face. He knew how head strong his woman could be. But maybe it was all in his head but he could see her walls breaking bit by bit. Pieces by pieces. And she herself wasn't aware of it.

Without saying anything, he'd left the closet.

After exact five minutes, Waniya had taken her side on the bed clad in a new compy nightwear.

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Waniya didn't want to see him. That was crystal clear. He himself had no idea what to say to her. What to say to even himself. But his senses were slowly coming back. He went towards the doctor's cabin almost barging inside. And it seemed like the Doctor had already guessed what was coming for her. She wasn't directly involved in what was about to happen but she had been ignorant to what was going on right under her nose.

"Mr, Ahmar..."

"Save it."

He had said in a calm and composed voice. The lava inside of him was about to erupt. He wanted Rehana Ihtasham to pay for what she'd tried to do today.

"I'm very sorry about the happenings of today and believe me I have started with the legal process. The nurse had fled but police will find her."

"Send a legal notice to Rehana Ihtasham's house as well. She was as much involved."

The doctor hesitated but she knew messing with this person wasn't easy.

"I will send it the first thing in the morning."

"And I will make sure you all pay for what was about to and has been happening for so long here."

The doctor wanted to plead but she didn't. It was her fault only. Ahmer had left her cabin. He'd himself be involved in these legal proceedings. He'd make sure Rehana Ihtasham was punished for her deeds.

But before that his own phone had rung.

"Moeez uncle, calling."

He closed his eyes. This was the time to right all the wrongs.

"Hello? Asslam Alaikum, Ahmer."

"Wa Alaikum Asslam, uncle."

"How are you, son? I want to meet you in person. Can I come to your office?"

Ahmer felt guilt eating him from within. How cautious the old man was.

"Uncle, can you please come to civil hospital?"

It was really the time to put a full stop to all the wrongs.

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The next hour was a difficult one. But he had worked through it. Moeez Amjad wasn't happy with his son in law and his own family but it wasn't the time to stretch things some more. His own family had betrayed him. Waniya's abortion? Was there any stop to Rehana Bhabhi's cruelty?

Ahmer was adamant on taking Waniya back home straight from the hospital. And Moeez was also of the same view. He himself had no desire of ever looking back at his brother's family.

He had left Ahmer with Waniya and went straight to Ihtasham's house. There was a huge showdown. Turned out Rehana had almost fled from the hospital almost dragging Hareem along upon seeing Ahmer. But there was nothing much she could do. The moment Moeez went away breaking all ties with their family, the police was at their door. There was a whole inquiry against Rehana and that was the moment that family knew they downfall had come.

Here, the whole family of Ahsan had also come to know what had happened. Yumna couldn't do anything because Alishba, Mrs Daud and Ahsan were hell bent upon taking Waniya back. She thought of the upcoming baby and gave her aching heart a solace. She was doing this for the baby.

Waniya had come to know from her father what was happening. She hadn't showed any reaction. No happiness. No tears. Nothing. She just did as her father asked her to. Her only request was to let her bring her things from Ihtasham's house and when she'd gotten there, Both Ihtasham and Rehana were at the police station trying to suppress the situation. Waniya met Hareem, picked up her things, hugged her father who was also going back to the town till the house formalities were done, and got inside the car with Ahmer.

Nothing was said.

Nothing was being left.

But Ahmer's road to Waniya had started all over again that day and it was still going.

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