This chapter has Wafaa, Iskander, Mannat and Wajeeh.

4500 words. Not short so don't complain lol.

Make sure to vote and comment. Tell me what you think.

--

Mannat..

"How are you doing?"

Clearly he wasn't used to seeing me in casual, home clothes and the slight surprise was evident on his face as he saw me with barely any makeup, in casual jeans.

Iskander was in a formal dress shirt with his coat hanging on his seat but the bags under his eyes were a clear proof of the fact that he had spent many sleepless nights.

I already knew the reason behind it. Honestly, it was a little surprising that he had called me to meet up with him considering we were hardly friends.

Still, I sympathised with him and wanted to hear what he had to say. As I asked him about how he was, he just shrugged at me.

"Not too great if I'm being honest," He replied, pointing at the waiter.

The waiter arrived and I ordered a muffin with coffee where as he just ordered a glass of water for himself. As the waiter left, I looked at Iskander..knowing his dilemma. He seemed so madly in love with her and she had left without any notice.

"I can understand." I mumbled, he nodded.

"I know that. I just needed someone who could actually get my turmoil. I hope you weren't too busy?"

I wasn't.

"Not really. It was my day off."

"I'm sorry that I called you on your day off."

"That's okay, Iskander. But I do have to leave in an hour. I have lunch planned with my friends." I told him, he didn't seem like he was planning for us to sit here for more than an hour anyway.

"It'll only take a few minutes. I wanted to talk to you about Wafaa."

He only took his name and I could see that he was suffering. I hadn't seen many men who could express their emotions in a proper way. Even Wajeeh had so many emotion hidden behind the blankness in his eyes at times that it was hard to read him.

However, Iskander's eyes were filled with pain and darkness. I looked away.

"She left me, you know." He started off, I swallowed.

"I do. Wajeeh was the one who dropped her off at the airport." I informed.

His eyes raised at me.

"How did she know Wajeeh?" He questioned without a second thought.

I didn't want to hurt him more than he already was, I simply shook my head.

"She didn't. She just found him outside and there was no cab to take her to the airport." I told him half the truth.

Clearly, he didn't know that Wafaa and Wajeeh had slept together and I didn't want to tell him either. He was already hurting over the lover that had left him, I didn't want to stab him any further.

"Did she say where she was going?" He further enquired.

I didn't know why or where she had gone off to. I didn't even know why she had left a man who loved her so very much.

"No. Wajeeh told me that she was very upset and secretive. Did you have no idea that she was leaving?" I asked, Iskander let out a defeated sigh.

"I didn't. She finally confessed that she loved me and then she left, it didn't make sense to me." He answered, making me feel even more bad for him.

I couldn't even imagine being in his place, couldn't imagine getting my heart broken in such a brutal way. It was horrifying.

"I'm sorry, Iskander. This must be a very hard time for you." I took a sip of my coffee as it arrived but he didn't even look at his water.

I didn't want to eat in front of a man who looked so devastated but I had skipped breakfast to meet up with him. I was hungry.

"I always knew that it would end one day. I just didn't expect her to leave without a warning." He told me, reminding me of the first conversation we had.

He had told me about her commitment issues and how she didn't open up very easily. But that night at the club, she had been so possessive about Iskander, her eyes were looking at him and him only, she seemed so much in love with him.

I was so curious about why she had left and I didn't even know the woman.

"Not having closure in a relationship sucks, big time. I wish I could do something to help you." I murmured, as a way of consoling but Iskander looked at me like I could actually help him.

"You actually can, Mannat." He said the words, I nodded him to go on further and tell me how I could help him.

"Wafaa told me that her last name was Ibrahim but when I checked the name she was registered with in the university, it showed me that her real name was Wafaa Malik. She never showed me any identity cards, maybe she was afraid that I'd find her actual name."

So she had concealed her actual identity from him? That made me even more curious but I still didn't know what he wanted from me.

"I don't understand.." I trailed off but he shook his head, continuing to talk.

"Please let me finish first, it will make sense to you." I nodded, taking a bite of the muffin and letting him speak.

"I went through the details at the university and then I have a few connections at the embassy so I decided to search a little more."

"Even though her last name was mentioned Malik, it has changed recently." He swallowed, taking a huge gulp of the water placed in front of him before he started to speak again.

"It used to be Wafaa Malik but now it is Wafaa Masroor Sheherzad. Her single status has also changed, Mannat."

So Wafaa got married? She left Iskander and married another man. I didn't even know if she had willingly married someone else or not but it still was not my business. I didn't know why he was telling me all these details when I couldn't help him.

"I'm so sorry to hear that. But I still don't understand where you're going with this or how I can help you." I stated, he clicked his tongue.

"Where is Wajeeh these days, Mannat?"

He questioned, I frowned. What did Wajeeh have to do with any of this?

"He's in Pakistan. Why?"

"Wafaa is a Pakistani, you know that..right?"

"So?" I was an American Pakistani as well. My mother was from Pakistan, my father too. The same was the case for Wajeeh.

Why did it matter?

"So Wajeeh's last name is Masroor and he clearly knew her at the club, then he dropped her off at the airport. What if this all is not a coincidence?"

I had always heard that love made people crazy, I was a little crazy myself but Iskander was being on another level right now. Did he really think that Wajeeh had something to do with Wafaa's absence?

"Iskander, you're sounding crazy right now." I told him, not helping myself as I let out a chuckle.

"I'm just trying to find my answers, Mannat."

"Wajeeh went to Pakistan two weeks ago. His uncle is very sick so he is visiting him."

I pulled out my hand in front of him.

"He gave me a ring before he left, Iskander. Don't put crazy ideas in my head because they're not true." I told him, shaking my head.

I had finally started to place my full trust in my relationship. I didn't want anything to shake that.

"Are you sure?"

I sighed, taking another sip of the coffee.

"Yes. I talked to Uncle Masroor yesterday. Even if Wafaa is married to someone, I doubt it has any connection with Wajeeh or his family." I explained.

"His last name is Masroor Shah by the way." I added.

The frown on his face still did not disappear.

"Then why did they seem to know each other at the club?"

I didn't want to tell him but there was no other option over here.

"Because they slept together, Iskander. She was his one night stand and he was hers. I didn't tell this to you because you were already hurt."

I said to him, he nodded..looking pained.

"I'm sorry, Mannat. I just, everything would have been clear if the husband's name had been there in the details."

"It wasn't?" I asked.

"No, the space was left blank. Infact, there was nothing but a change in her name and where she was from. Even her current location wasn't available."

"Then maybe it is just a glitch and she's not actually married? She seemed too much in love with you to marry someone else." I suggested, remembering the looks she kept giving him.

Iskander didn't look like he had any hope.

"There are hardly any glitches like that." He replied, I shrugged.

"I guess so,"

I finished my muffin and then my coffee, paying the bill as Iskander hadn't eaten anything and he seemed to lost to even care about the bill right now.

I sat in front of him for a few moments, not saying anything as he finally spoke up again.

"Listen, can you give me Wajeeh's number? Maybe I can ask him what Wafaa talked about in the car? He dropped her off after all."

I didn't mind giving him Wajeeh's number if it could provide him with some sort of closure. Besides, he could easily get Wajeeh's number from some other source anyway.

"Sure. I'll text it to you." I stood up from my seat, he stood up as well.

"Have a good day,"

"You too, Mannat. It was lovely to see you." He air kissed both my cheeks, I smiled at him.

"Thank you. And stop putting crazy thoughts in your head, try to get past this. Okay?" I advised, he let out a dry chuckle.

"It's very easy to say."

"I know."

And I knew. It was so easy to tell others to move past their heart breaks, move past their broken relationships but it was the hardest thing to do in reality.

I only hoped that I would not have to go through any more heart breaks in my life again.

Wafaa.

I took off my earrings in front of the mirror, hearing him as he talked to his girlfriend in front of me. It wasn't that I couldn't handle him talking to a woman that he loved in front of me. I was okay with that. He loved Mannat and she loved him. They had loved each other for a very long time and I respected that. But hearing him talk to her so normally, like nothing was wrong in his life, like everything was fine...I didn't like it.

"Are you serious? That is so crazy, Mannat."

I wiped off the makeup and threw the wipes on the table in disgust.

"You gave him my number? Why did you?"

I untied my hair, letting them open free as I took off my dupatta.

"I won't pick up. He can rot in hell."

I entered the dressing room and quickly changed my clothes, still hearing my husband's voice. I rolled my eyes.

"Fine, don't use that tone on me. You know I can't say no to you. Yes! I'll be nice, baby."

The bastard was hardly ever nice to me. In the entire week of being married to him, I hadn't even heard a fucking thank you. I had to do all his chores under the disguise of being an obedient wife and I hated it. I hated that I had to survive like this.

But at the same time, I was a little grateful. I was grateful because my husband wasn't an old, fat man. I was grateful because my husband wasn't forcing himself on me. I was grateful because he wasn't treating me like a servant. Whenever we were outside, I had to do his chores but once we were in our private vicinity, he didn't ask me to do anything for him.

Still, his tone was almost always rude and he didn't trust me one bit.

I walked out of the dressing room, finding him with a fond smile on his face. It reminded me of the man who had asked if he could kiss me in the morning after our one night stand.

"Say my hello to everyone. I'll see you soon."

"I love you too, sweetheart."

He said, hanging up the phone. I felt bad for the poor woman at the receiving end of his endearments. She didn't know he was married, she didn't know I was his cousin, she didn't know that her fucking mother had ruined it for all of us women, she didn't know that she belonged to a family who took pleasure in killing people. She didn't know anything.

"Shameless man." I muttered in slight anger, plopping myself down on the bed as I applied lotion on my hands.

He stood up from the sofa and took off his watch, putting his phone on the table as well.

"Did you say something?" He asked and I knew he had heard me so I didn't bother hiding it.

"Why can't you talk to her outside? This is my room and I'd rather not have you talking to your girlfriend while I'm in here." I told him, he gave me a look that told me he didn't give a crap about me or what I was saying.

"It's my room as well. And if it's bothering you so damn much, you can always call your boyfriend and talk to him. I wouldn't give a fuck."

I wish I could. I wish I could talk to Iskander. I wish I could call him up and tell him how much I missed him. I wish I could tell him how sorry I was and how much I wanted him to always love me and never hate me. I wish.

I felt so jealous of Wajeeh. He could talk to the person he loved but I couldn't. It wasn't fair.

"I don't give a fuck either. The sound of you being sweet and lying to her is something that disgusts me, Wajeeh. You owe her the truth." I replied, looking him straight in his eyes.

"What I owe her and what I don't owe her, it's none of your business, Wafaa." He snapped at me, continuing.

"And did you not owe Iskander the truth as well? Don't be a hypocrite." I looked away because the truth was too bitter for me to handle.

"Don't take his name." I mumbled, annoyed.

"Why not? You know he is acting crazy, digging up information on you and finding your actual name. If he digs any more, he'll have death on his doorstep."

My eyes widened and I looked at him, surprised. What was Iskander doing? Shit.

"Who told you that?" I questioned, panicked.

Did they know who Iskander was? Had Wajeeh told his men about him? I hoped not.

"Leave it be." He replied, moving away.

"Wajeeh, please." I tried, knowing that I needed to ask him where he got to hear about Iskander.

Were they spying on him? If they were, his one mistake could lead him to his own death.

"Drop it, Wafaa." I held his shoulder, he shrugged me off like I had some sort of disease that he could get inflicted with if I touched him for another second.

I pulled my hand away.

"I'm not your enemy. You don't want to trust me, that's fine. But you can atleast tell me the truth." I tried again, he didn't exactly budge.

"Please. It's a request." I pleaded once again and he let out an annoyed sigh, staring at me.

"Iskander has been trying to find out more and more about you. He invited Mannat for coffee and told her that he thought you got married to me."

My eyes widened. How did he figure that out?

"Which is kind of ironic because he is not lying. Your boyfriend isn't exactly dumb." He angrily spat out, I was so shocked that it took me a few minutes to process that information.

"Oh My God. Did Mannat not doubt you?" I questioned.

He didn't seem comfortable every time I took Mannat's name. I guess it wasn't easy to have your wife take your girlfriend's name. In any other world, Mannat would be considered the wrong woman but I knew she wasn't.

If anything, I felt really bad for her.

"No. She trusts me."

I nodded, swallowing. I don't even know why but I felt guilt. I shouldn't have. Nothing of it was my fault but I had seen her dance with Wajeeh in the club. She looked at him like he was the only one holding her together, like he was her entire world.

"She will know one day, Wajeeh. And her trust will break." I reminded him, he looked away and sat on the settee of our dressing table, picking up his phone before he did.

"It's none of your business." He mumbled to me, telling me that he didn't want to discuss Mannat with me.

I was about to lay down and just sleep but before I could even think of doing so, I heard his phone ring and he let out a dry chuckle, staring at me.

"It's his number, isn't it?" He asked, showing me his phone screen.

I gasped.

"Iskander,..."

He swiped across the screen and picked up the call, putting it on speaker. I did not know whether it was his act of kindness or his act of cruelty. Iskander's voice would hurt me and relieve me at the same.

"Hello, am I talking to Wajeeh Masroor?"

I inhaled a deep breath as I heard his voice. It was not the usual happy tone and I know the reason behind the glumness was me.

Wajeeh did not spare me a single glance.

"Yes, you are." He affirmed, I stood there trying not to shake.

"Wajeeh, I'm Iskander. We met briefly at the club once."

"Yes, you're Mannat's friend. I know you."

"That's not the only connection we have. You dropped my girlfriend, ex girlfriend I guess.."

He stopped talking for a moment and I can't hear him inhale a deep breath, which showed that it was very difficult for him to even take my name. My eyes burned and took another deep breath to stop myself from letting the tears fall.

"You dropped Wafaa off at the airport that night, correct?" Iskander took my name with such tenderness that I wanted to break down.

It was the same tone that Wajeeh used when he took Mannat's name.

"Yes, that is correct. You want to know if she said something, right?" Wajeeh asked, getting to the point.

He still didn't look at me. I didn't want him to.

"Right."

"She told me that she wanted to protect the person she loved and that is why she had to go away." I had never used those words.

Still, I heard him continue speaking.

"I am not sure where she went off to but I do know that she didn't go back to her home land." He lied, he was a persuasive liar.

"You mean to say that she didn't go to Pakistan but to some other place?" Iskander asked, as if he could fit the pieces together and get to me.

He couldn't. Not if he wanted to live.

"Yes. That's all I could gather." Wajeeh responded.

"But her name changed on her details and I-"

"I don't know all about that. I'm just going to advise you to forget about the past and move on." His tone suddenly changed.

"She said that she loved me. It is not very easy to move on," Iskander snapped, he did not know that he was talking to a mafia Lord.

He simply thought he was talking to mannat's boyfriend and spoiled billionaire.

Wajeeh rolled his eyes and smirked at me, as if he was about to say something that would cause a reaction out of me.

"She told me that she loved how good I felt inside of her two weeks before that. Women are complicated creatures, get over it."

He replied, looking at me in the eyes as if he was daring me to come and snatch the phone from him.

I couldn't.

"You don't know Wafaa. She isn't like other women."

My lovely Iskander defended me even when he didn't need to. Even when he had every reason to call me all kinds of names.

"Her body was the same." My fucking husband replied with no care whatsoever.

When he didn't hear any response, he continued speaking.

"She probably got bored of you and needed to leave. People like her crave freedom more than love and you were tying her up. She left for a reason."

"She wrote me a letter indicating that she was in trouble."

I hadn't written that I was in trouble but Iskander always knew the deeper meaning behind things.

"It's an old trick. I used to do the same to the women I fucked for a night."

Wajeeh sounded so cruel that I wanted to claw at his face.

"Good bye, Iskander."

He ended the phone call, throwing his phone on the sofa and I took the opportunity to yell at his face.

"You are a pathetic man. How could you!" I yelled, pointing at his chest.

"How could I what? I saved his ass. If he digs any more deep, he'd die. You want him dead?" He enquired, looking at me like I was the idiot here.

I understood what he had done. I just didn't like the tone and the words that he had used.

"You told him that you slept with me." I stated in anger.

"So?"

"What if I call Mannat and tell her that I slept with you?"

I had one weakness of his in my hand, I had one name that I could use to get some human reaction out of him and I made sure to use it as often as possible.

Wajeeh glared at me.

"She already knows." He told me as a matter of fact, I gave him a smug look.

"What if I tell her that I'm your wife?"

He took one step towards me, coming dangerously close, I took one back.

"I'll slit your throat." He announced, I hated his fake threats.

"You'll start a war." I shot back, he let out a chuckle.

"She's worth fighting a war for."

I didn't know why but his words felt a little hurtful. Maybe, because I didn't have anyone who could fight a war for me. I had Iskander but I couldn't allow him to fight for me.

"If she was worth it, you would have fought instead of marrying me." I tried to hurt him back because he had done the same to me, without even knowing it.

Him saying that Mannat was worth fighting a war for had made me feel like a worthless woman.

He shook his head like he couldn't believe me.

"I married you to save her life. She's worth more than you can ever imagine." He continued when I didn't speak, soaking in his words.

He was so madly in love with her and he would lie through his teeth and marry her. Meanwhile, I'd be stuck here being miserable and missing Iskander.

"I did you an act of kindness, Wafaa. He won't look for you anymore, he'll try to forget you and that will save his life." His tone was less crude this time so I looked up at him.

An act of kindness? I wasn't sure about that.

"So you can do an act of kindness for me but you can't trust me?" I cross questioned.

He shot me a half smile.

"I trust you enough to not murder me in my sleep." He replied, walking towards the bed to lay down.

I stopped him before he could reach the right side.

"About that, can I take the right side? I can't sleep on the left."

We had been sleeping in the same bed for seven straight days and we had not touched each other for even a moment. Still, it was nice to sleep on the bed without feeling guilty that the other person was sleeping on the couch and getting a neck spasm.

Wajeeh just nodded, moving towards the left side as he lay down and I switched off the lights, laying down myself.

Since the night had been rather eventful, sleep didn't feel like coming to me right now.

I called his name out in the darkness, knowing that he couldn't sleep either.

About two nights ago, I had found him staring at a picture of him and Mannat at four in the morning. He had his own demons that didn't let him sleep and while sleep was my way of switching my feelings off, tonight didn't seem like the kind of night where sleep would come to me so early.

"What will you do when Mannat gets to know of the truth?" I questioned, feeling him pull up the comforter over his body.

"It's none of your business." He murmured, once again.

"When are you planning to marry her?" I asked another question.

"As soon as I can." He replied.

He was leaving for America next week and my family already had no issue with him marrying again. I was quite sure that he would marry her very soon.

"You won't tell her the truth untill you marry her, right? You're scared to lose her so you won't tell her the truth in the fear that she'll leave you."

She couldn't really leave him. She was supposed to be his and if he didn't marry her, then Balaaj bhai would. She would be stuck in this life style just like me.

Still, I knew Wajeeh didn't want her to marry him out of force or duty. He wanted her to marry him out of love.

"It's none of your business." He repeated the same damn words.

It wasn't so hard to be friends, was it? Why did he always have to be so stubborn?

"Will you ever start trusting me, Wajeeh?" I asked with a long sigh, because I hated that the man I was bound to, didn't even trust me.

He had told me that he trusted me enough to not murder him in his sleep. He knew that I didn't have it in me to murder someone anyway. His words were empty.

"Will you ever shut up and just go to fucking sleep, Wafaa?"

He snapped back at me. I wanted to kick at his back and make him fall on the floor, right on his ass.

I didn't though. I just kept quiet and played angry birds untill my eyes burned and sleep came to me.

---

Thoughts?