Misha's POV:

The car ride was so silent I could hear my the sound of my own heart thumping against my chest if I focused on it. Ibraheem was driving while I was for some reason forced to sit in the passenger seat while Fahad was in the back seat on his phone. This was absurd on so many levels of absurd.

"Can you stop looking at me and focus on the road?" I told Ibraheem who would full-fledge stare at me every five minutes. "The navigation bar is down there. Don't get us killed." I pointed to the screen that had the GPS on.

"I will never let anything hurt you." Ibraheem said as he turned to look at me while making a sharp turn. I just gulped as I decided to ignore him and call Zoya again.

"So what's wrong with Rubab?" Fahad popped his head from between the two seats and looked at me.

"I don't know and why do you care anyway?" I countered and he looked like he was thinking of a reply.

"Oh, I am just curious about what Zohaib said." I was about to retaliate when I noticed that Zoya had picked up the call. There was loud music playing in the back and I could barely hear what she was saying.

"Zoya, I don't think you can hear me."

"Yeah, let me just turn the volume down. SAAD TURN THE DAMN VOLUME DOWN!" I heard Zoya yell over the phone. I was pretty sure both Ibraheem and Fahad had heard that part.

"I just saw my phone. It was in my bag and the music was too loud so I didn't notice your calls. Rubab called me as well. All good?" I heard Zoya say in a normal voice and I glanced at Ibraheem and Fahad who looked like they were just focusing on the road but I had a strong feeling they were listening in on what I was saying.

"Forget about me. Rubab's date went south. Zohaib uh, said some stuff and she is having a panic attack now. I am going to her now. I am sending you her location. Get there a.s.a.p." I told her in one go and I knew what was coming next. I messaged her the address while minimizing the call tab.

"WHAT? Ugh, what did that guy do? Damn it, I am going to kill him." Zoya replied as I heard more shuffling in the back. "Hey Saad, turn the car around and go to the location I am about to tell you. I will be there in 15 sis. Meet you there." I replied with an okay and Zoya hung up. Silence fell on us again as Ibraheem took another turn.

"So, how have you been?" Ibraheem asked suddenly and I gave him the 'really?' look.

"Now is not the time Ibraheem." I sighed as I looked out the window.

"So you mean, there will be a time?" I could hear the expectation in his voice.

"No." I replied immediately.

"What were you going to say in the café?" Something I knew I would regret saying. I let my emotions get the better of me back there but that wasn't going to happen now. That chapter of my life closed ages ago. It's over. Forget about it. I might have lost myself in the moment when I saw Ibraheem's pained expression but I was not ready to fall back into that vicious cycle again. Remember the looks your family used to give you, Misha. Remember how you survived those years all alone.

"Nothing that matters anymore."

"Don't lie to me Misha. You know I hate liars." I was so grateful when Fahad declared that we had arrived because that meant I didn't have to reply to this. I was the first to step out. I could hear Ibraheem swearing at Fahad saying something like tu kiski side par hai Fahaday? (Whose side are you on Fahaday?) And Fahad replied by saying something like yakeen kar, teri behtari hai ismen (Trust me, this will be in your favor.) I then tuned them out as I rushed into the restaurant and quickly scanned the area to locate Rubab. And then I saw her. She was sitting alone, looking down while her hands wrapped around her upper arms. The closer I got, the more I realized that she was trembling slightly.

"Rubab, I am here." I told her softly as I hugged her and she hugged me back. "Don't worry, I am here now. We will find a way out of this. Zoya is on her way too." The only thing Rubab had told me on the call back at the university café was that Zohaib was a crazy nut job and she wanted to break the engagement but she was sure he wouldn't let her do that.

I silently hugged her as she wept in my arms. I made sure to cover her face with my dupatta because I didn't want anyone else to see this weak side of hers. A strong Rubab was what the world knew her as and I wasn't planning to show a different image of her if she didn't want it.

We sat in silence while I hugged her and patted her back while she continued to find comfort in my arms.

Fahad's POV:

I had planned to go stand beside Misha but looking at a vulnerable Rubab had stopped me. I didn't want to scare her more by showing up there. Right now, she looked like she needed her friends support more than anything. Ever since I had seen her at her engagement, the way her face was glowing in the silver blue gown she was wearing, the image had kind of stuck to my head but I knew my limits. I wasn't about to fuck up someone else's engagement, especially that someone being an old friend's brother, because of questionable emotions within me.

But then again, I never knew that she was capable of such emotions. Of such weakness. She wasn't the strong emotionless statue I had seen five years ago. She looked so fragile, so delicate as if she would break if anyone touched her. At that moment, I was grateful that Misha was beside her because if she hadn't been there, I definitely would have tried. An overwhelming feeling of protection overcame me when I saw her trembling body coupled with the way she had put her head on Misha's shoulder. It just sent a chill down my spine.

Ibraheem looked like he wanted to go by Misha's side as well but he wasn't an idiot. He stood by my side as both of us looked at Misha and Rubab in silence.

"What do you think happened?" Ibraheem asked me randomly.

"Zohaib happened and for some reason, it's pissing me off."

"Same here." Ibraheem replied as he clenched his jaw. What an odd feeling it was. I was angry at my friend's brother for hurting someone I barely knew. But every single time her body trembled, I had wanted to land a punch on Zohaib's face.

Calm down, Fahad. It is not your style. Anger is not your thing. Don't pin the blame on Zohaib. You don't even know the full story yet. It could be Rubab's fault. I convinced myself again and again. Did I believe a word I was telling myself? No. Did I want it too? Yeah. Why? I had no idea.

The silence ended the moment Zoya burst into the restaurant looking mad. There was a guy accompanying her who I didn't recognize at all.

"It's okay, Saad, go back to the car. I got this." I heard Zoya say as she gave him a weak smile. The 'Saad' guy looked reluctant but agreed as he trudged away. Zoya then turned around and scanned the restaurant in a hurry and quickly spotted Misha and rushed to her side. I was surprised to notice that she didn't see us standing on one side. Her loud angry voice could be heard till where we were standing. "What the hell did that asshole do? Tell me. I am going to ruin him."

She patted Rubab's head as she handed her a tissue. Rubab sniffed before both of them picked her up and took her to the bathroom to probably fix her face or something. I had seen this trend in other women. What I hadn't expected was Kamran emerging into the restaurant as well. I looked at him in shock as he returned the stare with an equally surprised look.

"The hell are you doing here?" I questioned him as he walked towards us.

"Uh, I was following Zoya." Kamran said with an unreadable expression. "Why are you guys here?"

"Long story short, something happened to Rubab. We dropped Misha here."

"Willingly or dragged her here?" Kamran looked between me and Ibraheem. I kind of expected that.

"Willingly of course." Ibraheem spat back as if the accusation offended him. "Mujhe kya samjha hua hai? Janwar? (What do you take me for? An animal?)"

"Takreeban. (Almost.)" I replied while Kamran nodded his head.

"The guy who was following a girl around shouldn't be agreeing to this." Ibraheem eyed Kamran accusingly.

"Hey, we are the same blood. Don't bring this on me."

While Ibraheem and Kamran were arguing about who was worse, I saw Zoya step out of the bathroom with Rubab and Misha behind her. Rubab was still looking down but her trembling had stopped which was a relief. Wait what? Fahad Abroo, are you even listening to yourself? Relief? Since when did you give a shit about what happens to anyone? Before I could question by conscience more, Zoya's eyes made contact with mine.

"Yeh idher kya kar rahay hen?! (What the hell are they doing here?!)" Zoya questioned loudly causing half the restaurant to look at us and them. Just wonderful.