Misha's POV:

Fortunately for me, Ibraheem's parents had gone to Quetta to meet some relatives and would return a day or two later. I really wasn't ready to face them especially after that extremely awkward meeting at my house and how my family had chased them out. I am sure they were still mad at me for it. Saqib Khan Narejo wasn't the forgiving type at all. At least that is what I had heard.

My back was killing me from the exhaustion and period cramps. All I wanted to do right now was sleep it off. Today had been so long and tiring. But more than sleeping, I had to talk to Ibraheem. I had to get back to Lahore. As soon as possible. To my family. I was sure they were worried sick. I had to explain this situation to them. I didn't want to get disowned. I couldn't just forget everything and move here. Ibraheem needed to understand that.

Not to mention, Ibraheem still had to explain that stunt he pulled with Saba. Somehow, the bitterness returned ten folds stronger this time. I remembered how he had lied to Saba's face about me being his cousin. Silent rage took over my emotions as I stared at Ibraheem coldly. I had wanted to rationalize with him. Talk sweetly and coerce him to agree to send me back, but the complete opposite came out of my mouth.

"Cousin huh? Bravo." I sneered at him. Ibraheem looked taken aback before he sighed tiredly.

"Come on babe. How long are you planning to drag it out?" Really? He had the audacity to ask that? Why were men like this?

"I would stop if you would just tell me why the hell you did it in the first place. Or did you forget I existed in the heat of the moment when you reunited with your precious Saba babe?"

"No. Calm down love. You are overthinking things again. There is a reason I did it." He averted his eyes. Yeah, that sounds really believable.

"Oh yeah? Surprise me." I put my hand on my hip in a defensive stance. This was not the way, Misha. You are suppose to be sweet. You sound bitter as hell right now. My inner voice warned me because we both knew a fight was coming. But this fact had to be cleared out. I needed to know where I stood in his life.

"I am just trying to protect you, jaan. In Karachi, I have more enemies than friends. For the world, Ibraheem Khan Narejo has no weaknesses. If they find out you are my weakness, they will use you to hurt me. I need to get rid of my enemies first to protect you. They can't find out that you are my wife. Not yet at least." Ibraheem explained as he casted me a glance. I kept my face neutral through his entire explanation.

"Fair enough. If that is the problem, just send me back." I replied briskly. I was tempted to tell him that I wanted to stay by his side and help him with his problems but the circumstances didn't really call for it. In my family's eyes, I was quite literally kidnapped so I was pretty sure they were panicking by now. I had to go back.

"I can't do that either." It was my turn to sigh now. Why was he so stubborn?

"And why is that?" I countered. I don't know if it was the exhaustion or my irregular mood swings or the fact that I was starving but I really didn't have the energy to tolerate any bullshit that he threw at me right now. The kiss had made me forget for a time being but my head had cleared now.

"I need to keep you close to me to protect you." I let out a humorless laugh.

"Oh please Ibraheem. I will be perfectly fine in my own home back in Lahore."

"No."

"Why are you being like this? Is it because you don't trust me anymore? Is that it?" I felt like I was hurting myself with my own words and overthinking more than anything that Ibraheem was saying.

"Jaan, I trust you. But I need to protect you. I know what I did was wrong. I lost my temper before. I will apologize as many times as you want but this is really serious. There is someone who is determined to hurt me and Saba might be connected to him so-"

"Firstly, stop mentioning that name. My mind stops processing whenever you say that." I stopped him right there. Every time he mentioned that dreaded name, I felt my heart drop a little more. I was glad that we weren't yelling at each other like before but my point really wasn't getting across to him. "I don't care about who she is connected with. I just want to go back home."

"I can't send you back love. Not when you could be in danger." Ibraheem answered calmly.

"Why can't you understand, Ibraheem? I was quite literally kidnapped before my family's eyes. They are worried sick. You shot my cousin and dragged me to Karachi against my will. I don't need an apology cause the damage is already done. Just take me back." I felt my eyes starting to sting again.

Ibraheem was about to reply when we heard the main door creak open. Fahad's head popped inside and I sighed. Here we go.

"Hellooo, how is everyone-Woah. What is with the serious atmosphere? Did someone die?" Fahad joked as he looked at me and then at Ibraheem. "Ah, shit. Did we come at a bad time? Bhabhi looks like she is going to commit bloody murder. We can come back later if you want."

Kamran stepped inside with food in his hand. He greeted us with a salam while keeping his emotionless face. Ibraheem looked at me and then at his friends. He scratched the back of his head before turning to me with an apologetic look in his eyes.

"We will talk about this later so how about you eat something right now? I am sure you are starving. You haven't had anything since we met in Lahore." I had wanted to refuse the offer but he was right. My stomach was growling and all I wanted to do was eat and sleep. Kamran carefully handed me a brown bag with food as if he was scared that I would snap at him and scratch his face or something.

"Do you want me to get you something?" Ibraheem offered.

"Yes. A ticket to Lahore." I gave a monotonous response.

"Apart from that." Ibraheem rolled his eyes.

"A bed." Fahad whistled and Ibraheem gave him a warning look causing him to raise his hands up in surrender.

"See that maroon wooden door? That is my room. Go rest over there. I will join you once I talk to the boys." Ibraheem explained and I reluctantly trudged to his room.

His room was quite spacious. The walls were painted in navy blue, white and grey. There was a plush velvet black and white carpet on the floor. A huge LED television hung from one wall. The bed had a similar grey backrest with navy blue bedsheets. Two identical grey side tables were on each side of the bed. There was a maroon colored wooden book shelf on another wall that contained all kinds of video games and seasons. The lights in the ceiling looked quite aesthetic. Over all, the room was quite beautiful.

I roamed around his room, placing the brown bag on a coffee table close to the bed. I was about to eat when my eyes caught sight of something shimmering in one of the partially open drawers of his side table.

Walking towards the side table, I opened the drawer completely and took out the glimmering item. I sat down on the bed as I inspected it. It was a rectangular box that had silver engravings on it. It was the name of a famous international jewelry shop. 

Curious, I carefully opened the box and peaked inside. I felt my heart skip a beat at the beautiful pendant I saw. It was a silver fox that had two small sapphire blue stones as eyes. I picked up the pendant and looked at it properly. Small initials were engraved on the back of the silver fox that read as M.I.

Under the pendant was a small card which I picked up to read.

To the love of my life,

Happy 17th Birthday Misha.
Thank you for coming into this world and lightening up my life with your existence. 
I love you more than anything. 
For you, if I could, I would do it all over again.

Yours always,
Ibraheem Khan Narejo.

Dated 17-08-2014

This is from five years ago? I tilted my head in confusion as I connected the dots. In that moment tears started to roll down my eyes as I pressed the pendant close to my heart. The initials read Misha Ibraheem. He kept it with him for five years? I sobbed softly. All the bitterness and anger melted away as I clutched the pendant with all my might as if I was afraid that it would just disappear. I read the card over and over again sobbing a little more every time.

The door knob turned and Ibraheem stepped inside. I looked at him with a face that was drenched in tears and he frowned before rushing to my side.

"Jaan, what's wrong? Is it the period pain? Is it back?" Ibraheem was panicking while I continued to sob.

"This." I whispered as I opened my clenched hand to show him the pendant. He looked down at my hand and then back at me.

"You found the pendant?" I nodded my head and he sat down beside me. "I got this for you five years ago. I was planning to give it to you the day you got caught talking to me but I never managed to cause your family chased me away. I kept it as a constant reminder of you. It reminded me of the beautiful blue-eyed little fox that changed my life forever. I am glad it finally reached its real owner."

I felt more tears roll down my eyes as Ibraheem gently took the pendant from my hand and unclasped it, placing it around my neck and clasping it back again. He then kissed my forehead and wiped my tears away.

"I love you, Misha Yousaf. I promise I will take you back but I just need time, my love. I am doing this for you. For us. I will apologize to your family too. Hell, I will even apologize to that fuc- I mean cousin of yours who I shot. So just, forgive me this once and trust me please?" Ibraheem sounded sincere and I felt my defensive wall collapsing. The bitterness long gone and only the love remained now. I looked down at the Silver fox that was looking up at me.

Ibraheem opened his arms and without a second thought, I embraced him tightly. I didn't know what I was going to do. My mind was blank, all I knew was I trusted him. With that belief in mind, I closed my eyes and fell into a deep slumber.

Author's Note:

Hello and Asalam o Alaikum Lovelies!

How are we all feeling after this chapter? I know I am emotional. This book is slowly coming to an end so brace yourselves.

Alsooo, Chapter One of Catching Fire is up so do check it out and let me know what you think in the comment section.