I still had half an hour left for my flight to take off, and he has already talked twice with the pilot, about safety and what not. I was sitting in his car. Adeel was very much awake, looking here and there.

"Hanya" He said while opening the back gate for me to get out. He was wearing grey denim, a white V neck T-shirt with a navy blue blazer.

"Don't worry, I've checked everything." He said taking Adeel from my arms.

"I'm not worrying, it's you all who are worrying" and just then my cell ran again for the seventh time in the last fifteen minutes. "Eighth time it is" I huffed.

"Yes Mama, I'm about to board, No, yeah everything's safe. Yes, Mama, relax...right beside me." I said answering all her questions and handing the cell to him.

"Assalamualaikum" he said. "Everything's under control, yeah...no, yeah...I've checked everything by myself. I've also set the navigation in my cell, so that I can personally keep an eye....blah blah...!!" I guess perks of being Abdullah...or should I say Zain Abdullah.

He is very much perfect in his own way...but he'll still be my jij!!!

"Adeel, let's get you all seated up!!" He said cooing to Adeel, kissing his forehead. I smiled.

"Hanya"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry for that day"

"It's okay...partially it was my fault too. I should have known my limits" I said taking Adeel in my arms.

"We both should try to be in limit" he said and I nodded.

"Take care of Adeel" he said kissing him.

"More than anything." I replied as he took steps back so that I climbed the stairs of the magnificent jet.

"Listen" I called him.

"Yeah?"

"Take care of yourself, don't stress yourself much, eat all your meals...and-" he cut me off.

"Take care of yourself too Hanya, Adeel needs you." He said and why I thought that he wanted to say something else but kept quiet.

Even I wanted to say, that no matter what, I'll miss him, but I kept that to myself. Sometimes, you need to keep your mouth shut for your good only. I took a deep breath and climbed the stairs. At the last step, I turned to look at him and he was staring at me back, leaning on his car. He wanted to say something and I know, but still he didn't.

I closed my eyes and unknowingly a tear slipped down making me confuse and him shock. It was as if that we both were in love, and it was hurting to leave and go but the situation was totally vice versa.

Returning home I feel like a tortoise retracting into her shell. The troubles of the world evaporating. To anyone else this is a house like all the others exactly like it on this street, but to me it is sanctuary, it is cocoon, it is rest.

I walk down the track towards my home and my heart both sinks and rises all at once. I sink because I used to know every rise and dip in the trail, yet no longer. I haven't forgotten, it is the path that has changed under years of footfalls and weathering. I rise to imagine what awaits me at the end, a place of more love and warmth than I've had these countless days that have gone so fast.

My dad was very much adamant to come to receive me but I stopped him from coming. It was late, and I don't wanted him to harass himself just to receive me. Making him understand that I'll be able to come alone was a more difficult task than to answer all the questions of mama!!!

By the time I had reached home, night had fallen and enveloped the city in a blanket of darkness. I scurried down the path towards my house, I had wrapped Adeel safely in his blanket and was yawning, he must be hungry also, my shoes slapping against the stone steps that led to her front door.

Fallen leaves littered the walkway, bathing it in dark red and orange, as I stepped on them with a satisfying crunch. The porch light was on, and the familiar yellow glow made the house feel warm and inviting. A brand new flower pot to the right of the door was placed.

I rang the door bell, and soon Mama was on the door, hugging me so tightly that made Adeel cried.

"Oops Sorry" she said as she now kissed and Adeel.

"Assalamualaikum" I said stepping inside.

"Walekumasalam dear" my dad came and hugged me.

"How was your flight dear??" Mama asked

"Allahamdulilah good" I replied carelessly sitting on the couch.

"How are you all?" I asked.

"Now, you've come, we'll be alright" dad said taking Adeel in his arms and started playing with him. Mama and dad were both now busy playing and caressing Adeel. They were happy Masha Allah. I took this time to look around.

I had finally returned home, returned to the same streets and homes, to the same people. Yet everything has moved on in my absence; perhaps it was foolish to imagine even one thing would remain the same. Although my parents were beyond excited to embrace me and chatter, catching up like we never missed a beat.

After chatting, eating dinner, all freshed up, putting Adeel to sleep, which is a very big thing...now finally I was free and was to relax when my cell decided to buzz. I looked at the name, it was him. Unknowingly my heart thumped!!

"Assalamualaikum" I said as I picked up.

"Walekumasalam" he replied in his deep voice as usual.

"How are you?" I blurted

"I'm fine and you?" He asked.

"Fine..."

"How's Adeel??" He asked.

"Good....just now went to sleep" I said caressing his hair.

"How was your flight??"

"Allahamdulilah good"

"I hope Adeel didn't trouble you much?"

"No...not at all. Half of the time he was sleeping only"

"Hmm..."

"Where are you and did you took your dinner??" I again blurted. Geez...I must be sounding so desperate!!

"Don't worry...I'm all good" he said taking deep breath and my breath hitched!!

"That's not the answer to my question" I said

"I came an hour back and yup, I've eaten. Happy?" He said and I was foolishly nodding my head and showing all my thirty two as if he could see me.

"Yeah.." I replied in a monotone.

"What are you doing?"

"Just lying down and you?"

"Same..."

"And??"

"And??"

"Soo...say"

"Ummm....you say" and then we both went quiet. Let the silence do all the talking...but I'm this much sure, that it has been not a day also, and I'm feeling a piece of my heart is there only. I know it sounds cliché and cheesy...but I can't help it.

This is what I'm feeling and I don't even know why? To this date, we haven't even talked once also like normal people does. We had always talked regarding Adeel or fought!! But now, I'm feeling as if we both have to say a lot of things, but something is just not letting us do that. There's a barrier between us and I know that, that barrier would always be there.

"Stop thinking Hanya," he finally said.

"How come you always know, what is going in my mind" I asked with a lot of desperation in my voice and I don't give a damn also about it!!!

"Because, I don't have an answer to it." He said.

"I hope I could find the answer to it"

"Hanya"

"Hmm?"

"Nothing...tomorrow, I'll FaceTime you, I'll let you know when, I want to see Adeel" he added the last part quickly.

"Yeah okay, anytime that suits you"

"Good, okay...so Allah Hafiz. Assalamualaikum"

"Allah Hafiz. Walekumasalam" I replied.

"Take care"

"Take care"

We both said together and quickly hang up. God!! That was so awkward...but he made me smile. A real smile and I was even blushing while talking to him, which was all very new to me.

No...you need to get a grip Hanya. This is all your illusion. You're jet legged. You need to sleep....and I slept cuddling Adeel.