The next morning, I was lying on the bed not wanting to get up. Firstly because I was dead tired, secondly last night the pain became almost unbearable that I was on the verge to wake Zain up and tell him to take me to the hospital. But Allahamdulilah, the pain went away.

Soon, there was a knock on my door, Zain must be there.

"Hey" he said coming inside.

"Hi" I replied.

"Adeel didn't let you sleep or what? You're looking dead tired...you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." He then sat down beside me, stroking Adeel's hair, who was happily chewing away his teether. "Zain?"

"Yeah"

"When we'll be going back?"

"After two days. Why?"

"No...just missing Mama" I said tear escaping my eyes. These days I'm so badly missing my mother. I always want to be with her and my health is also not helping me in this at all.

"Hani...what happened?" He said cupping my cheeks. And I broke down. "It's Okay, It's okay....shhh, I'm here with you na!!" He said patting my back while I sobbed on his chest, ruining his tshirt. "I'm not well Zain, this pain isn't leaving me." I hiccuped.

"Shh...everything will be fine. You'll be fine soon In Sha Allah. Don't worry. You want to visit Mama, I'll take you, but please stop crying. I can't see tears in your eyes." He said kissing my head, and I buried myself more into his chest.

His hand moved down to the side of my waist, the thin material of my sleeping tshirt not helping me at all, as I took a deep breath. I shivered when he kissed my left ear, my grip tightening around his back. He pulled me more closer towards him, not leaving any space between us. I closed my eyes, not trusting myself as he kissed my eye lids, making me bite my lower lip.

He then traced his thumb over my lips, as I tightened my grip more. We didn't knew what we were doing, but all I knew is that I was craving him, his smell. Nothing can be more right than this.

But soon I was proved wrong, Adeel's loud cry made both of us jump apart. My heartbeat racing while he was trying not to look at me. I quickly looked at Adeel to see if he's alright but his one look made me feel guilty of what was about to happen. Big fat tears was pouring down from his eyes, as if his eyes were shooting daggers at me, that I don't have the right to be this close to his Dad, I'm not his Mom, I'm just his Aunt.

Meanwhile, Zain quickly got up

"Zain" I called out to him.

"No Hanya, No."

Yup, Adeel is right. We can never be together.

After freshening up, I stepped out of the washroom to see him sitting on the bed playing with Adeel. I turned my gaze away from him. I started towel drying my hair when he spoke "If you want we can take rest today. We don't have to go out anywhere today."

"No, I'm fine." I replied

"Hanya-"

"Zain, I want to go out" I said.

Why? Because I simply want to clear my mind.

***

It's extremely difficult to share why Dubai Marina Walk is so high on the tour list. It simply has to be experienced. It's a 7 km long pedestrian walkway that extends from the start to end of the Marina Bay. The sheer sight of fancy and super luxurious yachts stationed at the marina with stunning background of what is possibly the tallest cluster of skyscrapers sprinkled with cafes and restaurants with great ambience makes this entire place extremely special.

"I hope you're okay?" He said walking beside me.

"Hmm..." I said pushing Adeel's pram.

"Hani, wanna go for a yellow boat tour?" He asked.

"What's that?" I asked giving him a confused look.

"You'll see" he said smiling.

In the meantime, he called some people and booked one of their sixty minutes tour. Initially I was under the impression that this is a normal cruise tour.

However I was soon proved wrong. This really was an adventurous outing which involves speed boating on the Marina River. And it's a great way of experiencing the Dubai skyline and the Palm. Burj Al Arab from the river view.

Each boat accommodates 6-8 people. You start off from Marina Bay at cruising speeds and once you settle down, the boat is on full throttle. The guide was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. He also provided us with some interesting information about Dubai and about The Palm, Atlantis and The Yachts.

"Are you serious?" I asked with my mouth hanging open.

"Absolutely!" He said beaming.

"Adeel?"

"No issues, if he can handle desert safari then he'll surely gonna enjoy this!" He said picking Adeel from his pram.

So I wasn't 0.0001% also convinced!

"Zain, we'll go one by one." I said looking at him.

"No, we're going together!"

"I'll not allow Adeel to go for this!" I said crossing my hands over my chest.

He sighed, "Hani, trust me it's safe!"

There was no point in arguing with him, so I left the topic there before walking straight towards the waiting area. I stood behind a man, going through my cell.

"Hani, are you angry?" He asked standing beside me.

"No, I'm not!" I said looking at my messages.

He grabbed my hand, pushing me close to him, he looked into my eyes. I was very much irritated with this behavior of him that I continuously tried to free my hand from his grip. Note:- tried!

"What is it that is bothering you so much?" He asked looking into my eyes.

"Nothing of your concern!" I said looking straight into his eyes. This time, in my stare, there was no emotion present!

"Even a drop of sweat present on your forehead concerns me!" He said making a firm grip on my forearm, making me still.

"Wish, it would have been that obvious!" I replied coldly.

Removing his hand from my forearm, I turned to look straight. Soon, our turn came and I quietly went and took my seat on the left side while he sat on my right side, Adeel sitting on his lap. I bent forward to tighten Adeel's life jacket, when the boat slightly jerked making me fall forward on his chest.

But before this could've turn "a moment" I quickly pulled myself back, mumbling sorry. I quickly turned to my left, my gaze drowning in the vast river of Marina Bay. The River is soft, wending its way between the banks that are the new vivid green only the springtime can bring. In the post dawn light the water doesn't sparkle like it does at noon, instead it is mellow like a Monet painting.

I sensed his touch before he could even keep his hand on my right leg, immediately pushing his hand off my leg. This didn't stopped him from keeping his hand again on my right leg, but this time I grabbed his hand midway. All this while, I didn't even spared to give him a glance. But, this time he tangled his fingers with mine, squeezing it, lightly.

I didn't tried to fight this time because as usual it would be of no use 'cause his grip was very firm. I felt him coming closer to me, wrapping his arm around my waist, caressing the sides of my waist.

Why can't he see that I'm in pain?

Isn't it obvious?

***
Soon our sixty minutes were over in a flash. I really wanted more of this.

"That was just so freaking awesome!!" I almost screamed.

"Hahahaha...I didn't knew that you love speed"

"Well, you still don't know many things about me" I said walking backwards by looking at him.

"Be careful or you will fall" he said and just then I tripped but he was fast enough to hold me. He held me from my waist, his grip tightening. As much as I wanted to enjoy his touch but at the same time I removed his hand from me.

"Thank you" I said and started pushing Adeel.

"Wanna eat something?" He asked.

"Cold coffee with ice cream" I said looking at Adeel.

"Hani-"

"Zain, I'm sitting over there" I said and walked passed by him.

After waiting for about fifteen-twenty minutes he finally came with my coffee. I quietly took my coffee from him and started sipping.

"Hani what's the matter?" He asked

"Regarding what?" I questioned back.

"Regarding you, your mood. Why are you behaving like this?"

"I'm very much normal!" I said looking in the opposite direction.

He forcefully made me look at him by cupping my cheeks. "Is it about this morning?"

I didn't said anything.

"Isn't it?!" He said

"Zain, why are you behaving like this with me? As if we're strangers...why can't you--"

"Hani, I can never be your husband ." He said.

"Then why are we staying together? I can only stay with my Mehram, and if you aren't my husband then why should I even be sitting with you over here" I said standing up but he held my hand.

"Hani you also know that I didn't meant to say that. I need time to move on"

"Time? It's soon going to be a year!! Zain I know that we can never be a normal married couple but at least we can let down the wall that is in between us?"

"I am trying Hani, I am...trust me. Please" he said closing his eyes. "I know you deserved more, I know you deserved a better husband and I'm sorry that I've to drag you in between all of this" he said looking straight at my eyes, I could see the pain flashing in his eyes.

"Our destiny brought us together Zain."

"And I can never be more thankful to my fate for giving me you!" He said rubbing my cheek with the back of his thumb.

Soon it was dark and the Marina Bay was looking just awesome. The place was lit up and looks picture perfect and a scene straight out of some glamorous Hollywood movie.

We did spended hours walking, sitting by one of the cafes or doing some shopping. A great way to spend the evening.