Zara's POV

Rabia! Bia! The names look quite similar. What if they are the same people?

I take out the key from my handbag and press it inside the lock. The main gate gets open with a bang sound. I hurriedly walk inside; in an attempt to reach the coffee table placed immediately outside of Dad's room, as soon as possible.

I just again remember about this mystery when I was thinking about going back to Mister Wajahat for taking information about Rabia; Dad's wife. I want to meet her and ask her about how Dad married her. This is when I recall the diary from Dad's house which I just had put back thinking it's useless. Thinking about the name of the owner of that diary and the name of Dad's wife; I can't help but speculate that they may be the same woman.

I roam my eyes around to find the coffee table in its previous position but to my despair, there is no diary. I hurriedly head towards the table. Where is it? I remember I have settled it back on here, then how comes it has disappeared.

I rub my forehead in disappointment as I crouch down on my knees. My eyes glisten spotting the half-opened diary hanging along with one of the legs of the table. I quickly take it out, careful of not to tear its pages.

I get up again while my eyes affixed on the diary's worn out green cover. Like before, it is still covered with mud. I rub my hand on it to wipe it away. After taking a deep breath, I open it. Again the bold written Bia is the first thing which my eyes notice. I flip through the pages to find some notes from her everyday life or her own thoughts along with her handmade paintings.

So she has been used to jot down her thoughts on this diary. I smile at this. I am about to turn a page when Dad's name on it prevents me to do so. This is the first note where she has mentioned his name. And the writing here is so different than the other pages in this diary.

He doesn't care for me. He doesn't love me. He only cares for his daughter because of whom he can even leave me alone. He is so afraid of the reaction of his daughter that he can't even think of doing what she won't like but for him, it's his happiness.

Is she talking about her marriage to Dad? Afraid of his daughter? I won't like his happiness?

I feel my legs unable to support my weight as I feel them becoming numb. Dad was afraid of me? He was really thinking that I will not be happy in his happiness. How can he even think like this? I feel the diary being slipped away from my hand and it falls right in front of my feet.

I loved you Dad and you think of me in the same way as everyone does; that I am an arrogant and selfish person who just thinks about herself. I never thought you will also misjudge me. Tears start oozing out of my eyes as the words again come in my mind.

  
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The exact words are still in my mind as I find myself so helpless and weak once again. Although I am sitting on the bed, at the same time, I am not present here. My mind is still engrossed in what I have just read. That is just a delusion of my mind that Dad knows me more than anyone else. But in reality, I was a total stranger to him. How come he thinks of me like that. Unknowingly, I start fidgeting with my fingers.

I flinch when someone covers my hand with his.

"Where are you lost?"

I first stare blankly at my hand than at Armaan who is also looking intently at me. I don't even realize when he comes inside and sits beside me.

I shake my head sideways in denial as I give him a smile.

"Is everything okay?" He asks again.

Should I tell him about it? I may feel light after discussing it with him. But I won't be able to tell him this thing. What will he think about me and Dad?

"I am fine. What were you saying?" I turn my face towards him.

"I wasn't say anything. That's means you were clearly not there, " he pinches my nose as he chuckles.

I smile in embarrassment as I rub my neck quickly. Armaan takes my hand in his both hands and drags himself nearer to me.

"If there is anything which is bothering you, I am always here for you. Okay?" He squeezes my hand in assurance.

I nod my head at which he smiles. How much I want to open myself in front of him, start loving him insanely like I want to do but still there is something which isn't allowing me to do so.

"I am so damn hungry. Let's get something for dinner," he asserts as he pulls me up by grabbing my arm.

"Where?" I ask in confusion.

Don't tell me he is again talking about going out for dinner. I am seriously in no mood for this now.

"To the kitchen. Where else? Get up now," he again says.

I pout before getting up to follow him.

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I stare at Armaan diligently busy cooking before sitting on the dining chair.

"Armaan, have you ever felt betrayed by someone you trusted the most in your life?" I ask in a haze.

He stops doing what he is doing right now and turns back to look at me.

"Why do you ask?"

"Not any particular reason. Just asking." I shrug my shoulders.

"Perhaps no because I haven't trusted anyone in my life to this extent that they can be able to affect me by their betrayal, " he replies as he turns back towards the counter.

I look at him in awe. He always amazes me with this type of thinking. I walk towards him and stand next to him, my eyes lingering at whatever he is doing.

"Are you sure you haven't trusted anyone?" I smirk while looking at him.

"I hadn't trusted anyone because I didn't feel the need to until I met you. You changed me, Zara," he states in a deep, husky voice.

This sudden confession makes me flabbergasted. I look at him dumbfoundedly and the mesmerizing smile on his face just makes my heartbeats to race.

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Shaiq's POV

The sharp sunlight peeking through the slits of the window causes me to wake up from my sleep. I slowly open my eyes as the dim, faint daylight welcome them. I gasp when I feel intense pain in my back. I look at myself to find the position I have been sleeping; my back is pushed against the crown of the bed and I am semi -laying. I try to get up but I feel a weight on my chest. With difficulty, I sit up to find Zainab sleeping in my arms with her head on my chest. Her hand is still placed in my hand.

Now it hits me. I have probably slept here when I was consoling a frightened Zainab last night. I softly take out my hand out of her hand, careful of not to wake her up. Her whole upper body is still laying on me. I cautiously drag myself away as I make her lay on the bed. Her eyelids flutter for a moment but soon she gets back to sleep.

I can't believe we have been sleeping in this position for the whole night. I take a glance at Zainab again. Her pouty lips make me smile at how cute she is looking right now. I gently tug the loose strands of her hair behind her ears.

"Zainab, wake up," I slowly whisper.

She wriggles her head sideways but her eyes are still closed.

"Its morning, Zainab. Wake up," I again whisper while softly rubbing the side of her face with my thumb.

She slowly opens her eyes and gapes at me with a weary stare. She gazes here and there with an unfamiliar look in her eyes. Within a split second, she abruptly sits up.

"Let's have breakfast together. Shall we?" I take her hand in mine and gently caress it with my other one.

She takes her hand out of mine with a jerk as she looks at me with wide eyes full of astound. I glance back at her in a baffled state.

"Why are you doing this? Drop this act, Shaiq. We...we are not like how we used to be," she blurts in a loud voice.

"We are still the same, Zainab. Nothing has changed. I am still your best friend and so you are, " I tell her just to calm her down, although I myself know how wrong I am.

We are clearly not the same anymore. She is my wife now. A totally changed and the least expected relation. Once her best friend, now I am nothing then a guy who is she being forced to marry. But I have to do this act in order to make her feel comfortable with me, just the way like before. I have to pull this act until she believes in it or else I will lose Zainab, let alone my best friend.

"We aren't. We are not friends anymore. Don't do this. This will only hurt both of us more," she states.

"It won't hurt. This new relation has nothing to damage our friendship. We are and will always remain friends."

She shakes her head sideways as she drags herself away from me.

"Zainab. " I lift up her face to my level, "I don't want our friendship to end. Isn't it our most pure and genuine relation?"

She doesn't say anything, just stare at me blankly.

"You are still the same Zainab for me. And I am not pulling any act. I am doing what I am feeling. And this new relationship is not affecting me in any way..."

I stop when the door knocks. I give Zainab a last glance before making my way towards the door. I open it to find a maid standing there with a great in her hand.

"Your Mom has told me to serve this breakfast for both of you," she explains in her usual tone.

"Thank you. I'll do the rest by myself," I say while taking the tray from her hand.

I look at a confused Zainab before putting the tray on the table.

"Our breakfast is already here, thanks to Mom, " I chuckle as I again sit beside her on the bed.

But to my despair, she doesn't say anything.

"Go, wash yourself Zainab before it will get ruined," I point towards the tray laying on the table.

I am about to reach the tray when I stop seeing Zainab glaring at me.

"You want us to behave the same way like before?" She asks in a monotonous tone.

I look at her with confusion. Why is she bringing this up again? I nod my head.

"Then, I will do as you say," she says.

I smile at this. Thank God.

"On one condition. If you won't mind my presence and will marry whomever you like or love."

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Salam guys!

Sorry for a boring chapter today. Actually, I want to reveal Zara's father's marriage mystery and all that soon so...

But the next chapter will have proper Zara and Armaan's scenes.

And what do you think will be Shaiq's reaction after hearing what Zainab has said in the end?

If you like this chapter, don't forget to vote and comment.