Dinner was rather an awkward event for Abeerah. People there tried to make her comfortable, but that was the thing. They were trying way too hard. And by the way Tanveer was staring at her and in turn, Ozhan was glaring at him, she was just glad to be back in the confines of room, alone.

Ozhan was sleeping out in the open, under the starry sky, on matted bed, along with other few men in their own Charpayi's. Though she doubted he was sleeping, she couldn't go out to him among many men this late. And he wouldn't come to her, for he cared about her respect and what people here would make of it, if he went to her room at this hour.

She couldn't sleep. She had this uneasy feeling that the worst of it had not passed yet. The night was although illuminated with countless stars and full moon, it was all too quiet. And not the peaceful quiet that wraps itself around you and lulls you to serene slumber. Instead the one that screams at you and threatens to choke you with its silent whispers.

Her thoughts were all over the place, running from her situation towards her brother and back again.

Her head hit the soft pillow and she closed her eyes, trying to sleep. She twisted and turned but to no avail. She gave up trying after a while and started looking out the window, trying to calm her raging thoughts.

In the corner of her eye, she observed some movement down in the central courtyard, away from everyone's sight. What she saw shook her to her core.

It can't be! She thought, horrified.

There was a mistake surely. There had to be. The silhouette of a woman she saw with Tanveer's father, Chaudhary Lateef, involved in what seemed to be a heated discussion was definitely not of the woman whom she loved dearly.

The elderly woman turned a little bit and the moonlight reflected from the shiny metal end of the cane she was holding and she knew there was no way. That cane, she could remember anywhere. But she didn't want to believe she was actually here.

He's Shah's first maternal cousin.

That meant these people probably held a grudge against Khans. So there was no possible way her grandmother could be associated to them in anyway. Atleast not anyway amicably.

Stop, Abeerah. You haven't seen her face and from this distance, you could be easily mistaken.

But she knew she was just lying to herself for when another man came under the light, facing her direction, she had no doubt in her mind that they were indeed part of her family. The younger man was Shahryaar or Asfandyar, she could not tell the difference between the two from this distance, but she did know he was one of twin cousins.

What could they possibly be doing here? Could it be that they found out we're here and are here to take us back?

But Ozhan hadn't told anyone about their whereabouts and no one knew on their own as well.

What the hell is going on?

What business could they possibly have here?

She tried to gauge the expressions on their faces, wanting to figure out what was going on. But she was too far away. Ch. Lateef joined his hands together in front of the old woman in a form of a mock plea. In turn, Bi Jaan hit her cane on the ground hard.

After a few moments, the two of them left with Ch. Lateef glaring at them. Abeerah kept looking at the place her grandmother had been standing, a thousand questions in her head. She was hoping they would be answered soon, 'cause she was certain her head would explode if they weren't. With shaky legs, she sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard.

Goodbye Sleep!

•~•

The sky was bathed in rosy hues as the sun stretched and prepared to rise. It's golden rays cutting through the darkness of night. Ozhan drove away in Tanveer's car (which he'd been kind enough to lend him) a little close to the city, wanting to get in touch with one of his men without any evident track. And to make a plan to get out of that village before the Sarpanj reached his kingdom. For Ozhan was the one who'd had to directly deal with Chaudhary Nawaz-ud-Din when they'd started their drug dealings in Lahore (as much as he despised it, his brother had been neck deep in sin to care about the difference between right and wrong), and that meeting hadn't gone well. So, he couldn't possibly come face to face with him alone, and especially with Abeerah there with him. It was too much of a risk.

When the green fields on his sides ended and the car ran on paved road, he checked his phone, or rather Abeerah's, and was glad to finally see three little bars on the top right corner of the screen.

He dialed a number of a man, who was sort of like his right hand in Lahore, not really. Zulfiqar kind of dealt with all their businesses here in Lahore, and was one of the very people who he absolutely trusted to be loyal to him alone. Zulfiqar answered on second ring, which was justifiable since it was five in the morning and not many people woke up this early.

"Kon?" A groggy, voice answered. (Who?)

"Zulfiqar, it's me. Ozhan."

"Bhai!" The voice from the other side suddenly sounded alert.

"I have a job for you."

"Hukam karein buss aap."

(You just have to give an order.)

"I'm stuck in Chaudhary's village and in his haweli", he started to explain, but couldn't go further.

"What? Chaudhary Nawaz-ud-Din?"

"The very same."

"And you're still alive and have the luxury to talk?" Caution and scrutiny had entered in Zulfiqar's tone, even though Ozhan hadn't yet told him what services he required of him. And Ozhan understood that. Anyone could be mimicking Ozhan to try to lure Khan's forces into the enemy's lair.

"You threw up on Yazaan lala's feet when you made your first kill", he told Zulfiqar something only a few knew.

"Okay. You didn't have to bring that up", his tone told Ozhan that he was cringing. "That's why you weren't picking up any of our calls."

"Yeah, i don't have my phone with me at the moment. And i know this is goes without saying but until i'm here, don't ring me up like i'm your best pal, got it?"

"Of course. Tell me what you want me to do, boss. My men will be at your beck and call."

"I don't want you to come here. That's too much of a risk of another shower of bullets and my cousin, Lala's sister is here with me. What i want you to do, firstly, is come to the location i send you. My wretched car is there. I want you to move it out of the way, presuming no one else has seen it. And then, i want you to position some your best men on the outskirts of the village. Just in case of a trouble."

"Judging by where you are, there's little doubt that there'd be plenty of it. On it, boss."

After a few more minutes of instructions, Ozhan cut the call. There he stood under the pink sky contemplating whether to take the risk of informing Layeba, his sister-in-law cum sister, who was most likely worried sick about their or rather Abeerah's well being in Lahore, about their whereabouts or not.

And then, there was his conscience eating at him. He knew he shouldn't have tossed her words back at her like that, especially when he knew the kind of mental dilemma she was in. He'd known she hadn't known the truth. He'd known that she didn't mean the things she said in anger. He'd known that after she'd realized what she'd said, she was giving herself hell over everything. And yet, he hadn't been able to stop himself.

And that's what he hadn't meant at all.

But the question in his mind was, did she know that? Did she know that in no time at all, he trusted her wholly for no reason except that she reminded him of his Tayi Ammi. The woman who'd taught him to love and care and justice and kindness and righteousness and all the other good things? Did she know that he would literally die for her? Did she know that she meant more than his own sisters to him? More than maybe Yazaan, his brother?

But of course she didn't. How could she? He hadn't done anything but put her in situations that ended up hurting her more than the last. Now he was afraid that he along with Yazaan, had pushed her to the very edge. And he was very, very, very much afraid about that.

Just call, dammit!! Even Newton wouldn't have thought about gravity that much, idiot! If that woman whom you love like a sister is anything you're absolutely certain of, it's forgiving. She wouldn't hold it against you. Yes, yes she wouldn't.

Without giving himself any more time to think, he pressed the call button. It rang. And rang. And rang. Either she was sleeping or she was reciting the Holy Quran after praying Fajr. He was sure it was the second one.

He was about to call again, but Layeba beat him to it. The phone rang in his hand and he immediately raised it to his ear.

"Assalam-o-Alaikum, Abeerah? Yaar, where the hell are you guys since yesterday? You're not receiving any calls, not answering any texts, no tell whatsoever. I get it you have every reason to be wary of me and avoid me, but you can do that while being here with your brother. And would you just speak if you've done me the courtesy of calling?" Layeba said all in one breath.

"If you'd take a breath and allow the person on the other end to talk, you'd know that your beloved nand is not here."

"Ozhan", she stated.

"The one and only."

"Are you both okay?" Her tone was quiet now. She couldn't bear to listen to more taunts, even if she believed she had it coming.

"Yes." For now.

"You sure?"

"Of course."

"If you say so."

"Bhabhi?"

"Yes?"

"How's Lala?"

"He's. . . Okay, i guess. No sign of consciousness yet, but InshaAllah he'll wake up soon. I was getting ready to leave for hospital too."

"Okay, good." He stopped for a moment. Just apologize. "Bhabhi?" He said again.

"Hhmmm?"

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" But her tone told him that she knew what he was talking about.

"I shouldn't have said that. I didn't mean it. Not really. Anyone in your place would have reacted the same way."

"And anyone in your position would have probably reacted the same way as well. No need to apologize. I'm a doctor. I'm used to harsh reactions from patients' relatives by now. No one really means what they say in that moment."

"Thank you." See, too forgiving. It may not look like that much of a deal to an outsider but to him, her forgiveness was a great deal to him.

"Okay, what is going on? You're not having another mental breakdown, are you?" she demanded.

"Not really. But i might. I've managed to drag Abeerah into a mess this time."

"Okay, what's the matter?"

"We have a problem."

"And it's another Tuesday. Get on with it, Ozhan!"

"You remember Shah Zaman, right?"

"People don't forget their worst nightmares, Ozhan." Her voice had took on a dark note, possibly trying not to relive the excruciating moments.

"Good to know Khans are not that for you", he made light of the situation.

"Ozhan", she warned.

"Okay, fine. I may or may not have drove us in a village led by Shah's first maternal cousin, Chaudhary Nawaz-ud-Din, who would kill me as soon as he sees me. Luckily for me, he's not there yet. But unfortunately, we can't leave because of the tradition that says a guest has to have a feast with the Sarpanj. And now i have no idea how to get us without without a possible war. And that is out of question since Abeerah is with me and I can't risk her safety."

"Lo bhae!" A sound that seemed like she had slapped her forhead came through the phone. "Kuch or reh gaya tha? Nai matlab koi dinosaurs zinda ho jaate. Koi aliens utar aate? To wo bhi aa jayein. Koi qasar reh gai ho? Hadd hai waise. Aage masle kam the jo jaa kar aik nayi jahannum main beth gaye ho! Daily soap bana di hai zindagi!" And she was back!

(Come on! Did something remain? Rewakening of dinosaurs or landing of aliens? No, they'd be welcome too. Enough. There were already enough problems and you went and sat in another hell. You've made my life a daily soap.)

"Are you done?"

"No! Devar sahab, if you wanted to spend some time alone with your lady love, there were million other options you could've gone. Or nai to Murree ko haath laga aate. But no! You had to go to hell! Tum log ghar pohancho, tumhein to main batati hun!"

(Brother-in-law. . . You could've gone to Murree at the least. But no. . . You guys reach home and i'll tell you!)

"Yeah, i'll just spring out my wings and fly over now, right?"

"Surely a few traditions aren't worth your lives." He'd expected her to say that.

"It's not about me not breaking a few customs. It's about the fact that these people won't allow. Just like Lala didn't allow you to leave the first time you met us."

"You're telling me, Mr. Ozhan Khan, the person who practically runs a mafia gang, can't sneak out of a village without doing collateral damage to their lives?"

"Dozens of men guard the premises of just their haweli. And not to the mention that whole village knows about us, so everyone here is security. Also, i have no car."

"Gaari kidhr hai ab tumhari? Ussi main to nikle the!"

(Where is your car? You left in that.)

"A tree came in my way."

"Yeah, because walking trees were the only thing that was left in this drama!"

"Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today? Because from the moment i picked that phone up, you're coming up at me."

"Your family has that affect on me, Alhamdulillah. Your step-sister telling me that she was supposed to be your cousin's wife and your grandmother putting weird thoughts in my already overthinking mind didn't at all."

"Wait, what? You talked to Gul? And Bi Jaan? Whyever would you call them?"

"I still have some sanity left in me, thank you very much. I didn't call them. They decided to pay me a visit. Apparently, Bi Jaan having a liking towards me was just a pretense."

He didn't hear everything what she said. His mind was processing the fact that his family had gone there to visit.

"Did you tell them about Lala's condition?"

"No. Calling them didn't even cross my mind."

"Is it possible the hospital may have called them?"

"I. . . Don't think so. Why? Is there a problem?"

"Did the hospital tell them or not?"

"I don't see why they would. His direct family was here. His sister, you. Me. And unless you provided some contact information to them, they didn't. What's going on now, Ozhan?"

"No one was supposed to know about Lala's condition. Because if people knew, especially in Hunza, that the Khan's leader was down, we'd have serious trouble. I didn't tell anyone. Abeerah didn't. And there was no way any of my men who were there with me that night did."

"The. . . people who attacked him?" A valid question. But Ozhan had made sure that it was answered with absolute certainty in negative.

"My men didn't let anyone leave the farmhouse alive that night."

"What does all this mean, Ozhan? Don't scare me."

"Don't panic. It may just be me being delusional. But if there was someone who got the information secretly, Lala's life may yet be in danger."

"Ya Allah!"

"Listen bhabhi! I'm going to figure out the fastest way to get out of here. But I need you to make sure that your house and the hospital is well protected. I'm not leaving anything to chance. You've been hosting Yazaan Ibrahim Khan's nephews and nieces and cousins for quite a while now and it's not so much of a secret to anyone. Your life as well as all the kids' is very much prone to danger as is Lala's."

"But-"

"I know you think living in a military area provides you enough protection but you're forgetting that Lala and i got there as well."

"I'm not saying that. I'm trying to tell you that the kid's are not here with me anymore."

"What? Why did you send them back?"

"I didn't send them back. Bi Jaan took them."

"Damn it!"

"Why is that a problem? Aren't they safer there? You yourself said that my house was a potential target."

"I did say that. But providing security here is much easier. Almost all my men are here. There? I don't even know who's loyal to Khans and who's not. That's the reason they were staying at yours in the first place."

"What are we supposed to do now?"

She's taking it better than i thought she would. Good, he thought.

"I'll figure something out. You please please, please make sure you and Lala are safe. Send Shiza Aunty to live with her brother or something."

"Okay. I'll do that. Ozhan, you too. Please make sure you and Abeerah are safe. I don't want to see even a single scratch on you guys."

"No promises. Allah hafiz."

"Fee Aman Allah."

•~•

"Aap ka aage ka kya irada hai beta g?"

(What are your plans for the future?)

Abeerah knew what was coming at her. Two more questions. Maybe three until Bebay pops the big question. Yay! That was sarcasm if anyone didn't catch up on it. She'd been answering personal questions for the past half hour, sitting among all the women, whom she knew nothing about. Her head wasn't into it. She wanted to tell Ozhan what she thought she saw last night. But when she'd come down in search of him, he was already off to somewhere. And now she was stuck here with them.

A little exaggeration to my plans won't hurt them, would it? Anything to avoid the embarrassment.

"Mere abhi graduation main aik semester baaqi rehta hai. Us ke baad masters. Phir taqreeban 3 saal job ka irada hai. Baaqi Allah maalik hai."

(A semester left to my graduation. Then i plan to do masters. Then at least three years of job. Rest, Allah knows the best.)

It did bother them. A women having so big ambitions was not something they encouraged or welcomed here.

"Wo sab to theek hai magar ghar basaane ka bhi to kuch socha ho ga."

(All that is good. But you have thought about settling as well.)

Yes, bebay! I have thought about it. But the person i think about spending my life with is too shy to admit his feelings.

As if he heard her heart's voice, he entered the courtyard, handing some keys to Tanveer who was sitting among three men on the other side. His eyes scanned the place and landed on hers and she could swear her heart skipped a beat.

Could he look anymore handsome? In a plain brown kurta, white shalwar and simple flip flops, his own black shawl around his shoulders, he looked like a king among these men.

She furrowed her brows and pouted her lips, pulling on a puppy face that would have taken his life any other day but today, with everything on his mind, his heart allowed him to function properly. He started towards her, his brain working a hundred things at once.

"Jab Allah ka hukum hoga Bebay." This was the most diplomatic answer. Ever.

(Whenever Allah wills.)

Was he walking a little slower than his usual gait?

" Phir bhi, kahin koi baat wagera hui ho. Aap ke ghar walon ki nazar main koi larka ho. Itni sohni ho tum MashaAllah. Boht se ache rishte to ayein honge."

(Even so. Your family members must have a boy in sight. You're so beautiful, MashaAllah. There must be a lot of proposals for you.)

And there it was. It was coming. She knew it. Bebay wasn't going to waste anymore time.

Think of something!

But what could she say? Unless. . .

Nope! Don't say it. Don't say it. Don't say it.

He was a few steps away now, within earshot.

Don't say it. Don't say it.

"Gee bebay. Mera rishta Omer lala ke saath do hafte pehle hi tae ho chuka hai."

(Yes. My marriage was fixed with Omer lala two weeks back.)

His head, who was bowed in front of Bebay to accept a carress on it in respect, snapped at her so fast she thought his neck would break. For a moment, everyone was stunned except for Ozhan was glaring at her with surprise in his eyes. For him, it was not something to joke about.

"Oh! Magar bachay tum to isse bhai bulati ho!" Bebay was shocked as well as a bit flustered.

(But you call him brother!)

"Wo. . . Aadat se majboor hun. Cousins main rishte hone ka yehi to nuksaan hota hai."

(Force of habit. This is the fault of cousin marriages.)

What followed after was a series of unimportant sentences and pleasantaries, for Abeerah was busy avoiding Ozhan's glare.

After a while, when women got busy in setting the breakfast, she went in the room she was assigned to and almost had a heart attack when it was banged shut.

"What the hell was that?"

"You scared me!"

Why was Ozhan so angry? He didn't have a clue himself. "Answer the question, Abeerah!"

"What?"

"You told them we were engaged!"

"No! I told them our marriage was fixed."

"It's the same thing. Why did you say that?" Was that hope in his heart that she'd say it was what she wanted?

"What was i supposed to do then, huh? Had i said i was all single with no suitor lined up, the next thing you would've had would've been a proposal for your cousin in your hand."

Just a cover then. "So you went with the most twisted option?"

"What's so twisted about it?"

"E-everything!" He spluttered.

The only thing twisted is your brain. No one ever knows what's going on in there!

"People get married to their cousins everyday. There's nothing twisted about it. And even if there was, it was better than even considering myself with that creepy Tanveer."

Hearing Tanveer's name, Ozhan tried to wrap his mind around the fact about what would've happened had she not said it. He took in her appearance. Today, she was given a purple patiyala shalwar with same knee-length kameez, the neck and the tips of sleeves embroidered in gold. A beautiful purple and gold pashmina shawl around her shoulders. She was wearing the same khusas as yesterday, the same  golden jhumkas adorning her ears. Her green eyes were accentuated with kohl in them, her cheeks rosy as always and had she put on lipstick? Indeed, her lips was painted in the softest shade of pink.

Lord have mercy!

"They might not have considered it if you  stopped getting so dolled up. They dress you up as if you're their nayi naweli dulhan!"

"Well, at least someone does", Abeerah muttered under her breath.

"What?!" He looked horrified.

Abeerah realized what she'd said and covered it with a simple, "Nothing."

"You can't just say nothing again. If you so want to be a bride, we'll start looking for a groom."

"What nonsense! Are we really having this conversation here?"

"I'm not the one who's spewing out nonsense. Everyone else around me is. How can these people just think of you that way in such a short time?" He would go crazy. He was sure of it. He just wanted to wrap his hands around Tanveer's neck and crush it with his bare hands.

"Just how you can't accept what you think of me in such a long time?!" She almost shouted.

His mouth dropped open and he looked at her with wide eyes.

Did she really just say that?

What does she mean?

Does she know?

How did she know?

Did Yazaan Lala tell her?

Did Bhabhi tell her?

Did she want me to accept them?

Did she really even know?

"What? How-"

She sighed. "You really are the biggest idiot in the world there ever is." She placed the tip of her finger under his chin and pushed his mouth shut. "We're not continuing this conversation here 'cause explaining all the things you don't understand will take a lifetime. And i'm eager to get out of here."

He said nothing. He didn't want to get his hopes high just to be crushed later on. He didn't want to say anything lest she didn't mean what she said. Or even if she meant what he thought she meant.

"Look, i have to tell you something i saw yesterday. It may have been nothing. But i have to get it out there."

And just like that, the dynamic of the room changed. All confused thoughts left his mind, or rather he pushed them to the back of his head and gave her his full attention. "What is it?"

"Yesterday, when i couldn't sleep, i looked out the window and i think i saw. . ."

Now that she was saying it, did he really need to know? It would accomplish nothing but increase his worries and he was already trying to think of a way to get them out of there.

"You saw what, Abeerah?"

"I think i saw Bi Jaan. And Asfandyar or Shehryar, i don't know which one."

"You think you sa- Are you sure?"

She nodded. She could see the wheels turning in his head.

I think i saw Bi Jaan.

They decided to pay me a visit. Layeba's words came to him. Apparently, Bi Jaan having a liking towards me was just a pretense.

The kid's are not here with me anymore.Bi Jaan took them.

He began to put two and two together. And he didn't like the outcome. It must not be true. Bi Jaan?

No, it can't be.

But how did she know about Lala's condition? And she was here?

No, no, no, no, no, no. It can't be. She loves us all. She was the only one who was there for us!

But. . .

"Fucking hell!" He swore.

He understood the game now. He wanted to laugh at their condition. Not just the present one. But the one they've been in whole their lives. They were just fucking pawns and the one playing them was their Grandmother.

"What is it?" He assumed that Abeerah's worry was mirrored on his own and then some.

"Abeerah darlin'. Don't sleep tonight. I'm getting us out of here."

•~•

By midnight, Abeerah was restless. She didn't know why, it's not like she was running into a bloodshed. According to what Ozhan told her, that was only a possible outcome if this village's leader saw them and the chances of that were really slim.

She opened the door not a moment after it was knocked on and silently, Ozhan took her hand and led her out of the house.

Was luck on their side that the weather was extra chilly and men were sleeping inside, in their cozy beds?

They made their way out of the civilization soon, hiding when necessary and not saying a word. She could smell the fields in the air now. They were on the path they arrived there from. From her memory, she knew it was quite a long walk from where they'd left their car and they'd have to possibly walk farther. But she knew Ozhan must have planned something.

She could tell his leg was bothering him by how he had slowed down. Her own head was a bit woozy and their breathings were ragged.

"We're going to have a serious conversation when we go home, Lala. I'm getting sick of you keeping everything to yourself", she said leaning against a tree.

"As if you go shouting your feelings around", why they were so out of breath? It was because it was Ozhan's ingenious idea to run as soon as they'd gotten out of the village.

"I give hints enough. Let's go, I don't like being in nowhere in the middle of the night. What if a churail crossed this way or something? I've read plenty about those."

"The only churail here is you", he forced himself to not break into a run again. By his calculations, fifteen minutes of walk and they'd meet Zulfiqar and his men. "What hints are you dropping, oh mighty Khan?"

"We keep going in circles with this topic, and I don't know why I don't accept that you're not gonna draw a tangent here."

"I know right! You should just say what you wanna say loudly and not keep grumbling under your breath, not keep waiting for me."

What are we even doing? And what do i want her to say?

"Fine!" She stopped, making him who was a step ahead of him stop as well.

Are you really gonna say it, Abeerah? No, don't! He's gonna make you regret it.

"Now what?! We have to keep moving."

"Shut up!" She glared at him.

Did she really just say to me, shut up?

"If i'm gonna have to say it first, then i choose this moment. With quiet all around us and stars as our only audience."

He stood there frozen, anticipating what she was going to say with bated breath. Is she going to-?

"I know how you feel about me. Have known it for quite a while now. Years, in fact. Way before i heard you tell bhabhi, way before you confessed to Yazaan Lala. Mom used to tell me. About how much you cared for me, but back then i thought it was just brotherly. But four years, after my parents were - yeah, i knew then, when i was sixteen and you fought with Yazaan lala for me. When you fought for my sanity that day, yelled at everyone to stop their barbaric acts - i knew it then. Yazaan lala loves me the most, and even he couldn't see how terrified i was when he almost killed my class fellow, but you did. Even though i could see it that you wanted nothing more than to kill him for hurting me."

Her green eyes shining with unshed tears, with reflection of a million stars shining in them, he fell in love with her all over again. How could he ever doubt that his love for her would not be reciprocated? He really was the stupidest person alive.

She started walking slowly, wrapping the shawl tightly around her to cut the bite of the chilly weather, and he followed suit.

"Back then, i thought you might not even be aware of your own feelings. And that if i said anything, you'd scold me and then i'll be deprived of the mere presence of you. That, and i was the most shy person to ever walk the face of this earth. So i couldn't say anything."

He kept on listening to her, amazed at how stupid they both had been worrying about the same things that were totally pointless.

"And then, later on. I was horrified. Horrified at seeing you two become . . . monsters. The very essence of mom, her teachings, her morals, her righteousness, seeping out of your souls. And i questioned myself, 'could i live my life with a monster?' and the answer was no. I couldn't. I would've never been able to forgive myself if i even tried. 'cause i didn't know if i could rewoke the damage and I couldn't bear to lose myself too. I guess i had the same fears as Bhabhi did.

"But years later, on an unfortunate or fortunate night, i stopped in front of her car. And she was able to rekindle the parts of both your souls that was somewhere hidden. And then i heard you talking fighting with Lala yet again, when Bhabhi was in the hospital. And then i came to know, that not only you were aware that you loved me, but also you were forever struggling not to lose yourself. And even if a part of your soul was lost, it was not gone."

She stopped again, facing him, letting him see her smile through the tear stained cheeks and seeing the intensity of his love for her in his eyes.

"And that's when i knew. That i would spend an entire lifetime with you. That there was no other man for me. That you were the only One for me. That you always will be."

With that, she didn't give him time to say anything. She wrapped her arms around his torso, resting her head on his chest, feeling the racing heartbeat against her cheek. He couldn't process all that she'd said, his mind repeating again and again the last lines she'd said. He brought his arms around her, squeezing her hard, not believing she actually was in them as her lover.

A laugh bubbled in his chest, a beautiful smile lighting up his entire face and he hugged her even tighter, if that was even possible.

She broke the hug, to see the happiness on his face. He still hadn't said anything, but he didn't need to. Anyone with half a brain could read the love that was written on his face.

She smiled wide too. "And if it weren't clear enough from my rant,

I love you, Ozhan."

•~•

Assalam-o-Alaikum people!
How are y'all? Ramadan going well?

A late update. I'll blame it on my poor health these past couple of days. Anyways, let's save you all excuses and get on with it.

How was the chapter? Dedicated to just your favorite character in this chapter.

That being said, woohoooo🎉🎉🎉🎉
They're together now!!!!🥳🥳🥳🥳

Do let me know what y'all think of the chapter.

Um, let me tell you guys something. Since Abeerah and Ozhan's story was improvised, i had no clue exactly where or how i wanted it to go. So, i'm sort of happy with how it's going but i need your opinions if it's worth reading and not the sappy old stories you're tired of reading. So shower those comments on me and let me know please. 🥺🥺💜💜

By now, all of you must have had an idea what part Bi Jaan is playing, so do give me your guesses.

Please vote⭐ comment🖋️share and follow. Do follow me on instagram as well @javeria_naeem9  just because i also want to do those fun polls and cast questions n everything. So let me know if y'all be down for that or not.

That's all.
Stay safe, everyone.
Lots of love❤️❤️❤️
Javeria.