"Come in", she called out, as someone knocked on her office door, closing the case file for the day. The clock on the wall read six thirty-five. She'd been working on a patient's case for five hours now, and she had about twenty-five minutes before the meeting of the hospital's medical staff at seven.

Ozhan entered the office and she gestured him to take a seat opposite her.

"You free now?", he asked.

"Yup", she replied, popping the 'p'. "I'm done for the day. I have a meeting at seven, and I've no idea how long that'll drag, so let's talk now?"

"Sure."

Taking the globe off its stand from her desk, he began to spin it on the table, looking lost in his thoughts.

"I'm listening", Layeba nodded slightly, urging him to speak.

"Do you remember you promised Lala to give him a choice?"

"Oh, so the talk is that serious. Yes, I remember. Let me just have a coffee first." She called Mohsin and requested him to send in two coffees.

She pressed some keys on her laptop, shut it down and put some files in a drawer, and arranged some on her desk to take home for studying later. While she was organizing, Ozhan continued spinning the globe, the noise getting to Layeba but she didn't stop him.

A moment passed and a janitor came in carrying a tray with two cups of coffee.

"Thank you", she handed one to Ozhan and gratefully took hers. The man left them and she asked Ozhan to talk.

"You don't have to stress about it now."

"About . . .what?" Talking to Ozhan was so stressful. Give him an hour and he would be making you solve riddles for a good half hour of it.

"I made the call for both me and Lala this time. There's no turning back for us now."

"Ozhan, I neither have time nor patience. So please, if you could just elaborate what you did, i'll be really grateful." Her stomach dropped. With these Khans, anticipating the worst was never the wrong thing to do.

He breathed through his nose and met her gaze. "You were right in your judgment about Bi Jaan. For ten years, we'd been her puppets. And we being the idiots we are, we didn't even catch on to it. It was all her doing, Lala being in this state, it was all her. She sent out men to kill him. Knowing she hadn't succeeded, she would have done it again. She was going to kill Abeerah. She was going to kill me. Probably target you and your family as well.

"I couldn't let that happen. So I did the most monstrous thing I was capable of. And then I broke ties with the Khans. We're dead to them. To people in Hunza and all the people even minutely linked to them, we're dead. No one knows Yazaan, Abeerah and Ozhan still breathe in this world."

Why was everything so complicated with them?

It took her a while to process things. Bi Jaan? She gave the order to kill Yazaan? Her own grandson? How vile could this world get? She would have targeted Layeba and her family? She remembered the time she'd been kidnapped. Though she'd put up a brave front there and most of her time was spent making sure Ozhan stayed alive, she knew she couldn't bear anything like that ever again.

There were a lot of questions in her mind. A lot of things she wanted to ask. Why? Why did she want to kill them now? What did he mean by being a puppet of her? How was she going to kill them? How did Ozhan know all of it? What actually did he do?!

But she didn't ask any of those. More for her own sake than any other reason. She knew those would only make her hesitant about them. And if what Ozhan said was right, then she didn't have to worry about anyone disturbing their life now. She didn't want to increase her headaches.

"So, what you're saying is you guys need to change your identity, is that what it is? Is there some mission impossible thing going to roll? I don't get it. You didn't me all this for nothing. So, please tell me, what do you want from me?"

Admiration filled Ozhan's eyes. He appreciated and respected how she didn't ask questions he had no answers to and got straight to point while making light of the situation.

"Well, we do need to start somewhere," he leaned back into the chair, "and as you can probably guess, we're kind of broke right now."

"So, what do you plan to do about that?"

He liked how she didn't insult him by offering to take care of them all.

"I plan to get a degree."

She smiled, proud of his decision. She was the biggest advocate of education. She knew Yazaan had completed his degree but Ozhan wasn't given that luxury. More specifically, he hadn't given himself that luxury. And ever since she'd realized that fact, and cared for  Ozhan as a younger brother, she'd wanted him to be able to open doors of success for himself.

Thank God! They

"I'll be happy to give you a loan."

"Thank you. I'll pay you back as soon as possible."

"Make sure you do. Also, we've gotta convince my husband to give his sister's hand to my brother, so you gotta earn for that, dude. Love can only do so much."

He smiled. He didn't have any response to her calling him her brother so sincerely, without a doubt or hint of mockery in her voice, but he knew if there was one relation he was proud of making, it was considering Layeba his own sister.

"You're getting late for your meeting."

She checked the time. Indeed, she was. "I gotta go. We'll discuss the details later. Prepare well for the entry test of . . . whatever you wanna do. Let me tell you, that's the toughest part."

She stood up and walked to the door. "And Ozhan?"

"Yes?"

"Khuda ka wasta hai! Jalebi ki trhan baat ko complicate na kiya karo. Kisi na kisi ko heart attack do ge jitna tum stress create karte ho baat se pehle."

(For God's sake! Don't complicate things so much! You're gonna give someone a heart attack from the stress you give someone before the talk.)

•~•

In the middle of the night, a car stopped in front of Hussein Villa and Zulfiqar stepped out of it. Ozhan, who was already waiting for him in the porch, approached him and he gave Ozhan the brown folders. Ozhan opened them and after making sure everything was perfect, closed them again.

"What are these, Bhai? If you don't mind me asking."

"Nothing. Just all the necessary documents of me, Lala and Abeerah."

He nodded. "So, I guess this is the last time we're meeting?"

"InshaAllah Zulfiqar. I hope so."

He smiled. "I'm so happy for you all. Thank you for everything you've done for me, Bhai."

Ozhan smiled back and hugged him. "I wish i could do more. Thank you for always being there to save my ass."

"I hope you don't need much of that anymore."

"You know us. Khans are a magnet for trouble. But I think it's gonna be fine."

"I think so too. Allah hafiz, Bhai." Zulfiqar was the only person Ozhan would probably miss being friends with. But it was all worth it.

Ozhan stood there, watching him leave, silently saying 'Goodbye' to his past.

•~•

~ Two Months Later~

Yazaan woke up in pain yet again, the wound in his back stinging and all his body aching. It should have been just another night. He should've been accustomed to the pain by now. But damn! Every single night hurt like hell. The effects of his pain meds usually wore off by the time everyone was sound asleep in their beds, and he woke up wincing and groaning in agony.

Before, he had a nurse to take care of him twenty-four/seven but since Layeba had officially given him permission to move around a bit two weeks back, (she hadn't. He'd forced his way out of it, having a yelling competition with Layeba, complaining that she'd said one month of bed rest only and at the end, she had just yelled at him to do whatever the hell he wanted. She didn't talk to him for three days after that.) the first thing he'd done was dismiss the nurse, having had enough of being so helpless.

Though that had made him realize how big of a mistake he'd done, he wasn't going to tell Layeba that. His second always available help was Ozhan, who shared his room up until yesterday when  Mister had gotten admission to UET as a Business student.

He tried to reach for the medicines on the side table, but before he'd even stretched his arm to grab those, a yell escaped his lips, pain shooting through his back.

"Aarrgh!!", He groaned in frustration or was it him almost crying from pain.

"You know that bell's connected to my room, don't you? You just need to press it."

Great! Now Layeba was mocking him even in his thoughts.

He, with the utmost difficulty, tried to slide his behind towards the table so his medicine could be within reach.

"How rude! You ignored me, Mr. Khan. And here I was, ready to help you!"

He snapped his head towards the door, just in time to see her move from the leaned position against the door and towards him, turning on the lights of the room on the way, a small tub of strawberry ice-cream in one hand and a spoon in other, which was in her mouth. 

"What are you doing up and here at . . ." He checked the time. ". . . 3:55 a.m.?"

"Not important, Khan Sahab. What are you doing up at 3:55 a.m.? But it's clear. You're having another realization about how I was right in not sending your nurse and how were wrong in sending him." She poured water into a glass and grabbed the medicine. Not looking at her, he raised his palm for the pills.

"Uh-uh! First, admit it that I was right."

He glared at her and then looked straight again. A smile played on her lips as she put a foot on the bed, jumped over him, and sat cross-legged in the center of the bed, facing him. She placed her half-full ice cream tub in her lap and kept the pills in her hand, and began eating her ice cream.

"Ya Khudaya!" He whispered irritatedly, making her smile widened. "What are you even doing here, biwi?"

"Irritating you, apparently."

"That you are."

"Why are you so grumpy today?"

"Why are you so cheery?"

"I'm currently on my third cup of coffee, fifth chocolate, and the first tub of ice cream. It's called sugar high." She scooped a spoonful and put it in her mouth. "Now, why are you so irritated?"

"I don't know." He tried to sit up, finding it awkward to look at her from his laid-down position. But of course, he couldn't. Not without Layeba's help. Which she did, almost impulsively, when she saw him wince in pain.

With her arm still behind his shoulders, there was little distance between their faces. They were so close, he could even count her eyelashes. She realized that at the same time as he did. She tried to move back but was halted to a stop by his hand which came to rest on her back, a gasp leaving her lips. From that jerk of movement, her dupatta, which was loosely placed on her head, slid from her hair.

It wasn't the first time he was seeing her hair. But it was the first time she hadn't rushed to cover it back. Her dark brown hair falling in waves against her back, a rogue lock escaping her clip to tease his cheeks, the brown pools of her eyes, her parted lips ___ that was enough to make his heart go frenzy.

It was as if his hand had a mind of its own as it came up to gently trace the curve of her brow, his fingertips barely touching her but enough to ignite a flame in her body. Her eyes closed as his fingers moved towards them. Where are her glasses? That was what he thought but didn't dare ask and ruin the moment.

His fingers moved lower, trailing her nose, her cheeks, a tiny mole on her cheekbone, and finally hovering over lips. Her eyes opened as he placed his palm on her cheek and his thumb came to rest on her plump bottom lip. His eyes moved back and forth between her eyes and her lips, wanting to just bring her lower and close the distance between them.

Get away, her mind screamed at her but his forest green eyes held her captive. She was so lost in those that she forgot the way back to her sanity. Her breath was heavy as her eyes flickered to his lips. Was it him pulling her closer or was it she leaning in on her own? She didn't know. She just knew that nanometer of movement and their lips would join.

All reasoning left her if there was any to even begin with, and leaned in. Or tried to. For something real cold on her bare calf jerked her away from him and reaching for the tissues.

Damn the ice cream! Frankly enough, that was the call of Layeba's heart and not Yazaan's.

She cleared her throat, discarded the pills in her hand, wiped the mess on her calf and bed, and gave Yazaan new pills and a glass of water to swallow those down, all while Yazaan controlled his smile on seeing her in such a flustered state.

"You look cute." The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them

She looked at him, scrunched her nose, and furrowed her brows. "I've never been accused of that one before." She moved on from the incident just like that and put a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth.

"No way! Really? Are they blind? No one has called you cute with these blushing cheeks, button nose, pouting lips, and cute frown?"

"Nope! Not for a long time. Because mostly when I'm red, it's with anger and people certainly don't find me cute then. And I do NOT pout." She frowned some more, offended as if he had insulted her, and ate another spoonful.

He was honestly and officially jealous of a spoon.

"You're doing it right now." If he had the freedom of movement, he would've pecked her pout. He would've done more than that, but let's maintain a bit of decency of thought.

She realized he was right and rolled her eyes. "Whatever." Scooping some more, she was about to eat it when she remembered to offer. "You want some? No? Okay." And put it in her mouth. She didn't even let him say anything.

"Maybe i did want it." Oh, he did! Preferably from her lips.

"Maybe I didn't want to share."

"Then why ask?"

She shrugged. He watched as she scraped the tub clean and put it aside. "So, let me ask you again, Mr. Khan. Why are you so irritated?"

This woman never left anything alone. And the room was enveloped in the gloomy atmosphere of his mind.

What should he tell her? That he hated how helpless he was? Should he tell her of the shame he felt every time Ozhan or a nurse had to take him to a bathroom? Or how much he hated when someone brought him food? His sister treating him like he was incapable of even thinking what was good for him? Or maybe he should tell him how with every passing second, he indulged in self-loathing more and more? How with each second he had on his plate, he reflected on each sin and crime that he had committed and hated himself more and more?

Or maybe he really should tell her that he was suffering from PTSD. That with his conscience waking up more and more with every passing moment, his past was coming to haunt him in his sleep. That he often woke up from the cries of the men he had tortured or the claws of the souls he had taken.

In the end, he ended up saying,

"I'm suffocated in this room."

"Hhmmm." She thought for a moment. "How well are you doing in your physiotherapy sessions?" She knew from her regular conversations with his doctor. And according to him, he was fairly good, considering he'd started just two weeks ago. He pushed himself beyond the boundaries. But she wanted to know how much confidence he had in himself.

"I can't do shit. I fall before I can even take a step." So he'd adopted the self-deprecating attitude towards himself.

"Has the pain meds kicked in yet?"

"Yes." He frowned, having no idea what was cooking in her mind.

She stood up on the bed, straightened her clothes, clipped her hair back properly, letting the dupatta sit wrapped loosely around her shoulders, and jumped over him onto the ground. Offering him her hands, she said, "let's go for a walk."

Not really believing her, he closed his eyes, getting ready to sleep. She slapped his arm lightly and he opened his eyes, glaring at her. "What? Let's get some fresh air!"

"What? Now?!"

"No, i'll come back in a millennium. Come on!"

She helped him sit up, gently moving his legs off the bed. She grabbed his wheelchair and he looked at her dubiously. "I thought you said we were going for a walk."

He didn't need to add that he hated that thing, right? At this point, he hated almost everything anyway.

"We are."

She made him sit in the chair and made their way to the lawn. It was a bright night. The moon was nowhere to be seen but a million stars illuminated the dark sky.

After almost a week, he finally breathed in the fresh air. The light breeze caressed his cheeks and ruffled his hair, which had grown long and fell on his forehead, making him close his eyes in content. He had refused to go out before with anyone. And he didn't know the reason then, but he did know now. It was just so could share this little sweet moment with his wife.

He had no idea how he took Layeba's breath away just by the way he sat there looking so innocent. She knew then, that if there was one face she would spend her entire life looking at, it was this. That's how much she had begun to love him.

No clue from where, how, or why that thought came to her. But that was was the first truth of her life that had affected her this much. It struck her like a lightning and shook her entire existence. She struggled to breathe and argued with herself how this was just reckless thought. But when had her heart ever listened to her? When it could begin to care for those who had turned her life upside down, why not love him? Love was just a few steps ahead of care anyway.

She took in a deep breath, almost gasped, and said, "Come on!" She took his hands, making him open his eyes and look directly at her. He stood up, painfully slow and she placed his hands on her shoulders, placing her own on his waist. "All good?"

"Hhmm."

She took a step back and he took a step forward with her. Five steps later, pain, light but sudden, shot through his back. He lost his balance and almost fell, and of course, she couldn't handle his weight, but they both got hold of themselves and they spent almost twenty-five minutes continuing like that. They didn't even cover half the ground but who cared? No words passed between them, yet in her book, it was the most meaningful time they had spent together.

Only when his breathing started getting deeper did she halted to a stop and said, "Alright, I think it's enough for the night."

"No. A little while longer. Please?" The last part was just above a whisper.

"Don't be so hard on yourself Yazaan. Wearing yourself out, that's not gonna make you walk any quicker. You're already so much ahead of what you should've accomplished in these two weeks. Healing takes time. And I promise you, however long it takes, I'm gonna be right beside you. You just have to be patient."

"So, no pun intended, right?"

She frowned, then realized what she'd said. "Oh! All the pun intended. I'm a doctor, so it's only fair that you be a patient. Come on. Let's go inside."

"Let's sit here for a while?"

She agreed.

They took a few steps and sat on the loungers. "That's a big promise you made there", he observed.

"Hmm . . . I do that quite often, I'm an idiot like that. Anyways, the last promise I made to you, your brother didn't give me a chance to fulfill. So consider it more of a compensatory promise."

"If only you knew how", he said under his breath.

"Huh? What did you say?"

"Nothing. Why did you make him go to university?"

"I didn't make him go to a university. He wanted to. He would do something in his life after all, won't he? So I just helped him a bit. I would advise the same to you. It's high time you stopped pitying yourself."

"Pitying myself?"

"Oh! Don't tell me you haven't spent the past two months reflecting on what you have lost and all."

He narrowed his eyes. "Last I checked, you were a neurologist, not a psychologist."

"Neurosurgeon", she corrected him. What? She didn't spend extra years to be called something else. No offense to neurologists. "And I don't need to be a psychologist to read you. And don't change the topic."

"I didn't change the topic. There was nothing to discuss there."

"Of course there was! You have a degree from the University of London. You were top of your class, for goodness sake! When do you plan to make use of it?"

"How do you- wait of course. Ozhan! Stop taking information about me from my brother", he hissed.

"That doesn't change anything. So what if i know? Huh? The fact remains that you are just scared!"

"Scared?!" He scoffed.

"Yes! You're just scared to move on. You know what? You're right. There's nothing to discuss here."

She moved to grab his forearm to help him sit in his wheelchair, but he slapped her hand away. Wincing, but not letting any sound escape from his mouth, he moved from the lounger to the wheelchair. Layeba shook her head at his stubbornness as she grabbed the handles and began to push him forward.

"Fine", he grumbled.

"Sorry?" She brought her ear closer to him.

"Stop grinning like an idiot. I'll think about it."

Clearly some demon had possessed her then because it certainly wasn't Layeba who squealed like a child and kissed his cheek.

Or was she?

•~•

"YOU WHAT?!"

Layeba winced and rubbed her ear as Sanem screamed.

"Poore muhalle ko bata do jaa kr", She said, her voice heavy with sarcasm. But it didn't to be said anyway, that sentence was self-explanatory.

(Go announce it to the neighborhood!)

"I can't believe it."

"Why is that too shocking?" She was almost offended. Almost.

"Because it's you saying it. You never do something simple. Anyway. I don't know whether it's hard to believe that you love him or that you slept together."

"I did not need to know that", Abeerah exclaimed as she entered the room, scrunching her face up in disgust. The fact not even crossing her mind that her brother couldn't even stand up.

Layeba slapped her forehead and exhaled through her nose, shaking her head.

I'm surrounded by idiots!

•~•

Assalam o alaikum everyone! How are you all?!

Did you guys like the chapter?

If yes, please vote ⭐ comment 🖋️ share, and follow.

What did you guys think of Ozhan's decision to pursue education again? And Layeba pushing Yazaan to think of his future rather than stuck in the past. If someone thinks she's forcing him, then I can understand why y'all would feel that. But just as long as it makes Yazaan understand that he needs to do something with his life now, it doesn't hurt anyone right? Anyways, let me know your thoughts.

Drop the suggestions on what you want to see with these couples. Don't wanna comment publicly, you're free to dm me as well.

Moving on!

I want to know if you guys will be interested in reading any more of my stories (I have a few cooking in my mind), if yes, tell me, do you prefer a sweet one or a bit of a dark, serious story?

That's all.
Thank you💞

Lots of love❤️❤️❤️
Javeria.