Assalamualaikum.

How are you guys?

I know I'm late but this is the longest chapter with romance care, anger, pain's mixture😉 and I know you will love it😍

**************

Author's POV,

After the cake cutting ceremony, everyone from family enjoys the delicious cake made by isha. And for the guests' isha made another dessert including cake pieces which guests loved it.

Arshad saw isha standing in the corner looking at everyone with a content smile on her face. He looks around and saw everyone busy and took that as a chance and went to her with a piece of cake in his hand.

Isha looks at him frown when he stood in front of her. "This is for you," he said and hold that piece of cake in front of her.

"Uh...i...I don't want" she looked away.

"Isha, take this" he demanded in a firm tone. She shook her head. Not wanting to give in. He was behaving rudely to her since few days and now suddenly he wanted to make her eat this sweet cake when he was throwing bitterness at her all those days.

Arshad sighed in annoyance and took that piece in his hand before taking it in front of her lips. Isha's eyes widened.

"What are you doing?" She asked looking around.

"Feeding you" he didn't know why but from the moment he saw her twinkling eyes on the cake he was determined to make her eat this.

"Please jaein yaha se, koi dekh lega. (please go from here, someone will see)" she whispers yelled in a panic tone as he took step toward her.

"Not before you eat this," he said stubbornly. She looks around and suddenly took the full piece in her mouth. Arshad's eyes widened. He almost cringed at this. But couldn't help chuckling.

"Kha liya (I've eaten)" she said with full of cake stuff mouth. Her voice was barely audible. He amusingly stared at her.

"Thoda bacha hai (there is left some)" Arshad said in amusement tone motioning on his hand where small... Tiny bit cake left. He just said that and was sure that she won't take this in her mouth. But she proved him wrong. In her panic state that anyone could see them and wanted him to go away, she took his fingers in her mouth. As isha felt his finger made contact with her tongue, her breath hitched as so Arshad's. Their eyes widened. Electric shot through both of their body. Hearts skip their beats.

"Okay, I can't take this anymore. Sorry" they both moved back as they heard a voice and shot their head toward the smirking Adil. "I'm sorry dude, for interrupting but I can't let you guys do this here. Uh... Remember? engagement? party? Guests?" He asked mischievously. Arshad glared at him while Isha turns darker shades of red. "BTW, you guys can go there, no will disturb you," he said pointing toward another corner of the hall where no one presented.

"Shut up Adil, we were doing nothing so stop this nonsense" Arshad yelled through his gritted teeth. Adil held his hand up in surrendered as he knew Arshad was angry now. Without looking at isha Arshad walks away from there.

Isha was standing there fiddling with her fingers in embarrassment. Adil smile at her. "You don't have to be embarrassed Bhabi, Arshad is your husband" Isha's head shot up. This was the first time someone referred Arshad as her husband other than her own heart. "I know what you are going through and trust me everything will be okay, he just needs time and then he will accept you and will fight for you. And don't forget, I'm your brother" he put his hand on her head in a brotherly manner making her heart filled with warmness and a small smile cames to her lips. She nodded before he walks away.

Her heartfelt delighted. For the first time, someone gives her hope for her marriage. For the first time, someone tells her that He will accept her with time. She was just waiting for the days when he will accept her. Not only in his heart but also in front of the world.

************

Author's POV,

After the guest left Arshad excuseD himself and was talking on the phone outside of the house with some of his business partners from Dubai when Adil come and stood behind him. After his call, he heard a notification beep. He opens his Whatsapp to found Adil send him pictures. His eyes widened when he saw Isha and his few pictures. One when he and isha were holding the cake with a smile on their face. Another when the couple were cutting the cake unknowingly Isha and he was standing beside each other clapping their hands. The third picture, when he was feeding Isha cake with an amusing smile on his lips.

"Aren't they look cute together?" He heard his now not so best friends voice and turn to him with angry glared.

"What the hell is this Adil!?" Arshad yelled. Adil frown confusingly.

"What? It's you and your wife's picture. See, don't you guys look cute?" he asked with a grin on his face.

"Adi! Are you out of your mind? This is not something you can tease me. You captured my pictures with some other girl it's not right" he yelled on Adil.

"Your wife. Isha is your wife Arshad" Adil said now with a serious face.

"She is not my wife! Stop saying this!" He yelled whispered looking around. He didn't want this to reveal and the thought that other than isha and him someone was here who knows about their marriage makes him frightened. And Adil was making it more difficult for him by teasing which was not tease but threat for him.

"Even if I stop saying this it won't change the truth, Arshad. You have to accept her. Its high time dude. Its been 2 years you are hiding this from the world. Now she needs to be in your protection. She needs your name. Or else things will get even worse" Adil said as he remembers Amar's not so polite gaze on Isha.

"No, I won't accept her, okay? Just forget this! I have only one wife and that is sofia. Don't do this again" he said and turn to go but Adil held his shoulder and turn him toward himself.

"Stop this dude! You can't deny the truth! Do you know how terrible I felt when everyone was treating your wife, my best friend's wife as a servant? And I know you also feel guilty and you have also developed feelings for her I have seen in your eyes but you're just adamant to not to accept this. Be a man and accept this" Adil yelled in frustration. He couldn't let his best friend continued to do these mistakes. It was wrong, Very wrong, that the poor girl was going through everything alone.

"What!? Feelings for her? " Arshad asked chuckled dryly. "You really are not in your sense," Arshad said shaking his head.

"Trust me, Arshad, I am. I have seen the softness in your eyes for her. I have seen the longing in your eyes for her when you saw her entering in the hall looking stunningly beautiful. I have seen shine in your eyes when you were feeding her"

Arshad felt his breath hitched. Fear gripped in his heart and mind. Adil's words make him realised something he wasn't ready for.

No no! This can't happen. Adil misunderstood! Yes! Adil misunderstood things!

"You misunderstood things yaar. If I have some feeling for her than, that is only pity. Mujhe sirf uspar taras aata hai aur kuch nahi. Wo mujh par musallat ki gayi hai. Meri biwi nahi, mujh par boj hai. Marzi nahi majburi hai. (I only feel pity for her. She's forced on me. She isn't my wife but a burden. She's not my choice but compulsion)"

Trying to get rid of that uneasy feelings he spoke the words he never thought he will unknowingly shattering the poor soul standing behind the kitchen window.

Isha was in the kitchen when she heard Arshad's voice who was standing right behind the kitchen window with Adil.

She grips the window barrier staring at the man who she just thought will accept her as his wife. Her heart broke into million pieces, lips tremble, tears of being unwanted fall from her innocent. The thought that her husband thinks she was forced on him and was a burden on him makes her heart shattered. Although it was true it still hurt like hell.

What she did to deserve this? She didn't ask for this. It was not her choice it was Allah's will, This was what Arshad said to her. Right?. Then how can he think like this?.

"Deny all you want Arshad. Say whatever makes you feel better. You will fall in love with her Arshad. And you will accept her very soon! Mark my word!" Adil yelled but Arshad ignored him and walk inside the house. Adil was about to turn to go only to frozen when he saw isha standing on the widow with a broken look.

Isha closed the window and took a few deep breaths to calm down. She needs to calm before anyone sees her like this. She didn't have the courage to make another false story.

Wiping her face she placed back the first aid kit she took out to apply some ointment on her wrist as it was stinging too much but not having the mood to soothe her wrist pain when her heart was paining ten times more she walks out of the kitchen. Wanting nothing more than to go to her room and cry for her heart content.

On her way, she bumps into Amma jaan.

"Isha" Amma jaan smile at her. Isha tries to smile but fail but Amma jaan didn't notice "I wanted to tell you since the moment I saw you that you are looking so pretty. I never thought my Arshad's choice could be this beautiful after sofia" She laughs on her own words.

Isha frown. And asked in confusion. "His choice?"

"Yes, he bought this dress for you," she said smiling. "Anyway, beta now go and take rest." She said and walk toward her room.

Isha entered her room and directly went to change. After changing, she placed the clothes on the bed thinking about his words which were not in a mood to faded away......

So, she cried.

•••••••••••••••••

Everyone retired for the night after chitchat for sometimes. Sofia slept as usual taking her pills while Arshad was wide awake staring at the ceiling. He was feeling restless after the talk he had with Adil.

"you have also developed feelings for her"

"I have seen the longing in your eyes for her"

"I have seen shine in your eyes when you were feeding her"

"You will fall in love with her Arshad. And you will accept her very soon! Mark my word!"

Adil's words were making him restless. He thought he will never feel anything for any other woman except sofia but something was changing which he never wanted. His heart began beating wildly with the thought of that girl.

After tossed and turned for an hour when he couldn't sleep he got out of the bed and slowly walk out of the room.

He walks to the kitchen to have something to divert his mind but halted on the doorway as he saw that girl. That little girl, Who was beginning to bother his heart.

Isha was sitting on the floor hair spread all over her back. A few strands were teasing her while she was trying to apply something on her wrist. This was the probably first second time he was seeing her open hair after the morning they met for the first time in that barn house.

"Ssss...khudaya" Isha hissed before her finger even touches her wrist and pulled her hand away from her wrist and began blowing. She again tries applying but then again repeats the same action.

Arshad stares at her struggle for sometime before taking step toward her. Isha was too consumed by her task that she didn't notice when he came but when he sat in front of her, her head snaps toward him.

Arshad didn't say anything and softly held her hand examining her wrist only to find burn wound. And it looks pretty bad. "When this happened?" He asked with narrowing eyes. He could tell this happens many hours ago and she was treating it now.

"This morning" isha mumble and try to take her hand away from him but he held it firmly.

"And your applying ointment now?" He tries to hide his concern but couldn't.

"I was busy" isha replied.

"Busy in what?" He asked letting her hand go only to took ointment in his hand and then on his fingers.

"Busy in doing my job" her replied make him look at her. He resists the strong urge to make her understand what he felt when she thinks or says something like this but decided to ignore it as he didn't want to start that conversation again. and held her hand and slowly began applying ointment on her wrist. Isha silently let him apply as it was needed.

"Aahh" she bites her lips closing her eyes shut as the ointment touch her burn skin making it stung even more. She felt a cold blow on her wound. Opening her eyes she saw Arshad blowing on her wrist while continuing applying ointment. Her heart skips it's best seeing his care for her but then.....

Mujhe sirf uspar taras aata hai aur kuch nahi. Wo mujh par musallat ki gayi ha. Meri biwi nahi, mujh par boj hai. Marzi nahi majburi hai wo.

Her eyes filled up and that stung pain she was feeling long gone but the pain in her heart becomes intense. A sob escapes her mouth as his voice rang in her mind again and again.

Arshad's head snaps toward her. And frown appeared. "Bahot dard hora hai? (It is paining too much?)" He asked in worry lacing in his voice.

"Haan. Bahot dard hora hai (Yes. It's paining too much)" she whispered with quivering lips, tears rolling down her cheeks. Arshad's heart clenched seeing her innocent eyes shedding tears.

"Oh, isha. Thik ho jaega (it will heal)" he cupped her face and said softly going closer to her like talking to a child.

"Ye kabhi thik nahi hoga (it will never heal)" she again whispered. And now he could say she was talking about something else.

"Isha...."

Getting up she wipes her face. "Ap yahi rukein. Kahi mat jaega. Mai abhi ayi (you stay here. Don't go anywhere. I will come back)" saying this she walks out of the kitchen.

Arshad stood there looking at the door where she left. After a couple of minutes, she came back with a small bag in her hand.

"Take this," she said handing the bag to him. He held it frowning. And look inside to found the dress he gave her. But before he could say anything she passed an envelope. He recognized it.

"Ye sab kya hai (what's all this?)" he asked narrowing his eyes at her and placing the bag on the counter with a thud.

"Apke ehsanat (your favours)" she said.

"What?" He asked confusing but she just place the envelope next to that bag and turns around to walk out of the kitchen. Arshad stared at her but as he saw her going out he ran to her and held her arms pinning her to the doorway. A gasp left her mouth.

"What happened to you? Why you give me the dress back? And I can't believe you never used that money. How could you be so stubborn Isha?" He asked in disbelief that she refused to used his money and his given dress.

"I'm not stubborn. I'm just trying to save my little bit of self-respect" she mumbles looking down. He stares down at her broken face closely. Holding her chin he lifted her face and met with her tear-filled eyes.

"Kya hua? Volo mujhe. Kisi ne kuch kaha? (What happen? Did anyone say something to you?)" Arshad asked softly. Isha shook her head.

"Nahi...I want to ask you something" she asked in a low voice.

"Bolo? (Say)" Arshad smile softly encouraging her. He will give her anything she wanted without any question cause her tears we're hurting him for an unknown reason.

"Please mere liye ab aap aur kuch na karein. Sacch kehrahi hun, mujhe is ghar me naukrani ban kar rehna manzur hai....(please don't do anything for me. Honestly, I'm willing to be a maid in this house....)" She pauses and lowered her head closing her eyes tightly. Arshad was about to say something but her next word hitched his breath. "....Par aap par boj nahi. Janti hun aapki marzi nahi hun, par aap pe boj bhi nahi ban sakti me (but not a burden on you. I know I'm not your choice but I couldn't be your obligation either.)" Saying this she pushes him slightly and walks away from there leaving stunned Arshad behind.

She heard my hateful words.

***********

How was it?

Angry on Arshad? I know you are. But still, I'm feeling bad for him thinking through his POV. He has stuck very badly. now let's see what will happen next?

Share your thoughts and don't forget to click star🌠

Love you all💞