I'm overwhelmed as always with the increasing views and votes. Alhamdulillah :)

I was busy lurking in the hallways of Ambassador managed profiles. All of them seemed to be full of contests and interesting stuff, that I momentarily forgot Aahil and Aleena. Sincere apologies to my readers.

I love reading all your fascinating comments.

I woke up to the welcoming sound of fajr again that was echoing from the mosque located just beside the house. I shut my eyes tighter, trying to move deeper into the duvet. An obstacle seemed to plunge me back from my slumber. The heaviness was immovable and I groaned in annoyance.

Opening my eyes, gifted me the flood of events from the previous night, making me turn scarlet. I realised the weight was nothing other than Aahil's leg spread across me. Somehow, I did not wish to have a conversation about our development, therefore, I slowly escaped his hold and slipped from the bed.

One look at his sleeping form and I bent down involuntarily to kiss him one last time before I rushed to the bathroom. I was thankful for the twenty-four-hour hot water facility as the winter was in full blast by now. Whenever I touched cold water from the washbasin, I had to grit my teeth to stop myself from shivering.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, Aahil was awake and waiting for his turn to perform ghusl.

He gave me a lopsided grin that said it all, leavening me reddened to the roots of my hair. I avoided looking at him further and got myself engaged in spreading the prayer mat.

After we both finished our prayers returned to bed, I found myself captivated in his warm embrace. He caressed my hands, 'Darling."

Burying myself into his warmth, I looked up to assess the emotion in his eyes and felt relieved to find them warm and welcoming, "Last night was wonderful, it was the best night of my life."

I only returned a smile and closed my eyes, "Hey sweetheart," He laced our fingers together.

"I'm sleepy," I reasoned, hoping he would stop referring to the incident.

"Ok. Sleep," He said with a quick kiss on my forehead and added, "You don't have to be ashamed of what we shared. You made me the happiest man on the planet," He said pulling me to the hard wall of his chest.

I grinned in spite of the reserve I was imposing upon myself and we slept content in each other's embrace until the soft rays of the sun illuminated the room and it glowed lemon yellow.

I woke up and walked towards the balcony watching the early morning sun. This morning's sunrise was a breathtaking display of radiant colours. Bright streaks of red, pink, and orange slowly overcame the dark blue and purple of the twilight sky. The sky resembled a prism; all the colours blended perfectly into each other. The sun itself was just peeking out of the horizon, and its brilliant rays already shined brightly and began to warm the air. I marvelled at the glistening reflection of the sun on the pool below and a thrilling feeling of awe swept over me.

Careful not to wake Aahil from his sound sleep, I tiptoed to my closet and changed to modest purple coloured salwar having white embroidery in the neckline and rolled a white hijab over my head. As I descended down the steps, I spotted zareen and habeeba sitting around the table, waiting for breakfast. Habeeba waved and zareen turned around to give me a small smile.

I entered the kitchen to find mom and Ms femmy preparing breakfast. "Sorry, I slept late. Can I help with the cooking?"

Mom turned around, with a huge smile, "Oh dear you needn't be sorry. I know the stress you went through in the past weeks. My boy is lucky to have you Alhamdulillah."

I smiled in response as I hugged her and she gave a hearty laugh, "Didn't I tell you that you are perfect for my son and he will soon learn to love."

I nodded my head in agreement.

She shooed me outside the kitchen, asking me to just relax and have a conversation with Aahil's sisters until breakfast was served.

A few minutes later the table was set and a hearty meal which included puri baji(wheat bun and spiced potato), chocolate flavoured doughnuts and tea.

After breakfast, Aahil excused himself and made his way towards the study saying he had loads of unfinished work to do and I stalked behind him to remind him to take his pills. I had to stop in my track as mom gestured me to accompany her. She exhibited interest to learn about Aahil's medications and it was another hour before I went in search of him.

When I reached his study he was already sitting on his desk. His office was furnished with typical, sterile fashion. With a large mahogany desk, a laptop and a few chairs. One side of the wall contained a huge built-in shelf filled with files and books.

When I entered Rafeeq and Mustafa, his security officers, were the two people who were already present besides him. They excused themselves when I entered the room giving me the privacy I needed.

He came forward, embracing me into his hard muscles and I rubbed my hair against his shoulder, arching my neck, as I let him find whatever targets he chose to kiss. A shaft of pure pleasure exploded through me. But suddenly he let go, taking long deep breaths.

The air he breathed out seemed to shimmer with the heat of banked passions he was determined to control. Something like pain twisted across his face before he smoothed it into a stony expression that revealed nothing of his inner thoughts and feelings.

Aahil hesitated, "Darling, I need to ask you something?" He stood with his hands deep in his trouser pocket and seemed to be deep in thought, contemplating something, perhaps.

"What is it?" I asked concerned.

"What is your opinion about Isaac?"

The question pierced my heart with daggers, "What do you mean?"

He cleared his throat. "I mean do you think he could get himself involved in illegal things."

"I grew up with him and never ever saw him doing anything that would be termed morally incorrect. He is very soft-hearted and always seemed to be a perfect son."

"Perfect son," Aahil repeated, gritting his teeth, an annoyed expression overtaking his facial features. "So he could be doing this to help his father," Aahil stated, his face heated, he banged his fist on the table.

I was taken aback by his behaviour, "Why are you angry?"

'I'm not angry at you. After the police let Isaac go, my men followed him and have reported having seen him entering Rizwan Farooqui's office."

I raised my hands in the act of surrender, "I don't understand why he would do that."

I sank down to a nearby chair, feeling devastated that Isaac could betray someone.

Just then habeeba knocked on the door and stepped inside. "Mama wants me to show you the house so that you don't get lost and know your way around,' She took in a deep breath, "If you don't mind, Shall we?"

There seemed we didn't have the opportunity to discuss anything further. I nodded my head, giving one last glance at Aahil's tensed form. I turned around and left the room alongside habeeba, ready to explore the huge bungalow.

It was fascinating to see the house. Every room had a life of its own, with a vibrant colour scheme and perfectly blended interior.

I spotted a huge gallery at the end of the second floor which was filled with paintings of rich colours portraying various emotions of life.

"Can I see those paintings?" I questioned enthusiastically, pointing to the farther corner.

Habeeba panicked, "We are not supposed to go in there."

"Why?" I questioned surprised.

"I can't tell you."

"Please Habeeba," I tried convincing her, "Pretty please."

"Only on one condition."

"What's it?"

"You won't mention it to anyone. Mom will freak out if she comes to know that I brought you here."

"Agreed," I nodded my head solemnly.

Most of the paintings were sad and heart wrenching. I stood there scrutinizing a beautiful mesmerizing painting of a young lady holding a small baby and her expression was a deep mixture of love and pain.

In another painting a small boy stood outside a huge bungalow, staring longingly at the deserted road that ran endlessly to the woods and it wrote, "I'm lost."

"Who painted all of these?" I asked running a hand through the canvas of another painting which had a handsome man and a beautiful woman captivated by each other, but the woman possessed a knife and blood dripped from it.

"I don't know whether I should say it?"

"It's fine if you do not wish to," I said with a weak smile.

"Aahil painted them. He uses to love painting and the one which you are holding is his last one," She blurted out, her tone laced with something that I couldn't comprehend.

"Loved?" I asked surprised.

"Why did he stop painting? Surely he does not consider himself to be untalented in the department. All of them are just perfect," I said twirling around.

"Does that mean that you know nothing about brother's past?" She inquired with painful bemuse.

"Past?" I asked meekly, raising my eyebrows, uncertain to what she was referring to as his past.

"I don't think it's my place to tell you. Aahil will tell it to you when he thinks it's the right time to do so."

I shook my head, "Please tell me," I pleaded, unable to stay in the dark. If she wouldn't tell me then I would go insane creating up the worst scenarios in my mind.

"Didn't he tell you about safe?"

Safa?

I gasped and shook my head, my stomach sinking and heartbeat accelerating.

"Promise me that you won't put me in trouble," Habeeba looked uncertain.

"I promise," I couldn't take the suspense anymore, taking a deep breath I spoke up, "Blurt it out."

"She is dad's best friend's daughter and ----------" She hesitated.

"And?"

"We believed that Aahil would marry her. They were just perfect for each other."

Perfect for each other.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and licked my dry lips, "Then why didn't he marry her."

"I have no idea. No one ever said that to me and mom dislikes anyone discussing her."

I stood there paralyzed, unable to give a sane reply. I felt like my throat had closed and I had forgotten to speak.

"Mom and dad are so overjoyed that you both are happy in this relationship."

"What do you mean?"

"Aahil was adamant that he wouldn't marry you. Apparently, dad decided to make it easier for him."

"How?"

"I guess I have confided too much and this might lead me into deep trouble."

"I promise that I wouldn't put you through the predicament."

"As your dad lost his life working for our company, dad felt it was his responsibility to protect you and ------"

"And?"

"When Aahil realised dad's dilemma he agreed to protect you, but the marriage wasn't in his list of priorities. It surprises all of us that he seems perfectly at ease with you. We did not expect him to change into a loving husband. It was a unanimous opinion that your relationship would be a disaster."

I closed my eyes trying to blink back my tears. I felt giddy and all the oxygen seemed to have knocked out from my lungs. I stood staring at her with shock and despair.

She came forward and squeezed my hand, "We hope that he does not end this marriage and the contract gets invalid."

"Which contract?"

"The contract he signed with dad, due to which he is entitled to protect you until your dad's murderer is unmasked. During the specified term whatever the circumstances may arise, or however ugly your relationship turns out to be, he isn't supposed to end it with you."

"Does that mean he will remain tied to me just to honour his promise?"

Habeeba returned a weak smile, "He is free to do it once the case is disclosed and your life is free from potential danger."