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*

Wishing you a very happy birthday, @sweetcherry2714!

And thank you all those who contributed to my challenge in the last chapter. Rohaan would be proud of you! 🕵🏽‍♂️

*

Arsalan

I felt almost sick to the stomach. Since the day Tahira had pointed out the obvious to me, I had been worrying endlessly. At this point, not only did I feel nauseated, but my head was hurting.

I stood on the terrace, feeling my eyes turn damp. How was I going to face anyone?

I coughed, the stress getting too much to bear. I ran inside and towards my room, barely making it in time to the bathroom, before I threw up all over. Why am I such a wimp? Why can't I be like Rohaan? He owns up to his mistakes.

Mistake?! It wasn't a mistake! I love Hira, and she's my wife, and we did nothing wrong under Islamic law.

I cleaned up and came out, feeling myself tremble slightly.

"Everything okay?"

I jumped and turned to the doorway, where Papa stood frowning. I swallowed hard, and before I realised what was happening, I rushed up to him and hugged him tightly.

"Arsal, what's wrong?" He patted my back.

I moved back and closed the door. "Papa, my head hurts and I feel sick, and I..." I took a deep breath. "I messed up."

"Alright, relax." He patted my shoulder. "Calmly tell me what happened."

I dropped my gaze. "I'm so embarrassed."

"Arsal, talk to me. If it's bothering you so much that it's making you physically sick, then you really should talk it out." 

"Papa...what if...what if the limitations of the period before rukhsati were crossed?" I asked as discreetly as I could. "What if we see the con-consequences at rukhsati?"

There was silence and for the first time in my life I thought that my father would be repulsed by me. Even when Hira and I had kissed, I didn't think he would hate me. He was an intelligent man, Ma Sha Allah, and he would easily understand what I was talking about. And I knew he was going to hate me because he and Mama were going to look bad at the wedding if Hira ended up pregnant. People wouldn't understand, but this was our culture. I didn't look up. I couldn't look up. "Please don't hate me, Papa." 

"We'll deal with the consequences, don't stress." Was all he simply said.

I looked up at him, shocked. 

"Islamically, you didn't do anything wrong, and therefore I don't think that I have a right to be mad at you about it. Our religion is above culture." He patted my shoulder. 

"Can we...can we prepone the wedding?" 

"You know that I'll have to discuss with your mother regarding this, right?" 

I nodded. "Just say that I want to prepone the wedding. Just please help me. I know I messed up, but..."

"As I said, technically you didn't do anything wrong." He placed his hands on my shoulders. "Just compose yourself. We'll deal with it. I'll speak to your mother and discuss preponing the wedding." 

I hugged him again. "I'm sorry I disappointed you. I keep disappointing you." 

"You made a mistake before, you repented instantly and never repeated it. That's a matter of pride for parents that their kids can learn from their mistakes. As for now, Arsal, I'm just happy that you can still turn to me when anxious or worried. We never stop learning from the wisdom of our parents, kid. I still learn from my parents." 

"Thank you, Papa." 

There was a knock on the door, and it opened before I could answer and Rohaan came in. "Grasshopper, Tahira is here." He looked at us with raised eyebrows.

"Rohaan, etiquettes require you to wait for an answer before opening the door." Papa told him off.

He just grinned. "Sorry." 

I gave Papa a grateful smile before leaving the room.

"Was grasshopper complaining about me again?" I heard Rohaan ask Papa.

I chuckled, despite my worries.

When I got downstairs, Hira was talking to Mama. Wearing black high-waisted formal trousers, a red blouse and a long black blazer, my wife looked like the stunning professional that she was. Her hair was cascading down her back, but was held back from her face by a clip. She had changed into flat shoes for driving purposes. As I came down, she looked up at me. "Assalam Alaikum, Arsalan."

"Walaikum Assalam." 

Giving us both a smile, Mama headed inside.

"How were you? How was work?" I leaned down to discreetly kiss her cheek.

"It was nice. Since it's Friday, it was a bit busy." She took my hand in hers. "What about you?" 

"Same. Fortunately, I don't have any manuscripts to go over the weekend. I can properly enjoy the days off."

She nodded, but the smile on her face seemed almost forced.

Feeling assured myself, I placed my hands on her shoulders. "Hira, we will be fine. Trust me. No matter what happens, we will be fine. In Sha Allah."

"How can you be so sure?" 

"Because we're married now, and either way, we will be together. We will face everything together. And if it means," I lowered my voice. "That we're going to be parents, then so be it."

She nodded again. "We'll be fine. In Sha Allah."

I led her inside, where everyone greeted her warmly. I felt happy. After so many difficulties, so much pain, Hira and I were together. And feeling Papa's strong support beside me, I was ready to face any challenge that would come our way.

*

Yamna

Hoor Appi and Haya Appi surprised us by coming for dinner with their husbands and kids. It was a full house, Ma Sha Allah, full of the whole Tariq family, plus the extended family.

Ali and Arham were causing chaos as they ran around the large living room, and Maham was giggling as she sat on the sofa between her two Mamus, as Arsal Bhai showed her something on his phone. 

"Yamna, would you mind showing me where the bathroom is?" Tahira leaned closer to whisper.

"Sure." 

We stood up and headed out and I could tell how awkward she seemed.

"It's okay. You are a part of us now." I whispered, trying to be as reassuring as possible. Nobody knew better than me about being awkward.

"Thank you, Yamna." She placed a hand on my upper arm and smiled softly before entering the bathroom.

I waited outside for her so that we could walk back in together. If I was in her shoes, that would have been the most awkward moment for me, to walk into a room full of my in-laws, with me being the only one not from the khandaan. It would have been a comfort to have someone going inside with me.

The dinner was wonderful, an evening of laughter and the love between a family. Everyone was so warm and welcoming to Tahira, and I could see her smiling more and more as the time passed. 

So, as the evening came to a close, it didn't really come off as a surprise that Anabia Tayi asked Tahira if she would like to stay the night as well.

"I am grateful for the offer, Aunty, but I don't get weekends off. I'm working tomorrow." Tahira smiled apologetically.

"You can get the day off, if you want." Hoor Appi teased her. "Since you're family of the bosses and all." 

Tahira Appi laughed. "I do appreciate it, but I really should head out." 

Arsal Bhai walked her out.

"I still can't believe our sweet little boy Arsal is married." Dado smiled. "Ma Sha Allah."

"I mean, our Yum Yum is married. Arsal's still thirty. Ma Sha Allah." Haya Appi ruffled my hair.

"And to our Ro, no less." Hoor Appi added.

"Ma Sha Allah! May Allah keep all my children, grandchildren, their spouses, their children, everyone happy and healthy. Ameen!" Dado said.

"Ameen!"

*

Later that night, I was in bed, reading a book, feeling a little sleepy.

Rohaan and his siblings were downstairs, reliving old times. Aariz Bhai and Farhaan Bhai had taken the kids up to bed, and even I had made an excuse of feeling tired so that the siblings could have some time to themselves. 

I must have dozed off definitely, because I felt a cold hand on my shoulder. I opened my eyes and gasped. "Mobeen!" While lying in bed, I jumped back to get away from him, and fell off the bed, tangled in my duvet.

And the fall from the bed is what really woke me up. I felt tears in my eyes. I had bit my tongue in the fall, and the nightmare had left me shaken.

I'm safe. I'm safe. It's okay. I'm safe.

I got up, my entire body trembling with fear, and put my glasses on. The bedside lamp was still on, and I glanced around at the empty room. But, feeling paranoid, I went to the window and checked to make sure that it was shut properly. I then went to the en-suite bathroom and looked around to make sure that nobody was hiding in there. I even checked the wardrobes of the room!

During childhood and adolescence, I used to get nightmares because of the bullying. And now, because of Mobeen. When will I be free of these nightmares?

I got back into bed, pulling my duvet off the floor. Snuggling into it, I took my glasses off again and closed my eyes, choosing to leave the lamp on. Just as I was drifting back to sleep, my phone vibrated, making me jump. I need to remember to put it on silent mode! Annoyed, I reached for it.

<Rohaan: You awake?>

It was almost two. I had only read his message on the lock screen notification, and I wasn't sure whether to answer him or not. He knew me too well. If he ended up coming up here, he would realise that there was something wrong with me. And I was sick of always worrying him by being a weakling in front of him. 

But I also wanted to cuddle in his arms. He made me feel like all my problems could just magically disappear.

<Yamna: 💭🦄>

<Rohaan: You are dreaming of unicorns?>

<Yamna: 😴>

<Rohaan: Are you going to use only emojis to communicate with me?>

<Yamna: 🐹😴>

<Rohaan: I'm coming.>

My heart started pounding harder automatically. 

<Yamna: 🚪🔑>

<Rohaan: Are you serious?>

<Yamna: 🥰🌙⭐😴>

Feeling sleepy, I set the phone on the bedside table, a smile on my face.

*

Rohaan

I stretched my arms up. "I think I'm going to turn in." 

"Already? Isn't this your snacking hour?" Behaya grinned.

"I'm tired." I shrugged.

"Rohaan Rehan Tariq, tired before all of us? Are you unwell?" Arsal chuckled.

"Kuch to gadhbadh hai." Behaya wriggled both eyebrows at me. 

*"There's something fishy going on."

"Remember the time Rohaan was up till Fajr on a school night, playing video games and eating snacks?" Hoor laughed. 

"Oh yeah, he was downstairs in the living room, but Mama didn't realise that, and she panicked because Ro never woke up until someone woke him up." Arsal added. "And she came running downstairs, in tears, and found him on the sofa with chocolate and crisps wrappers beside him, as well as an empty can of soft drink!"

"Oh the stomach ache I had that day! And the head ache from lack of sleep. I had to come home sick from school." I sat back down on the sofa.

"Mama was fuming." Hoor said.

"But nothing beats the time Ro and I decided to skateboard at midnight!" Haya laughed hard. "We thought we were so cool, but we both ended up hurting ourselves pretty badly."

"Yeah. A&E trip at one in the morning. I've never seen Papa that irritated." 

"He was only irritated because Haya Appi was involved. If it was just you, Ro, you would have been sent to boarding school." Arsal pointed out. "His leniency was only due to Haya Appi."

"I agree." 

"Don't worry, even if that was true, Mama would have sent me too." Behaya shrugged. "Their actions and punishments balance each other out."

"But admit it. My a** has been kicked the most." I said.

"That's because you deserved it." Behaya threw a cushion at me.

"Exactly!" Hoor nodded. "None of us were as bad as you."

"You made fun of a teacher at school by pointing out that he wore a wig." Arsal reminded me, kindly.

"You told a kid that his teeth made him look like Bugs Bunny." Hoor added.

"When you were five, you told a kid that he was turning into a donkey. The kid was so terrified that he started getting nightmares, and his parents complained."

I grinned at my wonderful praise.

"You put glue in the inside of my school trousers, so when I ended up wearing it..." Arsal shook his head.

"You chopped the hair of my dolls." It was Hoor's turn.

"You..."

"Okay, okay. I get it. I deserved the a** kicking." I held up both hands in surrender.

It was another hour before I stood up again to head upstairs.

Even Hoor stood up. "I really shouldn't have stayed up this late. I shouldn't be sacrificing my sleep. Ali gets up really early sometimes and then he won't let me or Farhaan sleep. He's totally like you, Ro." 

"So is Arham." Behaya added. "And he's always praising Ro."

"Arham is taking my revenge, because you have been a pain to me my whole life." 

"And Ali? I never did anything to you, Ro." Hoor looked at me.

"You're only crime is that you're Behaya's twin. You are guilty by association."

Hoor smiled as Arsalan laughed, while Behaya threw another cushion at me.

When I got upstairs, Yamna's door was closed, but I could see the light on. When I knocked, there was no reply, so I walked away, wanting to let her sleep in peace.

*

Yamna

I woke up for Fajr, and realised that Rohaan hadn't come to my room. Shaking off the thought, I went to the bathroom for wudhu. 

When I came out, I pulled on a black abaya and a slip-on hijab. I looked through the wardrobe for the jayi namaaz (prayer mat), and found it on the second shelf. After praying, I raised my hands up in dua, and prayer for the happiness and health of my entire khandaan.  

Once I was done, I removed my hijab and abaya, before heading back to bed. But then an idea came into my mind. I opened the door and peeked my head out into the hallway. Once I saw that the coast was clear, I sneakily walked towards Rohaan's room. I could see the door slightly ajar, and the light on. I lightly knocked on the door, before slipping inside. He was sitting on the prayer mat, making a dua, wearing white shalwar kameez.

He finished and stood up, folding the prayer mat, before turning to look at me.

"You didn't come earlier." I said as he put the prayer mat away into the wardrobe.

"My siblings held me hostage, and when I knocked on you door, there was no answer." He reached out for me as I approached him, taking me in his arms. 

"Shalwar kameez looks good on you, Ma Sha Allah." I whispered. As does everything else!

"So, to what do I owe this pleasure of being visited by you at Fajr?" 

"I wanted to come and say hello."

"Hello? Seriously?"

"And now goodbye." I turned to head back out, but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back towards himself, with my back colliding against his chest.

"Stay."

I turned to look at him. "In your room? Here?" 

"It's almost morning anyway. Why not?" 

"How would I explain my presence in your room if anyone catches us?" 

"We don't need to explain. We're married." He led me to the bed. 

"I...I really should go back to my room." I spoke timidly, my gaze on the ground. 

He sighed. "Okay. I understand." 

I placed my hands on his shoulders and leaned up to kiss his cheek. "Good night, Rohaan." 

"Good night, hamster." 

I left the room, closing the door behind me.

*

Morning was a chaos, but a beautiful kind. The kind where you have all your extended family preparing for breakfast, and having a wonderful time together. 

My task was to set up the table outside on the patio deck. It was a beautiful, warm day, with the sun shining brightly in the cloudless sky. Today I wore a pink floral long skirt, along with a white blouse with full sleeves. My hair was in a braid tied by Mama, and I wore pink floral studs in my ears. 

Arsal Bhai brought out some plates and placed them on the table. I gave him a smile and he smiled back. 

He cleared his throat. "Thank you, Yamna. Tahira told me that you were constantly helping her feel comfortable here yesterday." 

"We're a family. You don't need to thank me." I shrugged.

"Yeah, but I wanted you to know that I really appreciate it." 

"I would want someone to be there for me if I was in her shoes." I admitted honestly. 

"Yeah. Me too." He agreed.

I really liked that about Arsal Bhai. He was never afraid of admitting things that the world considered 'wimpy' or 'weak' for a man. I admired that and respected him a lot for it. He was much stronger and braver than he gave himself credit for.

"Grasshopper." Rohaan came out into the patio deck. "Your phone was ringing." He handed Arsal Bhai his phone.

A small smile appeared on Arsal Bhai's face as he looked at his phone screen, before he excused himself and headed inside.

"Can he be more obvious?" Rohaan came around the table and stood beside me, grasping my wrist. "How was your night?"

I briefly got a flashback of Mobeen's face in my nightmare, but I pushed it to the back of my mind. "Full of sleep. Yours?" 

"I only slept after Fajr, and now my brain feels like it's puking." 

"I don't even know where you come up with your Rohaanisms." I shook my head.

"As Arsal says, my mind is a mystery that even I, as a detective, can't solve." He ran a hand up and down my back. "Any more nightmares?" 

Why does he know me so well? Why? I looked up at him. "Yes, but don't worry."

"Okay, hear me out..." He said. "Harris may know someone who can help you through this." 

Harris Emaad, a family friend of Rohaan's family-as well as a relative from Hoor Appi's in-laws- was a psychiatrist, following in the footsteps of his father.

"Clearly, this Mobeen b*****d has let a deep impact on you." He wrapped his arm around my shoulders now.

I shook my head. "I'm fine. I'll be fine."

"We're all educated here. We know that there's nothing wrong with seeking help for our mental health. In fact, it's just as important as our physical health."

"I know there isn't." I said. "If it doesn't get better, I'll seek help." 

"Okay, but at least tell me when you get nightmares." He smiled. "If needed, I'll read from that book of yours, The Deceitful Mind, since the mind of the author deceives people in believing that such love stories can actually exist." 

I burst out laughing. "The Faithful Heart!"

"Same thing." 

"No it isn't." I laughed harder. "You're so mean. Stop ruining my favourite book for me." I wrapped an arm around his waist.

Someone cleared their throat. "Sorry for the interruption." 

My cheeks burned as I turned to see Haya Appi in the doorway, bringing out a platter containing toast, while grinning cheekily.

"You're always going to be a Behaya. No need to apologise for it." Rohaan didn't remove his arm from around me, even as I removed mine from around him.

"I'll go and bring something else out." I immediately rushed towards the door leading inside. 

*

The breakfast was wonderful. It felt great to be together again after such a long time, especially with our grandparents finally home.

As we were sitting back and finishing off our tea/coffee/hot chocolate, Maham came over to Rohaan and shyly tugged at his sleeve. "Mamu, I need your jacket and sunglasses."

"What for, sweetheart? You want to play Detective again?" Rohaan ruffled her hair.

Maham nodded, shyly.

"Okay, I'll get them for you, Princess." Standing up, Rohaan excused himself.

Maham was already holding a small water pistol, as a fake gun. 

"Oh, that reminds me!" Hoor Appi said. "We got you that detective set, Maham honey. Now you'll have more things to play with. Ali, get it from that bag I set aside, please. Get the whole bag."

Rohaan returned with his jacket and sunglasses, while Ali returned with the detective kid.

"Why are you spoiling my kids, Hoor?" Haya Appi sighed.

"Because I'm their Khalla. It's my job." 

Ali brought the bag out and Hoor Appi gave Arham a remote control car that he wanted to open immediately, and Maham got her detective kit.

Maham, beloved of her Rohaan Mamu, brought it up to him to open it, while pushing his big sunglasses up the bridge of her small nose.

Rohaan opened the kit, a bag which contained a fake radio, binoculars, magnifying glass, a camera that made snapping sounds, a torch and an ID card on a lanyard on which the child's name could be written.

"Is this like real, Mamu?" Maham asked, happily.

"It's better than real, my love. I wish I had this." Rohaan smiled at her.

"Can we play detective?" She asked, biting her lip as she looked up at him, hopefully.

"I need some sleepy, sweetheart, but we'll play when I wake up. I promise." Rohaan said. 

"Maham, Arham, are you two going to thank your Khalla?" Haya Appi's tone was filled with disapproval.

"THANK YOU, KHALLA!" Both kids shouted, running over to hug Hoor Appi.

"Aww, sweethearts. I love you both so much." Hoor Appi wrapped her arms around her nephew and niece.

It was such an adorable scene, Ma Sha Allah, and everyone smiled as they witnessed it.

*

I wore Rohaan's jacket, and carried the torch and the camera, the water pistol in my pocket. I was playing with Maham, and she was the criminal.

I heard a soft giggle behind a chair, and resisted the urge to smile. "This criminal is too good for me. I'll never catch her...or him." Quickly, I sneaked up to her and crouched down. "Hi!"

Maham shrieked and giggled some more. "Oops! You caught me!"

"You are very smart. But I'm a very good detective." I grinned.

She went to sit on the patio deck stairs, and I took a seat beside her. "Mama said to call you Mumani now. Why?" 

"Because I'm married to your Mamu." I explained.

"What's married?" She wrinkled her nose in confusion.

"You know how at the end of a princess film, the prince and the prince are together? The princess is generally shown in a white dress, and everyone is happy?" 

She nodded.

"That's the wedding. That's when two people get together, and then live together. Like your Mama and Papa as well."

"Why do they live together? Why doesn't Mama live with her Mama and Papa?" 

Kids today are too smart. "Maham, you'll understand more when you're older, okay? For now, tell me. Do you want to be a detective like Rohaan Mamu?"

She nodded. "I want to catch bad guys and win!" 

I kissed her cheek. "I'm sure you'll be great."

She leaned up to kiss my cheek too. "You're pretty! You're like a princess, Mumani!" 

"No, the only princess here is a sweet little girl named Maham!" 

"I'm Maham!" She raised her hand excitedly. 

"Princess Maham." I corrected her.

She grinned. 

*

A few hours later, I put Rohaan's jacket on again and went to wake him up for lunch.

The door was dark and cold, thanks to the air-conditioning. I softly closed the door behind me and walked over to the bed carefully, as my eyes got adjusted to the darkness.

Judging by the sound of his breathing, I leaned over. "Rohaan?" I reached out and my hand felt his bare bicep. "Rohaan..." 

I thought about how he had managed to solve my Mobeen problem. I thought about how protective he was of me. I thought about how much he cared about me. I felt an intense amount of love for him within me. Reaching up, I ran my hand through his hair. "Rohaan?" 

He turned to switch sides, and I lost my balance and fell onto him. I pulled my legs up onto the bed, snuggling up against him, running my fingers up and down his torso, over his chest and down to his stomach, then back. 

"Hamster?" 

I heard fiddling and then the lamp light came on. 

"What are you doing?" His arm wrapped around my waist, holding me close. 

"I came to wake you up for lunch."

"When we start living together, In Sha Allah, this is how I always want to be woken up." 

I smiled. "Only if I get the same treatment."

"Deal."

He began to sit up, and I sat up straight as well. His gaze went down over me. "You're wearing my jacket."

"Maybe I'm in the mood to play detective?" I shrugged.

He grabbed me by the lapels and pulled me closer. I sat up on my knees, burying my face against his neck. His hand tangled through my hair, and I turned my head. Our lips met in a kiss that sent sparks all through my body.

I moved back and stood up. "Everyone's waiting for lunch."

He got up as well, towering over me, and as I turned to go, he wrapped his arm around my waist from behind, practically lifting me off the ground. I saw our reflection in the full length mirror, and I felt so much desire within me. His grip around my waist had caused my blouse to rise up, and with his other hand, he ran his fingers over my exposed stomach. He kissed my neck softly, but I sensed a hint of possessiveness in his kiss, in his touch. I turned to face him. "Rohaan..."

He stopped me from continuing the sentence with a kiss so intense that I felt my knees weaken. A soft groan escaped my mouth, and I wrapped my arms around his neck.

Suddenly, he scooped me up in his arms and carried me to his bed. He lay me down and then leaned over me, his lips brushing over my neck, moving down towards my shoulder. I tangled my fingers through his hair. Our lips met again and I forgot about the world around me.

Until there was an urgent knock on the door.

"Rohaan?" Anabia Tayi's voice came from the other side.

*

The joys of being in a joint family!

It seems like Tahira and Arsal always face issues, but sometimes our problems make us stronger, and hopefully that's the case with these two.

Favourite part?

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Thank you for reading and don't forget to vote!