© All copyrights belong to StarsAndMoon1447 on Wattpad

*

Yamna

I was terrified and in tears. 

"Yamna, where are you?" Rohaan's voice remained calm. 

"I...I don't know." I sobbed. I did know where I was, but my mind just wasn't thinking logically. I was letting fear control it.

"Yamna, you need to remain calm, okay? Take deep breaths. Tell me where you are." 

I wiped away tears from my cheek. "My glasses are getting steamed up because of my tears. My eyes are blurry. I'm going to crash. I'm going to die, Rohaan. I don't want to die." I burst into tears.

"Yamna, I'm trying to keep you safe, but you need to tell me where you are." He said, and I heard a car door slam in the background.

"I'm near the Wickham Roundabout, near the petrol station close to my home." I finally regained some control of myself.

"Right, so the nearest police station is approximately...eight minutes from there." He said. "Go there. Drive through Marlborough Road. It's busier and you should be safer going through there."

"I'm scared." I said, timidly.

"Hamster, remember I asked you to trust me? Do this, okay? Follow my instructions. I'm on my way as well." 

"Okay...through Marlborough Road. Okay." I nodded, as if he could see me. I drove until I was at the busier road and was relieved to find people. God forbid if anything happens, there would be witnesses...or someone to help me. "Okay, I'm driving though it." I glanced in the rear-view mirror. "Oh."

"What's wrong? You okay?" 

"Someone cut in, in front of the car. So now there's a car between me and that person."

"Good, that buys us time. Carry on driving." 

"Hmm." Unable to stop myself, I sobbed again. I had never felt terror on this level before. 

"Yamna, recite Ayat-ul-Kursi. Push your fear to the back, and think about safety. Focus on getting to the police station, okay?"

I didn't reply. I was panicking again.

"Hamster, focus on my voice. Are you listening?" 

"Hmm."

"You'll be fine, In Sha Allah. Tell me where you are. Have you turned from Marlborough Road?" 

"I'm just turning now. I'm passing by the Sainsbury branch." 

"Good. Not too long now." 

"You're coming right?" My voice trembled.

"Of course I am." 

A different car was behind me now, but my instincts said that the person following me was still there. I increased the speed of my car, giving no regards to the speed limits.

I felt cold and I was trembling, but finally I saw the sign for the police station. "Ya Allah! Thank you, Allah! Rohaan, I'm here at the police station."

"Good. Go inside. I'm going to get there soon." 

The call ended and I pulled up into the parking lot at the side, and I was relieved to find the stalker car speed past. I got out of the car, my legs trembling. I rushed towards the police station, my heart pounding with fear as I worried about the stalker coming back.

*

Rohaan

I was p***ed, but I didn't know who I was mad at more: myself, for putting Yamna in this situation, or for that person who had dared gone after her.

I had no doubt that Yamna was in this situation because of me. She had no enemies. I did.

I arrived at the police station and saw Saba Chachi's car parked there. Jogging to the entrance of the police station, I pushed the doors open and stepped inside. I immediately saw Yamna sitting on a chair in a small waiting area, talking to a policewoman. "Yamna!"

The two looked up. Yamna jumped up to her feet and ran towards me, throwing herself into my arms with a sob.

"It's okay, Yamna. You're okay." I whispered, holding her tightly in my arms.

The policewoman approached me. "Your wife?"

I nodded, taking my wallet out to show her my ID. "Detective Rohaan. I'm off duty at the moment, but I told her to come here." 

"I am PC Emily Johnson. We are trying to see if we can run the number plates on the car, using CCTV footage." The policewoman informed me.

Yamna was trembling in my arms, my shirt soaking wet with her tears.

"Why don't you take her home?" PC Emily suggested. "Leave your contact details and we'll be in touch."

"She could still be in danger when she walks out of here." I sighed. "I'll take her in my car." 

I gave the policewoman my name and contact details, and headed out with Yamna, keeping my arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders.

As I drove her towards Chachu's house, I kept a hand over hers.

"What if this person reaches my house? What if he or she harms my parents?" Yamna whispered, worriedly.

"I'm not going to let anyone hurt you or your family." I glanced quickly at her.

"I was so scared."

"I know." I squeezed her hand. 

"Who could it be? I don't have enemies." 

My jaw clenched. "Yes, but I do." 

"That was quick service. We got married in a private ceremony and your enemies already found out?!" She looked at me in disbelief.

"Remember the man who chased you out of the Tube? Even he somehow knew that you were important to me."

She shook her head. "I hate feeling like this. I just want to feel safe again." She hugged herself.

"I'll do everything I can to make sure that you do." 

*

THE DAY BEFORE (NIKAH DAY)

Arsalan Rehan Tariq

**DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND**

I headed up the stairs slowly after Mama told us that we had to go and get the brides. I still couldn't believe it. The girl that I had loved since university was now my wife. It had started as a simple story. A girl with a difficult life who encouraged a shy boy to be more courageous...to find the inner lion within him. Our story hadn't been easy. We'd both faced the pain of staying apart. And that one illicit kiss that had almost destroyed my parents' marriage...

It had been a long journey, a roller coaster, but finally we are here.

I knocked lightly on the door where Tahira waited.

"Come on in." Her soft voice made my heart pounded harder.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Sitting there in her beige dress, with her tea pink dupatta over her head, she turned to look up at me. Her dark eyes, almond eyes that used to be filled with pain when we first met, had brightness in them that made me smile. Closing the door behind her, I walked towards her. "Assalam Alaikum, Hira."

"Walaikum Assalam." She gave me a soft smile.

I grabbed her forelock and recited the dua just the way Papa had taught me and Rohaan. Then I placed my hands on the side of her head and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Ma Sha Allah." I took her hands in mine. "I have come to take you downstairs." 

She stood up and put her hands on my upper arms. "You have such a regal look about you, in this sherwani." 

I smirked. "Like a king? A lion?" 

She laughed. "God, I was so cheesy when I was younger."

I shook my head. "No, you weren't. You have no idea how much courage your words gave me. You impacted my life so greatly, that it lead me to fall in love with you."

"You know, Aslan, I never thought that I was worthy of you. I always believed that I would bring nothing but trouble in your life. And what happened at Haya Appi's Nikah proved that..." She glanced away.

The kiss. 

"You have brought the greatest happiness in my life, Hira." I shrugged. "And great things are worth these troubles and dramas. As long as it all worked out at the end." 

We locked gazes and smiled at each other. I stepped closer to her. "I guess now it's halal."

"It definitely is, no guessing, no uncertainties." She placed both her hands on my cheeks, before leaning up to kiss me softly on the lips.

The lioness is braver than the lion... I smiled as she pulled back. 

"We've found our happiness at last, Aslan." She whispered, wrapping her arms around me and hugging me tightly.

"Alhumdulillah." I whispered.

*

PRESENT TIME

I stood outside Tahira's flat and rang the doorbell. Clearing my throat, I adjusted my dark grey tie. 

The door opened and there she stood in a red lace sari, her chestnut brown hair flowing down her back, and her almond eyes adorned with Smokey Eyed make-up. "Assalam Alaikum."

"Walaikum Assalam." I replied. "Ready?" 

"Ready." 

We were about to have our first post-Nikah date, but instead of going out, the introverts that we both were, we decided to have a formal date at her flat.

That's why I wore this black suit, and she wore this stunning sari. 

I handed her the bouquet of red roses that I held in my arms.

"These are beautiful." She stepped aside to let me in.

I stepped into her flat and she closed the door. "How was your first day as Mrs Arsalan?" 

She smiled, a soft blush spreading over her cheeks. "It was beautiful in the sense that I know that I am now in my Aslan's Nikah." She slid her free arm through mine, leaning her head against my upper arm.

As we entered the living room, I looked around in disbelief. It had been transformed into a romantic date-night spot. She had set up some candles in a candelabra on the coffee table, along with the cutlery. There were large throw cushions by the table, so I was guessing that we were going to be eating while sitting on them. Scented candles were also lit up around the room, and there were some rose petals spread around the area where we were going to have dinner. "You have put in a lot of effort, Hira."

"Well, you have wait patiently for me for ten years. It's the least that I can do." She smiled. "I didn't cook though. I thought we'd order out?"

"Of course! What would you like?" 

"Oh no, Mr Aslan. I'm ordering." She said. "I was thinking a mixture. There is this halal restaurant that serves Italian, Chinese, Desi, Thai, etc. Let's have a global dinner."

I laughed. "That sounds fun."

And it was fun. We could laugh, talk and be ourselves, all in the privacy of her home. It was the perfect date, for both of us. 

Once we were finished with the food, I asked, "Shall we go for a drive?" 

She nodded. "I'd like that." 

As we stepped outside the apartment building, we realised that it was a bit chilly. I looked at Tahira, who seemed to be shivering slightly. I took my suit jacket off and placed it over her trembling shoulders. "Better?" I asked.

She nodded. "This is perfect." 

Shyly, I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her against myself. 

"Actually, this is perfect." She said, softly.

When we were in the car, I turned to her. She looked so beautiful in the dim streetlight. I'd dreamt of these moments for years, of a time when we were bound by Nikah. And Alhumdulillah, that time was finally here. I leaned forward and kissed her, softly and hesitantly. This was still new to me, and I didn't want to do anything to make her uncomfortable in any way.

But she kissed me back, placing her hand on the back of my neck to pull me closer, deepening the kiss in the process. After a few moments, we pulled away, and I nuzzled her neck as I attempted to catch my breath.

"Aslan?" 

"Hmm?" I brushed a kiss over the softness of her neck.

"I'm blessed that I found you. And with you, I gained a family. Alhumdulillah."

I smiled at her. "I'm blessed that I found you. Because of you, I realised my own true strength." I had also learned to be an incredibly patient man while I waited for her.

We drove around for a while. She told me about how she was doing well at the Rose Luxe Hotel, and how Hoor Appi and Farhaan Bhai had supported her constantly. I told her about my work, and how much I enjoyed it. It was a sweet, simple conversation about normal topics, yet it seemed to bring us closer together. 

"Come on, let's get an ice cream." I suggested finally.

"That sounds great! I forgot to order a dessert..."

"Don't worry about it. We'll have it now." I glanced quickly at her.

We ended up at a desserts shop, and shared a large Chocolatier sundae, consisting of chocolate chip gelato, chocolate fudge brownie gelato, with soft vanilla ice cream, milk chocolate sauce, milk chocolate blossoms and a wafer. 

"It's so pretty that I almost don't want to eat it." Tahira smiled.

But we shared it and it was delicious. 

"Do you want the wafer?" She looked at me with hopeful eyes. When I shook my head with a smile, she took the wafer and bit into it, a smile on her face as well.

We ate in comfortable silence for a while.

"You know, I'm going to be honest. After...our kiss, I didn't think Aunty would accept me as a daughter-in-law." 

I didn't think that either. In fact, I had been shaking with nerves when I approached my parents about my rishta with Tahira.

*

FLASHBACK

I finished off an entire glass of water, as I sat in front of my parents in our living room. They stared at me expectantly, probably wondering why I was acting like a father whose wife was about to deliver their first child.

"I...I want to marry Tahira." I blurted out. And then I closed my eyes because I was afraid of Mama's expressions.

"Tahira?" 

I opened my eyes and saw that Mama had placed a hand on Papa's forearm, her lips pursed. Okay, Arsal, this isn't going well. Prepare for heartbreak. "Mama... We never repeated...that mistake again. We were young and we went astray, but it never happened again, I promise! It's been years, but I still want to marry her."

"Anya, you cannot judge her. It's not fair. Our son had equal contribution, and you forgave him eventually, and you don't judge him." Papa glanced at her. "Yes, it wasn't a small mistake from either side, but as Arsu said, they were young and they went astray. They didn't repeat the mistake again." He then turned to me. "What does Tahira want?" 

"She w-wants the same." I looked at Mama, like a little kid who had three chocolate chip cookies sneakily right before lunch. "She wanted to wait before she could become a little more independent, and now that she is..."

"We will discuss this and we'll let you know." Papa told me.

God, this sounds like a job interview. I nodded. "Okay, Papa." 

I could tell that Mama didn't look comfortable at the idea, but I got up and left, praying to Allah that Mama accepted the idea of my marriage to Tahira.

The next day, Mama approached me and said that she was going to discuss this with Tahira herself. Since Tahira had no parents or guardians with her, Mama felt that it was best for her to talk to her alone, to prevent Tahira from feeling intimidated. For a few moments I had been intimidated, but then Papa had nodded at me, giving me a reassuring smile.

I swear, as much as I was my Mama's boy, I had no idea where me and my siblings would be half the time without Papa's help.

*

PRESENT

"Mama isn't a bad or a mean person." I said. "She just..."

"It's okay, Aslan. I never resented her, and I don't think negatively of her at all." Tahira placed her hand over mine. "I can see that she's a very loving and overprotective mother. I've wished that I had a mother like that, so I cannot feel bad that you have such a strong maternal support, Ma Sha Allah."

"I'm going to be honest with you, Hira."

"I sure hope so. Isn't honesty one of the most important parts of a marriage?" She spoke in a teasing tone.

I smiled. "I guess...I guess one can call me a Mama's boy. But not to an extent where she has completely control over my life and decisions. My parents respect our freedom and choices, as long as they are morally and religiously right." 

She nodded understandingly.

"I do give a high regard to my parents and their opinions when making decisions." I added. "However, from now on, your opinions would be equally important to me. You're my wife now. We're partners." 

"You are perfect, Aslan. I'm so, so glad that we met." She looked adoringly at me.

"I'm glad as well, Hira. I love you."

"I love you too, Aslan." 

*

When I got home, I realised I was home alone. My parents were at the Tariq family home, and Ro had left a message from me.

<Rohaan: I won't be home tonight. Double check all doors and windows, you grasshopper. You always forget.>

My brother probably found an 'exciting', in his words, case to deal with.

But I felt a little lonely. The last few days had been chaotic, as everyone prepared for the double Nikah. Shayaan had even stayed over a couple of nights, and he, me and Ro had played video games all night. Now it was all quiet. I headed into the living room and went to the bookshelf. In one of the shelves, Mama had placed a photo frame with a collage of us siblings.

I couldn't help smiling as I looked at it.

Ro and Haya Appi's banter.

The way Hoor Appi and I used to sit in this very living room, reading our respective books. 

Ro always messing around with us. 

The way my sisters and I often found ourselves ganging up on Ro to teach him a lesson for messing with us.

Damn, I miss my siblings.

It was almost sad how the people you grow up with, the ones you'd been with all your life, ended up scattering away. Now I hardly saw my sisters, sometimes only once or twice a month. 

It's life. I need to stop being such a baby about it.

People who I met, acquaintances, often told me that I was overly emotional for a guy. I was too soft, and that I would get eaten alive in this cruel world. When I was a kid in Primary School, I often got shoved around my mean boys because I was such a shy kid. I used to end up crying, and that made them laugh at me more. In such cases, my parents ended up at school for two different reasons: one, to speak to them about their anti-bullying policy, and threatening them with legal action. And two, because Rohaan had beaten up the kids who had bullied me.

But I was who I was, and I had learned to accept that a long time ago.

Hira accepted me for who I am. Hira loves me for who I am. And maybe that's why I love her even more.

I called her.

"Hey, Aslan. All okay?" 

"Hira, is it okay if I come over there and crash on the sofa at your place tonight?" I asked.

"I do have a guest room, Aslan. And yes, sure. Of course. Are you okay?" 

"I'm feeling a little lonely."

"We are married now, Aslan. You don't even have to ask." 

*

Yamna

Rohaan had told my parents the truth, but he had told it in such a calm and sensible way that they didn't panic as I expected them to. He reassured them that he would be with me and keep us all safe, and he asked if he could stay the night.

"Why are you asking?" Papa asked him. "This is your own home, Rohaan." 

"Yamna, you can take the box room. Rohaan can sleep in your room tonight." Mama told me.

The box room, the smallest room in the house, was just big enough to have a single bed and a dresser. 

"I'll take the box room, Chachi. It's fine." Rohaan said. "If this is my own home, no formalities."

And now, just after midnight, I sat on the floor of my room, my back against the bed, doing crossword puzzles. Puzzles really calmed me down. I had an ottoman in my room, as well as a sofa, but I felt comfortable sitting on the rug. I started to wonder if he was awake or asleep. I grabbed my phone.

<Yamna: You awake?>

I set the phone down as I continued to fill in the puzzle.

<Rohaan: I am.>

<Yamna: Is the bed comfortable? I think you're too tall for it.>

<Rohaan: I'm fine, hamster.>

<Yamna: Come to my room. I'm awake too.>

<Rohaan: You mean to the land of the unicorns? 🦄😂>

<Yamna: 😑😒>

<Rohaan: This much disappointment? S**t. I'm in trouble, aren't I?>

I didn't reply. A few seconds later, I heard a knock on my door.

I got up and walked over to opened the door. "Sorry. You're banned from the land of the unicorns..." I swallowed hard. 

His hair was messy, and the top three buttons of his shirt were opened, exposing his chest. "If you don't let me in, I'll sleep right here in the hallway, and then good luck explaining to Chachu and Chachi."

"You wouldn't..." I scoffed.

"Is that a challenge?" He raised an eyebrow at me.

Rolling my eyes, I stepped aside to let him in. I knew him well enough to know that he would lie down there. 

He walked straight over to my shelf and picked up the toy unicorn, before turning to face me with a grin. "So, I wasn't wrong."

"Haya Appi won it for me at a funfair." I muttered, walking to him to attempt to grab it from him. When he held it above his head, I frowned. "Stop holding things out of my reach!" I stood on my tiptoes, placing my hand on his shoulder and reached out towards the unicorn.

"Damn, you smell good." He wrapped his other arm around my waist, my stomach pressing against his. 

I stared into his eyes, my other hand now also resting on his shoulder. I shook my head. "My life is in danger. We don't have time for unicorns." I began to move away.

He held me tighter. "Your life is not in danger. Cheesy as it sounds, I'm standing between you and the danger." 

"You don't need to stand between me and danger." I dropped my gaze.

"I work for the police. It's my job."

"And you can look in my eyes and tell me that you're only acting as a policeman?" I looked up at him again and asked.

"What do you think, Yamna?" His voice was low.

There it was again. The way he said my full name. It caused butterflies to flutter in my stomach. 

"I don't want my husband to put himself in danger for me." 

"I guess we are at an impasse then because I will do anything and everything to keep the danger away from you." He took a deep breath. "But tonight, I want you to forget the danger, okay? I want you to sleep peacefully, knowing that you are safe."

I pulled away from him and walked to my bed. Getting over the duvet, I looked over to him, patting the empty space beside me. "Come." I took my glasses off and set them on the bedside table before sliding down into the bed. "Admit it. You are too tall to sleep in that bed. Just come and sleep here." 

He sat down. "Yamna, technically the rukhsati..."

"I'm in your Nikah. That fact should be more important." I said. "But if you really don't want this, I'll go and sleep in the other room." 

"It's not about what I want." 

"Okay, but please sleep in here. I'm going to the other room." 

"I'm fine, Yamna." He leaned down and kissed the top of my head. "But let me know if you need anything, okay? Or if you feel scared. Good night, hamster." 

"Good night." I snuggled under the duvet and closed my eyes as he turned off the light and left.

*

Arsalan

Tahira smiled at me as she opened the front door. She wore blue and grey flannel pyjamas, and her hair was in a messy bun. 

As the door closed behind us, I leaned down to hug her tightly.

"Everything okay, Aslan?" She whispered, running her fingers through my hair.

"Yeah. It's great." I whispered against her neck. "I've just been around people so much my whole life, that I got a little lonely. And you're literally the only one I can admit that in front of." 

"I'm your wife, your partner. You never have to face loneliness as long as I'm alive." 

I turned to look directly at her, my gaze falling to her lips. Unable to stop myself, I pressed my lips against hers. We kissed deeply, her arms wrapping around my neck.

A few minutes later, as we pulled away for air, she said, "Come to my room. We'll talk." She took my hand and led me down the hall.

For some reason, I felt a massive change in the air, as if something was going to happen between us. As she looked at me over her shoulders and smiled,  my heart skipped several beats. 

We entered her bedroom and the door closed behind us, sealing the secrets of the night within the four walls of Hira's bedroom.

*

Rohaan

"What?" I angrily answered my phone, roused from my sleep by the ringtone.

"Detective Tariq, this is PC Emily Johnson. We spoke earlier?" 

"Yes." I sat up in bed, leaning against the wall. "Any update?" 

"Are you familiar with a man named Mobeen Faraz?" 

Mobeen...Mobeen... I suddenly remembered who that was. "Yes, I am."

"The car belongs to him. A team has gone to speak to him regarding this."

My jaw clenched. "He bullied my wife. He got thrown out of university for cutting her hand with a knife, and he was arrested. I don't understand how he was left to roam free to come after my wife again!"

"We will be dealing with him, Mr Tariq, don't worry."

I spoke to her for a while, and I even said that I would come down there so I could speak to the f**ker myself. But because this wasn't my area, and this certainly wasn't my case, she asked me not to. I was merely the victim's husband at this point.

"We'll keep you updated." PC Emily promised me before hanging up.

There was a light knock on the door.

"Hmm?" I rubbed my eyes, calling out.

The door opened and I saw Yamna's silhouette in the doorway, from the light spilling out of her bedroom door. "Hey, Hamster. You still up?" 

"I couldn't sleep. And I was just coming back from the bathroom and I heard your voice." She closed the door and came over in the darkness to sit beside me...ending up sitting in my lap instead. "Sorry!" She began to move.

"No, stay." I held her there, wrapping my arm across her stomach. "PC Emily called me."

"In the middle of the night?" 

I leaned back against the wall, and she curled up in my lap, resting her head against my chest...my bare chest. S**t, I had my shirt off.

But Yamna seemed comfortable.

I wanted to tell her that it was Mobeen, but I wanted her to have a peaceful night's sleep. I felt her breathing even out as she fell asleep in my arms, on my lap. Chuckling, I took her glasses off and carefully leaned forward to place them onto the dresser. Even though I was damn uncomfortable, I fell asleep in that position, with Yamna snuggled in my arms.

*

Yamna

I woke up with my head against Rohaan's bare chest. My eyes widened and I gasped.

Ya Allah!

I stumbled off his lap and stood up,  glancing around briefly for my glasses before locating them on the dresser. I turned to look at my husband, who seemed very uncomfortable as he slept while sitting against the wall. Smiling weakly, I gently moved him to lay his head on the pillow, pulling the duvet over him. It wasn't easy too move him, and he briefly opened his eyes and muttered my name.

"Shh. Go to sleep." I whispered, running my hand over his forehead and through his hair.

It seemed to be really early, and I confirmed that by checking the time on his phone: six thirty. Fortunately, it was Sunday morning, and both my parents were asleep, otherwise things would have been awkward for us. I winced as I realised that we'd slept through Fajr. I'm going to have to definitely pray it as a qaza namaaz. 

*Reminder: characters are not perfect Muslims. Prayers should not be missed and should be done as timely as possible.*

Performing the morning routine, instead of going back to bed, I went downstairs to make breakfast. There was a certain peace about waking up early, while everyone else was asleep.

I was sitting at the kitchen table, drinking my tea and having buttered toast, when Rohaan walked in. "Good morning, Detective."

He leaned down to kiss the top of my head. "Good morning, hamster. Saba Chachi is a lifesaver. She had given me a new toothbrush and a towel last night." 

My mind returned to seeing him shirtless in bed. Those abs, those biceps, those muscles in general... I choked on my toast.

"Yamna." He quickly rushed to give me a glass of water, patting my back. "You okay?" 

My mind is too full of you, that's all. I nodded, sipping water. Clearing my throat, I asked. "Shall I make you breakfast?"

"It's okay. You have yours. I'll make it myself." He wondered around the kitchen casually, as familiar as he was in his own home. Of course. This was the house of his beloved Chachu. He paused, before coming back and sitting down on the other empty chair. "I don't want to worry you, but it's something that you need to know."

"Is it about whoever was chasing me?" 

He nodded. "It was Mobeen."

"Mobeen? The idiot from university who cut me with a knife?" I held up my hand to look at the scratch. "How does he know where I live? Or where I was?"

"I don't know. The police is dealing with it."

"You are also the police. Didn't they tell you?" 

"It's not my area, not my case. I'm simply your husband in this case." He sighed. 

"The law of this country is so soft. That's why criminals commit crimes so openly. They don't fear the consequences. All they get is a slap on the wrist." I muttered.

"Right, so we're pretty much even." His tone lightened up.

"What do you mean?" 

"You punched someone who deserved it, and now you're chased by someone who wants revenge. Yamna Rohaan, are you copying out the normal events of my life?" 

I couldn't help laughing at that. "I am inspired by my husband. What can I say?" 

He leaned forward to kiss my cheek. "I'm going to go now, okay? I'm going to stop by the house and then go to work."

"What about breakfast?"

"I'll get something to eat at home." He stood up. "Take care, okay? Let me know if you need anything, or if there are any issues."

"I will." 

He leaned down and softly kissed my lips. "I love you, hamster."

"I love you too." 

*

Rohaan

I was ready for work and was making breakfast when I heard the front door open. Frowning, I headed out into the foyer. "What the f**k? I thought you were asleep."

Arsal looked sheepish as he closed the door, dressed in a suit.

I smirked. 

"Shut up." He muttered, heading straight for the stairs.

"You cheeky grasshopper! Taking advantage of the parents' absence, huh?" 

He narrowed his eyes at me. "And where exactly were you last night, Ro?" 

"I was at my Chachu's house." I shrugged.

This time he smirked. "Right. Chachu's house." 

I headed back into the kitchen, chuckling, as he disappeared upstairs.

He came back downstairs after twenty minutes as I ate breakfast, and sat down opposite me on the kitchen table. As I took a sip of my coffee, I did a double take. I could see a clear hickey on his neck. Normally, I wouldn't have said anything. It was his business. They were a married couple. However, I knew that he might be in a very embarrassing or awkward situation should someone see it and point it out to him. And as much as I loved teasing the hell out of my siblings, the thought of them facing embarrassment in front of other people was unacceptable. "Arsal?"

He looked up.

"You have a little something..." I gestured towards his neck.

His eyes widened and he slapped his hand over it. His cheeks turned red. A few seconds later, he muttered. "Go ahead. Give me a hard time about it."

I stood up to make another cup of coffee, slapping the back of his head. "Shut up, grasshopper. I haven't crossed the limits of behayai." 

"Are you...are you judging me?" He asked, quietly.

I turned to look at him. "I don't know anything about it. I don't know what you're talking about."

He looked back at me with a genuine smile, the way he used to when he was a kid and I gave him a chocolate or something.

"I'm going to go to work. See you later." I strode out of the kitchen.

"It's Sunday." 

"Crime never takes a day off." I replied, simply. "Plus, I'm covering someone's shift." I dialled a number and held the phone against my ear as I walked to the car. "Hey, this is Rohaan. You remember you owe me several favours right?" When the person at the other end acknowledged that, I continued. "I need you to find out everything you can about this person named Mobeen Faraz. I'll send you more details soon, but I need information on him as soon as possible."

"Why?" 

"Because this son of a b***h messed with someone I love." I stated tonelessly.

*

Mobeen will have to pay for repeatedly messing with Yamna! 

Arsal truly is the boldest of the bunch, it seems 😲!

Favourite part?

Thoughts and comments?

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