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*

Haya

"Behaya ki behayai." Rohaan sang out.

I glared at him. "What are you on this time?"

I had been sitting in the living room, completely minding my own business as I sketched new art for my page, when my brother had decided that my life was too peaceful.

"Who is Aariz?" He asked.

My eyes widened in surprise. "What?"

"I overheard a gossip between Dado and Mama." He smirked. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but the ears can't help listening."

"What gossip?" I asked curiously. What possible gossip could he have heard that involved Aariz?

"I'd tell you, but what do I get in return?"

Brothers are evidence that life isn't perfect.

But it turned out that Rohaan's little plan to get something in return was doomed to fail. Because Mama and Dado walked in right then, looking serious.

"Rohaan, I need to talk to your sister. " Our mother simply stated.

Without a word, Rohaan got up, but not before I saw the disappointment on his face.

"What's going on?" I asked my mother and grandmother, as they sat down on either side of me. "Did something happen?"

"Haya..." Mama began. "Before anything goes further, I want to ask you something."

"What?"

"Haya," Dado spoke after Mama looked at her. "Rebecca wants to bring a marriage proposal for you for her nephew Aariz."

I was stubbed at this bombshell. "Marriage?"

"We wanted to find out what you think about this." Mama added.

I thought about the orthopaedist who loved cricket... and who clearly admired my paintings. He was handsome, no doubt, but more than that, he seemed like a kind and compassionate man. But marriage? "Umm... I don't know."

"You have doubts?" Dado guessed.

"No, I mean, I literally don't know." I shrugged.

Mama put a hand over her forehead. "Haya, don't make me give a cliché speech about how good rishtay are hard to find. But, although that statement is true, I also don't want to force you. It's completely your choice."

My choice.

I mean, it's not like I ever wanted a love marriage. I always knew that whenever I married, my parents would choose for me. "What does Papa have to say about this?"

"I wanted your opinion before we dropped this bombshell on him." My mother looked sheepish.

"Tell him. I'll leave this decision completely up to you guys."

"Haya..."

"I'm serious, Mama." I grabbed her hand. "I'll let you and Papa decide this."

"So, you won't have a problem if this goes ahead?" Dado asked.

"If all my elders are satisfied with it, I really don't have a problem." I grinned. "I would really like to see Papa's reaction, though."

Mama and Dado laughed, and I just knew that they agreed with me.

♡♡♡

Hooriya

"I don't know what to wear." I groaned, staring at my clothes in the cupboard. "I should start wearing the B&B uniform. It'll save me from this daily trouble."

Again, I was alone. Again, Farhaan was away for a meeting with the investors and Faiz Uncle. I was starting to feel that lately, Farhaan only had a guest appearance in my life. It made me feel a little lonely, but I didn't complain. I understood how important reviving the original hotel was to him.

Our whole lives seemed to revolve around work now, and a part of me really disliked that. This was not how I imagined my newly married life!

"You know what?" I continued speaking to myself. "I need a day off today. I'm tired."

I called Julia and told her that I wasn't going to be coming in before changing into a long pink floral skirt, with a plain pale pink blouse that had three-quarter length sleeves. Pulling my hair into a braid, I headed out.

My first stop was going to be at my in-laws' house to meet Anaya Aunty.

My plans, however, changed completely when I received a message from my twin:

<Haya: I need to see you. ASAP. But not at home. Come there.>

'There', also known as 'twinland' by Ro, because it was a place where Haya and I almost always went together when we needed to talk. It was a café overlooking the Thames. On the face of it, it was just another café, but my twin and I loved their tuna melt paninis and coffee. It was a twin spot, so as of yet, neither of us had ever been there with anyone else.

<Hooriya: Free now?>

<Haya: I am. But are you? 😝>

It was sad, actually. Lately, every time my siblings wanted to meet up, I'd been busy. The plans that the Rehan siblings used to make together were slowly starting to decrease, causing me to be almost isolated from the three.

<Hooriya: I'm reaching there in half an hour.>

*

"What?" I stared at Haya, shocked. "A marriage proposal?"

"From Aariz Abdullah."

"What did you say? No?"

"I said that I'll go by whatever my elders decide." She shrugged.

"Wow." I sat back in my seat. "I really thought you'd ask for more time or..." My eyes widened again. "Unless you really like him and you don't know how to directly admit it?"

She scoffed. "No. He's cool, but I don't really know him."

"But you're trying to... through our elders." I pointed out. "You didn't immediately refuse."

She looked away, but I was her twin; I didn't need her to verbally tell me how she felt. I just knew by reading her expressions.

"Dado has great words to say about Rebecca Aunty." I added. "If she raised Aariz Bhai, he must be a good one."

A small smile appeared on Haya's face, even as her gaze remained on the table. "Plus, he loves cricket."

"Anyone who loves your love can be your love?" I teased.

And then, for an incredibly strange reason, I thought about how Mohib had implied that we were a better match because of our shared love for literature.

"Whatever." My twin muttered, obvious to my ashen face. But when she looked up, she asked, "What's wrong?"

"Haya, do you think people can be good together for the long term if their likes and dislikes don't match?"

I came from a background of arts and culture. My paternal grandparents loved art and literature. My parents loved literature, reading, and writing. Yasin Chachu and Saba Chachi loved art. They all had similar tastes, as couples.

"Mamu likes plane engines, and Mumani likes baking." Haya argued.

True.

She narrowed her eyes at me. "How long haven't I met you that you're having these doubts, and I didn't even know?"

Well, not long. But my loneliness gave me time to overthink. A lot.

"And look at you and Farhaan Bhai." She added meaningfully. "Business-minded munda and a kudi of words. But you two are perfect together, Ma Sha Allah."

"I'm starting to feel like I'm incapable of handling the responsibilities that he trusts me with." I admitted. "I'm better with written words. I struggle when I have to use verbal words to express authority." I thought about the incident where Tahira, a new employee of the B&B, basically ended up dealing with a difficult customer-related situation, whereas I stood there uselessly.

"Oh, Hoor. You are capable of greatness, but you've always been too insecure." She put a hand on mine. "Compatibility matters, not likes and dislikes." She seemed to realise something. "I need a chance to see if Aariz and I are compatible."

I grinned. "So, you'll ask Papa to be nearby on a halal date?"

"Why not? Mamu was there when Mama and Papa met before marriage."

We'd heard from Mama how her twin brother had always looked out for her; even been her official mehram as she was trying to get to know Papa (on a personal, non-fangirl manner) before marriage.

"Although," Haya added cheekily. "It won't be an easy task."

*

Rehan

"Listen."

I looked up at Anabia as she sat down at the opposite side of my desk. "Hmm?" My gaze returned to my laptop.

"May I have your attention?" She asked.

I smiled. "Do I even have a choice?"

"Hans lain jitna hansna hai. Meri baat sunainge to shaiyad hansi na aaye aapko." She frowned.

*"Laugh all you want. After you hear what I have to say, then maybe you won't feel like laughing."

"What is it, Anya?"

"Haya ka rishta aaya hai."

*"A marriage proposal has come for Haya."

I finally gave her my full attention. "For Haya?"

"Bohat acha rishta hai, Ma Sha Allah. Of Dr Aariz Abdullah." Her eyes twinkled mischievously.

*"It's a very good proposal, Ma Sha Allah."

"Haya is too..." I began.

"Young?" Anya finished for me. "Can we check with Haya's married twin sister if she agrees?"

I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Rehan, Hoor's already been on her honeymoon! So why is the idea of Haya's marriage..."

I held up my hand. "Anya, honey, I really didn't need you to say that."

"I adore how your daughters are so precious to you, but they've grown up, Rehan." She spoke gently. "I really don't want to refuse such a great proposal for her."

I sighed. "Is she even ready? Haya?"

"She said she's left that decision to us." She saw my expressions and added, "Don't you say no without a valid reason."

"Fine. I need to find out everything about Aariz Abdullah."

"We know..."

"I need to find out for myself, Anya. I know Mum knows Rebecca, but I need to find out about any potential damad for myself."

A knock on the door made me look up over Anya's shoulder. "Come in."

The door opened, and Haya walked in. "I need to ask you something, Papa."

"Go ahead."

"Can I meet Aariz Abdullah with you nearby as my mehram?" She asked hesitantly.

*

Hooriya

I love Farhaan. It doesn't matter how different we are.

I arrived home feeling miserable. Although I was genuinely happy for Haya, I'd somehow allowed my own insecurities to eat up my mind so much that I couldn't help thinking about myself even when it was about Haya.

I'd loved him for so long that I can't even imagine loving another.

But could feelings that are formed as a childhood crush remain/develop into a forever, lifetime bond?

Love stories are just fiction. Reality is bitter.

What has gotten into you, Hoor?!

I stood in front of the mirror, my eyes welling with tears. Periods made me super emotional at times, making me want to cry at even the smallest thing.

I felt useless at the B&B.

I no longer had faith in my ability to be a lecturer.

And now I was wondering how long my relationship with Farhaan would remain strong, based on our different likes/hobbies, and this constant time apart.

"Hoor." A strong arm snaked itself around my waist, and Farhaan stepped up next to me, looking unbelievably s*xy in the reflection in the mirror, in a suit complete with a tie

I gasped and looked up into his blue-green eyes.

I believe that love can happen again in a lifetime, but certain kinds of lovecan nott have a repeat. It's once in a lifetime. Like with me and Farhaan. I shouldn't have doubts regarding us. I never should have had doubts. One look into his eyes reminded me that nothing mattered but our pure and sincere feelings for each other.

"Are you unwell?" He asked.

"No." I was confused by his question, as much as I was by his sudden appearance.

"You didn't go to the B&B. All okay?" He looked concerned.

"Yeah, I just needed the day off."

His expressions hardened a little. "Hoor, I told you about today and how important your presence was at work today. You assured me that you'd be there." At my confused expression, he continued, "The visit of the inspectors?"

"But that wasn't until..." Today! Oh crap!

"Julia was going to handle everything." He paced the room, frustrated. "All you had to do was just be there."

Haya was only younger than me by five minutes, but I was still technically the eldest and therefore most responsible. How could I slip up like this? I'd promised Farhaan that I'd be there.

"I'm sorry. I genuinely forgot." I stopped. Why didn't Julia remind me when I'd called her to tell her that I wasn't coming?

No. It wasn't right for me to blame someone else when I'm the one who had forgotten.

"I'm very sorry." I apologised again. "Was it a problem with the inspectors?"

He sighed. "If the owner or substitute isn't around, it looks like we don't care enough about the place to be around for an inspection. It doesn't leave a good impression."

I didn't know how to make amends. He hadn't forced me into any responsibility. I'd voluntarily accepted it. "Farhaan..."

"Hoor, if you no longer wish to help me out, let me know." He spoke quietly, but his tone heavily implied that I'd massively let him down.

"It's not like that!" I protested. I didn't know what I wanted, actually. I'd been shoved into the middle of a web of confusion and I couldn't detangle myself from it.

Lecturer? Possibly not. Helping at the B&B? Am I even capable? God, I'd even been doubting my relationship with Farhaan!

"Hoor."

I was starting to have trouble breathing.

"Hooriya."

I couldn't think or see clearly. I blindly pushed past him with my eyes welling up.

"Hoor!"

I ran to the front door and was fumbling to unlock it when he caught up to me.

"Hoor, what's the matter? Hey!" He gently grabbed me by the shoulders.

"I didn't m-mean to be irresponsible." I whispered out, unable to directly meet his gaze.

His expressions had already softened, seeing my breakdown. "Hoor, I know." He pulled me into his arms. "I know how responsive you are. That's why I completely trust you to run the B&B in my absence. It's okay. These things happen. Don't worry."

I wrapped my arms around him, snifling.

"Look, just please be more careful next time."

I looked up at him. "Is it okay if I spend a couple of days with Mama and Papa?"

"Hoor, you don't need my permission." He pulled away, slightly, placing his hands on my shoulders. "But, are you okay?"

I smiled reassuringly up at him. "I'm fine."

He kissed my forehead. "Look after yourself, Hooriya."

I nodded, placing my head against his chest again.

*

"Assalam Alaikum." I spoke softly.

Papa worked from home a lot, being the boss and all. Currently, he sat with his laptop on, but with his gaze on the plasma TV on the wall opposite his desk.

"Walaikum Assalam." When his gaze moved over to me, a pleasantly surprised grin appeared on his face. "Oh, hello there, stranger." He stood up, holding out his arm.

I walked up to him and wrapped my arms around his waist. "Cricket? I thought you and Chachu preferred footie."

"Blame Haya. And your Dada Jaan." He kissed the side of my head. "How are you, angel?"

"Attempting to be a businesswoman."

"How's that going?"

I scoffed. "I'd be a better cricketer."

He smiled. "What about being a lecturer? You still want that?"

I hesitate, not meeting his gaze. "I don't know. Is it natural to be so confused? To have so many doubts?"

"I can't say on a personal level, Angel, as I always knew what I wanted." He replied, guiding me over to the sofa. "But I've heard that it is, indeed, normal to be confused at your age."

I sighed. "I have too many doubts. How am I supposed to do anything without any self-confidence?"

"Hoor, it's important not to allow your doubts to become obstacles for you. You need to fight your way through, that's the only way. Try, no matter how uncertain you feel. We have to taught you to give up without trying, simply because of mere doubts."

I listened to him, knowing he was right. Mama often told me that people doubted her abilities when she became a duty manager in her mid-twenties. And now she was a station manager, Ma Sha Allah!

"First, decide what you want to do." He continued. "Then attempt it. Don't give it up because your doubts are trying to lead you astray."

I nodded. "You're right."

"Hoor!" Mama's surprised voice made me look up.

"Mama! Assalam Alaikum!" I jumped up and rushed over to the doorway where she stood. Giving her a hug, I held on tightly to her for a while.

"Walaikum Assalam! What a beautiful surprise." She kissed my cheek.

"I missed Papa." I teased her.

Mama glared at me, even as Papa laughed.

"I supposed I missed you too." I hugged my mother again, fighting back tears.

Mama suddenly pulled back. "Did Farhaan bring you? Is he here?"

"Relax, Mama. Your damaad isn't here." I reassured her. "I came by myself. I'm going to be staying a couple of days."

Immediately, she looked worried. "Is everything okay?"

I pouted slightly. "Can I not come to my parents' house without there being a reason to worry?"

"Of course you can, Angel!" Papa smiled. "Your mother just has a habit of overthinking."

I froze, staring at my mother who was narrowing her eyes at Papa. Yes, I was a lot like her. And Nano. We were a family of overthinkers. Grandmother, mother and daughter- continued through generations. Ro and Haya were nothing like that, but Arsu had that tendency too. "I can understand, Mama."

My mother looked at me again. "No, Hoor, don't be like that. Trust me; overthinking drives you mad."

Yeah, I can see that now.

I forced a smile onto my face. "Relax, Mama. I'm not on your level...yet."

Mama shook her head. "It's my own fault. I often used to laugh at my own mother for overthinking, and now my kids mock me for the same...encouraged by their beloved father."

"Anya, we would never dare mock you." A lazy grin spread over Papa's face, and he winked at me.

I giggled. Already, being at my parents' house was easing the heaviness in my mind.

*

I couldn't find my little notebook, the one I kept in my bag all the time, in which I wrote things to remember them, or random general thoughts.

Suddenly, I realised that the book was in Farhaan's office at the B&B, where I'd left it the last time I was there.  Feeling the urgent need to go and get it, I took the car keys and headed out. It was safe in my husband's office, and I wasn't too worried about anyone reading it.

I arrived at the B&B and got out of the car, locking it with the key fob, before heading to the front door. Farhaan's car was here, so I suppose that he had also come here.

"Hey, Hooriya." Unsurprisingly, Tahira was there. She seemed to be doing a lot of overtime, and she really enjoyed working here. "I wasn't expecting you."

"I left something." I smiled back at her. I headed up the stairs without a further word.

Knocking on the office door, I opened it when I heard Farhaan's reply. "Hey."

"Hey!" He looked surprised. "Missing me already?"

I grinned. "I left something of mine behind here."

He held up the small purple notebook, a mischievous smile on his face. "This?"

"Farhaan, did you read it?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Is this how much you love me, Hoor? I'm touched." He held up the  notebook.

"Nice try. But there's nothing about you in there." I giggled, closing the door and walking up to the desk.

He stood up. "Why are you closing the door, Hoor? You'll create a scandal!"

I placed my hands on his shoulders. "Did I tell you how much I missed you?"

"Why don't you show me instead?" He leaned down as the distance between us decreased inch by inch.

Our lips met in a soft, slow kiss. He placed his hands on my hips, holding me steady as I stood on my tiptoes. The practical part of me laughed internally at myself. How could I have ever doubted this?

My hands clasped behind his neck and I pressed myself closer against him. His one hand cupped my bottom, lifting me up even more. "Don't be mad at me, Farhaan." I pulled back a few moments later, gasping and pressing my forehead against his chest.

"I'm not, Hoor. I've known you too long. I know that this irresponsibility was uncharacteristic on your part."

We continued kissing and I didn't want to let go. But reality tends to act like an interfering Aunty Ji and always comes between a couple. His phone started ringing.

"I have to go." I breathed out between kisses, attempting to go.

"A few moments." He pressed his mouth harder against mine, making me gasp out with the sudden desire overwhelming my entire body.

The phone kept ringing until he finally pulled away, sighing. "People have no respect for romance."

"People don't know you're in the middle of romance." I moved away towards the desk to grab my notebook, but he grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me back in. I gasped and I barely blinked before he had his hand on the back of my neck and his lips were on mine once again.

This time, he got me to sit down on the desk and we lost ourselves in each other for a while before a sharp knock on the door interrupted us.

"Mr Farhaan?" An uncertain voice came from the other side of the door.

"I should go." I smiled up at my husband. Unable to resist myself, I leaned up for a quick peck on his lips, before backing away. "See you in a few days, Farhaan."

"Few?" He looked startled as I opened the door.

I laughed but composed myself ad I came face-to-face with a stoic-faced middle aged man in a suit. I recognised him as one of the family's lawyers. Leaving them be, I headed down the stairs, a cheesy smile on my face as I placed my fingertips over my sore lips. It had definitely felt like forever since we had made out, and I wanted more.

But as I stepped outside, a strong smell of cigarettes greeted me, making me wrinkle my nose in disgust. All good mood evaporated, I walked down the steps and saw Julia and another staff member standing with their backs towards me, both smoking.

"Do you remember that Sophie chick?" Julia asked.

"Hmm." The other girl nodded, taking a puff from her cigarette.

"She and the boss used to bang each other...right up there." Julia pointed towards an upstairs window using her cigarette. "She used to stay here so many nights, same days as him. The next morning, she clearly had an after-s*x glow."

"Boss is a Muslim. Isn't it forbidden?" The other employee asked, hesitantly.

Julia scoffed. "Men and their needs. They forget everything when they are filled with lust. Otherwise how can you be with a person for a decade without any physical contact?"

I felt the blood freeze inside me.

"I've never committed Zina. I've respected my religious limits." Farhaan had told me.

"That's shocking." The other girl said.

"Is it? Such a good looking couple they were. I would be surprise if they didn't have s*x." Julia laughed.

I felt sick to my stomach. I trusted Farhaan completely, but hearing this about my husband was sickening.

"I wouldn't be surprised then if they had a secret love child." The other employee joked, causing both to cackle.

"Don't be surprised if you're fired for this." I spoke up.

They both whirled around startled and pale faced.

"How dare you?" I was trembling with rage.

"Miss Hooriya..." Julia tossed the cigarette to the ground and stomped on it.

"Firstly, refer me as Mrs Farhaan, the wife of the man who you are making such disgusting allegations against. Secondly, pick that up and discard it properly." I pointed towards the cigarette. "And finally, come and see me and Farhaan in the office when we call you. I believe this calls for a disciplinary action."

Feeling an unusual amount of strength suddenly appear within me, I turned and headed back into the building.

The only one he has taken to bed in this building-or anywhere- is me. A little, amused smile lit up my face.

"If you think it's false, ask him why he and Miss Khan spent the night in room ten together a few years ago." Julia's quiet voice made me freeze in my steps.

"That's none of your concern, Julia." My tone was cold. "And I suggest you stop talking because your chances of employment termination are increasing rapidly."

But the seed had been sown. The doubt had been planted.

Did Farhaan and Sophie really spend a night together in room ten?

*

"It's true." Farhaan kept his back to me once I'd told him everything I'd heard and everything that Julia had said. "Sophie and I did spend a night together in room ten."

We were alone in the room as we discussed this. Shocked, I flopped down onto the chair hard enough that it moved back slightly, causing me to fall off it and land on the floor with a small shriek.

"Hooriya!" He rushed over immediately and crouched down in front of me. "Are you okay?"

My throat was too dry. "Y-You two?"

He spoke quietly. "Yeah, Hoor. But the question is, do you trust me?" His blue-green eyes almost seemed to be pleading with me to believe him.

But the jealousy seemed to be ripping me apart from the inside. Him and Sophie. Sophie and him. One hotel room. Room ten. Our room.

"Hooriya?" His soft whisper was as loud as an explosive in that quiet room.

*

Does Farhaan have a good reason?

Sorry for any formatting issue. First chapter I wrote fully on my phone.

Will Hoor doubt him?

How will Haya and Aariz's meeting go?

Can't wait to further write about Rehan's protectiveness!

Thoughts and comments?

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

♡♡♡