Flashbacks are in bold*

The capital has always been famous for one thing. Its calm. The one that is often a fresh respite from the fast moving life of other cities. The nights are peaceful, the days are without any mayhem. Life goes on a set track and never swirls around anyway. But that's the thing with places posing the picture perfect serenity, from within they are hollow. Their chests are filled up to the brink with secrets. Those which would be enough to swallow the peace and replace it with chaos. Chaos is always lurking in the shadows. One misstep, one mistake, one blink and it is here to announce its arrival.

Sohaira was confused. The moment Hamail's secret had gotten out, she was expecting her mother to start a never ending saga over it but to her surprise that never happened instead all she saw was a calm and almost satisfied Gull who was now reading a book with out most attention.

"Mom, aren't you acting a bit weird?"

She glanced in Hamail's way who was leaning against the wall at some distance from them. Mrs. Aneesa and Khadija were in their rooms. After the revelations the kind of storm both Hamail and Soha were expecting never came. It was out of the norm and they weren't used to things this way.

"What do you want me to do?"

The reply came with Gull's trademark too-cool-to-give-a-damn attitude.

"Ask me questions, yell at me and demand for an explanation."

Hamail took his part in the conversation for the first time.

"I didn't do it when I came to know about your decision so why do you think I'd do it now?"

The shock felt like infusing in the air.

"You knew?"

"For an year now."

"How?"

Gull sighed pushing the book in the drawer. She then turned to her children who were both waiting for her to explain.

"Zaviyar took me in confidence before you went out getting the Nikkah done."

Hamail was taken aback.

"He thought it was necessary for me to know what you were going to do. Being your mother I had the right. He asked me to talk to Ismail as well but I refused. Knowing the kind of papa's boy your father still is, I couldn't take the risk. So, yes I knew."

"You had no objections?"

"You love her, Hamail. You took the beating for and were ready to take a stand as well just like you did now. Your happiness lie in her and that was the reason enough for me to not be a hurdle in your love story. Same is not true for your father. This house is not kind to those who refused to be controlled. And your father? He has always been a dummy in front of his parents. Why I have always been the disliked daughter in law? Because I refused to spend my life on their terms. It was bearable as long as your father and I were concerned but when it got to my kids I had to let them do what they wanted to. That's why I didn't stop Zaviyar and even the moment you told the family I was ready to give piece of my mind to anyone who wanted to stand between you and your life."

The revelation had left both Hamail and Soha in shock. They had never thought of the possibility of their mother knowing this secret. It proved Gull wasn't as ignorant as people around her thought she was. And credit here went to Zaviyar as well who was mindful enough to go to her and tell her about it. Hamail felt ashamed. Zaviyar felt the need that Gull should know this while Hamail was her son and this thought should've first come into his mind. How many times Zaviyar had played the perfect brother role so amazingly? Hamail felt his eyes prickling with tears. But it was all done now. The fact that he had a supporter in the form of his mother was more than enough. Reaching her side he had hugged her taking her off guard. But Gull didn't push him away. Sohaira couldn't be stopped now and she also joined the hug thanking the Almighty for moment like these.

"Thank you for everything, Mom."

He mumbled and at the same time his heart whispered.

"Thank you, Bhai."

Gull and Sohaira had immersed into another talk when Hamail got that call on his phone.

"Harram Calling."

He had felt so ashamed of his grandparents suggesting something like that, that he found it hard to even apologize to her on their behalf. But Sohaira wanted to meet Harram and both had planned on going to Zara's place but seeing her calling him Hamail took a breath of relief. She wasn't angry with him. That was comforting. He came out of the room and picked up the call.

"Thank God you called me, Harram."

"Hamail...where are you?"

The broken whisper had immediately alerted Hamail.

"At home. Harram, are you okay?"

"Listen to me carefully. I'm stuck in your father's cabin right now and I need to get out. I have pain shooting through my midriff and.... I'm scared."

The last words were uttered in a teary voice.

"Hey, hey, hey. Stay put. Do not panic. I'm on my way. Just calm down okay. Keep talking to me."

He picked up his car keys from his room and almost ran towards the main entrance of the house. His mind was flashing the question again and again what she was doing there in the office but that was secondary. Right now going there and getting her out was more important.

__________________________

Hamail had asked her to stay on call but she didn't have it in her to keep on talking to him. Cutting the call she let her hand fall down to her side. She was sitting against the wall. Her one hand was on her abdomen while the other had the photographs clutched into it. She stared at them for the umpteenth time.

Major Zaviyar Ali. Being held hostage and unconscious. By his own family.

Could any irony be bigger than that?

The pain was intensifying with each second but the heartache was more profound. Harram wiped her tears telling herself to be strong but for how long someone can go on with a reality like this being her destiny. Ismail chachu as well? Who else from that clan was a part of this scheme? Could she trust any of them now? Still she just called on of them. The person she'd always regarded as her best friend. The one whose life secrets she knew well. It was sad. The people she'd spent her life with, she was forced to doubt them as well but what other option Yahya Duraid and Ismail Ali had left her with?

Waleed was continuously calling her but she was declining it. She needed him gone. He couldn't come inside. It wasn't safe. He needed to turn back. She'd get away from here without much ado as she was a family member. But if he came inside things would get a lot difficult. So gathering courage she sent him a text stating she'd take time longer than decided and he should go because she would take care of it on her own. Obviously he hadn't agreed. And she didn't have in her to make him agree. This time, under this situation Hamail was her only hope and if he bailed out on her than she was doomed.

Which woman wears the tag of being a widow even though her husband is alive there somewhere? Which pregnant woman goes through the ordeal of finding an inkling of where her husband is not caring for her health and forgetting the rest she is supposed to take? Which woman goes through the pain and suffering of losing someone who isn't really lost? Left with only the echoes of his being? Harram Zaviyar Ali. Who else?

She glanced at the pictures once again and hissed when another wave of pain shot through her.

"Zaviyar!"

Helpless cry left her mouth. She needed him. She was tired. She couldn't do this alone. She wanted to burn this building down and then see it becoming the ashes.

But right now she was just feeling the tears at the brink of her eyes and the pain which could write the story of eons.

_______________________

Yasir was surprised to find the agitated son of his boss at his work station.

"Hamail sir, everything's okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine. Where's dad?"

"In a meeting."

Hamail pretended to look disappointed.

"Ah. I needed a file which is there in his cabin. You must've the keys since you are his PA. Can you open the door for me?"

Yasir looked visibly conflicted.

"Sir, I'm not allowed."

"Come on, Man. I'm your boss's son. Don't be this distrustful."

Yasir was not easily convinced but it was Hamail in question. After few seconds on pushing the keys were in his hands and he was almost running towards his Dad's cabin. Looking here and there he made sure no one was around and opened the door. Once inside he hurriedly closed the door. In meantime Harram had felt the commotion and peeking at Hamail's all too familiar profile she tried getting up on shaky legs. The pain in her abdomen was still worse but she had to try.

Hamail held her from her arms.

"Okay, I'm here. Let's get you to the hospital."

He said checking her form for any kind of other damage. But one look at the photographs in her hand and his brows twitched into confusion.

"Let's go."

Harram mumbled holding his arm as support. Hamail averted his gaze from the photos and started walking alongside her.

This was a feat, getting to the parking lot. Harram was trying her best to not show her discomfort but once they were close to his car, she had almost collapsed. The pictures in her hand had slipped. Hamail immediately got her inside the car and bent to pick up what she'd dropped.

That was the moment his whole world shook on its base.

__________________

Leaning against the bench, she took another sip of her juice and looked around bored. It was morning and the track was filled with people walking, jogging and running. The park around which the track was built in was filled with people. Some were just talking while others were enjoying morning air like her.

"Feeling better?"

Harram craned her neck in his direction who had just completed another round of his running and was now splashing the water from his bottle on his face. His tracking shirt and trousers were drenched by all the vigorous running he was used to doing.

"Yeah. Almost."

It were the initial days of her pregnancy and the morning sickness along with mood swings was wreaking havoc on her. Most of the days Zara or Khadija were with her when Zaviyar was away on duty. He had asked her to go along with him but the women of the family had declined saying how would he take care of her when on such a strict duty. So it was decided that when Zaviyar would be away, Zara or Khadija would either stay with her or take her with them. He had gotten back from duty just a week back and seeing how continuous throwing up was messing with her, had made him worried. But that was a given. Khadija had given him a whole lecture on how Harram's condition would stay the same for few weeks and when her body would get accustomed to the changes it was going through it would be back to normal.

This morning after having another nasty bout of morning sickness she had insisted on going with him on his morning jog. He had no objections. He was told her mood swings had gotten better since the day he had come back.

"Do you want a girl or a boy?"

She asked playing with a lock of her hair.

"I just want my wife and baby healthy. Rest is not important."

"Don't be sentimental. This is normal in pregnancy so tell me a girl or a boy?"

"I'm fine with either."

"I want a boy."

"Why?"

"See, your duty is not getting easier anytime soon so I want your mini version to be around me 24/7. We won't even miss you. So you won't be coming for months and I'd be like okay cool just send money."

"No one can fill my gap."

"You are already jealous, Major."

"That's my baby. Why would I be jealous but no one can take my place."

Harram laughed. This was ridiculous. But these ridiculous arguments were the crux of their relation. No kidding.

"By the way I just figured out what you'd be like as a mom."

"How?"

"See there."

He pointed towards the gate they were sitting close to. On the pavement outside she could see a woman running after two kids. And when she couldn't keep up, she huffed, sat down there and held her head in her palms.

Harram narrowed her eyes his way who was looking all smug.

"You know what?"

"I know. You hate Major."

"Damn straight."

"Cramps in pregnancy are a normal thing but reoccurrence can indicate complications. Harram needs to take care of her diet or else many more problems will follow. I'm adding few more supplements but balanced diet is a must. Also I'm running few more tests to know exactly what is going wrong."

The voice of the doctor giving instructions to Hamail was falling on her ears. Lying on the bed in the room hospital, Harram listened to it with no expression on her face. The pain was gone and only a dull ache was the remnant of it. She was thoroughly examined and picking out her poor diet, the doctor had raised the something not seems right flag.

This period is crucial to any woman out there. People argue that this is nature's phenomena and shouldn't be turned into something out of the box but how can you call it just normal when a woman is going through the process of creating a new life in her. Nurturing it with her breaths and taking care of it in her flesh? It is easy? But this already important and crucial phase was made all the more difficult for her. She was running around like a woman possessed looking for clues leading to her husband forgetting everything else, at times this baby as well. Whenever she'd sit down to have her meals the thought of Zaviyar being out there in God knows what condition would hit her and she'd lose all her appetite. Her days and night were filled with worry and overthinking, when she should be relaxing both mentally and physically.

The pictures once again swirled before her eyes and a tear got lost somewhere in the mattress of the bed. How worn out he was looking in those. She could feel the anguish from the pictures. And what she could do about it? Nothing.

Kar raha tha gam-e-jahan ka hisab,

Aaj tum yaad behisab aaye

Was measuring the pain I've gone through

And you were the one I remembered the most

_______________________

Hamail stood next to her bed. The pictures were clutched in his hands. Harram glanced at his form and looked away.

"What does this mean?"

He asked in a shaky voice.

"Isn't it self-explanatory? This is your brother."

Hamail took a step back.

"I found these pictures from your Dad's cabin closet. "

"This is some kind of a misunderstanding!"

"Does it look like one? Look at these photographs again, Hamail! Look at his condition. Want to know more? Your brother was never dead. It was a ploy. A freaking game played by your grandfather and today it got revealed that your father is also a part of it. Sick. Sick. Sick family!"

Hamail's ears were ringing. This couldn't be true. How could this be true?

"Harram, there must be a mistake. I'm telling you..."

"She's right, Hamail."

The incoming voice drew their attention. Harram fell back on her bed. Her breathing was getting labored.

"Waleed?"

Hamail's shock was visible.

"Mrs. Zaviyar is telling the truth, Hamail. This is looking the outmost lie but it's the truth of your family. Your brother is being kept hostage somewhere we all don't know. We have proofs to back it."

"Make sure he's also not one of them, Mr. Waleed. I won't be surprised if any more people from that clan turn out to be the enemy."

Her words were dipped in venom. The frailing health and the frustration was all acting together. Hamail's brain was not working. Nothing was making sense to him. His family? No! Impossible. Theirs was the ideal clan and now the perfect picture was being torn into cracks. He took two more steps back and walked out of the room with Waleed following behind. Harram dropped her head in her palms. This maze was swallowing her whole and soon she wouldn't be able to find her way.

_______________

The smell of henna was prevailing in the room. The small cone was smoothly making patterns on her hand and arms. Harram smiled at something Sohaira was saying when her eyes fell on Meeral. For almost ten minutes now she was looking at Harram with an expression on her face Harram couldn't quite understand.

"What are you finding on my face? I do not resemble Hamail."

Harram joked but Meeral didn't look in that mood.

"You should always stay happy, Harram."

"I guess I will."

Shaking her head Meeral looked to the side as if lamenting on something. Harram didn't prod much. Since the time Meeral had gotten here for her wedding functions, she wasn't looking entirely excited for it. The reason wasn't known to Harram as well. But she didn't make an issue out of it. May be Meeral wasn't that happy or maybe she was dealing with her own problems. Who knew?

Last night the henna function had turned out pretty great and now in just few hours the Nikkah and rukhsati was taking place. Harram was enjoying the ceremonies as much as she could but the real awkward time came when her father introduced her to her brother whom he had specially taken here for her wedding. It was bitter sweet with a lot of nervous glances and weird start up conversations. It could've gotten worse but her brothers weren't big on talking so it went okay.

Sana Obaid aka her step mother hadn't come and Harram didn't feel even a bit bad. She was actually grateful that her father had saved her from another awkward and uncalled for introduction. It wasn't her fault either. They all were meeting each other for the first time in their lives and there was so much distance that crossing it in just few conversations was impossible.

As the henna got completed, Harram was immediately sent to take a bath so her makeup and preparations could be started. She had chosen everything with her own choice and how could it go wrong? Putting the last bangle in her forearm she stood before the full length mirror of the bridal room and there were no doubts that she'd made such a beautiful bride. Zara's eyes were tearing up every now and then. Her baby was all grown up and was now being sent off to her house.

"Amma, You want me to be the part of the cry fest too? At least care for the money we've put on this make up."

She whispered in Zara's ears making her smile through her tears.

"You stay here I just go and ask your Baba if he's called Sahil's father. They are late."

Harram nodded playing with the bangles in her wrists. Her smile was making everyone say a prayer to always keep her like this. Sohaira and Meeral shared glances and giving a last sigh of resignation prayed for her to get all the happiness this world has to offer, no matter with whom.

The bridal room was devoid of any chaos. Harram loved the sound of her bangles colliding with each other when she looked up at the wall where the mirror was set.

It was painted green. Her forehead creased into an expression of confusion. Green was reminding her of something. But what?

Suddenly it flashed across her mind.

Green uniform. Strong arms. Concerned filled eyes.

She took three steps back at once like she had gotten a current.

Right now? At this time? In this situation?

Why?

She looked away feeling like slapping her mind out of her skull. This wasn't supposed to happen. She wasn't supposed to think this way and she was succeeding up until now.

Taking a deep breath, Harram got up when her phone rang.

"Sahil calling."

Was this guy serious? Was he calling her on the threshold of this wedding hall? Harram shook her head and picked up the phone.

"Are you seriously calling me?"

Silence.

"Sahil?"

No answer.

Harram's heart sank and became afloat again. Something was wrong.

"Harram, can you talk to me somewhere alone? Please."

His grave tone had erupted goosebumps on her skin. She excused herself avoiding the searching eyes of Meeral and Sohaira. Coming out from the bridal room through the back door, Harram held the railing of the open hallway and pushed the phone back to her ear.

"What it is?"

"I'm sorry, Harram. I lied to you."

"About what?"

"About never falling in love. I had fallen in love. Years back. Unrequited. The one which had no start and end."

She bit her lip in anticipation.

"She never loved me back though. Always pushing me away. Never valuing me. At one point I left it. I left love and moved on in my life. Everything was going fine. We met. We became friends. And then we decided to marry. Yesterday....she contacted me again. I swear I had no intention of even attending her call. I never mentioned her in front of you because I was pretty positive she didn't matter. But....when she was desperately texting me....I kinda lost. I couldn't see that desperation in her. I called her. And she said she was sorry. That she did me so wrong. And now that I was just starting my new life she wanted to congratulate me and tell me that I'm no longer hers, she has realized that she'd always loved me. Her timing was meh but she'd always loved me."

A tear fell from Harram's eye.

"I was not going to give any heed to what she was saying but the moment she told me that she loves me. I felt like a piece of my heart just got fixed. Like I got something I was longing for so long."

"I don't love you."

The words uttered by someone echoed in her ears. Would she be the same like Sahil if those words ever changed?

"I don't know what to do, Harram. I'm going out of my mind. I want to come and do what I promised you and at the same time her confession rings in my ears and I feel like running towards her."

"Then run."

Words were out of her mouth before she even knew.

"Run towards her. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to say goodbye to love? To close the doors of your heart for it? But that's about it. No matter how hard your grip is and how many locks you've out, when love wants to come back it just makes it way without eve telling you, asking is not even an option. So, when loves finds you again, open your arms for it, do not ask any questions, just feel it and seal it. It will not come back again and again. Love never waits for you but it keeps you waiting so for that one time when love is being kind to you, be kind to love and yourself. Run and get your love."

"And what about you?"

"I'm not your love. That's about me."

She had cut the call right there and holding the railing took few drags of air to feel her breathing again. Satisfied with herself she turned back only to push herself against the railing once again. Leaning against the wall was none other than her definition of love once upon a time.

Zaviyar's serious stance was unnerving. His eyes were looking in deep calculation. Harram averted her gaze and taking steady steps went towards the door of the room but she could feel that heated gaze following her all the way.

_______________________

The news of groom side not arriving had spread around like forest fire. Sahil's sister had called Zara weeping and apologizing. Zara's mind had immediately filled with rage. She was so mad at Sahil's family. And when she reached the bridal room to give Harram this new the fact that Harram knew already had made her some more furious.

"What do you mean it's okay? Do you have any idea what has just happened and what it means for your future?"

"Amma, calm down."

"How do I calm down? The groom side didn't arrive. Sahil's sister calls me says Sahil wouldn't come. The guests are whispering. You Baba is raging. And look at you, all calm and no worries. Harram!"

"So you want me to cry? Why? I'm glad I didn't become the side character in a story I had nothing to do with."

"What do you mean? What did that idiot tell you?"

There weren't many instances where Zara would come out with her angry mama avatar but this situation demanded it.

"Harram!"

She was going to start yelling when Sohaira looked through the door.

"Auntie! Uncle is calling you. It's urgent."

The happiness on her face blared the alarm in Harram's mind. Zara closed the door behind but Harram had started pacing the entire length of the room. Something was not right.

And after fifteen minutes when Zara again came to her it became clear what had gone wrong.

"No! Absolutely No"

Harram shook her head as if this would solve this new problem.

"Harram, don't be so difficult. People are gathered around and this is the only way of getting hold on the situation."

"Amma, what do you think? That if today I go from here after becoming someone's wife no matter whose, people will forget what has happened?"

"They won't. But no matter elite or middle class the society's few parameters are same for women everywhere. Who'll marry you after what has happened today."

"I don't know but I won't be marrying that asshole Major."

"Harram!"

"He can go choke for all I care. Bloody idiot is trying to play hero."

"He himself has asked your Baba to get your and his Nikkah done and look at you."

"Ha! Thanks a lot to him for this but no thank you. What does he think of himself?"

She was loudly ranting now. Zara saw the person standing outside the door and gestured him to come inside. Shaking her head she had gone from there.

"....I'm telling you Amma. This won't be happenin...."

She turned and came face to face with his calm, composed and in control profile. He folded his arms on his chest making his biceps prominent.

Harram's tongue had come to a standstill and that was something. Moisture had gathered in her eyes God knows from where. Why now? Like a burden. No. She wouldn't want to be a burden.

He leaned towards her.

"When loves finds you again, open your arms for it, do not ask any questions, just feel it and seal it."

Her words she had said to Sahil. Harram was statued. A statue made of clouds. There was something in his eyes. He had thrown her own words towards her. Not waiting for he walked out of the room. Harram held the wall behind replying his words in her mind again and again.

Thirty minutes and a lot of pestering on Khadija, Hamail and Obaid's part later, the bridal room was filled with people. The beaming faces and smiles were giving it the feel that it was devoid of before. The bride was covered with red duppata and was no signing on the Nikkah papers.

The words were ringing in her ears. The two words chanted three times. Just few second back. Which made her his wife.

A place she had always dreamed of and when she had gotten it, she didn't want it.

It wasn't family pressure which had made her do this. If she wanted to no one could pester her into doing this. It was that brief encounter with him which had uncoiled something within her.

She had accepted love back in her life.

But she won't be easy on it.

That was a promise.

________________________

Harram's words, the photographs, the evidences Waleed had shown him everything was swirling before Hamail's eyes. Still he was finding it hard to believe. His Dada and Dad? Doing this to Zaviyar? The family favourite child? The one who had always been the apple of everyone's eye? Zaviyar Bhai?

This much cruelty on your own family? Where was the hearts of two people he had always looked up to. Even now when he should be running far away he was going towards them only. Just to have some semblance of the normalcy that had been snatched from him. He needed to see his father. To tell himself that this was just a big misunderstanding and he had nothing to do with it.

With slow defeated steps, Hamail had reached his father's cabin. He was acting like a kid who refused to believe something by closing his eyes. He was just a kid.

"Just holding him isn't going to solve our problems, we need the evidences he had gathered."

The anger filled voice of his grandfather had reached his ears like melted lead. He was back.

"We've searched his whole house, Baba Jaan. Our men also searched some other places we had doubts on. The car keys which we had hopes to be containing something, they are also of no use. He was dodging us by making it look like they were important."

"I know him. A hard nut to crack. He won't ever tell us himself where he has hid them but we'll have to look. Those evidences are important, Ismail. They can make or break the whole game."

"But Baba Jaan, Zavi.."

"DON'T!"

The yell had resonated in the cabin.

"His name is forbidden. For us he's dead. And we don't talk about dead people. Their link to our world is finished. So is Zaviyar's."

There was nothing to left. Nothing to listen. Nothing to say.

Hamail Ismail Ali was the pampered kid of his family. There was always someone to give him support. Sometimes his father, few times his grandfather and almost all the time his big brother.

Now all three of his supports were broken.

He left the cabin with a baggage of ages on his shoulder.

He was not a kid. And his supports were all broken.

__________________

There's a thing about photographs. They contain in them a world of their own. You look at them and relive that particular moment once again. But what to do with those you weren't a part of? When you are snatched out from every memory, every photographs?

Zaviyar roamed his fingers on the pictures trying to feel everyone in there. Yahya Duraid had sent something for him as his last gift.

Pictures of the family. He had made sure this was the first and last time he was getting something like this just so he would have something of his past life and the people he was associated with. Since then Zaviyar was looking at these photos like his life depended on them. His one hand was free while the other was still tied with the chair he was sitting on. But he didn't care. With one hand he had tried feeling every feature, every details these still memories were telling a story of.

His fingers were stopping at one particular picture every now and then. Harram sitting in the living room all alone.

Her one hand was on the arm of the sofa while the other was placed on her stomach. That baby. There were two parts of his heart in this photo and he wanted to reach out to both. But not every wish is granted. Not every sigh is heard.

Dil-o-jaan fidaa-e-raahe kabhi aa ke dekh hamdam

Sar-e-ku-e-dil-figaaraan shab-e-aarzoo ka aalam

Come when you can, Love, and see

My heart, my soul, laid bare in your wake.

On the street, in the dusk of desire

My weary spirit succumbs in resignation.

What she must be doing right now? Thinking of him? Trying to find him? Wasting her peace over getting a clue of him. He knew her. He knew how she functioned. Just like she knew him like the back of her hand. She had always complained that he was out of her understanding. That wasn't the case. She knew all the shades of him. She had studies them all. If not then how could she decode the hints he had left for her. He knew only she could and she had proven that yes, only she could.

This distance was painful. More than anything they'd endured so far. And the tale of their enduring wasn't short either. But still there were the time they both could always go back to. Living them. Smiling over them. Wishing for them again.

He looked over at her struggling form with a lopsided smile. He loved when she'd be having a hurdle with her earrings. She wouldn't be able to wear them on her own and that would send her to him.

"Zaviyar, can you please help me here?"

She had come to him with her hair on one of her shoulder. They were getting ready for Sohaira's reception and as usual he was all ready.

"Yeah, sure. Show me."

He said bending to her level. Harram was standing still like an obedient kid but too bad her husband wasn't that obedient out of the field. It started with slowing moving his thumb on her neck mole. And then slowly bending over it.

"Zaviyar...now's not the time."

Harram mumbled already feeling her legs going weak. This was decided. Whenever he'd touch her, she'd flinch like it was the first time.

"Hmm."

His response was just that small voice which was her undoing. The earring had long been forgotten. The thing that had started as just a hint of a touch had gotten heated in mere seconds. She was leaning against the wall with her hands on his arms while were holding her from her waist as his lips where venturing into the junction between her neck and shoulder where his favourite mole was located.

"I swear to go if you give me a love bi...ah."

The words had died and turned into a long deep breath. His touch would always send her into a world she would always find coming out from difficult.

"Stop making questionable voices."

His whisper was hoarse.

"First you stop doing this."

"I'm not doing anything questionable."

His response had made her smile. He was ready to go back to resuming his work when the knock at the door had interrupted it.

"Sorry to disturb your work hour, Bhai but Tai Maa is saying if you are done arranging for her grandkid please come downstairs. We have a reception to get to."

Hamail's shout had made Harram close her eyes immediately. She shoved Zaviyar's arm who was laughing not looking one bit offended.

"You guys sure got a perv gene."

She commented picking up her purse from the table and came out. Now she better be ready for the teasing of the cousin clan.

"You love your wife a lot don't you?"

He hadn't noticed when Palwisha had come to his room and was now untying him.

"More than love."

"And she? Does she love you?"

"Her love is the reason I'm lost yet nothing's lost yet."

His voice had a hint of smile to it. Palwisha stopped her work and just kept on looking at him.

"It's strange, finding two people so much in love these days. Does she know you are alive?"

"Only she knows."

"Will she try to take you back home?"

"She will take me back home."

"How long have you two been married?"

"Almost an year."

"Still such understanding?"

"That's years old."

"Love marriage?"

"Accidental marriage actually. She was more in hate with me than love."

"And you?"

"I was a fool."

"So did she come around?"

"Not easily but she did."

"Strange."

Palwisha shook her head. Zaviyar felt light. Talking about Harram had always had this effect on him. He had just gotten up from the chair when the commotion outside made him narrow his eyes.

"What's that about?"

"The opposite tribe is here to have a negotiation with the people here. They don't like the use of their territory like this."

"There's a regional conflict these people are facing?"

Zaviyar's mind had started working. That was the reason the guard always accompanying Palwisha wasn't here today.

"Yeah, but that's none of our business."

He shook his head. His soldier mode was full on getting back.

"The chaos in enemy's situation is never not out business."

He pushed Gull away and stood looking through the creak.

"This is dangerous!"

"Everything is when you are a hostage. So keep quiet."

She didn't say anything and his whole focus had turned outside. His mind was planning.

_____________________

The falling of her health hadn't been taken well by Khadija and Zara and as a result she was strictly bed ridden. Harram didn't mind though. Her body was demanding rest and so was her mind. She was tired and she was in pain both emotionally and physically.

Her father, brothers, Sohaira and even Mrs. Aneesa had come to meet her but she was just putting up a show of smiling in front of them. From inside there was breakage in her piece by piece. She had no further clue to know where Zaviyar was. Colonel Bukhari was not telling her anything. Waleed hadn't visited although his wife Adira had. And Hamail? After that day there was no sign of him around her. She was scared first that she had ruined everything but somewhere her heart knew Hamail couldn't do anything which would harm her or Zaviyar. But what about Hamail himself? Was he okay?

She was lost in these thoughts when she heard a knock at her door. Looking up she found Waleed and Hamail standing there.

"How are you feeling now, Mrs. Zaviyar?"

Waleed asked but Harram's whole focus was on Hamail.

"I'm fine, thank you. What has happened to him?"

She pointed towards Hamail's disheveled state. Waleed just shrugged his shoulders. Adina had told her Hamail had visited Zaviyar on his base few times and there he had met Waleed. That's how they both knew each other.

Hamail looked up with his blood shed eyes and then took a seat in front of her.

"Hamail?"

"I thought for a long time and I've come to a conclusion."

"That is?"

"I'm not leaving any person who put a nail in my brother's coffin. Even though he was alive. This is war, Harram and we are winning it. For Major Zaviyar. For us and for every person who's been wronged on the hands of the people he trusted the most."

Harram didn't cry. Just nodded with a determination shinning in her eyes.