When Haider reached his room after getting himself a good amount of smoking to burn away the internal upheaval raging in his insides, the presence of that girl on his bed again aggravated it. A woman being so close to his personal belongings was not a sight he would want to see any day. But here he had to bear it.

For the time, Haider remained out, whiffing packs of cigarettes standing in the cool air, he had tried to calm himself down. This girl was just his temporary wife; someone who would just remain here for a few months. She was not someone on whom he should lash out his hatred for women. After all, it would be she who would bring him permanent relief from all this marriage fiasco.

Haider's eyes locked on her figure. Ishmal was sleeping soundly. Her long hair was spread out on the white pillow. She was hugging the duvet near to her chest. Something again clenched his stomach at the spectacle of his personal things being used by someone else. But he abated this feeling soon. If he wanted everything to happen according to his wish, he had to overlook the fact that a woman had come into his life.

Picking up his pillow, he made his way towards the couch. Perhaps he really needed a good sleep right now. However, he wasn't sure he could get it on this small couch.

                     __________________

When Ishmal woke up in the morning, she was totally unaware of what happened last night due to so much sleep in her eyes. Hence when she found Haider standing beside the bed, she stifled a gasp due to surprise. Bit by bit, the realization hit her and then her gaze went towards the couch which was giving a living proof of the thing that Haider had slept on it previous night.

What would he say now? Would he again get mad at her? After all, she used his bed without any agreement between them. He didn't wake up like it happened on their wedding night. Maybe their talk from earlier had restrained him from doing so. But right now, she didn't know what would come about. Haider's dark and stern aura already gave her goosebumps and nightmares at night.

He was in his police uniform at that time. Possibly got ready for his duty. Perhaps he wasn't focused on her as she was hallucinating. Instead, he was searching for his watch on the bed's side table. And to both of their disappointment, it was the place where he had kept his branded watch before he took off from his work.

Haider's hand stopped momentarily when he noticed that Ishmal was awake. Laying a small glance at her, he paused. He didn't want to but he had to. There was an odd charm behind this. Ishmal's eyes had pink streaks in them due to sleep, her cheeks were blushed and her hair was disheveled. Yet it wasn't what which made Haider still. The way her hand moved speedily to grab her dupatta and cover her body was something that fascinated him.

It shouldn't but it did, just the same way her sleepy look did. His gaze did a journey of her figure which she had hidden right now. He felt intrigued. He sensed he was lost for the very first time.  Like a marvel that he didn't know he wanted and wished for.

Getting nervous by his steady state, Ishmal ruffled a few strands of hair behind her ear. She strived to get out of the bed which actually brought Haider out of his thoughts. And when he acknowledged what was happening, something inside him hit him hard. What the hell was this? Why was he doing this? Why did Ishmal start to fascinate him? Why instead of hating her, he was feeling that appeal from her?

Taking a deep breath, he tied the watch to his wrist. Maybe it was something that was buried deep inside of him. Something that was natural and didn't mind what was realistic and out of his control.

Ishmal bit her lower lip and stood up. She had felt his eyes on her and this rendered her feel strange. No disgust, no embarrassment, and no contempt, she deduced from this small moment. It was something else that had put a different rhythm to her heartbeats.

She wanted to leave from this scene as quickly as possible. But she couldn't get the opportunity when Haider had called her.

"Get freshened up. Then we will go to dining for breakfast together," he told her.

The first time, it wasn't an order. He was just telling her. Ishmal just nodded in response.

"About what you said yesterday about sleeping..." He started off. Ishmal again had to stop. She turned around to face him. He had those same tough expressions and untouchable aura. She found it became more pronounced when he dressed up according to his profession.

Haider shoved his hands in his pants pocket. "We will use the bed alternatively. One day you can sleep on it, and then the next day I will do that. I believe that's the most suitable solution to your problem given our situation."

She was even stunned to find such a dignified solution by him. She thought he wouldn't comply with her and would again humiliate her. Furthermore, she had no issue in sleeping on the couch anyway. She just voiced it as a problem so that Haider wouldn't insult her any more.

"That's what is better and fair," she mumbled.

She fled into the washroom later on. While Haider's eyes caught the attention of the necklace as his wedding gift given to her near the pillow. Something raw again evoked in him but he didn't have an idea that it wasn't going to end well as he wanted.

                     __________________

By now, the guests had also left and now only the family members were remaining in the house. This made Ishmal get a bit of relaxation because even though the drama was still necessary, but they weren't that strangers to her in the literal sense now. However, Huzaifa still made her nervous with his straightforward questions. Sometimes his body language and talks even made her think that he might have gotten to know about the real deal behind this marriage. But she knew it wasn't possible as long as Haider was there.

This time as well, Ishmal had to stop for a moment because of his weird question. 

"So Bhabi how do you find my brother?" He asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Ishmal's eyes spontaneously went towards Haider who was already looking at her with a clenched jaw.

"He is nice," she murmured.

"I am so happy to see you both together," Aqia chimed in happiness.

And seeing his mother's happiness over this marriage, always made Haider think about the time when all this would end and Ishmal would be gone from his life. What would be Aqia's state then who was even so keen on getting herself grandchildren soon?

However, none of these should affect him. His life had no place for women and no space would ever arise.

                _____________________

Today for the first time, Ishmal got a good chance to look around the house. What house? It was a whole mansion. So big that Ishmal thought if Unaiza wasn't with her at that time, she would get lost. It was Unaiza's idea and Aqia's order to let Ishmal see her home. All this progress happened over the course of a few years. Before that, they were just living a reasonable life but since Mr. Tashfeen got a new tender with a very established family and also Haider joined the police, their occupancy thrived.

Ishmal was looking at everything with stun. Her own house wasn't even a percent of this palace. It was so beautiful that her eyes were mesmerized. That was the fake life she was living. She was in the clothing of someone else, pretending to be someone and even putting on a totally fabricated show.

They passed by a room on the second floor which wasn't unlocked like the others.

"Why this is locked?" Ishmal questioned.

Unaiza licked her lips as though she didn't know whether to answer her or not. "Not any particular reason. It's actually a small gallery. Many paintings and portraits are hanging on it all and since they can get dirt, so we keep it close mostly."

Since it was Ishmal's favorite topic, she stopped there. Hearing the word painting had made her excited because she herself loved to paint.

"There are paintings inside? Who paints here?" Ishmal glanced at the closed door.

"No one. They all are brought from the exhibitions. Haider Bhai liked art and the meaning behind different artworks but after a while, as he got busy with his duty and other stuff, this hobby of his gets a bit out of the picture," Unaiza retorted.

Suddenly a bitter taste arose in Ishmal's mouth. She loved to make those. Making meaningful and thought-provoking paintings was what she liked. Though she couldn't get a chance to utilize her favorite hobby, yet in University she had took part in many art contests. But Haider also having an interest in learning the hidden implications behind paintings was something shocking. He seemed superficial and harsh to Ishmal. Someone who had no part of sweetness in his life. All he did was to get angry and turn bitter.

And she was certain, this guy could never understand the softness and promptness evoked by something which she loved. 

"I want to have a look at the paintings, Unaiza," she abruptly uttered her desire at which Unaiza looked at her stunned.

Because everything could be possible in this house but not this.

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AssalamoAlaikum/ Hi guys!

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Here's a new chapter.

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Till next one, Allah Hafiz/ Bye. ❤❤