Haider soon realized his sudden emotional outburst and stopped his hand in the midway. He sighed and raised his palm at Huzaifa who just shook his head in dismay. He couldn't believe he was just about to punch his own brother just because Ishmal was mentioned by him. It was getting unbelievable and oddly strange. He just couldn't listen to anyone talking about her effect on him directly or indirectly.

"I overreacted due to my mind being occupied with some other issue," he started in a low voice. "Your game got ruined due to me. You guys carry on."

"Are you alright, Haider Bhai? You don't seem like," Huzaifa asked with a slight lift of his brow.

Haider glowered at him. "I am fine. Don't give me such weird looks. It's not like you would have gotten scared by what happened earlier."

"I am amazed at another thing by the way. Amazed is a small word. I am perplexed. Not sure pleasantly but definitely surprised," Huzaifa said, with a sharp curl of his lips.

Haider understood the hidden meaning behind his statement and it took him a lot of self-control not to react to it again. Huzaifa loved to play smart and clever. He usually pressed the feelings and words about of other person's heart by his shrewd way of handling things. Haider knew he was doing it here as well.

Haider placed a hand over his shoulder. "Oh. Nice then."

Unaiza sensing something bad was going to happen came forward to interrupt them. However, the sudden Cold War was over by now. Neither Haider wants to prolong it nor Huzaifa. Amidst all this, he shared a very good bond with his family and he didn't want to mess it up again because of a woman.

"Haider Bhai, will you have dinner with us?" Unaiza questioned.

Haider nodded. "I am just going to grab a shower then I will join you guys on the table."

Unaiza smiled. "Okay." Then she turned towards Huzaifa. "Let's resume Huzaifa. It was my turn."

Huzaifa exhaled recklessly while looking at Haider's back who just went around to leave. Unaiza put the tip of the bat on the ground in front of him.

"You shouldn't have spoken of her in front of Haider Bhai," she murmured.

Huzaifa snickered while tossing the ball at her whose eyes widened at this sudden attempt of the catch again but like always, Unaiza was able to get the ball in the cup of her hands.

"He is smitten by her but he doesn't want to admit it," he mumbled, grabbing the bat which was about to fall from Unaiza because she was more concerned for the ball which he hurled towards her.

"Then what will you get by teasing him? It's not like he is going to admit it this way. He has sent Ishmal Bhabi away and maybe he will divorce her soon too. It's just so sad," Unaiza murmured with a sigh evident in her voice.

Huzaifa removed her glasses from her eyes. "Soon but not yet, Glasses. I just want that some light will enter in his head and he just stop all this....You look better this way, Ursula. Believe me."

Unaiza's cheeks reddened due to shyness. "But I can't see anything this way."

He chuckled, putting her glasses back on her nose. "Let's restart then. Bowl to me."

                      _________________

As the warm water was falling down his body, he closed his eyes to let it affect his anxious mind. Haider didn't know what was happening to him. The anger that he suppressed a while ago in front of his siblings again resurfaced as soon as he was alone. He knew with how much difficulty he curbed himself to not act upon his desire to tear every single thing when Huzaifa had talked about how Ishmal's absence had changed him for the worst.

His memory did a journey of the past. His hatred for Nisha got changed into the contempt for every woman. After her, he never thought of women in a positive light. They were all labeled as gold diggers and cheaters in his mind. Nothing changed when he married that stranger girl whom he met in the night. It was a contract marriage yet it was affecting him all on the opposite levels. He was involving himself in things totally unrelated to him just because of her. Her safety, her happiness, and only her.

That shouldn't be happening. He let a woman again have an impact on him by even making her leave his life.

                     __________________

That morning, Ishmal woke up feeling all fresh and relaxed. As her brother was back, Farah was healing speedily. Life again felt nice for her. She had her mother and family with her. She could live without the fear of anyone trying to scare and intimidate her.  Yet those three months and that man who came into her life dramatically and took away many things from her willingly never left her mind.

Whatever had happened sometimes didn't feel realistic to her. It still looked like a dream. But that ring on her finger and the tag of still being Haider's wife got her to recollect the fact that it was true. She couldn't understand why he still didn't proceed with the divorce. It had been close to a month since she left Haider.

All the hustle and bustle of the arrest of her father first and then her brothers and mother thing kept her so occupied that she almost forgot about it. Maybe that was the reason why Haider might also couldn't get a time to get the ultimate thing done.

Yet thinking about it now, made Ishmal gutted. But that was what eventually going to happen. The contract marriage was just a contract and nothing more than that. Nevertheless, those three months despite being unforgettable, made get go through so much. Abid's family and other people who knew that she had fled didn't want to believe on the actual reason. They were blaming and character-shaming her. Who knew what would be she labeled as when the truth of her paper marriage would get revealed someday? Maybe it would be better if the divorce happened discreetly.

Wrapping her hair in a loose bun, she got out of the bed and went inside the washroom. After getting freshened up, she prepared breakfast.

As the life was falling into its place, she wanted to help her mother to make a living. Her grandparents were old and now suddenly they wouldn't be able to bear the weight of four extra people's expenses. Farah was still in recovery and her brothers were studying. At first, Abid was the breadwinner of the family. Now she was the only one who could be of any use. Ishmal had decided to talk to Farah about getting a job.

"But why, Ishmal? I don't want you away from my eyes now?" Farah raised her concern.

Ishmal held her hands. "Ammi, it's necessary. One of us needs to work to make both ends meet and I won't certainly let you work."

"But Ishmal..."

"Do you still don't believe me? I won't disappoint you now," she mumbled.

Farah patted her cheek. "No, my dear. What are you saying? I never doubted you and I will not do it ever in the future. The one who was behind all of this is thankfully getting what he deserved. But I am now too scared."

"You don't need to get scared, Ammi. Nothing will happen. I have decided that I will teach in Ibad's school. This way you don't have to worry for any of us," she told her.

Farah nodded but then as something came into her mind, she scrunched her nose. "It's all done by that ASP. Right? He rescued Ibad and Ayyan. Didn't he?"

Ishmal nodded while biting her lower lip.

"What's his motive, Ishmal?" Farah lowered her voice as she spoke.

Ishmal tilted her head as she looked away. "He is just a good and devoted police officer. That's all."

Farah breathed out as she looked around to make sure no one was there. "He still hasn't divorced you. When will he do that?"

Ishmal swallowed hard. "I don't know. I hadn't talked to him after I left his place."

She had called Haider about her brothers by keeping it a secret from her mother. Farah was not allowing her to do so but she definitely couldn't become a reason for the misery of her family.

Farah'a jaw dropped. "Ishmal. What are you saying? If he hadn't done it any sooner, people will get to know the truth. And in this way, you will be always linked with him. You won't be able to marry again. Why isn't he divorcing you? What's his motive now?"

Ishmal's throat dried at this statement. Why it was so difficult to think of her name devoid of Haider's name? But her mother was right. Why Haider was delaying it? What he wanted from her now. Her current life was the reality. A life without Haider being a part of. And she should accept it now. She should really get herself freed from his link before it would be too late.

"Ishmal, ask him to set you free from his name and this bond," Farah instructed her at which she looked at her blankly.

                  ____________________

AssalamoAlaikum/ Hi guys!

How are you?

Here's a new chapter.

I hope you like it.

Do you think Haider will divorce Ishmal now?

What do you think will happen next?

If you like this chapter, don't forget to vote and comment. ❤❤

Next chapter is going to be really important so don't forget to read it. 💞
Till next one, Allah Hafiz/ Bye. ❤❤