This chapter is set in Mumbai and Houston. So there is a time difference.

Help me with the Chapter name, Please?

WAQAS' POV

It was past eleven and mamu and mami had already went to bed; Even the kids were sleeping now and here was Hussain, still mocking Roop for calling him Kameena in front of his parents. Ab toh zindagi main kabhi na bole.

Roop rolled her eyes once again when Hussain laughed along with Shehry. She was clearly getting angry and I decided it was time they both stopped.

"Stop it yaar guys. Kitna pareshaan karoge?" I sighed, keeping my plate down. Roop looked at me and I smiled. I got this.

"Aww dekho Waqas ko. Bhabhi ji ki kitni fikar hai," Hussain laughed and I groaned. Yeh kabhi serious nahi hoga.

"Aye Hussain, stop it now," Shehry told him and his laugh died down. Shehry turned to me this time, "Aur tu chal, kuch baat karni hai."

"Akele akele?" Hussain raised his eyebrow and Shehry nodded. "Jee haan and you are not invited."

"Jaa simran, jee le apni zindagi," Hussain said to me and sighed dramatically before walking away. He sat down beside Preet and took Seher from her while I got up and followed Shehry to the backyard.

"So? What's up?" I asked, once we were outside.

"You tell me, what's up?" He questioned back, making me frown, "How are things between the two of you?"

"Between Roop and I?" I asked, just to confirm and he nodded, "They are good.... I guess."

"What do you mean?" He asked and I sighed.

"I am an idiot, that is what I mean," I said. He led me to the wooden chairs and I sat down, "She is amazing yaar. Pagal si, innocent si, sensitive bohot hai. Even though she is a blackbelt."

I chuchkled, remembering how her punched that guy. "Bina baat ke har waqt hansti rehti hai. Yaar, shararat bohot karti hai. This one time she made Rishab draw all over me only because I wasn't waking up. She is too good with kids like magic! But then she is good with everyone. Have you seen her smile? No matter how bad your day is, it can fix everything. She is...."

I zipped my mouth instantly when I saw Shehry staring at me, amused. Iska ten percent bhi Roop ke saamne bol diya hota toh—

"Chup kyu ho gaya? Bol na?" Shehry insisted and I shook my head. "So you could mock me with Hussain? No way!"

"Oh ho, I won't yaar. If I had to mock you, why would I bring you out here?" He asked me and I nodded. Point.

"Fine," I sighed, "the bottom line is that she is amazing and I am an idiot. I get mad at her so easily, like I don't know why? I mean all she wants from me is to share my feelings with her and I..."

I ran a hand through my hair, "I don't know yaar. Sometimes I feel like she is an angel who just fell from the sky and I just don't even deserve her. Like she is so..... Perfect."

"Hmm I guess I can relate," He said, keeping a hand on my shoulder, "when we love someone, we want the best for them, yeah?"

"I don't love her," I quickly said and he ended up chuckling. "Really? Toh itna lamba essay yun hi likh diya uspe?"

"haan na!" I groaned, "ab irritate mat kar, I am going to go inside."

I got up and walked back inside. He quietly followed me until we were in front of the living room and he stopped me.

"Just last question. Pakka," he insisted and I sighed. "Bol?"

"Bhabhi Ko Dekh Ke tere Dil Kuch bomb Se nahi phat'te?"

I looked up at Roop and smiled, seeing her busy with Asmaara now. She laughed at something Asmaara was saying and shook her head. They were scrolling through her phone; possibly reading some jokes.

Ladki hai, Atangwadi thori jo bomb phatenge!

"N-nahi," I chocked out before leaving Shehry alone there.

ROOP's POV

I smiled when Waqas came and sat beside me, setting his eyes on me.

"What happened?" I asked him in a whisper. He shook his head and chose to stay quiet so I kept my hand on his' and he smiled.

"Sure?" I asked him and he nodded this time. I shifted my focus back on the conversation.

"Seriously Yaar, bhabhi doesn't know how crazy we are," Hussain laughed and then sighed, "Kuch waqt ruko hamare saath and you will know the real us!"

"What bhabhi? I am hardly two months older than you. Stop making me feel so old," I huffed at his constant use of that word.

"Kisi ne mujhse kaha tha ek baar ki dewar bete saman hota hai," Waqas whispered in my ear, reminding me of my own words. I turned my head towards him and scowled.

"Oh ho bhabhi, haven't you watched Hum Saath Saath Hein?" Hussain asked me.

"She only loves Siddharth, her first love!" Waqas quipped in again and Asmaara cooed.

"Aap ki zubaan kuch zyada nahi chal rahi phir se?" I asked Waqas in a whisper and he rolled his eyes at me.

"Salman was older than Tabbu but he addressed her as bhabhi," Hussain smiled, "Umar se pehle rishta hota hai, bhabhi jee!"

I shook my head at him when he teasingly added more emphasis to the phrase 'bhabhi jee.'

"Oh koi baat nahi, inki biwiyo se meri izzat toh aaj tak hui nahi, tu hi thori si karwa le," Waqas chuckled beside me.

"What izzat?" Preet asked him, "Don't forget hum pehle dost the."

She came forward and gave Seher to me; she has just changed her dirty clothes.

"And what do you want from us? You should be thankful we didn't bro zone you," Asmaara chuckled, teasingly.

Seher babbled on my lap and slapped my chin, with her hands flying everywhere. I picked up her wooden toy that rattled and made her hold it.

"He loves being bro zoned, isiliye single marte marte bach gaya," Shehry hi fived Hussain and all off a sudden I thought the whole conversation was being directed towards Waqas. I looked up at him and he awkwardly ran a hand through his hair.

"Par ab toh ho gayi na shadi," I spoke for him.

"Tabhi toh kaha bach gaya," Shehry chuchled, "thanks to Nosh warna iske bharose toh Kuch Nahi hone Wala tha."

"Yaar, tum Sab mere peeche kyu pare ho? Ho gayi na ab shadi, beth jao Sab aram Se!" Waqas groaned, "anyways, I was only waiting for the right girl to come along. Nahi Toh lakhon marti Hein mujh Pe."

He smirked at me as I raised an eyebrow at him. Lakhon? Really?

"Oh really?" Preet's voice made me look away from Waqas and I looked at Preet, "batao na, mili woh right girl?"

Oh no! Yeh kya pooch liya? What if he says no?

Or what if he chooses not to answer? No answer might mean no as well, right?

"Bolo bolo?" Asmaara winked at me and I shot her a glare.

Had hoti Hai. Peeche pard jaate Hein sab!

"Haan, mil gayi!"

I thought I misheard someone for a second. Jaise kaan baj rahe ho. But then he kept his hand on my shoulder and firmly Wrapped it around as he pulled me closer. "Dayr Se hi sahi par mil gayi!"

I turned to look at him again and he smiled warmly at me while everyone else cooed in the background. My stomach flipped. He meant that for me, right?

Or maybe for....

"Of course mil gayi! Warna Aise I am sorry book main Kaun likhta hai aaj kal kisi Ke liye?" Preet laughed, teasingly.

I frowned her remark even though I was blushing hard. How does she know about that sorry thing?

"Sala Atif! Uske pait main Kuch Bach jaaye, aisa Hua hai kabhi?" Waqas groaned and others laughed.

The rest of the evening was full of teasing and my aching cheekbones. Not even a single one of them spared a chance to embarrass Waqas and I.

~*~

"It was amazing meeting you all once again," I smiled as I hugged Asmaara and Waqas chuckled behind me.

"Itne formal Toh hum kabhi job interview main bhi Nahi hue!" He said. I rolled my eyes at him and chose not to answer.

I sat inside the car while he bid everyone goodbye. Preet came back with a blanket for Shayyan and Eman, who were sleeping on the back seat, and covered them before we finally drove off. After waving at them from a distance, I rolled up my window, as the car picked up speed, almost messing up my hair.

Soon, silence fell upon us; only the low whistles of the wind were heard. My stomach curled up as I wondered if I should ask Waqas about it.

"So?" I awkwardly cleared my throat and he glanced at me, telling me to continue, "m-mil gayi?"

A chuckle left his mouth as he focused back on the road. I groaned inwardly and dug deeper into my seat. I shouldn't have asked.

AISHA'S POV
(Morning Hours; India) 

"Atif, did you keep the sunblock in the bag?" I yelled, not being able to find the bottle.

"No but I kept my son if that counts," He yelled back from the lounge, and I rolled my eyes. Rummaging through the drawers and cupboards, I finally found it and went out again.

"Mil gayi," I said, shoving it in the bag, and zipped it up.

A light chuckle escaped from my lips, seeing Rishab sitting on the couch with a sun hat and goggles on already. His ones were the clone of Atif's; their outfits were matching too and looked extremely cute.

"Are we good to go?" Atif asked as he came out with a duffel bag and I nodded at him. It was only seven am and we were ready with our hotel bookings, clothes and food for the long drive. Rishab was most excited about it since we weren't leaving him behind to look after the house.

"Chalo baccha party," Atif said as he went upto Rishab and picked him up, "hum lots of fun karenge, ab khush?"

I chukled, while both of them exchanged a few words, and collected the bags. Atif took the big one while I carried the food basket and Rishab's toys. Apparently both of them had planned on playing soccer there but I bet Atif won't even leave the Hotel room there. Sota rahega Sara din.

I was about to head towards the main door when someone rang the bell and I frowned at Atif. Newspaper and Milk was at our doorstep at 6am sharp, then who was here at this hour?

"I'll check," Atif smiled and lowered Rishab on the ground before going up to the door. Rishab sat down near the steps, busy playing some car game on Atif's phone. I smiled, seeing him trying so hard.

"Aisha!" Atif called me, diverting my mind from Rishab, and I walked outside. I frowned, seeing a girl standing in front of him.

"Please come in," Atif told her and turned to me, "her car broke down. She wants to use the phone."

"Oh come in," I smiled at the girl, unsure.

"I am sorry for disturbing you guys. I know it's too early to knock at Someone's door," she sighed as she followed me inside the living room, "actually It's my first case today and I was so excited that I ran into a tree."

I raised an eyebrow at Atif. She ran into a tree?

"Aap log kaheen jaa rahe the?" The girl asked and I shook my head, not sure if I should tell a stranger. "Nahi bas yun hi."

She frowned at me before nodding.

"I'll get water for you," I told her but she shook her head. "No thanks, I just want to use your phone, I left mine at home. I need to let my dad know that I need a mechanic. Thank goodness I left home early or else I would have missed my hearing."

"What hearing?" Atif asked her and I frowned. Hamein kya? Phone kare Aur jaye, we are late.

"Have I seen you guys somewhere?" She cross questioned us and both of us shook our heads.

"I doubt," Atif told her and her frown deepened.

"Oh my God! Last year!" She grinned, remembering something, and Atif and I exchanged looks.

"You guys won the guardianship of that little boy!" She said, still not making any sense.

"Boy? I am a boy too! Haina Mumma?" Rishab asked me instantly and I looked down at him.

"Rishu, aap room main jao please," Atif told him and he ran inside.

"Aap Ko phone karna tha," I reminded the girl and passed her the cordless phone.

"Yeah," she sighed and took it from me. I went inside to get her something to drink. Even though she refused, she was my guest.

A soft kiss on my neck snapped me out of my thoughts and I found Atif standing beside me. "Don't think too much into it. She is just a girl," he smiled, maybe Sensing my discomfort, and I sighed.

"She is a stranger."

He rolled his eyes before shrugging his shoulders, "maybe she is just having a bad day? There is no harm in helping someone, yeah?"

Pata Nahi....

WAQAS' POV

"Eman, wake up?" Roop lightly shook her. She groaned and went back to sleep. Roop looked at me and I sighed.

"I guess I'll have to carry them inside," I suggested and Roop ended up chuckling.

"Rehne dein. Fir kahi gire pare milenge," she mocked me and I rolled my eyes at her, "Oh please, Eman is a normal size human and not a—"

"Not a what?" She stepped right into my face before I could finish. Instantly wrapping my arm around her waist, I stopped her from stepping away, and spun us around so my back was against the car. A small gasp escaped her lips as her hands landed on my chest, stopping her from falling on me.

I chuckled and raised my other hand to push her hair away from her face. Rolling her lips between her teeth, she blinked at me, as I traced my fingers along her cheek.

"Mil gayi," I whispered.

"Kaun?" She asked. Tu!

"Tere baalon main jaun(lice)," I told her and her eyes widened with in a split second. She was about to slap my chest when I laughed and hugged her, kissing her shoulder. 

"Mamu?" Eman's voice made us pull away and I cursed the moment. Bacche hamesha galat time Pe kyun jaagte Hein?

"You are awake!" I looked at Eman and she nodded at me as she stepped out of the car. Shayyan came out too.

"Are we home yet?" He asked, lazily, and I nodded at him.

"Jee, jao dono andar," I gave the keys to Eman and they both walked away.

"Chalo," Roop whispered. Just when she was about to walk away, I held her wrist again and jerked her towards me.

"What are you doing?" She gasped, widening her eyes again, and I looked up at the sky. "Nice weather. Let's go for a walk?"

"Iss waqt? I am tired, Waqas," she pouted. I nodded at her and led her inside. Eman had left the keys attached to the door for us to lock it.

"Tum Chalo, I'll make sure they are tucked in properly," I told Roop and she nodded before walking upstairs. I locked the door and headed towards the kids' room. Seeing them both sleeping peacefully already, I turned the main hall lights off and headed upstairs. 

As I entered the room, I found Roop pulling out her clothes from the cupboard. Her long hair swayed side to side as she moved around the room with a smile on her lips. Leaning against the wall, I chose to take a moment to silently observe this Pagal in front of me.

Itna lamba essay yun hi likh diya uss pe? I remembered Shehry's question and a chuckle unknowingly escaped from my lips. Roop straightened her back instantly and looked up at me. A frown appeared on her forehead as I she slowly approached me.

"Aise kya dekh rahe hein?" She asked me and I ran my hand through my hair. "Dekh nahi raha, kuch soch raha tha."

"Kya?"

"Soch raha tha ki agar maine Nosh ko mana kar diya hota toh aaj hum kahan hote," I told her and her frown deepened. I chuckled and extended my hand towards her. She blinked at me and then down at my hand before keeping her hand on it.

"Agar ek pagal si larki se meri shadi karwane ke peecha na pare hote sab toh-"

She chuckled, cutting me off, "Yeh kya baa-"

"Shhh," I kept my finger on her lips, stopping her, "Let me talk."

She nodded at me as a smile slowly appeared on her lips. And there, I lost all the words. I stared at her face for a good few minutes before it all started coming back to me. Thank Goodness.

"Tune kabhi khud ko theek se dekha hai?" I asked her and she shook her head. I pulled her closer and smiled, "I have never seen a smile as gorgeous as your's, a heart so beautiful, a girl so amazing."

Tracing my finger along her soft skin, I roamed my eyes around her face. Quickly pecking her cheek, I pulled away to look at her face again and her nervous eyes made me want to chuckle. She was probably thinking I have lost my senses.

I just leaned forward again and hugged her; her sweet scent lingered in my nostrils as I dug my face deeper into the crook of her neck. I couldn't hold myself back from pecking on her bare skin and she shivered, probably out of surprise. 

Well whatever it was, I am sure as hell its the first time I was in my senses.

ROOP's POV

I hadn't even recovered from the shock his words gave me when he pecked my cheek. Sir pe lagi hogi iss baar zaroor.

Waqas' words were making it hard for me to not tear up; he hardly ever says anything like this to me. Having him opening up like this, made my heart swell with not just happiness, but joy. The smile on his lips gave me chills. This man! I rolled my lips between my teeth again to stop them from trembling and suddenly he leaned forward again to hug me. I had had it now; so many emotions we storing up in my stomach when I felt his lips against my skin. My body shook involuntarily as he left soft kisses along my jaw and neck, leaving his traces over my skin.

My breath hitched in my throat when he suddenly stopped and pulled away from me. I wanted this. He leaned his forehead against mine and smiled softly, "Remember you once asked me if your scars bothered me?"

I nodded at him as a sudden fear took over me. He was going to reject me.

No one wants an ugly looking, girl.

I was going to look away from him when he removed his one hand from my back and cupped my cheek with it.

"They will never," He whispered with a smile lingering on his lips, taking me by surprise, "they are nothing against the beauty that lies within your heart."

My breath hitched in my throat again when I felt a soft tug on my dress from behind. I felt the zip slowly sliding down and gulped, staring at Waqas with wide eyes. My stomach churned with every passing second; a sense of nervousness and excitement mixed together. He stopped for a moment and looked at me with a questioning gaze.

And closing my eyes, I leaned in, giving him my consent....

AISHA's POV
(Morning Hours; India)

I stared at the girl, observing her carefully, as she kept down her cup. She smiled at me and I forcefully mirrored it.

"aapne apna naam nahi bataya?" I asked her and she face palmed herself. "Sahi kehte hein dad, main lawyer kaise ban gayi, pata nahi. I am Tanya Deshmukh."

That name triggered.

"Nice name," I said, shoving away the thoughts, "I am Aisha."

"I know," she chuckled, "you guys were all over the news last year because of that accident. But you have been on my mind for longer than you should have been."

I looked at Atif, who was now playing with Rishab on the couch opposite to mine. Tanya's comment instantly caught his attention and he looked up at us.

"What do you mean?" He asked her and she chuckled again. "Yun samajh lo mere Gannu Bappa ne mujhe yahan bheja hai. When my seniors told me to stop thinking about you guys, I gave up. But who knew we will meet like this."

"I'd appreciate it if you stopped playing with words," I told her blankly, and her smile flattened instantly.

She shifted in her spot before clearing her throat. "My dad was the policeman who was looking into this boy's parents' accident case and then the lawyer, I was practising under, ended up taking that case. I tried contacting his family a lot but, they refused to take his custody because of the loans and zero bank balance. Their house was sealed to pay the house loan but this boy still has heaps to pay back all the people his father took the loan from."

Atif and I exchanged looks. He nodded at me, telling me to patiently listen to her.

"I know its too much for you guys to take in," Tanya spoke, "I tried convincing his family even after you guys had taken his custody. They just didn't want anything to do with him."

"Then why wont they just give him to me when I am willing to adopt him? He is my son," I asked her and gulped the lump in my throat.

"According to the law he isn't," She sighed, "your friend was ordered by the court to look after his basic needs but you chose to do it instead. The judge thought its for the better since a child need both the parents for a healthy upbringing, especially a mother, and your friend was single. But even now the judge can ask you to give him to his actual legal Guardian."

"I am his legal guardian," I spoke bitterly and she shook her head. "Believe it or not, you will need the court's permission for even little thing like his school admission too."

"Why are you even here?" Atif stood up suddenly, "You wanted to use the phone. Now leave."

"I am only trying yo help," Tanya looked at him and then back at me, "Hear me out, at least?"

"Atif please sit," I stood up and made him sit on the couch with him. Rishab ran up to me, seeing me sitting with Atif, and sat between the two of us.

"Meri mumma hai," He told Atif and then smiled at me. A tear escaped my eyes as I hugged him tightly.

"There is one thing you can do," Tanya spoke again, grabbing my attention, "you can meet his family, try convincing them that you will pay all the loans. They can adopt him legally since they are family and then you can adopt him from them. Its complicated but it seems like the only way."

"what if they refused to give him to us after we paid the loans?" Atif asked and Tanya smiled.

"Law and court are there for a reason. You are not going to do anything illegal; the custody will be given to you legally," She said, "Maybe talk to your lawyer about this as I am not authorised to discuss anyone's personal details. He will have his own ways of finding about this boy's family."

I looked at Atif again and he had the same look on his face that I did.

"So, you are telling me I'll be able to adopt him legally?" I asked her. My gut tightened for a moment, waiting for her reply, and then she smiled.

Hot Tears rolled down my cheek as I looked down at Rishab again.

I was dying for this moment!

WAQAS' POV

The dimly lit room felt ever so peaceful with her lying beside me and my feelings, that had finally made their way through my walls. I smiled, feeling overwhelmed. Kya hua, kaise hua, kuch samjh hi nahi aaya. Bas ho gaya.

"Roop," I shook her slightly. Her hair tickled my chest as she moved a little and a 'hmm' left her mouth.

"You awake?" I asked her, to make sure, "Kuch kahu?"

"Bolo," she whispered, lazily, as she tightened her arm around my torso. I pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head.

"I know its kinda late and you already figured it out, but I still wanted to say it," I spoke and waited for her response. She hummed again and I smiled.

"Mujhe pyaar ho gaya hai tujhse," I chocked out after so much efforts, "M-matlab pehle ho gaya tha par bola nahi. Woh jab tu hospital main thi na, that day. And then when Raaniya said Adanan was your ex-fiancé. Even when we went to the new house. In fact I think I was in love when you first gawked at Siddharth, and then that night at the shoot. I swear I wanted to kill those girls for hurting you."

I paused for a moment and took a deep breath.

"Aisa lag raha hai jaise pichle dino jo mooh pe taala laga tha, woh aaj khul gaya," I chuckled, " Tu sun rahi hai na?"

"Roop?" I shook her again and groaned, realising she was fast asleep. Sighing, I turned off the side lamp and threw my head back on the pillow. Mushkil se dil ki baat zubaan par aayi thi aur isne suni bhi nahi.

Oh well, at least I finally know what I feel. Shaking my head, I fixed the pillow that was under my head and turned to my side before pulling her closer. She snored softly against my chest as I hugged her tightly and smiled, waiting for sleep that was far from me.

I was happy; like things were about to change....

~*~*~

Change for good? *Smirks*

LITERALLY WAITED FOR MONTHS TO WRITE THIS CHAPTER. And it still feels so rushed.

BUT HAPPY TIMES DON'T LAST THAT LONG /.\

LOVE ALWAYS!