Shah House:

The mellow luster of morning rinsed the Shah House, as the sun had bequeathed its hues to the Earth.

The golden plume of warm rays streaming into the room, although diffused by some lace curtains, still managed to caress Dawar Shah's skin, and radiated across his closed eyelids to make them open finally.

He lay there a minute, then propped himself up on an elbow and reached for his cell phone, which he kept on his nightstand. After skimming through messages he set the phone down as he stifled a yawn with the back of his hand.

Dawar facepalmed for a few seconds, and before getting off the bed and going to the washroom he habitually adjusted the covers on his wife, who was seemingly deep in slumber on the left side of the bed.

After being done with his regular morning routine as he came out after 20 minutes, he saw Kafiya was not only awake but was leaning against the bed crown.

No exchange of morning salutations from both sides!

After Serkhayl's visit, there had been tension between the two of them. Every time dissension brings them silent nights and long days with no communication.

Kaifiya's melee of last night was the icing on the cake.

Silence hung in the air between them, which Dawar considered a relief. He didn't need her to speak empty words.

He entered the dressing room with his phone dialing, someone.

Anger churned in her as she jerked back her arm in frustration. She got off the bed and entered the washroom.

The bone of contention was that every single time she tried to forget about Serkhayl's authoritative tone and his decisive yet powerful stance. It was all popping up only to make her angry about the whole predicament all over again and she had no control over this.

As she came out after freshening herself up, she saw Dawar dressed for the office walking to the desk by the window, and picking up the remote control to open the curtains.

Kaifiya always knew Dawar is good at everything even emotions, but to cope with Ghazala's demise was exceptionally tough for him; she witnessed it by herself.

"You have never forgotten her yet?"

Dawar turned around at her as Kaifiya spoke out of nowhere.

His brow flashed as he was unable to find any connection between her question to himself.

"She spent hardly three years with you!" Kaifiya spoke again.

"Hmmm!" Dawar comprehending this time, took a deep sigh and hummed as he was buttoning his cuffs.

"Do you still miss her so much after all these years? She asked then without any delay replied herself, "of course you do!"

"Kaifiya, she has departed from this realm back to her Creator!" Dawar uttered gently.

"But true love never fades....never dies in fact!"

Kaifiya was like a duck, which remains calm on the surface and paddling like crazy underneath.

"You are saying, right! She was an appropriate definition of soulmate,
She had a happy heart. Generous. She always looked after the people in need. Before our marriage, in the Medical Center, I noticed several times, that she had an empathetic nature toward indigent patients. She worked hard for them, for me, and my family. Who knew she had a very short time to reside in the world!"

Dawar spoke longing too.

In response, Kaifiya came close to Dawar silently. She took the tie from him with a swift upward glance that was about as cold as she was capable, stood up on her toes, and affix the tie. "There." She patted it briefly. "By the way, you're well written her eulogy and you never stop revising."

Dawar quite unfazed turned towards the dressing mirror, and even before he could reach it, Kaifiya picked up the cologne and sprayed it over him.

"Thanks," Dawar spoke while grabbing his jacket to put it on.

"I wish I could be in the place of Ghazala Api, at least for her you have pleasant feelings." After helping him wear Kaifiya spoke as she brushed away some nonexistent lints from the jacket.

"No one can be in someone's place! You have been entrusted with your specific duties. You execute them honestly or not that is an important element." Dawar stated while strapping the watch on his wrist.

As he swerved to the door, Kaifiya gripped his arm and made him turn around to face herself, "do you think that you know me? Don't ever assume you know me. You know nothing." She huffed needlessly.

"What else is left to know?" Dawar asked solemnly.

"At least talk to me about the issue! Maybe I have a strong point in response!" She spurred.

"Kaifiya, I am done with the same topic again and again. You know what I detest, what I relish. But you give a damn to it. You only think about yourself. I know it's part of your nature, even you can't help with this but at least you can try."

Dawar took a pause and saw her jaw drop in reaction then spoke again, "I honored my dying wife Ghazala's wish. She vouched for you.....maybe deep down I was semi-convinced that you would be your sister's shadow otherwise I was against letting my child face any toxicity of step relationship but expectations get reversed sometimes. The same happened I was dreading." He took a sigh then resumed,
"A mother's lap is the first institution where a child attains his code of conduct to be an effective member of society. But failing the reason for remarriage, you always made a destitute relationship with the innocent kid. I don't know where the love had gone for the boy you were holding as an aunt. Instead, you left no stone unturned to tear down his personality......but.... by the grace of the Almighty, he grew up in nice institutions where he was fostered to become a solid person. You mustn't forget him as a teenager, even though he looked like a mature man."

Dawar stopped while looking at her shell-shocked expression.

After so many years he brought her down the peg.

Kaifiya with great effort controlled her nerves. She was not habitual to impeachment like this. Some moments were gone in silence before she spoke chewingly, "Just because you had treated Ghazala nicely, my parents thought the same would happen to me. You were like an idol to them but what about my dreams? One good thing doesn't make you in any way acceptable for a young and vibrant girl. I had some dreams as a young bride but you treated me as your kid's maid. I was in your bedroom but the room of your heart was allotted to my deceased sister. Everyone was supposed to tell me WAYS! How to be a good mother! Everywhere invisible infinite eyes were fixed on me to detect any wrongdoing and to denounce me as a cruel stepmother." She took a pause but without sparing the gaze of Dawar, she started again, "In the early days of marriage, couples enjoy being alone, allowing no one to impede their privacy. They spend most of their time getting to know each other better.
But you had no interest in anything except your business and after that your son. I used to beg for your attention and I hate myself now for that me so susceptible at that time."

As she fell silent, Dawar glanced at his wristwatch, "That's enough?! I'm getting late!"

This small gesture by him was like fueling the fire.

It just blackened her.

"What the hell is going on here? Don't you see I'm bitching around? But you have no time! You should retire from your pedestal. Be on the ground. You're not duping anyone but yourself." Kaifiya ranted about what came to her mind.

Dawar after staring at her for what seemed like an eternity spoke notably. "If we can't do better in the future there won't be anything left between us to talk about."
It was a flat, blunt statement that left no room for argument.

She was dumbfounded.

Meanwhile, they both heard a car honk from distantly, probably on the Main Gate.

"Your Hunny Sonny here!" Dawar shook his head in a meaningful way and left the room.

Kaifiya gritted her teeth rooted there in her place for a few seconds then with an empurpled face, she shambled off the window.

She saw Ashraf was in the portico to welcome Young Master.

Kunan hopped out of the car and nodded his head in response to Ashraf's greeting.

They both were walking side by side with seemingly interesting discussions.

He was looking as handsome as ever.

Kaifiya took a deep sigh of contentment and turned to take a long soothing shower.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Raniya turned on the faucets at two different temperatures and then stared out the window above the bathtub at the sunlight as she started to unbutton her dress.

She shuddered at the thought of him.

'Kun-an.' She was shivering with the unknown burden of emotions.

The tub was half-filled. She bent and dipped her hand only to find the water was deliciously warm.

Intent upon soaking herself in the warm comfort of the tub, Raniya moved her fingers quickly, releasing the dress.

Once stripped, she slipped languidly into the desirable water, shivering slightly until her body accepted the heat and finally relaxed.

The warm bath is useful for such things as helping one feel calm and soothing nervous tension.

She grabbed some gels and oil and poured them one by one into the water.

She was rubbing her arms when a bruise caught her eyes. Her lips went pursed sullenly as she was not habitual of such treatment.

She was well cognizant with winks, smiles, leers, and gesticulations but the fact intact she was still untouched.

Slowly rubbing her bruises with soapy water she went all shuddered as she recalled his arduous behavior.

She recalled how all of a sudden he turned wild to the extreme.

Flashback:

"Konsa Mantar phoonko tamper jo meri bat samjho gi!?"
(Which charm should I cast upon you to believe in me)

His hands gripped her arms hard, and his gaze was dark with anxiety.

"Please!" She tried yanking off herself from his hold but how could she?

"I know that I am not a true gentleman bu-" he got cut off in between by her, "-of course, you are not that's why you are here!"

He first smiled at her wild cat reaction then spoke in a whisper; "Trust me you are a dumbhead!" In a way, his eyes were boring into hers.

"I've been hearing the same quirk about myself for years," imitating the gesture she replied in a near whisper and turned her face to the opposite side.

His lips stretched out in a wide smile; with eyes slipping over the rosy skin of her neck.

Suppressing the urge to taste the sweetness, he stood upright. His fists clenched as he took a great sigh.

A few moments went by in silence.

"I think there's no need for a consultant!" He suddenly bolstered.

She looked up at him, momentarily confused by his behest.

"Well, I am asking about the offer I placed!" He stuffed his hands into his pants pockets with a penetrating gaze that seemed to see through everything, including her anxiety.

"I don't know what to do!" She said hesitantly.

"I can't believe that as pretty as you are, on the contrary, your brain is fairly not a good adapter." He spoke.

"How can a stranger be trusted already?" She looked up into his eyes and made a point.

"Well just because you don't know me, don't think I am some roadside rascal. I do have some good sort of reputation." Kunan asserted.

She refused to look in his direction.
She was quiet but her heart was getting tumultuous.

She's no choice. She had to go through with his words - the alternative was too terrible.

With fumbling fingers, she was giving him the notion of a mental dilemma she was floating in.

"Hmm...do you want to be a boiling frog?" He asked bending over her.

"I ...I don't get it!" She was amazed.

"What's your name?"
He asked suddenly but waited for an answer as she blinked at him.

"Daisy kehna theek rahy ga ager naam batany mai koi masla hai?" he had an impish look in his eyes.

"Raniya!" she slowly uttered.

"Hmm, Raniya, nice name; suits you! Simple praise went more glorified with his husky voice.

She fidgeted with her hands. No one has ever praised her name before besides her mother.

"So miss Raniya, don't wait for the water to get boil! Leap out already!" He spoke ultimately.

She was biting her lips nervously.

His craving went hyped up.

"How is this possible?" She finally assembled some words.

"I have enough money to pay for you to that oldie." He not boasting but told her as a factual matter.

Raniya lifted her head slowly as her mind processed his words, "what?!!! Buy me?!!" She spoke in shock.

"So you think that oldie will allow you to go with me voluntarily?" He asked softly.

"In what capacity will you take me with you?" Raniya asked convulsively.

"Anything. As per your wish!" He spoke solemnly.

"Meaning!?" Raniya asked perplexingly.

"Maybe as an assistant of mine or..... as a project model for my Safari rally. Anything else you like?" He found her gawking himself then added mischievously, "and only upon your comfy, we can go further."

"What!?" Her voice broke miserably.

"Yeah, nowadays I am in intense need of a girlfriend!" He closely watched her.

Her adrenalin started pumping like crazy through her veins. A wrathful flush spread over her cheeks and bosom, and her breath came half in sobs. "I'm not interested in your money or what you can buy me. How dare you?"

"You haven't seen my dare yet!" He grasped her arm, "it's alot more than your insight." He was turning wild.

"keep off your hands!"
She winced.

"All I want is to give you a chance to win the situation. A chance for being away from the daily circus here, away from the eye fu*ks! Away from the sordid living like for being on sale daily." Kunan gnashing put more pressure on her arm.

"How can anything.... good come out of something that...... started with such bad intentions?" Raniya whimpered yet badly squirmed.

"Grow up!"

He grunted frustratedly,

"I live on my terms; friends, club, parties, girlfriends, I carry out with them but their effect on my personal life is out of the question. But through you can't fight with the fate I ended up here........ Don't you see a reason?.......... There is something special about you, I knew that from the moment my eyes landed on you. Why an extremely selfish man would break his rules for a mere dancer? Don't you just see?!"

Her jaw dropped, and her luscious lips parted, tempting him more than he could bear.

She was still squirming...

Suddenly pushing her back against the bed, he layered his body on top of hers, wanting to feel every inch of it.

She was badly writhing
He held down her wrists to make sure she couldn't push him off.

Watching his face leaning toward her mouth a sharp jolt pierced through her, letting her out a squeal.

He ceased himself... But his eyes frantically roamed over her face, her neck, and bosom.

"Tell me how can I touch you with the green light on?!" He spoke in a heavy grumble. His eyes were gleaming red with a desperate kind of desire. "Kunan Shah plays with passion, or doesn't play at all..." He whispered.

She was powerless beneath him but her eyes seemed to glaze over.

His eyes narrowed on her. A few seconds have gone when.......

"The fu*k!"
He released her abruptly and stood up.

She loudly gasped and sat up to catch her breath, which was held for several seconds.

Staring at her curled form, he strode across the room with both hands ruffling his hair.

His fully charged-up system attempted to regulate itself back to normal, but it seems to still be held hostage by his hyped-up emotions.

After pacing to and fro for a few moments, he looked around as if searching for something.

Taking his steps with a firm grip on the ground he moved to the corner where broken particles had fallen during the violent scuffle between Sheema and Raniya.

Grabbing a pointed piece of the shattered vase, he came to Raniya...who was utterly gobsmacked.

"Turn around," he ordered.

"What do you want?" Raniya asked as she stood up on the bed.

"I said turn around," he said enough loud and harsh that forced Raniya to obey.

"Argh!" He did something to himself with the broken piece as he grunted with pain.

Raniya couldn't wait to see what is happening at her back.

As she turned, her yelp was beyond her control.

"What are you doing?" She freaked out to see the fanatic.

He was marring the bedsheet with his bleeding thumb.

"Remember! We did that!" He bent and untucked it from the corner making it disheveled.

As he stood tall after the completion of the task and tossed the sharp piece in a farther corner, "He made love!" This should be your answer if an oldie enquires. Got it?"
He was signifying her for what he orchestrated while retrieving a handkerchief from his coat pocket.

Raniya with an agape mouth blinked at him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~¶

Recap!

"Who are you?" He bent, trapped her between the chair and himself, his either hands on the chair's armrest, "what's your agenda? You beautiful bait?" He grunted with his eyes sliding over her.

"Trust me, I am not lying!" She spoke as her heart sank low.

"Don't be a foe of yourself, c'mon!" His lethal tone, "tell me the name behind it!"

She shook her head and fought loud sobs, rubbing one fist against her mouth.

He clamped both hands with one and from the other hand, he clenched her face close to him, "So just how far do you need to take this charade, miss Abeeza!?"

He was inching down on her face.

The fresh episode begins:

Abi could not hold her such fear, she let out a horrible scream making him flinch back for a second.

Wasting no time, she darted out of the door.

Serkhayl couldn't hold his surprise, "so agile!"

letting out a long sigh he searched for his holster that was hanging on a hook.

Stepping forward, he pulled out his gun and tucked it into his waistband before walking out.

°°°°°°°°°°

Abi was running without a certain direction in her head.

The sun had sunk well below the treetops, the dew returned even thicker than before. It held heavy on the air.

The shadows seemed to stretch taller in this part of the forest, inducing involuntary chills up her spine.

She heard a slight susurration, like a stream flowing nearby, 'the canal!' she recalled and glee bubbled in her heart as she recalled that she found the canal at the entrance of the forest.

She didn't stop, though, she needed to pacify her labored breathing.

She stilled as something creaked distantly, making her heart jump to her throat.
She turned her head slowly and listened but heard nothing.

Resuming her journey she found her feet caked in mud.

She drew in a stiffened breath and a sharp squeal fell dead on her lips as she looked ahead. Low-hanging boughs of pine probably gave her a little seizure of heart.

After putting her heart, into a normalized rhythm, clamping her lips, she forced herself to move further.

Another creak in the background.

Mindless of the mud and the dark, she rested against the willow with her limbs gone weaker.
The stream was flowing near her feet.

she was shuddering profusely...

'I must climb a tree.'
A thought flashed in her mind. To act out she turned to face the port in a storm and probed to find any foothold in the rough, cracking trunk.

Finding a cleft, she carefully climbed up the convenient branch.... then ascended to another. Clinging on it She slowly looked down.
The stream was just beneath...

Another creak... Louder this time to transform her into an icicle for a moment.

She clung hard to the trunk but then a series of crunches appeared under her feet.

Before she could mull over she became an experimental part of the process of gravity.

The young tree couldn't hold her weight and dropped her down like some ripened fruit.

With a horrific squeal, she landed in Serkhayl's arms.

The impact was two-way.
For him the silken caress, and for her, it was hard and chiseled.

She dreadfully opened her eyes only to meet his burning gaze.

Her eyes widened and breath play seesawed in and out.

Leaning on her face, leaving barely a hair's breadth he whispered. "slow down your horses, girl!"

She just wanted to scream at the top of her voice letting it all out, but instead, she started thrashing her legs.

Serkhayl saw her muddy form and simply undid his arms around her body. With a whoosh, she was in the water.

"You needed that!" He replied with annoyance while seeing a startled expression in her eyes.

She was all soaked up after water folded her in its silken arms.

She looked around in panic and then saw him above. He was towering over her.

"Stand up!" He ordered thunderously.

Her dress clung to her body making her perilous.

She looked at him with pitiful eyes. He was standing there with a merciless look.

She was not believing this is the same man who was gentle enough! The man who didn't touch her when she was unconscious and on his mercy.

Shakily draping dupatta around herself, before standing up, 'what a luck!' the thought drilled her heart.

Soon a yelp emitted from Abi when Serkhayl pulled her out of the stream in a swish and clutching her hand, pulled her along himself.

She had no choice but to practically run to catch up to his long strides until they reached the cottage.

Her breath hitched as she saw the tall and rugged man's eyes were trained on her.

"I....spoke...truth!" She murmured as she backed away watching him coming close.

The muscle in his jaw ticked as he watched the tear trail down her cheek.

He was an arm apart.

"What?" He growled.

"I spoke the truth!" Her voice quivered.

He looked at her shaking form then again a wave of anger overcame him.

"Kio bhagi phir?!" He gripped her face.

"Mujhy jany do!" Poor Abi sobbed helplessly.

(Let me go)

"Hmmm!" he took a long sigh. "There's a fine line between being stubborn and being stupid." His voice was mild as he spoke, no trace of anger left.

"I thought you were a nice person!" She spoke in a shattered tone.
Her lips were wet with tears.

He witnessed the glaze for a moment then gripping her arms in a tight hold he growled. "So now what the hell did I do?" He spun her around and tossed her in the chair. "If you're talking about my harsh temper, it was dormant until I met your lies." He bent on her with his both hands on the armrest.

"I wish I couldn't come here!" Abi hid her face in her palms.

"Your first mission?" He narrowed his eyes at her.

"What mission? Abi gaped at him, "neither I'm a secret agent nor you are a pathetic criminal," she spoke in a flow then stopped, "but maybe you are!" she spoke slowly after pondering at her statement.

This brought a sudden change in the stance of Serkhayl.
He stood upright and released a throaty laugh.

Abi saw him in amazement for a mere second; the next moment her face went in his tight hold, "Mata Hari!" leaning on her face he gritted.

(a famous lady spy)

She struggled with her full might but couldn't shift him an inch away.

In this jouncing Abi's dupatta dropped to her lap revealing all of her bosom and collarbone areas.

Serkhayl's involuntary gaze flicked and remained glued there.

His eyes slowly traveled more down the tender line of her neck.

The view was getting full detail.

His forehead creased with his eyes narrowed on the spot.

This specific occurrence was enough to snap him to his senses.

He slowly retreated the stance and stood upright.

Abi finding herself free, grabbing immediately covered herself with a dupatta.

"Yeh sab kiya hai?!"
His voice was stringent vaguely.

(What the hell is this)

The focus of his eyes splintered Abi's last hope.

Her heart raced in panic as she seemed miserable while fidgeting in the chair.

"I am asking about something!" his tone was stern and serious. Abi recoiled at once with her body atremble, unsure of what exactly lay in her immediate future.

She clenched her teeth together when he again asked.

She swallowed hard.

"What do you want to know?" She dared to look into his eyes.

"Sirf sach!" He grunted.

"Sach tu yeh hai ke apki niyat kharab hogai hai....theek hai kerdo barbad mujhy.....lekin yaad rakhna ik masoom larki ki bad dua-" She within sobs uttered what came to her mind.

(in fact, you have turned your intention bad for me. You want to violate me... Ok do it but remember the curse of an innocent girl)

"kia bakwas-" He in a sudden outburst lifted her off the chair as she weighed next to nothing to him, "kia bakwas ker rahi ho?"
Instead of letting her go, he dragged her aside.

"Who do you think I'm?" He snarled and shoved her into the nearest wall.

She was looking at him with her body consumed by fear.

"What do you think of Serkhayl Shah? A fu*k boy?" He spoke in a thunderous tone.

She was trapped between his body and the wall. Precisely pressed to his chest she was shaking badly.

"Don't hurt me," she pleaded. Her pooled-up innocent eyes; the pure terror in her voice benumbed all his wild temper suddenly.

He shook his head, as of reproaching himself for behaving malevolently.

He slowly released her arms and backed up several feet as he watched her slowly hiccuping.

"I was just curious about the bruises on your skin," he spoke, his voice soft with a hint of apology.

She wiped her face and then took a deep breath and her innocent voice filled the room, "I got badly.... injured in the earthquake, but before...... my wounds would heal, my bad luck took me to that....... sinful place, where the old woman Sheema and her assistant Tina, used to pummel me every other day." She started sobbing and wiped her eyes so hard in a way forbidding them not to shed any more tears.

"Why?" Serkhayl asked in baritone as he shoved his hands into his pockets.

Abi looked down before arranging words in her mind, then having gazed at him for a brief moment, she spoke slowly, "I used to cry alot! Whenever I begged her to set me free and whenever I refused to indulge in bad deeds, she would hit me."

Her hiccups went on as she finished.

Serkhayl with pursed lips began to pace, an old habit each time he had something important to get off his chest or something stressful to get through.

"I know... you are doubtful," she badly twisted her fingers, "but I'm not lying!"

Serkhayl halted and listened to her.

"Hmm so eventually you escaped from the place?" he asked.

"Yes!" She nodded.

"So easily? And alone? No other girl was interested in your plan?" He looked unconvinced.

"I am speaking tru-" Abi's eyes again welled up.

"Wait! I'm not doubting but you need to tell me the whole thing. There are more attributes I need to know." He marched around her.

Her head hung low with lips under teeth torcher.

"Kia hoa?" He asked softly.

She slowly lifted her head. "I hid one thing!" her voice tearful.

"Hmm!" Serkhayl watched the girl with interest, a little girl or mystery box', he thought.

"One-day Aunt Sheema was taking me to punish me for my all yelling in the dressing room. She thought I'm creating a fuss and ruining the party mood of the girls. In the corridor, She was punching yet pushing me somewhere, I saw a man in a police uniform exiting some room...I rushed at him and let out all my story. I told him all the nefarious business running there. I thought.... being a police officer.... he will help me out of that place. I was fool enough..... not to read up his lust bristled in his dirty gaze." Abi paused as she sobbed hard. Serkhayl came closer, "what happened next?" he asked feeling an ire mounting inside

"Tina gave me some drink that made me unconscious and after a few hours I found myself tied up in some unknown room." Abi stopped as it was painful to recall.

She was hiccuping when Serkhayl blurted out, "he molested you?" with a taut expression on his face.

"He... wanted to but.... couldn't succeed. I had with me an itching powder. Raniya is one of a kind girl, I met her there, and she gave it to me in this ring," she showed him the ring with the secret compartment, "He had his gun in his hand, and as he came near I dusted the powder in his face. The while he was scratching like crazy, a bullet from his gun ricocheted off the ceiling, knocking down a heavy chandelier on his head." She pressed her lips right as she stopped.

"Was he dead?" Serkhayl asked.

"Nahi pata." She shook her head slowly and then wiped her face from the back of her hand.
(Don't know)

Serkhayl unknowingly felt relieved. Putting his inner feeling to one side, he watched her closely as if deriving the percentage of lies and truth.

"It's... all... true!" She was unnervingly quiet but sensing his calculating eyes on herself, she spoke, with almost a whisper of a voice.

"Itny masoom mou se jhoot bhi bolo gi tu sach hi lagay ga!" He mumbled to himself.

"What?" She couldn't listen.

"I said, you explained well, but a question arises, how did you get here precisely in my cottage?" He asked.

"There was a vehicle in his portico, I used that to escape as I found keys attached to the ignition. I drove on the highway for maybe a few km but outside of the forest, the car careened off the track and bounced down to the dirt side. It was steeper and due to heavy rain, it was muddier too. I couldn't control the speed, and off-balance resulted in a toppled-over car." She defined him.

"You walked away from the accident with barely a scratch?" Serkhayl got a slightly muzzy picture in mind.

"Yes, Almighty saved me and airbags were there." She uttered in an easy tone.

Listening to this, "hmm, ok, then!" Serkhayl heaved out a loud murmur of assent.

"That was nighttime, and it was pouring down stormy rain. I think I was passed out there till sunrise. It felt so vulnerable in daylight that in search of immediate shelter I found an orchard, but I don't know if it was the forest's entry point."

She saw him reclined against the wall as she finished.

His eyes fixed on her. He was deep in thought.

Silence...

Seeing his silence Abi continued. "I'm sorry, I disturbed your life, your private world... ahm... well, I don't know the way out," She paused, and wetted her lips, "will you- would you please let me out of the woods? The rest I will manage." She asked in a low, apologetic voice, blinking hard to ward off the moisture that would betray her.

Serkhayl never dipped below the surface of his emotions ever but this time it was becoming difficult for him.

Shaking the pink haze out of his mind, he clamped her hand and ushered her out of the cottage.

The fire was crackling in a bonfire. It was warmth in the atmosphere.

Serkhayl made her sit on the log bench, "dry yourself!" he spoke gently.

"Do you remember the phone number of your fiance?" He asked as he pulled out his phone.

"I don't remember. His contact no. was fed in my phone that I lost in the building, I was in at the time of the earthquake."

"Fiance ka phone number nahi yad! MashAllah!" he mumbled quite loudly.

"We need to contact the service provider to retrieve your sim. Can you wait for the morning?" He asked.

"Ok," she twisted her fingers.

"Why did you go there?" Serkhayl asked looking at her downcast form.

"Where?" Abi lifted her head.

"The building you lost your phone." He strode to the bonfire with the big kettle in his hand.

"For a job interview, my fiance wanted me to get a job!" Abi replied slowly.

Serkhayl who was poking the fire with the stick stopped and saw the innocent girl whose cheeks were radiating a fiery glow.

"Idiot!" He uttered.

"What!" Abi asked.

"Nothing!" he started poking again, 'bewaqoof gadha! Such a doll! She should be kept in a glass box lest the breeze does her harm and you greedy punk!'

He was condemning thousands of miles away fiance.

(jackass)

He was amazed at his thought and stealth a glance at the poor girl whose face was luminous with soft innocence.

"Do you trust me now?"

Hearing a lovely voice at his back, he turned, then moving in her direction, he crouched down in front of her.

They were face to face directly.

"Yes!" He replied gravely.

Abi bit her lip and looked down, but lifted her lashes when heard him asking in his deep voice, "do you resent me now?"

He was staring at her, waiting for the answer, and as his gaze traveled over her.

Her golden hair cascaded down on her back, a few gentle curls wisping about her face.

She with her lashes sweeping over her cheeks, uttered, "no!" with a deep sense of shame enveloping her.

Serkhayl felt a mystic thrill surge in his veins, as he never heard a "no" this sweet.

**********

Salam and Hi!

Well, see who is back.

Guys, I need your full support.

Keep voting keep commenting as it's my reward.

See you in the next update, till then take care
Stay blessed.
Gul