Fiza's POV:

"Someone is looking unexpectedly beautiful." A masculine voice came out of nowhere and made me jump in surprise. I abruptly turn back and found my hubby dear standing in the middle of the door frame, staring up and down at me.

"Knock before you come in." I huffed and picked up my earring from the floor, which I dropped because of him.

"The door was open." He answered without moving his eyes from me. I quickly grab my dupatta and cover my chest.

"You just ruined a good view." He whined and I shot a glare at him through the mirror and refrained myself from opening my mouth.

After putting on my earrings, I slipped my feet into a flat sandal and walk towards him, "Ready." 

"I am regretting my decision now." Ehtesham said, looking directly into my eyes.  

"What do you mean?" I frowned.

Is he regretting to ask me for dinner???

"I shouldn't have agreed to the contract yesterday. At least I could steal a kiss right now." He said, leaning towards my face.

Huh???

"Like I would allow it." I retorted.

"Who said I would ask for your permission?" He tilted his head as his smirk widened.

"You know it could end our new friendship." I narrowed my eyes.

He chuckled and said, "What difference would it make? Friendship or not, you will remain here. Under the same roof as me, in my reach and with my name." He winked and walks out.

And people call me crazy!

Frowning, I walked behind him, but soon the frown left and a struggle started within me to keep my attention away from his tall handsome frame sitting beside me in the car.

Ya Allah! Why did you make him so attractive??

Even though I prepared myself to be in an utmost concentration, still I feel he looks more eye-catching by the minute.  With a silent sigh, I turned my face towards the window. As soon as my mind diverted from my Prince charming, the thought of Sumbul took over...

~*~

"Where are we going?" I asked, looking at the silent streets leading to the farmhouses at the end of the city.

"Just a little something." Ehtesham answered in an apologetic manner, keeping his eyes on the road. 

"Little something?" 

He better not be fooling me about this dinner thing.

"Yard, actually I have to drop a file there. It will take a few minutes." He said and I nod in response. After reaching our destination, which was a farmhouse. I saw a huge line of cars parked there.

A dinner party???

I thought to confirm from Ehtesham but shrugged it off.

"I will be right back." He said and stepped outside the car.

Minutes passed and his absence exceeded over twenty minutes. About half an hour afterwards, I began calling him, but he didn't answer. I waited for a few more minutes thinking he would be busy and texted him. Thought of going inside crossed my mind but quickly subsided. I don't know anyone there, besides, I cannot leave the kids alone.

Suddenly, a knock on my side of the window startled me. I raised my head and found a young man standing in a grey suit with a smile playing on his lips.

Who is he...?

I quickly slid the glass down.

"Assalam o Alaikum. You are Fiza, right? Ehtesham's wife?" He said Ehtesham's name quite frankly and I nodded in positive.

"Well, I am his colleague. The name is Khalid. And I came here to take you and the kids inside. We have stopped Ehtesham here for a while, so he asked me to bring you guys in too."

I bit my inner cheek, staring at him. Don't know why my mind was telling me not to believe him, but rejecting Ehtesham's colleague like this doesn't feel appropriate. 

"Thank you for giving me his message, but I think I am better here. The kids aren't used to this environment." I give him a tight smile.

"Please come, all of us want to meet you." He requested again and this time I didn't refuse. Nodding my head in an affirmative motion, I asked the kids to come out of the car. They silently obeyed as I said. 

Holding Taha's hand, I entered the farmhouse. It is as beautiful as it looks from the outside. 
"Wait here. I will bring Ehtesham." He said and left me.

After a few minutes, a group of men and women came towards us, including the person who brought me here.

Where is Ehtesham???

My eyes scanned the group but I couldn't find him.  

"Looking for your husband, dear?" A girl almost the same age as mine said in a mocking tone and continued, "He is right there, with his girlfriend." 

My eyes darted to the direction where her manicured finger pointed to and I find Ehtesham talking with a man, while he gives a slight squeeze on the figure standing next to him, clinging onto his shoulder.

What the...

With a straight face, I turn my gaze towards the group again and stopped on the man named Khalid. 

"I thought you went to take my husband, Mr Khalid?" I asked him but before he could answer, the woman replied.

"Can't you see how busy he is?" 

"Of course I can see. That's why I agreed to let him go to fetch him, but I guess the kids and I have to wait now." I answered nonchalantly and started walking towards the seats with the kids, leaving them throwing comments on me on how weird I am.

Yes! I am weird. A wife who wouldn't cry watching her husband hanging around with his girlfriend. I turn my attention to Taha who was starting to get dizzy now.

It's his bedtime...

"Bari Ami, when will we eat?" Sadaf asked, looking at me.

"After a while, Beta."

"I am hungry."

"Me too." I pouted, looking at her and call Ehtesham again, who is out of my sight now. Again, he didn't answer. 

"Come on, Ehtesham. Pick up the call. Why are you punishing the kids?" I mumbled, trying again but to no avail. 

"Oh! You are still here. I thought you already left." A familiar masculine voice came from behind. I look back and found Khalid standing there. Rolling my eyes, I looked away. 

"I must say, you are tough. Any other girl might run away crying by now."

"Congratulations on realizing that I am not like any other girl." I said without lifting my gaze to him and received a chuckle. 

"Sharp mouth, huh? Cool." He said in a flirtatious way and this time I lost it.

"What do you want?" I stood up and came face to face with him.

"Just want you to enjoy." 

"I am enjoying with the kids." 

"You're not old that would sit and with kids." 

"Your point?"

"Come with me and mingle with others. I could find a worker who could take care of the kids." He said in a carefree way.

"Thank you very much for your offer. Now, if you excuse me, I need to go home. I don't like to disturb my kids' sleep routine." I said and scooped Taha in my arms.

"Ehtesham is here. How will you go?"

"I have the keys and I know how to drive. Ehtesham will manage something. Come Sadaf." She jumped from her chair and start walking with me, as I made my way outside.

~*~

I didn't know whether I am more pissed or sad. But whatever it was, I don't want to be here to be humiliated more than I already was, even if I have to walk to the house. Holding Sadaf's hand, I came to the exit and started waiting for the cab I called for before walking out of the venue. 
I tried to stay there until the cab reached but that jerk Khalid made it impossible, so I chose to wait at the exit, baring the weird glances of gatekeeper.

After the long fifteen minute wait, the cab came and I got in with the kids as soon as possible. Only my Allah knows how terrified I am from the thought of going in a cab alone with two kids at this late-night and what's more is that we are almost out of the city right now. Ehtesham has the car keys, so I have no choice but to call for a cab.

Giving myself and the kids in Allah's care, I leaned back to the seat and kept my eyes on the way. It's better to stay alert. Soon, my vision got blurred with tears and I forcefully wiped them.

Hold yourself together until you get home...

I told myself, biting my inner lips to control the emerging sadness and pain in me. During my inner battle, my phone buzzed, hoping it was Ehtesham I quickly took it out from my clutch, only to be dejected again. It was Sheharyar, I received the call and without saying a word I give the phone to Sadaf mumbling, "It's Mamo."

"Hello." Sadaf said and I turn my attention to Taha, who was sleeping on my lap.

"We are going home." I heard Sadaf's voice.

"No, Bare papa is with his friend, we are with Bari Ami." My ears perked when I heard Sadaf saying it. But before I could stop her from saying anything else, she told Sheharyar that we are in a cab and as respected, he wanted to talk to me, as Sadaf holds out the phone to me.

"Hello, Assalam o Alaikum." I said, trying to act normal. 

"Wallaikum Assalam. Fiza, tell me about your location. Where are you right now? " I heard Sheharyar's strict voice. 

"There is no need, we will be home soon." I said as lightly as I could, not wanting the driver to hear it.

"Then send me your location so I can rest at ease." For a moment my mind stopped to work. Unable to think of an excuse.

"Listen, Fiza, it is quite dangerous for a woman to travel alone with kids, especially this time of night. Wherever you are, just tell me. I am already on my way to that place." First strict, then politely he made me tell him where we are. 

My ego wasn't allowing me to have his pity but I kept it in check, for the kids' sake. No matter how hard I tried to deny it I felt a relief when he told me he was coming and all the time, until finding us, he didn't end the call. He kept talking to me about his plan on taking the kids out of the city to a farmhouse this summer. 

"Fiza, ask your cab driver to stop on the city at the left. I am here." I heard his voice and told the driver to stop. 

As soon as our cab stopped, Shaheryar came rushing towards us and paid the driver.
"No wait, let me-"

"We will talk about this later." I heard his voice as he opened the door of my side and asked me to give Taha to him.

I stepped outside the cab and walked towards the car with Sadaf after Sheharyar took Taha from me. He carefully lay Taha on the back seat and asked Sadaf to sit beside him. Nodding on his order, Sadaf jumped on the passenger seat and I settled myself next to Taha.

As soon as Sheharyar started the car, a breath of relief escaped from my lungs and I dropped my head to the back.

"It was reckless of you." I heard Sheharyar's voice after a while.

"I know... I am sorry." I apologize.  

What else could I say???

"Mamo, I am hungry." Sadaf told him.

"What does my love want to eat?" He asked, pinching her cheek.

"Burger." She exclaimed.

"No burgers." I said strictly and bit my inner lip on realizing that I completely forgot about Sheharyar's presence. I stole a glance at him and found a small smile playing on his lips.

"Bari Ami, please. I am soo hungry." Sadaf stood up, holding the back of the seat, looking at me. 

"Sadaf, you will fall." I quickly held both of her hands.

"Bari Ami, burger." She said again.

"No, you could never finish it." I said slowly, so Taha won't wake up.

"I will finish it, promise."

"And if you don't?"

"I will." Sadaf answered enthusiastically.

"It's a deal then. If Sadaf doesn't finish her burger, then no ice cream for her. Right, Sadaf?" We both heard Shaheryar's amused voice.

"I will Finish." She shouted.

"Ssshhh!" Both Shaheryar and I tried to hush Sadaf at the same time.

"Bhai (brother) is sleeping, beta." I patted her cheek.

Soon the car stopped near a fast food restaurant and I heard Shaheryar's voice again, "What would you like to eat, Fiza?"

"Huh?" My head snapped towards him, "Nothing, thank you. I am not feeling well."

"You sure?" I nodded in response.

"Okay." He said after a pause and turn to Sadaf, "Come on Sadaf."

Sadaf quickly jumped out of the car, holding onto Shaheryar's hand. I sighed watching them both go.

It could be Ehtesham with Sadaf right now... and this night could have gone much better...

~*~

"Yes, that house on the right." I directed Shaheryar towards Baba Jani's house. I had no choice but to come here. Ehtesham has the keys to our home.

"This one?" Shaheryar asked, stopping the car near a brown metal gate.

"Yes, thank you."

"No need for it." He smiled through the back view mirror.

"Come on in. Everyone would be happy to meet you." I invited him, even though I was praying for him to reject my offer. I mean, how could I explain to my family of what am I doing with a stranger man at this time of night, when Sumbul knows I was supposed to go out with Ehtesham.

"Some other time, it's already too late." He said politely, after coming out of the car and I thanked Allah.

"Um...ok. Sadaf, come beta." I said to Sadaf who slid out of the car yawning and I picked sleeping Taha in my arms.

"Allah Hafiz." I said to him but before he could answer, car horn from behind caught our attention.

"I guess I better move. Allah Hafiz." Sheharyar said, sliding back into the car.

As his car moved forward, I thanked Allah once again that no one saw us, I can lie that Ehtesham dropped me here.

"Sadaf chalye (come)." I said, turning to her and froze the next moment when I saw a very familiar face stepping out the car with a confused look.

"Chachu. (Father's little brother)"

_____________________________________

Salam and hello everyone!

Sorry for the late update, actually I was quite sick lately so couldn't get the chance to take a final look at the chapter. And I couldn't find my USB, guess I have to work hard again, another tragedy is that my editor (also a friend) refused to edit the story from now on because she hates Ehtesham too much. So if you guys have the ability to endure unedited story with of grammatical error story than let me know I will continue to update or else...... I don't know right now.

Anyways! Do you like the chapter?

Don't forget to vote and comment!

Take Care :)