Samar's P. O. V.

Swaying along to the music, I gazed down at Waliyah as she kept her gaze away from me, either she was looking to the side, or to the ground. Furrowing my eyebrows, I gently apply pressure on her waist, trying to catch her attention, she jumped alittle, "Samar," She said softly, finally looking at me. "What are you doing?"

"Bringing you back to reality," I say, "Where have you been zoned out?"

"I am not zoned out," Waliyah replied, "I just do not want to dance with you."

I raise an eyebrow at her, "Why?" Before she always wanted to. I could tell by her gazing at the other couples as we sat next to each other like strangers. "I thought you wanted to do stuff like this."

"Since when did you start caring about what I wanted Samar?" She questioned,

"I am not all bad" I try to defend myself, "I have noticed things about-"

"Save it." She cut me off, "I think it's alittle late to be telling me all this stuff and I am not about to buy into this sudden behavioral change. You caring about me, or doing things for me has probably has got a connection to something that will benefit you." Ouch.

"Glad to know that you are not living in your world of dreams anymore," I say back irritated at how low she thought of me. I mean to an extent I was doing this for my own benefit. Ever since I had the dream of Amal, I haven't seen her in my dreams since maybe she really did leave me in the only place I thought I could see he all because I was not treating Wafa right.

"I stopped living there a long time ago." Waliyah sighed, "Can we stop dancing now?"

I look down at her, and gently take her hand off my shoulder to spin her around and pull her back to me so her back was against my chest and our hands were together at the front of her stomach.

My thumb gently caressed her hands, when I felt something missing. Furrowing my eyebrows I ask, "Where is your ring?"Waliyah froze for a few seconds but then tried to get out of my embrace stubbornly holding in tighter I repeat my question, "Where is your ring Waliyah?" She kept quiet, turning her around I made her face me again to which she kept her gaze down fisting her hands against my chest. "Waliyah?"

"I took it off." She said slowly raising her gaze, "Trying to get used to without it."

My heart skipped a beat, "So," I breathed out heavily, "Finally  made your mind up huh?"

Waliyah's eyes used to be so warm to look into but now all I see is coldness. "I had to,"

"We are done?" I asked her.

"We are done." She confirmed.

This is what I had wanted for so long, so why didn't I feel happy?

The song finished, and Waliyah pulled away from me like I was on fire. She walked off and sat down at the chair we were at before, following her I sat down beside her, casually looking at her every once in a while but her gaze was glued to the stage. Was this really the end for us?

. . . 

Waliyah's P.O.V.

"Where is Shahmeer Bhai?" Ayra asked as we all sat down for dinner, "I thought you  said, he would be here for the wedding, Haider."

Haider nodded, "He is just running alittle late finishing things up for his company, he said he will be here for the sangeet, haldi, and mehndi." 

Ayra pouted, "We haven't seen Shahmeer Bhai in so long, right Api?" She asked me, causing me to sit up alittle taller. I avoided Samar's gaze as he looked over at me confused obviously not knowing who she was talking about. Even I had no idea why she was suddenly missing Haider's older brother Shahmeer.  

"Yeah," I choked out as I reached over to drink some water. 

"Who is Shahmeer?" Samar asked looking back and forth between us to see who would answer first. 

"He is my older brother," Haider answered for us, "He has been settled in New York, for about 10 years now, since he graduated from high school." Yeah, he is missing an integral part of who he was. . .purposely I think. Shahmeer, Haider, Ayra, and I have basically gone to the same school together since Pre-School, Amma, and Aayat Khala thought it was the cutest thing ever because even from a young age, you could see how much care and kindness there was between us. Aayat Khala had asked for Ayra and me for Haider and Shahmeer at the age of 12, and since then we have been content. Shahmeer and I always had a crush on each other, and as we grew up believing that we were going to marry one another that connection got deeper, same with Ayra and Haider, but they had their childishness in them still back then, and still do now. 

Shahmeer had unexpectedly gotten this scholarship from NYU due to his amazing grades in mathematics, he was literally a genius when it came to accounts, and reading data. After our high school graduation, Shahmeer decided that he wanted to take the opportunity, for the betterment of his future and for the future of his family. 

Baba, however, did not like the idea of marrying me off abroad, so he broke off our 'engagement,' and said that if Shahmeer came back at the right time, we would rethink the marriage. Shahmeer and I had no say in what was being done, I guess you can say, he was my first teenage heartbreak. Once he went to NYU, he called maybe once, and then it was radio silent.

I guess you can say, I have always been unlucky when it comes to relationships, first Shahmeer, and now Samar. . .I do not know what is next in my life. 

Samar nodded, "That's really good, did he get a scholarship?"

"Yeah, straight out of high school." Haider sighed, "But he has not visited since, I mean he has been busy building up his company, but we have just seen him through Facetime. Amma and Baba threatened him to come back home, this time or they would not speak to him."

Swallowing harshly, "He asks about you all the time, Bhaji," He added, I looked over at him with wide eyes, as Ayra elbowed him in the ribs causing him to flinch. "Ayra,"

Ayra glared at him, to which he quickly settled down, "Not all the time," Aayat Khala said quickly. 

Samar looked over at me curiously, "Why does he ask about her?" 

"Bhai," Ayra said, "Haider didnt mean it like that, it is just we all grew up together that is why, he asks about Api."

He wasn't buying into her thought-up lie. I look over at him, "She is right, and as Haider said, it has been so many years since we have seen each other, that is why he probably asks about me." Samar nodded, but I could still see hesitance in his eyes, "Excuse me," I said softly, as I felt anxiety build in my body, walking away from the table, I stood outside hoping the cool air would help me calm down. I heard another chair pull away from the table, "What?" I ask tired of going back and forth with him tonight. 

"Who is Shahmeer?" He asked leaning against the wall, even with my eyes closed I could tell he was staring at me. 

"I already told you,"

"Yeah, well you suck at lying Waliyah." He said firmly, I am so tired of this. . so. . so tired. "I-"

"Why do you care?" I said cutting him off, opening my eyes I crossed my arms, "Stop trying to interfere in my life Samar. Shahmeer is just Haider's older brother, and like Ayra said we grew up together, Shahmeer knows me and cares about me. That is all. I do not know why you are reading into something that isnt there and even if there was something between Shahmeer and I, it is in the past." He looked at me shocked at my outburst, "I do not do anything to bother you anymore Samar, I even left the house so you can take all the time you need to grieve for Amal because I understand you were not given time, but neither was I. I was pushed into this whirlwind of emotional speeches, and promises, and before I knew it I was sitting beside you saying Qabool Hai. I have let you play the victim for four years, and have been the evil villain for four, but I am so tired." I continue, "I am tired of this back and forth, I am tired of this one and off again of yours, so just stop." Heavily breathing out, "Come to the functions, do your thing, but stop asking me questions about my life, or trying to understand me when you have had four years to do that. I have made my decision Samar, and it is final."

Samar crossed his arms as well, "Fine, do whatever the fuck you want Waliyah." He said firmly before walking back into the house to finish his dinner. 

Sighing I look back up at the stars, "Yah Allah, madat kar." (Please Allah, help me) I whisper. . . I know I am doing the right thing for myself. . but why was it so hard to do?