Waliyah's POV

"Wafa," Samar said my name softly. What is he doing in my room again? Furrowing my eyebrows I hug my pillow tighter. I was so comfortable, what did he want? I ignore him and try to lull myself back to sleep. "Wafa, we have to get up."

What did he mean by we have to get up? Squinting my  eyes open alittle I come to see his face inches away from  mine, I scramble away from him sitting up at the edge of the bed, "What are you doing in my room!" I exclaim. I begin to look around for Dua,  "And where is Dua?"

Samar sat up as well, "First of all, calm down I didnt do anything to you,  second of all you are in my room, and third of all Dua is with  Bhai. He came about thirty minutes ago to grab her while you  were sound asleep in my bed." But I  was sleeping on the couch. 

"How did I get here?" I say trying to calm my heart rate down, "I was sleeping on the couch while Dua was sleeping on here."

He shrugged, "You looked uncomfortable on the couch so I brought you here. It's not a big-"  It is a big deal. 

"You had no right to bring me here." I cut him off,  "Samar, our relationship is no secret to Bauji so why are you doing all this extra shit. You  should have woken me up  when  you  came back, and I would have taken Dua back into my room." He had no right to touch me or carry me back onto his bed, this room felt foreign, I wasn't even allowed in  here six months ago and  this sudden attituide change was not sitting right with  me.  

"It is for his health, it's been so long since he has come here so showing a little progress won't hurt anyone. As I said before, you looked uncomfortable so I-'

"Since when did you  start caring about my comfort or discomfort?"  I  questioned him,  "Last time I  checked Samar,  you couldn't give less of a fuck." My own voice began unrecognizable to me, as I spat out those words. 

He looked at me speechless, "Stay in your lane Samar,  and I'll stay in mine,  you do not need to cross any boundaries with me." I continued, "Just leave me alone when there is no one around us. I  mean it."  Throwing the covers off of me, I storm out of his room and into mine making sure to lock the door behind me.  

I just needed him to mind his own business, that's all. I do not need his care, his concern, or anything above that. I just want to be left ALONE, especially by him. 

.  . .

"Bauji," I say softly placing a cup of tea infront of him,  "Aur kuch chahiye?" (Do you need anything else?) 

Bauji smiled shaking his head so I made my way over to Api to sit. beside her but he stopped me, "Wafa, Samar ke saath beto." (Wafa, sit with Samar) Samar and I hadnt spoken to each other since our argument in the morning. He had successfully avoided me, and so had I.  Breathing out heavily I. walked back around the table and. sat beside him. Thankfully. I didnt have to serve him anything because Ammi had already done that. Clearing my throat I began. to pur myself. food, when Bauj notices something I wished no one did.  "Wafa, tumhari. ring kahan hai?"(Wafa, where is your ring?) My ring finger was bare, it had been for the past six months. I took a deep breath. in and looked up at him. 

"Woh, Bauji."(Um. . .) I tried to think of an excuse but nothing was coming to me, I look over at Samar hoping he would help me. 

Samar sighed, "It's gone to get cleaned." He responded for me. "I will be bringing it back from the jewelers on my way back today."

Bauji looked at both of us suspiciously but nevertheless dropped the topic, and began eating. My appetite dropped from extremely hungry to playing with the food I had put on my plate seconds ago. I do not even remember where I put the stupid ring, was it with me, or had I left it here when I came to get the papers signed for our divorce? My stomach began churning from anxiousness. 

Api kicked my leg from underneath the table causing me to jump alittle, she mouthed, "Where is it?"

I shrugged, mouthing back, "I do not know." 

Where had I put it?. .Samar and I walked back upstairs but went into our separate rooms, my heart hadnt stopped beating a mile a minute since Bauji asked about my ring because I truly had no recollection of where or when I had taken it off. How was Samar supposed to bring a ring back that was lost? 

Groaning I lay back on my bed, "Where did I put it?" I whispered to myself. 

A few seconds later Samar knocked on the bathroom door, "Wafa,"

"Go away," I answered immediately, I heard him sigh, before walking in as if I hadnt just told him to leave. "Samar-" Before I could continue my rant he threw something beside me. I looked down at it, and it was my old engagement ring. Sitting up I hold it gently in my hand. . ."You kept it?"

He awkwardly cleared his throat, "Amma told me to keep it safe." Of course, she did. "Do not put it on yet, wait until I come back home, or actually." He took the ring out of my palm tucking it in his pocket. "I'll give it to you when I get back home."

"Sounds like a plan." I inhaled sharply, 

"Don't you have to go to work?" Samar asked,

 "No, I asked Bela to substitute for me. Bauji and Amma wanted me to stay home, so I'll go back on Monday."

Samar nodded, "Dont worry I will speak to Amma about that, she won't be keeping you home again." 

I stood up, "Samar, it's okay."

"You have worked hard Wafa," Samar exhaled harshly, "You have to return back into the life you created two months from now and I do not want her to ruin your efforts. This is the last time she will be asking you to stay home." His behavior took me by surprise, Since when did he care about me or anything related to me? He extended his arm holding his coat out, "Would you help me put this on?"  Taking it from him, I wait for him to turn around, Samar quickly slips his arms through the openings and shrugs it on, "Thank you." I nodd keeping quiet, and he walks out the door without looking back or saying goodbye. 

 Fixing my hair I follow him out and walk over to Api's room where I hear chatter from her and Karishma. I knocked on the door, and was met with broad smiles, Api waved me in. I shut the door behind her, to see her bed exploding with clothing choices. "What is this all for?" I ask 

Karishma threw her arm over my shoulder, "Well my lovely sister-in-law, all this is for my wedding. You know the one that is coming up in a month, so Bhabhi number one is helping me filter out some of the options."

I rolled my eyes as I shrugged her arm off, "Why didn't you ask me to help?"

"You are here now arn't you?" She said sitting down on the bed and throwing half of her clothes onto the other side of her bed. "Help me."

Api giggled at her childish behavior, "Karishma," Shaking my head I began to help Api fold the clothes as she went on and on about her upcoming functions and the extensive planning she had done. "I told Sohail, if he does not get the same shade of green for our mehendi I will cancel everything."

"Isnt that a bit drastic?" I asked handing Api one side of the large dupatta she had, so it would be easier to fold, "I am sure if his kurta is a shade lighter no one would care Karishma."

"I will!" She exclaimed sitting up, "It will make our wedding photos look so off, my kids will ask me if we didnt plan our outfits." 

I never got the chance to obsess about such microscopic detail, infact I didnt even get to choose what ring I wanted. 

 "Dua never questioned me," Api pipped in, "And you know even at her age how picky she is with what she wears."

"That's because everything about your Nikkah was perfect Bhabhi, I mean Wafa Bhabhi's wedding-" She stopped herself as soon as she realized what she was saying. Karishma sat up straighter as she saw my smile fall immediately at the mention of my wedding, or should I say the day I pushed myself into four years of hell. I truly had no one to blame because no one forced me to sit down beside him and say Qabool Hai, infact Baba was telling me not to do this. But I didnt listen to him, I thought I knew better. . .I thought that there would be a day where my love for him would trump his hatred for me. . .that day never came. "Sorry Bhabhi," Her voice dropped barely above a whisper.

I cleared my throat, "No need to say sorry Karishma, it's over now so there is nothing to look back at and frown. Samar and I have our own lives, and we are happy in them."

The room fell silent,  there really wasnt much left of us. . .in fact now there was no us. 

. . .

Bauji's P.O.V.

Placing my glasses on the dresser, I lean back, waiting for Adeel to come into my. room, as I requested almost an hour ago. I look around the room and see my pulls and. water neatly placed on the end table beside my bed. I softly smiled knowing that Wafa has probably done that before heading down for lunch. "Bauji?" Adeel said knocking on the door.

"Aajao,"(Come in) I say sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"Kya hua Bauji?" (What happened Bauji?) He asked warily as he shut the door behind him.

I breathed out heavily, "Wafa aur Samar." (Wafa and Samar) Adeel swallowed harshly as soon as I mentioned their names, "Nothing has changed has it?"

"Nahi Bauji," (No, Bauji) He instantly shook his head, but he forgot that I was his father, I knew when he was lying. "Samar and Wafa, they have progressed a lot in their marriage."

"Stop lying," I say firmly, "Adeel I am not blind, it is obvious things have gotten. worse. Wafa does not even speak to him anymore unless it is infront of us. They still sleep in different rooms, and they still behave as if they are strangers." I notice everything, and I know when something is off, and Samar and Wafa, are very off. "What is going on Adeel?"

Adeel breathed out heavily hanging his head in defeat, "Nothing is going right in their marriage Bauji." I knew it. "Infact, I-I" He was hesitating. . ."Samar and her have filed for a divorce."

My heart felt a sudden pinch, gently lifting my hand up I touched my chest immediately, "Bauji," He came over to me instantly, "I tried my hardest, Mahira tried her hardest but Samar pushed her so far away that there was no point of return anymore. Wafa was. done, she is done with. the relationship."

Breathing in and. out slowly I ask, "How is she here?"

"Mahira and I came up with a plan, to bring her back to the house again. We used you, and. said that for your sake, for your. health they have to pretend to be a happy married couple. Wafa didnt want to come back, but as soon as she saw you at her work, she had no choice. I know Samar does not deserve her, but as a selfish father Bauji, I know she is the one who can bring our old Samar back." I could not beleive they were trying to hide such a big truth from me, as the elder of this family I had the right to know. But now that I have found out, I cannot let Samar and Wafa separate from one another. . .because everyone in this house knows that they are right for one another. . .they just need to step past their grief of Amal, their grief fo what they once were, and learn to create a new life. "Bauji?"

"I have a plan," I say firmly looking down at him as Adeel kneeled infront of me. 'Listen carefully."

I did not know if it would work or not. . but for the sake of their happiness. . and I hoped it did.