Waliyah's P.O.V.

"Api, isn't the neck alittle deep?" I ask her uncomfortably tugging at the top of the dress,  "And the slit on it, it's so high." Api rolled her. eyes as she finished curling the last piece of my hair, "You know I do not like showing my legs." I stopped cutting. . .I have, one night Api saw my blood-covered salvaar (bottoms) and began questioning me. She threatened to call Baba and Amma and tell them what I was doing to myself, knowing that they would completely break down. I promised her I wouldnt, and that whenever. I had the urge to I would call her, no matter the time. I also went to counseling but hid it from Baba and Amma, but it helped immensely. "My scars will show Api,"  I say softly looking down, "No one knows other than you."

Api turned my chair around with a beauty blender in one hand and foundation in the other. "First of all there is nothing to be ashamed about Wafa, and if anyone asks, you are not obligated to answer." She was right, "But if the scars are making you uncomfortable, then I have a solution for that too." Moving the material away from my legs she begins applying layers of foundation over the scars covering them from being seen.  "There."

"Thank you," I sigh, "But is all this really necessary? I mean. Samar and I both-"

"It's couples night at a small club, Atif and I want to go to." Api interrupted me, "You two need to stop saying no to everything. Enjoy the last night in Greece, to the fullest."

Once again, she was right. "Okay," Api smiled at me as she stood up, and adjusted her dress which looked way more comfortable than mine. Walking downstairs with her, we see Bhai and Samar waiting for us. 

"Woah," Bhai breathed out heavily,  causing Api to blush. I awkwardly cleared my throat as Samar stared at me shamelessly, with his mouth slightly open.

 I felt my cheeks get warmer, "Stop staring," I said quietly hitting his arm. 

Samar shook his head licking his lips, "You look beautiful." He said smiling. I looked at him shocked, he had never complimented me ever. . fact he didn't even look at me when we were married. 

"Thanks," I whisper before walking past him following. Bhai and Api to the car. Samar quickly followed behind me, locking the door after us. We both got in the back as they sat in the front, the car ride was filled with conversation from Api and Bhai's side, but I avoided eye contact from him as much as possible, covering my legs as the material would fall off naturally exposing some skin. 

Kahan vasgi! (Why am I here!) I internally groan, keeping my gaze locked on the outside world, out the window. 

Hopefully, this night will end quickly. 

We arrived at the venue in a short amount of time and quickly found our tables, ordering food immediately since Api and I were starving. The truth was we went shopping in the morning to grab the dresses we were wearing right now. My stomach growled at least five times while we were driving here, and so did Api's making Bhai scold her since he had told us to eat something for lunch but we decided to ignore him.

"Thank you," I say to the waiter as he brought our mocktails (Non-Alcoholic Beverages) to the table alongside the food. "It smells so good." 

"I know right," Api said, "I am so hungry right now." 

Sitting up straighter I began to serve the food in Samar's place unconsciously and then filled my own plate. Samar looked over at me with a weird expression, "What?" I ask swirling my noodles around so they are thoroughly coated with the creamed pasta sauce. 

A soft smile appeared on his face,  "Nothing," Samar replicated my movements, as Api and Bhai did the same with their food. There were couples everywhere, all cultures, and all of them looked so beautiful. "So what happened here tonight Bhai?"

"The hosts will come. out after dinner," Bhai said taking a sip of his mocktail, "Then they will begin to play games with us." 

"What kind of games?" I ask curiously, Api smiles at me suspiciously. .  . "What?"

"You'll see," She said as she took another bite of her food. 

I cleared my throat out of nervousness about what she might have planned for us but nevertheless kept eating my food for the sake of not wanting to ruin everyone's night.  

. . .

"Good Evening everyone!" The hosts said as they came onto the stage waving at everyone and smiling brightly. "My name is Andrea, and this is my partner . . ."

"Alexander," The man said, "I hope everyone enjoyed the food is now is well charged for all the fun activities we have planned tonight."

Everyone cheered for them, "That's the energy that we need!" Andrea chuckled, "Well in total right now, we have ten couples here tonight." She continued, "And for the first game we  only need three couples, so any volunteers before we explain the game?"

Samar and I kept our hands down but Api and Bhai volunteered, and two couples from another. table. "Well, that was a lot easier than we thought."  Bhai and Api left our table and walked up to the stage, "Okay,  now that have our couples, can we have our chairs please?" The helpers came around and placed six chairs facing away from one another. "Alright for this activity we will ask the couples not to look at each other, and this will be the ultimate test of how well you know each other." Andrea finished explaining.  

This is going to be easy for Api and Bhai, they know each other like the back of their hand. "There is a whiteboard underneath your seats, and on there you will be writing your answers,"  Alexander added. 

"Bhai is going to do so good," Samar said smiling, 

"Api is too," I say taking her side, "I think she knows Bhai more than he knows her."

"I doubt that," Samar said, 

"Wanna bet?" I say sassily,

"Fine," Samar extended his hand, "If I win, we participate in the next. activity, and if you win, we don't have to at all."

Shaking his hand confidentially I reply, "Deal," Api is so going to win this.  I take another sip of my mocktail and enjoy as it creates a slight buzz. . .Blinking my eyes. I look over  Api and Bhai playing the game. 

"Alright, so the first  question is,  when is your partner's birthday?" Alexander  asked, 

Api quickly put her board up and so did Bhai, this went on for alittle while as I  sat back astonished Api had gotten so many questions wrong and Bhai got all of them right. "Looks like we are participating in the next one," Samar smirked at me as Api came back to the table pouting as Bhai tried to convince her he didn't cheat. 

"Ammy, I swear I didnt change my answers, I couldn't even  see you back." Bhai said  to her, "My favorite color is green,  not yellow."

"Whatever Atif," Api grumbled as she slammed back her mocktail as if it was really a drink. She rolled her eyes at him, "I am never playing this kind of game with you again."

Bhai shook his head, "This is a silly thing to be mad at Amirah."

Api rolled her eyes at him and crossed her arms over her chest like a little kid. Samar and I sat back amused as they argued like kids with one another. "Alright, we need five couples this time." Samar immediately put his hand up to volunteer us as I begrudgingly sat back not having a say in anything since Api lost the bet for me. 

Samar and I slowly walked up to the stage, and large pieces of paper were laid down infront of us. "So the objective of this game is to be the last couple standing on the piece of paper. After a minute of the song being played the paper will be folded to become smaller, and you will have to figure out a way for the two of you to dance on it. This will keep  on going until we have one couple standing." Andrea explained, "Understood?"

"Understood." All the couples replied back. 

"Music please," Andrea said stepping back. 

Samar and I stepped onto the piece of paper, and as his hand slipped around my waist, mine went to hold onto his shoulder, slowly intertwining our fingers we began to dance. 

My heart rate picked up as soon as I realized how close we really were, but my eyes couldnt bare to leave his. It took me back to the night. . .to. Api's dholki. .  .the night when I really took the time to look into his beautiful brown eyes. . .I think I fell in love with him that night, but it just took me a while to realize what the feeling exactly was. Samar smiled softly at me, "What are you thinking about?"

"Your eyes," I say unconsciously, "They really are beautiful Samar," I had no idea why I said that, but I felt what. I said, because they truly were. They had the ability to speak on their own, whether he knew it or not. 

"Yours are too," Samar whispered pulling me closer if possible, "They speak millions of words with one look."

Suddenly the music stopped, "Alright time to fold the paper."  Samar let go of me and bent down to fold the paper. He extended his hand out again for me, as the music began to play again.

 He held onto me tight so I didn't trip back off of the paper. "You look really beautiful tonight Wafa." This was the second time he complimented me tonight.  

"You know," I begin to say, "This is the first time you truly complimented me right?"

"I know, and I was an idiot not to before because you are truly a beautiful girl and a beautiful person." His words made me feel warm inside, in a good way,  it was almost fulfilling. "I am sorry for not seeing it before."  He really did change. . .in this past six months. . .the Samar that he was before didn't even acknowledge the trauma he was putting me through, and this Samar Ever since we had gotten off of that plane from Pakistan, he has apologized for everything many, many times. 

His actions matched his words. . .his apologizes have begun to feel genuine. . . I furrow my eyebrows searching his eyes for any type of doubt of what I was. feeling. . . but found nothing but genuineness and honesty. 

"Samar?" I whisper not wanting to regret saying these words to him. 

"Mhm?" 

"I forgive you," The words effortlessly flowed out of my mouth.  This change in him. . .it felt different but real. .  .this didn't mean I was going to come back into his life. . .it just meant. . .that I have forgiven him, but I haven't forgotten anything. This is just another chance, a chance to see  if what I am is really true. . .

Samar brightly smiled at me, lifting me up off my. feet and spun me around as my giggles echoed in the middle of the dance floor.  "Thank you!" He said over and over again, as all the couples began to cheer for us. 

This is a chance. for friendship, for us to start over. . .that's all, but for tonight. . .I'll let him rejoice in happiness. . .he. wanted this.  . .so he has to work for something more, and for now friendship is all I can give him. . .for the sake of my heart.