Waliyah's P.O.V.

"Malli, move your hands faster." I scold her, as we try to finish decorating the outside of the house.

"Api!' She protested stomping her foot down as Dua would, "Stop yelling at me," Ammy Api came out of her room covered with milk all over her pajamas, "Api dekho na," (Api, look at how she is talking to me.)

"Malli," Api stopped her raising her hand, "I already have one child who would not stop whining before going down for a nap, I do not need another one. Do what Wafa is telling you to do, you are not little anymore."

Malli pouted but nevertheless began working faster like I had asked her to a few seconds ago. I look over at Api and chuckle, "Did she go to sleep?"

Api gave me a murderous look, "She is so stubborn, I literally had to tackle her down so she took a nap otherwise, in the middle of the function she would become cranky and not let me enjoy anything."

"No one told you to have a baby so soon, should have controlled your urges." I tease her,

"Shut up Wafa," She said firmly, "I am going to go get ready so you two are on Dua duty from now on till I come back look more beautiful than both of you."

"Api is in a mood," Malli mumbled,

Smiling I pull her in a side hug, "Api is always in a mood." I try to comfort her, "She is not a reliable source to go to anymore if you want to complain about Ayra and I."

She rolled her eyes, "Neither are Amma and Baba, I am left to fend for myself now." Her words hit me hard, pushing to the side alittle, "What?"

"Malli, soon it will only be you, Amma, and Baba here at home. Cherish the three of us here, pretty soon you will miss us."

"Nope," She said confidently, "Because I will have the whole house to myself, and I will be able a whole room to myself without Ayra Api snoring at night."

"Enough chatting," I say, "Work on this part, I am going to check on Ayra." Malli nodded as I left her in charge of the lighting and went into Ayra's room.

"Is it time yet?" Ayra said anxiously standing up as soon as I walked in, stunned by how beautiful she looked in her dholkki outfit. "Why are you looking at me like that Api? Do I not look good? I knew I should have gotten the other color in this too, but Amma rushed me. . "Her words blurred out as I walked towards her covering my mouth with my hands. Amazed at how much she had truly grown up in these past few years, Qadira Ayaan Sultan, was soon going to become Qadira Haider Mohammad. My little partner in crime, my little sister.

Ayra stopped ranting on about whatever it was when I pulled her into a tight hug. "Api?"

"You look perfect," I whispered tightening my hold on her, "Just like how Api and I used to dress you up when we were little," Before Maliha was born, it was just the three of us, and to pass time when Thaiji wouldnt let us go over to her house, we would pretend that each of us was getting married. Api would dress me, I would dress Api, and then the two of us would dress Ayra. She had a simliar coloured dress when she was younger, and since it was the kind of the closest thing we had to red for her, we would make her the bride, and wed her to her favourite doll. She was so little, she had troubles saying, Qabool Hai, but would mumble it out. My eyes filled with tears of happiness, "That boy better keep my little sister happy, otherwise I will kill him."

Ayra laughed softly with a soft smile, "Haider knows not to mess with me, he does not want to deal with you."

Smiling I quickly put a small black dot behind her ear, "Now you are officially ready." I say proudly.

"I love you Api," She said

"I love you too." I know my love story wasnt the most perfect one, but Ayra and Haider had an amazing one. Childhood friends, to college lovers, to now life partners and I hope that this happiness stays in her life forever. . .

. . .

Samar's POV

"Samar?" Bhai called my name knocking on my door. It has been a few days since I had seen Wafa since we had that conversation about possibly divorcing one another. I didn't tell anyone about what had happened at their home because I didn't want anything to blow out of proportion before we had even come to a conclusion. Amma and Kashmira were experts are doing so anyway. "Samar?"

Breathing out heavily I walk over and unlock the door to see him dressed up for Ayra's dholki. He looked at me with disappointment. "You really not coming?"

"She doesnt want me there," I say leaning against the door frame, "I know that."

"Samar," Bhai sighed walking into my room, he signaled me to shut the door, which I did gladly. After I had come back from work, I rushed into his room and ranted about everything that had happened at their home, and Bhai kept quiet and listened to me. It had been a while since someone had actually listened to me, so I was happy and content. "I am sure that is not what she wants,"

"Bhai, she said it clear at the dinner table that no one should force me to come to the events."

"Because you stated you didn't want to come," Bhai said, "That comment was very unnecessary at the moment of their happiness but you made it,"

"Bhai-"

"Samar," He cut me off, "If the diary is still there somewhere at their home, then maybe you can get to the bottom of everything Mariam had told you. Wafa might have said she burned it out of spite, after everything she has been through in this marriage maybe, just maybe. . .she's giving up."

"She is not going to tell me anything," I say firmly, "I saw a different side of her that day, a side that I haven't seen in a long time. Waliyah has never fought for herself the way she did that day, she only spoke up against someone for Amal, and only for Amal."

Bhai smiled softly, "Put two and two together Samar,"

I furrow my eyebrows, "Bhai-"

"She is tired of fighting with you, so she left, you came to her work but she went by her maiden last name, introduced you as her friend instead of husband, and now she will not show you that diary where she wrote everything down in. I know Wafa, fortunately, better than you, and this. . this is her slipping out of your grip. "

Is she really going to decide to leave me? "If you do not show up tonight at that dholki Samar, your chances of understanding the truth, or even stepping back into her life, will be gone."

Why were Bhai's words affecting me so much? I looked down at my hands and saw them shaking, I was about to have an anxiety attack, no one in my family knew about my anxiety just like my drinking addiction. This is what I have wanted for so many years, but now that Waliyah is slowly disassociating herself from me. . .Why did it feel so scary?

"Samar?" Bhai said my name with hope in his eyes.  No Samar, who knows what the actual truth is and what if is what Mary showed me. . . The little respect that I have left for Wafa will be diminished too. I would like to keep our friendship memories positive at least even if our marriage has been a pain.

"I am not coming Bhai." I take a step back, "Please do not force me to either."

Bhai smile fell, "I won't," Gently patting my shoulder he brushed past me, "We will be back late,"

"Okay," I say shutting the door behind him. 

Waliyah was right, we need to stop going round and round in a circle, if she was taking time to make a decision, then I would give her time, and space. . to finish off what Amal had us start. 

. . .

Pacing back and forth infront of the emergency room I try to keep my heart afloat, they have to save her, they have to save her. . .I cannot let them lose her, I need her to live. Doctors and nurses ran in and out of the room not informing me anything, until one nurse came out with blood covered on her hands. "Mr Qureshi?" My heart skipped a beat,

"Yes?" I responded my voice barely above a whisper, "Ms.Sultan. . .she is no more." My face filled with confusion,

"Sultan?" I question,

"I do understand you are in shock, but-"

"No," I say quickly trying to wrap my head around what she just said, "What are you talking about?"

"Samar!" I heard Amal's voice coming from behind me, I quickly turned around, it had been ages since I heard her say my name. Amal is running down the hospital corridor in perfect health, but looking distressed, "Is she still here?" She questioned grabbing my hand. I look down at our hands together. . What is going on?

"Who are you, Miss?" The nurse asked,

Amal looked over at her, "I am Amal, Wafa's best friend. This is my husband Samar."

How is she alive? Why is Wafa in the hospital? The nurse breathed out heavily, "I think your husband is in shock Ma'am, I have been trying to tell him that Ms Sultan has passed away mid-surgery, she could not take the trauma, and did not make it."

Amal stumbled back into my arms, immediately breaking down in tears, "Wafa!" She screamed heart-wrenchingly, "Wafa!" She continued, slowly pulling me down to the ground with her.

So many questions rushed through my mind as I sat coldly hugging Amal tightly against my body, "Amal," I tried comforting her, but Amal pushed me away.

"This is your fault!" Amal snapped wiping her tears angrily, "Why didnt you get Wafa here sooner?"

What is she talking about? "Amal, I just got here. How am I supposed to know what happened to Wafa or-"

"Stop lying!" Amal screamed, "Stop trying to cover up the fact you hate my best friend!"

"Amal!" I raise my voice, "I do not hate her!" I admit, "I am just angry at her, angry at the fact that she hid such a big thing from both of us, angry that she is not showing me her diary, angry that she-"

"Loves you?" Amal questioned, "Well guess what Samar, she is no longer around for you to be mad at her."

I shook my head, "This is not what I wanted, I do not want her dead, I just want-"

"Me alive and her gone?" Amal cut me off, "Well that's what happened." Her eyes were filled with anger. . while mine was with desperation, I wanted her to understand that this is not what I want. I want her to prosper and do amazing things with her life but just away from me. "Wafa will never be back, and if Wafa isnt here, neither will I come."

"No," I say desperately, "No, Amal this is the only place I can see you, please."

"Why?" Amal asked,

"What do you mean why?" I ask, "Amal I love you."

Amal gave me a sad smile, "I do not love you," She shook her head, "Not the person you have become, you are not the Samar that I fell for, and you are definitely not the Samar I was proud to show off to the world. You do not care for the one person that I handed to you to cherish love, and respect instead you do the opposite."

"Amal,"

"Even now, here in the world that you came to meet me, Wafa has died, but there is not a tear in your eye." Amal said in disgust, "What has my best friend done so wrong that you treat her so lowly?"

I feel my cheeks to see if I really was so cold, that her death had kept me so hard against her. . .

"Samar," Amal reached over to hold my hand, "Wafa is innocent, I read the real diary. . .I am telling you Samar that never in a million years will Wafa ever, pray for my death."

"Amal, but Mary Api-"

"Fuck Mary," Amal said firmly, "I am telling you, Wafa is innocent."

Furrowing my eyes brows I begin to lose myself in her beautiful eyes, just like I used to, "Do you believe me?"

I kept quiet, I wanted to say yes, I really did, but something held me back, my silence seemed to piss off Amal because she took a step back angrily crossing her arms, "Fine, until you beleive me and Wafa, I will not come to visit you."

Panic filled my body, "Amal,"

Amal snapped her fingers and disappeared leaving me alone in the hospital, "Amal!" I scream, "Come back!"

"Amal!" I sat up in my bed gasping for air.  I looked around the room searching for signs of Amal but there was nothing but our wedding photo on the wall. 

What the hell was that?