This is the last chapter.

There go another one of my favourites. :")

*****

He enters inside after buying his daughter (Zoya) Icecream that she had been asking for a while then watches his wife looking around scared and a man in front of her. The fear in her eyes clearly depicts that something was very wrong.

"Meri Jaan". He said loudly causing people to turn to him but he didn't mind as her eyes turn to his voice (my life)

She came running towards him holding his hand as she turns them around making them run out of the mall hurriedly. He didn't ask any questions as they sit in the car and he drives back to their home. The whole ride was a difficult one as he could hear her sniffing quietly obviously not wanting Zoya to worry about her but his heart was beating in only worry for her.

He needed to know if that man had done or said something to her so he could punch him. He would have done that if Zoya wasn't there.

As they enter inside the house they find his brother (Yaqoob) standing in front of them grinning.

"Surprise, my people". Yaqoob said happily

She turns to leave to their room while Zoya excitedly claps her hand asking Yaqoob to hold her which he did.

"Something happened?". Yaqoob asked concerned

He nodded sighing, "Can you please look after Zoya?. I need to go to her".

Yaqoob nodded and once he was certain Zoya will be fine he marches towards their room. He took a deep breath opening the door entering inside to find he curled up on the bed, crying.

"Ifat". He said softly walking to sit in front of her

He forwards his hand to hold her hand that was wrapped around her and she raises her tears filled eyes looking at him.

"Mujhe batao gi kia howa hai?". (Will you tell me what happened)

"Ap sub sahi kar dein gay?". (If I tell you, will you make it ok?)

"Agar tum bata do gi toh mai sub dekh luin ga. Promise". (If you tell me then I will, promise)

She nodded taking a deep breath, "After a month of Yaseen's accident. I was devastated about his death and also to find about having a child. In all this, one night, Yaseen's brother (Ali) came in my room saying things I don't want to repeat. I screamed before it went forward so he went out of the room not before promising that he will make me his property and someone he owns".

His fist clenched as anger course through him,"You never told anyone?".

"My family never contacted me in that whole time and when I spoke to Yaseen's mother she said that I needed to be more open-minded about things and they were not conservative. That I need to be good to my dead husband brother and be more open and until I don't have bad intentions there will be no problems". She explained sniffing, "After that I ran away to our family house but they were the same. They didn't want me there but somehow I managed to stay there. But, soon enough, Ali came with his proposal and I was still in the process of giving birth to Zoya. Everyone in our family rejoiced that this was it and this was my last chance. I was lucky that someone wants to marry me and whatnot. They were forcing me into it and it never felt right. Yaqoob bhai was the one who I told everything and he helped me get out of this situation by blackmailing Ali. But today, he was there. Ali is b-back and I-I-".

He wrapped his arms around her holding her tightly to himself. His heartache at knowing there were layers after layers of pain she had endured and he promises that from now on he will do everything to make sure he doesn't have to go through any pain again or at least not alone.

"Are you ok?". He asked once they pulled away

She holds his hand in her nodding looking at him, "I used to be scared of him. I used to be intimated but I think it's about time I stop all of it. I want to start a new chapter in my life and if I don't stop rereading the previous chapters I will never be able to move on".

He smiles kissing her forehead lovingly, "I am so proud of you. I promise I will always be here. Right beside you cheering you on".

She beams at him, "I know. Yaqoob bhai is here?".

"Yes. He is downstairs". He said watching her excitedly leaving the room

He shakes his head chuckling as he went downstairs to meet his brother. She enters inside to find Yaqoob playing with her daughter and she greeted him watching her husband standing beside her holding her hand.

They sit on the couch opposite of Yaqoob.

"Ask away". Yaqoob said sighing

"Why are you here?". He asked confused

Yaqoob took a deep breath, "They wanted me to marry Aiza since you rejected her and I need to compensate for it. And the same honour, dignity and stuff".

"So?". She asked worriedly

Yaqoob grinned, "I already have someone I want to marry. I came here to escape and ask you two to take my proposal to her, please".

"Ah! My brother is in love. Why would I take your proposal?. I won't". He said teasing

Yaqoob eyes widen, "Bhai, please".

She hits his hand making him wince and playfully glare at her which she smiles sweetly at him melting his heart.

"We will do it". She said turning to look at Yaqoob, "What's her name?".

Yaqoob sighs dreamily, "Her name is Saima. She is the daughter of brigadier and herself is working as an army doctor".

"Woah! She sounds so awesome. How did you find her?". She asked excitedly

"Well, I was working in the area where she came for a little while to help because of a shortage of staff. She came bumping into me while she was on call and then apologise profoundly. Then on, we became a partner on a few things because I was there to open a hospital and then things just went on". Yaqoob explained smiling the whole time

"God! I don't want to hear your love story". He said making a face which earns him another slap from his wife, "Woman! Stop with the violence".

"Phir ap tameez se baat karein aur bolein k ap jayein gay rishta lay kar". (Then you talk nicely and say that you will take the proposal)

"Tum nae bola aur maine bola ek baat hai ab agar tum nae bol diya hai k jana hai toh mai kon hota huin inkaar karnay wala?".(you say it or I say it, it's the same thing. If you said we are going then we are going. Who am I to go against it?)

"Yes. Yes. Thank you". Yaqoob said jumping around happily, "When can we go?".

"Just stay here for a week or two because I need to take care of few things and then we will leave". He said smiling at his brother beaming face and his wife excited smile

She turns to him grinning at him and the shine in her eyes made his heart skipped a beat.

The day went on and they all got busy in their work.

"Have you thought how you will work your relationship though?". He asked standing beside his brother in the garden

"I will shift to where she is appointed to work at". Yaqoob said shrugging

"Are you sure?". He asked uncertainly

"Bhai, mohabbat mai insaan kuch bhi karta hai per ishq mai insaan woh sub karta hai jo us ishq ko zinda raknay k liye chahiyeh. Mujhe us se sirf ishq nahi hai mujhe woh apni jaan se zayada aziz hai toh agar mai us k liye yeh bhi nahi kar sakta toh phir mujhe yeh haq nahi k mai us se ishq karuin".

(Brother, in love people do things but when they are passionately in love they do things that they need to keep that love alive. I don't just simply love her I love her more than my life and if I cannot do this simple thing for her then what's the use of my love)

"Toh tum nae us ko bataya hai?". (Did you told her about you shifting with her)

"Woman are so sacrificial, bhai. It's like when a woman sacrifice anything we applaud her with praises and when she doesn't we call her selfish. She said she wanted to work but didn't wanted me to leave everything. She said she would do it and I stopped her strictly because I could do something to be worthy of her love".

"Kaash yeh sub ittna asaan hota". (Wish it was all this easy)

"Toh muskil kon batana hai ishq ko, bhai?. Hum insaan khud muskil banatay hain sub aur khud kahtay hain phir k muskil hai. Ap nae agar kuch saal pehle apna ishq zahir kia hota toh kia pata aj sub alag hota aur abhi bhi ap sirf apne ap mai hain aur ap nae ek dafa bhi us se nahi kaha k ap k dil mai kia hai. Agar ap sub apne dil mai he rakhein gay toh us ko kaise pata chale ga. Khuda nae ap ko ek aur mauka dia hai aur yeh akhiri mauka bhi hai toh kia ab bhi ap apne lab nahi kholay gay?. Aur agar ab nahi toh shayed ap kabhi bhi nahi khole gay".

(So who makes things difficult?. We human makes it difficult and then we say it is hard. If you have confessed your love to her years bag then maybe all of this would have been different even now you are just overthinking and you haven't told her anything once. Lord gave you another chance and this is the last chance are you going to stay quiet now too?. And if you don't speak about your feeling now I don't think you ever will)

He stayed behind while his brother went back to his room thinking about his brother words. His brother was the only person who always believed in his love more than he himself believed in it.

"Suniye?". He heard her sweet voice calling him (listen)

He turns around to find her standing there in her white shalwar kameez and her hair falling down on her shoulder in soft curls. Her face was void of any makeup and the moonlight shining down on her making her look exquisite.

His heart hammered against his chest.

"Ifat". He said hoarsely as he steps closer to her ending the distance they have created only in their mind when their heart always beg for one another, "I-I am nervous so please you need to listen to me until the end, ok?". He said anxiously and she nodded, "For a long time I have liked you. At first, I was in denial and didn't want to accept my feelings. It took me another long time to finally realise them. But, I was late to do so and your marriage was fixed. I originally wanted to give you time to complete your studies and do what you always wanted before I ask for your hand but before all that you went away. I didn't stop it because I was shocked and confused. I wanted to stop your wedding but I didn't know how that would end so I went away immediately to never see you again because the thought of you smiling at someone else pained me. I stayed away and away from all your news and I regret everything. If I had been there I would have saved you from a lot of pain yet I wasn't there. I am so sorry for everything I have done. You were my warmth that went away from that house and then it was just emptiness. Recently, I realised that I didn't just like you anymore instead I love you. I started loving you in the long run and liking is all about gifts, chocolate and things but love is all about cherishing, caring, waiting and wanting to do everything in power to make the other person happy. I love you, Ifat. With my heart and soul".

And that night, they were turned into two bodies and one soul.

He knows he will have to wait for her reply and he wasn't even in a hurry to have it in the first place. He wanted to clear his feelings so he could finally start to express himself without thinking that he was passing any boundaries.

She watches the look of adoration on his face as he looks through the mirror at her. He was laying on the bed with his face in his hand looking at her. She blushes deep red as she wears her jewellery and since they were back to take the proposal of Yaqoob today.

They were staying at one of their other houses in this country and no one knows about their arrival.

"What's your dream?". He asked curiously

She shrugged, "I want to have a bachelorette degree before marriage".

"That can be arranged". He commented as he starts to plan it

"What?. No". She said shocked

He walks behind her wrapping his arms around her waist placing his head on her shoulder, "Why is that?".

"Because I am not at age-". She started

"Were you at age of marriage then?". He asked raising his eyebrows

She shrugged.

"Exactly! Since no one had any issue in marrying you at that age why is there an age factor in education?. If you want to achieve it then go for it. Age doesn't define goals". He said smiling and she smiles nodding, "When we go back we will work on this, ok?".

"But Zoya-". She started

"I don't trust anyone with our daughter especially at a time like today so daytime she can stay with me. She is a sweetheart I am sure she will be fun to be with". He said softly

She nodded beaming at him, "We need to go now".

He chuckles at her excitement kissing her forehead as they walk outside and to arrange his brother marriage.

5 years later:

She achieved all that she ever wanted.

A degree, yes.

Her husband before they even went back home started the process for her. As they step foot he made different paths for her to decide which she want to walk on or if she wanted to create her own way.

A peaceful family, yes.

She had worked hard and not only did she but her husband who worked along with her. When she would fall down, he picks her back and when he would fall short, she did help him. They build a house with love, care and affection. They didn't looked back to their families who had caused them pain because they build their own beautiful family.

They also understand that her parents never wanted a daughter and they only had daughter which they wanted to throw away as soon as possible hence they married her at young age. There was no use of mending the ties which were broken from the start only to cause more pain to them. His parents contacted him and they often come to visit but that was all. His grandfather held onto his ego and honour until the last day of his life.

Children, yes.

Zoya always remains their first child and he didn't want his wife to be pressured with studies and another child so today after everything she ever wanted was achieved she fulfilled his wish to have another child since her husband loves children.

Their new addition Shayaan.

"He is so beautiful". He whispers kissing her forehead lovingly, "Thank you so much, Meri Jaan".

Her eyes brimmed with tears and he sits beside her wiping them away, "Thank you for always being with me".

Their lives weren't perfect but they weren't looking for perfection either.

"Ammi, mujhe bhai ko dekhna hai". Zoya said excitedly turning to her father, "Baba, help me up, please". (Mama, I want to see my brother)

That was something he could never be used to. When Zoya called him her father for the first time he had cried for a long time. He could never replace her real father and they have already taught her about Yaseen but she still calls him her father.

"Ji, Baba ki jaan". He said holding her in his lap as he sits beside his wife who was holding their son (yes, baba's life)

"Woah!. He is so small". Zoya said holding Shayaan hands in her hands beaming at him

She looks at her husband knowing in happiness or sadness they will overcome anything when they are together.

They found their warmth, their happiness, their family and their love.

Her husband looks at her smiling when she speaks, "I love you, Haider with my heart and soul".

This was them.

Ifat and Haider.

The End.