Malik walks in with a big smile, and I feel happy having him over.

"Here I am, Professor. How do I ever say no to you?" he muses over a soft hug he gives me.

I giggle with delight. "Thank you for accepting my invitation. It's been forever since you and I had a talk, right?"

"Yeah, that's right." Malik sighs and we're at last in the living room. "So, how are you?" he asks right away while taking a seat, his large intelligent eyes studying me carefully.

"I'm good." I shrug, trying harder to convince myself the same thing. "Oh, and I think lunch is ready now. Do you mind taking this conversation to the kitchen instead?"

"By all means." He grins.

The Middle Eastern lunch smells resplendent when Mrs. Prescott welcomes us with a beaming smile. Oh, I'm starved.

"Hello, Malik," Mrs. Prescot greets Malik.

"Oh, hi, beautiful Nana!" Malik scoops the old lady into a terrific embrace, and I pull myself a seat while smiling at them.

While they exchange pleasantries, my thoughts wander away from here, thinking of everything else going on in my life. It all feels like a rollercoaster of emotions, and maybe it's meant to be this way.

Sometimes good, sometimes bad. We tend to go higher, and then lower, but never the same level over and again. It's probably spinning down right now, but tomorrow things may be different somehow. Smiling, I try to stay positive.

"Any problem, Professor." Malik gives me a worried look, interrupting my deep thoughts.

"Nothing. Come, have a sit." I tell him with a brighter smile.

Oh, it's been a good while since we last had a meaningful chat—just the two of us. Was Montana the last time? Or way before the wedding? I can't clearly remember, but I missed him.

"I knew this invitation wasn't going to let me down, Professor," says Malik after occupying a seat across from me, his eyes on the food. "I'm super hungry and the smell doesn't do me good."

I chuckle delightfully, feeling a certain pleasure as though I'm beholding anew the brother I haven't seen in ages. That's how I see Malik; a brother I never had.

A hot biryani pulls some steam in the air, beside which a bowl of roasted chicken oozes the delicious scent of spices, an Arab recipe I decided to google special for him.

"Enjoy your lunch," Mrs. Prescott utters while placing a fruit salad freshly made for dessert. "I have some things to do, so if you'll excuse me." She smiles at us.

"Thanks, Nana," I tell her, and Malik's nod speaks the same thing.

We begin eating.

"How does it feel having your twin away from home?" Malik breaks the easy silence with a playful grin.

I flush at the name 'twin'.

"Weird. I feel like the house will swallow me when the night comes," I answer musingly, and it's almost the truth. "Any news from Roshni?" I glance up at him while slashing the chicken breast to my liking.

Malik's eyes lose their gleam. "No, not yet. Maybe by tonight I'll be able to reach her."

"Oh, I forgot Australia is on the other side of the world." I take a deep breath. "You're missing her a lot, don't you?" I smile sadly, imagining the void he must be feeling inside.

"Oh, stop it." Malik blushes. I shoot him an inquiring eyebrow and he quickly says, "Fine. Yes, I miss her. But well . . . Maybe it's better that we both have the personal space we need to think things over."

I couldn't agree more. Sometimes distance is the only moment for people to gather their true feelings. I hope this helps them to achieve that.

"What really happened? I don't think I understand why she left in detail," I ask casually.

"Her brother is very sick. He's hospitalized so she has to be there," Malik replies.

"Her brother . . . The one who suffers from kidney disease or something?"

Malik nods. "You should've seen how worried she was. I just wonder what will happen to us now that she's gone."

God, he seems worried about their relationship more than I thought.

"Are you afraid she won't come back?" I watch him carefully.

His face blanches. "I wouldn't be surprised if she decides not to," he replies, the coolness of his voice suggesting something dark and painful about his perspective on his relationship with her. "In the end, women tend to come and go. They hardly stay."

Okay, this heartbreaking.

"But some are meant to stay, Malik. And you can't change it if that happens to you," I utter, taking a half spoon of biryani into my mouth. "Is that the reason why you prefer no attachment? Because you're afraid they'd leave?" I chew slowly.

"No, Professor. It's just . . . Well, I don't know." He sighs exasperatedly, running a hand through his hair, confused.

"You're scared of being alone, huh?" I probe, and his eyes settle transfixed on mine but he doesn't respond.

Silence can mean a yes, right?

"Don't we all?" he finally says in a whisper.

"Right. I'm dismayed with the thought alone," I easily censure, my voice laced with hidden fear. "But hey, that shouldn't be the reason for you to start doubting Roshni. I know she's crazy about you, and if she promised to be back, then she will be back."

"You think?" Malik's search for assurance leaves me in awe. I nod. "But she never really liked me, you know. We were both forced into this so—"

"How do you not realize what a catch you are that any woman wouldn't want to leave your side, Malik?" I tell him, meaning it, and partly wanting him to revive his withering confidence.

Maybe they started off on the wrong foot, but there's never a perfect dawn of any relationship, I believe. Especially when I look at how my husband and I began our love story.

"Professor!" Malik laughs heartily. We both do. He then sighs, skittling the spoon through the rice as though he's carrying the world in his head.

"What do you feel for her?" I ask.

"I love her," he murmurs fully, wholeheartedly, admitting his feelings without thinking twice.

Wow! I smile fondly.

"I know you do. And that's why I'm reminding you to never fool around anymore now that you are sure about her. If you do, Malik, I'll be the first one to tell on you." I firm my face at him.

"What? You wouldn't dare!" Malik chuckles lightly, amused. "I mean, aren't you on my side?" He jokes around.

"Sister before mister. Have you heard of that?" I tease, and a tension free laughter fills the air. "Roshni will come back, and even if she doesn't . . . you will go after her."

"Hah! Just like how Liam followed you to Los Angeles that time?" Malik inquires, and I nod my assent with a giggle. "What's with women and their love to be chased, seriously?"

"Well, it's romantic . . . maybe?" I shrug.

For real I will never forget how Liam chased after me all the way to Los Angeles. It's fucking romantic.

Malik shakes his head to the sides, smiling. It's a great thing he came here, right? We both needed this moment.

"So, how is everything?" he asks some moment later as we proceed eating. He looks at me with slight concern, noticing the shift of my demeanor. "You gave me a scare the last time you called."

I grab a glass of water and gulp a half of it. "I'm fine," I answer quietly, my voice barely convincing. A frown from Malik urges me to add, "Sometimes life gets rough but what's important is finding our balance and keep walking, right?"

"Are you having problems with Liam? Is it about Scarlet and . . . the supposedly baby she was expecting?" Malik stares intently at me.

So it looks like he knows the details, right?

"Did you talk to Liam about it?" I ask him, curious.

"We were together that night. After your call I went to search for him and he talked a bit," he replies.

"Where?"

He sighs. "There's a small bar that belongs to a friend of the late Mr. Darcy. Liam loves going there whenever he needs some escape, because it's a place the three of us used to hang out back in the days."

My heart aches.

"I see," I murmur.

"So, are you still having problems because of her?" Malik seems desperate to understand.

He's worried.

"No," I reply with a soft smile, using my spoon to toy with the rice in my plate. "Well, it bothered me at first, but it's not a problem now. At least I'm sure her story with Liam is over, isn't it?" I glance up at Malik for some sort of approval.

It's a matter of fact that I'm still doubtful, and Malik discerns it right away. He nods his head, affirming my statement. I smile with relief.

"They're done. Don't worry about her, please," he says.

"Well, I think I'm the only problem that needs to be solved then," I think out loud, my eyes back on the plate.

"Why would you think that way?" Malik asks, confused. He puts the food pending and gives his full attention to me. "Kira, I know I'm Liam's best friend—his brother I might add—but you're my friend, too. If you need someone to talk to, just know I'm here to listen. Whatever it is."

I know he's right. He's always supported me through thick and thin.

"Just like those times, huh?" I laugh fondly at the old memory. "You were always there to back me up, Malik. Just like my guardian angel." Tears linger in my eyes but I draw it back with a sharp sniff.

"Yes, just like before," Malik replies quietly. "I know I somehow screwed things with you. And Allah knows how regretful I am about what happened on your last evening in Miami. I was such a fool to—"

"We're not gonna talk about that evening again, Malik. It's water under the bridge and I'm not holding anything against you because of that confusing moment," I reply. "But I know it shouldn't have happened. So we're officially erasing it, right?"

"Absolutely." He nods. "Totally erased."

I suck in a deep breath. I don't want Liam to ever find out about that kiss, for the sake of peace and order of his friendship with Malik, and mine with him.

"Well, things are not as fine as I want them to be, but as long as Liam is by side, I feel like it's all going to be fine," I confess, unable to tell him about my real problem.

It's too intimate to share, and Liam won't appreciate this either. I know my husband well enough to bet on this. He's a cryptic man when it comes to his personal affairs.

"Look, Professor," Malik says and sits straight. "I don't know what kind of problems you two have, but I'm sure it'll work out fine. I was told I wouldn't walk again after the accident, but here I am, capable of trotting and running!"

"Really now?" I chuckle

"Definitely!" Malik insists. "And the last thing you should worry about is Liam leaving your side. He'll never do that; I can bet my neck on that."

"Well, I hope you never get to lose your head," I tease.

And God's willing that should be the case. A life without him will be death to me.

Malik smiles. "And if he dares trying to do that, I'll kill him for you."

"You're crazy!" I laugh jubilantly, and he laughs along while finishing his food. "I also want you to stay positive, Malik. If you love Roshni as you say, fight for her. She's worth it."

A bright smile adorns his face. "I'll do that," he says softly.

When the sunset approaches, Malik decides to call it a day. We almost lose track of time talking and laughing about several things of the past and present. I truly missed him.

"Thanks, Professor. The food was great, and more was the company," he says.

"My pleasure. I had a great time, too. Drive safe and . . . try to be patient because she'll be back," I return.

"Inshallah." He gives me a soft hug and kiss on the cheek before he leaves.

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A/N: I really missed Kira and Malik's moments, so I said . . . why not? Hope you liked it.

Thanks for reading, don't forget to touch the little star.