Mahinoor's P.O.V.

"Shit," I mumbled to myself as I rush into the building of NYU holding a bunch of academic material in my hands. I am so late. Welcome to my daily routine, where I purposely hit the snooze button more than three times and then run into my classroom where my students stare at me in amusement as I gather myself to get ready to teach them. This has been my permanent routine for the past year and a half. "Good. Morning." I say embarrassed as my regular students chuckle. 

"It's alright Mahinoor." Cassidy smirked, "We all are used to this."

Ignoring her backhanded comment, I quickly turn the projector on and fix my hair. "That comment was not necessary Cassidy,"  I say firmly deciding against my ignorance. "I am still your professor and I expect respect from all of you." I knew it was hard for some of my students to swallow that I was only 28 and teaching them when some of them were maybe a year or two older than me struggling with the material that all seemed to make sense to me. 

Let me give you alittle recap, after Rehan and I came back from Hunstvile, we both put our time and energy into building our careers and becoming independent. Rehan focused on his company and I focused on my studies. So the four-year degree quickly became a three-year one, as I successfully doubled up the courses, and began to be offered amazing internships.  

I came under the eyes of the department leader and got offered this job as an astrophysicist professor. I had no idea what I was going to do after my degree and had applied to numerous places but no one had called back, so this was perfect. 

"Sorry," Cassidy mumbled sitting back in her chair embarrassed by her behavior.  Clearing my throat I turn back to the material I had prepared for this seminar. 

There was a lot of struggle that went into this job, wanting to maintain it,  while managing to. find a small. apartment that was close to it. I had to re-learn a lot of life skills, in this year and a half, since Rehan and I had. . . separated. 

 I guess he and I had the right idea before, we weren't destined to be with one another, it was just a temporary honeymoon phase that lasted a while before reality came in and ripped apart our relationship just as easily as it was reunited by our families. 

Of course, there were detrimental factors that caused our separation, but I rather not talk about it.  Our families were not happy with the idea of us separating, but that didnt matter to Rehan and I. . we had made up our minds. 

Hence why I was now living alone in a two-bedroom apartment,  and am happy, no matter what Amma and everyone else thinks. . .I am happy and I am sure Rehan is too. I haven't spoken to him since our divorce. . so about a year ago, but I am sure he is happy. . .at least he. is now, because he wasnt when we were together. 

Shaking my head, I try to slip out of his thoughts. . and turn back to reality, which was me being a successful independent astrophysicist professor who didnt need him, or anyone else. 

I am happy alone. 

.  . .

"No way,"  I giggle over the phone as Tejo tells me what went down between Azlaan and Jiya this morning. "He freaked out over makeup?"

"Tell me about it." Tejo laughed, "It was a whole argument between the two, I thought one of them was going to punch the other." 

I cannot imagine a twelve-year-old girl fighting her thirty-eight-year-old father over makeup. "That actually would be hilarious."

"Please, I wish I would have recorded everything." Tejo went on, "Oh! You are on for her party tommorow right?"

"Definitely!" I say unlocking my car, and shoving all my things in there. "I even got. a day off for it, so I could. help. you prepare for it as Azlaan Bhai keeps her busy."

"That's awesome, the more help the marrier." She exclaimed,  "Especially. with Shehnaaz, I need to do everything tommorow before she. wakes up from her nap."

Shehnaaz was a handful but super cute! "I can handle her," I volunteer as I begin driving to my small apartment. "She loves me anyways,"

I can imagine Tejo rolling her eyes at me, "I think she loves you more than me."

Laughing my heart out, I try to hide the unfelt emotions I had buried underneath my harsh exteriors over a year ago. There. was. so much I had held within me, that sometimes I was scared that if I began crying. .  .I wouldn't be able to stop.  So, I never did. . .not since Rehan and I separated. "Mahi?"

"Mhm?"

"I love you, you. know that right?" Tejo had sensed my sadness, and that is what I loved about her. 

"I love you too," I say. 

I had her, and my family. . .that was all I needed, I was happy.  . . 

I am happy without Rehan.  

.  .  .

Rehan's P.O.V.

"When is the next meeting?" I ask Monica roughly over the. intercom as I wrestled with ten files that were piled up on my desk. 

"You have an hour booked off for lunch Sir," She buzzed through, "Azlaan Sir,  made me make sure you had enough time to eat since-" I  had told Azlaan to stop sharing my personal information with the staff, but he had decided against listening to me like always. 

"Thanks." I cut her off silencing the intercom.  Spinning around in my chair, I go to stand near the large ceiling-to-floor windows that my office had, enjoying the views of New York City from the highest floor in my building, I smile to myself. 

I had done this. . . I had taken my real-estate company from a B-lister to an A-lister company. Everyone in this city wanted a job in my company, and everyone wanted to gain an agent from this company to either help find a forever home, an investment property, or a first-time buyer. 

It felt good standing at the peak of my success, in this past year and a half I had no other bother, no other person to take care of. I had finally shaken Mahinoor off my back, and I had the freedom of being a single businessman. 

After we had come back from Huntsvile, everything was going well in our relationship until Mahi decided to become obnoxiously clingy, not wanting me to go anywhere, not wanting me to meet anyone. A sudden switch that suffocated the life out of our fun-loving relationship. 

As well as. .  .nevermind.  The moral of the story is that  Mahinoor never wanted to grow up, even after the several harsh circumstances,  that our life went through, circumstances that I do not want to be reminded of or want to talk about either. 

Mahinoor and  I had a good run with what we could manage, but in the end, what we felt, was what happened, we just weren't right for one another. . and that was that. 

"Rehan," Azlaan  knocked on my office door, "Rehan, open the door." Rolling my eyes  I walk over and open the door for him to reveal him holding two bags of food. "Lunch Time,"  

Stepping back I allow him into my personal space, "Thanks,"  I say clearing my throat.  

Now it was his turn to roll his eyes at me, "I already have a teenager at home Rehan, I do not need another." He handed me my bag as he sat down infront of my  desk, "Enough with the  attitude, Jiya already has given me a headache in the morning, and Shehnaaz didnt let me sleep all night  because she had a fever so please."

Chuckling I say, "What did Jiya do?"

"She wanted to wear makeup!" He exclaimed taking a bite out of his burger, "She is only  12, and she wants to wear makeup  to school."

I raise an eyebrow at him,  "Azlaan, it's not-"

"That big of a deal," He finished my sentence, "I know, Tejo took her side the same way but I have no idea why you two think that it is okay.  Boys will begin to  pay attention to her  Rehan, and you know how we  were when we were younger, so I just  want to protect her."

I shake my head, "You cannot protect her forever," 

"Rehan," He sighed,  

"I know you want to, but you gotta let her learn and discover the world in her own way." I add,  "I know it's stressful  but you gotta ease up alittle."  He has been struggling with being alittle laid back with her. Since she is about to turn thirteen, new problems have arisen, and there has been tension in their relationship.  Tejo has tried explaining this to him over and over again, and Jiya has become closer to her. Since they got married four years ago, things have been good and Shehaaz has been the light of their lives for the past three. Jiya loves being her older sister, but this new-age tension between her and Azlaan has been getting intense.  

Azlaan nodded, "I guess you are right but it's hard you  know,"

I couldn't say I understand what fatherhood felt like, but I have lived through his experience with Jiya,  I  saw his struggle raising her alone before Tejo came along, but at a time, you gotta let kids go so they can become their own person. 

"Yeah," I exhale  deeply, 

Azlaan looked tense before he spoke up again,  "Rehan,"

"Mhm?"

"Speaking of  Jiya," He said again hesitantly, 

I take a bite out of my burger giving him my full attention, "Tejo is planning a surprise party for her thirteenth birthday and. . ." Mahinoor will be there. "Mahi is also invited so, I was just checking in with you if that is fine?" I will be seeing her again after a full year without any contact. 

"We aren't kids anymore Azlaan."  I say firmly, "Of course, it will be fine, we all. are adults here." 

Azlaan let out a sigh of relief, "Okay, that's great to hear man." Azlaan and Tejo had decided not to pick sides after the divorce, which. was totally fine with Mahi and me. We both left off on. . well, like I said we both are adults. 

It's fine, everything will be fine.  . .