"I can tell you one thing, jail is no fun." Momin Bhai began, as his fingers drummed themselves on the steering wheel.

"You've been to jail?" Dina questioned, arching her head towards the man.

Even Yaseen lifted his sleeping mask slightly to see what Momin Bhai's answer was going to be.

"Yeah---Once in Monopoly."

This caused both Dina and Yaseen to groan and slump back to their usual position.

They had been on the road the whole day, all the while Dina's phone was continuously buzzing. It was supposed to be her nikkah to Zeeshan Abdullah today if she hadn't escaped.

She felt guilty for leaving without informing anyone. But, she had no other option. Her mother hadn't paid any heed to her, when she had voiced her queries asking for a little more time.

Her mother's exact response each time was, "Ye sab chonchale hai tum ladkiyon ke, jab tumhara time aayega tab tak to sab acche ladkon ki shaadi ho jaayegi"

(All these are unecessary dramas that you girls do, until you finally agree to get married all the good guys will already be settled)

Dina got only frustrated whenever she heard this. Why was it so necessary for life to be unbelievably annoying?

She was dragged out of her thoughts when she heard Yaseen's undeniably loud snores and Momin Bhai coughing loudly spitting his saliva everywhere like rain.

Dina looked at Momin Bhai in disgust causing his to smile sheepishly as he wiped his mouth with a kerchief.

She shook her head and glanced over the back seat where Yaseen was sprawled asleep.

That is when it struck her realisation.

She was in this khanjar's nikkah!

The irony here was she ran away from marriage to get married. That clearly wasn't what she wanted.

But, it was Yaseen. Just him. He probably didn't even care.

And that disappointed her, she didn't know why, but it did.

God! Why is she even thinking about all this?

She should have thought about all this before running away.

She wanted to scoff at herself right now.

The had stopped at a gas station now, and surprisingly enough Yaseen had woken up screaming that his bladder is going to tear.

While he ran towards the bathroom, Momin Bhai got down to feed some diesel to his Gul-e-Rana.

Dina walked towards the small store that was connected to the gas station, stretching her limbs.

But, her eyes widened in shock when she saw Inspector Zeenat and Dilbar interrogating the shopkeeper with a photograph.

How did they even reach here before them?

She wanted to run towards the van, but she saw Yaseen exiting the bathroom.Which was inside the store.

He then walked towards, the food aisle, scratching his head. The aisle was right behind Dilbar.

Dina wanted to scream at Yaseen, but that would only get him caught.

Then something awfully strange happened, Dilbar turned around and made eye contact with Yaseen. Before turning back towards the shopkeeper.

Dina felt her breath getting stuck in her throat.

Did Dilbar not recognise him?

Yaseen seemed to have finally caught on to what was happening. His eyes wideneing as he saw Officer Zeenat.

Scurrying towards the exit slowly, He ducked and walked out. Dina pulled him to her side causing him to let out a shrilly yelp.

Slapping her hand over his mouth she stared at his wide eyed expression.

Under the small yellow light that fell over them, she could only hold her breath as she eyed him.
His dark tresses were ruffled and falling right above his ocean blue eyes.

Dina wondered how he had inherited those beautiful eyes, when nobody in their family had that shade of eyes.

Suddenly, there was loud commotion from where they stood, Officer Zeenat had gotten sight of Gul-e-Rana beside which was Momin Bhai.

They were chasing the poor man around the van. Like a game of cat and mouse.

"What should we do? Should we help him?" Dina mumbled looking at the events that were playing out in front of her eyes like a movie.

"Mmhmm" Yaseen mumbled from behind Dina's hand causing her to remove it from his mouth.

"I think we should first escape from here, there are high chances we'll get caught if we go out there to help Momin Bhai" Yaseen said, as he towered her figure, blocking her view completely.

"Are you sure? Where will we go?" Dina questioned looking up at him in doubt.

"There is a motel, a few minutes away from here. I saw it while coming let's go there for now." Yaseen answered as he grabbed onto her hand before slipping out from the back side of the gas station.

Eyeing Momin Bhai with pity as they saw Inspector Zeenat cuffing his wrists. They had caught him.

The night was cold, and all their belongings were in Gul-e-Rana.

Dina felt giddy as an adrenaline rush surged through her body. Even though they were running and in a critical situation. She felt alive, she felt like she could breath again.

Her hand was still entwined with Yaseen's as he dragged them towards a motel, that was a good ten miles away.

For once, he looked like he was responsible. Responsible for them. For their safety.

A smile unconsciously curled up on Dina's lips as she tightened her hold on his hand. He momentarily glanced down at her before looking back towards the road ahead of them.

The sky was smattering with small ting pearls as Dina looked up. Her eyes shining bring we awe.

"Yaseen?"

"Hmm"

"Can you walk a little slowing? My legs are not able to keep up with your ostrich legs."

Yaseen just chucked as continued walking the same.

"Beghairat Aadmi, aahista chalo!" Dina, screamed losing her cool. Just moments ago she was a finding him a little tolerable but he had to ruin it.

(Shameless man, walk slowly)

"Chillao mat, churail. Koi Jinn hi na aa jaye tumhari besuri aawaz sun kar."

(Stop screaming witch, some ghost will come after hearing your annoying voice)

Dina was going to bellow out to curse his whole existence down but yelped out in pain as she fell down clutching her ankle. She had twisted it.

She cried clutching her ankle as her eyes brimmed with unshed tears.

Yaseen kneeled down towards her, inspecting her ankle causing her to slap his hand away.

"Maine kahan tha tumhe, aahista chalo. Par nahi, bhai saab ko to kisi ka janaza uthana hai." Dina screamed angrily as a tear slipped down her cheek.

( I told you to walk slowly, but no, brother had to to reach quickly for some funeral)

"Isme meri kya galti hai yaar, you have short duck-like legs." Yaseen said, scratching his head.

( How is it my fault?)

"tum na, just get away from me. It's a waste of energy talking to you." Dina exclaimed as she turned to the other side, tears streaming down her face at both the stinging pain in her ankle but also the anger and frustration built inside of her.

"Accha, sorry." Yaseen sighed, grabbing her face in his hands as his thumb wiped the tears away from her face.

But the traitious tears fell down even more, Dina wanted to tear his hands off his torso and amputate the.
But, she was exhausted. She just glared at him with fury laced eyes.

"Tumhare sorry ko khachre me daalo, aur tum bhi wahan khud jaakar mar jao." Dina mumbled harshly.

(Put your sorry in the trash, and you also go and die there)

Yaseen only chuckled softly.

"Mein akela kya karoon ga kachre me. Tum to hogi na wahi, Khachre ki maharani."

(What will I do alone there? You will also be there right, the queen of trash)

Dina has enough, she hardly slapped him across the face as he looked at her wide eyed clutching his cheek.

His eyes clouded, as he stared at her stoicly.

She had hit him before numerous times but he hand never reacted like this before.

"Dina, ye mat bhoolo ke mere paas bhi haath hai." Was all he had said, as he got up robotically staring ahead with a blank expression.

(Don't forget, even I have hands)

Dina's eyes clouded themselves again with a new set of fresh tears.

Would he hit her?

Suddenly she felt herself being lifted as his arms wounded themselves around her.

His mild cologne filling her senses.

She didn't have it in herself to protest. Her lips quivered and she hid her face in his chest. This caused him to stiffen but nevertheless he didn't utter a word.

She never liked being touched by people. She was never that person who carved intimate touch. Her physicality always made her self conscious and insecure. She wasn't a slim and petite girl. She was curvy and a little on the heavier side. She was mildly bullied throughout her life earning remarks like "kam khao" "exercise bhi kar liya karo kabhi" "tumse koi shaadi nahi karega".

(" Eat less" " do exercise sometimes" " no one will marry you")

And there was still a long way till should could accept her body as it is.

She knew she was heavy and the embarrassment that Yaseen was carrying her heavy form and pain of her ankle only added to her tears of being threatened by him.

They had finally reached the motel that read "Gulabi Hotel" in cheap neon highlights.

Yaseen walked inside and dropped Dina on the dirty looking couch that sat in the dingy reception.

A middle aged man sat behind an old wooden desk reading a vulgar looking magazine.

Yaseen went and tapped on the desk, causing the man to look up slyly, his eyes flickering towards Dina.

Yaseen cleared his throat gaining back the man's attention.

"Jee saab, for how many hours do you want the room?"

Yaseen looked at his watch, it read, 12:45. Damn it was late.

He glanced back at Dina who was lost in her thoughts eyes brimmed red and her plump lips chapped .

Something clenched in his chest, but he ignored it and looked back towards the man.

"How much for one hour?"

"100 rupae"

Yaseen frowned, he barely had, 1500 bucks in cash, and his debit card had an average amount, the rest of his money was inside his bag which was in Gul-e-Rana.

"Ek ghante mein aap kya hi karlene waale hai, kam se kam to do ghante lagayge na?" The man smirked hiding double meaning behind his words.

(What will you do in one hour atleast two hours you will take right?)

Yaseen knew the moment he stepped into this motel that it was no ordinary one. But he was left with no other choice, because he couldn't risk wandering around with her this late at night.

"Kaam se kaam rakho apna. And give me the room for three hours." Yaseen said with narrowed eyes.

"Theekh hai saab. Ghussa kyu karte hai."

(Okay sir, why are you getting angry?)

"Card lete ho?"

(Do you accept card payment?)

" Jee, hum to Google pay bhi lete hai."

( Yes we take Google pay also.)

After paying Yaseen got the room keys and turned towards Dina, but the man stopped him again.

"Waise kahan mili aapko ye hoor pari?"

(Where did you find this angel?)

Yaseen smirked not turning back.

"Pagal khaana mein."

(Mental Asylum)

•••

a/n

Helloo guys!

How did you like the chapter?

After many months I have updated. My apologies.

This doesn't mean I am back though.

Insha'Allah I will be active soon, but for now do shower this chapter with lots of comments and feedback.

Yaseen maintaining eye contact with Dilbar as he escapes

And do comment done below what is going to happen next!

cya byee

~flawfully