Saad's pov:

A shriek escaped her lips as soon as she spotted me before quickly closing the door while a smile grazed my lips as I continued to stare at her. Sweat trickled down my neck, reminding me how hot I was feeling but I could care less about that. Pushing the hood of my hoodie back, I took a deep breath while closing my eyes, trying to calm myself down by the cool air of the air conditioner.

Ah, finally I was able to make it till here. Now, I just hoped that she wasn't angry with me or else I would have to go back home, just like bhai said.

"What. Are. You. Doing. Here?" Taking a few steps towards me, she jabbed a finger at my chest while asking me, a furious glare adorning her face and her lips set into thin line.

"Bhaijaan! I'm so happy to see you! But I'm so sleepy, you came home so late." Amira shrieked with a yawn, her eyes closing on their own as she sat up on her bed, rubbing her eyes to look at me.

"I'm so sorry Mira, I had some work that's why I couldn't come earlier." I replied, ignoring her question and bending down to untie my shoelace before keeping them under the window, near the study table. "But why are you still up? You should be sleeping right now." I inquired, walking to the bed and sitting beside her.

"Yeah, busy in watching some cricket match." I heard a sarcastic murmur and when I glanced in her direction, I saw her rolling her eyes at me. So someone was extremely angry.

"Jee. I was sleeping but because of api's voice, I woke up." She replied with a yawn before looking at her sister sleepily.

"Oh, then you should go back to sleep now." I replied softly, a small smile still present on my lips.

"And you mister. You should get out of my house right now!" I heard an irritated voice, my gaze flickered in her direction and I saw her turning to look at me, her arms folded as she glared daggers at me.

"Api let him stay for a while please." Before I could reply anything, Amira interrupted with a pout. "Aap thodi der aur ruk jaiye na." Turning her attention to me, she pleaded.

(Stay for a while more.)

"Umm hmm... Dekhte hai. Agar aapki api ne rukne diya to ruk jaunga." I replied, not daring myself to look in her direction.

(Umm hmm... I will see. If your sister let me stay here, then I will stay.)

"Aur iski api aapko rukne ki ijazat bilkul bhi nahi de rahi hai. To isse pehle ke ammi aa jaye, aap ghar se nikal jaiye." She replied sharply, I could still feel her heated gaze on me.

(And her sister isn't giving you any permission to stay here. So before mom comes here, leave this house right now.)

"Api, don't be so mean. Please na, let him stay here for a while. Aap inko itni jaldi wapas kyu bhej rahi hai?" Amira pleaded, holding my arm while looking at her.

(Why are you sending him back so soon?)

"Because he is actually careless. I can't believe it!" She muttered, shaking her head.

"Accha Mira, aap so jao. I'm staying here for a while. Okay?" I said, making her lay on the bed as she grinned at me.

(Okay Mira, go to sleep.)

"Okay bhaijaan. Jazak Allahu Khairan." She squealed happily, her eyes already drooping.

"What!? Seriously guys?!" She exclaimed, and from the corner of my eyes, I could see her letting her hands fall by her side. "Okay do whatever you want, I don't care." She muttered, exasperated, as she grabbed a thin mattress to lay on the floor. "Khadoos!" She continued to mumble while working, a frown adorning her face, making me smile slightly. She wouldn't change, would she? At least I hoped she wouldn't.

(Rude!)

._._._.

"Are you actually angry at me?" I dared to ask her after a while, glancing in her direction, when I was sure that Amira was fast asleep and wouldn't wake up if we talked.

"What? Angry? You think so? Who even told you that?" She replied in disbelief, her eyes wide as she stared at me.

"Oh, so you aren't?" A sigh of relief escaped my lips as I asked her that, my muscles relaxing a bit. Maybe she wasn't actually angry at me.

"No, absolutely not. I'm not just angry at you but I'm mad at you! Understood?" She replied sweetly while glaring daggers at me. What a beautifully deadly combination it was! "Now get out of my house." She added through gritted teeth while pointing a finger towards the window.

"Ya Allah, what is it with you women and trying to kick us out of their houses or rooms?" I whined, pouting. "This is my house too, you know." I added, looking at her.

"Oh really? How?" Raising a brow and folding her arms, she questioned.

"Because I'm married to you. So your house is my house and my house is your house." I answered as a matter of fact while shrugging my shoulders.

"Yeah well done. Now go and tell that to ammi since you are here and claiming all that." She replied, smiling sweetly at me. I wondered what had gotten into her suddenly. I mean, as far as I remembered, she wasn't this sarcastic or sassy, right?

"You want me to get killed?" I retorted, knitting my brows and narrowing my eyes at her.

"Watching whatever you did today, I wouldn't actually mind that." She replied, sugar dripping from voice.

"Ya Allah, it wasn't my mistake." I tried to defend myself, uncertain about how to make her believe me. I mean, it wasn't entirely my fault, nor was it my idea. So I was kind of right, right?

"Yeah, actually you are right. It was our mistake to trust you and wait for you guys." She retorted through gritted teeth, letting her hands fall by her side.

"No, that's not what I meant!" I facepalmed, already regretting putting my words like that.

"I don't care what you mean. Out now!" Pointing to the window, she growled angrily.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me. It won't happen again." Standing up, I held her extended hand with my both hands, hoping for her anger to melt down. But obviously, she wasn't any ice cream to be melted by my warmth, and I wasn't any sweet to have lured her into forgiving me.

"Yeah, it won't happen again because we won't even let any such situation happen again." She muttered, yanking her hand away from my hold and taking a step back. "Now are you even leaving or what?"

"Why are you so stubborn?" Holding her arm, I exclaimed with a pout.

"Why are you so careless?" She retorted, trying to wriggle out of my grip.

"Do you forgive me?" Taking a step closer, I asked her hopefully.

"No." She glared at me furiously.

"How will you forgive me?" Taking a step further, I asked her quietly, desperately trying to find answers in her chocolate pools.

"Find that out yourself." She murmured as she stopped struggling and stared back into my eyes while keeping a hand on my chest, most probably to create some distance between us.

"Atifa." I whined before realising what I just said. Freezing on my spot, I waited for her reaction anxiously. It was the first time that she was listening to her name coming from me. It wasn't that I didn't like taking her name or anything, but it just felt weird so I never tried it. And she didn't ask me, even for once, so it never occurred to me.

My gaze noticed her every move as silence surrounded us. It was so quiet that I could even hear her soft erratic breathing. She averted her gaze, looking down, her lashes creating a shadow on her cheeks. My gaze travelled from her addicting chocolaty pools to her soft nose, which had turned pink by the way, to her flushed cheeks. They looked so soft, alluring me to touch them softly, run my fingers over them lightly. A loose strand of her hair moved ahead, touching her lips, diverting my attention towards them. Those small plump pink lips, which were slightly parted, their colour matched with her cheeks so much that it almost looked surreal. Almost. But it was all real. My left hand moved forward to move that strand of her hair away from her face. It was blocking my view and disturbing her too.

As soon as my hand touched her face, her gaze snapped in my direction, making me flustered. I moved my hand away quickly after tucking her hair behind her ear. Maybe I crossed my limits this time. Feeling heat creeping up my neck, I averted my gaze, unable to meet her surprised stare. "Uh... I- I'm sorry. I- I will... leave... now..." It was better for me to leave at that time, at least better than making things awkward for us.

"Hmm..." She hummed, letting her hand fall from my chest just as I left her arm before rubbing my neck and clearing my throat. Taking a step back and creating some space between us, I nodded my head absent-mindedly. Just as I turned around and took a few steps, I halted in my steps, fear overtaking my mind.

"Aaaah! Chipkali!" I shouted before running behind her, a horrified look on my face. It was so close to me that I didn't even notice it until I was just two feet away from the window.

(Aaaah! Lizard!)

"What? Kya hua? Kaha hai chipkali?" She exclaimed, looking around, colour draining from her face.

(What happened? Where is the lizard?)

"W- waha." Pointing towards the window, I replied, maintaining my distance from it.

(T- there.)

"To aap yaha kya kar rahe hai? Jaake usko bhagaiye na." Knitting her brows and turning to look at me, she ordered.

(So what are you doing here? Go and drive it away.)

"What? Me?" I asked her while taking a step back, a terrified look on my face.

"Jee aap, aur kon!?" She replied fiercely, narrowing her eyes at me before turning back around to look at it.

(Yes you, who else?)

"Just because mai ladka hu iska matlab ye nahi ke mujhe chipkaliyo se darr nahi lagta hoga. Even I'm scared of them, so no way am I going near that thing." Taking a precautionary step ahead and coming to stand exactly behind her, I grumbled, eyeing the lizard with narrowed eyes. "Allah it's coming down!" I yelled, scared, holding her shoulders tightly.

(Just because I'm a boy doesn't mean that I can't be scared of lizards.)

"Aaaah, don't scare me like that!" She screamed, jumping a bit before turning her face to glare at me.

"I'm not scaring you, just telling you what I saw." I replied, turning my attention away from her to the problem at hand. Actually, maybe I should be thanking it for making me stay here. I didn't want to leave so soon anyway. Now maybe we will get some time together and she would forgive me, I wondered.

Before she could reply anything, there was a knock on the door. "Atifa, are you there inside?" Obviously, it was ammi. Way to ruin my plan my sweet mother-in-law!

"Ya Allah ammi bhi aa gayi ab to." She muttered frantically, looking at me with wide, scared eyes.

(Oh God, now even mom is here.)

"Zaroor uss chipkali ne bulaya hoga." I grumbled with a scowl, eyeing the root cause of our problem.

(I'm sure that lizard must have called her.)

"Seriously? That thing can't even talk!" She muttered through gritted teeth, glaring at me.

"So what? I have heard that they can be jinns. They can transform themselves and even vanish into thin air." I muttered back, furrowing my brows as I continued to stare at it, hoping for it to vanish somehow.

"Ya Allah, don't scare me more and get out now. Isse pehle ke ammi andar aa jaiye." Scared, she murmured while taking a step aside, giving me space to go.

(Before mom comes inside.)

"I'm not going out of that window now. Dikhai nahi de raha waha chipkali hai!?" I replied fiercely with wide eyes, letting my hands fall from her shoulder.

(Can't you see there's a lizard there!?)

"Accha to go and hide somewhere then. Jaldiii." Looking around frantically, she said.

(Okay, go and hide somewhere then. Quickly!)

"Ab mai yaha kaha chupu?" I replied, eyeing her room.

(Now where should I hide here?)

"I don't know. Jaha chupna hai chupo!" She whispered, confused, her hands going in the air as she shook her head.

(Hide wherever you want!)

"Atifa? Are you alright?" Ammi inquired from behind the door, knocking on it once again.

"But I don't know where!?" I muttered, confused.

"YOU ARE CRAZY!" She exclaimed slowly while looking at me, exasperated.

"But it isn't my fault that your house doesn't have any place to hide." I replied with a pout my gaze roaming around.

"Under the bed. Quick." She mumbled, her gaze stuck on the single bed where Amira was sleeping.

"What? I'm not going there." Horrified, I replied while eyeing the bed. I wouldn't fit under it and what if I found a lizard there too? What would I do then?

"Under the bed or out of the window. Suit yourself. I'm going to open the door now." She muttered in exasperation while eyeing me with disbelief before taking a step ahead.

"Wait. Okay. I'm hiding under the bed. Okay? Just a minute." Stopping her, I quickly replied before getting down on my knees and trying to go under the bed but failing miserably. Looking at her in helplessness, I hoped for her to give me another idea. But when she just glared at me, I laid down before rolling under the bed with a grumpy face.

"Atifa I-" Ammi was saying something when I heard the door opening. That was fast.

"Jee ammi." She replied, a little out of breath. Did she run there?

(Yes mom.)

"Kya hua, are you both alright? I heard you screaming." Both? What does she mean by that? Did she see us both together by any chance? I panicked, thinking about the possibilities until I realised that she must be talking about Amira and not me.

(What happened,)

"Jee ammi, we are fine alhamdulillah. We- I just saw a lizard and got scared." She stuttered, giving a nervous laugh.

(Yes mom,)

"Oh. Kaha par hai wo?" I just hoped that she wouldn't decide to come inside.

(Oh. Where is it?)

"Under the bed." What was she trying to do?! Get me killed? Or was there actually a lizard here too? A gasp escaped my lips at my latter thought and I quickly covered my mouth with my hands. Even in this apparently cold room, I could feel sweat trickle down my neck. "I- I mean, bed ke niche se wo khidki ke paas gai abhi. Dekhiye." A sigh of relief escaped my lips as I heard her explain further. But wait, it wasn't actually under the bed, was it?

(I- I mean, it went to the window from under the bed. See.)

"Accha, let me see. And why is your window open in the first place?" Oh my God, what was she trying to do?! My gaze flickered towards the window and I noticed my shoes there. Ya Allah, I just hoped that she didn't notice them.

(Okay,)

"Uh... Wo- wo maine bahar khula aasman dekhne ke liye khola tha..." She stuttered, and I could see her feet moving aside.

(Uh... That- I opened it to watch the sky tonight...)

"To baad me band nahi kar sakti thi?" What happened to ammi suddenly? Like why was she asking her so many questions today?

(So couldn't you have closed it after that?)

"Band karne se pehle chipkali aa gayi na andar." She replied quickly.

(Before I could close it, the lizard came inside.)

"Accha. Aur darwaza kholne me itna waqt kyu laga?" I could see ammi's feet going towards the window, making my heart pick up its beat.

(Okay. And why were you taking so much time to open the door?)

"Wo... Bataya na aapko, chipkali bed ke niche se khidki ke paas gayi to isliye mai intezaar kar rahi thi ke kab wo mere raaste se hate aur kab mai darwaza kholu..." I never knew she could be such a good storyteller. I mean, how did she get this idea so quickly?

(That... I told you right, the lizard went from under the bed to the window so I was waiting for it to move from my way to open the door...)

Wait a minute, she wasn't talking about me, right? Did she just call me a lizard? The one who came in from the window and was hiding under her bed? She just reversed the situation and replaced me with the lizard. Or better yet, she was calling me a lizard. I would ask her about it, I noted.

"Accha. To jawab to de sakti thi na, mai hi darwaza khol ke andar aa jaati." Oh my God aunty, I mean ammi, she was obviously trying to hide that lizard. I mean me. Oh my God what was I even talking about? What was happening to me?

(Okay. So you could have answered me, right? I would have come inside myself.)

"Jee... Lekin Mira so rahi thi to isliye maine socha ke shor na karu." She mumbled, flustered.

(Yes... But since Mira was sleeping, I thought not to make any voice.)

"Aur tumhara chillana shor nahi tha na?" You staying here is a problem right now ammi. I'm sorry but could you please leave soon, I thought. I could see her feet shuffling, turning towards this side and I bent my knees inside, hoping that they weren't visible in any way.

(And you shouting wasn't making any noise, right?)

"Sorry... Mai bas darr gai thi." She mumbled, taking a step towards the foot of the bed.

(Sorry... I got scared.)

"Accha ab khidki band karke so jao. Chipkali bahar chali gayi hai and it's already getting late." I heard ammi say before she finally made her way towards the door. Letting my hands fall from my mouth, I took a deep breath before sighing in relief.

(Okay now close the window and sleep. The lizard went out and it's already getting late.)

"Jee. Allah hafiz." She mumbled, heading towards the door.

(Okay.)

"Good night, Allah hafiz." And with that, the door closed with a lock. Rolling out from under the bed, I sat up before taking a deep breath while trying to suppress my laughter. How could she come up with the lizard story so soon, again?

Oh yeah, it's nothing to laugh about, she actually called me a lizard. How could she even do that?! The smile vanished from my face as I turned to glare at her and she glared back at me. Wow. This was going to be a long night.

._._._.

"Why are you not going out now?" After a while of silence, she questioned, finally turning her gaze away from me and folding her arms, relieving me from her glare.

"Because the lizard might be outside, waiting for me." I replied, blinking my eyes and looking away.

"Why would the lizard wait for you?" She asked, irritation clear on her face and voice.

"I don't know, what if it turned out to be my personal enemy?" I retorted, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Now why would it be your personal enemy?" Annoyed, she questioned, letting her hands fall by her side in exasperation.

"No idea. But we can't be too sure or trust them." I shrugged, getting up from the mattress.

"Ya Allah, where am I stuck!" She murmured, closing her eyes and looking up.

"That should be my question." I muttered, eyeing her.

"But weren't you here to apologise?" Raising her brow, she inquired.

"Yeah, but you aren't accepting my apology. So..." I trailed off, looking away.

"Did you even-" She started fiercely before taking a deep breath and muttering slowly. "Leave it."

"What?" I asked her curiously.

"Apologise once again." She mumbled, sitting down on her mattress.

"What?" Confused, I asked her while taking a seat beside her.

"Okay, whatever. Just get me some chocolates tomorrow. Aap logo ki wajah se mai itna bura phasne wali thi na aaj ke kya batau. I can't believe you guys! Aisa kon karta hai? Hum waha dhoop me khade khade aap logo ka intezaar kar rahe the, pasine se hamara haal behaal ho raha tha aur aap log waha TV dekh rahe the. Wow. Kya wo cricket match itna zyada zaruri tha? Aur agar tha to hame supermarket hi nahi leke jaana chahiye tha na. Hum aise hi enjoy kar lete." She ranted, a pout adorning her face. She looked so cute that I couldn't help but keep staring at her. I wasn't sure I even heard whatever she said, or maybe, I heard it but didn't actually process it yet.

(Okay, whatever. Just get me some chocolates tomorrow. I almost got caught today because of you guys. I can't believe you guys! Who even does this? We were standing there under the sun, sweating like crazy while waiting for you guys and you guys were watching TV? Wow. Was that cricket match that important? And if it was then you guys shouldn't have even taken us to the supermarket in the first place. We would have enjoyed just like that.)

"Uh... It was a football match, not a cricket match..." That was the only thing which I could actually notice, her mentioning cricket instead of football.

"Are you serious right now? Maine itna sab kuch bola and you picked up that?" Looking at me in disbelief, she exclaimed in exasperation. Shaking her head, she let out a sigh before laying down on her mattress and covering herself with the blanket. "Aap se to baat hi karna bekaar hai." She muttered angrily.

(I told you so much and you picked up just that?)
(Talking to you is useless!)

"Arreee suno na, I was just kidding." I whined, disappointed at myself for getting distracted.

(Listen to me, I was just kidding.)

"Too bad I'm sleepy now so I can't listen." Yawning, she replied while covering her face.

"You are going to sleep, and what about me? What should I do? Where will I be sleeping?" I asked her incredulously, eyeing the room.

"I don't know and I don't care. Do whatever you want." She muttered nonchalantly, turning on her side.

"Ya Allah! Seriously?!" I exclaimed while getting up from my place and closing the window cautiously.

"Yeah, seriously." Did I actually mess up that bad?

"Then don't scold me later on." I mumbled, eyeing the space beside her. There was no other place where I could actually sleep.

"Why would I scold you? Just let me sleep peacefully, I'm tired." She mumbled back, confused, before yawning again.

"Why?" Why was she so tired anyways? It wasn't like she roamed around the streets, right? Or maybe she did... Oh my God, did they actually go around?

"Because of some idiots." She grumbled.

"Did you just-" called us idiots?' I wanted to complete my sentence but I didn't want another argument. It was enough for today. "Whatever. I'm sleeping here." I grumbled, sitting beside her.

"Umm hmm... But you will have to get out of here before fajr anyways." She replied smugly. Her face was still covered with her blanket.

"Yeah yeah, we will see about that." I mumbled, laying down beside her and stretching my arms. As soon as my arm touched her lightly, a shriek escaped her lips as she quickly lifted the blanket off of her face. A surprised yet shocked expression on her face. I guess she didn't notice me sitting beside her or expected me to sleep beside her.

"What are you doing?" Flustered, she asked me, her cheeks getting warm.

"Sleeping." I replied, enjoying her state. Wasn't she the same girl who asked me to sleep on her bed back in her home? Claiming that she wouldn't forget about getting married next time?

"B- but why here." She stuttered, looking away.

"Then where should I sleep? On the floor?" I questioned, amused.

"Yes." She replied without missing a beat, making me think that maybe she didn't even realise what I said.

"No thank you, I'm comfortable here." I replied with a small smile, getting comfortable. "Just try not to kill me again." I added teasingly.

"Get out!" She muttered, turning to face the ceiling.

"Maybe in the morning I will." I replied, thinking how I would get out of here tomorrow.

"Ya Allah! If you don't want to get killed, then just shut up and sleep." She mumbled, exasperated. "And move back, you are invading my personal space." She added, making me chuckle slightly.

"Okay, don't make a fuss now." Grinning, I moved a bit back, to the edge of the mattress. Glancing at me from the corner of her eyes, she turned her face to glare at me.

"You wouldn't believe what bhabi did today?" After a while, I broke the silence quietly while keeping one of my arms under my head.

"What?" She mumbled sleepily, her eyes drooping.

"She kicked bhai out of their room." I told her, remembering how he entered my room, a small smile grazing my lips at that memory.

"After whatever happened today, he deserved it." She murmured, before adding. "And you too." For a moment there, I was confused thinking what she was about, until I realised that she was talking about the punishment.

"Accha." I replied, turning my face to look at her, amused.

(Really?)

"Jee." She replied meekly, yawning. She always looked cute I guessed.

(Yes.)

"Chalo so jao ab." I murmured, watching her trying to keep her eyes open.

(Okay sleep now.)

"Mai wohi karne ki kosish kar rahi hu jabse lekin aapki baatein nahi khatam ho rahi hai." She whined, pouting, making me chuckle lightly.

(I'm trying to do that only but you can't stop talking.)

"Accha ab nahi bolunga. So jao." I replied, leaning my head on my hand as I gazed at her peaceful face.

(Okay I won't speak now. Sleep.)

"There is something called sorry." She grumbled, finally letting her eyes relax.

"Accha. Sorry." Amused, I apologised.

"Hmm..." Humming sleepily, she turned to her side, facing away from me. What did that mean, again?

"Am I forgiven now?" When I didn't hear any voice or noise, I asked her, confused.

Still not getting any reply, I moved my face ahead, only to see her already dozed off. Chuckling, I turned to my side too, facing her back. Covering ourselves with the blanket and folding my arms, I recited the duas before letting my heavy eyelids droop.

._._._.

▪ Is he forgiven yet?

And is it possible that her mom noticed Saad?

._._._.