Saad's pov:

"I understood about Amira, but what happened to you? Why have you suddenly..."

"Nothing has happened suddenly okay? Everyone already knew about things except me! So how do you expect me to feel?" With glistening orbs, she glared at me, breaking my heart slightly.

"That's not true..."

"It is! You can't deny the facts! Okay, I can understand about Emaan, she couldn't contact me, I get it. But what about ammi? And you? Why didn't you tell me anything about Emaan before?" With her hands fisted by her side, she fumed.

"Ho- how was I supposed to-"

"Don't you even dare make any excuse here! I don't want to listen to anything. I'm just… I just can't believe that I was the last one to know about Emaan… She was my best friend, I agree I wasn't the best friend that she wanted or couldn't be there for her always, but still. I- You should have told me about her before… At least ammi should have trusted me with her secret, but no, even she didn't do it. Why? Am I that-"

"Then tell me when I should have told you about it? When ammi was aiming at me or when you were admitted in the hospital worrying about ammi? But you still managed to get to know about it and look at what you are doing to yourself? Look at how you are coping with it right now when you should only be trying to heal and trying to motivate ammi to at least try to recover soon! And for the record of it, I didn't even know that you guys didn't know about that incident!" Interrupting her, I hissed angrily. Couldn't she at least listen to me for once! And for God's sake, she should be concerned about her health, not anything else. At least not for now!

"I- I know… It's just that I- I don't know what to do anymore. I don't know how to cope up with things anymore. On one side there is ammi who wouldn't stop reminding us of her deteriorating health and on the other side I still couldn't bring myself to accept the fact that she is no more. And on top of that, I- I couldn't even help Amira with her studies! Her exams are just around the corner and-"

"And what about you?" Exhaling loudly and pocketing my hands, I asked her tiredly.

"Huh? What about me?" Furrowing her brows, she looked up at me, baffled. Her glassy orbs were still glistening with unshed tears.

"Aren't your exams just around the corner too?" Raising a brow, I reminded her.

"M- my exams…"

"Yeah, you should be focusing on them instead of these things for now. In just a few days, when they will be over, you can come back to thinking about everything else, okay?" Holding both of her shoulders gently, I suggested hopefully.

"B- but what if something happens to ammi during this time? What-"

"Nothing will happen. It's just a matter of fifteen days, right?" Giving her an assuring look while being unsure myself, I replied. I just wanted her to stop worrying about everything else and focus on herself for the time being. Everything could wait, but if she didn't focus on her health, it might even get worse. This mental and emotional strain wasn't good for her. Especially when she wasn't well physically too.

"Y- yeah. But it is a long time… An- and I don't think I would be able to focus on my studies in this situation..." Shaking her head, she moved a step back, making my hands fall back by my side.

"Try. At least you won't regret losing this chance in the future." Leaning back on the cupboard in dejection, I insisted.

"But I can't…"

"You will be able to do it. Believe in yourself. I know you can do it." Looking at her sideways, before she could continue, I interrupted firmly.

"I'm not as smart as you think I'm!" Folding her arms on her chest, she scowled.

"Okay fine. But you are going to try. Don't waste your last year's hard work like this. This is your final year afterall." Moving away from the cupboard, I sighed.

Humming in response with a nod, she looked down while letting her hands fall and fidgeting with her fingers, lost in her own thoughts.

"By the way..."

When I paused, contemplating my next words as blood rushed to my face, she replied while glancing up at me. "Yeah?"

"You still have my amanat and I want it back now." I could feel my palms getting sweaty at my words. Wha- how could I be so nervous?! And why?! Ya Allah! I was so… I didn't know! I could just say that I was doomed!

(Debt)

"Which amanat?" She furrowed her brows, looking confused.

(Debt)

"How many amanats did I even give you?" I scowled in return. She didn't remember about it? But how could she even forget about it?

(Debts)

"I... don't know…" Looking down, she started fidgeting with her fingers again.

"This one." Pulling her closer to me and encircling my arms around her, I murmured quietly, amused at her flustered state.

"H- how is this an amanat?" Pushing at my chest and trying to create some space between us, she questioned with a bright face.

(Debt)

"I'm not done yet." I whispered with a mischievous smile while watching her avoid my gaze.

"I-"

As soon as I cupped her face with one of my hands and kissed her forehead, she quietened down and her hands tightened around my shirt. I didn't know I still had this effect on her.

Just as I ran the pad of my thumb across her cheeks and moved closer to her - if that was even possible - a bell rang, making me groan and lean my forehead on hers. This just had to happen, hadn't it?! Last time the kids interrupted us and now I didn't even know who!

The running footsteps made me open my eyes as I stared at the flustered beauty standing in front of me, looking down and trying to compose herself.

"Was someone about to come?"

"I- I don't know… Let me go and check..." With burning cheeks, she breathed out while sliding her hands back down.

Humming in response, I closed my eyes again, trying to tame my raging thoughts.

"C- can you please l- leave me?" Fidgeting with her fingers, she mumbled.

"ALAYNA!" A squeal interrupted whatever I was about to say to tease her, also startling us.

Bhai was here? Already? Ya Allah whyyy?! Squeezing my eyes shut, I mentally groaned. They just had to come when-

"Bhabi's here?! Why didn't you tell me they were about to come? Ya Allah, what must they think about me now?! I didn't even cook anything today and look at my dress! Ya Allah, I can't even change now!" Alarmed, she exclaimed before rushing to the mirror to fix her hijab. She was wearing a loose blue gown, which was easy to wear and take off because of her wound. She had switched her dresses to loose gowns and shirts since she returned from the hospital due to her wound.

"They aren't here to check you out so it doesn't matter. And even I didn't know they were about to come today." Letting my hands fall down, I replied with a shrug while strolling towards her. "You look fine so no need to rush so much. You are going to hurt yourself."

"This is such a loose gown! I look like a balloon in it!" Turning to look at me, she complained.

"But are you really? No, right? And believe me, you look beautiful!" Folding my arms on my chest, I assured her while leaning on one side of the mirror.

"From which angle do I look beautiful to you?" She narrowed her gaze at me in annoyance.

"Ummm let me see… The one in which you are standing right now." Looking at her from up and down, I answered, still attempting to tease her.

"Ya Allah, this isn't the time to tease me!" Whining in annoyance, she turned back to look at herself in the mirror with a frown.

"But really, you look-"

"Believe him before he uses those words which are running in his mind and which, by the way, I'm not here to listen to." Before I could complete my sentence, we heard a familiar voice interrupting us.

Leaning on the doorframe with her arms folded on her chest stood bhabi, looking at us with amusement clear in her orbs.

"Assalamualaikum bhabi! How are you?! I missed you so much!" Turning around in surprise, my wife hugged her, wincing slightly when she hugged her back tightly. Yeah, she couldn't change her recklessness. She was Miss Safiya Daniyal Ahmed's daughter afterall, right? Couldn't she for once at least think about her wound?!

"Walikumussalam. I'm fine alhamdulillah. How are you?" Bhabi beamed.

"Aaram se, aaram se! She just got out of the hospital and you want to send her back there?" Moving away from the mirror and letting my hands fall back down, I inquired inquisitively with a frown. 

(Careful, careful!)

"Accha ji, badi fikar ho rahi hai Romeo ko apni Juliet ki?" Loosening her grip, she raised a brow mischievously.

(Oh yeah, Romeo is worried about his Juliet?)

"Ab aap nahi karengi to mujhe hi karni padegi na." Shrugging my shoulders, I suppressed my smile.

(Now if you won't do it then I'll have to do it.)

"Kuch zyada nahi bolne lag gaya ye?" Turning her attention back to Atifa, she scowled.

(Hasn't he started speaking too much?)

"Haa naa. Aap hi dekh lijiye!" My wife pouted with a frown before turning her face to look at me. "And shut up Saad, bhabi meri fikar karti hai tabhi to yaha aayi hai."

(Yeah. Look at him yourself!)
(And shut up Saad, she is worried about me that's why she came here.)

"Haa haa, aate hi bana lo apni team." Pocketing my hands, I sighed in dejection with a shake of my head.

(Yeah yeah, go ahead. Make your own team as soon as you are here.)

"Aapki harkato ki wajah se kaha maine." She glared at me.

(I said that because of your behaviour!)

"Humph..." Huffing, I turned back to face bhabi with a raised brow. "Waise bhabi, as you said, which words might be running in my mind?"

(By the way Zara,)

"You don't want me to tell her." That was a statement. A challenge with a smirk.

"Naah, I wanna listen too." Frowning, I insisted. Only because of her smirk because I didn't really want her to say anything… indecent? Because knowing her, she might just blurt out something so not... my type?

"Just hot and sexy." Winking at Atifa, she replied while suppressing her grin, making me flustered.

"No! That wasn't running in my mind!" How could she even embarrass me like that! Oh well, what else could I have even expected from her?!

"Then you agree that something was running in your mind. Which words were they then?" Grinning bashfully, she teased. And I hadn't even realised my one statement could create a blunder like that for me!

"Nothing. You are just exaggerating..." Avoiding their gazes and looking at my phone, I replied.

"Let me guess again. Pretty? Adorable? Cute? Lovely?" She kept going on with the grin still on her face, making me mentally groan. 'But she isn't wrong this time, is she?' My mind chimed in innocently, making me glare at myself.

"Aren't you supposed to knock on the door before coming in?" With a scowl forming on my face, I asked her while standing straight, annoyed and trying to avoid her question.

"See, I was right! He didn't deny." Instead of replying to me, she turned to look at Atifa with a triumphant grin. Glancing at Atifa, I saw her already looking at me incredulously. As soon as our gazes met, she turned to look at bhabi again with a flustered expression.

"It looks like we will have to greet the couple ourselves because they seem to be quite busy." I could faintly hear bhai's voice from the hall, making me shake my head as I left the ladies and headed out. I needed to get away from the embarrassment anyway.

"Aisi bhi koi baat nahi hai bhai." I replied with a grin while hugging him.

(It's nothing like that.)

"Where are your manners, chote?" Quirking a brow, he inquired instead.

(Young one?)

"Assalamualaikum bhai. Mere to manners yahi hai, bas aapki biwi ke shayad kho gaye..." I complained with a scowl.

(I remember my manners but maybe your wife forgot hers…)

"Walikumussalam. Accha, what happened?" He frowned while shifting Abdul Wali from his right arm to the left one.

(Oh I see, what happened?)

"She entered our room without knocking!" Taking Abdul Wali from his arms, I groaned but couldn't help the grin as he squealed. I missed this pumpkin so much!

"Chachu! I missed you!" I loved hearing that from him. Whenever I would meet him, he would say that. Maybe he learned that from me because I used to say the same thing to him whenever I would return from some trip.

(Uncle!)

"Assalamualaikum pumpkin. How is my champ doing? And I missed you too. Soo much!" I replied while touching his nose with mine.

"Walekumashalam. Al- alhambullah, I'm fine." Circling his hands around my neck, he replied bashfully as his gaze assessed my face, noticing my grown up beard with fascination.

(All praise is to Allah, I'm fine.)

"It's Walikumussalam, Abdul Wali." Bhai interrupted softly before turning to look back at me. "I can't do anything about it. Please just tell me you didn't ruin her mind."

"Excuse me?! Me and ruining her mind? Seriously? Even you know that she would be ruining my wife's mind and not the other way around!" Mortified, I exclaimed in defense with a frown on my face.

Abdul Wali had started playing with my beard - more like pulling at it - when I turned my attention back to bhai. Kissing my cheek, he turned my face to look at him with wide hopeful eyes. "Chachu kwissi?"

(Uncle kiss?)

'Ek to tumhare baba ki timing itni perfect hai ke mujhe meri kissi nahi mil payi aur tumhe yaha tumhari kissi ki padi hui hai. But oh well, isme bhi tumhari galti kaha hai? Tum to abhi mere chotu se pumpkin ho.' Hearing his demand, my mind ranted furiously before sighing in defeat.

(First of all because of your dad's perfect timing I couldn't get my kiss and you want yours now? But oh well, what's even your fault in this? You are just my little pumpkin.)

Kissing his cheek, I grinned at him, making him smile cheekily.

"Haa wo bhi hai. I don't even know what was I thinking when I said that. I just meant to say that hopefully she didn't catch you guys being romantic, because if she did, then be ready to get teased about it for the rest of your life." Bhai's reply brought me out of my thoughts as I turned to look back at him.

(Yeah, true that.)

"Bhai! You should be on my side na! Just tell your wife not to give my wife any ideas! I still remember the day when we realised half of our salaries were gone and we couldn't even get to know about it earlier!" Reminding him, I frowned. Keeping his head on my shoulder, Abdul Wali had once again started playing with my beard.

"Ah, don't remind me about it!" Scowling, he replied with a shake of his head.

"Bhaijaan even I want to hold him!" Amira's squeal turned my attention from bhai to her. 

"Okay, here you go." Smiling slightly, I replied while extending him towards her. Getting startled, he stared at her with wide alarmed eyes before looking back at me and tightening his hold on my shoulder. "She is also your phuphu. She will-"

(She is also your aunt. She will-)

She gasped with a frown. "I'm so small! Why would you make me his phuphu?"

(Aunty?)

"Well-, what should he call you then?" Shifting him from one arm to another, I asked her awkwardly.

"Api?" She replied, getting puzzled herself.

(An endearment for an older sister in urdu.)

"Phuphu? Alayna phuphu?" Abdul Wali interrupted with a confused voice while looking between me and her.

(Aunty? Alayna aunty?)

"Yes baby, Alayna is your phuphu. I'm your api, okay? Now will you come to me?" Extending her arms, Amira asked him hopefully.

(Yes baby, Alayna is your aunt. I'm your sister, okay? Now will you come to me?)

"No!" He shook his head stubbornly before adding. "I missed chachu!"

(Uncle.)

"But- but I will take you to your mama!" She suggested hopefully.

"No, mujhe ni jaana." He continued with a frown as his small hands tightened its hold on me.

(No, I don want to go.)

"Where is Alayna?" Frowning, I inquired, remembering I haven't seen her until now.

"She went to meet api. And please baby, will you come to me?" She insisted again, a pleading look on her face.

"Chalo jao api ke saath. Wo aapko mama ke paas leke jaingi." I added gently while trying to keep him down.

(Okay go with her. She will take you to your mom.)

"Mujhe ni jaanaaa…" He cried while making a face, making me shake my head while trying to suppress my smile. He was so stubborn! Just like Zara bhabi. Oh my poor bhai! I mentally shook my head sympathetically.

(I don wanna goooo…)

"Kisko kaha nahi jaana?" My wife's curious voice brought me out of my thoughts and turning to look at her, I found her staring at Abdul Wali with adoration. She had put on a niqab since bhai was here too.

(Who doesn't want to go where?)

"Api dekhiye na, he isn't coming to me!" Amira complained with a frown while folding her arms.

(Look, he isn't coming to me!)

"Assalamualaikum baby. How are you? And why are you so cute?" Nodding her head at Amira, she kept her eyes on Abdul Wali.

"Baby ke baba ko bhi salam kr lo zara. Mujhe to sab bhul hi gaye hai yaha, especially Abdul Wali ke aane ke baad!" Grumbling, he went to sit on one of the couches in the living room.

(Greet the baby's father too. Everyone has forgotten about me, especially after Abdul Wali's arrival!)

"Assalamualaikum bhai. Aisa kuch nahi hai. Bas naye mehmaan se hum ab tak mile nahi hai isliye usko zyada attention mil rahi hai." Smiling cheekily, Atifa replied.

(Hello. It's nothing like that. Just because we haven't met the new guest yet, he is getting more attention.)

"Walikumussalam. I really hope that's the case warna mai to bas side character hi ban ke reh jaunga jaise tumhare shohar aur bhabi ne mujhe bana diya hai." With a shake of his head, he sighed before continuing. "By the way, how are you?"

(Hello. I really hope that's the case orelse I'll just become a side character like your husband and sister-in-law have already made me one.)

"I'm better alhamdulillah. How are you?" Grinning at his reply, she extended her hands towards Abdul Wali.

"Alhamdulillah fine. No actually, how would one be if-"

"Come meet your chachi Wali!" Coming to stand beside Atifa, bhabi interrupted him with a grin, making me suppress my grin in return. Oh how much was he getting ignored! His son had indeed stolen his limelight.

[Aunty (uncle's wife from paternal side.)]

Abdul Wali's wide orbs finally flickered from Atifa to bhabi before settling on me. "Cha- chi? Chachu chachi?" It was as if he was asking me in disbelief if she really was his chachi.

(Aun-ty? Uncle aunty?)

"Yes champ. She is your chachi. Go meet her." I smiled at him.

(Aunty.)

"No! I'on wan to go anywhere!" He frowned at me in distress.

"But why?" Atifa asked him curiously, sounding upset.

"Chachu? You marry?" His frown deepened as his gaze flickered between her and me.

"Yes, pumpkin. I am married."

"Why?" His innocence mixed with curiosity made me smile. He was just so… wholesome.

"Because he also wants to have cute cute babies like you!" My smile turned into a frown when I heard bhabi replying quickly. She was going to ruin his mind too, right?! And that too at such a young age! Ya Allah! Please protect my innocent Abdul Wali from her mother's indecent schemes!

"Babies? Whele? Chachu babies?" Getting excited, he asked me inquisitively.

(Babies? Where?* Uncle babies?)

"Nowhere. And no, your mama is lying. I-"

"So you don't want to have any kids?" She turned to face me inquisitively with a raised brow, and a knowing smug look on her face.

"No, that's not what I meant. I mean-"

"See! I was right! He married because he also wants to have cute little munchkins like you!" Even before I could complete my sentence, bhabi once again interjected me.

"Good luck, lover boy!" I could faintly hear bhai murmuring in amusement, making me grit my teeth in embarrassment. They weren't going to leave me alone, were they?

"Bhabi! Why are you ruining your own baby's mind?" I whined with a frown, trying to avoid her gaze.

"What did I even do? I just told him the reason for your marriage." Shrugging her shoulders, she replied nonchalantly with a smirk.

"Chachu? Babies? Whele?" Before I could even say anything, Abdul Wali interrupted us, his brows knitted together in a frown.

(Uncle? Babies? Where?)

"Ask you mama. I don't have any babies here!" I scowled at him, getting annoyed at his constant nagging. Bhabi was leaving no chance to tease me, and now, she was using Abdul Wali too!

"Mama?" His frown deepened as he stared at bhabi.

"Your chachu doesn't have any babies yet. But don't worry, they will have a baby soon In Sha Allah. And then you can play with them." Bhabi smiled at him mischievously.

(If God wills.)

"Bhabiii! Take care of your son yourself! I'm not picking him up anymore!" I scowled at her with a huff as his lips formed an O, as if in understanding.

"What? Did I lie? At least you should tell your husband that I'm right Atifa." Bhabi nudged her, who was quietly playing with one end of her hijab while looking down, startling her. She looked up at her with wide, flustered eyes before glancing at me and looking away again.

"Don't involve her in this!" I groaned in embarrassment. I knew she might be feeling uncomfortable since I wasn't feeling comfortable with this myself. Ya Allah! Bhabi was going to kill us due to embarrassment one day!

"Why? And how am I even involving her in this? She is already involved since she is your wife and-"

"I'll just bring water for you guys." Atifa interrupted quickly in between, making me sigh in relief.

"Excuse me Miss! You aren't going anywhere when I'm talking about such an important topic!" Bhabi frowned.

"It isn't any important topic bhabi. And here, take your son before he makes me beardless." Since I was not giving him any attention, he was pulling at my beard nonstop, trying to gain my attention. Ya Allah, kids these days!

"Give him to me! I want to hold him." Atifa requested hopefully.

"And even I'm saying jab se that I want to hold him too, but you guys aren't listening to me!" Frowning, Amira whined in annoyance.

(And even I'm saying from so long that I want to hold him too, but you guys aren't listening to me!)

"Now if you all are done ignoring me, can I at least get a glass of water?" Bhai chided in frustration. Everyone was really just ignoring him because of his son.

"Ya Allah! You guys are so good at changing topics! I couldn't even complete my sentence!" Getting frustrated herself, bhabi exclaimed. I could see amusement glinting in bhai's orbs as he gazed at bhabi.

"That's because of your ridiculous topic." I mumbled while putting him down. Scowling at me, he turned his face to have a look at everyone present in the room.

"I'll get water for you bhai." Bending down to Abdul Wali's level, Atifa smiled softly."Would  you like to look around? There are a lot of toys here…"

"Toys? You have cass?" His eyes lit up as his gaze roamed around in search of his favourite toy.

(Cars*)

"Umm… no, not cars. But we have something else. Go with Amira api, she will show you." Pointing at Amira, she replied hopefully while standing back straight.

"Yes baby, come with me!" A relieved smile crossed Amira's face as she looked at him hopefully while holding her hand out.

His gaze flickered between her hand and her face before he frowned once again. "I'm not a baby!"

"Oh shush! Why have you started fussing so much? You ARE a baby! Now don't annoy your chachi so much and go with api. She is calling you na." Before any of them could whine anymore, bhabi chided sternly, quickly shutting him up.

"Alayna!" Noticing her leaving without meeting me, I called her before walking towards her myself. She was standing in one corner watching everything unfold before her, so quietly that I didn't even notice her coming in the room.

I could hear them mumbling something as they headed towards the kitchen. 

"What's wrong princess?" Holding her arm, I stopped her. We were in Amira's room now.

"It's nothing. And Assalamualaikum to you too bhai." Stressing on bhai, she replied while trying to shrug my hand away from her arm.

"Walikumussalam. Now tell me, what happened?" Frowning, I inquired. She was okay until last night, right? Then what happened suddenly? We weren't even able to talk today. Or did I not notice her being upset with me yesterday? Ya Allah! How could I have been so ignorant? My mind was running in panic mode.

"I told you, it's nothing." She replied nonchalantly while looking at me with an emotionless gaze.

"Then why didn't you meet me?" I couldn't just let it slide so easily.

"You seemed busy." Shrugging her shoulder, she folded her arms on her chest while looking away.

"Accha ji. So someone's upset with me." I finally uttered while standing straight.

(Oh I see.)

"No. Why would I be upset with you?" She raised a questioning brow.

"Because I didn't come to meet you first?" I suggested, before adding other suggestions. "Or maybe because I didn't call you much? Or maybe because I told you I'll be leaving for three days but stayed back for more than a week?"

"No, not really. But yeah, I think I should be upset with you for all these things too!" Nodding her face, she replied thoughtfully.

"Then what is it?" Furrowing my brows, I insisted.

"I told you that I wanted to talk to her but you didn't let me talk to her! And I even asked you to send me Amira and bhabi's pictures but you didn't send me any because you were so busy, right?!" She snapped angrily, her face getting red due to anger.

"Oh…"

"Yeah! Now go and enjoy with everyone else. What's the need to even talk to me when you have already forgotten about me and my requests!" Gritting through her teeth, she pointed towards the door.

"How can I even forget my princess and her wishes? I-"

"Your buttering won't work on me, go and try it on someone else." Huffing, she stomped to where Amira had gone a few minutes ago with Abdul Wali, leaving me standing there dumbfounded.

How could I have forgotten that even she missed them as much as me. And she was just a kid when all that happened, not that she wasn't still a kid, but it had affected her more than me. Mama at least mentioned them in front of me, but she wouldn't even talk about them in front of her. She could only ask about them to me or bhai, but that too was all in vain. Somewhere even she knew things had messed up bad and they might never return. Although they were kids, they could still understand what was going on. And it could leave a more lasting impression on them than us.

But that wasn't the thing now. How I was going to make it up to Alayna was.

Heaving a sigh, I threw my head back before continuing my way to the kitchen where my wife and bhabi had vanished a while ago.

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• Who is having their exams along with Amira, Alayna and Atifa?

And I'm so sorry for the late update. But I'm currently stuck with writer's block so please pray for me guy. ⊙.☉

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