• his reasons •

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"Kitni happening ho gai hai meri life." Gule dramatically announced, moving her arm to place a hand over her mouth, causing her best friend to scold her as she smacked her arm trying to pin her bridal dupatta over her shoulder.

Her movement had caused the heavy material to slide down her shoulder, misplacing it once again. Radwa had been trying to fix it since the past twenty five minutes, but Gule could not sit still for the life of her.

"Ab tum hil ky dikhao mujhy!" Radwa warned as Gule mouthed a 'sorry' with a not-so-sorry looking mischievous grin. Her hair were neatly put together in a tight bun which was wrapped in a garland of jasmine flowers.

Adorned with a tika on her head, heavy jhumkas, a shiny necklace, a set of ten bangles on each of her arms, which were all in a jewellery set given to her by her father.

The sleeves of her embroidered kurti were finger loop style, hooked in her middle fingers, so she was only wearing a ring on her right index finger, leaving the rest empty. The mehendi on her hands was also simple, giving her a very elegant bridal look.

She was wearing a pearl white sharara, which had intricate designs etched in it, including beads of multiple colors like golden, green, pink, which ironically showcased her bright personality.

She had make-up streaking her face. She wanted to get ready by herself for her most special day. In her modelling career, she'd observed several make-up artists' applying make-up on the models.

Though she preferred faceless shoots being a shoe model, it was not in her control to span out of them if they were planned for her. However, she enjoyed learning new make-up tips from those professionals. Her interest in arts intrigued her interest in make-up.

She was exceptionally good at it and Radwa always praised her for it. In fact, Gule had done bridal make-up for two of Radwa's MBBS friends on their wedding day. So there was no way she'd let anyone else take the chance on her day.

She'd used shades of pink, giving herself a natural look. Perfect eyeliner wings on her eyes, layers of mascara made her curled lashes look longer and prominent, pink highlighted cheeks and her lips a darker shade of pink than they naturally were.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror. A bride was staring back at her. A girl who had never imagined herself as one, so soon.

The caged girl was free from the clutches of that man now. She'd never have to model again. The insecure girl was setting herself free now. She'd won the man she wanted.

Agreeing to a sudden marriage in a week was a short journey of her running to question her father with, 'What is the hurry?', to him convincing her with every logical reason and the dangers of delaying it.

There would be so many people against this wedding. Ruman Haider Shah. Her mother. Which meant they needed to tie the knot before they heard about it and caused any drifts or harm.

She didn't want to leave her father alone in the house to which he'd smiled and said, 'who said you won't be allowed to come back to this house whenever? And neelofer is here to take care of the house for me.'

One week had passed by within a blink of an eye. Shopping for a wedding dress and other important stuff. Her father had already been preparing for her marriage since a long while. Shaheer had clearly refused to accept any dowry, easing half of his worries.

The only few people invited from Gule's side were Radwa and three of her friends who knew Gule through her, her father had invited a few of his friends and two neighbouring families who often visited to ask about his health.

He made sure to keep the guests minimal, fearing the idea of her mother finding out and threatening him with his past again, or Ruman Haider Shah hearing about it and ruining everything. Unaware of the fact that his future son-in-law had made sure to catch each of Ruman's spy around their house that week.

They were having a small destination wedding in secret. They had rented a small villa in the hills on the outskirts of the city. It was an outdoor event, but the seating area was shaded. The white and pink decor among the greenery looked captivating.

"Yarr, sooraj nai nikla, pictures achi kesy aayein gi ab?" Gule complained glancing outside at the clouded sky from the window. Gule had arrived at the villa in the morning with her father, Neelofer baaji and Radwa.

They had booked rooms in the villa and got ready there. The room they were currently in was on the first floor and the view from the window displayed the entrance and the decorated area for her wedding ceremony.

"Aaj bhi badal hein." She murmured, lost in the thought of it raining when she had met Shaheer. Was it going to rain as always?

"Weather hai aaj shitty, lekin jaan meri sab sy pretty." Radwa cheered her up, bending to her level and hugging her from the back, as Gule chuckled looking at her in the mirror's reflection.

"Oye hoye." Hunain wriggled his brows, teasing the man standing stiffly in front of the full length mirror. He moved infront of Shaheer, fixing his white fabric sherwani embellished with metallic buttons.

"Tum mujhsy pehly dulha ban jao gy, meiny kabhi nai socha tha yeh, dhokebaaz." He continued talking, jerking his face sideways at the last word dramatically. Shaheer, as usual, didn't react. He knew Hunain was much more excited than anyone for this occasion.

Hunain had never felt genuine happiness more than this moment. His best friend, his younger brother, the person he'd grown up with and was more dear to him than any blood relation, was going to start a family of his own. Finally, he was accepting someone in his life. Thinking of himself as someone deserving of this happiness.

He'd seen the man he had known for over fourteen years change ever since she showed up. He started displaying emotions. He even laughed, for the love of God. He hoped she'd take him past his obsession for revenge and show him all the other reasons to live.

They were the groom's side and despite not having any family, Hunain was not going to walk in with just the two of them. The baraat's entry had to be grand. He was taking along every random person he'd become friends with due to his extroverted personality.

The workshop guy who fixes his old car everytime it breaks down. The technician from the repair shop who fixed his broken phone twice. The owner of the computer shop he buys devices from. The list made up to eleven people.

"Zarariri rurura huhoha houhaa." He sung while spraying perfume in the air over Shaheer's head, almost bathing him in the scent.

"Shut.up." Shaheer hissed, scrunching up his nose and moving away. "Poori botal ek hi baar khol ky uper undail dety!" He brushed his shoulders, trying to get rid of the strong fragrance.

"Tumhy tou mazaq bhi karna aa gaya hai." Hunain laughed, placing the bottle of perfume on the dressing table.

They were in a hotel room. Trying to stay low-key and protect his residence since Shaheer's identiy had been revealed. Now that Sameer had opened his mouth, his father was after him. Though, the great Ruman Haider Shah was unaware that Shaheer Junejo, an experienced ISI worker was two steps ahead of him in this 'cat and mouse' game.

He'd hidden a hearing device behind the scenery in his mansion's lounge the day he sneaked in there. Ruman Haider Shah gave all the orders to his security team there, sitting on his throne like a king. While Shaheer made sure the outcome of those orders was nothing but failure.

He made sure the spies sent to Gule's place were taken care of using Hunain's harmless ideas, since facing them one off was just going to put Gule and her family into suspicion and danger.

He could easily catch on if someone was following him so he took care of those men in his own way. Using violence and giving threats. He was not a soft-hearted person to care about their broken bones.

The reason that powerful man wasn't killing him was that he wasn't aware of how many of his dirty secrets he'd put his hands on. He wanted to capture him alive and no matter how many people he sent to attack Shaheer, he had always been one step ahead somehow.

He once again looked through the window to make sure nobody was sent to follow them. He'd heard the last order of Ruman calling his men useless and telling them to let him be for a while, so he can let his guard down.

He just needed some more time to go through all his dirty businesses and expose them to the world. Ruman Haider Shah was soon going to be destroyed by his hands.

The invited people arrived and they all set off to the destination which was one and a half hour away. He settled in the car, feeling his chest constricting due to the tight fit. He opened the first three buttons of his sherwani, only to realize it was his insides that felt congested.

He closed his eyes, knowing he had to do this. Before their nikkah, he had to let her know everything. Reveal the bitter truth to her. Then let her decide if she still wishes to marry him. If she refuses, he won't utter a word of complaint and leave.

/Shaheer was known as a murderer. He had spent four years of his life in jail. For a crime he hadn't committed. Now, he wasn't afraid of anything. He knew how to deal with every type of human.

He was a blood-thirsty inhumane killer, who brutally murders anyone who tries to wrong him. According to the rumors. Until...\

Until, he actually attempted to murder a man. The day he had gotten out of jail. More like eloped out of there, with blood all over him.

It was just another day for him in the cold, dark, silent cell when the door opened and he was guided out of there by an unknown cop, he'd never seen him on duty before.

He became cautious as he took him to the detention cell for dangerous killers, psychopaths mostly. They never lock two people in one cell, but he was sent into one with a man, who wasn't dressed in prison clothes.

The man kept getting on his nerves by asking him questions of how had he ended up in prison and assuming crap about him, all while laughing. Shaheer was ignoring him until he mentioned his mother.

He dared to comment on his mother using an abusive word and it triggered Shaheer's whole existence. He had launched himself on the man, sitting on top of him and continuously punching him, banging his head to the floor. He saw red. Nothing else.

All the pent up frustration kept inside him for the past four years was being thrown out. The moment he tranced out of it, his knuckles were all red, he was breathing heavily and the man was laying unconscious under him with blood over his face.

With his shaky hand, he checked the man's pulse. It was still there. He was alive, yet. He rolled off him on the floor. The loud sound of fire alarm caused him to jerk up to his feet.

The door to the cell opened and a bulky man with crazy eyes, lunatic smile hurled forward onto the body of the beaten up man. Next moment, splashes of blood fell all over the floor as he dismantled the man's face. He was an inhumane, blood-thirsty psychopath.

Shaheer had become a statue of rock. He should be stopping him, but he didn't move. He was a prisoner just like them.

"Come on, get out of here!" It was the same cop who had brought him here. The smoke from the fire had started entering the cell and without wasting a second, he turned his back to the gruesome murder scene, running out of there.

The entire detention centre was actually on fire and looking at it brought back the dreadful memory from his childhood. The mall on fire, his mother's death. The cop took him to a car and without a question, he sat in the backseat with a man in suit and left with them.

The man had introduced himself as Zarar. "I must say I'm a little disappointed. I was expecting you to kill that useless dump, but we had to use that psychotic animal to do it for you." That's when Shaheer realized, it was all a part of his plan.

He answered him back with a punch to the face, making the man dressed up as the cop point a gun at him. Zarar had cleaned the corner of his blooded lip, motioning him to keep the gun down.

Then he'd mentioned the fire incident from all those years ago causing Shaheer to go blank. He told him it wasn't just an accident like he'd thought. His innocent mother died because of someone's personal enmity and wrath.

That's when the revenge game began. Shaheer Junejo was announced dead in the fire set in prison where all they found were his ashes. His mother had been announced dead the same way. Oh, the irony.

The first and the only person he went to find was Hunain, who had been crying his eyes out upon hearing about his death. He knew the only person who would cry over his death was this crazy fool. Hunain had not left his side ever, and even though he was against the idea of revenge, he'd supported him wordlessly.

Shaheer knew he had to feel guilty. The man who was burnt to ashes was a human too. Even if locked up in prison for whatever crime, he didn't deserve to die that way. No matter how much he tried to disassociate himself from that incident, he couldn't. It wasn't his plan. It wasn't his fault.

It doesn't change the fact that he had almost killed that man. He was the reason he died. He was charged guilty for a crime he hadn't committed, but he was set free after committing a worse misdeed.

He was given new identities under different names every time he needed one, but he had told Zarar to register an identity under his real name again too. He had taken risks of going to banks to see if he'd get caught by the ISI.

He didn't know whether they were unaware of the fact that he was alive or just choosing to believe that the ashes of the burnt man were his. Zarar had connections, but he wasn't powerful enough to fool ISI.

After living in despair for a month, he started focusing on setting goals for himself. Revenge for his mother's death. Revenge for his own self. He needed to catch the drug dealer who sent him to jail four years ago.

He started planning day and night. He started working to get back on his feet first, even though Zarar had offered to take him under his wing. He was not going to rely on a man who killed people for his benefit.

He had hard-earned money from small jobs which paid daily wages, so he could change spots everyday and remain mysterious. The money given to him from Zarar remained untouched in his bank account, but Hunain was definitely spending his share.

Everything in his life was messy, yet, here he was on his way to grab an ounce of happiness that he never deserved after all that. He was on his way to wed a woman of dreams. A woman so precious, she'd break if she saw a glimpse of his real self and horrible past.

Would she want to marry a man considered dead by the law? A man so violent that he doesn't care if someone dies for his freedom? A man who lives in secret and has to do so for the rest of his life?

A small, selfish part of him still wanted her to say 'yes'. For her to continue looking at him the way she does. For her to become a part of his messed up life and make it worth living for.

The journey was silent and dreadful for Shaheer. They arrived and he wished it'd been longer. Hunain had also arranged a band of dhol walay who began playing the drums as they entered.

"Oh my God, Gul. They're here." Radwa's loud announcement and the noise of drumrolls made Gule jump to her feet to rush towards the window, stumbling in her heavy dress.

She ogled out of the window, fully hovering over the space. Her breath hitched when her eyes landed on him. He stood by the entrance in all his glory, shaking his head at the dancing men coming along with him.

The sherwani fit him perfectly and his hair was gelled up in a style for the first time. No one could beat him in pulling off an outfit. He knew how to carry himself.

"I think I'm going to die of happiness." Gule hopped away from the window, the loud clanks of her heels echoed in the room as she couldn't stand still after looking at her perfect groom.

She was really, actually, literally getting married to him. His arrival was a confirmation. It all seemed like an impossible dream manifestation.

"He is going to be mine, officially. Mein khushi sy mar jaun gi, Ajwa." She could cry happy tears and say goodbye to her soul the next instant.

"Tum pagal ho. Aaj tou marny ki baatein mat karo." Radwa replied, trying to fix her dupatta, which had folded over, once again.

Gule decided to go downstairs to the ground floor, where her father's room was, before he went to welcome the groom's side. Radwa had to take a quick round to the bathroom, so Gule made her way downstairs first.

Walking in heels was a piece of cake for her, but if the stairs were slippery and wet, anyone would lose their balance. She felt a strong grip on her wrist from the back as she balanced each of her feet on two stairs.

She looked up to find a waiter standing one step above, with a steel like grip on her clothed wrist. A strong metallic smell invaded her senses. What was it? Copper. The veins of his hand were bulging out, their colour was abnormally purple.

She jerked her arm away, two of her bangles fell down, having been crushed under his hand. She noticed blood on his hand from the broken bangles.

"Sambhal kar. Warna kuch aur toot jayega." He said with a smile which creeped Gule out in an uneasy way. She grabbed the railing, taking careful steps to go down. Upon reaching the end, she looked up to find nobody there. Maybe she should've thanked him.

Her father was seated on his wheelchair, his palms raised upwards as he was making dua with his eyes closed. With his weak body, it was hard for him to travel and he was aching all over. But the only prayer on his tongue was for his daughter. Praying to Allah to give him enough time to witness his daughter living happily in her new life, to be assured that this decision was right for her.

Gule entered his room and silently stood by his side waiting for him to get done. What was he praying for so desperately?

"What did you pray for?" She asked as he rubbed his hands over his face and opened his eyes.

"For my daughter's happiness." He weakly smiled, looking at her in the bridal attire. Gule quickly raised her hands, her bangles tingling, as she closed her eyes too. She copied his actions.

"Meri beti ny kya dua maangi?" He questioned once she was done.

"For my baba jaan's health and long life." She kneeled down to his level, placing a kiss over his forehead and letting him do the same. He couldn't stop the tears from escaping his eyes now that she was ready to step into her new life.

Her mother wasn't there to guide her into this new phase of life, but then again, when was she ever there? He was sure Gule must be feeling the lack of motherly love on a day like this, but she'd never admit to it or show so infront of her father.

The father-daughter duo just silently hugged, letting the hearts absorb their unspoken emotions and feelings.

The simple ceremony begun when all the guests had arrived and it was time for the bride to enter. She entered with Radwa by her side and Neelofer baaji on the other side, trying to slow her down and slightly holding her tailed sharara.

She was walking in with her head raised high, a broad smile on her face directed at the groom sitting on the sofa on the low stage at the front. Shaheer didn't bat an eyelash. He was expecting this. That was Gule, the woman he was marrying.

The ripples that surfed through her skin like waves when she smiled wider, the crinkle on her nose when she lightly stumbled in her attire. The magnificence that was present in every cell of her being. The light that radiated from her face. Ecstatic.

She drew everyone's attention towards her, enchanting them with her presence. Her confidence, brilliance, ever so ethereal beauty. She knew nothing of the serenity she spread in his life just by being her usual self.

There was no one like her. Never will be. He was completely lost. The glowing smile shone brighter than any other time today. He didn't realize he had stood up on his feet, until Hunain poked his elbow in his abdomen standing next to him.

"Dil aa gaya hai mera." He dreamily whispered, causing Shaheer's eyes to widen as he glared at him. Only to realize, the stupid man had his eyes on the girl walking next to the bride.

Radwa had french braided the top of her hair, letting the curls fall open from below. She was wearing a cream coloured long frill dress with soft peach dupatta placed on her shoulder, matching with the lace of her dress. The glasses were replaced by hazel lens for the event.

Gule reached the stage and waved a small 'hi' at him as they settled down on the sofa. Radwa fixed her dress and sharara in a presentable way while crouching down, then got up to fix the dupatta on her shoulder, while her eyes roamed to the side to find the annoying man gawking at her.

"Cheater." Hunain rolled his eyes, folding his arms over his chest. He was wearing a cream coloured kurta trouser. What were the chances that they wore the same colour to the event.

"Excuse me?" Radwa folded her arms, turning in his direction. Gule and Shaheer looked between them, then shared an eye contact.

"Stop copying me, will you?" Hunain accused again as she stood in the same pose as him. Sighing, Shaheer looked at Gule sitting by his side. He shouldn't delay it anymore. He was feeling reluctant now.

"I need to talk to you." He said in a low voice, but before Gule could say something, Radwa brought her attention back on them, fully ignoring Hunain.

"Wo tou ab poori zindagi yeh boly gi aur aap sunein gy." She stated a fact in a joking manner. The guests started approaching them on the stage to greet and the conversation was left unheard.

"I want to talk about something important." He sounded restless as he said again after the guests were gone back to their seats.

"Kaho?" Gule encouraged him to continue in a small voice. She had felt that he was uneasy, like something was bothering him and for some reason, she also knew whatever it was that he wanted to say was bad.

"Yahan nai. Mujhy aap sy akely mein-" He was desperate to get it off his chest, he was already having second thoughts, but he couldn't do this. Not to her.

"Ab tou tum kaho. 'Aap' bohut formal lagta hai mujhy." Gule cut him off, in a dismissive manner. "Don't tell me, tumhy mera tumhy tum kehna bura lagta hai?" She looked at him with a questioning look as he shook his head in a 'no' making her smile, satisfied.

"Right, bura lagna bhi nai chahiye. Wesy bhi...." She began ranting about them being friends, then gasped, paused, asked him about his age. Just like that once again, she'd taken the conversation in another direction.

Radwa was helping Neelofer baaji look after the food preparation as there was limited staff. The starters should've been served on time, but the waiters were taking their time.

Hunain was trying to call the qazi for the nikkah. He had been one step ahead in every preparation, but forgot they had to bring the qazi along too in all the excitement. He was on his way and finding it hard to spot the location.

There were signal problems in the area so he was wandering in and out of the villa for the signals like a madman. While, Radwa was taking rounds in and out to ask about the food preparation.

"Stalker." She bumped into him for the third time while walking in and she couldn't help but throw the word at him like he'd called her 'cheater' on the stage.

"Excuse me?" Hunain gave her a horrified look, his hand with the phone was in the air.

"You've been following me around. You thought I wouldn't notice?" She accused, folding her arms over her chest.

Hunain would've loved to argue with her and watch her turn red, but his phone caught signals and started ringing, causing his response to die at the tip of his tongue.

"AA GAYE!" He exclaimed, "let's put a pin in it." He winked at her and left to attend the call. Radwa turned red, walking out of there instead, forgetting she was going in to check on the food prep.

The qazi arrived and after informing Shaheer, Hunain went to guide him in. Everyone had been waiting for the nikkah ceremony to begin, while one person was stuck in a whirlwind of confusing emotions.

"Mujhy nikkah sy pehly baat karni hai, Gule." Shaheer's tone was stern this time, an urgency in his voice as he called her by her name too. Gule bit her lower lip, then looked straight into his amber orbs.

"Mujhy farq nai parta. Tum mujhy pehly batao, baad mein ya kabhi na batao, mujhy farq nai parta, Shaheer."

She spoke with so much assurity, so much trust, so much confidence that he couldn't utter another word, his entire being melting into a puddle where all his insecurities, doubts, secrets were kept seconds ago, now drowning away into nothingness.

Neelofer baaji pushed her father's wheelchair on the stage, the qazi was seated on the chair next to their sofa, Radwa stood behind the sofa with Hunain, as the nikkah commenced.

His signature. Her signature. Qubool hai. 3 times. Dua. In a few minutes, they were nikkahfied. Tied together. Officially. His wife. Her husband. An unexplainable feeling.

The food was served, the guests got busy in doing what they were there for, while they sat there still trying absorb the reality of the dream-like situation. Gule didn't have an appetite and Shaheer didn't have any think, at the moment.

For the first time, Gule felt nervous to strike a conversation. What should be the first thing to say after your nikkah? Congrats on marrying me? They had received salamis and gifts from the guests. Her father was on the stage, near them.

He slowly took out a box. It had couple rings. A shiny diamond like stone on her ring. Three silver stones engraved in his flat ring. He told them to exchange the rings, a vow between them. A promise to support, love and respect each other, through all highs and lows.

For the first time, he held her soft hand in his stiff hand, not familiar with the delicacy. He'd only ever used his hands to fight, he was used to rough and hard textures. He was afraid if he'd hold it firm, she'll melt out of his grip.

He slid the ring in her finger and let go as if electruded. Gule gently held his left hand, her thumb caressing the top of his manly hand, marginally rough. The veins popping out were blueish-green.

Sliding the ring in, she realized he had long fingers. She sweetly smiled at him, still carefully holding his hand. This time, Shaheer let his hand rest in the warmth of her dainty one.

They snapped out of the moment upon hearing people gasp and shout. Her father had fainted, his body staggering sideways, almost falling off the wheelchair.

They both were quick to get up and stabilize him. Shaheer held his shoulder as Gule fell to her knees by his wheelchair, shaking his face to wake him up. Eyes wild with worry as she was frantically calling out to him.

She had no idea how she survived the next few hours. Her hands were cold, eyes were blurry and brain was numb. They had returned from the venue, gone to the hospital where her father got an IV drip. He had gained consciousness for a while, but fell into a deep slumber again.

The doctor had said it was due to travelling in this age and his weak body was fatigued so it was normal with his health condition. His health had deteriorated so much that travelling for an hour tired him out?

They had brought him back home, the doctor had suggested to give him IV drips every week. Gule couldn't help but blame herself for his condition. She was unaware of the seriousness of her father's sickness. It dawned upon her, this was the major reason he wanted to marry her off.

She was sitting by his figure on the bed, hugging his arm in a tight grip. She was still in her bridal attire, refusing to leave his side till he woke up. Neelofer baaji and Radwa had given up on trying to convince her. Shaheer and Hunain had accompanied them back to the house from the hospital as well.

"Baba jaan?" Gule felt him move his fingers and quickly moved to caress his head. She couldn't help the whimper that escaped her lips after seeing her father in that condition.

Fresh tears formed in her eyes as he opened his eyes. She was mad at him but she couldn't even get mad at him. She felt helpless. If he was feeling sick, he should've told her. If he truly loved her, he shouldn't have married her off like she was a burden on him, but instead, let her to take care of him by his side.

"Pareshan mat ho, mein thak gaya tha bas." He told her like she was a kid who wouldn't catch onto his lies.

"Aap ko batana chahiye tha na phir. Mein kitna dar gai thi." She sniffed, rubbing her eyes. She helped him up and made him drink water, before calling out Neelofer baaji to let them know he was up.

After Radwa, Hunain and Shaheer came to ask for his state of health. Gule had not budged from beside him on the bed.

"Ab theek hun. Aap rukhsati ki tayari karo." His words had Gule look at him in disbelief.

"I'm not going anywhere while you're in this condition, baba jaan." She refused straight away.

"Meiny kaha mein ab theek hun. Aap ki rukhsati abhi ho gi, warna aap ky yahan rehny sy meri tabiyat bigar jaye gi." He was unfairly using his health to convince her and she felt a bile rise in her throat.

"Mein dobara nai kahun ga, Gul." He said with finality and nobody in the room dared to refute. Gule wiped the lone tear that escaped her eye, aggressively getting off the bed and walked out of there into her room.

Her father sent Shaheer behind her to carry the stuff she'd packed to take with her in suitcases. He knocked on her door twice before entering in.

She was standing by the window, hands in fists by her sides, taking short breaths, her eyes closed. She'd taken the bangles off, thrown them all over the dressing table. Her tika was already pulled out by her when she was resting her head on her father's arm in his room. Her necklace, earrings and the ring were the only accessories left on her.

The pinned dupatta had somehow managed to stay on her head due to hundreds of pins Radwa had used. Shaheer carefully stepped forward, standing behind her and trying to read what kind of storm was brewing inside her.

"Sab theek hai. Sab theek ho jaye ga. Jo hona tha ho gaya. Right. Okay, Gul!" She declared out of nowhere, opening her eyes. Feeling a presence from over her shoulder after doing so, she shrieked turning around. God, he was gonna think he married a crazy woman now.

He didn't utter a word and continued examining her face. Gule cleared her throat, blinking her eyes which were hurting. She had probably ruined her make-up too with all the crying and rubbing. She looked away, only to realize they were standing in her room.

It felt intimate to have him in her room for the first time. Just the two of them. Now tied in a knot which completed them. A bond which was the most sacred. The couple ring on their ring fingers. Announcing that they belong to each other now.

"Aap-" He paused, "Tum theek ho?" He asked with concern. Not referring to her physical state, but her mental condition after witnessing her self-talk. Gule internally threw herself out of the window behind.

"Your father, we can visit him tomorrow morning. In fact, you can come everyday. You don't need to worry. If you're concerned about his health, we can visit a better doctor." He assured her, his words promising. He had never consoled anyone in his life, he was a man of short words, but he wanted to try doing this for her.

He had never imagined to see her so hysterical, but seeing her cry like that caused his heart to ache for her more than anything. The dread that came because she was not her usual glowing self.

"I know what happened today was extremely disturbing for you." He added and Gule who had gone silent since he begun talking felt like she could burst out crying again. Tears of gratitude. For this man to have been sent to her.

"Qismat ka likha tou avoid nai kar sakty na." She smiled at him. This wasn't how she had imagined their first conversation after nikkah to go like, but no matter how the events occured, her admiration for this man increased each time.

"Jesy meri qismat mein aaj tumhara hona likha tha." He avowed making Gule's breath hitch. He was hers and he was admitting to it from his mouth.

They heard the room's door open with a sudden creak as two heads which were attached to the door from the other end were fully exposed, nervously standing on right and left sides of the door.

"I'm here to help with the bags." Hunain shrugged casually, pretending to not know what Radwa was upto. She passed him a stinky look. They couldn't overhear a single word though. "I'm here to help too."

Gule had packed two suitcases of clothes, two smaller hand carries of her important items. She hadn't moved much of the stuff from her room, wanting for it to stay the same. She was going to come back here often, so there was no need to take everything.

Hunain grabbed two of her bags, dragging them out as Radwa followed behind him telling him to be careful with them and not to scratch the bags. Gule raked her eyes around her room, the feeling of saying goodbye to it was saddening.

Shaheer followed her gaze, his own getting distracted by the painting on the wall next to the door. He'd noticed paintings with a similar vibe in the lounge and in her father's room. Anyone could tell that they were painted by the same person. They radiated warmth and a feeling. Feeling of home. Like she did.

"Do you paint?" He questioned, walking towards the piece of art.

"Sometimes. Just an old hobby." Gule followed behind, eyeing her work.

"It can be more than just a hobby." He complimented, observing the details of the artwork. "You're quite talented."

"Thank you." Gule blushed, feeling a sense of pride at his words. It made her want to show-off all her works to him. There was a crocheted flower hanging next to it.

"I can crochet too." She let him know it was made by her too before he even bothered to ask. He looked at how her eyes twinkled at his small praise.

"You surprise me every time. How many more talents are you hiding?" His voice had a hint of flattery, and genuine appreciation. Gule let out a chuckle, the heavy feeling inside her further lightened.

"I'd like to know everything about," there was a short meaningful pause, a spark in his eyes, "my wife."

He was getting used to the fact that he finally had someone to call his family now. Gule's heart skipped a thousand beats at the last two words.

"Can we take this along too?" He requested making her smile widen.

She'd found someone who appreciated her. Her likes and dislikes, her moods, her feelings, her arts, her actions, her, just her as a whole person, for who she was. Her heart expanded, with expectations, needing this man more than she ever wanted him. After all, the heart's greed knew no bounds.

All her luggage was taken to his car. She walked to her father's room, bent down near his side, kissed the scar on his hand like she always did without a word. He rested that hand over her head, then turned away, crying soundlessly.

With a heavy heart, she left his room. They were by the main door now and Neelofer baaji was shedding tears, hugging her and giving her prayers for a prosperous married life.

"Hanging out with me is going to be your second priority now. Ab meri jagah kisi aur ko jo mil gai hai." Radwa sulked with a pouty face, holding back tears.

"Aap meri first priority ban jayein isski jagah." Hunain mumbled from near the gate as Shaheer side-eyed him.

"I cannot put into words how much you mean to me and how much you've helped me through." Gule cried out, embracing her best friend in a tight hug. That was when the waterworks of both the girls begun.

"Ajwa." Gule wiped Radwa's tears as she mirrored the action.

"Ajwa, as in the khajoor?" Hunain was quick to jump in at the mention and Radwa snapped out of the emotional state, knowing this irritating idiot had found another thing to tease her with. All because of her big-mouthed best friend.

"Gul shan masala." She recalled the foolish nickname which always annoyed a teenage Gule.

"Tumny promise kiya tha ainda mujhy yeh nai bulao gi!" Gule whined, their moods switching from emotionally crying for each other to offensive muttering against each other.

"Ajeeb khany ki cheezon sy related nicknames hein." Hunain broke into the scene again, catching their attention. Radwa passed him an annoyed glare.

"Aisi baat hai tou mein 'honey'?" He pointed at himself with raised brows, a flirtatious smile on his lips. The girls' mouth fell open, so to save his face, he threw his arm over Shaheer's shoulder and shamelessly added, "aur yeh shahi tukra?"

Gule and Radwa burst out laughing as Hunain also let out a full belly laugh. The sound of their laughter filled the silence of the night. Shaheer pursed his lips as they rose upwards on their own accord. Gule dried the water in her eyes, which had resonated there for three different reasons in one day.

The lonely inner child had found reasons to laugh, people to cherish, people who truly cared for her and she was ready to sacrifice anything for them. Her people.

All the hardships she'd faced had been paid off, but were these good times really going to last, or was she given some time off before hard times came knocking at her doorsteps all over again like a storm after the calm. This time, bringing unrepairable damage.

//❄︎❄︎❄︎//

"Yarr! Shaheer, tum bohut bure ho!" Gule cried out in her half-asleep state, turning to her side and tucking the pillow over her head to hide her face under it.

"Sony do na." Her voice came out muffled as this time, instead of tugging at her blanket to wake her up, he bent to tickle her back with the tip of his two fingers.

Arching her back forward with a shriek, she harshly threw the pillow at him which he caught in his hand before it could hit his face. Spiderman reflexes for sure.

"Get up, lazy woman. It's two in the afternoon." He placed the pillow on the other end of the bed, shaking his head at her adorable antiques. Though, he could watch her sleep for hours.

It had been two weeks to their nikkah. Life was fast and busy. Nothing much had changed between them and Gule thought that their nikkah was just a formality to shift her to his house.

Their house, now, as he had corrected her when she'd seen the house for the first time and said, "Wah, tumhara ghar tou bohut khulla hai." It was a one story house, the exterior and interior of the house were coloured gray. The living area was almost empty making it seem wide, with one sofa and a settee by the wall and a TV set in front.

There were two rooms in the simple house, an open kitchen connected with the living area and another door which led downstairs towards the basement. The entire basement floor was a private gym for the man obsessed with working out. Gule had almost freaked out upon entering there.

Shaheer and Hunain had bought this house on mortgage when they'd gotten a job as ISI officers. They paid off the debt within fifteen months, most of which was Shaheer's investment due to the promotions he'd scored and the house had remained under Hunain's name after Shaheer got caught into the mess.

Hunain had kept the house the way it was and after Shaheer's return, they were sharing the house again. He had recently bought a flat for himself leaving the house in Shaheer's name who had paid him by giving him all his share of Zarar's money.

The room used by Hunain was empty while Shaheer's room had one queen sized bed, a dressing table and a study table with piles of papers, files and books, a full-length closet with another stack of papers in the lower part, a bunch of black shirts with a few grey and brown ones, lastly an attached bathroom. Monotonous and dull.

Although, Gule had changed the look of the house in a week. She'd hung her paintings on the walls of the lounge with Muriel Bagge's key chain hanging by the key holder near the main door. The settee was dragged to the corner and the sofa was in the middle with a small coffee table.

She'd changed the look of his dull room by hanging colourful paintings and the cherry on top was the big framed photo from their nikkah day, clicked by Radwa, where they were busy looking at each other.

She had shifted all the bundles of paperwork and his study table into Hunain's empty room, calling it the study room, while arranging her art supplies and canvas holder on one end. "Mein yahan painting karun gi aur tum wahan apna kaam, beshak beech mein mujhy dekhty huye distract bhi ho jana."

His house looked more like a home now.

Their routine was simple. He'd wake her up every morning to go to the gym in the basement with him and continue learning some new boxing techniques. Gule didn't understand the need for her to continue doing it, but she liked spending time with him since that was the only time of the entire day he spent with her.

He'd drop her to her father's home after gym and go for his own work. Gule spent time with her father, learnt some cooking with Neelofer baaji and sometimes met up with Radwa. Then he'd pick her up at night.

In the first week, she was happy and satisfied with the way things were. She'd blabber the whole way back to their house about her day. One day, she'd also taken him on grocery shopping on the way back to buy utensils for his kitchen so she could start cooking.

Her father had told her not to visit on the weekends, since he would go to get his IV drip and rest, and she should spend her days with her newly wedded spouse. The weekend was supposed to be kept free, but her husband didn't seem to know that.

She had told him weekends were rest days with no morning boxing classes for her and he'd taken that as a sign for him to leave for work without disturbing her sleep. When she had to spend the Saturday after the first week all alone in the house, she realized her marriage life wasn't like other couples. He didn't have time for her. He'd never tell her about his day like she did in detail.

She'd spent the day sulking and was planning to have her first fight with him that day, but he'd gotten back with a box of ferrero rocher chocolates for her. "Hunain got two boxes, so he offered one for you." Her smile instantly dropped at his words and she frowned at him.

She refused to talk to him for an hour after that and that was the most she could go with him worriedly following her around to ask the reason for her silence. "I'll get more boxes of chocolates for you myself next time, Hunain ky moun py yeh wapis maar kar."

He'd guessed that to be the reason and Gule couldn't help but laugh. "Pakka?" She asked and he confirmed with a light smile. But when she woke up in an empty house on Sunday too, she grew more agitated.

The second week followed the same routine and she'd met Radwa, displaying her worries. Radwa had asked her about his behaviour towards her to which she didn't even have to think once.

"Mein bolti hun, wo sunta hai. Mein koi farmaish karti hun, wo foran maan leta hai. Mein naraz hoti hun, wo mana leta hai. Mein movie dekhny ka kehti hun, wo saath baith kar ghor sy poori dekh leta hai, chaahy mein sou jaun beech mein."

"Tou masla kya hai?" Her best friend was confused at the perfect obedient husband image she'd displayed with her words.

"I think he doesn't like me." She had spoken her thought out aloud. She was a woman, after all. After openly showing her liking towards him, stepping forward with a marriage proposal for him, she was expecting him to make the next move now. However, he had shown no interest even after the change of dynamics in their relationship.

"Maybe, physical touch is not his love language. Meri tarha." Radwa concluded. "Lekin meri tou hai na!" Gule was at her breaking point. A man living under the same roof with a woman would only ever do so if he wasn't attracted to her.

Radwa had suggested her to try knowing and understanding him and his lifestyle better, then talk it out with him. For a distraction, she'd mentioned to her about an upcoming art festival associated with her university at the end of the month.

She suggested Gule to display her paintings there since she could buy her a stall. It could be a new path leading her towards an arts career, and it indeed was going to be a source as Gule had agreed.

Luckily, she got to meet Hunain the next day when he visited. He told her they had been spending twelve hours of the day going through the files to find evidence against Ruman.

"Aisa lagta hai meri shaadi ho gai hai iss khaufnaak robot ky saath." He had joked and Gule felt relief wash over her. Followed by a horrified gasp at the words, was he..? Her mind was clearly in the gutter.

Thus, second week had gone by similarly and she'd been busy painting on Saturday, home alone. The thought of calling him to say she wants to visit her father crossed her mind, but she rejected the idea and chose not to disturb him. He was completing an important mission.

She had spent half the night trying to complete her painting even after he'd gotten back. Ignoring the fact that he was seated on the chair behind his study table in the same room, waiting for her. She thought he still had some work to do since he'd been sitting with his laptop on. They'd gone to sleep after praying fajr together.

Therefore, she was not expecting to be woken up on a Sunday afternoon like this. She was so tired and sleepy, that in her slumberous state she didn't even think of the fact that he had stayed back home today.

"Nai ab roz subah uth kar jaon gi tou weekend py tou rajj ky sona banta hai na." She complained sulkily, still wanting to go back to sleep.

"Fine, I shall cancel the reservation in the chinese restaurant you wanted to visit so dearly." He casually stated and it took only a second for Gule's eyes to open wide, sleep disappearing from their depths. They were finally going out on a date?!

"You don't have work today?" She sat up, her hair falling over her back and face, the hair tie had slipped out of them near the headboard.

Shaheer had freshly come out of shower after his workout, his wet hair falling over his head, wearing grey drawstring trousers and a tight white T-shirt. She could never get used to this sight in the past fifteen days.

He shook his head, grabbing the pony and handing it to her. She bit her lip to stop smiling like a joker with her sleepy face and jumped off the bed to rush to the bathroom while tying her hair.

She'd mentioned that restaurant to him in the first week when they were coming back from her father's house and she saw a poster of the opening. She herself had forgotten about it by now, but did he really listen to all her useless spouting with so much focus to have remembered that.

She looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror and gasped. Eye boogers. She rubbed her eyes. It was all because she slept late. So did he, but he really was a robot as Hunain calls him.

He would always be up when she went to sleep and he would always be up when she woke up. It made her wonder if this man ever even slept.

Except once when they were watching a movie late night and Gule had pretended to fall asleep on the sofa in the lounge that day. Everytime she fell asleep, she'd find herself on the bed the next morning. She wasn't a light sleeper so she wanted to know how he teleported her there.

He had turned the TV off and walked into the room, leaving her confused as she peeked with one eye. After turning on the lamp, he moved the blanket of her side of the bed then came back with silent steps and oh-so-gently picked her up in bridal style.

He was so smooth and careful when putting her on the bed that her even conscious self didn't realize. Her heart was beating so loud, she feared he'd catch on to her act.

After covering her body with the blanket, he did something unexpected. He caressed her hair, stroking them away from her face softly. Gule waited for him to leave, but he stayed there for a few minutes until she felt like she couldn't continue the pretence.

She felt he warmth of his hand leave her as he got up. After disappearing from the room for some time, he was back and next to her on his side of the bed. She couldn't fall asleep after that. Did he do that everyday when she fell asleep before him? Was he admiring her while she was asleep?

An hour later, she was staring at him dozing off peacefully. Suddenly, his brows scrunched and sweat beads formed on his forehead. He wasn't moving, but he looked like he was stuck in a painful state. He opened his eyes with a jerk.

Gule grabbed the glass of water from the side table and he was surprised to see her awake. She wondered if he'd been in too much stress these days to have experienced this uncomfortable sleep.

Not knowing, this happened everytime he went into a light slumber. He was trying to forget but he woke up every morning in agony. "It was just a bad dream." He avoided her gaze.

"Magar khwab toh achy hoty hein." Gule had said. "Think about me before sleeping, phir mein tumhary khwab mein aaun gi." She smiled to lighten up his mood. Shaheer could only stare at her. If all his dreams were about her, he'd never bother to wake up. Only if.

Shaheer had met Zarar two days after their nikkah. He was in the abandoned building with Hunain as they were going through the hacked files. The files from one year before the fire incident showed Zarar had shares in Ruman's company, which meant they were allies.

He had never trusted Zarar, but this just further rose his suspicion. He didn't want to hand these to him before going through them all himself. But, Zarar had somehow found out about Gule.

"Don't try to fool me, Shaheer Junejo. I was the one who got you out of prison, I can ruin your life again in seconds. And you have a family of your own too now." He had wickedly smirked.

"Don't you dare mess with my people." Shaheer seethed in anger. He could see Zarar's intentions clearly when handing him the USB file. He was not going to expose Ruman, but threaten him for his own benefit and gain in his political career.

Hunain had kept the original files in his laptop and now they had to get rid of two enemies. Ruman Haider Shah and Zarar Ahmed. The idea of one of them finding and harming Gule in any way drove him mad and he was going to get it done within weeks.

He was not only protecting her from his enemies, but himself as well. Until he was free of these shackles binding him down. Until he was ready to tell her the truth about his life.

In two weeks, they'd managed to collect corrupted files. Tax evasions. False contracts. High interest bills. Bribery agreements. Insider trading, in which Zarar was involved. He'd find all sorts of evidence except for the one he was desperately looking for. There was no evidence or proof of arson.

There was enough evidence that no law could save them from their downfall. The next part of the plan was to involve the media into it. They couldn't directly file a police case, knowing their identities shouldn't be exposed and well aware of the political power of the two parties over police.

Hunain was going to anonymously send mails to different reporters and channels from media industry with clear proof documents of evidence and once news channels and articles would be filled with the true colours of the big name Ruman Haider Shah, his game would be over.

Shaheer felt relaxed and planned to spend Sunday with Gule, knowing he couldn't give her much time and she had been feeling it. He was seated on the couch which they'd ordered online one night when Gule was scrolling through her phone and suggested they get one for their room.

Gule had freshened up and was looking through the closet to choose what clothes to wear. She took out a blue kurti dress, then hung it back in to take out the maroon gown dress with golden kadai work on the borders. She glanced at Shaheer who was busy on his phone.

"Kal meiny ghar jana tha." She said without looking at him and placing her dress on the bed.

"Tou mujhy bata deti, mein drop kar deta." He lifted his face away from the phone, looking at her attentively. She herself had told him she'd not visit her father on the weekends and stay back.

"Aap chaly gaye thy." She replied like making a complaint about him leaving silently. There was silence for a moment as he placed his phone aside, observing her. The use of 'aap' was enough warning that she was pissed.

"Aap ny roka hi nai." He playfully spoke and Gule shifted her gaze on him, surprised at his tone. Her heart fluttered.

"Mery rokny sy ruk jaaty jesy." She turned around to select matching shoes with the dress.

"Koi shak hai iss mein?" His response was quick, his tone challenging. Gule paused, uttering nothing. There was no doubt in the fact that he'd never once said 'no' to her and she couldn't deny his stance.

He was right. She'd never asked him. She should have. She would have, if her ego didn't stop her by saying are you going to beg him for his time for yourself, if her self-respect didn't stop her by saying he doesn't want you, if her brain didn't overthink about all the negative possibilities of his reactions.

She had thought the change in their relationship did not affect them, but it had. She was acting like his wife, not a girl who could say anything and everything to her bodyguard for his attention like he was a close friend.

She wanted to slap herself for being so dumb. Crouching down near the lower corner of the closet where all the shoe boxes were stacked, she began looking for a matching pair with her dress.

She opened the second box to find the pair of maroon khussa he'd gotten for her on their first meeting. She remembered when she was arranging her clothes and shoes in the closet on the second night of the nikkah, she'd asked him the question that she was always curious about. "I have a question. How did you guess my foot size?

He was taken aback and replied saying, "I just got the size which was displayed. Luckily, it fit you perfectly." It was a lie on Shaheer's part, he had specifically told the shopkeeper of the size he needed.

He couldn't tell her that he'd gotten her entire bio data even before meeting her. A shoe model's information held details like her height, foot size etc. Gule had nodded in understanding. "Agar fit na bhi aata, tab bhi mein thoos kar pehen leti."

She took out the khussa as it matched perfectly with her dress. She left to change her clothes and returned to find him finger brushing his dried, silky hair backwards while getting up from the couch.

"Kitny bajay ki reservation hai?" She asked while walking towards the dressing table to get ready accordingly. He cleared his throat instead of replying.

"The restaurant doesn't need reservations. We can go at any time." He simply stated and Gule snapped her eyes towards him from the mirror. He had lied to wake her up.

"It's lunch time and you must be hungry. We should leave quickly." He avoided her gaze and walked towards the closet to find a change of clothes. Gule came towards him as he grabbed the first set of black shirt hanging on his side.

"Yeh pehno. We'll match." She extended the only maroon button up shirt hanging in the middle his way, pairing it with khaki pants.

"Jo hukam." He bent his head forward, a hand over his chest as he held the clothes from her with a light smile. Gule felt her heart melt. She could never understand this man.

With flushed cheeks, she stepped away and paused next to the bed. She turned around to find him taking his shirt off right there and throwing it over the stand. Her mouth fell open, soundlessly.

"You're still here?" He hadn't even looked behind to know Gule was standing there and watching him like a statue.

"No sharam, no haya, only Astaghfirullah." She shook her head, still shamelessly gawking at his back muscles.

"Astaghfirullah your way out then." He turned around, giving her a front view of his shirtless body, the little smirk intact on his face.

Gule couldn't lose to this chivalrous man, so her daring eyes stared straight into his, casually settling down on the bed, leaning her palms into the mattress. He raised a brow at her.

"Theek hai. Ab mein bhi room mein change kiya karun gi." She shrugged, the playful smile on her face grew bigger watching his brow drop back and eyes widening in surprise as she added, "Wesy bhi tumhary sy kya sharam."

The next moment, the bathroom door was slamming shut with him inside and a laughing Gule on the bed. Her eyes had caught sight of his ears turning red and she always loved to witness them changing colours everytime she teased him.

They were on their way to the restaurant in Gule's car after half an hour. Gule's excitement to go on a bike ride with him had died down after the first ride to her house with him when she felt nauseous right after getting off the bike. "Iss mein tou saans hi nai aati!" She'd almost thrown the helmet off.

Therefore, Shaheer would park his bike at her place everyday and they'd go back in her car at night, then after dropping her back every morning, he'd take his bike to go for work after parking her car there. He never used her car unless going anywhere with her.

The restaurant was located in a developing area with a few old shops and a newly constructed building. There were a few recently opened cafes on the building floors. Since it was a Sunday, it was slightly crowded.

They got a table for two in the outer area and after placing the order, Gule was busy ranting to him about the art event and the paintings she was planning to display on it. As always, he was listening to her with full attention.

"Mein bohut zyada bolti hun kya?" She asked while pausing, noticing he hadn't said a word since she begun talking. "Nahi." Shaheer answered with just a word.

"Tum kuch nai bolo gy?" She questioned, an elbow on top of the table and her chin resting atop it's hand, while he was seated comfortably leaning his back on the chair, arms folded over his chest.

"Mujhy acha lagta hai tumhari baatein sunna." He simply stated, amber eyes stuck on her like she was the only person in the whole restaurant. Gule felt butterflies tickling inside her stomach, warmth spreading over her fluttering heart and heated cheeks.

He's always been like this. Small answers. One line opinions. A few worded comments. And leaving her speechless.

"Aur kya kya acha lagta hai tumhy?" She asked, ignoring the impact his words had on her. He shifted his gaze on the table, as if in a deep thought to find the answer to her question.

"Kuch khaas nahi." He looked back at her, replying. Gule felt disappointed at the answer. He could've said something romantic like 'tum'. Bss meri baatein hi achi lagti hein?!

Their lunch was served and after eating with small talks in the middle which mostly included Gule's comments about the food, they got up to leave. The restaurant was getting crowded now and people were waiting for seats.

"Tum jao, mein washroom sy ho kar aati hun." She told him as he moved to grab her handbag from the table which she'd forgotten about. "I'll wait here." He said moving behind her as another couple settled on the table they were seated on.

"You're not my bodyguard anymore. Stop following me around." She joked, "Car mein wait karo, mein aati hun." With that she started walking inside leaving Shaheer there, her handbag in his hand, wondering if he should go behind her to ask if she needed it.

Gule got out of the bathroom cabin to find a male waiter in the female washrooms area. His back towards her so she couldn't see his face. Weirded out, she went towards the sink and a strong familiar smell invaded her senses. Copper.

"Ma'am, did you lose your handbag, by any chance?" He asked and she recognized the voice without even looking at him. Slowly, she moved her gaze towards the side where he stood holding the mop. The purple hand veins were still the same.

"No." She uttered and not bothering to dry her hands, she hurried out of the bathroom, holding her breath as the strong smell made her head feel heavy.

Shaheer was standing by the entrance, instead of waiting in the car, her bag in his hand. Of course, she could be careless but he could never forget her stuff. She felt herself relax by just looking at him and left without turning back.

They were on their way back as Gule seemed to be blanked out, one hand pressing her temple, eyes on the bag placed on her lap. She then moved to check out his hand on the steering wheel, his sleeves were folded and she could see the veins on his forearm clearly.

"Is it normal for hand veins to be purple?" She asked in all seriousness, still gawking at his hand on the steering wheel.

"I don't know, no." He became conscious, glancing at his hand veins which were nowhere near purple.

"Ajeeb sa banda hai." Gule mumbled, turning her attention back towards the handbag.

"Kon?" Shaheer queried, glancing her way.

"Wo waiter. He was there on our nikkah day too. He smells weird, like copper. Dimag ko charh gai hai." Gule explained, pressing her temples. The next moment, Shaheer pressed the brake so suddenly that the car stopped with a creaking sound on the side of the road.

"What smell, Gule?" He fully turned his head in her direction, eyes wide and wild. Gule gulped, confused at his behaviour. "Copper." She slowly confirmed again. Next he was asking for each and every detail of both her encounters with him and she was telling him everything.

After dropping her off safely and instructing her to not open the door for anyone, he left to meet Hunain. He had been collecting the e-mail IDs of the famous reporter figures who knew how to raise voices against crime and injustice, so he could reach out to them first and then send the evidence to them without being sent into spam mails.

"I think the GD killer is following us around." He told him without delaying it. Hunain stilled, not believing his words. How discrete was he that even Shaheer couldn't catch him before? He told him about Gule's encounters with the man dressed up as waiter.

One thing Shaheer had found out with the gathered information on the GD killer from all his clients was that there was a strong smell of copper oozing out from him. They had never seen his face, but the smell was a sign.

He could never forget the night he'd lost his badge bumping into someone, the smell of copper. He had come to collect the evidence to put him in jail himself.

"My gut is telling me it is him." He clicked his jaw in anger. He had already managed to approach Gule twice, in his presence. His mind was ringing with danger bells and his heart was clenching in despair. He had dragged her into his mess.

The next day, he dropped her at her father's place and left to find the traces he must've left behind with Hunain. They visited the restaurant and only found a man with covered face and a hat entering and leaving the ladies bathroom from the backdoor in the CCTV footage.

They travelled all the way to the rented villa where their nikkah ceremony was held. They only had CCTV in the main lobby area of the ground floor and it had caught sight of most of the waiters.

The footage where Gule stepped down the stairs, paused, looked back only showed her and not the top of the stairs. Only one waiter had gone upstairs before her. He was hired for that event with two others.

Shaheer knew the information he provided about himself was false so they left with a copy of the footage. The mystery man finally had a face.

They were running quite late due to all the investigation so he'd called Gule to inform her. Unexpectedly, she'd happily told him to take his time. She had learnt to cook biryani with Neelofer baaji that day and she wanted to surprise him by making it for him.

So, she decided to return by herself after buying the grocery that she needed for the dish. She took a taxi to the grocery store, telling Neelofer baaji to make sure Shaheer returns in her car leaving his bike there since he'll go there to pick her up.

The grocery store was at a ten minutes walk from his house. With her bag over her shoulder, she was walking with two shoppers in both her hands. The sun had set and street lamps were turned on.

She was walking on the footpath, then took the first turn into the street. It was empty and she was the only one there. That was when she felt a figure following behind her.

Her steps were small and his were heavy. He was nearing her with each step and Gule glanced over her shoulder feeling her legs tremble. Her phone was vibrating in her bag, but she couldn't stop to take it out.

Her heart was bouncing out of her chest as he stepped closer behind her. Dropping the shoppers right there, she screamed while throwing a hard punch backwards which swiftly hit the man who wasn't expecting the blow on his jaw.

Her bag flew away from her shoulder as she further kicked him and started running forth as fast as she could before he gained his balance. Shaking profusely with tears in her eyes, she ran towards the direction of his house. Their home.

Shaheer had arrived at her father's place to have received the shocking news of her departure before him, all alone, without her car. He got on his bike not hearing anything that Neelofer baaji was saying after and sped towards his house.

He went berserk when she was not answering his calls. She never not-answered her phone. Upon reaching his place, he found the door closed and the lights off. She was not home. His head was spinning and the world was in a blur.

He'd never felt this helpless before. His mind was going numb and heart rate was speeding up. Just when he was about to get back on his bike, she appeared before him, panting and breathing hard.

Her scared eyes met his worried ones. He was rushing towards her and she dashed into his embrace in a flash. Her arms tightly wrapped around his torso, her face pressed into his chest as she sobbed.

He caressed the back of her head, his other hand rubbing her back in a calming manner. She clenched his shirt in her fists, further tightening her hold. He let her calm down as they silently stood there in the position. Their hearts beating equally fast.

"Kya hua hai?" He asked, stroking her hair and lifting her face up to look at her. She loosened her grip, but didn't let go.

"Wo mery peechy," she sniffed, hiccuped, "peecha kar raha tha." She stared up at him with red widened eyes, like a child complaining.

"You were walking back home and someone was following you?" She nodded, and her voice was shaking as she elaborated. She'd dropped all her stuff on the street.

Draping his arm around her shoulders, he guided them in and settled her down on the sofa. Getting a glass of water for her, he crouched down in front of her till she gulped down the glass by his hand.

"I'll be right back, okay?" He spoke softly and only left after seeing her nod in assurance. Closing the main door shut, he clenched his fists in anger. He stomped out in the direction she'd come from.

Who could it be? The GD killer? She didn't mention the smell of copper, so it wasn't him, or Gule would recognize him easily. Ruman Haider Shah's man? Zarar's warning? There wasn't one person he could be suspicious of and that uncertainty drove him crazy.

Gule sat there looking at her trembling hands, the knuckle of her right hand had blood on it due to scratched skin. She had thrown that punch with all that she had in her. His stiff jaw had caused more damage to her hand than his face.

She had caught a glimpse of his hooded face. She felt like she recognized it, but she didn't want to think about it or him ever again. It couldn't be that man. It had been more than a year to the incident.

She heard the main door open and close as he was back inside. She fisted her hands, hiding them in her lap. He placed her bag on the table, there was no sign of the grocery shoppers.

"Tum akeli kyun aai?" He asked in a low tone, which felt slightly harsh due to his question.

"Tum mujhy daant rahy ho?" She looked at him as tears prickled her eyes.

"No, I'm just asking. I pick and drop you myself everyday, then why did you come back alone today? Without even calling me?" He tried to sound less stern, but the idea of someone following her was unnerving.

"I wanted to surprise you." She disclosed, her voice thick. He fell silent, not knowing how to react. His gaze softened looking at her puckered lips, red nose and lowered eyes, staring at her own hands in her lap.

She rubbed her nose and he noticed the wound on her hand. Reaching forward, he held her cold hand in his large one to examine it closely. Silently, he went to grab the first aid box and sat down next to her.

"I punched him on his jaw." She said as he was cleaning the blood carefully. Her hands still didn't stop trembling.

"Morning boxing classes ka faida hua na?" He asked as she nodded. She didn't want him to question her about the man. She wouldn't be able to answer him. While Shaheer didn't know how to tell her that her life was endangered because of him.

"You were right." He randomly admitted. "Mujhy tumhy kickboxing hi sikhani chahiye thi." He was sticking the saniplast over her knuckle and Gule lightly smiled at his words. Her hand was no more shaking, absorbing the warmth of his hand.

Her phone was continuously vibrating inside her bag on the table. He got up and handed it to her while leaving to put the first aid box back. She fished it out and stilled reading the caller ID.

Ruman Uncle. It wasn't Sameer. Or an unknown number. Her father had been ignoring his calls and his ego was too big to visit their house. So she didn't know what changed his mind to call on her number like this.

"Has he been calling you?" She heard him ask and snapped out of her thoughts. She hadn't realized when he returned. She was holding the phone limply in her hand staring at it, so he had noticed the cause. She shook her head as the screen went blank again.

"Did you," he paused, licking his lips in deep thought. He wanted to ask her if she'd seen the man's face, but he didn't want her to think about it again. Ruman's sudden call had pushed more suspicion towards him. Gule nervously gulped, knowing very well what his question was going to be.

"It's tomorrow." He announced instead. Gule looked at him, confused. "The world will know all about his dirty secrets by tomorrow." He sat down next to her, speaking with so much confidence. Gule stared at him with wide eyes.

"Then you'll never have to worry about him, or anyone, troubling you ever again." He turned his head in her direction, his words promising.

He had freed her from that man's shackles and he was promising her to free her of the fear of his shadow following her around as well. Before meeting him, she had no actual expectations, or belief, she had hope. She always had hope. It was worthwhile. Gule nodded at him with a smile.

That night, they laid facing each other as she slept holding onto his shirt with her fist, while Shaheer stroked her head, his fingers disappearing among the soft strands of her hair.

"Mein bahadur hun." She mumbled while dozing off. "Bohut zyada." He agreed wide-awake, his gaze beheld her like she'd disappear if he shut his eyes.

The next day, she stayed at his place upon mutual agreement. She knew her father will read her face and know she's worried. She also couldn't go home knowing there was a stalker behind her.

Shaheer strictly told her to stay in and keep the doors locked. He then left to meet Hunain at his flat to execute the plan into action. He'd received replies from six reporters and they sent the evidence to them without any delay. Their method of collecting it was illegal, but those were original documents so the receivers couldn't ignore the content.

Things were going to unfold in a sequence now. The reporters will try to find the authenticity of the source, involve higher ups, a police case will be filed, courts will order the outlaws for hearings and ultimately Ruman Haider Shah will be left with nothing.

The media coverage would start as soon as the articles would be uploaded and rumours were probably circulating already by now after the mails. Shaheer had two enemies left to deal with now. He wanted a shortcut to get rid of them and he had found one.

"You want me to go tip ISI on the potential GD killer after all this time and effort you put into finding him?" Hunain was baffled. Shaheer had spent nights to locate this criminal and now he was ready to giveaway the credit of his hard work.

"They will track him down in merely a day. It'll take us days, or weeks, because we don't have enough resources to do so. He is out in the open, roaming around her." He was desperate, the last word was a slip revealing his actual worry. "I cannot take this risk."

"Oh, tou yeh baat hai. You're worried about her." Hunain said, understanding the actual matter. The man who lived to take risks and never once backed out of anything that risked his life was talking about not taking a risk. "Warna tou tum maut ky well mein bhi ankhein khol ky kood jao."

Shaheer ignored his comment and pushed the USB of the footage in his direction. Identifying his face was a minute's work for ISI since they had the data of every person in the country stored in the system.

"Make sure they take your words seriously." He told Hunain who was staring at him.

"Mujhy nai pata tha," he said in a serious tone, "robots bhi pyar mein andhe ho jaty hein."

Shaheer sighed, getting up to examine the large board attached to the inner wall of the flat where he'd pasted all the research material and connections he'd found on the mystery of the GD killer.

"Yeh apna kabar jo tumny mery muhazzab flat mein shift kiya hai issko nikaalo yahan sy." Hunain complained with a stinky look. He'd shifted this here one day before his nikkah saying, "I can't let her see it."

"Phenk do sab." He said carelessly while leaving. Hunain watched his back thinking about the new trouble he was going to walk into.

Shaheer checked the footage of the camera he'd installed outside his house for any suspicious activity then looked around in the street area where he'd found her bag and the grocery. He was sure about one thing. The stalker hadn't followed her further and left after scaring her. Was that his only intention?

Gule didn't cry easily. She did not cry when he had caught Sameer red-handed in her room. She did not cry when she woke up after being drugged. She was only sensitive about her father. But she was crying because of being followed by this unknown knucklehead and it was unsettling.

He returned home to find Gule sitting on the sofa in the living area, eyes attached to the TV screen which displayed the news channel covering the news about Ruman Haider Shah standing up for the upcoming mayor elections.

His greed for more power was not only going to destroy his reputation, but the entire empire he'd built to reach up there. The news channels were displaying a positive image now but they would be bashing him by tonight.

He walked in and a delicious scent coming from the kitchen made him pause and turn his head towards the stove of the open kitchen. She was cooking something. He went to sit next to her without checking, placing his extended arm behind her on the sofa.

"Tum jaanty ho mujhy iss aadmi ky liye kaam karna itna bura kyun lagta tha?" Gule spoke before he could ask her about the food. "The first time I felt hatred towards him was when I was four. I saw my father crying and begging him for something on his knees." She still had the image in her brain.

"Ussky baad sy mama aur baba jaan ki roz larai hoti thi. He had started working at Ruman uncle's company and I knew mama hated him too, we were a team. But then he got a role offer for mama and she switched teams. She visited him often with me despite baba's disapproval and I realized my mother was a two-faced woman. The daily fights got louder and when I was in fourth grade, they got divorced." She blinked the tears away, still staring at the TV screen which was on mute.

"Baba jaan's health was already affected and the news of his mental illness shocked me more than the separation of my parents. Ruman uncle took charge of his treatment and that is the only thing for which I'll forever remain grateful and indebted to him. Lekin baba ny tou apni aur meri zindagi hi uss shakhs ky naam kar di." She laughed bitterly.

"Wo jo bhi kehty thy, baba ussy hukam samajh kar maanty thy. He said he wants me to become a model for his company, baba agreed without a word. I was never given the right to decide what I wanted to do, never asked for my opinion on anything. Meiny ussi dunya mein khush rehna seekh liya tha." She smiled sadly, then looked at him.

"Then I met you and you changed everything." She grabbed his hand in both of hers, placing it on her folded knee. Her father had stood up against Ruman by secretly marrying her to him. It confirmed her doubt that her father wasn't letting Ruman have his way because he was grateful to him, but because he feared him.

"Thank you for coming into my life, Shaheer." She rested her head on his shoulder, closing her teary eyes with a smile. Shaheer was sitting still, listening to each word and observing every tiny change in her demeanour. Destroying that man felt like the most important task he'd ever accomplish.

He draped his arm which was on the sofa around her, his other hand moving up to caress the side of her face gently. He bent his neck forward, his face leaning on top of her head, his lips and nose grazed there for a long moment.

Gule opened her eyes, sniffing loudly then screamed jerking away from him and sprinting towards the kitchen shelf. He got up in reflex too, confusedly looking at her. Her head had hit him directly on the nose.

"Sarra masala jal gaya!" She cried out turning off the stove which was on low heat. She picked up the lid and the huge amount of smoke coming out of it caused her to fall in a coughing fit.

Shaheer quickly rounded the shelf, waving the smoke away with his hands and patted her back. After a while, the smoke had disappeared into the air and they both were staring inside the burnt pot. She looked at him with a red face, "ab kya?"

Soon they were out and about buying the ingredients again in the grocery store. Shaheer paid for the stuff in cash as usual, not letting her pay. He realized he was running out of his savings and he needed to find a stable job for financial stability in his new life with her.

The only full-time job he had ever done was working for the ISI. He could apply to work at a security company for that was the only thing he was good at. But not with a fake identity and a tarnished past.

He had to look for another way. The real GD killer would be caught, his name could be cleared but the method which was used to get him out of prison. He was guilty of playing the part of eloping with the plan.

Zarar had tied him down very smartly. He was going to be the hardest one to get rid of. His partnership with Ruman was fifteen years ago and law wouldn't consider those crimes now. The only way he could think of to destroy him included exposing himself.

Four hours later, the sun had set, the street lights were on, the evening was calm and the strong aroma of biryani arose in the one-story house. Shaheer was in his study since Gule wanted the kitchen all to herself without any distraction.

She was tired and sweaty so she went to take a quick shower only to find out she had gotten her periods. No wonder she felt so emotional and touchy the past few days, it was due to PMS. Wearing simple black kurta shalwar with chiffon dupatta, she put her hair in a loose bun.

She exited the room to find Shaheer rushing out of the study. He turned the television on and the same news channel was now broadcasting a breaking news.

The police force had sealed Ruman Haider Shah's company with a search and seizure warrant for illegal activities and tax evasion. Blurred documents were being displayed and a footage of police entering the building he owned.

She was standing next to the screen, reading the headlines and watching the repetitive footage without blinking. Shaheer stood behind the sofa with folded arms and a satisfied look on his face.

"Tumny yeh kesy kiya?" She turned towards him. He had said the world will find out by tomorrow and he was a man of his words. He shrugged his shoulders. Calm expressions, cold eyes.

The doorbell rung. She smiled and he frowned. Setting her dupatta over her shoulders nicely, she went forward to open the door before him. They were expecting a guest?

"Salam, partner." Hunain waved from the other side and Gule greeted him with the same enthusiasm. Shaheer sighed with a bored expression. He handed the bag of cake to Gule and came inside, then looked at the TV screen. "News dekh li!" Gule nodded then pointedly looked at Shaheer.

"Akely tou nai kya ho ga. Jo credit deserve karta hai, ussko dena chahiye." She said placing the cake over the kitchen counter.

"Han, 60% kaam tou meiny kiya hai." Hunain boasted.

"Good job." Shaheer patted his shoulder with the same unfriendly expressions, then walked past him to sit on one chair of the four person small dining table next to the open kitchen shelf.

"Itna rookha sookha credit tum apny paas hi rakho. Mera credit bhabhi ky haath ki biryani hai." Hunain followed behind, dragging the chair opposite him and settling on it.

"Aur meiny isi liye invite kiya tha ky koi tou ho jo tareef kar dy meri biryani ki." Gule added as she was bringing the dishes to the table, side-eyeing Shaheer.

"Ghar ki biryani ko dekhy huye bhi arsa ho gaya ab tou." Hunain sighed dreamily, smelling the aroma of home-made biryani in the air. Shaheer helped her set the table silently, ignoring her taunt.

"Aap ko bhi shaadi kar leni chahiye ab. Kaho tou larki dhoondun, partner?" She said while walking back into the kitchen and taking out the serving dish for the rice.

"Aas paas hi nazar ghooma lein, ho sakta hai dhoondny ki zaroorat hi na pary." Hunain replied in a small voice that only Shaheer could hear his words clearly. His upper lip churned in disapproval. Gule was busy filling the dish with biryani, the yellow shade was a little too bright.

She served it on the table and everyone dished out a portion in their plates. She was seated next to Shaheer and waited for him to take the first bite. He tasted it, paused, then continued chewing onto the bite with an unreadable expression.

Gule looked over at Hunain, who took the first bite and begun coughing, hissing and whistling with 'sh, ho' sounds as he hardly swallowed the bite. She hurriedly poured water in his glass and he gulped it down in one go. "Mirchein ulat gai thi kya iss mein?"

Gule shook her head then glanced at Shaheer who was taking a spoonful of his third bite. She ate a bite and her reaction was the same as Hunain, just a little less dramatic. It was way too spicy. Hunain couldn't handle spice well, so he was hardly breathing after that one bite.

Something suddenly clicked in her brain. The biryani masala's packet Neelofer baaji added was half used so she'd emptied it out. The one she used was new and full. "Wo meiny poora biryani masala daal diya tha." Gule admitted, looking down.

"Mujhy kuch meetha mil sakta hai!" Hunain was up on his feet, flapping both of his hands infront of his face. Gule quickly went behind the counter with him behind her and opened the box of cake he'd brought.

She was grabbing the knife from the stand and gasped when her eyes caught sight of Shaheer busy finishing off the portion in his plate, a tissue in his hand to rub his reddened nose. "Daro mat, yeh wesy bhi insaan nai hai." Hunain whispered, taking the knife.

Gule was totally flabbergasted. He was eating it so casually like he was immune to spice. He grasped another tissue for his runny nose, his eyes slightly watering due to the spice.

"Tareef nai karta, magar dil rakhna aata hai banday ko." Hunain was devouring a slice of cake, tasting the sweetness of the chocolate flavour in his mouth with a pleased grin. Gule hastened towards the table and took his plate away.

"Bass karo." She snatched the spoon from his hand in the manner of stopping a child. Shaheer raised his brows to hardly look at her with a straight face. "It's not that spicy." He sniffed and cleared his throat as his voice came out hoarse. She could just stare at him with an open mouth.

Soon they were all seated in the living room and Hunain was telling her different stories about their work life in ISI. The conversation had started when Shaheer asked Hunain if he'd done the job and Gule was walking towards them with cups of tea when she overheard Hunain say, "I need to mentally prepare myself before walking into my ex-workplace."

She asked him about it and Hunain had become the chatterbox he was in no time. Shaheer was listening carefully and cutting him off to correct a few details sometimes. She noticed he was showing interest in their conversation for the first time. A different kind of passion in his eyes.

"You two should start an organization to expose such bad people who misuse their power. It can be stronger than that ISI. Name it SH, your initials." Gule suggested excitedly, "Someone needs to fight against injustice in the world."

"Someone. Not a con artist and a hacker." Hunain laughed pointing at Shaheer, then himself. Gule scowled at him referring to themselves like this.

"For me, you guys are superheroes who won against the villain, Ruman Haider. You can do anything you set your minds to." Her smile wavered, she did not know why they worked so hard to destroy him. "Just don't do anything for the sake of it. Intentions matter." They remained quiet.

Shaheer was laying on his side, wide-awake and lost, staring at a peacefully sleeping Gule, who had her head placed over his forearm. His phone tinged and he carefully laid her head on the pillow before turning to check his phone.

'Hum dono ki death aaj raat pakki hai.'

It was a message from Hunain. He went out of the room quietly and before he could press the call button, he heard heavy and synchronized marching from outside the house. He robotically walked towards the main door and stepped out. He was surrounded by ISI soldiers in the familiar black uniform.

"Shaheer Junejo." One of them stepped forward and Shaheer turned into a rock, the main door clicked shut behind him. "You'll have to come with us."

//❄❄❄//

"Business tycoon, Ruman Haider Shah, the famous candidate for the upcoming mayor election has been taken in police custody this morning around 10. Sources say the allegations against him have been proven right and the police found........"

Gule pressed the mute button, dialing her father's number on her phone. He picked up after the fifth ring. After basic greetings and inquiry of his health, she asked if he'd seen the news yet. He indeed had. And he sounded fine, even happy.

With a relieved heart, she shut the call. Shaheer had unexpectedly texted her at 6 in the morning that he was out for some important work and she should stay in. Even if she wouldn't have found him at home upon waking up, it wasn't anything new for her. She didn't understand the purpose of his message, that too so early. He hadn't checked her reply.

She shrugged, she'll ask him when he'll be back. It was 12:30 PM and she had nothing to do in the empty house. Her sleep always got disturbed in periods, but it was better than having cramps according to Radwa. Getting reminded of the art festival, she decided to indulge herself in painting.

Shaheer walked into the familiar headquarters, the interior had changed with a lot of advancements. He was not expecting to be guided into the chief's room and hesitated before stepping in.

"Shaheer Junejo." He pointed at him to take a seat on the sofa. He was a middle-aged man, his hair had started turning white and Shaheer could see a difference in his vigour from a few years back. He used to be the chief when he worked for ISI and Shaheer had been one of his favourites.

"We've been watching you." He declared impassively, getting up from his revolving chair. Shaheer remained collected, not displaying any signs of shock. He'd considered that possibility many times. Shaheer Junejo believed that a gut feeling is never wrong. It was proven right, once again.

"Why was I being watched secretly? I doubt the ISI was too embarrassed to admit to have been fooled to incriminate their own spy?" He had relaxed on the sofa and asked humorlessly.

"Yes, I knew it wasn't you. We all know. We also know how you managed to escape out of jail one day before I could visit to tell you the GD killer had appeared again after withdrawing for four years." He said and this time Shaheer did get a shock.

"You were going to be vindicated in a day if," He left his sentence incomplete and sighed, shaking his head. Zarar Ahmed. Shaheer clenched his fists, his jaw ticking. He gaslit him emotionally to use him. Shaheer Junejo got reminded of Hunain's words, people and values are more important than missions.

"ISI doesn't mess with the politicians." The chief continued, and he was doing exactly that in his mission. "We decided to let you be and observe you silently. You were searching for the GD killer unofficially, with more passion. I was sure if someone ever catches him, it will be you. I was right."

He stood up and took him to one of the underground meeting rooms from the private lift, talking about all the information he knew. The room wall was filled with not only him and his whereabouts after eloping from jail, but also the wall chart he'd made about the GD killer at Hunain's flat.

They had been spying on him very diligently. From CCTV footages and taping devices. They had never sent someone to follow behind him or Shaheer would've never missed that.

"Sir, the GD killer. We have his live location." A young man in uniform entered the room while panting. The chief looked at Shaheer. "I want you to lead the force." He knew what had to be done so he nodded.

When leaving the room, he paused and spoke while turning his head, "Hunain, I'll only lead the team if he's a part of the operators team." He didn't have to say anything more as the chief let out a chuckle. "For sure."

He wasn't told Hunain was already there so when he entered the operating room, Hunain's loud commentary took him by surprise. Shaheer went in to stand beside him, staring at the large screen displaying the photo of that man and his bio.

Ukasha Yaseen. He'd finally cracked the mystery of his life. He had a small ironwork shop and spent his day working there. In the inner tiny street markets of the town. Amongst those poor small shop owners, nobody could imagine what his real self was like.

Shaheer was given a uniform and a gun to lead the unit. He was doing this after years, but the rush of excitement, heresy, nervousness felt liberating. The morning sun was out and he texted Gule in case he returns late. Though, he was sure she'd not wake up early.

Shaheer had been to this area once, but had left without entering the small street. The fruits and vegetables stalls owned by aged people could have nothing to be suspicious of. Passing by them till the end of the street, they reached a garage door which was tilted downwards.

They surrounded the shop following Shaheer's order and he slid the iron door open. The strong smell of copper fogged his senses. With his gun pointing forwards and cautious eyes taking in the surroundings, he stepped forth.

Barely audible footsteps from his right side and he dodged the iron axe from splitting his head into half just in time. The attacker was cornered from all sides and his face showed he was not expecting this.

His shop was filled with iron objects, weapons, utensils etc. Moving the shelves aside, they found a small underground cave. The drugs were stored in there. Shaheer Junejo had caught Ukasha Yaseen, the GD killer.

They returned back to the headquarters and he was taken to the interrogation room. Hunain was awaiting to congratulate Shaheer by the door. "You did it, mery bhai! You caught him." He hugged him happily, almost teary-eyed.

"We did it." Shaheer corrected, patting his back to hug him back for the first time. Hunain's mouth hung open as he dropped his hands. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have made it this far." He expressed his gratitude and with another pat on his shoulder, walked inside leaving his limp figure there trying to process the action.

"Shall we begin now?" Shaheer sat down placing a chair in front of the one Ukasha was tied to. The table was pushed out of the way to intimidate him. Ukasha had masked his expressions fully.

"For a cautious person who never once left traces or exposed his identity, you cosplayed as a waiter at my wedding yourself?" Shaheer began the questioning backwards, or was it the uneasy feeling that he had bad intentions towards Gule. "What was the reason behind the recklessness?"

He evilly chuckled, as if seeing right through him. "After all the efforts I put in to send you to jail in my stead, you managed to get out of there and were getting married like a normal person?!" Anger replaced his features.

"I was going to drug the food and kill everyone there," there was no remorse in his voice as he spoke, "but then I saw her." He paused and smirked seeing Shaheer clench his jaw. "It made me want to give her a taste of my drugs. If she can marry a person like you, then she can try my drugs too." He sounded sadistic.

Respond, don't react. Shaheer repeated in his head.

"Do you know what your biggest mistake was?" Shaheer asked calmly, burning holes in his head from his eyes. "Approaching my wife."

"Your biggest mistake was marrying her, Shaheer Junejo." He mocked, like he knew something that he didn't. Shaheer fisted his hands, hating the way he was mentioning her. "She has a sweet voice. Gul-" A hard punch to his jaw had his whole body jerk backwards on the chair.

"Meri biwi ka naam apni gandi zaban sy mat lena." He snarled, his temper rising as he grabbed him by the collar. He still shamelessly laughed with blood oozing out of his lips.

"Do you think you deserve her?" He questioned with a sardonic smile. Shaheer was being dragged off him by two guards since he'd lost his cool. "Is there any space for her in your messed up life? Can you make her happy?" He was shouting to ask as the door got shut and Shaheer was numbly standing outside.

He was talking like he knew everything about Shaheer's life. Everything about her. His head was spinning and the smell of copper was everywhere around him. He went to aggressively rub the blood on his hand from throwing the punch.

The drugs at his location were tested and they found out he'd created various forms of the powder himself. The deadly one had powdered iron. He himself consumed a pinch of it daily to grow immune to it, thus leading his veins to be abnormally purple.

The chief gave him the box of all his stuff packed altogether from before he was jailed. His original identity card was in there too. He told him his four years in jail were the punishment of him using fake identities illegally afterwards. He offered his position back to him as an ISI officer.

So much was happening in one day and Shaheer's head was about to explode. He wanted to go home. Home was where she was. Asking for some time to think about it, he had left.

He was on his way when his phone started ringing. It was Zarar calling. The anger he'd felt towards him this morning resurfaced as he answered the call.

"You were behind the damage Ruman Haider Shah is facing." Zarar commented sounding undisturbed by it. Shaheer licked his lips, he hadn't yet understood this man even after all this time. "Isn't that what you wanted? His downfall."

"Dushman ka dushman dost hota hai, lekin agar wo dushman raasty sy hat jaye tou dost ko dushhman banny mein waqt nai lagta." He said from the other end, another warning.

"Yeh baat khud yaad rakhna." Shaheer remarked and was ready to shut the call when he spoke again.

"Are you no more interested in finding the man who killed your mother? He left her to burn in that fire ruthlessly, uff." The last line was spoken in a fake hurt tone. He was playing with him and gaining pleasure out of it.

"Don't try to mess with me again!" Shaheer yelled. He wasn't even sure if this man had just made up a story to toy with him.

"Let me give you a hint. Shah Nawaz." He mentioned a familiar name and the call ended. Shaheer stared at the blank screen for a while then jerked his head. He wasn't going to let this man emotionally manipulate him again. He had others things to think about. His life had changed in just a day.

Gule was busy finishing the last painting for the festival in the lounge. The study room felt like a dull place to paint such a full of life and colorful flowers painting. She had placed her art supplies in the middle and was seated on the wooden stool.

Her phone was on the coffee table, playing the songs from her playlist on full volume. Her trouser and shirt had stains of different coloured paints, her hands as always were smeared with paint and some of if had smudged over the side of her cheek when she'd tucked her hair away.

Shaheer entered in through the main door but she didn't hear the sound of the door due to the loud music. He paused to take in the view of the living area, then stepped near the entrance wall, leaning on it with folded arms.

"Amber sky eyes, he ruined my life, by not being ma-a-a-a-ine, he's so gorgeous." She was singing on top of her lungs without a care in the world, swaying on the chair and using the paint brush as a mic, her movement smearing wet paint on her chin from the tip of the brush.

"Pagal larki." He muttered, shaking his head with a smile. After enjoying the one-man show till the song ended, he walked in towards the coffee table and clicked the pause button.

"Tum kab aaye?" Gule seemed surprised but the constant smile on her lips was still there.

"Aap kab uthi?" He asked, since he'd expected to find her sleeping lazily as usual instead of energetically having a concert in the house.

"Kab ki! Batao?" She shrugged nonchalantly and asked again. How much of her crazy singing did he witness?!

"Kab ka." He shrugged the same way and she pursed her lips, rolling her eyes all the way up. She could throw her paints at him but that would be such a waste. She was no more glad to see him. Blame her mood swings.

Shaheer continued standing there, lost in thoughts. He dug his fists into his pockets and looked down in contemplative silence.

"Kya soch rahy ho?" Gule couldn't help but ask.

Instead of sitting on the sofa by the coffee table, he came and sat on the settee by the wall near which she had arranged her set-up. After another moment of thought, he jutted out a deep breath and said, "just sorting out my priorities."

"Number 1 py mujhy hi rakhna." Gule voiced in a demanding manner with a playful grin on her face. He looked at her before sincerely whispering, "Always."

She noticed that he seemed to be gloomy as if something was bothering him so placing her paint brush in the palette, she turned the direction of her legs to his side. "Kis ki dhulai kar ky aaye ho?" She glimpsed at the cleaned up wound on his hand. He shrugged, turning his hand around.

"Would you like to share what's bothering you, Mr. Shaheer Junejo?" She queried in a professional reporter tone to lighten his mood, not expecting him to share anything. He never does that.

"I was called to ISI headquarters." He begun and told her how the waiter she'd met was a drug dealer, excluding the fact that his drugs killed people, and how he was sent to jail for his crimes years ago, excluding the way he'd gotten out, and how he's been caught now because of her in a way. "They offered to give me my position back."

He had missed and skipped a lot of information, but this much was going to be too much for her to take in. It took a while for Gule to get over the fact that she'd met a drug dealer. "Oh my God! Kya ussy mery bag mein drugs daalni thi? Lekin wo nikkah waly din kyun aaya?" She questioned with curious eyes. Shaheer clenched his jaw as his words replayed in his head.

"That's not important. He's behind bars now." He spoke with scrunched brows and Gule pursed her lips, nodding. He moved forward on the settee, manspreading and extended his arm to pull the wooden stool she was seated on. He dragged it so that she sat facing him directly, her legs right between his legs.

"I'm being offered my job back. I never expected this to happen. I don't know what to do." He got back to the matter of concern. Gule was still not over the shock of his action when he moved his thumb across her chin, rubbing off the paint on her face. It was as if he was doing it unknowingly. She was in a befuddled state, trying to focus on his words.

"Should I accept it or reject it?" Gule blinked at him, not knowing if he's self-talking or asking the question to her at this point.

"What do you think, Gule? What's your opinion?" She hadn't been asked this questioned ever so for a few seconds she stared at him, blankly. He was expectantly looking at her for a response.

"Did you enjoy working there?" She asked after a moment of silence and he nodded once. Him contemplating over the offer was an answer in itself for Gule that he's reluctant to let go of the opportunity.

"Do you still hold a grudge against them?" She further asked with raised brows. He shook his head after a moment. "They had found evidence which pointed at me, I don't blame them." She smiled, growing comfortable in their position and forgetting her nervousness.

"On one hand, it's a job that you enjoyed doing. The way it ended for you was hurtful, but they've realized their mistake and want you back to amend things. You've cleared your name and you can go back to living your life the way it was. You forgive them and go back. Forget the bitter memories and make new ones. With no regrets." Her right palm was up in the air between them.

"On the other hand, it's the job where you were unfairly accused of committing a crime even after being a loyal member for years. You keep the grudge in your heart and refuse to work with them again. The pain will remain fresh in your heart everytime you think about it. The regret of 'what if' I had accepted the offer will irk your mind often." She raised her left palm in the air, displaying the second possibility.

"Or you choose a middle option, forgive and move on. Try to find another job that you'd enjoy doing. Let this all be a part of the past. But again, we can't guarantee the fact that you won't regret not taking this opportunity." She joined her hands together over her thighs, between his wide spread legs.

"So, who do you want to be? Leftist, rightist or in the middle?" She asked with a smile.

Shaheer stared at her raised hands coloured with paints and held her right hand with a small smile. He knew it wasn't going to be as simple but she made the right option sound easier than it was.

"You amaze me, Gule Shah Junejo." He tucked the fallen strands of her hair behind her ear, the dried paint was still smudged on her cheek and had left a mark on his thumb. Gule blushed profusely hearing him call her that.

"It's a very important decision of your life, so take your time. Don't let my opinions or words affect what you think is right to do." She added looking down to escape away from this bewitching man before he could further drive her crazy.

"Why not?" He almost sounded offended. "Tum meri biwi ho, tumhari raaye mery liye sab sy zaroori hai." He emphasized on each word. Gule's heart took a leap somewhere faraway.

"Mein zaroori hun?" She'd craved for this attention, but this seemed unreal. She was unsure of what she sounded like when asking.

"You are one of the most important things that has ever entered my life." He avowed and those amber eyes had never seemed so sincere and soft before. "I'll always value your opinion." He squished her cheek, then moved back with a confused expression at his own action.

"Can I get a cup of your chai?" He requested as he leaned back resting against the wall, folding his legs over the settee giving her the needed freedom from his cage.

He never had a habit of drinking tea until he tasted hers. She made it every night. At this point, he was addicted to tea. Her hand's tea. There was a special taste in it.

"I'd give you the world if I could, you pretty boy." Gule bent forward with a smile and ruffled his hair and this time it was Shaheer's turn to be stunned. She had felt the need to pay him back for messing around with her heart so casually without any warning.

Satisfied, she walked to the kitchen and washed her hands clean. Shaheer had gone to the room to freshen up. She couldn't stop smiling the entire time while making the tea, sometimes chuckling to herself. People really do go crazy in love. Her cheeks were hurting because of smiling so much.

Till the time he came out, she'd placed the cups of tea on the small dining table with a slice of cake for herself, since Shaheer was not a sweet dish person and had refused to have the cake before.

She'd eaten a few bites of the cake while waiting for him so they could drink the tea together. She carefully picked up the warm cups to walk to the coffee table to watch something while drinking when he came to stand next to her.

"Yeh mera hai." She protested when he cut a spoonful of her cake slice from her plate and her spoon. She put the cups back on the table and staggered when he enclosed the space between them in one breath.

"Tou aap kiski hein?" He posed in a hushed tone, words breathing directly into her ear, his face right next to hers. He turned his head just a little to look at her face change colours closely. Gule could only turn to sprint off to the sofa to hide her blushing self away from the burning intensity of his gaze.

"Apni chai bhool gai tum." He held back a smile, taking a bite of the cake and watching her rush back to grab the plate of her cake first then her cup of tea. She could not decide which side of this man she liked better because he was out of her comprehension.

The week went by quickly. It was the weekend and they'd visited her father for lunch together and spent a good day with him. Her father seemed to be calm after the ordeal with Ruman. "Tumhari pasand behtareen thi, mujhy khushi hai meiny sahi faisla kiya." He'd praised her as she had kissed the scar on his hand. "Hamesha khush raho."

Shaheer had spent more time with her despite his job, but her mood swings must've been a headache to deal with, she thought to herself. She had freshly come out of shower and after towel drying her hair, she was standing by the dressing table.

"Suno?" Gule called him out in her usual way of starting a conversation with him, rubbing the moisturizer on her face.

"Sun raha hun." He replied distracted, his eyes on his laptop's screen. He hadn't checked his mails for days and one unexpected name had caught his attention.

He clicked on it. A video file from Zarar. He'd sent it. In his own twisted way. It was a locked file and he needed a password to watch the video.

"Meri cheeks motti ho gai hein." Gule squished her face with her hands, looking at her reflection in the mirror.

Tomorrow was finally the day of the art festival and she wanted to look her best. She had completed her paintings and they were already delivered to the event venue.

"Sunset wali painting pehly display honi chahiye, phir waterfall wali......aur flowers wali akhir mein." She was trying to arrange her paintings in the order they should be displayed. "Tumhy sab sy achi sunset wali hi lagi thi na?" She asked glancing at him, only to realize he was not focused on her, but lost in his laptop's screen.

"Mein tumsy baat kar rahi hun!" She walked towards him.

"Han?" He was still half distracted, but looked up feeling her presence infront of him.

"Tum ussy lagy huye ho!" She complained, placing her hands on the sides of her waist.

"Tou aap sy lag jata hun." Shaheer closed his laptop in one swift motion and placed it aside. His attention entirely on her who was flushing red now.

She cleared her throat then it took her a while to get back on track with her thoughts. She rambled on about the meaning behind each of her paintings. She could go on like this for hours. She never seemed to run out of ideas. The possibilities she could think of would amaze people.

"The starry night painting took the longest and it's my personal favourite. If you focus on the centre for a few seconds, it appears to be morphing and wavy."

Shaheer was focused on her, but the way she swayed her hands, the way her lips surged upwards to reveal her bright smile, the way he could see the spark in her shimmering eyes while talking, distracted him. He tried to catch up with the torrent of her words.

"Are you listening? Are you bored? What if nobody asks for the names of my paintings? Or the meaning behind them? They're like my babies, how will I sell them away? What if nobody buys any? What if nobody shows up near my stall?" After a bunch of more what ifs, she turned his way. "Am I overthinking too much?"

Shaheer got up and walked near her standing figure by the open closet as she was deciding on what to wear while talking to him. "I'm an overthinker who even overthinks about overthinking." She bashed herself.

"When you overthink, you create problems that don't even exist." He tucked the strands of her hair behind her ear habitually, "So relax and let things flow in the way they're planned." He assured her gently.

"Tum tou aao gy na?" She asked with hopeful eyes.

"I will, but I'm pretty sure you'll be too busy to pay attention to me." He replied, discarding away all her doubts with a confident statement. He didn't give a direct answer to her worries but his one line answer meant, 'people will surround your stall, appreciate your work, buy your paintings' so you'll be too busy. This was just his way.

"In a room full of art I'd still be staring at you." Gule announced, cupping her own face in her hands with a grin. He raised his brows, then he was shaking his head but the small shy smile on his lips couldn't hide the impact her words had on him.

"Yeh sab unn movies sy seekhti ho?" He folded his arms.

"Tumhy bhi isi liye dikhati hun lekin tum tou kuch seekhty nahi." She rolled her eyes, saying in a disappointed tone as she moved to pull out her hanged clothes. "Galti sy apni ikloti biwi ki tareef kar do gy tou kuch chala nai jaye ga."

She'd never sounded so innocently annoyed and looked so adorably cocky before. Shaheer couldn't help but laugh. Gule stilled with the dress in her hand as she turned to witness the rare sight she'd longed for inwardly.

It was the second time she heard him laugh. Out loud. Like that. Freely. Openly. With his heart. And God, it sounded beautiful. Much more beautiful than she could ever imagine. Much more serene than the first time.

"I'll keep that in mind, Gulunu." He said in between, his crinkled eyes looking at her. The use of nickname further attacked her abnormal system. He had already walked away, it took her a while to get back to Earth. She composed herself and the inner tsunami her heart caused inside her ribcage.

"Acha, choose. Which one looks better?" She held onto the hangers of two of her dresses, joining each to her front. He eyeballed them both then shrugged. "Whichever you want." Gule frowned.

"You look good in everything." He remarked before she could complain or protest. Her opened mouth fell silent and with a tiny smirk on his face, he went out of the room with his laptop. Gule bit her lower lip, tossing the clothes on the bed. He actually kept it in mind, she shouldn't have said anything.

After deciding on wearing the blue dress with Radwa's help, she was standing by the dressing table and brushing her hair. He came back in and walked towards his side table, opening and closing it's drawer.

She glanced at him and continued brushing her hair which had grown longer, reaching till her lower back. Maybe she should get a haircut. She wondered then holding them altogether at the back, she was thinking if she should simply tie a pony or braid them nicely so they don't bother her at night.

"I love it when you put your hair in a braid." He said bringing her out of her dilemma. She smiled and with her arms high up, begin dividing them into three parts. Her shoulders grew tired in just a few seconds and she slumped her arms, still holding onto the divisions.

"Mein kar dun?" He offered, stepping behind her. Gule looked at his reflection behind her, "tumhy aati hai?"

"Meri mama karti thi. Unko dekh kar banani aa gai." He answered while securing her divided hair in his hands, his fingers brushing against hers as she let go. The mention of his mother from his mouth was a shock for Gule.

After marriage, the only time they'd talked about her was when Gule had found an old photo frame of her picture among his piled stuff. She had beautiful amber eyes just like him. His eyes were beautiful just like his mother's, she had corrected herself, but Shaheer had put it back in his stuff and went away without a word.

She'd asked him about her that night but all he said was she died in a fire accident with cold voice and dark expressions. No details of how, when, where. So she'd concluded, his mother was a sensitive topic that she shouldn't bring up.

"Unky baal bhi tumhari tarah lamby thy." He told her and this time, she felt the hint of pain in his voice. She was staring at his reflection behind her.

"Tumhy lamby baal pasand hein?" She asked, changing the topic. She didn't want to ask him a question about his mother, just in case. He nodded behind her, his chin reaching just above her head.

"Acha, ab mein nai katwaun gi." She decided, her words made him smile lightly. He was done with the braid and she turned around, her braid rounding over her shoulder to the front as he still held onto it, between them. He took the band from her hand and tied it.

Then he let go of it as it rested on her front the same way from over her shoulder, a few short strands peeling out around the sides of her face. He began fishing something out of his pocket and Gule realized they were standing way too close.

He opened the red velvety box and took out the thin golden chained necklace with a tiny amber crystal hanging in the middle. Stars shimmered in her sparkly eyes at the sight.

He moved forward to place the box behind her, his shoulder brushing with her body as her legs touched the table behind her. There was no space for her to move.

Without a word, he unlocked the hook of the necklace and decorated it around her neck. The tip of his fingers grazed across the skin of her neck as he tried sweeping the necklace from below her braided hair. Gule felt goosebumps rise all over her body.

Once done, he eyed the necklace between her sharp collarbones, then gazed into her eyes, "perfect." He murmured. They stood there, unmoving, amber eyes on coffee brown ones.

Desire dragged their eyes down to each other's lips. Gule grabbed the top of the dressing table behind as her breathing deepened, her chest rose and fell due to the close proximity.

Shaheer's adam apple bobbed up and down, his eyes trapped, hypnotized by her. The tension that lay between them grew tauter with every passing second as he drew closer with a small step.

Gule leaned further into the table, her hands holding her up as her legs almost gave in when he pressed his lips against her cheek and kissed her there. He then tucked the strands of her hair behind her ear.

He didn't move, their faces right next to each other, but he waited for a sign or permission from her end. She moved her arms around his shoulders then slowly ran the tips of her fingers through the nape of his neck. The touch coaxed him closer to her, their bodies desperately pressing into each other.

His hands went to hold her by the waist, his back bending to match her height. Their faces were so close that his breath was mingling with hers. Gule was staring into those amber orbs from up so close and she felt like they held the beauty of the entire universe in them.

He closed his eyes, like he was forcing himself to hold back, it pulled down at her heart as she slid her hand to caress his right cheek. He leaned into the touch, holding her tighter.

Her lips grazed his in a slow, feather-like touch, but before they could go any further, the sound of her phone ringing echoed in the silent room pulling them out of the trance.

The phone was next to her on the dressing table and they separated their bodies from one another embarrassingly fast. The call was from Neelofer baaji and Gule couldn't ignore her call knowing she only ever called to talk about her father.

She answered the phone call after gaining her composure as Shaheer was still standing there in a state of shock. The sound of crying from the other end was so loud that even he heard it.

Gule turned white, her frail body went limp and she would've dropped on the floor if not for Shaheer catching and holding her firmly.

The temperature in the room which had suddenly dropped, became freezing cold turning her being into ice. Her father had passed away.

//8 months later//

The sting of losing her father, the most important and beloved figure in her life, lingered like an indelible ache, etching a permanent scar in her soul. The sorrow gripped her heart like never before.

It was as if she was back to being the little girl who used to lock herself up in the room to cry her heart out when her mother had abandoned her and her father's sickness had taken over him.

Nothing made her happy. Nothing made her come out. She'd locked herself up in a shell. Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. Gule's depressed state didn't show any signs of the liveliness she had before.

She couldn't accept the fact that her father had also left her and was no more. However, life persists like an unyielding spirit. It keeps moving forward, dragging the broken fragments of the past.

During the first month, she'd barely talked or shed tears. The state of denial she was in had left Shaheer in as much agony. He never left her side, but it was as if she wasn't seeing or hearing anyone and anything.

After the burial, he'd somehow managed to bring her out of her father's room where she'd locked herself up for a week and brought her back to their home. But Gule's condition just worsened.

She'd once woken up in the middle of the night and left the house. Shaheer was thankfully awake and had followed behind her. She aimlessly walked on the street and if not for him stopping her by the main road, she'd have caused an accident.

He managed to bring her back home as she'd struggled to run out again. "Let go of me! Leave me alone. Everyone always leaves. Baba left. You'll leave too." She had pushed him away, crying hysterically. His heart broke hearing the words, as he caressed her face.

"I won't let go. Okay? I will never leave you. I will always be here. You will never be alone." He had promised with utmost sincerity and hugged her in a tight embrace.

After that, Shaheer knew he couldn't leave her alone at home to go for work so he requested for a position to work from home. He was shifted to the research team and did the online digging, asking Hunain to visit the sites from where he wanted more information.

Him being around her 24/7 had helped Gule to rely on him. She'd sit on his lap when he worked and hug him to feel his presence. She sometimes woke up in the middle of the night calling his name out like a chant. "Shaheer? Shaheer?"

"I'm right here." He'd reassure by pulling her closer and gently stroking her hair as she'd dip her face in the crook of his neck. His presence had become a much needed comfort for her, but he knew she needed psychological help to get back in her normal state.

Soon, she had started spending most of her time in painting. Her paintings had been displayed and gained recognition at the exhibition even though she couldn't be there, they'd all been sold out.

The therapy sessions helped her get better. Radwa was another important figure who helped her remain sane and stuck with her as always. She forced Gule to start an art page which really helped her to focus on her art career.

Shaheer rejoined work and everyday, he'd come home to find her with her brushes and canvas. He'd kiss her head and ask her, "how're you today?" as she'd smile and tell him about her day. Him cracking silly jokes out of his character often made her laugh and feel grateful.

However, times when she missed her father caused the same amount of pain in her heart each time. One night, she had hidden herself in the study to cry while crouching on the floor when Shaheer had found her.

"I'm trying to be strong, but," a sob had left her mouth as tears rushed their way out of her eyes like always. She felt pathetic.

"Being sensitive does not equate to weakness, Gule." He settled down next to her on the floor, scooping her closer in his embrace.

"I never imagined it would be this painful." She cried out, rubbing her chest. It felt as if her heart would burst out of there due to clenching with pain.

"No pain is everlasting and unbearable." He assured and then quoted the words she'd said to him in the car when he'd told her he was an orphan.

"Death is a part of life. Or maybe death is what life is. We don't know when we or someone we hold dear to us leaves forever. Everyone eventually has to leave."

Acceptance is the key to healing. Moving on is not a dismissal of the past, but a courageous stride toward healing, a commitment to honoring the departed by embracing life anew.

Gradually, she was getting back to being her usual self and her condition improved a lot. She started complaining like before, making plans with him, cracking silly jokes. She'd learnt to live with the pain.

Just like that, 8 months had gone by painfully and slowly. Shaheer still didn't let his guard down or stop being cautious about her. He was afraid she was pretending to be alright and still grieving the loss. The distant look of agony still lingered in her eyes even when she'd smile.

It was night time when Gule quietly sneaked out of their bedroom. She'd done so quite a few times as Shaheer continued pretending to sleep. Gule went into the study.

The walls of the study room were adorned with Gule's paintings and shelves were neatly organized with various art supplies. It looked more like an art gallery now.

Gule cautiously approached Shaheer's wooden desk. As she opened the drawer of the table, a faint creak echoed through the room. There it was, nestled among papers and pens. The cold metallic object.

As she pulled it out, she felt herself slightly shiver. It was a sleek, black handgun. The one Shaheer had pointed at her in their second meeting.

She'd overheard Hunain talking to Shaheer about it the previous week. He did not have a license for this gun which meant it was illegal. It's weight felt unsettling in her hands.

The gun that he carried when going for work was different. Why was he hiding an unlawful weapon while he worked as an agent for ISI? Questions raced through her mind when she heard the door opening behind her.

Gule tightened her hold on the gun, turning her head to look at Shaheer standing by the door with a panicked look in his eyes.

"Put that gun down, Gule." Shaheer cautiously took a step forward. He looked scared. He was thinking she's going to harm herself, Gule realised.

She hesitated, staring at the item. Then turned back at him, her lips turning upwards into a small smile. "Don't worry, I'm not weak enough to have suicidal thoughts."

Shaheer didn't budge still staring at the gun in her hold. "I was just looking for some stapler pins, thought you'd have some in your drawer." Gule explained, pointing the gun at the stapler on the table.

Her hand seemed to have been accustomed to the light-weighted dangerous item. "Do you remember our second meeting? You pointed a gun at me. Like this." She further rambled, the gun near her chin when Shaheer strode forward to snatch it away from her hand.

Discarding it back in the drawer, he closed it with a jerk causing her to flinch. Holding her hand in a rather soft grip, he guided them back to their bedroom. Gule bit her lip, silently settling on the bed.

Questions raced through her mind, but the room remained silent, as if holding it's breath. She couldn't dare to ask him anything. He was filling up a glass of water and instead of drinking it himself, he offered it to her.

After gulping two sips down, she handed it over to him. "I'm okay, Shaheer. Really." She assured as he seemed to have been too shocked.

"I'll get rid of it." He finally spoke. In fact, he should've gotten rid of it long ago. Zarar had given it to him and he still hadn't found evidence against him, which meant he was still out there plotting to cause harm. Having the gun kept reminding him of this unsolved rivalry.

He had never mentioned anything regarding him to Gule. Opening up about his past was still hard for him. The look in her eyes when she looked at him with the gun in her hand. It was suspicion. He could read her like an open book to know what she's thinking.

"Do you-"

"I'm sleepy." She shifted the topic swiftly moving to lie down on the bed, her back towards him.

He stood there staring at her back for a few seconds. He was not ready to open up and she was ready to wait for him. It was like a silent understanding between them. But for how long could she wait? And for how long was he going to delay it?

Morning came faster than she thought. She woke up to find Shaheer lying close to her, leaving his side of the bed almost empty. His hand was placed over her stomach as she carefully removed it to get up.

She turned to face him, putting her weight on the elbow. His face was squished and he looked like an adorable child while sleeping. She felt bad for scaring him like that yesterday.

Carefully, she leaned forward to land a silent peck on his cheek. He was a light sleeper, so she slowly sat upwards sliding one of her legs down to get up when her arm was softly grasped.

"One more?" His raspy morning voice filled the silence as he pulled her towards himself. Her head landed back on the pillow. Surprised, she tilted her face towards his. With his sleepy eyes, he stared into her eyes then at her lips.

Gule gulped, her mouth opening and closing. Hopefully, she wasn't drooling. He moved forward, burying her face into his chest while caressing the back of her head.

Cuddling was something very normal for them, but they'd never gotten more intimate. It was always him stopping himself at the most perfect timings leaving her to wonder why'd he just not go for it!

His alarm started ringing right after, startling her out of her trance. "You're gonna be late." She tried wiggling out of his hold.

"Five minutes." He insisted with his eyes closed but Gule pushed him away, surprisingly hard. Confused, he watched her get off the bed as she stomped towards the bathroom, shutting the door with a bang.

With his upper body weight on both his elbows at the back, he stared at the bathroom door then dropped back on the bed to think where he went wrong.

After he left for work, Gule felt bad for acting up. She'd ignored him at the breakfast table too. It's not like he'd know the reason, being an anti-romantic.

She realised that maybe he was just being considerate of her. She'd received the worst news of her life when they were ready to step closer. Then she'd avoided him, pushed him away, relied on him, all while considering her own feelings only.

He'd done everything he could for her. So this time, she'd be the one to do something for him. With that thought, she planned to arrange a surprise for him by decorating the house for a romantic date night.

She got most of the stuff delivered to the house, including flowers, fairy lights and snacks. She didn't want to risk cooking and making a mess so she decided to microwave popcorns.

He usually arrived home around 8:00 PM, and it was 6:00 PM while she was almost done decorating the living room with the fairy lights. Turning off the other lights, she turned the colourful fairy lights on to see how they looked.

She decided to turn on the TV to experiment how the movie night vibe would be as it switched on to the news channel, which Shaheer usually watched in the morning during breakfast.

With the remote in her hand, she was about to change the channel but the news appearing on the channel made her pause as she stared at the screen in a state of shock.

The headline wrote 'Famous Actress, Sitara Gul's Daughter caught in a Club Scandal.'

In a surprising turn of events, the daughter of a renowned actress, Sitara Gul, has found herself at the center of a scandal following a night out at an exclusive club. The former model, Gule Shah, known for her secretive personal lifestyle, was captured by paparazzi in a series of compromising situations that have left the entertainment industry buzzing.

With the following words, the news kept repeating a footage of her in a club, arm to arm with a guy, leaning onto his chest as she was stumbling, clearly looking drunk. Every face was blurred out except for hers.

This latest development has cast a shadow over Sitara Gul's previously untarnished image and has left fans and industry insiders wondering how this incident will impact her career and relationship with her daughter. As the story continues to unfold, the public awaits further details and official responses from those involved.

The footage was ending with her entering inside a room with the guy and anybody watching would say she'd walked in by choice. She was being called a characterless woman on a news channel!

She blanked out staring at the clip as they continued saying something about her art career and shaming her abhorrently. Time seemed to have stopped as memories rushed back to her.

Her entire body felt numb as she heard the front door opening. She was not ready to face him. She wished for the ground to split open or to just drop dead right there.

She hadn't even realised her face was wet with tears until she blinked herself back to reality and turned around to face him. Shaheer stood in the darkness of the living room, while the colourful lights fell on her face.

"M-mein," Gule stuttered, shaking her head as new tears blurred her vision, "Mein aisi nahi hun." She pleaded with desperation evident in her eyes. Her hands were shaking, the remote long lost on the floor as she staggered towards him.

Shaheer blankly stared at her without a response. She clenched onto his shirt, feeling helpless at his lack of reaction. "It isn't true," she whispered again, her voice cracking with a mix of frustration and disbelief.

Shaheer reassuringly touched her shoulder gently. "Mujhy pata hai." He spoke in a hushed tone, assuring with certainty. "I trust you."

Three words and she felt like she could breathe again.

His reassurance was not just spoken; it was a lifeline. As Gule absorbed his words, relief softened her tense features. Nothing else mattered.

"I-I should've told you....back then...back when...he showed...up," she stuttered and sniffed trying to form a proper sentence.

The guy who had followed her after their marriage. He was the guy in the clip next to her. She hadn't forgotten his face. She should've told Shaheer when he'd asked, but she couldn't get herself to say anything.

Shaheer made her sit on the sofa, rubbing her back to calm her down. He glanced at the TV screen, his jaw clenching with anger as the footage replayed.

"When is this from?" He queried as it clearly seemed to be an old clip. He was sure of the fact that she'd never have gone there by choice.

"It's from the time when I," Gule sniffed as more tears blurred her vision from thinking about the memory, "when I had started modelling."

After her third shoot, the team offered to take her out on a celebratory dinner since her first shoot launch had been extremely successful. She couldn't deny being new to the unknown industry and went along with them.

Unaware that they celebrated in an elite class club with champagnes and fancy parties. Her discomfort was evident when they arrived, but they made her follow along with chants of 'oh c'mon, it's fun!'

She knew nobody there and hid herself in a corner. The girl she had the shoot with that day came next to her. "You must be feeling out of place, I was like that too the first time I got dragged into this." She smiled sympathetically.

"Here, it's grape juice." She offered her the glass she had in her hand. Gule hesitated. "I haven't had a sip yet." She added, still smiling.

If it were a man offering her that, she'd never in her life accepted it. But her throat felt dry and she really needed a drink. Trusting the girl, she accepted it and drank it all in a few sips.

Gradually, it started hitting her and her head spun and her surroundings moved in weird motions. Someone grabbed her from around the shoulders, "let me help you out," a deep male voice entered near her ear.

She blinked to clear her vision and read his facial features. Her brain had memorised that face and she'd seen it in her nightmares multiple times after that night.

When he entered the room with her, someone had followed behind them right before he could lock it. It was Sameer. She was under the influence of the drug so she couldn't quite catch what happened between them. He made her drink some water.

Sameer was the one who had helped her and brought her back home and she was grateful to him unaware of the fact that he had similar intentions as well until the hotel incident where Shaheer had saved her.

She wondered if he was the one behind this since he knew about the incident.

"Ruman Haider Shah was released yesterday." Shaheer informed while looking down at his lap, "he put the entire blame on his son and cleared his own name to get out."

Gule was shocked. That man was merciless enough to give up on his son to save himself. But if Sameer was in jail, then could it be Ruman who leaked this news?

"Do you think it's his doing?" Gule asked with widened eyes. But what would he gain out of doing this to her? Tarnishing her mother's reputation couldn't be his goal. Did he want to avenge Shaheer by ruining her image?

"I'll look into it. You don't worry and don't think about it, okay?" Shaheer rubbed her arm, giving it a slight squeeze reassuringly. She nodded.

"Is all this for me?" He had obviously paid attention to the decoration and Gule almost burst out crying again when his question brought her attention back to her surprise.

"Yes, I wanted to," She sniffed, covering her face, "surprise..." She left her statement incomplete.

"Well," Shaheer removed her hands from her face, his arm encircled around her shoulders as he said, "we both got surprised instead. So I'll go and return the favour to whoever did it."

Gule stared at him with puffy eyes, her lips quivering downwards, nodding like a child. "I'll leave if you stop crying now and go to bed with no more overthinking."

He took her to the bedroom, then brought her a warm glass of milk before tucking her into bed. He stayed there stroking her hair until she fell asleep.

His expressions grew hard as he left the house with the intention to find and crush whoever was behind it. His first stop was at the station where Sameer was locked up.

"The video was in my laptop. My father had all my gadgets seized two days ago to transfer all the data as proof and frame me in all his corruption. He must've found it."

This confirmed it was Ruman's doing, but Shaheer couldn't get himself to visit him. He knew the man was going to mock him with his freedom. He'd lost once again.

So he went to work instead and headed to the cyber team office. He requested the team leader to get the news removed from the online platforms. It was not allowed so he straight up refused.

"Let me have a talk with you." Hunain appeared and dragged the team leader away from his desk. "Look, you're here with me and not on your desk. So if your desk is left empty and someone uses your space without your permission, there's nothing you can do about it, right?"

Shaheer got into action and removed all the articles about the news, knowing well enough he'd be punished for it but he'll face the consequences. It was done and he went to his office as the higher ups received the complaint in some time.

He was soon summoned by the chief. Hunain was waiting in his office to be called along with him, but his name was not forwarded. He was friendly with everyone so they hadn't snitched on him.

"Isi liye kehta hun, meri tarah socializa kiya karo." He boasted. Shaheer went to the chief's office who was seething as always. He threw the letter on the desk.

"You can't use your position to solve personal matters, Shaheer." He scolded, "this is your last warning." Shaheer silently grabbed the letter of suspension from the desk and left.

Hunain leaped towards him as he entered his office and quickly grabbed the letter. "Shukar karo one week ky liye hi suspend kiya hai." He skimmed through the page stating the period of time, but Shaheer seemed to have no regret over his actions.

Meanwhile at home, Gule was curled up on the settee with Radwa who had come to visit her. She'd been cussing at Ruman Haider Shah, being certain that he was the one behind it.

"Aisi giri hui harkat woh aadmi hi kar sakta hai!" Radwa was fuming with rage over the news. She was the only person who'd been there for Gule after the incident happened. She still was there and Gule was grateful.

"Acha, jab sy aai ho kos rahi ho sab ko." Gule got off the settee, clipping her hair. "Would you like some tea?" She asked and Radwa instantly nodded.

She followed behind Gule, sitting on the counter chair of the open kitchen. Shifting the topic, she continued talking as Gule turned on the stove.

Gule's phone ringing interrupted them. Radwa went to grab it since she was closer.

"Inhi ki call ka tou intezar tha humein!" She frowned upon seeing the contact name. It was her mother calling. Gule rushed to grab the phone from her hand.

"Don't pick up." Radwa stopped her knowing well enough she was going to make the entire ordeal more miserable for Gule.

"Let me talk. I don't want her to come here looking for me. I know she will." Gule responded helplessly. She knew, sooner or later, her mother was going to contact her.

The scandal was a huge blow on her career than on Gule's. As she picked up the call, a series of insults flowed her way from the other end.

She didn't even bother to ask Gule about the rumor. But then again, Gule knew she didn't care about her. She'd only called because ostensibly she'd been a loving mother in front of her guests at the parties and on social media platforms.

Her name was going around in the news for it to grab more attention or else this wouldn't have affected her one bit.

"I'll come to see you tomorrow morning at your house." Gule managed to say the moment she went silent.

"As you should!" Ting. The call was cut off from the other end and she was left staring at her phone screen blankly.

"What's the punishment for committing homicide again?" Radwa asked in all seriousness as Gule gave her a disapproving look.

"There are too many people though." Gule added after a few seconds making her chuckle. "I'll take down every one of them for you, my girl!"

"Well, the only positive aspect of this news is her name getting dragged down like this. I hated how she posted your artworks' posts on her stories like she was a proud mother!" Radwa complained.

She'd suggested Gule to block her the first time she did it, but the followers increased tremendously after she did it. Thus, Radwa let it be. Gule knew how much her mother cared about her social image and blocking her would've led to too much unnecessary drama.

"Hold on! All the articles are gone." Radwa exclaimed as she was searching it up to report all the hate comments. "They've been taken down!?"

Gule googled Sitara Gul's name on her phone to find no recent news or articles about her there. They couldn't have just disappeared in thin air. Someone had done it and she knew exactly who'd have gone to such an extent to do it for her.

"Guess you don't need me to take down anyone for you. Your husband's doing the job." Radwa stated while smiling as Gule felt her heart fill up with gratitude.

Later in the night, when he returned home she hugged him in a tight embrace. He was everything she'd ever wanted. His kindness towards her made her wonder if she even deserved him.

The next morning, they got done with breakfast when Gule decided to inform him about her plan to visit her mother.

"I'm going to meet my mother today." She told him while picking the dishes from the table.

"Can I go with you?" He followed behind her to the kitchen, carrying the glasses to the sink. He wasn't asking, he was requesting.

"I'll be fine." She smiled reassuringly. He couldn't insist after seeing her trying to act strong.

"Text me when you arrive, or just call me if you need me to come pick you up, okay?" He made her look at him to make sure she understood.

"Okay." She agreed with a nod.

"I'll always be here for you, you know that right?" He hugged her, caressing the back of her head with one hand.

Gule rested her head over his chest, listening to his heartbeat which always provided her with comfort and calmness, warmth spreading through her. Planting a kiss on top of her head, he let go.

He hadn't told her about his suspension, not wanting to disturb her. He was digging up on a drug dealing case, so he decided to unofficially visit the site and left at his usual work hour.

To delay meeting her mother, Gule took her time to get ready and went by the afternoon in her car. She drove slowly and mentally prepared herself for the worst of reactions. She'd tell her the rumour wasn't her fault.

Texting Shaheer that she'd left and arrived safely, she got off the car and rung the bell. A maid opened the door and took her inside. She couldn't even sit down on the sofa as she heard footsteps approaching.

"What have you done?! What have you been going around doing?!" She shouted at her as soon as she entered the lounge. Gule clenched her fists, the helplessness she felt upon seeing her mother resurfaced like every time.

"My daughter in a club scandal? The daughter who always acts all pious and mighty gets caught in a club scandal, all drunk, with a man embracing her cl-"

"Stop it. I did not....I'm not....I-" She could not form a proper sentence. Feeling weak, dejected, helpless.

"What do you think your dead father would say if he saw this?" Her mother knew her weak spot really well and she decided to hit her there right away.

"Don't mention baba jaan!" She screamed back, shaking.

"Why not? Is this how he raised you?" She taunted with disdain.

"DON'T! Not another word against him or I'll forget you're the woman who gave birth to me and every other reason he's taught me to respect you for!" She pointed a finger at her, anger overbearing all the other emotions she felt.

Gule closed her eyes, letting out a sarcastic chuckle. This woman, who was her mother, as always managed to hurt her again. Gule always let her rude remarks, cruel words get to her because she'd loved her mother like every child.

But her mother had never loved her.

Maybe deep down, she'd always wanted her mother to say one nice word to her. To accept her. To love her. It took her too long to realise, the fault was not in her own self, but in this woman she called mother. It was impossible for her to love anyone.

"Do you know what? Before coming here, just for a small moment, a tiny part of my heart wondered, she'd know I did not do anything on purpose, she'd know I'm not such a girl and it must've been a trap, she'd understand, she's my mother after all!" She roughly wiped her tears, feeling nothing but rage. At her own self for still having expectations and hopes regarding this woman. "But I was wrong as always."

Her phone had been tinging continuously in her bag. As she finished talking, she harshly fished it out. Her angry outburst had left her mother silent.

The text messages were from an unknown number. Her frown deepened upon reading them.

Would you like to know the real face of your husband?

He is hiding a lot from you.

I'm your well wisher, Gule.

Meet me at the Grande hotel.

You have 30 minutes.

Tick tock.

Gule was taken aback and the messages completely distracted her from the conversation she was having. She turned around to leave, wondering who this person was.

"I'm not done yet. Where are you going?" Her mother stopped her.

"But I am done!" She voiced, glancing back at her one last time. "You're a terrible mother. I don't wish to see you ever again."

Declaring that, she left the house without hearing anything else. This was the first ever time she had a final say in front of her mother and oh, it felt so liberating.

She unlocked her car and sitting down on the driving seat, reread the texts. Her trust in him wasn't so weak that she'd trust a few text messages and go anywhere to meet up with a so-called well wisher.

She had to inform Shaheer about these. Whoever he was, must have something against him. Or was it another one of Ruman's tricks? Should she text back and confirm?

She thought, biting onto her lip, unsure if it was right for her to reply. It might make it look like she's interested to know about the information he wanted to provide her with, if any even existed.

She drove out of her mother's house, her mind still running wheels of guesses. Amidst the quest for answers, she noticed two cars following hers from both left and right sides.

Panic hit her nerves and she hit the race to increase the speed. She hadn't ever been followed in a car before and this was making her forget how to drive. She needed to drive out of the secluded community towards the main road.

She should call Shaheer. Her hands were shaking on the steering wheel as the cars started catching up with her speed, driving parallel to her car.

Just then her phone started ringing. It was Radwa. She thanked the heavens as she quickly answered the phone.

"God Ajwa, you're an angel!" She cried out, "I think I'm being followed! I need to tell Shahee-"

Noticing the phone in her hand, the car on the right crossed her, stopping the car right ahead of hers as she hit the brakes with a shriek.

"Gul, what's wrong? What happened? What do you mean-" Gule cut off the line as the man got out of the car with a gun pointed in her direction as a warning.

The other car stopped sideways making it impossible for her to drive away. The guy told her to unlock the car and get off. Gule hesitated, but when he shot a bullet in the sky's direction she obliged.

She was dragged out of the car and next she knew, the other man placed a cloth over her face making her lose consciousness.

When she gained consciousness, she found herself locked up in a room. It seemed to be under construction. She struggled to free herself from the rope binding her hands together at the back with a rod.

"It's useless. Don't waste your energy on that." A voice echoed through the room.

"I've been wanting to meet you." The ominous tone sent shivers down her spine, prompting her to freeze. She peered cautiously around the corner.

"It really upset me when you ignored my texts like that, Gule." He appeared before her, crouching down to her level. She'd never seen this man before. "Shaheer is a fraud. He's hiding so many secrets from you. Don't you want to know?"

"If I want to know something about my husband, I'll directly ask him for the answers. Kisi gali ky kuttay sy kuch nai sunna mujhy!" She spat at his face only to receive a hard slap across her face, causing her to lose her sanity as the world spun in circles.

Shaheer. His amber eyes appeared in her hazy vision as tears trickled down her face.

Shaheer arrived home earlier than usual only to find Radwa sitting by the doorsteps of the main entrance in a panicked state. She did not have his number so she couldn't contact him.

"You're finally here! Gul, she's, she is kidnapped." She frantically got up, informing him.

"What?" He was still on his bike as he paused upon hearing her.

"She call- No, I called her and she said she was being followed and then I heard her scream and then the line got cut off. I went to the police station and told them I think my best friend's been kidnapped but they said they only take the complainant after 8 hours of disappearance!" She said it all in one breath, panting by the end.

"Kisi kaam ki nai hai yahan ki police! 8 ghanton mein dunya idher sy udher ho jaye insan ki." She cursed at them, holding back tears. Shaheer had taken out his phone, dialling Gule's number on it. Concern and worry overtook his features when it didn't ring.

"She won't pick up, yahan cheekh cheekh ky bata rahi hun she's been kidnapped!!" Radwa screamed at him, who was still in disbelief. "I think it's Ruman Haider Shah's doing!" She added.

Shaheer opened the tracking app, which had her phone's location on it 24/7 even if it was switched off. It displayed to be Grande hotel. Why would she be there?

"I'll go find her." He said and drove the bike out of the house.

"You better bring her back safe and sound!" Radwa shouted on top of her lungs from the back.

He arrived at the destination. He kept calling on her number several times, but it was switched off. He entered inside and two bodyguards caught his attention in a very familiar uniform.

He'd stolen that uniform so of course he'd remember it. Ruman Hairer Shah's men. He was sitting on the sofa behind them. Without a single thought, he leapt to attack the men.

The fight caused havoc and his sudden appearance made Ruman Haider Shah jump up from his place as Shaheer took down both his men in no time. The staff panicked as the few guests rushed to leave.

"Where is my wife?" He asked with clenched teeth, anger dripping through his tone.

"Tameez sy baat karo, larkay-" Before he could finish, Shaheer strode towards him and pushed him backwards, grabbing the older man with his collar.

Ruman fell on the sofa behind him as Shaheer bent forward, giving him a deathly glare. He tensed with fear under his strong grasp.

"If you dare touch her, or I find even a strand of her hair missing, you're dead meat, budhay." He swore, the threat hung heavy in the air, echoing the depth of his determination to protect her at any cost.

"Now, I'll repeat my question." Shaheer tightened his hold on the collar, choking him. "Where is Gule?"

"Mujhy nai pata. Mein bhi ussi ka intezar kar raha hun." He uttered hoarsely, eyes wavering with fear. "Ussi ny mujhy message kar ky yahan bulaya hai!"

Ruman knew he had no strength to fight against the man who took down his armed bodyguards in one go. So without struggling to get out of his hold, he handed him his phone to show the message he'd received from Gule's number.

Shaheer read the message which was indeed sent from her number. But he instantly knew it was not typed by her. The texting style was not Gule's and the context was something she'd never have said.

Ruman uncle mein aap se maafi mangna chahti hun

aur kuch batana chahti hun Shaheer ky baare mein

Please don't ruin my image like this because of him

Meet me at Grande hotel

He let go of the collar realising it was a trap for him and Ruman both. This filthy old man wasn't lying because if he did know of Gule's whereabouts, he'd have threatened Shaheer instead of being scared.

"Usska phone yahan par hi hai." Ruman coughed out, pointing at the table. He had thought she was in the bathroom so he'd been waiting for her.

Pocketing her phone, he walked away towards the reception to request to check the CCTV footage of the hotel. He used his agent card and was guided to the security room.

There was no sign of Gule in the footages, but a suspicious looking man entered with a cap and settled on the sofa. He kept his head down so his face wasn't caught in the camera. He got up and left after a minute. Leaving a phone behind. It was her phone.

This confirmed that she was in danger and Shaheer cursed at himself for letting her go all alone. If not Ruman, then there was one person who came to his mind. Zarar.

However, his rivalry was with Shaheer and no matter how low that man was, he kept his principles of not going after family members since he himself had a family to protect as well.

He drew a blank and returned to their house, in case she'd be back. If someone did kidnap her they should've called by now for whatever they wanted in return.

With every minute, the panic in his heart increased. He called Hunain to come to his place. Upon reaching home, he found Hunain's car parked outside already as he was nearby. He jumped out of the car as Shaheer got off his bike.

"Kya hua? Tum sy bhabhi goom gai? Kab? Kesy? Kahan?" Hunain attacked him with questions as he walked ahead and entered the house.

"It's serious. I think she's been kidnapped." Shaheer said in a serious tone. His face not hiding the worry in his heart.

"Detail mein batao mujhy." Hunain turned serious, settling down on the sofa after kicking his shoes off while taking his laptop out of his bag. Shaheer told him everything till the hotel footage. He suspected Zarar too, but he doubted he would risk doing something like this after months of silence.

"Where could she be goddammit!" He let out in a frustrated voice, his mind on edge.

"Bhabhi wo necklace pehen ky rakhti hein na?" Hunain asked out of nowhere, while typing something on his laptop.

"What?" Shaheer gave him a confused look.

"I think," Hunain spoke, "I might know where she is."

Without wasting a second, Shaheer rushed towards his side, analysing the screen which showed a tracker's location.

"You don't know shït about jewellery." Hunain begun with a smug smile, "with the current technology, you can attach a GPS not only inside a watch, but a necklace as well."

Shaheer remembered Hunain had gone to get the order for the amber crystal necklace he'd gifted Gule. Since he was friends with a jewellery shop's owner.

"You got a GPS tracker installed in my wife's necklace without my knowledge?" His tone was deadly making Hunain gulp as he let out a nervous chuckle.

"It's not like I stalked her everyday or something! Look, I just activated it today! Right now! Abhi! Tumhary saamny!" He defensively clarified.

"The jewellery shop owner is also a small hacker and he likes experimenting with such stuff. Considering our friendship, he inserted it on his own and told me the day I went to pick it up. I didn't see the need to get it remade if it remained deactivated anyways. Not anyone's loss." He further explained clearly.

"Is this the developing area in the outskirts?" Shaheer zoomed into the location.

"Yeah, you can thank me later." Hunain rolled his eyes, searching for the exact place. Shaheer was right, it was a redeveloping site which had remained untouched for years now.

"Wait, this looks like a dangerous place. She'd never go there by herself-" Hunain was speaking as Shaheer grabbed onto his stuff preparing to leave right away.

"Mery saath jao, matlab mujhy saath ly kar jao!" Hunain hurriedly put down his feet to search for his shoes, prolonging his leg to pull them with his toes.

"Don't follow me. Stay here and keep a track of her location." Shaheer instructed and left in a hurry without hearing anything else.

He drove, almost flew, his bike to the location which was forty minutes away, reaching within fifteen minutes. The concrete building stood tall in the deserted area.

Leaving the bike nearby without a thought, he rushed inside with her in his mind as his heart was beating like crazy. He cautiously looked around the ground floor, entering every room.

Then proceeded to do so on every floor before reaching the top floor. In the eerie silence of the abandoned mall, he finally stumbled upon the dimly lit room where she was held captive.

His heart jumped to his throat upon seeing her tied up. The flickering light from a lone bulb revealed the distress in her eyes as she did not expect it to be him. It soon shifted to relief when he raced towards her.

"Are you okay?" He begun untying her hands whilst checking upon her. She nodded stifling back a sob as tears rolled down her eyes.

She didn't know what to say or how to react. She didn't know how he managed to find her but her heartbeat had fastened just by seeing him.

He untied her and examined her face closely, cupping her cheeks in his hands. The drop of blood oozing out of the corner of her lip caught his attention.

He clenched and unclenched his jaw. Gule parted her lips to speak, but the words got stuck in her throat as he brought his face closer and softly placed his lips on hers.

Her eyes widened and before she could register the sudden initiative, his lips began moving on hers as he deepened the kiss, tilting his head as he further pulled her face with his hand on the nape of her neck.

Gule closed her eyes, her hands clenching onto his shirt. He was kissing her.

The unexpected shift left her breathless, banishing her from every thought. He pulled away and she looked at him, her face fully red due to the heated moment.

"You found me." She breathed out, her heart erratically beating inside her chest.

"I'd even find you among a crowd of a hundred people," he declared, his determination cutting through the fiery amber eyes.

"Kanjoos kahin ke! Crowd of hundred people, tum value barhaane ke liye million bhi keh sakte thy." She choked out as she replied jokingly, to lighten his mood, the panic in his eyes was unnerving.

"You're one in a billion. No wait, one in a trillion or even one in a zillion," he said caressing her face and planting another kiss on her forehead.

Gule closed her eyes, the comfort and feeling of safety his presence provided her with took away all her fears in an instant.

"Shaheer, I-"

"Let's get out of here first." He stood up and helped her up carefully. His eyes roaming around to scan the location. He sensed danger and was on alert mode.

There was a window in the room and as he peeked out, his intuition was proven right. There was a group of men surrounding his bike as they began entering the building.

"Are you good at running?" He turned around to ask her as she quickly nodded. "Good. Let's go." Intertwining their hands together in a tight grip, they exited the room.

They sprinted through the dimly lit corridors as she kept staring at his back, blindly following behind him. Since the men were entering from the front side entrance, he had taken the back route stairs.

As they reached the second floor, danger seemed unavoidable. They ran into one of the men as they reached the edge of the last stair. He had a steel rod in his hand as he swung it in their direction with full force.

"Watch out," he exclaimed, pulling her to a halt just in time to dodge the blow. Moving her behind himself protectively, he grabbed the rod as the man went in for a second blow.

Twisting it out of the man's grip, Shaheer threw it away and landed two hard punches on both the sides of his face before smashing his head into the wall as he lost consciousness.

"Tum theek ho?" He turned around to check on her.

"Yeh tou hot tha," she remarked with amusement, catching her breath.

"Tum pagal ho?" He retorted in utter disbelief.

"Yeh tou rude tha," she quipped with a scowl.

He held her hand again, carefully stepping forward. She silently followed, not afraid at all anymore since she had him by her side.

They heard footsteps approaching towards their direction. Shaheer guided her towards the bundle of tanks discarded at the corner. Hiding her behind those, he let go of her hand.

"Yahan sy hilna mat, Gule. I'm warning you." He instructed, giving her a stern look. "I'll distract them, and you're going to run out when it's safe."

The hushed command hung in the air as she grabbed his hand with a smile. "I feel safe right now knowing you're here to save me." She whispered, her eyes reflecting a blend of gratitude and affection.

Shaheer couldn't lose focus in the situation and with a soft caress on her hand, he let go and left her there. She could soon hear fighting noises and as they grew nearer, she further crouched behind those tanks.

They were on the same floor now. She couldn't help but slightly peek from above and saw Shaheer hitting two men and dragging them away from the tanks by their neck.

Another man held him from the back to get his hands off their throats. One against three. She was once again impressed by how good he was at fighting. Just then one of them hit Shaheer on the leg, causing him to stumble, but he gained his composure instantly to kick him back.

She noticed another kidnapper sneaking in from the stairs which were behind Shaheer. He had a pocket knife in his hand. It was turning ugly and Shaheer hadn't seen him. Gule rushed out without a second thought.

The man closed in from behind, but before he could react, she swiftly intervened. Adrenaline coursing through her veins as she executed a well-timed kick, thwarting the attacker who was about to strike from behind.

"I told you I'd be better at kickboxing." She huffed, the tension momentarily broken by her impromptu act of bravery. The guy groaned on the floor, thwarted by her swift move.

Shaheer stared at her, a mix of awe and pride in his eyes. The other man moved forward to attack Gule but Shaheer was quick to react this time.

He fought with them as he simultaneously protected her. Getting a few hits here and there, he managed to take the men down. They continued their escape by rushing down to the ground floor.

They were almost by the exit when they heard a loud bang. A sudden flicker of flames illuminated outside the building, casting an ominous glow on their path. The way out was blocked by the fire.

The crackling fire revived haunting memories for him, the childhood trauma resurfacing as the flames danced eerily. He froze momentarily, the echoes of the painful past playing out before him.

He held her closer, hiding her into his chest while grappling with the resurgence of memories as the fire's glow flickered in his eyes.

"Shaheer, aag. What- What do we do now?" Gule panicked staring at the growing flames. Her brain was not functioning and she was only relying on him, not fully aware of the emotional storm he battled.

He looked at her brown eyes staring at him with fear and he knew he couldn't lose another precious person the same way. The urgency intensified, and he shook off the haunting memories, pushing forward to guide them away from the encroaching flames.

"There must be a way out," he muttered, a tremor in his voice betraying the underlying fear as he sought safety. They rushed towards the window as the fire had started off from the front and back side of the building.

Opening it, he helped her out of the building and jumped out quickly behind her as they huffed and puffed. There was no time to waste as he continued running away from the building holding her hand.

They were headed towards the road in front of the building. It was a deserted area so nobody would've noticed the fire yet. Upon reaching the edge of the road, he turned to glance back.

The fire had surrounded the building in a circle and it was clear someone had carefully poured petrol around it to trap them in. If it was one of those men, he must be around there.

The fire was growing rapidly and the building was soon going to catch it. He couldn't let the men passed out inside the building die like this. He had to question them for their actions. He took out his phone to call the fire brigade.

He didn't expect for his bike to still be where he left it. It had fallen over close to the fire making it dangerous to go near.

"Wait here, I'll go get the bike." He said but Gule stopped him. "No! Don't go near...Let's just wait for help."

"It's still dangerous to wait here. I need to get you, us, away from here. Okay?" He spoke and she heard the urgency in his voice.

With slow and heavy steps, he walked in the direction of the crackling fire. He was fighting against his fear today. The same fire that took away his mother from him. He was not going to let it harm anyone today.

He reached near his bike, sweat drops dripping down his forehead. Before he could pick it up, a car screeched its way through the road, taking a swift turn near where Gule stood.

Shaheer stomped forward recognising the car and its owner very well. While Gule calmed her heart down which had leapt to her throat.

A very familiar man came out of the car with eyes as wide as saucers, as he tied a white handkerchief around his face like a mask. "Oh shït!"

As Shaheer noticed a much taken aback Gule, he changed his direction to walk towards her to soothe her down. Another figure appeared from the shadows, approaching Shaheer at a fast pace from the back.

"Jojo, watch out!" Hunain's urgent cry pierced through the chaos. In the darkness of the night, as danger lurked, Shaheer turned just in time to see the looming threat. Before he could react, a selfless act unfolded.

In a swift and daring move, Hunain pushed Shaheer out of the way, taking the brunt of the impending attack. The air echoed with a gasp as the blade found a new target, slicing deep inside the skin.

Hunain grunted, grimacing from the sudden impact. The knife had pierced through his abdomen as the assailant pulled it out ruthlessly before running away.

"No!" Gule exclaimed in shock, springing forward towards them as Hunain dropped to the ground and Shaheer fell to his knees next to his figure.

//❄︎❄︎❄︎//

/Author's Note\

y'all while reading the beginning:

by the end:

kitna happening the yeh chapter 😭

matlab kya kya nai hua ?

shaadi ho gai , fluff scenes ho gaye , drug dealer reveal ho gaya, almost near death experience ho gaye , 8 months guzar gaye , meri ungliyan toot gai 💀

like i'm wondering mein kitni jahil thi this didn't deserve to be a short story cuz there's still the BIGGEST MYSTERY YET TO BE REVEALED 😫

mein apna hi word record har chap ky saath break kar rahi hoti hun like this is 30k+ words long & I'm wondering if y'all even read it all in one sitting or j get bored of such long ass chaps 😭

until the next update, stay safe , pretties 🌹

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