As the hotel they were staying at finally entered his field of vision, Saad let out a long-held sign of relief. The crescent Moon watched on as he and his family pulled their tired bodies out of the cars and made their way into their rooms.

They had decided they weren't going to stay for the wedding. It was too much in too little time. They needed a break, Saad needed a break.

So as soon as the morning ray hits them, they will leave for good old Karachi.

He tried his best to ignore the pang of emotions inside his exhausted heart. Saad didn't give it too much thought, already tired beyond his limits for the day.

Instead he just squeezed Maheer's hands that hasn't left his since their departure. His treacherous heart somehow still had the strength to leap in joy as she squeezed it back when they slowly walked towards their destination.

Her hands were smaller than his, softer too, just like her. Saad's were rough and course, full of blemishes, just like him. Saad loved holding Maheer's hand.

Even before Saad had fallen in love, when they were just two inseparable best friends, he loved holding her hands. It gave him a sense of safety in his most vulnerable moments.

"Malik?" Bhaktu's aged voice stopped them in their tracks. Saad motioned for Maheer to go ahead.

Letting go of her hands felt weird today. Maheer was not making it any easier.

She was again looking at him with that unreadable expression, as if she was seeing him for the first time.

Sighing, Saad looked away from the love of his life and walked back towards Bhaktu.

The old man was looking at him with teary eyes and a fond smile. There was something oddly charming about the man that puts him in ease, makes him want to share all his worried.

"Did you need something, Bhaktu?" Saad was honestly expecting another round of tears after consoling Maa Begum. But he was pleasantly surprise as a grin stretched across the man's wrinkled face.

"Malik, in my 50 years of service, I have looked after three generations of Khans and I intend to continue doing so with your and Malik's children." His voice held an undisputable promise.

"So please take great care of yourself, Malik and one day, if you feel you might need me to take care of you, then please do not hesitate to ask of me." Bhaktu gave his shoulders a light pat to drill in his words.

Saad, in return, gave the loyal man a big smile.

"And please keep this." He handed Saad a small diary. " It has some numbers you can call if you ever need help." Saad looked into it and as expected the little bluish diary held several numbers.

"Malik, may I make a request?" Bhaktu's voice, this time, came out in hesitation.

"You may, Bhaktu, you do not need to ask for permission." This man was a lot older than Saad. The fact that he was asking his permission made Saad incredibly uncomfortable.

"Will you please try to call the Khanaam atleast once a week, Malik?" Bhaktu looked downwards towards Saad's fidgeting hands. "You do not need to force yourself. But the Khanaam- she has waited for you a lot. Don't make her wait anymore."

"You didn't have to ask, Bhaktu. I was planning to do it anyway." Saad was relieved at the simple request.

He could do this much for the woman who gave birth to him.

"Then, I'll see you, Malik. Khuda Hafeez." With that, Bhaktu was off with all the men and the cars, leaving good old Saad in his solitude.

Saad liked the silence, the peace.

He wondered how Murtasim was able to tolerate the constant presence of men- bodyguards that surrounded him- servents that waited on him. It must be awfully suffocating.

Or not.

He was Murtasim, not Saad.

They were different.

They will always be different.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Maheer needed to get this job.

She absolutely did.

She could see her hands shiver as she pressed send.

It was going to be okay.

Her qualifications were more than enough for the job.

Yes, she was confident.

Oh! Who was she even kidding?

She was terrified.

She desperately wanted to get a job!

She thought back to the moment when she decided to finally make some use of her education and get a bloody job.

It was the moment when she saw Saad handing Meerab a candy, with his eyes full of gratitude and awe for the young girl who had stood up for him when his own wife couldn't utter a single word.

Saad looked like a child with his eyes shinning in admiration as he thanked Meerab constantly.

And Meerab?

The girl who was probably years younger than her?

She just smiled in return and said she would've done it for anybody.

That girl would've stood up for anyone, even for a man she barely knew whereas Maheer couldn't do a single thing for the same man whom she knew for years, who was her best friend!

How pathetic was that?

Maheer pitied herself. Not because she got her heart and self respect shattered into pieces! No, it was because she hadn't even tried to pick the pieces up and put them back together!

That's when Maheer had decided that she was going get a damn job and help Saad with all the payments.

It wouldn't be much with the starting salary but Maheer could work her way up. She could atleast pay for her father's medicines or contribute something to their savings.

Anything! Anything was better than wallowing in self pity!

Maheer wouldn't lie and say that she was all better now.

No, it till hurt, it hurt a lot when she thought about Areeb. But it hurt more when she thought about Saad.

Saad who was shouldering all the expenses, Saad who had to marry her, Saad who would never complain about any of it.

So she better get the job!

Closing the laptop, Maheer looked out of the silent car. No one had uttered a single word since they had started their journey back home.

It was weird.

Their family wasn't exactly the quietest.

It was like something was missing.

Maheer wouldn't have thought in her dreams that a simple trip to Hyderabad will end up in her questioning everything she knew.

Everything was suddenly so different.

She looked inside to see Saad, as usual, in his own world. He was biting his lips as he frowned at his laptop screen. He was constantly mumbling to himself as he typed something out.

In Maheer's eyes, there was something so endearing about Saad. She couldn't really describe it but whenever she looked at her best friend, she wanted to smile.

It was like this since they were mere children. Saad would try his hardest at every math problem and when he was stuck, he would keep mumbling to himself. It was quite a funny sight actually.

Sometimes Maheer wanted to smooth the frown lines and tell him that it's okay, that sometimes we just can't solve a maths equation on our own, that sometimes it's okay to ask for help.

She tried to think back to the point in their childhood when Saad changed but she only drew up blank.

She just knew at one point, as they went from children to adults, Saad stopped saying no. He stopped snatching her candy, stopped pulling on her hair.

He stopped being selfish.

As the car moved closer and closer to their home, Maheer hoped a day would come when Saad would start telling her everything again.

Maheer wanted that day to come very soon.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

So how did you like today's chapter??

And can somebody please tell why Maheer or Neelu doesn't work to help Saad in the show?? I mean, the Khans are old money traditional people but I don't see the same problem with Maheer's family! So seriously, why can't they get a job?

Anyway, vote if you like the chapter and comment your thoughts!!