"And this is the watch your father wanted you to have. He specially ordered two. One for Murtasim and one for you!" Murtasim's Maa said as she made Saad wear a leather strapped rolex. He couldn't help the smile that stretched on his face as he saw her talk about all of his birthday gifts. She was just so excited about everything.

Saad hoped his smiles had managed to conceal the storm inside his mind.

Birthday gifts! For him!

Shahnawaz Khan and Salma Begum kept a birthday gift for each birthday he missed. The gifts grew up too as he and Murtasim got older.

As Saad looked at the rolex on his wrist, he realized Murtasim's looked identical. Only Saad's one was new while Murtasim's looked used.

Two of each. One was used and cherished while the other waited, untouched in the closet, away from the light.

Unconsciously he rubbed the empty hand that wasn't wearing a watch worth a fortune.

This wasn't who he was. He was just Saad.

His hands weren't meant to wear this watch. He wasn't meant to get all these gifts.

All these lands, watches, fountain pens, sunglasses- it didn't suit Saad. It suited someone like Murtasim. Someone who was raised in the lap of luxury. Someone who knew what to do with them.

Saad was...he was meant for run-down cars, off-the-rack t-shirts, and second hand watches.

That's who he was.

Saad wanted to laugh at himself at that.

That's who he was? Really?

Who was he? Saad Hussain?

How could he be the old Saad when his father's eyes were still downcasted in guilt? When his mother couldn't bring herself to meet Salma Begum's eyes?

"May I be excused for a moment?" Maheer asked, all of a sudden, surprising Saad out of his thoughts.

"Yes, you may," Murtasim answered without looking up from his phone.

Does this guy always think people were asking him for permission?

And God, Maheer! Saad completely forgot about her sitting next to him!

Salma Begum had completely ignored her after that weird once-over she gave her. Saad should have realized how uncomfortable it made Maheer.

He still didn't know what to make of Salma Begum.

She obviously loved him but she seemed to be disappointed at Saad's choice of bride. It was evident from the look she and Anwar Khan had shared after Maheer's introduction.

Maybe Saad should have a word with Maheer.

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Maheer walked outside towards the porch and inhaled some fresh air. She felt like she was breathing after ages!

The inside of the haveli was as suffocating as its residence.

Maheer could still feel the sting of humiliation as she remembered how judgmental Maa Begum had looked.

She didn't think Maheer was up to their standard.

That's probably what Areeb and his family thought about her too. Areeb's mom had made that clear.

Today Maa Begum's eyes were identical to Areeb's mother's.

They both thought Maheer was nothing but a cunning, gold-digger who was out to get their sons.

Her eyes stung as Maheer thought about what would happen next. The prospect terrified her.

Maybe Saad will see her as a gold digger too. Maybe he will leave her too like Areeb. Maybe her father will have to bear the burden of humiliation again when she gets divorced.

Maheer can already imagine what people will say, what kind of nasty rumors will fly about her, and how embarrassed her father will be.

Maybe this is what she deserves as a punishment for her stupidity. Her naivety was causing her more pain than she had ever imagined.

She had already lost her love and her father's respect. Now she might lose Saad too.

As the chilly evening air blew her hair, Maheer finally let the tears flow.

"Hey, I was the one who had a Karan-Arjun moment in life and you are the one crying? Why?"

Maheer whirled around in surprise. There he was, Saad.

He was standing with a small smile on his face. He had followed her out.

Maheer couldn't stop the teary chuckle that left her mouth as Saad came closer.

The dim red hue of the setting sun fell on Saad's smiling face. His mischievous eyes twinkled under the blinking lawn lights.

For the first time in her life, Maheer felt her heart jump at Saad's presence. She blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of her own thoughts at his sudden appearance.

Did he walk out because he was worried about her?

His life was already a big mess because of her yet he was worried about her.

Saad was always like that. Since childhood. It warmed Maheer's heart.

Saad came to stand next to her as they both looked over the huge lawn. They stood there quietly for a few moments, always happy in each other's presence.

"Did Murtasim's Maa's behavior offend you?" Saad's question made her feel ashamed of herself.

Saad was meeting his birth mom for the first time who clearly loves him. But she was ruining it for him.

"No!" Maheer tried to salvage the situation. " I was just thinking about how you might leave us now that you have all this!"

Great, ruin it even more. Maheer!

"I will never leave you guys!" Saad exclaimed in an offended voice. "I could never leave you, Maahi!"

Saad's voice held so much emotion that it made Maheer speechless. She didn't know how to react to this Saad.

"Then what will you do next?" Instead of picking at the uncomfortable feeling in her chest, she deflected with another question.

Saad's eyes furrowed at that. He looked back at the lawn that was now alight.

"I will...talk to Baba first. Then I will talk to Salma Begum and then we will leave." Saad voice was laced with finality.

Maheer knew it was selfish of her but she still sighed in relief.

Saad was not leaving her. He was coming back with her. He was coming back to their house.

He will be Maheer's Saadi again.

She couldn't bring herself to believe it. After all, Areeb hadn't come back for her either.

"Will you really leave all these behind for us? For me?" Maheer had to make sure.

At her question, the indulgent smile was back on his face. He walked closer to her.

They were this close many times before. But for some reason today, Maheer felt breathless.

He held her small hands with his big ones and gave her the biggest grin. The same face he used to make when they stole chocolates.

Maheer felt herself smiling, Her face wasn't under her control anymore.

Even in the dark, Saad smile was heart-wrenchingly beautiful. Maheer was sure he had hypnotized her. Otherwise, why couldn't she force herself to look away?

"Saadi and his Maahi will forever be together," Saad whispered as she stood there with a goofy smile.

They stood close to each other with smiles plastered on their faces. The evening wind blew their hair and its chill coloured their cheeks.

Everything will be fine now. They knew it.

They stood there until they heard a sudden gasp.

Both jolted away from each other and looked at the newcomers.

Two young girls were standing there with shocked faces.

The one in yellow looked to be the younger one. She had an innocent sort of beauty to her. Maheer could guess it was her who had gasped.

It was allmost comically how her mouth was opening and closing like a fish. Poor girl looked more confused than shocked.

Next to her stood a beauty in fiery red Anarkali. Maheer's eyes could tell from a distance, that the dress was designer and her handbag was most definitely vintage LV. She had seen Anabia wear similar pieces before.

And if that huge shiny rock on the girls finger was any indication, Maheer would say the girl came from money like Anabia too.

But what concerned Maheer was just how enraged her beautiful face looked. Unlike the shocked girl next to her, this girl was flushed red like her dress as she glared at Saad. Her hands were fisted to her side as pearly tears slipped down her rosy cheeks.

She looked so extremely betrayed as if someone had trampled over her fragile young heart. Maheer's heart pained for her. She could understand what heartbreak felt like.

She really wanted to talk to the girl, to ask her if she was alright.

Just as Maheer was about to ask her if she was okay, she shook her head and ran inside the house. The girl in yellow gave them one last disappointed look before running behind the other girl.

Now what was that all about??

"Shoot! Ziddi!" Saad excalimed next to her.

Ziddi? Has all the identity reveal finally got to his brain?

"The poor girl was crying and you are calling her Ziddi?" Maheer was flabbergasted.

"No, stupid. That's Ziddi. Murtasim's Ziddi!"

Okay, now Maheer was even more confused.

"What on earth are you on about?" Maheer was seriously getting worried about her husband now.

"No! Ziddi is her nickname, I think. She is probably someone who has a romantic relationship with Murtasim!" Saad tried to explain as he quickly marched towards the sitting area.

Then it dawned on Maheer.

Oh.....oh no!

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So how do you like this chapter?

And how do you like Meerab??

Pls tell me in the comments and leave feedback!