" I am Rehan Khan. ", the man said and Zaid's head snapped towards him.

How can he forget this name, this man who had made Shafaq so uneasy and restless due to his stalking behaviour.

" How dare you to step into my office? ", Zaid roared getting up from his place.

Rehan watched him calmly sitting, rubbing his chin in thought.

" Please take your seat, Mr. Zaid.", he said looking at furious Zaid.

" I have no time to listen to your rubbish. So don't waste my time and just go away.", Zaid replied in angry tone, pulling him holding his collar and coming face to face with him.

" I know, you are a busy man. But I just wanted to apologise to Shafaq. ", Rehan said.

" Don't ever take her name with your filthy tongue. You don't know, what I will do if I loose my calm. ", Zaid said jerking him a little and his fist connected with Rehan's face.

" It was all Saniya's plan.", Rehan words forced Zaid to loosen his grip on him.

******

" I was in desperate need of money due to my mother's illness. My father had expired one year ago and mother had taken lot of stress about this. ", Rehan said who was now sitting in front of Zaid.

" I had no resort other than turning to Saniya for help as I was acquainted with her since childhood. ", he took a pause to look at Zaid who was listening him with concentration, " She always been snobby due to her wealth, when I asked for her help and she told me to trap Shafaq in my friendship. "

Zaid was shocked hearing this sudden bombardment of information, " But what would she got doing this?"

" I too was shocked at first and I asked her the reason..", Rehan told, " She was jealous of Shafaq. She hated the relationship between you and Shafaq. She never liked whenever you used to praise Shafaq for her character or anything, that's why she wanted to degrade Shafaq's image in your eyes.", Rehan enlighten him.

Zaid felt his mind began to shiver under this information.

" I never wanted to do anything after you called me and yelled at me for my behaviour. ", Rehan said gazing in the void, " But, the lust for money and Saniya's jealousy for Shafaq forced Saniya to give me a last chance. "

" Saniya always thought low about Shafaq. We used to think, she is always faking her decency. That's why, Saniya told me to meet her and flatter her with praises and what not.", Rehan said, " We were of the consent that Shafaq will believe me and will gladly accept relationship with me."

" You met her? ", Zaid asked, his voice was barely a whisper and Rehan nodded.

" It was her last paper and she was alone, walking to her home.", Rehan said and Zaid's anger began to rise. How can Rehan bother his Shafaq like that?

" She was not listening to any of my praise or compliment, let alone talk. But her five words have changed my life.", Rehan took a brief pause as if that memory was rejuvenated, " Have some fear of Allah! "

" She slapped me two times, firstly by herself and secondly by these words. She showed me a mirror from which I was running since my father's death. I rejected Saniya's offer at that instant.", Rehan ended, his eyes were blurry.

Zaid was shaking from inside and he couldn't pin point whether it was his anger, worry towards Shafaq or regret for his helplessness.

" I have now everything because of my hard work but sometimes I felt restless because of my past deeds. That's why I wanted to apologise to Shafaq, I have not the guts to face her so I apologise to you.", Rehan said bringing Zaid to the present.

" I accept your apology but I am not sure if I ever be able to forgive you both for your deeds. Because I can't stand a single person who bothers my wife.", Zaid said, his face was straight not showing a single emotion.

Rehan nodded and got up from his seat, " I will not force you. I am satisfied now, as I have apologized but I want to say one last thing before going.", Rehan said keeping his hands in his pockets, " Take care of Shafaq, she is a gem.", with that words he left.

******

" Congratulations, Shehnila aapa. ", Shafaq squealed in her phone with excitement. Shehnila was in Dubai and had given birth to a cute little boy.

As this news got spread, Mamu, Mumani and Naano went to her in-laws taking sweets and other things. Shafaq didn't went with them, as she wanted to wait for Zaid to return and wanted to enlighten him with this beautiful news.

" Thank you, Laado. ", Shehnila replied with equal excitement.

" How are you? How's the baby? Does he look like me? What name have you given him?", Shafaq bombarded her with questions.

" Breath, Shafaq. ", Shehnila said with a laugh, " We are fine, Alhamdullillah. Yes, he looks like you and we haven't thought about his name, yet."

The door bell rang and Shafaq bid her goodbye to Shehnila but not before giving her lots of love and blessings. Surely, Allah is great, she thought.

" Coming. ", she said slightly irritated, when the door bell rang for the seventh time. She opened the door and found Zaid standing in front of her.

Zaid stared at her for a moment and suddenly took her in his embrace. Shafaq was not ready for this sudden outbrust, that's why a bunch of butterflies erupted in her stomach.

She hesitantly returned his embrace, keeping her hands on his back. Zaid's face was hidden in the crook of her neck. After a moment, Shafaq felt wetness of his eyes. She quickly get out from his grip, and cupped his face which was full of tears.

" What happened? ", Shafaq asked, there was love, care and worry in her voice.

Zaid was silent and Shafaq made him sit on the one of the living room sofa. She handed him the glass of water and began to wipe his tears and sweaty forehead with her dupatta.

" It was all my fault!", Zaid's voice broke the silence that was engulfing them. Shafaq's hand stopped and she looked at him confused.

" You remember, Rehan Khan?", he asked staring at her.

Shafaq slowly nodded and Zaid told her everything today and in the past that had happened.

Zaid's eyes again began to pour tears, " Because of me, you got in that situation. "

Shafaq was unable to grasp this information. How can one woman think so low of another woman ? She composed herself seeing Zaid's teary face.

" Please stop blaming yourself. ", she said, again cupping his face.

When Zaid didn't replied to her, Shafaq slowly kissed his eyes. " Zaid.", she called his name for the first time after their nikah and Zaid looked at her in surprise.

" It was all written in my fate. It meant to be happen. Allah knows what is right for me. ", Shafaq said looking in his brown orbs.

Zaid pulled her towards him and again hugged her. "You are precious for me, Shafaq.", he mumbled in her embrace.

******

" There's no need, let's go back.", Shafaq told Zaid, who was driving his car towards Saniya's house.

" It's necessary for me. She have to face you, see with her eyes, what was lacking in her when I used to praise you. She have to apologi-", Zaid was saying with gritted teeth when Shafaq stopped him.

" I don't need anyone's apology. I am happy in my life, she is happy in her life. All is going well, just leave it.", Shafaq again pleaded but her plea got to the deaf ears.

" Come, Shafaq. ", Zaid said opening her's side of door. Shafaq hesitantly got out and came in front of lavish house with grand black gate.

She began to walk with Zaid on the passageway which lead to the big black wooden entrance door. On ringing the door bell, a lady in her forties opened the door.

" We want to meet Saniya.", Zaid said to the lady who was looking at Shafaq with love in her eyes.

" I will call her, you sit inside. ", the lady said escorting them towards the living room.

Zaid and Shafaq silently took the seat on the sofa. The living room was an embodiment of lavishness. A huge chandelier was hanging in the middle of ceiling, a luxurious sofa set was placed with a coffee table in front of it. Fluffy carpets were laid on the floor.

The paint on walls showed the grace of the designers. Different types of paintings were hanged on the walls. One wall held various picture frames of family members and others.

Shafaq got up from her seat and began to look at the hanged pictures. One picture caught her attention.

" Papa!!!", she gasped touching the photo frame.