Samar's POV

I was tying my shoes sitting on table my flight is at 4 pm.Maryam was eating the milkcake I gave her as gift yesterday on our nikah.

She is sitting comfortably on the bed,hair open that length to her waist, She had a whole pile of books beside her.She doesnt care about the world when she has food in her hands.I was looking at her with enthusiasm she caught me and said"What"
"Atleast ask me when will I return just for formality"I distracted her .Her gaze fell on me she said

"I already know that."

"Okay.Ask something else.Like how much you will miss me .How much you dont want me to go"

"You are more delusional then book girlies"She started eating again

"What makes this milk cake so special.Are these different in any way."I wanted to know the reason for her obsession to eat these from only one particular shop.

"No.These are normal milk cake.You can find it anywhere,but the thing that makes it special is the nostalgia it gives.Whenever my family goes to our grandmothers home we use to stop at this bakery and eat these.The excitment to go to Nani's home mixed with the excitment of get to eat this milk cake.Its reminds me of that wholesome mamory."

She is right.I feel the same for carrot cake  my mother use to specially bake for me.I liked that cake so much that I use to force her to bake it every sunday.I never bothered if carrots are in season or not.,I was in the bubble of past memories when I got the notification for my flight.

"I am going.Take care of yourself.Try to not ignore my phn calls."

"I already linked your phone number to my bank account for the time you are having your seperate one.Until then you have to use this.If you need physical money its in that drawer."

"Are you going for a month.Why would I need so much money when you are just coming back in 2 days.

"In case you need it." I emphasise,"Ask Anneanne if you need anything else."

"Okay.Aint you late for your flight."She rolled her eyes and started eating again

I slept the whole flight.I have two other employee with me who are not employee but disguising security.We reached new york after having rest my next day was really busy I had 2 meetings in a day.I bearly had time to eat properly.I want this collab to be perfect.

I reached the hotel room ,i did mild workout to keep me consistent.I havent had any phn call or text from Maryam,so i decided to facetime her.
"What do you want,Samar.If I am not answering the call that means I am busy."She is standing in the kitchen,I can see her forehead furrowed.

"What happened"I asked

"Pls dont waste my time.I am watching a recipe on my phone.I cant talk to u right now."She replied and started writing something on a diary.

"You are wasting your time on cooking.Shouldnt you be studying right now.Dont blame me if you cant make it in the third attempt also."I was provoking her to tell me what she is doing there.

"I will blame you.Everything is a mess because of you.I told you to wait till my mains but you didnt listen to me.Here I am embarrasing myself for not being able to make a simple dessert." I can see tears in her eyes.

"I apologize."

"The only thing you can do."she said.

"You can tell Anneanne that you cant cook.She will understand.If you cant talk I can talk to her."

"No no .Dont do that.She already told her friends that I am making them dessert.Alina aunty also invited your mothers friends to meet me personally.Anneanne will be hurt"
"You can order it,no one gonna know."
"Why you always give wicked ideas,like stalking,blackmailing and threatening."
"I am just trying to help."I stated
"You wanna help, do me a favor and leave so I can focus on this."
"Dont underestimate your husband.Believe it or not only I can help you."I said confidently but she didnt bother to reply and started writing again.

"Love,You know how to bake.I will tell you a dessert you can bake and plus point is Anneanne loves it."That statement made her interested.

"You know the recipe."She asked

"Its a fusion dish,Baklava cheesecake.If you follow my instructions you can easily make it."

"Why wait,Lets start"She started gathering stuff in the kitchen.

"Isnt it a speacial moment ,that should be included in history.Maryam is taking help from Samar ,wow."I was highlighting it for her to get more frustrated.She looked at me with anger so I said
"First start melting butter.You can find premade baklava sheets in pantry."I was telling her and she was doing the same way.She is good in baking thats why she was doing great.She stopped mixing the cake and stay still I asked what happened she wisphered that Snow is sniffing her feet.She is frozen into ice I asked the workers to take cat away.She took a deep breath and started baking again.

She put the cake into the oven and asked "what next"

"Your confession"

"what ,what confession"

"You are going to confess how much you are missing me ,Love."

"Samar "

"Maryam"

"Samar ,Tell me the rest of the recipe.You cant stop in the middle"

"Confess"I demanded

"you already know.There is nothing to confess as i am not missing you "She took a strand of the hair from her face and fixed it into her ear.

"I am not going to continue this recipe,admit you are missing me"I was taking the advantage of her vulnerable condition to listen those words from her mouth which she will never admit.She is silent for 2 minutes and I was pateintly waiting

"I will watch the rest of the recipe from google .Byee"She said ,Her nose turned red and I was enjoying the scene.

"You cant find it online"

"You can find anything online"She argued

"okay,Try"I grabed a file from the table to show my ignorance and unbotherness to her  and that worked She did confessed.

"Okay listen,I am missing you so much I cant even eat and sleep.When will you come back dear Samar"That made me laugh .She said that with a forceful smile and obviously she is lying but it still felt good

"Thats sad,Dear Maryam.Dont miss me so much I am just a phone call away from you and eat properly.I love you"My confession always make her unconfortable, she furrowed her eyebrows and said
"Now pls hurry up I will be late "

The next day I planned to meet my friend kevin.We studied together in new york ,He has his start up and motivate people through his you tube channel.I told him yesterday on text that i am in new york for a bussiness deal he asked me to have breakfast together and catch up on things.
"You got married"kevin stopped drinking his coffee
"Why are you so shocked,I am sorry i didnt invite you but you always stay busy I thought its not a big deal for you"
"What! it is a big deal for me.You got merried.How is that possible ?when did you started liking people specially girls "
"Dont overeact"

"what bro, I thought you were asexual."he leaned back in his chair in disbelief

"Dont be redeculous"I replied
"Who is this amazing woman who made you marry her off.You even rejected the most beautiful girls in our university remember Sarah."
"she wasnt muslim"
"What about Amna"
"I was busy at that time "
"Do you want me to  believe that"
"Its on you.Do whatever you want "
"And  you got married going back to india only in 2 months, are you serious."I told him about Maryam he liked her.He want to meet her personally.I was talking to him when I got a text from Maryam

Maryam

"The recipe was of your mother."

Me
yes .They liked it or not

Maryam
How would they dont.That was delicious.Alina aunty told me its your mothers recipe.She asked me who tought me.

Me
what you said

Maryam
I said you tought me.

Me
So what about saying thanks

Maryam
What about saying sorry

Me
for what

Maryam
For your behavior

Me
what behavior

Maryam
Nothing.

I knew she was referring to me making her say she missed me .I was smiling and kevin cought me.

"Texting Maryam" he asked I said yes by tilting my head.

"Samar ibrahim is in love.Thats so unbelievable.She got you smiling like that ,I am really happy for you."He meant what he said.He was always concerned about me.He knows i am hard to love and he is happy that i got married and find someone in life.

Me
what are you doing

Maryam
When  are you returning home

Me
So you do miss me .I wasnt wrong yesterday

Maryam
Samar,Your father invited me for breakfast tomorrow and I dont wanna go .Can I skip this

I can understand her unwillingness to visit my father.She must be ignoring any touch with Rayan and his family.Its compulsary for her to go cuz Dad can take it to his pride if she will not attend it.

Me
Whats wrong with that.You must go with anneanne.If someone else invites you from that house,you may can ignore but you know he is my father.I will be home by tomorrow afternoon.

Maryam
ok

Me
Bye