A whole week.
Seven long days.

And Maliha had counted every single one of them.
The house felt incomplete without Haseeb.The mornings were quieter. The nights emptier.
Even the teasing she once complained about, she missed it now.
Missed him.
Deeply.

And today, finally, he was coming back. The moment she heard the news from Mr. Isham in the morning, her heart had started fluttering uncontrollably. Haseeb was returning tonight. Tonight.
Since then  nothing felt normal to her. She opened the wardrobe more than ten times. Changed outfits twice.
Then finally settled on a soft baby pink frock.
Elegant.
Simple.

Yet beautiful enough to make someone lose his heartbeat. Her curled hair cascaded over her shoulders beautifully. Light makeup enhanced her delicate features. Tiny pearl earrings rested against her neck while soft fragrance surrounded her. She looked at herself in the mirror then immediately looked away shyly.

“Why am I getting ready like this…” she muttered under her breath.

But the smile on her lips betrayed her completely. Mrs. Sana Isham noticed everything. Every hidden smile.
Every nervous glance at the clock. Every unnecessary trip to the mirror. And she enjoyed it thoroughly.

“Come with me to the party this evening,” she had said casually.

Maliha instantly refused at first. But then realizing Haseeb would arrive late at night, she agreed. Not because she wanted to go. But because waiting at home would make her even more restless. The evening passed pleasantly. The party was warm and lively. Mrs. Sana Isham introduced Maliha proudly to everyone.

“My daughter-in-law,” she kept saying with happiness.

And every single time, Maliha’s cheeks turned pink. Many ladies complimented her.
Her dressing.
Her smile.
Her soft nature.
But Maliha’s attention kept drifting back to one thing only,
The time.

Every few minutes, her eyes unknowingly searched for her phone. Had he landed?
Was he home?
Did he miss her too?

Questions kept dancing in her heart.
By the time the party ended, the night had deepened.
Cool winds welcomed them outside as both ladies finally returned home. Maliha stepped out of the car with Sana Isham still smiling softly after the beautiful evening.

Both made their way to kitchen to prepare Haseeb’s favourite food. The kitchen was glowing with warmth and delicious aromas. Steam rose from the pots while soft laughter echoed between Maliha and Mrs. Sana Isham. Maliha stood near the counter in her baby pink frock, curled hair resting over her shoulder beautifully. Every few seconds her eyes drifted toward the clock unconsciously. Sana Isham noticed it all.

“You’ve checked the time at least twenty times.” She teased while stirring the curry.

Maliha immediately looked away.
“I did not.”

“You did.” Sana laughed softly. “My son hasn’t even arrived and you already look restless.”
A small smile touched Maliha’s lips.

“The house feels strange without him.” She admitted quietly.

At that same moment, the main door opened softly.
Haseeb stepped inside carrying his coat over his arm. Tiredness covered his face after the long trip, but hearing Maliha’s voice instantly eased something inside him. His lips curved into a soft smile. Quietly, he walked closer toward the kitchen. He wanted to hear her.
Wanted to stay hidden for a few moments and listen to the voice he had missed all week.

“You both have become impossible.” Sana Isham shook her head dramatically. “One went away looking miserable and the other spent the entire week wandering around sadly.”

Maliha smiled helplessly while arranging plates.

“He talks too much… annoys too much…” she muttered lovingly.

Haseeb’s smile deepened outside the kitchen.

“But?” Sana asked knowingly.

“But…” Maliha laughed softly, “life becomes boring without him.”

His tired eyes softened hearing that.
“And you missed him?.”Asked Mrs Sana Isham.

"Shouldn’t I? When he's my best friend and best husband." The words made him smile wider.

"But your husband is a bad cook." Sana Isham said and both laughed.

“True. He cooks horribly.” Maliha agreed.

Haseeb’s brows lifted instantly. His mother burst into laughter.

“He nearly burned breakfast last month and still called himself chef husband.” Maliha complained teasingly.

Outside, Haseeb folded his arms, narrowing his eyes slightly.

“Oh really?” he muttered under his breath.

“But compared to Aarib…” Maliha continued innocently while cutting fruits, “poor Haseeb has no chance. Aarib cooks like a professional. Haseeb can barely make tea.”

The smile slowly disappeared from Haseeb’s lips. Something heavy settled in his chest. He knew she meant it jokingly.
Still…

The comparison hurt.
Especially after spending a whole week missing her.
At that exact second, Maliha lifted her eyes casually toward the kitchen entrance.
And froze.
Haseeb was there. Standing silently.
His eyes were on her.
Not angry.
Not cold.
Just…hurt.

Her smile vanished instantly.

“Haseeb…” his name slipped from her lips softly.

But before she could move, he looked away.
Turned quietly. And walked toward the stairs.

“Haseeb.” This time her voice carried panic.
He didn’t stop.Her heart dropped immediately.The guilt hit her all at once. Without another second, she hurried out of the kitchen.

“Haseeb listen…” she called while following him upstairs, but his steps never slowed.

Sana Isham sighed behind them, hiding her smile a little.

“My poor son got jealous.” She murmured affectionately while turning off the stove.

Meanwhile upstairs, Maliha stood outside their room breathing nervously. Her fingers tightened around her dupatta.

“Wonderful, Maliha…” she whispered to herself guiltily.
“You really spoke too much.”

Maliha pushed the room door open nervously.
“Haseeb…”

He was standing near the window, his back facing her. The city lights outside reflected faintly across his face while he loosened the watch around his wrist coldly.
He didn’t turn.
Didn’t even look at her.
Her guilt deepened instantly.

“I didn’t mean it like that.” She spoke softly while stepping closer. “I was just joking.”

A humorless laugh escaped his lips.
“Joking?” He finally turned toward her. “Interesting joke.”

“Haseeb…”

“So now I can’t even cook properly?” He folded his arms over his chest. “And Aarib cooks better than me too?”

“It wasn’t a comparison."

“But you compared.” His words cut in immediately.
The room fell silent.

Maliha looked down for a second before slowly walking closer toward him.

“You got jealous?” she asked quietly.

His jaw tightened.
“No.”

“You did.”
“I said no.”

A tiny smile almost appeared on her lips seeing the possessiveness hidden behind his irritation, but it disappeared when she noticed the hurt in his eyes.

“You really felt bad…” she whispered.

“Shouldn’t I?” His voice lowered this time. “I spent a whole week missing you like an idiot.”
Her heart skipped painfully.

“And the first thing I hear after coming back is my wife praising another man.”

“I know who he is.” His voice came sharper than before. “That’s exactly why I don’t want to hear his name from your lips every second.”
Maliha stared at him stunned.

The jealousy.
The longing.
The frustration of staying away from her for days, everything was visible in his eyes.

“You’re impossible…” she whispered softly.

“And you drive me insane.”
He stepped closer suddenly.
Too close.

Maliha’s breath caught as his hand landed beside her against the wall, trapping her between him and the cold surface behind her.

“Haseeb…” his name came out shaky now.

“A whole week.” He looked into her eyes intensely. “Do you even know how difficult it was?”
His voice had turned husky.
Heavy.

“I couldn’t sleep properly there.” He admitted quietly. “I kept looking at my phone like a madman waiting for your messages.”
Her eyes softened immediately.

“And then I come home missing you like hell…” his gaze dropped briefly toward her lips before returning to her eyes, “only to hear my wife praising someone else’s cooking.”

Maliha couldn’t stop the small guilty smile that appeared.

“You’re fighting over food?”

“I’m fighting because I missed you.”

That one sentence weakened her completely.
Her eyes lowered instantly.

“Haseeb I…” she swallowed softly, “I missed you too.”
His expression shifted.

Some of the hurt faded.
But not the intensity.

“You wore this for me?” His fingers lightly touched the sleeve of her pink dress.
She nodded slowly.
“You were waiting for me?”
Another small nod.

The corner of his lips lifted faintly.
“Did you miss me that much?”

This time she looked up at him.
“Yes.”
Something inside him snapped softly at that confession. His forehead rested against hers. Both closed their eyes for a second. The distance of an entire week suddenly felt unbearable. His arm instantly wrapped around her waist pulling her fully against him.
Maliha gasped softly on the sudden closeness. Their heart beat increased and breaths uneven.

“You have no idea what you do to me.” He whispered near her lips. Her fingers slowly gripped his shirt.

“And you have no idea how restless I was.” She admitted shakily.

“Haseeb…”

“Hmm?”
“Are you still angry?" She asked looking in his eyes.

He chuckled deeply.

“How can I when you are looking this beautiful." His words heated her cheeks while  a small smile touched her lips.

“That’s…” her voice weakened as his nose brushed lightly against hers, “you’re standing too close.”

“And still not close enough.”

The words made her heartbeat lose rhythm. His eyes searched hers slowly.
Carefully. As if asking permission without words.
Maliha’s lashes lowered instantly. And that was enough to drive him crazy.

Maliha’s fingers tightened slightly on his shirt as his forehead rested against hers. Neither of them spoke for a moment. Their breaths were already tangled together.

“Youre not saying anything…” she whispered softly.
"Because I'm thinking to do something." He whispered back, his voice filled with feelings.

His hand moved up slowly, cupping her face gently, thumb brushing her flushed cheek. His gaze searched her eyes once again as if still unable to believe she was finally in front of him.

“You’ve made me crazy for you.” He admitted quietly.
Her heart trembled hearing that.
And before she could say anything, his lips finally touched hers.
Softly.
Slowly.

Like he had dreamed about this moment too many times during the past week. Maliha’s eyes closed instantly. A shaky breath escaped her as his hand slid around her waist, pulling her impossibly closer. The kiss carried longing more than haste, love more than passion. But the more seconds passed, the harder it became to hold back.

He kissed her again.
Deeper this time.
Needier.

The distance of seven days poured into that single moment. Maliha melted completely against him, her fingers curling tighter into his shirt while his lips moved over hers with aching affection.

“Haseeb…” she breathed softly between the kiss.

He rested his forehead against hers for one second, breathing heavily.

“Say it again.” His voice was rough.
Her cheeks burned red.

“I missed you.”
“No.” He shook his head slowly, eyes fixed on her trembling lips. “The other thing your eyes have been saying.”

Her heartbeat lost rhythm.
“Haseeb…”

His thumb brushed lightly over her lower lip.
“Tell me once.” He whispered.

Maliha looked at him silently for a moment.
Then slowly, very slowly, her hands rose to his face.

“I love you.” She confessed finally, tears gathering in her eyes. “So much that it scares me.”

Haseeb stared at her as if the world had stopped moving. For one second, he looked completely breathless. Then suddenly he pulled her tightly into his arms. Maliha laughed softly through her tears as he buried his face in her neck, holding her like he never wanted to let go again.

“I thought I could never win your love.” He whispered against her skin.

Her eyes closed feeling his heartbeat racing against hers.

“I tried not to fall this deeply.” She admitted quietly. “But you became my peace… my habit… my home.”
He moved back just enough to look at her again.
Emotion filled his eyes.

And before she could grow shy under that gaze, he kissed her once more. This time with a smile against her lips.
With relief.
With love.
With the happiness of finally hearing the words he had secretly waited for.

-------
After spending a week surrounded by family, laughter, and endless wedding discussions, Aarib and Roshaane finally returned to Turkey. Returned home. The moment the door opened, a strange peace wrapped around both of them.

The familiar scent of the house. The soft warm lights.
The cushions still lying carelessly on the couch exactly the way Roshaane had left them.

For a few moments neither of them spoke.
They simply stood there quietly… feeling the comfort of returning to a place that had unknowingly become part of their hearts.

Roshaane slowly walked inside, slipping off her heels before throwing herself dramatically onto the couch.

“I missed my home.” She sighed happily.

Aarib smiled, watching her while loosening the sleeves of his shirt.

“It feels good to be back.” He admitted softly.

Roshaane rolled onto her stomach on the couch, resting her chin on the cushion while looking at him.

“Don’t sell this house.”

Aarib looked up from where he sat down on the carpet near the center table.

“We’re buying a new one, remember? A bigger one.”

“I know.” She replied immediately. “But can’t we keep this too?”

He raised a brow.
“What for?”

She looked around the lounge slowly, her eyes softening.

“Because this was our first home.” She said quietly. “The first place where we actually started becoming… us.”
Aarib stayed silent.

“This house saw everything.” She continued smiling faintly. “Our awkwardness, our fights, our struggle, my crying, my horrible cooking…”

“My cooking is amazing.” He said clearing himself.

“It’s dangerously amazing.” she confessed

He looked at her amused while she giggled. Then her expression softened again.

“This place became my comfort zone.” She admitted honestly. “I don’t want to lose it.”

A small smile appeared on Aarib’s lips. But of course, he couldn’t let the emotional moment stay emotional for too long.

“I’m just a poor restaurant owner.” He sighed dramatically. “Have mercy on me.”

Roshaane sat up immediately offended.

“Poor?” She pointed at him accusingly. “You own restaurants. Plural.”

“Still poor emotionally.”

“You can easily afford two houses.”

“And you can easily stop spending money on cushions.”
She gasped.

“These cushions are essential.”

“They look identical.”

“They have different emotions.”

Aarib laughed quietly, shaking his head.
“What exactly are we supposed to do with two houses?”

He asked while moving closer and resting his arms on the couch near her feet.
Roshaane’s smile turned softer.

“When we grow old…” she paused dreamily, “we’ll come back here.”

His eyes stayed on her face.
“And the new house?”

“Our son can stay there.”
The words slipped out innocently.

Then suddenly, she froze. Realizing what she had just said. Aarib’s lips slowly curved upward. Mischief instantly appeared in his eyes.

“Our son?” He repeated slowly.

Roshaane immediately looked away, cheeks turning pink.

“I mean… future… maybe… someday…”

“Hm.” He nodded seriously. “Interesting.”

“Aarib…”

“I was actually thinking we’d have a daughter first.”
Her breath caught softly.

His hand moved toward her face, fingers brushing her hair gently behind her ear.

“And she’ll be exactly like you.” He added quietly.

“Troublesome, dramatic, and impossible.”
Roshaane pushed his shoulder lightly.

“I’m not troublesome.”

“You absolutely are.”He said his eyes caught the intensity that made Roshaane to look away from his eyes while her cheeks heated up.

“Ahem…” she quickly tried changing the topic, unable to handle the warmth spreading across her face. “W-when are you going to buy the new house?”

Aarib leaned back slightly, watching her blush with amusement.

“Actually…” he paused casually, “I already bought it.”

Her eyes widened instantly.
“You WHAT?”

“I actually already bought a house with the help of Hikmat,” Aarib said, looking at her.

“I decided to buy it the day you mentioned the grand wedding.” He smiled faintly at her shocked expression.

Roshaane sat up immediately. “How am I supposed to wait to see it now?”

Her impatience made him chuckle softly. Moving closer, he rested his head in her lap, startling her for a second.

“There’s still some work left to do,” he said, taking her hands in his. “I’ll take you there when everything is ready.”

“But I want to see it now,” she pouted, making him smile wider.

“Let me turn that place into a home first. A home that feels like us.” His eyes stayed on hers warmly. “Then I’ll show it to you.”

Her heart softened at his words...

“Aarib bey…” she called softly, running her fingers through his hair.

“Hm?” His eyes remained closed, but the smile on his lips deepened.

“Seniseviyorum(I love you).” she whispered lovingly.

A quiet silence followed.
Then...

“Thank you.”

His reply made her huff instantly.

“I was hoping to hear something else,” she muttered, pretending to sound offended while still playing with his hair.

He opened one eye to look at her but before he could answer, she quickly changed the topic.

“Order something to eat from your restaurant. I’m hungry.”

“I’m hungry too,” he replied, finally sitting up.

"I'll be back." She said placing his head on the cushion and walked out.

Roshaane walked toward the washroom to freshen up while Aarib placed the order from his phone. After finishing, he leaned his head back against the couch, his lips curling into a soft smile as thoughts of her filled his heart.

“Benim seni seviyorum,(I love you too)” he whispered to himself.

And for the first time in a long while those words no longer felt heavy on his heart.
They felt peaceful.

A/N:: Assalam-o-Alaikum, readers! 💖
How are you all?

I hope you like the chapter. Now let's move to the next chapter.

With love,
Your Author,
Kiran Hafeez