Italy, Rome.

Third person's POV.
He was the first to stir. The soft morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, bathing the room in a warm golden glow. Haseeb closed his eyes for a moment, suppressing a yawn, but then he felt her presence against him. His mind woke instantly.

Slowly opening his eyes, he looked down.Maliha was sleeping peacefully in his arms.
One of her hands rested over his chest, her head tucked close to his heart. She was wearing his shirt, and somehow that simple sight made his heart swell with affection.

A soft smile appeared on his lips. The memories of the previous night returned to him. A night that had brought them closer than ever before.A night filled with trust, healing, and love.

"Good morning," he whispered.

Carefully, he leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.Maliha stirred slightly.His arms tightened around her instinctively. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open.For a moment, she remained lost between sleep and wakefulness. Then her gaze met his.
Immediately, her cheeks turned pink.

"Good morning, Mrs. Haseeb," he said softly, brushing his nose against hers.

A shy smile touched her lips.
"Good morning."

Unable to bear his affectionate gaze, she immediately buried her face against his chest. Haseeb laughed softly.

"You're shy again."

"Shouldn't I be?" she murmured against him. "After all your teasing yesterday."

That earned a full laugh from him.
"It's your fault."

Maliha pulled back slightly and looked at him.
"My fault?"

"Yes." He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"You shouldn't look this beautiful. It makes me want to spend every second looking at you, keep loving you, keep yearning you for you more." Her cheeks grew warmer.

"You love me that much, don't you?" She asked.

He cupped her cheek gently.
"Do you still have any doubts?"

Maliha smiled and shook her head.
"No."

Then she wrapped her arms around him again.
For a while, neither of them spoke. They simply enjoyed being together. The peace. The comfort.
The happiness they had both searched for.

"Shouldn't we get up now?" Eventually, Maliha glanced up and asked.

"No."

His answer came immediately.

That made her laugh.
"Haseeb."

"Let's stay like this a little longer." She smiled and settled comfortably against him again.

A few peaceful minutes passed before he suddenly spoke.

"We should go on our honeymoon."
Maliha blinked.

"Huh? Honeymoon?"Her surprised expression made him grin.

"Why are you so shocked?"

"We never talked about it."

"Then let's talk about it now." His eyes sparkled with excitement.

"I want us to travel together." Maliha's smile widened.
"Really?"

"Really." He nodded.

"We'll go on long walks."

"We'll wear matching outfits," she added.

"We'll go on dates."

"We'll try new food." She added again.

"We'll go shopping." He said.

"We'll take lots of pictures."

"We'll get lost somewhere and blame each other." That made both of them laugh.

"We'll visit beautiful places," she continued dreamily.
"And make unforgettable memories."

Maliha rested her chin on his shoulder.
"I like that plan."

"I knew you would."

A comfortable silence followed. Then Haseeb looked at her thoughtfully.

"You know what I want most?" He asked playing with her hair.

"What?" She asked looking at his face.

"To build a beautiful life with you." The softness in his voice made her heart melt.

Maliha reached forward and rested her forehead against his.
"And I want that too."

For a few moments they simply looked at each other.
No teasing.
No laughter.
Just love.
Then Haseeb smiled.

"Now get ready."
"Why?"
"Because we're starting our honeymoon planning today."
Maliha laughed.

And for the first time in a very long time, both of them looked toward the future with nothing but happiness in their hearts.
--------
Istanbul, Turkey.
5:00 am.

Finally, the day had arrived. The house that had remained busy for weeks with wedding preparations, decorations, invitations, and endless excitement was now going to be filled with family. Aarib barely slept the whole night.

Not because of stress, but because his heart refused to calm down knowing everyone was finally coming to Turkey for their wedding. Early in the morning, he left for the airport with Hikmat. The roads of Istanbul were still touched with the softness of morning cold while both friends kept talking about the arrivals.

“You’re smiling too much today.” Hikmat teased while driving.

“My family is finally coming.” Aarib replied proudly making Hikmat laugh.

“That’s a good news.”
Aarib’s smile widened instantly.

“And Roshaane.  She’s been checking decorations since Fajr.”

“That obsessed?”

“That in love.” Aarib corrected shamelessly.

Hikmat placed a hand dramatically on his heart.
“Please spare single people. My friend is completely gone.”  Hikmat replied.

"You should thought of marriage too." Aarib said parking the car.

"I'm waiting to fall in love."  Hikmat said with a soft smile this time making Aarib smile too.

They reached the airport and stepped inside to receive his family, still talking. After some waiting, the arrival gates finally opened. Aarib’s eyes instantly searched through the crowd until they landed on familiar faces.

“Dad!”
A smile spread across his face as he moved ahead quickly.

Hammad Ahmad smiled proudly seeing his son while Madiha Ahmad’s eyes instantly filled with tears.

“My child…” The next second Aarib hugged his mother tightly.

“I missed you.” she whispered emotionally.

“I missed you more.” Aarib kissed her forehead lovingly.

Waqas Ahmad and Robi Ahmad also hugged him warmly while Hikmat came forward respectfully.
“Marhaba.”

Aarib smiled.

“This is Hikmat. My best friend. The one who helped me with almost everything.”

Hikmat greeted everyone respectfully while Hammad Ahmad instantly liked the young man’s manners.

“So you’re the famous Hikmat.” Waqas Ahmad teased.

“And you’re his famous Chachu Waqas."  Hikmat replied smoothly making them laugh.

Soon they all headed toward the cars. Aarib left with his family for the house while Hikmat stayed back at the airport because another flight was arriving soon. The one carrying Shams, Zarnish, and  Zara. Standing near the arrival gate with a name card in his hand, Hikmat sighed dramatically.

“This family really travels in groups.” The cold air of Turkey made him rub his hands together.

“Why are they taking so long?” he muttered looking around.

The flight had landed almost twenty minutes ago.
People kept coming out one after another.
Families reunited.
Children running.
Couples hugging.

But still no sign of Shams or Zarnish.
Hikmat checked the picture Aarib had sent him once again.

“Okay… beard… serious face… must be a tough man…” he muttered while zooming into Shams’ picture.

Then suddenly, his eyes lifted from the mobile screen.
And for a single moment,Everything around him seemed to slow down.

A girl walked out through the arrival gate, adjusting the strap of her shoulder bag. Her long hair flowed freely down her back, moving gently with every step she took.
She was dressed simply in black jeans, a loose white shirt, and a dark brown coat wrapped around her against the cold Turkish weather.

A hint of travel exhaustion lingered on her face. Her eyes wandered around the airport as if searching for someone, confusion and curiosity flickering in them.
But it wasn't her beauty that made Hikmat stop.
It was something else.
Something strange.
Something unfamiliar.

His gaze lingered on her longer than it should have.
His heartbeat skipped unexpectedly. For the first time in years, he couldn't explain what he was feeling. It was as if some invisible thread had suddenly pulled his attention toward her.

And standing there in the middle of a crowded airport, surrounded by hundreds of strangers, Hikmat found himself unable to look away.

The name card slowly lowered from his hand while his eyes unknowingly stayed fixed on her. And for the very first time, Hikmat forgot the cold. Forgot the crowd. Forgot even why he was standing there.
Because somewhere deep inside his heart, a completely new story had just begun.
-----

"Marhaba," Hikmat greeted as he approached them.

The three of them looked up, slightly startled to find a Turkish man standing in front of them.

Realizing their confusion, Hikmat immediately smiled.
"I'm Hikmat. Aarib's friend."

Understanding instantly replaced the confusion on their faces. "Oh, Assalam-o-Alaikum," Shams replied warmly, shaking his hand.

"Wa-Alaikum-Assalam."

While exchanging greetings, Hikmat's gaze drifted for a brief moment toward the girl standing beside them.
She looked distant.
Detached.

As if her body was present at the airport, but her thoughts were somewhere far away.

Something about that quietness caught Hikmat's attention again. He quickly forced himself to look away.

"Please, come this way."

He led them toward the parking area. Just then his phone rang.
Aarib.

Hikmat answered immediately.
"Have they arrived?"

"Yes. They're with me."

Aarib let out a relieved breath from the other side.
"Give the phone to Shams."

Hikmat handed over the phone while opening the car's trunk and loading the luggage inside. As he lifted the bags, his eyes unconsciously moved toward her once again. She stood quietly a few steps away, her arms wrapped around herself against the cold wind. A few strands of hair kept flying across her face.

She brushed them away absentmindedly, still lost in her own thoughts. For some reason, Hikmat found himself wondering what she was thinking about. Before his thoughts could wander further, he quickly averted his gaze. After loading the luggage, everyone settled into the car. Shams took the passenger seat after finishing his conversation with Aarib.

Zarnish and Zara settled into the back seats. Zara took the seat beside them near the window. Hikmat started the engine. For a moment, his eyes lifted toward the rear-view mirror. And there she was again. Looking out of the window.
Silent.

Unaware that someone kept noticing her. Or perhaps she simply didn't care. The city lights of Istanbul passed outside as the car moved through the morning traffic.
Zarnish's excited voice soon filled the car.

"How far is bhai's house?"

"About forty minutes," Hikmat replied with a smile.

"Turkey is so beautiful," Zarnish said while looking outside.

"It becomes even prettier during winter," Hikmat answered.

Soon Shams and Hikmat started talking about Istanbul, business, and Aarib's endless wedding preparations.
Everyone joined the conversation except one person.
Her. She remained quiet throughout the drive.

Sometimes looking outside.
Sometimes lowering her gaze.
Sometimes simply staring ahead.
The silence around her wasn't awkward.
It was almost... protective.

As if she had built invisible walls around herself.
And strangely. The more she stayed silent, the more Hikmat found himself wanting to know what kind of thoughts lived behind those distant eyes.

For the first time in his life, he was curious about someone he hadn't even properly met..And somewhere inside him, a feeling he couldn't name was slowly beginning to grow.
-----
The new house had finally begun to feel alive.
What had once been a beautifully decorated villa now echoed with laughter, conversations, and the warmth of family. Aarib's parents had settled in comfortably, while Waqas Ahmad and his family had fallen in love with every corner of the house. From the elegant balconies to the spacious garden and the breathtaking view of Istanbul, everyone seemed impressed.

The wedding atmosphere had officially begun.
The remaining family members were expected to arrive by evening. And no one was more impatient than Roshaane. Since morning, she had checked the time countless times. Every few minutes she would ask when the flight was landing.

Every few minutes she would walk past the main gate as if her family might magically appear there.
The lawn was filled with a pleasant evening breeze.
Shams and Zarnish sat beneath the pergola, enjoying cups of Turkish tea while talking about the wedding arrangements.

A little distance away, Zara sat peacefully on a swing.
A book rested in her hands while the swing moved gently back and forth. She seemed completely absorbed in her novel.

"When are Aarham and the others arriving?" Shams asked.

Aarib had just stepped into the lawn with Roshaane and Madiha Ahmad.

"They'll land tonight," Aarib replied while taking a seat.

"I'll leave for the airport after a while." Aarib replied.

"I'm coming too." Roshaane's answer came so quickly that everyone laughed.

Aarib looked at her.
"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"I said no."

"And I said yes."

Shams immediately looked away, hiding his smile.
Zarnish lowered her cup to hide her laughter.
Madiha Ahmad simply shook her head.

"You two are impossible." Madiha Ahmad said looking at them lovingly.

"My parents are coming," Roshaane protested dramatically. "Of course I'm going."

"You'll get tired." Aarib gave the reason

"I won't."

"You were tired yesterday." Aarib reminded her.

"I wasn't." She was not going to loose.

"You were." He repeated smilingly.

"I was not."

Aarib leaned back in his chair and sighed.
"You're being stubborn now." He said looking at her.

"So you should be sweet with me." Her reply made him smile.

Everyone laughed.
Roshaane crossed her arms over her chest.
"I'm going."

Aarib looked at her stubborn expression and immediately knew he had already lost the battle.
Like always.

"You've already decided, haven't you?" He like to tease her.

"Yes."
She replied.

"Then why are we even arguing?" He questioned.

"Because I enjoy winning." Her reply made him laugh  leaning back on the chair.

The answer made everyone burst into laughter.
Aarib placed a hand over his heart dramatically.

"My own wife bullies me in front of my family."
He showed fake pain on his face.

"Because your family loves me more." Roshaane said hugging his mother.

"They really do," Zarnish agreed immediately.

"Traitor," Aarib muttered.

The women laughed while Aarib shook his head helplessly. Roshaane's excitement had become impossible to contain now. She stood up suddenly.

"I need to get ready."

Without waiting for another response, she hurried inside the house. Everyone watched her disappear through the doors. A smile appeared on Aarib's face. Even after all this time, her excitement still made him smile.

"She's happy," Madiha Ahmad whispered softly.

Aarib's eyes followed the direction where Roshaane had gone. A warmth settled in his chest.

"Very happy," he replied quietly.

And seeing that happiness was enough to make him forget every hardship that had once existed in his life.
-------

The excitement inside the car was impossible to hide.
Roshaane had spent the entire drive looking out of the window, checking the time every few minutes while Aarib simply smiled at her impatience.

"They're not going to disappear from the airport," he teased.

"My parents are coming. Let me be excited." She said looking at him.

"You've said that twenty times already."

"And I'll say it twenty more times."

Aarib laughed while shaking his head.
Soon they reached the airport.

The arrival gate opened after some time and Roshaane's eyes instantly searched through the crowd.
Then she saw them.

"Dad!"

Without caring about anything else, she hurried forward.
Jahan's face lit up immediately.

"My princess."

The next moment father and daughter were hugging tightly. Zeeniya's eyes filled with tears as Roshaane turned and hugged her next.
"Mom.."

"My child."
Both mother and daughter held each other tightly.
Nearby, Aarib greeted Jahan respectfully before embracing him warmly. Aarham and Mehak arrived next. Aarham pulled Aarib into a brotherly hug.

"Finally."

"Finally," Aarib replied with a smile.

Mehak greeted Roshaane warmly while Abbas and Ali remained alert nearby, their eyes continuously scanning the surroundings despite the family reunion. Shazam appeared shortly afterward, making the gathering even livelier. Mahi was there too standing next to him.

The airport suddenly felt smaller with the amount of laughter and greetings filling the space. Mrs. Ahmad, their beloved Dadi Sahib, kept blessing everyone repeatedly.

"May Allah keep all of you happy."

"Ameen."
"May He protect your love."

"Ameen."
"And may this wedding bring endless happiness."

This time everyone laughed before answering together.
"Ameen."

Sameer was the only one missing.
He had returned to London for some urgent commitments but had already promised to join them as soon as possible. After the emotional reunion, they moved toward the waiting area. The next flight carrying Shahmir and Aabia was scheduled to arrive shortly.
Unfortunately, it was delayed by thirty minutes.
Instead of complaining, everyone turned the waiting area into a family gathering.

Aarib arranged coffee, tea, Turkish desserts, and refreshments for everyone. The elders chatted happily while Aarham sat quietly smiling to see his sister happy.
Meanwhile, Roshaane remained glued to Zeeniya's side like a little girl who had found her mother after years.
Jahan watched her with a smile.

"She's still the same."
Zeeniya nodded.

"And she'll always be."
Finally the arrival board changed.

The flight had landed.
Everyone stood up.

Excitement returned once again. After immigration and baggage clearance, Shahmir and Aabia finally emerged through the gates.

"There they are!"
Aabia instantly spotted her family.

The next few minutes were filled with hugs, laughter, greetings, and happy tears. The entire family was finally together.For the first time in a long while.
And it felt perfect. Outside, several luxury vehicles waited for them. Aarib had arranged everything carefully. Luggage was loaded.
Seats were assigned.

Everyone assumed they were heading straight home.
But Aarib had other plans. Almost thirty minutes later, the cars stopped in front of a magnificent building illuminated by elegant golden lights. Everyone looked outside curiously. Then their eyes widened.

A large sign glowed proudly above the entrance.
A&A
Aarib smiled.

"Welcome to my restaurant."
The entire family stared in surprise.

"This is yours?" Jahan asked.

Aarib nodded.
"And Hikmat's."

The admiration on their faces was impossible to miss.
The architecture was breathtaking. The glass exterior reflected the lights of Istanbul beautifully. The elegant décor visible through the windows spoke of luxury and success. Inside, the staff immediately straightened.
Respect filled their expressions.

"Welcome, Sir."
"Good evening, Sir."

"Everything is prepared."

The respect they showed Aarib surprised many members of the family. A special family section had already been reserved. The moment they entered, everyone was impressed.
The atmosphere.
The décor.
The professionalism.
The beauty of the place.

Everything reflected years of hard work. Roshaane stood quietly beside Aarib. For a moment, she simply watched him. The way the staff respected him. The way everyone greeted him. The way he handled everything confidently. A strange warmth filled her chest.
Pride.

She gently slipped her hand into his.
Aarib looked down.Their eyes met. Her heart fluttered immediately.

"Can you both stop being romantic for five minutes? We're hungry." The entire family burst into laughter.

Roshaane's cheeks turned pink while Aarib laughed shamelessly. And amid the laughter, warmth, and celebration, the beginning of their wedding festivities truly felt real. On the other side of the city, Hikmat was once again on duty. Driving another car carrying some of Aarib's relatives toward the restaurant.

Yet despite the traffic, despite the responsibility, his attention kept drifting toward the rear-view mirror.
Toward the girl sitting quietly in the back seat. Unlike everyone else, she wasn't talking. Wasn't laughing. Wasn't even looking around. She simply sat there near the window, lost in her own thoughts as the lights of Istanbul passed by outside.

Hikmat sighed softly. For the first time in his life, he was more interested in a stranger's silence than anyone else's conversation. And somehow that realization made him smile. The dinner turned into one of those rare evenings that people remember for years.

The entire family section of A&A Restaurant was alive with laughter, overlapping conversations, and the warmth that only loved ones could bring.
Large dishes covered the table while waiters moved respectfully around them.   Aarib sat beside Roshaane, occasionally serving food onto her plate before she could even ask.

"You'll make her completely spoiled," Waqas Ahmad remarked.

"Too late," Aarib replied calmly.

The entire table burst into laughter while Roshaane tried to glare at him but failed miserably.  Meanwhile, Mehak sat beside Aarham, listening quietly while he explained something to Hammad Ahmad. Every now and then his hand would find hers beneath the table, making her cheeks warm. Nearby, Shazam was entertaining Mrs. Ahmad and Mahi with one story after another.

"Dadi Sahib, I am the most responsible person in this family."

"Allah maaf kare," Mrs. Ahmad immediately replied.

Everyone laughed so loudly that even the neighboring tables turned to look. For the first time in a long time, the family felt complete. Yet amidst all the happiness, one person remained distant.

Zara.

She sat quietly near the end of the table. A plate was in front of her. A glass rested in her hand. But her eyes were somewhere else entirely. he listened.
Sometimes she smiled faintly. But mostly she seemed lost in thoughts only she could understand. More than once, Zeeniya noticed her. More than once, Madiha Ahmad's gaze softened with concern. Even Roshaane looked toward her occasionally. But nobody questioned her.

Nobody pushed. Some wounds needed time.
Some hearts needed silence before they could speak again. And everyone silently understood that. Not far away, Hikmat was speaking with Shams and Aarib, but every now and then his eyes drifted toward Zara. The same strange feeling from the airport returned. He didn't understand it. Didn't understand why he kept noticing her. Why her silence bothered him. Why he wanted to see her smile at least once.

But every time his eyes found her, She seemed far away from everyone. Including herself. Hours passed between food, tea, desserts, and endless family stories.
Finally, when the night deepened and exhaustion began to show on everyone's faces, Aarib stood up.

"I think it's time to go home." He agreed.

Outside, the cars were already waiting. The cool Istanbul night welcomed them as they stepped out of the restaurant. Luggage wasn't needed now. Only tired smiles and happy hearts. Families settled into the vehicles while Aarib made sure everyone was comfortable.

Soon, the convoy of cars moved through the illuminated streets of Istanbul. Inside one car, Mrs. Ahmad was already planning wedding outfits. Inside another, Shazam and Shahmir were arguing over who would dance better at the wedding. Zarnish leaned against Shams, smiling contentedly. Aabia listened to them all while laughing. And somewhere in the last car, Zara sat beside the window. The city lights reflected in her eyes.
Lost.
Quiet.

Unaware that the man driving a few cars ahead had already started noticing her silence far more than he should. And as the beautiful lights of Istanbul stretched before them, The family drove toward the villa that would soon witness one of the happiest weddings of their lives.