Ghazal riled up her lower lip looking at her husband who was looking beyond lost in his thoughts, she was trying to empathize with him but failing as only her husband could understand what he was going through. But she only knew one thing, her heart was ruthlessly cutting seeing Haaris like this. He was idly standing in the balcony for straight one hour and she was continuously staring at him for the same. Ghazal was hating his slumped shoulders, his messy hair which he had tangled by moving his fingers for infinite times and she was just staring at him from the bed because Haaris didn't know she was awake, awake from the time just after they had laid on the bed for sleep. She was awake when he was tossing left and right in worry and she was awake when he had walked out of their room towards the balcony.

The reason behind his defeated posture was his dad because Haaris hadn't got an opportunity to clear out things with him. When they reached their house they came to know; Papa had gone to Delhi for two days for urgent work which came up. She could feel how Haaris must be feeling because his father had lied to him and that was the thing which had hurt him the most. If it was that Haaris which she knew from the hospital, he would have thrown tantrums, yelled at everyone. But Ghazal was forced to accept that he had changed himself over the time and that's why his silence, that speaking silence was much more lethal.

Haaris jerked from his thoughts as standing beside him, Ghazal softly kissed his cheek. Yes, she wanted to give him some time alone and that one hour was more than enough.

"Did I wake you?"

Haaris asked with a fake smile, his voice giving away his actions as it was holding the wetness of his pain, sadness and emptiness. Ghazal moved a little more closer to him, their arms brushing and intertwine their fingers together.

"I was unable to sleep."

"I don't love Azkiya, tigeress."

Ghazal questioningly looked at him, Haaris's voice had sliced down the thick silence around them. She knew because he had told her and there was a trust between them which had cemented over this period of time.

"I know Haaris. You don't need to repeat yourself in front of me."

Haaris nodded dejectedly, " You are seeing me like this, in worry because my father lied to me. You know those two years were the worst years of my life and I just wanted to die as I was a murderer, I had taken Azkiya's life."

A lone tear escaped his eye making a slimmery path from the side of his nose and dropped down as if it was never there. Ghazal pursed her lips wrapping an arm around his waist to comfort him. Marriage is that eternal bond which gives man and wife opportunities to console each other without feeling remorse or embarrassed.

"There must be some valid reason Haaris. Papa can't take this great decision for his son in vain. "

"What can be the reason that he mixed a slow poison in my life, Ghazal?"

Ghazal remained silent, he was too much hurt to look at the bright side of the decision. Haaris was stuck in his past, a past which had left him with nothing, just with a body which only craved death and pain. Looking at him, she remembered Farzan. Ghazal didn't want to remember her ex-husband because of Haaris. There was nothing similar between them but Haaris was so much torn today that she was forced to get anxious, thinking that what if Haaris returned on the path which he had left earlier.

"Haaris, I can understand what you feel." Ghazal cupped his jaw turning his face to look at her, "But promise me, you will never let your past to destroy your present and future. I have seen one man getting destroyed by his past and I don't want you to be him."

Haaris held her hand kissing the inside of her palm, nodding with a weak smile. He pulled her closer, resting his forehead on hers. His warm breath fanning on her lips, a shrill shiver ran through her body.

"I have become tired, tigeress. I am fed up of all of this. Please save me."

Ghazal again intertwined their hands, her other hand moving in his hair gently to keep him calm. "I am here to save you, Haaris and I will In Shaa Allah. Just trust me."

Haaris nodded slowly his nose grazing her nose pin before she balmily tilted his head a little lower that their lips almost touched and kissed him. Ghazal wanted to take away all his pains, she just wanted to see him happy, like he used to be with her, that outspoken man who never ceased to amaze her, who could make her heart flutter with only his smile and she only wanted to bring that beautiful smile back on his lips.

***

"Yes son."

"Dad, I want to talk about something. When are you returning? "

"I will reach Bhopal tomorrow. Tell me what's the matter?"

"You reach here then we will talk."

Haaris bid his goodbye to his Dad without giving him any hint about the talk and tiredly closed his eyes getting fed up of same agitated thoughts of his past and all. His head was so badly aching that it seemed it would explode any minute if he thought some more. It all was very tiring and he was not able to do anything. That thing which he wanted to discuss with his father was not so simple to have a chat on phone and that was why he was forced to wait for his father to return. He took an off from his work as there was no energy left in him after the whole ordeal, he just wanted to be alone.

The door opened revealing Ghazal with a tray of breakfast. She didn't go for her work too because of him, because she wanted to spent some time with him. His heart jerked at its place seeing her attempts to freshen up his mood. He wanted to smile, laugh just for her sake but those circumstances were not leaving any space for him to be like he used to be.

"Good morning, Mr. Haaris. "

"Morning, tigeress. "

Haaris gave a small smile leaving a soft kiss on her forehead. "You shouldn't work too much in this condition. "

"It's nothing, besides a good breakfast is worth some efforts."

Haaris nodded at her reply, there was no way he was going to win with her in any argument. Ghazal extended a glass of orange juice for him and he took hesitantly as his appetite was lost.

"I'm not hearing any excuse."

With that Ghazal forcibly put the glass to his lips pushing him to take a big gulp of the juice. " Allah shows every truth on the right time, Haaris. Just trust him and don't worry yourself. "

"I am fine, tigeress. Just a little tired. "

"So quickly finish your breakfast and then I will give you a nice head massage. "

"Okay. Now that's an offer I can't refuse."

Ghazal giggled putting the first morsel of bread in his mouth and then started her own breakfast. Haaris slowly chewed his food, his brown orbs just staring at the lady in front of him. Their strings had been attached so tightly and so intricately yet beautifully that whenever he thought of his life without Ghazal all he could feel was empty. She had made her place in his heart so gently and so slowly that Haaris never understood when he got addicted to her. But he didn't want to get rid of this addiction because Ghazal made him acquainted to all the good around him unlike that drink of filth which had cut him off with himself also.

"Say something, tigeress."

"I'm sorry. Were we talking about something?"

Ghazal wiped her hands on napkin and looked at him questioningly. Haaris shook his head tugging the loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"No. Just say something. I like when you talk."

"Okay. For your kind information Mr. Haaris it's you who is just shaking his head for every question I am asking. "

Haaris chuckled placing the tray on the side table and put his head on her lap. Ghazal kissed his forehead, moving her slender fingers in his messy locks and slowly began to massage his head moving the clutter away from his mind. He closed his eyes relaxingly as her touch soothed him like a bright sunny day after a heavy storm.

"Okay before I forget to ask you, will you accompany me for my checkup?"

"Yeah, everything fine?"

Ghazal nodded with a smile, "Alhamdulillah, just a weekly check up for me and the baby."

His heart swelled at the mention of their child, their baby. This new addition in his life was so serene that he could feel the excitement building up in him thinking about the time when he would held his child in his arms for the first time.

"What do you think we are having?"

Ghazal's shy query lit up a bright smile on his face, he tilted her face a little lower near his lips, giving a soft kiss in return.

"It doesn't matter to me. I want a healthy baby with fine mother. "

"That's good MashaAllah."

He pursed his lips for a moment then said after a thought, his whole being felt like floating on a thin air with the happiness he felt pondering about his future.

"A girl will be good. What's say, our Adam will have a little sister, he will be a big bro. She will be my princess, me and Adam will always protect he-"

Ghazal's amused laugh with a pinch on his cheek broke his speech, "Let's just say In Shaa Allah."

"In Shaa Allah."

***

"Ma, sho why are we at the hoshpital? You got a bug?"

Ghazal smilingly shook her head and looked at Haaris who was looking at them with an amused smile playing on his lips. They had just picked up Adam from his school and now were in the hospital waiting for their turn to come.

"Your Ma is giving us a baby in gift."

Adam's eyes widened in surprise at the new found information and he incredulously stared at his mother, his mouth forming an 'o' in thought. Ghazal kissed his chubby cheek, wrapping an arm around him.

"Sho, where ish the baby?"

Ghazal took his small hands and put it on her stomach, "Here." She had to share with Adam that he was going to be a big bro at some point and she was quite excited to mark his expressions. His eyes widened some more as he looked back and forth in question from Haaris to Ghazal.

"You ate it?"

They both broke into fits of laughter hearing his question and his face which was showing every type of shock and disbelief.

"No, baby." Ghazal wiped the tear which had escaped due to too much laughing, "Allah gives this gift when he becomes happy with Ma and Dad."

"Allah will gift me too if he ish happy with me?"

"At the right time."

Haaris beat her up to answer, throwing a wink at her side. Her turn came, it was a regular checkup for her. Adam stayed with Haaris still talking about baby and all as she went inside to the doctor who thoroughly checked her up with occasional questions of her daily routine.

"Okay, this will sound a lot personal but I need to ask it. How's Mr. Haaris's behaviour with you?"

"He's nice with me, mam."

Ghazal confusedly replied unable to understand where the conversation was heading.

"Look there's no need to be afraid okay, I have seen the scars on your skin. We can get help. You are free to share your problem wi-"

"Mam, it's from my first marriage. I was the victim of domestic abuse in my first marriage and Haaris is not responsible for these scars."

Ghazal couldn't help the sudden edge in her voice. Haaris was the most caring, loving, husband to be found on earth and he didn't even touch her in his anger, so she needed to defend him.

"I'm sorry."

The doctor excused for being wrong and also talked about the various cases of domestic abuses where the victim remained silent about the violence going on. She prescribed Ghazal some medicines for her weak health.

"Your body and immune system has gotten somewhat weak, so it's necessary for you to take proper care of yourself. "

Ghazal nodded in affirmation leaving the cabin. Her phone began to ring showing Papa's caller id and her gaze moved to Haaris who was already looking at her. With slow strides, she came towards Haaris and Adam.

"Assalamualaikum Papa."

"Walaikumassalam child. Haaris called me yesterday that he wanted to talk about something, are you alright?"

"Yes papa. Alhamdulillah. "

Haaris's features became guarded on his father's mention. She held his hand and moved towards the exit where their car had been parked. She didn't know what she supposed to tell papa, it was a matter between a father and son and she somewhat feeling intruding in their space.

"Ok. Is Haaris with you? If yes, then tell him I have reached home. We can talk about it."

"Yes, papa. I will let him know."

Ghazal grabbed her seat at the backseat taking a peek of the rear view mirror from where he could see Haaris's furrowed eyes in irritation. She pursed her lips and put a hand on his shoulder, " Haaris, papa is at home. Just sort out the things with a calm mind."

"I will try, tigeress."

***

Haaris entered the living room where Papa was waiting for him. Ghazal had already taken Adam with her to give both of them some space to talk and clear out the things.

"Welcome home, son. So, tell me what you wanted to talk about?"

Papa stood up from his place and gave him a warm hug which he didn't bother to return. He was feeling way too agitated to show any kind of gestures of warmth, it was wrong of him to behave like this with his father but he couldn't help it.

"Papa, what do you know about Azkiya?"

"What about Azkiya, Haaris?"

"What happened to Azkiya? "

Papa lowered his gaze from him, they were for the first time discussing Azkiya again after her death or her 'fake-death' and that was why it was not difficult for Haaris to note Papa's expressions of distress and worry.

"You know she died, son in that accident."

"That's what you told me. Now can you tell me the truth, please papa."

Haaris said or more like begged. He was living his life in a delusion for this entire time, a painful delusion which had left him like nothing but a depressed man who just wanted to throw himself of the cliff to end the agony of guilt and regret.

"That's the truth Haaris. What's there to tell you more?"

"I would have trusted you this time too like earlier but I have seen Azkiya two times in a row in front of me just like a normal human being and she didn't seem dead to me."

Papa turned around unable to make a proper eye contact with him and he came in front of him to reveal the truth desperately.

"Tell me Papa, what had happened? What had forced you to lie to me?"

"I lied to you because Azkiya had left you alone at that nigh, Haaris."

A grieving silence set upon them as Papa's voice echoed around the room, shattering every ounce of energy in him with full force.

Mr. Yousuf hid his tears with his thumb and forefinger, his heart drumming anxiously in his chest as he set his car to full speed in order to reach his son. Didn't know who phoned him but he had found Haaris lying in a critical condition on the road.

As he reached at the place of the accident, they were putting Haaris in the ambulance. Wasn't he with Azkiya? But where was she? They used to be together but this time there was not a single trace of her, his son was all alone. Did it mean, Azkiya left Haaris alone in that fatal instance to die? What he would tell Haaris?

"I had told the hospital staff to tell you about Azkiya's death."

Haaris was so numb to feel anything. That news had dropped itself on him like a bucket of ice cold water. What he was supposed to do? His ex-girlfriend had betrayed him, his father lied to him just because of this which pushed Haaris into pits of darkness for two years.

"You should have told me the truth, Papa. I would have handled it. It could be better than this, I have suffered a living death in those two years in pain, in guilt."

"Trust me son, it's nothing like the pain when someone you truly love leaves you all alone to suffer."

Haaris felt silent looking at his father's glossy eyes and left the room understanding gravely what his father was talking about.