A silent wince escaped the barriers of her lips as Ghazal felt a small needle piercing in her skin a little too slowly pulling her back to the world of chaos from the numb state of mind. She didn't want to open her eyes just yet because she was way too tired to feel the reality hitting hard on herself. Also, Ghazal was too weak that she would have to struggle a lot just to open her eyes and see the world around her which was now losing its importance for her.

There were some faint voices for a long time and then all faded away leaving a trail of silence in its way. Ghazal could have fallen asleep if she hadn't felt a soft touch on her hands. That touch which she clearly knew, which always made her heartbeats erratic. Soon she felt shallow warm breaths on her fingertips.

Her mind was somewhat numb but it was not sufficient to stop her heart to feel the pain bubbling inside her thinking about her spouse's words. Didn't Haaris think about his wife and the phase of motherhood which she was going through? Being a doctor, Ghazal knew everything was alright with her. She had fainted just because of too much stress and low blood pressure but Allah forbid, if something would have happened to their child, she didn't even want to think about it. That would have again pushed Haaris into a pit of regrets and self loath and nothing else. His words were not so hurting rather his behavior with Ghazal which had instantly changed. That behavior was only reminding her of Farzan and his abuse.

It was not good, how could she find a simile between Farzan and Haaris. But her husband was not leaving any option for her. His hurtful words, that distrust in his eyes, that anger, only a slap or violence was remaining to turn him fully into her ex-husband. That ex-husband who had spoiled her life just because of his past and that was exactly what Haaris was unknowingly moving to do.

Haaris's breath gently clashed with her features and Ghazal felt his lips on the corner of her mouth, "I'm so so sorry, tigress. Just wake up." a whisper which seemed to be holding more pain and sadness than hers, following his kiss.

Ghazal just wanted to forgive him quickly because it was only in anger that he had behaved like this and said those words but her mind was not adamant to do so. Ghazal was feeling some kind of fear of Haaris. She wanted to throw away that thing but her heart was badly shaking thinking about Haaris in anger. She didn't want to get afraid of him as it was hurting her also. What she should do? Till when she would ignore his misdoings and veil them in the excuse of anger. It was not right, he always pushed her back in his anger as if she didn't exist in his life, as if he didn't know she was with him.

If she would still be with Farzan, Ghazal would never have thought so. She would never have thought to stay away from her husband, to stay upset with him. It was Haaris, who taught her the word 'self-worth', she began to know how it felt to live for herself. Now Ghazal was in turmoil to what to do?

Haaris was slowly caressing the hair at her temple and kissed her cheekbone. As she felt his warm breath on her lips, Ghazal held his shoulder to stop his movement. His face, the scene around her was still blurry as she opened her eyes after great attempts. Blinking her eyes several times Ghazal felt Haaris moving a little back from her still not leaving her vicinity and holding her hand in his gentle yet firm grip. Haaris cupped her jaw and his thumb traced her cheekbone.

"Hey, how are you feeling?"

"Where's Adam?"

Ghazal asked in a blank croaked voice. When they were arguing sometime ago Adam was with Papa watching some movie and now didn't know where her son was?

"He's asleep in Papa's room. Do you need anything?"

Ghazal shook her head, stealing glances of her husband who was looking totally drained out, his hair messed up and features pale as if Haaris had been worried for too long.

"I'm so relaxed you're fine. I was so-"

"Haaris, I'm tired. I just want to rest."

Ghazal cut off his speech, she didn't want to listen to his regrets because that behavior of his was beyond his regrets. It had squeezed her heart terribly and she just wanted to stay alone to get a good grip of her thoughts.

"Yeah, okay right. Doc has also advised proper bed rest for you."

Haaris sheepishly scratched the nape of his neck, holding her in his gaze for a little too long. Ghazal turned on her side to stop her heart from feeling bad about her husband and his hurting heart.

***

Haaris checked the jug at the bedside table which was full and Papa, Adam was sleeping peacefully. He thought to take a look at both of them before going to sleep. Papa's hand stopped his movement and he gave Haaris a warm smile.

"Not slept yet."

"No, I was unable to. Should I take Adam with me?"

"No. Let him be here, he is in a deep sleep."

Papa replied caressing Adam's head. Papa didn't know about Ghazal and his argument, not the whole ordeal and he didn't want him to. He was about to move when his hand was held by his father who was questioningly looking at him. "You can talk to me, Haaris. I can see you are disturbed."

Haaris didn't answer him but just grabbed his seat in front of him on the chair. He didn't know what was running in his mind but mostly it was regret. "Papa didn't you ever feel the need to bring Mum back home."

Papa shook his head with a low chuckle, surely it was a thing to laugh because Haaris was discussing his parent's love life in the whole midnight. Haaris didn't move his gaze away from his father for him to continue, which he did.

"Haaris, sometimes love tells you to let go which I did. You know, I met Seher a few months ago and I could see that I had done a great thing to leave her on her own. Because she is happy with her new family, a new world and I'm happy with my family-you, Adam and Ghazal."

Haaris remained silent in reply, after chatting for a while he came back in his room. Nothing was going in his mind except the guilt that he had accused Ghazal of lying. She was telling the truth when she said that his mother was happy in her world.

He just stared at her face, her face which was so beautifully glimmering under the only curtain-strained moonlight. He was unable to sleep and it was not necessary to tell why. Haaris was feeling drained out with the amount of guilt and pain he was carrying. He was responsible for this condition of Ghazal and God forbid if something would have happened to their child he wouldn't be able to live further. Ghazal's blood pressure had been fallen drastically down and the doctor had advised giving her proper rest with a no-stress environment.

The betraying air gently teased Ghazal's loose hair strands forcing them to cover half of her face from him. She slightly squirmed in her sleep with the intrusion but Haaris shuffled more closer to her holding Ghazal by her waist. He gently moved back the hair strand from her face and stole one more glance of her beautiful yet pale face.

He definitely deserved her anger, her silent treatment. Didn't know when Haaris would learn to calm down his anger, to tame his behavior. It was only his anger and his words which always pushed their marriage to downhill. Haaris had felt bad when Ghazal didn't give him a chance to apologize and went back to sleep after asking about their son but he would give her time. In that meantime, he would try to change himself, he would try to control his emotions.

His index finger balmily caressed her eyebrow and his lips tilted up in a small smile seeing the innocence on her face. Ghazal was facing him, her face resting on her flat palm while her other hand was beside her where their engagement ring was shimmering. Haaris slightly moved his finger and touched her closed eyelid. Those orbs which always held a different shade of emotions still when she would show herself blank and void. He loved to look into her eyes because Ghazal used to blush at his gazing. His finger stopped at her nose piercing, a whole set of memories knocking on his mind.

Haaris moved his face more closer to her and gently bit the tip of her nose resulting in a somewhat amused wince from her. A tiny redness had crept up to the tip of her nose making her more beautiful. He traced it and placed a soft kiss to soothe the pain.

"I am sorry."

Ghazal chuckled, rubbing her nose childishly. "If that's your punishment, I will be careful in the future before doing any mistake."

Haaris silently chuckled at the memory and moved his face closer to hers. His lips kissing the mole below her earlobe, savoring the memories when he used to do the same to earn a shy gasp from his wife. Couldn't she just wake up on his teasings? So he would apologize for his every mistake and clear out everything between. Because somewhere inside him, an emptiness was building upon the thought of her anger, her sadness because he was the sole reason for everything. Haaris had to think about the ways to seek repentance of his mistakes.

***

Ghazal opened her eyes with a light caress on her head and blinked several times to move back the remnants of sleep. Haaris was near her, his head resting on his fist as he was waiting for her to wake up fully.

"Let's pray Fajr."

She glanced at the balcony door behind Haaris and saw an amalgam of night and dusk. It was the first time in their marriage that her husband was waking her up for prayer as it would always be Ghazal. Maybe due to the last night, she was unable to wake up on her usual time. Just because of her husband! Haaris, who was unable to sleep and that's why was trying to wake her up with his act of adorations. She proved herself a great actor when Ghazal successfully pretended to sleep. Didn't know Haaris slept or not but at least he had stopped bothering her, letting her fall asleep.

"You start, I'm coming. "

Haaris didn't budge from his position but when she was about to move towards the washroom, he was beside her like a shadow not holding her but like a protective company. Ghazal closed the door quickly and rested her back on it keeping a hand on her mouth. Oh my, that was her husband! Who was behaving like Ghazal was not giving him a silent treatment and all was going well between them. She clearly knew he was regretting his misjudging, his behavior but Ghazal was unable to push herself to forgive him. Didn't her request had any importance in his life? Didn't Ghazal request him to don't spoil himself in his own past? What would be the result of her forgiveness? Haaris would behave just like yesterday whenever he would get in any big crisis.

But a small smile made its way on her lips on the change in him. If it would be the old Haaris, he would have shown her more anger just like when he had done when Ghazal had refused to share the secret behind her scars. But today he hadn't shown any signs of anger. It's not good to become happy so early and then get upset again. When finishing her ablution she entered their room Haaris was waiting for her on the prayer mat. As their eyes met, he gave her a warm smile which she after many attempts were unable to return may be due to the fear of breaking everything again.

Ghazal just silently came and stood behind her husband starting her prayer. Her heart was weeping at the problem she was now facing in her life. She always wanted to be a great wife but being upset and angry with her husband would never be a trait of a good wife. But it was all for Haaris's goodwill. The angry person is the most vulnerable creature on earth because he becomes an easy target for everybody and Ghazal never wanted that. Yes, there was also a fear inside her which was letting her get back to normal with Haaris and she had no idea how Ghazal would remove that fear from herself.

As she ended her prayer, Ghazal shuddered at her place finding Haaris sitting across her. His arms around his knees which had been pulled to his chest. She had been held captive in his intense gaze and his eyes which were not moving away from her face were the proof that he had been staring her for a long time. Not knowing how to respond, Ghazal just got busy in her after prayer supplications but she could still feel his eyes which were moving on her features.

Stop with that staring, dear husband!

Ghazal was grateful to Allah as the knock broke her husband's staring session. Adam quickly came inside and sat in her lap, giving a kiss on her cheek.

"How's my boy?"

"All good, Ma."

She kissed his forehead and gulped in slight nervousness as from the corner of her eyes Ghazal could sense Haaris taking a seat just beside her, his arm snaking around her waist and he gently placed his cheek on her shoulder facing Adam. She pursed her lips, he clearly knew that she wouldn't do anything in front of Adam.

"Champ, that's not fair. Where's my good morning wish? "

The question was directed towards their son but Ghazal felt his eyes on her and his voice was holding some kind of amusement. Adam giggled slapping his forehead and got into Haaris's lap, kissing his cheek.

"Dad, sho are we ready? "

"Yes."

They both high-fived each other and here Ghazal was unable to understand their conversation. Today was Sunday and that meant the father-son had made some plans which she didn't know at all. Great!

***

During so many chatters with his son, Haaris had come to know that Adam had never seen or done a water gunfight. So he had decided to let him enjoy this game on Sunday. Now they were in the backyard and preparing for the said game.

When he had planned this game, his life was away from the turmoil and he had counted Ghazal in his plans too. But now she was absent from there and he was badly missing her. She still hadn't talked with him and was not giving him a single smile. Her hurt was much more severe than he could ever think.

"Dad, sho we shtart?"

Haaris smilingly nodded at his son who was way too excited. He gave him the water gun, " Fill it." He gestured towards the tub which they had filled with water. Adam quickly filled it and poured the entire water on him resulting in an amused chuckle from him. His son was too fast for him to handle.

"Now it's my turn to attack."

Haaris yelled in a fake soldier voice and began to chase his son who was running away from him, saving himself from the attack. He should give more time in the gym because now he was getting fatigued with the entire running and still his son was not caught. Haaris just had to suffice on attacking him from afar. He sped up and found Adam getting near the backyard door which had an entrance to the kitchen. Now he would surely catch his son, he thought with a victorious smile.

It all happened too soon that the backyard door opened and Haaris emptied the entire water on the coming person which was none other than his wife. He would have not seen if he hadn't heard a low gasp which was sure of Ghazal who was now looking at him with furrowed brows, her arms folded around herself. His son vanished from the scene as if Haaris was alone in the backyard playing with these silly water guns.

His destiny surely helped him a lot when everything was already going downhill for him. Haaris mentally rolled his eyes on his bad-luck, Ghazal was upset with him and this act would definitely ignite her anger some more.

Wow, what a life!

"Adi, where's your water gun?"

Ghazal tilted her head a little to ask Adam who was successfully hiding behind her. He silently gave her the gun informing her that it was full. Haaris just dumbfoundedly stared at his wife unable to understand her moves. Ghazal with small steps came towards him and stopped when she was just some inches away from him. In the next moment, he remained stuck at his spot with a smile on his face, feeling the straight ray of water hitting his features. His wife had her own ways of showing her anger. That was the thing he loved about her, that was why he loved her.

His eyes widened at his own thoughts. Love? When did that word come in his dictionary? He just liked Ghazal, he liked to spent his time with her, he didn't like it when somebody hurt her or somebody glanced at her with their filthy gaze, he didn't like to see the shades of sadness on her face. He liked to hold her hands which were always warm, he liked to kiss her every now and then to see the blush on her cheeks. But it was all because Ghazal was his wife and nothing else. But now he was feeling there was something more to it. Why every time his mind used to be occupied with Ghazal's thoughts? Why he couldn't see tears in her eyes? Why he could feel the pain of hurt in his own heart when Ghazal was hurting? Why he could do anything just to see a smile on her face?

Ghazal moved Adam in front of her and gave back the gun to their son. " Two points for you baby." She announced patting his head and gave a blank glance to Haaris. He just stayed rooted to his spot, seeing her going back to their room. His mind again reminding him of his newfound feeling. Why didn't he understood his own feelings? Now when he was thinking about his every single act, it was out of love and love.

Ghazal was right, I am more naive than Adam!

Haaris shook his head with a smile and got back in the game with his son. His heart feeling somewhat light with the birth of love inside him, a giddy feeling making his surroundings more blissful than before. He was in love with his wife and that was the amazing feeling in the world. Didn't know Ghazal feel the same about him or not?