Is there a way to grasp what love means without becoming a lover first? Love cannot be explained. It can only be experienced. Love cannot be explained, yet it explains all.

- Elif Shafak

Fariya

"Maida, have you seen my shoes?" Fariya asked as she walked towards her.

"No, I haven't." Maida said while ironing her clothes.

"I've checked the cupboard for like five times. Where did they go?"

Fariya said annoyingly as she walked back to her room to check the cupboard again. She climbed through the stairs and saw her mother going down.

"Mama!" She called.

Her mother, carrying a basket of flowers, halted and turned around towards her elder daughter.

"Have you seen my shoes?" Fariya asked.

Her mother thought for a second before shaking her head in a no.

"I haven't. You didn't even show me when you bought them."

Her mother said and climbed down the stairs leaving a flabbergasted Fariya behind. A thought had just dawned upon her, knocking the air out of her lungs. She hadn't shown her mother the shoes because she didn't buy them in the first place.

She had become so hungry and tired at the end of the shopping that day that she decided to come back after some days to buy the things left which included her shoes and jewellery. Now that she thought about it, Fariya cursed her side which easily forgot things and the side which hated shopping.

She closed her eyes for a second, still standing in the middle of the staircase, and took a deep breath. The breath which enriched her lungs with oxygen helped her get rid of the anxiety she was facing. Her mind opened as she thought about the problem in hand and the next moment, she was rushing downstairs towards Maida.

"Maida!"

Fariya cried and Maida literally jumped when she heard her loud cry from behind.

"Damn you, woman."

Maida clenched her teeth as she lowered the hand which ahd reflexively moved towards her heart.

"What happened? Why are you running around the home shouting my name?" Maida irritatingly asked as she resumed ironing her clothes.

"Maida... my shoes... jewellery... Mehandi... Syra..." Fariya tried to speak but her breath was still caught from all the running.

"I don't understand a thing." Maida said as she huffed in annoyance.

"Maida, my shoes and jewellery. I didn't buy them."

Fariya finally said and Maida's hand which was moving along with the iron stopped abruptly.

"What?" She asked, startled.

She hurriedly turned off the appliance and turned towards her sister, still stunned about what Fariya had just said.

"I forgot to buy them." Fariya mumbled weakly as she looked at Maida tensely.

"I can't believe it. For heaven's sake, it's Syra's Mehandi in three hours."

Maida incredulously said as she placed a hand on her forehead.

"I understand your dislike for shopping but Fariya, this is way out of my understanding. How can you forget it?" Maida shockingly asked.

"This is not the time for that. What should I do now?" Fariya hopefully asked Maida.

"What should you do? There's nothing you can do. Go and wear old shoes and jewellery." Maida said as she rolled her eyes.

"As far as jewellery is concerned, I have some that goes with my dress. The main problem is the shoes. I don't have too many shoes and whatever I have are not suitable for a Mehandi function. What about you?" Fariya said restlessly.

"Not a chance. My shoe size is 6." Maida said shrugging her shoulders.

"Urwa!" Fariya exclaimed and began to walk back when Maida caught her.

"Urwa wear flats and flats don't go with your dress." Maida said, crushing the tiny speck of hope that was left.

"Now, what do I do?" Fariya asked, emotionally.

"There are three hours left. You can still go and buy." Maida said.

"But how will I go?" Fariya asked and looked around her in agitation.

"That's not a problem. You can go with Omer Bhai or Saad. In fact, why don't you go yourself? You know how to drive." Maida said and Fariya only shook her head.

"I don't have the keys and Omer and Saad are way too busy in the preparations. They've gone to Phoppo's house to help Talha in arrangements. " Fariya said.

"I think they've come back. Saad did. Go and ask him." Maida said as she plugged the wire in the socket.

"Okay." Fariya said and hurriedly left Maida there.

"Tayi Ammi, where's Saad?" Fariya breathlessly asked when she ran upto her.

"He has gone to your Phoppo's house." Tayi Ammi replied, busy in preparing some list.

"But Maida said he came back."

Fariya said hurriedly as she looked around her, hoping that her eyes would clash with her cousin but they returned back, hopeless.

"Not Saad, Omer. He came back to get something but I think he has gone back."

Tayi Ammi replied and for the first time looked up to see Fariya biting her lower lip.

"Do you need anything?" Tayi Ammi questioned.

"No..no. Umm, Tayi Ammi, is the driver here?" Fariya asked.

"No, child. What would he do here at this time?" Tayi Ammi replied smilingly and Fariya smiled back weakly.

"And the car keys?" Fariya asked lowly.

"Omer has his keys and your Taya Abbu has taken the car somewhere. Is there something wrong?"

"No, nothing." Fariya said and turned around.

"Tayi Ammi said that she thinks Omer has gone back. Thinks." She mumbled to herself as she climbed the stairs two at a time.

"I hope she thinks wrong. Allah, please." She murmured breathlessly as she ran towards his room.

She didn't have the time nor did she have the energy to knock at the door. Fariya pushed the door open as soon as she reached it and stepped inside the room.

However, embarrassment overlapped her tension the moment she saw shirtless Omer standing in front of her and she quickly turned around, this time facing the open door, flushed.

"What the hell was this?" Omer was too stunned to be angry.

"I.. I.. wanted to..." Fariya stammered, the blood hurrying towards her face.

"I didn't know you were inside."

She uttered the best reply she could think of. However, Omer clenched his teeth from behind.

"So you enter like this when I am not in my room?" Omer sarcastically asked as he pulled on a shirt.

"No.. no.. of course not." Fariya said as she turned even more red from embarrassment.

"Turn around." Omer's voice vibrated her ear drums and she hesitantly turned around, her eyes burning through the floor.

"What was the rush?"

He asked, trying to control his anger as he looked at her. Fariya suddenly remembered the reason and her head shot upwards.

"Thank God you're here!" She exclaimed and Omer's eyes widened.

"What?"

She was not making much sense for a man as sensible as Omer.

"Oh, no. Not in that way." She hurriedly shook her head, embarrassment getting the best of her.

"Fariya, calm down. Tell me what happened."

Omer asked, still startled. Fariya took a deep breath and relaxed her racing heart.

"Actually, I need a favour." Omer seemed to be taken aback as he heard his strange spouse.

"What.. kind of favour?" Omer confusingly asked.

"Are you heading somewhere?" Fariya asked, eyeing his freshen up form.

"Fariya, it's Syra's Mehandi tonight. I have a lot of places to head to." Omer said.

"Okay, fine. Perfect. I will go with you." Fariya solved her problem and increased Omer's confusion in a blink of an eye.

"What? Why will you go with me?" Omer incredulously asked.

"Ummm... actually..." Fariya wondered what his reaction would be after hearing her idiotic act. "I forgot to buy my shoes and jewellery. I have to go to the mall to buy them."

Omer was too shocked to respond. He looked at her for a full minute, his eyes widened before saying anything.

"You can wear..." Omer started in a low voice.

"I don't have shoes that match with my outfit. Maida and I don't have the same shoe size and Urwa wear flats. So, now will you take me?" Fariya said all in a breath and looked at Omer hopefully.

"I'm not going to the mall." Omer said after a while.

"That's not a problem. Islamabad is not a very big city and besides, the mall is just a few minutes away from the house." Fariya pleaded.

"But I have to go somewhere else. I'm already getting late." Omer said as he glanced at his watch.

"You can drop me there and then you can pick me up afterwards." Fariya suggested. "Please, Omer. Saad has gone to Phoppo's house otherwise..." Fariya tried to say something when Omer cut her in mid-sentence.

"I'll take you." He said after taking a deep breath.

"Thank you." Fariya said as a small spread across her face.

"But please don't tell Mama. She'll get angry." Fariya said.

Omer nodded his head and without saying anything, left the room closely followed by Fariya.

◇◇◇◇

"When will you come to pick me up?" Fariya said for the first time since she had sat beside him in the car.

"I'll go there afterwards. I'm coming with you." He said as he parked the car and got out.

Fariya seemed to be taken aback but didn't say anything. She hurriedly walked inside the mall and moved towards the shop.

"Is this fine?"

She asked Omer who was sitting beside her and was typing fastly on his mobile phone. He looked up from the phone and glanced at the shoe she was wearing. Shrugging his shoulders, he again went back to typing.

"I don't know anything about female shopping." Omer said carelessly.

"But you can tell if something looks good on women, can't you?" Fariya asked sarcastically.

Omer looked up from the phone and glanced at her, his eyebrow raised.

"I don't notice these things in women, if that's what you are suggesting." He said in a serious tone.

Fariya instantly regretted her words as she turned her head around. Omer's behaviour since the past few weeks had blessed her with enough courage to openly talk with him but Omer was the man who knew his boundaries and he was smart enough to set other people's boundaries too.

"Can you please hurry up?"

Omer whispered as he bent towards her after placing his mobile phone in his pocket. Fariya who was too busy in selecting a good pair of heels didn't notice that he was mere inches away form her.

"Five minutes." She said without looking at him.

"This is good." Omer suddenly said after a moment, his eyes on Fariya's feet.

Fariya looked up at him with wide eyed and then back at the shoes. She shook her head angrily as she got rid of the shoe she was wearing and asked the shopkeeper to show her something else.

"That shoe was good, Fariya." Omer couldn't stop himself on time.
"It wasn't and stop feeding me with false praise." Fariya suddenly said as she looked at him, hurt clearly visible on her face.

"I'm not doing anything like that. It was really nice and you liked it too. I saw it in your eyes." Omer said, equally hurt.

"You're saying it just because you want me to hurry up. Omer, there is no need to lie."

Fariya dejectedly said as she looked at him. Omer took a deep breath and got up from the seat.

"Please pack this one." He gestured towards the golden heels Fariya had just yanked away from her feet.

"No." Fariya too stood up.

"Fariya, we'll talk in the car." His voice contained something which compelled Fariya to control her words and she sighed. Fariya tried to pay but Omer waved her off and after paying the bill, took the shopping bag in one hand while his other hand coiled around Fariya's wrist as he pulled her out of the shop.

Fariya's mind had gone numb and she didn't have any power left to yank her hand away from his tight grasp. She moved without any effort, her eyes fixed on his hand which was wrapped around hers. It was as if the whole blood in her body had accumulated in that wrist which was honoured for its beloved had touched it.

He stopped in front of the Jewellery shop and Fariya awoke from her thoughts.

"I have jewellery. I'll wear something." Fariya said slowly.

Omer nodded his head and continued moving ahead.

"Look, Fariya. I don't want you to have any misunderstanding regarding what happened. I did want to be done with the shopping as soon as possible but I certainly didn't praise you falsely. I liked the shoe and told you. I'm sorry if you felt bad."

Omer said as soon as the car was on the road. Fariya smiled at him.

"It's okay. I was just over reacting." She said as she looked at him.

Her anger for him vanished the moment his hand made contact with hers. She looked at him as a new revelation descended upon her. Omer Ahmed Lashari was the only man in her life who could do anything to her and yet her anger towards him would drop down dead the moment his black, piercing gaze would bear into her sparkling one.

Fariya hated herself for feeling vulnerable in front of him, for forgiving him so easily but some things are not meant to be in your control. In a battle between heart and mind, her heart had won and now she was facing the consequences.

"Are you sure? You're not mad?" Omer asked reassuringly.

"Yes. I'm not mad." She said, slightly nodding her head.

"If there's one thing in my life that I hate more than anything else than that is false praise. I just thought that you were doing that so I became angry. I'm sorry." Fariya added slowly as she looked out the window.

"I understand." Omer said as he stopped the car in front on the house.

"Allah Hafiz and thank you." Fariya said as she unfastened the seat belt and got out of the car.

Omer nodded his head and waited till she was safely inside the house before pushing the accelerator.

◇◇◇◇

"Never in a million years would I have thought that you two would end up together. You both make such a beautiful couple, though."

Fariya exclaimed as she stood in front of Salaar and Syra who were seated on the large sofa.

"I didn't think either." Salaar said, a smirk plastered on his face as he looked sideways towards Syra. Blush crept up to her face and ane lowered her head even more. A laugh rang on the stage as everyone witnessed a bride blushing.

"Okay. Don't make my sister nervous." Fariya said forcefully, a hint of humour behind her voice.

"And do I mean nothing to you?" Salaar asked sadly but Fariya knew him too well to decipher the amusement in his tone.

"Well, family before friends." Fariya said, shrugging her shoulders to which she earned a glare from Salaar.

"You've betrayed me, Fariya Ali Sikandar." Salaar said as he placed a hand on his heart, acting to be hurt.

"It's you who have betrayed me. You didn't even tell me before proposing her and here I thought we were best of friends." Fariya said fiercely as he looked at Salaar.

"Well, family before friends."

Salaar said and shrugged his shoulders in the same way as Fariya did and now it was Fariya's turn to glare at him.

"Don't act too smart. I'm the sister of the bride and I can do things you can't even ima...."

Fariya's voice was smiling but it tailed off as she sensed Omer come and stand beside her.

"Salaar!" Omer said and Fariya saw as as Salaar stood up from the seat to hug him.

"Omer!" Salaar said in a same tone to which everyone laughed.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't receive you when you came. Actually, I was busy in the arrangements and all." Omer apologised and Salaar only shook his head.

"Oh, it's absolutely fine. I completely understand." Salaar said and Saad was quick to jump in the conversation.

"Salaar, you should consider yourself lucky. It's not everyday that Omer Bhai apologises." He said mockingly and Fariya saw through the corner of her eyes as Omer laughed wholeheartedly.

Her heartbeat accelerated and her mouth went dry as she witnessed the man of her heart laugh. He was standing so close to her that their shoulders were touching. The smell of his perfume was wafting up to her nose, tightening her stomach in knots. Every muscle in her body wanted to leave the stage that instant but her feet have rooted on their spot, her brain too numb due to close proximity.

"Okay, people. Sit down on your seats. The dance performances are about to begin."

Maida said as she climbed the stage and halted the laughters that were reverberating around the hall.

"Oh, yeah." Voices echoed and everyone hurriedly climbed down the stage, leaving only the Syra's cousins behind. Fariya sat on the sofa beside Syra along with Maida and Urwa while Omer sat beside Salaar.

The last thing she saw before she turned her head towards the dance was the sight of Omer who was laughing at something Salaar said, his eyes narrowed around the edges. The sight was enough to make the heart in her ribcage drop but she was quick to avert her eyes. Soon enough, she got immersed in the dance performance of Saad, Talha and Hamza.

Her cheeks hurt from all the smiling as she saw them dance to some song she hadn't heard before. The performance soon ended followed by a loud roar of applause from the audience. Fariya too clapped as she saw all three of them bowing down in front of the audience. The wooden floor got deserted for a second before a man from Groom's side hurriedly occupied it, a mic in his hands.

"And now there is going to be a dance performance from the Bride's side again by none other than her cousins."

Fariya's eyed widened as she looked at Maida and Urwa-she didn't know they were dancing.

"You didn't tell me you were going to dance." Fariya said incredulously as she whispered to them.

Maida shook her head in disapproval and Fariya thought that maybe someone from Syra's father's family was going to dance. She went back to her previous position, fully relaxed but the next words that came from the man's mouth were enough to take her breath away.

"Let's welcome Omer and Fariya." The man said and after pointing to them, went back to where he was seated.

Fariya's jaw had dropped but she quickly shut it closed as she turned sideways to look at Omer who had stood up from his seat. Fariya for a second thought that he was going down to tell the man that there was a misunderstanding and she felt instant relief rush through her body.

But her relief was short lived as she saw Omer coming towards her other than going down. Her eyes threatened to come out of the socket as her mouth went dry. Omer stopped for a moment in front of her before bending down and getting hold of her hand.

The hazel-eyed woman looked from her hands towards his face, the shock washing away her being. He gently pulled her hand and Fariya stood up from her seat, her lips to dry to utter a single word. She walked effortlessly behind him, eyeing his muscular form, startlingly. They reached the centre of the wooden floor and that's when Omer came to a halt.

He turned around slowly and suddenly the lights around the room dimmed, a white light cascading on the couple who was too stunned to say anything. Fariya suddenly heard the small music that began to play around the hall, vibrating against the beats of her heart.

With wide eyes, Fariya saw as Omer placed a hand on her waist and pulled her closer gently. She gulped down the emotions that threatened to explode as Omer guided her hand towards his shoulders.

"I don't know how to dance." Fariya whispered as she looked at him right in the eye.

Omer gazed back, his eyes bursting with emotions, as he comforted her through his tender gaze.

"Just move with me." Omer whispered in her ear as he moved his legs around, Fariya following his steps.

"You know how to dance?" Fariya incredulously asked as she tightened her grasp on his shoulder.

"Yeah, I do." A small smile touched the corner of his lips.

"I didn't know." She whispered as she moved along with him on the rythym of the song.

"Not many people know." He stated.

"Why did they call us?" Fariya asked as Omer turned her around him, her hands in his tight grasp.

"I seriously have no idea. It must be one of those Saad's stupid pranks." Omer muttered as he avoided Fariya's gaze.

"I am so going to kill that man. For heaven's sake, I've never danced in my entire life." Fariya angrily said as she danced along.

"Well, that's a surprise. I thought you knew how to dance." Omer said with narrowed eyes.

"No, I don't." Fariya whispered.

A silence descended upon the couple as the song neared its end. Fariya's heart was beating way too fast for her liking while blood had raced up to her face. This was not the first time she was in Omer's arms-she had felt protected by the bands of his arm wrapped around her for numerous times.

But this was the first time when every eye was fixed on the couple who danced together to the harmony of life. Her red face turned even more red when she accidentally glanced past Omer's shoulder and caught the glimpse of her Taya Abbu who was looking at them, a smile decorating his face.

"Omer, Taya Abbu is watching." She said breathlessly and Omer fought hard to control the laugh that threatened to escape.

"Fariya we're dancing on some cheesy, romantic song in the middle of the hall. Not only Baba, everyone is watching."

He said while drowning in those beautiful, hazel eyes of her. Her form stiffened as precipitation coated her forehead.

"Omer!" She breathed out.

Omer instantly tightened his hold on her, his hand radiating heat which was burning Fariya.

"It's okay. Only few seconds are left." Omer shushed her as he twirled her for one last time before Fariya collapsed with his chest and the room went silent. They stood like that for a few seconds, gazing into each other's eyes, while their surroundings went back in the dark.

Her eyes contained mysteries, his eyes were filled with abstraction. Together, they both had set on a journey to sooth each other's wounds.

Omer was the first to break the spell as he released her and pulled back. Fariya woke up from the illusion as she pulled back from him swiftly. The black-eyed man looked at her for a second and after interlacing his fingers with hers, bowed his head ever so slightly.

The people were now cheering but Fariya only saw her Dado who had tears in her eyes. Fariya smiled and saw as the man who invited them stood up from his seat and moved towards them. Slightly pulling her hand away, Fariya turned around and darted towards the door at the right of the hall, heat making its way across her cheeks.

◇◇◇◇

"What a performance it was. Fari, I didn't know you could dance." Saad said mockingly as he looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"I am so going to kill you!" She said angrily as she took a step ahead.

"What did this innocent soul do?" Saad asked with wide eyes but the hint of humour in his voice gave him away.

"You are such a jerk. You knew perfectly well that I don't know how to dance and yet you did that." Fariya said.

"I did it for two reasons. First becuase you are a lier and second, well second reason will remain a mystery."

He said shrugging his shoulders but before Fariya could say anything, she heard loud voices from behind her and instantly knew what their source were. Her cousins.

"Fariya Ali Sikandar, you are such a big lier. Why did you tell me that you don't know how to dance when I asked you before Mehandi?" Urwa said, her voice moving with the same speed as that of her feet.

"I really don't know how to..." So many people were there to cut her short.

"Ahh, really? Why don't you just tell that you already had a plan to dance with Omer and that's why you didn't agree to dance when everybody asked you?" Talha said, his voice smiling.

"I didn't have a plan. I didn't even know my name was on the list." Fariya tried to defend.

"And what did you say about not knowing how to dance? 'I can't dance, Urwa. I've never danced in my entire life.'" Urwa mimicked her and everyone heartily agreed.

"I said the truth. I don't know how to dance." Fariya said.

"You danced perfectly well in there." Maida said sarcastically.

"Oh that. Actually, Omer knows how to dance. He just told me to move along with..." Fariya's voice died as she saw the look on their faces.

Suddenly, a loud 'oooh' rang around and Fariya felt as if cold water had fallen on her.

"You guys are impossible." She angrily said, her face flushed.

"You and Omer are impossible. First you act like you want to kill each other with your bare hands and now you people dance like you're love birds. What's happening, lady?"

Talha asked slowly as he bent towards her and Fariya only slapped him on his arm.

"I'll tell you what's happening."

Omer's vocie came and whatever was left of her confidence went out the window as she shrank in her place.

"It was all Saad's plan and we really didn't know our name will be called out." Omer said while he looked at everyone with a smile on his face.

"But still Omer, you both danced so perfectly. And here Fariya is seeing she doesn't know how to dance." Talha said and Omer slightly chuckled.

"I'm thinking about that too." Omer mischievously said and Fariya's eyes widened as she looked at her spouse.

"I told you I don't know how to dance and you told me to just move with the rythym..."

Fariya said loudly but her voice died when she sensed everyone's eyes on her.

"I hate you all. I'm going." She angrily said as she pushed Saad aside and moved forward towards the door but the frown on her face turned upside down when she heard a loud voice of laughter which came from behind and she ended up laughing too as she crossed the door.

Omer

"Bhai, where did you learn to do this?" Saad asked as he watched Omer light the fire.

"What is there in it to learn?" Omer said, shrugging his shoulders.

"You just have to keep some precautions in mind. That's it." Omer said as he sat back on his seat once the fire was lit.

"Baba once taught us how to do it. I'm not perfect at this but I know a little too." Hamza said and Omer looked at him smilingly.

"It's not that hard." Omer said as he patted Hamza on the back.

"And here I come." Maida's voice came and everyone looked in her direction.

"So early?"

Saad asked sarcastically as he glared at her. Maida only rolled her eyes as she gave everyone their coffee.

"Thank you so much. I was really craving for some coffee."

Omer said as he took a sip from his cup and exhaled a large breath. Maida nodded her head and sat beside Hamza while Urwa sat on the other side.

"Who did this?" Maida asked as she looked at the woods burning in front of her.

Saad only gestured towards his brother while drinking his coffee. Maida looked impressed as she eyed the crackling of the wood while the smoke rose above towards the sky. The small sparkles of fire danced around and she gazed at them, smiling.

"Where's Fariya Aapi?" Hamza suddenly asked as he looked at Maida and Urwa.

"I told her that we were going up. I don't know if she would come or not."

Urwa said and Omer looked at her for a instant before turning his attention back towards the fire.

"It was so much fun tonight. Syra looked so beautiful." Urwa suddenly exclaimed and Omer chuckled a bit at her excitement.

"Yeah. Their couple is perfect." Maida too chimed in, her face lighting up with a smile.

"And it was only Mehandi. I wonder what she would do to Salaar Bhai's heart tomorrow." Urwa said mischievously. The men only grinned as they heard the ladies talk.

"Oh finally the Queen has graced us with her presence."

Saad said sarcastically and Omer turned his head around slightly as he saw Fariya approaching. A small smile lifted the corner of her lips while she looked at Saad.

"You don't have to be this sarcastic. I was with Mama."

Fariya exclaimed as spotted the only empty chair beside Omer. She looked down at him for a split second before crossing him. Omer leaned back in his seat and retreated his legs as Fariya crossed him and sat on her chair.

"What was she saying?" Maida asked, looking at her sister.

"She was saying to send Hamza downstairs. Hamza, go down."

Fariya glanced at her younger brother and motioned him to go down.

"What did she want?" Hamza asked lazily as he stretched on his chair.

"I don't know."

Shrugging her shoulders, she said. Hamza stood up from his seat and left the terrace as he went downstairs.

"Who lit the fire?" This time it was Fariya who asked and she saw as Saad chuckled.

"Bhai." Saad motioned towards his brother and Fariya instantly turned her head around to look at him but found him staring at the burning fire ahead.

Omer saw through the corner of his eyes as she looked at him for a moment or two before gazing back at the fire.

"Baba taught us once how to do it." Fariya's voice was not more than a whisper and a ghost of smile had appeared on her face.

Omer didn't know about the others but her voice reached him quite easily. He turned her head and saw as a small smile played with her lips while her eyes were dancing with pain. He felt an instant desire to eradicate her agony at the moment but found himself helpless. Painfully, he turned his head around and fixed his gaze on the blazing fire.

"Yeah. Last winter." Maida too said, melancholy.

Omer didn't lift his face this time to look at the other sister. A silence has descended upon the terrace and Saad was the first one to break it.

"Bhai, Fariya told us that you can dance. You never told us that."

Saad raised the topic which he was avoiding since the moment he got home. Omer glanced sideways and found Fariya shooting daggers at Saad and chuckled slightly.

"I've danced like one or two times in my entire life. And couple dance is easy anyways." Omer shrugged his shoulders, acting to not be bothered.

"Well, was this your first couple dance?"

Urwa asked mischievously and the words were at the edge of his tongue when he caught sight of Fariya who was looking at him with anticipation and fear. Omer took a deep breath.

"Of course." He lied smoothly but the relief that flashed across Fariya's face made it worth it.

"You were good, though. Both of you." Maida slightly said as she placed her legs beneath her and hugged herself.

Omer only managed a nod as he looked at the crackling fire. Omer could see through the corner of her eyes as heat leapt up to Fariya's face and he couldn't help but control his smile. He never knew that Fariya was a shy woman-she never left this impression on him.

All Omer could think about her was the woman who scowled whenever their eyes met and was quick to avert them. Fariya had changed, undoubtedly, over the past month and Omer had never been more content.

"Syra must be feeli..." Urwa's voice was cut off by a loud sound which came from downstairs.

"Maida! Child, come down for a while."

Her mother's voice reached them in the dead of night and Maida stood up from her comfortable position to go downstairs.

"Is Saad on the terrace too?" The voice was low this time as she asked her daughter who was standing on the stairs.

"Yes." Maida replied.

"Tell him to come down too."

Omer saw as Saad took in a breath and stood up. Running his hands through his hair, he yawned.

"I hope that there is not any work." He said tiredly before following suit.

Omer, Fariya and Urwa were left on the terrace, all of them looking at the fire intently. Omer saw as Fariya bent ahead and held her hand in the air few metres above the fire, the heat radiating her shivering body.

Omer's eyes travelled from her hands to her body which was wrapped up by a shawl. He eyed the shawl and then her trembling lips and reflexively thought to give his shawl to her.

However, the weather was sending chills through his body so he decided some other thing. He pulled his chair a little forward so now it was touching the chair on which the hazel-eyed woman was sitting. Fariya didn't seem to notice but Omer could sense Urwa's gaze on him.

Without gazing up at her, he picked the side of his shawl and draped it around Fariya's shoulder, the other half covering his body. Omer seemed to have caught Fariya off guard who looked suddenly frightened but relaxed once she saw Omer beside her.

With wide eyes, she looked at his shawl which he had spread around her and then up at him. Omer could clearly see the bewilderment in her eyes but the very small part of his heart hoped that she wouldn't reject.

And he sighed inaudibly and released the breath he didn't know he was holding when Fariya broke the eye contact and tightened her hold on his shawl.

Omer too averted his eyes and for a split second looked at Urwa who was smiling from ears to ears. He hurriedly changed his gaze and looked at the fire which was dancing too.

"Fari?"

Urwa whispered and not only Fariya, Omer looked at her too. She contemplated for a second before shaking her head.

"Nothing." She smiled. Fariya narrowed her eyes is confusion but didn't push.

The smoke rose from the ashes as it swept up across the city of Islamabad and all three of them witnessed the serene moment, a glimpse of wonderment in their eyes.

◇◇◇◇

"Bhai. Omer Bhai."

The voice seemed to be coming from an abys and he felt as if someone was shaking his arm. His eyes fluttered open and he stared at the starry sky on which the midnight moon was settled and was peering down at him in all its glory. He continued looking at the sky, his mind blank.

"Bhai." He heard the female voice again and averted his gaze from the mysterious sky, his eyes as sleepy as ever.

He stared at his sister for a moment, his mind too sleepy to process anything. After a second, the reality dawned upon him and his eyes fully opened.

"Urwa." He breathed and then he saw two other people standing with her too-Maida and Saad. He looked at them when thoughts came crashing back and he abruptly turned his head around but froze with a gasp.

Fariya.

Fariya had her head rested on his arm, her hand wrapped around his right arm. Omer tried to stand up but Fariya's grip on his arm was strong. He sat back again and looked up to see all three of them gazing down at him, trying very hard to hide their smiles but failing badly.

Omer, embarrassed, looked back again at Fariya who had her eyes closed while her lashes cascaded a shadow on her cheeks. A peaceful expression had enveloped her face and Omer wanted to never stop looking but he clearly knew the situation he was in.

He, coming back to his senses and controlling himself, unwrapped the side of the shawl which which was covering his body and gently draped Fariya's body with it. Softly pushing her hand away, he stood up from his chair and bent his legs.

Putting his arm around her knees, he snaked his other arm around her waist and swiftly pulled her up. A lump formed in his throat at the feel of her soft body pressed against his but he swallowed it. Omer didn't dare glance at the three people standing beside him and moved ahead, embarrassment preventing him to do so.

He entered the large hallway and walked forward towards her room at the end of the corridor. Once he reached there, he pushed the door open using his feet and stepped inside the room. He reached the bed and with as much gentleness as possible, lowered her body onto it.

Omer covered her body with the duvet and Fariya who already had two shawls wrapped around her body completely hid beneath the covers. Omer peered down at her for a second before exhaling a deep breath and after turning off the lamp, left the room.

◇◇◇◇

"Hamza, go and tell them to come down. We're getting late."

Omer impatiently said as he eyed his watch. Hamza nodded his head and climbed the stairs.

"These girls take forever to get ready." Saad irritatingly said as he stood near the sofa, looking up towards their room.

"Seriously." Omer remarked and picked his mobile phone which was ringing.

"Baba." He mouthed as he put the phone on his ear.

"Are you still there?" Baba asked from the other side of the line.

"Yeah. Your daughters are taking forever to get ready." He said irritatingly as a bored expression settled on his face.

"That's good. Give the phone to Urwa. Your mother wants to talk to her." Baba said as he handed the phone to Omer's mother.

"What is..." Omer moved forward towards the staircase, the phone placed on his ears and looked up but the sight that his eyes took in stopped him dead in his tracks.

Fariya was walking down the stairs, her head bowed as she cautiously took her steps. Fariya, sensing someone's eyes on her, raised her head. And it was not only Fariya who came to an abrupt halt, it was Omer's heart too. He stared, eyes widened, as his mouth went dry.

Fariya was beautiful, he had known it from the moment he first laid his eyes upon her. But Fariya's beauty had the power to stop his breath, he was only just coming to know about it, breathless.

She was wearing a blood red artistically embroidered shirt which reached her knee along with a cigarette trousers paired with red heels. Her fair complexion stood out in the red lipstick she elegantly wore, the jewellery just adding beauty to the breathtakingly beautiful woman. Her hair, which were turned into a perfect hairstyle, fell on her right shoulder while she grasped the clutch in her hand which was filled with Henna.

Omer gazed, everything in background going into dark, as he took in her every minute detail. Fariya too stood motionless as she looked down at his awestruck form. A visible lump formed in his throat and he gulped it, his eyes conveying the message his words had failed to.

"Fariya." Omer breathed, her beauty making him speechless.

Unfortunately for him, the word that escaped his mouth was heard by the person on the other side of the line.

"Fariya? Yeah, yeah. Give the phone to her. I'll tell her."

Omer's mother broke the trance he was in and Omer Ahmed Lashari woke up with a start. He averted his eyes, though with much difficulty, and looked down at the floor.

"What.. do you.. want to talk about?" Omer tried to find his voice which was lost in those big, doe-like eyes.

"Actually, I left something in my room. I have to tell her about that." Omer's mother said and he nodded his head.

That's when he heard the sound of the heels and someone coming to stand beside him. Omer knew who it was without looking up, his eyes falling on her feet. He looked up at her but didn't dare gaze into those mysteries, sparkling eyes. Stretching out his hand, he gave her the phone.

"Ammi." He said and hurriedly turned around.

"Yes, Tayi Ammi?"

Omer heard her voice from behind when he entered the kitchen and gulped down water directly from the bottle, flabbergasted. What happened moments ago had left his heart beating at a vigorous rate while his mind had went blank. The sudden emotions that swirled in his stomach when he saw her climbing down the stairs had left him not only confused but startled too.

With a numb mind, he turned around and walked out of the kitchen, his steps small.

"Your phone." Fariya extended her hand and Omer took the phone from her hand without even looking up.

"Maida and Urwa are coming. Let's go." Saad had not yet finished his sentence when Omer turned abruptly on his heels and exited the house, followed by a confused Saad and a shy Fariya.

◇◇◇◇

"Why did you come?" Fariya asked after she had opened the door and sat on the passenger seat.

"Baba had taken the driver somewhere and Saad wasn't home."
Omer reasoned as he turned on the car and applied the first gear.

"Oh, okay." Fariya mouthed as she stared out the window.

"How are Syra and Salaar?" Omer asked after taking a look at her.

"Oh, they are perfectly fine. Salaar had gone back to his home while Syra will stay here for a few days." Fariya said and Omer nodded his head.

It was two weeks after Salaar and Syra's wedding and they had just returned back from their honeymoon. Fariya who, unlike everyone else, didn't get a chance to meet Syra after the wedding, insisted on going to Phoppo's house so Taya Abbu asked the driver to drop her there.

"When will she go back?" Omer asked and saw as Fariya shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't know. In a day or two, maybe."

Fariya answered as stared outside at the sun which had witnessed another day and was now preparing to hide behind the horizon, its light rays cascading gently on the land. They drove together as the evening sky peered down at the Margalla Roads, the sunlight filtering through the dense trees around them.

"I want..." Fariya began to say something when suddenly the car's tyres screeched on the road and it came to an abrupt halt.

Both of them looked at each other for a second before Omer averted his eyes and got out of the car, his eyes narrowed around the edges. Fariya too followed suit as she opened the car door and stepped outside. The cold yet gentle breeze welcomed her and made her tighten her hold on the jacket she was wearing.

"What's wrong?" Fariya asked as she stood beside Omer who had his head bent and was checking for the faults with narrowed eyes.

"I don't know." Omer distractedly said as he continued moving his hands.

"I think the engine has heated up. Wait, I'll look for the water."

With that said, Omer moved towards the car door and pulled it open. His eyes scanned the entire car but there was not a single sign of any water bottle. Before going back towards the front, he sat on the front seat and tried to start the car but in vain.

The engine roared but it never came to life and Omer breathed out an annoyed sigh. Despite the continuous tries to start the car, his efforts did not bear fruit and he finally got out of the car, a frown appearing at his forehead.

He saw Fariya who was looking at him with pressed lips and Omer's lips too pressed in a thin line on seeing her. He averted his eyes and moved towards the car's front. Bending his head, he scanned the engine for a full minute before straightening his posture and pulling out the phone from his pocket.

"Who are you calling?" Fariya asked as she tensely looked at him dialing the number.

"Driver." Omer said.

"But you said that Taya Abbu has taken him somewhere."

Fariya confusingly said and remembrance flashed across Omer's face. But before he could cut the call, he heard something on the phone which made him curse loudly.

"No signal. There's a strike in the city and they must have cut the mobile phone signals."

He let out an irritated breath before angrily shoving the mobile phone in his pocket.

"Now what?" Fariya asked as she roamed her eyes around the deserted road.

"Now we wait for the signals to return." Omer said and after taking a deep breath, sat on the car's bonet.

"But there must be another way." Fariya said as she stood in front of him.

"Fariya, we're at the outskirts of the city. There is no gas station or mechanic shop anywhere near here. And the nearest one is at the middle of the city which takes at least half an hour on car. Walking by foot would take two hours. Is that what you want, to go there on foot?" He asked carelessly as he raised an eyebrow.

Fariya eyed him incredulously.

"I can't believe you're acting so careless. Where is the responsible Omer I knew?" Fariya asked as she crossed her arms across her chest.

"Well, me acting all concerned won't help us in this situation. I don't have that much of choices anyway." Omer shrugged his shoulders as he smiled a little.

"We can walk some metres ahead. I'm sure we'll find a cab." Fariya said as she looked ahead with narrowed eyes.

"No, we won't. There's a strike in the city, woman. We won't even find a bicycle if we go there." Omer reasoned.

"Look, Fariya. Our only option is to wait for the mobile signals to come back. And if not that, for some car to give us lift. Until then, sit with me and stare at the horizon." Omer added as he stared ahead of her towards the sun which was all set to descend.

Fariya blew out an annoyed breath before sitting with him on the car's bonet.

"It's beautiful." She said after she had made peace with the situation she was in.

"Breathtaking." Omer replied, his voice deep.

Both of them stared at the sunset, their eyes filled with wonderment.

"Is this your first time witnessing a sunset?" Omer asked out of the blue.

"Yes." Fariya whispered.

"And yours?" Fariya asked without moving her head towards him.

"No. I've seen it many times. But it never fails to leave me mesmerised." Omer answered, staring at the sky which was now a shade of red and golden.

"How come you've never seen a sunset before?" Omer wanted to know.

"Actually, I'm more of a morning person. I've witnessed like numerous sunrises but not any sunset." Fariya answered, still in the trance of the spell casted around her.

"They're both the same. Mysterious, magical, and mesmerising."

Omer smiled a little to which Fariya nodded her head slightly and a comfortable silence descended upon them. They both stared at the Sun until it reached the bottom, the sky turning dark and deep.

"Fariya?" Omer pronounced her name after much thought.

"Hmm?" Fariya said.

"I'm sorry." Omer said quietly and Fariya's eyes widened.

"For what?" She asked although she was much familiar with the reason.

"For everything that I said to you. For everything." Omer's voice was not more than a whisper but Fariya was hanging on to every word he said.

The black-eyed man's heart was beating at a dangerous rate as he awaited her response. Things had gotten well between them but he still didn't know if Fariya had forgiven him.

"It's okay. I understood why you said all of that." Fariya smiled as she turned her face towards him and Omer was sure it was sparkle which shown in her eyes.

"Are you sure?" Omer said as his heart beat normalised.

"Yeah." Fariya smiled gently.

"So, tell me about yourself." Omer said frankly as he glanced sideways towards her.

"What do you want to know?" Fariya asked, a smile lifting the corner of her lips.

"Anything you want to tell." Omer shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, telling people about yourself like this gets awkward. You can ask me anything you want to know and I'll tell you." Fariya said smilingly.

"That's interesting. But rest assured, I won't ask about the year of your birth." Omer said and Fariya burst out laughing.

"You're kind." Fariya mockingly said after she has controlled her laugh.

"You're the first person to say that to me. It's you who is one of a kind then."

Omer smirked at her. Fariya smiled as she looked at him in the eye.

"Okay, ask away!" Fariya said and Omer shrank back to think.

"What is the one thing you love doing the most?" Omer asked as he leaned back a little, the weight of his body resting upon his hands.

"Reading and exploring places. I know it sounds typical, but that's that. Reading makes me feel everything deeply and exploring places breathes a new spirit into me. They're my lifeline."

Fariya said, her voice so soft that he almost choked. A silence talked between them before Fariya's voice broke it.

"It's my turn to ask you something now."

She seemed to be in a deep thought and Omer nodded his head in approval.

"What's your biggest regret in life?" Fariya asked and Omer's breath caught.

Fariya's words had hit him home and he felt his mouth going dry. The man straightened up as he placed his hands on either side of him, running his tongue over his lips.

"There are.. so many." Omer tried to get away from the answer.

"Seriously?" Fariya aksed, utterly shocked.

"You don't look like a man who would have so many regrets in his life." Fariya said.

"What kind of a man do I look like?" Omer asked and found himself successful in diverting the woman's attention from the topic he feared.

"To be very honest, you're a reserved man who doesn't let people in very easily. And above all, you're sensible. I don't understand why you have so many regrets in life." Fariya said thoughtfully.

"I wasn't born reserved and sensible, woman." Omer joked.

"And those mistakes that I committed are what made me as I am today-sensible, reserved, as you say it."

Omer added and Fariya looked at his face for a full minute before averting her eyes.

"Yeah" She replied and Omer nodded his head slightly.

"Fariya, can I ask you something?" Omer said, totally serious. Fariya turned her head around and nodded.

"Will you be my friend?" Fariya felt loss of words as she stared at him.

"What?" She mouthed after a moment.

Omer took a deep breath as he gazed into those hazel orbs.

"The relationship that we have, I'm not ready for that yet..." His voice tailed off and Fariya's heart leapt upto her throat.

"But that doesn't change the fact that I don't want to tackle the large wall that is standing between the two of us. We are still cousins, Fariya. And I want that relationship between us. Cousins, friends."

Omer added and Fariya just stared at him with slightly wide eyes.

"I want you to talk to me the same way you talk to Saad or Talha or Urwa. Just because you're in my Nikah doesn't mean that you can't be frank with me."

Omer's voice died and he waited for Fariya to materialise her words. Fariya, after a moment, coughed a little and then stared at him.

"I want the same thing, Omer. I don't want to fight with you anymore. I want us to be like normal cousins for once."

Fariya said in a low voice and saw Omer nodding his head forcefully.

"You're right. We are two sensible adults and we should get past our differences and be friends." Fariya added and a smile broke across Omer's face.

He extended his right hand towards Fariya who caught it after a moment of thought. Her hands were cold and shaking but the heat that his hand radiated calmed it down.

"Friends?" Omer asked.

"Friends." She whispered.

☆☆☆☆

Aren't the chapters getting longer? This one is almost 9000 words long. God!

There were so many Omer and Fariya scenes and I was continuously smiling while writing the whole chapter. Both of them are way too cute for my understanding.

Both of them are friends now. What do you think about it? Fariya did the right thing or not?

The beautiful cover above is made by sabagul28. Thank you for your appreciation and love!

Don't forget to VOTE and COMMENT! They mean a lot. :')

Till next time,
Salam!