Hi guys!

So I am back from my trip but came home late yesterday night. I am not happy with this chapter but as I have promised a chapter I am going to publish it.

Hope you guys have had a lovely time and also Ramadan Mubarak to all Muslims out there <3

I have missed you guys, I am going to start working straight for 2 weeks so I won't be able to produce chapters regularly but will try <3

Love you guys, sorry I am still jet lagged.
Shona

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We don't meet people by accident. They are meant to cross our path for a reason.

Unknown

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Sia stretches her body but can't seem to move. Being tired she clutches the hard pillow she is holding even tighter and what catches her attention is that the hard pillow is kind of heaving up and down, as if breathing. What's wrong with the pillow? "Stop breathing." She murmurs and hits the pillow with her fist.

"Ouch! Easy there." She hears a very familiar male voice but can't make out why he would be in her bed.

Sias eyes snaps wide open and a small gasp leaves her mouth seeing their position. She meets Sahirs dark but surprisingly soft amused eyes, he is actually smiling and enjoying. They are literally a tangled mess, her head resting at the crock of his neck, her arm around his torso, her leg over his legs and his big muscular arm encircled around her waist. She can feel his warm breath fan her head.

She tries to heave herself up but is locked by his arm and looks up at him again. "Do you mind?" Sia questions annoyed hinting him to leave her.

Sahir surprises her by smirking instead. "No I don't mind." He says and Sias eyes widens. "By the way, good morning to you too wifey." He smirks.

Seeing Sahir in this playful mood a dream of hers replays in her mind while staring into Sahirs dark smiling eyes, a dream where Sahir said sorry to her and kissed her cheek. Shaking away the impossible thought she tries to push his hand away from him. "Please, let me go." She says sternly and Sahir ponders for a moment of what to do.

He leans closer to her ear. "You didn't seem to want to let go in your sleep though." Sahir says teasingly and Sia goes crimson.

Sia looks at him surprised. "Shut up." She says embarrassed. "I am used to hug a pillow while I sleep." She explains while tucking away hair from her cheek.

"Yeah, whatever you say Sia." He laughs and Sia hits him on his chest.

He lifts his hand to Sias surprise, freeing her from his grip. Sitting up slowly on the bed she fixes her dress and feel a bit different. Giving Sahir a quick unsure glance, she walks towards the washroom feeling a bit dizzy while Sahirs eyes follows her.

Sahir smiles amused remembering Sias cute face when she was sleeping, she truly is something special. When she started to cling on to him, he first didn't know how to respond but seeing her sleeping peacefully made him encircle his arms around her. The way she buried herself close into him with her head in the crock of his neck made him also sleep peacefully.

Sia splashes cold water on her heated face and a shiver runs down her spine. The way she felt in peace in his arms surprises her. She thinks of the warmth of his body, his manly scent and how comfortable it was to just lay in his arms. Comprehending her own thoughts she shakes her head to make her mind stop thinking about Sahir.

Changing into a pretty baby pink gown Sia heads to the dining where she finds her mother-in-law. All the relatives left the night before as they mostly are suited in London.

Mrs. Khan looks up from her cup of coffee and offers Sia a warm smile. "Good morning dear, you're looking amazing." Mrs. Khan compliments and goes to hug Sia.

Sia hugs her back. "Good morning Aunti, thank you." Sia responds shyly, she is feeling a bit out of place.

"Aunti?" Mrs. Khan raises a eyebrow questioningly. "Darling, isn't it time to give me the honor to be your mother-in-law?" She teases with twinkles in her eyes.

"I am so sorry aunti, I mean mother. It is just so new." Sia quickly tries to explain herself a bit embarrassed.

Mrs. Khan chuckles. "I am kidding dear, don't worry I know it will take a bit time to get costumed and you have all the time in the world." She takes Sias soft hands in her warm ones. "I promise to do my best to take care of you as your mother, for me you're my daughter."

Sia gives a genuine smile as the words warms her heart. "Thank you and I'll try to be the best daughter-in-law and fulfill all my duties." Mrs. Khan cups Sias cheek and smiles.

"You're already the best." Mrs. Khan smiles warmly. "So Sia what kind of sweet are you going to cook for us today?" Her mother-in-law inquiries with a teasing smile.

Sia was afraid of this, she can't cook and in their tradition the bride has to cook something sweet for her new family on the first day. Her mother, Mrs. Malik, had tried to teach Sia to cook a traditional creamy rice pudding but Sia always messes up when trying herself as her mother never uses recipes. It is all about measuring with the eyes which Sia doesn't understand. For her it either turns out too thick or too watery, and she could never add the right amount of sugar.

Sia smiles warily at Mrs. Khan. "I thought of cooking rice pudding." She hesitantly says due to nervousness, reminiscing all the chaos she is capable to create in the kitchen.

Mrs. Khan nods with a smile. "Come, I'll show you around the house first and then the kitchen."

After getting a tour around the elegant resident of six bedrooms Sia is finally guided to the kitchen. There's a young woman in her twenties there smiling towards Sia, the woman is wearing a black and white outfit with a matching apron. "Good morning ma'am." She greet them and Sia smiles back.

"Good morning Linda." Mrs. Khan retorts back. "Sia, if you need anything or any help then just ask Linda, she'll help you out with everything." Sia nods nervously and Mrs. Khan walks off to attend a call on her phone.

"So shall we start?" Sia smiles towards Linda and Linda nods.

Linda turns out to be a sweet girl. She is a girl with blond hair and soft brown eyes, Sia isn't used to have help around the house but Lindas easy nature makes her comfortable. "I have seen ma'am cooking this porridge and can help you out." Linda offers when seeing Sia a bit out of place in the kitchen, Sia smiles and shakes her head.

"Thanks Linda but I want to cook it by myself as it is my first cooking in this house and hopefully you can hint some tips on the way?" Sia winks and Linda chuckles.

"Sure ma'am." she smiles and Sia shakes her head.

"No please, just Sia." Sia insists as she feel weird at being called ma'am.

Lindas eyes widen slightly. "I can't do that." She shakes her head with her blond hair swaying.

"Of course you can, it is easy! Just say Sia, short and simple." Sia chuckles and Linda nods.

"Thanks ma'am." Linda offers and Sia raises an eyebrow to tease. "I mean." Linda pauses as if debating with her inner self. "Sia." She finally says hesitantly and Sia smiles.

"See that wasn't that hard, was it now dear?" Sia teases and Linda chuckles at that relaxing a bit.

They start to cook the porridge and meanwhile chitchat to get to know each other. It turns out that Linda is aiming for higher studies but due to the high fees she decided to work a year. Her parents aren't that well off and she is trying to provide for herself and her family consisting of her mother, father and a younger brother.

Sia stirs the porridge after pouring some milk into it. "Sir had actually offered to pay my fees and asked me to just work on the weekends but I couldn't do that, it was too much to ask for. So I decided to work a year and he'll be helping me with all my expenses." Sia found herself a bit dumbfounded, Sahir and help out. "Sir is a gem, he is bossy and has a temper but he is fair and helpful when it is needed." Linda adds seeing Sia with a blank expression and Sia offers a soft smile.

Sias mind wanders off while Linda keeps talking in the background. She remembers all the encounters with Sahir, even if it is extremely rare he has sometimes been kind to her but there's something with him. She can't decide which facade of his to believe, he is a puzzle to solve.

One moment he saves her and the next he hurts her. One moment he acts as a lover and the next as a hater. Just this morning he acted, Sia need to think for the right word here which ends up being, different. Sia shakes of her thoughts and takes the tray with porridge while Linda sets the dining with all the breakfast items.

When the table is set Linda goes to call everyone including Mrs. Khan, Sahir and his younger sister Saafa. Sia hadn't seen Sahir when coming out of the washroom, she guessed he went for work or something but Linda said that Sahir went to his study room. That he usually takes his morning coffee in there.

Sia is nervous due to the sweet she has made, even though she feels that it has turned out alright she is worried about her in-laws opinion. She has also sprinkled some chopped pistachio on it for decoration purposes. Mrs. Khan comes first and takes a seat. Sia starts to serve Mrs. Khan but she stops her. "Sia sit down and join us, you don't ever need to serve any of us." Mrs. Khan explains and Sia smiles.

She sits down next to her mother-in-law and Safaa shows up in a cute purple night gown. "Good morning mom, good morning bhabi." She yawns and takes a sit opposite her mother.

Bhabi means sister-in-law. "Good morning dear." Sia smiles and Mrs. Khan also greets back.

They start to eat but Sia can't touch her plate with egg and toast partly due to nervousness. The other reason which she doesn't want to admit is because her eyes are searching for someone. She takes a sip on her orange juice.

When foot steps are heard her eyes darts up to a handsome man in dark blue costume and her heart starts to race. Sahirs eyes are fixed on his mobile and he quickly greets everyone with a mumble. "Good morning." He takes a seat next to his sister and ruffles her hair which Sia smiles to, instantly she misses Sagar and Soumya.

Sia tries to calm herself down and takes a bite of her toast. "Finally you're here, bhabi couldn't even touch her plate without you." Safaa enlightens Sahir to tease and Sias eyes widens, her cheeks heats up due to embarrassment.

She didn't know that it was that obvious or that someone was noticing her lack of appetite.

Sahir finally meets Sias eyes and he smirks. "Is that so?" He says amused and Mrs. Khan pretends to not be hearing the conversation, which Sia is partly grateful over and partly embarrassed.

Sia shakes her head. "Oh please bhabi, don't lie now." Safaa says quickly. "It is okey, after all you're his lawfully wedded wife. You're allowed to wait and starve for him." She winks and Sia sits there dumbfounded and even more embarrassed.

Sia gulps while Sahir stares at her amused. He is actually interested in knowing if she waited for him or not. "Enough Safaa, don't tease the poor girl. You're making her uncomfortable." Mrs. Khan butts in before anyone can say anything more.

Safaa smiles. "I was just kidding." This time Sahir winks at her and Sia blushes due to embarrassment.

"So, have you two decided where you want to go for honeymoon?" Mrs. Khan questions instead to change the topic and Saafa wiggles her eyebrows at Sia while Sia blushes even harder.

Sia isn't even understanding how she can blush this much. "I'll take Sia wherever she wants to go." Sahir shrugs casually shifting his gaze to his phone, he and his phone are always glued to each other.

"Have you at least decided when to leave?" She inquires further.

Sahir shakes his head. "Actually I have a important meeting tonight, after that I'll finalize the trip." He enlightens and Mrs. Khan seem dissatisfied with his answer.

"Sahir I had told you to take a break!" Mrs. Khan adds with a slight sigh.

Sia notices that Sahir pours himself some porridge and holds her breath. "But I really need to attend this meeting after that I'll be free." He says and eats a spoonful of porridge, he looks at his bowl as if studying it and Sias heart drums. "This porridge taste different." He states with slightly furrowed eyebrows and takes another spoon. "It is actually good, is it a new recipe?" He asks Mrs. Khan and Sia lets go of the breath she has been holding.

Mrs. Khan smiles. "You're wife made it." She informs him and his eyes darts up to Sias again.

He holds it for a moment longer than what he had intended to making both of their hearts race. "Sia which destination do you want to go for your honeymoon? And when do you want to leave?" Mrs. Khan shifts her attention to Sia.

Sia hasn't actually been giving honeymoon any thought at all. The thought of going with Sahir on a vacation makes her uncomfortable, it is not like that they have any love between them to go on a honeymoon. "Actually as I had taken vacation the whole last week for the wedding I am not allowed to take any leave." She enlightens hesitantly, upon hearing that Sahirs jaw automatically clenches. "Is it okay if we wait a bit before going for honeymoon?" She asks Mrs. Khan.

Mrs. Khan shakes her head and gives a defeated sigh. "I was scolding my son for the sake of my daughter-in-law and here my daughter-in-law is a perfect match for my son." Sia doesn't know how to react and just tries to look sweet. "You guys are allowed to go whenever you feel like but try to get some holiday together. Work can come later." She says and Sia nods gratefully.

"Thank you." She says and Mrs. Khan smiles.

"Silly, it is for you guys I am persisting and not for me." Mrs. Khan enlightens, Sia still doesn't notice the annoyed Sahir.

After tasting Sias porridge her in-laws compliments her. "Sia you're a great cook and you made the perfect dish as it is Sahirs favorite." Mrs. Khan brings a box with a diamond bracelet. "And this is your gift for your first time in the kitchen." She puts it on Sias wrist and Sia smiles admiring the bracelet.

"Thank you." She says and hugs Mrs. Khan.

Mrs. Khan chuckles. "No worries dear, you deserve it." They let go of each other and Sia tucks away hair strands from her cheek. "I am going to take some rest as I am feeling a bit tired." Mrs. Khan says and walks away towards her room.

Sahir is staring at his empty bowl with different emotions swirling inside of him. "I am going to change and study as I have an exam tomorrow." Safaa says takes another bowl of porridge before walking away with it. "I loved it Bhabi." She adds showing the bowl before exiting the dining.

Sia smiles and shifts her gaze towards a stiff Sahir who is trying to keep his cool. "What happened?" Sia questions when realizing that he is staring at the empty bowl of his.

He looks up and his sudden cold dark eyes meets her soft ones, sending chills down her spine. "Why do you need to work? I am capable of giving you everything you want." He says slowly, taking sharp breaths.

Sia looks at him puzzled. "Sahir I have been studying for five years to get where I am today. I won't be giving up my independency just because I happened to marry a rich man." She enlightens him, she wanted to say brat instead of man but isn't fishing for any arguments or fights.

Sahir looks at her surprised, he is actually satisfied with her answer. He hadn't thought about it in that way, instead he just got carried away as she declined a trip with him. "Are you sure about this?" Sia nods determined. "Okay then, as you wish." He says and offers her a soft smile.

Sia looks at his empty bowl again. "So hubby, it seemed that you liked my cooking skills." She teases, and this time she is actually yearning for some compliments.

Sahir raises his eyebrow. "It wasn't that good but had to praise it in front of mother." He lies and Sia rolls her eyes.

"Yeah, that's why your bowl is all clean and shiny." She highlights with a challenging look.

Sahir shakes his head. "I never throw away food." He says nonchalantly with a shrug. "Anyway I need to check a bit of work before the meeting so I'll be in my study." He changes the topic and informs Sia. "If you need anything then don't bother to ask me." He adds while walking away and Sia shakes her head at his arrogance.

On second thought he halts in his movement, he had decided to be kind and civil. He turns around and sees Sia pour herself a glass of water. "Hey Sia." He says and gains Sias attention in a matter of seconds.

"What now?" She asks with a raised eyebrow and Sahir smiles at how cute she is when annoyed.

"To be honest the porridge was really nice, you should make it again when you have time." Sias jaw falls and she gapes at him, he smirks at her reaction before leaving.

Sia feels tingles in her stomach and smiles at her stupidity. Her reactions are making her question her own integrity. Deciding to walk around in the house she tries to get familiar with everything.

She finds a garden in a huge balcony and falls in love with the swing in there. She sits down on the swing and dials the number to her family, she asks about them and tells them a bit about herself. They seem more excited than her over the marriage. Sia misses her family even though they're making fun of her cooking skills.

"I had told you to learn cooking but no, you only like to eat." Her mother scolds her and Sia can't help but laugh at that.

Her mother inquires about Sahir and she knows her mother is worried. "Don't worry mom, everything is fine." Sia assures her.

When done talking to her family she walks into her room quite bored and finds Sahir there. He looks at Sia and seem distraught.

"I am sorry but a urgent crisis has come up at work. Let me just check it and I'll be with you." He seem guilt ridden which surprises Sia.

"Don't worry about it, I am fine." She assures him with a small smile.

Sia takes a seat on the couch in their room with her feet on them and browses on her phone while Sahir attends a few calls. He takes glances at Sia while talking and it somehow has a soothing affect on him. His eyes traces down to her hands with her phone. The henna adorn on them reminds him of a few teasing words his sister had told him.

Finishing the call he was attending he goes to Sia and to her surprise snatches away her phone. She stares at him with a raised eyebrow but he ignores it. He puts her phone on the table and sits down next to her making her pull up her knees to her chest. "What's going on?" She questions and he simply doesn't pay any attention to her confusion.

He carefully takes her soft hands in his warm ones and makes her show him her palms. Sias heart skips several beats as she tries to not think about how close Sahir is to her. Sahir on the other hand is totally engrossed in her henna design. Concentrating really hard he barely notices that Sia is slightly shaking due to him. "The color is really deep." He utters astonished more to himself than to her.

Sia doesn't know what to respond to that. She thinks of the day when her cousin had told her that the deeper the color of the henna the deeper the love of the husband. "Got it!" Sahir suddenly exclaims startling Sia.

Sia looks up at a excited Sahir confused. "Got what?" Sia questions surprised.

Sahirs eyes twinkles as if a small child has received chocolate. "I found my name. Here is my name." He touches her soft palm to show her his name and then traces over her palm making her skin tingle beneath his forefinger. "And here is yours, where's my gift?" He says with a bright grin which turns to a smirk and Sia laughs.

She didn't knew Sahir would ever try to find his name even thought that's kind of a fun ritual. The groom tries to find his name on the brides adorn henna. If he manages to find it in three days then he'll receive a gift from the bride.

"I thought you wouldn't bother about it so I haven't gotten you any gift." She says a bit guilt ridden now. "But I promise to get you something, any wish?" Sia questions and Sahir shakes his head.

"I was just joking, I have actually gotten my gift." He tells her with a smile.

"And what's that?" Sia questions amused at his reply.

Your smile, he thinks for himself. "You won't understand." He instead states and Sia looks at him puzzled.

"Try me." She insists but he gives a small smile and shakes his head.

Sahir ignores her challenge. "I need to prepare for my meeting, I'll see you later." He says and stands up. "If you need anything or feel bored then just do whatever you feel like, this is your home and you are allowed to make any changes you want." He enlightens Sia with seriousness evident in his eyes.

Sia is actually pleased to hear that. "Thank you." She smiles and after giving a slight nod Sahir leaves for work.

When Sahir returns home late that evening, he finds a already fallen asleep Sia. Smiling at her he falls asleep next to her.

Sia is back to work the next day."Are you eager to go back home to your husband?" Sias ginger colleague Mia teases when Sia hurries with the orders she has to make for the drugstore.

Sia rolls her eyes. "No, not exactly. I am just really tired actually." She states but in real she is having mixed emotions, what if her in-laws feel that she is disrespectful?

While talking to Mia she barely notices the next customer who walks in to the store. Sia finds it a bit ironic that there's always these last minute people who drops by at the store at the closing hour. Mia nudges Sia that it is her turn to help the customer.

Sia lets a small smile play on her lips as she walks up to the customer who is standing with his back towards her. "May I help you?" She politely asks standing beside the man at the painkiller section.

Sias eyes widens when the man turns to face her. "Hello beautiful. You know you could." Sameer Jay smiles and Sia founds herself uncomfortable. "Don't worry, I don't have any hard feelings or grudges over the fact that you broke my heart." He adds when Sia doesn't answer.

Sia smiles and shakes her head. "As fast forwarded you are I wonder how many hearts you have actually broken?" Sia retorts.

"I can bet that it is not as many as you." Sameer winks and Sia chuckles.

Sia shakes her head amused. "I am married." She reminds him for the sake of it.

"Who said you aren't?" He inquires with a raised eyebrow. "I am still allowed to admire a real gem of beauty." He continues with his flirting and Sia rolls her eyes.

"Anyway, what may I help you with?" She questions with a professional smile.

Sameers deep big brown eyes holds hers for a moment. "I actually have a back pain so dropped by to buy some tiger balm." He answers and eyes the shelf next to them.

"Really?" Sia finds something fishy, he isn't even showing any signs of pain.

Sameers eyes darts up to hers with a amused smile. "No not really." He tells the truth and shakes his head. "I came to see you. Needed to speak to you about the fact that you can help me with the case." He states with a serious expression and business tone.

Sia sighs and crosses her arms right under her chest. "Sahir hasn't done anything." She verbalizes sternly, she has a gut feeling that Sahir wouldn't fall so low.

Sameer stares at her as if trying to figure her out. "How can you be so sure?" He finally utters with one hand in the pocket of his trouser.

Sia shrugs. "I just am." She is surprised at her own confidence.

He is quite for a moment. "I like the fact that you trust him but do ask him ones and see if he have any answer. I'll stop bothering you after that." Sameer voices with confidence.

Sia slowly nods. "Sure."

"Deal?" Sameer forwards his hand for Sia to shake.

Sia eyes his hand and for some reason is feeling nervous. "Yeah." She finally says with a blink of her eyes and shakes on it.

"It was nice to meet you sweetheart." He says and plants a kiss on her knuckles.

Sia has an amused expression and shakes her head while retreating her hand. "You're such a flirt." She expresses and Sameer just smirks.

That day when Sia comes home she finds Sahir on his laptop in their room. "Hey, how was your day?" Sahir asks immediately upon seeing her.

Sia takes a seat next to him on the bed and leans on the board with a pillow in her hands. "Tiring but good. How about yours?" She replies with a yawn and she crosses her feet in front of her.

"It was good, my meeting yesterday went well so we wrote the contract today. The garments for my next venture will come from them." Sahir enlightens delighted.

Sia smiles broadly at him. "Really? Wow, that's great Sahir. Congratulations, I am so happy for you." Sahir smiles back and Sia can see his excitement in his eyes.

"Thank you!" It can be seen from miles that Sahir is excited for his upcoming plans.

When silence falls over the room again and only their breathings can be heard, Sias mind starts to wander. Her heart starts to drum as if she is going to ask something forbidden.

"Sahir." She starts breaking through the silence and it is almost as if she is going to suffocate.

"Yeah?" Sahir verbalize looking up from his laptop.

"What fire where you talking about?" She quickly enquires before she can change her mind.

Sahir raises an eyebrow perplexed. "Fire?" He voices confused.

Sia gulps and tries to breathe normally. "The time I had overheard you speaking on your phone, you ordered someone to burn something down." She voices timidly. "What was it about?" She inquires gently.

Silence falls over the room ones again and it can be seen that Sahir is thinking hard. His body language turns rigid.

His silence starts to make her worried. "You must have heard wrong, it was nothing of that sort." Sahir states hazily.

Sia furrows her eyebrows. "Sahir don't lie, I know what I heard." This time annoyance washes over Sia as he owes her the truth.

Sahir clenches his jaw and tries to remain calm, he doesn't want to fight with Sia. "Sia it was nothing. Forget about it." He says between gritted teeth.

This time Sia loses it, she stands up on the bed with anger bubbling. "Why can't you just tell me?! I am defending you without even knowing the truth!" She yell frustrated.

"You don't need to defend me." Sahir says nonchalantly with a shrug. "And please sit down." He rolls his eyes at her drama queen attitude.

She ignores his last comment. "No, you're right next time I'll just say that you did burn the factory down." She states and tears pricks her eyelids due to frustration mixed with tiredness.

Sahir takes hold of her wrist and pulls her down. Sia gasps and is in a second sitting on the bed again. Sahir bores his serious eyes into hers and that makes Sia quite down.

"Sia, just forget about it." Sahir articulates and Sias eyes betrays her as tears starts to stream down.

Sahir is taken aback seeing her tears and lets go off her wrist. "I am already frustrated Sahir, I am confused, why are you keeping me in the dark?" She cries and Sahir doesn't know how to react.

His hands are itching to wipe away her tears but instead he gets up from the bed, there is no chance that he is going into that topic. "I am not, just trust me. It is nothing you need to bother about." Sahir walks away from there with his laptop leaving behind a distraught Sia who stares at his broad retreating figure.

Sia can't help to think that maybe Sameer is right? Maybe her gut feelings are wrong? She takes a deep breath, her hearts keeps telling her that Sahir can't fall so low.