Author's pov

Because of Shahzaib's kasam (swear), Noor comes back home. Hamza jumped on her, and she picked him up in her embrace.

"Phupho, I missed you so much." He said.

"I missed you too, Meri Jaan (my life)." She replied, kissing his chubby cheeks.

"Noor! Mera bacha (my child)." Masooma hugged her, and tears were not ready to stop.

"Ammi, please don't cry." She wipes her mother's eyes.

"Please don't leave me again." Her mother said, holding her face in her palms.

"I-i won't." Noor replied with tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Noor, my little baby." Sarah embraced her, and Noor hugged her back tightly.

"I missed you so much, Bhabhijaan."

"Now you are home. Please don't cry." Sarah said, wiping her tears. Noor sniffed and wiped Sarah's tears.

"You stop crying too." Noor said, and both chuckled.

Then Noor shared a hug with her grandmother and greeted Aadhil and Laiba.

"Thank God you came back home. Pta hai badi Ammi roz tumhai yaad kerti thi (you know what? Your mother missed you every day.)" Laiba said, but Noor only nodded.

She comes back home but still hesitates to talk to Aadhil and Laiba. Some things can't be changed in a blink of an eye; they take time.

Most of her time she spent in the office, remaining with Hamza and her family.

She is home. It feels good again. She is not alone anymore. Somewhere in her heart, she is happy to be home.

Now her family waits for her at home. She has so many people to talk to who she loves most.

It's Sunday, but Noor is working in her room. Claire is handling everything alone there, and Noor is taking care of her work from here.

"Noor, get ready." Sarah comes to her room.

"Why? Are we going somewhere?" She asks, not looking up from her laptop screen.

"No, but we are having some guests over." Sarah replied.

"Who?"

"It's Aadhil's engagement next month, and Laiba will be betrothed to Inayat's brother. Inayat is Aadhil's fiancé. So her family is coming over for lunch for discussion." Sarah informed.

"Do I really have to come?" Noor asks, pouting.

"Yes. Zaib, send me here to bring you personally."

Noor sighed in defeat, got ready, and came downstairs. Guests are already sitting downstairs.

"As-Salaam-Alaikum." Noor greeted them, and her grandmother introduced her to Inayat's family.

Actually, it's only her parents and grandparents who come. Inayat didn't come, and as for her brother, he will come back from England before his sister's engagement.

Everyone is talking and discussing the engagement and Laiba's marriage proposal. But Noor is getting bored.

All she wants is to escape from here, and all thanks go to God for sending Hamza and giving her a chance.

"Abbu I forgot I have an art class tomorrow. I need crafts and stationery." Hamza said this to his father.

"Hamza seriously? Why do you remember all these things on time?" Shahzaib ask.

"Bhaijan, don't worry. You sit with guests. I'll take Hamza." Noor replied instantly.

"Sure." Shahzaib nodded, and Noor got up instantly.

"Let's go, Hamza." They both left. After getting everything from the stationery shop, Hamza insisted on going to McDonald's.

"Phupho, can we have a burger before going home?" He asks with cute puppy eyes.

"Of course, Meri Jaan. Let's go." Noor said, pulling his chubby cheeks.

Noor stopped the car, and Hamza ran out.

"Hamza! Hamza!."

"Phupho, don't worry. It's my favorite place. Everyone here is my friend." Hamza said, running inside the restaurant.

Noor shakes her head, smiling, and parks the car. She stepped out of the car and turned, but stumbled into someone, and their foreheads hit.

"Sorry."
"I'm sorry."

Both said it together without looking at each other.

"I'm really sorry. I was........."

Noor recognized this familiar voice and looked forward to brushing her loose strands. The person also stopped apologizing in the middle of seeing her.

"Tum? (You?)" Veer asked, shocked.

Yes, it's again Veer.

Noor's nostrils are fuming in anger.

"Andhe ho... (are you blind?)" Her words were cut short by Hamza's interruption.

"Why are you standing here?" He said, pulling her dupatta. Noor looked down at him, and her anger vanished in a second.

And all the time, Veer is looking at Hamza and then Noor. Again, Hamza, then Noor. He is surprised and shocked.

"Tumnay shaddi Kab kerli? Wo chodo ye btao woh badnaseeb hai kon? (When did you get married? Leave that and tell me who's the unfortunate person who married you?)" Veer asked, bursting out laughing.

Actually, Hamza looks more like Noor. So because of his facial resemblance, Veer thought him to be her son.

But Hamza's words stopped his laugh.

"Phupho, who is he?" Hamza ask.

"Phupho? Phupho?" Veer asks, shocked, "No, Ammi?" He again burst out laughing.

"Shut up!" Noor hissed in anger.

"To tum bua ho iski. Waah, shakal se bhatija kum beta Zada lgta hai. (So you are his aunt. Wow, but by the face, he looks more like your son than a nephew.)" Veer said, and Noor is controlling herself very hard not to lose her temper in front of Hamza.

"Let's go, Hamza." She said, pushing Veer out of her way and back-slapping his bicep.

But Hamza frees his hand from her hold and runs towards Veer. "Is this the new Star Wars video game LEGO STAR WARS: THE SKYWALKER SAGA?" He asks excitedly, seeing the video game in Veer's hand.

"Yeah," Veer replied, crouching to his level.

"Wow. It's my favorite game. My Abbu and I will go buy it soon. He was just busy this weekend." Hamza replied excitedly.

"If you want, you can join me." Veer offered while messing his hair.

"Really?" Hamza asks excitedly.

"Yea....."

"No." Noor interrupted and held Hamza's hand. "Let's go, Hamza." And started dragging him in the other direction.

"But Phupho.."

"Leave it, buddy. Your Phupho will never let you play. She is a little jealous person, you know." Veer teased, and Noor gave him a deadly glare.

She picked up Hamza in her arms and left.

"Phupho. Who was he?" Hamza ask.

"No one," Noor replied, putting him in his seat and placing their order.

"Boyfriend?" Hamza asks innocently, and Noor's eyes are wide open in shock.

"Ye khao gae? (You want to eat this?)" She asks, showing him her hand, and Hamza shuts his mouth.

After having their burger party, Noor took him to the video game store and she brought him his favorite video games.

Hamza is on cloud nine when he comes back home.

"Abbu !! Abbu!! Look, Phupho brought me video games." He is running into the house and telling everyone excitingly and showing his video games.

On the other hand, Ira is scolding Veer after seeing his new set of video games.

"Heyy BHAHWAN!!! Veer ye sab kya hai? (Oh GODDDD!!! Veer, what is all this?" She asks.

"New video game, Maa. Wanna join? Where is dad?"

"Grow up, Veer. Grow up. You are not a kid anymore. Ab tere bacho ki video games khelne k din hai,tere nhi. (It's the days of your kids playing video games. Not yours.)" His mother said it in a scolding, irritating tone.

"Maa, take a chill pill." He replied casually, which angered Ira more. "Dad? Dad? Let's play a video game. I bought a new one." He calls his father, and Pratap Singh comes out of his study.

"Which one?" His father asks excitedly.

"Star wars......." Veer got interrupted as his mother threw his video game on the floor, fuming in anger.

"Ira?" His father is shocked by his wife's impulsive act.

"Kya (what) Pratap? Instead of stopping him, you always take his side. Now that's enough. Just make him understand I want him to get married as soon as possible." Ira said it angrily. Marriage is always a heated topic between Veer and his mother.

"Maa, you know that. I'll never get married. So don't force me." Veer said calmly.

"WHY NOT?" She screamed. Her patience is starting to wear off. She wants her son to be happy and settled.

"You know why not." Veer replied a bit louder as well.

"Veer. Lower your voice." His father warned him. Pratap always sported him, but he never let him talk with Ira like this. Not just his son; Pratap won't let anyone disrespect his wife.

"Dad, then make her understand. I will never be going to marry." Veer replied.

"Why are you doing this to us?" Ira asks in a hurting voice. "It's not necessary that what happened in the past will happen to you."

"Maa, please. Don't start this conversation. You know my answer." Veer replied, controlling himself.

"No, I'll not, and Mr. and Mrs. Dhillon are coming next month, and I will ask their daughter's hand for you, and that's final." Ira replied sternly.

"We will see." He replied in a challenging tone.

"Woh, chlli gai Veer. Tu to aisa matt ker apne sath. Hmare bare mai soch. Hmare bi arman hai tere liye. (She is gone. Please don't do this to yourself. Think about us. We have desires for you as well.)" Ira said, crying and collapsing on the ground.