"And among His signs is this that He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may dwell in tranquillity with them and He has put love and mercy between your hearts: verily in that are signs for those who reflect."

(Surah ar Rum:Ayah 21)

***

"Take care of yourself and please do not trouble Rehan and come home soon." Mrs Sayed said hugging Kaif. It was the day when they had to be back to London.

Rehan and Kaif were seeing them off on the airport while the Sayed family was waiting for the Shaikh family. More than anyone it was Rehan who was waiting for their arrival. It had been few days to their nikaah and he had not seen Rida. They had even stopped talking on phone since these days he had been busy with work and she had not messaged him too.

"I am sorry we are late." Rehan heard Mr Shaikh and they started meeting while Rehan started looking around for that one person who looked missing.

"Searching for someone?" He was startled when he heard Faiza. He turned to his left to see her smirking and he shook his head embarrassed rubbing the back of his neck.

"No." He replied smiling at Faiza and moved to Kaif who was talking to his mother.

He smiled looking at how Mrs Sayed was worried for Kaif. From the time they were on the airport she hadn't even left him all the while asking him to be back. At some point Rehan had felt the hurt in his chest because this was the feeling he had never experienced.

"Rehan my son!" He turned around when he heard Mrs Shaikh walking towards him. He smiled at her but his eyes landed behind her where she was standing talking to Mr Sayed looking simply beautiful. He couldn't help take off his eyes of her but when he felt the patting on his cheek he looked to see Shehnaz was smiling at him.

"How are you aunty?" He asked taking her in his arms but she moved away rolling her eyes.

"I think I called you son?" She asked and he nodded his head confused.

"And you are married to my Rida now so you can call me mum." She said and Rehan felt something warm in his chest.

Mum? He always wanted a mother in his life. He had never received the love from mother and he blamed his father for it. He has always kept him in the dark. He never knew what happened to his mother. He would always beat him if he ever asked him about his mother. But now the time had changed. He was married. He now had a wife. He had a mother. He had a father who was far better than his father.

"Rehan?" He was brought back from his though by a worried looking Shehnaz.

"Yes mum?" He asked his heart almost hammering in his chest. Shehnaz smiled at him and patted his cheek walking away but not before asking him to come home more often.

"It's time." Sheerin said hearing the flight announcement. Everyone hugged one last time.

"Come to London soon." Mrs Sayed said looking at Rehan and Kaif and they nodded their head smiling at the old lady.

They waved at them until they were out of sight. Rehan looked at Kaif who looked sad. He smiled and patted his shoulder and Kaif turned to him with an assuring smile.

"Let's leave." Abdul said and everyone nodded their head. The elder couple walked ahead followed by the boys and girls.

Rehan and Rida had not exchanged any words with each other. Rida felt sad that Rehan had not even greeted her but with a small smile she ignored it.

"We'll go to Saif's place he got some work." Rehan said turning to Kaif and he nodded his head busy with his cell phone.

"Why don't we take Rida and Faiza too along with us?" Kaif asked and Rehan thought about it.

He loved the idea of taking Rida with him since it's been long that they had not had any conversation but he was not sure if her parents would allow that, so he just shrugged his shoulder.

"Okay then Assalamualaikum." Rehan said smiling at the couple and they greeted him back but Rehan did not move from them. The couple shared a look understanding he had something to talk to. They waited for Rehan to speak while the girls stood a little away from their parents.

"Mmm... actually... that... I and Kaif were actually going to Saif's place so I was thinking that... ...we... if we can take Faiza and...."

He stopped midway feeling embarrassed while rubbing the back of his neck. He felt scared looking at the emotionless face of Abdul. He looked at Shehnaz who was now looking at her husband. Faiza nudged Rida but she was busy hoping that her father allows them to go.

Suddenly Abdul laughed making Rida and Shehnaz to smile at him in relief. Rehan did not understand so he stood there with a confused face. Abdul engulfed Rehan in a hug and Rehan sighed hugging him back.

"You don't have to be so scared of me. I don't eat people and you are married to Rida now so you can take her anywhere without my consent." Abdul said making Rehan to be embarrassed while Rida smiled a blush creeping up her face.

"Take care of my daughters." Shehnaz said and Rehan nodded his head while Faiza squealed in delight while Rida rolled her eyes at her hyper sister.

The three walked to where Kaif was standing a little away with Rehan's car while the couple walked to their car.

"Let's go." Rehan said and Kaif looked at Rehan impressed sending a smirk his way.

Rehan took the driving seat while Kaif took the passenger seat. The girls settled themselves on the back seat. Kaif coughed gaining Rehan's attention. He turned to him who was now bending towards him.

"Try focusing on the road and not in the mirror." He whispered smirking at Rehan who narrowed his eyes at him. He was getting distracted by the person sitting behind him but he was sure that he was doing well by hiding it but now when Kaif had brought that topic he felt embarrassed.

He maintained his face coughing a little. He started driving, all the while hearing to Faiza and Kaif's talk about when they were in London. He hardly heard anything related to Rida and was curious to know about her but he did not wanted to ask them as they would start teasing him.

They reached Saif's place since Saif had informed him that he wasn't at work and was home with Safa. He made the three to get down while he went to park his car in the garage.

He got down but turned back when he realised that he had left his phone. He took his phone and about to be out when his landed on the back seat of the car. He noticed that there was something silvery on the back seat. He took it in his hold to notice that it was the same bracelet that he had given Rida.

He smiled understanding that it might have come out from her hand. He fisted the bracelet and kept it secured in his pocket. He moved out of the car when he realised Rida running towards him. He looked at her confused and asked her to take a deep breath.

She shook her head and tried speaking but failed miserably. Rehan understood the reason and was about to give her the bracelet when an idea popped up in his mind.

"My bracelet." She whispered breathing heavily when Rehan smiled at her but pretended else way.

"What bracelet?" He asked and Rida explained that she was wearing a bracelet which might have remained in the car.

He nodded his head and told her to check if she could find it. She started searching for the bracelet. She looked around everywhere in the car while Rehan was looking at her suppressing his laughter.

Rida was continuously biting her lip clearly remembering that she had the bracelet till they were in the car. She was playing with the whole time but when Kaif had asked her something, she was distracted answering to his question.

"It should be here." Rida whispered to herself and looked around once again. On not finding it, Rida moved out of the car while Rehan coughed maintaining his facial expression.

"You found it?" He asked and Rida shook her head thinking of the bracelet while biting her lip to the extend it started bleeding. She hissed in pained and touched where blood was coming out but that did not matter to her at the moment, what mattered to her was the bracelet.

Rehan gazed at her who looked almost on the verge of crying. He noticed her lip was bleeding due to her intense of biting. He took a step forwards but Rida had her head hung low. She felt ashamed of her own self that she couldn't even take care of the present Rehan had gifted her.

"I a-am so-sorry but I... it was with... with me... the entire t-time, I do-don't know I don't know how I lost it." With that she busted in tears while Rehan looked at her in guilt. He felt bad for making her cry. He did not understand how he should calm her while he looked the place to see if anyone was there.

"Rida calm down don't cry I am sorry here see the bracelet is with me. I was playing with you." He said trying to calm her down but looking at the bracelet her tears got more intense. She cried historically while hiccupping looking at the bracelet.

Rehan did not understand what to do so without thinking anything he engulfed her in a hug. He rubbed her back muttering sorry throughout while her cries reduces. Her tears died after a while but now she felt embarrassed. Her cheeks were now red. She felt that she was being silly for no reason. He rubbed her back until he realised that she was no longer crying. He looked down to see her tears were drained but her cheeks were red. He pulled away slowly looking at her who had her eyes darted on the ground.

Rehan extended the bracelet to her while she moved forward to take it ready to run but gasped when she felt his tight hold on the bracelet. She looked at him who was staring at her but hurriedly looked at the bracelet that was in between them. She started biting her lips when she noticed him taking steps towards her. She could hear the hammering of her chest. She felt that she would almost fall down at any moment since her knees were betraying her to stand still.

Rida was biting her lip very hardly when she felt his hand move up. She closed her eyes waiting for his movement when she felt his finger brush her lip. She gasped opening her eyes and looking at him who was staring at her the whole while. He pulled out her bottom lip from in between her teeth. He could hear her uneven breath. He smiled at his effect on her. He looked at her lip, which was a little swollen while there was slight blood on it. He wiped it with his thumb all the while looking at her. She turned her face away from him when she couldn't handle his stare on her anymore.

He took one more step towards her and Rida almost forgot how to breathe. She wanted to run away from his intense gaze but her legs were betraying her maybe because she herself loved this new feeling.

She had never felt anything as such her entire left. This was something new. Something pure. Something halaal.

Rehan looked at her face trying to read what was going on in her mind. They were very close to each other at the moment. Suddenly, they heard Rehan's phone go off. Rida jumped scared while Rehan caught her hand. Rehan looked at the caller id and groaned the entire time his hold firm on Rida.

"Way to ruin the moment." Rehan whispered to himself but Rida heard him. She felt a deep scarlet colour appearing on her face while her heart pacing.

"Where are you both bro? Don't tell me you both flew away dumping us." Kaif said and Rehan almost felt like cursing him. Almost.

"Dude we are finding her bracelet." Rehan said and Rida looked at him in confusion. She could clearly see how pissed he looked with the phone call. She controlled her giggle but smiled a small smile which did not go unnoticed by Rehan making him feel at ease.

"Do you want any help?" Kaif asked and Rehan was sure he would be smirking. He had now planned to go and give Kaif some good hard slaps.

"I don't think so you need to come since Rida just found it." He said turning to Rida who was staring at him the entire time. She blushed hard, embarrassed of getting caught.

"Maybe should have called earlier, you would have found it earlier." Kaif said and before Rehan could reply the call was ended. Rehan coughed gaining Rida's attention.

"I think we should go inside." He said and she nodded her head. They both did not move from their place waiting for the other to move.

"Come." He said when he noticed Rida still on her place. He realised that he was still holding her hand and hurriedly left it mumbling a small sorry.

Rida suddenly missed his warmth as they started walking. She was behind him walking while putting on her bracelet but failing. Suddenly she collided with Rehan's chest who had turned around to notice her not on his side. She rubbed her forehead while Rehan smiled sheepishly at her muttering a sorry.

"May I?" He asked extending his hand and she nodded her head giving him the bracelet while holding her hand out for him. He secured the bracelet on her wrist and smiled at her who smiled back at him.

"Jazakillah Khairan Khair." She whispered and he replied back to her before going inside the house.

"Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu." He greeted looking at everyone. He was surprised to see Farheen present too. He smiled at her and moved to Saif.

"Rehan where is Rida?" Safa asked and he looked at the door to find her missing. He furrowed his eyebrow remembering that she was behind him. Just as he was about to get up to find her, she walked in greeting everyone. He looked at her who was hugging Safa. He smiled when their eyes met.

"Where were you?" Safa asked and Rida informed that she got a call from Mira to discuss about the function.

"You wanted to talk." He reminded Saif and he nodded his head.

"Come let's go to my study room." Saif said and Rehan looked at him confusion. He had a feeling it was something he wouldn't like. He nodded his head and got up.

"Kaif, I might get late, so do me a favour and drop Farheen and Rida home whenever they ask for, okay?" Rehan asked Kaif and he sulked at Rehan.

"You mean to say that I should be alone with these girls?" He asked and Rehan thought before removing his phone and messaging Faiz to come over who replied with a thumb up.

"I guess your problem is solved." Rehan said and before Rehan could say anything further or Kaif could ask how, Faiza jumped towards Rehan with a fear in her eyes and her hands folded.

"Don't tell me you just messaged Faiz?" She asked and Rehan nodded his head almost pitying her who rubbed her face with her hands.

"Why Jeeju why? Can't you afford to see me happy? Why call that idiot?" She asked almost crying is stress. Rehan did not know how to react to her so he kept quiet.

"Maybe because I did not wanted to be left alone with you girls." Kaif said and Rehan chuckled looking at the death glare that was sent his way.

Realising that Faiza was not paying attention to him, he slowly skipped into the study room. He saw Rida had noticed it but had not said anything for which he was grateful.

He closed the door behind him and noticed that Saif was in deep thoughts. He raised his eyebrow at his figure. He had not seen him in such a state from a long time.

"Saif?" Rehan called out and Saif motioned Rehan to take a seat. He sat down and waited for Saif to speak.

"Rehan why are you lending money to your father?" Saif asked the question that Rehan dreaded.

"He needed it." Rehan said avoiding eye contact. He could clearly see the anger in his eye. He was trying his best to not explode.

"And can I know for what?" Saif asked clenching his fist. He did not want to yell at Rehan without knowing his side of the part. When he had come to know that Rehan was helping his father financially he was pissed off not because he was helping him but because his father was misusing the money.

"He isn't keeping well." Rehan said with a straight face. He did not want Saif to know the real reason why he was helping his called father.

"Don't test my patience Rehan! Tell me the truth." Saif exclaimed bagging his fist on the desk while standing him his voice raising. Rehan did not flinch. He was habitual to Saif's such kind of behaviour. He would be this way before he had married to Safa.

"I am not lying. I am telling you the truth." Rehan said while turning around to leave. He knew if he stays a little longer they would end up in a fight and he did not wanted to be on bad terms with Saif just because of someone who had no worth in their life.

"Rehan for Allah's sake speak the truth." Saif said his voice dangerously low and Rehan turned around pissed.

"Don't drag yourself in my matters Saif." Rehan said annoyed and walked out leaving a shocked Saif behind. He could not believe what he had just heard. Rehan had never spoken to him in such a tone in his entire life. Even if they had their worst fights it would be Saif would yell and would even mess around the room showing away everything but Rehan would always remain calm.

He felt hurt the Rehan was hiding things from him. He calmed himself and after getting himself together he walked downstairs to see that Rehan was nowhere in sight. Everyone was looking at Saif with worried eyes. He looked at Safa who was giving her a questioning gaze. He noticed that Faiz was even present there.

"What happened?" Saif asked pretending to be normal and no one asked anything further. Everyone continued with whatever they were talking since they knew it was of no use to being the cupid in between the best friends since they would mend out things in just a day but there were two people who looked worried.

Rida was worried for Rehan. She had never seen Rehan so upset from the time she had known him. Even if something bothered him he would never show it to him but today he just left without informing anyone. She felt hurt that he could have at least spoken to her about it.

Safa looked at her husband who now was sitting beside her physically but was mentally absent. She knew something had happened between the two that made them so upset. She patted his leg and he looked at her, giving her a smile but it not reach his eyes. She smiled assuring him that everything will be alright and he smiled wrapping his hand around her arm. Safa turned to Rida who looked lost. She motioned Saif and he looked in the direction she was directing. He sighed when he saw that Rida was sitting there playing with her fingers lost in her thoughts while everyone was busy playing ludo.

Rehan breathed a deep breath while driving. He looked at the surrounding. There would not be much traffic here during the night time but today he was going almost at 7 when people were heading to their home after work. After almost 30 minutes Rehan reached his destination. He came out of the car and took a deep breath, calming himself. He looked around the place finding peace.

It was a forest that was situation on top of a mountain. People hardly visited there during the night time since there was only one street light that too near the lake that was at a distance from where Rehan was standing. Rehan would always come here whenever he would feel low and he knew that he would get his privacy since there would be no one. He walked a little further looking at the city lights and took a seat at the peak of the mountain. He felt angry on himself that he had yelled at Saif for no reason but he had no other option. Saif was asking him something he did not wanted to tell.

He was angrier on his father. The man who have always been the reason behind his messed up life. And now when he thought that everything would fall in place Saif had to get this thing up. He was helping his father with money because he did not wanted that man to ever come back into his or Saif's life ever again. He knew if Saif ever came to know that he was helping his father because of being blackmailed then he would kill that man.

Rehan sighed deeply and checked his phone. It was almost half past 7. He kept his phone and sat there for a while to get his mind out of the mess. He did not understand what had he done so wrong that Allah was testing him so much.

He never got a mother's love that he craved. He thought that if not his mother he would have a loving father but who knew that he was living with a monster. His father had given him shelter just for his own greedy needs. He did not receive the blood love that he always craved but in this messed up life he found Saif who was his other half. In a short span they had become very close to each other. He felt lonely when he had made Saif run away. He himself did not understand how he had even suffered after the brutal torture his father had put him through. At a certain point he had even wished death but when he had escaped he couldn't be more thankful. But now he had fought with him too. He knew that Saif was the angry man between the two but he couldn't hold himself.

Rehan's eyes widen when he realised something. He had completely forgotten that he had brought Rida and Faiza with him and it was his duty to drop them home.

Rida.

He smiled thinking of their small moment in the garage. He could still remember her face. Her brunette eyes. Her smile. Her blush. Her habit of biting her lip. Her playing with her fingers. Everything about her was driving him crazy. He could believe what he would have done if Kaif wouldn't have called. He was thankful to him but hated him for ruining their moment.

He shook his head when he realised that he was smiling like a love sick puppy.

Getting up he dusted his pants and walked towards his car. He couldn't just run away from things. He now had much more responsibilities. He started driving towards Saif's house where Rida would be. He parked the car just outside since he would be leaving soon as he had to drop the girls too.

He entered to see that Safa, Saif and Rida were in the living room while everyone else stood missing. He cleared his throat gaining their attention. He rubbed the back of his neck walking towards them. Saif hurriedly got up and smacked his head making him wince.

"What was that for?" Rehan asked rubbing his head while looking at the girls who were giggling.

"For making our wives worried." Saif said glaring at him and he looked at the girls. He mumbled a sorry to Safa while she smiled at him. He looked at Rida who had her eyes everywhere except at him.

"I am sorry too." Saif said and hugged Rehan while he hugged him back.

"But I hope you tell me the real reason very soon." Saif said parting away and Rehan rolled his head but nevertheless nodded his head.

"Where are the rest?" Rehan asked taking a seat next to Rida on the floor. Saif too sat down next to Safa wrapping his arms around her making her smile.

"They were hungry so they are gone in search for food." Safa said and Rehan nodded his head taking the bottle of water and drinking it in a go.

"Why didn't y'all go?" Rehan asked after drinking the water and Safa just shrugged her shoulder. He nodded his head not asking anything further.

"Come let's see where they are I am hungry too." Rehan said and everyone got up nodding with him but before they could go their heard laughter. They turned to the door to see that everyone were back with bags in their hand.

"We got pizzas." Kaif said showing the bag in his hand and Rehan thanked him and sat down on the floor taking the pizza from his hand.

"Dude we did not buy for you, since you had left." Kaif said and Rehan looked at him with a shocked face.

"Dude he is just pulling your leg. Dig in you hungry man." Faiz said and Rehan sighed but did not start having. He waited till everyone had settled.

He looked besides him to see Rida trying to open the pack mayonnaise that was brought for her with French fries. One thing he knew about Rida confidently was that she loved French fries and not food.

He took the pack of mayonnaise and opened it for her. She smiled at him and he felt his heart doing a flip-flop.

The two were silent. But their hearts weren't. They were beating. They were floating in the air. They were falling in love. They were rising in love for each other.