That was not how Aria expected the argument to go.

Maybe a couple of more yells here and there, and at the end she will still drag her stubborn self and her suitcase to the airport so she can return home and help her parents. Then afterwards, she'll deal with whatever comes up.

But not this.

This is Aali playing unfairly. And as much as she was furious with him at the moment, it was a moment of weakness.

A totally unexpected weakness that had her toes curling, and eyes flickering close. Her hand that held the phone let it go, dropping somewhere she will care later but not at the moment. A hand clutched the material of his jellabiya tight, while the other somehow found itself wrapped around his neck, in between the locks on the nape of his neck.

Honestly, if it wasn't for his hand that held her firmly by the waist, keeping her close to him, her knees would've definitely given out on her. His soft lips moved against her plump ones, slowly, which is a huge contrast to what she would've expected due to the earlier action.

Perhaps, if she wasn't so enthralled by it, she would've pushed him away and cursed him for distracting her, but Aali had taken that little bit of rational sense left in her.

That's what he always does.

At a certain point, he hoisted her lips as she had injured her leg long enough by walking around stubbornly and standing on it for long. Her legs wrapped around his waist, while his lips moved from hers down her jaw, then to her neck nibbling the skin there while her hold around him tightened.

He was moving, Aria was aware of that. And when her back hit the bed, she knew they had reached their destination. Hovering over her, he lightly pulled the piece of clothing hiding her bruised neck down, before kissing the still very purple skin.

Aria would deny this the day afterwards, but the action subdued the pain there for that moment. Her mind was hazy, the only thought occupying it, this man she calls her husband.

Aali rose his head up, to meet her gaze. He placed one of his hands on her face, caressing the soft flesh while the other slipped under her sweater, tenderly stroking the flesh there but never moving higher. "Stay with me" He muttered. His eyes taking in every feature on her face as if it's the last time he will see it.

Aria flickered her eyes open, "Huh?" It sounded like he said something, but she clearly couldn't remember what since her mind wasn't there.

Aali smile, leaning down again to pull her in for another osculate, and this time around, she could feel his smile against her lips. Just as she was a bit too indulged in it, he pulled away making her throw him a glare. He chuckled again. "Stay with me" He repeated, his gaze flickering from her now swollen lips to her eyes that were clouded with thought he's sure his are mirroring. "Don't go anywhere"

"You're being unfair" She mumbled, her hand that was on his neck lightly stroking the hair there.

"I'm being rational" He corrected. His gaze flickered to the bruise on her neck that's now bare for him to see. The action made him gulp, as he felt his earlier anger resurfacing and as if reading his mind, she massaged the place her fingers were caressing, snapping him out of the thought. "I don't want you hurt, at least not if I can help" He leaned down and placed a couple of feathery kisses there before pulling away completely.

Sitting up straight, he held her hand and pulled her up on him. Surprisingly, she didn't oppose and instead quietly settled on his lap, both her hands now on his neck while his, holding her close to him.

The thoughts clouding her mind had disappeared, along with the anger she felt towards him. It was still there, but low enough that she can speak to him now rationally, and vice versa.

Aria let out a hard sigh. "We're talking about my family, Aali. I can't leave them like that" She stated, her shoulders dragging down.

"I know" He whispered, raising his hand to completely pull of the scarf that was barely covering her hair again. He discarded it aside, running his slender fingers through the locks. His gaze then moved back to hers again, "But you're still on travel ban, remember? You can't travel abroad"

Truth be told, she had completely forgotten about that as she had been blinded by jealousy, and anger. She didn't remember that she can't travel abroad and help her Maa and Abu. It made her feel helpless.

The thought alone had tears forming in her eyes, and she had to blink repeatedly to hold it back. "I can't leave them like that, Aali" She whispered, her voice breaking.

"I know Askim, I know" He muttered, wiping the tears that had streamed down her face despite her trying to hold them back.

She swallowed thickly, blowing out a shaky breath as she tries to hold it back. But it was taking a toll on her, everything is. She looked down, the tears cascading down her face like waterfalls.

Aali pulled her closer to him, tucking her face in the nape of his neck and her hand wrapped around him. He mirrored the action, rubbing soothing circles on her back as he let her cry. "It's okay Askim. Let it out. You've been strong for long enough. Take a break, I'm here for you" Like that, he let her have his shoulder to cry on while he whispers sweet nothings to her.

Everything really dawned back on Aria at the moment, which was why she was having a difficult time holding the tears back. It all ranged from the death of Hameed, to the things she had found out that changed her life, to her marrying him and the nonstop problems she had faced from his family, including Maya's marriage and how Muneer must've been treating her. Then there's her parents that are at the brink of being ruined, possibly for life.

How could she not cry? She couldn't do anything to help even if she wanted to. And that feeling of helplessness is not something Aria is accustomed to. She hated the feeling, but what could she do?

It's like Aali said, she had been strong for long and for the first time since she lost Hameed, there is someone there. There is someone to give her a shoulder to cry on, someone to not judge her when she breaks down.

That person is Aali.

But most of all, what made her cry more is the fact that she knew she hasn't been completely honest with him. And the very thought of what will happen when he learns the truth scared her more than she would like to admit.

Aali has grown on her.

The thought of losing him had her tightening her told around him as she sobbed ugly tears, but he didn't complain, or laugh, or judge her for it. He was simply, there.

And that was all she could ask for.

Aali is the everything she wanted and more.

~*~

Hafsa stared at the doctor whilst biting her thumbnail out of nervousness. She then flickered her gaze to Muneer that is being checked by checked by the doctor. She had called a doctor even though it was late, but she managed to get one that will come over to Muneer's house and check on him.

She was beyond nervous, scared, and angry. She was worried something has happened to Muneer due to the beating he had gotten from Aali. What if he had done a lot of harm? She wondered. She was angry, because he beat him up. Why would Aali beat up his blood because of that so called wife of his? The wife should be glad because had she not called Muneer at that moment, he would've killed the girl without batting an eyelid.

"I've given him medications; he'll sleep through it so he can regain some strength. He is bruised up pretty badly so he'll need some time before he returns back to normal. He would probably not wake up till tomorrow so you can get some rest. Worry not ma'am, your husband will be healthy again soon if he takes his medications as I had prescribed and everything else"

Hafsa offered the man a smile, not bothering to correct him and let him know that Muneer is not her husband, and that she has another husband elsewhere while Muneer has another wife elsewhere. That is a problem she is not willing to face at the moment, or ever.

The man left after offering her a smile.

Her gaze flickered to the time on her watch, realizing that it's pretty late so she needs to head back home but the stubborn part of her didn't want to leave. Why would she return? She had an argument with Hasnain earlier about his whole new marriage stuff and it's safe to say, the man refused to change his mind.

He won't care if she returns or not so she will stay the night with Muneer and take care of him. Hasnain can screw himself if he wants.

She stayed by his side, holding his hand for what felt like hours but in reality has only been about fifteen minutes when she remembered that she had left her phone in the kitchen. So, she stood up and headed to the kitchen, picking up the phone and started making her way back when she heard movements in the living room that she didn't notice before.

Curiosity got the best of her, and as such, she found herself making her way there to check because as far as she is aware, only she and Muneer are in the house.

The first thing she noticed was the tea basket amidst the room, there a tea flask along with sugar cube boxes and milk containers. Her gaze then moved to the two figures that sat on the carpet, a decent space in between them as they sipped whatever tea they made from the mug they held in their hands. Their legs were straightened out and a small conversation was being made as they smiled at the stuff they say. Their facial expression, calm.

Hafsa face turned pallid, her hands suddenly clammy. She didn't know when her phone fell from her hand, and when her eyes widened but the action of her phone hitting the ground gained their attention, interrupting their conversation.

"Oh, you're finally done?" Maya asked, eyes fixated on Hafsa. There was no trace of anger in her tone or expression, she actually sounded...nice. Even though they are all aware that it's blatantly fake. "Do you want some tea? I'm sure there's some hot water left" She offered, gesturing to the tea flask.

"If you want you can call him over too so we can have it all together. The ambiance is nice" Hasnain added, before bringing the mug of tea to his lips and taking a sip from it. He let out a sigh of relief, his lips curling into a satisfied smile when the hot tea hit the spot.

Hasnain truly is handsome, it's just that he always had the long face hence why people view him as unapproachable. But it's moments like that when he smiles that his beauty truly shows.

Hafsa swallowed thickly, moving her gaze from Hasnain to Maya. She could literally hear the sound of her heart beating wildly against her ribcage, threatening to jump out. Nonetheless, she finally settled her gaze on Maya, "What are you doing with my husband?" She dared to ask, even though she had no right to ask that.

She of all people has been with Muneer for hours now, since she stormed out on Hasnain. Now, she is dressed in nothing but a white button belonging to Muneer of course, and denim jeans also belonging to him. That was it. No veil, no scarf, basically nothing else.

"Woah there, calm down" Maya said, bringing down the mug from her lips. "I'm not the one seen coming out of your husband's room dressed in his clothes" She didn't raise her voice or throw Hafsa a glare. She was just...calm. That sort of calmness that irked Hafsa because she needed some sort of reaction from them so she could get out of the situation.

But they were giving her none.

"Now that I see it, it actually fits her" Hasnain said, turning slightly to stare at Maya, "The clothes I mean"

She nodded in agreement, "You know what? Now that I think about it, I understand why he keeps smaller sizes of his outfits which he doesn't wear. It's for her I guess"

Hasnain hummed.

Hafsa couldn't move, or react. What would she do? She has been caught red handed and the man isn't even reacting in a way that she will know what he is truly thinking. Yes, they had a fight earlier over a decision he made but not even that can get her out of this situation she had thrown herself in. There's no going back now.

When she finally snapped out of her trance, she started to slowly make her way over to Hasnain, but stop at a certain distance when she was thrown a glare from him. A reaction for the first time. "Baby, please..."

"Well, that's my cue to leave" Maya announced, pushing herself up the carpet with her mug still in hand. She intends to continue sipping it while she packs her things because there is no way she is staying that disease infested house.

As she was about to walk pass Hafsa, the woman turned around to glare at her. "You better stay away from my husband" Hafsa snickered, glaring at Maya.

Maya stopped, letting the words sink in before she turns around to stare at Hafsa in disbelief. "You really are the epitome of shamelessness" She really couldn't believe that woman has the guts to say that to her after everything she had done.

She should've been glad she did nothing to her, and she wanted to leave it that way but one glance at the woman's face, Maya had herself storming over. Without giving Hafsa a chance to realize it, she had raised her hand up and landed a resonating smack right across Hafsa's face, then another to her other cheek.

"I didn't want to bring myself to your level but it's your shamelessness for me. I would've talked to you, scream even and throw fits! But it's honestly an insult to my intelligence. You do not deserve my time, now one bit" Maya hissed lowly, before turning around to walk away leaving Hafsa clutching the side of her face.

Maya had returned shortly after Aali arrived back home. He had Fahad work on her case and got her a bail for the meantime, they would finish off the rest the day afterwards. When she came home and saw Hafsa with her husband who had been beaten up, she called Hasnain over for sometea.

Hafsa is that kind of person that will talk as long as it's to argue, she can do that. When it comes to a fight though, she can do nothing about it.

Before she could turn around to whine at her husband as always, he had dropped a paper right in front of her, and only then did she realize he had stood up. "As from this moment never call me your husband again because that knot has been severed" He stated, fixing his Zanna Bukar cap in place as if he is speaking of the weather.

"Hasnain...baby Dan Allah, I am sorry. Ka rufa min asiri"She went down on her knees, clasping her two hands together in front of her as she pleaded.

Hasnain stared at her with a blank face, "You should be thanking me actually I just gave you a free, sinless ticket to be with your lover. Also, save your apology for when you meet your father and brother because I also sent him a copy in case you'll deny this or not tell them about it. I think you should be worried about meeting him because you know how he is regarding this kind of things"

If possible, Hafsa's eyes widened more at his words. It was like she had completely frozen in her spot because she made no move to chase him when he went out and left her. For the only thing that ran through her head is the realization that he had told her father. Her father knows of her divorce and quite possibly, the reason why.

"Nashiga uku!"

While she was there, wailing at the thought of her doom, Maya strolled out with her suitcase and left without sparing the woman a glance. With the sound of the front door being smacked close, the only sound that filled the house was Hafsa's wail because in three words, she knows she's done for.