One month later

"Aah" a loud shriek made Azeem open his eyes at once. He immediately switched on the bed-side lights and saw his wife panting in sweat.

"Raniya....idhar dekho bacha..kya huwa" He took her in his arms and caressed her hair. Her hands grabbed his shirt tight and were not ready to leave at any cost.

He could feel her trembling and dropped kisses on her forehead to calm her down. His heart pained seeing such an innocent soul in this state.

"Mai kyun bach gayi....." her loud sobs just squeezed his heart ...... "Sab chale gaye..mujhe chhod diya"

"Raniya..sab theek ho jayega......hum sab hain na........" he pulled her out of his arms and cupped her face.

"Aap bhi chhod kar chale jayenge..."

Her innocent brown orbs were filled with so much pain.....

It was a month ago when Raniya's family was coming from a wedding at night and met with a terrible accident which left her sister and mother dead on the spot while her father was still in a state of coma. Only she managed to escape uninjured with some bruises.

Her father being the only child didn't have close relatives to look after her. It was Faizan who rushed there getting the news with Azeem and Kabir.

Raniya was in a state of shock and her old  Khala was not being able to handle her.

Faizan was himself terrified when he saw his friend's body connected with tubes. But he had to carry out the last rites of the departed souls, which he did with a heavy heart.

Azeem was unable to figure out what he was feeling. His wife was dead...true she was unknown to her but still somewhere it hurt. He had expectations from his Nikaah.

But as soon as his eyes went to the innocent soul who was carrying a blank face devoid of any emotions, his forgot his own pain. He had always seen her chirping in the office. He could just imagine what that poor soul must be going through. Compared to her pain...was his pain anything??
Just imagining himself in her place made him shiver.

Faizan brought Raniya along and her Khala didn't object.

Anabia and Jannat managed to break her shell and she cried her heart out in Jannat's arms. Her painful sobs had every member in the house misty eyed.
Few days later, Aazeen had managed to get her talk. She was a little okay when her Khala's husband with his son had come at Faizan's place and demanded that Raniya should go with them

Faizan had seen Raniya nodding in No from the door and he just assured her maternal family to let her be here for a few days more, which they reluctantly agreed upon.

And just when her Khala's family had left, Raniya had gone berserk infront of Faizan "Uncle mujhe wahaan mat bhejein...mujhe wo log achhe nahin lagte .... please mujhe yahin koi kaam de dein mai kar lungi..par mujhe wahaan nahin bhejein.....please"

"Bacha aap ko koi kahin nahin bhej raha....jab tak mai hun koi aapka kuch bhi nahin kar sakta" Faizan had soothed Raniya with his words and had  looked at Azeem who had just blinked his eyes giving him the answer, he had asked his son last night and he didn't disappoint.

"Azeem se shaadi karengi aap..?" Faizan's words had made Raniya still but just a picture of Khala's family made her nod her head in "yes" next minute.

It was a small function where Azeem and Raniya accepted each other in the holy bond of nikaah.
Her Khala's family which had come a week later was left with nothing to say. Raniya Khan was now Raniya Azeem Ali and one would have to face Azeem Ali before casting a bad eye on her.

Raniya had started opening up a little after her father had gained consciousness. Both father daughter had weeped in each other's arms remembering the horrific incident but as the pain was getting out, she was slowly slowly coming around.

She still sometimes would get nightmares of the incident and Azeem as a caring husband would comfort her with his soothing words and touch and even put her to sleep taking her in his arms.
People used to think he was very rigid, but he was just like his father,  tough on the outside, but very soft on the inside. He just couldn't handle this little girl's tears. Her pain stricken face a month ago had just moved him.

"Raniya"

"Jee"

"Taiyyar ho jao..hum uncle to dekhne ja rahe hain"

"Par aapki meeting thi na aaj" Raniya didn't want to cause trouble to this man who had gone a step ahead and taken care of her like an angel.

"Wo Kabir handle kar lega..tum taiyyar ho"

Nodding Raniya took out a pair of fresh clothes to change.

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"Abbu...ab aap kaisa feel kar rahe hain..?"

"Theek hun..beta "

"Niya..."

"Jee Abbu"

"Tum khush ho na wahaan beta....mai janta hun Faiz ki family shikayat ka mauka nahin degi par phir bhi Azeem tumse theek tarah se pesh aata hai na"
Fahad asked his daughter caressing her head. Azeem had gone to meet the doctor giving the father-daughter some alone time.

"Wo bahut ache hain Abbu.....Aapi bahut hi lucky hotin agar.."

"Niya....kuch baatein bhul jaana hi behtar hai...Azeem tumhara shohar hai...use kisi aur ke naam se mat jodo"

"Par Abbu"

"Beta....jisse jana tha wo chala gaya..wo Allah ki marzi thi...lekin humein aage toh badhna padega na beta....wo humse bahut hi achi jagah hain unke bare me aapko fikra karne ki zarurat nahin hai"

"Azeem tumhara aaj aur kal hai...use sawaro.....piche ke rishte chhut chuke hain....samajh rahi ho na bacha.....bas ache palon ko yaad rakho aur aage badho"

"Promise me..you will give your 100% to this relationship" Fahad asked for a promise which Raniya gave with a kiss on his palm.."Mai waada karti hun Abbu"

Fahad smiled with tears and kissed his daughter's head.

"Uhmm" Azeem cleared his throat coming inside the room.

"Uncle...doctor ne kaha hai..aap bahut ache se recover kar rahe hain aur agle week aapko discharge bhi kar denge."

"Abbu akele kaise rahenge" Raniya lifted his head

"Faiz ne mere liye tumhare ghar ke just bagal me ek rented appartment dekha hai ......so don't worry" Fahad caressed his daughter's head.."aur mujhe pata hai mujhe use din raat apne ghar me jhelna hi padega"

Fahad joked making Azeem smile. It was true..his father was a great friend.

------------------

Few more days had gone by and now everything was getting to normal.

But some things had started changing...

Kabir wanted Aazeen before his eyes first thing in the morning......

But the realisation was missing...it was a routine for him and he never peeped in deeply. 

Shazia had finally returned back and the next day only, she wanted to have an urgent talk with Kabir.

"Hi Kabir" Shazia was able to catch kabir in his office

"Hi" Kabir smiled offering her a seat.

"Can we talk...I don't want any disturbance" she said to which he nodded and asked the secretary not to disturb through the intercom.

"Aaah Kabir...." Shazia was hesitating. ..

"Is everything alright?" Kabir asked in a concerned tone

"I am sorry Kabir...I I am in love " she finally blurted out making him arch his brows...

"Actually ...I used to love a guy named Zafar in my college but never had the courage to come up with my feelings...when I met you...I found some qualities of his in you and then" she paused and looked at him who looked quite calm....he signalled her to go on...

"I always searched for Zafar in you...which I think was the main reason behind my decision of not getting married then...but when I met him on the trip..it was like a deja vu......and those were the most beautiful days of my life...I am sorry I should have informed you earlier than this but I wanted to talk in person.....Zafar proposed to me but first I wanted to talk to you..." She completed waiting for his response...

"Do you want to get married " Kabir asked in a serious tone...

"Y..yes " Shazia hesitated but then came up with her feelings.

"Then what are you waiting for " he said with a smile

"I mean you r ok na...I mean" she expressed her concern

"More than ok...believe me I am happy for you " he got up and gave her a hug

"Thankyou. ..." she thanked him 

"But I need a treat...let's have dinner together...I will bring Aazeen too..."

"Done" she smiled. 

----------------

"Moto  get ready...we have to meet Shazia's fiance on dinner" Kabir said to Aazeen who spitted out the water she was drinking. 

"Ab tumne kaun sa sasta nasha kiya hai?"

Kabir sighed and narrated her the whole tale

Aazeen at once hugged him rubbing his back "It's ok..."

"I am perfectly fine" he smiled seeing her concern...

"Huh...you didn't feel bad" she asked

"It's weird but I didn't. ...on the contrary I am happy" his face gave the proof he was right.

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Just a sneak peek of the coming chapters

"Aazeen Ali" Aazeen was shocked to see her name on the confirmation receipt.... she clearly remembered she had given the name Aazeen Shah to Kabir's secretary when he was asking for all the details ...

Kabir had himself taken the responsibility to get her into a good college for Masters as she was neck deep in work with one of high profile projects at office.

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"Aap hamesha aisa kyun dikhate hain ki aap bahut Sadu hain"

"What...come again" Azeem narrowed his eyes

"Nahi..mera matlab..." Raniya thought of replacing the offending words but wasn't able to do so

"Matlab" Azeem raised his brows

"Matlab Sadu hi tha" she spoke and closed her eyes fearing a good earful

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Since, I will be jumping like a monkey on my birthday tomorrow, I don't think I will be able to update ..so here it is a double update for you guys🤗🤗