Meher's POV,
A gentle hand was caressing my head. It felt soo nice that I just didn't want to wake up and keep sleeping peacefully. It was such a good escape from reality.

"Meher....beta, wake up. It's getting late no? Your family must be worried." My eyelids were heavy and they were probably swollen too as I was unable to open them. My eyesight was too sensitive when I managed to flickr my eyes open and my whole body felt like there was some weight on it.

It took me a minute to realise where I was and whose gentle hand it was. I was still at Imraan's home and it was his mother who was smiling at me soo lovingly. My throat felt choked up again.

"Uh...sorry I fell asleep." I said jolting up on the bed embarrassed.

"It's good you did. Atleast you got proper rest till I fixed your pretty gown. You can change into it now. It's such a pretty one, where did you get it from?" She sounded curious.

From my inlaws.

"My father's friend. He gifted it to me."

"Oh... nice."

I smiled and rubbed my eyes.

"Uh.... Meher beta, If there's anything u want to say, your Shazia aunty is right here to listen. Ok?" She said soo sweetly caressing my hair that I almost opened my mouth to tell her but I bit my tongue in my mouth right on time.

"Ok... thankyou aunty." I just said.

She looked at me for a few seconds before smiling.
"I've made some sandwiches for you and Imraan. Why don't you change and come out in the kitchen?"

"Um aunty, what's the time?"

"It's 3pm."

My eyes widened.

"3...3 pm?!" Mumma will kill me! My phone... where's it?

I panicked looking for it and aunty handed it to me as it was on the side table. Oh God! It was on silent with 23 missed calls from Mumma and Zoya!!!

"I... I have to go... I'm soo late!" I almost yelled.

"Calm down calm down Meher. Tell them you were at a friend's house."

I shook my head hysterically.
"I have to go." I jumped off the bed.

"Ok ok...get changed. I'm waiting outside."

####
I fixed myself and got out of the room coming face to face with Imraan.

"Hey."

I didn't know what to say to him. He helped me when I felt soo lost while I selfishly took advantage of his kindness. Should I apologise or thank him.

"Are you sure you don't want to eat anything? I'm not that good but I tried to make us sandwiches." He smiled.

His sweet smile was contagious.

"I have to go. Sorry...and.... thankyou..soo much." I said meekly unable to hold his eyes.

"Don't mention it, we're friends now, right?"

I gaped at him dumbly. Friends? Why would anyone wants to be friends with me? That to such a nice guy.

"The taxi will take you home. Should I acompany you?"

I shook my head scared. If people in my area see us together.... they'll get the wrong idea. Especially, Azlaan. Allah knows what he'd do to me then.

"Oh right, people might get the wrong idea. Sorry. Have a safe ride!" He handed me a chit.
"This is my and my mother's number, call me if you need anything."

I nodded.

Then, he and aunty helped me in the taxi and I was off to home accompanied by anxiety.

#####
"Where were you?!"

I froze as both Zoya and Mumma yelled at me with thier hands on thier hips as soon as I stood at the open door.

I was on the verge of a panic attack now. There was no way I could tell them that I was at a boys house.

Mumma was glaring at me and my lips were wobbly.

"Why is your makeup all washed off?" Zoya questioned as if her eyes were drilling holes on my face.

"Um... I..."

"Come inside!" Mumma ordered and I quietly followed her inside my room along with Zoya watching me suspiciously.

"Sit!"

I obeyed with my head down. Both the woman standing in front of me. Mumma favours Zoya a lot as she's smart, good in studies and is also pretty. But most importantly, she knows how to hold a conversation and talk nicely to people unlike me who loses her tongue in front of any other living thing.

"Where did you go after I called you out to click pictures with us? I looked for you everywhere at the party?" Zoya questioned.

I was tongue tied as I remembered how Azlaan found me ....and then he....

"Even Azlaan bhai wasn't at the party....so, were you two together."

I looked up at Mumma wishing deep inside my heart that maybe...just maybe she could understand my fear and console me like Shazia aunty but instead, her eyes were wide with curious excitement and a slight smile on her face.

And I knew the truth will only make her happy. So I nodded in agreement.

"Oh Alhamdulillah! Finally! Very good!" She patted my shoulder.

"OMG really?!" Even Zoya was grinning from ear to ear.
"Did you two go on a date or something?"

I nodded.

"Oh, how nice! Atleast you did one thing good in your life!"

I nodded again.

After that whatever they asked in thier happiness, I just nodded like a good girl.

Zoya left after a while as she got a call from home and Mumma sat beside me and hugged me. I needed her warmth even though I was getting it for another reason. I just... needed my Mumma as I hugged her back.

"You did a good job today. Azlaan is finally getting closer to you. Keep him close just like that Meher. U need to keep ur husband happy at all cost." It was both a suggestion and a warning.

I looked up at her from her shoulders.
"Mumma... What if....by chance, he hurts me?"

She scowled.
"What kind of question is that? He's your husband and a man. Don't be like those sensitive girls who cannot handle some tough love. You're a girl, you need to bare with it. He's your husband and he has every right on you. Understand!"

I nodded.

####
I was washing the dishes after dinner and I was haunted by the horrible moment. It was soo pathetic that it was almost funny. For soo long I'd been dreaming about our fresher's party to be one of the best times of my life and.....what happened? It just turned out to be the worst nightmare.... actually, one of the worst. As this was just the begining. Right?

Is this the Love I'd been waiting for? The romances that I'd been fantasizing...is this how it's supposed to be. Of course, I'm not good enough for him... maybe I deserve all this. It's all my fault like he said.

He's your husband and he has every right on you.

Does his right also include hurting me? Belittling me? Looking at me with such hateful gaze? Making me fear him? Is that what a man is?

But,

He's nothing like that.... Imraan is soo different. He's sweet and gentle. He's kind and thoughtful. His smile and his words are always soo warm for me. He's not rough or dominating. Does that not make him a man?

The water suddenly stopped bringing me out of my daze and I saw a hand turning off the tap.
"You're wasting water baccha. Mumma will hit you if she sees you." He said gently hitting my head.

"Oh right..." I bit my tongue. I was wasting water?! Stupid me.

"Where are you soo lost at? Was the party soo much fun?"
He asked putting his plate in the sink.

"Um...uh yes..." I faltered.

I could feel his eyes on me as I continued washing the dishes ignoring him. He said nothing all the while till I washed everything.

"What?" I faked a short laugh looking at him but he had his serious face on.

"Did something happen?"

I giggled
"Not at all. Now stop staring at me. I'm not that pretty." I joked.

He pinched my nose.
"I heard you were with Azlaan. Is it true."

I nodded avoiding his eyes.

"He didn't do anything... wrong right?"

His question made me shudder but I managed to shake my head negative.

"Fine. I'll drop you to college tomorrow. I need to have a little chat with him."

That scared me.

"Why? I mean....he has our very first lecture tomorrow. You won't be able to meet him and I thought you had a job interview tomorrow." I said changing the subject.

"I have to go there at 11, so I thought I could meet him. You know I don't like him and this marriage...." He sighed.
"... nevermind. I'll meet him some other time then."

I smiled as relief flooded over me.
"Ok. There's some of yesterday's pastry left in the fridge."

"Nah, I'll pass. I need to practice for the interview."

"Ok."

He left and I sank on the counter holding my racing heart. If bhai meets Azlaan and either of them says something.... I was a gonner.

####
Monday, Wednesday, Friday the first lecture we have is Financial Accounting....of Azlaan and today was a Monday. Meaning I had to confront him first thing in the morning. I turned to look at Zoya who was busy with the 2 girls from the fresher's party.

I sighed. She really has made new friends huh? While I was here all alone. Even the girl who sat beside me was absent or maybe running late so I felt even more vulnerable. She helps me by letting me copy from her notes as usually by balance sheet doesn't tally.

I looked at my side and there was Imraan smiling at me. I smiled back. Just then the murmuring in the class dialled down and I felt goosebumps. The professor was entering the class...but he was accompanied by Kashish as they both were laughing at Allah knows what. As usual, her clothes were again kinda short and very expensive and classy.

She took her seat with her chin resting on her hands checking out Azlaan whilst he was adjusting his books on the table.

"Goodmorning everyone. Have you all tallied last weeks balance sheet that was pending?"

My jaw dropped.

Shit! I forgot!!!

"It was your homework!"

I kept my head low. Then as he turned back meekly to the girls sitting behind me.
"Um... did you do the problem. Can I see please?"

The girl rolled her eyes and pushed the book forward crossing her arms while leaning back.

"Thankyou." I said and slowly turned her book to check for the answer then quickly noted it in my book with my pencil.

"Thankyou." I said again smiling at her but she just turned her head away  with attitude straightening her book.

I said nothing. Infact, I was grateful.

"Miss Qadri!"

Of course. I saw that coming.

"At what amount does it balance?"

"One thousand four hundred and fifty sir " I answered meekly.

He raised an eyebrow seemingly amused.
"You know the answer this time, and it's correct."

My heart was pounding and he walked towards me resting a hand over the desk and I was forced to remember about his...kiss. The way he was hovering over me. I was scared.

A smirk came on his lips and abruptly he lifted my book from the desk making my heart jump to my throat and showed it in front of the class.

"There is just a blank format here with the answer written with pencil below." He grinned and then looking at me slammed the book on my desk as it's corner slapped on my hand but I gulped my pain taking my hand down immediately, to hide it.

"Are you kidding me? Miss Qadri, have you stooped soo low that you're even stealing now?"

I shook my head hanging it low.

"Then what is this? Who's answer did you steal BTW?"

The girl behind me was smirking raising her hand, mocking me.

"Ah, is that so. So, you couldn't even tally a simple balance sheet yet have the audacity to copy the answer and say it soo confidently. BTW, looks like you had a good breakfast today. We could actually hear your voice. Seems like you had some good fun at the fresher's party."

I looked up at him shocked.

He was mocking me. My brain went blank as he went on and on with his insults and even the laughs of all the students sounded like a distant echo to me.

Imraan's POV,
My anger was reaching it's limit now! Why is it that whenever I see her smile, after a while, I just have to see her painful expression. Am I the only one who can see that? What nonsense is this! That man is literally harassing a student and everyone is laughing like she's a clown?!

What malarkey is this!

"Thanks to Miss Qadri we had a good laugh first thing in the morning. Now your other lectures will go energetically. Why not give her a big round of applause? Because of her stupidity, we all had a hearty laugh."

I lost it!

Without thinking twice I stood up on my place.
"Sir can you please stop that! Don't you think you're wasting yours and everyone's time here with this useless talk."

All eyes stopped at me as I was quite loud. Even Meher's and fuck! Her eyes were soo red like she would break down any moment.

"Is that soo Mr Malik, you think I'm wasting time?"

"I'm afraid yes, sir. We're behind in our syllabus as compared to the other divisions. So can u please stop... whatever you want to do and start teaching."

He was clearly taken aback as he gaped at me with his jaw clenched. So I continued.
"Sir, I respect your knowledge but not your attitude. It's not like she's the first student in the world who has forgotten her homework. It happens. Humans are forgetful beings. How can you insult her like that?!"

"Insult? It's when you get insult you remember your lesson and won't repeat the same mistake again..."

"Says who?! Sir, with all due respect...what you're doing right now, it's not teaching a lesson but rather inducing fear in the student and that's hella disturbing!" I snapped as both our gazes were spitting fire at eachother.

"And raising your voice at your professor is not disrespectful?" He questioned.

"Sorry for raising my voice sir, but I'm not sorry for making my point! What you're doing is wrong and you have no right to belittle a weaker student. Being weak in a subject is not a crime but you make her feel like she has commited a huge sin. What kind of professor are you who instead of guiding the student is ostracizing them?!"

He was lost for words but was burning with fury. Well so was I!

He snapped his head at Meher who flinched. Then he turned towards the board.

"Open the 7th problem everyone. Let's not waste more time...."

My buddy nudged me to sit down and finally the whole class was silent. I let out a breath.

I looked at Meher and caught her staring at me but she immediately looked away. It made me smile slightly.

I took a stand for her. It really gave me such satisfaction!

####
I was walking to the parking to get my bike when I heard a familiar voice calling me. It was almost inaudible but it made me hault in my steps.

"Meher?"

She was gripping on her bag's strap and looked nervous. I walked towards her.

"You called me?"

She nodded and I smiled.
"No need to thank me yaar. It was nothing." I grinned.

Allah, this girl makes me act weird and why would I call a girl yaar?!

"Actually.... I....I wanted another favor." She was looking down at her sandles.

"Sure. What is it?"

"Um..." She looked up at me and I couldn't stop myself from thinking how cute she was.

"Can you tutor me for accounting?"

Her question brought a huge smile and an uncanny feeling in my chest.
"Of course, let's go to the library then?"

She smiled widely nodding and we changed our path walking towards the library.

Who knew, changing the path towards the library.... wasn't the only path we both would change.

____________________

Next chapter tomorrow.

What do you think about Imraan's answer to Azlaan?

Do u think Azlaan was jealous?