Qaina had her eyes closed, obviously it wouldn't make any difference if she had them opened. After all, it was always dark for her. But like any normal person with proper eyesight, she also tends to close her eyes automatically when trying to sleep. It was natural for her.

The door opened, but she didn't move. She could smell the fragrance of smoke and roses in the air around her, which means the intruder was her husband.

She kept her eyes closed, pretending to be asleep. Nawaz was an awkward person. It took him lots of efforts to talk with new people. Qaina was also new in his life. He would talk to her but only if she starts the conversation. He still wasn't comfortable with her. And Qaina wanted to change it for good.

And the only way was to fake sleep. Because Nawaz won't resist touching her when she is asleep, which she got to know on their wedding night, that was the previous night.

And as expected she felt a breath close to her lips.

He's going to kiss me?

A thumb gently rubbed against her lower lip, and slowly traced its path to her cheeks, to jaw, to neck, to collarbone. She gasped when all of a sudden she felt him kiss her collarbone.

Her eyes opened on their own and her face expressed her astonishment.

"I knew you are faking sleep, just like the last night." Nawaz spoke, a smirk lingering on his lips.

"How do you got to know?" She asked, her tone was breathless.

"From your heavy, long yet firm breaths."

"Oh." That was all she could say.

"Now you tell me why you pretended to sleep last night as well as now?"

"Umm... I was afraid."

"Even now?"

"No! I just wanted to observe your reaction."

"Like I'll touch you or not." He caressed her cheeks while saying so, making her body shiver.

"Maybe." She mumbled slowly.

"Maybe, huh? Let me show you my reaction."

His hands went underneath her Kurti.

"Arey, I can't see! You can't show me anything." She uttered whatever came to her mind.

"But I can make you feel things, you know." His hands were few inches away from her brassiere.

"Please stop! I don't want to feel anything." She was genuinely afraid of intimacy.

Nawaz smiled and pulled his hands out of her dress. He hovered over her body, his arms supporting his weight of either sides. His eyes looking into her empty ones, trying to find some emotions in them. But all he could see was two lifeless shining pearls, something very contradictory to her lively vibes.

"You are so innocent, Qaina." The way he said these words, she felt adored and loved.

She put her hands on his shoulders and slowly began massaging them. Trying to ease this conversation through her gestures. Trying to make him feel comfortable with her.

He moaned at the relaxation he experienced. His tense muscles relaxed at her touch.

He got up suddenly, but only to remove his Kurta and again leaned onto her body. Her cheeks had crimson red hues while touching his bare skin.

"Feeling shy to touch your husband? How will you manage our love making sessions then?" He teased her.

She was smiling shyly. Her fingers doing wonders on his shoulders.

Nawaz put his head in the crook of her neck, his warm lips touching her heated skin. Her one hand automatically rested on his back while the other began moving in his smooth hair.

"Nawaz..." She called him in a shy tone, wondering if he would mind her calling him Nawaz or not.

"Hmm." He was relaxed, means he didn't mind it.

"What's your profession?"

He opened his eyes, his head moved to a side. He was trying to find right words to explain his work in the simplest and safest way possible.

"I kill those who kill others." That was his answer.

"Why?"

"Because police department pays us for doing so. It's simply called target killing. We kill those criminals who has ties with government officials and tends to stay out of trouble due to their influences. We do it because police can't do it."

"So you are a good kind of Mafia?"

"You can say that."

"You get hurt?"

"Sometimes."

"Is that why you have scars on your back?" Her question left him surprised.

"Yes, these came from gunshots."

"Oh." He felt her caress those marks, that made him smile.

"Any other question?"

"No."

"So I am sleeping now. Don't disturb me." He again put his head in the crook of her neck and closed his eyes.

"Okay."

As soon as he fell asleep, his body fully rested on her frame. He was heavy, and Qaina felt as if she was trapped underneath a rock. But she managed somehow.

She moaned lightly when his hand landed on her breast. Like a jolt of electricity passed through her body. Now she regretted stopping him earlier, it felt so good.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The next afternoon, Qaina was forcefully put to sleep by Nawaz. Firstly, Qaina couldn't sleep, but when he began caressing her forehead she immediately fall asleep. His caress worked as a lullaby for her.

Nawaz kissed her forehead and went out of their room. At that moment he realised that he was truly experiencing the marital bliss.

He heard the doorbell and that was his cue to welcome his expected guest.

As he headed downstairs, the guest was already seated in the living hall.

A handsome guy in his mid-twenties. He was wearing a business suit, probably he was a businessman.

"Welcome, Bilal." He welcomed the guy.

"Hello, Shah Sahab." He greeted back.

"Have a seat, please."

Bilal nodded his head and sat on his previous seat. Nawaz sat opposite to him.

Bilal looked excited yet nervous and shy. His smile was something that could make others smile as well. But Nawaz was sad about the fact that his words will snatch this beautiful smile of his.

"So what's your answer?" Bilal asked.

"I am sorry, Bilal. She can't marry you."

Bilal frowned a bit.

"What do you mean?"

"You are a good guy, but she isn't the one for you. That's all."

"But what's the reason for this refusal?"

"Trust me, Bilal. It's very personal."

Bilal kept quite for a while. Trying to compose himself. He respected Nawaz and didn't want to do anything wrong in the emotional state. For once Nawaz felt as if he saw tears gathering in Bilal's eyes.

Bilal was serious about marrying Nikhat. He was so perfect for his little sister. But obviously Nawaz will choose Nikhat's happiness over Bilal's. And he did so.

"So it can't happen ever?"

Nawaz shook his head, feeling guilty to raise his hopes higher previously.

"Can you please give me any excuse? That could console my heart."

"Pyar ek baar nahi, sau baar ho sakta hai. Zaroori yeh hai ke hamare ehsaas sachein ho'n."

To his reply, Bilal asked.

"Aapko kitni baar hua?"

He smiled and answered.

"Yaad nahi."

To which Bilal chuckled heartily.

Both the men stood up, still grinning. And they hugged each other.

Bilal left, he was a little disappointed but Nawaz's words made him understand that there is no point in crying over an unrequited love.

With a smile on his face, he went out of the Naqvi Mansion and Nikhat's life as well.

Bilal had just exited when Nikhat entered the living hall.

"Bhai, who was that guy?"

"The guy who wanted to marry you." He replied straightforwardly, without beating around the bushes.

"Don't tell me you accepted the proposal?" She asked back, afraid if it really did happen.

"No, I denied." Nikhat sighed, but Nawaz continued with his words, "I said that there's no point on marrying my sister to him when my sister is already married."

At the moment Nikhat understood what exactly its meant by the earth slipping under your feet. She experienced it at moment. As if she was about to collapse on an landless surface and falling into infinity.

"Bhai, are you joking?" She wanted him to nod and burst into laughter, but he didn't. He had a grim smile on his face, he regretted. He regretted trusting her? Or he regretted her entire existence?

"Bhai, it's a joke, right?" She asked hopefully.

Why isn't he laughing?

"Don't scare me, Bhai."

"Why? Why are you scared? Because you are actually married, right?" He was dead serious.

"I-I... I wanted to tell you." She accepted, when tears blurred her vision and she knew she can't lie to him anymore.

"But you didn't. Even when you knew you are pregnant."

"I am sorry, Bhai."

"Nikhat, what did you thought? That I will not let you marry Atif simply because I don't like him? I thought my sister understands me. But you proved me wrong."

His eyes turned red and tears glistened in them. He headed to his room before he could lose control over his emotions.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

It was past midnight when Atif returned home. He went straight to the Art Haven where his dear wife would be waiting for him.

The door was opened as expected, he entered the room. It was pitch dark inside, that was something odd. Nikhat would light those fairy lights every night. She felt suffocated in a room consumed by darkness.

He switched on the lights and was shocked to his core. The room was destroyed. Broken sculptures, fallen equipments, ruined furniture, their Haven seemed to resemble the Hell.

At a corner he saw a leaned figure sitting on the floor.

"Nikhat." He mumbled while walking upto her. He bent on his knees in front her. She was hiding her face between her knees.

"Nikhat, what happened?" He asked carefully.

But he didn't got any reply.

"Nikhat?"

Again there was no reply.

Atif assumed that she fell asleep due to emotional exhaustion. So he picked her up and took her to his room.

When he laid her on his bed, he carefully observed her state. She did look exhausted in all senses. There were minor cuts on her arms and hands. Her clothes were ruined by the layers of white colour. Her cheeks had stains of tears.

He first removed his jacket and t-shirt and then began changing her clothes. Now she was wearing only a t-shirt that belonged to him. Not that he didn't had her clothes in his room, but he liked her in his clothes more. He wiped her face with a wet towel and tended to her minor injuries.

And then he laid beside her. His hands slowly reaching under her t-shirt.

He wondered what would have happened. But he hoped it's not what he was thinking. Or else Nikhat will ruin herself.

He knew she was wrong since the very beginning. It was wrong when they married secretly, but he was madly in love with her. And knowing Nawaz, he won't accept their love. But maybe he would.

However, the main reason for Nikhat to take this step was Fear.

She respected Nawaz. But she never trusted him. Neither she tried to understand him. She was simply afraid of him. She was polite to him because it pleased him and kept her out of danger, according to her. She never protested because it would anger him and he will start dictating her life.

She was afraid.

And again she was wrong to do so.

Now Atif was waiting for the morning.

The dawn of destruction was approaching them.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
I updated today because I completed 100 followers today. It means a lot to me. 🥰🥰🥰

Bilal (Bilal Abbas)

He had only one scene but I really liked his character.