***

تیری باہوں کا گھیرا برا محفوظ لگے ہے
بری بخوف جگہ ہے یہ

Teri bahon ka ghera bara mehfooz lage hai
Bari bekhauf jagah hai yeh

*

**

Saman felt like she was drugged. Not only did her head spin like a disco ball, her limbs ached even more with the passing moment. If it weren't for his arms holding her tightly she would have been slouching down like a bag of potatoes, dressed in a pretty dress.

"My hair hurts." She grumbled putting her head on his bicep. Armaan was amused but more than that he was perplexed as to how could hair hurt, when it had no pain receptors–

"Armaan! My feet hurts." She whispered dragging her feet to match his pace.

"Just a minute." With each passing second Armaan was holding her weight more, he wasn't complaining though.

"How did you get this tired?" He mused pushing the door to their room. Hearing no response, Armaan called her name but she didn't budge.

"Saman–" he called again, making her voice something incoherent. Armaan pressed his lips trying not to laugh, this Saman was new to him, sure he had seen her tantrums but had never dealt with them first hand. It felt so raw and primal to see her the way he never had, and watch her slowly unravel.

"Saman, get changed first." He tapped her cheek lightly making her groan.

"Zaruri hai?"

Armaan couldn't help but chuckle hearing her, "han bhot zaruri." He made her sit on the bed and kneeled before her. Saman opened her groggy eyes and frowned at him.

"Don't look at me like that, you can't sleep in this."

"Fine."

Armaan got up removing his blazer, he sighed feeling a lot lighter. He could understand how Saman was feeling after carrying that heavy dress for hours. Picking out his change of clothes, Armaan was about to get in the bathroom when he heard her shriek.

"What happened?" He asked,reaching her in quick strides.

"My hair hurts." Saman's voice wavered as she spoke. "And I can't take these pins out." She cried, pulling out a pin, rather violently.

"Wait–" Armaan threw his clothes aside."Let me do it." Saman didn't say anything but adjusted herself so he could do the job.

"Where do I keep these?" He asked, picking up her jewelry from the bed. Saman glanced over her shoulder only to find him holding them like they were extremely delicate. Well they were but still,he looked as if he was holding the secret of the universe.

She giggled, making him frown, "put them on dresser." She spoke through her giggles.

After he kept the jewels away, Armaan got to work on her hair. The number of pins that was hidden in her hair was shocking to say the least, he was sure the stylist had done this on purpose as even after removing around tens of them her hair was still in place.

"Are you done?" Saman's sleepy voice made him snap out of his thoughts.

“Almost." It took more than a minute to finally remove every single one of those pins. He heard Saman's sigh of relief as her hair fell to its length. He smiled, and started running his fingers in it, only for her to lean more to him. Her head now rested against his torso as he gently massaged her head.

"Saman, why don't you get out of this dress?" Armaan spoke, making her nod hazily.

The moment Saman was out of that beautiful torture of a dress, she wasted no time in crashing down. Armaan too joined her soon, himself feeling tiredness creeping up.

"Saman–" he called to check if she was already asleep, and sure she was. He could hear her faint snores. Smiling to himself he again started running his fingers on her scalp. She sighed with a small smile and shifted towards him and before he could realise l Saman was snuggling into him.

Armaan's breath hitched, feeling her arms wrap around his torso. His hands halted for a second making her groan in protest. He had never felt anything like he was feeling at this moment, he was nervous, he was jittery and he was delighted. But more than anything he was so in love.

______________

"Ahad please bachon wali harkatein mat karo." Nadia pleaded seeing him sprawled on the couch in the living room. Everyone had left a while ago, they had all gathered together after the function for a cup of tea, even though it was quite late.

She was tired, but seemed like there was someone even more tired than her,her husband. He had been quiet for the whole time during tea, which she concluded was due to exhaustion but she had no idea it was this bad.

"Ahad at least let's go to our room." Nadia nudged him making him mumble something, but he got up nevertheless.

"Let's go before I pass out here." He spoke. She did not doubt him,so she immediately followed him to their room.

"Do you mind if I use the washroom first?" He spoke, making her look at him with furrowed brows. He sounded as if he wasn't asking her but a business delegate.

"Yeah sure." She sounded unsure. Ahad nodded, and went inside, leaving her stunned to say the least.

"Ahad are you alright?" Nadia asked once the two of them were finally ready to sleep. Ahad looked at her and nodded, not uttering anything.

"Nadia–"

"Hmm."

"I have something to say." Ahad spoke sitting on the bed. Nadia took a seat infront of him.

"But I am extremely tired, and I don't want to mess up anything so can I tell you that tomorrow?" He said, looking at her with anticipation. Nadia didn't know how to react, so she just nodded vaguely.

"Has something happened?" She asked, worry laced in her voice.

"Everything's fine." Ahad smiled holding her hands gently.

"Thank you for tolerating me." Ahad whispered.

"Ahad–" Nadia inched closer to him." What do you mean by tolerating? Has someone said something?"

"Nobody said anything–" Ahad looked away. "I am just really thankful that you are with me." Nadia wasn't convinced but she didn't prod more.

But she wasn't letting this off, not when it was affecting him so much. So when the mornung arrived, she decided she had to cnfront him. Ince done with her fajr salah, she patiently waited for him to return, and when he did, she did not wait.

"What did you want to say last night Ahad?" She asked, pulling him to sit beside her.

"It's nothing, I was just tired and rambled nonsense, don't worry."

"Ahad–" Nadia's voice had a warning. "Don't do this, you have to communicate." She spoke, taking his hand in hers. Ahad tensed feeling her expectant eyes on him, while he did everything to avoid looking at her.

"Nadia, believe me it's nothing." His voice sounded meak.

"You are disappointing me Ahad–" she whispered, making him look at her finally. "I know it's not nothing." She let go of his hands, the warmth suddenly lost. Nadia sighed and got up to leave, but before that he grabbed her hand.

"Wait–" Nadia glanced at him. "Sit."

"Last night, I...I heard some people."Ahad started hesitantly. " They were talking about us–" he looked at her. "And how you are stuck with a good-for-nothing person like me."

Nadia felt her heart sink, as if a weight was put on it. His shaky voice, and his broken eyes felt like a burn to her soul. He kept watching her with glossy eyes while she couldn't still decipher what to say.

"Ahad–" Nadia breathed out, her own voice quivering. "Do you believe them?" She asked,but he did not answer, just looked away. She knew his answer. And it broke her.

"Oh Ahad!" She leaned towards him, making him look at her.

"Why would you believe some random people who don't even know who exactly we are?" She cupped his cheek, making him close his eyes for a moment.

"But they weren't wrong Nadia–" he said. "You are an exceptional person, you are good in everything and look at me."

"Exactly Ahad!" Nadia exclaimed. "Look at you–"

"You are so beautiful love, and you don't even know." Ahad blinked at her with a lost, innocent look.

"You should see yourself from my eyes–" Nadia smiled softly. "You don't mind your loved ones laughing at your expense, you are always in the front when someone needs help, you were there for Saman when she was going through such a hard phase, you were with me when I needed to calm down and you–" she held his head in between her palms. "You are the most beautiful blessing in my life." She didn't know when her tears had started streaming down her face. She sniffed letting out a small chuckle.

"Ahad you are so sickly sweet and god do I love being sickly in love with you." She choked on her words, making him wrap his arms around her immediately. She sobbed nuzzling in the crook of his neck.

"Why are you crying?" He asked, caressing her hair slowly, a fond smile slowy creeping on his face.

"How dare they say those things about you. I want to smack each of them." Her voice came out muffled but laced with anger and it only made him laugh and pull her closer. He adjusted himself and cradled her on his lap making her gasps and leaning away with widened eyes.

"What?" He asked innocently. Nadia flushed even more.

"How did I really get this fortunate?" Ahad's eyes scanned her leisurely, his breath fanned her face like the coolest breeze of the sea.

"I don't know." She spoke, shrugging her shoulders with a teasing smile. Ahad grinned, making her smile even wider. Rounding her arms around his neck Nadia again put her head on his shoulder while Ahad pulled her closer.

"Oh my god!" Ahad exclaimed after a few moments. "I forgot!"

Nadia pulled away and looked at him with perplexed eyes.

"Wait here–" Ahad spoke hurriedly and made her sit and dashed towards the closet.

"Ahad what happened?" Nadia asked as she watched him ruffling the insides of the closet.

"Nothing happened I just forgot to give you this–" he spoke walking towards her with his hands behind him.

"What?"

"Close your eyes." Nadia frowned but seeing the look on his face she knew she would do exactly what he was asking.

"Give me your hand." Nadia forwarded her right hand.

"The other one." She did.

"Ahad what are you doing–" her words got caught up when she felt cold metal gliding in her ring finger. An inaudible gasp escaped her lips and her eyes snapped open. She looked at him and then at the shining piece of jewellery in her finger.

"Where did you get this?" She asked.

"I robbed a shop." He grinned at her, making her glare at him.

"I got this for you as a wedding gift and forgot to give it." Ahad smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck.

"Only you Ahad,only you." she whispered, concentrating on the ring that had already bewitched her. Nadia loved how it was an emerald and also so dainty, just how she liked it.

"This is so stunning Ahad."

"Not more than you." He replied with a cheeky grin.

"Shut up!" She cringed, throwing a pillow at him, making him let out a throaty  chuckle.

_______

Saman yawned again and sighed. Her phone's clock displayed a time she wasn't quite fond of but then she couldn't just go and sleep as well. Not when her dearest husband was still not home.

A few months later to their wedding, on a similar night to today an argument had broken out between them. Quite expected,as it was long overdue. She had tried multiple ways to make him understand that he couldn't just stay outside without informing at home, yet it did not work at all.

He would often forget to inform her about his shifts and that would leave her restless in the middle of night, waiting for his highness to show up.

Needless to say her patience broke. And so did a fight.

After a lot of arguments, little bit yelling, mostly on Saman's side and alot of waterworks, that too from Saman, Armaan had to throw his weapons down.

So, he had informed her earlier that he would be late, not regular late but quite late. Saman didn't ask for a reason, that was something she never thought was to be worried about. She could only name one thing that could be a competition to her for her husband's attention, the hospital.

It was her co wife.

She chuckled at her own thoughts and again checked her phone. Just a few minutes and it would be three in the morning. She knew she could just sleep, but then, she didn't want him to come home to silence.

Getting up from the bed Saman dialed his number, and thankfully he picked up after a few rings.

"Just about to reach." She heard his hurried voice and a sense of relief course through herself.

"Did you eat?" She asked, walking  towards the door.

"No." His voice was barely audible.

"Come fast."

Armaan wss home by the time she had warmed up his food. And just like always, he came straight to the kitchen.

"I am so sorry." Placing his bag on the counter he spoke.

"It was a crazy day, and then some emerg–"

"Armaan." Saman walked towards him, making him hush. "First eat." She spoke softly. He nodded with a sheepish grin and turned around to wash his hands but stopped abruptly.

"Oh no!" He turned towards her swiftly. "I forgot it."

"What?"

"Wait here I'll be back." With that he dashed out leaving her confused.

"Sorry again as I said it was a hectic day–" his voice reached her before him. "I totally forgot this in.my car. " he walked in with another bag.

"What's that?" She asked, making him grin and put the bag on the island.

"Wanna see yourself?" Saman frowned as he opened the chain slowly.

"Armaan–" she whined.

"Come here." He whispered excitedly.

"What even–" her words got stuck as her eyes fell on the white fluff nestled in the bag.

"What is this?"

"It's a cat, I suppose." Armaan smiled at her and took out the kitten carefully. The little one was asleep, and her tiny self fit perfectly in his palm.

"Where did you get her?" Saman whispered, her eyes widened with excitement.

"An old patient gave her to me." Armaan spoke, handling her the little bean.

"She's so precious–" Saman gushed as the cat snuggled into her.

"Her owner was my patient–"

"Was?"

"She died today." Saman felt her heart sink. She looked at the kitten and then at him. "She asked me to take care of her, and I thought who else would be better for this job but my Saman." Saman's glittery eyes shone as she watched him with a sad smile.

"Thank you." Saman spoke, making him smile. He leaned towards her and placed a soft kiss on top of her head.

"What is her name?"

"I don't know–" Armaan gave her a sheepish smile. "Why don't you name her something." He spoke proceeding to eat. Not only was he exhausted,he was famished.

"I'll think of it later, you tell me–" Saman raised her brows at him. "How was your day?"

"It was extremely hectic, more than patient the official work was killing me."

"What official work?" Saman asked, stroking the kitten.

"Oh I forgot again–" he exclaimed, earning a curious look from her. "They made me head for surgery." He spoke in a plain voice.

"What?" Saman couldn't help but shout.

"I am the head of surgery now." He repeated in a robotic manner.

"I heard you." She scolded him lightly. "It's such a big thing, you should be excited!"

"I am excited." He smiled, the side of his eyes crinkling. Saman didn't know how to react. She watched him with narrowed eyes making his grin turn into a nervous chuckle.

"Aise kyun dekh rahi ho?"

"Dekh rahi hun ke akhir kya pasand agaya mujhe."

Armaan frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean." She rolled her eyes. "Anyways, I am so happy for you." .

"Thanks." He beamed at her like a child and Saman knew the answer as to what she saw in him.

He was precious.

_______________

Moons came, moons went, stars were there so was rain, and also the warmth that had been there from time immemorial.

In far corner of Alamnagar, away from the bustling crowd, there stood Shah Haveli, still the same, yet also changed. Time had been kind to the haveli and its residents, and if it ever was not; they made sure it would.

Afterall, they were the Shah Gharana. A bunch of chaotic and a bunch of calm people. Even if things did not work their way they made sure it worked out for better.

___________

Assalamualaikum everyone.

How are you all?

An Important announcement: The story has now come to an end. This chapter is the unofficial last chapter. I don't see a point in dragging the chapters anymore. I may or may not add an epilogue or any more chapters.

Thank you all for reading and being with me in this three year long journey. It was a roller coaster ride to say the least. I had such a nice time interacting with each one of you. I am really thankful and appreciate you all.

Hope you guys liked the story.

Do comment loads to let me know what you feel, and do tell me all your reviews, I will read all of them.

Also I would recommend re-reading for the old readers.

Thank you once again.

Allah hafiz till next time.