A smile hit her lips when she felt the softness of the sheet in which she was covering herself and the squishy mattress on which she was laying.

After sleeping the whole ten hours she decided to leave her laziness and tossed in bed, turning her side her heart skipped a beat when found Waasiq sleeping beside her, she felt her heart would come out at any moment after watching him next to her. She decided to move back but something made her startled. There was a shadow outside their bedroom.

"K.. Kon hai waha.." She tried to ask loudly but only her lips moved up and down, no voice came out. Only that shadow wasn't enough that a small thud also made her shocked, her eyes pooled up with tears and fear captured her inside out.

(W.. Who is there?)

Unknowingly, her hand grabbed Waasiq's arm and shook it.

"Suniye uthiye.. Uth jaiye.." She again shook his arm and he opened his eyes while asking about the reason for her terrified face. 

(Listen... Please wake up)

"Ba.. Bahar koi aadmi hai.. Mene abhi dekha" She muttered in a terrified state. Waasiq sat down on bed and pulled out the gun which was under his pillow.

(There is a man outside the room)

"Tum Yahi ruko, main dekhta hu" Waasiq stepped out from the bed but Hareem held his arm

(Stay here, let me check)

"Dhyaan se" She muttered and Waasiq looked at her nails which were digging in the flesh of his arm, he slowly removed her hand from his arm before going out of the bedroom. 

(Carefully)

Hareem was shivering, her eyes had already started water work, and collecting all her courage she stepped out from the bedroom with cat steps.

"Hareem.. Come here" Waasiq's voice fall in her ears and she move towards the living room.

"Ji.."

(yes) 

"Tumne kya dekha tha?" He asked with a smile on his handsome face 

(What you've seen?) 

"Woh ek parchai thi au..." Hareem was Stopped in between when watched Waasiq kneeling down on the floor playing with a white Persian cat.

(There was a shadow an...) 

"Allah! Woh parchhai is billi ki thi.. Aur Mujhe laga..." Hareem sighed with relief and smiled happily after watching that furry snowy cat. 

(Oh God.. That was the shadow of this cat... Aur Mujhe laga..) 

"Ye kitni pyaari hai.. Magar ye ghar me kaha se aayi?" She asked with confusion while sitting beside Waasiq and he looked up. 

(How cute, but where does it come from?) 

"Main kal raat tumhare liye laya tha, magar tum so chuki thi... Tumhe billiyan achhi lagti hain na?" Hareem smiled with a nod, then shifted her gaze towards that beautiful cute cat. 

(I brought it for you last night, but you were already asleep... you like cats, don't you?) 

"Tumhari neend puri ho gayi?" He asked and she again nodded, placing her hand on the head of that cat, and started caressing her soft hair. 

(Have you slept well?) 

"Aaj kya khaogi?" He asked and she didn't think for a single moment before answering. 

(What do you wanna eat?) 

"Kuch bhi.. Jo aap chahe" She muttered without paying attention to him but his reply made her startled. 

(Whatever you want... ) 

"Main tumse tumhari marzi puch raha hu... Tum kya khana chahti ho?" He asked and Hareem looked at his face. She was trying to remember the last time when anyone asked about her choice but unfortunately she didn't remember anything like that. 

(I'm asking about your wish.. What do you wanna eat?)

"Chi.. Chicken pulao" She replied meekly because for the first time in her whole life she was telling her favourite dish to someone. Waasiq nodded carelessly but she gulped and slowly gather her whole courage to made second demand of her life.

"Suniye" She was confused how to call him

(listen) 

"Hmm" 

"Main aaj khana ghar me hi Bana lu?" She asked in almost no voice and Waasiq shook his head 

(May I cook today?)

"Aaj bohot garmi hai, tum thak jaogi!" He replied but she shook her head 

(it's very hot today, You'll be tired) 

"Nahi.. Main nahi thakungi" She replied and Waasiq felt happy that finally Hareem was considering his house as her home, he smiled with a small nod. 

(No, I won't) 

"Well, it's your home, so you can Do whatever you like. If you want to cook then cook, just tell me what things do you need" He said and Hareem felt her heart skip a beat. 

<><><><><><><>

Making a cup with her milky white palms and fragile fingers she raised her hands for supplication, After offering Asr namaz. Without any intention Her gaze captured a glance of Waasiq who was laying on the sofa watching the ceiling without blinking, but she ignored him, and closed her eyes to focus on her prayer. 

"Ya Allah, help me, please help me.. You always answer others prayers but you don't answer my prayers! why? Am I not a good servant of yours? Maybe I'm not! That's why you always leave my prayers unanswered. What should I do so that you answer my prayers? I pray five times namaz, I do fasting properly, I even offer extra namaz to please you, but you never listen to me. There is no one to help me, I Hope for your help but you also ignore me… why? A mother can't tolerate her children's problems. How can you let me live in this situation… you love seventy times of a mother… then why don't you show your love for me? I'm stuck here with this man who has kidnapped me... Please do something so that I can flee from here..." She complained and shared everything with Al mighty she had with herself in the depth of her heart. And suddenly she was Stunned by a realisation. "But where will I go if he even frees me?" Her heart skipped a beat with this question and she got tears in her already shut eyes. 

"Allah paak.. I.. I don't have any place to go. I don't want to go back to those people who sold me." She muttered and two tears rolled out from the corner of her eyes.

"I don't have anyone in this world... Please summon me to you. Why you never answer my prayers?" Hareem was lost in the complaint and praying when she jumped on her place, due to a thud in other room. Her heart started beating fast and she looked towards Waasiq with fearful expressions on her face. He gave her an assuring look then hurriedly made his way towards the room and Hareem felt her hands shivering with fear. 

"Arey bhai tumne to ek din me hi ghar me tabahi macha di hai... Mera itna Pyaara showpiece tod diya." Waasiq was coming out from the room carrying the cat in his left arm and caressing its head with other hand. 

(Dude you've created a good amount of destruction in only a day... You've broken such a pretty showpiece of mine.) 

Hareem watched her hands which were still lifted in air for supplication then looked at Waasiq who was talking to the cat. And only one question raised in her heart 'Why did I look at him when I felt scared?' 

First time ever she felt her prayers were being answered by almighty, she shifted her eyes on her hand and smiled at her ownself when realised that she was feeling protected in presence of Waasiq. She wasn't afraid of him but looking towards him for her protection. 

Only a moment of realisation was enough to make her heart at peace. She started recalling her prayers she had made till now. 

She wanted to get a small shelter which she could call her home, but Waasiq was giving her a big home with all rights as the lady of the home. 

She never expected anyone to give her respect, she only wanted to live a simple life in which no one would treat her like shit like Niyazi's have been doing for years, but Waasiq was giving her respect. 

She never expected a lavish lifestyle, she just wanted to get married so that she would get two times meal without being a burden, but she looked at her clothes and realised that she hadn't wear that type of high quality clothes in her whole life. Waasiq was providing her the lifestyle she never dreamed about!

She was prepared to live the rest of her life with the status of a maid in someone's home but there Waasiq was giving her the right of being his lady. 

No one ever thought about her likes and dislikes but Waasiq was doing it! 

No one ever gave her a single bite from their meal but today only when she was having lunch sitting with Waasiq, he was giving the chicken piece of his plate to her. 

"Ya Allah, is he the answer of my prayers?" she muttered and a tear of joy rolled down from her eyes but she shook her head. 

"No.. He is not the answer of my prayers" she muttered and wiped her tears "I had never prayed for all these things... I'm getting ten times more than what I have asked for" She mumbled with a smile and tears again rolled down from her eyes. Her heart was thanking the almighty for what she got. 

She might never get a loving and caring person like Waasiq if the circumstances wouldn't be like that! 

"Indeed you're the best planner my almighty! Thanks for making me realise what you've provided me.. I can't be more grateful for what you've given me..." With tearfilled eyes she completes her prayer and folds the prayer mat while glancing at Waasiq. He was lying on the sofa placing his right arm under his head, and with another hand he was caressing the head of the cat, who was lying on his stomach. 

Taking small steps towards the sofa, she sat down on the floor, resting herself with the sofa and started caressing the soft hair of that white cat. Waasiq glances at her then again shifts his gaze towards the ceiling but she keeps staring at his face. First time ever she was examining him so closely. 

He had a derring-do outlook with a manful, gritty stubble and a stellar smile which captured his lips rarely as he always wore a serious expression on his face. He was dishy and always wore ritzy clothes, which she never appreciated before but there was something which she always noticed about him... 

An earthy scent which always swirled around him

Deep Down she was already crazy over that. 

Feeling that soft gaze over himself he looked at her and a shy smile captured her lips. She looked down but her simple yet innocent act made his heart skip a beat. He smiled while removing his arm from under his head and lifted her chin up with his first finger. He raised his brow along with an unasked question in his eyes, Hareem felt more shy and again lowered her head. Waasiq wasn't a naive person who couldn't understand the meaning of that shy smile on his little wife's lips. 

He again placed his right arm under his head and resumed to stare at the ceiling but this time with a smile. Both of them thinking about each other, Waasiq's left hand was still caressing the head of cat and Hareem was feeling the warmth and softness of its back, sliding his hand down he slowly covered Hareem's soft hand with his rough one, giving pake to her heart, she nervously glanced at him to found him smiling. But this time she didn't remove his hand. He let the cat go, but didn't leave her hand. Hareem's cheeks were turning to deep pink with every passing moment, she didn't have courage to look at Waasiq's face but she could feel him gazing at her with a smile. 

"Hareem" He whispered, for the first time her name was sounding so pretty for her. Without leaving her shyness she looked up, Waasiq held her hand and placed that on his heart with a whisper "Tum yaha rehti ho" making her heart skip a beat. 

(You live here) 

She got tears in her eyes, she tried to hide them but they were stubborn enough to come out from her eyes. Waasiq removed his arm from beneath his head and wiped the tears from her cheeks. 

"I hate when you cry.. Show me your smile" He ordered her heart flutter one more time, lowering her gaze she smiled shyly and he also smiled. Even though he was in a state of surprise, how could she change her mind suddenly, but his happiness wasn't allowing him to think about it. He slowly held her chin to lift her face up but she felt shy. Removing her hand from his grip she ran to her room, Waasiq chuckled lightly on her act of shyness but decided to leave her alone for some time so that she would accept the charge that occurred in her life. 

<><><><><><><>

After a long cold shower which was much needed in those hot hours of summer, when mid-day sun was ready to burn everything with its hot and shimmery rays, she stepped out of the bathroom holding fresh fragrance of mint and tea tree oil. Her half wet clothes were hugging her frame and Hair was muffled in a towel. Removing the towel from head, she wiped the water dripping down and started combing it, but suddenly the door of the room was opened by Waasiq and "Hareem I'm..." Stepping in the room he was saying but stopped in between as his heart stopped to beat for a while. 

Hareem was also shocked for a sec, she didn't understand what to do. Resulting; she dropped the comb off from her hand because of nervousness. With hesitation she grabbed her dupatta to cover her head at the same time she leaned down to pick the comb but eventually dropped the perfume bottle on the floor. Waasiq was shocked to see her hair. 

Hair like black night which was covering her back. 

First time Waasiq was seeing her hair which was coming to her waist, otherwise he had seen her in a covered head or in tied hair. 

"Carefully" Picking up both items from floor Waasiq muttered, she put the corner of her dupatta on her head making him feel crazy with her innocent look. 

"I'm going" He informed and Hareem nodded nervously. He stepped toward the door and she followed him silently while placing her dupatta on head, which was slipping again and again. His manly figure walked out of the door making Hareem's heart sink down, she didn't want him to go but didn't have any reason to stop him. 

"Suniye.." She said very loudly when Waasiq was locking the door from outside. Remove the cover of the tiny see-through hole of that rusted door, her Brown orb peeps out just to get the glance of one who introduced her with many new feelings just a few hours ago.

(Listen)

"Haan.. Bolo" He replied from outside but what could the poor girl reply when she didn't have anything to say, she'd called him with the intention of stealing a few more moments from his time.

(Yes, say)

When he didn't get any answer from inside, he unlocked the door to found the just perfect figure standing with nervousness on her innocent face. Her honey brown orbs were holding many questions but Waasiq was unable to answer them with his eyes. For the next few moments there wasn't any space for words or anything else in between them but then the sheer fabric of that dupatta creates a disturbance by sliding down from her head. She gulped nervously placing the corner of dupatta back on her head but that day breeze was in its mischievous form. Again a bit of a blow slipped her dupatta from head and flew her long hair fanning out the mild fragrance. 

"Kuch kehna tha?" Holding softness in his deep voice he asked and fixing her gaze on the floor Hareem shook her head, placing back the dupatta on her head after tucking the hairlock behind her ear. 

(Wanna say something?) 

"Phir main jaun?" He asked, Hareem's innocent heart gave a painful beat, but she nodded, meanwhile her dupatta again slipped down from her head and this time she didn't cover her head again.  

(May I go?) 

Waasiq wanted to touch her hair but didn't. He turned to go with the same sadness in his heart and the pain of separation and suddenly. 

"Aa.. Aap wapas kab ayenge?" just a useless question to took away a moment from his time. 

(When will you come back?) 

"Tomorrow evening" Hareem's face became pale like she never had the shade of that blush which was beating Waasiq's heart just a sec ago. 

He lifted her chin up with the help of first finger. Hareem's heart was running a marathon, she was feeling nervous and shy too, Waasiq was lifting her chin but her gaze was still watching only his shoes. "Look here" he whispered, making her heart skip a beat, nervousness swallow her completely but with a loud beat of her innocent heart she lift her lashes, just for a moment then again bow her head down with a shy smile and tried to grab the corner of her dupatta to cover her head. 

No matter how expert Waasiq was in managing business, no matter how dangerous he was for his rivals, no matter how overbearing he was for his subordinates, but he was clumsy when it came to handling love. 

He was confused about what he should say to Hareem. He thought to say something romantic which beat his heart fast for a minute and after all he opened his mouth to utter what comes in his head. 

"Darwaza bahar se band kru ya tum andar se band kar rahi ho?" That was the only sentence that popped out of his mouth after thinking a lot to say something romantic. 

(Should I Lock the door from outside or are you locking it from inside?) 

"Jesa aap chahe" Hareem replied in whisper without looking at his face, her hand was clenching her dupatta nervously, Waasiq continued watching her innocent face, he wanted to plant a kiss on her forehead but stopped himself. 

(As you wish) 

"I'll try to come back tonight"  removing his hand from Hareem's chin, he whispered and took a back step. "Take care" He added in a whisper before cupping her cheek with right hand and soon he disappeared from her eyes the very next moment. Hareem was shocked by his soft touch. She blinked twice while watching the door which was closed and Waasiq was locking it from outside. 

"Allah..." She muttered after placing her hand on the place where she could still feel his fingers and soft touch. Her frame was covered with goosebumps and heart bloomed more than a garden. 

'Take care' these were only two words but Hareem had listened for the first time to herself. She wanted to smile with happiness but only fresh tears were coming out from her eyes. 

Placing her hand on her chest she felt her rapid and uneven heart beat. Taking a deep breath she let it go with a smile and stepped back inside holding a shy smile on her face. 

Gaze was down, lips were smiling, heart was flying in between clouds, and her feet were moving toward her bedroom but suddenly a big shock captured her... 

"Allah"  A loud gasp left her mouth, lips trembled, hands shivered and leg took back steps but unfortunately she wasn't able to maintain her balance and fell down after watching the horrible figure standing in front of her. 

"Tujhe kya laga, tu bhag jayegi aur main tujhe Jaane dunga?" 

(What do you think you will run away and I will let you go?) 

Hareem cried and she crept backwards. Chodhri Mateen also took steps towards her. Using all her energy she tried to dart from her place and she stood up too, but before she could run, a rough hand grabbed a big tuft of her silky long hair making her scream in pain. 

"Aaaaaa..." She cried when Chodhri Mateen pulled her abruptly by her hair. 

"Jaane do mujhe.." She cried in pain and Chodhri Mateen smiled. 

(Leave me.. Please leave me) 

"Pese diye hain mene tere liye... Aese kese jaane du? Tujhe mera hi beta mila tha phasane ke liye?" Tightening the grip on her hair he asked like a devil and Hareem cried loudly due to pain. 

(I have given money for you... how can I let you go?  Did you get my own son to trap in your love?) 

"Chhodo mujhe." This time Hareem shouted. 

(leave me) 

"Khareeda hai mene tujhe.." Pulling her fragile frame in his arms he grit his teeth and this time Hareem was numb, her legs shivered when that hand took a hold of her nape. 

(I've buy you) 

"Chodhri Mateen apne shikaar ko kabhi haath se nahi Jaane deta" He smirked, but this time Hareem felt his grip weak, poor girl tried the most clever move of hers. She pushes him and ran toward other room, her dupatta fell down which she didn't bother to pick, but her fate wasn't at a good point. She listened a loud laughing voice. 

(Chhodri Mateen never let his prey go away from hands) 

"Ye mera hi ghar hai.. Bhag kar kaha jayegi? Har kamre ki chabi hai mere paas" Ignoring the warning, she kept running and locked herself in the nearby room. 

(this is my own home, where will you run? I've keys of every room) 

"Allah please save me.. Please.. Please save me… at least answer my prayer this time. Please save me" She was mumbling and crying when she listened to the voice of keys inserted in the key hole, fear gulped her completely. Soon Chodhri Mateen entered the room, and Hareem cried loudly with hiccups and joined her hands in front of that devil who took steps ahead. 

"Ab Bhaag.. Kahan bhagegi?" He laughed and Hareem took back steps, soon her back came in the contact of the wall and she fell down on her knees while crying miserably 

(Run now.. Let's see Where will you go) 

°°°°°°°°

Khushiyan kisi qeemti moti ki tarah hoti hain, jab tak seep ke dil main hain jab tak mehfuz hain. 

Duniya walo ki nazron me aate hi chosen li jati hain. 

°°°°°°°°