Chapter 56

Saad's pov:

My mind gave me signals that I was messing it up. That I shouldn't have said that to her. She wasn't at fault here. I was just annoyed at something else and taking it out on her. That I shouldn't have done this. I had to stop.

"I. Don't. Believe. You. You get that? You are a liar! You are lying! I can't believe I married a liar!" She said through gritted teeth in exasperation while pointing a finger at me. I turned to look at her and saw her eyes filled with unshed tears, which filled my heart with guilt and regret. What had she even done to get this?

"I told you, you don't have to believe me. I don't even expect you to believe me. Actually I don't even know why am I even telling you all this when it doesn't even matter to you or anyone. Just leave it." I replied in a tired voice. As I glanced at her once again, my gaze softened when I saw her crying. "I- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry or anything. Please don't cry." I added, standing up and moving towards her.

She stood up, wiping her tears furiously while halting me in my steps by showing me her hand. "Stop! Stop right there. Don't come near me. I-" Pausing, she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "I will prove you wrong. This... This accusation which you made, I can't... I just can't stay in the same room as you anymore. At least not until I prove you wrong and you apologise." She continued, and before I could say anything, she rushed out of the room, making me sigh.

I went back to the couch and slumped on it. Rubbing my fingers on my forehead, I thought about this new mess, which was obviously created by me. What was even the need to tell her all that? I shouldn't have done that. I managed to hurt her even more now.

Closing my eyes shut, I tried to calm my racing thoughts. Ya Allah help me please! I didn't know what to do now. What had I done? Why did I have to open that chapter now? Now of all the times? I knew that she would have gotten to know about it someday anyway, but I just ruined her day. She brought cake for me and was probably just worried for me, the reason why she kept asking me questions, but what did I do? I just exploded on her. God!

Suddenly, I heard ammi's roaring voice. God, what was happening downstairs? I rushed out of the room before running downstairs. I just hoped that everything was alright.

._._._.

I returned from Zuhr salah only to be stopped by ammi before I could head upstairs. She seemed worried, her eyes and actions conveying the message which she tried to hide by her stoic expression and calm voice. "Saad!... Can you go and check up on Atifa? She hasn't returned yet. And... It's getting late." She told me, her eyes travelling to the wall clock before coming back at me.

Even I got worried at that. Where did she go and for this long? Was she alright? Did she get hurt or something? I hoped that she was alright. Ya Allah, please keep her safe. "Take Amira and Alayna with you to the park. She must be there." She added, bringing me out of my thoughts.

Nodding my head, I replied, worry evident in my voice. "Okay. I'm taking them." Rushing past her, I went upstairs into Amira's room. "Come on, we are going to the park now."

"Now?" Amira asked incredulously, uncertainty clear in her voice as she paused doing whatever she was doing.

"Yeah, now. Why? Is there a problem?" I asked, confused at her behaviour as I tapped my foot on the floor, waiting impatiently for them to get ready and join me.

"No but ammi..." She trailed off, her gaze flickering away.

"It's okay, I asked her." I replied when I saw how hesitated she was. Alayna dusted off imaginary dust from her clothes before coming to stand beside me.

"Let's go bhai." She exclaimed happily while looking at Amira, waiting for her to join us.

"Okay, I'm coming." Amira replied, still unwary but rushing around to get something before joining us and holding my hand happily. And before we knew it, we were out of the door and crossing the road to go to the nearest park.

"Why are we going there now?" Amira, being the curious one, questioned and I glanced at her.

"Because we are going to find your sister." I wanted to tell her that it was because her sister couldn't take care of herself and was being careless but I decided against it.

"Oh." She nodded her head, going in deep thoughts, making me shake my head in amusement. She acted like a grown up sometimes.

"Bhai ice-cream!" And before anyone of us could ponder upon anything more, Alayna exclaimed, pointing at the ice-cream truck.

Knowing where this was heading, I shook my head, "No." I replied firmly, without wasting even a beat of silence.

"Please." She added, looking at me with wide eyes.

"Yes please." Amira joined, making me internally groan. Not again!

"No." I repeated firmly, deciding not to get trapped in their tricks this time.

"Pwetty plwease." Alayna pouted like a kid, which almost made me laugh. Controlling my laughter, I shook my head while looking away.

"Pretty please bhaijaan." Amira added, looking at me hopefully. I was about to deny them once again when I realised something.

(Brother in-law.)

She called me bhaijaan? Bhaijaan! Wow okay, she had called me that for the first time and I felt kind of nice. Not wanting to argue much right now, and just wanting to head over to the park, I nodded my head, sighing in defeat. "Alright."

"Yayyy!" Ignoring me, they happily ran towards the truck. Shaking my head, I followed them.

._._._.

"Ya Allah!" She exclaimed in a pained voice as she crouched down, holding her feet.

"What happened? Are you alright?" I bent down, worry lacing my tone. The ice-cream bowl was still in my hand.

"Yeah, yeah I'm alright." She replied slowly while looking up at me. Her eyes were still puffy, which were a clear indication of her crying before I came to the park. And I was pretty sure that her face was red due to this. "Can you help me stand up?" She questioned, looking down at her feet and touching it.

"Yeah, sure." I nodded my head as I stood back up and extended my hand towards her. I just hoped that she wasn't that hurt and could still walk properly.

Keeping one of her hands on mine, she stood up slowly, all the while holding my hand firmly. "Thank you and sorry." She muttered sheepishly, making me confused about why she said sorry. Before I could ask her, she grabbed the ice-cream bowl from me and started running away.

It happened so quickly that I just stood there for a while, trying to process what just happened. Here I was worried about her getting hurt and all the while she was planning this?! Wow! It seemed like I got married to a kid.

Shaking my head, I took off after her. I was not going to leave this girl. "You won't be able to run away." I called out to her, trying to run faster to match her pace. I could hear Alayna and Amira cheering for us with giggles.

"Oh, we will see about that." She replied with a laugh while turning in another direction.

"Yeah, we surely will." I called out, still chasing her, trying to corner her. But where would I have corner her on the street?

"Be ready to lose mister!" She yelled with thrill and excitement sheer in her voice. This kind of made me happy. At least she wasn't crying anymore. And I managed to make her laugh too. Alhamdulillah.

I couldn't keep the smile off my face after that. "I have not lost yet and I'm not planning to either begum." I told her as she started slowing down, huffing. I could hear Amira and Alayna running behind us, their laughter echoing around us, grabbing the attention of passersby. It was embarrassing and fun at the same time.

(Wifey.)

"Ouch!" Her voice with a light push brought me out of my thoughts. I hadn't realised when I reached her and we collided just as she was turning around from the lamp post in front of her.

Before she could slip on the liquid ice-cream fallen from the bowl in her hand, I slipped my hand around her waist, steadying her, while my other hand held her arm, unintentionally pulling her closer. The liquid ice-cream was now smeared on her abaya and my shirt too.

"Are you alright?" I asked her while searching her chocolate brown eyes for any kind of hurt or pain. But they were lost, just gazing back at me, compelling me to get lost in them too. And I almost lost myself, almost, until the voices of Alayna and Amira brought us out of our staring competition.

Blinking her eyes, she tried to get away from me only to put her hands on my shirt where the ice-cream was smeared. "Ewww." She muttered, and I could detect nervousness in her voice, which gave me a sense of comfort that I wasn't the only one who was being nervous or awkward. "Can- can you please leave me?" Wriggling in my grip, she stuttered, not meeting my gaze.

A small smile made its way onto my lips, not leaving its place. I removed my hand from her arm before taking two steps back and then removing my arm from around her waist, so that none of us slipped on the ice-cream and got hurt. "Are you okay?" I repeated my question, knowing this time I might get an answer.

"Y-yeah. I'm fine." She muttered before throwing the plastic bowl in the dustbin beside me and walking past me in the opposite direction, towards her home. Alayna and Amira followed her, giggling uncontrollably while stealing glances at us. I followed them quietly, the smile still playing on my lips as my mind wandered around. I didn't mind this ice-cream smear if I was going to get that reaction or that childish behaviour from her every time.

._._._.