36. Aaryan

Even though he managed to control his anger in front of Mary, Aaryan was still filled with fury. He was mad and wanted to throw a punch at the wall to release his anger. Aaryan was lucky today but what if something like this happens again and that man does something to Mary? He had to protect her and he was unable to think of a solution. He could not sleep that night. All he was doing was glancing at Mary who was sleeping peacefully by his side. Aaryan wasn't calm at all. He was thinking about how Mary had lived in that house while being tortured for years. 

How did she bear it all by herself?

Aaryan had to do something and keep her safe. She had been through enough and now he won't let anyone lay a finger on his wife. He had to take her away from her brother and the trauma he caused.

So he came to a conclusion

The next day, after breakfast, Aaryan went to his father's room. 

Yusuf was reading a newspaper. When he saw Aaryan in the room, he folded it and placed it on the table. "Baba, I have something to discuss with you," he said, sitting on a chair. "Did something happen?" He asked, looking at his worried face. Aaryan nodded and then told his father about the incident that happened yesterday. Yusuf was too, heartbroken after hearing about it "You should take Mary away" he said, Aaryan nodded, this was the exact thing he had been thinking but there was a problem and Aaryan had already found a solution to it "I am going to freeze my year, work two jobs and in some time I will gather enough money to rent a house for us" he explained his thinking. 

His father looked at him strangely, "Why would you work?" Yusuf asked and the reason was sure to him because "How else would I make money, Baba?" Their expressions remained the same. Yusuf kept on giving him a strange look, and Aaryan stayed puzzled. 

"Do you think we are broke?" Well, no. Aaryan knew that they were not broke, but he was aware that they didn't spend money on unnecessary things. So, wasn't it because they didn't have enough money? 

"Are we not?" He caught his father by surprise. 

"No," Yusuf said instantly, 

"But when I asked you to give me money, you always said it," he remembered it clearly, and he was sure of it. "When did I?" Asked his father, Aaryan narrowed his eyes a bit. "When I asked you for money to arrange a concert and to buy me a guitar, you said you don't have money," He said. Yusuf nodded. "I didn't have money for you to make music. Other than that, your father is quite rich." It was shocking to him. Aaryan had been ignorant about this all his whole life and now he felt betrayed "Seriously?" he asked in a louder voice

"Obviously" his father laughed at him. The betrayal wasn't the thing to think about, at least not for now "Oh, okay then I guess I should start searching for a house" Aaryan was still somehow in shock as he stood up "No, you should not" his father said 

"But didn't you just said–"

"I have been thinking about it for days. I have bought a house and settled everything for you. In fact, you can shift there tomorrow." For a brief moment, he thought his father was lying, but his father never 

 "Are you serious, Baba?" He asked anyway 

"Yes, My Son, I am serious," His father said, standing straight "Thank you, Baba" Aaryan couldn't be happier and he just hugged his father so tight "I am blessed to have a son like you" It was something, Aaryan never imagined hearing from his father but now it was a reality. "If it wasn't for your prayers, I would have never been like this," He said because he truly felt like this. His father patted his shoulder "Alhamdulillah"

•••

They were leaving

Aaryan was already in his car while his mother was hugging Mary for like fiftieth time. He was sure that his mother loves Mary more than him as he just received one hug– maybe because he just ran to the car after it– But this wasn't the only thing. Last night, his mother gave him a three-hour lecture on how to take care of Mary, never bother her with anything, and if he ever made her cry, she would beat the living crap out of him. Aaryan was afraid of Amina but he knew it already. Of course, he knew how to take care of his wife yet he just listened- it helped.

"Mama, we have to leave," Aaryan said while frowning. "Let me at least say goodbye to my daughter," she replied with the same words for the tenth time. "Baba, help!" He cried, and his father came to rescue. "Okay, okay Amina. It's enough, it's enough, let Mary go"

"Just five more minutes," She said to Yusuf, and his father was too, helpless and gave Aaryan an apology stare.

He was frowning all over again because not only his mother but Amara was also not letting his wife go 

"Are you guys done?" He asked, annoyed, "Nope," said Amara. She was basically just telling Mary how to annoy his brother, and he hated everything now. So, Aaryan was about to yell his anger at them when he suddenly stopped. Nope, they didn't let her go but Aaryan couldn't get angry, so he shut his mouth and waited impatiently

"Take care of yourself, My daughter." Amina did the fiftieth hug and set Mary free. "Take care, Mama," She said back. Amara waved her goodbye and Yusuf patted her head and she appeared on her side seat

"Seriously?" Aaryan asked with a scowling face "What? We were just saying goodbye," she said with a smile and yeah the frowning was all gone after seeing her smile

"Let's go, Diamond" Aaryan said taking her hand from her "Let's go, Weirdo" She held his hand tighter and the two of them just laughed

•••

Their new home was about a twenty-minute drive from there. Aaryan visited it yesterday and made the remaining arrangements. It still took them hours and hours to shift everything in the house, and in the end, the two of them fell back on the bed. 

"I am so tired," said Mary. "I think if I fell asleep right now, I might wake up in the morning," Aaryan said and closed his eyes. He was just about to sleep when Mary sat up as a bolt and yelled "Asr!" Aaryan stood up in the same way because he just realized that the missing feeling he had been having wasn't for home but for Salah. The two of them ran to do the Wudu.

The first thing they did in their new house was to perform Salah and for both of them, it was just a beautiful feeling.

Mary was getting better in Salah and was almost perfect in it yet there were some mistakes. So, as always, Aaryan stood in front, praying loudly, and Mary stayed behind, repeating after him.

The next day after they were done with the Holy Quran session, Aaryan and Mary decided to sleep just for an instant because they were so tired from the last day but when Aaryan opened his eyes the clock yelled 8:30 AM to him "Mary!" he yelled her name and shook her "What happened?" Mary asked with her eyes closed. "Wake up, we are late for the class," said Aaryan. Her eyes opened wide because neither Aaryan nor Mary had been late for the class, well at least not that late.

"Mr. Asher gonna kill us" Aaryan passed his genuine regards to Mary as he started the car. The time was nine now, which meant the lecture had started, and the two of them were yet home. "Is there any chance we could get away from it without being insulted?" She asked in worry, hoping for him to not say something like "Of course, not, Love. There is no chance" and again it was a genuine statement

•••

Entering the class, the two of them were stopped at the door. "Wait, am I seeing Aaryan Yusuf and Mary Christopher coming to the class, half an hour late?" Mr. Asher looked as surprised as his voice 

"I am sorry, Sir. We slept in" Okay, it was a huge problem caused by Aaryan. This happens when you are not using the brain quite right, and that was the reason Mary pressed his hand so hard that he wanted to scream, "We?" Asked the professor and the class was looking at them suspiciously. "I mean- I and Mary, like- she slept till late and I too" in the same room with a couple of inches of difference.

Aaryan was not sure what he was saying because all he was doing was not saying anything that would be considered a lie. "What?" Mr. Asher must have wanted him to lie. 

"I am sorry, Mr. Asher. It won't happen again." Mary took charge of the protection. "I am sorry too, we won't do this again, Mr. Asher." and he was just ruining it. The professor arched a brow at them. "Go to your place," He said while the  suspiciousness was dripping, and they were safe.

They went to their last bench. 

Adrian Joseph and Mary Christopher just vanished in thin air.

ART announced their disbandment, and Mary ended her career as a singer the same day. They missed them but they left them for good because they knew the reward for it would be much greater than they could even imagine. 

Unlike in the past, there was no gossip about them. They let go of their dreams for the only dream they have now. They had each other and that would be enough for this life

•••

Since Aaryan and Mary had just run from home without having breakfast, they decided to crash in the cafeteria after the Genesis lab and join their friends. The five of them were sitting at a table, and everyone was watching the two in strangeness. "Why were you late today?" Asked Taha, "I told you we just shifted yesterday, and we were tired," but Aaryan's words couldn't make Taha's narrowed eyes go back to normal. 

"Why are you teasing the newlyweds, Bro?" Raheel unexpectedly jumped in for defense  "I am not–"

"Don't you have something to tell us?" Haroon interfered this curious Taha. "Me?" Taha questioned back and Mary answered him, "You have been acting suspicious, Taha. We find you randomly smiling the entire day. Tell us who is the lucky one?" Taha's face turned red. He could not hide the blush and giant smile. And since he couldn't lie, he just said, "You will know soon," and Taha was slowly looking at Aaryan. 

"Taha, What?" Aaryan stared at him intensely "What, what? Nothing," Taha laughed nervously, and before Aaryan could get straight with him about it, Taha shifted the conversation. "Hey, I can't believe Ramadan is already here like it's just a month away." Everyone just forgot about whatever they were just talking about as they heard the word 

"Yes! The last Ramadan feels as if it was yesterday," Haroon said excitedly. "Time flies, Bro. Time flies" All of them agreed with Raheel. 

Aaryan was just looking at his Mary as he whispered "Are you excited for your first Ramadan?" He asked against her ear. 

"I can not wait for it,"