Author's POV

Aina didn’t go to college today and decided to cook lunch for Saim. She had become quite skilled in cooking with the help of her mother and mother-in-law.

After preparing lunch, she made up her mind to visit his office and surprise both Saim and Zaid.

She dressed in a beautiful red suit with light makeup. She looked more than just beautiful—she looked stunning. She knew Saim loved red on her. She wore matching red bangles, small jhumkas (earrings), and a delicate chain around her neck with a pendant that Saim had gifted her. This was her first time visiting his office, and she wanted to look every bit the CEO's wife.

"Mama! Tayi Amma! I'm going," she informed cheerfully as she stepped into the lounge, and both women unknowingly whispered, “Masha Allah”.

"Aina mera bacha, idhar aao," (Aina, my child, come here) her mother called her over, blew protective duas (prayers) on her, and kissed her forehead. Tayi Amma did the same.

She smiled and left the house.

"My Saim is a lucky man," Shamim thought with a smile.

---

She reached the office reception, where the receptionist immediately recognized her—everyone knew the boss's wife.

"I want to meet Saim?" Aina asked, smiling.

"Yes ma'am, come. He’s in his office. Let me take you there," the receptionist offered politely. But Aina declined with a smile.

"Just tell me the way; I’ll manage."

After the receptionist gave her directions, she requested her not to inform Saim, as she wanted to surprise him.

She walked toward his cabin with a beautiful smile on her face. The thought of his surprised and happy expression made butterflies dance in her stomach. She wanted to steal Saim’s heart—little did she know, she already did that.

She opened the cabin door with a radiant smile. Saim turned toward the door. He was leaning forward, showing something on his laptop to the person sitting across from him. He turned towards the door in anger as someone entered without knocking. His eyes widened, and his breath caught as he saw Aina. She looked breathtaking. He forgot someone else was still in the room.

Aina’s smile widened, and a soft blush appeared on her cheeks as she noticed his stunned expression.

She took slow steps toward him but stopped abruptly when she noticed the person sitting across from him. It was a woman—Reema—who now turned to look at her. Aina’s smile faded instantly.

She looked at Saim, then at Reema again.

Saim immediately understood and turned toward Reema, who now looked visibly nervous.

"Aina… tum yahan?" (Aina… you’re here?) Saim stepped toward her, but she stepped back.

"Yeh… yeh yahan kya kar rahi hai?" (What… what is she doing here?) Aina asked in a low voice.

"She works here," Saim decided to tell her the truth. He didn’t want to lie anymore.

"Since when?"

"Two months."

Something shattered inside Aina.

"That night… she was the one calling you?" she asked, her voice almost a whisper. She hadn’t forgotten that night. One reason she came today was to erase the lingering doubt in her heart—but her inner alarm had not been false.

Her eyes welled up with tears. She stepped forward and handed him the lunchbox.

"Yeh aapke aur Zaid bhai ke liye." (This is for you and Zaid bhai.)

"Aina, listen to me…" he tried to explain, but she walked out of the room without looking back.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

"Aina!" Saim called her, but got no response. He came home and began calling her name.

"What happened, beta? Aina was with you, right?" Shamim asked.

"No, Mama. She came back," he replied while scanning the house. "You didn’t see her?"

"No. We thought you both would spend the day together—Aina was so happy when she left. Then why did she come back alone?" Shamim asked, clearly confused. "Did you fight with her?"

Saim didn’t answer. He simply walked toward his room. Shamim sighed and shook her head.

"Ain," Saim entered their room. Aina was sitting on the sofa, her arms wrapped around her knees, her face buried in them.

"Ain," he whispered again, marching over and wrapping his arms around her. She struggled in his embrace.

"Leave me," she said, trying to push him away, but he didn’t let go.

"Baby, please listen to me. I’ll answer all your questions. Just trust me," he spoke softly, rubbing her back to soothe her. She looked up at him with red, tear-filled eyes.

"You…" She wanted to accuse him, to say the words—You cheated—but something in his eyes stopped her. There was no guilt, only worry. Worry for her.

"I’m listening," she said unintentionally.

And then he told her everything—how Reema had come to him for help because she had no one else. She had left her family for him, and they were still angry. She needed a job to survive until they forgave her, and going back now wasn’t an option.

"Saim, I would never stop you from helping her. I know she was innocent in what happened between us. But hiding things made you both seem guilty. I’m your wife and she’s your ex. It’s only natural for me to take it the wrong way if things are kept from me regarding you two," she said, gently cupping his face. "Please don’t hide anything again. Saim, just the thought of you cheating on me stopped my heartbeat. If it ever really happened, I’d die. I trust you blindly. Please don’t ever break that trust."

Tears rolled down her cheeks. Saim cupped her face and wiped them away.

"Never. I will never break your trust."

With that, he claimed her lips—lips that had silently called out to him for so long. She clutched his collar tightly.

"You look breathtaking, meri jaan." (My love.) He whispered after breaking the kiss. Aina looked at the man completely lost in her. His eyes held no one else—only her.

Aina held his face and placed a soft kiss on his forehead before wrapping her arms around his neck.

-------------------

Things had started to get better.

Saim began giving his marriage the attention it deserved, cutting back on his meetings with Reema. He didn’t want to hurt Ain. It had been a week since that day, and she hadn’t brought up Reema even once.

---

“Hey,” Reema was busy with her work when she heard a familiar voice. Looking up, she found Aina smiling softly at her.

“If you’re not busy, can we talk for a bit?

Unknowingly, Reema’s eyes turned cold and distant.

“Yeah, sure.” She stood up and forced a polite smile. Aina returned it, genuinely.

They walked to the canteen and sat across from each other.

“I just wanted to say... I’m sorry,” Aina finally gathered the courage to speak after a few minutes of silence.

“For what?” Reema leaned back in her chair, her voice icy.

Aina flinched at her tone.

“Woh... that day... my behaviour wasn’t nice—”

“Your behaviour was always like that with me,” Reema cut her off sharply.

“That was because of Saim na... I never liked you with him—” Aina stopped abruptly, realising what she had just admitted.

“Mera matlab... you’re nice...” (I mean... you're nice...)

Reema smirked bitterly.

“You know what, Aina? I always knew you liked him.”

Aina froze in her seat at her blunt statement.

“And I’m damn sure that whatever happened that day... was because of you. So don’t pretend to be some innocent, sweet girl in front of me.”

Reema's words landed like bombs, one after the other. Aina’s face lost all colour. Her breath hitched in her throat.

“And I will never forgive you for breaking my relationship with Saim.” Her voice was cold, hard.

“You’re mistaken...”

“Oh just shut up!” Reema slammed her hands on the table, making Aina jump.

“Your face says it all,” she sneered. “I wasn’t sure before, but now? I can bet you played a cheap trick that night.”

Aina stared at her, horrified and speechless for a moment. But then something clicked in her head — what could Reema do now? Saim was hers.

Aina gave her a calm smile.

“I came to be friends, because Saim told me your family is angry with you and you’re staying here till things calm down. But looks like... you don’t want to leave India.”

“I won’t leave until I take back what you stole from me. I will expose the truth about that night.”

“Whatever happened that night isn’t my concern. But yes... Saim is mine now. And nothing can change that.” Aina stood up with a soft smile. “He was always mine. You came between us.”

She picked up her purse.

“And one more thing — he didn’t love me before... but now he does. I am his wife.”

With that, she walked off, leaving Reema burning in fury.

--------------

Author’s POV

“Ain!” Saim called out as soon as he entered the house. She was usually in the living room or garden at this time, waiting for him.

“Where’s Aina?” he asked his mother, who was sipping tea on the couch.

“Take a breath, my son. Your wife isn’t going anywhere,” Shamim said teasingly. Saim chuckled and sat beside her.

“Even if she tries, I’ll never let her go,” he said, wrapping his arm around her.

“Accha?” (Oh really?) Shamim raised her eyebrows in amusement. “Itna chahne lage ho usay?” (You've started loving her this much?)

“Pata nahi... bas pehle se zyada acchi lagne lagi hai. Uske saath ye duniya rangin lagti hai, aur uske bagair... berang.”

(I don’t know... but she feels more beautiful than before. The world feels colourful with her and dull without her.)

“May Allah keep you both happy like this,” she prayed, kissing the back of his hand. Saim smiled and kissed her head.

“So, where is she?” he asked again, making Shamim laugh.

“She’s in the kitchen, learning to make dahi vada for you. You love it, right?” she said, and before she could finish, he was already up.

“Ain!”

Aina, who was placing vada into hot oil, startled at his voice. The vada slipped from her hand, and hot oil splashed onto the back of her hand.

“Aaaa!” Her scream echoed through the house.

“Ain!!” Saim rushed in and pulled her away from the stove.

“Allah! Ladki, ye kya kiya tumne!?” (Oh God! Girl, what have you done!?) He grabbed her hand to inspect the burn.

“Aaa!” Aina cried from the pain. Saim quickly took her to the sink and ran cold water over it.

“Aaa!! Mama!!” she kept crying, just as everyone — her and Saim’s parents, Affan, and Zaid — came running into the kitchen.

“Kya hua?!” (What happened?!) Her father ran to her and pulled her into his arms.

“Baba!! Mai jal gayi!” (Dad!! I got burnt!) she sobbed in his embrace.

Their fathers and Affan had returned earlier than expected from Canada.

“Mera bacha!” (My baby!) Her father panicked. “Affan! Doctor ko bulao!” (Call the doctor!)

“It’s okay, Aina... bacha, it’s not too serious,” her mother tried to calm her.

“Chachi, her hand’s turned red and you're saying it's not serious?” Saim protested, visibly upset.

“Haan mama. Lagi to hai... pura haath red ho gaya!” (Yes, Mom. It's a bad burn, the whole hand’s red!) Affan said, taking out his phone.

“Yaar, tum aayi hi kyun thi kitchen mein?” (Why did you even go into the kitchen?) Zaid scolded while Shamim gently held her hand and led her to the living room.

“Mujhe... Saim ke liye... kuch nayi dish try karni thi...”

(I... wanted to try something new... for Saim...) she said, sobbing and pouting.

Shamim made her sit on the sofa. Saim and her father immediately sat beside her.

“Mujhe kuch naya nahi chahiye... tum bas apna khayal rakho yaar.” (I don’t want anything new... just take care of yourself.) Saim said, cupping her face.

“Woh hi bahut bada ehsaan hoga tumhara hum par,” (That alone would be a huge favour for us,) Zaid muttered, glaring at her.

“Don’t you dare step into the kitchen again, Aina.” Affan scolded in a firm tone. Aina’s eyes welled up at everyone’s scoldings.

“Okay okay, don’t scold her now. I’ll take care of her,” Saim said, glaring at both of them.

The doctor arrived shortly after and treated her hand.

___________________

“What are you doing?” she asked, sitting beside him on the bed. He was engrossed in his laptop.

“Work,” he replied without looking up. She rested her head on his shoulder.

“I’m getting bored,” she pouted.

“Hmm. How’s your hand?” he asked, eyes still on the screen.

“Saim, it’s been four days. I’m healed. Don’t worry.”

“Hmm.” He held her hand for a moment, inspecting it before going back to his laptop.

She frowned, disappointed.

“Saim...” she called again, but he didn’t notice.

Without a word, she lay down and covered herself with the blanket, feeling hurt. It had been so long since they spent any real time together.

A while later, Saim noticed the silence and turned to see her curled under the blanket. Guilt immediately hit him.

He gently pulled the blanket down and was shocked to find her crying.

“Arre arre, kya hua?” (Hey hey, what happened?) He pulled her up and cupped her face.

“You’re ignoring me,” she pouted, tears spilling from her eyes.

“Allah Allah.” Saim chuckled softly and pulled her into his arms.

“Meri jaan, I could never ignore you. You’re the happiness of my heart.” He held her cheeks, adding,

“Don’t cry. I can’t bear to see tears in your eyes. Your smile brings life to me.”

He kissed her forehead. Aina closed her eyes, and two tears fell — this time, from relief and peace. A soft smile touched her lips, and she wrapped her arms tightly around him.

“I love you, Saim,” came her whispered confession in his ear.

Saim’s eyes widened.

“I love you so much,” she whispered again.

His heart stopped for a second. He never imagined that mere words could make him feel this way—

Loved.

Cherished.

Special.

And it was Aina — his Ain — who gave him all of that.

Before she could say more, he cupped her face and kissed her.

“Thank you for loving me... even though I’m not worth it...”

“You are worth everything, Saim,” she said, kissing his face — forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks, and lips.

“I’m madly in love with you. If you ever leave me, I’ll go mad. I’ll die.”

“Itni mohabbat kab hui?” (Since when did you start loving me this much?) Saim was overwhelmed.

“Hamesha se mohabbat karti hoon.” (I’ve always loved you.) She answered without thinking but caught herself when she saw the crease on his forehead.

“I mean... first as a cousin, you know? I was always close to you...”

Saim smiled.

“And I want to remain close to you. Only me.” With that, he ge

ntly pushed her down on the bed, hovering above her.

“I don’t know what love is... but Ain, you make me feel things I’ve never felt before.” He whispered, kissing her neck.

Aina ran her fingers through his hair, a smile curving on her lips at his honest confession.

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