Hana's POV

I went to the kitchen after talking to Fathima and Riya aapi. They were also happy after hearing that Maan was ready to give this marriage a chance. I know I lied to them, and I was feeling guilty about it. But I didn’t have a choice—for Maan’s sake, I had to do this.

“Hana… Riya told me that Rumaan is ready to give this marriage a chance,” Marzi aapi asked as she stepped into the kitchen.

“Yes, aapi,” I replied.

“He told you?” she asked suspiciously, and I nodded.

“Yes, aapi… he told me.”

“But Hana still... I can’t believe it. After what he said that day, I was sure he would never accept this marriage. Then suddenly, what happened?” she asked, looking directly at me. I knew my aapi very well… she was hard to convince. She had always fulfilled the role of a mother in my life—a mother who only wanted her child’s happiness. If my mama were alive, she might have behaved just like Marzi aapi. I saw my mama in her—they even looked alike.

I looked at her and sighed before speaking.

“Aapi, he realized his mistake. He came to me, apologized, and even promised that he would never think about divorce again. Isn’t that enough?” Aapi didn’t respond for a while; she seemed lost in thought.

“Yeah, that’s the point… Three days ago, he wanted a divorce, and now suddenly he realizes his mistake and promises to never even think about it again. He’s even ready to give this marriage a chance. I just can’t believe him, Hana.”

“But I believe him. And I don’t care what others think of him,” I said sharply.

“Hana, I’m your sister… You know I only want your happiness. I don’t want to see you shattered. He—” aapi was saying, but I interrupted her.

“Aapi, please… He is my happiness, and he will never break me. He will never hurt me intentionally. I know Maan doesn’t love me, but he sees me as his friend—and that’s enough for me. So please, stop this,” I said, raising my voice. I could see the hurt in Aapi’s eyes, but I couldn’t bear to hear anything against Maan.

“I just want you to be careful,” Aapi said, looking down. And now I felt truly terrible. I shouldn’t have spoken to her like that. I knew she only wanted what was best for me. That’s why she doubted Maan. She thought my love for him would hurt me… that he would hurt me. But I know my Maan would never do that. I sighed and held her hand.

“Aapi, I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to hurt you. But Aapi, I love him… I can’t tolerate anyone speaking against him. Please don’t think of him as a bad guy. He just needs time, Aapi. For me, please give him a chance. Please ignore his behavior for a while,” I pleaded with tear-filled eyes. She sighed and smiled.

“For you, I’ll try my best to overlook that idiot’s mistakes,” she said with a smile. I chuckled and hugged her.

“What are you both doing here?” Riya aapi asked as she walked in.

“We’re practicing a dance… want to join?” Marzi aapi said with fake enthusiasm.

“Haha, very funny,” Riya aapi said, rolling her eyes at her.

Marzi aapi laughed, and I just smiled at Riya aapi’s annoyed expression.

“Now tell me what you’re actually doing?” she asked again.

“Wahi jo tumhe karna chahiye, par hum kar rahe hain. (The very thing you should be doing, but we’re doing it)—preparing dinner for lazy people like you,” Marzi aapi teased.

“Oh hello! What do you mean by lazy people?”

“Or nahi to kya. Look, I’m a guest here. In fact, I’m a pregnant guest. You should be pampering me, but here I am doing all the work,” Marzi aapi said dramatically, pretending to wipe sweat off her forehead.

“Liar… I can clearly see who’s doing all the work,” Riya aapi said, looking at me. I just smiled at their cute little argument.

“So what? She’s my sister. Whether she does the work or I do—it’s the same thing,” Marzi aapi said, rolling her eyes and grabbing an apple from the counter.

“Yes, indeed she’s your sister. But don’t forget, she’s also the daughter-in-law of this house… So, it’s her responsibility to take care of our guests,” Riya aapi stated proudly, as if she had just won a debate.

“Oh just shut up. Don’t take advantage of my little sister,” Marzi aapi glared.

“Marzi, you—”

“Oh Allah, please stop it, both of you,” I cut them off, sighing.

“And Riya aapi… I’m making chicken biryani for dinner,” I said and resumed my work.

“Okay, I’ll help you. And you—pregnant guest—you can go and rest.”

“Yeah, I’m going. But don’t let my sister do all the work, you lazy girl,” Marzi aapi said and walked out.

“Ugh… she’s so annoying,” Riya aapi muttered. I chuckled.

************

Author's POV

After dinner, they were all seated in the living room, chatting and gossiping. Rumaan was lying on the sofa with his head resting on his mother’s lap. Everyone had forgiven him, and now they were happily spending time together after three tense days.

Rumaan couldn’t help but silently thank Hana in his heart. He knew this peace was only possible because of her. Yet, at the same time, he couldn’t ignore the resentment building inside him—Hana was becoming more important to his family than he was.

“I’m so happy to know that you’re giving this marriage a chance,” Shabana said, gently caressing his hair. He didn’t say anything—just gave her a wide, fake smile and glanced at Hana, who was sitting with Fathima, looking at something on her phone.

“Okay, I’m going now. My classes start tomorrow, so I need to prepare,” Hana said to Fathima and stood up to leave.

“Hana, wait,” Rumaan called as she headed upstairs. She turned to look at him. He jumped off the sofa and walked toward her.

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll drop you at college and pick you up,” he announced with a bright, fake smile. Hana looked at him with wide eyes. In fact, everyone was staring at him in surprise.

“You’re okay with that, right?” he asked, holding her hand, still smiling. Hana felt her heart leap with joy.

“Yes,” she answered, nodding with a shy smile. Everyone seemed happy to see this new side of Rumaan.

“Aww, that’s so cute,” Fathima said, and Hana’s cheeks flushed with heat as she quietly walked to her room.

“I’m always cute, haina (right), mama?” he asked as he lay back down, resting his head on Shabana’s lap. She nodded, smiling warmly at him, while Fathima huffed and rolled her eyes.

It’s going to be too much fun, Hana,

he thought, flashing his mother a charming smile.

••••••••••••••••

Hana's POV

I woke up in the morning and began my daily routine, my bright smile never leaving my face since last night. I was genuinely happy because Maan had promised to drop me and pick me up from college. Now, I was going to spend twenty-five minutes every morning with him—alone. I felt thrilled and excited.

I stepped out of my room and headed to the dining table, where I saw Mama setting the table. I joined her to help.

After a while, everyone gathered at the table—but Maan didn't come. They all sat down and started eating, while I remained standing, waiting for him.

"Hana, why are you standing? Sit and have your breakfast. And Shabana, don’t let her leave without eating," Baba said firmly to Mama.

"Okay, Baba. I will," I replied with a small smile, glancing again at the closed door of Maan’s room.

"Where is Maan?" Baba asked.

"You know he doesn’t wake up early in the morning," Mama said, serving Baba his breakfast.

"Go and wake him up. He said yesterday he would drop Hana to college. How can he be so careless?" Baba said, a little irritated.

"It’s okay, Baba. I can go with Kareem Chacha," I said, smiling to ease his annoyance.

"No! He promised to drop you, so he must," Baba replied sternly.

"Ya Allah, how could I forget? It’s my fault. He told me to wake him up before going to his room," Mama said, palming her forehead.

"I should wake him up," she said, standing up to leave.

"Mama, you sit and have your breakfast. Hana can wake him up. Can you, Hana?" Fathima Aapi asked with a subtle smirk.

"Yeah, we all started eating—you didn’t yet—so you go and wake him up, or else you’ll be late," said Riya Aapi.

I nodded and walked to his room.

I knocked for a while, but there was no response. So, I quietly entered. He was sleeping peacefully. I stood by his bed for a few seconds and then called his name.

"Maan." No response.

"Maan." Still nothing.

"Maan." Again, no reaction.

"Maaaan!" I shouted right into his ear.

He jolted awake, startled by my voice. The next second, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him—I landed on his chest.

"What the hell?!" he shouted. I quickly looked up at him.

"Why are you shouting?" he asked, more like glaring.

"Umm... I was trying to wake you up, but you were sleeping like you hadn’t slept in years. I called you several times, but you didn’t even stir. So I thought maybe you couldn’t hear me in your sleep, so I called you a little louder," I said quickly.

"A little louder? You shouted, idiot," he snapped angrily.

"Sorry, Maan," I mumbled, suddenly realizing I was still lying on his chest. And now, I could feel his hands on my waist. My eyes widened. My breathing became shallow and my heartbeat quickened. I looked up and saw him already staring at me. I tried to get up, but he held me firmly.

"Why did you come?" he asked, this time more softly.

"Um... I came to wake you up," I replied in a low tone.

"By now, I know that. But I’m asking why you’re waking me up so early?" he asked like he was speaking to a child.

I bit my lip. "Ermm... Yesterday, you... umm... you said that..."

"What, Hana?" he whispered. I looked up and found him staring at my lips. My heart skipped a beat at the intensity in his eyes.

"You said that... um... you’d drop me to college," I said, looking down at his neck. My hair had fallen all over my face.

He simply hummed in response. Then, slowly, he pushed the hair strands behind my ears. I held my breath.

"You smell so good," he whispered out of nowhere, closing his eyes as he leaned closer to my neck. My eyes widened as he snuggled into my neck, inhaling deeply. Goosebumps rose all over my body. My breath hitched.

"Maan," I breathed out, closing my eyes as I felt his lips brush against my jaw.

"Hana Rumaan!" we suddenly heard Marzi Aapi’s voice and snapped back to our senses. I quickly stood up. He did too as Marzi Aapi stepped in.

"You both didn’t come out... so, uh, I thought to call you," Aapi said, and her voice sounded slightly nervous. I wondered if she had seen us like that.

"Umm... I was about to—"

"Hana, you go. I’ll come," Maan interrupted, and I was grateful. I didn’t know what to say. I nodded without meeting his eyes and walked out.

"Where is he?" Mama asked as I returned.

"He’s coming," I said and sat at the table, waiting.

°°°°°°°°°°

After breakfast, we left for college. He drove in silence. Neither of us spoke. I felt Maan was a little nervous. He avoided eye contact, and I didn’t like that.

As we reached college, Maan stopped the car and cleared his throat before speaking.

"Umm... uh... Hana... erm... what happened in my room... I... I’m so—" He looked tense. Maybe he thought he did something wrong by touching me. But no! He had every right. I just wanted him to know that. So, I didn’t let him finish his sentence.

"No, Maan... you don’t have to. You didn’t do anything wrong," I said with a shy smile and quickly jumped out of the car, still smiling as I headed toward the campus.

••••••••••••

Rumaan's POV

I was a little surprised by her words. I thought she might be upset after what happened that morning—but no. Her blushed cheeks and shy smile made it clear she didn’t mind me touching or kissing her.

Oh yes! Idiot, she loves you. Of course she didn’t mind.

But honestly, I hadn’t planned to touch or kiss her. I don’t know what came over me. When she was lying on my chest—well, when I held her there—I just... I don’t know. Something took over. I snuggled into her neck, and I have to admit, it felt really good. I wanted to feel her again, but I was afraid she might be uncomfortable. Turns out, she gave me a green signal.

'You’re such a beautiful girl, Hana. And thank you for giving me the green light. Until I divorce you—I mean, until you ask for a divorce—I’m going to enjoy this, my dear wife.'

I muttered to myself and drove back home with a smirk on my face and sweet thoughts swirling in my mind about my so-called beautiful wife.

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