Rumaan's POV

"She's beautiful," Jake commented with a smirk.

"She's innocent," Alex added, glancing at me with concern.

"She's mine," I said simply.

"But you said you wanted to divorce her… don’t you?" Jake asked, confused.

"I do," I replied with a small smirk.

I was driving us to the restaurant. Alex sat beside me in the passenger seat, while Jake was in the back.

I had told them about my relationship with Hana a few days ago. They were shocked at first, but after hearing my side of the story, they agreed that I should divorce her if I didn’t like her. But now… that's no longer the case. Because now, I like her. That doesn’t mean I want this marriage though. If I like Hana, then I also love my freedom.

When they asked about the divorce again, I didn’t tell them anything new. I just said, “Soon.”

"But… you just said she’s yours… then… Rumaan, what are you up to?" Alex asked, puzzled. Both of them looked at me, waiting for an answer. But I remained silent.

"Dude! Don’t try to hide anything from us. Tell us!" Jake demanded sternly.

"Or if you don’t want to tell us, then there’s no point in us staying here. We’ll just go back to the USA," Alex added, turning to Jake — or maybe threatening me.

I huffed and narrowed my eyes at them, but they both looked away, unfazed.

"Huh! I want Hana to be mine… in every way… before our divorce," I finally blurted out.

Their heads snapped toward me.

"What?" they both said in unison.

"Hmm," I hummed in response.

"Ooooo," Jake said, smirking. Alex didn’t say anything — he just shook his head and looked out the window.

"Hey baby!" As we entered the restaurant's party hall, I heard Ellen’s high-pitched voice. The next second, she ran toward me and clung to me tightly.

"Hey," I said, gently pulling her back and greeting her with a smile.

"Why are you late?" she pouted.

I mentally rolled my eyes. The party had only started a few minutes ago. Technically, I wasn’t late. But for her, I was, because I wasn’t already there when she came.

"I was a little busy, babe," I replied.

She greeted Jake and Alex, hugging them the same way she had hugged me a moment ago. I rolled my eyes again and walked toward Munaf while the others followed.

Munaf introduced us to a few of his friends and cousins.

"Where’s your family, dude?" Alex asked as we all sipped our cold drinks.

"They should be here by now… I don’t know why they haven’t come yet," Munaf replied, checking his watch.

"It’s okay… they’ll be her—"

"They’re here! Oh my God! She’s also here!" Munaf interrupted me mid-sentence, staring at someone in surprise.

"Who? Your girlfriend?" we all teased, smirking.

"Shut up," he muttered and walked away.

We turned to look in the direction he was going. I took a sip of my drink — only to choke on it when my eyes landed on someone. My eyes widened. My mouth fell open. My heart nearly stopped beating. My breath hitched in my throat.

There, entering the hall, was a breathtakingly beautiful girl. Dressed in a snow-white gown, she looked like an angel.

"Close your mouth, dude," Alex said, shutting my jaw with two fingers under my chin.

I snapped out of my daze and glanced around — only to realize every pair of eyes in the room was fixed on her. My jaw clenched as I saw the way guys were staring at her… like they had a right to. But no. Bad for them — and good for me — because only I have that right. That girl is mine. My wife. My Hana.

It was the first time I had seen her looking this beautiful. She’s always been beautiful, but tonight… she truly took my breath away. I was itching to touch her, to feel her, to claim her. But I knew I couldn’t — not until she wanted the same. I took a deep breath to calm myself.

I looked at Jake and saw him still staring.

"JAKE," I warned, and he quickly averted his eyes, pretending like he hadn’t just been caught. I glared at him one last time and began to walk toward Hana — but stopped when Ellen grabbed my elbow.

"Where are you going, baby?" she asked, and for the first time, I hated her presence.

I was about to jerk her hand away but stopped when I saw Hana looking at me… and then at Ellen.

Ellen was clinging to me again.

When I saw Hana glaring at Ellen, an idea popped into my head.

She rejected me last night. So now… she should see how girls go crazy for me.

I smirked and wrapped my arm around Ellen’s waist, smiling down at her.

After tonight, you’ll never reject me again, Hana. In fact, I’ll make sure next time you come to me yourself.

I sighed and tried to focus on Ellen — but honestly, all my attention was still on Hana.

**********

Hana’s POV

I entered the restaurant hall with Kulsum and her family.

I had called Kulsum as soon as Maan left with his friends, asking if I could come with her. She was thrilled and came to pick me up with her whole family.

As soon as we walked in, my eyes began scanning the crowd, searching for my husband. I saw Munaf Bhai approaching us… and then my eyes found Maan.

He was staring at me — shocked? Surprised? I didn’t know. But his eyes were wide, his mouth slightly open. I blushed slightly at his reaction.

"Someone please tell him to close his mouth or else a bee will fly in," I heard Kulsum whisper behind me, giggling.

A soft chuckle escaped my lips. I had told her about Munaf Bhai and Maan’s friendship.

But my smile faded when I saw Ellen holding Maan’s arm. He was looking right at me… and then, the next second, he wrapped his arm around her and fully turned toward her.

A sharp sting pierced my chest, and my eyes began to sting with tears.

"Hana… I’m talking to you!" I heard someone say loudly. I blinked and saw Munaf Bhai standing in front of me. I hadn’t even noticed him there.

"Y… yes?" I stuttered, blinking a few more times to hold back my tears.

"Are you okay?" he asked with concern.

"Alhamdulillah Bhai, I’m fine," I replied with a smile. (All praise to God, brother, I’m fine.)

"But Kulsum said you weren’t coming," Munaf Bhai said, confused.

"Aren’t you happy that I came?" I asked, pouting.

"Oh no—" he quickly shook his head.

"No!" I interrupted, pretending to be hurt.

"No! No! I mean—yes! I’m really happy that you came. It means a lot to me," he said quickly, smiling and placing a gentle hand on my head.

I giggled softly.

*********

Author’s POV

Rumaan was watching Hana with a confused expression. He saw her smiling and laughing comfortably with Munaf's family. She looked at ease with them.

How does Hana know them... and why did she come here alone?

His train of thought broke when his eyes landed on Kulsum. He recognized her as Hana's friend. His curiosity only grew—what were they doing here? How did Munaf know them? Without wasting another second, he started walking toward them, accompanied by all his friends—including Ellen.

"Yes bhai (brother)... she wasn’t planning to come, but then changed her mind at the last moment," Kulsum said while looking directly at Rumaan, who was now standing behind Munaf.

Noticing Kulsum’s gaze behind him, Munaf turned around to see Rumaan and the others standing there.

"Hey guys… meet my family—my mama, baba (mom, dad), and my little sister, Kulsum. And she is—"

"He must know her," Kulsum interrupted Munaf, making both Munaf and Rumaan glance at her in confusion.

"No. I don't know her," Rumaan said bluntly, shattering Hana’s heart into pieces.

"Yeah… I know. How could you know her?" Munaf responded, clearly confused, glancing between Kulsum and Rumaan, unaware of the tension. He shrugged and tried to move on.

"Anyway… come, I’ll introduce you guys to my other friends," Munaf said, turning to lead his family away.

Alex and Jake noticed Rumaan glancing at Hana, but then saw him holding Ellen's hand. Exchanging a look, they quickly grabbed Ellen’s hand.

"Come with us, Ellen," they said, and before either Ellen or Rumaan could protest, they dragged her away.

Rumaan stood still, watching them leave, but before he could follow, Hana caught his hand and pulled him toward a quiet corner.

"What are you doing?" he asked, jerking his hand free.

"What are you doing?" Hana asked, her eyes brimming with tears.

"I’m enjoying," he replied coldly and turned to leave. But Hana held his arm again, stopping him.

"Maan… please… stay away from that… girl," she said, her voice cracking.

"And may I ask… why?" he said, raising an eyebrow and folding his arms.

"Because… I…" she trailed off, lowering her gaze.

"Because you… what?" he asked. She looked up at him, her eyes vulnerable.

"Because… I… I am your wife and I can’t see you with another woman," she finally confessed, and with those words, she hugged him.

A faint smile played on Rumaan’s lips. He wanted to hug her back so badly, to hold her close—but he stopped himself. He wanted Hana to surrender to him completely, not just emotionally but in every sense. So, he had to control his emotions.

"But you don’t see me as your husband. And if I don’t have all rights over you, then I refuse to give you any rights over me either," he said, gently unwrapping her arms from around him and stepping back.

"No… Maan, you have all rights over me…"

"Leave it, Hana. You’ve already shown me what my rights mean to you. I’m not expecting anything anymore," he said and walked away.

Hana tried to follow him but stopped in her tracks.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she saw him go back to Ellen and wrap his arms around her. Her heart ached as they walked together to the dance floor. The music started, and they began dancing.

"Hanu…" Kulsum came and hugged her tightly.

"Don’t cry, yaar (friend)… Bhai and Mama were looking at you. They saw you and Rumaan coming out of the corner. So I told them you two are cousins and had a fight. That’s why you're upset," Kulsum informed her. Hana wiped her tears and nodded.

"He’s such a pervert," Kulsum muttered while glaring at Rumaan and Ellen.

Hana stood silently, watching them dance, her tears flowing freely. Then, an idea struck her—an idea to express everything she had in her heart to Rumaan.

She quickly wiped her tears and shared her plan with Kulsum. Kulsum began jumping with excitement but Hana told her to keep quiet, and she obeyed.

Kulsum did exactly as Hana had instructed. A few moments later, the lights went out.

Rumaan was still glancing in the direction Hana had been standing, but now she was gone. He was just about to go look for her when music began playing and a spotlight lit up the center of the hall.

(A/N: Play the song "Humein Tumse Pyaar Kitna" while reading this part)

And then… he saw her. Hana stood there, illuminated by the spotlight, holding a mic in her trembling hands.

"Tumhe dekh ke hi

ye saansein chalengi"

(These breaths will go on only by seeing you)

"Tumhare bina ab na

ye aankhein khulengi."

(Without you, these eyes won’t open anymore)

"Meri beqarari kyun

tum nahi maante."

(Why don’t you believe my restlessness?)

Rumaan stared at her, mesmerized and taken aback.

Hana sang each line while locking eyes with him, her gaze pleading, confessing every unspoken feeling.

"Humein tumse pyaar kitna

ye hum nahi jaante."

(How much I love you… even I don’t know)

"Magar jee nahi sakte

tumhare bina."

(But I cannot live without you)

"Humein tumse pyaar kitna…"

(How much I love you…)

People started coming onto the dance floor. Even Ellen pulled Rumaan toward the center and wrapped her arms around his neck. Rumaan placed his hands on her waist—but his heart wasn’t in it. Hana watched them, shattered. Her tears fell freely.

"Tumhe koi aur dekhe

to jalta hai dil."

(If someone else looks at you, my heart burns with jealousy)

"Badi mushkilon se phir

sambhalta hai dil."

(With great difficulty, I control my heart again)

"Kya kya jatan karte hai

tumhe kya pata."

(You don’t even know the struggles I go through)

"Ye dil beqarar kitna

ye hum nahi jaante."

(How restless this heart is, even I don’t know)

"Magar jee nahi sakte

tumhare bina."

(But I cannot live without you)

Rumaan’s grip around Ellen loosened. Her arms fell away. Something deep inside him stirred. He turned toward Hana completely, and took a few steps in her direction. He didn’t know what was happening to him… why her voice, her words, her presence tugged at his heart.

Hana also stepped forward, tears still streaming down her cheeks.

"Suna gham judai ka

uthate hai log."

(I’ve heard people bear the sorrow of separation)

"Jaane zindagi kaise

bitate hai log."

(But I don’t know how they live through it)

"Din bhi yahan to lage

baras ke samaan."

(Even a day here feels like a year)

"Humein intezaar kitna

ye hum nahi jaante."

(How long I’ve waited for you… I don’t know)

"Magar jee nahi sakte

tumhare bina."

(But I cannot live without you)

"Humein tumse pyaar kitna…"

(How much I love you…)

Rumaan was walking toward her, as if in a trance… but Ellen grabbed his hand. Hana saw this, and it shattered her even more.

Tears gushed from her eyes as she turned away from them, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand, and walked out of the hall.

★★★★★