Maham’s POV

I stopped in my tracks. I was walking toward Dua’s room, passing Momin’s, when I heard her yell, “I love you!” and then Momin’s voice echo, replying. My heart sank, and tears blurred my vision. This was the first time I had ever heard them say it.

Momin didn’t even notice me as he walked past with a bright smile on his lips. I couldn’t tolerate this any longer. Dua needed to go away from here.

I called my best friend and cousin, Rabiya (Riya’s younger daughter), who lived in the USA. Riya, our phuphu (paternal aunt), had left her here when she was 10 because she was very close to Dadi and Dadu and wanted to be with us. When Rabiya turned 14, her parents took her with them. Those four years she spent here had made us very close. Dua had always been busy with Momin, not paying attention to anyone else, so she and Rabiya didn’t share the same bond we did. Rabiya knew everything about me and my feelings.

"Hey, gurl!" she greeted in her usual cheerful voice.

"Hi," my voice came out low and sad.

"Maham… gurl, why do you sound so low?" she asked.

"I don’t want to, but I’m hating my sister," I uttered in anger.

"Oh God, not again," she muttered.

"If you’re annoyed with me, I’ll hang up."

"No, no! Hey. I was just upset. You always get hurt, and I don’t like seeing you like this," she said softly.

"Then why don’t you call Dua and ask her to come here soon?" I suggested.

"Maham… babe, we still have three weeks until classes start," she reminded me.

"I know. Please, do something. I want Momin. He can’t be mine while Dua is here… They grow closer day by day," I sobbed.

"Maham… baby, please don’t cry. You know you’re my bestie, and I can’t see you like this. Okay, fine. I’ll think of something and ask her to come here soon. Now stop crying," she consoled me with her soft, soothing voice.

"Please, bia (please)… do something. This is the only way I can get Momin. I will mend his heart; he just needs to be away from Dua. He needs to be with me all the time. I know I can make him fall for me. I know I can," I said desperately.

"Maham… I hope you know what you’re doing. I will support you, but remember one thing: if you can’t make Momin fall for you, you will be heartbroken very badly in the end," she warned.

"No, I won’t. He will fall for me because I truly love him," I mumbled.

So, they both do.

A voice spoke inside me, a warning I shook away like always.

---

Dua’s POV

I got ready to go out with Momin and waited for him to come back. I was excited to know where he was taking me. Since morning, I had been blushing and smiling like an idiot, recalling our first kiss.

The whole day, my face felt flushed and pinkish, so I spent most of the time in my room.

Looking at my reflection, I touched my lips. My heart raced again. That feeling was so beautiful. That moment was the second-best of my life—first, our nikah, and now our first kiss. I couldn’t help but think about experiencing even more. I wanted to be in his arms. I wanted him to love me in every possible way.

"Dua," Mama entered the room, stopping to eye me up and down. "Where are you going? And you didn’t even ask?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

"I was coming to you. And I’m going with Momin," I said, smiling. She stared at me for a moment and then walked toward me.

"And where are you both going?"

"I don’t know. He said he wants to take me somewhere," I shrugged, resuming my makeup.

She went to the bed and sat there. "Are you sure about it?" After a while, she asked again. I looked at the lipstick in my hand and frowned.

"Mama, this is going to match my dress."

"I’m not talking about your lipstick shade, Dua," she glared.

"Oh… then what?" I asked, applying the lipstick.

"I’m talking about America. Are you sure you want to go there? Remember, we won’t be there. Momin won’t be there," she said, staring at me. My hand froze.

Momin won’t be there.

I looked at Mama through the mirror and then turned to face her.

"I know Momin won’t be there, but he will always be with me, Mama," I said confidently. She smiled and walked toward me.

"I know Momin will always be with you, but what about you?" She pushed a strand of hair away from my face. "Will you be there for him?"

"Obviously, Mama. Where else would I go? After completing my studies, I’ll come back here," I said, smiling. Mama studied me closely, more like scrutinizing me.

"Remember one thing, Dua. Don’t take advantage of Momin’s kindness. Don’t be overconfident that he won’t leave you. He will be with you as long as you protect his heart. He always forgives you, but that doesn’t mean he will accept every mistake. He will bear everything but betrayal," she shook her head. I frowned, feeling a knot of unease in my stomach.

"You’re too immature, meri jaan (my love). You don’t know the cruel realities of the world. I’m just warning you. Don’t let anyone manipulate you. Before taking any step, think about the consequences." She kissed my cheek and walked out of the room.

I shuddered at the thought that Momin could ever leave me.

Am I doing the right thing by leaving?

"Yes, Dua. Don’t overthink. He is your husband. He will never leave you—but if Mama..." I shook my head.

Why did Mama have to put those awful thoughts in my mind?

"Urgh… Calm down, Dua. Calm down," I muttered, taking a deep breath to steady myself.

"Dua!"

"Momin!" I snapped my head toward the door. There he stood, holding flowers in his hand. All my uneasy feelings vanished at the sight of him.

"What’s wrong?" he asked, walking toward me.

"Nothing. I was waiting for you," I said, giving a small smile.

"Okay, these beautiful roses are for my beautiful wife," he said, grinning. My heart fluttered, and a blush crept across my cheeks. That word—WIFE—made me believe that nothing could ever separate us.

I took the roses and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"You truly love me?" I asked.

"Any doubt?" he replied, wrapping his arms around me. I shook my head.

"But if I hurt you unintentionally, will you forgive me even then?" I asked, tilting my head. He stared at me for a moment before smiling.

"First of all, I know you will never hurt me. But even unintentionally, if you do, I am damn sure there’s nothing I couldn’t forgive," he said, and relief washed over me. I hugged him tightly, closing my eyes.

You were wrong about us, Mama. My Momin will never leave me. No matter what I do.

But only if we knew what the future held for us…

*********

Maham’s POV

"No, Mama, I don’t want to go there," I said, lying on the sofa and resting my head on Dadi’s lap.

"Maham, bacche (child), we all are going. Then why don’t you want to come?" Dadi asked, caressing my head gently.

"I don’t feel like coming," I whined.

"Maham, it’s a family function. We are all going, and you have to come with us," Mama said in a firm tone.

"But Mama..."

"No, no buts, no ifs," she said, giving me a stern look.

"Fine," I muttered, hugging Dadi in frustration.

We were invited to Fathinma phupo’s house for her marriage anniversary. I didn’t want to go because of that leech, Amad. He never missed a chance to cling to me.

He was so irritating. Stupid.

"Where are you two going?" I heard someone ask. I had been busy cursing Amad when I looked toward Dadi. She was talking to Momin and Dua.

"I’m taking her somewhere, Dadi," Momin said in his usual soft and calm voice.

"Where?" Mama asked.

"Uh… it’s a surprise," Momin muttered, showing a sheepish smile. I felt my face burn.

"Okay," Mama agreed.

"Can I come?" I asked, standing up. Momin looked at me, and his smile faded. I felt pain seeing the disappointment in his eyes.

"No! It’s somewhere only I can go! He wants to give me a surprise… I’ll tell you after I come back what the surprise was," Dua said hurriedly. "Mama, can we go?" she asked. Mama nodded, and they both walked out of the house. I clenched my fist before slowly making my way to my room.

---

Dua’s POV

"Why did you bring me here?" I asked, getting out of the car. We were standing in front of an under-construction building.

"First, let’s go inside," he held my hand, and we walked inside.

"Momin… it’s so dangerous. Why are we here?" I asked, confused while holding his hand.

He stopped and turned toward me, smiling.

"Here, we will build our small world… our home," he said, staring into my eyes. My eyes widened in realization.

"You… you mean…"

"Yes, I bought an apartment here for us," he affirmed. I stared at him for a few seconds, then squealed loudly.

"Woah! You mean… you and me, alone? We will live here alone? I can’t believe it, Momin!" I hugged him, jumping up and down like a maniac.

"Yes, only you and me," he exclaimed, hugging me tightly. "Come, let’s go. I want to show you something," he said, holding my hand. We climbed the stairs, and I stopped on the 4th floor, gasping.

"I’m tired," I panted after climbing. I leaned on Momin’s shoulder.

"We have to go to the 5th floor," he said. Suddenly, I felt myself being lifted into the air. A shriek left my mouth. "What are you doing, Momin!" I yelled, holding his neck tightly.

"Don’t worry, I won’t let you fall," he said with a smile, climbing the remaining stairs. I relaxed in his arms, knowing he wouldn’t let me fall.

"Momin, I know I’m not that heavy, but still… put me down," I said, looking at him as he continued climbing.

"It’s difficult to climb stairs while carrying someone, but nothing I can’t bear for you," he replied. I leaned up and kissed his cheeks.

He stopped and made me stand at the edge of that floor, from where I could see the beach. Momin hugged me from behind, resting his chin on my right shoulder, and pointed toward the view. My eyes widened at the breathtaking sight.

"Look, the beach looks so beautiful. It’s even more enchanting at night. You will never be bored in our home if you are alone while I am late," he said dreamily. I stood there, absorbing the atmosphere. It was so refreshing. I leaned into his arms, closing my eyes.

"After you come back from the US, we will move into our home after telling your parents about our nikah," he whispered.

"I can’t wait to be in our home with you… in your arms," I said after a few minutes of silence. I opened my eyes and tilted my head up, placing my right palm on his cheek. My back was still against him. "Only you and me… alone," I whispered before connecting our lips. Momin turned me around without breaking our kiss, which deepened into a passionate one.

I think we are learning.

I pulled back. "Promise me you will love me like this," I asked. He smiled, kissing my nose.

"I promise I will love you like this… and even more… till my heart’s last beat," he declared, sealing our promise with a breathtaking kiss.

Only if we could see the future… Only if we knew that every promise could be broken. Only if we knew…

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