Author's POV

"Oh God! Baby, I can’t believe it!" Arshad pulled her into a tight hug.

"Arshad, you’re suffocating me!" Sofia moved back with a scowl on her face.

"Sorry," he loosened his grip but still held her close. "I’ve been waiting for this day for so long." Saying this, he kissed her forehead.

"It’s not confirmed yet, Arshad," she said with clear annoyance. "You’re just assuming I’m pregnant because I missed my period and vomited a couple of times." She rolled her eyes.

"But I have a strong feeling you’re pregnant. I can already feel my baby," he said, his eyes emotional as he looked down at her stomach.

But Sofia felt suffocated. Baby? She didn’t want this.

"After almost five years of our marriage, finally Allah is going to bless us with a child. I can’t wait to see your big baby bump," he continued with a wide grin, which only frightened her more.

"No! I can’t be pregnant! Arshad, what about my career? How can I risk it? I’m barely 27. I can’t. No, no! I just can’t," she shook her head in denial.

"What are you saying? Sofia, you aborted our first baby four years ago, and I accepted your decision because you weren’t ready then. But not this time. I want this baby and that’s final!" he declared, stepping away from her with determination written across his face.

Sofia frowned and gulped at his tone. He was angry—just at the mention of this. And she knew well: if Arshad got angry, it wouldn’t benefit her in any way. She loved him, but she loved her career more. With a quick plan in mind, she stepped closer to him.

"Sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I was just scared. But you’re right, if I’m pregnant, I’ll keep this baby. And if not, then we’ll use precautions, and you won’t force me otherwise. Promise me," she said, holding onto his arms.

"But Sofia, I want a child. If you’re not pregnant, then we’ll plan again," he tried to share his desire of having a child, but she wasn’t someone who would give up for anyone else.

"No, Arshad. If I’m listening to you, then you should also listen to me. Promise me," she pressed.

He sighed in defeat and promised her.

"Okay… but I’m hoping and praying you’re pregnant," he murmured.

Sofia gave him a fake smile.

And Sofia did exactly what she wanted. She went for a check-up and found out that she was pregnant. But she secretly aborted the child with the help of medication, never letting Arshad know. She only told him she wasn’t pregnant—and he accepted it with a heavy heart.

---

Arshad’s POV

I was devastated after learning that Sofia wasn’t pregnant. A few days ago, I had called Amma Jaan and expressed my desire for children, even pleaded with her to pray for us. She told me to be patient and said, Insha Allah (God willing), Allah would bless us soon.

This morning, Asam called me and informed me that he had chosen a girl to marry, and she was coming home today with her family. I was happy for my brother and prayed for his happiness.

Later, I called Amma Jaan to know whether she liked the girl and her family, but she said she was with the guests and would talk to me later.

So, I called her again after an hour, but to my shock, I was greeted by a soft voice I hadn’t expected—one I had almost forgotten.

Almost.

"Isha?" I waited for a reply.

"Jee…" (Yes) Her weak voice came after a pause. I sat on the sofa, wondering what to say.

"Uh… how are you?" Clearing my throat, I asked.

"Al… Alhamdulillah" (Praise be to Allah) she replied. I ran my hand through my hair, searching for words. Just then, I heard her soft voice again.

"You?"

She wanted to talk to me. I bit my lip.

"Alhamdulillah… I’m fine," I mumbled, and she hummed in response. "How are your studies going?" I asked after a few seconds when she didn’t speak further. I knew she was waiting for me to continue.

"Good…"

"Isha!" I suddenly heard Amma Jaan’s voice. "Is Arshad on the phone?" she asked.

"Uh… ye… yes… he… he… um…" I heard Isha’s panicked tone.

"Isha, relax," I softly murmured. "Tell her I was asking about your studies." I heard her inhale deeply.

"Yes. He was asking about my studies," she said, a little more confidently this time.

"Oh, okay. Give it to me, I want to talk to him," Amma Jaan said, and a second later I heard her voice. "Assalamualaikum, beta" (Peace be upon you, son). And we talked for a while.

---

Isha’s POV

Three more months passed.

"So, it’s decided. Next month is Asam’s engagement, and after four months, his wedding," Amma Jaan announced.

We all smiled happily. I was standing in the doorway, watching everyone. Asam bhai’s soon-to-be in-laws and all our family members were present.

"Yayy! Isha, bring the sweets!" Amar yelled.

I ran inside, picked up the tray of sweets I had already prepared, and brought it to the living room.

Everyone began congratulating each other. I went to Asam bhai and smiled softly.

"Congratulations, Asam bhai," I said.

He smiled back and placed a small piece of sweet into my mouth.

"Thank you."

I then went to Sabhiya.

"Congratulations, bhabi," I wished and was about to feed her a sweet, but she moved back.

"What are you doing? They’ve already fed me. I don’t have the appetite to eat more, especially from maids too. Some other time, okay?" she said with a small smile, not really paying attention.

I forced a smile and nodded. "It’s okay…"

She turned to her mother without hearing me.

"You can feed me," a voice startled me from behind.

Turning, I saw Amar standing there. "Come on, feed me," he said, walking toward me. I quickly set the tray down on the table and walked away.

Only Allah knows how many more hardships are left for me…

---

The next day, as usual, I got ready and went to Amma Jaan’s room. She was writing something in her diary.

"Assalamualaikum, Amma Jaan," I greeted and sat beside her. "What are you doing?"

She smiled widely. "I’m making a guest list and some arrangements."

"Give it to me, I’ll do it. I still have time before college," I said. She nodded and handed me the diary. She began saying names, and I wrote them down.

"Today, I’m really happy," Amma Jaan said as we finished for now.

"I know, Amma Jaan. After all, it’s your son’s wedding," I said with a smile.

"Yes… but I’m not just happy for one son. I’m happy for my other son too," she said, still smiling.

"Other son? Is Amar also getting married?" I asked with wide eyes, silently praying the answer would be yes.

"No, silly. I’m talking about Arshad. He’s coming with Sofia for his brother’s wedding. And this time, he’s staying for a long period," Amma Jaan exclaimed happily, while I froze in place. My eyes widened and my heartbeat stopped.

"K… kab? (When?)" The question slipped from my lips before I could stop it. Or maybe, deep inside, I wanted to know.

"This week, Insha Allah," she said, and I felt my throat run dry.

Arshad is coming back… After almost two years, he is coming back?

It had been three months since that phone call. I wasn’t expecting him to ever return here. I thought he would never want to see me again.

He’s not coming for you, Isha. He’s coming for his brother’s wedding, and after that, he will leave—just like before.

My logical subconscious pulled me back before I let myself imagine otherwise. But still, I couldn’t stop my heart from pounding wildly in my chest.

---

"Please, Isha Aapi. Please, please, please. Pretty please!" Jawad pleaded with me continuously, begging me to play with him.

After lunch, I came into my room to study, but Jawad followed me, trying to convince me.

"Jawad, your exams are over, but mine aren’t. I have to study. Go find someone else," I said firmly.

He pouted. "No one wants to play with me. Everyone is busy. No one loves me," he complained sadly and turned to leave.

I felt bad. Suddenly, studying didn’t matter anymore.

"Okay fine, I’ll play with you," I gave in with a shrug. Closing my notebooks, I got up.

"Yay!" he screamed in happiness.

I smiled. He was the only one who could make me forget everything. Children had that magic—their innocent smiles could erase pain. Sometimes, he reminded me of Najma. I didn’t know how she was now… I just prayed for my sister’s safety and happiness.

We went to the garden and sat on the swing, playing cards. After an hour, we got bored and decided to play blindfold.

"No way!" I yelled.

"Aapi, please. Just this one last time," he pleaded again with his puppy face.

"You always do this, Jawad," I glared playfully and tied a cloth around my eyes.

"Aapi, don’t cheat!" I heard him say.

"I don’t cheat," I replied, hearing rustling sounds.

"Aapi, here!" he yelled from behind me. I walked toward the noises he was making.

"No, no! Aapi, here!"

"Aj mai tumhe pakad ke rahungi! (Today I’ll definitely catch you)!" I ran toward his voice, waving my hands in the air to catch him—even though I knew it was almost impossible in the large lawn of this house.

---

Author’s POV

Isha was busy playing with Jawad, completely unaware of the arrival that had just stepped into the porch.

He got out of the car with a smile and began walking toward the house when he heard—

"Aapi! You can’t catch me! It’s close to impossible!" Jawad yelled.

He turned and saw a small boy running across the lawn with a girl chasing him. He couldn’t see her face since her back was turned.

"Nothing is impossible for me!" she yelled, running again toward the voice. The little boy burst into laughter.

"Just let me catch you, then we’ll see if you laugh," she said, making him smile as he watched the scene unfold.

He slowly walked toward them.

"Mai yaha hun! (I am here)!" Jawad teased, yelling and running. But the boy suddenly stopped, noticing the unknown man standing in front of him. Scared, he quickly ran inside the house without warning Isha.

She was still walking blindly toward the sounds when she reached out and grabbed a hand.

"Pakad liya! (Gotcha)!" she screamed happily—only for both of them to freeze.

He stared at her toothy smile, while she unknowingly caressed his hand with her soft fingers, making him stiffen. Her smile faded as she realized the hand she held was too big to belong to a six-year-old boy.

She quickly pulled off the blindfold, blinking a few times. Her eyes widened, and her breath hitched in her throat as she saw someone she had never expected—certainly not like this.

"Arshad…" a whisper slipped from her lips.

"Isha," his voice mirrored hers.

She immediately stepped back in panic, almost falling—but he caught her hand and instinctively pulled her toward him.

Isha pressed both her hands on his chest to keep some distance. Her wide eyes looked ready to pop from their sockets, her heart racing, breath shallow and hitched.

He couldn’t look away. She looked breathtaking—her wide eyes, slightly parted lips, a few strands of messy hair framing her face, the blindfold hanging around her neck, her dupatta loosely covering her shoulders. She looked even more beautiful than when he had last seen her.

"Bhai!!"

Their trance broke at the sudden call. Arshad and Isha instantly pulled away, creating a safe distance between them.

"Bhai!" Amar came running excitedly, not noticing how close the two had been.

He hugged his brother, and Arshad hugged him back with equal warmth—while Isha quietly walked inside the house.

Neither of them realized that an unknown spark had just been born between them in this unexpected reunion—after almost two years of painful separation.

★★★★