Arshad's POV

After dropping Isha home, I went to pick up Sofia. A lot had happened since yesterday. Many things had changed. I still couldn’t believe I had spent last night with Isha in my arms. I couldn’t believe I had kissed her. The guilt was hitting me hard as I drove toward Sofia’s place. Isha’s beautiful, innocent eyes flashed in front of me, silently begging me not to regret what I had done. But my loyalty to Sofia made me feel remorseful. I didn’t want to regret it—I honestly didn’t—but I couldn’t help it. How would I face Sofia? How long could I hide this?

Her blushing, cute face haunted my mind. No! Isha didn’t deserve this. She didn’t deserve my turmoil. I had to get a grip. I couldn’t tarnish the beautiful night we had spent together by drowning in regret.

She is my wife.

I stopped the car in front of Sofia’s parents’ house and headed inside.

I found Sofia sitting on the couch with her sister and parents, seemingly engaged in some discussion. They all gushed at me as soon as they saw me.

"Finally, you got time to meet us!" her dad said, pulling me into a manly hug. "Young man, you should visit us sometime with my daughter. It’s your house too."

"Sorry, dad, you know… workload," I shrugged, not having much to say. Sofia’s mother also complained that I didn’t visit often, to which I smiled apologetically.

"And if Aapi (elder sister) wasn’t here, then he wouldn’t have come, I bet," Fariya said.

"Won’t argue," I smirked, looking at Sofia. She smiled, shaking her head.

"Now that you’re already here, let’s have dinner with us," her mother said more like a command. Honestly, I didn’t want to, but Sofia gave me a look that made me say yes.

Seems like I was going to miss Isha’s homemade food today.

---

We were having dinner with a little bit of chitchat when suddenly Sofia burst out laughing. I glanced at her, raising my eyebrows.

"What?" I asked as she leaned on me, still laughing.

"Look at this," she showed her phone to Fariya, who also began laughing.

"Can you tell us what you girls are laughing at?" her mother asked curiously.

"My friend Sumaiya said she saw Arshad with some other girl. She was saying Arshad is cheating on me… like really!?" she laughed. I choked. A knot twisted in my stomach.

"What?" Fariya burst out laughing. "Arshad bhai (brother Arshad) can’t leave you away from him for a single night and she’s accusing my poor, loving brother-in-law of cheating on you?" Fariya laughed and high-fived Sofia.

They laughed while their parents shook their heads, agreeing with both daughters.

"Sumaiya is always jealous of you. She must be trying to create a rift between you two. Don’t trust her," her mother said.

"Mama… I know her better than you. Do you think I would ever believe her words, especially accusing my poor husband?" she wrapped her arms around mine, leaning toward me.

A lump formed in my throat and sweat dotted my forehead. I grabbed a glass of water and gulped it down to calm myself.

"Ex… excuse me," I stood up and walked toward the living room, wiping my face. I was afraid. I was really afraid.

"Arshad," I heard Sofia’s voice. She walked into the living room with concern on her face. "Baby, what happened?" she asked, cupping my jaw.

"Uh… no… nothing," I looked away.

"Baby, if you got offended by Sumaiya, then I’m sorry for that. But trust me, I would never believe anyone who is against you. I trust you. I love you. And I know you would never break my trust," she said with so much confidence that it made my stomach churn.

I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into a hug.

"I… I’m sorry," my voice broke, eyes misting as the realization hit me.

I was cheating on Sofia. I was hiding the truth from her. I was betraying her.

Sofia trusted me, and I was breaking that trust! No! I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t accept Isha. Sofia didn’t deserve this… But Isha? What about her? She didn’t deserve to get hurt either.

God!!! What would I do?!

On one side was Sofia, and on the other, Isha. If I accepted Isha, I would hurt Sofia. If I didn’t, Isha would be heartbroken. Last night, I had given her so much hope, but now I was realizing that it was because Sofia wasn’t around, and I felt like I could do anything. But now, seeing Sofia, I realized how horrible my thoughts were. My mind was spiraling into evil day by day. How could I be such a cheater?

"Arshad, babe, let’s go. Everyone is waiting for you in the dining room," Sofia said, pulling me apart. "They got worried when you walked out. Come, mom made dessert especially for you," she said, dragging me back to the dining room while my mind was in a massive battle.

---

We came back home at 9 pm. Sofia was holding my hands as we stepped inside. I found Isha sitting in the living room with Amma Jaan. She was writing something in her notebook. They both looked up, sensing our presence. Isha’s lips curved into a beautiful smile.

I looked away from her face.

"Finally, you both are here," Amma Jaan sighed, walking toward us. "What are you guys doing? Asam’s wedding is in a few weeks, and we have so much preparation to do. And the main thing is to inform our relatives and friends… and the invitation cards…" Amma Jaan began saying hastily.

"Amma Jaan, Amma Jaan… relax," I held her shoulder, trying to calm her. "Don’t worry about the preparations. We will do everything on time. And Sofia is here; you can take her help in making the list and call close relatives tomorrow to inform them," I assured her.

"I have some work tomorrow," Sofia said, giving us an apologetic smile. "But Isha will help you. Won’t you, Isha?" Sofia asked, looking at Isha. Isha smiled and nodded.

"Jee (yes), I will help…" Isha started to say, but abruptly, I cut her off.

"Why would Isha do this? She is not the daughter-in-law; you are," I uttered before I could stop myself. Sofia unintentionally did things that eventually brought Isha and me together.

"He is right. Isha is doing everything, but this guest part we should do together," Amma Jaan said. Sofia sighed before nodding.

"Okay, I have to attend a few calls tomorrow; after that, we will do this," she said and walked toward the room.

My eyes went to Isha, who was looking at me with hurt in her eyes.

I looked away and went to my room.

**********

Arshad's POV

The next morning, I woke up but didn’t go to have breakfast early like I usually do. Last night, I couldn’t sleep. Thoughts of Isha disturbed me. The kiss we shared sent painful knots through my stomach every time I saw Sofia’s face. The thought that I had betrayed her was almost too much to bear.

I sat on the bed, holding my head.

"Arshad," I heard Sofia. She woke up, rubbing her face. "You are still here," she asked. It was 8:45 am, and usually, I left before 9.

"Yeah… Actually, I… I want to have breakfast with you," I said, moving closer to her. She smiled.

"Okay, I will just freshen up, then we will go," she said, standing up and walking into the washroom.

After she came back, I went to take a shower. When I stepped out of the bathroom, I saw Sofia standing at the dressing table, combing her hair. She wore an elegant top and jeans with makeup, looking beautiful as always. Walking toward her, I hugged her from behind, nuzzling my face in her hair.

"You are looking beautiful," I mumbled into her hair. She turned around and wrapped her arms around me.

"I always look beautiful, but what’s up with you? Why have you been acting so loving toward me since last night?" she asked, staring at me. I gulped anxiously.

Yes, I had loved her last night, but if I were honest with myself, it was because of my guilt. I love Sofia, and I wanted her to know that. My date, my kiss with Isha, never left my mind. So I had pulled Sofia closer to me to forget about Isha. That worked until Sofia was awake, but as soon as she slept, my mind drifted back to Isha.

I knew I was being selfish for using Sofia because of my guilt, but that’s what a man does when he feels he has cheated on his wife—he tries to make it up to her without saying a word. I was sounding so evil… God, I wanted to punish myself for thinking this way.

"Because I miss you in my arms," I said, pecking her lips. "Sofia, baby, try to stay with me as much as possible. Stay awake till I come back home, and please wake up early before I go to the office. Will you do this for me?" I asked. Sofia frowned, stepping away.

"What happened to you? You never ask me to do anything like this before," she asked, confused.

"I never needed it before, but now I need your presence around me."

"Arshad, I can’t cling to you all the time. And you know I can’t sacrifice my sleep. You come home late and leave early, and now you’re asking me to be your obedient wife like a Pakistani drama," she laughed, turning back to the mirror to wear her earrings.

"Yes, and if I’m expecting this from you, then what’s wrong with it? I want you to do things for me—is that too much to ask?" I snapped. She looked at me, surprised.

"You’re snapping at me without any reason. Are you okay?" she asked, her voice tinged with anger.

"Sofia, look, I never said anything to you before, and now I’m asking you to do something for me. Can’t you just…? I want my wife to behave like my wife," I said in a demanding tone. She slammed her hand on the table before turning to me.

"Do you know how you’re sounding? Like a caveman! I’m not like those village girls like Isha, who could wait for her husband till late at night without having dinner, who could wake up before her husband and do all his chores. No! I’m not that type of gawar (illiterate)," she said angrily, pushing me aside and walking out of the room.

I stood there in great dilemma. She didn’t know what she had done. She had just pushed me away. She had just made me realize how incredibly good a wife Isha was. My heart leaned toward Isha again. But I couldn’t do this! I had to stop myself.

---

Isha's POV

Pain.

That’s what I had been feeling for the past three days. Arshad hadn’t tried to talk to me in these three days. He was back to avoiding me. I didn’t know why. Why was he doing this to me again? Our night out and the next morning were so beautiful… so why did he suddenly change? The affection he had shown me that night made me fall for him even harder. I had seen the same emotions in his eyes that I felt in my heart—love and longing. Then why wasn’t he talking to me?

Maybe I was overthinking. Perhaps he didn’t get alone time to meet me, as he came back home early, had dinner with everyone, went to the office late, and had breakfast with everyone.

I tried to calm myself as I had been trying for the past three days. It was midnight, and I was struggling to sleep, just like before. I missed him. I missed his talks, his teasing, his hugs, his romantic gestures. Pouting, I sat on the bed. Taking out his photo frame, I stared at it.

"Aap jante hai mai aapse kitni mohabbat karne lagi hun? (Do you know how much I’ve started loving you?)" I whispered, stroking his photo. "Bahot zyada. Ab to ye zindagi adhuri lagti hai aapke bina… (Very much. Now this life feels incomplete without you)." A small, sad smile formed on my lips.

"I know we can’t be together like I want… But I would be happy if you keep giving me what you gave me three days ago—a loving and caring gesture of yours. Your badmashiya (naughtiness)," I smiled shyly, clutching his photo to my chest as I lay on the bed. Pulling the frame back, I kissed his picture. "I love you… I love you so, so, so much," I whispered, hugging the picture tightly and closing my eyes.

---

Arshad's POV

I walked out of my room after hours of inner debate. I had lost the battle. I wanted to see her, and this was the only time I could do it without her knowing. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I was in a great dilemma. I didn’t know what to do. I had never betrayed anyone. I had never cheated. I had never lied… not on this scale.

SOFIA… ISHA!!!

SOFIA… ISHA!!!

SOFIA… ISHA!!!

Those two names kept repeating in my heart and mind for the past three days. I still couldn’t come to a conclusion, so I had tried to stay away from her. But tonight, I couldn’t hold back. Her face carried so much sadness today. I knew she had been hoping I would come and talk to her, and my avoidance was hurting her.

I stopped at the doorway, realizing she must have locked the door like she did that night. But then I pushed it gently, and it opened. I was surprised, and then I realized she had intentionally left it unlocked, hoping I would come. Slowly, I opened the door and stepped in, closing it softly behind me. I walked toward her bed.

She was sleeping, clutching a frame close to her heart with her small hands. I sat beside her and slowly took out the frame. I was shocked to find it was my picture—an old picture, from when I was around 23, before my marriage to Sofia.

So she had kept my picture since she came here. I thought I had already removed everything from the room, but I had forgotten this. I put it on the side table and turned to her. Removing strands of hair from her face, I stroked her cheeks, gazing at her after so many days—three days.

I was about to withdraw my hand when she held it, clutching it to her chest.

"Mat jayein na… Mujhse ye tanhai ab bardast nahi hoti (Don’t go. I can’t endure this loneliness now)," she whispered, hugging the frame tighter and making me almost fall on her. I put my hands gently on the side to support myself. Isha slowly opened her eyes. I was frozen.

"Mujhe aapki zarurat hai (I need you)," she pouted innocently, her eyes half-closed. I gulped, blinking. Isha smiled before wrapping her arms around my neck, hugging me.

"I love you. I love you so much," she whispered into my neck, and I felt myself melting. She was asleep… she must have been babbling in her sleep. I tried to calm my heart, but when Isha moved back and looked into my eyes, I realized she was awake, and what she said, she meant it in her heart.

★★★★