Arshad's POV

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

She put her hands on my cheeks, caressing them. "Mujhe pata tha aap zaroor aaoge. (I knew you would come)," she mumbled. My eyes fell on her lips, inviting me. Blinking, I pulled back.

"Wo…" I sat straight; she also sat up. "I… was…" I didn’t know what to explain. I shouldn’t have come here. Regret clawed at me.

"Kya hua hai aapko? (What happened to you?)" Isha placed her hands on my arms and asked softly.

"Kuch nahi… (Nothing.) I should go," I stood up.

"Rukein… please rukein," she got down and held my arms to stop me. I turned to her. "Kya hua hai aapko? (What happened to you? Why are you behaving like this?)" she asked, standing in front of me.

"Kuch nahi, Isha. I think… I’m not feeling well."

"I can tell. You’re disturbed… Please tell me. What’s bothering you?" she asked softly, and I was a step away from breaking. The predicament made my heart weak.

"I… I don’t know," I looked away. She placed her palm on my cheek and made me look into her eyes.

"Please bataye mujhe. Shayad mai aapki koi madad kar du. (Please tell me. Maybe I can help you.)"

"Nahi kar sakti… Koi meri madad nahi kar sakta. (You can’t help. No one can help me.)" I said, my voice low and depressed.

---

Author's POV

The look of despair in his eyes made Isha’s heart clench. Anyone could see that Arshad was disturbed beyond limits. He was depressed about something. The painful frown on his face proved it. The swollen, dark circles around his eyes spoke volumes—he hadn’t slept properly for days.

"Aisa kyun keh rahe hai aap? I will help you, trust me. (Why are you saying this?)" she pleaded, desperate to know the reason behind his misery. Arshad’s stomach twisted painfully seeing her concern. He wanted to pull her into his arms and forget everything—but Sofia? No, he couldn’t betray her.

"No!! No one can help me!" He stepped back, breathing harshly. "No one can pull me out of this dilemma! I think I’ll go mad," he held his head in despair.

"Kya hua hai? (What happened?)" Isha asked again. This time he looked into her eyes, and her heart sank seeing the moisture there.

"Galti… galti hogayi. (A mistake… I made a mistake.)" he breathed out, staring at her. Isha froze.

"Galti?" she asked, frightened.

"Mujhe tumhare pass nahi aana chahiye tha. Galti hogayi. (I shouldn’t have come near you. I made a mistake.)" He fell to the ground, feeling broken and vulnerable. His heart was painfully aware that he had fallen for Isha—and that too very deeply. On the other side was Sofia, his first love, his first wife, whom he couldn’t betray… yet unknowingly, his heart had.

She also fell in front of him, staring at him, pain rising in her heart.

"Wo… mujhe kabhi maaf nahi karegi. Mai khud ko kabhi maaf nahi kar paunga. Kabhi nahi. (She will never forgive me. I could never forgive myself. Never.)" A tear escaped his eyes as he realized the gravity of the situation.

"Aap…" She wanted to say something, but his broken state rendered her weak. She slumped her shoulders as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Mujhe maaf kardo. Mai… mai nahi kar sakta ye. Mujhe… mujhe maaf kardo… please… mai use aur dhoka nahi de sakta. (Forgive me. I can’t do this. Please… I can’t betray her more.)" He bowed his head, shutting his eyes in pain. Isha stared at him, thinking desperately of what she could do to ease his torment.

Isha scooted closer to him and softly cupped his face. He lifted his eyes and found her smiling slightly, shaking her head as she wiped his cheeks. He stared at her.

"Mujhe aapse koi gila nahi. (I have no grudge against you.)" she whispered.

Feeling broken, he wrapped his arms around her, seeking solace. She clutched his head to her chest, comforting him while ignoring her own tears and pain. She could only imagine the inner turmoil of her husband. Today, she had seen feelings in his broken eyes—for her—and the guilt for Sofia.

They sat there in each other’s arms, thinking it might be the last time. Tomorrow could bring separation.

She massaged his head for a while, and he closed his eyes, savoring the moment.

"Asam bhai ki shadi ke bad aap chale jayega. (After Asam’s wedding, you should leave.)" Isha was the first to break the silence. He moved back and looked at her, eyes fixed on her.

"Tum…"

"Don’t think about me. I’ll be fine. I’ve learned how to live alone a long time ago," she said with a small, sad smile.

"I can’t stop thinking about you," he whispered, shaking his head helplessly.

"Thinking about me will only complicate things for you." She wiped her cheeks, taking a deep breath. "After Asam bhai’s wedding, you should leave with Sofia baaji, and until then, I’ll try my best not to come in front of you… it’s only… only a matter of a few weeks." She stood, facing away from him as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. He also stood, staring at her back.

"Mai tumhara dil nahi todna chahta. (I don’t want to break your heart.)" he uttered, his voice depressed.

"Dil to tutna hi hai. Ya aapka aur Sofia baaji ka, ya mera. Do dil ke tutne se behtar hai ek hi tut jaye. (The heart will break anyway—either yours and Sofia’s, or mine. Better that only one heart breaks than two.)" she mumbled. Arshad stepped toward her and rested his forehead on her shoulder.

"Dil tumhara tute ya Sofia ka… Mera tutna to lazim hai. (It doesn’t matter whose heart breaks. Mine has to break with either of you.)" he whispered. Isha felt the wetness on her shoulder’s fabric. She put her hand to her mouth to hold back a sob. Blinking and regaining control, she turned to him slowly while he stood close.

"Mai khud ko kabhi maaf nahi kar paunga. (I could never forgive myself.)" Taking a step toward her, he cupped her face. "Par umeed karta hun ke tum mujhe maaf kardo. (But I hope you will forgive me.)" He pressed his lips to her forehead before walking out of her room.

Isha fell to the floor as her sobs broke out. Arshad wiped his tears before entering his own room, deciding for Sofia—to forget everything.

Unknown to him, his stubborn heart had fallen for Isha and had no intention of backing off.

**********

Nights, days, weeks went by with them evading each other. Arshad was trying his best to spend time with Sofia as much as he could, but in just a second, his heart would drown in Isha’s thoughts. She again became that old Isha who had come from her village. She didn’t talk to anyone anymore. Kubra bi and Jawad came back, and this time even Jawad couldn’t bring a smile to her face. Arshad couldn’t stop observing her quietness, which made him feel even more depressed. He was trying to convince his heart that after leaving the country, everything would be okay. He was waiting for Asam’s wedding, which was happening this week.

Mrs. Malik called Isha as she was passing by. Arshad, Sofia, Asam, and Amar were all there.

"Isha, be ready at 5. We all are going for shopping," Mrs. Malik said. Isha looked at her, and then at Arshad, who was seated beside Mrs. Malik, but she immediately tore her gaze away when she realized he was staring at her.

"Is it necessary for me to come?" she asked in a low tone. She was in no mood to be part of this family. It had already become difficult for her to be in this house, and now this wedding thing made her feel helpless, as she was being forced to be around Arshad and Sofia—something that was hurting her unwillingly.

"Yes, it is. You are a member of our family, and if you want, then you can be daughter-in-law soon too," Amar said. Isha made a face at his words.

"Amar, I said don’t bring this up until Isha is ready," Mrs. Malik scolded. Amar shrugged while Arshad shot him a glare, which went unnoticed by everyone.

"Isha, you are like my little sister, and I want you to take part in my wedding preparations, please," Asam implored with a soft smile. Isha could not say no and nodded her head. Asam always treated her like his sister. He respected her and never made her feel out of place. They didn’t have a sister, and in Isha, Asam found one—she calls him Bhai (brother).

---

They all went to the mall as planned and got themselves busy with shopping. Sabiya, Asam’s fiancée, also joined them. Mrs. Malik involved Isha in a few things. They all bought things for themselves. Isha was also forced to buy a couple of dresses. When she went to pay for her dress—before anyone could stop her, which she didn’t want—Arshad saw her.

The dresses were expensive, and Isha had only brought the money Mrs. Malik gave her as her monthly salary.

Before she could place the cash on the counter, Arshad placed his card. Isha turned to him, thinking to refuse.

"You promise me you will not refuse anything if I give it to you," he said softly. Isha withdrew her hands, not looking at him. She didn’t want to have any conversation with him, knowing it would make her weak and she would again end up begging him not to abandon her.

Arshad was surprised that she didn’t argue further, but he was happy that she accepted it.

After shopping, Asam went to drop Sabiya off for dinner with his soon-to-be in-laws, as he had been invited. Amar got caught up with his friends in the mall, and they took him to a club for a night out. The remaining four—Mrs. Malik, Sofia, Arshad, and Isha—went to a restaurant for dinner.

Isha, as usual, silently had her meals, not paying attention to the others, who were continuously talking about the upcoming wedding. Arshad couldn’t help glancing at her now and then.

"I… I need to go to the washroom," Isha said, standing up. Mrs. Malik nodded, and Isha strode toward the washroom. Arshad wanted to go with her, but seeing Sofia and his Amma Jaan, he couldn’t. They had resumed their conversation.

Suddenly, a gunshot was heard, creating chaos everywhere in an instant.

"Ya Khuda, ye kya tha!?? (Oh God! What was that?)" Mrs. Malik exclaimed, trembling.

"Everyone get out of the restaurant now!" an announcement blared, and people rushed out.

"Come on, let’s go!!" Arshad shouted, holding the hands of Sofia and his Amma Jaan. The chaos was too much for the people around them to think about anything other than escaping safely. With much difficulty, Arshad brought Sofia and Mrs. Malik to the door.

"Sofia, go home with Amma Jaan. I will bring Isha," he said, sweating in panic. He hadn’t forgotten Isha for even a second—he wanted to ensure Mrs. Malik and Sofia were safe before going to get her.

"No, you’re coming with us!" Sofia said, holding his hand.

"Isha…" Before he could say anything, Mrs. Malik stopped him.

"Arshad, beta, she is right! Let’s go and wait for Isha outside. She will come. You can’t go inside again. We don’t even know what is happening here," said his mother, her voice full of pure panic. She was too afraid to think about anyone else.

"Amma Jaan, Sofia! You both go! I won’t leave Isha here! End of discussion!"

"You can’t put your life in danger for her!" Sofia yelled.

"I said I won’t leave Isha here, and if it means putting my life in danger, I will do it without a second thought!" He jerked Sofia’s hand and ran inside. Sofia was fuming but didn’t protest further; she held Mrs. Malik’s hand and went to the parking lot.

"We can’t go! Arshad and Isha are there! We should wait for them," Mrs. Malik said as Sofia began the car.

"He went by himself, so he can come by himself too. We can’t wait for him here, Amma Jaan! Can’t you see the chaos?" Sofia said harshly, staring at the car.

On the other hand, Arshad came to the ladies’ washroom to find Isha. His heart was thumping in his chest from the moment he heard the gunshot—he was scared for Isha. But he couldn’t risk Sofia and his mother’s life and wanted to ensure they were safely out before going for Isha.

"Isha!!" he called, going inside, but she was nowhere to be found. He searched every corner of the washroom, growing increasingly fearful with each passing second.

Suddenly, another gunshot rang out, followed by a scream that literally shook him to his core.

"Isha…" he whispered, his voice breaking.

★★★★