Arsh never left on his work without telling his parents, even if it's late into the night. He naturally held Aria's palms between his, "I am sorry for waking you guys up."

He could see Aria concealing her worry to smile at him so that he won't think of them as a weight pulling him down. He thought for a second before letting them know, "A group had sneaked into the country via international waters."

​​

Just an hour back he had traced them but hadn't expected he would be summoned too. He told the truth to his parents because they wouldn't disclose it to anybody and they would be less worried that way and sleep, instead of thinking of him all night until he returns.

Aria faintly smiled with a nod as she patted his hand, "Come home safe." She never says many things whenever he leaves, afraid she might say something wrong and put him in the wrong mood. It's natural for a mother's heart to yearn to keep her son safe.

Arsh hugged her, trying to comfort her, then nodded at Alan, "Mom, Dad, go back to sleep." He didn't know when he could return so he didn't mention anything.

Before he could take more than a step, Aria tugged his hand and uttered her new worry, "Noor!"

Her worry wasn't just because he was leaving now, Noor will have to bear the distance if they get married. It wasn't fixed when Arsh could be promoted and do a safe job. To be frank, she didn't like his choice, rather supported his wishes.

That's what Arsh worried about too. In the past, Noor wasn't meeting him daily and her life wouldn't have affected his long absence. Now he wasn't sure how she would react.

Arsh didn't know if he was wishing to see her concerned towards him or be the same. He was in his dilemma too. He responded to Aria so that she doesn't have to worry about their relationship too. "I will go and see her."

Aria hummed letting go of his hand. The couple saw Arsh vanish to the darkness that even the door closing sound didn't reach their ears.

Alan tugged his wife closer, pulling her to lean on him. He covered the blanket over them, completely aware she won't get a wink of sleep without his assistance.

Resting her head on his chest, Aria wrapped her arm and clutched his nightshirt trying to calm her heart. After a few seconds of silence, Alan uttered as though he could see the future, "Don't worry… It's probably going to be his last work."

Aria's hum sounded like the whine of a child, complaining why did Arsh have to fancy dangerous jobs. She used to think Arsh might take over Alan's place at a very young age just like Alan did at twenty-two and Rowan got to retire early. Anyway, she would never force Arsh to do something he doesn't like, he had his life too.

She assumed Arsh might get promoted listening to Alan so she tried to grab some sleep else Alan would stay awake because of her.

----

At Wood's mansion,

The moonlight was penetrating inside the bedroom through the bay window erasing the darkness in the bedroom. Arsh watched Noor sleeping peacefully on her bed. He didn't want to wake her up. At the same time, he didn't want to leave without telling her.

They had just got together, he didn't want any misunderstanding to bubble between them. So his resolve to let her know won. A part of him was uneasy without knowing how exactly she would react.

He first locked the door, in case she screams out without identifying him in sleepiness. He wasn't scared of getting caught, he broke into the house so he didn't feel the Woods would take that lightly.

Taking a deep breath, he went to the bedside and softly tried to wake her up, "Noor… Noor…" He saw her smile while stirring in sleep. He turned on the night lamp and again tried to wake her.

After another try, she opened her eyes. Her first reaction was, "A…"

Arsh was expecting her to scream at intrusion without seeing him properly. He quickly covered her lips, his other hand pointed at himself, "It's me…"

Noor blinked twice, rubbed her eyes, then reached for his face. She gently poked him, once she confirmed she didn't vanish to air and she could feel his skin.

She pulled herself up to sit on the bed with confusion. Arsh took his hand away from her lips and put the pillow behind her back to lean on.

She frowned when her eyes landed on his dress. Her initial question to ask, 'what are you doing here so late in the night?' changed to, "This logo?" She pointed to his arm where the special task force logo was present.

She only knew she didn't do something important but had no idea what it was. "That's right, that's where I work."

"Oh…" Noor uneasily responded, without understanding why her heart was beating so crazily even after seeing it's Arsh. She knew he wouldn't do anything to her and he might have a reason to reach her, in the middle of the night.

Arsh reached out for her face and rubbed between her brows, as he got her attention back on him. "I am leaving for work." He said simply.

Noor nodded obediently, still not grasping why he was there to tell her that.

Arsh saw her calm and composed without any reaction but a hint of confusion for his presence. He didn't elaborate as she was aware if he goes out he wouldn't return for many days.

Since he didn't know when he would be back, he stood up thinking he probably didn't make space in her life yet. A part of him was glad as she would live her days normally in his absence, a part of him was disappointed with her reaction.

He rubbed her head, "Go back to sleep."

Noor didn't respond, she felt his sound unhappy instead of indifferent. Seeing him go towards the bay window, Noor followed him, scratching her head without understanding why he was going to the balcony.