The sleek paint started to trip down. He stopped the little droplet with his thumb from further falling. He immensely concentrated on all the shades he had mixed. This was going to be his last art piece and it had to turn out perfect in every creed. He had worked specifically on this one for an entire week.

He dipped his brush in thick paint and dragged it against her bare skin. Taking another paintbrush, he dipped it in water and coated the previous stroke of colour with it fusing it with the shade of her skin. He had memorised every scar on her body. He had memorised every tiny detail of her mere existence and maybe even her soul. He had traced her entirely with his bare hands and it had been a touch he couldn't free his memory of. She was delicate like the autumn leaf, and he was careful not to crisp her. He feared loss. In many years he feared something, he felt something, he desired something and the irony was she was all too daring to arise every emotion in him and take responsibility for the consequences.

He dried the paint patch with a sponge and continued to concentrate. The muscles in his back had gone stiff and he wanted nothing more than to go back to their room, lay down beside her and just hold her to his peace. But a man like Haani Fateen knew too well that success doesn't come by resting in bed beside your woman. Shaking his head to his thoughts he continued his proceeding. After an hour of final touches, he stared back at his disguised reality.

He had painted her in a white nightgown he had seen her in often. Her shoulders bare to the site. Her every scar painted in a different colour except for the face which was painted natural. The healed gush on her shoulder was embroidered with shades of blue. He had imprinted different colours on her pale ivory skin that was exposed, in place of every mark that was visible there. The painting portrayed the fragments of his perspective of her and her body. To him, the scars held coloured stories of her survival, her sternness, her insecurities, her shattered love, her damaged soul. These were his abstract theories.

He carefully picked up his last painting and placed it in the corner of his art studio to dry. He turned to take a look at all the completed paintings he had painted over the past couple of months now. Every canvas held her face, her mysterious eyes, her bright smile, her different emotions. Over the course of the month, he had learnt a lot about her. Sanari was a woman, unlike others. There are very few people who don't hold faces on themselves, they reflect whatever that's inside their souls without altering anything. She was one of those people, whatever she felt, she let people read it on her. And maybe that was what made her so alluring to men.

He had painted and sketched more than two dozens portraits reflecting her in so many different lights of his conscious. He was fully packed for the exhibition and his confidence perked at him.

Haani smiled at the image staring back at him in the medium-sized wall mirror in his studio. This was his triumph, this was his winning score, he had played his game and he had played well. He had every blank canvas filled with colours over the time of months but he had done it finally. He didn't want to call it manipulation because Sanari had given him herself out of her own will and he found himself guilty of no crime. Now, he can go back lay beside her in bed and let peace engulf him for his hard work was going to pay off.

To an artist, nothing matters more than the eye of his admirer. And catching their eye is the hardest creed in the world. But an artist like Haani Fateen, who's confidence lay in his hard work and inspiration, he cared less for the eye of an admirer because this art is beyond that word. After almost two years of drought, he was finally able to set foot in the abstract world again and so he cared less for what ways he had used to achieve that.

He laid in bed and turned to look at her sleeping form. Her face was visible in the moonlight deliberately. He slightly traced her cheekbone, then her lips. She felt fragile under his touch and he didn't know how little would it take to break her. He sighed and retracted his hand but didn't move his gaze from her. She seemed at peace, in a blissful chord of life and it was linked to him. Reeking on that thought it reminded him of the proposition, his game, his reality. He didn't want to let her go yet but keeping her gave him no reasons anymore. He had extracted out what he wanted from her and that was that.

He didn't want her to know of what his present exhibition comprised of or how he was liberally going to show her off to the entire world; she so much kept herself safe from. It was cruel but it was real at the same time. Maybe after the exhibition, he'd return home to her and decide if that chance with her still prevailed or he was still incapable of feeling anything. Or maybe deep down he knew he might fall in love with her too if she stayed and that was the last thing he wanted to do. Love brings sufferings makes one vulnerable and all of that wasn't something he wanted to happen to him again. He'd have to let her go before he damages the little spark that's left of her.

He was lost in a void. His past feelings clawed at his heart and didn't liberate him to move on or to attach his heart to someone new. No matter if she had given him his heart already, he didn't know if he still had the heart to give her even. She wasn't new to the obscured selfishness of men but he was going to take away the little hope that was left in her and nothing ever made him feel more guilty. But staying with her and pretending a person he wasn't anymore, was far painful than the guilt itself.

~~~~~

Ella engulfed her in a big hug with a bright smile of acceptance spread across her face. "I've heard so much about you." She said in an excited chipper while she pulled back. Sanari stood there uneasy with the new intrusion. She wasn't doing good with the idea of meeting Marcus's wife and having them stay with her for a few weeks while Haani was at his exhibition.

Haani didn't like the idea of leaving her all alone even if he had an army of employs working actively at the villa. But the thought of her being on her own bugged him. She had grown so much on him. He requested Laila to have a stay at his but due to feeling unwell to travel gave her a good enough excuse to send Marcus and his family on a good vacation.

Having Marcus stay with her had Haani off the hook but seeing he was with family, soothe away his worry creases. "I'm trusting you." He warned him in a deadly voice. The irony was, Haani's worry wasn't out of love. It was for a simple fact that he was a well responsible man and anything under his terms and conditions, came under his authorization. Sanari was under his marriage contract and for those reasons, he didn't want anything goes bad. He was soon going to end the contract anyways once he got back.

Marcus held his two-year-old and rolled his eyes at the overprotectiveness of his best friend. He too like Sanari mistook it for his caring. He thought Haani was improving when in reality, Haani only had other plans in mind.

Sanari seated her guests, told them to feel home and walked towards where Haani was heading. Haani stood at the entrance of his house and instructed the men to carefully place each of his wrapped painting in the trunk of the car. He would have every piece delivered to the Ney York art gallery by tomorrow and prepare for his exhibition right away. He was too focused on his job to notice her presence anymore.

This was Haani Fateen. He was emotionless, stern and too serious about his work. He got what he wanted and he already felt at triumph that his exhibition would be a hit of the year and the years to follow. He had played his cards and he had played too well. At the back of his mind, he did feel sorry for the ways he'd chosen to walk and deliberately using a person for his own vile full purposes. The moment he had taken what he wanted, he started feeling distant from her.

"When will you be back?" Her concerned voice grabbed his attention. He turned to look at her worry laced face. "Few weeks." He shortly replied her to which she just nodded her head. She could sense the change in his demeanour but didn't feel like voicing it to him. She took his distant stance for his worry over the exhibition. He was a man who worked hard after all. She hadn't seen any of his art pieces precisely but had seen him work in sweat.

When everything was placed in the trunk, he turned towards Sanari again, watching her frown in worry. "Keep safe!" He didn't feel like telling her he'll be back soon or giving her any false hopes to hold onto. He didn't know what was in fate for both of them after he was done with his exhibition but that was the least of his concerns at the moment. She had somehow turned into something very addictive and he didn't want to lose his sanity again but despite he leaned in one last time before leaving. Taking a moment to stare into her deep sea green eyes, he knew she was anticipating it as well and thus, captured her lips in a deep hungry kiss, pouring all his emotions into it. His hands reached out towards hers and clasped them behind her back, pulling her closer towards himself and refraining her from touching him for he knew if she did, he'd want more than just a farewell kiss. The sudden jerk made her give him more access and deepen the kiss.

Sanari got breathless but nonetheless, didn't protest. She could feel his raw emotions and roughness in the kiss, as if wanting to tell her something desperately but couldn't find the courage to voice it to her. After a few moments he finally let her go after pecking her forehead and turning towards his car to leave. Sanari felt a mix of emotions towards him in that very moment but she gave him a smile of assurance and bid him a farewell. She watched both the cars drive out of their driveway and sighed.

With heavy footsteps, she returned to their living area. It was only then that she noticed the two-year-old trying to drag her father off his seat to play with her. Sanari walked towards her and picked her up, "you're a troublemaker aren't you?" She stared at Sanari's face for a moment and then started giggling. It wasn't going to be so bad without Haani, she thought to herself.

Days past and she got in a routine with the family. They'd spend their day under daylight in the garden. Marcus would talk about his books and writing. Ella and Sanari would bond together and share their own philosophies. They'd talk about old times, grasp a few good old memories. The couple was really easy going. Ella seemed to be Marcus's carbon copy. She shared the same sense of humour, optimism and understanding as Marcus did. And nothing could've worked better for Sanari. She enjoyed her time around them.

During the evenings, they'd mostly plan out an outing and the four of them would have the time of their lives, laughing and mesmerising each moment. Sanari formed an instant bond with the two-year-old. Susan was a very welcoming child. She'd remind her of how Annum used to be as a kid, mischievous, loud, energetic and active kid. Often times she had her sleep in her arms and made her feel warm.

"It's shopping today," Ella announced to which Marcus only groaned. Susan let out a giggle.

Sanari tickled her and hugged her tight, "fine by me." She gave her approval.

They sat in the waiting while Ella was off trying a few items on. Sanari tried her hardest to keep an eye of the mischievous two-year-old. Marcus straightened across her, "Sanari?" She turned her head to his sudden interjection.

He looked at her with a gaze that indicated he was trying to read her out. "How's your marriage going?"

She looked at him a bit fazed, "it's going fine." She tried to assure him but the serious look didn't leave his features. She recalled all the months she had spent with Haani, all the times she had confessed him her feelings, all the moments he had made her feel content with life and that was enough for her to know her marriage was going good. She wasn't in false hopes of having him confess emotions. She had realised already Haani Fateen wasn't a man to show emotions. He feared them, he ran away from them. But he cared and he showed it. That was more than enough satisfaction.

"What about love?" He asked again. "What about it?" She shrugged at him.

"Does he love you?" He needed to know. For he had seen her look at him with those feelings in her eyes. The only thing he saw in Haani's eyes for her was pity and guilt. He needed to know he won't end up breaking her. Either she was too livid or she had already given herself out which most women did when in love.

"Does it matter? He cares and that's what matters most. Sometimes, Marc, you don't need the person to love you, the world doesn't depend on it. Some relations can even work with mutual caring and that's enough." She tried her hardest to emphasise her point.

"Are you sure?" He turned a diplomatic question in her direction.

"Sure about what?"

"That he cares." His statement left her baffled. She opened her mouth to answer him but no words seemed to form. She was starting to have the same feeling she had when she was with Behlul. "He won't hurt me?" It was more of a question than a stern assurance.

Marcus shook his head in pure redemption. He didn't know what games his friend was playing but he did know he was going to hurt her by the end of it. Just because he was damaged and incapable of loving her gave him no right to lead her on like this but only if he could tell her. If only he could tell her Haani Fateen had long given out his heart away but his past wasn't his to tell her. Through the courses of months, he had faith Sanari would bring him back but he saw his hopes turn a shade of grey the moment Haani told him he was planning to leave her.

He didn't keep secrets from his wife and Ella found Haani's recklessness as livid as he did but non could change a thing for Haani always got his ways. They both had known him for years to know how vile he could get. Marcus found nothing better but to fly all the way from London to offer Sanari a chance to a better life when Haani leaves her. He wanted her to work for him and groom to be independent. To say he wished Haani would someday realise her worth and come back for her, was an understatement.

Ella worked as a social activist and knew too well her husband had a soft heart. He couldn't bear someone close to him suffer. Despite what Haani had become, he still kept him close for old times sake and that was one reason why he didn't want him to damage someone's light and he was ready to make amendments in Haani's place even if he did go with his vile proceedings.

~~~~

Sanari fed Susan and put the toddler off to sleep. She let the couple have time to themselves and decided to stay back home with Susan instead. She wasn't feeling too well to go out anyways. Her head kept feeling dizzy. Tired and lazily she walked down towards the kitchen to feed herself. She stopped before the kitchen island and picked up the newspaper. The front tabloid flashed Haani's figure. He was standing tall and board, smiling at something distant with a glint in his eyes. The heading read: "The spectacularly talented artist all set for the opening of his art gallery in just two days..."

She curiously picked the front page that had different pictures of Haani Fateen imprinted on it and begun reading: "looks like after a year and a half of drought, the all favourite artist and self-made billionaire entrepreneur is back on track with his brand new art exhibition gallery. No doubt NYC has been waiting for over a year to have Haani Fateen come up with something new and worth the wait. Guess the wait is over as the young artist has announced the opening of his art exhibition in two days. For insight, he told our reporters that this is going to be by far his best exhibition and he feels excited about the opening. He cheerfully talked about his abstract being a mystery. But we all know, Haani Fateen is no less of a mystery himself..." Sanari stopped reading and dropped back the paper. It had been a week that he was gone now and not once did he call her. Maybe he was busy with work, was an excuse she fed herself.

~~~~

Marcus held Susan from reaching out to grab a handful of sweet candy beans. She whined and cried in protest. "Just let her go Marc." Sanari tried hard to get Susan away from her overprotective father.

"Woah! What's happening?" Ella interjected and stared at them both fighting over her two-year-old.

"With the amount of sugar in her system, Sanari is doing nothing but spoiling her." He sternly declared to which Sanari chuckled.

"Don't tell me you were such an obedient child and kept away from candies. You're only upsetting her." He looked at Ella for help but she raises her hands in defence.

"Your children are going to love you with the amount of spoiling you do." She told her cheerfully. Marcus let go of Susan and she hopped over to Sanari. She buried her head between the crook of her neck and begun weeping. Sanari soothed her calm. She ignored what Ella stated. It was a wish that had lost hopes long ago. She was already under too many favours of Haani to demand to have children of their own. She closed her eyes to the self-defeat.

Ella noticed the impact of her statement on her and shook her head. Since she knew Haani was inclined on leaving her already, it would do nothing but break her. He couldn't even give her a real marriage let alone children. It was the only time when she hated his guts.

Sanari walked with a sleeping Susan in her arms to lay her down in the guest room. On her way back she noticed Haani's study room's door ajar. Maybe someone forgot to close it after cleaning, she thought. Without much thinking, she entered his study and started investigation shelves with too many different kinds of books. He had many books there, from business to art to novels. His study was a library in its own. She noticed his desk at the other end of the room. She walked towards it and started tracing her fingers over the objects placed atop of it. She traced a deck of files, pens, pencils, paper holders, till her fingers fell upon a black leathered diary.

She was missing his presence. Being at his study, made her feel somewhat near him. She picked the diary only to notice something fall off. She picked the fallen picture off the desk with her other hand and turned to investigate it.

She began staring at a young Haani with eyes full of life and a smile that couldn't estimate his happiness. But that was not all. Beside him stood a slender brunette, with light brown almond eyes, pointy nose, chubby cheeks and around the mouth. She was the type you could call naturally beautiful. Her hand held Haani's hands around her waist. Both of them were radiantly smiling at the camera.

On seeing this, Sanari's heart skipped a few beats. With shaky hands, she turned her attention towards the diary. The diary didn't date back to from when the picture was taken rather the year on it indicated it was from recent. She opened it and found Haani's handwriting in carved onto the pages. She started reading through the lines in haste.