Alizeh looked at the bed and then at him who was still holding her from her arm. She glanced around and could see everything was the same way she had left it. Shehryar had guessed what she was thinking

"Everything is at the same place, Alizeh."

She took a deep breath.

"Such an irony it is no? Things are at their place but people are not."

Shehryar was tongue tied. She wasn't wrong. Not at all. He had played an important role in making her feel this way. She turned towards the bed and picking up the pillow started walking towards the recliner. He knew what she was going to do but he couldn't let her.

"You are not sleeping there."

"And why can't I?"

She asked in no non sense tone.

"Because, we can share the bed."

"For your information, we can't."

"Well...Okay. I'll take the couch and you take the bed."

"I don't want this favour from you. Move!"

He rolled his eyes and stood stubbornly blocking her way. Their eyes again collided. He couldn't tell her how amazing it felt to have her back after so long. He wanted them to start afresh together but he knew she won't give in so easily.

"Alizeh, I won't force you for anything ever. I know you don't want to share a bed with me and it is all fine. But don't sleep there. I'll take the recliner. Heck if you want I can even sleep in the balcony too but if only you take the bed."

She raised an eye brow at him.

"You can sleep in the balcony If I want?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Then sleep!"

"What?"

He was surprised. This new demanding streak in her was both amusing her shocking at the same time. She folded her arms on her chest as if challenging him and this told him she was indeed serious.

"Fine! Balcony right? As you wish."

He opened the closet and taking out his nightmare went to the washroom leaving a confused Alizeh behind.

Would he seriously sleep in the balcony?

____________

An hour later

She was tossing and turning on the bed restlessly. At last she got up with an annoyed expression settled on her face and sliding the door to the balcony came to him.

"Shehryar! Enough of all this. Get up! You can't sleep here."

Shehryar turned towards her with half closed lids. She knew he wasn't sleeping. Well nobody could on this hard floor of the balcony.

"You were the one who asked me to. Now I'll sleep here only."

She rolled her eyes.

"I'm taking my words back. Now come back to the room or else you'll get a cold or sprain your neck."

A smirk appeared on his lips. He sat up grinning.

"You are worried for me eh?"

"Worried for you? No."

"Then why you don't want me to sleep here?"

"I...I..."

She struggled with the words and not finding any good reason to come up with got up from there.

"You know what? Sleep where you want to."

Her words made him smirk even more.

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Next Morning

Alizeh was standing in front of the mirror after drying her hair. Shehryar was up and right now was in the washroom. In his stubbornness he slept in balcony and now he was having flu and puffy eyes from all the sneezing. She didn't want to but her heart was not at peace since the time she'd seen him this morning.

The door of bathroom opened and Shehryar came out showered. Her eyes kept on looking at him. He was rubbing his nose every now and then making it red. He came close to her and looked at her face in the mirror.

"I know I got lucky in looks department but stop undressing me with your eyes than I already am."

She ran her eyes on his bare torso as he was clad just in his pants.

"You need to get your head out of your ass Mr. Hussain."

He chuckled and started looking for his clothes in the closet.

"You have got a flue..."

"I'm aware."

He smiled and took his suit out.

"You should've listened to me. But no! Once a stubborn idiot always a stubborn idiot."

"You still know me well. Good."

"Your family will want to know how you got it."

"So?"

"Nothing. It just your Dado and Aapa who are always ready to insult me and now they'll get a chance to hurl accusations. "

He reached her side in long strides and cupped her face.

"Alizeh! They don't need to know what has happened between us. This is our personal matter and I don't give anyone a right to interfere in our private life."

"Very thoughtful of you!"

She scoffed with a sarcastic smile on her face.

"I wish you were this thoughtful in the past too! But...Never mind!"

She left the room making him restless again. There was so much to mend. Heaving a sigh he looked around when his eyes fell on few tablets on the table.

A smile reached his face.

No matter what there was still some hope.

____________

The Hussains were seated together for the breakfast. The table was silent as both Mrs. Naseem and Samia were not happy at his decision at all and showing their dis-likeness was necessary. Rodaba gestured Shehryar not to worry. Things would take a positive turn soon. She was sure of it. Her eyes went towards Alizeh who was coming towards them with a tray in her hand. She smiled at Rodaba's way and started serving Shehryar and her not giving even a glance to Mrs Naseem and Samia. Farhat came there with another tray. They all looked at Alizeh when she took a deep breath.

"Mrs Hussain, Samia,"

She said in a formal way.

"As I'm aware of your not so subtle abhorrence for me I thought how could you be able to eat the breakfast made by me. So I didn't make anything for you. Why to complicate things when they can be dealt in a simple way. Farhat has prepared breakfast for you both just the way you guys like. I think Shehryar and auntie are only people who are interested in me or anything I do so..."

She made her point clear. There won't be any favors she would do for Dado and Samia. Mrs. Naseem rolled her eyes but didn't say anything. She was looking forward to making a fuss regarding the breakfast made by Alizeh but Alizeh didn't give her this chance.

Shehryar stared at Alizeh's confident persona with something akin to admiration in his eyes. The girl had come a long way. She wasn't a pushover anymore. She wasn't going to give anyone any chance of insulting her. On finding his staring at her, Alizeh flashed a mocking smile making him chuckle. Not only had him, but his family also had a long way to go with this beautiful yet stubborn woman.

____________

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He had planned of taking the day off as the tiredness of the chaos happened during Wedding hadn't gone yet and they had the reception to attend in the evening. He was free as of now and all his time was reserved for his wife. The wife with whom he had many amends to make. He entered his room after finishing a call with Imad. Alizeh was sitting on the bed crossed legs with her hair resting on her shoulder. The Newspaper was spread out in front of her while she was talking on the phone.

"Ammara, you don't have to worry about that. Just tell me the exact time of the interview."

He frowned when she hung up and turned towards him.

"What are you doing?"

"Job hunting."

She placed her phone on the side table and got up.

"I have to go to my apartment. Need to get my resume and other important documents. I hope you and your family don't have a problem with this."

She pulled her scarf over her head when he stood in front of her.

"Where you are going for the interview?"

"It's a small firm. Not very popular. SK Designs."

He thought for a second when she raised an eye brow.

"You want to say something? Make it quick. I need to go."

"You don't have to."

"And why so? Look, I know I'm here back to your life but that doesn't mean my responsibilities as a daughter have finished. I have to earn to support my mother and aunt."

"Did I say you don't need to work? I can take care of them, Alizeh. But I know you won't like it. But you don't have to go job hunting. You can work at my office."

"I don't need your favors!"

"Favor? There are no favors between a husband and wife. As your husband I can at least do this for you. Come back and take back your position on the designer's team."

"But..."

"You will go searching for jobs in small firms then what the use of your husband being the top businessman of the city?"

She didn't say anything further which meant she was half convinced. He smiled when she sighed and left the room. Her joining his office meant she would be in front of him all the time. This was the best Idea. The more they would spend time together the more they would be able to overcome their differences.

She hadn't acted that much stubborn as he was expecting and it was a good sign. He knew things were going to get better soon.

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Samia hadn't felt this kind of satisfaction before. Seeing the kids playing around her gave her happiness to no end. She had always loved children and after losing her baby she literally longed for them. But there was nothing she could do regarding this. After Imran's betrayal there was nothing left in her. Mrs. Naseem and Rodaba had asked her so many times to consider the option of remarriage but she just couldn't. She was not sure if she would ever be able to give her hundred percent to any relationship now. The fear of being betrayed and not being able to live up to someone's expectations always stopped her.

"Samia, ma'am."

Imad's voice brought her out of her musings and she looked at him. He had taken her here as she wanted to visit this orphanage and include it in the funds of her organization for annual donations. She was an active member of an NGO working for the welfare of street kids and orphans all over the country. Imad had told her about this place few days back. According to him he was brought up here and this orphanage held a special place in his life. Seeing the fine man that Imad was she wanted to visit this orphanage and to say she was amazed was an understatement. The authorities were providing the children with the best of facilities they could.

"How do you find it? This place?"

He asked sitting close to her on the bench.

"It's different, Imad. The atmosphere is not like the typical orphanages I've been to before. I can see children indulged in so many creative activities. It feels awesome to be here. Now I know where these traits in you have come from."

She looked at him with a smile. It had been three years since Imad joined their company and it took him just few months to be called Shehryar's right hand. She was aware of her brother's business acumen and she also knew how hard it was to please him in the matters of business. But Imad did it that too successfully.

"I'm planning to suggest this orphanage name to my NGO fund."

Imad turned towards her immediately.

"I haven't taken you here for this! My only purpose was to introduce you to the children here."

"It's was an honor for me to come here. The children deserve this. I want to be a part of this beautiful cause. Please, don't refuse. It's their right."

Imad was reluctant but seeing her hopeful eyes, nodded slowly.

"But we'll have to talk to mother Morgana."

"Okay, then let's go to her office."

Samia got up flashing her best smile at the children.

"You are a nice person ma'am. A person with such a beautiful heart."

Samia stopped feeling she was yanked back to the painful past.

"No, Imad. I'm not at all good."

So many painful memories flashed in front of her eyes. Had she been good enough, Imran would never have left her. Betrayed her. She was good for nothing. She had accepted it long back.

Imad couldn't understand the meaning behind this. He knew life for Samia Hussain hadn't been easy. He didn't know what exactly had happened but he had an inkling it was related to her ex-husband. He was no one to probe her to share it with him. Slowly she had started considering him her good friend just because of his involvement in her NGO work. He didn't want to lose it. He knew he had a long way to go. And he was ready for it. After all the path of love wasn't easy.

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