*Maaz's point of view* I opened my eyes and found Rabiya sleeping opposite me on the bed. Only her head was slightly visible to me since she had covered herself in the blanket. Suddenly yesterday's events played in front of my eyes. I fisted my hands in frustration and throwing away the blanket I got up from the bed. I walked to the dressing room to draw out my clothes, where my gaze went to the mirror, and I noticed something on the dressing table. What is this? I move closer to find a pair of golden earrings. How dare she to put her earrings here? This is my bedroom, my dressing room, and my house. She should understand. And I'll make her understand. An evil smirk spread across my face. She should understand that she is not my wife, just a daughter-in-law of my parents. I went to the bathroom, where my blood got another boil. Her clothes hung on the hooks. What do you think of yourself? I mumbled while grinding my teeth and threw the shampoo bottle I had nearby. "Rabiya, I want to throw you out from my life just like that lifeless bottle," I angrily said, staring at the bottle. "But what to do? I'm so helpless," holding my forehead, I sighed. I picked up her clothes and threw them in the already filled bathtub. Hahaha! I mentally laughed evilly, and an evil smirk formed on my face. I felt like a winner. Rabiya, this is just the start. In the coming time, you will find my real side. You don't know anything about me, and I promise you, you will be surprised. I will make your life hell. No, no, not hell, but worse. Wait, Maaz. What the hell are you thinking? Why do you want to make her life a living hell? What has SHE done with you? The human side of my soul questioned me, and I was answerless. Don't make Rabiya suffer. She is NOT the culprit. Shut up! Everything is fair in love and war, and this is a war, for losing my love so I can do anything. I stood under the shower, busy in the argument between my heart and my brain when I heard a knock on the bedroom door. *Rabiya's point of view* "Hm, mummy~" I mumbled. *Knock-knock* "Mummy, let me sleep for ten more minutes!" I scream and hide my face with the blanket. Wait! it's something different. The blanket felt feathery soft, unlike mine. "Rabiya~ Maaz~" I heard the sound. "Oh my god!" My eyes flew open, and I suddenly realized where I was. I turned to the other side, but his side was empty. "Maaz~'' Badi ammi's voice came after another knock. "Coming!" I jumped out of bed and ran towards the door, but after taking a step ahead I almost fell due to the pajama. Luckily I maintained my balance. Where is he? I mumbled, then realized, he must be in the bathroom as the shower could be heard. I opened the door and found badi-ammi standing with a maid. "Still sleepy?" badi-ammi asked, and I shook my head. But it was a big lie since I was sleepy enough that I could sleep while standing. "What are you wearing?!" Badi-ammi asked and she burst into a laugh. Even the maid who stood behind her giggled at me. I realized, I was wearing Maaz's white-colored kurta pajama, which was very loose for me. The sleeves of kurta hid my fingers and the pajama was nearly a palm bigger than my length. And if I talk about its fitting, then... The kurta was almost double in width than my own. The icing on the cake was my hair, which I hadn't dried and combed last night, and now they looked like a crow nest. "Actu- actually, I didn't have any other clothes, and he- he said to take his clothes, so I..." I replied hesitantly in a hoarse voice, as my nose was blocked. "Maaz said to take his clothes? And what happened to your voice?" Badi-ammi asked but she was amazed at Maaz's behavior. "I slept with wet hair and AC was running on max cooling, so I caught a cold," I informed her. "Oh! My poor baby, I'll give you medicine for your cold." Badi-ammi said lovingly just like my mummy and I nodded. "But in this, you look like a little kid, who likes to wear their elders' clothes," She added playfully and happily. I felt embarrassed and bowed down my head a little. "Where is Maaz?" Badi-ammi asked. "He is in the bathroom," I replied and she nodded. Meanwhile, we both heard the sound of opening the door. Before I could turn to see him, badi-ammi interrupted me. "Get ready soon, we all are waiting for you at the breakfast table," She said. The maid passed me a dress, some jewelry boxes, badi-ammi gave me a vanity box which she held. "Thank you!" I said to badi-ammi slowly, while holding all the things. Badi-ammi caressed my head. "Get ready," she said and I nodded. Badi-ammi left the room, and I closed the door. I turned with the hope that I would see his face, but he was stood facing his back to me. He was wearing navy-blue trousers with a tight-fitted mint green t-shirt. His hair looked so silky and bouncy. The only part which I could see was his arms... his tanned, but muscular arms. I was dying to see him. I began taking baby steps to the dressing room, which was attached to the bedroom. After keeping everything in place, I came back to the bedroom to set the bed. I spent a few minutes setting the bed, but the entire time my gaze was fixed on him as I wanted to see him, but he didn't turn my side. Maaz, please... please turn to me, Maaz. Please, just a single glimpse. My eyes were fixed on him. How stubborn is he? Can't he turn to my side, so that I can see him? I mumbled under my breath childishly. He moved a little, making me afraid that he heard me. He went to the adjacent balcony, without even giving me a glimpse. After a long sigh, I walked back to the dressing room. Picking my clothes, I entered the bathroom. Haaaaw! What? My eyes widened when I saw my favorite dress floating in the bathtub. "How dare he put my new dress in the tub?" I said in anger. Badtameez! Jangli! (Ill-mannered! Uncivilized!) I mentally screamed while placing punching his back in my thoughts, but my rage wasn't at rest. I changed in the dress badi-ammi gave me after freshening up, and went to the bedroom, which was empty. ''Where is he? I want to ask him, why he did that,'' I mumbled in rage. When I didn't find him, I applied a little makeup, just mascara, and eyeliner with pink lipstick, wore gold dangling earrings and a gold ring in hurry, and then ran out to go downstairs for breakfast. But, it was a big corridor. Where should I go, left or right? I asked myself, confused, with no idea as to where to go. I moved to the left, but after some steps, I was stopped by a manly voice. ''Rabiya, where are you going?'' I turned to the source of the voice and found a handsome young man standing there. Is he Maaz? was the first question that popped up in my mind. ''Where are you going? "He repeated. "Downstairs... for breakfast," I replied looking at him. "Come with me. I'll take you to the dining room," He said and I followed him, without even knowing who he was. I only recognize badi-ammi, bade-abbu, and Abdullah bhai since I attended his marriage around six years ago. But I didn't meet Maaz in the marriage. "Rabiya," I heard badi-ammi's call when I entered the lavish dining room. "So, you've already met your younger brother-in-law!" Badi-ammi asked me and I looked at him. Oh! So, he is Raahim, not Maaz. After greeting bade-abbu, I took my seat beside Umema bhabi, who was Abdullah bhai's wife. I felt hungry because I didn't eat anything since last night, except for my pani-puri. The entire family was sitting but I didn't find him. I was very angry with him but still, my heart wanted to see him. "What happened Maaz?" Abdullah bhai and bade-abbu both asked together when he entered holding his mobile phone. "I have to go to the office for an important meeting. Some foreign delegates are coming..." He was talking to bade-abbu but I was busy noticing him. The sharp features on his square face, his bright complexion, beautiful lips, and his light beard. Altogether, he was the owner of outstanding looks. I wanted to avert my gaze but it seemed impossible. He is my husband, My mind said proudly. I felt my heart beating in a completely different way. It wasn't like that I never saw a good looking guy. I had many friends in my school and college who looked equally handsome, but none of those belong to me. He is mine, I thought pride. My lips turned into an upward curve, but suddenly I remembered what he had done with my clothes and focused on my breakfast. I ignored him and didn't even glance at me for a second. *** *Third person's point of view* Thanks to this meeting, I at least got a chance to leave the house and this Rabiya. I don't want to even look at her, Maaz thought as he had his breakfast. He felt relieved. Shameless person! Don't you have any shame on what you have done with my dress? Rabiya mentally snickered at Maaz. "Zunni, how are you now?" Waqaar asked when a little girl entered the dining hall. "Not fine, dadu-jaan," she replied innocently and ran to Raahim. "Who is she?" Zunera asked Raahim as she pointed a finger at Rabiya. "She is Rabiya," Raahim replied. "Your Chachi," Asma added. Maaz angrily stared at his mother. "And Rabiya, meet our Zunni!" Asma chirped in a friendly manner. "But Maaz chachu told me, that Chachi's name is-" Zunera questioned, but her mother cut her off, as she knew what the little was about to say. "Zunni, complete your breakfast," Her mother said politely. She is not your Chachi, she is not my wife, Maaz screamed in his mind. He got up from the chair with a jolt after violently pushing his plate. "Maaz, complete your breakfast," Abdullah yelled when Maaz was dashed outside, but that did not stop him. How much rage he has? Idiot, Rabiya asked herself, but she wasn't scared of his rage anymore. Khadoos, Rabiya added after rolling her eyes in her thoughts. Everyone's sight was fixed on Rabiya, they were thinking about her and Maaz. "Why are... you all are looking at me?" she asked nervously when she saw everyone looking at her with a tense gaze. "Beta, don't worry. I'll talk to him. Everything will be fine, In Sha Allah," Waqaar said to Rabiya, and she only nodded. "Rabiya, are you done with breakfast?" Asma asked her and she nodded. "Then go and check if Maaz needs something, help him in getting ready for office," Asma instructed Rabiya, who widened her eyes at her mother-in-law. "Me?" she exclaimed. "Yes, you! Who else will do his work?" Asma questioned Rabiya in return. What is this yaar? Mummy told me to take care of him and now badi ammi is saying to do his work. Am I his caretaker, or what? Rabiya asked herself petulantly. "Okay, badi-ammi," Rabiya said and helplessly stood. But even before she took a step forward, "Ammi, I'm going!" Maaz's loud and angry voice echoed in the hallway, and he left the house ignoring everyone. *** *Rabiya's point of view* I entered the bedroom after spending the entire day in the living room with badi-ammi and Umema bhabi. I felt tired and just wanted to sleep like a dog with three heads, without any tension. But that man... I found the bedsheet and blanket all messed up. "MAAZ!'' I ground my teeth in annoyance. You'll have to pay for it. I set the bed again and lay down to sleep. But then I remembered, badi-ammi didn't give me any night-clothes. I hit my head with my palm. "Where is my mobile phone? I'll call mummy to send my clothes," I began searching for my mobile, but then realized that when I came here with badi-ammi, I didn't have my mobile. It must be with mummy. "What the hell is going on in my life, I don't even have m mobile phone with me now!" I mumbled in frustration. I went to the dressing room and picked Maaz's clothes, not a kurta-pajama, but a trouser and t-shirt this time. Changing into them, I hung my clothes in the same place as last night. "Now dare to throw my clothes in the bathtub, I'll throw your entire collection in the dustbin," I said looking into the mirror while pointing out at my reflection as if he was standing in front of me. Challenging him made me feel much better, and I lay down to sleep. After some time, my slumber got disturbed by the sound of the door opening, and my Mr. Khadoos entered the room. He looked very handsome, and for a second I forgot about my anger after looking at his stunning face. But he didn't look at me. He entered with his gaze lowered. ''Go to hell, the lowest part of the hell,'' I mumbled and turned to the other side when I remembered my dress and the bed. I covered myself with the blanket. He turned off the light when I thought he noticed me sleeping. Really? He didn't try to disturb me. My anger calmed down a little. I lifted my head to see him, but seeing him enter the bathroom, I lay back. After a couple of minutes, I felt him laying down on the bed, and I scooted to the corner of the bed to maintain the distance. I felt him moving away from me, as my eyes closed.