"I wonder how many Strangers hate Me, Because of how someone else described me to them."

*****

Khayyum's P.O.V.:

I immediately got up from the breakfast table and hurriedly went out in search of Sheeba. I searched for her in the lawn, her room, in the whole house but she was not there and no one had any idea where she went.

I dialled Sana's number and she answered quickly. "Is Sheeba there?" I asked her impatiently.

"Hello to you too Khayyum. I am doing good and I don't know where she is." came her reply. I cut the call without a proper bye.

I did not know that she would be this serious when we had that conversation. The other day, after the rebuke incident on her injury, Sheeba tried to talk with me a lot of times. I ignored her continuously but at the end of the day she dragged me upstairs and apologized saying she was feeling guilty and she shouldn't have talked like that to me.

Being me, I laughed at her and said that I wouldn't accept any apology and told her to stay away from me and not to talk. She pleaded with me several times and I got irritated and told her to stop eating chocolates till I forgave her and not to cross my path.

I knew the fact that she loved chocolates and she couldn't live without eating it. She consumed at least one chocolate a day. It was like she would die without chocolate.

To my utter surprise, she accepted it. I sighed and went away from her. I forgot about the incident and she too didn't talk to me again.

****

Ali's P.O.V.:

Sheeba informed me that she was going to our tree-house which I built for her in childhood. She was obsessed with tree-houses after watching many movies and told that she wanted to live in it forever. She always had a twinkle in her eyes whenever she talked about it. I always wanted to see that light in her eyes, so I built it for her.

I was talking with my wife when I noticed Khayyum was lost in his thoughts and looking sad. I called him and he didn't look. I went towards him and kept my hand on his shoulder, he looked at me and sighed.

****

Khayyum's P.O.V.:

I was lost in my thoughts thinking what to do now and cursing myself for not looking into the matter and for not taking it seriously when she said it. Someone kept a hand on my shoulder. I looked in that direction and it was Ali bhai. He clearly gave a look that he wanted to know what I was thinking and I sighed.

"Ok. How about we put this simple? I am the reason why she said no to chocolates and I may be the reason of her tears too." I told him truthfully.

"Hmmmm. Can I know the reason behind it?" Ali bhai asked me stressing the word reason more.

"She came to me to apologize and I kind of got irritated and ordered her to stop eating chocolates for me."

"Oh wow. I didn't know that you are so much precious to her that she did it." said Ali bhai thinking something.

"Stop it bhai. She did it because she was feeling guilty."

"As far as I know, you both hate each other. If I were in her place I wouldn't have done that for the person, whom I hate the most."

"You know what bhai? Just leave it. I will deal with it in my way."

Saying that I went outside. I came back at night hoping that she should be at home and I wanted to see her. I couldn't wait to know the reason why she did it. Was she actually guilty or like Ali bhai said she feels I am precious to her?

Keeping all the thoughts aside I went inside and my eyes started searching for her. I found her talking to Afreen. Without wasting a second I held her hand and dragged her to my room. I left her hand after reaching the room but she moved towards the door.

Again I grabbed her hand and pulled her towards me. She stumbled and fell on me. Her hands were placed on my shoulders and my one hand was circled around her waist. We were lost gazing at each other. I slowly pulled her closer without breaking eye contact and her hold on me became tighter as she fisted my shirt in her hand.

I pulled her even more close just leaving a millimeter space between our bodies and she gasped realizing the proximity. Unknowingly the word 'why' left from my mouth and she looked at me. She averted her gaze and started looking down.

I lifted her chin up and told her to talk. The words that left her shocked me. "Did you forgive me?"

"Yes. I did and I am sorry, because of me you were unable to eat chocolates."

"Ok. Its fine and thanks for accepting my apologies."

No words exchanged after that and I still kept on looking at her, whereas she was avoiding my gaze. I again questioned her "Is it the only reason why you didn't eat chocolates because you said so?" I voiced out my thoughts expecting something more from her. I didn't know what I was expecting.

"What do you think?" she counter questioned me. She was looking at me with so much anger in her eyes. I pulled her more towards me now she was totally leaning on me and before I could say anything. She started her ranting.

"Just don't. Don't say anything stupid and don't make me hate you again. Did you notice that I didn't come in front of you and not even talked to you because you said not to come in your way and to not talk to you till you forgive me?"

She started hitting me and she tried to wiggle out of my grip but it only made my grip on her waist tightened and I held her hands with my other hand and looked at her. Tears were falling from her eyes now and I leaned in.