"You're ready?" Zaniyah asked, adjusting her dupatta, as Arzel walked in, nodding.

"Yeah, I'm ready," Arzel replied with a smile.

"What gift did you buy for him?" Zaniyah asked, chuckling. It was the first time Arzel had gone shopping for a child.

"Toys, because kids usually play with them," Arzel said frankly, walking towards her.

She nodded, turning around. He slid his hands around her waist and gave her a brief kiss on the lips.

She smiled and whispered, "We will be late."

"I don't care," he said, lifting her to sit on the table in front of the mirror.

"Arzel, don't," she said, pushing him slightly.

""At least let me kiss you properly," he said, bending to her level.

Zaniyah gave up and let him do what he wanted. He slowly placed a finger under her chin, lifting her face to meet his gaze.

Breathing onto her lips, he kissed her slowly, moving his hands into her hair. Desperate to capture her whole lips, he kissed her harder and deeper, making her gulp. She tried to break the kiss, but he wasn't in the mood to let her go.

"Ahh," she moaned when he slid his tongue into her mouth, exploring and claiming every corner. She tried to match his level of desperation but failed, wrapping her legs and arms around his waist and neck, giving him full access.

"I won't stop if I start, Zaniyah," he whispered between kisses, then kissed her deeply one last time.

He broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers. "We'll continue this tonight," he said, caressing her cheek before standing up and fixing his coat.

She breathed heavily, resting her head against the mirror. He noticed her reaction and approached her, kissing her neck, making her flinch as she opened her eyes.

He kissed her neck and jaw completely, then caressed her back to calm her down. "Are you okay?" he asked softly. She nodded lightly.

He picked her up in his arms and carried her downstairs to the parking area, setting her gently in the passenger seat. They both drove off from the Khan manor.

_________________________

"This is pretty!" Zaniyah exclaimed as she stepped out of the car, wrapping her arms around Arzel's arm.

"The theme," said a voice from behind them.

"Hi, Arzel, I'm Maria... remember?" the woman asked. Arzel smiled and nodded.

"Shahan's wife," Arzel confirmed with a nod. "Meet my wife, Zaniyah," he added as Zaniyah smiled at the woman.

Maria smiled at Zaniyah and hugged her from the side. "Congratulations," she said, noticing Zaniyah's baby bump.

The couple smiled at her, and the three of them went inside. "Shahan, look who's here?" Maria called out, grabbing her husband's attention.

"Arzel!" Shahan said with a laugh, as Zaniyah let go of Arzel's arm to allow him to greet everyone.

A group of men approached to meet them. One of them remarked, "Can't believe a politician invites a mafia today."

Arzel chewed his inner cheek before responding. "A businessman also, who keeps a politician like you in his pocket," he replied with a smirk.

Zaniyah, who had been chatting with Maria, finally turned to see the man, and her whole body shook.

"He's here, Areeb," she whispered, her entire body trembling at the mere sight, remembering their last encounter at the brothel where he had been drunk.

Areeb's attention turned toward Zaniyah, and he smirked. She quickly looked away, but not before he noticed her baby bump.

"Let's go for the cake cutting. Where's Zayan?" Shahan said, grabbing everyone's attention.

"He's with the maid," his wife replied as everyone gathered around the cake.

A child came running and tripped, falling in front of Zaniyah. Her eyes widened as she tried to bend to help, but Arzel stopped her. He quickly grabbed the boy's hands and picked him up.

"Be careful, boy, you'll hurt yourself," Arzel said with a laugh, brushing off the child's coat.

"No one can hurt Zayan Khan, not even this floor," the boy declared, amusing Arzel with his words.

"And who said no one can hurt you?" Arzel asked.

"No one. I'm strong enough to protect myself," the boy replied confidently, making everyone laugh.

His father noticed his rude behavior and started to intervene, but Zaniyah held the boy's small hands and said, "Happy Birthday."

Her words caught his attention, and he turned from Arzel to Zaniyah.

For the first time, Zayan smiled, not at Zaniyah but at her baby bump. "You are pregnant, ma'am?" he questioned.

Zaniyah nodded. "Yes, I am."

"When will the baby come out?" he asked, frowning in curiosity.

"We don't know if it's a boy or a girl yet," Zaniyah said with a soft laugh.

"It'll be a girl, I know. And when she comes, I'll play with her," he said with a huge smile on his face.

Everyone thought he was acting like a normal child, but he was becoming quite possessive over something that hadn’t even come into existence yet.

"You can," Zaniyah said, caressing his cheek.

"Let's go, Zayan, for cake cutting," his mother said, picking him up.

Zaniyah chuckled as they all went to the cake-cutting ceremony. After the cake was cut, Zayan came running back with a piece of cake on a plate for Zaniyah.

"For you," he said, smiling widely.

"Thank you," Zaniyah replied, her smile mirroring his.

After a while, Arzel planned to leave for home. Just as they were about to go, Zayan approached Zaniyah and said, "Take care," with a huge smile.

Zayan's mother felt overwhelmed; her child had never talked to others like this before, never.

After bidding goodbye, they left.

________________________

"Zahra and Kabir are coming," Arzel said, making Zaniyah frown.

"This late?" she asked, and he nodded. As the bell rang, Zaniyah ran to the gate and saw Zahra with a huge hamper in her hand.

She frowned, and Zahra winked at her. Kabir stood behind until Arhaan joined them with Huraira.

"You both were together?" Arzel asked hurriedly, seeing his sister.

"No, they came with us. I called them," Zahra said, glaring at Arzel.

He nodded as they all came inside. Zaniyah was confused and kept looking at Zahra, hoping she would explain the late-night visit.

"Chill, I'm pregnant," Zahra said, holding Zaniyah's hands. It took Zaniyah a moment to process her words.

Finally, looking at Zahra with wide eyes, she uttered, "You're...?"

"I'm pregnant," Zahra repeated, smiling. Arzel looked at Kabir, who was standing there with a grin.

"Saale, party de," Arhaan said, and Kabir nodded. Arzel came over and hugged him.

"Bromance," Arhaan said, joining in the hug.

As the three men looked at the girls, Zaniyah bombarded Zahra with questions about dates and pain.

Arzel chuckled and went over to them. "Congrats," he whispered softly, looking at Zaniyah.

"Calm down, there's no rush," he said, caressing her back.

"No, but I'm so excited!" she said, jumping up and down slowly.

"Finally, the bunch of happiness is coming together—" Zaniyah began.

"Dadi is coming here to stay," Huraira said with a smile.

Zaniyah nodded. "You all stay here tonight," she said, her excitement at its peak.

As Kabir and Zahra shared the news with Dadi as soon as she arrived, her face lit up with a big smile.

"Arzel," Zaniyah said, turning towards him as he helped her in the kitchen.

"Can I go to Bua Ji's for a few days?" she asked, making him stop in his tracks.

"No," he replied simply.

"Please," she pleaded, giving him puppy eyes, but he still shook his head.

"You're pregnant, Zaniyah, and you're in your seventh month. I don't want even the slightest pain to come to you," he said firmly, making her pout.

"Nothing will happen—" she started to argue, but his hard gaze silenced her.

She looked down, pushed him away, and went to Dadi to complain about him.

"Please, tell him, Dadi... it's just for a few days," Zaniyah said, hoping for support.

Dadi nodded, understanding her. "I will—"

"You don't have to. She's not going anywhere. She's pregnant, and I can't compromise her safety. end of the discussion," Arzel's voice interrupted them.

Zaniyah scrunched her nose in annoyance and glared at him. Arzel grinned at her reaction until Dadi, getting up, said, "Come, Arzel, I want to have a conversation with you."

He nodded and followed her out of the room.

______________________

"Why did you deny everything she asked for?" Dadi questioned as soon as they stepped outside the gate.

Arzel took a deep breath and whispered, "Her condition is sensitive. I can't risk her or the baby's life at all."

His words made Dadi look at him intently. "You know she doesn't have anyone in this world after Kabir, and even then, she only met Kabir after ages. Her closest connection was her mother, and she's gone. Zaniyah is completely alone."

Dadi continued, "You're busy with your meetings, and you don't leave her at the mansion. You're keeping her alone here all day, and now this. Do one thing, Arzel—leave your job for a few days."

Dadi's words made him reflect

on everything. He nodded, taking a deep breath.

"I'll do that," he said respectfully, not arguing back.

______________________