Dil e Nadaan

Chapter 13

Rizwan

He had not returned all night , they had called his family lawyer late in the night, the moment the man had agreed to settle this out of court.

The rest of the night had been spent on negotiating the deal.

He finally entered and noticed his wife was sleeping on the sofa.

He sat down next to her exhausted from last night. It felt like it had been days but actually just a couple of excruciatingly long hours.

As if she felt his presence she stirred awake,
"Kya time horaha hai" she asked him as she sat up.

"Its almost 7" he told her , she sat straighter,
"Kya bana?" She asked him, and he sighed ,
"We reached an agreement" he told her this time closing his eyes ,
"What agreement?" She asked him worried ,
"He asked for 10coror" he told her , making her gasp in shock ,
"What?!but Daniyal said he didnt harrass anyone!" She said her hand on her heart.
"Safa" he said sternly,
"He beat up a man in front of witnessess , the man cant walk for at least a few months and even after that there will be a permenant limp" he told her the actual gravity of the situation,

"On top of that the man says he has the girl as a witness who is willing to confess" he told her ,
Suddenly angry,

"I'm tired of everyone assuming I dont know my son well enough to know he would never do that to a girl , but he did beat up the man and put himself in such a vulnerable position." He said to her tired of everyone assuming that he thought the worst of his son when infact he was trying his best to protect him.
"Woh toot jaye ga agar woh yale naa gya" she told him,
"Woh bacha hai Safa, uss ne iss sab se sabat kar diya hai k woh bahar akela nahi reh sakta, yaha mein hun ussay protect karne k liye waha kaun hoga bolo?"he asked her and she didn't have an answer to that.

"I'm trying to do the best I can right now , I already have to fight with his bitterness and anger I cannot have you fighting with me on this aswell." He told her tired and exhausted.

She placed her cheek on his shoulder understanding him and the weight he carried on his shoulders.

Suddenly she got up, and looked at him,
"Aap ne paisay kaisay arramge kiyae?" She asked ,
He sighed again ,
"I used up our retirement fund" he told her ,
"I've paid half of the ammount the rest is over a monthly plan" he told her ,
"But Rizwan, how will we manage?" She asked confused and worried ,

He cupped her face ,
"I'll take the city hospitals offer of being their principal ," he had refused it always because he already had extremely hectic working hours as a surgeon.

"Rizwan" she whispered as tears filled her eyes,
"What about your retirement plan" she asked him, it was the one thing he had always talked about , retiring early with very few working hours so that he could spend that time with his children , it was one of the reasons he had worked so hard.
He shrugged ,
"Its not even a sacrifice, I would give my life for him" he told her his voice cracking at the end , as he pressed a kiss to her head, this time the tears escaped her eyes .
"He's lucky to have you as a father" she told him and he didn't say anything his lips still on her temple.

"Don't mention this to anyone Safa, promise me okay" he told her firmly.

"I won't don't worry" she assured him.

She looked at him thoughtfully,
"Howmuch do you have to pay every month?" She asked him,
And he sighed ,
"I don't want you to worry about this okay, I'll handle it" he told her avoiding the question.

"We can sell the house ? Or any other asset or property" She suggested ,
And he shook his head ,
"There's a reason I only used my retirement fund safa , the properties and assets are our childrens future , I cant sell those to save one child , but I can give up my retirement for my child , the rest of our assets will ensure that our children don't ever suffer  financially , and if we sell the house where will we go" he asked her ,