Perfect Together

chapter sixteen

"Whoever receives guidance, receives it for his own benefit. Whoever goes astray, does so to his own loss. No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another."

Quran [17:15]

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"How long do you think you'll be staying inside that room?" Kinza shifted uncomfortably as she heard her brother's voice.

She has been in her room for the past one week, ever since they found out about her pregnancy. She couldn't meet anyone in the eyes, especially her brother. His disappointed face stabs her heart every single time. Her eyes went wide as the door unlocked on its own and the familiar tall figure of Asfandyar stood outside with the spare keys.

"Bhai... Please leave me alone." Kinza turned around, not having the guts to face him. Her actions are such, she regrets the very moment of letting Ahmed touch her.

"I'm not here to talk with you. Rather remind you that your final exams are in a few days. I wasted my money to get you into this college. You better not let that go in vain. Get the hell up and study something." He ordered her in the most un-Asfandyar way and she felt tears welling in her eyes at the cold and distant tone he has used.

"I will study... But, I have left a few of my notes in the classroom." She replied hesitantly, still not being able to meet him in the eyes.

"I got them already." Only then did she notice a pile of books in his hands.

"I wasted my money on this stupid course, Kinza. You better don't fail anything." She flinched as he threw the books on her bed and left from there without another word.

"Bhai..." She called him after mustering up some courage and Asfandyar stopped feeling his heartbeat increase rapidly. He felt so mad to be around her. Every time he saw her face, the betrayal keeps flashing in front of his eyes and he can't help but feel like a failure.

He failed to teach her good values. Otherwise, she wouldn't have done something like that. He felt like the biggest failure.

"I'm so sorry, Bhai." She whispered with her head bowed down. He gritted his teeth and turned around, "not once did you think about us before doing something so cheap, Kinza... Where did we go wrong?"

"It's not you, Bhai. It was my choices and my mistakes. Please don't blame yourself. It was all me" Kinza cried, feeling sick.

"Where is your boyfriend now? It's been a week since you're pregnant. Why didn't he come and meet us?"

This was one thing that kept bothering him again and again. He was so worried about her future and the baby. People are going to tarnish her character and he doesn't think he'd be strong enough to face all those.

"He's not picking my calls." She hiccuped, feeling ashamed.

"Oh yeah." He felt angry like never before, "what the hell should I make out of it, Kinza? So that's it now?"

"He broke up with me." She cried hard, and he felt his heart clench painfully.

"Stop crying damn it, there's no use of it. You should have thought well before sleeping around like that. I don't know what to say, Kinza." He marched off from her room angrily whilst slamming her door shut.

Tears of regret streamed down her cheeks, as she locked the door. The fact that he referred to her studies as a waste of money spoke how broken he was.

Asfandyar was someone who strongly believed in education. Especially the education of females, it will always help them in the future at some point or another is what he thinks. But she shattered his trust and faith in her and changed his very opinions and principles. It was very disheartening. Her brother didn't deserve it.