Love Means Sacrifice

Ch. 66: Taste of Married Life

"Koi bhi le imtehaan, chahe lele meri jaan, jaane anjaane, tu kabhi na chodd naa. Rok loon saansein bhi, waqt kya cheez hai? Saamne hi rehna, dil kabhi na todna. Khud ko tujhe saup ke, wada kar liya. Ranjha ban ke ishq thoda zyada kar liya."

("If anyone takes a test, if they wish even take my life, but knowing or unknowingly, don't you leave me. If I hold my breath too, what is time? Remain in front of me, don't ever break my heart. By giving you all of me, I have made a promise. By becoming Ranjha, I loved a little too much.")

- Mere Liye | Akhil Sachdeva | Broken But Beautiful 3

Farhan's P.O.V.

Zahid had gone into shock. He was silent and motionless, staring into nothingness, until a crew came to search the waters and ocean floor to the extent possible. Upon seeing them, he was adamant on going into the water too, repeating Mehwish needed to be saved, the tears spilling from his eyes showing no signs of stopping. Two policemen and I held him back with great difficulty.

Once he was overcome with another spell of stillness, I managed to get him into the car. It was nearing 2:30 AM by the time we reached Noureen Aunty's house.

I wanted nothing more than to go to sleep and wake up to find out all this had been a bad dream.

I pulled up to the driveway.

I didn't know what to do with Zahid. Would he feel comfort in the house with everyone there or would it be more overwhelming for both Zahid and Noureen Aunty if they saw each other in their given conditions? Perhaps I should take Zahid to his house and have Ayaan Uncle come with us while Javed and Ayaara stayed back with Aunty. Zahid was emotionally exhausted, he needed to sleep.

I left Zahid in the car, telling him that I would be back in a few minutes, but he didn't respond. He was so engrossed in his numbness that my voice probably didn't even reach him.

I rang the doorbell and Ayaara answered.

I had already spoken with Ayaan Uncle while Zahid and I were at the scene, relaying to him everything the officers were saying and how the stuff they had found belonged to Mehwish. She looked at me with swollen eyes, an evident hope wanting me to tell her that it's all a lie, that her soon-to-be sister-in-law, the girl she considered an older sister wasn't dead. I placed my hand on her shoulder and curled my lips inward. Her eyes watered again before travelling over my shoulder to her brother. Before she could ask or go to him, I explained his state and my idea. She agreed that I should take Uncle.

I followed her to the living room.

Ayaan Uncle and Javed came towards me. Noureen Aunty was asleep on the couch with her head in the lap of another woman who was caressing her head. I had to stop Uncle and Javed from going to Zahid before sharing my thoughts of Uncle coming with me. They nodded in agreement.

I questioned Uncle on who the woman on the couch with Aunty was.

"Nadira Apa, Bhaji's elder sister, just arrived an hour ago from Pakistan to attend-" Ayaan Uncle couldn't finish his sentence. He took a deep breath, "She gave Noureen Bhaji sleeping medication. Her blood pressure had risen significantly."

I nodded before Uncle went to explain to Nadira Aunty that he would be leaving while Javed and Ayaara would remain back.

Javed walked over with Uncle and I to the door so he could see Zahid, but the three of us stood there in shock. The car was gone and so was Zahid.

Zahid's P.O.V.

I walked into our condo and my legs gave out once I took a few steps into the living room.