SHATTERED HEARTS

Ch.12.Welcome back home to Sundarnagar...!

Dedicated to all my silent readers for reading my "not so amazing"
Story;) May Allah SWT bless you all.

               The sleek black car entered the tall gates of the beautiful Shaykh villa and screeched to a stop in the parking space. The winter breeze swayed around and welcomed the newly arrived guests. It was silent all around and the afternoon sun was high up in the sky ,engulfing the town in its warm embrace on the slightly windy day.

               The doors of the black Honda city opened gradually and the Shaykh brothers stepped out after their long, tiring journey. Arhaan held the door open for his mother and helped her out while his brother removed the luggage.

             When they were all out, both the brothers and their mom stood infront of the big house, that they once called their home ! It was still the same as they had left behind except for the people that once resided in. 

  
             Afzal Shaykh stood gazing at the house as painful memories gushed forth from his  shattered heart making his handsome face cringe at the bitterness of the pain.
He shut his eyes for a while trying hard to block all of the emotions that were surging through him. He couldn't give in to despair now that he had to be strong for his mother and Arhaan. He had  to pretend to be content atleast no matter how hard his shattered heart would ache in agony!

      Slowly gathering courage, Afzal opened his eyes and stared at his house, his face now void of all the emotions. His gaze drifted to the window of his room on the second floor and a slight smile made its way onto his face seeing that it was still broken. The Shaykh brothers were quite mischievous back then and their cousin Faisal had associated them in this task of breaking the window while playing cricket.

        Afzal sighed and turned to look at his brother who was looking at the same place.

         "I was so proud back then", Arhaan spoke without looking at his brother,"To break your room's window was like gaining a long desired revenge for me." He smiled slightly.

         "And I just wanted to keep it like that to show everyone that you were the culprit. But now that I look at it, I think I made a mistake because I terribly miss my baby brother. "
Afzal stated with many emotions lacing his tone.

          
      "Hey, but I am still your loving brother and you love me soo much, that you confessed your undying lo..." Arhaan was cut midsentence as his brother went back to his "grumpy" mode and turned away from him.

         "Ammi should we get in?" Afzal asked in a gentle tone as he stood beside his mother and placed a hand on her shoulder.

           Their mom was staring at the house, as silent tears rolled down her beautiful eyes. She turned to look at her son to answer him but couldn't find her voice to speak.

          Mrs.Shaykh tried hard to blink back the tears yet they fought their way gushing forth fiercely and soaking her Niqaab with their flow.
 
           Both her sons came to stand by her side none of them speaking a word.After a while, Afzal broke the silence as he took hold of his mother's hands and gently wiped her tears," Ammi you promised me that you won't cry and that is why I agreed to come back.You are breaking your promise now."

      His mom shook her head as she finally spoke in a low tone,"Afz beta, you don't understand, I can't help myself when I look at our home."

        Afzal clenched his jaw suppressing the surge of anger, he furrowed his brows as something came to his mind, "Ammi isn't this house a gift for you? A gift that grandpa gave you on your wedding day?"