Shadow of Doubt

Chapter 26

Chapter 26
Sa'ad's POV

I felt light headed. All my life I've managed to stay calm in dire situations, my BP has never hiked, not even once. But the minute I heard this news, I knew my blood pressure had taken a new low.

I knew all the symptoms of going through shock and I was having it as I watched Baba Kabir speak animatedly.

"No, there has to be a mistake. There isn't anybody she loves, he promised her that he'd never marry her off to someone she doesn't love." I explained to Baba Kabir as he announced to me that Hafsah was getting married by the end of the week, on Friday.

"Well, I guess you two should have known better than to go against the rules he set for you." Baba Labaran spoke up this time around.

I couldn't believe them! I practically sent them there to talk to Baffah Sadiq and make him consider giving us another chance but they were telling me a different story. I even jokingly told Baba Labaran that if Baffah Sadiq forgave me, I'd appoint him my wakil and that they could set a date for the wedding.

"If he happens to agree to this and he asks when we'll be ready, when do you-"

"You can finalise it there, as long as it's Hafsah. You can marry us off at the spot."

They really thought I was joking because they looked at each other and laughed.

I've been keeping Hafsah updated about my plans via text and all she did was pray for the best. We never talked on phone even once ever since the day she told me it has got to stop and I respected that. I asked her if she would be giving us another chance if her dad happened to forgive me and she assured me if daddy was okay, she was okay too.

Where was this coming from then?

"Baba, how?" I was crouched down in Baba Kabir's living room, feeling heat seeping through my skin as I nervously cracked my knuckles.

"I'm sorry, Sa'ad."

"We only talked for less than a month, it was entirely my fault!" I told them. "She doesn't deserve to be punished because of my mistake, why would he do this to his own daughter?"

That was when I realised I was asking the wrong people. I immediately stood up and excused myself.

I arrived at Baffah Sadiq's house in record time and for some reason, I had goosebumps because I knew Hafsah was in there. It's been a while since I've been under the same roof with her.

As if on cue, I saw her coming out of her father's wing with her face puffy and her eyes bloody red. The minute our eyes met, she began crying again and I realised standing there with her will only make my emotions get the best of me, so I walked away from her. As if I didn't want to ease her pain.

For the first time in my life, I entered upon Baffah Sadiq without warning and without asking for permission. He only sensed my presence and turned around.

"Sa'ad?" He said in his usual nonchalant manner, as if he hadn't just ruined mine and his daughter's life. "I didn't know you were here, I was going to tell you to take the next week off. I realised you won't want to be here for Iram's wedding."

My next move was to fall on my knees in front of him, eyes filled with tears. "Don Allah, I beg of you, give her some time to find someone she loves. Please don't marry her off to someone she doesn't love."

"I would have given her all the time in the world, if she hadn't gone behind my back and started talking to you, Sa'ad." He said with a chuckle. "I'd have given her all the time in the world to find someone she loves but she betrayed me."