Wishpered Promises Of LoVE

The End

In a vast chamber,
   Abu Tariq was sitting on a lavish couch with wine in his hand….a constant smile was seen playing on his lips. Opposite to him, Zehnab was sitting down with a straight face…as if she were a robot. "Why don't you say anything? Are you not happy with the news that I got that girl married somewhere else…that is out of Zeeshan's reach,"Abu Tariq, raised his one eyebrow at Zehnab…who seemed to gain back her senses just right now.
    "No, your majesty. It's nothing like that. You would do something and I would not like it, is that even possible?"Her face had a wide smile now…trying to beguile her husband faking her happiness. Abu Tariq looked at Zehnab with a scrutinized gaze…not believing her at all. "Tell me the truth, Zehnab. I want to hear your actual thoughts,"he once again sipped on his drink…enjoying the tannic taste that blended in his tongue.
   "That…that your highness, I was thinking…was it necessary to hurt Zeeshan like that? He…is just a kid…and…"
   Before Zehnab could complete her sentence, the loud sound of the glass smashing against the tiled floor made her pause in her tracks. "Shut up, you brainless women. Child? You call him a child?''Abu Tariq gritted his teeth…throwing daggers through his eyes at Zehnab's direction. If looks could kill…then Zehnab would have surely been six feet under the ground.
    "That child of yours is busy destroying me…he not only intervened in my way to get that Zohra married off to the old Nawab*(king)* but also he attacked Kuwait. Zeeshan beat the hell out of the former Nawab. And then got him arrested. Can you imagine the audacity of your son? Even if Zeeshan won Kuwait…it still doesn't make him the king. Because the war was unannounced. People are pointing their fingers at your son…for his this kind of attitude. But he doesn't seem to care at all…whereas I'm the one who has to pay for his deeds.
   Moreover, when I asked your son for an explanation behind his actions…all he said to me was that he didn't regret a single thing he did. Not only that, he also notified me that it was Nawab's good fortune that Zeeshan didn't kill him with his bare hands…only to set an example as to what happens when someone tries to forward their disgusting hand towards his sister's. If in the future it's needed he would gladly do it again,"Abu Tariq seethed in anger, when he narrated the past in short. He had been searching for some way to keep Zeeshan in his control…because out of the blue, Zeeshan seemed way too powerful to him which was certainly not good news for Abu Tariq except for a death threat. Yet no matter how much Abu Tariq was trying to find the reason behind Zeeshan's strength…he seemed to fail in all his attempts to do so.
    "But your highness, giving him such a pain to get him back to the right path…was not it too much?"Zehnab once again questioned her husband. Today it was the first time she was talking back to Abu Tariq. Till date she accepted anything and everything he asked from her or asked her to do. But this! Zehnab didn't know why this one time her heart was telling her that it was not going to end well.
   Abu Tariq marched towards Zehnab, he was about to say something to her again…when the door of the royal chamber opened quite loudly, that too without any prior notice. It grabbed the attention of both the king and queen…both of them were quite astonished upon seeing the person who just took an entry in the room.
   "YOU? How dare you come inside the room without taking my permission?"Abu Tariq raised his finger at Zohra, his eyes trying to bore holes inside her. But it didn't seem enough to scare her today. Instead she matched his eyes, looking at him with the same intensity. Her eyes were red…bloodshot red.
   "The same way you came in the middle of my brother's happiness,"the next moment, came her reply. Taking everyone in the room off guard. Getting a reply…a rude reply at that…from Zohra, was like watching a fish, flying in the sky. She threw the letter in front of Abu Tariq,"How much? Just how the heck much will you stoop low, Abu Tariq?"She screamed…at the top of her lungs. It really might be once in a blue moon, when a daughter confronted her father, calling him by his name! But did he not deserve it?
    "What did you just call me?"Abu Tariq was flabbergasted at first, not being able to believe his own ears. He blinked his eyes several times in order to confirm whether his mind was playing any tricks with him or not! "Zohra, what kind of insolent behavior is this? He is your father, did you forget all your ethics and manners?"In between, Zehnab reproached her daughter…trying to make her realize how much of an ugly sin she had committed!
    Abu Tariq also gained back his composure, his face turned red in extreme anger. He opened his mouth to say something when Zohra bursted into laughter. A laughter that echoed throughout the whole chamber. Zohra's condition really made Abu Tariq and Zehnab baffled this time. They looked at her as if she were crazy. "Ohh! It's been a decade I have heard such a funny joke, Mrs. Abu Tariq,"Zohra wiped away her tears that came out of her eyes due to excessive laughter.
     The next moment, her face was totally blank…void of any kind of emotions. Looking at her now, neutral face, nobody would believe the fact that she was laughing here crazily just awhile ago,"Father? Kindly ask him the question whether he even knows the meaning of that word or not?"Her statement was directed towards Zehnab, who in return could say nothing. "Oops! What will you say to him? After all, he is your preceptor. And you do everything…that he asks you to do,"Zohra's next target was Zehnab, herself…making the already quiet lady to be more speechless.
   "Zohra, you are crossing your limits now, you inaus…."
   "Shut up…just shut up! I'm inauspicious? Fay is inauspicious? What do you think about your own self, huh? You are the only auspicious pure soul alive on this planet?"She stopped in the middle, a few tears dropped down her eyes. She wiped away those stray tears harshly, before continuing,"Since the day I started understanding things I have understood one thing that my own biological parents don't love me. In fact, they…they loathe me to the point that they locked me up at the farthest corner of the palace so that even my shadow could never reach them. I still had compromised with everything because I knew I had my brother with me. My Bhaijaan never let me or Fay to feel outcasted the way you both made us feel. If you want to know the definition of Father or mother…then go and ask it from my Bhaijaan. Because for the past 19 years he has been playing the role of being the parents in our lives.
   And everything was going alright as well. I or Fay never bothered any of you as well. We were just happy in our own little world which we had made with love. Then why did you come in between our happiness? Why did you snatch the only person Bhaijaan loves? What did you get by pushing him in the sea of endless pain? What was his fault? Tell me? He…he is not a daughter, so his fate should not have been like this, right? You should have treated him as your pride like you always did. Why are you doing this with him? Why?"At this point, Zohra broke down into tears. The tear stained face of her Bhaijaan was churning her heart into uncountable pieces.
    "The reason behind his miseries is Zeeshan himself. I had even given him the address of his so-called lover so that he could stop her wedding. But he chose to stay mum. Now what can I do about that?"Abu Tariq said with an innocent face…as if he didn't know anything. "You…you are lying,"Zohra lifted up her face…looking at him in disbelief. She didn't believe a word this man just said. It was not possible at all…for her brother to back out like that when his lover was at stake.
    "It's your choice to believe it or not. I don't have all day to submit proofs in front of you. If you don't believe me…then go and ask your Bhaijaan,"Abu Tariq turned around to go out of the chamber…when Zohra's words stopped him,"Then the letter? Why did Ruhani write that you told her everything about Bhaijaan and now she hates him after learning his truth? My Bhaijaan doesn't have any secret that could be hated by someone else. What did you tell her?"Zohra counter questioned him…desperately wanting to understand the whole situation.
    Abu Tariq didn't turn towards her, only tilted his head before answering,"I only told her that your Bhaijaan is a crown Prince and he is soon going to handle the position of the Sultan of this realm. Now if she hates rich people then what's my fault in that?"He shrugged his shoulders…lying to her face ever so effortlessly. He indeed told Ruhani that Zeeshan was the crown prince which broke his heart somehow…but not to the extent that she would start hating him. She tried to understand him, but Abu Tariq's next action did no justice in her that trial. As he showed her a couple of morphed pictures of Zeeshan with some girl whom that boy didn't even know.
The photos were - such as if Zeeshan was either hugging that woman or kissing her forehead. When Ruhani asked Abu Tariq regarding who the girl in that photo was? Without any guilt or reluctance, he replied that she was one of Zeeshan's many concubines. Whereas, Zeeshan never even looked at anyone with bad intentions till date.
    "And yes, today was the first time that you disrespected me due to your own emotional turbulence…hence I'm letting you go. But the next time if you even dare to think of behaving with me like this once again…I would not stay quiet like this again,"warning her, he left the room…leaving a totally messed up Zohra behind.
—-------
    In Zeeshan's room,
"Why did you go there, Zohi? Who told you to take such a big step on your own?"Zeeshan yelled at Zohra, who was standing at one corner of his room. Shedding her tears in silence, while flinching whenever Zeeshan shrieked at her. It was the first time he was talking with her in such a manner.
    "Answer me, damn it,"Zeeshan banged the table in front of him. Right now, he was angry….too much angry at Zohra for what she did. "Bhaijaan, I…I had gone there…to..to ask him…wh..why did he do this to you?"Hearing her answer, he closed his eyes…his hands turning into fists. "You should not have done that. You should not have gone there, Child. Not for me…or for anyone else,"he cupped her face, his tone now softer than before.
    "But I cannot see you in pain, Bhaijaan just the way you cannot see me in tears,"she stared into his eyes….making him close his eyelids. He didn't want her to see the never ending affliction in his eyes. "Bhaijaan, he*(Abu Tariq)*…he told me that he had given you the choice to stop the wedding of Ruhani. He had even given you the address. He even told me that he only told Ruhani about your being the crown prince…but reading Ruhani's letter I don't think it's enough of a reason for her to write the things she wrote to you. Abu Tariq has done something more than vicious, Bhaijaan. We need to find it out soon…and Allah forbids but the man Ruhani was married to overnight…if he turns out to be as vicious as Abu Tariq, then? We need to save her, Bhaijaan. I'm sure she must not be happy without you as well. We need to be quick because I don't trust that Abu Tariq even a single bit,"Zohra revealed all her thoughts to her Bhaijaan…not wanting to delay things any further.
   "We are not going to do anything about Ruhani. She has moved on, married someone else. She is happy with her husband hence, I don't wish to bring her back into my life once again. I will move on as well. Moreover, what you heard from Abu Tariq was true, he indeed gave me a chance to bring back Ruhani here…but I declined it,"Zeeshan's tone was indifferent…so was he! As if the separation from Ruhani was not hurting him a bit. Only if that would have been the reality!
    "What are you saying, Bhaijaan? Why did you decline it instead of going to get her here?"Zohra asked him, she could not help but get surprised with his impassive attitude. Zeeshan turned around from Zohra…because lying on her face was something he could never do. "Why should I go? Did she think about me before making the decision to marry someone else? If she could get married with someone else due to her lack of trust in me…then why should I become the crazy man in love just for her?"Zeeshan made it all seem like an egoistic obstinacy.
   "I don't believe you, Bhaijaan…I don't believe a word you are saying,"she denied, to take in any of the lies he just uttered.
   "Zohi, I…"
   "Zoh, can you please leave us alone for a moment?"Before Zeeshan could proceed with his talks, Shahriar entered the room…interrupting them in between. Zohra didn't say anything more, only nodded her head and took her leave.
   After Zohra's leaving, Shahriar locked the door of the chamber…making sure that no-one could barge in between. "I have checked all the details about Ruhani and her husband. He is Nouman Sheikh. Age 24. He has a small yet prosperous trading business. And the more I have gathered his information, everything is positive regarding him. He is a kind hearted honest man. He is the son of Ruhani's father's friend. At first Nouman didn't want to marry Ruhani as she is only 20, but at the persistence of Ruhani's father, Nouman had no choice but to agree to the marriage.
  More interesting fact is that, the very next day of their marriage, Nouman hired a tutor so that Ruhani could complete her education. As you had encouraged Ruhani earlier for her studies which might have attracted her attention…hence…."Shahriar stopped in the middle of his talks, not wanting to discuss the topic of Ruhani anymore. It would do no good to Zeeshan except for hurting him.
    But quite unexpectedly, Shahriar saw him sighing in relief. "Zeeshan, are you…okay?"The question was quite hesitant. "I don't know, man. Maybe I would never be okay…but at least now I'm satisfied that Ruhani is in safe hands,"Zeeshan gulped the dried lump that had formed in his throat. His tongue tasted bitter when he joined someone else's name with his Ruhani's. Yet the question arose…was Ruhani really his? Did he have the right to call her his anymore?
   No, he didn't. And he would not as well. "Why would she not be in safe hands…when Nouman is one of your henchmen? What did you think if you did not tell me that you ordered Nouman to cancel the wedding of Ruhani with that old man…I would not know? I don't know why you, yourself, didn't marry her instead of Nouman?"Shahriar questioned Zeeshan…not understanding anything what Zeeshan wanted to do.
    "That's because when Abu Tariq placed the condition of Ruhani, he put another choice right ahead of me….which was about Zohi and Fay. He asked me to choose one among my sister's or my love. He warned me that if I were to choose Ruhani then I would never have a say in any of the decisions he would take for my Zohi or Fay. I will have to agree with whatever he would decide for them. How could I let that happen…knowing the monster he was? How could I abandon my babies, Shahriar? How could I ruin their lives just because of my own happiness?"Zeeshan's voice cracked….tears brimmed in his eyes. Waiting to just drop down…one by one. Without wasting another minute, Shahriar hugged his best friend. He now understood the reasons behind every action of his best friend. Zeeshan stopped Ruhani's marriage with the man twice her age by one of his trusted men Nouman, who was also the son of Ruhani's father's friend. And at the end instead of marrying Ruhani himself, Zeeshan asked Nouman to marry her.
  Today Shahriar's love and respect for his best friend increased a few more folds.
—---------
    After two and half a month later,
"Bhaijaan, can you please not go to war? Or take us with you as well,"both Zohra and Fayza were crying like newborns clutching onto Zeeshan as if their life depended on him.
   "I will be back soon, my crazy girls. But to come back, I need to go there first, right? And how would I go if you both will keep on shedding these precious tears? Did I not ask you both to never waste these pearls ever?"Zeeshan wiped their tears with both of his hands…trying to console them. How much he hated leaving his sister's here? Yet, he had no choice but to do so only. After all, he could not take them to the battle arena as well, could he?
   He at first knelt down on the floor, getting at the same height of Fayza. Cupping her small face, he placed kisses on both her eyelids, along with her forehead,"My sweetheart, your Bhaijaan will come back soon. And I will bring a lot of gifts for my Fay doll when I will be back, okay? Now no more tears, Little doll…because these don't suit my naughty Fay at all,"saying that Zeeshan intentionally pulled Fayza's nose.
   "Bhaijaannnnnn,"and as expected the little girl was irritated to no bounds…she glared at him with her small almond shaped eyes…as if daggers would start showering upon Zeeshan anytime soon. Stifling his laugh, he immediately raised his hands in the air, surrendering in front of her to save his life,"Don't scare me like that, Sayyida. I'm an innocent kid…spare my life this one time. In return take the chocolates I have in my pocket,"he acted to be scared…looking towards Fayza with a frightened face.
   Fayza started giggling at her brother's dramatic behavior. She pulled his cheeks while placing kisses on them,"I love you, Bhaijaan,"with that, Fayza wrapped her small hands around his neck…Zeeshan smiled widely at his sister's adoration for him. He also wrapped her in his arms,"I love you too, my little Princess."
    Staying like that for a minute or two, both of them broke the hug as Zeeshan took out three bars of chocolates for Fayza,"It's for my naughty Sayyida,"he forwarded the chocolates towards her…who could not contain her happiness. She squealed happily….making him chuckle at her cuteness.
    After consoling the little one, Zeeshan looked towards his another sister…who was now back facing him. Zohra immediately wiped away her tears, when he stood in front of her….she presented a fake smile on her lips, in an attempt to hide her tears from her Bhaijaan. But….was that even possible that she was crying and he would not know that? Zohra covered her head with her veil, as she started reciting the 'Ayatul Kursi' - one of the most magnificent verses of the holy Quran, in her mind. Upon finishing the whole verse she slowly blew air over his chest,"May Allah always protect you and bless you in the path of what is best for you,"she prayed for him.
    Once she was done, he cupped her face in between his palms,"Will you bid me goodbye with tears in your eyes?"Hearing him, she lowered her gaze…today the salty water drops were getting too unruly…to not listen to anybody. "Zohi, we all are soldiers, right? And what is the prime duty of a soldier…hmm?"
   "T..to…to always give the first priority to his…or…her motherland…and to save the country from any kind of danger,"Zohra spoke, stammering in between. With each of the words she spoke, her insides churned more in pain and fear. She knew all these promises…after all, she has taken these same oaths the first time she joined the fencing academy. "Then as a soldier of this country, how could I show my back to our motherland…when she needs me the most? Child, if you are going to be like this how will I focus on anything else?"Zeeshan cooed to her, trying to make her understand that it was difficult for him as well. Yet at times facing difficulties is what the situation demands.
   Zohra didn't say anything…only hugged him tightly…hiding her face in his chest. She was crying hysterically now,"Th..then take me…with you…also. I…I'm also…a soldier,"she said hiccuping in between. Zeeshan kept on caressing her hair and back,"Shh…silly girl. I know you are a soldier but your training has not finished yet, Zohi. You are still not prepared to be presented on a battlefield. But don't worry. The day is not far when by the grace of Almighty Allah, both you and I will lead the army together,"Zeeshan patted her head, making her a bit calmer than before.
    Zohra slowly retracted herself from her brother's embrace while forwarding her hand towards him,"Promise me, Bhaijaan, that you will not let any harm befall on yourself. You need to come back…safe and sound…for us, Bhaijaan. Promise me."
   "I promise you, Zohi…I will take absolute care of myself. And if Allah wants I will be back soon In Sha Allah,"he held her hand, sealing the promise. "I need to come back, Zohi…not for anything else but for both of you. And today, I also promise you that In Sha Allah very soon you will join me not only in the battle arenas but also in the royal court. This battle is way too important for me…because my victory in this war would ensure the freedom of ours. Abu Tariq wanted to suppress you by saying you are not good enough for this kingdom, right? Very soon you are going to be the one to rule this whole realm of Oman In Sha Allah,"he once again reminded himself about his determination from all these years. It was not for a few days that Zeeshan wanted Zohra to sit in the throne of Oman…rather it was one of his strongest desires to see her wearing the royal crown…which could only be owned by the ruler of the kingdom.
   "Now you promise me that you will also take care of this Jaan of your Bhaijaan,"it was his time to ask for her promise,"I will, Bhaijaan. And you should always know that your Jaan will be missing you so much,"Zeeshan placed a kiss on her forehead,"I will come back even before you will realize that you are missing me, Baby. Just wait for me a little bit."
   Standing on her tiptoes, Zohra also kissed his forehead,"I will be waiting for you eagerly. Fight the battle and come back victorious, my Bhaijaan,"she encouraged him at last…making him smile widely. At last he took their leave.
—--------
In Shahriar's room,
    "Promise me, Shahriar…no matter what happens to me…you would never leave Zohi and Fay alone,"Zeeshan forwarded his hand towards Shahriar asking for the promise from him.
   "I would never leave them alone anyway, Zeeshan…but that does not mean that I'm letting you go into the battlefield alone. We are best friends. And Best friends are together in everything…through every situation…come what may that is, remember? You are my brother…and I cannot just let you go alone,"Shahriar argued, not wanting to leave the side of his best friend. Which friend in his right frame of mind would leave his best friend alone…to die?
   "I will be fine, Shahriar. I have the whole army…but my Princesses have no-one except you and me. I cannot trust them with Abu Tariq. You are my only hope, man. With you here, I can even die in peace,"Shahriar punched Zeeshan on his stomach, making him groan,"Ouch, that hurts, crazy man,"Zeeshan glared at his best friend….making him glare at him too. "If you don't want me to hurt you more…then just keep your mouth shut. You need to come back…safe and sound, you get that?"Shahriar was hell serious now…no hint of mischief or anything was present at this point.
   Zeeshan hugged his best friend,"Bro, we both know it very well that…wars need sacrifices. And I don't know what I'm staking up for…but I promise I will try to be back in one piece,"although Zeeshan said everything so casually…so normally, yet only he knew at this point, he was anything…but normal! "You will be fine, Zeeshan…In Sha Allah, you will have to be. If not for anyone else yet for Sharah,"Zeeshan creased his brows in confusion, looking towards Shahriar with a 'Care to explain' look.
    "And who is Sharah by the way?"He could not help but ask the question finally…when he didn't get any answer from Shahriar. "Sharah Tasmian Ibne Junaid Khan, your niece…mine and Zoh's future baby,"hearing Shahriar's imaginations, Zeeshan shook his head
…as a tired sigh escaped his lips. "Hey, what's with that reaction? Of course, we will have a baby girl at first who will look just like her mother, my Zoh. And then we can have as many kids as we want. But our first born….."
    "Nothing can be done with you. I just hope my future niece or nephew would not be this crazy like you….otherwise I cannot even imagine how hard it will be for my Zohi to handle more shameless crazy punks like you,"Zeeshan clicked his tongue….teasing Shahriar with a mischievous grin. "YOU!"Shahriar tried to go near Zeeshan but before that he ran away from there,"Don't come after me…otherwise I would not let you marry my Zohi. And take care of both of my precious treasures…they are your responsibility till I return,"with that Zeeshan went out of Shahriar's sight.    
—---------
   One month later,
"Why can you not understand, Rian…Bhaijaan needs you more than us? And if you don't want to go, then at least let me go…please,"Zohra almost yelled at Shahriar…her hands clutching onto the bloodied letter she received this morning. Tears dropped down her eyes…without any restraint.
   Shahriar cupped her face, wiping away her tears,"And why don't you understand that I have promised Zeeshan that I ain't going to leave you both alone here…at any cost. Come what may he would not appreciate my presence there over my absence here, Zoh. As far as letting you go there…is impossible, Zoh. I would not allow that…not now at least. Please try and understand…I have sent my men to the battlefield. Nothing will happen to Zeeshan. I promise you that. Please calm down a bit,"he said, gently…trying to make her understand.
    "How can I calm down? How can I? Don't you see the letter? The situation at the arena is not good. Most of our soldiers are injured…and one among them is Bhai…Bhaijaan. After seeing his…his shirt stained in his own blood…how could I stay in peace?"Zohra asked him…her eyes, her voice, everything about her was screaming only one thing…PAIN! Extreme pain. Shahriar didn't say anything…it was not that he didn't want to go to his best friend…but he just could not leave from here, leaving the girls' in the den of the devil as well.
   Zohra held his hand,"Rian, Bhai…Bhaijaan and Fay are the only family I have. I…I cannot lose any of them. I will die if anything goes wrong. Please try and understand. It's…it's okay, if you don't want to go then please let me go to him. You stay here and take care of yourself and Fay. I will handle it there,"her words felt no less than sharp swords slicing his heart into pieces. He wanted to stop her from saying such things…but all of a sudden he seemed frozen…not being able to speak…or maybe not knowing what to say!
   Seeing him this quiet, Zohra lost her hope…maybe he would not let her go nor he would go there himself. This very thought was enough to kill her! Her emotions were all over the place…while she didn't even know how to react exactly at such a point?
   She covered her face with both her hands…as she started sobbing…hysterically, kneeling down on the floor. Shahriar's heart was churning in pain…shattering into millions of unseen pieces…looking at the person in her breaking point whom it belonged to. Shahriar closed his eyes as a lone tear escaped from there,"I'm sorry, Zeeshan…but I need to break the promise I made to you. Hope you will forgive me for this,"he murmured within himself as Zeeshan's smiling face came into his view while his hold tightened on the bloodied shirt of Zeeshan.
   Shahriar opened his red eyes, before squatting down in front of Zohra,"I will go, Zoh,"he caressed her hair, making her lift up her head towards him. He once again nodded looking into her eyes….that were filled with so much uncertainty.
—-------
   That same day,
Shahriar left for the battlefield…only goal is to bring Zeeshan back home…safe and sound.
    From the balcony of Abu Tariq's chamber,
   looking at the disappearing figure of Shahriar…Abu Tariq smirked devilishly,"Now is my time to pay a visit to my loveliest daughter."
—------
In Zohra's chamber,
   "Api, Bhaijaan will be fine, right?"Fayza asked Zohra…her head was kept on Zohra's lap.
    "In Sha Allah, Fay…Bhaijaan will be fine. He will have to be…and Rian too,"Zohra whispered the last parts of her statement….her hands were busy caressing Fayza's hair. "Attention! Sultan Rustom Bin Abu Tariq is making his valuable presence here,"the sudden announcement of the arrival of the Sultan caught both the girls' inside the room…quite off guard. And why would it not? After all, the King was one of the very rare guests to see in their chamber.
    "The Sultan? Why would he come here…out of the blue?"Fayza could not help but voice out her thoughts. It was really too strange for the king to enter their room…specially when he hated their whole existence. "Don't know…let's hear it out from him,"Zohra replied, as they both got down from the bed.
   "Api, he would not hurt us, would he?"Fayza was scared…too scared to face her own father. Why not? When the father was Abu Tariq! They didn't even know how it feels to have a Dad…a dad who actually loves his children. A dad is always supposed to be the hero, the protector in a child's life…a Dad is someone who was definitely not like Abu Tariq.
   "He would not, Baby. I'm there, right? You don't need to get scared, okay?"Zohra cupped her younger sister's face, trying to encourage the frightened soul a little bit. Although she herself was not liking the idea of this sudden arrival of Abu Tariq. There was some eerie feeling….that was creeping her from inside. Yet, she knew it was an inevitable meeting. So, instead of freaking out, she took a deep breath, preparing herself for what was coming. There, Fayza nodded her head, she had full faith in her Api.
    The door of the room opened, as Abu Tariq walked inside…in all his glory. "How are you, my beautiful daughters?"Abu Tariq asked the girls'....a wide smile stretched out on his lips. Hearing him, both the girls' lifted up their bowed down heads…looking at him at first…and then at each other…trying to figure out whether what they heard just now…was that even true? Curiosity, disbelief and perplexity was all evident in their faces.
   Beautiful daughters? Did he just address them with such a sweet endearment? Where did the words like-ominous, inauspicious, disgusting go? Abu Tariq chuckled looking at their baffled expressions. "What are you both looking at? Is there something on my face?"He asked them the next minute…in his honeyed voice. Both Zohra and Fayza seemed to be trapped in their own reverie…not believing a single thing happening around or with them. They must be dreaming…yeah, they had to be! Cause none of these could be real or could it?
    When Abu Tariq still didn't get any response from the dazed human beings present in the room, he cleared his throat trying to gain their attention yet again. And this time it worked! "Okay, I can understand both of your inner turmoils. So, I would not disturb you guys much. Let me get straight to the point. I wanted to talk with you, Zohra,"Zohra nodded her head,"I'm all ears,"she was somehow prepared for this. Knowing he would not come to them unless he had some ulterior motive behind that.
    "In private,"the next minute Abu Tariq kept forward his first condition. Fayza's hand immediately clutched onto Zohra's dress…as if the little kid also knew how unsafe it was to leave her Api with that monster of a man! "I would not leave you alone,"looking towards Zohra, she demanded quite loud and clear…specifically for Abu Tariq to hear. It immediately snapped a nerve inside Abu Tariq….who wanted to imprint his five fingers on Fayza's cheeks for showing such a kind of audacity. All his children were going out of his hands…each of them were becoming rebellious. And rebellion…was something that Abu Tariq hated the most! Hence, he had a plan…a plan using which he would set an example for all of them…that none of them would ever dare to even think of double crossing him ever again.
   "Don't be like this, kid. This is a matter for adults. And you are still a kid. So, you should stay out of this. Too much curiosity is harmful for one's own self,"there was a slight warning in his statement…yet he knew it better to keep his tone absolutely sweet. He could not lose his cool…not at such a point. Everything was set…now all he needed to do was to be careful in playing his moves.
   "What would be the problem if I…."
"Fay, you wait outside the room…for awhile, Baby. I will call you inside soon,"Zohra interrupted Fayza, insisting her to go outside. "But Api, I…."Fayza once again started speaking when Zohra gestured her something with her eyes…. requesting Fayza to go out of the room. Fayza didn't argue any further…and left the room in silence.
…………Flashback ended………
    "I don't know what happened inside that room. But when my Api came out of that room, she seemed to be a completely changed person. As if…as if she had gone through a huge storm inside. Her eyes were red in anger and pain…she wanted to cry…yet not a single tear left her eyes. She didn't tell me anything about their conversations inside the closed doors of the room. But in the next two days, my Api got married…married with the man thrice her age….leaving me, leaving us, leaving the only person she loved…behind.
   I cried a river at her wedding when that man was taking my Api away from me…but she! She didn't cry for once. Before sitting inside his car, she came to me and hugged me tightly as if wanting me to relinquish with herself. And I also hugged her back with that same urgency and love. I somehow knew that…it was the end. I would never be able to hug my Api like that…ever again. That day, she wishpered in my ear,'Take care of yourself, Fay. And make yourself so strong in the future….that people would fear to even look into your eyes…make yourself capable enough that the whole world would bow down in front of you…be that much invincible that no amount of power could make you budge from your place. Don't be a name only, Fayza…rather be a history. A history people will remember decades after decades. Become someone whom people would not give respect only…rather people would fear as well. Your presence might have the affect to give birth to terror inside other's heart…so that no-one ever dares to touch even a single hairstrand of yours…against your will.' And that was it…these were the last things she said to me…before she went…she went faraway from me. So far…that now I cannot reach her…even if I want to,"while narrating everything, Fayza broke down into tears…once again.
   
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Hey dearies,
   I'm back!!
Ahh! Long timeeeeeee since I last updated. I missed you all a lotttttt. And I'm just so overwhelmed seeing all of your care, concern and love. Everything means soooooo much for me❤️❤️ Thank you all sooooooo veryyyyyy veryyyyyyyy much, my sweeties 😘😘😘 Love you all sooooo much ❤️❤️❤️
   So here was a longgggg chapter for all the days I was not here. Hope all of you liked it. Finally, the past part is over! Pfft! I didn't plan it that way in the beginning...but while writing I guess I exaggerated things and got in a bit more details than I should have. Yet I hope I didn't bore all of you much. Thank you soooo veryyyyy much for all of your support during all of my thick and thins. From tomorrow onwards the story will find it's way back on track.
   Hope all of you'll like it.
And do share your valuable opinions regarding today's chapter. I'll be eagerly waiting for that.
    Love you all. Stay safe and tuned.