ISHQ, EK IBADAT | (Completed)

Episode - 09

The next day, Amreen knocked on Zoya's door. Zoya opened it, her eyes red and puffy from crying.

Amreen offered her a cup of coffee. "I thought you might be feeling sad."

Zoya declined, "No thanks. You can go."

Amreen insisted, handing her the coffee mug. "Forcing yourself on someone can harm you. If you like someone, let them decide if they feel the same. You have no right over someone until they give it to you. Don't ruin your life under someone's influence. Forced relationships never last a lifetime."

Zoya snapped, "You don't need to interfere in our family matters."

Amreen replied, "It's a family issue, but it involves a girl's life. I was helpless, but you're not. You should be grateful to Allah for giving you supportive parents. Don't fight with them because of someone else's words. Not everyone has the same luck as you. Forgive me if my interference upset you. I have no right, but I don't want you to spend your life in an unhappy, forced relationship."

As Amreen walked away, Zoya slammed the gate shut in anger. Unbeknownst to her, Elhaan and Zeeshan overheard the entire conversation.

Zeeshan whispered to Elhaan, "Such a young girl spoke so wisely."

Elhaan reflected, "Time can reveal a person's true strength. I wonder what she's been through."

Zeeshan replied, "Only Allah knows. Let's go, we're getting late."

As time passed, Amreen still couldn't recall her past. She felt torn between her desire to reunite with her own family and the love and respect she'd gained from Elhaan's family. She had become especially close to Dada Jaan.

Meanwhile, Amreen's mother, aided by Shahnaz and Zafar, continued their search for her. But after months, they had found no leads, leaving them all distressed and helpless.

Amreen's journey was a testament to the complexities of life, where past and present, family and found family, and identity and belonging intertwined in unexpected ways.

One night, after a futile visit to the police station, Amreen's mother, Azka, Shahnaz and Zafar, sat together, feeling hopeless.

Zafar said, "I don't know where else to look. We've searched everywhere, but there's no sign of Amreen. Even Sohail Uncle seems genuinely clueless about her whereabouts."

Shahnaz added, "We've done everything we can, gone everywhere we could, but we haven't found Amreen in all these months."

Azka's worry turned to despair, "What if someone has harmed my daughter? What if she's..."

Shahnaz and Zafar quickly comforted her, "Don't say that, Ammi. I'm sure she'll be fine. Don't lose hope."

Zafar continued, "We have faith in Allah. He will reunite us with Amreen. Don't give up, Ammi. We can't lose hope, for Amreen's sake. We'll find a way to reach her, somehow. Have faith."

As they hugged Azka, she broke down in tears, her heart aching for her beloved daughter.

Zafar's phone rang, breaking the silence in the room. He excused himself and stepped aside to answer the call.

"Assalamualaikum, Dad," he said, his voice a mix of respect and warmth.

"Walaikum assalam, beta," his father replied, his voice filled with concern. "Alhamdulillah, I'm fine. How about you two?"

Zafar's eyes wandered back to Azka and Shahnaz, who were still embracing, trying to find comfort in each other's presence. "We're fine too, Dad. Alhamdulillah."

His father's tone turned inquisitive. "Where are you all? You haven't been calling or messaging lately. Is everything all right, beta?"

Zafar hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Yes, Dad, everything's fine. We've just been busy."