Make Me Your Villain | ✓

Chapter Thirty Five

a/n: Eid-ul-Adha Mubarak! Here's your eidi everyone, requested by; @Struggling_Mi @iskhod1243 and @_shafafaisal :)

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Hayat Azhar

With my tear-stained face, I stared ahead, stunned.

I didn't even hear him coming through the gates. How long had he been standing there?

Sameer stood a few feet away, equally frozen. His pupils were dilated, his lips slightly parted.

But it was the expression on his face that paralyzed me. I blinked twice, trying to make sure my mind wasn't playing tricks on me.

He looked... scared.

My arms hung limp by my sides, and my knees folded beneath me as I continued to gape at the look clouding his face. The night air was chilly, and I could feel the cold seeping into my bones, but I couldn't move.

He swallowed visibly before his jaw tightened, and he pulled his eyes away from mine. He hesitated for a moment, as if contemplating whether to say something, then resumed walking past me swiftly, leaving me to stare at the spot he'd been standing moments ago.

Great. This was beyond embarrassing. The one person I never wanted to see me like this had witnessed my lowest moment.

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With no money and a broken heart, I returned home. As luck would have it, my mother was on the patio. She looked up, confusion knitting her brows.

"You're back already?"

I passed her a nod. "Yes, da- I mean, Gulbano saheba gave me the night off."

Her eyes moved to my dress, and she gasped. "What happened to your clothes?"

I looked down tiredly at the ugly blotches littering my dress. "Someone accidentally poured tea on me."

"Are you hurt anywhere?" She approached me in concern, and it took all my strength not to break down again in front of her.

I shook my head, giving her a light smile. "I'm fine, really. I'll go and change," I told her briefly and headed to my room, my steps heavy.

Shutting the door behind me, I walked up to the bed and plopped down, staring at the chipping paint on the wall and the old, creaky ceiling fan.

This house might not be much, but it was my sanctuary, a place built with my parents' hard work and love. It was more precious to me than the grandeur of the Malik's haveli.

Closing my eyes, I let the exhaustion wash over me. I lost track of time until someone opened the door, jerking me awake.

"You haven't changed yet?" Mother remarked, lifting her eyebrows in curiosity.

"I was about to," I said neutrally, sitting up and rubbing my eyes.

"Did the Nikkah ceremony end early?" she prodded as I rose to my feet and walked toward the closet.

"No. I left before that."

She frowned. "Sania was excited to hear all about the function, and you didn't even stay for it? She slept early so she could hear the details first thing in the morning."

I paused and peered at my mother, who was speaking with a small smile, looking eager to hear about the functions herself.

"Beta, I know you were permitted to leave, but I think you should've stayed," she stated gently. "You are friends with that girl, right? She'd be happy if you're there tonight. Are you not feeling well?"