𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐓: 𝐀 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐐𝐮𝐫'𝐚𝐧

chapter 36

"This is our home"

"This is our place"

"We will not let you destroy it"

Thousands of people were shouting as they protested to protect their land, where many builders were trying to destroy it. As Ashar's Mercedes-Benz arrived, he stepped out with an air of confidence. His manager quickly approached him, looking worried.

"Sir! They are not letting us do our work; they're just protesting like this," he exclaimed. However, Ashar didn't spare him a glance and walked toward the police, who were attempting to calm the crowd, but they weren't listening.

"What is happening here?" Ashar's roar silenced everyone. An elderly woman stepped forward and said, "Sir! We have been living here for years, and these people are destroying it... This is our home. Where will we go if they tear it down?" She pleaded, but Ashar's expression remained impassive.

"Didn't you give them a warning and time to clean it up?" he asked his manager, who stood silently. It was clear he had not allowed them time to organize. Ashar continued, "I will give you all one week. By the end of that week, I want this place cleared, understood?" He shouted at the crowd, which only grew more anxious. He turned to leave when the old lady spoke again.

"Son! Please let us stay here. I know you have bought this place, but we are helpless and poor. We have nowhere else to go. Please don't destroy it!" She begged, her voice scratchy from age as she clasped her hands together. Ashar, however, was not swayed; he walked away, ignoring her pleas, got into his car, and drove off.

His manager called out, "Sir has given you all a week. Move quickly to clean up this place, or we will have our own ways." Gradually, the crowd dispersed, leaving the people anxious about their future.

A young woman approached the elderly lady. "Ma, let's go. Why are you standing here?" she asked, trying to pull her away. But the old woman stood firm. "Today, he will get the biggest scar of his life. He will never find happiness after what he is doing to us. I curse him that he will never be happy!" she declared angrily before walking away, with the young woman following closely behind her.

××××××××××××××

Ayaan was sitting with his two buddies, who were doing everything possible to finish his savings by ordering every type of food, as he was paying them back for their help yesterday.

"By the way, Ayaan... did she show her face?" Rahil asked while picking tomato pieces out of his burger. Ayaan suddenly felt a tremendous urge to drown himself in water due to embarrassment.

"No!" he replied, looking around nervously as Rohan and Rahil both raised their heads toward him with narrowed eyes.

"What?" they both exclaimed simultaneously, then glanced at each other before returning to stare at him.

"Are you saying that you didn't see her face?" Rohan asked, still skeptical. Ayaan gulped.

"Y-yeah!" he stammered, trying to smile, but it failed as he noticed his friends looking at him as if they might eat him instead of their food.

"So indirectly, you're telling us that all our hard work was in vain?" Rahil shouted, standing up, causing people around them to stare at him weirdly. He sat back down, visibly frustrated with Ayaan.

"She was about to remove her veil, but..." he paused, unable to confess his foolishness.

"But...?" Rahil pressed with a suspicious look as Ayaan gulped again.

"But I didn't let her remove it!" he admitted, completely embarrassed in front of them. Their jaws dropped.

"What?!" they both said in unison while Ayaan looked at them with wide, pleading eyes.