𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐓: 𝐀 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐐𝐮𝐫'𝐚𝐧

chapter 38

She was sitting on the ground upstairs, hugging her knees close to her chest while crying miserably. It was true that she never wanted to cry for a person like Ashar, but what she had just witnessed had left a scar on her heart. She didn't expect this from him—at least not this! She had divorced Ashar, so why couldn’t he let her live in peace? Why was he trying to destroy her in every possible way? Her mind was full of questions, but her lips were sealed, and her throat felt constricted as if nothing could escape. She was taking hiccups, trying to control her tears, but they wouldn’t stop. Her life had become a daily drama; whenever she tried to cope with things, a new twist would come along and destroy her peace and patience.

She couldn't let this continue. Wiping her tears, she felt her body trembling, her hands shivering. Her eyes were red and her face pale, as if she were suffering from some health issue—but it was just the guilt and sorrow eating away at her from the inside. She raised her head to the black starry sky and blinked, her eyes conveying the depths of her feelings. Yet, words refused to come out. Fresh tears welled up again.

"W-why am I suffering, ya Rabb?..... Wh-y?..... Now it-its too mu-much. Pl-please ease my s-soul and soot-sooth my heart, ya Raheem. I am not able t-to tolerate this, ya Allah... it’s really p-painful. Is this my p-punishment for committing such a sin? You don't please to?..... I am s-sorry, Allah... I am r-really sorry... agh ahhhh!" The words poured from her mouth, and she started crying again.

---

"What are you saying, Adam?" Salma asked, her face reflecting devastation as she looked at Adam, who was sitting with his temples clasped in his hands.

"You heard right. Neema Aapa has refused Ayat! She said that Aatif is not convincing, as he has already found a girl for himself!" Adam replied, sorrow and worry evident in his voice. Salma felt the floor slip from under her feet. The words of the woman outside were gnawing at her from the inside, but she fought to remain courageous.

"D-don’t worry, Adam. We have so many proposals; someone will agree, okay?" She tried to sound brave, but fear gripped her—what if no one agreed? What if they refused like Neema did? What if they believed Saleem's false statements?

"Hmm, you’re right. Let me call Aslam; his son is a doctor, and they really wanted Ayat as their daughter-in-law," Adam said hopefully. Salma nodded, not wanting to share the news with him, knowing he was already very worried.

---

The mid-semester exams had ended, and now students were busy studying for the last semester. Everyone seemed immersed in their studies, except Ayaan, whose mind was occupied by thoughts of Ayat. He didn’t even know what was pulling him toward her, but he couldn't concentrate. Somehow, with hard work, he passed his mid-semester exams.

Now, Ayaan and his friends were standing on the ground floor discussing something when they noticed some third-year students had set up stalls. The area was filled with scarves, jewelry, clothes, keychains, flowers, and more; it resembled a small market. Just then, Sidra and Ayat came down the stairs. Ayat's eyes landed on a particular stall, and Ayaan, who was leaning against the back wall, stood up straight upon seeing her. He couldn’t understand why his body reacted this way whenever she was around.

He noticed her eyes sparkling as she gazed at something. Following her gaze, he saw a bucket of dark red roses. She walked toward them with slow, admiring steps and began to touch the flowers carefully, while he simply stared.

"Ayaan," Rohan called, breaking the moment of admiration. Ayaan looked at them, feeling a bit flustered.

"Let’s check out some books over there!" Rahil suggested, glancing toward a book stall, well aware that Ayaan was such a bookworm. Ayaan nodded abruptly, trying not to glance in Ayat's direction as they headed toward the book stall.
Beside the book stall where Ayat and Sidra were standing, there was a keychain stall. They seemed to be asking the price but found it to be expensive, so they walked away. However, he noticed how admirably Ayat was looking at a particular keychain and how much she desired it. As they walked away, he turned back to the stall and focused on that specific keychain.