THE END OF LOVE

The End of Love (part 08)

EPISODE 08

The people of Qasr-e-Sikandar were burdened by that day. Everyone was busy with their tasks, and Arsalan was deeply engrossed in his work of stirring up trouble. "Mom, look at this! Bhai likes Ibrahim Sahab's daughter, who is Dad's partner," he was joyfully announcing while Suleiman sat in front of him. Hina glanced at the picture and then at Suleiman, her expression alternating between curiosity and concern. "What is this, Suleiman?" she asked in a casual tone.

"It's a girl, Mom," Arsalan interjected mischievously. Suleiman chuckled. "I'm asking, how long has this been going on?" she asked, her eyes narrowing at Suleiman. "I like her. She seems like my type (though she didn't before)," he responded.

"You should have told us this earlier," Hina said with a lack of enthusiasm. However, even she had grown fond of Laiba. Meanwhile, Suleiman kept glaring at Arsalan with a "you just wait" look. He had no idea when Arsalan had even taken the picture.

"Mom, please do something; I don't want to marry Samreen," Arsalan pleaded.
"Then why didn't you speak up when we asked you?" (When did anyone ask me?) Arsalan thought to himself.

"But Mom, there's a problem. She refused the proposal. She's probably upset," Arsalan interjected.
"Well, now it doesn't matter," Hina said dismissively.

As she stepped out of the bathroom, her phone beeped. "Carl sent a message," it read. Her eyes widened in shock. The screen displayed her edited pictures that Carl had sent her. Samreen quickly checked her Instagram and Facebook profiles, only to find her photos posted everywhere by Carl. Her heart felt like it was going to stop, and she wished the ground would swallow her whole, but there was nothing to save her from this disgrace. She threw her phone against the dressing table, shattering glass everywhere. She screamed silently, crying as she collapsed to the floor. Then, suddenly, she stood up.

Everyone was waiting for her at lunch, but she didn't come down. Even when a servant was sent, she didn't open the door. Finally, Rehana went herself, but Samreen still didn't respond. Unease began to creep into Rehana's thoughts. The entire family gathered outside her door. When they asked the servant for keys, the door was unlocked. What they saw made everyone's blood run cold. Rehana screamed and ran to Samreen's lifeless body, which was hanging from the ceiling fan. Arsalan and Suleiman stood frozen in shock. Suleiman quickly called Sikander Usman and Ali Usman while Arsalan helped bring Samreen down. Her body was ice-cold. The house erupted in mourning. After informing everyone, Suleiman picked up her phone, which was lying open. A video was playing continuously. Without notifying the police, Rehana and Ali completed the necessary rites. They were devastated; after all, she had been their only child.

One month later

At lunch, everyone was lost in their own thoughts until a voice broke the silence. "I will talk to Sikander about speaking with Ibrahim Sahab." Suleiman was happy because she was exactly the kind of girl he had hoped for, the kind he had prayed for in a life partner.

Suleiman was sitting in his room, getting ready for the office. He had a meeting scheduled after lunch. There was a knock on the door. "May I come in, Bhai?" Arsalan stood in the middle of the room, asking. "It would be better if you asked that while still outside the room," Suleiman replied.

"Bhai, do you feel sorry about Samreen's death?"
"Yes, I do. Any girl in her situation would have done the same."
"Alright, I'm running late," he said, patting Arsalan on the shoulder as he left.

She had just finished her Isha prayer when her phone beeped. "Who is this unknown number?" she muttered to herself. "You don't forget old friends like that, ma'am," read the message. Surprised, she stared at the screen, then typed back, "Who is this?" and waited for a reply. "Come on, you don't recognize me?" the message said. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she put the phone aside. A few minutes later, she received a call. "You didn't recognize my voice either? I'm coming over there to drag you out, Laiba," the girl's voice said on the other end.