"Game Of Vengeance ."

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Chapter 7

The night was darker than black. The wind howled with eerie sounds, reminiscent of a horror movie. The silhouettes of the swaying trees resembled massive monsters in search of prey. An owl hooted, sending shivers down their spines.

The unsettling sound of footsteps could be heard in the distance, enough to make anyone's hair stand on end. Two shadows approached a four-foot-tall figure and finally reached it. Someone whispered,

"Bano! Only you can save us. Please, quickly eat this pumpkin curry so Amma can be assured that we've eaten it. No matter how perfectly we hide it, she will find it in the end," Zarmeena pleaded. They had tried a lot but couldn't eat the burnt meal.

Zarmeena and Ahmed brought the burnt food to feed their cow, hoping to avoid their mother's wrath. They begged the cow to eat it, but Bano turned his head, not interested in eating it either.

"Sister, please, after God, you are our mighty savior. Please don't mind, it's a little burnt, but you can manage it, I know," Ahmed almost whispered as he further persuaded the poor animal. They sensed human footsteps behind them.

"Who is there in the dark?"

The sudden voice startled them both, and they quickly turned around. Ahmed, terrified at the thought of being caught red-handed by his mother, hastily turned, spilling the curry on Zarmeena's dress.

Zarmeena furrowed her brows and rolled her eyes, trying to control her anger. Avoiding her gestures, Ahmed exclaimed,

"Zaro, pinch me and wake me up from this dreadful dream," Ahmed whispered, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Ahmed, it's not a dream. We're caught again..." Zarmeena stuttered as they exchanged horrified glances and turned around.

---

Nazli, exhausted, crashed onto the settee, her handbag by her side. She had just returned from the gym and was visiting her mother's house.

"Where are Mom and Dad?" she asked the maid, slightly lifting her head.

"Ma'am is out for dinner, and Sir is out of town for a meeting," the maid responded politely.

"Okay, bring me a glass of lime water," Nazli said, resting her head back on the cushion.

"My lovely daughter has come to see her mother," Mrs. Saleema Qureshi said with a smile. Nazli forcebally, got up from the settee and embraced her mother.

"Where is Mosa? You should have brought him too," her mom asked, a sulky expression crossing her face.

"I'm here after the gym mom an she is with the tuture," Nazli replied casually her eyes closed, taking the glass of lime water from the tray the maid had brought.

"Is Leena still in France?" she lifted her self and inquired while sipping the lime water.

"Yes, she's on tour with her friends," Mrs. Qureshi in absolute relaxed replied

"Is she aware that Salaar is back?" Thinking of something Nazli sat straight and brought herself a little closer to her mothered and murmured

"No, and don't ever tell her. You know how she is. For Salaar, she would go to any extent," Mrs. Qureshi said anxiously.pondering hoe Salaar and her mother badely rejected her daughter.

"I will never let them be at peace for declining my sister's proposal" Nazli said emphasized every word. Thinking of vengeance something in her eyes triggered

Leena was Nazli's younger sister, and she was obsessed with Salaar. When Nazli discovered her sister's feelings, she decided to discuss it with Warda. However, when Warda found out, she flatly rejected the proposal. She didn't want another Nazli in the house.

This rejection was the main reason for the deterioration of Warda and Nazli's relationship. Despite the rejection, Leena pursued Salaar several times, but he was just as unyielding as Warda. He never encouraged her efforts to get close to him.

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Another normal morning, Zarmeena dressed in her usual light brown qameez with a collared neck and rounded hem, along with a light brown sash around her neck and a double-frilled shalwar. She was running a little late for campus. Wearing a helmet, she called out to Ahmed.

"Amma, please tell him to come out now. I'm late," she instructed her mother after multiple unsuccessful attempts to get Ahmed's attention.

"Dadi, I'm going to campus. Pray for me; today is my first assessment test," she said, removing her helmet and bowing her head for her grandmother's blessings.

"May God help you pass every exam of life," Dadi placed her right hand on Zarmeena's head in blessing.

"Dadi, don't shower all your blessings on her; leave some for me too," Ahmed chimed in, tilting his head for blessings before immediately jumping onto Rajah. Zarmeena put her helmet back on and started the bike.

"God bless my children," their wrinkled-faced Dadi raised both her shivering hands, giving her grandchildren blessings.

After dropping Ahmed off at college, Zarmeena delivered vegetables to some retailers and then arrived at the campus. She parked Rajah in the parking area, and as she was walking toward the campus, her sports teacher approached her.

"Zarmeena, I was looking for you all over the campus. Where were you?" he asked.

"Sir, I was-" Zarmeena began to explain, but he cut her off mid-sentence.

"Never mind. Please make a list of students who want to join sports and give them these forms to fill out." He quickly handed her the forms. As he was leaving, he paused for a moment and added, "Remember, different forms are for different sports, and everyone can fill out only three forms. Have you understood, or should I repeat?" He finished his instructions quickly.

Zarmeena nodded, and he immediately walked away.

Sports Baqir was always like that-quick as ever, never listening to others. She wanted to mention that she had an assessment test, but he left without giving her a chance to speak.

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