𝐈𝐬𝐡𝐪 𝐤𝐢 𝐃𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐚𝐧~

16• His Harmony.

Assalam o Alaikum.
The chapter's here....
Do have a look at my insta page, I.d is mentioned at the end.
Enjoy ❤️

*ੈ𑁍༘⋆ *ੈ𑁍༘⋆ *ੈ𑁍༘⋆ *ੈ𑁍༘⋆ *ੈ𑁍༘⋆ *ੈ𑁍༘⋆ *ੈ𑁍༘⋆ *ੈ𑁍༘⋆ *ੈ𑁍༘⋆ *ੈ𑁍༘⋆

Author's POV
     "Waise bhabhi, bura mat maniye ga, lekin aapko Haya ki tabiyat mein thora tehrao lana chahiye. Ab aise acha thori na lagta hai, dekhen kaise Zain ke upar gir rahi hai," Zahida's voice sliced through the dinner chatter, each word dripping with venom.

     The room fell into a stunned silence. The clinking of cutlery and soft murmur of conversations abruptly ceased, leaving only the sound of Haya's heartbeat thudding in her ears. Haya's face drained of color, her gaze dropping to her plate as if she could will herself to disappear. The playful exchange with Zain, something so innocent, now felt tainted. Her heart sank under the weight of Zahida's cruel accusation, a feeling of shame and humiliation flooding her.

     Zohra, sensing the discomfort, decided to step in, her voice calm yet firm as she tried to diffuse the situation. "Aisi koi baat nahi hai, Zahida. Tum to ache se janti ho, yeh dono bachpan se hi aise hain," she said, her tone steady but laced with a protective undertone for her only daughter.

     Zahida, however, wasn't willing to let it go. Her eyes narrowed, and she leaned forward slightly, her voice gaining a sharper edge. "Bachpan ki baat kuch aur thi, ab yeh dono bade ho gaye hain. Aur Haya ko bhi khayal rakhna chahiye ke kaise wo jaan-much ke har waqt Zain ke saath lipakti rehti hai," she insisted, her words cutting through the fragile peace that Zohra had tried to restore.

     Haya felt the sting of her aunt's words like a slap across her face. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision as she desperately glanced around the table, searching for an anchor, someone who would come to her defense. The sea of humiliation that threatened to drown her seemed endless, each second stretching out painfully.

     Zain, who had been quietly enduring the tension, could no longer stay silent. He straightened in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he addressed Zahida. His voice was measured, but there was an unmistakable edge of anger beneath the surface. "Mami, aisi koi baat nahi hai jaisa aap samajh rahi hain. Haya mere liye bilkul Sahar jaisi hai, aur agar hum log kuch mazak wagera kar bhi rahe hain, to humein apni boundaries ka ache se pata hai. Aapko batane ki zarurat nahi hamare walidaan abhi zinda hain hame sab kuch sikhane ke liye."

     Zain's firm defense was like a shield, momentarily silencing Zahida. She opened her mouth to argue, but before she could say anything, Youssef interjected, his voice carrying the authority of someone not to be crossed. "Chachi, aap mere marhum chacha ki biwi hain aur isiliye hum sab aapki bahut izzat karte hain," Youssef began, his words measured, but there was an underlying steeliness in his tone that demanded attention. "Issi tarah iss ghar ki baqi ki khawateen bhi iss ghar ki izzat hain aur main yeh hargiz bardaasht nahi karun ga agar koi us izzat pe ungli uthane ki koshish karega, kyon ki ungliyaan torni mujhe achi tarah aati hai. Aur rahi baat Haya aur Zain ki... toh Zain aap ko already clear kar chuka hai. Even though it wasn't needed, kyon ki ye baat, agr aap na bhulin hon to aapko ache se maloom hai."

     Youssef's words hung in the air, their impact undeniable. Zahida's face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger, her hand clenched tightly under the table, the skin around her knuckles turning white. She forced a tight-lipped smile, more of a grimace than an expression of goodwill, and said nothing more. Instead, she turned her attention back to her plate, resuming her meal in sullen silence.