Two days had passed since the confrontation in Khan Haveli. The atmosphere remained tense, but something had shifted-the dark cloud of Haya's treachery hung over everyone. Murtasim's resolve had never been clearer, and the entire household knew it. Meerab had laid everything bare, exposing Haya's malicious acts, and now, there was no room left for leniency. Murtasim had one goal-to bring justice for Meerab, Mariyam, and his family.
In the early morning light, the once-decorated haveli stood quiet, its festive decorations for Murtasim and Haya's canceled wedding still being dismantled. The façade of normalcy was shattered, and beneath the quiet exterior, a storm was brewing.
Murtasim stood by the large, arched windows of the living room, his eyes distant. He had spent the last two days speaking with the authorities, gathering all the information he could on Malik Zubair, Mariyam's kidnapping, and Haya's involvement. With Meerab's revelation and the supporting evidence that had emerged, it was undeniable-Haya was guilty, and she would pay for what she had done.
The heavy footsteps approaching broke Murtasim's reverie. It was Anwar, his uncle and head of the family. There was a gravity in his step, one that spoke of shared anger and determination.
"She's here," Anwar said quietly. "The police are waiting."
Murtasim nodded, his jaw set. The moment had come. He wasn't just the head of the Khan family now-he was the enforcer of justice.
---
In the haveli's courtyard, the scene was surreal. Haya stood between two officers, her face pale, her once-smug demeanor replaced with fear. She had been summoned by Anwar under the pretense of a family discussion, unaware that her fate had already been sealed. Now, faced with the cold reality of the police standing by, she realized that her days of manipulating the family had come to an end.
She glanced nervously around the courtyard, searching for Murtasim's gaze, but he stood far from her, his face unreadable. Her eyes landed on Meerab, who stood next to him, holding Meesam in her arms. There was no warmth in Meerab's expression-only cold, unforgiving anger. Meesam, oblivious to the tension, nestled against her mother's shoulder.
"Murtasim, please-" Haya's voice wavered, her once-confident tone now reduced to pleading. "This is a misunderstanding. You can't do this to me. I'm your family!"
Murtasim's eyes darkened as he stepped forward, his voice low and unyielding. "Family? You destroyed this family, Haya. You betrayed us all. You used your lies and manipulations to hurt the people I love. Mariyam, Meerab...you nearly cost us everything."
Haya shook her head frantically, her desperation growing with every passing second. "I did it for you! Everything I did was because I love you, Murtasim. I only wanted to be with you. It was Meerab who was wrong for you! She never understood you the way I do."
"Love?" Meerab's voice rang out sharply, cutting through Haya's excuses. "You call this love? Destroying lives, hurting innocent people-this isn't love, Haya. It's obsession, and it's sick."
Haya's face twisted, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Meerab with venomous hatred. "You don't understand. You never did. He was mine before you came into the picture! You ruined everything."
Murtasim stepped closer, his eyes locking onto Haya's. "Enough. This isn't about what you think or feel. This is about justice. You were responsible Mariyam's kidnapping. You knew about Malik Zubair, putting her life in danger. You tried to ruin Meerab's life, manipulate her into leaving. And for what? Your own selfish desires."
"I never meant for it to go that far," Haya whispered, her voice breaking. "I just wanted you to see that she wasn't right for you."
"It doesn't matter what you meant," Murtasim said coldly. "What matters is what you did."
Haya took a step back, her eyes flicking toward the officers who were waiting silently. Her voice rose in desperation. "Murtasim, please. You can't do this. I'll leave. I'll go far away. You'll never see me again, I swear."
"You should have thought of that before," Murtasim replied, his tone firm. "Before you destroyed everything."
The lead officer stepped forward, producing a pair of handcuffs. "Haya Khan, you are under arrest for your involvement in the kidnapping of Mariyam Khan, conspiracy to commit a crime, and obstruction of justice. You have the right to remain silent-"
"NO!" Haya screamed, stepping back in panic. "You can't arrest me! This is a mistake! Murtasim, please, stop them!"
But Murtasim stood still, his expression hard. He wasn't going to save her-not this time.
As the officers moved to place the cuffs on Haya's wrists, she thrashed wildly, her screams echoing through the courtyard. "No! You can't do this to me! I did it for you, Murtasim! For you!"
Murtasim's gaze never wavered, his silence a clear indication that there was no going back. Haya's world crumbled as the cold steel of the handcuffs locked around her wrists, and the realization hit her like a freight train-she had lost. Everything she had done, all the lies, all the manipulation-it had all been for nothing.
Meerab watched silently, her heart heavy but resolute. This was the justice they all needed. Haya had caused too much pain, too much destruction. Now, she was finally paying the price.
As the officers led Haya toward the exit, her desperate eyes searched for one last ounce of mercy, but there was none to be found. Murtasim's expression remained unreadable, but his silence spoke volumes.
When they reached the gates, Haya turned one last time, her voice a broken whisper. "Murtasim...please..."
But Murtasim didn't move. He simply watched as the gates of the haveli closed behind her, sealing her fate.
---
Inside the haveli, the atmosphere was somber but relieved. There was a strange quiet, a stillness that came after a long storm. Murtasim stood by the window, watching the police car disappear down the road, his heart heavy with conflicting emotions. He had loved Haya once-perhaps not in the way she had loved him, but enough to consider her family. Now, she was gone, and everything she had done would take years to heal.
Meerab approached him, her footsteps soft on the marble floor. She didn't say anything at first, simply standing beside him, looking out the window with him.
"It's over," she said quietly, her voice carrying the weight of all that had happened.
Murtasim nodded, his eyes still fixed on the horizon. "It had to be done."
Meerab glanced at him, her expression softening for the first time since her return. "It's not easy, though. Losing someone you thought was family."
"No," he admitted, his voice rough. "It's not."
They stood in silence for a moment, the tension between them not gone but lessened, like the first rays of sunlight breaking through after a long, dark night.
Finally, Meerab turned to face him fully. "This doesn't mean everything is fixed between us, Murtasim. There's still a lot we need to talk about."
"I know," he replied, his gaze finally meeting hers. "But I'm willing to do whatever it takes."
Meerab looked at him for a long moment, her heart conflicted. She wasn't ready to forgive him, not yet, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like maybe-just maybe-they could start to heal.
She nodded, her voice soft. "We'll take it one step at a time."
And with that, the heavy door of their past began to creak open, giving them a glimpse of what might still be possible.
