EK NAZAR (one glance)

CHAPTER 25 - Family

Afreen couldn't focus on eating her food after witnessing Ahad's hypocrisy and how swiftly he changed his demeanour. She forcefully pushed her chair back from the table, colliding with a staff member carrying a juice jar. The jar fell, and Afreen slipped. Ahad tried to catch her, but it was in vain. Afreen hit the hard floor and lost consciousness.

"Oh, my lord!" exclaimed Ahad's grandmother.

Afreen was rushed to the hospital. This was her second or third trip to the hospital since marrying Ahad, a testament to her unfortunate circumstances.

As she opened her eyes and took in her surroundings, she realized she was in the hospital, surrounded by the women of Ahad's family. Zarnab entered at that moment.

"Finally, Sleeping Beauty decided to wake up," Zarnab said.

Afreen, irritated, responded, "This drip just because I fell?" She looked at the IV drip from her wrist, something she always feared, and it hurt her.

Zarnab laughed. "No, sweetie, it's not because of that."

Grandmother interrupted, "Can you stop with the suspense and make yourself clear? We don't have all day," she said, angered.

Zarnab smiled. "Congratulations, you're going to be a mother."

Afreen's eyes widened in shock, and tears started to build. Her nose flared. "Impossible," she said in disbelief.

Zarnab, knowing about the first miscarriage, something even Afreen didn't know about, maintained her composure. "No offense, are you a virgin or infertile? I guess neither," she said, waving the documents in the air.

"How dare you?" Afreen retorted, deeply offended.

Everyone in the room, except Afreen, was pleased by the news. Just then, Ahad entered. The news was delivered to him, and he looked up at Afreen with a smirk, a winning grin on his face. He told everyone to leave, giving them privacy.

"I would rather die than give birth," Afreen shouted.

"And I'd rather have you chained and broken for nine months straight," Ahad replied darkly.

Afreen's eyes blazed with defiance. "I'll go for an abortion," she declared.

Ahad's smirk didn't waver. "I know you can't and you won't," he said confidently.

Afreen's voice trembled with emotion. "I would rather not be a mother than to be a mother to a devil's child. I'm not fit to love that child," she said, her voice breaking.

Ahad's anger flared, but he controlled it. "Someone once advised me to only be a mother when I feel compatible with the father," Afreen continued.

Ahad rushed towards the hospital bed, trapping her in his arms from both sides. "Stop before I make you regret every word," he threatened, his voice dark

Ahad's eyes darkened further as he leaned even closer, his breath hot against Afreen's face. "You think you can defy me?" he hissed, his voice dripping with malice. "You will carry this child, and you will do it quietly."

Afreen's heart pounded in her chest, but she refused to back down. "I'll never let this happen. I'll find a way," she muttered, her voice shaky but resolute.

Ahad grabbed her chin roughly, forcing her to look directly into his eyes. "You will not disgrace me. If you even think about running or doing something stupid, you'll regret it more than you can imagine," he growled.

Without another word, Ahad lifted Afreen from the hospital bed, ignoring her protests. He carried her out of the hospital, his grip firm and unyielding. The ride back to their house was silent, the tension palpable.