Umeed

Chapter 43

Flashback Continued

Noor's POV

As the days passed, our bond returned, resembling what it once had, though it now lacked the warmth it used to hold. I could feel the pain building within me, but I had resolved to leave once you were nikkahfied. It was a truth I kept repeating to myself, trying to make sense of it all. "Bahut mushkil se sambhala khud ko aur samjhaya," I murmured to myself in moments of solitude, steadying my heart against the inevitable.

In the beginning, our interactions remained friendly, yet I couldn’t ignore how Faris bhai’s behavior toward me had subtly shifted. The way he looked at me sometimes made me feel like my connection with you was a sin, something forbidden. Though I had done nothing wrong, his words and taunts stung. Each one was a reminder that what remained between us was fragile, a bond that, to him, no longer seemed right.

I often noticed Faris bhai spending more time with Rania, and it wasn’t hard to guess she was the reason behind his change. Her influence over him was growing stronger by the day. I never said anything, choosing silence to avoid creating any conflict. My days passed peacefully enough, yet Rania’s increasing presence became an unavoidable discomfort. She often made me feel like an outsider with subtle but cutting remarks. Her words hinted that I wasn’t truly a part of the family, that my presence intruded upon what she considered her space and her family time.

I tried not to let her words get to me, but the pain of it all was wearing me down. Watching you with her, laughing and planning a future that I once thought would be ours, was becoming too much to bear. I began to wonder if leaving sooner, with Mishal’s help, might be the best choice for my own peace of mind.

One evening, I finally shared my thoughts with Faris bhai, revealing my plan to leave soon, hoping he’d understand my need to protect myself from further heartache. To my surprise, he protested, a look of disappointment clear in his eyes. “Noor, think about Shahzain bhai,” he urged gently. “He’ll be devastated if you leave. You both share a good bond now. Why not stay until his wedding? It would mean a lot to him. Don’t ruin the mood, yaar.”

I was taken aback, unable to believe that this was the same Faris bhai who had always been my protector, the one who understood my feelings without me needing to explain. Did he really expect me to endure the pain of watching you marry someone else? The thought was unbearable. Still, despite my inner turmoil, I chose to stay. Maybe I was being selfish, holding on to the few remaining threads of connection and hope, but I couldn’t bring myself to fully accept the truth or walk away just yet.

Meanwhile, Rania’s resentment toward me only grew. To her, I was the last obstacle in her path, the final challenge to conquer before she claimed her place as Shahzain’s bride. Even though I was cordial, doing my best to be respectful, my presence seemed to make her feel insecure and threatened. Her behavior worsened, becoming more spiteful with each passing day. Once, she even tried to harm me, pushing a heavy vase dangerously close to where I was standing. I ignored it, brushing it off to avoid escalating the situation, but it was clear she wouldn’t stop until I was gone.

As plans for your engagement picked up speed, my heart ached with quiet resignation. Each passing day made me feel more invisible, a shadow fading into the background. I kept wondering if it was finally time to let go, to walk away from everything I’d ever dreamed of. Yet for now, I stayed, bearing my pain with silent resilience.

On the day of your engagement, my life was set to change in ways none of us could have imagined.

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Author's POV

Rania sat in a dimly lit corner of the secluded room, her eyes shadowed as she listened intently to the man seated across from her. His tone was sharp and calculated, each word laced with cold confidence as he outlined the final steps of their plan.