When Fire Meets Ice - Completed.

2. T H E D E C I S I O N

I N A Y A

As I walked out of the airport, the night wind was cold, darkness enveloping everything. I carried my bags, looking around before spotting my driver, Lillian.

My gaze dropped to my wristwatch—11:18 p.m.

Lillian greeted me with a smile and began taking my bags toward the car. I followed her, checking my phone briefly as we settled inside, and she drove straight to The Khan mansion—the place I once called home.

The guards dropped their gaze to the floor, opening the gates as I entered. A familiar smell filled my nostrils—something uniquely ours.

I inhaled deeply, standing for a moment longer. The entire mansion was eerily silent, as everyone was already asleep. I went straight to my room, too tired to check if my father or brother was awake.

Spreading the prayer mat, I prayed Isha (the night prayers). Raising my hands for supplication, my eyes didn’t need to be told twice as the tears began to stream down.

They dripped from my eyes, following a path down my cheeks and chin before falling onto my lap. The room was soon filled with sobs and whimpers, eventually dying away as soft, whispered prayers escaped my lips.

This was all I did every day, every night—crying in front of Allah because only He knew the amount of pain I concealed within my chest. How much I missed Mumma, my Dad’s love, and having someone I could count on, trust, and feel important to.

Zara was definitely an amazing friend, but she didn’t know many things about me—things I hadn't ever told anyone.

Those were my vulnerable secrets, my scars, I couldn't afford to let them out. Neither could I blame anyone, because it had been my decision to embrace this loneliness.

How I wished my Dad trusted me.

Just as my sobs became uncontrollable, a knock startled me. I wiped my tears quickly, got up while folding the prayer mat, and opened the door.

It was Yasmin Baji—our caretaker, especially for me and Abbas. She had been with us since we were little and had loved us like a mother after mine passed away.

She stood at the door with a glass of milk in her hand. Her smile was soft, her eyes warm with love. My chest unclenched for a moment, relief replacing the earlier agony as I stepped aside to allow her in.

She placed the tray on the small round table in the center before I asked, "How have you been, Baji?"

"Fine, Beta. What about you? How was your trip?" she asked, keeping her hand on my shoulder lovingly and indicating for me to sit down.

"Tiring." I smiled lazily, sitting down as I began sipping the warm milk.

She hummed. "Drink it and get some good rest, there's a dinner gathering tomorrow."

I raised an eyebrow at her questioningly, sulking at the mere thought of any more family dinners or business parties. I was sick of them already.

"Mr. Khan has invited an old family friend and his family for dinner," she told me. I nodded quietly, my thoughts already drifting back to what Zara had told me.