"The Web of Lies and Truths"
Haseena awoke the next morning, her resolve steeled. The previous night’s revelations about her father and Karishma’s past had shaken her, but they had also opened her eyes to the complicated man she had married. Somewhere beneath his cruelty was a man who had been deeply wounded. She wanted answers needed them to piece together the fractured story she had only glimpsed.
Karishma, on the other hand, had spent the night in his study, nursing another bottle of whiskey. The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, but he didn’t flinch. He was used to the burn of alcohol and the haze it brought; it was his armor against the pain that lived within him.
---
"A Father’s Confrontation"
Haseena decided it was time to confront her father. She couldn’t live under the shadow of suspicion any longer. She called the driver and instructed him to take her to the Malik mansion.
The car ride felt longer than usual, her heart pounding with every passing moment. When she arrived, her father greeted her warmly, but she couldn’t help noticing the guarded look in his eyes.
“Beta, you didn’t tell me you were coming,” Zubair Malik said, a faint smile on his lips.
“I had to,” Haseena replied, her voice firm. “I need to talk to you about something important.”
Zubair gestured for her to sit, his expression now serious. “What’s the matter?”
Haseena hesitated for a moment, gathering her courage. “Baba, Karishma told me something last night—something about our past. He said that you... you destroyed his family’s home, that you were responsible for their suffering.”
Zubair’s face darkened. For a long moment, he said nothing, his eyes narrowing as he processed her words. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh.
“Haseena, there are things about my business—about my life—that you don’t understand,” he began. “Yes, I made decisions that hurt people. But those decisions weren’t personal. They were necessary.”
“Necessary?” Haseena’s voice was incredulous. “How can destroying someone’s home, someone’s family, ever be necessary?”
“It was business, Haseena,” Zubair replied sharply. “Karishma Singh’s father was in debt. He couldn’t pay, and I had investors to answer to. If I hadn’t acted, we would have lost millions.”
Haseena stared at him, her heart sinking. She had always seen her father as a man of integrity, but now she wasn’t so sure. “And Ananya? His sister? Did you ever think about what would happen to her? To their family?”
Zubair’s expression hardened. “I did what I had to do, Haseena. And now you’re my daughter. Your loyalty should be to this family, not to him.”
---
"Karishma’s Fury"
When Haseena returned home, she found Karishma in the living room, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes burned with anger.
“Where were you?” he demanded.
“I went to see my father,” Haseena replied, her voice steady. “I needed to hear his side of the story.”
Karishma laughed bitterly. “And let me guess—he denied everything?”
“No,” Haseena said quietly. “He admitted it. He said he destroyed your family’s home because your father was in debt.”
Karishma’s expression froze. For a moment, he said nothing, his jaw tightening. Then, in one swift motion, he overturned the coffee table, sending it crashing to the floor.
“He admitted it,” he muttered, pacing the room. “The bastard actually admitted it.”
Haseena flinched but didn’t back down. “Karishma, I know what he did was wrong, but—”
“There is no ‘but,’ Haseena!” he shouted, cutting her off. “Your father ruined my life! He took everything from me! And now you expect me to just let it go?”
“No,” Haseena said, tears in her eyes. “I don’t expect that. But I can’t change the past, Karishma. All I can do is try to make things right.”
Karishma stopped pacing, his eyes narrowing. “And how exactly do you plan to do that?”
Haseena hesitated, unsure of how to answer. She had no idea how to bridge the gap between them, but she knew she had to try.
---
"The Plot Thickens"
As the days passed, Karishma became colder and more distant. Haseena could feel the weight of his hatred pressing down on her, but she refused to give up. She spent hours researching her father’s business practices, looking for evidence that could help Karishma’s case.
But the more she uncovered, the more tangled the web became. Her father wasn’t just ruthless—he was calculating, willing to do whatever it took to protect his empire. And as she delved deeper, she discovered something shocking: Karishma wasn’t the only victim.
There were dozens of families who had suffered at the hands of Zubair Malik, their lives uprooted in the name of progress. Haseena’s heart ached as she read their stories, each one more tragic than the last.
She knew she had to confront her father again, but this time, she wasn’t going alone.
---
"Karishma’s Breaking Point"
Late one night, as Haseena prepared to share her findings with Karishma, she found him in the study, drunk and brooding. His eyes were bloodshot, his expression hard.
“Karishma,” she began hesitantly, “I found something. About my father. About what he did to your family and others.”
Karishma looked up, his gaze piercing. “And what do you want me to do with that, Haseena? Forgive him? Forget everything he did?”
“No,” she said, stepping closer. “I want you to fight. Legally. Use this evidence to get justice for your family—and for the others he hurt.”
Karishma laughed, a hollow sound that sent chills down her spine. “Justice? There’s no justice, Haseena. There’s only power. And right now, your father has all of it.”
“Then take it from him,” she urged. “But not like this. Not through hate. Do it the right way.”
For a moment, Karishma said nothing. Then he stood, his expression unreadable. “We’ll see,” he said, brushing past her.
Haseena watched him go, her heart heavy. She didn’t know if she had reached him, but she knew one thing for certain: she couldn’t give up.
TO BE CONTINUED
