The Dark Cloud.

Chapter 2.

"Father." Ayaan greeted, wiping his eyes clean of the tears that were previously streaming down his cheeks.

"Why now? Just to show the world how amazing you are? To show them that you came for your children?!" Hassan was seething with anger.

"Hassan, I know you're angry but that is no way to talk to your father-"

"FATHER?! YOU ARE NOT MY FATHER. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO CALL YOURSELF MY FATHER! AND YOU NEED TO SHUT UP BEFORE I PULL YOUR TONGUE OUT." Hassan roared. He couldn't control his hatred.

"Calm down 'Saan. Just ignore him." Ishaal sobbed. She reached out and put her hand on his shoulder. She was the only one who could touch him; tell him to calm down, when he was exploding with anger. "Come outside with me."
He took her hand in his and marched out of the room. Ayaan was left alone with his father.

"You came." He couldn't believe he came. He had told him that he was busy with his 'family' when Ayaan had first called to inform him about his mother's cancer.

"Ofcourse I did! I know you all hate me but you are my children. Safiya is my wife! How could I not come?" Saad murmured. He reached out to hug his son but Ayaan flinched and stepped back.

"Don't. Ever. Do. That. Again." Ayaan said through clenched teeth and stormed out of the room.

Saad sighed, "That is what happens when I try to act like a father."
                    *
"It's okay Isha. We're here with you. And don't worry maa's going to be okay!" Ayaan was trying to calm Ishaal down from the past 30 minutes but failing. By the time the doctor came out she was sobbing uncontrollably.

"How is she now? Is everything okay?" Hassan jumped up.

"She'll survive. For now. The major chemo-therapy is going to be tomorrow and we can only hope for the best. We shifted her to her room, you can go meet her now." The doctor gave him a sympathetic smile and walked away.

Ayaan felt relieved. He knew it was wrong to feel relieved when he was not sure if his mother was going to survive the surgery or not but he was happy that he would get to see her again. Hug her again!
'Allhamdulilah!' He mentally thanked Allah and vowed to pray nafl to thank Him again when he went home.
                     *
"Assalam-o-Alaikum." Mahira, Hassan's wife greeted.

"Waalaikum-assalam." Ayaan replied. He was sitting in a café just down the street.

"Ayaan I know this is difficult for you but you need to keep calm. Forgive Hassan. You know how short tempered he is. Just forget about it. You guys need each other right now." She straight forwardly stated while taking a seat in front of him.

"Bhaabi I know that I have to and eventually I will but not now. He knows I hate myself for being the only one of us who looks exactly like our father yet he reminds me of that every second of the day! It's not my fault that I look like that jerk. And I HAD to call him because that is what maa wanted. The moment I brought her here, to Lahore, she was begging me to tell him about her condition! I couldn't help it!" Ayaan explained.

Mahira was fidgeting with her bracelet. She was trying but failing to cover up her nervousness, "Ayaan it was not because of you that Saad uncle came. I went to Karachi to get him here." She confessed.

"YOU WHAT?! And all that time I was thinking that maybe he actually cared for us and that he was sorry! But why Bhaabi? Why would you do that? And without telling Hassan?" Ayaan fired at her. 

"I'm sorry Ayaan but I had to. You all were so sad and you needed someone to take care of you...." She trailed off.

Ayaan's mind was in a whirlwind of emotions. He didn't know what to think, what to do. He felt angry at her but most of all he felt bad for Hassan; all this time he was hating on him and now when he finds out that it was his wife..... But he felt oddly happy too, happy that it was not because of him that his father was here. Happy that they had no connection.

"But don't tell Hassan. Please. He'll hate me for it." Mahira pleaded with teary eyes.

"Don't worry, I will not tell him." Ayaan replied. His tone was cold. He couldn't control the hatred he was feeling but he knew he couldn't tell Hassan about it.
                      *
"Yaan! AYAAAANNNN?!" Ishaal shouted.

"Mmmmhm." Ayaan murmured still asleep.

"GET UP. GET UP RIGHT NOW OR I SWEAR I WILL BEHEAD YOU AYAAN." Ishaal threatened.

Ayaan got up and rubbed his eyes, "What is wrong with you Ishaal? It's 6 in the bloody morning." Ayaan muttered while looking at his phone.

"Maa is going in surgery in about half an hour. Hassan is already there and so is Sikander and I don't know how to drive but I have to be there so GET UP AND TAKE ME THERE!" Ishaal explained.

"SHITTT! Come on, let's go." Ayaan rushed outside with Ishaal hot on his heels.

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