FROM DARE TO LOVE (Editing)✔

CHAPTER 41

In the middle of night, I wanted some fresh air, these two days had been really hectic and I am really tired. Next day is Sangeet and it will be equally hectic day. I poked Ruchi's arm in attempt to wake her up. I wanted to go to the terrace for some air, but not alone. Ruchi simply groans twisting little and covers her head with a duvet. After that gesture I know trying to wake her up will be just waste of time.

So, I climbed down the bed, wrapping my shawl around myself I walk out from the room. More than being exhausted I am feeling upset and sad, why? I shake my head; I don't want to think about anything...just relax.

When I come on the terrace I see someone is already there. Judging from the petite figure I guess it's a girl.

'Hey!' I say as I approached the figure dressed in Green long tee and black pants. She turns around and see the girl is Hanan.

She looked sad, I wondered why a lucky girl like her is sad. She has everything, she has Riad and according to me that is everything.

'What happened?' I ask standing next to her; we both turn around and look ahead at the night sky. She sighs

'I am missing Shadab' she says. I frown

I shrug and she smiles sadly

'My brother...my only brother...' she says sadly

Oh! So Urooj's husband's name is Shadab. I look at her 'Yeah, why hasn't he come? I didn't see him anywhere' I enquired

Hanan sighs 'He can't come'

I frown, why to be so such a workaholic that you ignore your wife and kids. No wonder Urooj looks upset and somewhat disconnected.

I notice Hanan wipe a tear, I placed my palm on her shoulder 'It's okay, I am sure he will have time to attend your calls...call him' I say softly

Hanan smiles sadly again 'He won't...Aleesa...Shadab...he...he is dead' and then she breaks down.

I am shocked with this revelation. Hanan's brother is dead, that means Urooj is a widow.

I don't know how to react; I want to console her but I am numb. I feel bad for her because she has lost her brother but I am more upset for Urooj, perhaps maybe because I am more attached to her.

After the shock sinks in I take a deep breath and place my palm on her shoulder. Hanan stops crying and wipes her tears and mumbled a sorry.

'It's okay' I say and wrap my arms around her and side hugged her, Hanan sniffles placing her palms over my arms. We stand this way for at least five minutes. After we calm down we break apart.

'Thanks.... thanks for being with me. I needed someone...' she says, her voice hoarse. I know how it feels to silently cry, I have seen Adnan crying silently to himself but in his case I don't have courage to go and console him.

'But look at the bright side, you have Riad with you. I heard you too are getting engaged. Love birds' I wink and nudge, only I knew how strange it felt to me when I said so but right now she is upset and my priority is to make her smile again.

Hanan smiles sadly 'I had always liked Riad, we became friends... always hanging out together... everyone saw us and think we make a wonderful couple and we should marry...but...'

'But?'

'I am ready to marry Riad, If I had it my way I would have been getting engaged to him at Liqa's wedding itself but...Riad is being apprehensive...he always dodges the topic, it's neither a yes or a No...he says he needs time... (Hanan sighs resting her arms on the railing and leaning against it) at first I thought he loves some other girl (I find my breath getting caught) but he denies, he did have girlfriends but no serious relationships. I asked Urooj too but she denied as well...' Hanan finishes.

There is silence between us again, I turn my head little and see Hanan staring at the moon sadly. I look at my entwined fingers.

'I think Riad loves someone else...maybe some lost love...I see so much pain in his eyes...I feel he has gone through some sort of heart-break and he hasn't moved on from her. Because of that he has got trust issues now and isn't able to love again...I don't know what to think. Should I be jealous of the girl who has Riad's heart or should I be angry that she broke him or should I be sad that he isn't able to move on...but I wish he gives me a chance.... I really love him' Hanan speaks her mind.

By the time she is done narrating I see her eyes go moist again. I am touched with Hanan's love for Riad. And I feel guilty too, because the girl she is mentioning is me. I am that moron who broke Riad and he has trust issues because of me. But I guess, she is wrong to say I have Riad's heart. He had a soft corner for me but I don't know if his feelings are that intense.

There is silence between us again, fifteen minutes later Hanan takes my leave but I stand there.

Joining all the dots together from everything Urooj and Hanan had said. Both had said that Riad is stuck on me, is it because of love or because of what happened that night. But then if it was about the night alone why would he not give Hanan a chance. Why didn't he fall in love again? Surely he would have met girls much better looking than me. Dated girl's much hotter than me.

Then why didn't he move on? I paced at the terrace for a while before returning to my room for the night's sleep.

That night I decided something, there is only one way to redeem myself and that is to have Riad and Hanan together. I will make Riad move on from the past and Hanan is perfect for him. As I think of this plan I feel my heart sink.