Asalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah wa barakatuhu
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A year later, Ayzal lay on her bed, scrolling through her social media feed when her mother entered the room. Seeing her mother’s cheerful demeanor, Ayzal couldn't help but smile as well.
“As-salamu Alaykum, Mom,” Ayzal greeted her.
“Wa-Alaykum Salam, my dear child,” her mother replied, pausing for a moment. “How are you holding up after the… incident?”
'Here we go again,' Ayzal thought. The question she dreaded, the question that haunted her every night, robbing her of sleep, making her question her very existence. The one question she always had to answer with a lie, the same lie she told her parents every day.
“I am fine, Mom, much better than before.”
If only they knew. Ayzal wasn’t okay. She was sad, upset, torn between the thin line of life and death, devoid of any emotion. She didn’t know what to feel anymore. Her better half was gone, and people expected her to be fine, to move on.
“Oh, great then,” her mother said cheerfully, clapping her hands. She seemed far too happy for a mother whose daughter was in such pain. “Your dad and I decided to have dinner out tonight,” her mother announced.
“Well, that’s—” Ayzal began, but her mother held up a hand to stop her. “With the Qureshis.”
Ayzal bit her lip to stop from crying. Her mother had just reopened the wounds in her heart that hadn’t even begun to heal.
“Why? With them?” Ayzal asked quietly.
“We are going to discuss something important, Ayzal.”
“But can’t you and Dad go? I don’t need to tag along, right?”
“You have to be present as well, my dear daughter.”
Ayzal sighed and nodded, knowing better than to argue with her mother. She had a feeling that tonight would turn out badly. She hoped her intuition was wrong. She believed in the Creator and knew that whatever happened would ultimately be for the best.
Around 6:00 pm, Ayzal’s mother came into her room to remind her to get ready. Just as she was about to head into her closet, she received a call. She knew who it was and her guess was correct—it was her best friend, Haniya. Ayzal picked up the call quickly, knowing Haniya’s impatience with delayed responses. Before she could greet her, Haniya’s worried voice came through.
“No time for greetings, Ayzal.”
“What happened, Haniya? Is everything alright?”
“Oh, absolutely. Just living the dream in a world full of rainbows and unicorns,” Haniya replied sarcastically but her rapid breathing was audible. She didn’t wait for a response before continuing, “The presentation you sent to the chief is displaying ‘Empty file,’ Ayzal.”
“But how?”
“The company’s rivals hacked all our systems, including the chief’s email. The presentation you sent is now in their hands, and they have already announced it as their own in a conference.” Ayzal held her head in her hands, feeling a headache arising. All her hard work, all those sleepless nights, down the drain in a mere minute. She had been so proud of this presentation, hoping against hope that Haniya would laugh and reveal it was a prank. But she didn’t.
“Ayzal, please don’t start crying. I know you are feeling awful, but we can’t change what happened. What was meant to happen, happened. I am angry too, but we have to move forward. Please don’t lose hope. I am here for you, okay?”
Clearing her throat, Ayzal responded, “Okay.”
“Good. Now wipe your tears and come to the office. The chief is looking for you.”
“But I took a day off today—”
“I don’t care how, but you have to come, or the chief will lose it.”
“But—”
“No ‘buts,’ Ayzal Noor Rehman,” Haniya insisted. Knowing she wouldn’t win this argument, Ayzal sighed and agreed.
“How much time do I have?”
“An hour.”
“Alright, I am coming.” Haniya hung up without saying goodbye. Now, Ayzal truly felt like everything was falling apart.
___________________________________________
Earlier, Ayzal had informed her parents about the urgent meeting. Her mother, predictably, disagreed, but her supportive father gave her a nod of approval, and she was out the door in a flash. She shared a stronger bond with her father but loved both her parents equally.
Upon arriving at the company, her chief, Mr. Abbasi, who she expected to be furious, was surprisingly calm and understanding. He even apologized for the incident and suggested she take a week off. After an hour, she was finally able to leave.
Now, she stood in front of the restaurant her parents told her about, feeling nervous about meeting her late fiancé’s family. She smoothed her dress, trying to eliminate the wrinkles formed during her drive, and pushed the door open.
“Ayzal!” Her brother, Hiyam, called out, drawing attention. She shook her head disapprovingly at him and made her way to their table, taking the empty seat beside him. She greeted everyone with “As-salamu Alaykum,” receiving replies in kind.
“How are you doing, Ayzal dear?”
“Great, Mothe—” She caught herself, clearing her throat. “Great, Mrs. Uzair,” she corrected, offering a slight smile. “You can still call me mother if you want, Ayzal. You will always be my daughter,” Mrs. Uzair said warmly. Ayzal smiled and nodded.
The adults engaged in various conversations while the younger ones listened quietly. Yusra occasionally led some conversations with Ayzal, who responded absentmindedly. Ayzal’s father cleared his throat, grabbing everyone’s attention. “To ease the awkwardness, I think we should start discussing the matter we gathered here for,” he began. “Yes, I agree,” Mr. Uzair replied.
“Ayzal, Zayan,” her mother started, and Ayzal felt dread creeping in. 'Something bad is going to happen!' her inner voice screamed. “We,” her father motioned to himself, her mother, and her ex in-laws, “have decided to tie the knot”
“Of whom?” Zayan asked calmly, though his words dripped with fury.
“Of you and Ayzal,” Mr. Uzair replied.
To say they were shocked would be an understatement. Tears pricked Ayzal’s eyes, her throat constricting with emotion.
“Ayzal, isn’t this an amazing idea?” her mother squealed in her high-pitched voice. Clenching her fists, Ayzal felt her nails dig into her palms. She bowed her head. Hearing the screech of a chair, she looked up and saw Zayan leaving.
“I will be at home,” he said, addressing his mother.
“Zayan, wait—” Mrs. Uzair called, but he was already gone.
Tears streaming down her face, Ayzal quickly exited the restaurant, heading towards her car.
“Ayzal,” she heard Hiyam call, quickening her pace. Just as she reached the car, he caught her shoulder and turned her around. Overwhelmed with her emotions, she buried her face in her brother's chest, and the tears flowed freely once more.
YOU ARE READING
Eternity
Любовные романыAyzal's patience snapped as she poked him hard in the chest. "What have I done to deserve this?" Her voice shook with a mix of anger and hurt. He stayed silent, his eyes avoiding hers, hands stuffed in his pockets. She yanked him closer, her breath...
