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Being the adamant and stubborn person that Safa was, she had shrugged off the idea Raina had put forward in front of her. She didn't need anymore disturbance in her life and with Ayyan being her topmost priority, she just wanted to give all her attention and care to him as of now. Her ownself was the least thing in her list.

Ayyan's condition was deteriorating initially but with the course of time, it had started getting better. The therapies had started working and she couldn't be more thankful to Almighty for that. He wasn't completely healthy but he was getting there and that's all that mattered for now.

Right now, the only task in her mind was to talk to Sameena and make her see sense of her decision of leaving. So, she made her way towards the lounge where everyone was having their evening tea. Raina had come to invite her five minutes ago but she had excused herself, saying she'd be there in a few minutes. She needed to muster enough strength to put her wish in front of a woman who had become her mother in no time.

The commotion in the lounge told her everyone was busy in conversations.

She cleared her throat to catch their attention. They all craned their heads in her direction.

"Ah, the queen is finally here to greet the peasants with her mighty presence and have her evening tea which, by the way, has gone cold now." Raina chirped, playfully, from where she was sprawled in the couch beside Azlan.

Sameena shook her head at Raina's theatrics and patted the space beside her on the sofa, indicating Safa to sit there.

"I need to talk to you about something." She came right to business once she was settled in the designated position, all the while fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve.

Azlan stared at her with scrutiny while Mr. Shehryar and Raina became attentive as well.

Sameena nodded her head calmly and intently, asking her to go on.

"I... umm... did a lot of thinking..." She was looking anywhere but her. "And finally came to a decision to move out." She held her breath once she had spat the words with great struggle and ordeal.

Sameena heaved an elongated sigh. "We've already talked about it, Safa. You ain't going anywhere."

The same authority; same finality.

Ugh. She hated it yet she loved it. So much.

"But, I'll have to someday, anyway, auntie. Then, why not today?" She asked. Almost like a plea.

"Because that day is not today." She turned away and scooped the cup in her hand as if that was the last nail in this topic and now it had been closed.

Safa held her hand, making her look towards her.

"Auntie, please. You have to understand me. It's not easy for me to live here when I'm very much aware that I can take care of myself on my own. I feel like exploiting your generosity and I also know you people don't think like that but I do and it's all on me. I need to move out for my own peace of mind. Please!"

"But-"

"Let her go, mom." Azlan cut in.

"What?" Sameena stared at him with ire bulging in her hazel orbs.

"Yes." He nodded, then turned towards Safa. "You go, pack your things. I'll drop you tomorrow morning."

"Thank you!" Safa mouthed, inaudibly, and before Sameena could say anything, walked out of there.

"What the hell is wrong with you? What's your problem with that poor girl?" She yelled at Azlan, her face puce.

"Mom, listen to me. No, listen to her actually. You have to see her point of view, too. You can't just impose your decisions on her. I know you have started loving her but love means to trust your beloved with their decisions and let them go, to let them breath. Not caging in like you're doing with her. She's human, not your toy with whom you can do anything you want."

"Ironic, coming from you!" Raina snorted.

"Excuse me? What do you mean?" Azlan raised an eyebrow, looking at her.

"Excused. Remember that rainy night?" She smiled plastic, her eyes swimming with sarcasm.

"She told you about that?" One shade after another settled on Azlan's face, finally leaving it alabaster.

"Of course, she did. We've been living under the same roof for over a month now in case you've forgotten."

Azlan leaned back as he sighed deeply.

"Well, that was a completely different situation. She was working under my supervision and I was in authority to give her punishment."

Raina opened her mouth to shoot back but he again cut in.

"And I know, it was completely pathetic and inhumane on my part to do that. I went overboard and I am ashamed for what I did. And apologized for it, too. So, that chapter is closed, now."

It was true. He was sorry for what he did even though he didn't want to because what he did with her was nothing in front of what she had done with the person he loved so much and could sacrifice his life for.

He wanted her to go through the same pain, same agony, thousand times over; to feel the same torture and anguish she had put that person through.

But now after sharing the same house with her for such a long time, his heart had waged a war with his brain. He didn't know if it was her façade or not but his heart was adamant to convince him she wasn't how he thought she was; that there was something more to the picture. Something that had been kept from him.

Whenever it had come to the battle between his heart and brain, brain had always been prioritized. But now this woman was messing with his heart, convincing him she wasn't who he had anticipated without even trying. Safa Hayat was going to be his doom. He could sense it. Maybe the reason he obliged with her wish to move out. He needed her to be away from him because the strings of his heart weren't cooperating with him now.

******

"Allah Hafiz!" Safa said, standing by the threshold as Sameena enveloped her in her motherly embrace.

She inhaled her scent one last time. Drinking it. Devouring it.

The room in the hotel had been booked and as much as she didn't want to leave them, she had to. For her own self-respect.

"Allah Hafiz!" Sameena cupped Safa's heart shaped face in the cocoon of her palms as she pulled away.

"Alright, enough with the melodrama." Raina rolled her eyes. "I'm gonna come over every weekend and bug you, okay?" She chirped, hugging Safa tightly.

"I won't tell you my room number. Ha!" She smiled sheepishly.

"Too bad I already know."

"Can you come already? I'm getting late for office." Azlan intervened from where he was leaning by his car, looking all the more intimidating in his three piece obsidian suit.

"Sorry. Coming." She replied back.

Mr. Shehryar patted her head before she strode towards the car.

Her heart ached as she walked away, knowing she wouldn't be living with those angles in the form of humans, anymore.

It was strange and mesmerizing how she had developed such a wholesome bond with some strangers she didn't even know about a month ago; and not with the ones she had spent her entire life with. Maybe it's not the blood that makes you family but the people who care for you, love you, and cherish your prsence. Because that is what she had experienced.

They say blood is thicker than water but maybe that thickness turns some people's hearts into stone and drive them away from the ones they share it with.

******

A/N

Major writer's block. Hope this chapter wasn't as bad as I think it turned out.