Sameena bored into the now sleeping form of her daughter who, a few minutes back, had almost given her a heart attack. She did not know how to make her understand that nothing in this world was worth sacrificing her health for.

Safa was in the kitchen, making tea for Sameena while Azlan had gone to drop the doctor since he had come along with them on their way to Shehryar house. The downpour was still going on in full torrents. Safa muttered duas for everyone out there, surviving in this bleak weather.

No one had told Mr. Shehryar anything. He wasn't in the city right now and so worrying him wasn't something rational to do.

Once in Raina's room, Safa placed the hot steaming cup of tea on the table situated in front of the couch and strode towards Sameena's dishevelled figure settled beside her daughter. Wrapping her arms around her shoulders, Safa made her sit comfortably on the couch and extended the cup towards her.

"I don't know what I'm gonna do with her." Her voice was light yet heavy. "I've never seen her like this. She's always been a bright kid who believed in smart work and always managed to secure 1st position as well. I know she had always wanted to get into NUST but I thought that was just her wish but seeing her turning it into her burning desire is neither sitting well with me nor her father. And today she crossed all limits. This was her first anxiety attack..."

"And I'm gonna make sure it's the last." Azlan's voice cut through hers and seeped inside her ears. She looked up towards him, his tall and lean torso standing by the door.

Taking long and quiet strides- so as not to wake Raina up, he strolled inside the room and took a seat beside Sameena who was now sandwiched between the two of them.

"Don't worry, okay? She's our intelligent bacha (kid). I'm sure if we talk to her, there's no way she won't understand." He clasped her soft hand in both his.

"Be my guest." She shrugged her shoulders. "Your father and I have already tried umpteen times."

"That's different, mom. You guys belong to different generation. Your mindset is way different and contradicting to ours. And I'm, in no way, saying you're wrong. You guys are right in your own place. But your way of perceiving situations and handling them is different which doesn't sit well with the people of our generation. You give your verdict and even if it's the only right solution, it comes off more as controlling the other person and no one wants that. Would you?" His tone was calm but determined.

"But I've never done that. Your father has never done that." She protested meekly.

"I know. You two are the most understanding parents any child would crave to have." He placated her and a shadow crossed Safa's eyes, a tadbit of jealousy surging up inside her.

"But you guys saying 'it doesn't matter. It's not that important' is also not the right way to deal with it. Just because her dreams are different does not mean they are not important. They matter as much as anyone's does."

"But that doesn't mean she has to take it to her head and destroy both her mental and physical health." Her eyes welled up with worry and fear again.

Safa who was sitting there, witnessing the conversation between the mother-son duo did not feel awkward for once. As if she belonged there only. Wholly and solely.

"Absolutely. It doesn't mean that in any way." He nodded like an obedient and understanding son that he was. His stance full of assurance, making sure to not offend her.

The way he was handling his worried and torn mother had tugged at Safa's heart. He could have easily riled her up by disagreeing but he took a completely different route and made everything so easy for her to understand. How many shades of this man were there?

Ah, the fifty shades of Azlan!

"What?" They said in unison as their heads craned towards Safa and she bit her tongue, smacking herself mentally.

"I said it out loud again, didn't I?" She hissed.

"You really need to learn the art of controlling your always-running tongue, Ms. Hayat."

Back to shade one. SATAN!

"AZLAN!" Sameena roared, waking Raina up.

"Great! Now, you've wakened my baby up." He convulsed his head. "Now, please, leave both of you! Raina needs some deadass sibling talk."

"Yeah, I can see how deadass that'd be." She retorted, standing up while Safa followed suit. "You've completely spoiled her, I'm telling you! Which is the reason she has become so stubborn. You fulfilling her every wish has led her to this extent that she goes completely out of control if she doesn't get something she wants."

The entire time, she went on with her angry speech, Azlan kept nodding his head, all the while steering her out of the room with his arm protectively wrapped around her shoulders. Raina who was witnessing all this just buried her face in the pillow. Although, seeing Safa back in the house had brought a smile on her marred face but right now her plight was bigger than that.

******

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A/N

This writer's block is not coming slow, I swear! Apologies in advance!