When they reached Shehryar's Residence, they found Sameena and Mr. Shehryar sprawled in the living room with their heads thrown in their hands. On hearing the footsteps they looked up. Their faces were sick with worry as Sameena immediately stood up and hugged her son.

"Did she speak?" He stroked Sameena's hair.

"No." She shook her head, pulling away. "We've been trying to ask her what happened but she's not opening the door. Locked herself up in the room as soon as she got home. We didn't wanna worry you but you're the only one who can crack her."

"Everything's going to be okay." He wiped the tears away from her face. "Lemme go talk to her, okay?"

She nodded before he turned away and rode up the stairs to Raina's room while Safa wrapped her arms around Sameena and sent a silent prayer to God.

"Raina. Come'n bacha! Open the door please! Everyone's worried sick."

It only took him one turn to make her open the door and when she did, a very disheveled Raina was revealed to him. Eyes rimmed red, hair sticking out on her face, and face marred with tears. A sharp knife pierced through his heart on seeing his baby sister's state. But before he could say anything, she turned around and sat back on the bed. He strolled inside and the condition of the room was no different with tissues strewn everywhere. Her bag was discarded by the foot of her bed with a few books peeking out.

"What happened, bacha?" He asked softly as he sat right in front of her.

She stayed muted like a statue, her face cowered downward.

"Tell me. I'm your brother. Did someone hurt you?"

She shook her head. "I...I can't tell you...I'm too ashamed."

He scrunched his eyebrows in confusion and lifted her face.

"Since when did you start getting ashamed of telling things to your best friend, hun?"

Her eyes brimmed with tears as she looked at him through a sheen of thick precipitation which then started flowing down in full torrent. Each drop of her tear fell on his heart like a bomb.

"This classmate of mine. He..." she stopped as if it was too painful to recall. He didn't urge her and waited for her to continue. Even if it would take a full day, he'd wait.

"He...harassed me."

And that was the final nail in the coffin.

He clenched his teeth. Just the thought that someone touched his sister without her consent boiled his blood.

"In front of everyone." The silence that had fallen was broken by her words and his eyes moved back to her. "And no one did a thing. No one came to help me. My own friend said it was my fault. That I wasn't supposed to befriend him. How was I supposed to know he was a harasser? It's not like he had it written on his forehead or something."

"Look at me, Raina." He held her face gently. "None of this is your fault. And you're not supposed to be ashamed of telling it to anyone. The only person who should be ashamed is him and him only, and he's gonna pay for it. I'll make sure of that."

She suddenly shot her head up at his words, scared.

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm not going to do anything. You are."

"What?" She stared at him, astounded.

"Yes, you. If you want to have peace you have to take a stand for yourself." He held her hands in his. "Raina, my kid, it's a scary world out there. Dad and I won't be there for you forever. All our lives we've tried to protect you, but for how long will we be able to do that? It's your and your road alone. We can walk it with you but we cannot walk it for you."

"So what should I do now?"

"I'll take you to your coaching center tomorrow. I know there's nothing that can make you feel better at the moment, but tomorrow you'll go meet that jerk and say whatever it is that'd make you feel better. Heck, you can even beat him if you want. I'll be there, okay?"

She stayed quiet for a few minutes, contemplating on it and then nodded meekly.

******

Next day, as decided, they went to the coaching center together. Safa wanted to stay home for Sameena but Raina insisted on her going as well so she couldn't refuse and tagged along.

"It's him." Raina pointed to a bulky dude standing next to the food stall from where she was sitting in the front seat of the car. Her face flushed ashen.

"Remember what I told you. Be brave. There's nothing you should be afraid of, especially of men like him. The only power they have is over women because they think they are weaklings and you've to show him your gender is not weak. Once you take a stand for yourself, trust me, he'll fall back because men like him are nothing but cowards." Azlan reassured.

"Yes, and if you need to hide a dead body, I'm here." Safe interjected from behind, making her laugh.

She then stepped out of the car and taking small and steady strides, reached the guy.

"Come'n, Raina. You can do this." Azlan took of his shades as he mumbled.

"She looks scared. Lemme go to her." Safa reached for the car door, but Azlan stopped her.

"No, this is her battle. She needs to do it alone. She has to be strong and do it herself otherwise there's no point in it."

She nodded and sat back and continued her focus back on Raina who tapped the guy's back with her book. He turned around and a lopsided devilish smile crept up on his face as he looked at her. He said something which they couldn't make out of since the car was parked afar. His friend who was standing along with him laughed . Azlan fumed up but maintained his composure nonetheless.

Before he could say anything, Raina held up her hand and slapped him right in his face with a force so strong that he lost his composure and his face turned to the side.

"Yes, that's my girl." He cheered on as he looked proudly at his sister.

The guy looked back at her and gulped as if he had just seen a ghost. There was vivid fright in his eyes.

Bhai was right. He is a coward. She smirked.

And at that moment Safa had made her decision. She was a strong independent woman. She didn't need anyone and this entire incident assured her that having Azlan in her life wouldn't make her weak or drift her back. He wouldn't be a hurdle in her way. He wouldn't let her get depended on him but would stand by her in her decisions like he did with Raina.

And so she decided...decided to say yes.

******

She was taking a stroll in the lawn when she heard his footsteps.

"You called me?" They had just eaten dinner.

"Yes? I needed to talk to you about something." Her hands were folded on her chest with the cashmere wrapped around her torso. Azlan was clad in brown shalwar kameez with a shawl draped on his shoulders.

"I'm listening."

"You asked me to marry you, right?" She didn't stutter and just said it right away, strongly.

"Look, Ms. Hayat. I asked you. You said no, and it all ended just there. If you think I'll force you or create any problems for you..."

"My answer is yes."

"I know, that's why I'm saying...wait what?" He jerked his face in her direction.

"Yes. I'm ready to marry you."

Disbelief was written all over his face. He couldn't believe it.

"Look, Hayat. If you're saying yes just for me..."

"Trust me, I'm not that nice."

He paused.

She smiled.

And then he did.

And that was it.

Safa Hayat was going to let Azlan Shehryar enter her life

******

A/N

Just one or maybe two chapters of this book left. *grabs the tissue box*

If you've any questions regarding the book, do ask them. I'll be more than glad to answer them. Also, WE JUST HIT 60K. How amazing is that?? Xoxo.