the hospital. She didn't want to be away from Manal for even a second. At first Shehryaar tried to convince her that he could stay and she could rest comfortably at home and come back in the morning. But she was adamant on her decision. She was determined to sleep across Manal's room on the seats, if she had to. Rubab, Faiza and Umair left at eight. Faiza said she could have gone back home later but she had assignments to complete, so she went home. She promised to visit her best friend the next day. Rubab told that she would bring breakfast and even lunch.

Zoha locked herself in the room and cried all day. She could never imagine that Saliha could insult and degrade her in front of everyone like that. She had no mercy for Zoha. She didn't even think for one second that Zoha was part of their family. She only cared for her only daughter, Manal. Zoha meant nothing to her.

Shehryaar was the only one who truly cared about her. He stood out for her and became her defense. He did what Zoha couldn't do for herself. And Zoha was afraid of him acting that way. It was bringing a wrong impression on her. What would Faiza have thought that her fiancé was supporting another girl. Zoha didn't want to be closer to him in anyway. Things were already worse and there was no doubt that they could get even worse. As much as Shehryaar was trying to help her, he was also hurting her reputation.

She was tired of everything. She did not want to live like this. She felt smothered by all the accusation. She wanted this to end.

She dove her head in the pillow on her knees and sobbed. No one could hear the sound of her snivels. Nobody could understand her. Her heart ached with unending pain.

'Please Allah help me. I have no one. I am tired of being treated this way,' she implored. Her eyes ached and burned. 'Why does this has to happen to me? I never wanted bad for anyone then why? What is my fault? I want to know so I can fix it.'

She wiped at her sea of tears as they endlessly flowed. Her face appeared puffy and sickly pale. She had no strength in her body. She lifted her head from the pillow and put the pillow aside, then laid on the bed on her side. The room felt ghostly quiet and vacant. She could hear the accusatory remarks ricochet in her head. They made her weaker and weaker. She was considered a bad luck to the family. Everything that happened was because of her and that's why nobody needed her. It was better if she was never born. Then this all wouldn't have ever happened.

**********************

Shehryaar reached home, leaving Saliha with Manal in the hospital. He was guilty about everything that happened. But it was overall Manal's fault for acting reckless and arrogant. She was the cause of this accident. He warned his mother to control her but Saliha never listened. Now Manal was swinging between life and death. She was accountable of her own actions.

After all as an older brother, Shehryaar was prodigiously worried about this sister. He did everything that he could possibly do. He fully supported his family in worst times, though they had conflicts.

But wasn't Zoha part of this family too? he thought. Did she really deserve the insult in front of everyone? It was horrendous what Saliha, his own mother did to her. He couldn't believe what she was capable of doing. Did she lose all the mercy for Zoha? Wasn't Zoha a human with feelings? He could imagine how terribly Zoha was hurt. Her heart was broken numerous times and nobody cared about what she went through.

Zoha lifted her head from the pillow as she heard the knock at the door.

Who was it?

Who could be?

She was already too scared. She did not want to face anyone. Her hands trembled, feeling nervous.

There was another knock, rather hesitantly, like whoever there was didn't mean to disturb Zoha. But Zoha didn't want to open the door. She couldn't bring the courage to get out of the bed and run her hand towards the knob.

"Zoha, it's me." It was Shehryaar. "Please open the door."

Zoha's heart thudded. She was alone and Shehryaar was outside. How could she let him in. Why did he come.

"I am here to say sorry for what happened. Please open the door."

Zoha couldn't make her mind to take this action.

"Please. Don't take me wrong."

She slowly got out of bed, her legs were asleep and her head felt woozy. She could barely stand. Somehow she reached and unlocked the door from the top. Shehryaar looked, with wind of surprise at Zoha.

"Why have you come here?" Zoha said.

"I am really sorry for what happened. You did not deserve that. I know mummy was so emotional and she said things that she shouldn't have said. Don't take her words to heart."

"Not take her words to heart?" Zoha was shocked. "Would you have not taken them to heart if it had happened to you? Would you have been able to forget all that insult?" Tears leaked down her watery eyes.

"I am greatly sorry for happened. I tried to stop it because...."

Zoha looked into his eyes as he stared back at her.

"Because I couldn't see you being insulted in front of everyone," he said. "You mean so much to me."

Zoha eyes were absently transfixed at him.

"I realized how precious you are to me. I know what you are going through. Manal did this to herself. You are not the cause of any of this." He tried to convince her.

Zoha was quiet. She had no words in return.

"You are not the cause of any of this I will say it again. If I could say this as a brother of Manal, then you have to believe in it. Everyone is wrong about you. I know who you truly are."

Zoha didn't know what was happening. Her head was already throbbing with pain. She could hear the hateful words of Saliha echo in her ears, you stole happiness of my poor girl. The condition Manal is in, is because of you. What have you come to see? Zoha could not take it anymore. Her head was exploding. It was too overwhelming. She did not want to hear anything.

"Zoha?" Shehryaar noticed that she looked disturbed. "Are you okay?" He held the sides of her shoulders.

"I.. can't.." Zoha mumbled, holding her temples. "I .. can't. Go away. Go away... no." She began to cry. Her hands quivered, and she moved away from Shehryaar.

"Zoha." Shehryaar was greatly concerned.

"I want to be alone. Please," Zoha implored. "I am not feeling well. Pleas- "

Shehryaar looked at her in puzzlement. He stopped holding her shoulder as she didn't prefer. "Zoha, I am not doing anything. I will go."

Zoha's headache gave way. She wobbled on her feet, as her vision blurred in confusion. She tried to keep her eyes open and control herself.

"You don't look okay to me," Shehryaar said, sitting her down on the bed. "Let me bring some water." He rushed out of the room.

Just as Shehryaar left, Zoha collapsed on bed.

*******************

When her eyes opened, she found herself on bed, under the comforter. Her body was too weak to move. She realized she had fainted. She did not remember what happened after that. But she what Shehryaar said to her. You mean so much to me. How could she mean so much to him? Zoha was the cause of all that happened to Manal. She was a bad luck to this family. The distances between Shehryaar and Manal were caused by her. Then how could Shehryaar like a girl like her. Why did he choose her? Everyone hated her. Nobody wanted her. Then why?

She jerked up on bed and looked around for Shehryaar. But he was not in the room. He had left her. And she was cold, hungry and alone. Her eyes were blurry from all the tears and her head still felt groggy. She made an attempt to flip aside the comforter and bring her feet to the floor. But a cold draft of nightly breeze made her shiver. She felt disorientated even after rubbing her eyes. The place she always lived in felt strange and distant, like it wasn't her house she was living in. It was someone else's and she did not belong here.

She had no house of her own. She always depended on her uncle. He was her shelter. He provided her with everything. Zoha wished Zafar was here to see in what condition she was in. He could have understood her more than anyone. Even Shehryaar too who loved her? To whom Zoha meant everything. Was she deserving of his love? Did she ever had any feelings for him?

She always avoided him because she was afraid that this would happen. And now it was part of the reality that she wasn't ready to accept.

As she tried to get out of bed, her eyes went over to a paper folded in half on the bedside near the lamp. She rubbed her eyes again and reached for it.

She opened it and read:

Zoha I didn't mean to shock you. I am sorry. You were too stressed out. I know mummy hadn't done good to you. I understand how upset and deeply hurt you were. Just couldn't stand seeing you like this.

-Shehryaar

Zoha imagined all those times when Shehryaar tried to come closer to her, cared about her and defended her. He just didn't do that without a reason. He always hinted her through his actions that he liked her and she meant something to him.