kitchen as a whimper escape her lips while everyone else stayed rooted in their place.

"I won't ever forgive you both". Imaan said glaring at Hadiya and his friend then she pinned her hard eyes on his friend, "I swear if she suffers more then she already had because of you and hopefully when she decides to fight for herself. I promise you that I will stand against you unless you get me killed before that".

With that Imaan turns to leave but stopped in front of him looking at him cautiously, "I am sorry to ask this but can I please borrow your jacket?".

He didn't even ask her question nodding as he places his jacket in her hands watching her leave towards the kitchen.

"Ammi, can you go back home. I will come soon". He asked with underlying anger evident

His mother wanted to ask questions however she chooses to leave not wanting to pressure everyone with questions, for now.

He turns to glare at his friend, "Make sure you don't leave from here because you have some questions to answer and you better be here because if I found you gone. God forbid, I will find you and it won't end well".

After a clear warning, he marches towards the kitchen to find Imaan sitting down on the floor.

Zeenat hides under the table with her hand wrapped around herself not being able to stop the sounds and noises that were ringing in her head. She had been through things she had tried so hard to forget and the fact that one of the officers in jail was good enough to provide her with psychiatric help to improve her condition.

Imaan looks around panic because she cannot reach her and holding her would only be worse. She places the jacket over her because that is one way of preventing her from a near panic attack.

"We need to stop her or she has to be taken to hospital". Imaan said anxiously

"This had happened before?". He asked as he steps closer to find her shaking under the table

"Yes, once and it was bad". Imaan said remembering her hyperventilating to the point she wasn't able to breathe,"She has flashbacks of when she was in prison and the sounds at that time and it gets worse. We need to stop her".

"Can I?". He asked sincerely wanting to do something to ease her pain

Imaan nodded stepping aside and in a little distance.

"Zeenat". He said softly as he coaxed her to listen to him, "It's ok now. Look there is no one here who can hurt you".

When she didn't listen to him he went to open the fridge taking out of the desert he had made for her. He came back beside her sitting crisscross with the desert in his hand.

"I remember you saying you like this desert once. I was hoping to give it to you since you have been an amazing employee and an even more amazing person". He said chuckling a little

He watches her remove her jacket holding onto it tightly as her puffy eyes turn to look at him with uncertainty as she asks in a soft voice, "I am amazing?".

"More than words can ever say". He replied immediately with his voice filled with nothing but sincerity

"I have done an amazing job?". She asked innocently and he smiled nodding, "Then why do everyone hurt me?".

"Probably because they are jealous of you". He said as his heart clenched the way her face was covered in such immense pain and he promises that moment that he will be making things right now,"Good people are always crushed down by everyone because they wish to be like them but they know they can't be. So, instead they push them down, crush them and beat them so either they break down or become like them".

She frowns adorably turning to him as she looks at the desert then back at him and then back at the desert too shy to directly ask him for it which amuses him.

He passes her the desert without words watching a small smile gaze her lips as she wipes her tears away then beams at him and at the moment he felt that he was watching an innocent soul that was pure of any sin and that was wounded by the world unfairness.

"Come on, your car must be here". He said softly as she nodded sadly passing him the desert, "Take it with you".

"He will be mad". She said in a low tone

"Who?". Imaan asked making her yelp surprised and she blushes

"My husband". She said shortly

"What in the world?. Who did you marry?". Imaan asked shocked

"I think it's best she leaves for now". He said not wanting her to be pressured then he turns to Imaan, "It's her day off tomorrow so you can come here and talk then".

Imaan nodded and they both left leaving him behind. He banged his hand on the wall angrily. The anger he had surpassed all this time. He strides outside to find his friend sitting there waiting and he grabs his collar pushes him against the wall harshly.

"I want the truth. Right now". He demanded, "What have you done to that poor soul?".

"I did what was necessary". His friend said pushing his hand away

He glares at him, "Don't give me that bullshit. What did you do, Yasir?".

"Ahad never should have asked me to take this case in the first place. He made me do all that". Yasir yelled angrily

He resists the urge to punch him, "Stop blaming everyone for what you have done. Tell me now?".

His words held authority and anger.

"After I placed her in jail for his mother murder he was still raging in anger so he asked me to make sure she suffers in jail and that her life isn't easy. He asked to hurt her". Yasir confessed and his eyes narrow at his words, "I asked her inmate that were Imaan and Hadiya to meet me for a couple of minutes and I-I offered them few things in exchange for them to hurt her".

He punched him, hard. He wishes to do more but he needed to find more for it.

"Define hurt?". He asked in pure fury ready to hit him again

"I won't say. If you want to know go ask her. I am not the one to be blamed". Yasir said pushing him away as she walked outside

He paces around trying to calm his anger down but the more he thinks the more he feels his anger rises.

Then, a memory surfaced.

He was working in his office looking through the accounts when he heard the soft knock on the door. After a quick 'come in' he went back to look at the record. Since, they are middle class and the only source of income is from this restaurant sometimes business is hard to handle and this month was one of those days. However, he was always thankful for his Lord to grant him as much as He sees fit.

At least, he was happy with his mother and have a roof over their head.

"Um--". He heard her nervous voice and immediately his eyes turn to her

He was drawn to her like a moth to a fire. And she was a burning fire that quiet possibly will burn him.

"Ji, bolein?. Kia kar sakte huin mai ap k liye?". He asked gently (yes, speak?. What can I do for you?)

"Woh, ap agar thori se help kar dein toh ap ka bohat ehsaan ho ga mere per". (If you can help a little it will be a great favour)

"Ab is tarha na bolein. Ap ka kaam karna koi ehsaan ki baat nahi hai. Batein kia karuin?". (Please don't say that. Helping you is not a favour. Tell me what can I do for you)

"Ap busy toh nahi?. Mai phir--". (Are you busy?. I can--)

"Zeenat". He said halting her need to always do everything on her own,"Kuch nahi hota agar kisi se kabhi help lay lo. Mai busy nahi ho batao kia karna hai?". (It's not bad to ask for help. I am not busy tell me what you want me to do?)

"Ji woh grocery ka truck aya tha per muskil yeh hai--". (Ok so the grocery truck is here and the issue is--)

"Tum kyun grocery nikal rahi ho?". He said stepping around the desk as anger shines in his eyes,"Maine bataya tha k yeh jo truck wala hai us ka kaam hai. Tum kyun apne ap ko is tarha takleef dayti ho?". (Why are you taking out that grocery?) (I told you that it was the truck driver work then why are you hurting yourself?)

"Sorry". She said embarrassed

He shakes his head,"Tumhari galti nahi hai shayeed is duniya nae tumhae sahi se jeene nahi diya. Dekho mujhe pata hai tum sub kar sakti ho aur maine kabhi kuch nahi kaha per woh boxes bohat heavy hain aur tum apne ap ko koi chouot laga lo gi toh zara dehaan kiya karo. Agar koi aur nahi toh mujhe kaha karo. Theek hai?". (It's not your mistake this world didn't allow you to live fully. Look, I know you can do everything and I have never stopped you from doing anything but those boxes are heavy and you can hurt yourself so please be careful. Even if no one will help you ask me I will do it, ok?)

She nodded and they walked outside bringing the grocery boxes which he made sure she doesn't touch the heavy ones. She raises her sleeves unconsciously since they have been annoying her and getting dirty in the process. He raises his eyebrows when she walked back to get some of the grocery and his eyes widen when he looked at the mark on her elbow.

A third-degree burn mark, to be specific.

How does he know?.

Because he had one on his chest when he was a dumb kid and somehow managed to place a hot iron on his hand. His eyes remain on the exposed skin where the mark is and when he realises that it was the same mark as his own he gasps without having any control over his emotions as thousands of thoughts pass through his head.

He remembers how painful it was and he had cried for days after the incident. Her mark looked old but since the burn was served it was meant to leave a mark.

She looks at him frowning but when she looks at where he was looking her eyes widen as she covers her hand cursing herself.

"Is that from Ahad?". He asked in low whispers scared that he might have been late to stop Ahad from hurting her this deep

She shakes her head vigorously, "No, no. He didn't do this. This was from prison".

His breathing stopped.

He remembers her running away after those words and he realised that she doesn't wish to have this conversation. Now, he realises that those few more cuts he had seen on her hand were from the prison.

All in the name of revenge.

Was it all worth it?.

He walks inside his small house tired and drained from everything. He feels like crying for her sake and the pain she had gone through yet he couldn't do anything.

"Beta". He heard his mother softly calling (son)

He turns around to find her sitting on the couch and he immediately went to hug her tightly as a few tears escape his eyes. His mother warmth always comforted him.

"What's wrong?". His mother asked and he places his head in her lap while she runs her hand through his hair

"Gunah". He said hoarsely, "Hum sub gunahgar hain us k". (Sin) (we are offender of her)

"Kon hai woh?". His mother asked (who is she)

"Everyone says she is Ahad's mother killer".

His mother gasps, "She?. No. She is so young and innocent. How?".

"I don't know. Ahad married her for revenge and he wanted me to take part in it". He confessed

His mother pushes him away as her eyes narrow at him, "Don't tell me you have taken part in this nonsense or I will kill you with my hands".

He shakes his head, "I didn't. I promise. I had to say that to Ahad because if I didn't take her in he would have taken her to Usman and you know how that would end".

His mother sighs, "Why?. Why did Ahad do such a thing?. It's despicable. She is not supposed to live that way".

"He had done more than just marrying her, Ammi. Mai kia karu?. Mai kaise us ki takleef kum karu?. Mai rozana us k apne samne toota dekh raha huin mai kia karu?". He cried holding his mother hand for answers (what do I do?. What can I do to stop her from this pain?. I see her breaking in front of my eyes every day how do I stop it)

"Jub log khud ko khuda samjhna shoro karte hain toh phir khuda ka he intezar hota hai k kub woh apni be awaaz laahti utha kar us shaks jo us ki aukaat dekha day ga". His mother said patting his head," She is in pain but she needs to understand herself what she deserves. If we step in to help her will only cause her to not understand what she needs and what she should do. Because the path we will show is the path we made and she needs to make her own path". (When people starts to consider themselves as someone equivalent to Lord then we have to wait for him to show these people what He is capable of and how that person is nothing compared to him and His justice)

"So we watch her breaking?".

"Perhaps she needs to break to collect her pieces once again to become someone beautiful and unbreakable". His mother said softly, "Pray for her, beta. Prayer is the most powerful thing in this world. Your words, action and anything might lose but your prayer will never because that are connected to your Lord".

***

She feels her entire body aches and she groans opening her eyes to meet a sharp light entering her vision. With the horror of waking late and after him sweeps into her making her jolt and sit. But she frowns when she found herself on the ground in a beautiful forest. She looks ahead to find a river flowing and tree around her.

"Meri Jaan". She heard her mother voice and she turns around to find her standing in a distance with her usual warm smile (my life)

She runs towards her engulfing her in a tight hug as she starts to cry in her warm embrace. The embrace she had missed all along.

"I missed you. I love you. I need you, please come back to me". She weeps

Her mother pulls back holding her hand wiping her tears away.

"I wish I could I come back and take you far away from this pain". Her mother said sadly placing her hand on her cheeks, "But I am taking away to where I belong and I have to stay there".

"I am scared". She cried harder

"That is why I am here. I know you are scared and drifting away. Why when you were set free from the prison are you torturing yourself by staying in there?". Her mother asked, "Why have you captive yourself in that house?. Why are you punishing yourself?".

"Because I am a criminal. No one will ever understand me". She said as she breaks down, "No one will ever be there for me".

"You don't need anyone. You need yourself before that. You need to set yourself free from this guilt". Her mother said passing her a small mirror, "Look at yourself".

She takes the mirror frowning when she finds her 15 years old self looking back at her and that was when she realised that she wasn't 25 years old right now rather she was 15 at the moment.

"This is because you have imprisoned yourself to that 15 years old girl. You need to let her go and realise that now you have the power to build a life for yourself which contain love, care, compassion and more. You are not a child whose voice can be muted instead you are a woman. You have already given all those years that you should have been playing around, making friends, memories and studying. Your life was already taken from you will you allow them to take the rest of it away. You don't have to settle for less when you can have the best. Prepare yourself to fight back".

She gasps opening her eyes to find Ahad laying beside her with his face turned to the other side. She holds the sheet around her walking towards the bathroom to continue her morning routine.

After she was dropped to work and she had successfully hidden her abuses on her pale skin she walks inside limping. Her husband doesn't have the mercy on her tough.

She sighs.

"Ah! My child". His mother said as she enters hugging her tightly then she moves back kissing her forehead and she feels the warmth similar to her mother

Her eyes brimmed with tears as she remembers her mother, "C-Can I hug you again?".

She didn't want to do that but her heart was bleeding and she needed it. His mother smiles warmly hugging her again and this time tightly as if reassuring her that everything will be ok.

Zain stands at a little distance as his heartbreak watching a few tears leaving her eyes.

"We have decided to keep the restaurant close today". His mother said pulling back from her

She frowns, "Then?. I will leave--".

"Oh! No-No. Today we will all have breakfast with your friend then you can talk with her. Later, we decided to head to the carnival that is happening a little away". His mother explained as he had planned that last night and told his mother

Her eyes widen in fear, "No. I am not going. I can't go".

His mother holds her shaking hands as she smiles softly at her, "It will be fine. You are allowed to breathe as you like, my daughter. Maybe you haven't breath on your own is the reason you are scared to do it now. Come with us just this once, please".

She nodded meekly.

"Great! Today our customers are you and your friend so we will go and cook breakfast". Zain said walking towards them with a smile

Her eyes widen, "No. I will help--".

Zain shakes his head, "You promised me yesterday that you will rest".

She huffed making a face that made them laugh at how adorable she looks and she blushes.

"Imaan is here if you want to talk to her. The breakfast will take some time". Zain said as they find her entering

She nodded.

Imaan sits in front of her and she plays with her finger trying to find the words.

Then, she explained everything.

"I will kill him". Imaan said leaping out of her chair

She holds her hand shaking her head vigorously, "No, please. Please, don't do that".