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Destiny, what is it?

Something that's unpredictable yet amusing. How destiny plays with one's life could be never understood. The same happened to me, my destiny played its game...pushing me into the hardest things and then giving me something I longed for...family.

My grandmother's death was traumatic for me, more than my father and brother's. Maybe I was too small at that time to register things, but when nanu died I lost my only hope.

I came here, found my family and now I am engaged. My family, they did so much for me...and getting engaged to him,I had never ever thought about it. I was hesitant at first but seeing my family happy... I am happy.

I just hope everything turns out good.

“Irfa…Irfa!” Shifa's loud voice snapped me out of my musings, that's a different thing that it made me jump in fear.

“Yeah...what happened?” I asked.

“What happened?...huh?... I am ranting here about my hand for ten minutes straight and here you are...what happened?” She huffed. Sometimes she gets too adorable. I smiled and spoke,

“Sorry my darling I just zoned out.” I hugged her making her squeak. She hated it when someone hugged her.

“Ew...get off me you are mad girl.” she said cringing back and made an adorable face showing how disgusted she was. I let out a chuckle making her raise her eyebrows.

“ Okay...enough let's get sleep.” I said and helped her in lying down as her hand was throbbing in pain. It was a really deep cut and it was obvious that it would hurt.

In just matter of few minutes she was in deep slumber. I smiled at her sleeping form and got down from the bed. The window was opened making the breezy and enchanting air rush inside. Walking towards it, I glanced up, towards the moon...it was a half moon.

I stood there, looking at the beautiful creation of Allah.

Every thing was perfect...but his behavior was quite strange. It seemed like either he wasn't aware of us being engaged or he wasn't happy.

I should talk to him about his consent... I knew my family was very happy but if he had been forced then I couldn't do this.

With these thoughts in my mind I went to bed and tried to sleep.

___________

“Irfa...can you make coffee for Shehreyar he woke up late today and in hurry.” mama said making me nod in agreement.

“But Khizir how the engagement's news came in the media?” Making his coffee I proceeded towards his room only to stop outside after hearing his angry voice. Why was he so angry?

“Khizir... I didn't want to disclose this. It may cause huge problems...you know about our business world.” He spoke making me frown at his words. What would the news of our engagement do with his business?

“See Khizir... I was not ready for this.” he said. The fear I had was true, he was forced. I should have understood that.

He never liked me then how could I expect him to agree on his own will. I didn't know why his words hurt me? I didn't know why was I feeling like this but it felt disappointing. What should I do now?

“Take care of these matters... Allah hafiz.” He said.

Thinking that it would be better not to face him, I turned around but stopped.

“Mom...my coff.-” he was in the middle of his sentence making me stop and hand him his coffee hurriedly. He glanced me and then took the coffee from my hand and without saying anything went inside.

This shouldn't hurt but it did, I was just engaged with him... I shouldn't raise my expectations.

__________

The bouquets of congratulations and flowers greeted us as soon as we stepped inside the office building. It was a shock seeing them all standing with a broad smile plastered on their faces. It made me smile.

“Congratulations Mr Shehreyar and Miss Irfa.” one of our board director said and shook hands with him. He was smiling...it seemed a genuine smile. But why was he angry in the morning?

“Congratulations Irfa.” I saw Mr Zawar approaching me as he spoke.

“Thank you, Mr Zawar.” I thanked him and went away. As usual his behavior was weird.

I kept my handbag on my desk and sighed, all those thanks and congrats was awkward yet heartwarming. Suddenly my eyes fell on something red. I removed my bag from it and saw a red rose and a car with it.

Frowning in confusion I picked it up only to wince in pain...its thorn priced in my finger. A little blood coming out of it making me more tensed as to who would give such gift.

Keeping the rose away I opened the card. The thing it was written in it was nothing but shocking. Who would say such thing I had no idea.

'What do you think? Getting engaged to him will save you from me....you are mine, you can't escape.

X'.

Writer's POV

Shifa hadn't ever felt the pain she was feeling at that moment. All credit to Khizir. Her hand had a deep cut and the stitches were hurting too much. It was obvious she would create a havoc and that's what she was doing since morning. Crying and cursing Khizir.

Entering the house Irfa and Shehreyar heard sobs, and they exchanged worried looks. Shehreyar saw Shifa curled up on the couch and hurriedly went to her.

“Hey panda what happened…?” he asked wiping her tears making her look towards him and then sit up

“Bhai...it's hurting. I will surely kill Khizir.” She said in between her sobs.

“Stop crying first... I will also help you to kill Khizir.” He said and hugged his baby panda...who clutched his shirt and started sobbing more.

Standing at a little distance Irfa was observing the immense love of the siblings. She also had tears in her eyes.

“Bhai...see Sadan bhai slapped me.” A little Irfa came running towards her brother.

He instantly wrapped his arms around her little petite form. Her tears pained him. After their father's death he was her only support, and he was living only because of her.

“Stop crying my baby...don't worry I will tell nanu about him...she will complaint to mamu jann. Please stop crying” He cooed, and smiled at her.

“Bhai when will you grow up...and take me to baba jani and amma?” She asked innocently.

“Soon my baby.” He said caressing her cheeks.

“I love you bhai.” The little one jumped on him.

She was unaware that soon his brother will go to her parents but without her.

Two days later...a dead body with five bullet shots and covered in blood was in front of her.

She was horrified. The small heart couldn't take the reality, the flowing eyes narrating the pain of the small girl.

“Bhai...get up...you promised me that you will take me to baba jani and amma...bhai please get up.” The innocent 10 years old Irfa was wailing and crying but her brother didn't say anything.

He left her...like her amma...like her baba jani.

Tears made their way down as she recalled the dreadful memory. She silently wiped them and went towards crying Shifa. She sat next to her and nudged her.

“Shifa you know Ji Chang Wook oppa is going to make a drama named …melt me slowly”. She said nudging her more.

“What?when how?where did you read this news?” The crying Shifa flew was long gone and the crazy fangirl stepped in. He was shocked...few seconds ago she was crying like no tomorrow and now she was smiling like an idiot.

“On google, and he also posted it on his Instagram account.” Irfa said excitedly.

“Oh my Allah I am so excited.” Shifa exclaimed happily and the duo started shrieking like teenage girls.

“Gosh shut up both of you my ears are bleeding.” Shehreyar said in an annoyed tone at which both of them stuck out their tongue at him.

He gasped at them horribly and went away.

___________

The next week didn't take much time to pass, the preparations for much awaited wedding was making everyone excited specially Saba and Sana.Shifa had nothing but to cry at the pain of her hand.

The only thing which was bothersome was the red rose and the cards Irfa was getting everyday by some X.

She wanted to tell someone, but she didn't intend to trouble them, so she tried to ignore it as much as she could.

Khizir didn't dare to step in the Siddiqui mansion from the day the accident had happened. He knew as soon as he will set his foot on the door he will be sacrificed by Shifa.

Today, unfortunately his mother was willing to go there and so was his sister...so he had to take them to the Siddiqui mansion and take himself to his sacrificial place.

“Khizir we are going in your take out the things in the trunk.” His mother said on which he nodded.

He took out the things but was quite hesitant to go inside he knew if by any chance he came in Shifa's hawk vision he will be dead. He was informed daily by either Shehreyar or Irfa about the curses he was getting from Shifa.

Brushing aside his thoughts he went inside and sat where everyone was sitting...at least she won't attack in front of others.

“Khizir beta...have some tea.” Saba said passing him the cup.

Taking the cup from Saba he turned around to sit only to get started by loud shout of Shifa. The sudden shock made him drop the cup of hot tea on his own hand.

“Khizir Hussain how dare you?” she shouted coming towards him.

He panicked...first his hand got burnt now this tigress would surely eat him.

''Shifa calm down please…'' he pleaded and hissed due to burning pain in his hands.

“Shifa are you out of your mind or what? Did you forget the way to behave...say sorry to him? See his hand...how much it got burned. Please for god’s sake grow up.” Saba scolded her...she was really being bothersome from past few days and Saba couldn't take it more.

Shifa couldn't stop the tears that left her eyes as her mother scolded her. However much she was notorious she was still soft at heart and being scolded in front of everyone was too much for her.

“Mami it's alright you didn't have to shout on her.” Khizir said politely.

“No beta…she has really become bothersome...she should understand things.” Saba said.

“First go and wash your hand... I will get you the first aid kit.” Saba said on which he nodded.

While coming out of the washroom he heard someone's sobbing...it didn't take him time to realize who the person was. He silently went to the backyard where Shifa was sitting at a corner and crying like a baby.

He went near her and sat beside her.

“Shifa…sorry, please maaf kar do mujhe.(please forgive me).” He said.

“It's alright Khizir I was really being too annoying... I am sorry you burnt your hand.” She said her hands still covering her eyes.

“But if you will cry like this how will I accept your apology.”he said smiling a little.

“Ok see I am not crying.” she said and wiped her face with her hands.

“Hmm that's like my little rat.”he teased.

“Khizir shut up.” she said but couldn't stop laughing at his comment.

“As you wish little rat.”he said and started laughing with her.

Oblivious to the fact that they were being watched by their mothers they sat there laughing and teasing each other. Oblivious to the upcoming twisted events they talked like they used to.

Little did they know what was waiting for them.

________