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𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓘𝓼 𝓝𝓸 𝓟𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓮 𝓘𝓷 𝓛𝓲𝓯𝓮 𝓦𝓲𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓨𝓸𝓾.

𝓡𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓘𝓼 𝓐𝓵𝓵 𝓘 𝓕𝓮𝓮𝓵.

Pain. Pain was all Sahar felt all over her body. Headache, backache, legs sore, heart broken and a lump in the throat constantly pinning in her throat as continuous tears strolled down its way through her cheeks. She stared at the corpse of her mother. Her mother was dead. She died after she slept beside Sahar. She didn't even think for once that she'd be facing such a huge shock in the morning.

Her mother Myza was a gentle soul. A soul which was torn apart by society for something she never did.

"It's time," Anam told making way for Sahar. Sahar stood spontaneously as the gents of the family gathered to take the body of Myza for burial.

"No! No! Don't take my Ammi away! She is the only person that I have as my own!" Sahar kept yelling as she was pulled away by her grandmother and her maternal uncle's wife Anam. She was broken, alone and shattered. Nothing could mend her soul now. She was left all alone now. The world was an irritating place for her now.

"Don't take her away..."

She broke down, crying her heart out. Her heartfelt reckless.

"No..."

There wasn't her mother there now to wipe her tears and say it's fine. Sahar had Myza but not anymore. She felt like ripping her body apart feeling suffocated that her mother left. No one can ever give the warmness a mother could and she lost her when she was just 21! What more could be a bigger loss than it?

"Ammi..." She clenched her hands on her locket tightly hang down her soft neck. The locket had so many emotions. It was the locket that her father had gifted her mother. Myza wanted Sahar to wear it as she wanted a part of his father to always be there with her even when his father wasn't with her anymore.

Due to crying so much, her health started to feel low and she fell unconscious and was shifted to her room where she lived with her mother.

After some days passed by, though it has been days since the death of her mother Myza. For Sahar, the pain was still fresh and sore. She gets nightmares daily the day when she cries for her mother to not take her away.

They have come back to India. It's Sahar's first time in India. She never visited with Myza in twenty-one years of her life. They lived in Qatar after her parents got separated.

Her granny wanted to take her to India because they wanted Sahar to feel a little bit better as she has been in agony for her mother's death.

Sahar slowly opened her eyes and sat straight in her bed. Looking here and there to find her mother. She wished it was all a nightmare. Her throat started to feel sore and dry and fresh tears welled up her eyes. Her grandmother came and sat in front of her.

"Sahar?"

She didn't respond neither did look at her granny.

"Sahar? Eat something beta... You haven't eaten anything since yesterday. Why are you searching for a job when your Mamu has a good running business? Your mother will be so restless if you don't care for yourself."

"She is gone, Nani. She left me all alone. Was I a burden that she left me? I don't want to rely on anyone Nani. I don't want anyone to feel burdened." Sahar clenched her granny's hand tightly and stared in her eyes, emotionless.

"No, it's not like that Sahar. Death isn't in our hands. It's Allah (SWT) who plans everything. It's just the amount of life Myza had asked for. You are not alone. We are with you and you are not a burden. Everybody loves you!" Her granny tried to console the lone soul but the pain cannot be healed now. No matter how much she kept trying. She can't believe that her life has taken such a move spontaneously.

"You need to strengthen yourself. You have your whole life in front of you. Myza didn't work hard for you to get weak like this. She wanted you strong and healthy. Come on get up, you need to finish your breakfast today."

Sahar glanced at the clock which showed 7:58 AM.

"I am late Nani. I need to go for the interview."

She quickly left towards her washroom and freshened up. After getting ready, She went towards the hall where her family were having their breakfast.

"You came? Eat something before it gets cold. Your mother isn't here anymore to give you fresh and warm food." Anam retorted as Sahar stood by her granny.

"What are you saying Anam? Don't you have any senses? If her mother isn't alive that doesn't give any right to speak to her like that. Her Mamu and her Nani are still alive." Anam's husband Hashir who is Myza's brother scolded Anam for speaking to her like that.

"What did I said wrong? Daughters are always a burden until they get married." Anam spoke back.

"You are forgetting the fact that she is going to be your daughter-in-law. Your son loves Sahar. Don't forget that." Hashir yelled.

"What's happening here?" They heard the loud and deep voice of Izhaan. Sahar's fiancé who is Hashir and Anam's son. Izhaan walked inside with his brother Hammad.

"As if there were no one in this world that he fell for someone as bad as her," Anam whispered loud enough that only Sahar heard.

"Nothing. Come and have breakfast Izhaan. We were just talking about stuff," Anam changed the topic. Izhaan came inside and sat on one of the chairs of the dining table.

"Sahar? Why are you standing? Have a seat and eat your breakfast."

"No, thank you Izhaan. I'll have something outside if I do get hungry. I am getting late for the interview," She protested and turned around to leave.

"Wait! I'll drop you at the place."

"No don't worry. I'll go on my own. Please have your breakfast," she quickly escaped leaving no room for further conversation to began.

After the interview, she left for a park with a coffee as she felt hungry. It was evening by now. Started thinking about several things, her future, her mother, the beautiful memories spent with her mother. Everything was flowing through her memories. It was hard for her to not cry. Her favourite dishes that her mother makes for her. She can never have it now. She can never feel the warmth of her mother's lap. It will be hard for her to survive in this cruel world. Still, she had to do.

She didn't how time passed and the night arrived. There were no one around in the park. She took her phone to check the time. It was past 8 minutes past 10. She saw many missed calls from her family members. Izhaan had called many times more than others. She couldn't hear them as her phone was one silent mode. Panicked, she got up and took her bag which contained her important documents and turned around to leave.

She saw some of the men walking towards her. Tears welled up in her eyes disgusted by the looks they were giving her.

"Where are you going beautiful?"

"We will drop you. Come with us."

"A beautiful night with a beauty besides."

"Give us some time."

They were 3 and she was only one. Their words made her feel more scared than she was. She tried to run but they grabbed her hand and started dragging her.

"Leave me!"

She begged but it got to deaf ears. She screamed and begged for them to leave her.

"Don't you know that in this place you need to get home soon? Or the men will eat you alive?" One of them chuckled looking at her helplessness.

"Please I beg you. Leave me."

She started requesting them but they didn't care. Her screams went on as they dragged her with them. Only if anyone could save her.

• ° • ° •

"Falak was never the type of person who could have committed suicide," Rayed stated. Shahveer listened to him and responded, "Did she had any enemies then?"

"No. As far as I know, she never talked about who would harm her. She is a kind and gentle person. I can't believe my sister is no more. She was the only one as a family I had." Rayed had tears in his eyes but closed his eyes tightly to control them.

"Rayed, I am sorry for your loss. Falak is like my sister too and don't worry we will find the person who killed Falak. We will not let him or her go. Our Falak didn't deserve this death. Nobody deserves it. Falak had injuries in her forehead and even the post mortem report stated that her death was due to the head injury." Shahveer foretold.

"But the letter changes everything, Mr. Siddique. Mr. Rayed Qureshi is saying himself that the handwriting is of his sister Falak," The head police passed him the letter.

Shahveer took the letter in his hands and read it. His hand suddenly felt goosebumps when his eyes ran roughly through the letter.

"I have a gut feeling that she didn't write it but I can't decline the fact that it's the same as her handwriting."

Shahveer glanced at Rayed as he spoke and started reading the letter.

¶

It's hard for me to describe. The emotions I am feeling right now are reckless. I am sorry Bhai. I can't live without him anymore. He loves another girl and has even got engaged to her. I can't live when he is not mine. I tried to tell him that I love him and cannot live without him but it gets hard for me to tell him when he is in front of me and then it became too late.

I am sorry for leaving you like this Bhai but I can't live this life without him. He was my everything. Actually it's my fault that I didn't describe my love to him. Don't think I ended my life because of him. It is because of me. I built up useless expectations from him when all the time he was just being kind to me as a friend. I won't write his name. It's there in my heart. I don't want people to blame him for my death. I am the sole reason for my situation. I hope you understand.

I Love You Bhaiya.

Falak.

¶

Shahveer folded the letter and passed it to the police. They were standing near a park as Falak's funeral was held yesterday. The graveyard was around the street.

"Falak was a practising Muslimah. I remember she never used to leave a prayer unread. Obviously she knows suicide is haraam," Shahveer reasoned.

"Yes, she used to recite the Holy Qur'an every day. I am still shocked how she fell for such a huge sin," Rayed surmised.

"We will try to figure it out. Don't take much stress. You have me Rayed. I am your best friend. I am like a brother to you. Falak will rest in peace. Don't worry and pray for her-"

Shahveer was cut off by the screams of a girl. The three looked in the direction of the voice and it was the park. They ran towards it and saw a girl getting dragged by three goons. It was Sahar.

They ran towards them.

"Please help me." She requested looking at the three. The helpless tears in her eyes made Shahveer's anger level up. He glared at the men. The way they were clenching her wrists tightly didn't help either.

Shahveer yelled,

"How dare you touch a girl and force her you b******s?"

He started beating them up. The police called the constables. Rayed helped him as he couldn't do it alone. The officer arrested the goons.

"We will handle them. Please don't get indulged. They can be dangerous to you two." The head officer whispered to Rayed and Shahveer backing them off. In few minutes they had beaten them black and blue.

Sahar was shivering and looking down. Her hands were shaking so badly. Shahveer and Rayed went to her.

"Please calm down. They are gone."

The female constable gave her water and made her sit on the nearest bench. As soon as she relaxed. She got up quickly and left after thanking them for helping her. Even though she looked felt like a mess but Shahveer couldn't take his eyes off her. She was beautiful like a fairy.

She thanked him, he couldn't form words looking at her beauty.

"Thank you! I hope I could repay you. You guys saved my life and dignity. Thank you so much."

He just nodded. Words weren't coming out of him. He barely could nod. He was awestruck after all. She went towards her car drove to her destination. All the way Shahveer's gaze was in her. The way she softly walked across the street. It was all gloomy and peaceful for him.

He bid goodbye to Rayed and drove to his home. He swiftly drove his car to the parking of Siddique Mansion and got out of his car, a smile plastered on his face. Unknown emotions started developing in his heart, making it flutter. He noticed his Taaya abu sitting on the couch of the garden.

"Assalamu alaikum Taaya abu!" He greeted sitting next to him.

"Walaikum assalam! How is Rayed?" Shahnawaz asked sipping his tea.

"Same as yesterday. He is still in shock and the investigation is taking place," Shahveer chided, taking a cookie from the cookies' jar.

"It feels mournful. Losing someone is not easy. It take years to heal but the scars, make it harder and squishes the dreadful memories again and the fact that you don't have a kid as their last piece adds fuel to the fire." Shahveer nodded at his words. Shahnawaz was a man with a deep wound. They were all healed but the scar left a huge difference in his life.

"I understand," Shahveer encouraged.

"No, you don't. You never will." Shahnawaz stated, Shahveer stared at his eyes, deep chartreuse ocean, which experienced several pain. His past held a huge difference in his life. In a daze; he voiced out, "I don't want you to experience that ever."

"Anyways! When are you going to get married? I am waiting to hold my grandkids." He looked at Shahveer who sighed. "Maybe I'll soon get married now."

"You aren't joking, are you?" Shahnawaz enquired startled, keeping the mug of tea. "No Taaya Abu. I am not joking. I feel like I have found someone who actually pleased my heart."

"I am so glad for you dude." Shahnawaz chuckled. "I love it when you talk with me that way," he says.

"Oh, really bro?" Shahnawaz asked with his eyebrows raised and a smirk formed on his face. "What's going on?" Shahnawaz's younger brother and Shahveer's father Jahangir came out and sat opposite them. The fair skin tone with jet black hair laid back and chartreuse eyes same as Shahnawaz. Shahveer had quite the qualities which he inherited from his father. He looked like a replica of Jahangir.

"Your son is ready to get married," Shahnawaz declared. "Is it so?" He questioned shocked. Shahveer smiled, "Maybe Dad! But no rushing to it. I will marry the girl I like."

"Of course you should get full liberty to choose your wife." Shahnawaz kept the cup as he said in a serious tone. "I knew you would support me in this Taaya Abu."

"I am just scared about his mother. I hope she lets him decide." Jahangir voiced out with concern after a while. Memories of horrible days flashed to Shahnawaz and Jahangir.

"I will not let anything happen," Shahnawaz smiled towards Shahveer, comforting him.

• ° • ° • ° • ° •

Please let me know in the comments.

Word count: 2690+

Target Votes; 60+

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