They considered her as a threat. Both of them. To the legacy of her grandfather. That was why they had her escaped. Shabbir Haider would've sustained the blow of the whole world knowing the truth but his grandsons. Because they were to continue his legacy. He had really worked hard on both of them. And managed to make them as cruel as he had been. Jaha Ara was a thorn in his path which he efficiently plucked out. He wanted the mafia to grown and both his grandsons were his shoulders. If Dua had told them of the truth then an apocalypse would've fallen on him.
An apocalypse which his old shoulders won't be able to sustain.
His grandsons were his reflection and Shabbir Haider was well aware that what could be done to him by them because he made them what they were now.
He had just put-forth these qualms infront of Dua and for the sake of good moments and good memories and the goodness she had noticed in him, she spared him from the wrath of both her brothers. Yet that moment when she left the haveli, she prayed God to give her patience. All the years, she had dearly loved him. He was her grandpa. It was tormenting that the person you loved turned out to be your tormentor in the worst possible way, one could ever imagine.
She didn't forgive him.
She promised herself within her heart that she will come back to haveli once he would be under the ground and tell her family the truth she came to know.
It was really painful for her to carry the truth in her heart and that too all alone. That too without confiding it with anyone.
Her mother committed suicide only because her grandfather made her reach this stage. The same grandfather whom she had dearly loved her whole life.
Again those memories of past, clogged up her throat and she got up to fetch herself a glass of water. On the cue, her phone rung, the caller ID read, 'Ken'
He was the guy whom she had met at the bar few days ago. And he took interest in her. He followed her, asked her to give a chance and they exchanged numbers.
Being alone was doing her no good, rather playing with her mental health, so she had decided to give him a chance. And they really got close. Dua was able to express himself openly. And she felt she was drawn towards him. And last night, they sat on the bench near the river and stared quietly at the water-waves. Her tears were flowing from her eyes as she told him that how much she missed her mother. He cleared her tears, consoled her and in that emotional moment, their eyes striked against each other, when his lips advanced towards her and she abruptly drew herself back from him.
She had considered him just as a friend. And nothing else. Her past betrayals would never let her trust anyone again.
And since last night, Ken had been calling her to apologize but she wasn't picking up.
Once again, Dua cut the call and this time she switched off her phone. Her grandfather had given her enough money that she was able to live anywhere comfortably. But she was also doing a job because she didn't want to solely depend on that money. Currently, she was enrolled in a university in London for her masters. She came back from US last year just to escape that servant, Jamal. He was really bothersome for her. It was as if he was always keeping an eye on her and reporting her activities to her grandfather. In the US, she invested her time in research before pursuing masters in London.
Filling her glass with water, she came back to lounge when her doorbell rung and she forced back the glass on the table.
"What the hell?" she cursed under her breath. It was Ken, now at her door. He was really getting on her nerves.
Standing up, she opened the door without thinking, "Please leave me alone, Ken!" She said, without looking who was there only to get her eyes wide. Wide to the size of saucers.
She couldn't trust her eyes as her mouth hung open and she went into a state of stupor.
Before her, stood someone whom she least expected to appear.
Haseeb.
"Close your mouth or a fly would go in," he said, stepping into the house.
"Ha...haseeb," she whispered under her breath. And the next second, her arm was in his grasp, as he pulled her towards him before closing the door.
"Haseeb," he said, boring his eyes in hers.
"Won't you invite me in?"
She gulped. There was a certain coldness in his eyes, a specific craziness, which was shaking her bare legs.
"Wh-what are you doing? What are you doing over here?" she asked, fighting the shock.
Haseeb stepped back from her, analyzing her from head to toe. She was wearing shots and a sleeveless top since she liked to be in her comfort zone when at home.
"London did you no good, Dua," he uttered as his eyes rested on her face.
"Please leave,"
"And were you to open the door for some Ken in.... this," he referred to her clothing.
"It does not... concern you,"
And suddenly, her arm was grasped by him as her back harshly connected with the wall, "It is my concern," he gritted, baring his teeth, "it does fucking concern me because you're my fiancee,"
"I'm not," Dua looked straight in his eyes, "I never accepted it and leave my hand. Leave my hand, Haseeb!" She tried to break herself from his grip.
"Not now. Not now, Dua," he whispered under his breath. On the cue, the phone of her apartment rang and his eyes went towards it.
Leaving her hand, he advanced towards the phone and her breath struck in her throat.
She knew it was Ken and Haseeb shouldn't pick it up.
"Haseeb," she tried stopping him from reaching the phone, when he raised his hand, telling her to keep quiet before he picked up the phone.
"I'm really sorry... Dua. I didn't mean to kiss you. It was just a we-"
"You kissed her?" Haseeb asked and Dua heard it, her heart jumping to her throat. This shouldn't be happening. It was equivalent to adding fuel to fire.
"Who is there?" Ken asked.
"Her fiance.... and your death," Was his response as he hung up the phone. A fierce rage gripping his heart as he shot his head towards her.
"Go and change your clothes," his voice was calm but his eyes said otherwise. She didn't want to test him so she followed what he said and went to her room to change clothes.
Taking her sweet time, she came back, wearing something presentable only to find lounge filled with some daunting looking men who appeared to be his body guards. Not just that, there sat a man on the sofa in the middle with some papers in his hands. Haseeb was standing behind the sofa. And two other people also sat there whom she recognized as Haseeb's friends.
"Sit," he ordered.
"What is happening?" she asked.
"Our nikkah,"
.....
Irtaza was with Zahra as they both together played with their children. Zahra was there yet her mind was shifted somewhere else. Irtaza noticing the distant look in her eyes, caressed her cheek to have her attention and her trance broke.
"What happened, senorita?" he asked. There had been something on her mind for so many days but being the typical Zahra she was, she kept it to herself. He knew she was looking for this question.
She turned her face towards Irtaza and passed her a smile. Her eyes looked at him for a few seconds before she turned herself away.
"Nothing... Irtaza,"
"You can tell me," he probed.
"There is... nothing... actually,"
"Actually?" he raised his brows.
"I miss my mama.... I feel she is alone... after baba's death. And after having you in my life... I can understand her pain. Some days, I really miss her," she told, what has been pestering her heart for days.
"When we go to haveli, I feel... she just smiles to make me feel that she is fine. Also, dadi (grandma) as well. She seems lost. The haveli has lost its colors after Haseeb left. Dua went. Haya as well. And now grandpa,"
Irtaza pondered over her words, "do you want something from me?"
"Well," she looked down, playing with her fingers before looking up at him, "can we... we shift back to haveli. It is large enough... to give us the privacy we want... and also we can be together as well,"
"Is that what my senorita wants?"
And she nodded her head.
He held her hand and kissed her palm, "granted," And he hugged her.
"Your wish is my command, Zahra," he said before kissing the top of her head.
....
Irtaza was already making arrangements to shift to the haveli. Zahra has asked him and he couldn't deny anything. It would take some days for him to shift completely to the haveli. In the same evening, he had ordered his men and they were already on it.
He was in his office, working on the new project when his phone rang with a call. It was Haseeb.
"Assalam alaikum, Irtaza bhai," he greeted.
"Wsalam. All good?"
"I married Dua," he told, without beating about the bush.
It took him a few seconds to process the information, "Dua? You found her?"
"I did and I'll come back to Pakistan. Soon. With her,"
"Alright. I'm waiting,"
"I've to go for a meeting. I've some suspicions that I'll discuss with you later and something important to tell you,"
"About who?"
"Jamal,"
"Who Jamal?"
"One of grandfather's old servants,"
"How is dada (grandfather) related to all of this?"
"He helped Dua escape. Him and Agha,"