Six days passed but there was no update on Irtaza. Shehryaar by now commanded over the haveli in place of Irtaza as the sardaar. He was controlling all the mafia dealings now, practically the new mob boss. The search still stood there but they had found immense amount of dried blood in that area which matched with Irtaza's. He was declared dead in a statement released by the terrorists but still Shehryaar didn't back off.
Zahra would try to approach him ands ask about Irtaza's well being but the reply she got did nothing to calm her restless heart. Everyone did their daily normal but one could detect that with passing time the light at the end of tunnel seemed to diminish along with their hopes.
Zahra's state was similar, she felt nothing inside, this feeling of hollowness consumed her. Whenever this question popped inside her tht she loved him? No voice would come inside from her. She was quiet.
She knew, there relationship had not reached that point where she can claimed to love him, about him, she was sure, he did. But not about her ownself.
Love is sacred emotion. It can happen within minutes or sometimes it can take centuries to commence, specially with the person whom you don't trust.
She was under the heavy weight of his favours. And the most prominent of them was that he brought her back, her home. She was truly thank ful to him. But trusting him, still her heart wasn't able to.
But she didn't understand why there was hollowness in her heart. That's usually where regret comes in where you feel love and affection for the that person but you didn't show them then. She dwelled on how his life could be at stake but brushed the thought under the rug as soon as it came, nothing could happen to him, she believed.
For every stich of pain she wove strength, for every tattered dream she qulited in hope and for every seem that ripped Zahra mended it again. But today when it came to him she felt helpless, this time her tapestry of resilience vanished into thin air.
'He has to come back, please Allah, protect him' she inaudibly prayed
Three more days passes but still no clue about him. She waited for him, any news about him, from dawn to dusk but his promise remained incomplete. Her uneasiness increased the speed of her steps and she reached the far end of the haveli garden. She stood there all alone beneath half moon sky. The nip in the air made her shudder.
She didn't understand, why she was restless on his departure. She should be happy, that her tormentor has gone and maybe never come back. But why this sadness.
'Is this love?'
No voice answered. It was all quiet inside her. Her emotions were immensely imbalanced these days and for a moment, she began to think, she actually was pregnant, due to the mood swings she possessed these days.
"He would come here often" his grandfather's voice interuppted her thoughts.
"This was his favourite corner where him and I spent most time talking. He was always an extraordinary boy, very refined and detail-oriented. You know, you were his favorite topic of chat. He used to tell his grandmother everything he heard about you from his father, that you are afraid of dogs, your sole ambition is to become a good doctor from a young age, you would go around and try to treat anyone who got injured. He told her every little thing. I've demanded to cut all the ties off of with your family but I knew that he loved you sice a young agae. I just acted along, pretending as if I don't know everyone" the old man chuckled, reminiscing the good old moments os his graand son. He already had lost hope, that Irtaza would come back. He was sure he won't.
His enemies would never leave him alove for more than two days and for what reason they should keep him alive? So he could run away from there captivity or his men reach him in time. There was no possible way of him being alive.
"His office drawer used to be filled with your pictures. He used to tell her grandmother that he would just marry you. He will wait for you as long as it takes. I guess, that's called being head over heels in love with someone" He said to Zahra, grinning from ear to ear and looking at the starry sky thinking about his childish tactics. "Stupid boy" he muttered under his breath looking at the star which twinkled brightly.
This was the second time, she was witnessing his soft side and she was shocked to say the least. This is the about induced sadness it brings people close and compelss to speak their hearts. At the same she was overwhelmed because of his words, because of Irtaza. Her heart felt heavy and dejected, her smile long gone only uncertainty and guilt residing in her. Emersed in thoughts she didn't realise that her Dada had left .
With her head hung low , she went to her room and tried to get some sleep but everytime she would close her eyes, his face, his grey irises troubled her. She was genuinely worried about him.
Sending a prayer to sky, she welcomed sleep with open arms. A short escape from the restlessness in her.
.......
"Drink the juice" her mother said to her at the breakfast table. Nobody was present there except the one who was leaving for universities, Dua, Haseeb and her and her mother.
After that day when the news was announced, a weird sadness lurked at each and every hallway of haveli. Everything was immensely quiet. There was a pure silent that even the whispers could be heard clearly. Everyone kept themselves locked in their room, specially her grandmother and Irtaza's father.
Haseeb didn't joke anymore as he used to, Haya had busied herself in her studies only the little Alizey would play around and frequently ask about Irtaza to which no one was able to answer. He was most probably dead for the haveli members and dead, indeed for the outside worl. More than 10 days has passed but still, only ominous news welcomed them.
Dua, she hadn't acme face to face with her that day. It was after three days, Zahra was looking at Dua who just keeps on looking away whenever Zahra had an eye contact with her.
After finishing her breakfast, she stood up and went towards the garage as Haseeb followed behind her to drop her off to her university.
She was standing in the garage alone, when she saw Dua coming instead of Haseeb.
"Where's Haseeb?"
"He is coming" Dua replied, approaching her. "Are you fine?" she asked to which Zahra nodded.
"Are you angry with me?"
"No. I'm not. Just a bit disturbed"
"Zahra" Dua held her hand suddenly, "I'm....sorry" her voice broke. She was feeling so guilt for being rude with Zahra and accusing her of everything. Zahra had been through alot. It was his brother who was at fault, not her. She was truly sorry.
She held Zahra's hand, tears fluttering out of her eyes .
"I am terribly sorry Zahra. I didn't know that you suffering all this while I only cared for my brother and didn't pay heed to your side. Wish I could take my words back. I am so so sorry. God! What all did say, it was so wrong of me. I am sor-" she cried out
"It's ok. I would have done the same. I understand" said Zahra and embraced Dua in a hug.
"Are you not angry with me anymore?"
"No"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Dua. Don't worry yourself" Zahra replied and they pulled back.
A small smile played on their lips.
"I'm so sorry for what your cousin did to you Zahra. And you too recieved a blow of betrayal from the person you loved, just like me. I totally understand"
"It's ok Dua. I'm fine now. And strong enough" she replied when she saw, Haseeb coming towards them and then they both left for their universities as Haseeb told er, Aamman would pick her up from university on the way back. He had some important work to deal with.
After an exhausting day at University she came out at dipersal time only to find Amman approaching her.
"Haseeb asked me to pick you up" he told and she nodded.
"Ok. Thank you" she replied and without thinking twice sat in the car
"Ma'am we have to go the hospital for your check up. Haseeb told me so that your mother had asked him to take you to hospital"
"Okay fine" she replied. Her mother had been bothering her since a while to pay a visit to hospital. Her pregnancy chances were vague but still these mood swings were killing her.
After a check up, they both waited in the cabin for the reports when Amman recieved a call and suddenly he got up.
"We have to leave, your mother is calling you, urgently at the haveli" he told Zahra.
"Ok ok" Zahra panicked, hoping everything would be fine and got up as they both went outside.
He told at the counter to send the reports to Shah haveli as they have to leave just now.
"Is everything fine?" Zahra asked, settling herself inside the car.
"Your mother told me to bring you back now. Maybe something bad happened and you know the situation, we still couldn't get the tabs to Irtaza sir" he replied, igniting the engine and began to drive the car/
She nodded and looked outside window. His memory invaded her thoughts, her mother's urgent call rang bells in her ears.
Maybe her mother have gotten a news about him, A bad news. If it were a good news, she would have told her on the phone.
'Maybe he would never come back'
It was the voice of her heart as her memory suddenly filled with his thoughts and a weird anxiety killed her.
"He is dead" Amman told, suddenly.
"What?!" she shrieked.
"I just got the news"