AHAD POV:
The ride from Lahore to Islamabad was amazing and perfect. On the first day of our stay in the hotel, I found the videos and the pictures Ashar shared with everyone, reading the messages my friends did I was pretty proud of myself.
"Look at him, all lovely dovely with sister-in-law, hmm" Sahil commented on a picture where I was looking at her while she looked at the antique piece in the museum.
"Look at that! Man, I never knew my boy was this romantic, holding her hands and being attentive to her," Hammad commented on a picture where Hayat was telling me about how she loved ice lollipops while I was listening to her.
"Ahad, it should have been you on your knees confessing your love to her instead of helping her tie the show lace" Hammad teased me.
"Give some tips to us too. We want to get married, too, damn I'm feeling single again. You guys were being all over the place with romance in the air our whole trip, get a grip, man, WE ARE SINGLE," Samir said as I read each one of their texts while not replying.
I could feel Hayat looking at me with her curious beautiful hazel eyes.
As Hayat started to tell me about her father, I couldn't help but feel helpless, I wish I could have been with her before, I held her in my arms as she cried and told me about everything... caressing her arm I teared up as she started to say I would leave her too, will she believe me if I tell her she has made my life better and beautiful without her even trying.
After talking to her and calming her down we went to our hotel on my bike and met Ashar midway, his nonsense made me furious and I had no choice but to beat him and drag him into the room.
We explored the city before hitting the evening. We went to Rawal Lake as our last stop before we had to go to the hotel again, I was getting calls from Fawad all the time today. He wanted me to send the email about the new project to our collaborator and talk about the project details, but I was busy with my wife here, I couldn't leave but I had to go back as Hayat like always understood my work.
I was midway through the video call with Mr. Khanna when Ashar's call interrupted me. I picked it up while taking a break in between our meeting.
I found my hand instantly sweating up, "Bhai, someone took Hayat with them in the Range Rover."
I didn't think twice before moving out of the room, running downstairs out of the hotel, I got on my bike and rode off as I instructed Ashar, "Follow them to where they are taking her, don't stop in the middle of the road, get in the house with the guys, share your live location with me, I'm on my way, too."
I drove as fast as my bike could take me, I was scared yet calm, knowing my wife is a wild cat who won't let anything happen to her, I tried to counsel myself.
She's mine to protect, mine to cherish and love, "Please, please be okay, Jaan, I'm coming, be strong, my love, I'll save you and end this matter right here... please be okay love."
I chant to myself as I followed the location, breaking the signals, not caring about my life, which is nothing if Hayat is not in it, I rode faster, the roads were filled with traffic, giving not a damn about it I drove as fast as I could and soon found the guys, I came on the front and followed the car, I won't stop the car here and beat these guys but I'll beat the man who is behind all of this.
They tried to dodge us, but I was right behind them, they soon went towards a building whose doors were about to get close after the car got in but I raced my bike and got in with some guys behind me, getting off the bike.
I went towards the car and looked for Hayat as Ashar and Hammad held the men by their collars, punching them, getting the man out, and I hugged my wife, "Are you okay, Jaan?" I asked hugging her tightly as she wrapped her hands around me and nodded her hand.
"Please say something, Meri Jaan" I pleaded, I wanted to hear her voice but she shook her head, breaking the hug, I held her chin, finding her eyes which she tried to hide from me, not looking up at me, "Please" I spoke out softly as I saw some tears rolling down from her eyes.
"It- it's I" she gulped the lump formed in her throat and tried to say again, "It's my- my father's house" I saw her face, tears were continuously rolling down her chubby cheeks, I knew it, I had this gut feeling, I felt it before.
I held her hand and spoke softly, "You trust me?" she nodded her head rapidly to my question, if not for the surroundings like this.
I would have done something to her, looking towards the guys who held the men tightly in their arms as I gestured them to follow me, "lead us inside my dear" I said to Hayat who looked at me stupefied, I assured her as we went inside.
"I saw what you did to my men" As we entered the house, I heard a voice, a voice I heard before.
Looking at the man who sat in glory on the lounge sofa, while sipping his drink, not looking at us but I could see the smirk on his face, "You" as the word whispered out of my mouth, I felt eyes on me...
My heart clenched, and I couldn't speak, "I guess, you remember me" he said as he stood up and came towards me and Hayat.
"Now, will you divorce this girl?" he pointed towards Hayat as she hid behind me, "You were there!" I whispered, not believing, my mind was running wild guesses.
"Yes, I was, well, so you should have listened to me and worked with me on my project" he laughed and continued, "Your beautiful and precious sister would have been here then"
He smirked as I felt my body numb, I felt someone holding me from behind, and I tried not to cry.
All I could see was red, I lunged forward towards him, punching his face till the blood was all coming out of his mouth, I held the collar of the man in front of me and spat out, "You stopped me in the middle of the road with your car! You didn't let me follow my sister! You ordered someone! You- *lumps formed in my throat, I composed myself and continued* You ordered the truck driver."
I heard some gasps from behind and a handhold losing on my sleeves. My eyes were burning with pure rage, I was about to punch him again when someone pulled me back,
"I did, so what" he spoke shrugging his shoulders, walking towards the table, and lighting a cigarette, my eyes followed his every move, "I told you to listen to me or I will take away the most precious thing from your life."
He smirked and came forward, "Well, the regret is the girl was too beautiful, if I kidnapped her and sold her in a red-light area, I would have gotten millions already."
I got myself out of the hold and again started to punch him as I lost control over myself, I didn't know what to do... he killed my sister... abused my wife... he kidnapped her... all because he wanted me to collaborate and promote his harmful product in the market under my name.
Ashar and others held me from behind once again as I saw Hayat in the corner standing without blinking her eyes she looked at her father, there were no emotions.
Nothing I could recognize... or nothing I could see hidden underneath them.
The police came from behind and held Hayat's father, I was not satisfied, I wanted to kill him myself, but I didn't want to paint my hand red in blood, I didn't want to touch my love with those blood hands, I'm messed up.
"I want to file a case against him!" I said as I freed myself from the guy's hold and walked towards him, "You dared to snatch my wife from me, now I'll give you a slow yet painful death, but don't worry, I'll do things legally since I want to meet my wife up there in paradise, but don't you worry, I'll try to give you a painful death sentence, but slowly and gradually after giving you what you deserve Mr. Ali"
I cleaned his collar and said whisperingly, seeing his eyes filled with hate, I smiled and thanked the police as they took him away...
I turned to see Ashar's eyes filled with tears as Uneeb and Rehman tried to counsel him, I looked at my wife whose eyes were still looking at the place where her father was lying.
Walking towards her slowly, I took her in my arms and caressed her back, sobs... painful sobs... unspoken words... I hugged her tightly as she cried in my embrace, "Will- will you leave me?"
I was taken aback by the question, I broke the hug and looked at her face, covered in tears, "Why do you think that Meri Jaan?" I asked softly caressing her hair, she rubbed her cute nose, as she looked up at me with her hazel-doe eyes.
"My father is a murderer" she spoke out whisperingly as I sighed and took her in my arms again and said, "My love, you took me out of the pitch-black room with your shiny rays, do you even know how you wrapped me around your fingers and I'm not complaining but do you even know how madly I have fallen for you? I can never, hear me out N.E.V.E.R in my life could leave you behind and walk away"
I looked into her teary eyes, trying to assure her, wiping the tears from her eyes I looked behind as I felt a hand on my shoulder... here comes my moment ruiner... Oh, I can't be mean right now.
"Are you okay?" Ashar spoke softly to the girl who was in my arms, looking up at me and Ashar with her beautiful eyes, she nodded her head and said, "I'm sorry."
Ashar looked at me and raised his eyebrows questioning why she was saying sorry to him, I shook my head as he looked at Hayat, patting her head he said, "My little tigress should not be sorry ever, you did nothing wrong so why would you be sorry huh, don't be dramatic and let's go, I'm hungry."
Ashar walked away after talking to her and glancing at me, I knew he was going to run away now, like always, he did need me but he wouldn't say it, getting out of the house, we got on our bike I gave my helmet to Hayat to wear, taking her hands I wrapped them around my waist as we drove away.
I felt the hold tighten around me midway to the hotel, thinking for some time I stopped my bike at the side of the road in front of the closed park, but she didn't let go of the hold.
I tried to break the bond so I could turn around and look at her, but she didn't let me do it, "The one who gave birth to me died because of depression given by my father, the one I loved was snatched away from me by my father, he murdered her, I'm disgusted, I can't tell you the pain I'm feeling Bubba, I- I want to run away from here, from you, and from the love that everyone is giving me now, I- don't deserve it Bubba, let me go, please let me go" her words and actions were opposite, she wanted me to let her go when she wasn't leaving me from the hold.
She is going through a fight between her heart and mind, I know she needs me, and even if she wants to run away from me, I would need to catch her and hug her to let her know the place where she belongs... in my arms... my hold.
I let her cry as much as she wanted, hearing her sob and hiccupping as I caressed her hand, as she started to lose the hold.
I got off the bike with her, and hugged her tightly, "You are my wife, your background, your past, doesn't change the fact that you are the one I looked for the entire time while asking for my death, you're the only one I want, my dear wife, don't you have me now? Am I hard to be loved? You and I both lost Eira and we found each other, we are healing each other without our knowing, my dear wife I won't let you run away from me, if you want to run away, then take me with you, I'll pack myself up in a bag for you to carry, okay?" I said as I held the helmet since she was wearing it.
She looked at me with her teary hazel eyes, the eyes... an open book I could read... her eyes told me everything... I love to read her eyes... staring at them... finding her through her eyes.
Coming back to the hotel, we stayed inside the room, thinking of ways to distract her I unpacked my luggage bag and took out Aab-e-Hayat's novel, we hadn't completed the novel till now, and she might like to listen to me reading her the book.
Getting on the bed I sat on my side and patted my lap, as she laid down, her head on my lap and my right hand caressing her soft black shiny hairs.
I started reading the book when I felt her taking my right hand and locking it with her left hand, keeping it to herself. Soon, she fell asleep. Tucking her properly inside the covers, I slowly moved out and went towards Ashar's room.
Knocking, I waited for him to open the door, I could hear sobs, he needed me, his brother, but he wouldn't show me, ask for help, or let me help him. "Ashar opens the door," I said as I waited for some time and found the door opening by him.
As I entered inside, I was hugged tightly by my brother. He started crying, "Why did you hide from us about his threats? Why didn't you tell us about the accident being a murder? Bhai, don't we deserve the truth?"
I know he's feeling a lot of emotions right now, and I need to calm him down, but I also know he won't listen to me until I tell him everything.
"Ashar, will you believe me if I tell you that the murder was done by him solely, but there was my mistake in it too," I said, with my head tilted down a little.
"What do you mean bhai?" I heard Ashar whisperingly questioning me, confusion could be seen on his face.
"I knew Hayat was Eira's friend from the start, I had a crush on her for years, but I never knew Hayat's real name was Hayat, not Hazel" As I completed speaking, his eyes widened as if he was shocked at 420kw.
I just hoped he wouldn't murder me as I'd be disclosing every detail, "You know how Eira was with me, always sharing everything with me, she was the one who always talked about Hayat with me, there was never a day went by without her being in our conversation, I started to have some interest in her, being in Chicago listening about a girl being so innocent, bubbly, introvert, wild, alone, a girl who got a great bloodline but not a family, when I started to come back to Karachi for my vacations, I used to see her with Eira... always... the mere crush turned into something which I don't know till now, but that feeling was amazing." I smiled remembering those restless days of mine, just the urge to make her mine was overpowering everything I knew was wrong.
"Ashar you know, I used to watch her from afar, like if she caught me, she'll beat me as she did to the person who tried to bully Eira... things were never the same again after seeing her, I used to miss her, never I had an interaction with her but still... my heartbeat always beat like I ran a marathon whenever I used to see her smile, she was young, I couldn't go talk to her and my sister was very possessive about her" the soft smile on my lips, embarrassed how I used to behave...
Ashar now has his hand on his mouth giving me a confused yet shocked look, he pointed his index finger toward me, and before he could speak I continued, "I told Mama about my little crush and she just smiled at that time, while I was busy with my new company projects, dad's sudden retirement and me taking over Mir Group of Industries, a big and a profitable project came on our doorsteps" my body got rigid, the tension in the room increased, my fingers itched to scratch my palm to keep myself distracted.
"Dad instructed me to look after everything, so I did... the project was no doubt profitable, but it was also harmful to the children, the chemicals used in the product could kill the newborn babies, I refused to join and launch the product under our company name, the person who came with the project was Hayat's father, and to think of it now, he knew who I was, and how my wife was connected with our sister because he told me that he knows who I am, and how he can do anything to gain money" my palms continued to sweat, my breathing was suddenly picked up, I tried to calm myself down.
"He tried to convenience me many times but I refused... the time before Eira died we were on the video call while I was working at the office, she was upset about being caught and I tried to comfort her when Mr. Ali came to my office with guards and before I could cut the call he saw Eira and just smiled, he asked me again to launch the product and this time I refused rudely which hurt his stupid ego I guess before he left the office that day he threatened me, his exact words were, the whore's daughter you like! I'll never let you marry her and remember you have a sister which I find quite beautiful, you didn't listen to me, now see yourself, look how I will snatch the precious part of your life" He said that Ashar, I hired guards for you all..." I wanted Ashar to know I was clueless yet I tried my best but I failed at last...
"The night we went for a race to clear our heads, I knew inside me something was going to happen, I had this gut feeling Ashar but I shrugged it off, we were happily racing that night when in the middle of the Shahrah-e-Faisal road I was stopped midway by some SUV cars, I tried to dodge them and follow Eira but he came out of the car and laughed like a manic and tried to make me sign the papers I refused and suddenly he called someone and said, "finish her" I freeze there Ashar, I somehow moved passed them or I may say they let me move away, while I was halfway I heard Eira screaming and whisperingly calling me bhai, Ashar I was helpless, I couldn't ride my bike properly, the time I reached there, I got down the bike and saw her laying there, I couldn't move, Ashar believe me that time I wanted to be there on her place, she had her eyes wide open, she was looking at me, right in my eyes Ashar and I knew I lost her while trying to save millions of kids, after that you know everything..." I looked at my brother, trying not to break down in front of him, but the tears kept running down our cheeks...
We sat there silently for some time when his face which had tears some minutes ago was now holding pure confusion, "So this whole marriage was not arranged in actuality?" He asked, well he screamed the question on my face.
"No, it's an arranged marriage, well, I mean Mama knew I liked her from the start, Eira used to talk about her to me on calls and I used to see her pictures with Eira which she used to send me on a weekly bases, I developed feelings for her, but after Eira death and Hayat being missing at the funeral I thought she didn't love Eira the way Eira loved her, so I started to move on, and I never looked back," I said, softly thinking about all the events that were going through my mind as I explained it to Ashar... I should have looked for her though.
"So you didn't know Hayat was her real name till you saw Hazel in the lounge for the first time?" he was screaming the questions.
I shook my head as no to his question. "So, if you liked Hazel, then why did you get ready to marry Hayat?"
I rubbed the back of my head and said, "I don't know, I just said yes thinking it would be the right decision, the right path written for me to follow, I didn't forget Hazel, she was there in the back of my mind, but I don't know... maybe it was written in this way for us to meet" I smiled thinking about all the possibilities and assumptions. It feels like a pure destination and fate's game.
"So, you knew that Hayat today was kidnapped by her father?" his mind is running games.
"I had some wild guesses since I knew he would know about us being here from Sana, and I also knew how desperately he wanted Hayat's property so... but I didn't expect him to be the one who..." I trailed the words off as I spoke.
"Does Hayat know about you being crushing over her from the start?" Ashar asked as I shook my head no, horror ran through my eyes, what if she slaps me? Like bro I stalked her.
His tone had playfulness, "So, you stalked her?"
"I- I mean I used to visit Eira at her hostel whenever I came back for vacations and I mean I used to look at her from a distance," I told the truth to him, shrugging my shoulders.
"So, you loved my sister and made this whole thing look like you were too developing feelings for her now!" He came forward and held my shirt collar, his emotions were running in turmoil.
"No, I mean I moved on from her, I didn't remember her, I mean she was there at the back of my mind but it's been four years already that Eira is gone and I never searched for Hazel, so I started developing feeling for her again but I knew the tiny crush I had was never gone too" I grinned at him, freeing my shirt collar from his hold.
"So all this time, you were in love, I mean you liked her or whatever you say it is but you were making her fall for you too while making it look like you never knew her before and you are just falling for her now? What am I even saying, I'm so confused, your babies going to have a nice story to listen to bhai" Ashar started blabbering with confusion which was annoying the hell out of me but the last line about our babies, won my heart.
"Ashar, I'm concerned about you, you need to see a psychologist, you have a personality disorder for real!" Before he could start again, I continued, "I love her, okay! I know it's too soon to say it, but I love her, okay, and YOU... don't ever think about this!" He just nodded his head while thinking.
"Bhai, you are something! You got the girl you had a crush on... she's your wife! You must be the happiest man!" He said as I smiled dreamily.
"I'm lucky that I found her back. It's the destiny that brought us together"
"I wish the same for myself bhai" his words held a deeper meaning which I couldn't identify at the moment.
After having a chat with Ashar for a while and getting some punches from him for hiding such a big incident, he kicked me out of his room, saying he needed to send a good night message to certain someone.
As I walked inside the room, I found Hayat near the window gazing out, I walked towards her and back hugged her, taking her in my arms, whispered near her ear, "When did you wake up?"
She didn't reply as she took my hand in hers and held it tightly, giving her time to adjust I looked at her, her side face was glowing under the dim light of the moon as I smiled and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek.
She looked at my face and said, "Are you okay?" if not for staring at her eyes I might have assumed that she was talking about the kiss but no, her eyes were showing pain, sadness, and guilt.
She was asking me if I was okay after what happened today, I smiled and said, "I'm okay, I have you with me, I'm all okay, thank you for asking" We looked at each other for some time before we went to bed.
Today we are going back to Karachi and since we won't be staying anywhere in the middle of our trip, we will be there in Karachi by night, Hayat wanted us to drive back together so I'm now driving the car while her being my passenger princess.
She had wrapped her hands around my shoulder while she leaned on it, talking to me about how everything changed, we had decided not to speak about the incident to our family since it would cause a commotion and it'd be very hard for everyone emotionally.
"Ahad, you haven't crocheted rose gajray as you promised," she said as she pinched my arm, I laughed at her silly behavior.
"I will make them for you Jaan, just wait for a while, hmm" She nodded her head, playing with my hand veins, I had noticed her doing this very often.
"I'm a heavy sleeper, so will you be able to wake me up for university?" She curiously analyzed the birthmark on my bicep.
"I will wake you up and cook breakfast for you and if you want, I'll drop you at your university too, okay" she hummed and asked again.
"And will you still read me the novels at night, uh huh?" She glanced up at me, it was more like us playing 20 20-question games but I was the only one answering.
"If you want me to, I will," I replied as I heard her, like I would stop you, I laughed as I ruffled her hair a little, huffing at me for ruffling her hair she pinched me again, "You're a wild cat, sometimes you like to bite and sometimes you like to scratch me."
Finally, we were back at our home, after having our family time and distributing the gifts, we drove to our penthouse, opened the door, and got inside the house. It felt refreshing.
I looked at Hayat as I heard her say, "Our home, sweet home."
I smiled as I saw her glancing everywhere moving towards the kitchen, while I dropped our luggage in the lounge, and sat on the sofa.
I found Hayat coming towards me with water, "Thank you, but you are tired too and you don't have to do these things for me, Jaan" I said as I made her drink some water before gulping the other half glass myself.
"Don't snatch my rights to be the little wife I can be for you!" she proudly said, crossing her arms around her chest, as she looked up at me, I couldn't stop her from what she wanted to do, nodding my head to her words, we sat there for sometimes. Just silence, comfortable one...
"Why do you spoil me so much, don't you think I'll be a brat to you in the future?" She asked as she put down her phone, looking up at me curiously.
"I just love to dote on you, my love," I said, pecking her forehead.
"Why do you always give me a new nickname?" her curiosity took the best of her. It's okay, I can answer her questions as much as she wants.
"Your reaction to my every new nickname gives me so much satisfaction that I may not be able to tell you how much it makes me happy" Nodding her head a little, she played with my fingers again.
"You have such veiny hands that if I were a nurse, I would have been excited to inject some injections in them" Hayat laughed at her lame joke as she tried to pinch my hand veins.
"Oh, Hayat, shut up" I shook my head, laughing.
"Oh, make me" There I was dumb hearing her say "Make me" I looked at her as she gave me her innocent eyes.
"You aren't so innocent as you try to look my darling," I said, holding her chin in my hand a little, tilting her head up.
"No doubt you love it, baby" Again I was stunned, her eyes shinned with playfulness.
"Jaan you are being flirty today, it's making me shy now," I said, leaving her chin, turning my face to the other side, trying to hide my smile.
"Let me look at that beautiful dimple smile my love, let me capture it in my mind like my favorite memories to remember any time I want" I heard her near my ear, I was too much into my world after listening to her that my heart thumps faster than it ever had, turning towards her.
I held her face in my hand, cupping her cheeks, I looked at her eyes, and again she gave her best doe eyes, "You do realize, right? That every time you look at me like that, I forget how to breathe." Her eyes widened as I flirted back a little, making her hold on my shirt tighten.
"You think I stare too much? Not my fault. My eyes were made to memorize you" she fired back and that's it. I'm done.
"My love, you need to seriously stop saying such things, I might get a heart attack now," I whispered a little, pecking her cheek.
She loves seeing me being myself and I love showing her the pure me, "okay, I'll stop now," said Hayat pecking my forehead, she stood up, forwarding her hand towards me, "Should we go to sleep now?" I took her hand as I nodded my head, her in my embrace, and we fell asleep.
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