"I am watching all of you… you all look so good, working together," Mehr suddenly said, her voice soft but filled with curiosity. "Mehr Sultan, what did you think about Fateh?" she added, as if the question had appeared from nowhere.
Upon hearing her words, Maaf took a deep breath, keeping her gaze fixed on her feet, hesitant to answer. "Have you ever been in love?" Mehr asked, still looking down, her tone gentle yet probing.
Maaf's expression changed slightly, her emotions tangled, as Nawab straightened up and prepared to answer. Nauf replied, his voice calm yet filled with honesty, "Yes… I have loved."
Mehr's eyes widened, unable to look away. "And then? Who was it?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Maaf's words struck Mehr like a sudden gust of cold wind. "She… she died," Maaf whispered, her voice trembling with both sorrow and resilience. Mehr went pale, unable to speak, absorbing the weight of her words.
Maaf leaned against the bench, a faint, sorrowful smile brushing her lips as she glanced at Shehram. "She was Shehram's elder sister. Everything unfolded in ways we couldn't control. Nawab and Haakim were working on a case when our opposing party tried to manipulate us with money and property, but we refused. They attacked our weakness… and in revenge, they took away Shehram's sister and Haakim's family," Maaf explained, her voice thick with unspoken pain.
Mehr listened intently, her heart heavy with understanding. "What do you mean 'they took everything from you'?" she asked, her curiosity tinged with concern.
Maaf's voice trembled. "They stole my love and my happiness. They took everything from us. I survived, but Haakim… he couldn't bear it. My patience held, but he… he broke," she confessed, her eyes meeting Mehr's, revealing layers of past sorrow.
Haakim, standing nearby, remained silent, though his eyes betrayed his inner turmoil. Mehr noticed his pain, and instinctively, she smiled to ease the tension. "Hey, Mehr Sultan… don't do this. If someone sees you crying, they'll all blame me!" Haakim said, half joking, half earnest.
Mehr chuckled softly. "Sorry, Maaf… okay," she replied, her voice lightening the heaviness around them. Maaf leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Let me tell you something interesting…" she said, drawing Mehr closer. "Haakim… he loves you."
Mehr's eyes widened, the revelation leaving her momentarily speechless. She could feel the sincerity radiating from Maaf, confirming what her heart had slowly begun to understand.
The sun began to set, the chill in the air deepening, yet their hearts felt warm. They all spread a sheet on the ground, sitting together, savoring the simple joy of being in each other's company. Zoran handed a plate to Mehr. "Mehr Sultan, I made this for you," he said proudly.
As Mehr picked up the plate to eat, Haakim gently handed her his plate as well. "I prepared it for you… you eat this," he said, a soft smile tugging at his lips. Mehr's heart fluttered as she realized how much care and attention surrounded her.
After finishing their meal, Azlan suggested, "Shall we take a round around the hill?" Everyone nodded, gathering the leftover things and preparing for a little excursion. Mehr and Haakim sat together, enjoying the moment.
"Haakim, let go of Fateh," Mehr said, her voice teasing as she watched Nauf and Ariba capturing memories in photos. Haakim looked at her, unfazed. "Mehr Sultan, if you say it directly… I'd happily jump off this hill for you," he said earnestly.
Mehr smiled, meeting his gaze. "And why would I let you do that?" she asked, her eyes locking with his, playful yet serious.
Haakim couldn't look away, and soft verses escaped him unconsciously: "What is the world, without your eyes… my universe lives in them alone."
Mehr blushed, embarrassed by the intensity of his gaze. "Haakim… don't look at me like that," she murmured, shyly averting her eyes.
The sun dipped further, the mist creeping over the hill, and Zoran glanced at the time. "It's almost midnight. Let's head back home," he said, worry lining his face.
They all sat together in the cars, just as they had before, the only difference now being the positions. Haakim drove, Zoran beside him, while Nauf and Shehram followed in the second vehicle. Despite the cold and the fog, the warmth between them kept the chill at bay.
After returning home, everyone was so exhausted that they went straight to bed, yet Mehr couldn't fall asleep. She wandered restlessly around her room for a long while, but sleep eluded her. Since Mehr had realized she was caught in a turmoil of emotions—torn between Hakim and Fatah—her mind had been a constant battlefield. Wrapping her shawl tightly around herself, she left her room. The house was silent; everyone else was asleep. As she descended the stairs, she cautiously looked around.
Upon reaching the lawn, she saw Zoran sitting there, tending a small fire. Approaching him, she asked softly, "May I sit?"
Zoran glanced up, recognizing her voice instantly, but he wasn't startled. Instead, he smiled and pulled the chair back for her. Mehr sat beside him, the warmth of the fire brushing against her. Zoran, noticing her restlessness, asked gently, "Is everything alright, Sultanah? Are you fine?"
Mehr sighed deeply, staring at her feet. "I… I don't know what to do, Zoran. Hakim is a good man, but I can't help feeling that he only pities me." Her voice trembled with worry and confusion.
Zoran squinted slightly, observing her closely. "You think that's wrong? Sultanah, Hakim does everything with intensity. Everything he does… he does deeply. And when someone acts with such intensity, it's because of love." He smiled reassuringly.
Mehr nodded slowly, trying to absorb his words. "But if it's love, shouldn't it be clear? Shouldn't it be shown?"
Zoran's smile softened. "Sometimes love doesn't reveal itself immediately. But you'll understand in time."
Mehr changed the subject, curiosity brimming in her eyes. "Zoran… how did you meet my father?"
Zoran's gaze drifted into the past. "I was a boxer—not international, but I was good. Yet, in my country, talent alone doesn't matter—money does. My coach demanded bribes and placed all the burden on me. That's how I was denied the right to compete fairly. I fought with everything I had, but the odds were against me. Even when my own family abandoned me… my uncle didn't support me, and they even took away my title. I fought, not to kill anyone, but just to survive. And that day, when everything seemed lost, your father came to my door. Furious, determined, he became my support, my guide out of that lonely despair."
Mehr listened, tears brimming in her eyes. She dabbed at them silently, overwhelmed by Zoran's story. "You're all such good people… and yet, life has been so cruel to you."
Zoran chuckled faintly, a hint of pain in his eyes. "It's not about cruelty, Mehr. Life tests us, and it is in these trials that we find our true strength."
Mehr finally felt some peace. Zoran's presence, his calm words, and the fire's warmth soothed the ache in her heart. Slowly, they made their way inside, Zoran guiding her, ensuring she felt safe and cared for.
The next morning, everyone gathered for breakfast. Conversation flowed, laughter returning to the household, though Mehr's injuries still bore faint marks. She was still not permitted to leave the house, yet the presence of friends and family brought a semblance of comfort. Zoran had gone to rest, while Hakim, Nauf, Azlan, and Shehram remained, attending to various chores. Mehr stayed in her room, reflecting on everything that had happened.
It was at this moment that Nauf called her from the other side. His voice was firm, yet worried. "Mehr Sultan, Fatah insists on coming over. But why?"
Surprised, she asked, "He wants to meet me now?"
"Yes," Nauf replied, "but Hakim is at the officer's meeting. I'll make sure nothing goes wrong. Just stay calm."
Mehr's heart beat faster, but she nodded silently, taking a deep breath. She knew she had to face this moment carefully. Pulling herself together, she ended the call and prepared herself to confront whatever was coming, still seated in the quiet of the study room, while Azlan and Shehram were in the lounge preparing lunch.