CHAPTER 66

CHAPTER 66 : The court case

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1 years later

"Chimpoo...are you ready?" Ismail asked while entering the room .

It was a huge room with a huge picture frame of Fawad and Safia in the couple shirt on the wall . Safia was sitting on the bed with her legs crossed , petting the two rabbits . In the corner , there were two packed luggage.

"You are still in your night dress" Ismail sighed sitting on the side of the bed . Safia was feeding the small child of the bunnies , which had been born recently .

"Isn't it pretty?" She asked Ismail who passed a faint smile .

"They are very pretty...now please get ready Chimpo ! The family function will start in just half an hour" Ismail told her.

"I can't go . I have to go to the court hearing" Safia told Ismail while petting the bunny .

"Why are you even going to court now ? Safia...it's-its going to taint your reputation if you keep associating with him" Ismail told Safia.

"I am his wife.. of course I will keep fighting until I get the house out of government custody . You know...it is Mr Siddiqui's favourite place . Especially the room upstairs. It was filled with books about astronomy and maps of all sorts " Safia told Ismail .

"Fine, then just go to this hearing...it's the last one right?" Ismail asked and Safia gave a little nod.

Ismail just silently stared at her . He wanted to know from where Safia got this much strength to face all the criticism from the public and her family .

"Nowww empty the room ! I need to change" Safia slightly pushed Ismail out of the room . Safia closed the door locking herself inside .

Ismail rested his back against the door tiredly.

It was the party of the first iftar of ramzan . Ismail got down , only to be met with Safia's father . He stared at Ismail wanting to know about her decision.

"She will join us soon...it's just her last court hearing she will get ready for the party after that " Ismail tried to side with Safia.

"But..."

"It's fine chachu , let her be . The iftar party will take time after 2 hours " Ismail told her father trying to make him worry free , but it just increased the worry.

Safia's father tiredly sat on the chair .

"I don't know what to say Ismail...yes we are now living a luxurious life and have everything which we once dreamed of-but is it worth it? My daughter who was once the most cheerful girl is now living like a widow!" Her father said with worry.

Her mother joined the conversation, "If she lived like a widow ! That would have been fine . She is living like she is still married . She still believes that he is alive ! How is that even fine?" Safia's mother asked .

"Leave it, she's just a bit-sad...I guess. She will get better . Just let her be the way she is" Ismail told them .

"I am still saying what I used to say , you should make her marry Murad!" Phuphi suggested .

"Stop it for once" Her father said with worry .

"My god ! I was saying this for Safia too! There is no way I will benefit from it either way" phuphi said in disbelief.

"The whole family is making talks about us . Firstly her husband divorced her and then he's dead but she's behaving like this " Her phuphi taunted .

"I am saying , once the iftar party starts just announce that Murad is her future husband. Now her iddat is over too" her khala said from the side .

The two aunts had come on terms to split Safia's money , so they both were supporting Murad only . Murad just gulped hearing all that .

Hearing all this , Safia stormed downstairs angrily. She was still holding Fawad's diary in her hand and her other stuff in her tote bag.

"Safia..." Her father called her out, but she silently sat in the car asking the driver to drive away .

She knew her father had no fault in that , but she desperately wanted him to cut of contacts with her aunt, which he always refused because she was a family.

She felt her eyes getting teary , so she opened the diary quickly . It was the only thing which had been keeping her sane in the past year.

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It's been ages since I felt the urge to jot down my thoughts, but here I am.

Meeting Safia was totally unexpected, and so were the things that happened afterward. I thought maybe there was something special between us, a little bond, you know? But then, I started to wonder if she actually likes me. Maybe she's not that different after all and only enjoys my company when I'm being all professional and sticking to work boundaries.

But then, I see her having a blast with Seth, who hardly makes any sense, and she seems to enjoy every moment with him.

I'm feeling lost in a sea of doubts. Is it because I'm not warm and friendly enough? Or is it just that Seth's got more charm and I seem boring in comparison? It's like that saying goes: nobody picks coal over a diamond.

These thoughts are swirling in my head, leaving me feeling unsure about everything.

All I am wishing for is , the future clarifying this doubt.

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"You are a diamond Mr Siddiqui...I hope , I was able to clarify your doubt" Safia mumbled while reading it . She turned the page behind only to find the entry of the day they went to the restaurant.

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I was beyond excited today to join Safia to the fest , but unfortunately we had to head to the hospital. The good part was us spending time together , until Mr Patel joined in . I held utmost respect for him , until this moment. He dared to intervene in my conversation with Safia , and even ate my order .

But every bad memory is accompanied by a good one . Like this one was. Safia shared her food with me . I remember reading a quote on the restaurant wall saying sharing food is a gesture of love .

I can't believe she showed me a gesture of love . Is she perhaps intrested in me !! The same way I am intrested in her ? Hope soo !! HOPE SOO!!!

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Safia smiled at this from ear to ear . Although it wasn't a love gesture from her side at that time , but she felt it was very cute of Fawad to take it that way . His entries made her feel more loved than anything could ever . She had read each entry over hundred times , remembering each and every word which was written .

"Ma'am , the court is here" The driver told Safia . She passed a little smile and remained seated in the car making herself ready to face all the press outside .

'I wish I could go back to the time when I still worked at the restaurant. Mr Siddiqui came to visit it . Seth was his sweet cousin who always used to clear my misunderstandings and give me advices and Rudhra..he remained my enemy' Safia wished and got outside the car .

The policemen accompanied her as she went inside to the hearing . Seth was in the court already with the papers ready and the lawyer on the side . He passed her a little smile , which she returned .

His face was shining with happiness , which Safia concluded was because they might win the house papers.

The hearing started and she remained seated silently .

After an hour she was heading back to her home and was about to sit inside her car when Seth's voice stopped her .

"Safia...you must be really happy today right?" He asked and she smiled and gave a nod.

"More than happy . This case has been over my head since the past year. I sleep , eat and work thinking solely about it only" Safia told Seth honestly.

"Hope this day goes great for you too" his words made her smile and she turned her head to talk a little with him.

"Soo...how are the others ?" Safia asked . It was the first time she had asked about the rest .

"They are doing good . Rudhra is working as a culinary chef , Augustus is handling his hotel buisness and well , Sabrie..she's working in RAW"Seth told her and Safia gave a slight smile .

"And you? How are you doing?" She asked Seth .

"I...I am doing fine . Just roaming here and there " Seth told her . It was partially true. He had been traveling to different places the whole time .

"That's nice...I will be heading to my house now" Safia told him, realising that the grey clouds were covering the sky by this time . She smiled a little at rain . She quickly sat inside the car , waving at Seth as her eyes fell on the reporters who were quickly coming towards her for interviews.

She closed the window with slight irritation and asked the driver to drive back to the house .

She was looking outside enjoying the rain , when a message came .

Farjaad

So done with the courtwork Mrs?

She had a lot to share , so she decided to simply call him after she gets done with the iftar party. The house had came sooner than ever. She jumped out of the car looking at the mansion.

The mansion was so much bigger than anything she could ever imagine , but for her it was just made of bricks . She held the paper of the house which she had won happily . It was going to be her new home now .

She stood under the pouring rain , making herself ready to go inside and face her family . She opened the knob of the door walking inside .

Everyone was here , including her dadi and even the people whome she had missed terribly .

Augustus, Zeheb , Kalyani, Rudhra, Niya , Aditi, Kashaf , Adhikrit and Seth.

She smiled and went towards them to meet each one of them , and even hugged Niya . The turn was to greet Rudhra but she ignored him and headed to Kalyani making everyone laugh .

"It's such a pleasant surprise! No wonder Seth was extra happy today" Safia said with a smile , even she was missing them all today .

"How old is she?" She asked lowering her head and smiling at the little girl in Zeheb's arms .

"One year old" Zeheb smiled and said.

Her phuphi's face was scrunched seeing all this . She hated that Safia was still in touch with them all.

"Mashallah" Safia exclaimed happily. But her smile didn't matched her earlier smiles which were enough to light even the darkest days of the people seeing them. She was tired from how her life had been going on for the past year.  But now it all will change .

"Please don't keep standing sit!" Safia's father told them and they all gave little nod and sat in their places.

"Here is your plate Safia...I just got the text from Moin , that the azan have happened" Her khala told her with a sweet smile . Safia silently sat and got her plate.

Rudhra stared at her with a raised eyebrow.  He remembered joining her for iftar the last year . Her plate only had a date in it .

He was surprised at first thinking it's some cultural thing , but got to know later that she had promised Fawad to open her iftar with dates only until he comes back .

Rudhra took a bite of the pakora, and then stared at Safia with a raised eyebrow , seeing her message someone .

"Kids...tell me one thing , you guys are all wanted criminals ,how are you roaming in India freely?" Phuphi asked bitterly . These guys were ruining her plan.

"Changing identies are always an option" Rudhra simply said and took another bite.

"From killing people to cooking food that's a remarkable change...but I have heard people never change" Phuphi added.

"Maybe..."Rudhra said while picking a fork and glaring at the phuphi , but it was an act. "Before I go back to my earlier profession, you better stop your mouth"

The warning was clear and phuphi thought it's better to be silent now .

"Well...calm down everyone" Safia simply said , she was already habitual of this type of lifestyle by now .

Zeheb's daughter was nibbling on her mother's headscarf . It made Safia smile . She loves seeing kids . It somehow made her think that it things were alright by this time , then even she would have a child of their own.

Safia took another bite of the food .

After the food was over , Safia stood up from the chair . "I will be going upstairs for a while , I will be back in just 10 minutes" Safia told them . She wanted to check up on her bunnies and put them in cage for a while so that they could be comfortable in travelling .

"Sure , go ahead beta...I have something to announce too" her phuphi said , but without paying attention, Safia walked upstairs .

Rudhra silently followed her upstairs . Phuphi opened her lips to say something but hesitantly gulped her words down.

"Please excuse her....after her husband's death , she is always lost" her mother told the others .

"That's fine , we all are still a bit affected by his death until now . I can only think how bad it must be for Safia" Niya told them and her father gave a little nod.

"But !! She doesn't need to be sad anymore . After a lot of discussions , we have decided to make her marry to Murad . Thank you for joining for this party , but I hope like this , you can join the wedding party too"Khala said while standing up from the chair .

The announcement came out as a shock to all of them . Augustus's face turned bitter . He was all in support of Safia moving on and starting a new life . But her aunt announcing her wedding just when the mention of Fawad's death came , appeared like a disrespect to him .

"Ofcourse, we will come" Niya awkwardly said , taking a sip of ruafzah .

Safia's father , just passed a glare to her aunts , but they ignored it .

'I am not letting go of all that property . It's so good that before dying, that darn Fawad transferred his 95% property to Safia' her phuphi thought.

~

Safia was done putting her bunnies in the small cage .

"Where are you heading to?" Rudhra asked coming from behind , Safia flinched at the voice which came suddenly and turned behind.

"I-I have some work. I need to go to another city " Safia told Rudhra .

"He's alive . Isn't he?" Rudhra asked Safia .

"He ? Who ?" Safia asked while looking anywhere but at Rudhra .

"I really like your acting skills . But you aren't Meenakumari " Rudhra told her with a pressed smile .

"You like Meenakumari ? Nice..even I like her , but personally Madhubala is my favourite"

"Mrs Safia , as much as I am enjoying the conversation, but I have limited time " Rudhra told her.

"Everyone has limited time in one way or another " Safia gave a little nod to agree with her own words .

"Quit the acting. I know he's still alive . You were so depressed when he divorced you, but now you are all cheerful when he died . Things don't add up" Rudhra told her. "So it's better to tell me . I have been waiting to see him once again too, can't you understand?"

Safia looked at him silently.

"Fine then . I will tell you everything, but not now . I have to pack, you can join me for the road trip , I am going to meet him only" Safia whispered .

Rudhra stared at her silently . He didn't knew how Fawad got out of all the police case , and which body was shown while burrying him. But it wasn't a moment to look at facts or how things happened , it was a miracle for him and he was all in for it.

"Where are you heading now ?" Ismail asked getting upstairs.

"Uh—some work came . What's up with you? You look worried" Safia asked him worriedly.

"All the other relatives are downstairs waiting for you to get down "

"But why?" Safia asked.

"Phuphi have announced your engagement right now . She's waiting for you with a ring in her hand" Ismail worriedly said .

"How dare she !" Safia clenched her fist .

"You can't cause a scene now otherwise...your father's reputation might tarnish" Ismail told her .

Safia sighed storming from right to left .

"Rudhra...do something " she told him.

"Are my ears working correctly ? You are looking for my help?" Rudhra asked.

"Yes , help me escape from here . I need to go. Use your brain or your fist...but make sure..uhm my father's reputation doesn't tarnish" Safia told him.

"Waitt...I am bad at all this family drama . Tell me , what can tarnish and what can't tarnish?" Rudhra asked still not able to get the logic how a family's reputation rely on a single girl.

"Me running away can...tarnish" Safia told her.

"Okay, and what if someone kidnaps you on a gunpoint?"

"That won't. Like technically that's me getting kidnapped. But who will do it. Do you have any friends who can kidnap me?" Safia asked Rudhra in a sweet tone , surprising him.

"How selfish of you . You are talking so sweetly when you have work from me" Rudhra told her with a grumble.

"C'mon, you aren't the type of person with whome I will talk sweetly for no reason . So tell me!" Safia asked .

"What's the need of a friend?" Rudhra asked pulling a gun of his pocket . He turned towards Ismail "get her luggage in the car from the backdoor. I will get her out"

"Where are you going Safia? What are you doing Safia !!! You are driving me CRAZY! MAD GIRL! TELL ME WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM LIFE ?" Ismail was loosing his cool demour . Safia's behaviour was slowly driving him crazy .

"Carry my luggage outside . That's what I want currently" Safia told him passing him her luggage . Ismail grumbled curses about how his life was a hell because of her , but nonetheless continued to carry her stuffs downstairs so that she can escape her engagement.

After Ismail went away , Rudhra turned towards Safia grabbing her from the back of her neck . He dragged her down while Safia was pressing her smile .

"WHAT IS HE DOING?" One lady shouted as she saw Rudhra grabbing Safia downstairs .

"SAFIA!! RUDRA BETA PLEASE LEAVE HER!!" Safia's mother begged . Kalyani's eyes widened as she saw Rudhra dragging Safia out without saying anything.

After Rudhra went out , everyone looked at Augustus hoping for him to stop Rudhra .

"Well, you know how Rudhra is , he might not have liked the thought of Safia marrying . He will calm down in a while" Augustus answered .

"He will keep my daughter safe right?" Safia's father asked.

"Ofcourse" Augustus's answer made Safia's father relaxed. A part of him was aware that his daughter had a part in this kidnapping drama , because of the suppressed smile she held.

'She's still a kid . Maybe she will grow someday' Her father thought shrugging it and heading towards his own room to let people enjoy the evening .

But the entire hall was filled with gasps and gossips regarding the whole scenario.

Her phuphi clasped a palm on her head with tears streaming down her eyes . "He didn't take that Safia..but my hundred and fifty million dollars" her phuphi sobbed .

"That's fine ammi, we can get a better girl" Murad said feeling relaxed that he wouldn't need to marry Safia.

"No , once she comes ! I will drag her to the wedding ceremony! She escaped once , but she won't be able to escape forever" Her phuphi said while her own tears.

~

Rudhra and Safia were seated in the car , she smiled in relief and got her own hands at the steering to drive the car .

"So , tell me—what and how did it all happened?" Rudhra asked her .

"Well...I didn't got to know about this until one month later too" Safia started.

F L A S H B A C K

Safia was tiredly walking towards her house . She looked at the people on the side , until her eyes fell on a couple eating ice cream together. Tears started to flow down her eyes and in no time , she stared crying in the centre of the road .

Her breath started to get heavy . She quickly turned her head from right to left looking for someone who could help her . Feeling helpless she crouched down on the side of the road . Sitting until she calms down . Her eyes blurred out , until she woke up in a hospital room .

It wasn't a huge hospital , but instead a small one . She turned her head left and right , feeling her energy drained out of her body . She looked outside the window . It was a far away area with no cars in the sight .

"I am sorry , I took you to my area" A lady said from the side . Safia turned her head , her eyes met with Firdaus . She was the lady who was with Liam . Her head was covered in black burkha and the part which was covering her face was tossed over her head displaying her face.

"Firdaus.." she whispered.

"You recognise me ?" Firdaus asked and Safia gave a little nod.

"What are you doing in a place like this?" Safia asked . It looked like a shabby place.

"I...I have been in some problems but leave it...what have you been upto?" Firdaus asked with a bright smile .

Safia's eyes whelmed up with tears , remembering about how her life is without Fawad .

"Okay okay...calm down please" Firdaus requested wiping Safia's tears from her own palm.

Firdaus's phone rang and she went outside to pick up the call . Safia just sat there silently tears falling down her cheek.

Firdaus entered in the room after five minutes . Safia quickly wiped her tears , and stared at Firdaus .

"I am sorry Safia , I have to leave for now . I will be back tomorrow. Be here in this hospital for just another day , until you get better . I will drop you at your home" Firdaus told Safia .

Firdaus was embarrassed, because she had to admit Safia in this hospital , but she didn't had much choices. She was lacking any money to admit her in a fancy hospital , so unwillingly, she had to take her to this area where she had been living .

She had formed a connection with the people here , who had admitted Safia without any fees. Either way , the hospital was more or less always empty , so they didn't have much problems freeing a room for Safia .

"People here are very nice ! You can talk with them, and...and there is another patient here , if you want you can accompany them too" Firdaus told her , and left for her work.

Till night , Safia sat in the room . But with the time passing , her hunger was growing . She got up from her bed , her energy was restored by laying down all day .

To find food or a cafeteria, she started to look around the area. The hospital was empty making her gulp in fear . Her each step felt heavy .

She fastened her steps because the light of the hallway were turned off . In the entire hallway , there was only one room which had it's lights on .

She stood outside the room silently, clinging onto the hope of having someone inside . Although she didn't intended to go inside . She wanted to wait there until the lights of the hallway were back , so that she could head back to her room .

She stared at the hallways , until two green eyes appeared in the dark light . Her heart dropped . She hurriedly turned the knob of the room getting inside scaredly .

Due to the room's light illuminating the hallway , the green-eyed creature's face was evident. It was small cat .

"Who are you Miss ?" The man's voice sent butterflies down her stomach . It was the voice she was craving to hear since the past months . She turned her head and Fawad was sitting on the bed.

Seth who was sitting on a chair nearby looked  at Safia in shock .

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"Mr Siddiqui is alive ?!" Safia asked . Her heart was pounding hardly against her chest .

"Safia...please leads head outside and talk" Seth requested desperately.

"No , I am not going out! Tell me ! Why did you lied that he's not in this world anymore?" Safia asked but Seth just grabbed her wrist pulling her out of the room.

"Just give us few minutes Fawad" Seth requested and closed the door.

"He's alive ! And why...why isn't he responding to me ? Why don't he remember me?" Safia cried.

"He's experiencing a short term memory loss after surgery . He will be okay after taking meds . But for now , he doesn't remember anyone . He sometimes remember , but then he forgets . His brain will take around few months to get it's functioning back to normal" Seth told her.

"Why..why is everyone saying that he have died then? He's alive" Safia asked.

"Because the police will catch him . They won't understand that Fawad and Khalid are different people, because Fawad managed many things for Khalid . Pronouncing him dead was the only thing I could do to protect him" Seth told Safia .

"Once he's better , I will manage everything and get him a new identity. You both can live together then" Seth explained it all to her . He knew that there were complications in the surgery , and he was scared how Safia will react to Fawad's condition.

Safia's bit her inner cheek , and stared at Seth .

"Can I atleast meet him ?" Safia asked Seth , who gave a little nod, "I will keep it all a secret, but let me keep meeting him" Safia told Seth , who sighed.

"Will you be able to keep it a secret?" He asked and she gave a nod .

Opening the door , she rushed inside hugging Fawad tightly snuggling her face in his chest . Fawad was surprised for a second , but then hugged her back .

"Hello...Mi-Safia" Fawad said realising everything at once . He hugged her back tightly and she pecked his chest snuggling and hugging him tightly.

They both hugged each other , spending hours together. Fawad ran his fingers through her hairs.

"I am sorry...I don't remember a lot about you" Fawad apologized . He remembered a few moments, with Safia's faces but the details were blurry in her mind.

"That's fine...it's fine . Take your time . We both will remember everything once again and recreate it all together if you forget any of them" She told him while running a hand against his bandaged head .

Fawad leaned his face towards her own face , Safia closed her eyes waiting for their first kiss , but the door opened . Seth entered and his eyes widened seeing Safia's pouting face.

Fawad backed off , looking at Seth who passed an awkward smile ," I am sorry , I didn't intend to interrupt you both"

"It's...it's not like what you are thinking. Mr Siddiqui got something in his eyes ,I was just blowing it away" Safia told him while backing off from Fawad.

Unconvinved , Seth gave a little nod closing the door again heading out.

Fawad and Safia stared at each other , but ended up laughing at their own selves . Safia laughed died down slowly , and a smile replaced the laugh . She stared at Fawad with tear filled eyes feeling relieved that he was back .

P R E S E N T

"So...That Seth knew it all along?" Rudhra asked.

"Apparently. When the police came , he dropped a message to Eliza . He had made that plan already with Eliza and at that moment, they executed it" Safia told him.

"That brat. I have been crying for him since the past year and he's living his best life" Rudhra angrily grumbled, but he couldn't hide his delight at the news.

"Yeah , it's been difficult. Despite knowing he's alive , we had to limit our meetings so that the police can't catch us . But now , it's all right . After a week from now , Fawad will announce his presence in front of everyone and his new identity too" Safia informed.

"New identity?"

"Yeah, he's living as a professor , Farjaad Ahmed Siddiqui. Everything is finally settled for us" Safia told him.

"And where will you guys be living?" Rudhra inquired.

"The place which I won in the case" Safia smiled .

"All that is great, but I still can't forget that he actually didn't informed us"

"His condition has got stabled recently only , we couldn't afford any problems . Seth wanted the plan to be full proof" Safia informed while driving off .

"And about your phuphi?"

"Fawad said , he will deal with her once he comes. I am going to bring him to Delhi , but till then we will spend one week vacation dedicated to only us" Safia smiled , even thinking about it all made her feel happy.

"Wait , if it's just you two , why are you taking me alone?" Rudhra cluelessly asked.

"Because...if I worry about cleaning and cooking , then I won't have time for romance . So I am taking you for cleaning and cooking. I have heard you have became a culinary chef . It's time to use those skills" Safia told him feeling proud at her own plan.

She turned to see Rudhra's face at the wonderful information, but it was full of bitterness and regret of even trusting Safia for once.

To be continued.....

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This chapter was extraa long 😭 but yes for those who didn't got it , Fawad do remember Safia completely now . It's just in the past when he had a short term memory loss kinda thing . Please voteee !!!