Darkness | تیرگی

HAPPY READ!❤

وہ ترےپاس سے چپ چاپ گزر کیسے گیا

دل بے تاب قیامت نہ اٹھا دی تونے

(WOH TERE PAS SAY CHUP CHAP GUZAR KESE GAYA

DIL-E-BETAAB QAYAMAT NA UTHA DI TU NAY)

Zain and Nadia baji narrated the whole situation to Zohaib and Huzaifa. After hearing the story Huzaifa told Nadia baji that she can go to her quarter which is situated in the backyard. Zahra has also stopped crying by now.

"I was coming downstairs when I saw Faryal and Zahra falling together ", Zohaib closed his eyes tightly and heaved a sigh.

"I can't believe that you did this to her Bhai", Huzaifa said with bloodshot eyes. "Faryal is so young for all that, for God's sake. Without knowing the whole truth how can you treat her like that", He added with a raised voice.

"Huzaifa Bhai calm down!",  Zain said as he felt the tension between his brothers rising.

"You stay quiet Zain, let me talk to him. Someone needs to do that Aese nahi chalay ga ab aur (things can't go like this anymore)", Huzaifa said looking at him and then moved his eyes back to Zohaib.

Zain came forward and took Zahra from Zohaib and sat quietly on the couch.

"It's high time now, you need to handle the situation like a grown-up civilized person Bhai. I have always looked up to you, you are our ideal but Sorry to say that these days I don't feel like you are our Zohaib Bhai. When did you become such a heartless man." He further provoked Zohaib to say something.

"I might be heartless but she is naive, can't you see that Huzaifa", Zohaib snapped.

"If you know she is naive then why are you pushing her away", Huzaifa said.

Zohaib took a deep breath, thought for a few seconds, and then said, "I'm a broken man Huzaifa, with shattered heart and dreams. I can give her nothing instead of pain and suffering. Anyone who wants to fix me would get shattered with my own pieces. I don't want to break her.".

"At least give her a chance. She does not deserve your cold behavior. Whatever happened to you and Ayza was Allah's will but what you are doing to her is totally up to you. Allah ko kya jawab den ge tub? (How will you answer the Almighty?)".

"Allowing Faryal near Zahra and I would be too selfish when I know I can't accept her. It would only break both of them.", Zohaib said.

"Okay then take her back to her house, tell her father that you can't fulfill your responsibilities, and this relationship is only a result of emotional blackmailing between you and your mother. Mom and you have messed up an innocent life. Let's end her sufferings ", Huzaifa spat back.

"You know very well I never wanted this marriage Huzaifa, Mom shouldn't have pressurized me in the first place", Zohaib said in a slightly raised guilt-filled voice and sat down on the couch. He heaved a sigh, closed his eyes, and massaged his throbbing head.

"I can't give her false hopes", Zohaib added with a stoic expression.

"Jo b hai (whatever it is) but Bhai please just don't push her away. She is very innocent. This time let her decide whatever she wants, would you be able to forgive yourself? because I would never forgive anyone if something happened to her not even myself.", Huzaifa said in composed way this time.

"I know how it feels when a person who means a world to you leaves you. I don't want Faryal and Zahra to feel that ever because of me. Temporary pain and sufferings are better for them than permanent ones. She would realize that eventually. ", Zohaib replied in a hoarse voice.

Huzaifa went towards Zohaib kept his hand on Zohaib's shoulder and said, " You are right at your own place but now we can't do anything. Let your guards down Bhai, you are just protecting your heart by building high walls around it so no one can put you through that pain again. Please don't push her away, she does not deserve that. If you can not accept her as a wife at least consider her as your responsibility", Huzaifa said.

"You need to apologize now, I'm not talking to you until you ask for her forgiveness", Huzaifa said looking into Zohaib's eyes.

"Let's go Zain", Huzaifa said moving his eyes towards him and left the place.

"Zain yo...", Before Zohaib could complete his sentence Zain stood up from his place and said, "Zahra chalo jaldi chalen Huzaifa chachu bula rahay hain, hum dono b daddy say naraz hain (Let's go Zahra Huzaifa uncle is calling us. We both are also not talking with the daddy)".

Zohaib sighed in annoyance as he looked towards the retreating figures of his brothers and his daughter.

*****

Faryal was sitting down on her balcony in the dim light coming from her room. The sky was looking like black tranquility married to the poetry of stars. She stared at the sky with tears stained her face.

"Ahh", she winced as she unknowingly touched her wound.

FLASHBACK:

"It's okay Fary, look I'll just clean your wound", baba Jan said to a teenager Faryal.

"Oh baba no it's hurting very bad", Faryal cried looking at the small cut on her finger.

"I promise, I'll do it quickly beta. At least let me dis-infect the cut", Baba Jan said lovingly.

"Fary betay, let your baba Jan clean the wound", Amma Jan said while patting Faryal's head.

"Okay, but please baba Jan do it quickly. You know I'm very afraid of this antiseptic".

"I promise I'll do it quickly", Baba Jan said.

Faryal closed her eyes and held Amma Jan's hand tightly.

Flashback ends.

Faryal broke into sobs as she recalled her memories. She was missing her Baba Jan a lot.

*****

Zohaib stood up from the couch and strode upstairs. He stopped in front of Faryal's room and hesitantly knocked at her door but didn't get any reply. After a few tries, he turned the knob of the door as he realized that the door is not locked.

He entered her room but it was empty. He raised his eyebrows in worry and stopped in his tracks when he heard her sobs coming from the balcony. He paused, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dim light as he entered the balcony.

Faryal was sitting on the floor with her back pressed to the wall behind her. Zohaib came forward and sat down beside her leaving a space between them. Both of them were staring at the sky.

"My Ammi knows about you ", Faryal said with a cracked voice as she was struggling to control her sobs.

"and what did she tell you about me?", Zohaib asked as he looked at Faryal.

"She hates you for making me cry", She replied with uncontrollable tears falling from her eyes.

A pang of guilt crept into his heart. "I'm sorry", He said in a low voice.

"Ghalut fehmi hogyi thi (I miss understood), I reacted knowing the half-truth", He added.

"Why do you think I would harm Zahra? Your concern about her is valid but why would I hurt her. You couldn't understand me a bit", She said in a hoarse voice.

"I can never harm Zahra. I have always considered her my own kid, whether you accept it or not she is my daughter too. But I think I shouldn't explain this to you as you are not going to trust me anyways". She said and wiped her tears with her dupatta.

"You shouldn't have married me, I've already warned you. I and this relationship have nothing to give you except pain and sufferings", He said looking at the sky.

" Warned me? you call it a warning, if you didn't want to marry me you could have told me before. At the last moment what do you think I was supposed to tell my family?..keh mera dil nahi kr raha shaddi krne ko, cancel kr lethay hain (That I don't want to get married let's cancel it) ", She replied and started sobbing again.

"Leave me alone please", she cried and hid her face using her hands.

Zohaib slightly moved towards her he had no idea how to soothe a crying girl.

"Hey please stop crying, I'm sorry. I accept my fault", He said but Faryal didn't look at him. She wept and wailed wiping her face with her dupatta and looked the other way.

Zohaib's eyes suddenly fell on her torn shalwar at the knee. He looked carefully and realized her knee is wounded.

"Your knee is injured, why didn't you tell me this before". His eyebrows furrowed deeper.

"We need to treat it now, you might get an infection", He continued.

"Let it be, this is nothing in front of the heartache I'm feeling right now ", she replied with a cracked voice.

Zohaib knew she would not come easily. He stood up from his place, bent over slightly, and brought his forearms underneath her knees, carrying her bridal style. She resisted but he didn't budge at all. He placed her on the bed and went to the bathroom to bring the first aid kit.

He sat down beside her, rolled over her shalwar up to her knee.

"Ahh.." Faryal winced as he started cleaning the wound with antiseptic. She involuntarily put her hand on Zohaib's hand.

"It would sting a little bit ", he said looking at her hand. She pulled back her hand quickly. She pressed her lips together and grabbed the dupatta tightly in her hand to distract herself from the pain.

"So am I forgiven now?", He looked at her with hopeful eyes after dressing her wounded knee.

"How is Zahra? She didn't get any wound, right?" She asked him ignoring his question.

"She is fine", He replied.

She thought for few minutes and said with a pout, "Itna rulaya ap nay, ab tou mera sir b dukhnay laga hai. (You have made me cry so much that my head is aching now)"

She thought for a moment a then said, "I'll forgive you on one condition, you have to come with me to my house. My family thinks that I'm not happy".

"Okay! I'll go with you ", He replied after some time.

"Promise", She moved her hand forward.

"Promise", He joined her hand.

Zohaib gave her a glass of water and went outside.

*****

Zohaib went out to call Huzaifa and Zain to meet Faryal.

Knock!.. Knock!

"Come in", Faryal said.

Zain, Huzaifa, and Zohaib who was holding Zahra in his arms entered her room. Huzaifa and Zain moved towards Faryal who was sitting in the bed.

"Are you okay now?", Zain asked sincerely.

Faryal nodded her head positively with a weak smile.

"Did you forgive him?" Huzaifa asked in concern and sat beside Faryal.

She nodded her head again.

"GOD, now we will have to teach you how to stay mad at him. You should have shown him tantrums", Huzaifa said playfully.

Her hazel eyes were twinkling with a pool of tears when she realized Zain and Huzaifa were worried for her.

"I can't keep grudges", She said, tears were falling down from her eyes like a waterfall whenever she blinked,  making her vision blur.

"Hey It's okay", Huzaifa said and wiped her tears. "When your brother is here no one can harm you, please just don't cry I can't see you like this", He added in an assured tone and embraced her. Faryal kept her head on his shoulder. He hugged her tightly as she sobbed continuously and hiccuped in between. He rubbed her back with his hand trying to calm her down.

"Muje rona aa jatha hai na jaldi kya karun (I get teary-eyed instantly, what should I do", She replied like a child.

"I know my brother is acting like a jerk these days, but please don't give up on him", Huzaifa whispered which was only audible to her.

"Okay so where am I in this whole story? She is my sister Huziafa Bhai for your kind information, Har jagah na ghus jaya kren ap (Please don't take a part in everything)", Zain said in exasperation.

Faryal started laughing with glassy eyes and a red nose. She opened her one arm for Zain and they group hugged. Zohaib was watching them from the distance.

"Zohaib Bhai we don't bite, you and Zahra can join us in the family hug too", Huzaifa said looking towards Zohaib. Zohaib came forward and joined them hesitantly.

A few minutes later they were still sitting in Faryal's room talking with each other.  Zohaib was silent but his mere presence was enough for them.

"Mom and dad didn't come yet?", Faryal asked.

"They are going to be late", Zain replied.

"Let's go for dinner", He continued.

"I can't go now, I'm tired and having a headache now", Faryal replied in a weak voice.

"No worries, I'll order something", Huzaifa said.

That night they had their dinner together.

-------------------------------------

Assalam-u-Alikum\Namaste.❤

How was today's update?

Do you think Zohaib has a valid point?

Which part of the chapter did you like?

P.S: I need your help, guys. I'm kinda confused after receiving your comments and messages for a longer update which I really respect. My relationship with Wattpad is just one month old so I don't understand even the basic things like how long an update should be etc 😅. So now you guys decide:

1- Short and multiple updates.

2- One long update in a week. (In that way I would compile 2,3 chapters together so you can have a longer one)

I'll do whatever you guys would choose.❤