Chapter 78: Chapter 78

5 YEARS LATER (5 years to when zaad left sherry)

The soft chirps of vibrant birds made gentle sigh leave her lips. Straightening her back against the wooden bench, Sheherzaad angled her neck to look around and embrace the solace, solitude provided her. Lush green fields waved joyously,I singing a windy lullaby of their own. Sheherzaad smiled; it felt freshening. It had been half a decade, yet any subtle joy would bring her back to dreadful memories, making her realize how precious liberty was. She, now, would try to intake actual joy of freedom in real sense. Because she once had paid a dreadful price for that. For thing, you had to pay for in past, suddenly becomes available to you free of cost, is bound to burst bubbles of happiness and gratitude. Who could understand that better than Sheherzaad...

She still had scars, but now she had stopped fearing them. They were proof of her strength, of how much she endured, and of how far she had come. To put that vicious year of life behind, was near to impossible. But gradually, she was learning to survive and bond with her memories. She had nothing else to pick on from plate, anyway. She couldn't unalive herself, her little Chahat did not deserve growing up without maternal nurture.

Her Chahat, precious little angel, who was her blessing. A fairy sent down from above to heal and ammend for wounds, given to SheharZaad, by her father. Seldomly, she sees Shehryar's reflection in her daughter's glowing grey eyes. The effect of which, Shehrzaad often ends up cowering away from four years old. The buried trepidation is too frightening to walk over.

But then, Shehrzaad compels herself to veil her trauma, not willing to make her daughter question her mother's sanity. Shehryar was gone. He had left for good. She had nothing to fear, anymore.

A quick glance at her watch made her conscious of bundle time, she had donated to her thoughts. Zoning and mourning had become causal task of her each day. The vibrant solitude in mischievous green fields were therapy to her, otherwise, congested mind. Gently nibbling her teeth, Shehrzaad contorted her eyelashes, feeling nature for the blind.

An immediate dread twisted her gut. Gasping, she opened her eyes and gazed her surroundings frantically. There was no one in her hindsight. Yet, she couldn't help but held her breath in, the feeling of being under the influence of determined gaze was too intense. Shehrzaad gently palmed her chest. It was throbbing wildly. She couldn't shake of her paranoia, therefore, rose to her feet, ready to call it a day. She must return to the safety of four walls before dusk. Zeia must have had waken up from her nap, anyway.

Just as she rotated and stepped a couple steps forward, horror creeped her visage, steps faltering. In the shadows, behind large trees, she could make out a tall and daunty figure of a man.

She stepped back, tensed. The feeling rumbled her chest, once again. What was this feeling? Sheherzaad stared at the slight quivering of her hands before she gazed up again with speed of light, noticing the man stepping forward through her peripheral vision. An instant rush of fright madd her turn back on her heels as she rushed towards the safety of her house, feeling a deep gaze boring holes in her back.

***

Shehrzaad unfolded her eyelashes, feeling groggy. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up before adjusting the quilt over her daughter who was snoring softly with parted lips. Smiling softly, Sherhzaad pecked her cheek, which resembled a ripe apple, before she left the bed. Freshening up, she exited the room. Her chest felt heavy, today. She couldn't shake the feeling of dread off. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't realize when Rasheeda exited the tiny kitchen.

"Subah Bakheir, beti." Rasheeda greeted, placing jug of milk on mahogany,wooden table. Sheherzaad looked up and smiled. "Good morning." She began to help her in carrying utensils to the table. "You should have woke me up." Sherhzaad bit her lip in guilt, the regret of making Rasheda cook for up would twist her gut but she was helpless. Rasheeda wouldn't let her enter the kitchen.

Rasheeda smiled, wrinkles grazing her temples. "Chahat kept you awake till midnight. So I figured you must be tired." It was an excuse. Even in regular days, she wouldn't let Shehrzaad work more than necessary. The affection of old lady, who five years ago, was stranger to her, yet now was the closest maternal figure to her, made her eyes teary. She blinked her lashes, not willing to worry the old soul over her mood swing. "Khubaib and I have to go to city today to carry some chores. Will you be alright on your own?" Rasheeda asked in between her work, staring at Shehrzaad with questioning eyes. Sherhzaad nodded her head. "Ofcourse." She didn't ponder much on it. Because there village was unadvanced and uncivilized, they lacked basic living necessities. Therefore, natives had to drive every month miles away to cities, to buy basic necessities.

The door opened, revealing Khubaib Sahab and his wooden stick, he was walking with. "AsalamoAlaikum abu!" Shehrzaad greeted with welcoming smile that was reciprocated with same zeal before he returned the greeting and looked around. "My naughty nugget isn't up?" He asked in his groggy voice, as he took a seat in wooden ottoman.

"She exhausted me last night." Shehrzaad sighed, shaking her head. Chahat was too energetic for her age. That would often knacker her out, but atleast her little antics were the joy of their home. So, Sherhzaad welcomed her tantrums and whims with open arms.

Khubaib Sahab laughed. "I was hoping to play with her before leaving." He confessed. Pouting at his age seemed rather ridiculous but Chahat had brought out the little kid of Khubaib Sahab who otherwise was infamous for his anger and aggression.

Sherhzaad smiled warmly, "Don't worry, abu. She will be waiting on her toes for your return." Comparitively, Chahat was more closed to Khubaib then Shehrzaad and Rasheeda. Probably because he would give in quicker to her tantrums.

After their breakfast, they began to leave but not before instructing Sherhzaad not to open doors for anyone. That was not a problem, for they would rarely have any visitors. After their exit, Sherhzaad began to work around the house, moping and throwing in laundry. Her eyes would often lift to the giant clock, wondering when her little highness would grace her mother with her mighty presence.

Done with her chores, Shehrzaad sat down on the sofa, sighing in exhaustion. Picking at her nails, she shook her leg, feeling bored and restless. The eeire feeling wasn't going away. Thinking of checking on Chahat, she stood on her feet. But just as she stepped closer to the door of her room, the main door was knocked. Her heart skipped a beat, she had never had a visitor, when alone, before. Her eyes stuck to the door, sweat glistening her temple. The anxiety of confronting a stranger hightened her nerves. The door was knocked again that made her jump. Snapping out of her thoughts, she gulped her anxiety down and walked closer to the door. "Who is there?" She tried to keep the shakiness out of her voice. The constant knocking of door halted at her voice. For a minute, there was complete silence. Narrowing her brows, Sherhzaad spoke, "Rasheeda ami has stepped out for a while. Please come back later." Satisfied at no sound from other side, she thought the intruder had left. Turning around, she was about to walk to Chahat when the door was knocked again, a little agressively this time that made her flinch. Her stomach twisted, the bad feeling that had been hovering above her mind had intesified tenfolds. "Who is there?" She asked firmly this time. No response. Tightening her jaw, she decided to peak through the hole. Quietly, she stepped closer before narrowing her one eye, looking through the hole. There stood no one. Puzzled, Sherhzaad wondered if it was some naughty lad teasing her. Something inside her told her not to check on intrusion. But curiousity got the best of her. Thinking throughly, she atlast opened the door but the person she saw on otherside, managed to suck the life out of her.

Shehryar...

Her first instinct was to shut the door but he stepped one shoe in threshold, defeating her frantic struggles. She whimpered, cowering back when Shehryar fully stepped in, closing the door behind him.

"S-Shehryar." Her limbs trembled, eyes tearing at his mere sight. Where did her courage go? The strength, the therapy, nothing made sense to her brain that had numbed in fright. Her reflex action to his presence was intact, as if there had been no lapse difference among them.

Shehryar stayed quiet, his grey eyes dropping from her watery ones to her hands, entangled together to stop their shivering. Yet, if anything, their quivering intensified under the pretext of his authoritative gaze.

"Zaad." He acknowledged, one veiny hand brushing through his hair as he gazed away from her. The dire need of inhaling intoxication filled in. His tensed muscles needed a quick smoke. Her reaction, it had erupted blend of emotions.

That was not how a normal wife would react at sight of her husband after years.

The stormy grey eyes of his were gazing unblinkingly at her. His adam apples had halted, as if world had stopped resolving around him. Their past began to flash before his eyes in speed of light. Their first meeting, his instant infatuation with her, his barbaric tortures, her attempt of ending her life, her running away, his own years of torture. Everything hit him soo hard. The intense and raw emotions were being unveiled. But Sherhzaad couldn't muster up the courage to look into his dark gaze. But if she had, she wouldn't have missed the rarest of sight.

His tear.

A lone tear of sheer intensity had escaped his eye. Clenching his jaw, Shehryar gazed away and took a deep breath. Closing and then reopening his eyes, he this time took in her face that was getting paler and horrified. He noticed the shivering of her hands, her wobbly legs which were barely holding onto her weight. If it was five years back, Shehryar could have bothered less of her petrified state. But this time, things were different.

Her fear, it was unsettling to him.

"P-Please." She didn't know what she was begging for. The unstoppable quivering of her lips weren't letting her plea. Seeing him stepping closer, Shehrzaad cowered back in frantic steps. "No!" She sobbed, helplessly wrapping her arms around herself to seek some form of protection. But nothing was helping.

Shehryar halted, a frown of disappointment settled between his brows before he sighed, raising his hands in surrender. "I mean no harm." He muttered gently. His manly voice had deepened with huskiness. If there was anything changed between these years, it was his features which had turned more masculine and deadly. Other than that, he looked sober, carrying aura of man who would entertain no nonsense.

Dressed in black shalwar qameez, he had a skin chaddar, gracefully set on his shoulders. At that moment, he looked like a feudal lord to her.

"Sherhzaad." He whispered, testing the sweet syllables of her name on his tongue. That smoothly rolled off, making a shiver ran down her spine.

Sherhzaad looked cautiously in his eyes, searching for his motive. After all these years, she had made peace with thought that he must have forgotten about her. She should have been a part of his past. Then why he stood here after half a decade with same intensity and obsession in his eyes had left her beyond petrified. Was he here to avenge? Will he... Will he punish her for disobeying him? For running away?

"H-how did you find me?" She mumbled in shaky tone. He didn't say anything but chuckled. That corny laugh reminded her of his resources. Ofcourse, his puppets must have had searched the world up and down for her.

"Look S-Shehryar. I don't want to be a-associsted with you in any s-sense. You need to leave." She shakily pointed at the door, still not daring to raise eyes at him.

"No." He said in clipped tone, making her state into his eyes, in shock. The intensity and challenge in his eyes scared her.

"W-What-"

"You are coming with me." He told her in the politest tone he could offer. But Shehrzaad mistook it as a threat. Tears of horror gathered in hed eyes, helplessness of her psst dawning at her.

"Please leave me alone." She sobbed, scared shitless. Her cries made his heart soften.

"Don't cry, Zaad" He ran an agressive brush through his hair, not knowing how to confront a crying lady. Ofcourse, he had his ways. But he didn't want to practice them on her. Not any longer.

"Fine. Don't come with me. Just calm down." He offered warmly, eyes scrutinizing her detailed features. She looked healthy and in much better shape then she was in beside his side. The thought made him scowl. Even peasants of slums were treating her better then he ever had in his luxurious castle.

Although he was frowning at his own selfish actions, Sherhzaad mistook it as his disapproval for her, that made her panic. For his unpleasantness at her actions was something her brain had carved in her, not to entertain at any cost. For it come with deadly consequences.

"P-Please I a-am sorry."

Shehryar snapped out of his thoughts and looked at her, puzzled. But the watery, fearful eyes, staring at him in contorted horror, softened the natural harshness from his face. He sighed. "Come here, little lady." He opened his arm for her. Puzzled and scared, Sherhzaad looked cautiously at his chest.

Why was he being so soft? Why wasn't he punishing her for her atrocious and betraying actions? Was it a bait? Was he waiting for her to let her guard down before striking her?

Yes! That's what it was. He was waiting for the right moment to snap.

Trembling, she took another step back, whimpering a small "No."

Narrowing his eyes, he walked closer. Before she could run away, he grasped her elbow before gently attaching her small quivering body in his warm embrace, hugging her in affectionate manner. Panicked, Sherhzaad tried to fight his grip. "Shh. Shh." He hushed near her ear. "Relax, little lady. You will be alright." He told her in protectively stern tone, running soothing fingers through her hair.

Knowing, he wouldn't leave her unless she settled down, Sheherzaad began to work on her breaths as she forced her whimpers to quiten into occasional hiccups. Next, she furiously blinked her eyes and distracted her mind from current hostage situation. It worked, her body and mind lightened to some extent. His gentle rocking helped, soothing her nerves.

"I am okay, now. Leave me." She mumbled in small tone, making him smile.

"What guarantees the waterworks won't return the second I leave you?" He asked, his tone serious but eyes filled with mirth.

Shehrzaad couldn't find any appropriate response. She again started struggling weakly that made him sigh. "Why exhaust yourself when we both know you can't move a bone in my hold. Hm?" He softly murmured near her ear, enjoying her warm embrace. Only he knew, how much he had missed this. Her closeness. Her lovely fragrance.

"Let me go!" She demanded firmly this time, making him arch a brow. Nevertheless, he loosened his grip on her before gradually letting her go. She took several steps to safety, before backing into a sofa. Rotating around it, she now looked at him with challenged gaze, feeling secured that now there was a sofa between them.

Shehryar smirked. How much he wanted to wipe that smugness off. But he was enjoying that fierce in her eyes. It gave him hope. Hope that he will settle their differences and ammend for his barbaric ways. He could only hope, she will be mote forgiving than he ever was.

Just then, the door behind him opened before he heard footsteps. Narrowing his eyes, he turned around alerted, his hand going to his gun.

"Mama mama!" Four years old Chahat ran towards Sherhzaad holding a teddy bear to her chest. Her running halted as she took in a strange man standing close to her mother. Checking him up and down, Chahat ran towards Sherhzaad in shyness before hiding behind her legs.

Shehryar, frozen at his place, gazed up at Sherhzaad. Mama? His eyes turned cold and emotionless. That little human was his exact replica. Could it be? He raised his blank eyes to Sherhzaad, looking for an explanation. The turmoil in her petrified orbs confirmed his suspicion. With clenched jaw, he stepped closer to them. His heart thudded as he kneeled before Shehrzaad, coming face to face with his tiny human who was taking time to time peaks at him.

Sherhzaad, scared out of her wits, stayed muted, different possiblities flashing her eyes, making her light headed. Will he punish her for hiding his child from him? Worse, what if he takes Chahat away and never allow her to meet her? She would die. The thought alone stabbed her heart. No no, she wouldn't let her child near this monster.

Holding Chahat's tiny hand, Shehrzaad backed away from knelt Shehryar, making him raise his hard eyes up at her. The unforgivable coldness in his eyes chilled her. There was soo much pent up rage and aggression behind those storm eyes. Sherhzaad would have had fainted if it wasn't for her baby's safety.

Shehryar was fighting hard against his inner turmoil. There was soo much anger, confusion, guilt weighing down at him. All this time, he was searching madly for her, he have had a daughter. His daughter, he was kept in dark of. He had missed important years of his child. He couldn't even process what he felt at the idea of having a daughter. His emotions were running wild.

"Mama who this?" Chahat pointed her forefinger at Shehryar.

Sheherzaad was speechless, having no answer. Her mother's tormentor, her mother's abuser? Or her father. She didn't know what to tell the innocent soul who didn't deserve any harshness grazing her. And Shehryar was harsh.

"Go inside your room, Chahat. Mama will come in a minute." Shehrzaad told her in hushed tone. Although, Chahat would have threw a tantrum, but sensing her mother's worry, she nodded absentmindedly before appearing forward from her mother's legs and making a run towards the door. But before she could dash, Shehryar blocked her way, before kneeling to her height again, this time holding her tiny hands in his.

"Shehryar please-" Sherhzaad tried to step closer when Shehryar raised his hand.

"Quiet!" The darkness in his voice and sterness of his eyes made her tremble, tears of helplessness dawning.

Lowering his gaze back down at his daughter, Shehryar could feel his heart softening as he took in his mini me. She was his replica, soo beautiful with red cheeks and grey eyes. Innocence oozing off her cutely joined brows made his soul melt.

"Hey!" He whispered in softest tone, bringing her tiny hand up and placing a warm peck on back of her hand. Her tender skin against his lips, made rush of tears as strange nostalgia engulfed him. Why was he feeling emotional? Perhaps, because the blow was out of his expectations. He had a blessing delivered at his threshold, yet how unlucky had he been to be unaware of his tiny gift.

"Hello!" She adorably tilted her head before frowning. "Bad man." She mumbled.

Shehryar chuckled in surprise. "Bad man?" He mimiced her hushed whisper.

"Yesh. Very bad. You made mama cry." She told in begrudging manner, giving him stinky eye.

That wiped Shehryar's smile. He looked up at Sherhzaad with blank face. His heart skipped a beat at her mesmerizing sight. But the rage of her hiding his daughter from him blinded him to her beauty.

"Wipe your tears." He ordered.

Caught off guard, Sherzaad did exactly that, afraid of causing a scene infront of her daughter. Rubbing her cheeks with back of her hands, Sherhzaad refrained from crying any further, her worried eyes incredibly focused at well being of her daughter.

Shehryar gazed back down at Chahat. "What's your name? Full name?" He interrogated in calm manner, curious to see whether Sherhzaad had dared depriving him off of his parental right.

"Me chahat and this Mr Sprinkles." She beamed, holding her bear infront of him. Shehryar wasn't amused.

He gazed at Sherhzaad before looking down at Chahat.

"Just Chahat?" He murmured with a frown.

Chahat mimiced his frown. Raising his ring cladded thumb, he rubbed her scowl off, but she frowned again that made Shehryar laugh. His anger leveling down on it's own. He, who was thinking of giving Chahat's dearest mother a hard lesson on depriving him off his child, couldn't help but smile at the little being, his rage and vengeance long forgotton.

"Should I tell you a secret?" Shehryar whispered in hushed manner. Chahat's eyes twinkled. Excitedly nodding her head, Chahat turned her head otherwise, inching her ear closer to his mouth. Amused, Shehryar crouched closer to her ear before whispering in manner that it was audible to Sherhzaad as well, for he wanted to get his message across her as well.

"You are Chahat Shehryar Haider."

Shehrzaad trembled. The only name, she didn't want her daughter to be associated with. She could feel his gaze on her, but she didn't dare looking into his challenging gaze. She knew she will loose. She had already lost herself to him. Her life, her wishes, her desires. The only thing she hadn't lost to him was her heart. Something she would never give him ownership of.

"But mama said I am just Chahat." She whined.

Shehryar tsked. "That's because I wasn't here before. Ask mama now infront of me. Lets see how she denys." His tone was confident and powerful.

Chahat turned towards quizzical Sherhzaad who resembled a deer caught in headlights. As if she wanted to disappear in ground.

"Mama am I Chahat Ryar?" She asked innocently, walking closer to Sherhzaad before making grabby hands in her direction. Instantly, Sherhzaad picked her in her arms, desperate for comfort.

"Answer her." Shehryar stood to his towering height and came closer, cornering her into wall.

Shehrzaad looked helplessly into his eyes, but there was no ounce of mercy. She rubbed Chahat's back. "Are you hungry, bachay?" She tried to divert Chahat's attention in which she successfully succeded.

Shehryar scoffed. "Hungry lot, mama. Need abu." She whined in Shehrzaad's neck.

"Abu?" Shehryar revised on his tongue. The veins in his forehead throbbed instantly. A gust of protectiveness dawning at him.

"Tell this man to go away, Chahat. Then mama and Chahat will eat nice breakfast, okay?" Sherhzaad whispered in Chahat's ear, for she had gathered Shehryar wouldn't misbehave infront of Chahat atleast. Something she could use to her advantage.

Chahat raised her head from Shehrzaad's neck before looking at Shehryar. "Bye bye." She waved her hand.

Shehryar arched a brow. "I am not leaving." His words made Sherhzaad tensed.

Chahat pouted. "Mama wouldn't give me breakfast, then." Sherhzaad stared at her with wide eyes, the tips of her ears turning red in embarrassment.

Shehryar gazed at Sherhzaad with amused eyes. Gulping her anxiety, Sherzaad met his eyes. "Please leave us alone." She requested in subservient manner, aware she had no authority or advantage over him. She could only plea.

The almost on verge tears in her eyes melted his heart. And then the expecting eyes of his daughter made him sigh. Uncrossing his arms, he leaned closer to them, hitching Sherhzaad's breath. But much to her relief, he only pecked Chahat's forehead before backing away and walking out of their house without another word, banging the door behind him with loud thus, causing both mother and daughter to flinch badly. Surprised at his compilance, Shehrzaad rushed to lock the door behind him before she leaned her back against it, working on studying her wild heart beats.

***

Sherhzaad, lost and traumatized, wiped her eyes. Putting Chahat to sleep, she stood up from the bed and approached the window, gazing out at the dusk fields.

He had found her.. the man she was running from, her oppressor. What would happen now? Her mind, numb, couldn't offer her any solace or rescue plans. She had just started to accept this as her home, what now? Will they have to run from here as well? She couldn't live here now... What guaranteed Shehryar wouldn't force her to go with him again? And her daughter, he could snatch her away as a punishment for her betrayal. Worst scenarios rang her head, making her petrified and resoluting her plan of running away further. For Chahat's safery, she will have to swallow this bitter sip. Be homeless again.

What guaranteed she would find as such loving and welcoming hosts elsewhere? Rasheeda and Khubaib; they had been her strongest pillars in need of hour. Her gut twisted at mere thought of leaving them behind.

But she had no other options. For there safety and for her little one, she will now have to evacuate.

The sound of main door opening reached her ears, making her snap out of her thoughts. Hurriedly, she rubbed her face. Covering her head with scarf, she glanced at Chahat for one last time before exiting the room to welcome Rasheda and Khubaib Sahab.

But the minute she exited the room, her breath hitched, paling her face. Behind Rasheedha and Khubaib stood Shehryar, gazing at her with playful smile. Sherhzaad trembled, freezing at her place.

Rasheeda stared up at her and smiled, "AsalamoAlaikum, beti!" She greeted in tired voice, discarding numerous plastic bags on the table. Sherhzaad stared at the old woman, dumbfound. What was happening?

Rasheda on not finding any response stared at Sherhzaad who was gazing horrified at Shehryar. "Oh don't worry, Zaad beti (daughter). This young man is harmless. He-" She stopped, staring at Shehryar with questioning eyes.

"Shehryar." He told her in polite manner, eyes intactly in contact with wide ones of Sherhzaad.

"Right. Shehryar will be staying here for few days. Khubaib Sahab found him sleeping on the road. You know him and his kindness. So he has offered the spare room outside to this gentleman. In return, he would help hands in the fields. Gareeb, maskeen, bechara. (Poor. Needy. Unfortunate) He is homeless and has no penny on him. May Allah accept our good deed." Rasheeda's voice turned distant as she walked off into the kitchen with plastics bags.

Sherhzaad clenched her fists, her eyes mixture of fear and fire. "What game are you playing?" She spat in hushed tone.

Shehryar cocked his head to the side, expressions innocent and utterly harmless. "Game?" He looked offended. "That's not how you talk with gareeb, maskeen and bechara." He told her with a tsk, stifling his amusement.

Sherhzaad scoffed. But before she could answer, Khubaib Sahab entered. Sherhzaad greeted him, ignoring the heavy, scrutinizing gaze before moving forward and fetching Khubaib Sahab a glass of water.

"One for me too, if it's not a problem." Shehryar requested with polite expressions, his eyes twitching in mischief.

Sherhzaad clenched her jaw, glaring his way. Khubaib sahab threw a sympathetic glance at him. "Ofcourse, bachay. Zaad beti, go bring a glass of cold water for him." Khubaib sahab gestured Shehryar to take a seat.

Stifling her rage, Sherzaad walked inside the kitchen, finding Raseedha begum stocking groceries.

"Ami was it necessary to take in this man?" Sherhzaad whispered in hushed manner.

Rasheda gave her a side glance. "What's wrong, child?" Her voice, concerned.

Sherhzaad gulped. "Um I am...just not comfortable with a nonmehram in same roof as me." She made an excuse in quiet tone. If Shehryar heard her, she would be a gone case.

Raseedha shared a compassionate smile. "Don't worry child. He will be staying in store room outside. You wouldn't even see him inside. I will make sure your privacy doesn't get violated in any way." She told her in assuring manner, pouring a glass of water.

Sherzaad bit her lip, not knowing how to convince the soul, who didn't even know what danger she had invited to their home. A mafia king was residing in their home under the facade of yateem, maskeen, bechara.

Huh na. She made a face, even in his homeless attire, he didn't look bechara in anyway. She was surprised at his guts, he had gone around and manipulated old souls just to accomplish his whatever motives. How low was he planning to stoop?

"But there's not even a fan in that store. He will die of heat stroke." She tried to express her concern, hoping to change the woman's mind.

"He doesn't mind. He says he has lived all his life without a fan. Poor him. I am sure he will manage." Raseedha expressed in pitiful voice.

Sherhzaad's mouth hung open. That white liar. She doubted if he had spent even an hour of his life without air conditioned.

Raseedha emptied a few ice cubes in glass before walking out to hand it to Shehryar while Sherhzaad stayed inside the kitchen, her head throbbing with worries and concern for herself, Chahat and old couple.

"What are you planning this time, Shehryar." She whispered to herself, a tear of desperation falling her eye. She was worried shit.

Shehryar she knew- he will not remain under such pretext for long. Soon, he will snap and his real motives will come out. And that's the day Sherhzaad feared. He was unpredictable. She was concerned for lives of her loved ones.