Chapter 92: Chapter 92

"She didn't commit suicide. She wanted to live for her children. But you know what? She was hanged and it all appeared as suicide. This whole idea was of Agha, Shehryaar. Your mother wanted to live," Sheharzaad finished. Her voice has turned into a soft whisper till the end of her dialogue.

She could see the enrage slowly developing in Shehryaar's eyes but he was controlling. He was really controlling himself so the monster won't break free.

Zahra came running into the study followed by Haseeb. As soon as Zahra's eyes landed on Irtaza, she went in his arms and hugged him, very well aware that she needed him the most in these moments. And as soon as Dua's eyes fell on Haseeb, she rushed into his arms and hugged him.

The previous talk they both had in her room was enough for her to trust him completely. He had gained her partial trust when he had convinced her before their nikkah that he will give her all the love of the world. As well as the time and space she needed for this relationship.

Dua crid in Haseeb's arms. While Zahra hugged Irtaza tightly. Irtaza hugged her back, surrounding her little form with his protective arms. While there stood Shehryaar and Sheharzaad staring at each other with tons of distances between them. They were too close yet too far.

The truth has now surfaced up.

And Shehryaar was confused about the gazillions of emotions dancing in his ehart, completely enveloping his heart, mind and soul.

The realization hit her. Hard.

The realization that all of it was a lie.

It was all a lie.

His whole life was a lie.

The woman because of whom he abhorred Sheharzaad, and never trusted her, was innocent. Rather, she was the victim.

His mother was the victim.

Victim of cruelty of the man whom he considered his ideal.

His own grandfather.

He felt his heart will explode with these dozens of emotions. He was loosing control over him. And his eyes rested on his dear wife.

He did not look left or right and straight away hugged her. Because it was the only thing that could provide her with the calm he needed.

Again, he realized, how much he needed her.

He did not just wanted her now.

He needed her.

Like humans needed oxygen to live.

Sea life needed water to live.

This earth needed sun to live.

Like Romeo needed Juliet.

Like Darcy needed Elizabeth.

Like Pannu needed Sassi.

And like Shah Shehryaar needed his Sheharzaad.

He needed her.

Desperately.

Hopelessly.

Passionately.

Intensely.

With his heart and soul.

With his whole entire being.

There were no words out there to put in what he felt... for her.

Sheharzaad was taut in his arms, neither relaxing nor hugging him back. She let him hug her. And he hugged her tightly. As if she would disappear if he will relax his arms around her.

"Hug me back," she heard his whisper.

It wasn't a command.

But a request.

A beseech.

A plead.

Oh.

Oh. Mother nature.

How immaculately you turn the tables.

Today, he was at her mercy.

And choice was hers to leave him and let him writhe in pain and agony or forward the hand of hope.

"Please hug me back," he whispered again.

Sheharzaad slowly moved her arms and hugged her back.

"I love you, Sheharzaad. I love you so much," he expressed.

Given his voice, she felt, it was one of the weakest moments of his life.

The couples were finding peace and tranquility in each other's embrace. The bitter truth made them get closer, allowed them to express what they hid behind their heart and from their hearts. It made them get closer, feel each other, understand each other and in the making were new strong and unbreakable bonds. They knew they can't live without their respective partners.

But this moment of warm, embrace, and peace was broken when suddenly a maid came running to the study. Without seeking permission, she almost screamed, "Sir Haider..he-he..he is not waking up,"

Those hugs were broken, tears were replaced with frowns and smiles with worries as they all rushed downwards to Haider's room.

He was on his chair. His one arm hanging in air and head hung low.

They all rushed towards him and in that drastic moment, Sheharzaad's grey eyes fell on the diary which lied on the floor. She collected it. A tear dropping her eye. She knew what caused Haider to reach this stage.

With that diary in her hand, she approached Haider while whispering, "I can't loose my father again,"

Immediately, an ambulance was called and he was taken to the hospital. They were told that he had suffered from a heart attack and was currently in the ICU.

They all prayed outside that haunting room.

Prayed for Haider's recovery.

They were informed of his critical situation for next 24 to 48 hours. He had not gained consciousness and neither was he stabilized.

Sheharzaad was crying at one corner of the room when Shehryaar approached her. His eyes were dry and void of any tears as if he didn't feel anything or maybe he had pulled up his infamous mask of coldness again. She believed in the latter. Because she knew Shehryaar loved his father so much. He wasn't just expressing now.

Sheharzaad placed his head on his chest, her tears falling down on his shirt. He wrapped his arm around her.

"Will he die?" She asked with tear filled eyes.

No response.

"Can you... you save him?"

Again, there was no response from his side.

"Please answer," she held the lapels of his coat, "please! please say something!" please say that he will be saved!" the grip on the lapels got tigh as she shook him.

Again, he was quiet.

"Sleep, Sheharzaad," he just said, placing her head back on his chest, "sleep. I'm here," he caressed her head and she didn't realize when sleep reached her while crying on his chest.

...

A week passed.

Haider was in coma.

He hadn't awaken up yet.

It wasn't just a heart attack but also a nervous breakdown. He had a weak heart and he came across something which he shouldn't know.

The family was hopeful and hopeless at the same time about his recovery. It was now all on nature that Haider would return or not.

Day and night, Sheharzaad felt guilt enveloping her.

She should not have given that diary to Haider.

She thought it will make him content, happy that his wife really did love her. All his life, he just thought that she didn't but Jaha Ara did but her circumstances never let her express the love he had for Haider.

Sheharzaad considered herself as the culprit of Shehryaar and she couldn't carry on with that guilt anymore so she decided to confront it to Shehryaar herself.

She sat near Shehryaar who was laying down on the bed with his arm resting on his eyes. He hadn't shed a single tear or anything. He just remained quiet. Rather he had distanced himself from everyone as if he wanted to be just on his own.

What just happened in the past few days could be traumatic for anyone. The whole house now knew of the truth of their beloved father figure. But they didn't know the reason that what gave Haider such grief that he couldn't sustain it and lost it.

Only Sheharzaad knew.

The grief of the truth. She wished she shouldn't have shown that diary to Haider. The guilt again surfaced up.

"Sherry," she called out.

"Hmm" he hummed in response without removing his arm from his eyes.

"I want to tell you something," She was fearing telling him the truth. Though changed, but he was still Shehryaar. What he did with Agha reminded her of who he was.

Agha was still alive. Both the brothers were trying their level best to make his death as painful as they could. He was kept in the same cell. They will wound him, and then let him heal and then wound him again. His family was kept in the cell infront of him as a means to torture Agha. He too would beg them to leave his family but there was no mercy shown by both the brothers. They pulled up the most merciless side of them. The darkness she saw in his eyes whenever he came back after paying a visit to Agha will make her chill to the bone marrow.

"Yes," he responded.

"I... actually..." she was confused whether to tell him the truth or not.

Will he blame her?

"I..."

She was cut short when his phone rung and he picked it up from the side table. It was Haseeb.

"Shehryaar bhai, Haider uncle woke up!" His voice reached Sheharzaad as well as happiness overcame her face and she stood up. Shehryaar too sat up.

"I'm coming,"

Soon the whole family gathered in the hospital around Haider. His old eyes moved around, resting on each and every member of his family and a small smile reached his lips.

"I want to be buried next to Jaha Ara," he whispered, his first sentence after waking up.

"Re-build that orphanage in which Jaha Ara was brought up, which was destroyed by my father," he said, slowly, quietly.

"Baba! What are you saying?" Dua asked, nearing towards her father, "why are you saying things like these?" Dua cried out, sitting next to Haider.

"Daughter, that curse is lifted. I am at peace now. I want to be with my rose in the eternal realm. I see death approaching,"

"Haider! Son! Dont talk like that," their grandmother beseeched, crying. "I can't loose you,"

Haider just smiled at his mother.

"Please take me to Jaha Ara's grave," he requested, looking at his sons.

....

Haider fought his family, the doctors, hospital staff and everyone just go to Jaha Ara's grave. They did not agree at first but against his wish... which was deemed as his last wish, they agreed and took him to Jaha Ara's grave.

Irtaza took his father along with Haseeb while the rest of the family waited behind at the hospital since Haider wasn't fully recovered and discharged from the hospital. Shehryaar didn't go... on purpose.

After the death of his mother, not even for once had he gone to her grave

Not even once. And now after knowing the truth, he just couldn't step near that graveyard where she rested.

He simply didn't have the courage.

....

"Nurse Nayab!" The head nurse called the girl out.

"Yes, madam,"

"Our VIP patient, Mr. haider will soon be back to hospital. Nurse Nuzhat, who was looking after his essentials called in sick. Please take care of him while he is here,"

"Alright madam. I will," she smiled.

A smile which never reached her eyes.