Chapter 84: Chapter 84

After countless efforts, Isra couldn't walk out alone, she was too frightened to face what hexed her jovial life with ill-fate. The thought alone made her heart swing in undesirable thoughts.

Isra got ready and sat on her couch, realizing she woke up too early and Rayan was still sleeping. When he woke up, he found his wife ready to leave for work without having the trouble of seeing someone else but how long could she avoid him?

"Morning." She greeted him. "Hey... What time is it?" He asked, thinking he must have overslept. "Eight."

"I see... you're ready early." He yawned, sitting up. "Hmm."

"You okay?" He asked, looking at her, concerned. She passed him a faint smile and nodded. "If you say so..." He shrugged and got out, leaving for the bathroom.

She waited for him and when he came, they left the room together. Isra stood beside him, watching his back timidly, biting her lips by unnerving thoughts stirring her mind. I can't believe you are with me. Is this the extent of your love? It was hard for her to cope with the situation which was freezing her hands. Trap in the vault of spite, the mystic rage formed layers under her skin to sew this grudge close to her heart, reminding her she can't do anything.

They walked down and thankfully Emraz was nowhere to be found, the dismal written on Isra's face was very telling. She was trying to pretend nothing happened but it was hard to let out the thoughts tensing her.

They went to work and Isra finally relaxed a bit, Rayan noticed her look of consternation but the only thing he could supply her was empty consolation and she was well past them.

They were coming back from work as Rayan asked, "Isra... I know Emraz Bhai's presence is too much for you to bear. You can't-"

"I have to, Rayan. I don't have a choice. Besides, it was clear the moment I agreed to marry you that this day has to come sooner or later." She told him in a voice louder than a whisper, trying to control her agony but it was plied to her eyes and even after being aware of her despair, he couldn't do anything because she would never let him.

Looking away, Rayan didn't say anything as they left for home.

Emraz, who had locked himself in the room, watched from the window, his lips curled upward. "Here, take a bite." Hania said, feeding him herself. He put his hand in between, "I am done."

"No, you are not. You haven't eaten anything, eat up. Come on, one more bite." She frowned, helping him to eat, looking down he let her mother do it. "For how do you intend to stay here? Go to work, it will refresh your mind." Hania said sadly, setting his hair with her free hand, smiling a little.

"I feel afraid... of the looks." He mumbled, looking down, biting his lips to not cry. She put the spoon down and made him look at her, "Then why did you run away, Emraz? You have to face this now."

"Mom.. I.. didn't want to but I had no choice..." He whispered in a hoarse voice, putting his hand over hers. "What exactly happened that you are stuck on one explanation?" She asked softly, he sniffed, wiping his eyes and looking at her. "I.. am sorry."

"I don't want this sorry. I want my son back. Look what you've done to yourself."

"I think I deserve it." He smiled sadly, removing her hands. "Emraz..." Hania didn't know what to say, things were falling apart as the couple began to doubt their decision of Rayan's marriage to save their pride because it could clearly build a wall between their unbreakable bond.

"I am fine." He whispered, forcing out a broken smile. Sparing a compassionate gaze, she stood up and left after taking the tray. He smiled to himself, leaning back and closing his eyes, thinking;

These embers are fierce, maybe that's why it was beyond my capabilities to hold them... or perhaps, they never belonged to me in the first place...

The time passed, a few days later, it was Sunday, things went monotonous. Isra was going to the kitchen to get herself some water and the moment she was avoiding for a week occurred, she stumbled upon Emraz. Her heart skipped a beat in pain, staring at his face for a few second but soon a scowl took over and making a 'tsk' sound of annoyance, she was about to walk away but His voice came, slumped in lamentation, "I know it won't have any effect but do try to forgive me if you could." She stopped turning to him, closing her arms at her chest, "I would never, especially not when I am ignorant of the reason." Her stone-cold voice came, giving him an expressionless look.

"Why bother when it wouldn't alter anything?" He asked in a mournful tone. "Actually you are right. Wreck has been made, why search it's reason?" She mocked, closing her arms at her chest, glaring at him. "Then why don't you embrace your new morning?" He asked, turning to her fully, linking his eyes intently with hers, "I don't need you to tell me this." She snarled and was about to leave but he held her arm, pulling her back, "What the hell is your problem?!" She whisper-yelled but all sorrows on Emraz's face faded as a dire took over, "Then Free him." He said assertively, taking a step closer, staggering her, "What.. Do you mean?" She asked hesitantly, taking a step back.

"You know exactly what I am talking about. Why was it so hard, Isra? Don't punish my brother for something I have done." He asked seriously. Holding the hem of her dress, she stole a glance away, muttering, "Don't speak riddles. I don't have time for it."

"You never had." He chuckled dryly, moving away and leaving her all alone to think about his words which were too shallow for her to grasp at that time.

She returned to her room and Rayan noticed the sweat and heavy breaths emitting from her, "What happened?" He asked. "Nothing." She shook her head and went to the bathroom, not showing him about her encounter with Emraz.

At dinner time, everything was silent by the sturdy strain, an unbearable tremble of the wall signaling to wrap it all up before a fire breaks out and burns the home of once love. It will all crumble and before they will know it, only ashes would remain in their fingertips as the alarm of what's lost couldn't be repaired again.

To avoid upcoming conflicts, Rehman cleared his throat and gained everyone's attention and called them in the hall after dinner, "Hoorain. Go and call Emraz."

"Okay, Papa." She nodded and left. Hoorain called Emraz, who came ashamed.

"Yes, Dad?" He asked, standing in the corner. "What is happening in the house is no secret." He began to say, descrying at Rayan, Isra and Emraz one by one. "Our Father was very strict, we were not allowed to do anything by ourselves. We never had a life... things were hard but we all pulled through. What my Father possessed, it was passed onto his children.." Rehman began to tell his childhood story to the children, taking slow steps around the hall.

"But, after seeing that toxic atmosphere, I wasn't ready to accept such a life so I decided to start my new life with Hania. For it, you guys know I even had to cut off contact with my family but I didn't want my children to fight, I wanted them to live happily." His steps halted, looking at them, "And as long as I am alive, I wouldn't let it happen." Announcing he took a deep breath before declaring his final decision about this awkward position.

"Isra is now Rayan's wife and this is her home now as well. It's completely intolerable to find her troubled because of what happened. That's why I have made the decision to avoid future disputes." He paused, eyes tearing up a little and turned to look at Emraz who was ready for his judgement from the very start. Hands closed at his back, his head hanging low.

"Emraz has to leave this place."

Isra's eyes widened in horror upon hearing it that Rehman took such a drastic step because of her, banishing a piece of his heart all because she is uncomfortable in his presence. "I understand." He nodded as his lips began to quiver, steps slowly retreating.

Rayan couldn't let it happen, it would leave a deep scar on his heart. "No, wait." He spoke. "It's about Isra. She is my wife, why does Bhai have to leave?" He reasoned, slightly shaking, the ordeal made him dejected and he never wanted it.

"Then what choice do we have?" Rehman asked. "Uh.. We will leave." This moment confirmed the fact, their family was breaking apart and nothing could save it.

"Why do you have to leave? It was my fault, I am the one who should-" Emraz was about to speak further but Isra cut him off, "Rayan is right... W-We.. should leave." The perturbation blended with her selfishness as she hated this place now, it strikes her with unwanted memories and staying here was difficult for her, with or without Emraz's presence.

Rehman listened and thought about it for a few seconds before responding with agreement, "If that's what you want. You do deserve to live separately." He hummed and walked away.

"But-" Emraz tried to speak but Rehman put his hand in the air to stop him, "That's final. Rayan and Isra are going to start their life and you are going to stay as punishment to remember what you did." He said sternly and left.

Rehman and Hania went to their room and closed the door, Hania put her hand on his shoulder, calling him softly, "Rehman..." The strong posture Rehman put up in front of his children broke as he let out a tear, "Hania... was it a.. Right decision?"

"We have to wait to know." She smiled, rubbing his arm as he abruptly hugged her, crying, "What the hell is happening..? Everything is falling apart." He sobbed, hugging her. "This shall pass, everything is going to be fine."

"I have begun to question myself now... Am I a good Father?" He asked, sniffing and pulling away while Hania consoled her husband. "You are.. It's going to be alright."

At the rooftop Rayan was smoking, looking at the crepuscular sight with faze, feeling the repulsion evoking in his heart. "Are you sure about leaving?" Emraz asked.

"Yeah..." He sighed, taking a long inhale from his cigarette, "She doesn't want to stay either." he said, "And you?" He asked, putting his elbows on the railing just like him. "What about me? I am where she is." He chuckled, lowering his head. "But, I didn't know giving me a chance is the same as forgiving you for her." He whispered, biting his lips to contain his ache and continued to smoke. Emraz smiled a little and moved back, patting his back, "Take care of her." He said and walked away, leaving him alone .

He went back to his room and saw she was sound asleep. Rayan walked to her, watching her sleep with a smile over his lips, wanting to touch her features. Even having all the right to remove the hair on her face, he couldn't bring himself to touch her delicate skin, only staring at her face mesmerizingly. Asking himself an absurd question whose answer he doesn't know himself...

Why is love such a difficult and painful yet captivating emotion?