Larai held her stinging cheek and looked at Yusuf, whose head was lowered. He didn't even utter a word in her defense. Even after her explanation, he didn't believe her?

The pain she felt on her cheek was incomparable to the one in her heart. There and then, she realized she had been nothing, but an outsider to them all these years. She would forever be grateful to them for the kindness they had shown her in the past, but she wanted nothing to do with them-not with any of the family members or with Yusuf anymore.

Trust is the foundation of every solid relationship and if he was lacking that towards her, then definitely, the relationship would be doomed.

"If you all still don't believe me, then there's nothing more I can do or say. I will forever be grateful for everything you've done for me from the day I walked into this house. The kindness and everything. Thank you and sorry for all the problems I have caused your family. You don't have to worry, I will leave right now and you won't have to see my despicable face ever again. Again, I'm sorry for causing havoc in your family." Larai turned around and caught Mr. Kasim flashing her a triumphant smile.

Larai swallowed a painful lump in her throat and began to walk away. To her disappointment, nobody attempted to save her. Not even Yusuf.

Larai was about to use the door when Yumnah, who had been quiet amidst the ruckus finally spoke up, making Larai halt in her tracks.
"Larai is telling the truth."

As if waiting for the opportunity to react, Yusuf rushed to where Yumnah stood and firmly grabbed her shoulders. "Tell us everything you know."

Larai remained unmoved.

Tears brimmed up in Yumnah's voice and she shook her head in an attempt to get rid of the tears. "Abba is falsely accusing Larai."

"What are you saying?" Yusrah grabbed her twin's arms, making Yusuf release her from his hold. "Are you insane?" Yusrah questioned; her voice laced with fury.

"I'm not!" Yumnah yanked her hand away. "I'm not insane! I know exactly what I'm talking about, so just keep quiet and allow me to speak."

Yusrah opened her mouth to say something, but Mrs. Hadiza was quick to cut her off. "Shut up, Yusrah." Mrs. Hadiza then turned to Yumnah. "What did you just say?"

"He..." Yumnah's voice trailed. "He said he has never been to her room when she's around, but that's a lie. I saw...I saw him leaving her room at the exact time Larai said. I was going to the kitchen to get a glass of water, when...when I saw him leaving. He was muttering something angrily. I have never seen him that angry before. I was surprised, but more confused at the situation. I wanted to make a big deal out of it because I instantly suspected him but because I didn't want our family to be ruined, I convinced myself that it was nothing...I convinced myself that I was probably overthinking things."

Wordlessly, more tears streamed down Larai face. She couldn't thank the almighty enough for vindicating her when she had given up on hope. She had thought she would leave the house disgracefully.

Yusuf shot his father a glare and approached him; standing almost daringly in front of him. His hands balled into fists. One look at him and anyone could tell he was controlling himself so badly. The disappointment in his eyes for his father was massive-the same man he had grown up looking up to. "I didn't expect this of you." Yusuf shook his head in disbelief. "You have always thought us to respect women, but what did you do? You attempted to take advantage of a helpless girl and as if that is not enough, you decided to put the blame on her and taint her image. What type of a man are you?" Yusuf's brows furrowed.

"Don't tell me you actually believe what Yumnah is...is saying." Mr. Kasim stuttered and turned to Yumnah. "How dare you accuse your father of such a horrible thing. Come on, tell everyone it's a lie and that you just said that because Larai is your friend."

Friend? Larai wouldn't define their relationship as such. Had it been Yusrah, she probably would have thought she made everything she said up to vindicate her, but it was Yumnah. Larai had only known Yumnah for a few years, but she already knew the type of person she was. Unlike Yusrah, Yumnah wasn't the type to warm up to people easily but one thing Larai was certain about was that she'd never tell a lie to bring or lift someone.

"Please stop this already!" Yumnah burst into tears. "I don't want to disrespect you because you're my father. I have been quiet all these while because I didn't want to expose you, but I couldn't just stand here and watch you accuse this innocent girl. My conscience would forever hunt me. What has she done to deserve all these? The poor girl has been separated from her family for four years. She doesn't even know what has happened or is happening to them, but she still manages to put on a smile. Do all of you even know the pain she's going through? Has any one of you taken a moment to ask her how she's coping with being apart from her family?" Yumnah stifled a sob. "Larai and I may not be the best of friends, but I know she would never be able to do something like this. She's not that kind of a person. Even if I didn't see Abba yesterday, I still won't believe she's capable of doing that to us. This girl has been nothing but appreciative towards this family. Everything she's ever done is for her family and us. Before she takes any decision of her life-not even anyone's, she makes sure everyone is comfortable. How many of us can brag about actually putting someone above ourselves? I don't know a lot about Larai because I haven't really taken the initiative to get close to her or even get to know her on a personal level, but two things I can attest to is that she's not an ingrate and definitely not shameless!"

Sometimes in life, the person you least expect to be on your side-the person you think doesn't like you turns out to be your biggest ally.

It was the case with Yumnah. Larai had always thought Yumnah didn't like her. At some point, she even thought Yumnah hated her due to how indifferent she had always been with her. Larai felt Yumnah didn't like her but was pretending to out of courtesy. But by what she just did, she realized Yusuf was right when he said Yumnah had a heart of gold. Yumnah was not as bad as she had thought after all. Yumnah was a perfect definition of 'Do not judge a book by its cover'.

Not waiting to hear what anyone had to say, Larai dashed out of the room. She was overwhelmed by her emotions. The whole thing seemed like a nightmare to her. She never imagined she would be in such a situation. Her heart was heavy with all sorts of emotions.

Pain.

Disappointment.

Regret.

Yusuf staggered backward. He also couldn't bring himself to wrap his head around what had just happened. His father, the man he had always looked up to as a kid had not only attempted to rape the woman he loved but also tried to frame and make her look like the culprit.
While Larai was explaining, he had seen the sincerity in her eyes. It was quite glaring. He believed everything she had said because he had complete trust in her. He had known her long enough to attest to the kind of person she was. Despite them being in love, she had never encouraged or tolerated him touching her in any way. He could vividly remember when he held her for the first time and she pulled her hand away. He knew she was not characterless. He wanted to speak up and defend her in front of his whole family, but for some reason, the words got stuck in his throat. On the other hand was his father, whose behavior shocked him to the core. They might have their differences, but he never imagined his father would stoop so low. He had not only lost Larai's respect but his as well. At that very moment, Yusuf was enraged. He didn't trust himself to keep his hands to himself or to say something he'd later regret, so he walked out of the room and went directly to his.

The moment he got into his room, he began to throw punches at the wall, transferring all of his aggression there. His eyes were bloodshot and he clenched his fists, which had thick blood oozing out of them. It hurt him a lot to know that Larai had to go through such a hard time alone. She didn't even deem it fit to let him know. Why? Did she not trust him enough?

He sat on the floor and allowed his tears slid down his cheeks. Just when he thought things were going smoothly, that had to happen. Everything he had worked so hard in building for the past few years had crumbled right in front of his eyes.

Everything.

After all that had happened, he didn't know how he was supposed to face Larai again. He wouldn't be able to bear the pain his father had caused her. He was ashamed of his father's behavior and even more ashamed of himself for not being wise enough to notice what had been happening under his nose.

Yusuf didn't notice the presence of Yusrah in the room until she spoke.

"Yusuf."

Yusuf quickly wiped his years away and looked up at his younger sister.

"Abba has shamed us." She remarked. "I still can't believe this. How could he do that to that innocent girl! I feel so ashamed of myself for the things I said and did to her."

Yusuf swallowed; the memory of what happened a while ago replayed in his mind. He was standing right there when all sorts of insults were hurled at Larai and yet, he didn't do anything to stop them. Yusuf felt his heart clenched even tighter. "I want to be alone, please." As it was, he already had so much on his mind and Yusrah reminding him of how badly he messed up, was not helping matters for him. He felt suffocated.

Without uttering another word, Yusrah ambled out of the room.

Yusuf hit himself on the forehead. He blamed himself for not asking questions when Larai all of a sudden changed her mind about staying at the house. In all of the years he had lived, he had never felt as useless as he felt at that moment. He felt he didn't deserve her anymore, and that she deserved better.

"Yusuf, La-"

"Didn't I tell you to leave me alone?" Yusuf snapped at Yusrah. "Get out!"

"You did, but Larai is busy packing. She's leaving the house. I tried to stop her but she isn't listening. I think you're the only person who will be able to stop her. Yumnah and I have tried but she's not listening to anyone. Please do something to stop her, Yusuf. It wouldn't be right for her to leave this way."

"She's leaving?" Yusuf rose to his feet and dashed out of the house before Yusrah could even get the chance to respond. Yusuf knew she meant it when she said she would leave, but he didn't expect it to be so soon.

"I'm sorry things had to end this way, and I understand your reason for not wanting to stay here anymore. Believe me, I do. I wish you a safe journey back home." Mrs. Hadiza said to Larai, who was standing in the living room, holding her suitcase in one hand.

"Thank you so much for everything. I will always be grateful to you and your family." Larai's eyes glistened as she spoke. She truly loved the family. She blamed herself for becoming too comfortable and thinking it was her home when she was nothing but an outsider to them.

"I will never forget your kindness." larai turned to leave.

She halted in her tracks, as Yusuf was standing in front of her, blocking her path.

"You're not leaving." He stated in a firm voice.

Larai wiped her face with the back of her hand. "Please move out of my way." She pleaded, looking everywhere, but him. She still couldn't believe Yusuf didn't defend her at the time she needed him the most. He took her to a desert and left her in the middle.

"I said you're not leaving." He repeated in a high-pitched voice.

"Please move aside. I have overstayed my welcome here. Believe me, I don't hold a grudge against any one of you. Obviously, you will take your father's side. It's actually not surprising. You'd obviously pick him over me. I'm nobody to you." She moved to the side and attempted to walk away, but again, Yusuf got in front of her.

"You've misunderstood me. I didn't take his side." Yusuf attempt to defend himself. "I knew you were telling the truth even before Yumnah told us. I trust you more than I trust myself. You know this, don't you? Please don't do this now. Please, Larai, don't."

"I also don't want to do this, but maybe this is what's best for everyone. Maybe God has a better plan for the both of us." Larai didn't mind that his family was standing there in the living room with them. She was tired of keeping the relationship from them anyway.

"Don't make a rash decision in the heat of anger. Take a day to-"

"I'm not angry." Larai cut him off and shook her head. "More like sad instead. But it's okay. I'm thankful to Allah for vindicating me."

"Where will you go?" A concerned, Yusuf asked.

"Back to the village, where else? I think it's about time."

"How will you get there?" Yusuf questioned.

"That's left for me to figure out. You can stop worrying about me. You've done enough. I'm not your responsibility."

"How can you say that, Larai? You know I can never stop worrying about you." At that point, Yusuf also didn't care if his family was listening to their conversation. It was about time they knew. He was already also fed up with hiding his feelings anyways.

"Since her mind is already made up, I think you should let her go." Mrs. Hadiza intervened. "You can't keep making decisions for her. I think it's best she leaves."

Larai swallowed a painful lump.

"I can't just let her go, Ammi." Yusuf paused for a while. "Because I love her. She's the only person I want to spend the rest of my life with. If she leaves, my life will be miserable."

Yusrah and Yumnah's eyes widened in absolute surprise. It was obvious they had no clue about it.

"You love Larai?" It was Yumnah.

"Yes," Yusuf responded and then turned to Larai. "And she loves me as well."

"What nonsense is this?" Mrs. Hadiza's eyes traveled from Yusuf to Larai and Yusuf again. "Has this family become a joke to everyone?"

•

Assalamualaikum/hello!

Who expected the truth to be out this early?🤯

I feel emotional 🥺

Do you think Yusuf's and Larai's relationship will triumph?

It seems Mrs. Hadiza dislikes Larai now 😩

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