We are all broken,
And that's how light gets in.
-Emest Hemingway

Ahaan's pov

I rubbed my forehead thinking about the mess that's there in my head. From the time I called Ayesha and informed her about the divorce, my mind and heart is messing with me big time. I was feeling so low when I should be happy that finally I took the decision that I should have taken long back.

But then why was I feeling like this. I raked my fingers through my already messy hair and groaned, closing my eyes. Sighing I got up from the study and decided to take a shower before getting some sleep.

I walked to the closet wiping my wet hair and rummaging through the wardrobe. I took out a pair of shorts and t-shirt. I spotted a familiar royal blue velvet album and immediately a smile adorned my tired features. It was Ahira and Azlaan's wedding album.

I wore my outfit and took the album with me to my room. Finally I can now remove my thoughts of the unwanted things at least for some time.

As I opened the album it was filled with Ahira and Azlaan's pictures initially and then it was filled with group photos of our relatives and family members.

I spotted a photo of us, the whole Aatish family and me. Rinoz was standing there smiling at the camera. She looked breathtakingly beautiful with her hands wrapped around Azlaan's while Ahira was holding mine. And Azlaan's parents were standing on the either side. I smiled remembering how Rinoz bossed us to pose for this picture.

The next picture was of me, Ayesha and Affan standing near the stage talking. Ayesha's face was scrunched up while I was grinning like a kid who got his cotton candy and Affan stood beside us with his hand on his forehead.

*Flashback*

I was feeling content looking at my sister happy with her new family. Azlaan whispered something to her to which she laughed and I motioned the photographer to capture this moment.

I looked to my right seeing Ayesha and Affan laughing at something.

"What's going on?" I asked standing beside them.

"Nothing much, I was just cracking some jokes to Ayesha" Affan said grinning.

"Oh then I will also crack some jokes now" I grinned back looking at Ayesha who was still laughing.

"Go on" Ayesha said enthusiastically.

"Ok, so there is this knock knock joke" I started.

"Knock knock" I knocked Affan's forehead.

"Who's there?" He mimicked some girl's voice.

"Ach" I replied

"Ach who?" he pondered.

"OH! It sounds like you are catching a cold" I exclaimed and Ayesha cracked up making the two of us laugh with her.

"Ok another one" I said.

"Knock  knock"

"Who's there?''

"Kanga"

"Kanga who?"

"Actually, its kangaroo"

"OK that was a bad one but worth laughing" Ayesha said, her eyes were filled with water till the rim.

"Another one" I said in between my laughs.

"Okay. When you go into the bathroom, you are American. When you come out of the bathroom, you are American. What were you when you were in there?" I asked.

"What?" Ayesha looked at me raising her eyebrows.

"European!" I grinned.

She looked at me scrunching her nose and making a disgusting face while Affan face palmed himself.

*Flashback Ends*

I smiled at the faint good memories. I closed the album as I wasn't able to go through anymore photos further.

Every picture had Ayesha in it and whenever I see her pictures, something within me stirs and it confuses me.

"Assalamu alaikum bhai, kese yaad kiya?" I chuckled.

"Wa alaikum salam, how can I forget my sister's husband. MY JIJA JI" I said rolling my eyes at him, though he can't see me.

"Yuck !!! Don't address me with that cringy word" Azlaan exclaimed while I laughed.

"Are you all free tonight?" I asked.

"Yes, aap hokum kare"
(You mandate)

"Dinner at my place, for the whole family" I said as I signed the papers on my table.

I had pondered over this yesterday. Going to their place and talking about this to Ahira is something that would make me uncomfortable so it's better I call them here.

"Ok bro, I'll let you know." He said and then we continued some business talks and disconnected the call.

I sighed! Now I got to talk to Ahira tonight about Rinoz. I completed all the work as soon as possible and checked Maria aunty asking her about the preparation for the dinner. After attending the meetings scheduled for the day, I decided to head home, as it was already 6.

I reached home, took a shower and changed into a fresh outfit.

"Ahaan baba, Ahira beti is here" Maria aunty shouted.

"Assalamu alaikum" I greeted all of them and hugged Uncle and Azlaan.

They answered and everyone took a seat in the living talking about everything and anything.

I looked at Rinoz who was sitting all quiet since the time they arrived. She looked breathtakingly beautiful in her woollen peach shirt and white long skirt. Her hijab loosely wrapped around her head leaving strands of two of her hair cupping her face enhancing her features.

I averted my gaze not wanting to look like a pervert. My mind and heart were going mad thinking about how I should say this to Ahira and everyone.

"Bhai! Guess what this girl did" Ahira smiled mischievously looking at Rinoz while she just blushed looking down.

"What?" I asked clueless of what they were talking about.

I looked at aunty and uncle to see them smiling looking at us all.

"Rinoz said YES!! " Ahira chirped.

It was as if the means of breathing was taken away from me, leaving me breathless. The last ounce of hope left in me slowly shattered into pieces.

Everything blurred as fog of tears gathered in my eyes. But I didn't let them fall. I have to be strong and I can't show them what I feel, not when Rinoz willingly agreed to marry him, Ibrahim. One lucky man he is.

"Bhai!!?"

"Huh?" I blinked my tears and turned to look at Ahira. Everyone was looking at me.

"What happened?"

"You zoned out" Rinoz said her first words from the time she came.

"Oh! Sorry" I breathed out a huge amount of air.

"I'll tell Maria aunty to lay the table and yeah, congratulations to you Rinoz" I smiled softly at her and exited the room.

A small droplet of tear fell from my eye as I walked through the hallway into the dining room. I wiped it hastily before anyone could see the sadness in my eyes and instructed Maria aunty to serve the dinner.

We all ate our dinner talking and chatting and I was quiet mostly as I was not in the mood to talk and it was time for them to go.

I was relieved, I no longer needed to hide what I was feeling. I was frustrated and beyond angry at my own self. As soon as they all were gone, I went upstairs and decided to take a shower.

As the water cascaded down my tensed body, everything rushed back in front of my eyes. I clutched my hair in frustration not being able to do anything as the person I loved dearly was going to go far away from me.

I changed into my black t-shirt and pants. My phone rang diverting my attention.

"Hello?"

"Sir, I was trying to call you since evening but you weren't answering" He said.

"Come to the point" I roared.

"Sir, we lost the American contract."

"What the hell Ali? Can't you all just do this much! Where the hell we went wrong? Everything was going perfect then why?" I shouted losing my cool.

"Sir it's Ibrahim who was handling this project"

That one name was enough to trigger me. Though it was a different person but I still didn't like the sound of it.

"Fire him, I don't want to hear from him now onwards." I disconnected the call and threw the table vase that was beside me in rage and it broke into pieces like how my life has been crumbled or at least it seems to be to me.

I sat there holding my head that was throbbing as if someone just hit me with an iron rod.

Taking a deep breath, I walked downstairs to see all the lights turned off. I was alone. In this big dark house, that I call home. But there was nothing homely here. Everything was suffocating me. I wanted to go home.

I started walking hastily and fumbled over something which I guess was to be glass teapoy, as I heard it crash and break. Without paying any heed to that, I headed out and drove to the graveyard. To my mom.

So! Did you all like the update?
Eagerly waiting for your comments nd votes! And yeah please share my work as my book is lacking readers, vote and comments alot 🥺🥺

What do you think? How's Ahaan going react? And who all want Ayesha's pov?

Happy Reading 📖