Zainab's POV

I drag my body towards my bed and grab the dupatta laying on its corner; the border already dropping down, kissing the muddy floor. It's so heavy that my hand tumbles when I abruptly pick it. I stare at the dupatta then the small window on the right side of where I am sitting.

Flee away from your home.

Shaiq's voice again echoes in my ear. I never thought the one who has suggested me this thing, I will be doing it to avoid him. But because of my best friend's sake, I have to do this. When he can sacrifice his life for me, I can also do something to get him out of this trouble.

I wipe my cheeks and wearily stands up. My eyes glance at the locked door of my room. I slowly walk towards the window. It's so high that I can't reach it. I look here and there to find something which can help me with this. My eyes spot a stool and without thinking twice, I plop it directly under the window. I look at the embroidered red dupatta again.

But where will I go? I have no place to go. But that's not what should discourage me from saving Shaiq's life. If he can go this far to say that he loves me, I can also do this not to ruin him.

I stand on the stool and hang the dupatta along with the window. I peek out of the window to find it dangling on the lawn of our house. The distance between the window and the lawn is so wide. Will I be able to do it? I swallow the lump in my throat as I again look at the door to get assured that no one is here. I lift up my heels and the next thing I remember is that I have fallen on the green grass of the lawn.

I hurriedly rub my heels which has got swollen because of my direct landing on the grass on the weight of them. The dazzling sun rays are falling on my face, causing sweat to engulf it. I look here and there and a relieving sigh leaves my mouth when I find there is not a single soul except me.

I wearily get up, stumbling on my steps, and rush towards the main door. After some effort, I am able to unlock it. I hastily open it and run out. Now the question is where will I go. I lift up my own dupatta so that now it's covering my face.

If I will go to the places where I use to work, Shaiq will be able to find me and if I will go to my friend's homes, again Shaiq knows my every friend. Then what will I do? Where should I go where no one will be able to spot me. Something flickers in my mind as I roam my gaze from here to there.

Armaan.

But I will rather die than to go to him and tell him my problem; but that's the only place, Shaiq and my family won't be suspicious of my presence.

I hastily take my steps forward when I find a rough hand on my arm.

"You really think you can flee away and we won't be able to find you?"

My breath gets stuck in my throat as the person yanks my arm and drags me along with him.

"Let me go," I yell and try to remove his strong hand from my arm.

"Don't raise your voice or else I will slap you so hard that this pretty face with the help of which you flirt, will get ruined," he spews in anger.

"Daniyal, I won't marry him. I can't even think about him in that way," I again yell, despite knowing this can fuel his anger.

Daniyal drags me into my room and pushes me on the cold floor.

"You bitch. On the hope of which new lover, you were leaving?" He slaps my face which causes my head to blow onto the corner of the bed.

"I have no one. And I am telling you, Shaiq is lying. I am like a sister to him. I won't marry him and you can't force me, " I shout as tears start oozing out of the eyes.

Daniyal grabs my hair and raises his hand again to slap me before Ammi holds his arm, preventing him to do so.

"Don't do this Daniyal. If she gets bruises, people will ask us about it so don't do this."

Daniyal glares at me before leaving my hair.

"You stay with her till her nikkah. And if she does any wrong this time, I will be more than happy to murder her."

"I will say no during nikkah and you people won't be able to do anything then," I say with a smirk.

Daniyal again comes towards me in rage but Ammi again grabs him.

"Today whether you will depart from this house as a bride or as a dead body. The decision is up to you," he points his finger at me and after that, he leaves the room.

As soon as he is gone, my blubbering eyes continue evading the tears. I have no other choice and Shaiq, this is happening because of you. You don't know in an attempt to save my life, you are ruining it. Not just mine but yours as well. You have made everything so difficult for me. If I would have to escape, I would have come to you but now I need to flee because of you.

"Go and get ready. Your nikkah is just about to happen,"

I come out of my thoughts when I hear Ammi's voice comes in my ears. I flinch when I find something dripping on my eyes. I touch my eyes and my jaw drops seeing blood on it. Perhaps this happens when Daniyal has slapped me and my forehead hits the bed. I grasp my lower lip under my teeth to stop the tears from escaping my eyes. I can't do anything now. I clench my head in both hands when I feel my head is spinning around. And within a blink of an eye, I feel myself losing my balance as well as my consciousness.

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Shaiq's POV

The bright, radiant stars on the black sky have always fascinated me. I remember counting the stars with Zainab when we were young. She is always able to beat me as often in the end, I end up forgetting the count. And then how in every staring contest with her, I always end up blinking. I still remember her lively laugh when she calls me a loser while laughing insanely. How we both can spend hours talking and staying with each other without getting bored. How we always have a strong bond which no one is able to break.

I plop my both arms on the banister as my eyes keep on staring at the stars. The midnight stars are always so glossy and because of the luminous moonlight, I always love this sight. The slight and pleasant breeze is there but unlike always, this swift waft of air isn't giving me any relief.

"Sir."

I come out of my thoughts when I hear a feeble voice. I turn back and by seeing the maid's anxious face, I raise a brow.

"Sir, she isn't eating anything. She is not even saying anything," she states.

I leave a frustrating sigh hearing this. Zainab has again got fainted back at her home, due to the fever. She still has a high fever and I don't even how is she. I haven't seen her once we get here.

"Then make her eat. Do whatever you can but make her eat," I yell which makes her flinch.
She nods her head quickly and goes away.

I run my fingers through my hair in frustration. I never yell at the servants and this is the first time, I have done this.

"Shaiq."

I glance at Mom when she comes near me. I turn back to the fence as I look away from her.

"What is this?" She asks.

"She needs you and you are standing here, alone, " she grabs my shoulders and turns me towards her.

"Mom, I can't face her. I won't be able to." I shrug my shoulders.

"You know she is so sick right now. She isn't even listening to anyone, not even me. And there is only one person who can make her understand and that's Shaiq, her best friend," she speaks.

"I am not her best friend anymore. I am not the Shaiq who can always console her. Now I am just a guy with whom she is forced to marry and nothing else, " I let out a weary laugh.

"Why did you marry her then? To protect her, right? What you are doing right now is totally opposite to it."

"Mom, try to understand me, I can't do this. I won't be able to go near her. I won't be able to talk to her. Can you please go and make her eat something? The doctor has advised taking her medicine after the meal. Please Mom, for my sake," I ask her in a pleading tone.

She looks at me with reluctance first before nodding her head.

"I'll try once again but I am not sure will I be able to handle her or not." She squeezes my shoulder as an assuring smile is on her face.

I let out a deep exhalation when Mom heads towards my room, where Zainab is. I hope Mom will be able to handle her.

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I look at Mom with a frantic look when she comes out of my room. She shrugs her shoulders when she understands the question in my eyes.

"She is not okay, Shaiq. I have told you; there is only one person she needs and that is you," she whispers as she hands over the tray having food to me.

I gape at Mom's fading figure as her words again reverberate in my mind. You won't understand, Mom. She now doesn't need a guy who used to be her best friend and he has ditched this friendship.

I stare at the door of my room blankly. I never thought I will struggle someday to even enter my own room. I take a deep breath before opening the door.

I get inside the room, my eyes scanning the whole area. I close the door behind me with the help of my foot. Everything is exactly like before except there is an addition of Zainab. She is still in her bridal dress. I never thought I will see her in that attire in this way. She has her head lean back on the crown of the bed and her eyes are closed.

I walk near her as my eyes are still on her. She doesn't even flinch or move a bit when I have come inside. Is she sleeping? I lay the tray on the bed's side. Her face is so pale and gloomy. I am about to open my mouth to say something when the bandage on her forehead catches my attention. Has Daniyal again slapped her?

I cautiously sit beside her on the side of the bed. I stare at her face for a few minutes before taking her hand in mine.

"Zainab," I whisper softly but she doesn't even budge a little.

Has she really went to sleep? I once again stare at her face. Her cheeks have marks of tears on them. And these are because of me. I slightly rub my hand on her cheeks and my eyes get wide in shock at how much hot her cheeks are when my fingers get brush against them.

"Zainab, wake up, " I again assert, this time in a loud voice while squeezing her hand.

Her eyelids flutter a little right after. She slowly opens her eyes and the tears glistening in her eyes make my heart to break in pieces. I hastily divert my attention from her when I no longer keep up with her gaze. I lift the tray from the table and place it on the bed, in between us.

"Let's get our Zainab something to eat, " I obliviously blurt as I make a morsel with my hand.

I lift the spoon in my hand towards her mouth. A tear escapes her eye as her eyes are never leaving my face.

"I am sorry, Shaiq."

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Salam guys!

So finally Zainab and Shaiq are married but of course, things are not easy for both of them. :(

But do you like this track and today's chapter?

Zara and Armaan will come back in the next to next chapter, which means in Monday's update.

If you like this chapter, don't forget to vote and comment.

Love y'all. Allah Hafiz.