___

taqseem ho rahi thi
khudayi ki naimatain
ek ishq bach gaya
so mera naam likh diya
___

"The devil will whisper to you nine beautiful lies just to conceal one bitter truth." Farris's mother had once told him, with tear filled eyes, her weak hands massaging the roots of his hair.

A few years down the line, Farris's father had said right after his second marriage, "The truth never makes a good story. The art of fabrication of lies is what man thrives on."

To Farris Hamdani this was just a period of magnanimous revelation. Long gone, dead, was the boy who was naive enough to believe the facade of reality. It was a dangerous pretense that shaped the man he was today. For the worst, of course. He was a product of his mother's helpless resent and his father's manipulative rage.

"Bhai? Bade Hamdani Saab ki call aayi thi." Informed Humza's deferential voice, causing Farris to clench his jaw with annoyance, bringing him away from the abyss of unwanted thoughts.

"I hope you've taken care of it."

"I did my best, but he's very adamant this time. He wants you to have lunch with him at the haveli today."Humza carefully worded his sentence, already expectant of the fury slurring inside of his boss.

"Ye kameena buddha mujhe sukoon mein kabhi nahi dekh sakta." Farris kissed his teeth in vexation," Don't bother answering his calls next time, if you can't handle him, Humza. Is that understood?"

"Jee Bhai." Humza nodded, not alarmed by the subtle insult, but then again with a boss like Farris you'd expect nothing less than this. This was him being kind.

"What's the status on this Mustafa-Aabish fiasco?" Farris questioned as he typed out something on his laptop.

"Aabish's phone has been traced back to a dumpster outside the hotel, the sim destroyed. However when I spoke to her cousins, she had apparently asked one of them for their cell phone claiming her's was dead. She called someone and spoke to them for approximately five minutes, she seemed to have been whispering a guy's name, although the cousin claims to have not been able to make out the name. The call records have been deleted on the cousin's phone, I am in the process of retrieving them." Humza dutifully narrated, the information he had managed to gather.

"Tch, so she has run away with some Jaahil." Farris leaned back in his chair as his eyes danced with mirth. "Her father is going to be ecstatic when he comes to know of his beloved daughter's deeds."

Hamza remained mute, and resumed when Farris nodded in his direction asking him to continue.

"About Mustafa it's been a little complicated, because the Rahmanzai family is refusing to co-operate. They have had some feud amongst themselves at the time of Mustafa's disappearance, something about his Mamu having a second wife and a daughter old enough to be married. The first wife refused to let the wedding occur unless she was brought justice. I believe this is when both Mustafa and Aabish had a chance to escape."

"Great! It's a fucking circus. Did you trace Mustafa or Aabish leaving the hotel?" Farris frowned, pulling out a cigerette from his pocket.

"Their rooms were reserved in the VIP section of the hotel that has no security cameras, so there's no footage. Although I checked the security footage and..." Humza, paused, bringing out his iPad and tapping away on it a few times before bringing it in front of Farris. "You have to see this."

On the screen was the footage of the buffet area, a feminine figure tumbling from somewhere into the screen, dressed in casual clothes, jeans and jacket, clearly a wedding crasher. Her back was facing the camera, she walked towards the starting of the buffet where the live counter for Pani Puri was and got herself a plate, just as she was about to start eating, a plump over dressed lady called out to her.

"This is Mustafa's Maami, the first wife, apparently." Humza pointed towards the screen where the lady stood conversing with the wedding crasher.

Farris noted and seconds later the lady seemed to be fuming as she pointed over at a man who was feasting on a drumstick. The girl immediately sprung to action as she dumped her Pani Puri, and turned around facing the camera, ready to flea the crime scene, that's when Humza paused the tape.

A look of surprise painted over Farris's face as he looked at the familiar face on the screen, all too clear to his eyes.
"The million dollar nuisance."

"Madiha Liaquat. She was present right under our noses." Humza sighed dejected as he rubbed his forehead in frustration.

"Weren't Chaudhary's men chasing her that day?" Farris questioned raising a brow, curiosity bubbling inside him looking at the girl.

"I believe so, she was probably finding refuge in the hotel, hoping to become lost amongst the wedding guests. The security tape ends with her rushing towards the VIP section."

"You think she has a hand in Mustafa 's disappearance?"

"It's a dire possibility. She might have kidnapped him. Rahmanzai has put a reward on Mustafa and Madiha Liaquat's stunted back which they have retrieved from the security tape after us. I erased the log of recording where her face was visible. Wouldn't want anyone to get her before us." Humza explained, to which Farris nodded.

"Mustafa is not our main concern, Aabish is. But since Madiha Liaquat has been linked with Mustafa, look into this a little more."

"What about her sister, Bhai? What have you planned for her?"

"Wo waqt batayega, Humza." Farris whispered to himself, barely audible.

____

Have you ever felt your heart melting from the uncomfortable warmth spreading through you chest and then dripping down to a fuzzy feeling in the pit of your stomach? Even though Farris couldn't pinpoint this into articulate words, that's what was going through his body. To put it simply he felt a million butterflies in his stomach.

His legs felt weak and his mouth was all dried up, his heart betraying his condition only made it more obvious. He fucking felt like a lovesick puppy.

Driving around aimlessly with the address of her house in his palm, he felt like a bloody stalker. The girl was a witch. Hoor Liaquat was a witch. Their mere interactions with each other haunted his memories and lingered in his mind like a softly uttered curse. And whether he liked it or not it was there to stay.

The sky had taken a beautiful shade as the sun had drowned, taking solace in the ground, while the moon was just starting to appear.

After driving for almost an hour, he finally decided he had enough of this teenage giddish behaviour of his. He stopped at his regular chai-waali dukaan and ordered himself a cup. With his windows pulled down, the smog of the city settling down, he took out a cigarette and lit it up, before placing it between his chapped lips. His sunglass clad eyes, zoned towards the flock of birds flying across the gradient painted sky.
Before they rested on the piece of paper Humza had handed him with her address on it. He hadn't even seen the address, because of how erratic just the thought of meeting her made his heart go. It almost felt like if he saw her again, he wouldn't let her go without destroying everything she had in her life.

Without giving it any second thought he crumpled the paper and threw it on the road, just then he heard an ear piercing scream.
His eyes moved towards the corner of the road, searching the source of the sound. A crowd had gathered around what he interpreted to be a bakery.

The server boy got him his chai, as Farris paid him for it, leaving a tip, he questioned, "Kya chal raha hai wahan pe?"

"Saab, wahan par ek ladki kaam karti hai. Every week from the past month a few goons are coming and harrassing her for money. Bechari kare bhi to kya kare." Replied the boy, wiping his grimy hands on his dirty kurta, as he overlooked the scene in pity.

Farris nodded his head, as the boy went away. He wasn't a hero, or a philanthropist for a matter of fact, he wasn't someone who seeked to save the damsel in distress, he was usually the person who'd be the one to put her in distress, but curiosity got the best of him to go and look at the chaos going on in front of him.

Sipping his chai casually, he walked towards the corner of the street joining the crowd of onlookers. It looked like a small cafe, with a few baked goods on display, the chairs were all cluttered as the woman screamed her throat out from somewhere inside the cafe, two burly men towering over her.

Suddenly she emerged, hitting one of the man with a cast iron pan on the jaw, while the other tackled her by grabbing her hair.

Farris choked on the tea he was sipping as his eyes recognised who it was. It was her. Hoor Liaquat.

Another ear splitting screech left her throat as one of the man twisted her hair and held her by the throat. The one who she had hit, spit out blood and a few teeth, his eyes widening in fury as he regained his composure and marched towards her ready to smack.

"You are fucking dead, kameeni." He roared, but Hoor whose face was turning red had the audacity to spit on his face, as she grappled against the grip of the man who'd grabbed her throat.

The man roared like a beast and was about to slap her, but by then Farris had regained his senses as he pushed through the crowd and stopped his arm before it could meet her face.
Farris immediately delivered a solid punch square on the jaw of the man who was going to slap Hoor. A loud crack resonated through the silent air and the man fell to the ground whimpering in agony, he jaw definitely fractured.

The man holding Hoor trembled in fear as he recognised who Farris was.

"Chod usse." Farris growled like an injured animal, his jaw taut and teeth grinding.

The man immediately dropped Hoor, who was started coughing out loud, her eyes red, starting to water.
"Farris Saab, hu-m aa-p..." Before the man could finish his sentence, Farris had delivered another punch straight to his nose, causing him to cry out clutching his bleeding nose as he fell back from the brute force.

Farris breathing heavily, his body tense, bent down towards Hoor who was coughing loudly as she clutched her bruised neck.
"Theek ho tum?" He questioned searching her face for any injuries, in a voice so gentle that he himself didn't know he was capable of.

She shook her head, as tears leaked from the corner of her eyes, she pointed to something behind him. He slowly turned around confused, his eyes found the cast iron pan she had used to hit the man and he gave it to her.

She guardedly got up, supporting herself as she clutched Farris's shoulders, causing him to go rigid at the contact and she moved towards the man with the bleeding nose. She proceeded to violently beat the daylights out of him as she screamed and sobbed in the process.

The crowd was gaping, while some were recording it on their phones, Hoor ran with the pan raised in air towards them with a glint of anniliation in her eyes tear filled eyes, scared they all finally dispersed.

Breathing heavily, her hair dancing in odd directions as her brimming eyes were darkened with irrevocable fury. Her clothes with crumpled and her neck now bruising to an ugly purple. She walked back and sat on one of the chairs as Farris stood stunned, still processing the events that had unfolded before him. She looked like a goddess who had just won a war and was sitting at the shrine of all those who had lost. Quite Literally.

Apne haathon se sawara hai tumhe kudrat ne, dekhkar dekhte reh jaane ko jee chahta hai
noor hi noor chalakta hai haseen chehre se, bas yahi sajde mein gir jaane ko jee chahta hai

"Hi..." She finally whispered regaining her breath, her voice quivering. The temper in her eyes calming down as they returned to a softer green when compared to the pitch grey they had appeared earlier.

"H-ey." Farris managed to stutter out after he rendered himself capable enough to speak.

"Thank you for saving me. Again. I appreciate it." She whispered meekly now as she tucked a strand of her honey brow hair behind her ear, wiping a lone tear that had slipped onto her cheek in the process.

Farris gulped, as he took a seat, a little farther away from her.
"You didn't look like you needed saving, you were doing surprisingly well on your own."

She stared at his lips with the same intensity she had done previously and Farris then remembered, She was deaf.

"Well? Well enough to become voiceless next." She joked lightly, wincing slightly as she rubbed her swollen neck.

"Do they come here often?" Farris muttered, his fists clenched, not meeting her eyes anymore as he kicked one of the unconscious men in the ribs. His body still filled with wrath and turbulence even though hers had dissipated.

"Nothing I cannot handle, I usually just give them the money they demand and they get going, but today they were being inappropriate. That's why we are here." She explained, now eyeing the bodies with a tinge of concern.

Farris's fists were clenched tighter hearing this. How often did she have to go through this nonsense?

"Do you think they are dead, Farris?" She whispered softly, causing him to snap his head in her direction. She remembered his name? Say it again, he wanted to command, it sounded like honey dripping from corner of her lips, the way she said it. But he kept his mouth shut. His eyes darkened as he pressed his lips together.

"Urm, no, they'll be alright. We should get you to the hospital though." He replied quick enough, not wanting to make a fool out of himself.

She once again took a second to read his lips before she replied. "No no, I am all fine, I just need you to take them to the hospital. Don't pay their bill, just take them there so that they don't die on the floor of my cafe."

She got up moving over the bodies and heading towards where the kitchen was, but Farris grabbed her arm. Both of them froze as he got up towering her frame, his hand still clutching her arm.

She slowly turned around, her big doe eyes looking at him through her lashes expectantly. Fuck.
"You are coming with me to the doctor." Farris asserted his dominance as her eyes bore into his lips.
He was never going to get used to this. It was so fucking hot that it made him docile in his knees.

"I don't have money, Farris."

"I never asked you to pay."

"Why would you pay for me?"

"I am not paying."

"Doctor tumhari biwi hai jo mera ilaaj free mein kare gi?"

"Kuch aisa hi samaj lo." Farris replied with utmost seriousness that Hoor even believed him, she freed her hand from his hold. And started walking inside the kitchen bowing her head down.

"Do you know what your name means?" She questioned as she gathered up the fallen things with her back facing him.

Farris remained mute, as she continued.

"It means Knight, an ironclad saviour. And you have lived up to your name, Farris. I am very thankful for that. But I am not yours to save."

If only she knew he was living up to his name only when it came to her, and even if she wasn't his to save, he was always going to save her. He would burn the world to ashes just to save her and he didn't know why just yet. It was destined by their fates to fulfill each other.

____

(Le author unleashing the chapter with Farris after agess)

____

Hellooo, my beautiful seekh kebabs!

I hope you'll are well.

Did you like the chapter? agar accha nahi hua phir bhi thoda adjust karlo yaar, aadat chut gayi hai accha likhne ki༎ຶ⁠‿⁠༎ຶ

Are all my Farris fangirls happy now?
Farris Bhai is phisluing in pyaar slowly ;))
Shaadi karwa dein humare Farris Bhai ki jaldi? *wink wink*

This chapter is dedicated to all of you who have been patiently waiting for me to update! My apologies for the delay.

Today i had a little time and motivation cause, well, in my city they have issued a cyclone warning and my exams have been postponed due to it, so yayy for the cyclone!

But on a very serious note, i am definitely going to continue this book and i do have so much planned for it, just please please be patient with me until I am done with my exams, it would mean the whole world to me.

I am planning to get back to writing consistently in April or May, which tbh isn't that far, but yeah, I'll be back soon! Thank you so much for all the love that you've sent my way, i am eternally grateful for readers like you.
(Please don't be offended if i don't reply to dms or messages, i haven't used the app in ages, you can however contact me on instagram, where i am fairly active; link in my bio)

Alright then, please do leave your precious feedback!
Bring your foreheads to your screens.
*smooches*

Love you
Byee!

~flawfully