"Yazaan, are you planning to kill her?"

He groaned. This was the eighth time in three days that Bi Jaan brought this up. And he was getting weary of it.

"Bi Jaan, what do i do, huh? I'm not locking her in. I'm not stopping her from coming here. I'm not prohibiting her to eat. I specifically send food to her three times and every time its brought back", he ticked each thing on his fingers. "Now, what more can i do? Force feed her?"

"You can ask her what she wants, Lala", Abeerah said, frustrated.

"Like there would be anything else other than letting her go would be what she wants", Ozhan muttered, lighting a cigarette.

Abeerah glared at him. "You should stop speaking like that about bhabhi, Ozhan lala." To which Ozhan raised his hands in surrender. He came forward towards sitting Yazaan and said something in his ear, to which Yazaan nodded and then he was off.

"He's speaking the truth, Abeerah. I won't let her go. Under any circumstances. And there isn't anything more that she wants. So, there is no point asking her", he said when he he saw Abeerah glaring at the door from where Ozhan had left.

She would just tick me off.

"There's no need to ask her anything anyway. Agar itna garoor hai to phir rahe udhr. Jab bhook lage gi to aa jaye gi khud hi. Hum kiun jayein!". Clearly Naheed chachi was still salty about Layeba's retorting to her three days back.

(If she's too proud, then she should stay there. She'll come when she's hungry. Why should we go?)

"Waise Yazaan, i don't know what you see in her. She's ill-mannered. Too proud. Doesn't know cooking", Aisha Chachi said, referring to the time when she had asked Layeba to cook something sweet as per ritual and she had not so innocently said, "I can't cook here, Aunty." Which was obviously half a lie. She couldn't have survived nine years in New Jersey becoming a neurosurgeon without knowing how to cook. But she couldn't cook here, in this house, which was true considering her morals. "She isn't even that beautiful if that's what you would have fallen for."

Gul came in the living room with two servants in row, bringing tea and refreshments.

"Look at our Gul now. How beautiful she is and she knows everything. Respects her elders. Is great with kids", and on and on Jameela phopho went praising Gul. It was no secret in Khan household that everyone wanted Yazaan to marry Gul. But Yazaan was never interested in her. He treated her as his sister but when he came to know that she was clearly expecting something else, he started to get annoyed with her.

"Enough of this everyone!" Everyone fell silent on Bi Jaan's order. "Yazaan, don't you see her condition? She has gone skinny in just three days, her health is obviously deteriorating. What do plan to do?"

He rubbed his face, clearly exhausted. He hadn't a clue of what he was going to do with her. The only thing which seemed to work on her was threatening her and he had given her his word that he wouldn't do it. He could have someone else convince her but having an idea about how stubborn she was, it was futile too. Last thing he could do was force her. But he couldn't bring himself to do it. And that was the reason he was mentally exhausted as well: he wanted to know why he couldn't hurt her. He obviously had in the past. He kept telling himself that he loved her amd that was the reason but he wasn't convinced.

"I'll speak to her Bi Jaan."

"Good. And if you're not able convince her, i'm going to send her to Lahore, whether you like it or not!"

I'm sorry but THAT is not going to happen, Bi Jaan. Ever!

"Infact, i'm going to call her mother now. Maybe she'll be able to talk some sense into her."

"Do whatever you want, Bi Jaan", he sighed, standing up. "I'll be in my study." And he was out the hall.

"Abeerah. Give me Shiza's number", Bi Jaan said. After a few seconds, Abeerah was holding her phone to Bi Jaan with a number displayed on it. Bi Jaan dialled the number on telephone and let it ring. "Faiz! Meri Jaan, go and bring Layeba Mami here."

"Bi Jaan. Why are you sending a five year old to that impudent woman. Abeerah can go", Kalsoom, Faiz's mother, protested but Bi Jaan's one glare was enough to shut her up.

Faiz ran up the stairs, more than eager to go to his Mami whom he was most curious to meet. Without knocking, he pushed opened the door. Layeba looked up from her book, Heartless, and couldn't help her smile on seeing the cheeky grin.

"Hey, young man, what are you doing here?", she said softly, closing her book. She made him sit on the bed beside her and ruffled his hair. He was a cute boy with chubby cheeks, jet black hair, fair skin and forest green eyes which made her think of Yazaan. "Are you lost?"

"No. I meant to come here", he cutely responded.

"You meant to? And why is that?"

"Can't i come here? Are you angry at me?", he peered up at him worriedly.

"Ofcourse not. Why would i be mad at you? You can come here anytime", she crooned which immediately lit up his face.

"Well, Bi Jaan sent me to call you downstairs. She wants to talk to you."

"Why?"

"I don't know", he shook his head three times, pouting slightly. Then, as if telling a secret, he lowered his voice, "But Bi Jaan was really angry. She even scolded Yazaan Mamu."

"Really?", she whispered back, holding back her smile. "We shouldn't keep her waiting then, should we? Lets see what the matter." She stood up and held his hand.

"No, mami! I'm a big guy now! I can walk on my own. You don't need to hold my hand", he exclaimed indignantly.

"But i don't know my way around here. What if i get lost here?"

He jutted his bottom lip out, as if thinking of making a new Pakistan. "Okay. You can hold my hand. But then you will have to play with me."

"Deal", and hand in hand, they climbed down the stairs.

Such innocent soul. I don't even want to think what he would become if he follows in these people'e footsteps. How can one teach his son crime and not kindness?

When they both entered the living room, almost twenty sets of eyes turned to her which made her slightly concious of herself. She was not at the best of her appearance. On top of malnutrition, the tap water had apparently showed its effect and poisoned her, causing her to vomit frequently weakening her further. She had gone really weak in just a matter of days, dark circles surrounding her eyes making them look haunting underneath those round glasses and her face had lost all the color making her pale. On top of that, the outfit she had chosen for today was not so great. It was grey oversized hoodie and black jeans, a black hijab on her head.

Faiz ran to Abeerah and sat on her lap. Layeba made her way to Bi Jaan who had gestured her over while being on the phone.

"Layeba, don't you think your outfit is slightly inappropriate?", the question, asked by Naheed chachi she presumed, made her stop dead in her tracks.

"İn-ap-pro-pri-ate?", İt was like she was testing the word for the first time.

Before she could respond, Aisha chachi spoke up, "Oh, Bhabhi. You're too nice. Her dress is completely immodest. I mean, wearing jeans and such short shirt in front of all men..."

Immodest? Hold on! Okay, inappropriate? Maybe because you don't get out of your room in your pj's. But immodest?

She looked at the dresses of all the women sitting there. A few were wearing Anarkali frocks, a few shalwar kameez, their sleeves sheer, necks deep in the back, collarbones exposed of all, dupattas placed on the shoulders as an obligation. And all were body-hugging, which left little to the imagination.

Now she wasn't the one to judge what others wear but if you're going to label her clothes as immodest while you wear something like this? You can bet she's going to go in!

"So, you're telling me, Auntie, is that my dress is immodest just because i'm wearing jeans and a hoodie which, you can obviously tell, is loose a potato sack?", said she, slowly, still processing the information herself.

Unbelievable! I can never understand these people's mentality!

"Aunty, i mean no disrespect, but i'll definitely prefer what I am wearing to what your daughters are wearing anytime." Of course, they hadn't expected her to talk back for their eyes went wide and cheeks got red but they should've known by now that Layeba was the least of what they expected. "Just because it is not traditional, doesn't mean its not modest! It's high time everyone understand that."

She went to Bi Jaan asked what she wanted to talk about. Bi Jaan stood up and gave her the receiver with words, "Your mother is on line, beta."

Not really believing that she was about to talk to her mother after three days, she quickly grabbed it and put it on her phone.

"Hello, Assalam-o-alaikum?"

"Wa Alaikum Assalam, meri jaan!", Shiza's worried voice flooded with relief. "How are you, mera bacha?"

"Ammi, leave me. How are you guys? Arsalan is okay, right? And Sanem? You guys are alright, right?"

"Everythin here is f- I mean, we all are fine here."

"Shukar Alhamdulillah!", she didn't even know she needed these simple words so badly until they got in her ears.

"Layeba?", Shiza's voice was not only worried now, there was hesitation in it too now. "There's something you need to know."

"Jee Ammi, tell me. What is it?"

"Layeba, woh-"

"Ammi, you're scaring me. Please tell me. Everything's okay there right?"

She could feel several pairs of eyes set upon her, wondering what she was talking about and even though she felt irritated by it, she didn't have the patience nor strength to tell them to give her some privacy.

"Sanem will tell you. I'll give the phone to her."

"Sanem? Sanem's at ours?"

Why is Sanem there? Is there something wrong?

"No, we're at hospital-"

"Hospital? What are you doing at hospital? Arsalan's fine, right? And you?"

"Yes, Layeba. We're fine. We're here for the routine check up of Arsalan. Relax. Here-" There was a shuffling on other end and then, "Assalam-o-alaikum? Layeba? How are you?"

"WaAlaikum Assalam. Choro abhi us sab ko. Tell me what's happened? What is it that i need to know?" Her voice was rising every moment and it was making others curious too.

(Leave all that.)

"Layeba, you should sit down."

She knew it was something bad. Why is Sanem telling her to sit down?

"Sanem, just cut it! Tell me what's wrong?"

"We...we lost Meerab. A day before yesterday."

Time stopped. Her expression froze, she went deadly still. She lost consciousness of her surroundings. Her ears were playing trick on her. Surely, Sanem hadn't said what she had heard.

"What?", her voice barely audible.

"Layeba, Meerab is no longer among us", Sanem's voice cracked at the end but she hardly noticed it. Her vision spun and stance faltered. She was about to fall when Abeerah sprang up and gripped her free hand, helping her stand. Abeerah slowly made her sit down, sitting beside her, hoping to give her strength even though she had no idea what she was going through.

How can it happen? She was fine. Her life was not in any sort of danger.

Her tear-filled eyes met with several other concerned ones but locked on the ones she didn't expect. The pools of green seemed to drown her in making her feel numb. He wasn't here before. Where did he come from? But they also made her see sense, atleast to the point that she muttered slowly,

"Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'oon."

Concern was now etched on every single face: who had died? But she cared about none of it. She closed her eyes shut, the tears dropping on her cheeks. She was aware that Sanem was saying something on the other end but she heard none of it.

How could it happen? She was not supposed to die. She was supposed to live a few years longer so that i could have a chance to try and heal her properly.

"H-how could it happen, Sanem? Shw was just fine. I-i checked her reports myself. There was no danger to her life."

Yes, she was in pain. A lot of pain, actually. But there was no risk to her life. Not just yet.

"You're right. She was fine. But-"

"But what, Sanem?"

"Her body couldn't handle the surgery. We called the CODE BLUE during surgery but couldn't succeed."

She stood up so adruptly, she took Abeerah along with her. "SURGERY? WHAT SURGERY?"

"For the tumor in her spine."

"WHAT?! How could she undergo that? I specifically refused to give permission for it. She was not allowed for that surgery."

"Her family pressed too much for it, despite knowing the risks and then the management got involved. We were left with no choice", she knew Sanem enough to know that she herself didn't believe it. But she also knew why Sanem said it. It was so Layeba doesn't lose it. Too late.

"DON'T FUCKING TELL ME YOU WERE LEFT WITH NO CHOICE. THE FAMILY PUSHED ME TOO. THE MANAGEMENT GOT INVOLVED THEN TOO. BUT I HAD A SAY IN IT! IT WAS MY CALL!"

Everyone looked at her as if she had gone bonkers but she couldn't care less about it.

"Khala? Why is Mami so mad? She's even using the bad word." The little Faiz was a bit scared seeing this version of Layeba and he had snuggled with Abeerah's leg. Abeerah stroked his hair and gestured his mother to take him away.

"When you resigned, your patients were divided between Dr. Yasir and Dr. Salman. They gave the permission", said Sanem.

Was it my fault? If i hadn't resigned, she would still be alive. But she was more than just a patient to me. I should've had a say in it, whether she was my patient or not. How many more trials, Ya Rab?

Without warning, Layeba burst into tears. She couldn't help it. Some people would say that just because she's a doctor she's not supposed to cry. That she should handle her emotions in. But before a doctor, she is a human. And just as every other human, losing a loved one was not easy for her. Especially when she knew that the loss was because of someone's incompetence.

The sobs raking through her body tore five hearts there: Yazaan, Sanem, Abeerah, Shiza and Bi Jaan. But moved every single one.

"Who did it, Sanem? Who killed her?" Yes, she did believe that they killed her. Life and death were in hands of Allah but cutting someone open, making them undergo a surgery despite knowing the person wouldn't survive, and especially for a doctor to do that foolishness, it was a murder in her eyes.

"Layeba, relax. Calm down. Choose your words wisely, it was not a murder."

"It was a fucking murder. Don't you dare and convince me otherwise. You KNOW it is too. I had specifically said, she was to be given two more years before another surgery. Why did they go through it then? And which fucking idiot did it?"

"Yasir."

"That fucking jealous bastard! I won't leave him! I swear i won't leave him!"

With that, she put the receiver down with a bang. Just as the rush left her. her knees felt weak. Before her legs could give away, she sat on the sofa, burying her face in her hands. Bi Jaan sat beside her gripping her shoulder while Abeerah sat on the floor in front of on her knees holding a glass of water (which she didn't even look at).

No one knew what to say. Everyone was dying to know yet they didn't know how to ask. The worst was Yazaan. This was the second time he had seen her completely breaking down and this time, the reason wasn't him. He, being the biggest hypocrite, wanted to empty an entire magazine of bullets into the one who was the reason of it. He didn't know what to do.

If everyone didn't know better, they would have assumed that it was a tear in Yazaan's eye that slid on his cheek and disappeared into this  beard. Poor Yazaan, he didn't even know that in that moment, he fell into the way of something much more powerful than what he perceived as love. And it was not easy at all. And that he'd have to let go of the first notion in order to pursue the other. But it was going to be difficult to do that, because he would have to abandon control. And control was all what he lived for.

As if he knew that he would get to see Layeba breaking down, Ozhan entered the living room. It didn't take long for him to assess the situation. After a minute, he decided to break the ice;

"What's happened?"

It was moment before she composed herself and replied,

"They killed my miracle."

•~•

Assalam o alaikum, folks!
How are you all? I decided to treat you guys today.
So how was the chapter? I know a bit shorter than my others and i didn't cover much ground either, but i felt if i rushed this scene, i wouldn't be able to do it justice. So i hope you're all not mad and ofcourse that you enjoyed it.

Did you, though? Enjoy it, i mean. Do tell me what you guys think of it. Was i able to build the curiosity about who Meerab is?

The next chapter will be in Layeba's perspective. Not completely, a part of it. But there will be first person perspective. I hope you guys are down with it.

Anyways! Don't forget to vote. And ofcourse comment. And please, if you know someone who might be interested in a story like this, refer it to them as well. No pressure, but i mean, it will be good, you know, more people reading my story.

Okay, that's enough.
Stay safe.
Stay blessed.❤❤