"So, you wanted to play twenty questions."

"What?", she squeaked, but then regained her previous self, internally mortified at losing her cool like that. "When did i say that? We're not kids."

He shrugged. "Sounded like it to me."

He grabbed his bottom lip with his pointer and middle finger, and looked at her intently as if looking deep into her soul. In reality, it was just to get a reaction out of her and he did. Her gaze dropped to his lips and she went red. His lips twitched. She immediately looked bad into his eyes.

Wrong idea.

The smoldering look he gave her literally made her want to want to drown in his eyes. And just as she realized that, she averted her eyes, visibly struggling to look at anywhere but him.

"You okay there?"

The teasing tone of his did wonders to snap her out of whatever spell she seemed to be under. She narrowed her eyes and pulled on an irritated look.

"Bhaadh main jao!"

(Go to hell.)

Yazaan couldn't even count the number of times she had said those words but for the first time it was totally in a non offensive way.

He grinned and leaned forward on his elbows, and said,

"For the first time in ten years, i feel there might be a reason for me to get out of hell. And that reason is sitting in front of me, resembling a tomato."

He might've said it all in a joking manner but the sincerity in his eyes told her that it was all true. It did something to her she didn't understand. Well, emotionally anyway. 'Cause physically she went even redder if that was even possible.

Not a moment passed when he sat straighter and all signs of amusement and teasing left his face. It was as if a switch had been turned off in him and he was in his 'Yazaan Ibraheem Khan' mode.

"Go on. Ask."

She cleared her throat and fidgeted with the end of her hijab. Swallowing she asked carefully,

"Your parents," she licked her bottom lip. "Why did your grandfather kill them?"

"You couldn't have started with an easier question?", she shrugged in response. That's what she was most curious about. Of course she was gonna ask that. "Well, you've heard the worst of it. So what does it matter?"

She waited patiently for him to start. And when he did, his voice was devoid of any emotion. As if he had practised to say this a lot of time, he began to say it all robotically. Little did she know, he had been practising to tell her all this ever since he had realized he loved her.

"My father was my Dada's right hand. Being the eldest child and the smartest, my Dada didn't do anything without him. But when he met my mother, his whole life exploded. She helped him know the difference between right and wrong. She changed him. Changed him like no woman could ever. And he loved her like no one ever loved a woman. He wanted to spend his whole life with her. Dada didn't have any problem with it. But mom's parents rejected. They couldn't marry off their daughter to someone who couldn't even feed her with halal money."

Just like you, was what his eyes told her but tongue didn't dare voice out.

"Dad rebelled. For the first time, against Dada and left everything. Dada never forgave him for that and broke all ties with him. Saying that he should be greatful for he spared his life. Things were all normal after that. Kind of. Dad lived his life in peace and Dada lived his in crime. I was born after two years. That's when Bi Jaan accepted my mother and 'forgave' my father. My mother raised me with love, teaching me our values. Bi Jaan started taking me to the haweli when i was three. I was loved by everyone there. No one made me feel like i was the son of the 'traitor'. Though i was little at that time, i could see in my grandfather eyes' what he longed for me to become. He wanted me, the son of his eldest son, to continue the legacy. And you know what, Layeba?"

It was like she was snapped out of a zone when he addressed her like that. If she thought he was still saying all this mechanically, then she didn't know what emotions were. She was transported to the life of that three year old with the rawness in his voice.

"What?"

"I was scared then. I was terrified of the passion in his eyes. Even though i didn't know much then, i knew that that kind of passion would destroy me. And it would have. But i had my light. My Ammi. To guide me. She would always tell me to be careful, but she never told me to stay away from my them. When i was six, Ozhan was born. I hated him." He smiled, making her smile as well, but he didn't see it. He was far too gone in memory. "Because till then, i was the only child of the Khan house. And he was this beautiful child who everyone started to spend their time with. But i also loved him. I was so protective over him. Never left his side. Years passed. My grandfather did something he should've never done. He kidnapped girls who were going to be sold off for prostitution. I don't know how but my mother freed them somehow and my dada was just about to. . . Kill her when i stepped in between. Why he left us, i do not know. 'cause if i say that he loved me, i couldn't be more wrong. I didn't go there ever again.

"But Ozhan surely did visit us. Almost everyday. He loved my mother more than his own. Then, almost a year later, Ozhan's mother died."

She looked at him shocked. "Your Naheed Chachi, then?"

"Second wife." She was about to ask how she died but he answered her before she could say anything. "We have no proof of how his mother died but Ozhan's dead sure that it was his father. But we couldn't do anything about it. Ozhan became the most difficult child there ever could be. Bi Jaan requested, more like ordered, my mother to take Ozhan in, which she gladly did. He lived with us after that.

"Years later, i went abroad to study business. For five years, there was always something that held me back. I couldn't return to Pakistan. I returned only when my degree completed. A week before my arrival, my dad became the reason my Dada's smuggled stuff got into police's custody and on further inquiry, Dada was arrested. But was left because of the 'influence' he had. After that, i assume you know the rest. "

She sat there open mouthed and only regained her composure when he said,

"So, any more questions, doctor?"

Any more questions? She rummaged her mind to think of something to say but came back with nothing. He had told her everything without her asking him about it directly. But was this everything? Definitely not. And she knew that.

"Well, if there's nothing more, i think i'd go." He was about to stand up when she said,

"Wait!" He raised his brow in question. "i have more concerns."

"Go on."

"Why did you kill him yourself? I know this sounds stupid. And he deserved everything that came his way but why dirty your own hands?"

A ghost of smile touched his face. He knew she would ask that.

"Do you think i didn't complain? I didn't just take a gun and put bullets in him. I did go to the so called judiciary system of our country. But no matter what you want to believe doctor. You know it's corrupted. It always has been and as long as greed in man's heart exist, it always will be. It's of his who has the most money. And i never claimed to be perfect. I know i should've left the matter to Almighty's hands and waited for his justice to be served, as my mother always told me. But i couldn't. I couldn't unsee the sight of my parents lying in their own blood. So i took my father's gun, went to haweli and..."

He stopped. More like he couldn't continue. He had probably done more horrible things over the past years but still he couldn't talk about the things which morphed into the terrible person he was today.

"And?" She urged him to continue.

"And. . ."

A grief stricken Yazaan barged through the iron gates, thirst for blood visible in his sunken eyes. No one stopped him, knowing it would be futile. They all knew, the end of one era had arrived and a new dawn was going to rise. A dawn which would be bathed in blood.

"SIKANDAR KHAN!"

His voice echoed in the haweli, all family members came out of their rooms, wanting to know what the commotion was about.

"WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU HIDING?"

Bi Jaan came forward, intending to calm down a hungry lion who had his eyes on his prey. What a foolish hope! A seemingly numb Ozhan, with his bloodshot eyes, kicked open the door to his grandfather's office and let Yazaan go in first. There sat Sikandar Khan, alone, in his throne with a smile that screamed mocking and acceptance of the what was about to take place, at the same time.

"My grandsons. Finally where they belong."

He stood up, stretching his arms wide as of greeting an old friend. Ozhan didn't think twice. He pounced on him, punching him straight in the nose. Even though it was the first time he actually had thrown a punch and his fist throbbed like hell, he punched him continuously three to four times. The clumsy punches made body his knuckles and Dada's face bloody.

A hand pulled him back from his shoulder and the person to whom it belonged took his place. But Yazaan just grabbed Dada's collar, his fingers itching to do the same.

"You shouldn't have done this, Sikandar Khan. You shouldn't have."

"I shouldn't have?" Sikandar Khan made Yazaan release his collar and mocked his grandson. "Your parents shouldn't have. I warned your father time and time. If he continued to put his leg in my works, he'll lose his life. And he did."

"Tai Ammi was innocent in all this! They were both INNOCENT!" Ozhan jumped forward again but Yazaan held him back.

"Innocent? Yes, they were. And that's why they both are now dead. And you both are innocent too. And will be killed if you didn't learn to fight back soon."

" Oh yeah? Who's going to kill us? You? You won't be alive in the next five minutes." Yazaan pulled out a gun from his waistband, loaded it and put it straight between his Grandfather's forehead.

Hoping to see fear in his eyes, Yazaan was confused and shocked when Sikandar Khan began to laugh.

"It's funny you think you can pull that trigger. Your father couldn't. And you won't be either. Why do you think i didn't kill this brother of yours? Why do you think you're still breathing yet? Because you're of no threat to me. And i hate spilling my own blood."

"You're wrong about that. You won't be alive to see the next day."

" Is it so? Won't i be? Really? You can pull that trigger? Pull it. Shoot. Pull it. Kill me. You think you can? I dare you. Shoot."

Yazaan grip on the gun faltered. He couldn't do it.

"Pull it. Shoot!"

The gun moved slightly away from Sikandar's forehead. Ozhan noticed.

" SHOOT!"

A gunshot rang in the room and Yazaan's shoulder hurt by the recoil of the gun. Not only his but Ozhan's as well. Ozhan watched in shock and horror as Sikandar Khan fell backwards, his mouth and eyes as wide as saucers. But Yazaan was more terrified seeing the finger which pulled the trigger. The gun's handle was in Yazaan's hand but he wasn't the one pulling the trigger. His hand with gun fell to his side, making Ozhan's fall to his own side.

They had killed someone.

More specifically, Ozhan had.

They both looked at each other.

What have they done?

They both knew what was about to follow.

The killer of the leader rules the gang.

Ozhan, his little brother, ruling the filth they were both raised to stay away from?

"I killed him." The truth in Ozhan's words chilled Yazaan to his bones. "I am a murderer, Lala." Ozhan stared at his hands in shock. Without any warning, his stomach hurled up at the sight of his grandfather's bloody face and he threw up on the floor.

Yazaan rubbed his back, the stench not repulsing him the slighyest bit. He even wiped Ozhan's mouth with a tissue on the desk. "You didn't. I did", he said, his voice now steely.

Ozhan shook his head immediately. He couldn't let his brother sacrifice his life for him. But they didn't have time to argue, for the whole family, who had given them space, had now came on the door on hearing the gunshot and were banging on it.

Yazaan opened the door, but not before giving Ozhan a glare in warning to stay quiet. Bi Jaan only needed to have a look her husband's dead body and the gun in her grandson's hand. With that, Yazaan's fate was sealed.

•~•

"Professor, there's this new patient Dr. Ambreen has asked for you take up. He's been waiting for half an hour now."

She groaned and stretched her sore back. She had been working on preparing the surgical procedure for one of her patients for about three hours now.

"Why isn't Dr. Ambreen taking up the case?", She said somewhat irritated at the new doctor.

Farhan gave her a shrug. "Maybe she has her panel full."

She looked at him deadpanned. He smiled apologetically. No one had her panel more full than her. And Dr. Ambreen had arrived just a month ago.

"History?"

Farhan handed her a file and began telling her everything he knew as she rummaged through the pages.

"Huzaifa Hammad. 22 years old. Had an accident one month ago which resulted in concussion. Now he's having vision difficulties and a slight tremor in his left arm. Dr. Naeem recommended him Dr. Yasir but he's left, so. . ."

She nodded understandably. "Send him in. And Farhan? Take these files. Distribute these among the interns. They have one week to prepare and then present these cases", she pointed at the bunch of files on her desk. " And this", she handed him a file with red cover. "This case will be presented by Saim."

Farhan checked the cover. "But this-"

"I know."

"Are you planning to expel him from his residency?"

" On the quite contrary. I want him to excel in his batch. And hence, the most difficult and complex case."

"He'll curse you forever."

She shrugged. "Or he might be thankful to me forever."

"Your mind works different, i swear. "

She smiled." I know. Send the patient in."

After about one hour, she got into her car ready to go home. After a really long day and night, she just wanted her bed. Her phone rang. She answered it after seeing it was Sanem. There was only one thing she could ask at eleven in the night.

"Salam. You at home?"

"WaAlaikumAssalam. Let me guess. Your brother isn't at home, sister-in-law won't open the door and of course, you forgot your keys. Ammi isn't home, so no one's opening my home's door either.", she said, amused.

"You know me. Come down and open the door."

"I'm not home. Just reaching home in about two minutes."

" Okay, i'm waiting."

Parking her car in the driveway, she shook her head at Sanem and opened the door.

"Where are you coming from at this hour?" She asked Sanem.

"Yaar, college friends made an outing plan. You know their plans well."

She nodded. She did, in fact, know thos girls and their plans.They entered the dimly lit house. She wasn't feeling well. Not physically, but things didn't feel right. It felt as if there was some impending doom that awaited her.

Shaking off that feeling, she turned towards kitchen while Sanem went straight to Layeba's room, owning the place.

Familiar low voices were coming out of the kitchen. One of the many bad habits of Layeba was that she was an eavesdropper. Not deliberately, but her feet always stopped moving if she sensed some secrecy. And she was forced to listen when she heard word bhabhi come out of Ozhan's mouth.

"Bhabhi really said that?" There was astonishment in his voice.

"Yes, she did", Yazaan replied.

"I know your ego can't accept it. But if Bhabhi said she'd put a choice in front of us, she will. "

Oh! So that's what my husband is telling him.

She remembered their conversation two days ago when Yazaan had opened up to her.

She had accompanied him to the guest room when she saw the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. In the centre of the room, on the prayer mat, was Ozhan in prostration, his shoulders shaking.

She had looked at Yazaan but his eyes were glued on his brother.

"I don't pity myself. Somewhere, somehow i'm to be blamed for where i am today. But my brother didn't deserve that."

She had asked him one final question that she'd had. "Yazaan why didn't you just deny? I know these organizations can't be just shut off but there were many others who could take the throne."

He smiled and finally looked at her. " If i had, i wouldn't have been in front of you. According to their law, either the killer of the previous lord takes his place or he doesn't live. I again didn't care for my life. But my uncles knew that Ozhan and Abeerah hold my life. So right till this day, there's always a gun holding them both target."

"You didn't make this choice. You just didn't have an option", she stated, feeling his pain, not even realizing she had said this. He smiled again and looked back at his brother, leaning against the wall.

"I swear, Yazaan. I don't know how, but i'll try my best to place your options in front of you." She really was impulsive, making big promises like that. And she knew how stupid this sounded when she zero idea how she was gonna accomplish that.

He had looked at her with wide eyes questioning her sanity. But her mouth opened to seal the words one final time. "I promise i'll try."

"She won't."

"I swear i'm getting sick of your pessimism."

"It's a fact. I'm gonna tell her tomorrow."

Tell me what?

"Are you fucking crazy? Why do you always want to make things difficult for yourself, Lala?" Ozhan slapped his hands on the table.

"She's different, Ozhan. She's not going to leave it alone. She'll find out eventually. I can't keep lying to her face."

Lying?

"Lala, what good is going to come out of it, huh? She's going to be devastated. How would she feel if she got to know what her brother did? Even her mother didn't want you to tell her who killed her brother!"

Even her mother didn't want you to tell her who killed her brother!

"But Ozhan! I know it. You know it. Our fucking enemy knows it. Don't you think he's going to use it against us? Isn't this why we came here in the first case!? I did it and she's going to find out eventually!"

I did it and she's going to find out eventually!

No!

Three hearts said these words at the same time. Layeba, as she lost her footing on hearing these and stumbled in the doorway of kitchen. Ozhan, as he saw her standing there with shock in his eyes. And Yazaan, as he winced and prayed it wasn't what he saw in Ozhan's eyes.

Yazaan turned, ready to face the accusation in her eyes. And maybe he might have been able to deal with it as he was now used to that look. But the look in her eyes broke his heart. For she was looking at him like her trust was broken. Which it had. Again.

"Layeba-"

She stopped him with her hand.

"If it's not to deny what i think i heard, please don't say anything."

"Bhabhi-"Ozhan tried, but couldn't continue for she asked, "Yazaan. Who killed my brother?"

"Layeba, listen to me-"

" Ozhan, i beg you." Ozhan shook his head immediately. "I beg you. Please tell me it's not true. "

"Bhabhi, i-"

"WHO KILLED HIM!?", she shrieked. And there was the accusation he knew was there somewhere.

Sanem, who had just finished offering her prayer, came running down on hearing her.

Layeba put her hands on Yazaan's chest and pushed him a little. "Khan, say it! Tell me who killed him!"

"I DID!" He removed her hands, his male ego not bearing the touch of a woman this way. "I KILLED YOUR BROTHER, OKAY? I FUCKING PUT A BULLET THROUGH HIS BRAIN. AND AS IF IT WASN'T ENOUGH, I FIRED AT HIM THREE MORE FUCKING TIMES!"

Silence.

Then a gasp followed from behind her. She didn't care to confirm that it was Sanem. The moment the passed. Damage was done. And Yazaan realized what exactly he had done.

"Layeba-" His face was turned to the side by a sharp slap on his cheek. He didn't even why he said her name like that. Was he hoping to plead for forgiveness?

His cheek burnt and so did Layeba's palm. But that didn't stop her from slapping him the second time the moment he straightened his head.

"You . . . Are a fucking monster!"

"Bhabhi, lala ki baat to sun lein!", She thought Ozhan said but who heard him anyway?

(Atleast listen to what brother has to say!)

"I was starting to trust you! I had justified all your deeds, made up every reasoning to forgive you", she looked at him with pure hatred in her eyes and took in a deep breath. "Not anymore! Not after this!"

"If you just let me explain-"

"Dafa ho jao yahan se! I can not bear to see the face of the beast who took my brother's life."

" What's happening here?" Abeerah came into the scene to know what the commotion was about. She looked at her brothers' teary eyes and her Yazaan Lala's red cheek. "Bhabhi? What happened? Why are you all like this?"

Ignoring her question, Layeba continued looking at Yazaan and said, "Mar jao jaa kar Yazaan Ibrahim Khan." Everyone gasped. Not because of the words. But how much she meant them. "Ab Chahe tumhare sab gunah tumhara gala ghont dein ya tumhein le doobein. Mjhe fark nai parta. Bus ainda mjhe apni shakal mat dikhana. Nai to mein apni qismat bhi tumhari tarha ki bana loon gi. Dafa ho jao yahan se."

(Go die, Yazaan Ibrahim Khan. Even if your sins choke you or drown you by their weight, I don't care. Just don't show me your face ever again. Else i'll make my fate the same as yours. Get lost from here.)

Yazaan locked his jaw, trying hard not to let the hot tears fall, and left from there.

Layeba's knees buckled, not bearing the weight of all the burdens the world was putting on her, and she fell on the ground on her knees.

Ozhan, Sanem, Abeerah - all three stood there, trying to contemplate what had just happened.

One moment, Ozhan thought. One moment was all it took. He was so happy not too long ago having his hope being rekindled and now, that hope was lying on the cold ground, too shocked to even cry.

If Layeba had known how true her words were going to come in the same night, she wouldn't have hesitated for even a single second before taking them back.

But Alas! Regret is all that remains.

•~•

Assalam o alaikum peeps. Hope you're all safe and healthy.

Loooonnnnng time no see, huh?

Yup! All my fault, i know.

Anyway, i really hope u can forgive me for that. (It's becoming a habit. Gosh! I hate myself right now!!)

Right, moving on!!!

So, the truth is completely out now. No secrets anymore, unless i've forgotten something, in which case, can anyone of you help me out here if there's something i have to explain?
Unless my twisted brain thinks of something else (which i hope it doesn't.) Now i can focus on making all the things right. And maybe, hopefully, giving them ALL a happy ending. HOPEFULLY.

ANYWAY, don't give out any spoilers, jia!

Did you guys like the chapter? Many of u must have even forgotten what was even in the last chapter. Ahhmmm.....

Do vote and comment.

Next update, inshaAllah on monday.

Till then,
Allah hafiz
Lots of love❤️❤️❤️
Javeria.