The morning sun shone bright with all its might accompanied by a soft soothing breeze. Everything around in the garden screemed peace within itself. Falak lovingly gazed at the pink roses. But her mind wandered back to the last week's incident.

It had already been a week and she was trying her best to avoid Wajahat. Every time he entered their room she exited the room. Even If he was engrossed in his work she would make a beeline towards the library, but she couldn't even understand a simple words that came in front of her eyes.

She sighed and moved towards the flower bushes, the air around it held their delicate fragrance. She roamed around the garden aimlessly.

"Falak!" Fariqa's voice brought her back to reality.

" I'm here mom." She replied back from behind the tree.

"Beta!! Me and dad will be going to an NGO charity event this evening. It's a donation event meant for kids. Wajahat accompanies us to this every year as well... will you come with us?"

"Kids!?" She questioned a bit puzzled.

"Yeah!! The donation covers, their education and medicinal expenses as well."

"OK mom." She smiled.

Falak got ready humming a pleasant tune. Fariqa had informed her that Wajahat will be joining them straight from his office and she breathed a sigh of relief. His intense gaze made her loose all of her confident, words and more over her heart had decided to cross all boundries of speed when Wajahat was around.

She chose a ombre dyes grey and yellow gown with antique silver colored embellishments for the event. She decided to try something new with her makeup. She did a winged eyeliner with all the attention along with nude eyeshadow and bold red lips. She chose statement danglers to be paired with her outfit. Happy with the results, she stepped out from the closet. Making her way down the stairs.

Fariqa smiled looking at her.

"Masha Allah!! My daughter looks beautiful." Falak blushed at her compliment. Her cheeks turned a darker shade of pink thinking about how Wajahag might react looking at her.

Together they left for the venue with their driver. Ashraf had also decided to arrive at the venue with Wajahat. Everything went good at the beginning, Wajahat and Ashraf arrived 30 minutes later. Ashraf spotted them both at their table and moved towards them, Wajahat just followed behind him.

His entire world stopped the moment his eyes found his wife. Her cheeks automatically turned into a beautiful shade of pink, but the smile she gave him made his feet moved towards her.

"Assalamu Alaikum!" She greeted, he nodded and whispered back the reply near her ears. Many eyes moved towards them with awe and a few were jealous beyond measure. One among the jealous one was Mrs Zulaikha Sultan. Long ago her husband Mr. Sultan had been denied a merger contract at the Hyder enterprises, she managed to swallow that bitter pill, hoping that someday she will get her daughter married to Wahajat but he got engaged to Sana. Her jealousy knew no bounds, but she stopped coming across them after Sana's death, she certainly didn't want a life filled with hurdles for her daughter. But the moment she saw Wajahat with Falak, she was again engulfed in the same feeling.

With a fake smile she walked to their table.
The happy glow she saw on Falak's face was too much for her to handle.

"Assalamu Alaikum Mrs. Hyder." Fariqa's smile vanished at her arrival. She forced a tight smile on her lips.

"Walaikum assalam." She nodded her head trying to avoid any kind of unwanted conversation with her. She was well aware of her nature.

"Who is this!?"  She pointed towards Falak, which grabbed Wajahat's attention as well.

"She... she is my daughter-in-law, Falak." Qt the mention of her name, Falak raised her head and her gaze landed on the strange women in front of them, who was busy looking at them with a weird expression.

"Oh!! Masha Allah....it's fascinating, how you have managed to get yourself a beautiful daughter in law and that too twice." She laughed at end of her sentence. Falak was stoned to her place.

"Oh dear!! I'm so sorry... may be you did not know." She said, faking the guilty expression but her eyes revealed how proud she was of the effect her statement had on the three of them.

"No aunty!! I knew it from the beginning. Nothing was hidden from me." Falak gathered her courage and replied back. Zulaikha was taken aback by her reply. She fumed and said the most vile thing she could.

"Then it must be a nasty feeling to be the second one in your husband's life." Wajahat's blood boiled at her words but before he could say anything the lady walked away happy being successful in her attempt to make them feel miserable.

Falak had to try very hard to maintain a neutral expression. She had never compared herself to Sana, she was well aware that there will always be a special place for Sana in everyone's heart and it never made her feel sad or insecure. But the words uttered by the lady a few seconds ago had given life to the worries that woke her up during the darkest hours of the night. She picked up the glass in front of her and gulped down the entire content.

Both Fariqa and Wajahat were trying to find words but it seemed that they were at loss of it. Ashraf frowned looking at the gloomy expression on his wife and son's face, he glanced at Falak and she seemed lost in some deep thoughts.

After what seemed like eternity, finally the charity event came to an end. They left for home in two different cars. Wajahat glanced at his wife beside him, she seemed deep in her thoughts and the gloomy look on her face made him angry and frustrated. The ringtone of his phone startled them both. He took put his phone and the name on the screen confused him.

It was his friend Tristian James from leeds.

"Hi!! Tris how are you!?" He tried to sound as calm and normal as possible.

"Not good buddy!! There has been a fire breakout at Ardour. And things don't look good." Wajahat was out of words. He stayed mum for matter of minutes.

"Wajahat!? You there!?" Tristian asked at the long silent pause.

"Yes... yes I'm... I'll be there by tomorrow. " He talked for a few more minutes about the possible damage and ended the call, feeling more frustrated than before.

"I need to visit leeds,.... I... I don't know how long it will be till I return." He spoke in a low voice. Falak just nodded her head.

Falak helped him pack his luggage, she silently added everthing that Wajahat asked her to. Within the next three hours Wajahat had boarded the flight to leeds. But his mind was still stuck on Falak. He couldn't help but notice how silent she had become.

Falak came back to their room and slumped down on their couch with a thud. She rested her head at the back of the couch and stared at the ceiling, her mind was busy replaying those words again and again.

"It's okay, we can't possibly control what people think or say about anything they want to." She mumbled to her self but some how a few drop of tears leaked from the corner of her eyes.

Falak wiped her tears and stood from her place and walked towards the closet. She removed her jewellery and kept them in the jewellery drawer of her closet. She walked back to the dressing table, Her hand moved towards the make up remover but halted when she noticed a small black bag placed at the dressing table. It had a yellow post it note attached to it.

"Wanted to give this to you before the event but couldn't..... hope you like it." The tiny little piece of paper made her smile. She took out the box inside and opened it, she gasped. The sparkling sapphire and diamond pendant shone bright under the lights.

"That's so beautiful." She was awestruck. Smiling she placed the box in her jewellery drawer as well. She changed into a pair of little cupcake printed pj's. The room felt so empty without Wajahat. She felt sacred of her emotions. She wasn't herself completely aware of the intensity of her feelings yet.

"If Wajahat did feel me unwanted, Will I be strong enough to endure it?" Her question left herself answerless.

She tossed and turned for more than 2 hours but it seemed like she wasn't destined to find sleep today. Huffing, she stood from the bed. Wearing her slippers she wrapped a plain huge cotton dupatta around her and walked down to their kitchen.

Opening the freezer she took out her favorite chocochip ice cream and scooping out a hearty amount she walked to the library. Walking around and eating the ice cream she looked at all the shelves of books. Finally after a good 15 mins she was successful in choosing a book. She got so engrossed in it that she did not notice the time.

She checked her phone and saw that it was 5.15am.

"Oh Allah!!" Shocked, she stood from the couch and peeped out of the room. Slowly she walked towards her room and got ready for Fajr namaaz. Once done with Prayer Falak raised her hands for Dua, she stared at her hands for long minutes But nothing made way out of her lips. Sighing she finished all the morning Azkar, once done with everything, Falak walked to her and slumped down on it. A dreamless and restless sleep engulfed her in it's arms.

Hi sweeties!!!
So here's another update.

This chapter turned out a little gloomy than most chapters.

Our dear Falak is experiencing this kind of unwanted and hurtful situation for the first time. 💔

She was literally scared of thinking about Wajahat but now the stranger's words had made her terrified.

Hope you guys like it enough.

Do share your thoughts about it.
Did you guys equally feel frustrated like Wajahat?
Do let know!!

Pls turn the hollow star in gold ✨️

Take care
Lots of love
          Kiara💕