ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ sᴏɴɢ ᴅᴇᴅɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: ᴛᴜᴍ ʙɪɴ

»»--❖--««

    In the embrace of the deep grey shadows stood tall an ancient abandoned building—an eerie silence claiming the gloomy territory throughout.

Forty-eight hours were finally up; it was time for Ruhbal to face her father and question him about the many lies he has been feeding into her mind for the past few years.

The new profound revelation Asfandyar told Ruhbal a few nights ago shook her to the core. All this time, the words and accusations she believed were nothing but a bunch of lies. Yet, Ruhbal couldn't understand why her father would lie to her about her brother's death; why would he embed lies into her mind and accuse Asfandyar of something so vicious. But now, no matter what, she was determined to unveil the bitter truth from her father.

As her low-heeled sandals carried her feet unto the secluded area of the abandoned building, an unsettling feeling irrupted into her chest with each step she took. Calming down her racing heart, Ruhbal paved her way up to her father, keeping a neutral face.

"Baba"

Ruhbal spoke upon reaching him.

"At last, you made it; I almost thought you were not going to come. I mean, today is the day I get to decide your lover boy's fate, so I assumed you were not going to show up."

Anger coursed through her veins upon hearing her father's words; never in her life had she imagined her baba speaking in such a venomous way. Without wasting any more time, Ruhbal spoke against her father for the first time in six years.

"Baba, Asfandyar is innocent; he had no part in Bhai's accident. You have been lying to me for the past six years, saying he is the reason my brother died. Why? What has my Asfand ever done to you for you to blame him for something so heinous."

The proud and egoistic stature of Nabeel Eman shook upon hearing his daughter's truthful accusations. He never thought the little girl he has been manipulating for the past six years would one day retaliate against his lies.

His grimace expression dramatically changed into a hurtful one ploying yet another innocent facade in front of his daughter.

"Ruhbal, why would I lie to you? See, this is what I was afraid of; that boy brainwashed you into believing that your father has been lying to you. Unbelievable, we treated that orphan as our own, and he has been backstabbing us for so many years."

Her father's venomous voice spat out.

"Baba"

She screamed.

"What is wrong with you? You have been blaming Asfandyar for the past six years for something he didn't do. How could he even harm his best friend when he was in the accident himself."

Agonizing tears were spilling from Ruhbal's eyes with each word she spoke; she was mentally exhausted with everything. For once, she just wanted to live freely, free from resentment, free from anger, and free from constantly betraying the love of her life.

But after today, Ruhbal will tell Asfandyar everything; she will mend their broken souls and start living the beautiful life they both deserve.

On the Other hand, Nabeel Eman was furious; he knew Ruhbal was catching up to his lies, but he didn't care anymore; he never cared, and why would he? He was not even their real father; he was their uncle who took their birth father's place when their baba died.

"Your right; I have been lying to you for the past six years. Asfandyar is innocent; he is not responsible for Razaan's accident; he was just a ploy in my game."

Ruhbal should've felt betrayed the moment her father spoke those heartbreaking words, but instead, she felt nothing but relief. She could finally breathe, knowing Asfandyar is truly innocent.

But what ploy was her father talking about, and who could've purposely caused her brother's accident, who could've caused her family so much pain?

"Then why have you been lying to me for the past six years? Who killed my brother?"

Her tired and broken voice spoke out.

"I did; I was the one who caused Razaan's accident. He died because I wanted him dead."

Ruhbal's feet staggard back upon hearing her father's bitter words. How could he even speak those disgusting words with so much ease? How could a father kill his own child without any remorse?

"How could you, how could you kill your child. How could you destroy your family like that? Why did you do this? Answer me, answer me damn it."

She screamed with every fiber in her body.

"Because he wasn't my son, he wasn't my family, and neither are you. I have no remorse for what I have done because you both are not my kids. You both are just my dead brother's kids who I raised just so I can be with the love of my life, your mother, Aleena."

At that very moment, Ruhbal's whole world fell apart. She could've never imagined that the life she has always known was nothing but a lie—the man whom she considered her baba was actually her uncle, her chachu. Nothing could've prepared her for the pain she felt that very moment.

Gaining her broken voice back, Ruhbal struggled to voice out her remaining words. But before she could say anything further, her uncle spoke out.

"Since you have been dying to know the truth, I will tell you everything today. Your father, Zaki Eman was my older brother; he was the best brother anyone could have ever asked for; we were always inseparable, but that changed the moment we met Aleena. She was everything I ever wanted, but sadly she never became mine because she and Zaki fell in love.

I tried, I really tried seeing her as my sister-in-law, respecting her as my brother's wife, but I couldn't do it; my heart broke more times than I could count. Many years passed with me carrying the broken pieces of my heart, yet nothing changed. Zaki's and Aleena's love only bloomed and became stronger."

Nabeel Eman's every word held immense pain; Ruhbal's heart bled hearing her uncle's heartbreak. But no pain or heartbreak could justify the heinous crime he committed against her family, and so without saying anything, she let him speak on.

"And then Zaki told me I was going to become an uncle; Aleena was pregnant with Razaan. The two were beyond happy; the immense love the two shared grew even stronger with the birth of their firstborn. And then, after three years, you were born, my brother had a picture-perfect family, but what did I have? I had absolutely nothing. Then one day, everything changed; Zaki died in a plane crash a year after you were born.

Aleena was devastated; she just lost the love of her life, but she was a strong-willed woman. I offered to be with her, support her with whatever she needs but Aleena told me she was mentally and financially stable enough to take care of herself and her kids. Yet, I knew that if I ever wanted to be with my Aleena, I had to do whatever it takes to have her in my life. So I told her that raising my brother's kids is the least I can do, and after many attempts, she agreed to marry me."

Ruhbal could not believe what she was hearing; the man in front of her was nothing but a manipulating sorry excuse of a man. He used her mother's vulnerability and trust for his own selfish gain.

She couldn't believe she ever called him her father. But all she wanted to know was why did he kill her brother? Why did he want to give pain to the woman he claimed to love.

"If you are so in love with my Mamma, then why did you kill my brother? Why did you take away her only son."

Ruhbal asked.

"Because even after marrying her, she never gave me the love that I deserved; I ever only gained respect from this relationship. So I thought if I killed her children, she would have no one else but me in her life, and then maybe she would give me an ounce of her love that I have been craving.

And you want to know something else; you were supposed to die with your brother that day. Aleena was supposed to lose both of her children, yet, you never sat in that car with Razaan, that stupid Asfandyar did. And when he survived, I knew the only way to hurt you was to blame him for Razaan's death."

The way Ruhbal felt at the moment was beyond any words she could ever describe; every word Nabeel Eman spoke pierced through her heart. How could someone be so sick in the head to harm someone's family to such an extent, but at that point, nothing Nabeel Eman said or did shook Ruhbal to the core because he had already broken her beyond repair.

Before Ruhbal could say anything further, Nabeel pulled out the heavy silver metal gun and pointed it right above her abdomen.

"But don't worry, you will be meeting your brother soon. Because today I will be finishing what I started six years ago, and then finally Aleena would be mine."

Her uncle spoke with a sadist smile.

"I dare you to lay a finger on my woman; I promise you will not live to see the next light of day."

Boomed the voice Ruhbal could recognize even from a mile away.

"Asfand"

She spoke brokenly with heavy tears clouding her mahogany brown eyes. Her husband, her protector, was finally here.

She ran to him and hugged him as if her life depended on it.

"Ruh, I'm here, don't worry."

Softly kissing her forehead, Asfandyar reassured Ruhbal.

"Well, well, well, it seems as if the love birds want to die together; fine, if that's what you want, then your wish is my command."

No, this was exactly like the dream Ruhbal saw all those months ago. She couldn't let her uncle harm her husband.

And so she begged.

"Please don't harm him; you want to kill me right, then do that, but please leave my Asfand alone."

Amidst all the chaos and argument Nabeel didn't know when he pulled the trigger, and the only faint sound of Ruhbal's scream could be heard.

"Asfand"

Ruhbal screamed.

Nabeel Eman had shot Asfandyar unintentionally, and the only sight Ruhbal witnessed in front of her eyes was the bloodied and battered body of Asfandyar.

"No, no, Don't leave me Asfand, please... if you die, I die. There is no Ruh without her Asfand."

She begged in front of his lifeless body, but maybe this is what destiny had planned for them. Perhaps this was the end of Asfandyar and Ruhbal.

»»--❖--««