As soon as Sila went out of the back door, a heavy silence fell around Wadia House. Danish was still coming to terms with the way Sila left when a visibly enraged Rameen appeared on the threshold of her room. Danish stared at her, trying to make sense of what was going on.

"What?" He finally asked.

"You are asking me that? You should tell me what the hell is wrong with you, Danish."

"No, Reen. You don't get to do this when I'm in the right. Sila has gotten herself in a situation that is only going to get worse."

"It's not her fault, Danish. Gosh, I can't believe you right now!"

Danish took a step forward but seeing her pained expression, stopped himself. He ran a hand on his face. "We are normal people, Reen. These elite rivalries are not our cup of tea. I don't see this ending well for Sila and I'm worried, okay? She could've at least been a bit careful."

"As if she saw this coming. You're being unfair to her, Danish that too on the basis of a few harmless pictures. She's been involved with high-profile events for years and never once did something like this happen. That alone should give you an idea about Sila's integrity if you doubt it."

"I don't doubt that, you're putting words into my mouth."

Rameen's scathing gaze was unwavering. She chose not to say it to his face but Danish picked up on it. His insecurity about Sila's thriving career was there somewhere in the undertones. If Sila hadn't been working with the elites, she wouldn't be in this ordeal. Success comes with its pros and cons. It was just Sila's luck that her longtime boyfriend was focusing on the cons because that suited his narrative.

"She is too trusting. What's the guy's name? Aahil? She's relying on him to sort this for her."

"Who else do you think she should turn to, then? Us? You said it yourself; we are the common folks and can't do much to help her. If the Jahangirs are taking it upon themselves to get her out of this mess, why not? At least he is supporting her without thinking much. Unlike."

She left her sentence deliberately and Danish wasn't a fool. He looked surprised by Rameen's insinuation for a beat and then his eyes narrowed.

"You are really being mean right now. Someone has to put it as it looks from the surface."

"I guess we have enough people doing that already."

"Reen―"

She stepped aside from the door. "Go home and sort out your priorities. Sila really doesn't need someone right now who's second guessing everything and trying to find fault with her, boyfriend or not."

Danish huffed, offended by her straightforward approach. As he passed her, Rameen craned her neck in his direction.

"And, Danish."

He stopped, looking sideways at her. Rameen's eyes were sad as she spoke. "This isn't my childhood friend. This isn't the person Sila got into a relationship with. You've changed and not for the better. I know nothing as tragic as this."

His eyes widened slightly and staggered as he took a step back as if the weight of her words pulled him down. Not waiting for any more reality checks to be thrown in his face, he was out of the room and Wadia House in no time.

Rameen kept on looking at his retreating back when a tear rolled down her cheek.

"I hope I don't see him around for the foreseeable future."

Amal grumbled as she and Haleh came to Rameen. Rameen had composed herself by then but her friends already knew she was shedding tears for something that was already lost.

"I don't know how things are going to pan out for Sila from hereon but once this shit show is over, I hope she sits down with a clear mind and decide once and for all what to do with this relationship with Danish. He should do the same. They've dragged this way too much already when clearly; there are irreconcilable differences between them now."

Amal agreed with Haleh as she cleaned Sila's bed. "Is there a more vulnerable time for Sila than now? But the dude's not cooperating even after knowing Sila isn't holding up fine. If he's not there for her right now, then what is the point? If like a stranger he can't seem to think past her association with Jahan and those pictures, then how he is different than anyone else?"

Amal's words were true. The reverberation of those was vivid for Rameen.

And she couldn't deny it. Not anymore.

𝄞

The meeting dispersed soon after Shamyl's suggestion. Faseeh and Faran were the first ones to leave. They had other matters to attend to as well. The others followed suit. Soon it was just Sila and Aahil who were still seated, lost in their thoughts.

Sila played with her fingers agitatedly. At last, she looked to the side, at him who was already attentive to her. His worry was not milder than hers. The same uncertainty loomed over his feature that was etched on her face. Both didn't have anything to say to the other. Maybe, for the first time.

Slowly, Sila heaved herself out of the seat. She had been given time to think this through and time and a clear state of mind were something she needed the most right now. The countless questions and scenarios coming to her mind needed to be put to rest or she'd really stumble and fall.

She picked up her purse and phone when she felt someone stopping close to the table. She looked up and found Sabah and Mrs. Irshad standing there with solemn faces.

"Are you okay, child?" Mrs. Irshad asked, her gaze scrutinizing. Sila nodded, not knowing what to tell her. The older woman nodded with a sigh.

"This mustn't be easy for you. But don't worry. You have my word that we will get you out of it. This rivalry shouldn't have affected you in the first place but damn politics."

She patted Sila's arm. Sila's eyes went from her to Sabah who was more dejected than her mother-in-law. "Ammi Jaan is right. I don't even know what to say to you, Sila. This is not right, not in the slightest."

She held her hand in hers. Sila found her hold comforting as a mother would be.

"I don't have to repeat Ammi's words but know that, Sila. You're not alone here. Wish we could've prevented this from happening but now that it has, we will not leave you stranded to face it."

Her words had the same firm connotation to them as her mother-in-law's. Both the women didn't linger after that. They joined Adan, who gave a waned smile to Sila from the door as she followed her mother and grandmother out of the room.

Aahil had come out of his lost state by then. He got up, facing her. "Let's get you home."

Sila could only nod meekly. Yes, going back to Wadia House seemed like a good idea right now.

"Sila,"

They watched Shamyl making his way to them. Aahil rolled his eyes and folded his arms on his chest grumpily. Shamyl royally ignored him, though.

"Can I have a word?" He asked Sila. She looked between the two men apprehensively. She didn't know how talking to Shamyl after all this would go but she wasn't in the state of demanding much.

"Yeah, sure."

She waited for him to come to the point but Shamyl raised his eyebrow at Aahil. "Alone, I meant."

"Listen you―"

Shamyl shook his head. "I've lost count of the times I've cut your words today, Aahil. You should have an idea by now that I know what I'm doing. She's safe with me. You can go ahead. It will not take more than five minutes."

Aahil didn't look convinced but he chose to not argue with Shamyl. Giving Shamyl a warning glare, he left them to talk but not before holding Sila's shoulder fleetingly; just his way of reassuring her that she got this.

"I see you are pretty shaken by what I said earlier."

Shamyl remarked, as soon as the door closed behind Aahil. Sila's countenance screamed how tired she was. "Shouldn't I be? You don't throw these suggestions around like nobody's business."

Shamyl smiled lightly. "That's my business, actually." He leaned against the cushioned chair and placed a finger on his chin. "Where are you from, Sila?"

"What?"

"Your area, silly."

"Parsi Colony but originally I'm from Johar."

"Jamshed Town in my case, but more or less, we come from the same side of the city which means,"

He pointed around. "We aren't born into this, Sila. We got where we are by our sheer hard work and dedication. You are still pushing forth and I've gotten somewhere but for the most part, the struggle and the path have been the same."

"Where are you going with this?"

Shamyl became serious in a matter of seconds. "You are right now, stuck between two influential families. Check?"

Sila nodded, albeit begrudgingly. She hated being in this position, Shamyl could see that on her face.

"One is out there for your blood and has already caused you enough damage just because of your association with the other while the other is doing everything they can to get you out of this mess as safely as possible because they acknowledge that you are stuck here because of them, check?"

"Check."

Shamyl folded his hands. His eyes softened on Sila. "If I'm being honest, I wasn't expecting the Jahangirs to be cooperative when it comes to you but they are. So, Sila, be wise. Think of yourself. Think of your career. Yeah, the Jahangirs are being nice but what if they change their mind? They will get their son out of this. They always do. But if they back out, who will get you out?"

"So, you're telling me that I marry their son, become a part of their family and call it a day? You know what people are saying about me. Their claim that I'm a gold digger will get proven, Shamyl."

He shook his head, laughing lightly. "Far from it, Honey. Don't doubt my abilities. How many rich families out there counter a case like this with a marriage announcement? Convincing one, for that matter and that's my job. People wouldn't know what to do. The Jatois will not either. That's the thing about our society, Sila. They don't think a woman and a man can be just friends. That's why they always go berserk with their assumptions but the moment, you throw in the marriage card, they disperse or become your allies. Those who were interested because of the obscene content they were hoping for, get bored and those who are big on love give their undue devotion to your cause. This case will see a shift,"

He snapped his fingers. "Just like that. But that's not your worry. You're going to think about yourself, what benefits you the most because you did nothing wrong to be pulled into this hassle so it's your right that you get out of it with the least bit of repercussions."

He gave her an assuring nod. "You can go now. But do give it a thought, hmm?"

Sila's shoulders slumped. Shamyl's words made sense but she was far from coming up with a decision.

And she needed to do that soon.

𝄞

Dropping Sila at Wadia House, he made his way to his place. His family had no objections to that. The security was with him on his father's orders. He didn't like it but knew well that it was necessary.

He reached his apartment and stood in his room, facing the fathomless sea. There were lots on his mind and he was tired.

It hadn't been twenty minutes when his intercom buzzer broke his reveries of thought. He knew immediately that he had company. Needed company.

He opened the door and found Alina, Osama, and Mahad there, distressed and worried for him. He couldn't even give them a welcoming smile. Not that they were expecting one. They wordlessly entered his place.

Alina stopped close, hugging him close.

"Are you okay?" She asked, caressing his forehead. He gave her a tired smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"I've been better."

"Come, sit."

She led him to the couch. He dropped himself, resting his head against it.

"We tried reaching out as soon as we got to know but your phone wasn't reachable," Osama told him as his eyes took in Aahil's form. His whole demeanor screamed exhaustion.

"I'm not allowed to use that device more than necessary, Baba's orders."

"That's what I thought. The security is tight, had to call Faran Bhai so we could come up here." Mahad added. Alina filled a glass of water and gave it to Aahil. He took it with a grateful nod in her way. She sat down right next to him.

For a while, none of them knew what to say. Aahil wasn't the kind of person who'd let just anything get to his head. He was tough, he had to be given the fact that he had had his fair share of shit to deal with but right now, he was not in his element. It was telling of the seriousness of the situation.

"I hate social media and the Jatois. How easy it is for them to smear someone's character and how easy it is for people to believe whatever they are shown." Alina was pissed. "How's Sila holding up? Mustn't be easy for her. Not at all."

Aahil nodded. "She was a mess in the morning. I would also be if I were pulled into something the way she has been. But she's steadfast and strong. I just wish this situation hadn't sabotaged everything for her. She's in a more vulnerable position than me and I hate that. She deserves better."

"I can't even imagine what she must be going through." Sila's face from that one time they had met came to Alina's mind, that confident woman who could keep Aahil in check.

"What now?" Osama asked.

"A hefty lawsuit. Today's Sunday. The involved parties will be notified tomorrow. Our legal team looks confident that they have it all covered."

"But that will be for the Jatois and their mouthpieces. What about the raging on social media?"

"About that..."

Aahil took a long pause. Osama, Mahad, and Alina waited for him to continue. Aahil folded his head behind his head in a gesture of nervousness. "Shamyl came up with a solution."

"Shamyl Sheikh? That guy is bonkers but his PR strategies always work."

Aahil shook his head at Mahad. "This one might not. He thinks our safest bet is announcing that Sila and I are in a committed relationship and getting us married."

As he had expected, his friends were surprised to hear this.

"That's....something."

Alina exclaimed. Osama and Mahad chose to stay silent.

"It gets better. My family was more than okay with it. Can you believe that? Not one of them had anything to contradict Shamyl. Fucking embarrassing."

"Well, if you look at it from their perspective, Sila has been quite a good influence. Maybe, they are looking at it from that perspective. You know your family is always looking forward to you getting your shit together."

Alina was brutally honest. Aahil also knew that but it made him even more frustrated.

"That's the thing, Lina. My shit is mine to do whatever I want to with it. I don't need any fixing and least of all from Sila. She has a promising career to take care of. She deserves better than this."

"Maybe, you're reading too much into it. Your family might not be specifically okay with it so that Sila can fix you. If I'm being honest the last few weeks you were more focused...more alive than you've been all these years. They might have that image in mind."

Osama wasn't the one to paint things in rosy colors but this coming from him was something. Aahil pursed his lips. Was he? He remembered being happier than he was in a long run but it wasn't about him. Major life decisions aren't made on vibes and feels. Not when a conundrum like this is their fate.

"That's plain romanticizing―"

"Actually, I think it's the best idea that can be employed right now."

Mahad suddenly spoke. Aahil narrowed his eyes at him. "Why am I not surprised, Lashari? Just so you know she has a boyfriend."

"This problem is bigger. Your and her whole life depends on how this scandal pans out further. Not to forget a political party being on your asses, media scrutiny, public opinion, and Sila's career would get affected. Don't act like you can't even give it a thought."

Mahad made sense and Aahil hated it when he did. He looked away and closed his eyes as he leaned into the couch, might as well give this a thought as everyone wanted him to.

In Wadia House, something akin to the same was going on. Sila looked at her friends' stunned faces and huffed.

"Will you guys say something?" She asked.

"We are still processing it," Haleh said but Amal beat her to it. "No, we are not. I say go for it."

"Amal!" Rameen and Haleh reprimanded her only to get a shrug from her. "What? She's in the fucking clusterfuck because of some petty school-boy drama Jatois and Jahangirs have going on. The least the Jahangirs can do is own up to it and save my girl no matter what. If that means her getting married to their son, I'm all for it. Just end this misery for Sila and give her the protection she deserves and needs."

"But this is a big decision. Sila can't just get to it mindlessly."

At that, their eyes fixed on Sila who looked torn and conflicted. "I don't even know guys. Yes, I understand Shamyl's point now that I think of it with a somewhat calm mind but it's...not easy. So much is involved. I don't want to pull Aahil into anything he's not ready for. Heck, even I'm not ready. There's so much to think and then there's Danish. I have―"

"Let's forget about Danish, for some time, Sila."

Rameen's voice was graver than they expected it to be. Sila's brows furrowed thoughtfully, but she didn't say anything. She was angry with Danish. So damn much and if she was honest to herself, this was the time to do the necessary with this relationship with him. But he had already hinted at her hiding things from him and here they were talking about something as massive as getting married to another man if that happened.

"You haven't decided anything yet. And the way I see it, it's you alone in this fight, Sila. Where's Danish? He's the boyfriend so he should be here close to you, should stand next to you in everything. He's not. This is why no Danish or anyone should be on your mind. Think of yourself. Just you. It's your life and your career which is at the stake along with Aahil's. This is about you two so think about just that right now. Rest, we will see once things are a bit settled."

Rameen gestured to Amal and Haleh to get up. "I'll set the table. We all need to eat and then Sila has to sit down and think through everything."

They followed her to the dining table when the main door opened with a bang. Their necks whipped in that direction. Saleema's distraught form appeared at the door.

"Baji? What happened? Are you okay?" Sila made her sit. Saleema was hyperventilating. Amal filled a glass of water for her while Haleh ran to call Dinbanu.

"I was in the middle of grocery shopping when I realized it, Sila! I was being followed."

Sweat beads poured out on Saleema's forehead. She wiped it and faced the girls. "Two men were right behind me. At first, I thoughts I was imagining things but then the happenings of the day came to my mind and I knew something was wrong. I checked twice and sure enough, they were chasing me. Only I know how I got back home through lanes and dodged them so they wouldn't know where we live. Oh, Khuda!"

An eerie silence filled the space of the dining room. Sila, Rameen, and Amal were too stunned to speak. Dinbanu and Haleh were also, who had just gotten there but had heard Saleema's whole tale.

"I should tell Jeffery to keep a keen eye and call the police if the need arises," Dinbanu said but all of them knew that wasn't going to help much. If their suspicion was right, the men sent by Jatois were scanning the area around. Sila bent her head. All because of her. The people around her were too nice to say that to her face but she couldn't help feeling the hollowness from within. She was the focal point of everything these people were going through and she had no idea how long this would go on for.

The slow buzzing of her phone got her attention. It was Nawar. Sila hoped everything was okay. Why was Nawar calling her?

"Hello?"

She greeted apprehensively.

"Sila, it's me, Faran. I'm sorry I had to use Nawar's number as mine isn't saved in your phone and I didn't want to worry you unnecessarily."

"It's fine, Mr. Jahangir. Is everything okay?"

"I should be asking you that. I just got informed through my sources that Jatoi's men are seen around Parsi Colony. Did you observe any unusual activity?

"Yes! Our house help, Saleema Baji was followed when she was out grocery shopping."

"Oh, no. Is she alright?"

"She's shaken but will be okay."

"Our men will keep a lookout. You guys shouldn't be worried. We have it covered. Aahil was already suspicious that this will happen. Do let me know if anything goes even slightly awry, okay? I'll text you my number right after this call."

"Thank you so much, Mr. Jahangir. This is―"

"That's not needed, Sila. It's the least we can do to assure you are not in any more hassle because of us. Take care and goodbye."

She dropped her head in her palms as soon as the call ended. For now, it was undercover.

But for how long?

Dinbanu and the girls, Saleema Baji and Uncle Jeffery, all their lives were getting affected because of her. If the Jahangirs weren't as helpful as they were, God! She didn't even want to think about the grave consequences.

She and her apparent family's lives were flipped upside down and there was nothing she could do about it.

𝄞

Worry lines appeared on Faran's forehead as soon as his call with Sila ended. He extended the phone to Nawar after texting Sila his number. Around him, the rest of his family sat with more or less the same expressions. Aahil was at his place. His friends were with him so they weren't worried about his whereabouts.

"Jatoi's men are in Sila's area. I've ordered our security team to see to it but, Baba, this is getting out of hand."

Faseeh didn't need to be told. He knew Pervaiz and his vile ways. He would always play dirty, more than he had.

"I can't believe we have to wait till the morning to file the defamation case."

"As if, that alone would make everything okay. Our homework is complete but that doesn't mean this lawsuit will be the end of Jatois' petty tactics." Faran said to his wife. Mrs. Irshad mumbled under her breath, something along the lines of wishing the Jatois fall down in a hole.

Sabah found her husband deep in thought. She leaned forward. "What do you think about what Shamyl said?"

Faseeh's expressions didn't change. "Honestly speaking, that is a good strategy to ensure both Sila and Aahil are out of harm's way. I trust Shamyl. He has always proved himself to be a gem to have on our PR team. I need to get even with Jatois but for that, first I need both Aahil and Sila safe. This will make sure that the public eye gets away from them."

Sabah nodded but her own reasons for hoping for this union were not that strategic. She was a mother and she was ought to think with her heart. She wanted Aahil and Sila to get to the safe side. That was another thing that the idea that in doing so, they could end up together was welcomed by her with open arms.

"The circumstances are unfortunate but I don't think so this development is discouraging, if the kids agree and are ready for it, of course." Mrs. Irshad took her part in the conversation properly. The rest of her family agreed with her sentiments.

"Sila is a nice girl. We've seen her hard work in the last few weeks. What's there not to like? We should be grateful if she agrees to marry our son, given his track record."

All of them had a hard time coming to terms with the fact that this had come from Mrs. Irshad; the leader of Aahil's fan club.

"Dado, don't forget that it depends on Aahil and Sila. We can't force them into anything." Adan reminded her.

"As we shouldn't. This already isn't easy for them." Misam agreed with his wife. Mrs. Irshad shrugged, having said her piece.

"Baba, you just said that you have to get even with Jatois. What do you mean by that?"

Faran and Faseeh shared a look. Faseeh looked at nothing in particular as he answered.

"Jatoi's biggest mistake is that he thinks if someone isn't a politician, they can't plot and think like one. I have a perfect plan to make it blow in Jatoi's face but for that, I first need the kids safe and under my watch. Then I will avenge this public humiliation of not only ours but of someone who was associated with her and had to go through hell for that."

His eyes shone with determination. Who could've said he was the same man who threatened the same son with disowning just a few weeks back?

Familial love is a conundrum in itself.

𝄞

As the morning dawned, Aahil was asked to be at Jahangir House as soon as he can. He knew that already. His building was safe and his security detail was also around but he needed to be with his family.

There had been no calls or texts from Sila after they came out of Jahan. It was not that bad of a thing given the fact that Aahil had no idea what to say to her or what she must have to say to him.

He was in the middle of downing his morning coffee and getting ready when he was informed of a visitor he hadn't, even in his wildest dreams seen today or anytime soon. Here refused the reception staff and they didn't need to be told twice.

But not everyone took the refusal lightly. His mobile screen lit up. Aahil sighed and cut the call. It happened again. He also did it again.

When it was the fifth time, his patience waned. He picked up the call with his temper rising with each passing second.

"What is your problem?"

Vaneeza was unperturbed by his biting tone. "I want to see you and talk to you."

"Not happening, Vaneeza."

"Just once."

"You and I both know it's not a good idea."

Vaneeza made an impatient sound. Aahil rolled his eyes. "That won't do it, Vaneeza."

"You want me to linger around your building? I can do that. Anyone can spot me here and before you know it, it will make it to social media. Do you really afford this new twist in your already tainted reputation? I can even call the paps myself."

He cursed under his breath. He would've ignored her but if four years of being in a relationship with her taught him anything, never take her threats lightly. She meant those.

He reached the lobby through the elevator and found Vaneeza already there, pacing the length of the space. Upon finding him, she proceeded to walk to where he was standing but he stopped her. Pointing to go outside, he followed suit at a reasonable distance. His security guards became alert but he gestured to them that he'd got this.

"You have five minutes. And don't you fucking dare do this again." Aahil seethed. He chewed on his words as his jaw clenched. Instances of him being this pissed were rare, but Vaneeza had successfully unlocked the achievement.

"Do what? Play you into listening to me? I think it's clear now between us, who did play whom."

"What the hell are you on about?"

Vaneeza chuckled humorlessly. "So you will act dumb now? What a downgrade, Aahil. When you were with me, at least you were straightforward and thought being ambiguous was beneath you."

"You really are wasting my time, Vaneeza."

"You were cheating on me with her! What's her name?? Sila! You were hooking up with her behind my back!"

Aahil took a step back, ready to bolt. "I won't be explaining anything to you. It is clear you've been successfully fed a narrative. Where did you even read this? Go home, Vaneeza."

"You did, didn't you? This is why I was never enough. This is why you had this unseen wall between us. This is why you couldn't give yourself to me entirely because you were already giving it to someone else! To that bitch!"

"Shut up, Vaneeza. Don't use such language for her."

"Possessive aren't we? For how long was it going on? Was it after I said we should keep some distance as we weren't working well together? Or when I went to London with my family?"

Aahil had had enough. He shook his head as he started walking away from her. Saying anything to her was a waste of both his time and efforts. She was the one to break this relationship and now she was the insecure one even though, there was no relation there anymore.

But Vaneeza was quick to realize it. She held his arm, preventing him to leave.

"Vaneeza!"

The angry snarl hadn't come from Aahil. At some distance from where they were standing, a bellowing Ali stood next to his car. Aahil wanted to jump into the Arabian Sea. What a start to this already lousy day.

Vaneeza left him in an instant. Aahil released a sigh and stepped away from her. "That's your cue to leave the hell out of here."

Aahil told her. Vaneeza shot daggers at him as she made her way toward Ali. As soon as she went close to him, Aahil saw, with disgust and anger clawing under his skin that Ali had held her by her neck harshly. The assault wasn't unexpected for Vaneeza. But her eyes still widened. Ali was telling whispering something to her, his hold still intact when Aahil reached their side.

"Leave her."

Ali stopped, closed his eyes momentarily, and turned to face Aahil. "And what if, I don't."

"Fucking asshole, you're hurting her." Aahil took a step forward seeing Vaneeza's state. Ali did leave her, much to his relief. But the next moment he knew why it had happened.

Ali punched him hard, right in his face. The aim was his nose but Aahil dodged at the last moment so the hit landed on his cheek. Pain shot through Aahil's face. So much so that he got blinded for a second. This was going to leave a bruise.

He saw, through the haze of his discomfort, his security guards lunging at Ali but he immediately raised his hand at them, effortlessly stopping their movements.

"Get lost."

He mumbled to Ali. The guy wanted to prolong it but Aahil couldn't give him this chance. Things were already so messed up for him. He didn't want hand-to-hand combat with the youngest Jatoi.

As he saw Ali and Vaneeza driving away, his pain was all but forgotten, only one thought on his mind.

This needed to end soon. The Jatois needed to be far away from him and his family. He was fucking tired.

𝄞

The whole night, Sila couldn't get a wink of sleep. The result was in front of her, a headache that was intensifying because of her lack of rest. But getting some needed rest was the last thing on her mind. She couldn't sleep, she couldn't eat and she couldn't stop thinking.

Seeing her state, the girls had taken an off from their work commitments. Sila tried telling them not to but that earned her a glare from both Rameen and Amal and a hug from Haleh.

For her sanity, she no longer was checking social sites. She was not ready to see how far the rumor mill had gone. After a light breakfast just because she had to take the painkiller for her headache, she sat down on her bed, deep in thought.

The whole night would've been enough for her to make up her mind about at least something but she wasn't that lucky. Playing with the ends of her hair, she didn't even realize her phone was vibrating. The ringtone had become ominous to her; she had put it on silent.

Ajwa's name was surprising both in a good and also in a bad way. With her heart in her throat, Sila picked up the call.

"Sila?"

"Yeah, I'm here."

"Oh, how are you? I hope you are doing better than yesterday."

Sila shrugged. "I'm alright. Is everything okay? Why did you call?"

Ajwa was relieved that Sila had come to the point on her own. "About that, well remember we once covered an event at Avari? I was wondering if you have the task file for that one."

"Do we have an event there?"

"Yes. Finalized just now."

"But Ajwa, I can't leave my place and―"

"Actually, Sila." Ajwa cut her midsentence. "Unfortunately, you're not leading this one for us, I'm afraid."

Something broke inside Sila. Ajwa continued in a professional serious tone. "I know it must be hard for you but it's hard for me as well. Not having the asset of my team onboard with another important event but I can't sabotage so much, Sila. My company is already being talked about and you know me, I prefer it if it's about the work we put in not the rumors. So, Talal is heading this venture. I need that file for him as he wasn't here when we were last at Avari.

"Am I fired?" Sila asked, dejectedly.

"No! Not really. But I want you to take the needed rest. Say? Some months? Should be enough."

Enough for people to forget this humiliation she'd faced. Ajwa didn't say that but Sila read between the lines.

"I'll email Talal the task sheet."

She told Ajwa and as Ajwa bombarded her with her Thank you's, Sila silently cut the call.

So, this is how it felt to lose your whole life in the blink of an eye? She had given years to AJ events and when it came to standing by her, Ajwa had discarded her as if she meant nothing.

The corporate world is cruel. She was getting the taste of it for the first time.

"In here."

She heard Haleh's voice from outside her room. She looked on confusedly when Haleh came inside but she wasn't alone.

Aahil was with her.

"He came to the back door and knocked at it. As you've instructed that if there's movement there we should ask and open. That's what I did. Now talk, you both. And once you're done, tell me what should I bring for you two."

Saying that she left them alone.

"What happened to your face?" Sila asked, grimacing at the bruise forming on his cheek. He touched it with the top of his fingers and hissed slowly.

"Ran into Ali Jatoi. Man loves using his hands regardless of gender."

He told her hotly. Sila made him sit on her bed and examined his bruise closely.

"You've cried."

It was more of a statement than a question. Sila shook her head. "I haven't."

"Sila..."

There was something in the way he had uttered her name. She closed her eyes and left the bed, standing close to it with her arms on her side. She tried containing it but in the last, sobs raked her body.

"Oh, come on."

Aahil came close to her but she shook her head. "My whole life is over, Aahil. Ruined."

She tried wiping her tears but more ran down her cheeks. "It's all over. Done. Finished."

Aahil tried getting hold of her but suddenly the vivid memory was too much to handle.

Abandoned piano. Busted fingers. The linoleum floor of a hospital. A locked door. A lost melody. An off-note.

"I can't...play."

"It's over."

The memory ended but the ache didn't. He was seeing the same pain as she wept for her lost life.

Someone else had cried the same way for him. That someone was on the other side of the picture now, him. And she was also him, suddenly, him from eons gone by, him that dreamt and mourned when those dreams had to be buried.

That him who wanted a warm embrace to lose herself into.

She was that him. Suddenly she was. And she needed warmth.

So that's what he did. Cupping her head, he brought her closer and let her lose herself in his embrace, his arms around her and his hand caressing her hair.

She melted into his arms, letting out her hurt and her disappointment. Both stayed that way for maybe minutes. It could've been hours as well. They weren't keeping the track of the time.

It was when she was drained, when she no longer had the energy to shed any more tears, she came out of his embrace and maintained a distance between them.

"I'm sorry."

She mumbled. His eyes were fixated on her as he let his arms fall to his sides.

"They are waiting for us."

Sila pushed her hair out of her face as she stared at him. "Us?"

Aahil nodded, his stance sure and his eyes hard. He extended his hand in front of her. Sila looked at him and then at his hand.

Aahil nodded, slightly.

And Sila knew that was it.

She let every other thought flow out of her system as she placed her hand in his.

𝄞

Sila had asked him to come to Wadia House. That hadn't shocked him. For the first time, the notion of going there didn't unnerve him.

He was already planning to call on her. As always, he was looking for the right time and Sila, as always, provided him with that.

So, as he came out of his car and found her already standing on the lawn, he took slow but determined steps toward her.

"I almost thought you wouldn't show up."

Sila said. Danish didn't meet her eye. The confidence he had mustered before coming here seemed to be leaving him.

"I have to tell you something."

Danish looked up at her. "So, do have I."

"Then you go first." Sila offered.

Because, after what I have to tell you, there might not be anything left to say.

"I think I should." Danish accepted.

Because, after what I have to tell you, there might not be anything left to listen.

"Sila...I. I was ..."

He paused and then shook his head. There was no point. "I was already coming here to tell you that we should stop seeing each other."

He heard Sila's gasp but continued, lest he should lose his confidence. "I haven't been even close to a good boyfriend to you. Instead, I've been rude, mean, and ...insecure...yes! That's the right word. I've been all these things to you."

He looked up at her. "I have my issues but those are no excuses to treat you like shit but I always end up doing that. You deserve better than this. Far better and I'm not that. I...heck, even now, when you are stuck in such an unfortunate situation, I had to make it about myself. Reen is right, I'm not the person I used to be. I have lost that person somewhere and I need to find him. That one was good to you and but this one, let's not even start."

He played with his fingers, nervous and conflicted. His old habit. "I need to work on myself right now. To see where I go so wrong that I became this." He pointed at himself.

"That's it I guess. I don't ask for a second chance because I will fuck that up as well. But I do ask one thing. Don't hate me, please. You don't want to be even a friend anymore I will―"

"Danish."

Sila called him. He stopped but didn't look at her. She wiped her face and gestured to the inside of the house. "I've taken a huge decision and all my friends know it. Do you want to come inside so that I can tell you as well?"

She smiled and Danish had never seen something so heartbreakingly beautiful. "I will have to change the script a bit because just some ten minutes back, I was going to tell you that as my boyfriend but that changes now. So, allow me?"

Danish remained silent and somewhat clueless. Sila took a shuddering sigh but smiled nonetheless as she held his hand, taking him inside the house.

He needed to sit down for this one.

𝄞

Jahan Inc.

Yesterday, journalist Akhter Naeem released a video on the platform YouTube. It was filled with baseless assumptions and allegations against Mr. Aahil Jahangir. The video was followed by an inside scoop portal on Twitter (@InsidePakScoop) that released some photos of Mr. Aahil Jahangir and Miss. Sila Nouraiz. These photos were taken and dispersed without the consent of the two, from thereon, started a nationwide smear campaign against Mr. Jahangir and Miss. Nouraiz.

Jahan's team wants to convey that all parties involved (Political or not) will be dealt with accordingly. A legal notice has been sent to Mr. Akhter Naeem and his cronies. Similar notices have also been issued to all the Twitter and Instagram accounts that took part in this campaign by spreading malicious rumors. Going private or deleting the tweets/posts won't help, as our team has already compiled the data. Whatever someone has to say they can say that in court.

The Jahangir family is deeply hurt by this breach of privacy as Mr. Aahil Jahangir and Miss. Sila Nouraiz have been in a committed relationship and are to get married at the end of this month. This was a private relationship but it's sad that it has been the talk of the town for almost two days straight. As a family who values their privacy and wants it to be respected, it is requested to the general public and social media users are mindful of someone's personal life as the couple's wedding date approaches close. If any person found to be breaching it, they will have to face legal repercussions.

Karachi, Pakistan.

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