Ishmal entered the kitchen and stepped towards the fridge. She brought out a bottle of water and came back to the kitchen table. Pouring the desired level into the glass as she wanted, she started sipping it slowly. She added the water in the jug as well in case they needed it again in the room.

Just when she was about to leave, she heard a loud thump from nearby. It was like the sound of some heavy thing falling on the ground. Ishmal stifled a shriek by putting her palm over her mouth. Her heart started beating speedily. What was this? Soon, a black silhouette of a man appeared in the garden moving quickly. Ishmal was able to see it from the kitchen window. Her eyes widened in fear. Was it some thief?

She thought to tell someone about this intrusion when suddenly the same person jumped through the open window of the kitchen inside. Ishmal's whole body started trembling. She thought to run but he grasped her hand tightly. He was a young man probably in his early twenties. A slim body and tan, stout features were his characteristics.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, quietly.

"Who..who are you? Leave my hand," Ishmal whispered.

"We love each other then why did you come here? We promised to never leave the side of one another. Why did you marry someone else then?" The man again said. His voice was deep when he spoke.

"I don't know you. What are you saying?" Ishmal was confused over this.

"You fled from your house for me, Ishmal. Don't come into that ASP's pressure. Let's get married. We will find our happiness. Believe me."

Ishmal's jaw dropped at this. How come he knew her name and actually the fact that she had once left her house? Who was he? As far as she could remember, she never saw him before.

It was obvious that the guy was prolonging the useless discussion so that anyone could catch them. It was his task and for full money payment, he had to do it exactly as he was ordered to do. And very soon, his attempts became fruitful. Some of it was also due to his good luck that today, Aqia and the rest of the family had gone to attend Nisha's second son's first birthday. Of course, she and Haider stayed home. It was a coincidence that this man's timing matched with their arrival back home. However if Haider had done so, it would have acted as a nail in the coffin. However, this wasn't any bad either.

It was Unaiza who had come into the kitchen to make tea for everyone as everyone felt tired.

"Bhabi..." She was stunned and perplexed.

An unknown guy was holding Ishmal's hand and she was talking to him in the night.

Ishmal forcefully pushed that guy with her other hand and turned towards Unaiza.

"What...what are you doing, Bhabi?" Unaiza's voice didn't come when she uttered this.

"Unaiza...I...I don't know who he is. He is a thief. He had barged into the house and then jumped through the window inside. I..."

"I am her boyfriend. She is lying," the guy interrupted her.

Right at this moment, Aqia entered.

"Iza dear, prepare strong tea for...." She had to stop when she saw the situation inside. "What's happening here?"

"Ishmal asked me to come here because she is unhappy. I am her boyfriend for whom she had escaped from her house," the man explained proudly.

Aqia glared at her. "What the hell is this, Ishmal?"

"Ammi, believe me, I don't know who he is. Please listen to me. He...he is lying. I don't even know him." Tears started falling from her eyes as rivers.

She couldn't even understand what happened to her. The guy took advantage of the opportunity and then ran out through the same kitchen window.

Aqia marched towards her and slapped her hard on her face. Ishmal wasn't ready for such an attack hence she fell to the ground and her head hit the corner of the table. Soon she felt soft liquid falling on her forehead but she didn't care about it. The only thing she minded was her dignity, her prestige, and her self-respect which was again on the verge of tarnishing.

"You shameless girl. I knew it that you didnt have any good motive from the start and I was right. How cunning are you?" Aqia's eyes were spilling daggers at her.

Unaiza clasped her arm. "Aqia Mama, please."

"Ammi, I...I seriously don't know him. Please believe me," Ishmal whimpered.

"Wow. He even knows your name and you don't even know him. Pull this drama of fake innocence in front of someone else. It won't work on me. I'll tell Haider right away. He should know which kind of girl you are. Totally characterless and sly," Aqia shouted at the top of her lungs.

"What's wrong?" Tashfeen also came hurriedly hearing the voices.

"See the acts of this so-called innocent daughter-in-law of yours. So filthy she is that she took the chance of our absence and called over her boyfriend here. Supposedly on a date as he was holding her hand and they were exchanging love-filled talks. Didn't I tell you, Tashfeen? These kinds of girls are always characterless. They don't have any morality in them. She fled her house for a guy but you never listened to me. I even became nice with her but that's how she was playing with us," Aqia clapped back.

Ishmal stood back with difficulty. "No Ammi, that's.... that's a lie. Please don't say..."

"Shut up!" Aqia yelled and grabbed her jaw. "Not a word from you anymore. Everyone has seen your reality and it's better if you would remain quiet. Haider should know this so that he came get rid of a filth like you."

"Aqia, will you care to explain to me what exactly happened?" Tashfeen inquired in irritation.

"When Unaiza and I came into the kitchen, this girl was standing with a guy who claimed to be her boyfriend. They even had their hands interlocked. He even knew she had fled from her house. Because why wouldn't he? He is the one for whom she had done it. If you don't believe me, then ask Unaiza," Aqia exclaimed.  

Unaiza bit her lower lip but didn't say anything ascertaining the fact that what Aqia had said was right. Tashfeen put his hand over his palm in shock. Even Huzaifa and Hiba too came and looked at the whole scene with widened eyes. While Aqia went over to tell Haider everything.

Ishmal was sobbing and her whole body was shivering due to the effect. The humiliation, the words she heard had again made her remember the time when her stepfather tried to snatch her dignity. She didn't know what would happen now. Who had plotted against her? What would Haider say after knowing everything? He already hated women because for him they were cheaters and someone had portrayed her to become absolutely the same thing. She knew it was over. Nothing could be saved now. Everything was against her. Someone had skilfully trapped her and she had no way out.

The embarrassment of being portrayed as having a loose character in front of everyone was already making her want to just die. This much shame she never felt before. Tears never left her eyes. They continued coming out and she had no control over them.

"I didn't do anything. Please Abbu, believe me." Ishmal turned towards Tashfeen who gave her a remorseful look and then glanced away.

It broke her heart. She turned towards Unaiza. "Unaiza, you...you know how much I love Haider. Why would I do that? I don't know that guy. Someone is trying to defame me. I swear I don't know anything. Please Unaiza, tell everyone this."

Unaiza too remained quiet but the wetness in her own eyes was evident.

"Stop this, Ishmal. Everything is clear here. So you better be quiet," Tashfeen asserted,  narrowing his eyes at her.

Ishmal's heart started beating in her ears when she heard footsteps and Haider reached. Goosebumps formed on her skin and she felt that her legs became a jelly.

"Look, what's happening in this house, Haider? The girl for whom you fought with us is characterless. In your presence, she asked her boyfriend to meet her. Didn't I tell you always that a girl who fled from her house in the darkness of the night can never be innocent? But you never..."

"Mom, stop this. Can anyone care to tell me what had happened?" He snarled angrily.

Haider glanced at Ishmal. Teary eyes, shuddering body, and colorless face was she right now. He kept on looking at her. How could she do this? His mother's words about her and Ishmal fit together.

Ishmal ran towards him and clutched his hands. "Haider, please. At least you should hear me. I...I can swear to my mother that I didn't know what happened a while ago. Please believe me. Don't do this to me."

Aqia shoved her away. "You better shut up."

Ishmal lost her balance because of her push. If it wasn't for Haider's strong hand over her arm, she would have already fallen.

"All she did was a drama. A lie which she told you, Haider. That night when you caught her, she lied to you and made up that stepfather story because you are a cop. In fact, the truth is she had fled for her boyfriend who came to meet her a few minutes ago," Aqia responded.

Haider clenched his jaw to control himself from lashing out. What was with this whole situation?

"Tell Ishmal. Who was that guy? You really can't contradict me and Unaiza both right. You were with that guy when we caught you red-handed right?" Aqia asked her.

Ishmal swallowed while her gaze focused on Haider who was already looking at her without any expression. But his eyes were red, giving an assumption that he was extremely furious right now.

She just remained quiet because she had no answer to this. Ishmal was pretty sure nothing could work in her favor now. A man who hated women because one betrayed him when he warmed up to her, she was seen to be doing the same thing.

Nothing could save their relationship now.

               ______________________

AssalamoAlaikum/ Hi guys!

How are you?

So the most intense chapter it is.

I won't ask whether you like it or not lom.

What do you think will happen next?

Will Haider also accuse Ishmal?

Will he divorce her?

Who is the one behind all this?

Plz vote and comment. ❤❤