Salam and hello everyone!
Happy Easter to all my Christian brothers and Sisters out there :)

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Not edited.

Ehtesham's POV:

"Ami what is this?" I asked Ami, as I stare at the torn-up envelope on the table and without waiting for her answer I picked it up. I frowned reading the details on the envelope. It was from the court and addressed to me, but I found nothing inside. This wasn't an ideal welcome for a person who just came after an exhausting day at the job.

"Ami, what was in this envelope?" I said walking towards my parents' room.

"Notice."

"Yes, but what sort of notice is this?"

"Read it yourself." She said pointing towards the small table in the corner of her room. Her anger tone surprised me a bit but I couldn't fathom the reason behind it until I read the papers and for a moment my mind went black. I read the papers but was unable to process the writing in it, therefore I reread it again and again and after reading more than three times, I frown at it.

According to it, Fiza and my divorce papers are submitted to the court and approved by the judge. Therefore, I have to give Haq Mehr to Fiza along with the dowry she brought and other wedding gifts from her side.

What the hell is this???

Hastily I read it once again, with a slight hope that my eyes are deceiving me or perhaps my mind, but none of them was. The text on the papers appears the same no matter how many time I read.

"Ami what is this?" I turned to her unable to understand the meanings behind the notice.

"I supposed, I should be the one asking you." The anger in her voice was clearly shown from her eyes too.

"Asking what?"

"When did you send divorce papers to Fiza?"

"I didn't."

"You didn't? Read the last paper again Ehtesham, it is your copy of divorce papers with your signature on it."

She was right I have seen it and that's why I was more confused, those are my signature without a doubt but I never sign those papers. I mean, I didn't even make my mind to leave Fiza. Then...

I kept staring at Fiza's name with her signature and for some reason, our wedding night images started flashing in my mind. Especially the pair of those sharp eyes which glared back at me with anger and tears.

"Ami this-" Before I could complete the sentence, my attention diverted to the phone which starting to buzz in my pocket. Frowning at the phone I pick the call because it was from the office.

"Hello, Junaid Sahab (Mr. Junaid)."

"Assalam o Alaikum Ehtesham Sahab."

"Wallaikum Assalam!"

"Mr Ehtesham, I have called you to inform you that the accounts file we have forward is incomplete."

"What? What do you mean it's incomplete?" I frowned.

"Few papers are missing from it. I just received a call from the department of accounts."

"But I have counted them after signing it."

"Perhaps it went missing after your signature. Anyways, the data of the file would be an official record. Kindly manage to provide complete documents with your signature tomorrow morning at nine a.m. It cannot be delayed."

"Hm! I understand. Allah Hafiz." I said massaging my temples.

First the notice and now this...

I haven't changed my clothes yet, therefore without wasting a minute, I rushed back to my car after informing Ami that I am going back to the office.

On my way back to the office I called all the concerned people and ask them to read the documents again. Also, I ask for the office clerk's number, I need to ask where did he misplace the papers.

~*~

"Why did you do it?" I ask putting both elbows on the table.

After hearing the whole story from the clerk, the divorce notice I had received makes clear sense. According to him, Sania replaced the papers from the file and instead of putting back the original papers she ordered him to forward the file as it is, she would handle everything. Since then, I am trying my best to control my anger. But I couldn't just sit back without inquiring anything from her, therefore I called her to have dinner with me, which she gladly accepted.

"Do what?" Her body alerted but she pretends not to know.

"Why did you put the divorce papers in the office file?"

"Oh, that! Were you about to give her divorce right? So I thought about helping you out." She said nonchalantly and it only makes me more irritated.

"It is cheating."

"No, it's not. I didn't force you to sign it. You should've read it. Besides, there is no point now. SHE has accepted her fate and right now she is probably in flight with her brother." She put the fork down on plate and smile.

"What do you mean?" I frowned at her as a wave of panic starts to surface up.

"She left the country and your life. So there will be no problems from now on." She said politely holding my hand in hers, which I abruptly jerked off.

"You deceive me and I will never forgive for this," I said getting up from the chair. I don't want to see her face right now, I hate such people who tricked others.

"Wait, Ehtesham." She quickly gets up and holds my arm, "I can understand that you are shocked right now. But let me remind you this Ehtesham I can go to any extreme to get what I want. I love you and I want you and if you try to back away now, then I will make your life hell. You know right, paparazzi love gossips like divorces and breakups. Your and your ex-wife story would be very interesting. Since you left her because of me." I stared back at her in disbelief.

"Now you can leave." She left my arm and took her seat with a satisfied smile.

I stared at her for a brief moment before storming out from the restaurant. I don't have time to argue now. I need to stop Fiza, she cannot leave.

Without thinking I start driving to Fiza's house. All the way the only thought occupied my mind was, how I can stop her. Stop everything going in our lives. I don't want this, I don't want Fiza to leave.

~*~

"Ehtesham our daughter has made her mind and we all support her. Even if we believe whatever you said is true, the question about Fiza's happiness remains in its place and if I am not wrong you aren't willing to give what she deserves." Uncle Mazhar (Fiza's Chachu) said to me and waited for my response for a while. I was about to open my mouth to refute but ultimately remained silent. I don't have anything to say. The news of Fiza really left hit me hard and I feel like my mind stopped working now.

Her father isn't at home, therefore Uncle Mazhar received me, someone, who will not be convinced easily. He wants surety for Fiza's happy future which I am in no position to give.

"To tell you the truth I don't even understand why are you here now. Why does it bother you that Fiza accepted her fate and trying to move on? Or you are one of those men who likes to mentally torture their wife to satisfy their male ego?" I quickly shook my head in negative but was unable to say anything again.

There were a few moments of silence between us, and then he told me to leave. They have nothing to give me, he even refuses to tell me where she went. It's like every door that leads to Fiza is closed and locked now.

With heavy heart and steps, I made my way to my car. Giving a glance at the entrance I slid inside, I don't know what I was looking for. But the one thing I am sure of is that I won't be seeing this house ever again in my life.

'Free me...'

Fiza....!

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Mahr: In Islam, mahr is a mandatory payment, in the form of money or possessions paid or promised to pay by the groom, to the bride that money legally becomes her property. It is a fundamental religious right of the wife, and the husband cannot reduce the mahr. Upon divorce, the husband must pay the wife her mahr and upon the husband's death, the mahr is paid from his estate.

Hi there!
First of all, I want to apologize for the blunder I made a few days ago. I accidentally published this chapter while writing in the state of half-sleep. I hope I won't make such a mistake again.

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