Waliyah's P.O.V.

The atmosphere was so tense as Baba and Samar sat directly infront of one another, Amma, Ayra and I sat quietly on Baba's side, as he stared him down. I had Malli take Dua inside so she did not witness any of whatever was going to happen here. Baba was livid at him, while Samar barely made eye contact. "Bohot himmat hai tujhe mein." (You have a lot of guts coming here.) Baba spoke up after the fifteen minutes of torture, otherwise known as silent treatment. 

Samar cleared his throat, "Ayaan B-"

"Khalu." Baba interuptted him, "Tum mujhe Khalu ke sakte ho."  (You can call me Khalu) That definitely was a step back from being called Baba. 

"Right," Samar said exhaling deeply, "Ayaan Khalu, I am really sorry about what happened that night. I would never push or hit Waliyah like that sober. I was drunk and I know that is not an excuse, but please beleive me. . .I am truly sorry."

"I do not beleive you," Baba said firmly, "I have seen you treat my daughter worse than that." Samar kept quiet, "You verbally abuse her, that is no less than physically abusing her Samar."

"Sorry," His apology sounded so void of emotion. 

"Sorry is just a word Samar, actions prove that you are truly sorry. Fix your behavior, fix your attitude towards this marriage, because Saboor and I have reached a point where we might just keep Wafa here and find someone more suitable for her, that is not you." If Samar and I were to get divorced, I do not think I would want to remarry. . .I would just stay at home, and be with Baba and Amma.

"Then do it," Samar said. 

Baba raised an eyebrow at him, "Excuse me?"

"Wafa and I both are not happy in our marriage. You know, Saboor Ammi knows, my parents know, what is everyone doing waiting around for? It's 2028, I feel that the word divorce should become more normalized." Samar sat up straighter. This was not good, "I had come here to truly apologize Baba, but if we really are getting into whether I deserve her or not, I think the conversation should be something else."

My heart thumped at his attitude change, furrowing my eyebrows I looked over at Amma who was just as disappointed as I was in his behaviour. "Samar," I say putting my chai cup down, "Do not talk to Baba like that." 

Samar looked at me raising an eyebrow, "I am just having a conversation Waliyah,"

"No, you are not, you are trying to provoke him." I retorted, "You said you wanted to come to apologize, and you promised me you wouldnt create another misunderstanding."

"And you believed him?" Baba asked bewildered at my stupidity, 

"Baba," Samar said gaining his attention, "I did come to do what I had told her, but what I do not like is when you and my parents begin to tell me that I do not deserve Waliyah. I think she does not deserve me, especially after how she betrayed Amal and I."

"And how did she do that?" Baba asked, tired of his accusations, "By falling in love with you?"

"Exactly that."

"Tell me Samar, did she ever express that she is in love with you?" Samar had no answer, "Did she ever do anything to break you and Amal apart?" Nothing again, "Did she ever go to Amal and ask for you?" Silence, 'Or did she sacrifice her happiness and love for the sake of your relationship to blossom?" Samar looked up at him in anger. 

"Then why did she tell Amal a day before she was about to die? Why did she-"

"Mariam did!" Baba said slightly raising his voice, "Mariam went to Amal while she was lying on the hospital bed with her diary that she stole from our home. Mariam liked you, but now she is happily married to a man in Lahore, who has double amount the of money that you have. Mariam wanted the money you have, and Amal was after your love, while my Wafa was handing you her best friend with all her faith and belief." Samar sat stunned, "Mariam never wanted you and Amal to be together, but Wafa made it happen, so when she could do something to hurt her, she did it. My Wafa has pure love in her heart for you, not betrayal or bad intentions."

"She showed me her diary too." Samar said, "The things that are written in there."

"Some are not true," Amma said, "Mariam used to get her in trouble all the time Samar, she has a talent of mimicking handwriting. . .our Wafa would never wish death upon her sworn sister. Mariam has always been jealous of Wafa and Amal's bond, she showed the original copy to Amal and the copy she made to you."

Samar breathed out heavily, "Why was I not told this before?" Did it really matter? Why did he not trust me over Mariam Api? 

"When did you ask?" Baba replied back, "You just jumped to conclusions over a girl who went through hell and back to help you get the girl you wanted Samar."

Samar looked over at me with disbelief. "I just lost Amal, I was vulnerable-"

"So was Wafa." Baba cut him off, "Trust is the biggest thing in a relationship that keeps it balanced Samar. When Marima came to you, you should have realized that Wafa would have never written those things about her, not when it came to Amal."

"Can I see the original diary?" Samar asked, of course, he needed to see it because anything Baba was saying was flying over his head. Samar did not want to trust me, he wanted to live in his illusion that I was the bad guy, Mariam Api was his saviour, and everything that he knew about me before she had shown him the diary was all a lie.

Amma was about to tell him where it was but I stopped her, "I burned it." I said firmly, Amma looked over at me shocked, "The night you and I got married, I burned it."

Samar looked over at me confused, "Why?"

"Because I do not need to prove anything to anyone, not even you Samar." I stood up, "I know who I am, I know what I did or did not do, you can continue to live in your world fascination of making me the villain of your life, and Api the hero."

He scoffed standing up as well, "Or maybe the diary doesnt exist."

I shrugged, "Maybe it doesn't"

"Wafa," Baba interjected, but I shook my head. I came here to make a decision about whether I wanted to leave Samar or not, and right now I am definitely leaning onto the leaving side. My partner should not need to see the diary, he should just beleive my parents, beleive what they are saying, because they have raised me. But here was Samar Qureshi, thinking he was high and all mighty wanting proof after insulting my Baba asking him to marry me off to someone else like I was a piece of furniture.

"I have tried," I said breathing out heavily, "I really have to open your eyes Samar, but if you still need proof of my innocence, then maybe Baba is right, maybe it is time to make a decision."

Samar stood up crossing his arms, "Maybe it is, Waliyah."

"Abhi tum dono gusse mein ho." (Right now you two are mad at each other.) Amma tried interjecting but Samar and I ignored her.

"My decision is fine, I want you gone. I have had enough of hearing your voice, seeing you every morning, and dealing with my family chanting your name as if you are some angel walking around on earth." Ouch. 

I cross my arms as well, "I am still making my decision, why do you think I came here?"

Something changed in his eyes, "What?"

"Do you think I have no self-respect?" I questioned him, "These four years were just me giving you a period of grace, to see if you would change, to see if maybe you can stop being an asshole."

"Wafa!" Amma said firmly,  but once again met with avoidance on my part. 

"But no, Api and Bhai's anniversary is the last time I let you treat me like that Samar, so I came here to decide whether I want to come back to that house, or if I want to stay at my home, where I am respected and cared for."

"So?" Samar said, coldness glazed over his eyes once again, the same coldness that I had been dealing with for the past four years. 

"I'm making up my mind," I say keeping my gaze locked on his not backing down. 

Samar rolled his eyes and backed away grabbing his keys and wallet, "Make it faster, I do not want to waste any more time."

"Me either!" I said quickly as he walked away not looking back once, and slammed our house doors shut. 

"Wafa!" Amma said shaking my arm, "Yeh kya tha?" (What was that?)

"Let her be Saboor," Baba said, taking my side. "Let her think about herself for once, do not interfere."

Amma backed off, carefully watching me, "When will you make your decision?" Baba asked,  "We will support you either way."

"End of Ayra's wedding," I say back looking over at him, "I do not want to be a mood ruiner during it. Ayra has waited a long time for this, let's not focus on me, but on her."

"Understood," Baba said, he walked off into the house leaving Amma and I alone. I began gathering the cups and plates. 

"Wafa, why did you lie?" Amma asked softly, "Samar would have finally understood-"

"He should not have to ask for proof Amma," I said tiredly, "I have not done anything wrong, I am not a criminal that needs to plead to the judge for their innocence. Samar is not that important."

I began to walk away but Amma said something that stunned me, "Then why do you still look at him the way you did four years ago? Why are you still waiting for him to love you back Wafa?"

Inhaling sharply I turn back towards her, "Love isnt a switch that I can turn off Amma, but I will stop loving him,  slowly but surely. . .I will because I have had enough."

I came back home to slowly unlearn how to love Samar, I needed to filter him out of my system, I had made up my mind already that I wanted to walk out of his life, but I needed time to actually do it. I needed to learn how to live without him before I could stop loving him.