Don't tell me Moray she came here for Nikkah's proposal. Mah Laaj sixth sense alarmed her something.

Ah! Yes! How did you know about that? Her mother was confused.

Mah Laaj felt like someone just snatched a ground under her feet. Everything was going so fast that she didn't know how to cope up with it.

She was spacing out when Mah Laaj's father called her.

Mah Laaj beta (daughter)! Come, your In-laws are here to meet you. Afsand Yaar Khan spewed out politely.

She was standing still when her mother jerked her hand a lil.

Mah Laaj your father is calling you. And take this tea trolley along with you. She said it anxiously because Mah Laaj was not looking well.

She just nodded and went out in that trance. There was a volcano bursting in her head not knowing which step would snatch her inside that volcano and burned her.

She did this engagement because Mah Laaj's father's heart condition has been worsened these past few months. Her father wanted to see her happy with her in-laws like every father wishes for.

She remembered the day when her father got a second heart attack, Umar worked like a maniac. He was there for him and she was very grateful to him because if he was not there Mah Laaj dad might have died.

When her family got the news that Umar still wanted to marry Mah Laaj her father happily engaged her with him.

No one knows the actual reason behind Umar being impatient to get married to Mah Laaj.

The day that photographer told about Minhaaj Sikander, Umar was fuming in anger and wanted to take revenge for rejecting his proposal.

He remembered all the words of his mother that Mah Laaj is a characterless girl. All the boys of the family are around her fingers. She uses everyone. She is just like her mother.

Now he didn't like Mah Laaj at all. The planning of their family was that Umar will leave Mah Laaj in their house and get married abroad. They wanted to destroy the pride of Afsand Yaar Khan and wanted to take off the mask of innocence from Mah Laaj's face.

Mah Laaj served them tea and sat down on the single couch. Umar was sitting the opposite of Mah Laaj and was not staring even at her side.

Umar's mom came near to her and patted her head with fake love.

Come sit near me Mah Laaj beta (daughter). I'll be going to be your mom as well. Her feigning act was top-notch.

She kissed her head with love but Mah Laaj heart was running wild just at the thought of losing everything.

She knew she would lose herself soon because she was not prepared but seeing her Baba alive and happy she was ready to sacrifice everything. Her happiness too.

Later everyone decided that the wedding took place in Mah Laaj's house in the week with only a few guests because according to Umar's family they didn't want to put the burden on Mah Laaj's father as he was not well.

Moreover, Umar was going out of the country for some job thing so that's why they wanted the marriage done so soon.

At first Afsand Yaar Khan protest that they should do a large wedding and how would he handled all the things in just a week but later when Umar insist that he would like a simple wedding and he would do everything, Mah Laaj's father handed down his weapon.

Only if he knew what those monsters were going to do with his daughter he would never take that decision.

The turbulent thoughts were disturbing her all night. Why everything was moving so fast that she felt like she was left behind. In just one week she will be no more her Baba's daughter and her Moray's love.

She was missing her Lala too. Mah Laaj unlocked her phone and started watching the pictures of her Lala when that person's picture came up also.

The one who left her and the one who killed her alive and the one who gave her a lesson never believe in men because they all are crap.

Mah Laaj wanted to delete that picture where Minhaaj was sleeping and drool was coming out of his mouth but she didn't.

She smiled unknowingly. Mah Laaj opened their Soon Valley folder and begin to scroll down.

Her hands were hauled when she noticed something in that picture that was near to her heart.

Minhaaj was looking at her with adoration and fondness in the background when Mah Laaj was taking her picture with a "V" sign.

A tear went out of her eyes threshold and slide down to her cheek.

What this strange emotion was building up in her chest she couldn't contemplate.

You guys were just friends! Good friends nothing else than why you're feeling like he betrayed you when he left. Her mind said.

Because there was another bond. The heart spoke up too in his defense.

No! Don't give her wrong signals. Mind protested.

I just said what she hid in me. The heart asserted calmly.

Between the fight of old enemies, everything messed up.

Mah Laaj brushed off all the feelings and thought that it would be great if she don't go to university tomorrow because if she did she would break down in front of Aftab and her other friends.
________
Black stork Headquarters

Black dog we finally got our hands on the weak point of Dildar Khan. Umar came rushing inside the room said with enthusiasm.

Minhaaj glanced at him with a straight face and just nodded. He was occupied doing something on the whiteboard.

Sir, we got the information that Dildar Khan is planning to move all the files from his secret dungeon to Asad Bukhari's new farmhouse. We can catch him red-handed there. Umar shared all the news he got from his informer.

Okay, I got you. Send me all the details and tell everyone to leave early. I'll set up all the plans and inform you guys tomorrow. He explained it between drawing some lines on the board.

Umar stayed there just to see if he would say something more but after Arzu's death, he changed.

He used to wear that unbothered mask in front of the world but not with them but now he wore it in front of them. And Izza behavior was not letting him throw that mask away.

There was tension going on between them which no one was ready to solve.

Minhaaj knowing that Umar was still standing behind him, spoke up.

Umar if I need you I'll ask for help for sure. Just go! Don't worry about me. Your daughter needs you more. He uttered without any emotions.

To Umar, he sounded like an empty can. Nothing was left inside. Minhaaj always shared his worries with him but not anymore. He closed the lid of that vessel long ago.

Umar walked out of the room without saying anything because he saw Minhaaj has put the wall between him and the world.

After working the whole night on the plan Minhaaj unlocked his phone and opened the tracking app.

The blue dot was flickering on his phone at a certain place. He just smiled wearily and let out a deep sigh.

He sat down on his chair and shut his eyes while putting his hand over them. He was exhausted but that blue dot was enough to take away all his worries.

The next day when the black stork came back to headquarter Minhaaj was already awake. He was giving the plan a final touch and already prepared coffee cups for everyone.

Everyone drank it except Izza. She threw the coffee in the washbasin and make coffee for herself.

Minhaaj watched it all and felt a pang in his heart but he didn't let it show on his face. This was the daily drama in the headquarters.

Saad and Ali were done with it. They don't want to lose either of them but seeing how they stopped trusting each other the plan was about to fail which they can't afford.

Izza what are you doing? Can please act like an adult for once. Ali asked in an irritated tone.

Yes, Izza stop being childish. Saad also spoke up.

What did I do? I just don't like coffee made by others. I have hands and I could use them. I don't need other people's mercy. So tell me where I was wrong. She raised her brows and asked the most obvious question.

You know what you did Izza, stop fooling around and come back to your senses. Acting like a 7-year-old won't bring back Arzu. Ali spewed out the most bitter truth.

Umar also felt like Ali shouldn't have to bring up Arzu's name in it but the milk has been spilled up.

Yeah! I know that. You don't have to throw the truth on my face like this. Tell this to your head because of whom she died. Izza yelled back crying and threw the cup while running out of the room.

She always acted like this because with Arzu she was always close and now living the life of Arzu as well, was eating her up from inside.

Seeing her parents sobbed and wanted to see her back was enough to make her go wild. She couldn't spew out anything in front of them that how she missed her too.

So whenever she saw Minhaaj she would either say some harsh words or never acknowledged him as her head.

Ali crouched to pick up the glass pieces whereas Saad went to take the mop. Minhaaj stood there without any emotions on his face.

Umar looked at the situation and went after Izza. She was squatting down on the balcony while covering her face with her hands.

Izza was sobbing silently. Her life was messed up because she couldn't able to save her.

Umar stopped and kneeled in front of her. Arzu knew who it was so she kept still.

I know it hurts you that won't able to save her. Living her life, with her parents makes you think that you're not worthy of that status. You're just venting out the frustration on Minhaaj. Even he knows that you never blamed him for Arzu's death. Just stop using this head of yours and look at the world with a fresh start. Stop eating yourself with guilt. In the matters of Allah, you know we don't have anything to say because whatever Allah did it's the best for all of us, right? So try to step up in the world without her. Not everyone here is to stay. Umar patted her head with his brotherly love and ambled back inside the house after telling her where she was wrong.

Izza knew that what Umar said was true but the guilt already ate her that it was difficult to recover.

Will she forgive herself and give it another chance? She contemplates within herself.

When Umar came back Minhaaj was already discussing the plan with others.

Without uttering a word he sat down in his chair quietly.

This farmhouse has many loopholes which are advantages and disadvantages for us. If they don't know about these areas then it will be an advantage but if they knew then we have to make plan C as well. Minhaaj showed them the map he drew on the whiteboard and begin to explain the details of how they will start the mission.

Izza was not there so Minhaaj thought it would be adequate if they don't include her in this mission. She was not emotionally stable and
"The Mission BFF" would start tomorrow night.
________
One day before Mah Laaj's Wedding

Mah Laaj's mother-in-law was waiting for her in the car as they have to go and pick the dress for her wedding.

She didn't wake up on time because Aftab was angry that why she was not going to uni. He waited for her but she was not there. All night she was apologizing and trying to tell him her situation but as Mah Laaj said he really has a pea-sized brain.

Mah Laaj promised to meet him after the wedding till then he should focus on getting a good politician.

While lots of thoughts were in her mind, she was working in haste, her hand touched the vase and fell to the ground.

Damn it! Why everything is messed up today? She muttered to herself.

While picking up the pieces she got a cut on her finger.

Ouch! She groaned.

Wow! Great! She shook her hand upside down in pain. Mah laaj opened the drawer and took out a bandage from it. She put it on her finger when her Moray came in rushing.

What are you doing here Mah Laaj? Your mother-in-law is waiting for you in the car. Go, I'll clean up this place. She said all in one breath and pushed Mah Laaj away from that place.

Mah Laaj just grabbed her shawl and settled it on her head nicely. She went out and saw a big scowl on her mother in law face because she was just half an hour late.

When Mah Laaj sat next to her in the car she spoke up.

Didn't Hadiqa teach you some manners? Don't you know that you shouldn't let elders wait? Oh God, I'll teach you some manners when you're in my house. She said all these words in such a sweet tone that Mah Laaj couldn't believe her ears.

I'm sorry Tai Jaan. I won't do this again. She apologized although she didn't want to.

If she was the old Mah Laaj she would've been snapped back but now she didn't because she wants this marriage to work for her family.

They went to a designer in the mall. Mah Laaj was checking out all the dresses but Umar's mother was always giving her some bitter words whenever she point at any dress.

Seriously your taste in dresses sucks...

Eww! Mah Laaj we are living in the 21st century. Who wears red color these days at their wedding...

This color definitely doesn't suit your tan skin...

Mah Laaj, at least try to choose an expensive dress. You know that many elite-class families are coming to your wedding. Leave this cheap identity in your parent house...

Umar hate this color...

And so on till her eyes stuck at one dress. She told her to change into this dress and told her that she would be wearing it.

It was a cream color full length frok with golden embroidery.

This color speaks that it was not a wedding dress but what Umar's mother said once nothing can change it.

Mah Laaj changed it and gave the measurements later. After three hours of selecting a dress, they went to eat something.

Mah Laaj you know this place better. Why don't you suggest some restaurants? She asked politely.

Mah Laaj just randomly picked a few restaurants because till now she knew that her Tai Jaan would choose opposite of her so there was nothing to think about.

Surprisingly she was okay with Haveli restaurant. They went out there to eat.

After ordering stupid things which Mah Laaj couldn't eat even a bit, her Tai Jaan spoke up after getting an anonymous call.

Mah Laaj I'll get going now as I have some important work to do so tell me how will you go back.

These words fall upon Mah Laaj like an unwanted rain. She was really far from her house and she couldn't able to bring her wallet in hurry.

I'll manage Tai Jaan. You don't need to worry. Just go to your important work. Mah Laaj asserted with a fake smile.

You... sure. She asked once again because she was thinking Mah Laaj might burst out at her with anger but she did the total opposite.

Mah Laaj just nodded because she was controlling her mouth. Just one more minute with her and she would show her practically what her mind was thinking about her.

To be continued...

So guys how was the chapter?

Don't you guys feel like punch Umar's mother in the face? Cuz that lady literally boiled my anger.

Umar Khan is really the nasty person in this whole world. If Mah Laaj rejected him, he shouldn't have to play with her. He is marrying her in revenge. Urgh, I hate men like that.

Minhaaj is going on a mission on the day of Mah Laaj's wedding. What do think will happen now? Would he be able to save Mah Laaj from these scary and shittiest people?

Wait for some awesome twists and turns in the next chapter because Hanan and Hania are coming too and will tell you guys about what happened last year.

Till then bye-bye ❤️