"What do you have?" The officer shrinks back in fear

Shayaan opens the door further, entering with a lawyer (Zohan) as he nodded to Musa. She realised that they must have been planning this all along.

"I have her dress which has the blood of Qayyum. I have images and a full doctor report on the attempted rape. I have footage from the hotel and the footage of when I found her. The way she looked and the way she was at that time". He slammed his hand on the table, startling her with his newly found anger, "Will that be enough, officer?"

"I have to check". The officer said

"No. Zohan (lawyer) did that. You have the arrest warrant now". Shayaan said, throwing the warrant to the officer who ran out of the room

She looks at everyone conflicted, confused and downright scared. She didn't know what was happening and she didn't know what will happen. The uncertainty of the future scares her.

"Rumi". Zohan said, sitting in front of her, "I will be your lawyer. These gentlemen explained everything so I won't be asking much. I know it is hard for you. But you need to trust me".

"Can you get me justice?" She asked lowly as she wipes her tears away, "They did all of that and everyone blames me".

"I will do my best. You know how our system and these people work. I do have a few connections so I will try my best". Zohan assured, "I will release a statement for you. I know you can't be in public yet. So, I will explain and clarify everything".

She nodded meekly.

She stands from her seat, stumbling and his hand reach out which stops before it touches her. She smiles slightly at the fact that he knows even when he wants to help her, there is a distance that he should maintain.

"You should leave now. I will stay here with Zohan and update you on everything". Shayaan interrupted their eyes contact

"I am so sorry--". She started

"Agar meri begum nae yeh sun liya toh shayeed mai a raat ghar se bahir so raha hoon ga". Shayaan said smiling at his wife thought, "You are like a sister to my wife and that means you are my sister too. I told you this is my work. You don't have to be sorry". (If my wife hear you say that then I might have to sleep out of my house)

She turned to say the same to Zohan who wasn't exactly looking at her.

"He can't see". Shayaan said and her eyes widen at his blunt words, "What?  This man takes his ability to not see as a joke".

Zohan rolls his eyes, "He is right. I stopped caring about my blindness since I met my wife".

"I have to meet your wife". She said smiling

"Mil toh tum lo gi bus dono mil k tabahi na shoro kar dayna".  (You will meet her just don't start destruction after meeting)

She laughs at his words and Musa smiles looking at her.

"I can't guarantee that". She said smiling, "I will leave. Please, let me know what happens next".

"Yes, Ma'am". They said

She moves out of the station with him, this time from the backside. She stops as she asks him to go ahead because she has to do something.

He waited for good twenty minutes outside the station. The worry of something happening to her starts to build within him.

As soon as he decided to check on her, she came running towards him with a beautiful smile on her lips. It's been a while that he hadn't seen her smiling. She genuinely looks happy.

"Kis cheez nae ittna khush kar diya hai apko, madam?"  (What made you so happy, madam?)

She sits in his car, grinning, "Bus kuch hai. It's a surprise".

"For me?"

She nodded, "Just for you".

He shrugged, "I hope it's not a payback or something. I don't want anything from you and I hate goodbyes".

"Why will I say goodbye to you?"

"I don't know. I just keep on thinking that once everything is done, will there be a reason for you to stay with me?"

"If you give me a good one, why not?"

"If I do give a reason, will you accept it?"

"If it is in my favour".

"There are so many ifs".

"That is not a no, at least".

"I want you to know something". He pauses, "I am sorry for not informing you early about this. I was going to when you started talking about not taking my help. I had the doctor who checked you collect the evidence and I had the footage ready. I didn't exactly helped you, I just told them my part of the truth".

"Thank you, Musa". She said genuinely smiling

She sits in the window, looking at the moon. She can't sleep. Not because she couldn't, her heartfelt uneasy. She continued observing until she heard the prayer call.

She feels the need to cry once, once in front of someone who can do anything impossible. She heard that Qayyum was brought in yesterday for investigation, her manager and a few more people who were caught in the footage.

She raises her hand, sitting on the prayer mat after the completion of her prayer. She felt a lump in her throat as she started to cry and beg for forgiveness and to find a way that was not in her sight. To open her eyes to the right in this world and the path that she needs to take.

She slept, crying, on the prayer mat.

She felt her body getting weak as she went to deep sleep. It wasn't every day that she could sleep this good. She felt the harshness under her which irritates her.

She opens her eyes, blinking for a few seconds to find herself in an extremely hot place. She starts to sweat profusely as she looks around the cave. She can't see any light no matter how hard she tries, she tried calling someone but her voice was gone.

She started to cry as she slammed her hand around to find a way out.

"Are you sure you were looking in the right direction for the light?" She heard someone say and she raises her head, looking around to find no one, "Are you sure you have done enough?"

"I don't know. I did everything. I tried so hard. every time I learn something new, every time I forget something and every time I go back to sinning. I hate myself so much for being so weak".

"Insaan ho, Rumi. Ek insaan jis ki galti ka toh khuda nae bhi kaha hai. Galti toh Hazrat Adam se bhi ho gayi thi jab k unho nae apne Khuda ko apni ankhoon se dekha tha. Tum kaise soch sakti ho k tum se galtiyaan nahi hoon gi? K tum gunnah nahi karo gi?" (You are a human, Rumi. A human whose mistakes are told by the Lord. Mistakes were even done by Hazrat Adam even when he saw Lord with his eyes. How can you think you won't make mistakes? And how did you consider yourself a sinner?)

"Lakn, mai kia karoon?" (But, what do I do?)

"Galti karo, us se seekho aur apne rab se maafi manglo us k darwaze hameshah khole hain". (Do mistakes, learn from them and then ask for forgiveness because Lord doors are always open)

She nodded, wiping her tears, "Per agar woh mujh se nazar ho gaye? Agar maine kuch kar diya jo un ko pasand nahi toh?" (But what if HE gets upset from me? What if I do something that HE doesn't like?)

"Galtiyaan sirf insaan maaf nahi karta. Maafiyan sirf insaan qabool nahi karta. Khuda, insaan ko badshah hai us ko ittna chota kaise samjh liya tum nae?" (Mistakes are only not forgiven by human. Apologises are only not accepted by human. Lord is the King of humankind how can you think of HIM as someone so small?)

"Mujhe dar lagta hai zindagi se". (I am scared of life)

"Toh woh zindagi jee lo jo tum chahti ho". (Then live a life you wanted to)

"Mere gunnah?" (My sins?)

"Khuda insaaf karny wala hai, Rumi. Woh bande ko saza zaror dayta hai per kabhi kisi k sath na-insafi nahi karta. Waqt do, apne ap ko, khuda ko aur sub cheezo ko. Jub waqt ho ga toh roshni bhi nazar a jaye gi". (Lord is just, Rumi. He do give punishments to people but he never do injustice. Give time, to yourself, to Lord and to everything. When the time is right you will find the light)

She opens her eyes when she heard a knock on the door. She wipes the sleep from her eyes as she finds him standing in front of her nervously.

"What's wrong?"

"There are a few more people who confess that they were harassed, raped and assaulted by that bastard".

Her eyes widen, "What is going to happen?"

"The media changed sides. They are on your side now". He said softly, "Since, the case is high profile we have a date of the court".

"When?"

"Tomorrow".

"I-I don't know what to say". She said as she felt something in her heart, something like peace

Waqt do. (Give time)

"I ordered breakfast. You should have some".

She nodded. She went outside to have breakfast after freshening herself. She heard the bell ringing and the loud sounds enters which stiffen her.

"Mom". She said shocked, "How? When?"

Her mother slapped her, holding on to her scarf, "What is this thing? What have you done?"

She saw her younger brother (25) chewing on gum as she continued to play games on his phone.

"I did what I had to do". She said pushing her hands away, "I don't see why I have to explain anything to you".

"How dare you? I taught you everything. I made you. This is what you did after everything?"

"You placed me in a place I shouldn't have gone in the first place".

"Now everything is wrong. I am a sinner now. Why? Because you found a man? Did he ask you to leave everything for him? Didn't you learned anything from my marriage?"

"My father died". She said horrified, "He didn't do anything. He died. He left us. Why are you dragging him?"

"That bastard should have left everything on my name".

She frowns, "What? What do you mean?"

"Your father property. He left it all in your name".

Her eyes widen, "What? I never received anything. I don't even--".

She realised something. Those papers she signed after her mother came back from the US in a hurry when she turned 20.

"You took them". She gasped, "How could you do that to me?"

"You are my child. You were meant to serve me".

"So, you threw me in this industry at the age of 8 for that?"

"Of course".

"Get out". She said, holding her hand in a tight grip, "Get out. Before I make you. Don't even think I will ever contact you again".

"You are ruined anyways".

Her mother left with her brother. For years, she worked hard because of her mother constantly pressure. Once she was 18, her mother left for the US with her brother and she was left with her manager. She never spoke to her mother because she always said she was busy. And for the one she sinned, left her. Just like his mother told her that when the end will come no one will even care for their loved one.

She sits on the couch, holding her head as she wonders what had she done in her life? There was so much betrayal, all from the people she worked for. She had led a wrong life which only ended in the wrong people.

"Rumi". He said softly as he sits in front of her

"I am fine". She said smiling as she looks at him, "I don't have to care about people who don't care about me".

He smiles, "You are right about that".

"Once this is over, I don't want to stay in the city".

"You can always come back to my place".

She nodded smiling.

A few months later:

She was grateful. For once in her life, she was.

For people, it takes months to get justice and her Lord provided her with it in few months. The continuous struggle of everyone with her didn't go to waste. Qayyum was jailed for life and her manager was jailed for 8 years. And her manager released those nude pictures on Qayyum orders. To degrade her.

She sent Musa and his mother back after a month. She didn't want to hold him back from his job. His mother needed their house to rest not an apartment, no matter how good it was.

Musa did argue that he was the boss and he could easily stay with her. She resisted the urge to slap him and sternly said to leave. Because he did had work pending, he went back.

Not before appointing guards and all other facilities for her. He checked on her every day, almost every minute and when she didn't answer his texts, he will call back immediately.

He didn't know what to do anymore. He spent hours wondering about everything. He had no idea that one night could changes so much for him.

"I was right about you reading my magazines". He heard her voice and his heart stopped, "I caught you".

He turned around to come face to face with her smiling face. He hadn't seen her months from this close, he had thought of going back at times but he didn't want her to worry more.

"You are here?"

"What do you think?"

"Did the results came out?" He asked confused, "I missed the date, didn't I?"

She shrugged, "So, want to tell me why all of my magazines are here? In your office?"

He looks at the magazine, "These are mine".

"Why do you have them?"

"Because the day you debuted, I have collected them all".

Her eyes widen, "What?"

He smiles, moving to the shelf where her first magazine that he had seen her in was.

"This was your first cover". He said, showing her the magazine, "Remember?"

"I don't even remember this one". She said, taking the magazine from him, "Why do you have it?"

"Because of you". He said softly, "Because the day I saw you, I wanted to know about you".

"So, you have been watching me?"

He shakes his head, "The only thing I see in these magazines was your eyes. I asked my mother why are weren't happy and she said maybe you were. I collected them to see how your eyes looked every time".

"How did my eyes looked?"

"Lost, empty and scared".

She looks into his eyes which looks at her with admiration, "What do they look like now?"

"My mother told me this when I asked her what was happiness". He said, stepping closer to her, smiling, "Dil ka sukoon. Aj tumhari ankhoon mai dekh raha hai". (Peace of heart. I can see it in your eyes today)

"Aur kuch nahi dekhta?" (There is nothing else you can see?)

"Jaise k?" (Like what?)

"Jaise k kisi ki khuwaahish? Kisi ki arzoo?" (Like a wish for someone? A desire for someone?)

"Tumhare dil ko abhi bhi karar nahi aya?" (Your heart is still not at peace?)

"Insaan hoon. Konsa ek cheez per sabar aur shukar karta hai. Hameshah kisi na kisi ki chah hoti hai". (I am human. A human never have patience and grateful for what they have. They always have wish for something)

"Kis ki chah hai tumhae, Rumi?" (Who do you wish for?)

"Tumhari". (You)

****

She stands in the garden, looking at the pretty flowers with a smile on her face. She never thought she will ever feel content with her life.

She feels a soft touch on her hand to find a flower and she follows the hand to find its owner.

Musa.

"What does this mean?"

"Love at first sight".

She looks at him, "What are doing?"

He grinned, "Mujh se shaadi karo gi?" (Will you marry me?)

*****
Why did you drag me here?" He asked, standing in front of the police station, "I thought we were done".

"No. We have something left". She said grinning at him, "I know it might not be the most appropriate gift--".

"Ho gaya tum logo ka?" Shayaan asked and he turned to find both Shayaan and Zohan, "Pata hai k naya naya piyaar hai per yaha logo ko aur bhi kaam hain". (Are you both done?) (I know you are newly in love but people have work here)

"Mujhe jub Mahak nae kaha tha k woh mujhe tease kary gi us nae tumhara naam nahi liya tha". (When Mahak said she will tease me, she never took your name in it)

Shayaan shrugged, "We are a set".

"Set se yaad aya. Yeh kia tum nae meri begum ko kaha hai k sara din ghar mai pagalo ki tarha ghoomti hai?" Zohan asked (I remember from set. What did you say to my wife that she runs in our house like a crazy woman)

She laughs, "Secret".

"What is happening? And stop making a second-class citizen. Honay wala shohar hoon tumhara".

"Honay wale ho na howay toh nahi". She said chuckling, "Follow the men, they will take you to your destination. I will be here". (You are soon-to-be not yet)

He frowns, following the two men inside as they take him to the farthest corner. He remembers this station, he lost so much here. His sister life, respect and himself.

These officers were all those he remembers.

"Why are we here?" He asked

"Look in front". Zohan said and he looks at him amazed at the way he speaks

He looks in front of and his eyes widen as his heart starts to thunder in pure rage.

This bastard. Her sister's husband.

He holds the steel bar, "How did you find this bastard? What is happening?"

"Rumi asked me". Shayaan said, "She explained everything and asked for my help. She did look desperate so I jumped into the case with Zohan. It took us some time because we were handling her case but we found the murderer of your sister".

"You can take your anger out on him. No one will say a word. After you are done, the officer will apologise, send a statement about your sister's character and you can punch them too". Zohan said nonchalantly

"She told me about your scar". Shayaan said, "She said you think it's pathetic but it shows how strong you were when you were in your lowest. She said she hopes whenever you reach a point where you want to give up, you look at that scar and remember how strong you are".

He gulped visibly not wanting to cry being overwhelmed by this situation.

After doing what Zohan asked for him and hearing the police admitting they were wrong, he felt at peace. The peace he lost with his sister, he felt that. He felt her care and comfort surround him like a soft duvet.

"Go to her". Zohan said rolling his eyes, patting his back

A few years later:

There is something she learned. People don't care about truth or fact. Even after countless statements from Zohan and Shayaan on her case. Even the judge who ruled it in her favour. People blamed her.

They continued to share her nude fake pictures and they continued to share all of her modelling pictures, saying this was her. They create accounts after accounts to post hateful comments.

Was. They don't seem to understand that.

She knows she can't erase her past, so she decided to live with it. It was the reason she had come this far in life. She cannot ignore it.

The worse part remains whenever she steps out of the house. People eyes haunt her as she takes steps, they strip her naked. They pass comments and tries to snap pictures. They can't just let her be.

She had broken down frequently. She didn't make it her weakness as Musa said, cry all you want but know that there are people who support you and are proud of who have become. There is someone who loves with everything he has.

He loved her. More than words.

She thought that someday, even when he was raging in anger, he will use that trick to degrade her as most men do.

He never did.

He never stooped low. He never disrespected her. Even if they have disagreements, they never let them be a part of their lives, just a phase.

She went to the therapist. Because she was scared. She was terrified of all the activities after marriage. She did found about it on her wedding night. She cannot stop watching Qayyum face.

So, she decided she didn't want that bastard to ruin her life.

For a year, she went to therapist after therapist to heal herself, to find her light and to find the reasons. She almost stopped going to therapy when she dreamt of light. A bright white shining light that almost blinded her.

She remembers that day. That dream.

She was cradled in a long white gown, in the same dark cave. This time, she didn't cry, she didn't think why, she didn't scream.

All she did was have patience.

She remembers his mother words, 'know when you need patience and when you need to fight back'

She remembers those words as she sits in the cave, reciting the words of Quran and the duas she learned.

For a very long time.

"Is it tiring?"

"It is. But I believe that my patience will bring me rewards that I can't see for now".

"You have grown, Rumi".

"I am still stuck".

"Do you know why?"

"No".

"Because even if you believe, you don't act. You need actions. You need to stop holding yourself back from the fear of the darkness".

"What do you mean?"

"You didn't even take a step, Rumi. You didn't once step ahead. You didn't try to move on".

She frowns, "I feel something heavy on my feet".

"That's the fear that is bounding you. You let that fear consume you".

"I can't". She said, trying to break free

"Say I will".

"I can't do this". She cried

"Rumi?". She heard her husband voice, "What's wrong?"

"I can't break free".

"You know what?" He said softly, "I am waiting for you. Are you not tired of this wait?"

"I am. I am sick of it".

"Then get rid of it". He said smiling, "I have a surprise for you".

"For me?"

"Just for you".

"What is it? Hello? Are you there? I can't hear you, Musa".

"Then walk to me so you can".

"Mama". She heard someone call and her heart leapt out at the cries of her children

"Mama".

She cried as she stands on her feet, dragging them forward. She felt like not moving, she wanted to stay here. Because we attract the darkness more than light.

Yet, she fought to go forward until she was going to fall to the ground when a hand holds her.

"I told you to trust me". Musa said grinning at her, "Look, kids, your momma is here. She found her light".

She did. She found her light.

She didn't exactly know what to do with her life as a career, she did feel she could help those who are lost like her so she started a campaign. It was still in the initial stages so she doesn't know how far it will stretch.

"Mama". She heard her two years old son (Rehan) cry as he wrapped his hands around her legs, "Dada is mean".

"Now what did he do to my precious son?" She asked, pulling him to her chest as he sighs

"He said he will play with me and he didn't".

"He is playing with Afifa?"

Her son nodded sadly, "Tell me see Dada".

She enters the room of her three years old daughter playing with her father as she teaches him. Afifa was the sunshine in her life. She never thought holding a new life in her hand would mean this much but she knows she will never let her suffer the pain she did.

Afifa likes to teach. She didn't learn much, just what her grandmother taught her about her religion and what she saw her mother doing. She always gives a proper class to her father.

She looks at her husband who was attentively listening to their daughter and a smile gaze at her lips. The admiration he had for her and her daughter was different yet endearing.

She cleared her throat as they both turned to her, "Musa".

"Ji, Musa ki Jaan?" (Yes, Musa's life)

She blushes at his words as usual as she spoke, "I heard that my son is deprived of her father's love".

A smile that has become a part of his life appears on his lips, "Asa gunnah kaise kar sakta hoon mai". (How can I do such a sin?)

She raised an eyebrow, "Toh kia mera beta jhoot bol raha hai?" (So is my son lying?)

He stands from his place, coming near her, "Hamara beta, begum. Tumhara akele ka nahi hai". (Our son. He is not yours alone)

She huffed, "Topic ko divert na karo. Kyun mere bacha ro raha tha?" (Don't divert the topic. Why is my son crying?)

"Apne bachy se pocho, mujhe kia pata? Mai toh apni beti k sath tha". (Ask your son how will I know? I was with my daughter)

Her daughter wrapped her arms around her, "Mama".

"Dokhy baz". He said, looking at his daughter who continues to look at her mother with doe eyes, "Is se acha tha apne bete k sath he time guzar layta. Kyun Rehan toh baba se piyaar karta hai?". (Betrayer) (I should have spend time with my son instead. Rehan loves dad, doesn't he?)

Rehan hides his face in her neck and she smirks at him, "Happy?"

"I am very happy". He said wrapping his arms around her, "I have my family with me for the rest of my life".

"Sambhaal lo gay hum sub ko?" (Can you handle us all?)

"Sambhaalna kia hai bus wohi karna hai jo dil ko sahi lagy, baaki khuda per". (What's there to handle? I have to do what my heart says is right and rest is on my Lord)

"Wese ek baat batao?" (Tell me something)

"Haan?" (Yes?)

"4 se 5 hona kaisa lagy ga?" (How will you like going from 4 to 5?)

His eyes widen in realisation and he couldn't even say much because his children were looking at him curiously.

"This is so cruel. You should have told me when we were alone".

She laughed.

Something that he started to love when he heard it for the first time. He had been trying to move past his guilt of not protecting his sister. He understands that hesitating and becoming a coward in front of evil is giving them power.

"Lakn 4 se 5 hona mujhe bohat acha lagy ga jub mujhe yakeen hai k tum hameshah mere sath raho gi". (But I will love to change from 4 to 5 as long as I know I have you in my life forever)

And they lived happily ever after with their pain, sorrow, growth, care and compassion for each other as they continued to search for their lights.

It was their beginning of the end.

That was them.

Musa and Rumi.

~~♡♡~~

DONE!!!! THIS IS THE END OF THEIR STORY.

God! This was such an amazing journey. I remember the idea pop in when I was thinking about Mahak and how her character was. I continued picturing the last scene where she takes off (it was so powerful) it was meant to have an impact.

The impact resulted in Rumi. The name Rumi came to me when I was reading Rumi poetry (it's so good). I did share one quote which was the base of this story in 52.3.

Musa, I liked his name. For both these characters, their name came to me naturally. Sometimes, I have trouble to find a suitable name according to their characters.

But, Musa was the first name that I thought to use in my next story and then it was Rumi.

There were lessons. So many and this whole time even I learned from them.

The whole dream part was what actually took my heart. These dreams part usually come to me without much thoughts and I absolutely love how they convey the message. What did you learn?

Thank you for all your support. I hope you loved the ending.

I waited for you all to realise who Zohan was, did you get it?

I will see you all soon.

Your author,

Faiqa