She sits in front of him, waiting for her brother to say something about her secret.

"How do you know that?" Tauheed asked, confused

She bites her lips, "T-That-"

"Was it Amir?" Tauheed roared in anger, "P-Please don't tell me that he-".

"When I turned sixteen and started my cycle a little later than most girls. He said I was old enough to be someone's wife and when I am untitled to only that there is no use in waiting".

Tauheed stumble as he sits on the couch behind him, "D-Did he-?"

She shakes her head, wiping her tears, "No. That man was old about 30. He said he wants me to take the test to prove my- t-to-"

Tauheed moves from the couch, sitting in front of her as he holds her hand.

"Amir, had you take that test?" Tauheed asks in a low menace voice and she nodded, "And they took the test which shows the results that you can't be a mother?"

She nodded, "Amir was angry. That man I was supposed to marry was going to pay him a large sum. Because I can't bear children he cancelled everything".

"I don't care about that". Tauheed said, "What did Amir do to you?"

"Is that important?" She felt her voice rising, "I just told you how much of a burden I am".

She felt frustrated. Maybe if he just hurt her in some way like she imagined she will be at ease.

Tauheed chuckle, diverting her attention to him, "We are one messed up family". She frowns, "I killed our father, does that disgust you?"

"He deserves it".

"And you believe you deserve to be treated differently from any other woman? Why? Because you can't bear someone's children? When did we ridicule women for just producing children?"

"What are you saying?" 

"I am saying that even before you told me this secret, you were my precious younger sister that I can do anything for". Tauheed grin, "And you are still my precious sister. It will never change, no matter what. I didn't care and didn't love you for benefits or to receive anything just like how you don't care for me because I provide for you. You care for me with my imperfections, and I care for you because I never had a family and I will be dammed if I let these small things change that. You are my family, you will be my family until the end".

"B-But no one will marry me. No one will want me. You have your family-"

"I will stop you there, sorry". Tauheed said, smiling, "If you wish to truly marry we will have to find a man who looks past all these things. Marriage is not an ultimatum and definitely not something that decide our worth. I will never subject you to that. You do your thing, a man comes around who can promise to give you the world and shows you that, then you decide what you want to do. I will still be here. As I said, you are my family long before I found Sarah. I will never abandon you just after I found you".

She hugs him.

She remembers when they hug for the first time and she felt the protection and care of her brother. For the first time, she felt alive in her brother's arms.

"As for Amir. I will have him pay for all the pain he caused you". Tauheed promises

He watches from Yazeed's terrace to the opposite direction to find some glimpse of her. He hasn't seen her in about a week. He didn't have any classes so he didn't go to university and also because Tauheed is always around.

It's like every time he is with his sister Tauheed appears from the dust. It almost paranoid him. That man appears from all directions.

"Why are you looking at my house?"

He stilled.

He turns around to find Tauheed looking over his shoulder and he gulped.

"What are you looking at?"

He takes a step back, and another. Just as he said, this man appears from anywhere.

"Nothing. I was here because you said you have a mission". He said, walking to get a glass of water

"I saw the cat". Tauheed said and he starts to cough, "Must say that annoying brat sits on my couch like it's hers".

"She was beaten to death when I found her".

"We don't even leave animals". Tauheed said, sighing, "You are appearing everywhere and saving everyone".

He clench the glass in his hands, wondering if his sister told him about their first encounter. After he dreamt of the same misery again it was hard to face her. A voice in his head continuously drags him back to the darkness. It chills his bone to death.

"What's the mission?" He asked, ignoring his stares

"It's about trafficking. Although I believe it's more of a kidnapping children against their will and pushing them in the dirt".

He felt his heart stop. No, it can't be happening again. No, no, he ended it. He ended it all. Why does it all sounds familiar?

"Who is involved?"

"Some rich politician, businessman, police and more". Tauheed said, shrugging, "We need to move fast".

He narrows his eyes at Tauheed who looks distracted. He wasn't throwing his usual comments and not even glaring at him as usual. The times he has met him a week ago, he was always at his head. Even when he calls for mission his voice wasn't that of challenge. It was just raw and simple. Not his usual self at all.

"Is something wrong?" He asked, as he stiffened, "Is Aima ok? Did something happen? I haven't seen her for a week is she hurt?"

"Why do you care?"

He frowns, "What?"

"Why do you care about my sister? Or if she is hurt?"

"So, is she?" He needs to know the answer before he runs across the road to get to her

"No. I guess she is fine".

"What do you mean by 'guess'". He asked, almost ready to pounce at him to get his answers

"She is just hurt and scared". Tauheed replied, "I don't know. I have a psychiatrist for her. She started it. I just don't know what I can do for her".

"Can I see her?" He asked, hesitating

Not because he didn't want to meet her. He just wants to do this right. He wants to meet her after knowing that she is hurting. He knows she is hurting. He was stupid to believe that a cat will help her if he wasn't there.

"Lunch will be ready in an hour. Join us". Tauheed said, patting his shoulder as he walks out of the house

He was anxious to be at lunch. He didn't even change from his business attire because that means he will have to leave and come back. He wonders if she was doing ok and what causes her this pain. He should have asked Tauheed the name of the person who caused it so he can pay a visit.

About an hour later, she changes into a different set of clothes after her brother demanded and said they have visitors. Her brother never asks her to do so and she didn't think much. Her appetite is very low these days. She holds her cat, petting it as she descended the stairs.

Just as she steps into the lounge her eyes widen looking at him. It's been a difficult week. With her brother knowing about her and the way she is around this man, she didn't want to go through the pain. Zubair doesn't know her secret and she didn't want to start something that will end badly for the two of them.

The cat wiggle in her hands running to Zubair who picks it. She watches amazed at how the small cat was nuzzling in his big arms who holds it securely and when the cat makes a sound of disappointment he immediately starts to pet it.

"Traitor". She mumble when he laughs and she felt all her worries vanishing

"She was mine before she was yours". He said, smiling as he walks closer to her

She inspect his wounds which were now healing properly. His face was visible to a new level now. With bruises, she just imagine how he will look without them. She didn't think that his bare face will cause her heart to start beating loudly. She just hopes he didn't hear the sound.

"You don't look well". He commented and she flush, "Is my cat troubling you?"

She shakes her head because this cat always stays by her side whenever she was down.

"Just life".

"Well, that shouldn't be stopping you this young". He said, sighing, when the cat runs out of his arms, "You are still young, Aima. What is that troubles you so much and stop you from doing what you want?"

"Overthinking". She said, shrugging, "I guess if I found some truth later in life it would have been easy".

"You mean to say that being oblivious to truth would have brought you comfort?" He asked, with a bitter laugh, "Yeah. I thought that once. If I had known the truth, no, if I never found the truth it would have been better. But if I didn't, how many more lives would be at stake? How many more people would have gone through the pain?" He sighs, "It is not that being oblivious saves us. At times, it hurts more. You don't understand why things are happening and what can you possibly do to do better. At least, knowing the truth, you can structure and plan accordingly".

"What if there is no solution?"

His eyes find Tauheed&Sarah who are trying to act like they are not interested in them. He shakes his head at their behaviour.

"There is always a solution. Sometimes it means that you accept who you are and never let any other being shake you".

She smiles, slightly, "Your face looks better".

He laughs, "Don't count on it. It will be the same soon".

"Why?"

"I work with your brother".

Her eyes widen in shock, "You too?"

"Why? You don't like it?"

She shifts, awkwardly, "My opinion doesn't matter".

"It does to me".

He heard Tauheed aggressive coughing as his wife hits him taking him away.

She twirls the end of her hijab in her hand, "Oh. It scares me whenever bhai (brother) goes in these things. I already lost of my family and I don't want to lose anyone else".

A grin appears on his face, "So you are scared for me?"

Her cheeks flush, as she stutters, "Ah, I mean if you don't go around hitting everyone would be nice".

"I can't promise that. Some people deserve to be beaten".

She nodded, "How about you promise only to hit those who deserves it?"

He looks around to find Tauheed looking at him with a smirk. Because in that last challenge against Tauheed he was going all out to kill whoever he found. He just didn't want to stop and even think that the people there deserve a chance even after Tauheed warning to not kill everyone, he did. They were all monsters using women and selling for their enjoyment.

To promise her will mean he will have to shut down his high emotions and cage his devil to not do things rationally.

He turns to look down at her while she gazes at him, hopefully. The worry was there in her eyes as she watches the scar on his face and the worry that he will go through it again. That worry he never saw in anyone eyes and once her eyes connected to him. He was done for. He felt his heart and mind at war.

"I promise".

He heard a laugh and he looks at Tauheed irritated as Aima blushes going to Sarah who calls for her. He rolls his eyes at Tauheed childish behaviour. If someone told him that this is the man behind the one who always pushing him around, he will probably kill them.

For some reason, Tauheed seems like a guide to him. Someone he can look at and ask things. Someone who is always there. Supporting him. He never had support in his life. Everyone has something they want from him.

"Who hurt her?"

He needs a name. A name he can provide to his devil to devour.

"Amir". Tauheed said, rigid, "He is my twin".

His fist clenched as anger coursed through his veins. His devil starts to pound against him wanting to be unleashed so he can go and break the man in every way possible.

"A rahy hain?" (Are you coming?)

He opens his eyes instantly connecting to her eyes, "Ap bolaein gi toh kyun nahi". (If you call me, why not)

She giggles and he knows it's the best and only sound he needs around him. If possible, he wants to be the reason for it.

He sits on the dining table, which was just a glimpse and check-up on her and to find the reason for her pain turns into something more. Something he fears and something he starts to crave again.

Family.

He watches how everyone was sitting around comfortably without a care of the world simply eating and spending time together. Tauheed teases his wife about something to which she threw a salad leaf at him and he laughs. He turns to watch Aima who was looking at the cat who was busy eating in the corner.

Her eyes turns to meet his eyes and he felt captivated and this intimate moment to share and sit here with her started to knock on his heart. He wants to share more of these small innocent moments. When she smiles at him, he wants these small smiles of her with that faint blush covering her cheeks obviously because of his gaze on her.

He wants to reach to her and envelope her in his arms. He wants to speak to her and listen to whatever she has to say to him. He wants her by his side. With respect, care and love. Love that he hides from if it means sharing a meal with someone who brings comfort, he will do it. He will do anything.

"What's the plan?" He asked, as he swings his gun in his hands looking at Tauheed who frowns, "Something's wrong?"

"This is the dark web house". Tauheed explained, darkly, "There will be things you might not want to see and something you haven't seen. Do not lose yourself".

He snickers, "Tell yourself that".

Tauheed place a hand on his shoulder and he found that his eyes has turned dark, "I mean it, Zubair". He places pressure on his shoulder, "Don't lose yourself".

He nodded.

They open the backdoor hiding their weapons as they found people going around them. Men barely wearing clothes as there was a room that he knows shit is going on about with the screaming that's happening here.

Their men break-in after them as they continue to walk in the middle while they drag the men out of these cabins and the others saving the victims. He knows they will all of to the survivor house of Tauheed's. The one place they can actually live in. Maybe even get to feel alive again.

As a man came after them, he swings his gun shooting him down. Tauheed breaks into a fight as he went to another door and he went to the last one. He kept his calm before he opens the door.

It all came down in a minute. A minute of his life where he consider why was he even alive. What was the reason? In the minute where the darkness consumes him and devour him. In the moment where he stops his hope and dreams of his future with a beautiful wife by his side and children running around him. Everything that he wishes seems so stupid.

He looks at the man who looks at him horrified because the look in his eyes told the man that he won't just be shot down. This man will die a very painful death for what he was going to do.

His eyes turn to the scream coming from the metal table. He saw the man trying to move past him when he shoot his legs to keep him there. His feet start to drag him to the cries of the victim on the table as he stands in his full length looking down at a small naked baby probably of two months crying his lungs out.

Bruises cover his body and he turns to find the camera there recording the horrifying act that the monster has paid to watch. He shudder when he thought of what they were going to do to an innocent baby.

His arms automatically in a trance reach forward to the naked baby as he brings the child closer to his chest. He push his jacket open as he wraps it around him when he felt that the baby was cold.

Instantly, the baby stops crying looking at him with big round green eyes waiting to see what he will do next. At least, the baby faith didn't break in humans.

He pulls the baby closer as his arms wrap around him, protectively, "You are safe. You are safe with me now".

A promise he was meant to keep.