"Say, "Whether you conceal what is in your breasts or reveal it, Allah knows it. And He knows that which is in the heavens and that which is on the earth. And Allah is over all things competent." (Al Quran 3:29)

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

The tears she had been holding in for so long began falling down her face; one hot teardrop after another, until her face was drenched with tears. Short gasps of sobs rocked against her ribcage, unable to contain within her breaking heart any longer.

"—I love you forever."

Her own words continued ringing in her ears, tormenting her with no room for solace. She felt as if her heart was literally breaking apart inside her chest. It hurt so much that felt she was bleeding tears.

With a sob, she placed a shaky hand on the door he had slammed shut on her face just a while ago.

By now, she had begun to whimper uncontrollably. Alif knew she should leave because if Zargham heard her he would get more mad. And then he would hate her even more than he already did—if it was even possible to hate someone anymore than this.

Biting down on her lips, she made a futile attempt to suppress her tears. With shaky hands she wiped away her tears and began to take steps away from his door and into her old room.

'it will be okay...he is back now...he is finally back...i will do better...i will improve and love him more...then he will come to love me again...'

She started telling herself while lying down on the bed. Pulling up her legs to her chest, she hugged them tight for solace. Teardrops continued to drip down the bridge of her nose and getting soaked into the bedsheet.

'it is going to be okay...he married me because he loves me...we will be together...forever...' She kept telling herself over and over again, until her consciousness began to fade.

5 YEARS AGO

"'It's Rehmat—' The nurse had announced as she held you out infront of your Abbu jaan (father)." Raheela continued in a solemn voice. Her eyes glistening with treasured memories of their past.

"And then?" 17 year old Alif's voice reverberated through Raheela's fingers, which were in the midst of massaging Alif's hair with mustard oil. For a second only, Raheela paused, as if lost in a train of memories of long past. With a slight dismissive shake of head, she allowed a small smile to break across the corners of her lips, which exhibited wrinkles; revealing her age old wisdom.

"Then—" Raheela began with some forethought, while Alif braced herself for what came next; even though she had listened to this story countless times by now. Yet, she tightened her arms around her knees, pulling them closer under her chin as her body trembled with anticipation.

"—Your Abbu Jaan took you in his arms, carefully and gently—as if holding the most beautiful and precious treasure of this universe—" Alif was so immersed in the tale that she failed to sense her breath hitching in her throat, or her eyes widening in fascination.

"—And just as he placed a peck on your beautiful, pink forehead, you opened your eyes wide and broke into the most divine smile that we had ever seen..." Raheela's voice trailed off with a sigh, whereas Alif broke into a fits of giggles, which she covered with her hands.

"Abbu jaan was very happy, huh?" She inquired with a mischevious grin, while twisting in her seat and looking up at Raheela, who was sitting behind Alif, massaging her head with tears pooling in her eyes.

"Yes, our sweet Jaan. Your Abbu jaan, Ammi jaan—everyone couldn't have been happier—After all you were the answer to our long years of supplications—" Raheela was still saying when Alif's head dropped in a slump. Immediately Raheela realised her mistake and shut up.

Alif was only 9 years old, when Asifa had returned to her Creator after suffering for a short interval from a rare endometrial cancer. For an entire year Shahid couldn't cope up with her death. However, upon seeing how much Alif was silently suffering, he dropped everything, his business and home in North America and moved back to his family home in Swat, Pakistan.

His family had generational wealth and Shahid was its sole living heir. Upon Shahid's return, he took back control of everything and threw himself into making the business flourish.

Prior to Shahid's return, his father's illegitimate son, Shaukat was taking care of it all in Shahid's stead. That was until one day he died too, because of his drinking problems and mixing in with the wrong crowd who did away with him. He left behind his widow, Shabnam and their son, Zargham at the estate; who was about 5 years older than Alif.

Despite all this Shahid didn't make his step sister-in-law leave. Instead, he did his best to make them feel that it was as much their home as his. Shahid left the upbringing of Alif in the care of Raheela, their family's elderly maid; who made sure Alif was given the rightful treatment as the one true heir and did everything in her power to make sure everyone else knew it too.

Alif was dotted upon by everyone. She was a beautiful child, both inside-out. Her sweet smile and disposition had immediately made her the apple of everyone's eye. She was brought up with every possible luxury and was spoiled to the maximum. Yet, it didn't make her lose respect or regard for those around her. She was a sensitive soul at heart and took great measures to tend to the needs of others. Through and through she was a living and breathing relic of her mother. Even so, the only thing Raheela or anyone else couldn't do was fill in the gap left by her mother's death, or the absence of her busy father. All of which affected Alif more than she would ever dare admit to anyone.

"Aaah. I am famished now. What is for lunch khaala (aunt)?" Alif stood up with a sigh; stretching her arms high above her head while still in her seat. Raheela watched the back of her head with a forlorn and dejected look. That's when their gaze caught on Zargham coming in through the main gate.

Immediately Alif's face became flushed and a shy, coy smile took its place on her features, as she began fixing herself.

"Raheela go get my slippers ." Zargham remarked crassly in an authoritative manner without any trace of warmth whatsoever, just as he reached them.

Raheela looked over at Alif first and upon catching the lost look on her face with her gaze glued upon Zargham; she turned to leave, shaking her head in defeat.

"Salam—" Alif murmured bashfully and straightened up. Fixing her oiled hair by draping a dupatta over it.

"What have you been upto?" He inquired blankly instead and carelessly took a seat next to her on the charpaai (cot), only a breadth apart from her. Alif felt her cheeks heat up from the close proximity. But she didn't hate it. In reality, she actually liked it—missed it, looked forward to it more than anything.

"Nothing much.." She returned with a slight shrug, turning her gaze to her lap shyly.

"That's not good. Don't you have exams coming up?" His voice was deep and rough like a man's—and made Alif feel her heart quickening upon hearing it always.

"mm.." She hummed in response, fidgeting with the ends of her dupatta. As much as she tried to appear unfazed, his presence always made her lose her wits.

"Guess what I got you." He flashed her a half grin, leaning in close; his hand pressing on the chaarpai causing it to dip.

"what..?" She looked up at him through her thick lashes and found out that he was close enough for her to touch if she moved her head just a bit further.

"Guess." His brow raised slightly in response and his smirk deepened. He kept gazing confidently right into her eyes, while she felt herself looking away with a gulp. With a short chuckle he leaned back and pulled out something from the shopping bag in his hand.

"Ta-da!" He smiled his half grin and with some difficulty Alif shifted her gaze to his hand holding out the Durbish for her; a traditional sweet bread delicacy of their region which he had bought from her favourite store.

Immediately her face had lit up with a smile.

"it's my favourite—" She was reaching out in joy to grab it with a grateful smile.

"—but it's not my birthday..." she continued as her voice faltered towards the end and she looked up at him in slight confusion, who was in turn looking down at her with a mischievous gaze.

"So? I don't need any occasion to make my sweet Alif happy, do I?" He leaned in and she instinctively pulled back. Her heart was hammering loudly against her chest, as she fixated her gaze down on her lap. She could feel his intense gaze upon her, but didn't have the strength to look up.

"You didn't answer me." He remarked in a soft whisper. His warm breath caressing the side of her face. But she couldn't dare utter a single word. Her breath was becoming uneven and shaky.

"yes..." she managed to let out a soft murmur, her head hanging low in embarrassment. He noticed her getting flustered and placed a finger under her chin, making her look up at him.

"You know why? He asked again, peering deep into her eyes. His action was so unexpected that it caught Alif off guard and she completely forgot to breathe.

"Because YOU are MY favourite." Zargham cooed at her softly and with a sharp gasp she immediately let out the breath she had sucked in. Catching her blush, he smirked in a half sly grin and Alif abruptly turned her gaze down in mortification. Her heart was hammering wildly against her ribcage and she felt like it will give away any moment now.

"Okay?" He pressed on, not letting go of her chin and she had to meet his gaze once again to give him a short sharp nod.

"..okay.." she murmured softly and returned her gaze back to her hands clutching her dupatta in her lap.

Assalamualaikum wa rehmatullahi wa barakatuhu! JazakAllah khairun for waiting☺️Hope you liked the update inshaAllah❤️Don't forget to vote and share your thoughts❤️🥰