(3)

Hamid dragged her out forcefully. He had a firm hold over her mouth. Thrashing and smacking, she tried to free herself but the devil didn't give her any avail.

Slamming her against the car, the monster smiled at her sinfully with his yellow teeth, roughly pushing her hair out of her face, he whispered in her ear, "bitch will become mine today," a pungent smell of cigarette and alcohol erupted from his mouth.

Tears welled up in her eyes, her heart was racing a marathon. Gulping down the lump, she Clasped her hand together and looked straight into his eyes.

There are moments in our lives where we lose hope - we think that nothing can go wrong after this, we think that our life is destroyed over some specific incident or a wrong decision, but we forget one thing, one very important thing,

Even after every disastrous incident or decision, A human being always has a choice, a choice to fight or to become numb. A free-will that can either make or break one.

An option that Allah gave everybody - whether to go on the distracted path or follow the right direction.

And right now Zara chose that free will,

She chooses to fight, she chooses to compete till her last breath,

She won't let this man destroy her, she won't let him win. Not now, not ever!

Adrenaline ran in her system like wildfire. Bitting his palm vigorously, she forcibly kicked him between his thighs.

Screeching awfully in pain, he bent down against his car.

"You bitch!" He moaned in pain.

Finding this situation perfect, Zara turned to run but was bumped into Affan's hard chest.

His eyes were wide, fear evident in them.

He looked into her bloodshot eyes, tears were rolling out from her eyes like small diamonds.

He didn't touch her, just stood there staring at her small face.

Hamid's groaning bought them back to reality, Affan's fist clutched tightly in a ball cutting the blood supply.

His jaw was tightly clamped, in short, he looked murderous - ready to kill.

Strolling beside her, he went towards Hamid.

Fisting his collar in his hand, Affan punched him straight into his face.

The punch was so strong that Zara swore she heard the noise of bone cracking.

After almost five punches, he kicked him in his stomach with his bulky shoes, making Hamid spat blood out of his mouth.

"HOW DARE YOU TO TOUCH HER!" Again a kick to Hamid's nose.

She swore she never has seen Affan this much furious in her all twenty years of existence. He was never a violent temperament guy.

Zara was trembling in panic, seeing Affan throwing punch after punch at Hamid made her sick to her stomach.

Soon the realization hit her, walking briskly with her socked-up face, she clutched Affan's black shirt from the back, making him halt in his movement.

"Affan, he will die, stop it." Words suddenly felt heavy on her lips.

Her breathing was rough, more hot tears rolled off from her eyes.

Twisting, with a clenched jaw he whispered brutally. "Let him die, a man like him doesn't deserve to live in this world."

Choking, Zara shook her head.

Hamid was a bloody mess, groaning and whimpering, he was rolling on the road in pain.

Affan stood up, he held her arm firmly around his bruised and bloody knuckles, he didn't let her twirl around and led her towards home.

Remembering about her Nano, she rapidly moved towards her room, but the scene in front of her broke her heart, the old fragile lady was sobbing while clutching her ankle in her hand.

Seeing her granddaughter, her nano's face brightens up with life.

"Zaru, my Zaru, Are you alright my love?" Zara kneeled in front of her.

The old woman ran her hand through her face while whimpering.

"I'm fine Nano, Affan came in time." She mumbled faintly and held her nano's hand to help her in standing up.

She hissed in pain as she sat down in her bed. Zara's heart skipped a beat after seeing her beloved grandmother's condition.

Her nano held her hands tightly in her grasp. "What did he do Zara?"

Her wrinkly face looked more aged as she looked at her with concern.

"He didn't do anything, I told you Affan came in time."

Affan entered the room, resentment was still intact to his face.

"Dad, Zarrar Bhai, and police are on their way."

Nano looked at him like he was some kind of a soldier who won the war with his vitality.

"How did you came to know, my weak voice is not that strong to reach your ears." Vulnerability shone in the frightened women's voice.

"I got up to drink water and saw the door open," he diverted his eyes towards his cousin who sobbing quietly.

He fisted his bruised hand while listening to her whimpers.

"Where is Muneeb?" She spoke fearfully.

"Calm down Nano, he's not home I saw him leaving the house around ten." Relief settled in her nano's eyes after listening to Affan.

Zara didn't know how much time had passed, she stayed rooted frozen on her spot, clutching the hem of her dupatta but a warm hand after many hours made her lookup.

It was Fariya, Zara's courage broke down as she saw her Bari Ammi in front of her.

Not seeing anything, she pulled her in a warm hug, Zara wept like a baby in her arms. Deep down she was the same little girl who craved her parents' love.

"Shh, everything will alright, calm down my love." Running her hand in Zara's hair, she tried to comfort her.

"He...." She was trying hard to muster up the words but nothing came out of her mouth.

Caressing her wet cheeks, Fariya muttered, "we all are here with you, nobody's gonna hurt my daughter again." Fariya herself was striving to control her tears but it went all in vain, Zara's sobbing made her tear up."

After some time, Zara took hold of her emotions, rubbing her drained red eyes, she sighed and saw that her nano was missing, frowning her brows she looked at Fariya.

"Paramedics are treating her ankle."

Heaving a tired sigh, she nodded.

She whispered. "What is happening outside?"

"The police arrested Hamid, they are taking Affan's statement."

She averted her eyes towards the window.

"You're brave than you think, do you know that?" A soft mumble left Fariya's mouth.

"I'm weak and pathetic,"

Fariya's heart cracked after taking notice of her shaky voice.

"I should've listened to Taya Aba, but Nano has only me, she longed for my visits."

A lone tear fell and landed on her rosy cheek.

"Sometimes our loved ones make us helpless." Closing her eyes, she listened to Fariya's soft voice.

Their moment was disturbed by the knocking at the door. The three men entered the room after asking permission.

Placing his hand over her head, Sikander Asghar glanced at his niece with worry.

"I'm sorry it happened Zaru, I don't have any justifications."

Looking up, she shook her head,

"I'm fine."

Not right now, but she will overcome it. She chooses to stay strong and fight her demons.

He nodded helplessly.

Her nano refused to go with her.

She made Zara a promise - she didn't want Zara to come here again, she didn't want to risk her darling granddaughter's life in danger again.

Kissing her head she blessed her and asked her to never look back.

It was very rough and difficult for Zara but for her nano's sanity she agreed to her, she knew in her heart that she won't ever leave the old lady as long as she lived.

When they left the threshold of her nano's house that's when she realized that the dawn has replaced the dusk.

The morning sun was glinting, the atmosphere was quite warm and calm.

Her gaze clashed with Affan who was looking at her with his clenched jaw.

Opening the passenger seat's door, he gestured her to sit in the car.

She was skeptical for a bit but moved forward when she saw that everyone was seated and was waiting for her.

He again settled behind the steering wheel, dark glasses hiding his coffee brown eyes, his face lacked emotion.

A white bandage was securely wrapped around his left hand, she looked at the bandage first then peeked at his face.

"Affan, is it hurting?"

His hold on the steering wheel got tightened.

"No."

She heaved a tired breath.

"Why are you silent?"

He glanced at her when she questioned him.

"I don't have anything to say."

"Why?" She whispered.

Licking his dry lips, he mumbled.

"He hurt you and I was late!"

A shiver ran down her spine, she murmured, "you were on exact time, if you wouldn't have come I would have not been he-"

"Enough Zara!" Growling, he retorted.

Silence fell over the car, there was thick adversity between them and no one dared to curtail it. Closing her eyes, she leaned against the passenger seat. Sleep didn't take pity on her, she just sat there with closed eyes.

After about half an hour she heard him speak, "it's funny how I always taunt you on coming late, but today the fate played my game with myself." A bitter chuckle left his mouth.

Zara didn't utter anything, sighing, a small sad smile etched on her face.

Writing about Zara's grandmother makes me miss my Nano! (May Allah gives her the highest rank in Jannah.)

So, how was the chapter, did you guys like it, what do you think will happen next? Tell me your thoughts.

I might not be able to update for the next two weeks, hence the early update. Keep me in your prayers.

Until next time.

Allah Hafiz.