10.

As the sun began to set, the household remained in disarray. Every corner of the house buzzed with whispers, outrage, and disbelief. The grand halls that had been adorned for the niqah now seemed oppressive under the weight of humiliation. The air was thick with tension, and the family's honor...  its pride... felt like it was hanging by a fragile thread.

Ahmed sat stiffly in the main hall, his face carved in cold disgust. His lips were pressed into a thin line, his eyes shadowed with fury and shame. The patriarch of the family, he was the one most invested in upholding their legacy, and today, it had been dragged through the mud. He turned to Salman, who was seated beside him, his head buried in his hands.

"This is what comes from a lack of discipline," Ahmed spat, his voice low but cutting. "She's disgraced us. On the day of the niqah, no less! Does she even understand what this means for our family name?"

Salman didn't respond immediately. His shoulders trembled slightly, not with anger, but with a profound sense of shame. He finally raised his head, his face pale and his voice trembling as he spoke. "I never imagined she could do something like this. I raised her better than this." His voice cracked, and he looked around helplessly as if searching for an explanation that could undo the reality of what had just happened. "What kind of girl brings such humiliation to her family?"

Amidst the men's quiet fury, Chachi's wails echoed through the house. Draped in a shawl, she sat in the corner of the room with her face buried in her hands, crying uncontrollably. "I can't believe this has happened to us! My Seher... How could she do this to us? What will people say? What will they think?!" Her sobs grew louder as her words turned to incoherent mutterings of despair.

But as her cries intensified, so did her venom. Suddenly, her gaze landed on Anam, who stood in the corner of the room, her face pale and her hands clenched tightly together. Chachi's eyes narrowed, and she jabbed a trembling finger in her direction.

"And you," she hissed, her voice sharp as a whip. "You bring nothing but misfortune to this house! Ever since you declared your... your Shia beliefs so openly, this family has had nothing but shame and bad luck! Maybe it's your presence that brought this upon us! First your parents die and leave you and your sister to burden us, and now this! All of this started after you came into this house!"

Anam froze, her eyes wide, but she didn't speak. Her lips quivered slightly, but she held herself together, standing as still as a statue. Ayub, standing beside her, glared at Chachi, her jaw tight, but before she could speak, Ayaan interjected.

"Enough!" Ayaan's voice boomed through the room, silencing Chachi's sobs. He stepped forward, his face twisted in fury. "If you want someone to blame, blame your own daughter. It's Seher who brought this humiliation to us, not Anam. Stop shifting the blame because you can't face the truth!"

Chachi gasped, her hands flying to her mouth, but Ayaan wasn't finished. He turned to Ahmed and Salman, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. "And what about that man... this Ibrahim? How dare he come into our house, armed, and do something like this? He should be hunted down and dealt with! Seher may have been foolish, but he's the real problem here."

Aman, leaning against the far wall, nodded in agreement. "Ayaan's right," he said, his voice low but filled with menace. "I'll make sure that bastard regrets the day he stepped into our home." Despite his usual cocky and uninterested demeanor, his face was dark with rage, his knuckles white as he clenched his hands.

The room erupted into fragmented arguments and heated whispers as the family tried to process what had just happened. Amidst the chaos, the sound of the front door slamming open cut through the noise like a knife.

Feras had returned.

Everyone turned to face him, and the room fell silent. He stood in the doorway, his presence commanding and terrifying all at once. His usual calm demeanor had been replaced by something almost unrecognizable. His face was a storm of restrained fury, his jaw clenched so tightly it looked as though it might shatter. His eyes, usually cold and indifferent, burned with an intensity that made everyone in the room look away.

No one had ever seen him like this before.

He stepped into the room, his boots hitting the marble floor with an ominous echo. His shoulders were squared, his back straight, and every step he took radiated power and anger. He looked like a shadow of his deceased grandfather, the man whose authority and ferocity had once defined the family's legacy.

"Where is she?" Ahmed finally asked, his voice unsteady as he met his son's fiery gaze.

Feras didn't answer immediately. He took a deep breath, his nostrils flaring, and when he spoke, his voice was low and lethal. "They got away," he said, each word dripping with barely restrained fury. "We lost track of them near the highway."

The room erupted once more. Chachi began wailing again, crying about her poor daughter being in danger. Ahmed cursed under his breath, muttering about the irreparable damage to the family's name. Salman shook his head, burying his face in his hands once more. Aman and Ayaan exchanged frustrated looks, their anger bubbling over but finding no outlet.

But Feras stood still in the center of the room, his presence silencing the chaos around him. "Enough," he barked, his voice cutting through the noise. "This is no time for crying or blaming." His eyes flickered to Chachi, making her flinch. "Seher's actions have shamed this family. That much is clear. But sitting here wailing like helpless fools won't solve anything."

His gaze shifted to Ahmed, who met his son's stare with a mix of pride and unease. "We need to handle this carefully," Feras continued. "The news of what happened today cannot leave this house. If it does, our reputation will be ruined. Do you understand?"

Ahmed nodded slowly, his expression grim. "You're right," he admitted. "This must be contained."

Feras turned to Ayaan and Aman, his tone sharp and commanding. "The two of you will come with me in the morning. We'll track Ibrahim down and make sure this doesn't escalate further."

Ayaan nodded immediately, eager to take action, but Aman hesitated. "What about Seher?" he asked cautiously. "She's still..."

"Seher made her choice," Feras snapped, cutting him off. "She knew what she was doing when she got involved with that man. If she ends up paying for her foolishness, so be it. My priority is this family... our name. Nothing else matters."

Anam, who had remained silent throughout the ordeal, felt a shiver run down her spine at Feras's words. She had always known him to be cold and unyielding, but tonight, he was like a man possessed. His fury was palpable, his pride and sense of duty to the family overriding any personal feelings he might have had.

As he turned to leave the room, Feras paused briefly, his gaze landing on Anam for just a moment. His expression softened, almost imperceptibly, but he quickly turned away, the moment gone as quickly as it had come.

The house fell into an uneasy silence as Feras disappeared down the corridor, leaving the rest of the family to grapple with the weight of what had just transpired. The night stretched on, heavy with unanswered questions and simmering tensions, as the realization of Seher's betrayal settled like a dark cloud over the household.

.....

As the hours passed and night deepened, the tension in the house only grew heavier. Chachi had retreated to her room, her muffled sobs still audible despite the closed doors. Ahmed and Salman remained in the sitting room, their expressions grim as they discussed damage control. Ayaan and Aman had disappeared somewhere outside, likely trying to cool their tempers.

Anam sat in the corner of the dining room, unnoticed as she sipped on a glass of water. Her heart ached... for the sheer weight of the chaos that had unfolded. She replayed the events of the day in her mind, trying to make sense of it all. Ibrahim's intrusion, Seher's horrified silence, and Feras's unrelenting fury... they all swirled together, leaving her feeling unmoored.

Her mind, however, kept circling back to Feras. She had always admired his composure, the way he carried himself with an air of quiet authority. But tonight, he had been different. His anger had been like a storm, consuming and terrifying, yet undeniably commanding. The image of his burning gaze haunted her, and she silently prayed for strength to stop her heart from clinging to feelings that had no place in her life.

"Anam api."

She jumped at the sudden voice and turned to see Ayub standing behind her, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her younger sister's face was a mask of frustration and worry. "Ap kab ki yha aise bethi hui hain, ap ko nhi lagta apko kuch khana chahiye, bookh nhi lgi?" (How long have you been sitting like this? don't you think you should eat something? aren't you hungry?)

"I'm not hungry," Anam replied softly, setting the glass down.

Ayub pulled out a chair and sat beside her. "This is insane," she said after a moment, shaking her head. "Ibrahim's stunt,  Feras bhai's reaction... none of this feels real."

Anam glanced at her sister, who was glaring at the table with a furrowed brow. "It's real," she murmured. "Aur ham sab ye sab kuch sambhal lenghe Mola ke karam se." (And everything will be fine Insh'Allah)

"'sambhal lenghe'?" Ayub repeated, her voice rising slightly. "Anam api, this isn't just some minor scandal! A man barged into our house with guns and took the bride on the day of her niqah! If people find out—" (Everything will be fine?)

"They won't," Anam interrupted gently. "Feras bhai will make sure of that."

At the mention of his name, Ayub's expression darkened. "He's so cold about all this," she muttered. "Doesn't he care that Seher is out there, possibly in danger? unko bas ghar ki izzat ki parwa hai" (He only cares about the family's reputation.)

Anam's fingers tightened around the edge of her shawl. "wo wohi kar rhe hain jo unke hisaab see thik hai ," she said, though her voice lacked conviction. (He's only doing what he thinks is right.)

Ayub snorted. "What's right? Ignoring Seher's safety because she embarrassed him? Wo gussa hain, Anam api, but not because she's gone. He's furious because his pride took a hit. That's all that matters to him." (He's angry)

Before Anam could respond, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the hallway. Both sisters turned to see Feras entering the house. His shoulders were tense, his face shadowed with exhaustion and unspent rage. His usually pristine clothes were slightly disheveled, a sign of the relentless chase he had undertaken.

Ahmed stood as Feras entered the sitting room. "Well?" he asked sharply.

"We lost them," Feras said, his voice clipped. He didn't look at anyone as he spoke, instead pulling off his coat and tossing it onto a nearby chair. "They've gone into hiding, but they won't stay hidden for long."

Ahmed's face darkened. "Do you understand what this means? What people will say if word gets out? Our family will become a laughingstock!"

"I know, abbu" Feras snapped, his voice sharp enough to silence his father. "Do you think I don't understand the stakes here? I will find them, and I will handle this. But for now, no one outside this house is to know what happened. Not a word."

Chachi, who had emerged from her room, wrung her hands nervously. "Feras, what about Seher? She's my daughter! What if... what if he hurts her?"

Feras's gaze turned icy as he looked at his aunt. "Your daughter brought this upon herself," he said coldly. "If she hadn't been involved with a man like Ibrahim in the first place, this wouldn't have happened. She's humiliated us, Chachi. Don't expect me to prioritize her over the family."

Chachi's face crumpled, and she burst into tears, retreating back to her room.

Salman, who had been silent until now, stood and approached Feras. "Tum thik keh rhe ho Feras," he said quietly, his voice heavy with shame. "Seher's actions were unacceptable. But she's still my daughter. Please... when you find her, make sure she's safe." (You're right Feras)

Feras didn't respond. He turned and strode toward the staircase, his presence a storm that left everyone in the room shaken.

Anam watched him go, her heart heavy. She couldn't deny the power and authority he exuded, but she couldn't ignore the coldness in his eyes either. As much as she respected him, she knew she had to let go of the feelings that lingered in her heart.

Later that night, as the household settled into a restless silence, Anam slipped away to her room. She performed ablution and spread out her prayer mat, seeking solace in the stillness of the night. As she bowed her head in sujood, her whispered prayers filled the room.

"Ya Allah," she murmured, tears slipping down her cheeks. "Take his love out of my heart. Make it easier for me to let go of what isn't mine. Grant me patience, strength, and contentment in Your plan. And guide this family through this storm."

In the quiet of her room, Anam found a moment of peace amidst the chaos. But she couldn't shake the feeling that the storm was far from over.

There is no trouble and distress for the one who trusts in Allah swt

― Imam Ali as