31.

The dawn broke quietly, the soft hues of morning light painting the room in a serene glow, but Anam's heart was anything but peaceful. She sat on the prayer mat, her posture poised yet tense, the Quran open before her. The verses she had just recited lingered in the air, but their comforting rhythm did little to quiet the turmoil in her mind. Her gaze drifted to the nearby window, where the first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions brewing within her.

Feras wasn't in the room when she woke up. His absence felt strange, an unusual emptiness that weighed heavier than it should have. Normally, his presence... whether silently engrossed in work or simply nearby... had a grounding effect on her. But this morning, that solace was missing, and it only added to the disquiet she already felt.

Her eyes flickered to her phone, lying on the bedside table. Its screen was dark, but to her, it seemed to carry the weight of a thousand unanswered questions. It was both a lifeline and a source of dread... a symbol of everything that had gone wrong over the past few days. She hesitated, reaching out, but stopped herself. No message, no call could bring her peace right now.

The events of the previous day replayed in her mind like an unrelenting film. Rehaan's manipulative voice on the other end of the line, the cruel glint in his eyes as he showed her the edited photo of Umul, and the sinister way he had blamed her for not being able to "control" her friend's actions.

Anam felt her stomach churn at the thought of the photo... fabricated evidence meant to tarnish Umul's reputation. The image showed her best friend in an intimate moment with a boy, a complete fabrication meant to destroy her. Anam knew Umul too well to believe such lies. Her friend was devout, modest, and shy, much like Anam herself.

But logic didn't matter in the face of consequences. If this photo reached Umul's family... a deeply conservative and orthodox household... it would shatter them. Their pride, their reputation, their trust in their daughter.. it would all come crumbling down. Anam couldn't bear to think of what might happen to Umul in such a scenario. Worse, she feared they might resort to drastic measures, measures that would strip her friend of her freedom, or even her safety.

Last night's call from Rehaan had only deepened her fears. His tone had been smug, calculated, and chillingly confident. He had demanded to meet her privately after university today, claiming that he had "more to share" and wanted her to "take responsibility" for her friend. The very thought of meeting him made her feel sick, but what choice did she have? Ignoring him might escalate the situation, and she couldn't let that happen... not when Umul's life and reputation were at stake.

Her trembling hands clasped together as she leaned forward on the prayer mat. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them back. She wouldn't cry... not now. Instead, she bowed her head and whispered softly, her voice cracking with emotion as she poured her heart into dua.

"Ya Allah, meri madad karein. Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha kya karoon. Mujhe himmat dein aur meri dost ki hifazat karein. Uski izzat, uski zindagi... sab kuch teri amaanat hai. Mujh se kuch galat na ho, aur mujhe har burai se bachaein." (Ya Allah, please help me. I don't know what to do. Grant me strength and protect my friend. Her honor, her life... everything is Your trust. Protect me from doing anything wrong, and keep me safe from all evil.)

Her whispers filled the quiet room, breaking the stillness with their urgency. She begged for guidance, for the strength to do the right thing, for the clarity to navigate this storm. But even as she prayed, her thoughts remained tangled, a mess of fear, guilt, and indecision.

Should she tell Feras? The thought had crossed her mind a hundred times. He was her husband, her protector, the one person she could trust with her life. But the situation felt so delicate, so volatile, that she hesitated. How could she bring this to him without feeling like she was dragging him into a problem that wasn't his to bear? Would he even believe her if she told him the truth?

The idea of even a sliver of mistrust from Feras was unbearable. She bit her lip, her gaze falling to her lap. No, she couldn't risk it. Not yet. She had to find a way to fix this on her own, without burdening him or letting this situation spiral out of control.

Her phone vibrated faintly, the sound startling her out of her thoughts. She reached for it hesitantly, her fingers trembling. The notification was a reminder for a university assignment. She sighed, relieved yet burdened, and placed the phone back on the table.

She looked out of the window again, the morning sun now brighter, casting the world in a warm golden light.

The day looked so beautiful, so full of promise, yet she felt trapped in a labyrinth of darkness and doubt. But Anam wasn't one to give up easily. Clenching her fists, she resolved to face the day with courage.

With a deep breath, she rose from the mat, smoothing the edges of her hijab. The road ahead was uncertain, but she knew one thing: she wouldn't let Rehaan ruin her friend's life. She would fight this battle, even if it meant shouldering the burden alone.

.....

Feras had been awake long before dawn, his mind a storm of doubt and questions. He had barely slept after receiving the message and photo last night, and now, sitting in the quiet study, his laptop open before him, he awaited Rayaan's call with mounting impatience.

The seed of mistrust struggling to take root in his heart. He hated himself for even entertaining the possibility that Anam could betray him. She wasn't that type of person... he knew her character, her purity, her loyalty. Yet, the image and her strange behavior the night before refused to leave his mind.

His phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts. Rayaan's name flashed on the screen, and Feras answered immediately.

"Tell me," he demanded, skipping pleasantries.

"I checked the photo," Rayaan said, his tone professional but cautious. "It's edited. Not the best job, but convincing enough at first glance."

Feras closed his eyes, relief washing over him like a wave. His instincts had been right... this was a setup.

"And the number?"

"Still tracing it, but from what I've gathered so far, it's not registered in the person's real name. Might take a bit longer to pinpoint."

"Keep me updated," Feras said, his voice tight.

"You good?" Rayaan asked after a moment of silence.

Feras hesitated, his thoughts straying to Anam. "Yes," he said eventually, though his tone was anything but convincing.

.....

IN THE ROOM

The sound of the door opening behind her made her turn. Feras walked in, his expression unreadable, though his usual air of dominance seemed tempered by something softer.

"Good morning," Anam said, her voice small and tentative.

He looked at her for a moment, his dark eyes scanning her face as if searching for something. "Morning," he replied, his tone neutral.

She turned back to the window, not knowing what else to say. Feras' gaze lingered on her, noting the tension in her posture, the slight droop of her shoulders. Something was clearly troubling her, but he chose not to press her... yet.

"Anam," he said after a beat, his voice steady but firm.

She turned back to him, her brows slightly raised in question.

"If there's anything on your mind," he began, his tone careful, "anything bothering you... you can tell me."

Her heart skipped a beat at his words, but fear held her back. She managed a small smile and shook her head. "Kuch nahi, bas university ko lekar thora pareshan hun." (Nothing, just a little worried about the university.)

Feras' eyes narrowed slightly. He didn't believe her, but he nodded anyway. "Alright," he said, though his mind resolved to keep a closer eye on her.

As he left the room to prepare for the day, Anam sat down on the edge of the bed, her hands clasped tightly together. She felt like she was walking a tightrope, one misstep away from disaster.

And deep down, Feras felt the same.

.....

The morning passed in a haze of unease. Feras had left for work without having breakfast, a habit had before their marriage, though it always unsettled Anam now. She watched him leave with a tightness in her chest, his expression unreadable, his usual commanding stride feeling heavier today. There was something about the way he avoided meeting her gaze that made her feel as though a chasm had formed between them. She brushed the thought aside, convincing herself that he was simply busy.

In the kitchen, Anam focused on preparing breakfast, her hands moving automatically as her mind wandered. She caught herself zoning out several times, staring blankly at the cutting board or the simmering pan.

Her phone lay silent on the counter, and its stillness felt ominous. She hadn't heard from Umul, not even a text or call to reassure her that she was okay. Anam bit her lip, her fingers itching to call her, but the memory of Rehaan's threats held her back. What if calling her friend made things worse? What if it put her in even more danger?

When breakfast was ready, she quickly served it to her cousins and Chachi, slipping into the background as they chatted. Her mind raced with the worst possibilities, no matter how much she tried to shake them off. What if the photo had already reached Umul's family? What if they confronted her? What if...

She clenched her fists, willing herself to stop. No, she told herself firmly, I can't let fear control me. Umul needs me to stay strong.

The sound of her cousins calling her broke through her thoughts. "Anam Api, jaldi karo! Hum late ho rahe hain," Pari called out. (Anam Api, hurry up! We're getting late!)

Snapping out of her daze, Anam grabbed her bag and joined them, her usual quiet composure intact despite the turmoil inside. The ride to university was filled with chatter from Pari and Ayub, their excitement over a group project. Anam nodded and smiled at the right moments, but her heart wasn't in it.

When they arrived, her eyes instinctively scanned the campus for Umul, but as expected, her friend was nowhere to be seen. Her absence weighed heavily on Anam, the gnawing worry growing stronger with each passing minute. She tried calling her once during a break, but the call went unanswered, and the silence on the other end only amplified her anxiety.

Classes felt like a blur, the words of her professors barely registering. Anam's thoughts kept circling back to Rehaan's sinister demands. She had no idea how she was going to face him later or what she would say. All she knew was that she had to protect Umul at any cost, even if it meant putting herself in a situation she dreaded.

As the day dragged on, the knot in her stomach tightened. She reminded herself again and again to stay calm, to trust that she would find a way out of this mess.

.....

Anam's phone buzzed again as she sat quietly in the university library, trying to keep her nerves under control. The name on the screen made her heart sink: Rehaan. Her fingers trembled as she picked up the phone, glancing around to ensure no one was listening.

"Hello," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Anam," Rehaan's voice came through, smooth and venomous, "it's time. Meet me at the café near your university. Alone."

Her stomach churned. She clenched her fist, trying to steady herself. "Rehaan, why are you doing this? I've already told you... Umul is innocent. You know these photos are fake!"

Rehaan chuckled darkly. "That doesn't matter to me. What matters is you showing up. If you don't, the photos go online. Let's see how your pure friend's family reacts when they see her kissing some random guy. You know what'll happen, don't you?"

Anam felt the air leave her lungs. She closed her eyes tightly, her voice shaking as she spoke. "Fine. I'll come. But this ends today, Rehaan. You'll leave her alone after this."

"One hour," he said curtly, ending the call without waiting for a reply.

Her hands trembled as she set the phone down. Anxiety clawed at her chest, making it hard to breathe. If those photos reached Umul's family, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Gathering her belongings, Anam slipped away from her cousins, mumbling a vague excuse about an errand. She felt their questioning gazes on her back but couldn't bring herself to explain.

Meanwhile

Feras sat in the backseat of his car, scrolling through his tablet as the vehicle made its way through the city streets. He was heading to a business meeting in a building near Anam's university, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

The events of the previous night still lingered in his mind. The photo, the cryptic message, and Anam's strange behavior... it all felt like a puzzle he couldn't solve. He had always trusted her, but the seeds of doubt had been planted, and they were growing faster than he could control.

As the car approached the university, Feras glanced out the window. His eyes narrowed as he spotted a familiar figure sitting in a small café near the campus. His heart skipped a beat when he realized it was Anam.

His gaze sharpened as he took in the scene. She wasn't alone. Sitting across from her was a young man, leaning in far too close for comfort.

"Stop the car," Feras ordered abruptly, his voice low and commanding.

The driver pulled over to the curb, and Feras leaned forward, his eyes glued to the pair inside the café.

The man... just a boy, was speaking animatedly, his gestures casual. Feras's jaw clenched when he saw him reach out, his hand moving toward Anam's.

For a moment, the world seemed to freeze. Feras's chest tightened, his mind racing with emotions he couldn't name. But then Anam moved, quickly pulling her hand back. Her body language was tense, her discomfort obvious.

That should have calmed him, but it didn't. The fact that she was there at all, with a man, without telling him... it gnawed at him.

"Should I stop here, sir?" the driver asked, hesitant.

Feras snapped back to the present. "No. Keep driving," he said coldly, leaning back in his seat.

As the car pulled away, Feras's mind churned with conflicting emotions. He wanted to storm into the café, demand an explanation, and drag her out of there. But another part of him held back. He didn't want to act out of anger and make a mistake. He needed more information before confronting her.

Reaching for his phone, he dialed Rayaan's number.

"Rayaan," he said the moment his friend picked up, "any updates?"

"Not yet, but I'm close," Rayaan replied. "Give me a little more time."

Feras ended the call without another word, his jaw tightening. His gaze drifted back to the café, now fading from view as the car continued down the road. He clenched his fists, his knuckles white.

"Anam," he muttered under his breath, his voice filled with a mix of anger and confusion. "What are you hiding?"

The weight of doubt pressed heavily on him as he approached his meeting. Feras had always prided himself on his self-control after all the experiences and betrayals he went through, but today, it felt like the cracks were beginning to show.

.....

The bustling energy of the house was almost overwhelming as the cousins returned home, their laughter and playful banter echoing through the halls. Ayan, as usual, was at the center of it all, trying to fend off the relentless teasing about his "upcoming marriage."

"Ayan bhai, make sure you find someone who can keep up with your badtameezian," Pari teased, her laughter ringing out. (Ayan bhai, make sure you find someone who can handle your mischievousness!)

Seher chimed in with a smirk. "Or maybe someone who'll put you in your place."

Ayan rolled his eyes, waving them off dramatically. "Bas karo, yaar! Mujhe shaadi karwane ke liye itna exited mat ho!" he joked, though his usual humor couldn't entirely mask his unease about the sudden talks of marriage. (Stop it, yaar! Don't be so excited to get me married!)

Amid the laughter and teasing, Ayan's eyes drifted toward Ayub. She was quieter than usual, sitting in the corner with a faint smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

He walked over, lowering his voice to keep their conversation private. "Ayub, tum theek ho?" he asked, tilting his head slightly, his tone filled with concern. (Ayub, are you okay?)

Ayub looked up quickly, startled by the question. She forced a brighter smile and nodded. "Haan, Ayan bhai. Main bilkul theek hoon. Bas thodi si thak gayi hoon." (Yes, Ayan, I'm completely fine, just a little tired.)

Ayan studied her for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. Her words were convincing enough, but the shadow of something unspoken lingered in her expression.

He wanted to press further, but Ayub quickly diverted her attention to Pari, joining in on the teasing to shift the focus away from herself.

"Maybe you should marry Pari, Ayan," she said, her tone light and playful, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of something deeper.

Ayan chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Allah ka khof karo, Ayub. Mujhe pata nahi tha tumhari choice itni bakwas hai!" (Fear Allah, Ayub. I didn't know your choice was this bad)

Though the laughter resumed and the others didn't notice, Ayan couldn't shake the feeling that something was bothering Ayub. He shrugged it off for now, convincing himself that she was probably just tired from the long day.