CHAPTER 22.5 ~ BABA

Third person P.O.V. :-

The bright noon rays from the Blue sky Of the Ankara city shone through his Cabin's Window, Some rays reflecting on the shiny polished wooden desk of which the old man sat opposite to, on his high leather chair, his son always told him, he looked like a king sitting on his throne.

But the question remains, does the king feels a suffocating feeling, a feeling so immense that makes one regret their decisions?

The case file was kept wide open on his wooden desk, But his mind was not present to concentrate on the file. It was rather in the thoughts of his daughter, Ayesha.

Humza Izad Abbas never had second thoughts on his decisions his whole life. According to him the decisions made by him, Are for the best. Cause he thinks wisely. But did he thought wisely, while taking the decision of his daughter's life?

The same question was nagging him since the day he saw how his daughter was being treated by Farhan in his house, The man who, he thought is wise and perfect for his daughter, the man he trusted, he was his Apa Ayeeza Son's, he adored his elder sister and respect her as same as his mother. He thought it would be best for his daughter to get married in a place where he trusted, but he thought he would only get his daughter married with her own will and consent. Through out his life he was thought not to show emotions, As they make a person weak. In his family, girls were treated with respect and dignity, so much that when they try to cross it, their fate would lie on the hands of elders, which was either, a marriage of their choice or in worst circumstances, killed.

The males in his families didn't attach to their daughters, for them when a daughter is born, She should be raised with manners, And teach them to live dignified. They are not given any affection, or love. They think, if a girl is given enough freedom, she will eventually betray her parents by loving and having a affair with an outsider. They thought if a girl is warned before, she wouldn't even think about betraying her parents. Even Humza lived by that, but he just couldn't ignore his blessing of Allah, his daughter. He wanted to love her, give her everything in the world, spoil her. But his Ego, and generational customs, didn't allow him. But still he tried to change, he wanted to show his family, that girls could be loyal and make their parents proud even after giving her freedom and loving her with all his pride.

He started his small change, which was to appreciate her, to ask consent for her own marriage, when he learned about her ambitions He was proud of her.

But when he saw his daughter with a boy who was proposing her, And his daughter even agreed with him, the saying in his family came true, he didn't want to believe, but the scene he saw made him disappointed, and broke his heart, his trust, he wanted his daughter to prove everyone that even after giving her freedom, she stayed in her boundaries. But he didn't think twice and let his anger took over him. The situation only made him believe that it was true. And he took the decision which seemed most sensible to him.The same decision which his family members would take at the time, Marry the girl to an respected family, without any word going out.

He thought marrying off his daughter in the family would be wise, but after seeing the harsh reality of Farhan. His cold heart broke for his daughter. For her suffering. He thought she is get payed off her deeds. The tears in her eyes, aloofness from her own husband,he couldn't stand her tears. Nor any Father can. He observed how happy and freely Ayesha lived in his home, when she came to live after her marriage, He couldn't make an eye contact with his daughter. He just couldn't.

And he eventually started to take a dislike towards Farhan. Just how far that boy can go and hurt her, then act as if nothing happened. When he was informed that Ayesha was in the mall attack, his world stopped. He thought he would lose his daughter even before he regretted his decision of her life. But he was relieved and surprised to learn that, Farhan saved her. Was this just his act or something?

He wondered, clutching his rough, slightly wrinkled hand in a fist. He wouldn't let him play with his daughter's life. Nephew or not.

The ringing of mobile phone brought him back to reality. He closed the file, which he wasn't even reading at the first place. And answered his Wife's call.

"Assalamualaikum, how was hearing? did it went well?" His wife Hira greeted him.

"Walaikumaslam, Yes everything went well." he answered in his gruff voice.

"Okay, will you be back home by evening or afternoon?" with her elegent and gentle voice his wife asked.

"Evening. Why?" He asked timidly glancing at the clock.

"Oh okay, Actually me and Murat were going to Ayesha's house, Ayeeza apa and junaid bhai sahab is here in Ankara, To see Ayesha and Farhan, so I decided to make some lunch for them, they must be tired and Ayesha can't work now."

"They are here in Ankara?" He asks removing his glasses and pinching his bridge of nose.

"Yes, And we will back before evening, don't worry," hira assures.

"Wait, I will join with you both, I can meet Apa also and.." he hesitated,

"And?" Hira encouraged.

"And, everyone." he cleared his throat, "Did She went already?" He asked slowly.

"She is your daughter humza, you can question with full rights, And yes she did went back this morning." he sighed and scratched his forehead with his thumb.

"Okay, I will be there." he told and his wife agreed with him and hanging up.

He wore his glasses back and packed his belongings and exited his law firm.

After about half an hour of drive, he met his wife and son, Murat and walked inside his daughter's house for the first time.

Farhan is the first to notice them and invited them to sit, Ayeeza came out of her room and was surprised to see her younger brother and her sister in law.

"Humza?" Ayeeza exclaimed happily, walking towards them,

"Salam Apa, how are you?" Humza greeted his sister by taking her both hands and kissed her knuckles and kept his forehead on her hands as a sign of respect. And Ayeeza kept her hand on his head as blessing.

"Walaikumaslam, I am good, how are you both?" Ayeeza asked her younger brother and hugged her sister in law.

"Alhumdulliah Fine, how was your journey?" Hira asks cheerfully,

"Tiring, but had a headache because of taking tension." Ayeeza chuckles motioning to make them sit back.

Humza couldn't spot his daughter till now. He desperately wanted to see her. He haven't seen her since last night. Just one glimpse of his daughter he has asked. Ever since her marriage, all he could think about is her, how she would be here, how she would look after him, how she would discreetly make him eat his medicines, how happy she was.

Oh, how beautiful is a Father's love.

Murat greeted Ayeeza and later on junaid strolled in the living room and greeted everyone, and stared having a conversation with humza, While Ayeeza and hira striked a conversation.

Farhan and Murat was being bored. Farhan scrolled down his phone to pass the time. And Murat asked Farhan about Ayesha's whereabouts, and he informed that she is upstairs in her room.

After about twenty minutes, humza noticed Ayesha coming down stairs but her face was dull, she was smiling, but that smile didn't reach her eyes.

She came and greeted her mom and then greeted him. He looked at his daughter, she had bags under her eyes, weather it was from lack of sleep or crying, he don't know. And a large bruise on her face, does that hurt her?

She smiled at him, which again didn't reach her eyes. Did all this happened because of him. Is his daughter suffering because of him?

He composed himself and answered her salam.

Junaid was constantly talking to him, but his mind was on his daughter, his stone heart was feeling heavy, guilty for his own daughter. People doesn't even do this do their enemies, he did that to his own daughter, his own blood.

After sometime his wife announced that she will take lunch out for everyone, and then his daughter stood up from his seat,

"I will help you both," his daughter announced but suddenly his brother in law, junaid spoke.

"No need! You sit back in your place, And don't do anything, And it's my order." He ordered firmly. And humza looked at him in shock. How can he just order her around. He felt angry, the fatherly side in him didn't liked the way he spoke to his daughter.

Although junaid didn't mean taunt or order, he spoke for concern for her health, but that's not the same point of view, humza thought.

She just sat quietly in her place back. Just like that? Just how much pressured his daughter felt here, did junaid always ordered her around? At that moment humza realised that he is the person to be blamed here.

For the First time in his fifty four years of life, he felt guilty for his decision. He should've listened to his daughter. Now she is suffering because of his selfish angered decision.

How he wished he would've broken his generational trauma. But all left to feel is guilt.

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A/N :-

Tried this new way of writing a chapter.

How do we feel about baba's redemption?

Did anyone thought it was baba who heard Farhan and Ayesha fighting?

I know it was a very small chapter, but just trust the process.

Vote. Comment. Share. 💕