CHAPTER 45- PICNIC DAY~ Farhan 💀

F A R H A N :-

"Do we really need to go there?" I grumbled wearing my boots.

"Yes, we do." Ayesha says, I look up at her with my sleep deprived eyes, who kept adjusting her hijab.

"Was it really necessary for princess Heer to keep an outing the next day of the party?" I mumble, stretching my sore muscles.

"Apparently it was, and we are forcefully invited." Ayesha grumbles and adjusts her hijab again.

"You good?" I ask watching her struggle,

"No," she groans slapping her hands on the dressing table, "I am not getting the peak."

I blink, "The peak?" I walk towards her looking at her head, "Where?"

"My hijab peak," she grumbles, holding her hijab out, "I cannot get it, it's so frustrating Farhan!"

"Okay okay, relax." I hold her arms down, "How do we get that peak?"

"I don't know!" She whines,

"Let me try," I say adjusting the front of her hijab, trying to form the little tent at the front, "There, you got it." I say turning her around.

She looks surprised and gives me an impressed look, "Ideal husband huh?" She chuckles pining down the rest of it over her shoulder,

She turns around twirling in her outfit, a white puffy type frock thing which looks fucking cute on her, "How do I look?"

"Beautiful as always." I say admiring her,

"Thank you." She bows down and wear her white sneakers and picks up her coat. "Now let's go, we are late."

I ground my feet on the floor as she tried to drag me with her, "Can't we just go somewhere else, just us?"

"As much as I want to, we can't. Besides mama is really looking forward for it, we can't break her heart right?" She blinks innocently.

"But I am tired." I state tiredly, "I didn't got much sleep last night, you know." I smirk when she gasp and smacks my arm.

"You don't get to say that, I was up all night too, alright." She argues, her face noticeably red.

"Uhm?" I tease trying to bring her closer, but she steps back getting out of my reach.

"We are getting late," she sings taking card off the holder, "Five seconds before you get a home alone experience."

I roll my eyes before pocketing my phone and wallet and grabbing my coat along with it.

"Oh wow I am saved." I say dryly, watching her lock the door, "I hope my parents haven't left me alone."

She chuckles, grabbing my arm and walking towards the elevator, "Gosh, you are such a drama queen."

"Learned from the best." I say pressing the button of the elevator.

Looking around, when I saw no one, I quickly lean down and steal a peck from her.

Ayesha gasps frantically looking around, "Farhan!"

"What?" I shrug as the elevator door opens, "Just got my morning started." I wink at her before dragging her inside the elevator.

***

I park my car in front of the gates of the Durrani villa yet again, shutting the engine off I stare at the gates,

"Why am I still here?" I mutter looking ahead in distaste.

"I am asking the same thing." Ayesha mutters,

"Why did we leave our house?" We both turn around to look at Mina, who was slumped back in the back seat,

"Is it safe to say I want to go home?" Murat asks who was seated beside her.

"So we all are dreading this, right?" Ayesha chuckles, "As much as I want to say something positive, me too."

"Should I turn the car?" I ask eagerly, "We can drop off these two somewhere."

"Woah, woah!" Murat leans forward, "Not on my watch no, you are not going anywhere with my sister."

"Your sister got married long back Murat." Ayesha rolls her eyes.

"True that," Mina chimes in, "But how could you leave your little, helpless, cute, innocent, and broke sister all alone, abicim?" Mina pouts and pokes Ayesha's shoulder from behind her seat,

"My dear bhabhi, would you do that?"

"Of course not." Ayesha replies, "We can leave Murat, but not you."

"Wow," Murat claps, "Some sister you are." He opens the car door, "All because of you I am going to suffer now,"

Ayesha chuckles opening the car door, "Let's get over with it."

"Wait." Mina frowns, "We were not serious?"

"Apparently no." I say grabbing my sunglasses and opening my door, I lean down to look at a shocked Mina, "Five seconds till you get a home alone experience."

Mina pokes her tongue out before climbing out of the car.

"Aren't you so original?" Ayesha mocks, as I lock the car and start walking towards the gate with her,

"Right? I should start copyrighting." I shrug and she chuckles walking along,

We walked in the garden, where all the decorations from the party was taken off and an new arrangement of picnic was set up.

"Gosh, they can't even leave their bougieness on a simple picnic also." Mina mutters looking at the garden.

"You mean Heerness." Murat chuckles, "I hope she stays away today, I could still feel the creep from her touch." He shudders.

"Just make some excuses like you always do," Ayesha says, "Don't be rude but make sure to her that you are off limits."

Murat lifts his fists up, "Got the spirit sister." He takes a deep breath as we start nearing the people seated under the tent, "Hopefully."

I frown looking at our family only, "Did no one arrived or are we early?"

An annoying voice spoke from behind me, "Nope, you are on time, and it's just our family."

I count till ten before walking forward with Ayesha and sit on one of the benches, "Our family." I mock. "I am resisting the urge to punch a woman."

"I'll do it for you." Mina says sitting on the bench beside me.

"I'll cover up." Murat says who sat beside Ayesha.

We all look at Ayesha who just raise her hands up, "I'll act as I am blind."

The witch walks in front of us and removes her sunglasses, "Hello my cousins, I was telling you all something, I guess you didn't heard."

"Or didn't choose to." Murat mutters.

I catch the eye of my mom, who was seated on the benches adjacent to us, she shrugs guilty, I nod and look away.

Just for my mom, or I would've never come to Izmir.

"Oh look, Fanaa baji is here." Mina says getting up, and walks past Heer, accidentally stumbling her shoulder with hers.

Heer scoffs and glares at her, she doesn't even get the time to recover when Mina stumbles her shoulder again and brings Fanaa baji to sit with us.

We all greet each other and she points at the gate, "Haroon is out there, helping me with the things you ordered, l'll get it." She says to her sister, who nods and walks away from us.

"Oh here he is." She points at the boy who was walking with a cooler box and dumped it near the shades.

"Here you go." He pants. "Just how much drinks she wants in this weather?" He complaints to his sister, when his eyes fell on us,

"Farhan bhai that's you?" He grins happily and I remember what a dread he used to be.

"No." I mumble as he skips towards me and I stand up, ready to run away when he jumps and wrap his arms around me tightly.

"Wohoo! My favourite cousin." He screams next to my ear and I just stood stiff, letting him hang on to me like a monkey. "I am soo happy to see you."

He looks back and move away from me to jump on Murat who almost stumble down.

"Yes! This is the best hostel trip." He yelps hugging Murat.

"I bet." Murat chuckles awkwardly.

He moves back and gives finger guns to Mina, who just gave him a thumbs up, next his eyes fell on my wife and his smile faltered,

"A-Ayesha that's you?" He stutters looking at her with wide eyes,

"Yes Haroon." She chuckles, "How are you?"

I raise my eyebrows when his cheeks turned red, "Amazing after seeing you." He scratches the back of his neck, "You got even more pretty."

Mina whistles beside me, "I forgot he used to have a crush on bhabhi."

"Since when?" I scoff,

"Since forever, that kid had crush on my sister even with her pink glasses." Murat says looking at Haroon who kept looking at my wife with starry eyes.

I look back at him and placed my hand on his shoulder, a bit forcefully that he stumbled back,

"Have you met your bhabhi, Haroon?" I gesture at Ayesha who raised her eyebrows at me,

"Bhabhi who?" Haroon asks confused,

"Her, Ayesha." I chuckle patting his shoulder, "My wife."

"What?" He gasps, "When did this happen?" His voice low.

"A little over six months ago." I reply.

"Really?" He whispers looking at Ayesha with betrayed eyes, "Congratulations."

"Thank you." I smile, and force him forward, "Won't you meet your elders? Go meet them first." I shove him towards them, he looked at Ayesha one last time before walking towards his sister who was talking to Ayesha's mother,

"What was that all about?" Ayesha asks when I sat back down,

"Old times sake." I reply.

The backyard doors opened and Mr and Mrs Durrani step out with their daughter, I roll my eyes when they smiled looking at us.

"Did she really changed her outfit to white.." Mina mutters and look at Ayesha's white outfit,

She gasps looking at Heer, "This evil witch."

"If insecurity had a face." Murat chuckles.

"Or it could be a coincidence?" Ayesha tries, but her tone said otherwise.

"Not with her." I mutter.

Somehow I got up and greeted mr and Mrs. Durrani because my wife said so and sat back down wearing my sunglasses.

"Alright cousins, how about we play some games?" She asks showing us the volleyball in her hand,

We all stared at her in silence.

"Or," Haroon says showing us a cricket bat and ball, "Let the boys play."

Murat clicks his fingers, "Count me in boy." He stands up looking at me, "What say Farhan?"

I shook my head, Ayesha poke her elbow on my hand and gestures me to go, I look at her for a while before getting up,

"But only three?" Heer asks, "I will play too, I can do fielding. So can Mina, right?"

Mina shrugs getting up, "Alright then, come on bhabhi." She gestures at Ayesha who denies shaking her head.

Heer chuckles pointing at Ayesha, "Ayesha? Seriously? You don't remember how she couldn't even run in childhood?"

"What are you trying to say?" I ask turning to look at her,

Heer shrugs, "I just meant she looks delicate for this game."

Murat whistles shaking his head, "She did just not said that."

Before I could reply, Ayesha replies getting up from her seat, "Let's talk in the field."

Heer scoffs, "Let's see then."

I turn to look at my wife, she smiles and nods her head assuring me, "I got this."

Mina claps, "It is set then, let's make teams? How about team Ayesha and team Heer?"

"Yeah let's do it." Heer agrees, "I'll get um Haroon in my team."

"Bhai is obviously is in team Ayesha so I am in too," Mina says excitedly.

"I'll be there too." Murat says. "Fanaa baji join us too." He calls her,

"No no, you kids play, I am good." She denies.

"You are not old, you can play too, go on Fanaa." My mom encourages, and so does Ayesha's mom and she reluctantly agrees standing next to Ayesha.

"Wait the team count is uneven. I only have one member on my team, and she got everyone?" Heer steps in,

"Alright I will be with you." Fanaa baji says stepping with her sister.

"Still not even." She scoffs.

"Take Murat." I push him forward, he grounds his feet on the ground,

"No not me, please. Take Mina." He pleads, Haroon grabs his arm and drags him towards his team.

"We'll take baba!" Mina says and baba nods eagerly joining us.

"Always ready." Baba says stretching his arms, "What about an empire?"

"We'll take my baba." Ayesha says and drags her father in, who reluctantly joins in.

"So right my buddy Humza. Have to serve some justice." Baba chuckles mockingly at Mr. Durrani.

"If you are bringing your fathers, I'll bring in mine too," Heer says determinedly, "Daddy join us!"

Her dad shakes his head, "I can't my daughter, I have a knee pain today."

She turns to her mom, "Mom?"

She shakes her head, "Sorry my love, I don't know how to play. Don't worry Fanaa and Haroon will make you win."

Heer stomps her foot, baba looks at her before saying, "Now that it is settled, let's get started?"

"Let's go!" Haroon jumps and runs towards the open area of the garden,

"Somebody save me please." Murat pleads,

I pat his shoulder walking past him, "Sacrifices had to be made."

"Why me?" Murat cries,

We all stand on the field as Haroon set up the wickets on both sides.

"Toss?" Heer asks to Ayesha and she nods, "You choose."

Ayesha looks at me before saying, "Heads."

"Alright." Heer says smugly, baba stands in between them and throws the coin up in the air, when the coin lands down, Heer starts jumping around seeing it is tails.

"I win." She laughs.

"It's just a toss." Murat scoffs, "Choose."

"Choose what?" Heer frown, Murat smacks his forehead before asking to choose to bat or to ball,

"Oh um bat." Heer replies, "Haroon and Murat will bat and me and Fanaa will field."

"It doesn't works that way." Ayesha says.

"Please sit back down, I can win this with Haroon." Murat pleads and Heer rolls her eyes before walking towards the shade with Fanaa baji.

"Farhan and Mina will ball from our side, baba will be the wicket keeper and me and mina can alternate fielding." Ayesha says and everyone nods taking their position.

Murat takes the bat and throws the ball towards me, "You have no idea how strong your team is."

"Is it?" I chuckle, throwing the ball at mina, who catches it with ease.

"Empire ready?" Baba asks looking at mamu, who stood behind him, he showed him thumbs up and baba clapped, "Let's get this started."

Mina does the bowling in the first two overs and Murat scores about thirty runs before getting out by a run out,

He ran too slowly.

In the next two overs it was my turn and I easily made Haroon out in his first two runs. Heer came by next to bat, and I wanted nothing but to run away from the way she kept acting oblivious, like she didn't knew how to hold a bat.

After ten waste balls, luckily she hit one out and Murat yelled at her to take runs before she gets a run out, I stood there by the wickets on my side, watching the witch running towards me, as she was getting closer, I could clearly see the scheming in her eyes when she tried to fall on me.

I stepped aside, making her fall down on the ground.

Fanaa baji immediately comes by her side, "Heer are you okay?"

Heer glares at her and then at me before getting up, dusting off her jeans. "Yes I am." She says, she pushes her sister aside and looks at mamu,

"I got the run?"

Mamu nods, "You did. First half is over, now it's their batting."

"But I just got batting." Heer huffs.

Mamu looks at me, and I shrug, "And now it's over." I say before walking off to Mina and Ayesha, who stood by shade.

They totally made over eighty seven runs, easily beatable.

For the next half, heer again positioned Murat and Haroon for bowling, while she kept her as the wicket keeper and her sister and brother for alternate fielding.

Baba went by first and made an easy ten runs before getting out by Haroon, mina went next and got out in five runs, mina balled really nice, but she lacked batting. Next it was my turn, I stepped in, and it was Haroon who balling,

I made an easy thirty runs before, I delivered a six and Murat catched it, making me out.

Heer cheers behind me and I turn to glare at her, she turns to mamu, "How many runs to win?"

"Forty two." He replies gruffly, "Farhan is out."

I walk over to the shade and Ayesha grabs the bat from me, "You did great." She smiles and holds out the bat, "I hope I still got it."

She goes in to bat, Fanaa baji did balling, she threw slow balls which made Ayesha score only two runs from her over.

I bet she did it intentionally.

"Haroon?" Heer calls out who standing behind the wickets, "We are winning right?"

He nods, "yes we are!" He hollers.

Ayesha smiles sweetly turning around to face her, "Heer," she smiles, "Ever heard of the quote, slow and steady wins the race?"

Heer smiles mockingly, "I did. But I could clearly see you loosing."

Ayesha turns around with a smile, before saying, "We'll see."

Haroon comes up next to ball, and we all stare in surprise as Ayesha hits a direct six,

"Wohoo, go bhabhi!" Mina cheers,

The elders also gets interested as Ayesha delivered the next ball another six.

I grin clapping loudly with Mina. Baba hooted along with us, who was the another batsman with Ayesha.

Ayesha turns the bat to us, "How was it?"

"Amazing!" Mina jumps excitedly.

And my wife doesn't stops there, she kept delivering sixes and four throughout the next overs, until we are just left with ten runs to win.

Ayesha throws in a four, and while Haroon and Fanaa baji searched for the ball, baba and Ayesha ran for the runs, Murat stood proudly cheering for his sister, when he frowned seeing Haroon throw the ball towards the wicket and Ayesha was still far from the line,

My breath hitched and I bring my fist to my mouth seeing Ayesha and reach the line the same time as the ball hit the wicket.

"That's out!" Heer cheers and we all dreadfully watch the scene, "That's out right?" She asks our empire.

I look anxiously at mamu, who after a while raised his one index finger,

And then the other one.

"Not out."

"Yes!" I jump excitedly, giving Mina a high five.

Heer's smile falter and Ayesha grins taking her position before giving baba a high five,

"How many more Mina?" Ayesha calls out,

"Seven." Mina yells out.

"Go Ayesha!" I turn around to look at my mom cheering, Ayesha's mom was looking excitedly at her daughter with her phone in her hand, recording it. Bi jaan was looking at the field in anticipation. The only sour faces were Mr. ans Mrs. Durrani.

"Let's go Ayesha." I holler out, she gives me a thumbs up before taking her position.

It was Haroon's turn now, he determinedly throws the ball and we all watch anxiously, as the ball passes the field and hits with Ayesha's bat and fly off the boundary wall of the villa.

I ran towards her and lift her up in my arms, spinning her around as everyone around us started cheering.

"Farhan!" She smacks my shoulder frantically looking around, I set her on the ground and mina swooped her in a hug,

"That's my sister!" Murat hoots grabbing Ayesha's arm and lifting it up, "The ultimate winner!"

Even mamu smiled and clapped for Ayesha. I didn't realised I was smiling so hard until my cheeks started to hurt.

"It was just a game!" Heer huffs before storming inside the house, her mom following her behind.

****

"How is Izmir treating?" Bilal voice asks through the phone , I close the backyard door and lean against the veranda railing.

"Average." I reply, looking down at the garden below the railing, the last of rays falling on the ground.

"That bad?" He chuckles, "Well so let's cheer you up with a good news."

"Which is?"

"Our plan is almost done, just the remaining fifteen percent left." Bilal says and I smirk.

"Good, I will be back in two weeks, until then keep the track of the goods. I will sign it personally." I reply stuffing my hand in my coat's pocket.

"Alright captain." Bilal laughs, "That change of tone, we must've been good."

I chuckle, "Too good," I shake my head before asking, "How is Yousuf?"

"He returned to Istanbul few days ago. He brought his family with him." He replies. "Said he would complete his final year in Ankara and will think after that where he would live."

"And where are they living?" I ask,

"Currently in a hotel, I asked Yousuf to shift them with us but he refused."

"You remember the apartment few blocks down my parents house?" I ask.

"The one you invested in last year?"

"Tell Yousuf it is up for rent and for reasonable amount, he won't accept it if he knows who is the owner. Show him the flat randomly. Make up some story and convince him to shift there."

Bilal chuckles, "Alright captain."

I hung up the phone shortly and stare at the garden below, the light lamps now switched on, illuminating the dark garden.

My eyes travel to the sitting chairs which were now under the shade, where in the afternoon we played match and my wife won it.

It is kind of ironic how the last time I saw her in that garden, I termed her as a weirdo and today I was spinning her around in my arms, celebrating with her, being happy with her.

Yes there were many major changes in our lives, but today I realised, life comes in full circles.

As I was standing there, lost in my thoughts, I became aware of my surroundings when I felt a presence behind me, before the person could touch me, my hand deftly moved up and grabbed the wrist of the person.

"Ouch!" I turn around to look it was heer who was hissing at my grip.

I moved my hand away quickly. "Sorry." I mutter before turning to walk away when I heard her call my name,

"Don't apologise, I came here to talk to you." I did not turn around to look at her, when she spoke.

"I don't have time." I reply curtly.

"No please listen me out." She pleads.

I look her over my shoulder, "What?"

"I.." she hesitates, "I wanted to talk about the..past."

Intrigued, I turn around to face her, "What about it?"

"Look.." she says, "Can't we just forget everything and start over?"

"Start over what?" I scoff, "Forget what?"

"Farhan please don't do this." She sighs, "I just want us to be like before, how we used to be."

I chuckle lowly, "I don't remember the part where you and I were friends ever."

"We weren't." She agrees, "But we could be right?"

I raise my eyebrow, "What do you want?"

She steps closer, "Your friend maybe?"

I scoff stepping back, "Are you in your senses? Did you forgot what you did to my family? To my brother? And you want to be friends with me?"

She shakes her head frantically, "Can't you just forget that?"

"Forget that?" I scoff, anger palpitating in me, "Forget the way you defamed my brother? Forget the way how everyone accused him? Forget the way how people threw stones at my house after your news telecast? Forget the way you and your family took advantage of our emotional state and did everything you wanted too, just because you needed a fucking promotion?"

"I was blinded by money!" She cries out, "I admit, I was blinded by money! My boss offered me, he was rich!" She cries frustrated hitting the railing with her hand.

"So you sold your ethics and value for a luxurious lifestyle?" I chuckle bitterly.

"Yes I did!" She bits out, "He promised me a good life! So I did what I had to! I am saying it myself, I married him so that I could live the life I always dreamed of but never got! I am telling you, I did!" Tears ran down her cheeks, as she leans against the railing.

"But look at me now," she cries, "Divorced, alone, no job, I don't want this."

"And I don't see whose fault is this?" I say looking at her who was sobbing.

"It's mine, I know it's mine." She wipes her tears and steps near me, "But I am ready to change myself."

"Then change, not my concern." I stare blankly.

"I want to change with you." She says trying to grab my hand, "I promise I changed Farhan, please take me back."

I move out of her reach and stare at her with disbelieving eyes, "Are you fucking out of your mind?"

"No I am not!" She seethe in frustration, "We were supposed to get married! Not Ayesha! She always took everything from me! Why did you had to choose her!"

I stare at her in disbelief, she wipes away her tears frantically and gives me a smile,

"I swear I would be better than her, I promise. Forgive me and accept me."

The crazed look in her eyes, the anxious stance, mixed emotions, it looked all signs of depression. And for a moment, just for a moment, I felt bad for her.

"Who told you that I would ever accept you?" I ask,

"Mom told me." She admits, "She says I could be better than Ayesha and you can easily take me." She looks at me with frantic eyes.

Anger coerced in me, "Your mom did?" She nods eagerly, "Then let's talk in front of her."

I open the backyard door and enter inside the house, walking determinedly towards the living room where everyone was enjoying their evening tea.

Ignoring heer's cries behind me, I step inside the living room, everyone's eyes instantly goes on me,

"Khala, mrs.Durrani." I call out giving her a mocking claps, "Can we all clap for this legend between us?"

"Farhan what's wrong?" Mama asks, looking at me.

"Everything is wrong is mama," I reply, "And everything is wrong all because of her."

"What did I do?" Mrs. Durrani asks sharply, at the same time heer walks in, with tear streaks down her face, "What did you said to my daughter?"

"Nah uh," I tutt, "We are not going to talk about what I said, how about what you said."

Baba gets up looking at heer, "Farhan what's going on?"

"Mrs. Durrani had this amazing plan planted in heer's mind, to tell me to take her back. Because she changed." I say glaring at mrs. Durrani.

Ayesha, Fanaa baji along with Mina entered the living room with smiles, but frowned noticing the tense atmosphere.

"Safina?" Mom exclaims in shock, "Is it true?"

She looks down, with evident anger on her face.

"Hold on," baba starts looking around, "Farhan are you trying to say, Heer approached you, saying all of that?"

"Yes baba she did. But that's not the main concern, why don't we finally discuss what's going on?" I ask, frustration bubbling in me.

"Out of blue, she calls us through bi jaan and invites us to her party, but we had a doubt, did she want something from us? Well we got the answer, she does." I say pointing at her.

"Safina?" Mr Durrani asks in disbelief.

"Did you really forgot what you did five years ago? I lost my brother." My voice crack, "Instead of consoling us, staying with us, you and your daughter defamed us in front of the whole world! You didn't remember that when you planned all of this?"

"Yes she did!" Heer suddenly cries out, "We did that yes, but I said I am changed, I learned my lesson can't we move on?" She looks at Ayesha, "Yes I did said to Farhan to take me back because I belong with him! Not her." She angrily points at Ayesha, who steps back in shock.

"Remember khala?" Heer asks to my mom, "Remember how you always talked about making me your daughter in law, how you always told mom that you will make me marry your son, your eldest son to Fanaa and me to Farhan, that was the deal."

Mama stare at her in shock, "I never promised you or your mother about it. Never gave you false hope. Your mother asked for Farhan and he denied, and we all moved on, you got married somewhere else, my son has nothing to do with it."

"He has!" Heer seethes, "But she had steal all of it, like she does from childhood, Mina used to be with me now she can't be separated from her, she charmed my little brother, my sister is always with her and you are my khala, I was your favourite, not her! Farhan was supposed to be mine, not her, but she had to come in steal everything which was mine, this bitch took everything from me!" She cries angrily and pounds towards a shocked Ayesha, grabbing her by her neck,

I immediately step in and try to detach her from Ayesha, Fanaa baji along with Mina and mami, moved away an frantic heer.

I hold Ayesha in my arms who was shaken by the sudden actions,

I hold her face in my hand, examining her, "You are okay right?" She nods with wide eyes, her hands shivering.

We all watch shell shocked when Fanaa baji hold heer back and slap her right across her face.

Silence fell in the hall as everyone stared at Heer holding her face, and anger on Fanaa baji's face.

"When will you stop it?" Fanaa seethes in anger, "When are you going to learn?"

Their mother steps in, looking concerned on heer and glares at Fanaa. "How dare you slap your sister in front of everyone!"

"Sister?" Fanaa scoffs, "This is not my sister, never was! She was never this self-centered, so selfish, so prune! It is you who made her like this."

I bring Ayesha closer to me rubbing her arm, as she holds out her neck,

Mrs. Durrani glares at Fanna, "How dare you disrespect me like that?"

"I am not disrespecting you, I am telling you the truth! Which I was afraid to say all these years, yes it's you who made her like this! It you who made her hate her sister because she does not have a face to fit in a beauty standard! It was you who always taught her that money is everything, money should be your priority, over everything! Over every emotion, over every relationship, over everything because you did not got it when you were young, you are using her as your substitute!" Fanaa yells out, tears running down her face.

"You made her get married to a rich man twice her age for money! When she got divorced, you are asking her to force herself on a married man! Who she insulted him and his own family why?" She cries holding out her hands, "How much do you want to embarrass me in front of them? How?"

Mrs. Durrani looks around, "We did nothing to embarrass you. And if you are talking about that news telecast, it was a part of heer's job."

"A part of job?" Mama repeats, "Didn't you said what she said was truth? Didn't you said my son was a coward who committed suicide?" Her voice cracks, "Didn't you safina?"

"I am telling you, I am regretting it." Heer sobs, moving away from her mother.

"You don't." Fanaa says, "You don't regret anything heer, you are jealous and jealousy will lead you no where." Heer looks away.

"And you are jealous of Ayesha? Why? Not because she has Farhan, but because she is everything you wished to be, but couldn't because our mother kept brainwashing you to become something she wanted." Fanaa baji looks at Ayesha in my arms,

"The moment I came to the party yesterday, she asked me more than my own sister." Tears glide down her face, "I felt more welcome standing with them. Talking with them, because they don't see standards, they see relations and they respect it. That's why Allah has kept them close and inshallah he will always keep them close." Ayesha grabbed my hand giving it a squeeze.

"Even we respect our relations." Mrs Durrani defends and I roll my eyes.

"You don't mama you don't." Fanaa cries helplessly, "I am the living proof of it."

"Didn't we learn anything? Didn't we learn from seeing Fahad, we are alive today, we could be dead tomorrow, don't you fear one day you have to face your god! What are you going to say then? Keep making excuses?" Mina grabs Fanaa baji as she lost her footing and made her sit on the couch.

Mama stands in front of mrs. Durrani, "How long?" She pleads, "How long are you going keep your jealousy and irritation come in between your family? Aren't you tired? I came to your house in hope that I could meet my sister, talk to her, reconcile with her, but you keep doing something, you've always hurt people around you."

I walk towards my arm and grab her arm, "Let's leave." I say and she cries holding my hand.

"Safina," mamu calls out walking towards her, "I never got the chance to say you this, but I will say it today, this girl," he points at Fanaa, "This girl was born in your house in return of a blessing and yet you don't value it. Your child is your most precious gift. Be their support system not stress system. They are not your dolls, stop playing with their lives and think about what you've done to your family."

Before she could argue mamu turn around and left the hall, mami left after him.

Baba came by to hold mama, "If next you call us and plan something like this, I request you stop calling us." He says looking at mr. and mrs. Durrani, with one last glance two of them walked out of the hall.

I sigh looking at them, "I'll pickup bi jaan from here tomorrow, don't tell her anything about." Ayesha comes by side and grabs my hand, "Also," I say looking at heer who was blankly staring at her feet, "Your daughter is clearly in depression, if you can't take care of her atleast don't use her in this state."

Heer scoffs before storming off from the hall, her mother going behind her.

"Ayesha, Farhan." Fanaa baji says getting up from the couch, "I am really sorry for what my sister did today." She cries and Ayesha immediately hold her hands, "I am embarrassed for her actions."

"You don't need too, it wasn't your fault." I say to her.

"Yes baji, please don't apologise." Ayesha says hugging her. "Thank you so much for defending us."

Fanaa baji chuckles wiping her tears, "If I hadn't spoken today, then I could never."

"Let's go guys," Murat says who stood with us, "Fanaa baji if you need anything, you could call us."

Fanaa chuckles looking at us, "Thank you so much," she says looking at Mina, Murat and both of us, "May Allah bless you all,"

"You could come by to us anytime." Mina smiles.

"Mina is right," I give her a nod, "We should be leaving now, Allahafiz baji."

We all bid her a goodbye before walking out of the house which I wish I would never enter again.

Murat took on driving this time, seeing I had a lot in my mind, Mina sat on the passenger seat and Ayesha by my side.

I look outside of the window, watching the colourful lights passing by in a blur.

What a delicate string is relationships, one's ego and jealously could easily break it, so bad that even if you try to tie it down, somehow it will snap off again, never will be the same.

When I came to Izmir, I had a lot of anger towards Durrani's, but now I just pity them, having a controlling and emotion less parents can effect children differently.

Fanaa baji left her house after Fahad bhai's death, she preferred to live alone than with them. She couldn't stand them.

Heer became a pawn in her mother's game, doing every wrong her mother tells her too, brainwashed.

Haroon is just a clueless child, or pretends to be, who prefers to live in a hostel instead of his own house.

Sometimes I think if my parents weren't so understanding and loving, I wouldn't be the same, I would've been a mixture of Fanaa, heer and Haroon. A parent's love, affection and kindness can affect children differently.

I felt my hand being grabbed, I look at wife who looked at me with concerned eyes,

"You good?"

I nod, throwing my arm over her shoulder bringing her closer to me, "I will be."

I rub her arm and look down at her, giving her a smile. "Let's just go back to our home." I sigh.

"We will." Ayesha smiles grabbing my other hand.

At the end of the day, what matters the most is family and your love for them. Nothing could be compared to a healthy loving family.

*****

A/N :-

A little new year gift for you all.🫶🏻

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