His yelling made all of them who were seated in the living room alert.

Saniya threw a glance of hatred towards Shafaq and strode towards the exit.

Shafaq catched up with her and turned Saniya to face her.

" What did you said to Zaid bhai? ",she asked.

" I just told him that I can't marry him.", her grip on Saniya's arm loosened as soon as she grasped her words.

" How can you? You know he went against his family just for sake of your love, your relationship. You ended it in some moments. ", she said trying to keep herself calm.

" What do you think? I will become his maid. Just keep your mouth shut and let me go.", Saniya said getting away from her and leaving his house.

Shafaq stared at the going figure of Saniya.

How can love be fake? She stranded Zaid bhai when he was in need of her.

She backed off from the door and ran towards Zaid's room.

He was sitting in an upright position on his bed, with his head in his hands.

"Bhai. ", Shafaq called.

" I don't need your sympathy. Just go away and leave me alone forever.", he mumbled.

Shafaq stood at her place without uttering a single word. Zaid lifted his head up and yelled,

" Don't you understand a single sentence. Go away! You are the reason behind all of this."

The words pierced in her heart like 100 swords. Shafaq put a hand on her mouth to kill her sobs and ran away from his room.

******

The time flew at it's speed and fifteen days more passed. The clouds have started forming giving message of the arrival of season of life.

But life seems to be upset from Hussein mansion. Zaid caged himself in his room and he never came out of it. The servant has been assigned to take his meal to his room.

He has told everyone to left him on his own. He didn't meet with anyone. His room has become his new world.

Due to his condition, he had lost the confidence to face the world. Hence, he was handling his office work from home.

Shafaq on the insist of Mamu and Mumani had applied for some distant post-graduate course.

She never saw a glimpse of Zaid from the day when Saniya left him.

Mamu didn't brought the topic of Zaid and Shafaq's marriage again. He always looked like as if he is in deep thinking.

Shafaq filled the cups with tea and put it and the plates of snacks in the tray.

It was evening and it was time for Mamu and Mumani's tea. They were in their room.

" My friend Ayaz was asking for Shafaq's hand in marriage for his son Adam..", Mamu's voice coming from inside the room stopped Shafaq in her tracks.

It was not a good habit of eavesdropping but she wanted to listen Mamu's reason for his decision. Didn't he adamant for the marriage of hers and Zaid?

" But what about our Zaid? They were meant to get married with each other. ", Mumani replied.

" Life doesn't always goes as we planned it. Shafaq needs someone better than our Zaid. You know his condition, I can't snatch her happiness for a mere promise."

How can they talk about her happiness, ignoring Zaid? What about Zaid's happiness? She couldn't think now her life without Zaid.

She did what she felt right at that moment like Allah had given her the strength for this. She opened the door of their room and said,

" I will marry Zaid bhai.", her voice trembled with shyness and fear but she had do this.

******

Mamu and Mumani head snapped towards her in shock, surprise, she couldn't point out. She placed the tray on the coffee table and sat beside Mumani on the sofa. Mamu was seated across her on the bed.

" What are you saying, Shafu?", Mumani asked.

" I am sorry but I heard your conversation. ", she said fidgeting her fingers, " What is the problem with Zaid bhai's proposal? "

Mamu and Mumani looked at her as she had grown two heads.

" Shafu, that time was different when we had decided to marry you off with Zaid. But now, he has become handi-", Shafaq cut off Mamu in mid.

" No Mamu. Please don't say like this. Inshaallah he will be able to walk one day. "

" But Shafu, your Mamu is right. You too have the right to be happy. I know my son, he has become more stubborn, rude. You won't be happy with him.", Mumani said.

" I am happy, Mumani. Inshaallah I will be happy with him also. Papa had choosen him for me and I know it will be right for me.", Shafaq said.

Mumani looked at her in awe. Her eyes became teary. She was very much worried for Zaid from the day when she came to know about Saniya's decision. She knew that there would be no or less proposals for Zaid due to his condition.

But today, Shafaq had given them the unknown happiness by agreeing to marry Zaid.

" I am proud of you, Shafaq. May Allah bless you with entire happiness of the world.", Mumani said kissing her forehead.

Mamu too patted her head with teary eyes.

******

" Bhai, you called me?", Shafaq asked entering Zaid's room.

Two days had passed when she had a discussion with Mamu and Mumani. They had very less hopes that Zaid would get agree to their decision.

Today, when she was talking to Naano, Farisha aapa came to told her that Zaid wanted to meet her.

Her heart quivered at it's place in nervousness.

Why bhai wants to meet me all of a sudden? Does this means that Mamu has talked to him?

His room was full of dark, Shafaq quickly turned on the lights. The whole scene got washed in light.

She spotted Zaid sitting on his wheelchair staring at the black night sky. He had become paler by the time. His beard had been grown and showing that he had become ignorant of his looks.

She cleared her throat. Zaid turned to look at her and Shafaq felt him distant and warmth which was part of his eyes missing.

"What do you think you are, Shafaq? ", Zaid said with anger filled eyes.

He rolled his eyes when Shafaq gave him a confused look.

" How many times do I have to tell you that I.Don't.Need.Anyone's.Sympathy. ", he said with gritted teeth, " By agreeing for marriage with me, you want to show your greatness. "

" No,bhai. That's not true. I am not showing you some sympathy or else. I have agreed for this marriage because .."

I love you!

"Because it was our parent's promise to each other.", she said lowering her gaze and composing her battling thoughts, " Papa took a promise from Mamu at the time of his death for our marriage."

Zaid face softened hearing her reason. He didn't knew about this, he had only heard half conversation when he came to know about Shafaq's proposal.

But how can he look at her as his wife, when he always imagined Saniya as his wife.

After a long pause, Zaid broke the silence,

" Ok. ", Shafaq head snapped towards Zaid.

This means that he was agreeing for the marriage with her. Many butterflies began to dance in her stomach due to excitement.

" But, it will be a relationship of just name. Don't ever put a false hope or expectations that I will give you the position of my wife or will treat you like my wife. ", Zaid's words hammered on her head.