کج شوق سی یار فقیری دا کج عشق نے در در رول دتا
کج سجنا کسر نہ چھڈی سی کج زہر رقیباں گھول دتا
کج ہجر فراق دا رنگ چڑھیا کج درد ماہی انمول دتا
کج سڑ گئی قسمت میری کج پیار وچ یاران رول دتا
کج اونج وی راہواں اوکھیاں سان کج گل وچ غمان دا طوق وی سی
کج شہر دے لوگ وی ظالم سان کج سانوں مرن دا شوق وی سی

Omer

A cold and deadly silence descended upon them as soon as the man stopped talking. The cold winds froze their blood but nevertheless, it didn't matter for their hearts were already dead. The woman's eyes were wide as she stared at the man in front of her while the man's gaze was casted down.

Whether it was because of fear or regret, he didn't know. However, one thing was certain, more certain than his entire existence-he was ashamed, he didn't know how to look at Fariya after everything he had said to her.

"Omer.." His name was a mere whisper on her tongue, her lips parched, her eyes wide.

"You...you love.. love someone else?" Fariya's voice contained all the bewilderment of the world in it. There was fear in it, pain hidden deep beneath.

"Yes." Speaking was a difficulty, but it was a necessity.

She let out a gasp as she took a step back. Omer, who had his head bowed, caught a glimpse of her retreating feet and shot his head up.

"Fariya..." He moved towards her hurriedly and coiled his hand around her wrist, halting her motion.

"It is my past." He breathed out, his entire aim to convince the lady who seemed to be in denial.

"Is it?" Fariya asked, incredulously.

"What?" Omer seemed to be taken aback.

"Is it really your past, Omer? Haven't you let it destroy your present and future too?" Fariya said, her lips wavering.

"You have allowed your past to come in your every way. Your past is still the only thing in your mind, it still has the power to pull the ground from under your feet. How can you say that it is your past when it is more powerful than your present and future combined?" Her voice didn't contain anger, it contained hurt, pain.

And as she pronounced her words, tears arriving at the brim of her eyes, Omer knew what she meant when she talked about his present and future. If Rameen was her past, Fariya was her present, her future. And Fariya knew for a fact that his past had more strength over him, it was more captivating. Omer seemed to be at loss of words, his mind and heart at a constant battle with each other.

"You should have told me earlier." She whispered as she looked down at her wrist which was encircled in Omer's hand. Slowly pulling her hand away, she stepped back. Omer's gaze were terrified as he looked at her retreating form, his eyes drenching with fear.

"Whatever happened, it is my past. And I will never let it come between the two of us." Omer said, his voice desperate.

"But it's already between us, Omer. In fact, it is me who came between you and your past." Fariya slowly said, her voice filled with ache and misery.

Omer, on hearing her painful words, took an abrupt step towards her and stopped just an inch away from her, her sparkling eyes a mirror which were showing his own reflection.

"Fariya, please. Don't do this to me. I'm already in so much pain." Omer said quite disturbed, his eyes scanning her face.

Fariya's expressions softened when Omer's words reverberated in her ears, her eyes turning soft.

"You are important to me, you always have been. If you weren't, I wouldn't have told you any of this. I told you everything just because I want to start a new life with you, a life which is based on nothing but loyalty and truths." Omer said forcefully and saw as his woman controlled the tears by biting her lips.

"I am trying to forget my past, to forget her. Won't you help me?" He asked, his face masking a tired expression.

"I.. Omer..." Fariya couldn't think of words, right words, as she looked up at her husband. "Omer, how can I trust you?" Fariya asked slowly as tears spilled form her eyes like diamonds.

"I also want to start a new life with you but the thought that some other woman occupies your heart kills me. I can handle your hatred but I can't handle you loving someone else, Omer. It is painful." Fariya cried out at the end, her tears falling on Omer's heart.

Omer sucked in a harsh breath and tried to circle his arms around Fariya's waist. But Fariya hurriedly took a step back and Omer's eyes widened as he looked at her red eyes and her swollen face.

"Fariya..." He said, bewildered.

He had expected her anger, her hatred, her pain. But what he never expected was her shutting him off and that was exactly what was happening.

"Fariya, I'll move on. There will come a day when I'll completely forget her. Trust me." Omer said desperately but Fariya only shook her head.

"I'll wait for that day then. I'll wait till that day to agree to the Rukhsati." She said as she wiped her face through the back of her hand.

"Fariya.. I need you to forget her. Otherwise, it would take a lifetime to forget what she did to me." Omer said, his tone laced with fear and desperation.

"But how can I live with a man after knowing perfectly well that he loves someone else?" Fariya asked, her voice tired.

"She is my past." Omer forcefully said.

"So you're saying you don't love her?" There was a fleck of hope which ignited Fariya's heart as she pronounced the question. But her hope was short lived for the man went silent, his face showing the battle which was going on deep within him.

"You still love her, right?" Fariya painfully asked as she pressed her lips together.

"I will forget her." Omer said slowly.

"I'm talking about love, Omer." Fariya remarked as she smiled, a smile which tore his heart into pieces.

"After everything she did to you, you still love her?" Fariya asked, her voice filled with a painful wonderment.

"You can never hate a person you once loved with everything you had. Everything can be changed in the cycle of replacement, everything but love." Omer said, his lips pressed in a thin line.

A dark expression clouded Fariya's face as she looked at him.

"So you'll love her forever?" Fariya asked, a painful smile dancing on her face. But unfortunately for Fariya, Omer had no answer.

"Fariya, she means nothing to me..." Omer tried to say when Fariya cut him in mid-sentence.

"But you just said that you love her." Fariya said slowly and Omer turned silent for a split second.

"It's not under our control who we fall in love with." Omer said after a moment of complete silence.

"Then why do you want the Rukhsati to happen? You don't love me, I know that now. Why are you doing everything?" Fariya asked, her voice a little bit raised.

"Fariya, everyone's happiness is linked with this Nikah. Dado, Baba, your mother. Everyone's." Omer said and Fariya's face masked anger for the first time ever since Omer told her everything.

"So you're doing everything just because of them? Not because you want to?" She asked in tone which was filled with hurt.

"No..no..it's not like that." Omer didn't know what to say as he looked at her. "Look Fariya, you're already in my Nikah. It doesn't matter when the Rukhsati happens." Omer said and Fariya only shook her head forcefully.

"It does matter to me. Omer, this Rukhsati will only happen when you'll forget her for good. When you'll stop loving her." Fariya forcefully said and Omer's heart skipped a beat.

"Fariya, no. I respect you, I care for you. Doesn't that mean anything?" Omer said, worry in his voice.

"But you love someone else." Fariya achingly remarked and Omer lost his breath.

"Omer, please. Try to understand me. I can't live my life with someone who thinks about some other woman for every second of the day. You say you care for me, so how can you do that to me?" Fariya asked slowly, her eyes boring holes through Omer's soul.

"Omer...please..." She begged through her eyes.

And those were the last words she said before turning around and leaving the terrace, with a cold and devastated Omer staring at her back.

◇◇◇◇

His eyes were fixed on the ceiling above, his mind a rest house for all sorts of painful thoughts. Fariya's words still rang in his ears, loud and clear. They were the source of his discomfort since the past few hours, the source of his insomniac night.

Everytime he tried to close his lids, her tear filled eyes flashed before his eyes. Everytime he tossed and turned in his bed, he got reminded of the pain she must be going through at the moment.

There was nothing more that he wanted right now then to make her ache and misery vanish into thin air. But he knew that unlike the last times, Fariya will not let him come close to her now. She was aching everywhere and she needed time-time to think, time to make a decision.

He was immersed in his thoughts when the alarm went off and he turned his head towards the nightstand, his hand extended to turn off the alarm. Slowly pushing the covers away, he got up from his bed and made his way towards the washroom.

However, Omer had only just taken a step when he heard a loud knock on his door. Halting his steps, he turned towards the door.

"Come in." He said in a tired voice.

The door opened more quickly than he expected and what he saw was a panting Maida standing in front of him.

"Maida?" Omer carelessly pronounced her name, resuming his steps and moving towards the wardrobe.

"Bhai, where is Fariya?" Maida's words rang in the air and he stopped dead in his tracks. Quickly turning around, he faced Maida and stared at her.

"What do you mean by that?" Omer incredulously asked as he looked at her worried face.

"She's nowhere in the house. I've looked everywhere." Maida said, fear lacing her voice.

"Dado's room? Terrace?" Omer asked and looked at her expectantly.

"I've looked everywhere." Maida said as she pressed her lips in a thin line, trying to control their shivering.

"What happened?" Omer asked as he hurriedly collected his mobile phone, wallet and car keys from the nightstand.

"I woke up in the morning, around 6 and saw that she was crying really hard. I asked her but she didn't say anything, she just kept repeating your name." Maida said, confusion lacing her voice and Omer felt his heart tearing apart.

"She said afterwards that she wanted to be alone for some time and left the room. I didn't want to push her so I just did what she asked me to do, I let her go. When I woke up again, about half an hour ago, I didn't find her in the room so I began to search for her. But I've looked everywhere in the house, Omer Bhai. She is nowhere." Maida's voice tailed off and Omer closed his eyes in concern and fear.

The clock was showing half past eight and Omer felt his worry intensifying with every passing second. Two and a half hours since she was missing and the mere thought froze the blood flowing in his veins.

"Have you told anyone?" Omer tried to ask in a composed tone but deep inside, his heart was fearing the dreadful.

"Everyone knows, Bhai. Mama is crying terribly." Omer felt as if someone had crushed his heart.

"Did you call her friends?" Omer asked as he hurriedly left the room, closely followed by Maida who was half running behind him.

"No, I didn't. But I'll call Sana now." Maida said, her steps matching with Omer's.

Both of them reached downstairs and Omer saw everyone gathered in the hall.

"Chachi, please be patient. I'll bring her home." Omer said as he looked at Fariya's crying mother.

"She'll be back home in some hours. I promise." Omer said as he embraced her crying form and patted the back of her head.

"Maida, call her friends and ask them if they know anything about her whereabouts." Omer turned towards Maida who was now dialing a number on her phone.

"Hello, Sana? It's me Maida." Omer heard her talk to someone on the phone and pulled out his own phone too.

"Is Fariya with you?" He glanced at her direction before dialing a number on his phone.

"Do you know where she is?" Maida asked, her voice lower this time.

"Okay, thanks." She disconnected the call, her lips pressed in a thin line. Omer sighed as he waited for his call to connect.

"Where is her phone?" Omer asked Maida, the phone still pressed on his ear.

"In the room. She left it there." Omer nodded his head.

"Khawar, I'm sending you a picture of a woman. Check the CCTV footages of 6 am around the area of my house and see if you can find out where she is." Omer said, his tone busy and authoritative.

"How much time will it take?" Omer asked and nodded his head on hearing the answer.

"Be as quick as possible." Omer disconnected the call and after sending him the picture, turned towards everyone in the family.

"I'm going to go find her." The thought that she had left the home crying just because of him filled his heart with a kind of regret he had never felt before.

"I'll come with you." His father said and moved towards him but Omer shook his head.

"I'll take care of everything. You should stay home and take care of everyone here." Omer said as he tried to smile.

His father nodded his head and Omer turned on his heels, his legs taking him to the garage.

"Where are you, woman?" He whispered to himself as he scanned the road around him, his eyes moving from one place to another.

But there was not a single sign of her and Omer's fear was ascending after every second. Suddenly, his mobile phone went off and he quickly picked it up.

"Yes?" He hurriedly asked.

"Sir, there is a footage of the girl leaving the house but we don't know where she went after she left the street. We do not have control over the cameras on that road." Khawar said and Omer clenched his teeth in frustration.

"Which way did she go?" Omer asked in a low voice.

"Right way, sir." Khawar answered and suddenly light made its way into his mind.

There was only one place she possibly could be at, now that her heart was completely shattered. Only one place which could tend to her broken heart. Only one place where she could feel her father more than ever.

Graveyard.

As soon as the thought struck in his mind, he hurriedly pushed the accelerator, making the car run on the deserted streets of Islamabad.

"Why didn't I think of it before?" He thought, cursing himself for not thinking about it earlier.

Fariya did strange things to him, he had admitted this long time ago. She didn't raise the heat in his heart but she did intensify his possessiveness. She didn't make him fall for her head over heels but she did make him protect her, not caring about his own head or heels. She didn't control his heart but his mind.

And now that she was nowhere to be found, he came to know about the importance she held in his life, about the place she occupied in his aching, miserable life. He didn't love her but he cared about her and sometimes, it is enough.

With the thoughts still in his mind, he reached the narrow street that had graveyard at the far end of it. Inhaling a deep breath, he wished for his thoughts to be true, hoped that he could find Fariya inside that graveyard, sitting beside her father's grave, crying.

He could handle crying Fariya but what he couldn't tolerate was a missing one.

He stepped inside the graveyard, the land uneven under his feet. Cautiously making his way forward, he scanned the area around him, looking for any signs of his spouse. Expectantly, he found none.

Shaking his head, he made his way towards the grave of his Chacho which was at the other side of the graveyard. It took him less than five minutes to reach that spot, his steps cautious but fast.

And as soon as he reached near it, his breath hitched in his throat. His eyes were seeing a Fariya who had her eyes closed while her head rested on the grave, her body leaned against the marble. Omer couldn't see her face clearly from where he was standing but he could definitely see her motionless form. As grief strafed his heart, he felt an unknown emotion inside of him.

It was not only care, it was much more.

Fariya

Have you ever felt pain in its true meaning? Has it ever happened that you that you wanted to cry but tears just won't come? Felt that if you ever carried even an inch more of pain, your soul would abandon you? Felt that your heart is tearing apart? Because if you have, you would know that a person doesn't remain the same when the pain ends. Something breaks inside of him which could never be repaired again, something he once cherished. Maybe his heart or it might be his soul.

Fariya Ali Sikandar was going through the same kind of pain. It was a kind of pain she had never felt before, not even when her father left her for good. At that time, she was prepared, she had already thought about the consequences of a heart attack which had made her father worry so much about her well being.

But this time, her whole world had crumbled down right before her eyes only because it was the last thing she anticipated. Omer loved someone else. The mere thought had turned her into a vulnerable woman who was seeing the love of her life being snatched away from her.

Had she not known about love herself, she wouldn't have reacted in this way. But unluckily for her, she knew. She knew what love can make people do, she knew it more than anyone else. And she also knew what would happen in the future if the woman ever returned in his life without a second thought.

Omer continued to love her and even after everything she had done to him, he still couldn't get back his heart which he gave away to her five years ago. No matter how much he denied, he knew deep in his heart too that she still occupied a large place in his heart.

Omer was a kind of a man who only loved once in their life. For them, one time is enough time, one time is a beautiful time. He was a lifetime kind of man and Fariya couldn't halt her pain for she had come to know that he had already done that-a liftime kind of love.

The fact that she would never be fortunate enough to receive his love tore her into pieces. Yes, he cared about her, cared more than he should have. He had valued her opinion, given her space, endured her tantrums patiently but what could she do to her heart which wanted love and love alone? Her naive heart had turned into a stubborn one, wanting love from the man who had it in his fist.

She knew for a fact that what she was asking from Omer was childish, stupid. Asking a person to stop loving someone is an immature act but Fariya did not know otherwise. Her mind went completely blank when he opened up his heart to her that she lost the track of thinking straight. She knew she had asked Omer for a thing which he would never giver her, not even if he wanted to.

Love is one thing which is not in our control, not when we fall in it, not when we want to step out of it. But at the same time, she couldn't bring herself to agree to the Rukhsati when she clearly knew what was in his heart. It was a difficult act, a painful act. And Fariya did not have a heart to do it, even after clearly knowing that her acts are disturbing the one man she never wanted to be disturbed.

However, nothing was under her control. The more she thought about the dramatic change of events in her life, the more she wanted to cry but it was like all her tears had dried. If eyes and heart shed tears together, it is painful. But when only heart cries and tears refuse to accompany it, the pain become unbearable.

She was completely immersed in her thoughts, in her heart wrenching thoughts, when she felt slight movement behind her. Narrowing her eyes, she turned her head around to see the intruder but before she could completely turn her head, Fariya felt a strong arm going around her waist.

Her narrowed eyes widened when she saw a tired Omer sitting beside her, his lips pressed in a thin smile. Fariya was too shocked to respond so she did one thing she was good at; she remained silent. However, her silent mouth did not stop her limbs. She struggled out of his hold, like a bird in a man's fist.

Omer, however, did not let go. He just tightened his hold around her waist, silencing Fariya's struggle along with it. After a second or two, when Fariya was sure that there was no way out, she gave into his gentle touch. Leaning back against the marble, she turned her head around and laid it on the grave.

"You should've told me." She heard him whisper after a moment.

The graveyard was empty except the two of them, both of them so close and yet so distant.

"You would've accompanied me." Fariya whispered back, the old trees hanging on to every word she said for they were witnessing a moment of complete serenity.

"Why didn't you want that?" He asked a simple question with a complicated answer.

The words exchanged between them were small and limited and yet the silence between them spoke volumes-a kind of silence which you could write novels about.

"You know the answer." Fariya replied as she closed her lids, her eyelashes uniting as blackness enveloped her gaze.

"Your mother is worried." Omer said, after taking a deep breath, his arms going from her waist towards her shoulders.

"I would've come back in an hour or so. There was no need to come looking for me." Fariya replied and Omer went silent, not knowing how to reply.

"I was worried." Omer said, dumbstruck.

"That's a news to me." Fariya said her mind while her own heart died a little inside. She knew she was being unfair to the man who had always cared about her, who had always been nice to her.

"Fariya, just because I don't love you doesn't mean that I don't care for you." His painful words hit home and Fariya felt tears stinging her eyes.

I don't love you.

It was the only thing she heard, the only thing which broke the dam she had tried so hard to build. Not knowing what to say to him, she struggled again and this time a thing happened which she didn't want; he let go of her. Fariya felt cold instantly, her body missing the warmth his hands provided, but moved away anyhow.

"Don't cry, please." Omer must have sensed her crying so he did the only thing he could do; he used words.

"Fariya, I'm extremely sorry. I should've told you everything in a better way. I shouldn't have forced my burdens on your shoulders. I'm sorry, so sorry." Not only Omer's words, his eyes too conveyed the message of regrets but was Fariya looking in those dark, black orbs?

"Look at me, please." Omer begged and Fariya smiled slightly but it was not a tender smile which always illuminated her lips-it was an afflictive smile.

"Don't my eyes remind you of her?" Fariya said and heard Omer suck in a harsh breath beside her.

Fariya regretted her words as soon as they were out of her mouth, her mind regretted the pain she was giving him, her heart broke a little bit more as she heard Omer's silence.

"They do." He sighed but didn't halt.

"But they also remind me of the reality and I need that-reality. When I look into your eyes, I remember everything that happened and it makes me want to forget my past with more ferocity. Your eyes help." He said and Fariya could swear that it was a hint of smile which she felt in his words.

"I've turned my weakness into my strength, Fariya." Omer said and Fariya raised her head from the marble and turned her head around, slowly.

Her eyes met his.

Hazel against black.

Aching against smiling.

Still smiling tenderly, Omer raised his hand and brought it closer to her face. Fariya's breath caught as she awaited for his next move and Omer, as if sensing her anticipation, placed his index finger right on top of her eyes. Fariya's heart stopped as she closed her eyes reflexively, blood rushing up to her face.

She could feel his cold fingers on her burning skin and knew that this man had casted a spell on her, a spell which had turned her life upside down. Few moments passed with his finger on her eyes and a smile on his face before he pulled his hand away and stood up.

Fariya, whose face was now a shade of red, opened her eyes slowly and looked up at him.

"We should get going. Everyone is worried at home." Omer exhaled a deep breath and Fariya nodded her head slightly.

Following suit, she stood up from the ground and stood right next to him. Both of them raised their hands to pray for her deceased father before running their hands over their faces. Omer, who was standing on her right, extended his hand towards the exit and motioned Fariya to move. Fariya, cautiously, took her steps, closely followed by Omer who was eying her carefully.

◇◇◇◇

"Fari!" Maida's eyes were the first to land on her.

She hurriedly stood up from the sofa and stared at her sister who had a shawl draped around her shoulders and was standing beside Omer. As soon as her word reverberated around the large room, everyone's eyes snapped towards the door and all of them followed suit-getting up from the sofa while looking at their daughter and son.

Fariya's mother was the first to commit any action. She walked towards her daughter, her eyes filled with tears, her legs a little shaky. Fariya saw as her mother approached her, tears falling in a continuous flow and regretted ever stepping out of the house. Her mother stopped a feet away from her and stared at her, her eyes now angry and swollen.

All of a sudden, a large sound vibrated around the room followed by Fariya's burning cheek and her mother's throbbing hand. Omer and everyone's eyes widened as they saw a mother and daughter facing each other. Tears spilled from Fariya's eyes too as she stared at her mother, dumbstruck.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was?" She shouted at the top of her voice and Fariya flinched. She had never seen her mother like this, never this angry. She had never shouted at her, let alone slap her in front of everyone.

"I'm..I'm sorry." Fariya hiccuped, her cheeks heating up as she sensed everyone's eyes on her.

"Where were you?" She again shouted and Fariya shrinked in her place. She didn't know how to calm a raging storm, tears falling on her face in a never ending flow.

"Chachi, please calm down. It wasn't her fault." Omer interrupted and Fariya's mother turned towards him, her eyes narrowed.

"It wasn't her fault?" She incredulously asked. "She went away somewhere without even telling anyone. She was missing and you say it wasn't her fault?" She said in a loud voice and Omer shook his head helplessly.

"Chahci, she only went to Chacho's grave." Omer disclosed and saw as Fariya's mother's expressions turned soft. She turned to her daughter and looked at her with a pained expression.

"What happened?" She asked, her voice low but firm.

"I.. I wanted to talk to him." Fariya said, her tears decreasing in their ferocity. "I was missing him." She told the half truth and lowered her head, her gaze boring holes through her feet.

"Is everything okay?" Her motherly emotions were now overcoming the anger.

"Yes, Mama. Everything is fine. I was just missing him." She said as she tried to smile, her parched lips cracking.

"Oh, my child." She exclaimed and pulled her daughter into a bone crushing hug. "Never do that again. I was so frightened." She whispered and Fariya nodded her head slightly, her arms around her mother.

"I'm sorry." Fariya again said and this time, her mother nodded her head in understanding.

"Thank you, Omer. For bringing her back." Her mother said after she pulled back from the hug and turned towards her son-in-law.

"Don't, Chachi. She is my responsibility too." Omer smiled at her who raised her hand and placed it on Omer's head, lovingy.

◇◇◇◇

"Fari, Baba is calling you." Urwa informed her before knocking at the door and entering.

"Why?" Fariya raised her head from the book and looked at her.

"I don't know. But everyone is gathered in Dado's room. Mama asked me to call you." Urwa said as she sat on the table.

"Everyone including?" Fariya questioned, collecting her hair in her hands and tying them in a bun.

"Dado, Baba, Mama, Chachi and Omer Bhai." Urwa told her and Fariya's eyes narrowed but she controlled herself.

"I'm coming." Fariya said before closing her book and standing up. She ran a hand over her dress, hoping to clear the mess it was.

"Fariya?" Urwa called out her name and Fariya looked up at her questioningly.

"You seem to be upset. Is everything fine?" Fariya wished that she could say her heart but her mind stopped her on time.

"Yeah, I am. It's just studies." Fariya said and tried to smile.

"If there's anything troubling you, you can always come to me." Urwa gave her a smile and Fariya's heart melted.

"I will." Fariya said and started to walk out of the room with Urwa.

As she reached the door of Dado's room, she halted for a second and inhaled a deep breath, bracing herself for what was about to come. After knocking at the door, she rotated the door knob and stepped inside the warm room, her tensed muscles relaxing slightly.

"Taya Abbu, you called?" Fariya slowly asked as she looked at everyone. Her mother, Tayi Ammi and Dado were sitting on the bed while Omer and Taya Abbu occupied the sofa.

"Yeah, yeah, my child. Come, sit here." He motioned Fariya to sit at the corner of the bed, right in front of Omer.

Fariya, reluctantly, took her steps and sat there. She didn't dare look at Omer whose gaze was sending a shiver down her spine.

"Is everything fine?" She asked as she looked at her Taya Abbu.

"Everything's fine. I just wanted to ask you something." Taya Abbu gently said and Fariya relaxed a bit.

"What is it?" Fariya said, her voice soft.

"Child, we want the Rukhsati to happen now." Fariya's heart stopped for a fraction of moment and she abruptly turned her face towards Omer who tore his gaze away slowly.

"Fariya, it has been six months since your Nikah. It is the best time for the Rukhsati to commence." Fariya's mother said and Fariya closed her eyes for a second before opening them again.

Fariya gulped down the emotions that threatened to escape and looked straight at her Taya Abbu.

"Taya Abbu, my studies are not completed." Fariya gave an excuse but Taya Abbu only shook his head.

"Rukhsati will happen in a month or two, when you will be done with your studies." Taya Abbu waved her excuse away. Fariya went silent as she thought about some other valid excuse but unfortunately for her, found none.

"Fariya?" Taya Abbu called out her name and she shook her head slowly.

"Please, Taya Abbu. I don't want the Rukhsati to happen now. I'm not prepared." She said helplessly and saw as everyone's eyes narrowed.

"Fariya, two months is plenty of time to prepare yourself." Her mother said, her tone hard this time.

Fariya did not know how to convince them. She couldn't tell them about everything that was happening in her life but she also couldn't agree to the Rukhsati. Fariya found herself in deep dilemma and confusion.

"Mama, I just don't want to do it now, please." Fariya said, anxiously.

"Is there anything wrong? Has Omer said anything to you?" Tayi Ammi asked and Fariya's blood seized.

"No, no, Tayi Ammi. I'm just not prepared." Fariya said as she looked at Omer for a second and found his dark, deep eyes already on her. She quickly tore her gaze away and looked at her Taya Abbu.

"Fariya, your mother is right. Two months is enough time to prepare yourself." Taya Abbu said, confused.

"Taya Abbu, please." She almost begged as she stood up.

"Baba forced this Nikah on me but please don't force this Rukhsati. I can't do it now." Fariya said, tears in her voice.

Fariya could feel everyone's gaze on her, most importantly, Omer's. Taya Abbu, seeing her tears, hurriedly stood up from the sofa and took a step towards her.

"Fariya, Fariya." He shushed her as he placed his hands on her shoulders. "What's wrong?" He asked and Fariya looked at him weakly.

"Baba, it's fine. The Rukhsati can wait." All of a sudden, it was the voice of Omer which rang in the room and Fariya's face turned towards him reflexively. She couldn't believe he said it, after all it was him who was persistent on the Rukhsati.

"But Omer..." Fariya's mother began to interrupt but Omer shook his head, stopping her words.

"If she is not happy, then there is no need to do this Rukhsati." Omer said as he too stood up. Fariya saw as Taya Abbu nodded his head as he looked at Fariya's mother.

"Yes, Bhabhi. Omer's right. Fariya's happiness is what we desire and if she is not happy, we shouldn't force this on her. Ali wouldn't have wanted that." Taya Abbu gently said as he side hugged Fariya. Fariya's mother, however, didn't seem to be convinced.

"Bhai, you and Omer are just spoiling her. It's not compulsory to agree to everything she says." She said, a little bit angry.

Taya Abbu, on hearing her, smiled but it was Dado who spoke this time.

"It's okay, Amna. If they can spoil her, they can take care of her too." It was love in her voice for her grandchildren.

"Can I go?" Fariya raised her head from Taya Abbu's chest and asked.

Taya Abbu let go of her and nodded his head. Not daring to glance in Omer's direction, Fariya hurriedly left the room.

However, she had not yet reached the staircase when she was stopped by a strong hold on her arm. She knew who it was without even turning back-the touch was familiarly gentle.

"Why are you doing this? Why are you asking me to do something which is not under my control?" Omer's voice seemed to be distressed, as if he had grown tired of everything that was happening around him.

"I don't know myself." Fariya replied softly, without turning around.

"I know what I'm asking is impossible and you'll never be able to do that. But you can at least forget her and everything that happened. That's all I'm asking now. The day you'll forget her is the day you'll find me in your room as your bride." Fariya said, her voice equally broken.

"Give me some time to think about everything, Omer. Give me some time to make peace with everything." Fariya said, her back facing Omer's front.

"Okay, fine. I will give you as much time as you need. I promise." Omer's voice was drained.

With that said, he left her wrist and Fariya started climbing the stairs, not even once looking back at her man who was staring up at her with pain in his eyes.

◇◇◇◇

"Tayi Ammi, where is the driver?" Fariya asked as she stepped inside the room and found her Tayi Ammi sitting beside her mother.

"Urwa and Maida have taken him to their friend's house." Tayi Ammi informed her and she sighed.

"You have to go somewhere?" Fariya's mother asked her and she nodded her head.

"University. I have to submit an assignment and pick up some notes from the shop." Fariya told them.

"Why don't you send Mehmood to buy the notes?" Tayi Ammi mentioned the name of their servant but Fariya shook her head.

"They won't give the notes to him. And besides, I have to submit the assignment too." She mentioned her problem with a sigh.

Fariya stopped for a moment before she looked from one lady to the other, her eyes contemplating her choices.

"Umm, Tayi Ammi, Omer's car is parked in the garage. Can I take it?" Fariya asked, her tone laced with hesitancy.

Omer had gone to his office today on Taya Abbu's car while his own car was parked in the garage.

"Child, your Taya Abbu won't allow you to drive alone. You know how much paranoid he is when it comes to his daughters." Tayi Ammi said and Fariya pressed her lips in a thin line.

"I know but it won't take more than an hour. I promise." Fariya insisted and Tayi Ammi sighed along with her mother.

"Fari, please drive carefully." Her mother said and Fariya, taking that as a yes, quickly nodded her head.

"I will." She said and left the room.

Grabbing the keys from his room, she stepped in the garage and unlocked his car. A familiar fragrance invaded her nostrils as soon as she sat in the car and turned on the engine, her mind recognising the scent. She pushed the accelerator as soon as the car was on the road and smiled to herself, driving giving her a sense of satisfaction.

Placing the car on the way to the University, she increased the speed slightly, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. The silence in the car forced her to think about something, a thought which wiped the smile from her face.

She got carried away to the time when her father taught her how to drive. She remembered those infinite days when her heart was at peace and her mind a host of beautiful thoughts. Those were the days, she thought as she remembered the time her father used to laugh when she would push the accelerator in stead of brakes in panic. Her lips pressed in a thin line and her eyes showed a hint of sadness.

She was completely absorbed in her thoughts when an anothet car crossed her car in speed and Fariya, as if waking up from a sleep, panicked. Turning the steering rightwards reflexively, she pushed the accelerator but her heart stopped when the car hit a bike on the other side and collided with the pole.

The sudden stop pushed Fariya forward and her head collided with the steering wheel, resulting in a bleeding forehead. The sudden pain went through her entire body, blinding her vision for some moments.

As the time passed and pain subsided a little, she raised her head and opened her eyes but what caught her attention was a sight which was way more painful than the physical pain she was enduring.

A man was lying in front of the car, covered completely in blood.

Fariya hurriedly got out of the car and moved towards the man who was now withering in pain. People were now circling around the man while Fariya just stared at him, her gaze bewildered and frightened. The gathered people were saying all sorts of things but the word which struck her mind was that of the police.

She quickly ran her hand over her face and ran towards the man. Kneeling beside him, he shook him but the man cried more with every touch. Frantically asking the people to shift him to her car, Fariya heard the whispers around her.

Such a reckless driver.

These rich people stop looking outside wheh they are driving.

This is a police case.

Gulping down the tears, she straightened and ran towards the car, picking up her mobile phone from the dashboard. Running her tongue over her lips, she searched the number of the only man she could think of right now.

Placing the phone on her ears, she eyed the people who were now trying to pick up the man.

"Omer?" She cried as soon as his voice reached her through the phone.

"Fariya? What's wrong?" Omer's voice was laced with shock and concern. Tears spilled from her eyes as she heard a familiar voice.

"Omer, accident." She cried out. "I hit someone on the road. He is badly injured." Fariya said and Omer's breath caught.

"Where are you?" He said, breathless. Fariya told him the address and heard him running at the other side of the line.

"Fariya, listen to me. Take the man to the nearest hospital around. I'm coming there." Omer said and Fariya nodded her head, although she clearly knew that he couldn't see her.

"Which one is the nearest?" Fariya asked as she couldn't think straight.

She heard Omer tell her the name of the hospital and nodded her head. Quickly getting inside the car, she turned her head around to see the man who was lying at the back seat of the car, completely covered in blood. Fariya swallowed the lump as she turned her head and started the engine.

"I'll meet you at the hospital's entrance. Don't panic. Just calm down and drive." Omer softly said but Fariya could hear the anxiousness in his voice.

"Okay." She breathed out as she pulled the car out of the commotion and placed it on the road, completely forgetting her own wound.

"Stay on the line." Fariya whispered.

"I am. I am here. Just drive carefully." Omer spoke, gently but hurriedly.

Somehow, the voice of Omer was relaxing her nerves, preventing her from panicking. She was three minutes away from reaching the hospital when she heard Omer's voice again.

"Fariya, I've reached here. Where are you?" Omer asked and Fariya answered.

"Two minutes." Her voice was cracking.

As soon as the car entered the boundary of the hospital, she spotted Omer who was standing at the entrance of the building, two men holding a stretcher beside him. She carefully drove towards the parking lot, seeing through the corner of her eyes as Omer and two men rushed towards the car.

After parking the car, she hurriedly got out of it. By that time, Omer had already reached near the car and Fariya saw as his face masked an emotion of bewilderment when he saw his own car.

However, he just shook his head and looked towards Fariya but stopped dead in his tracks when his eyes landed on her bleeding forehead. He told the men to pull the man out of the car and take him inside while he himself rushed towards Fariya. He stopped a step away from her and caught hold of her elbow, his eyes scanning her body for any another scratch.

"Are you hurt somewhere else?" Omer whispered and she just shook her head, the sight of the man healing her.

"Take this." Omer placed his handkerchief on her forehead and gestured Fariya to hold it.

"Come on." He gently pushed Fariya along with him.

Fariya, whose one hand was placed on the handkerchief while her other hand was in Omer's tight grasp, moved effortlessly behind her man who guided her to the inside of the hospital building.

Asking the receptionist for the patient, Fariya and Omer quickly made their way towards the Operation Theatre, their steps concerned.

"Wait," Omer suddenly stopped and then started moving towards the other direction, Fariya following him, "we should first get you bandaged." He completed and Fariya just pressed her lips in a thin line as she held her tears inside.

Fariya was awfully silent as the nurse bandaged her forehead, her cold hand still in Omer's warm ones.

"Are you okay?" Omer asked again and Fariya nodded her head slightly, pushing back the tears.

"Fariya, are you hurt somewhere? Tell me if there's anything." Omer desperately asked, both of them now sitting on the chairs outside the operation theatre.

"Your car..." Fariya broke into tears at the end, hiding her face in her hands.

"Oh, woman." Omer said as he placed his hand on her back, drawing circles with his thumb to calm her down.

"Fariya, the car isn't important, you are. If the car gets damaged, I'll buy a new one tomorrow. But if anything had happened to you, from where would I have bought a new Fariya? You're fine and that's all that matters." Omer whispered, his fingers doing magic on her back, his words on her heart.

"But the man.." Fariya tried to say but Omer again stopped her.

"I'll handle everything, Fariya. Trust me, okay?" Omer said and Fariya wiped her tears away. She turned her face towards him to say something, her eyes swollen when an unfamiliar voice stopped her.

"Miss. Fariya Ali Sikandar?" Fariya turned her head around and her heart constricted in her chest when she saw two police officers standing in front of her.

"Yes?" She breathed out, both of them standing up.

"There's a case against you." The heighted officer said and Fariya went pale.

"On what grounds?" Omer asked, his voice firm and hard.

"On the grounds of breaking the speed limit and hitting a person." The officer's voice was hard too.

"What are you talking about? She was not driving, I was." Omer lied smoothly and not only police officers, Fariya turned towards him in shock too, her eyes wide open.

Omer was taking the blame for her, she thought with panic.

☆☆☆☆☆

Hello, lovelies. A new and much awaited chapter is here! Finally you know Fariya's reaction. What do you think about it? Is what she doing right or is she just pushing Omer?

Sorry for the delay but please don't blame me. Exams and Eid are to be blamed here!

Do vote and comment to let me know what you feel after reading the chapter!

Till next time,
Salam!