Try not to resist the changes which come your way. Instead let life live through you. And do not worry that your life is turning upside down. How do you know that the side you are used to is better than the one to come?

- Shams of Tabriz (13th Rule of Love)

Fariya

The scene in front of her robbed her of her breath. Her father was lying on the ground and everybody was encircled around him, everybody including her mother, brother and sister. She ran upto him and knelt beside him, tears making their way to her chin.

Her mind was so blank that she didn't know what to do, what to think. All she could see was her father lying on the floor, his hand on his heart and pain on his face. She started crying hard and calling him, as if calling him will ease his pain.

"Baba! Baba!"

As soon as the words were said, he looked up at her. Their eyes met and his single glance, a weak glace, conveyed so many messages to her. His glance asked her to be strong, to look after her mother and siblings when he is gone, to have faith. A single glance and it took her life away. A single glance and she no longer wanted to live. A single glance....

Her sister's voice brought her in the world and she hurriedly stood up. She rushed towards the phone and called for an ambulance. She won't give up. She won't. She will fight till her last breath. She will not let her father die. As soon as these thoughts entered her mind, courage made its was to her heart and was distributed to her every artery, her every vein, her every nerve.

She turned around and went to her father again, kneeling beside him, she took his hand in hers and statrted massaging it.

"Nothing is going to happen. I won't let anything happen to you. I won't. Please."

Fariya said with pain in her voice, never had she seen her father like that. So weak and vulnerable. She was still crying when her father started closing his eyes. Pain stood there while another feeling erupted and consumed her. Panick. She panicked and started shaking her father.

"Don't.. please.. don't close your eyes. Fo.. for our sake, Baba. Please."

She begged, she pleaded. Maida was on the other side of her father but unlike Fariya, she wasn't crying very hard. She was silently crying, holding her father's other hand and whispering something.

And it was then that she heard a sound, a distant sound of an ambulance. Although the sound was distant, Fariya still felt enery pass through her. The sound became louder and louder until it stopped just outside her house.

She wasn't in a good state so it was Maida who ran outside to call the men. It was only after a few seconds that several men came rushing inside, holding a stretcher in their hands. They ran to her father and asked Fariya to get out of the way. Fariya stood still, her mind not processing anything, her heart too fragile to beat.

She just looked at her father and while she was doing so, Maida made her stand up, quite roughly and pulled her back. She was so weak that she couldn't even resisit Maida however her insides were shouting to get away from Maida and be near her father, her Baba.

The men pulled her father on a stretcher and carried him outside, towards the ambulance. As soon as they stepped outside the house, Maida let go of her and ran outside. Fariya, who was too weak to stand on her own legs and was leaning against Maida, fell to the ground, her legs failing to support her.

As she was sitting on the cold floor, tears were continuously flowing from her eyes and making their way to her chin. It was not her hands which were shaking, it was her whole body which was trembling like a leaf. Tears were not only falling from her eyes, it was her heart which was crying like a child.

The sound of the ambulance became feeble and feeble until it finally died. She woke up, as if from a sleep and looked here and there. Her mother was holding her 17 year old brother, Hamza, and crying. She was also shaking, trembling. Fariya stood up with difficulty and made her way towards her mother. She sat near her mother and took her hand in hers.

"We should get going." She whispered, her voice barely audible.

Her mother looked up at her and gave her a nod. Fariya stood up and went to her room to get her mobile and car keys while her mother went to her room to get money and purse. Both ladies of the house returned and went to the garage. Fariya stopped before entering the car. She took a deep breath and promised herself to be strong, for the sake of her family.

She entered the car and applied the reverse gear. As soon as the car was out on the road, she accelerated the car, as if in a hurry to reach the hospital. It was half past 12 in the morning so there was no traffic on the road. Fariya deduced that she could reach the hospital within 10 minutes and her deduction proved right.

As soon as she reached the hospital, she hurriedly parked the car and got outside. Followed by her mother and brother, the lady with a trembling heart made her way to the receptionist.

"My... my father has been brought here.. some moments ago.. Ali Sikandar.. can you tell me where he is?" She questioned and the answer made her world tilt.

ICU. He was in the ICU. Her father, her dear father was in the ICU. She again started to lose all of her courage but when she turned back and looked at her mother, who was crying, she shook all of her negative thoughts away. She has to be strong. Her mother was weak and she needs support, she can't just give up her hope like that. She can't.

She took a step forward and stopped right in front of her mother. "Baba is going to be fine, Mama. A hard man he is." She tried to console her mother but the words came out quite differently. It was as if she was trying to console herself. She held the crying lady's and her brother's hand and led them towards the ICU, not before asking the receptionist for the directions.

The ICU wasn't far and it took them less than 2 minutes to get there. Fariya caught sight of her sister when she turned in the corridor, who was standing right in front of the ICU's door. The girl with hazel eyes went up to her younger sister and hugged her. Both of them pulled back after some time and smiled at each other, both giving each other courage and hope.

The Sikandar family prayed and hoped and wished and begged for the life of their man. The Queen of the family went to offer Nawafil taking the prince along with him while the princesses were left there alone, each lost in her own thought. It was the voice of the younger one that tore the silence.

"Baba made me call someone. In the ambulance. I don't know who he is but he is some Ahmad Uncle, Baba's friend maybe. He'll be here in a while."

The elder one looked at her with complete shock, then nodded her head, confusion filled in her hazel eyes. And that's when a man, probably in his mid fiftees, came rushing towards them, his face filled with worry. He came to a halt next to them and looked at them.

"Is Ali okay? Doctor said anything?" He asked.

They stood up and shook their head, none of them in a position to say anything. "Oh, my dearest." He said and took a step forward towards them, placed his both hands on one of their shoulders and hugged the two ladies, as gently as possible. It caught them off guard but strangely it provided both of them with comfort, as if it was their father hugging them.

They stood like that for a while but pulled apart hearing the sound of their mother. Their mother looked at the man with complete horror, her face went pale. She bagen to say something. "Ahmad Bhai..." But before she could say anything else, the door of the ICU opened and a doctor came through with a tired expression on his face.

"Mr. Ali Sikandar's family?" He questioned.

All five of them rushed towards him as soon as the words were out of his mouth and encircled him.

"How is he? Is he okay? Is he out of danger?" Questions were being asked with trembling voices from all sides.

"He's okay for now. Not completely out of danger. It was a heart attack, a severe one but you were lucky that he got here on time. Few minutes late and it might have caused him his life." Their breath caught, their world shook. "He's under the affect of the medicines. He'll wake up in a while. Pray for him. That's all that can help."

Excusing himself, the doctor made his way through the corridor, leaving them heartbroken. Her mother collapsed on the chair nearby, too weak to do anything. Hamza and Maida went up to her, and sat beside her. Taking her hand in hers, Maida was saying something quietly while Hamza nodded. Fariya took her eyes off them and fixed them on the man standing in front of him, who was also staring at her family.

He was a graceful man. His hair was a combination of black and white and so was his beard. He wore glasses which only added more grace to him. He was wearing white shalwar qameez and a long light brown coloured Shawl was wrapped around his body.

The man shifted his eyes away from the family and placed it on her. Their eyes met and that's when Fariya gasped. It was her father's eyes. Small, brown eyes. She was too occupied in her own thoughts when she saw his eyes last time, when he hugged the sisters, that she didn't notice. But now she did and it left her confused. Who was this man? Who comes for his father at 1 in the morning, hugs them as if they are his own daughters, and has the eyes of his father?

The man gave her a slight smile, placed a hand on her head and then move towards one of the chairs, opposite to that of where her family was seated. Fariya tore her gaze away, pushing back her curiosity, and praying for her father.

An hour might have passed when the nurse came through the door and gave all of them an overwhelming news. Her father has opened his eyes. They all let out a breath in union.

"Shukar Alhamdulillah." Her mother said and everybody repeated.

But the nurse didn't go away and said something, something which made everybody silent and confused.

"He is calling for someone named Ahmad." Uncle Ahmad gave all of them a slight smile and went inside with the nurse.

"Why would Baba call him? What is he to Baba?" Hamza gave words to his thoughts. Fariya was confused. Really confused. Who is this man? She looked up at her mother who gave out a loud sigh and again went to sit on her chair, looking so weak. A single night has taken away all of her energy.

Maida looked at Hamza but didn't say anything. Not because she didn't want to but because she was also wondering the same thing. Who was this man? None of them spoke anything and went to sit on their chairs.

Few minutes passed and the door opened only to reveal the mysterious man, Ahmad Uncle. He came through the door, his face blank and pale. As he got out, his eyes landed on Fariya. He gave her a smile, a beautiful smile and informed them in barely audible voice. "I'll be back shortly."

He then went ahead and turned around the corner, disappearing from the sight. Fariya's eyes moved with him until he was out of sight and that's when she let out a long breath. She looked back towards the ICU room and went ahead only to stop when the same nurse came again and said that they could meet their father.

All of them stood up and went inside slowly. Fariya was the last one to enter the ICU and what she saw made her heart break into pieces. There was her father, her baba, lying on the bed with tubes all around him, looking so weak and vulnerable. She closed her eyes and when she opened it again, they were filled with tears.

And suddenly she couldn't take it anymore. She wasn't brave like her mother or Maida or Hamza. She was weak. She can't see her father, her beloved father like this. She turned back quickly and went outside. She ran out of the ICU and fell on one of the chairs, crying. Her heart was hurting so bad that she felt like she couldn't breathe.

She was still crying when she heard her name being called.

"Fariya?"

She quickly looked up only to look at Ahmad Uncle with teary eyes. As soon as their eyes met, she was reminded of her own father, his eyes which were now closed and a new wave of tears made their way across her face.

But she quickly wiped them away, she can't cry in front of a stranger. She was beginning to stand up whan suddenly a man stepped beside Uncle Ahmad, a man slighlty taller and much younger than him. Fariya looked up at him, her eyes slighlty widened.

First Uncle Ahmad and now this man. What is it with strangers coming to them and consoling them? She wondered who that man was when suddenly she understood it. He was Uncle Ahamd's son. She could almost tell it from their resemblance. They were a copy, except the taller man was more handsome with his jet black eyes, tanned skin, perfect black hair and slim nose.

She just blessed the stranger with one look before tearing her gaze away, her eyes now looking at the older man beside him. With trembling legs, she stood up from the seat.

Omer

Who was this woman? That was the first question that came to his mind as she looked up at him. His father had referred her as Fariya. Fariya? He hadn't heard this name his entire life. Why was she in the hospital? Why was she crying? And lastly, what was she to his father?

He saw her staring at her with wide eyes, not comprehending anything going on around him. The woman didn't look at him twice, instead she stared at his father before standing up.

He felt his father move towards the woman. He lifted his eyes only to look at the back of his father, the woman completely hidden behind him.

"Where are the others?"

He heard his father ask but he didn't hear an answer. Instead, he heard a sob. What was the man in the hospital to her? Omer thought. He heard his father repeat the question, this time his voice laced with worry.

"Inside."

She answered and burst into tears. He saw his father quickly move towards the woman and embrace her, her head on his chest, his hand on her hair. He narrowed his eyes even more. This was getting confusing. Who was she? No. What was she to his father? That was the main question.

He stood still on his spot as he didn't know what to do, where to go. Finally, the moment ended when three people came out of the ICU room and stopped when they saw him and his father.

The woman let go of his father and stepped back, her eyes still teary. She looked at the people and went to an elderly lady and stood beside her. The elderly lady, who was probably her mother, said something to her and her face paled. Omer saw her shake her head and say something. Her mother only gave her a nod before she motioned her daughter to go inside the ICU.

The hazel eyed woman reluctantly went through the door and finally she was out of sight.

As soon as she was gone, his father went forward towards the woman's mother and said something inaudible. She only let out a gasp and nodded her head. Much to Omer's surprise, the old lady gazed up at him and gave a sharp cry.

He didn't have a clue of what was happening. He was still standing there, his mind filled with all sorts of questions, when his father turned back and came to him. He placed a hand on Omer's shoulder and asked him to follow him.

Being asked the same thing twice in a day, he felt strange and confused but followed his father anyway. His father led him to a room, at the end of the corridor and closed the door behind him.
He looked at him, confusion written all over his face, when his father turned to him.

"Alright, so the person inside the ICU is my brother. We were not in contact because my father, your grandfather, disinherited him from his property becuase he married the woman of his choice ignoring what my father wanted. Baba refused to accept Ali's wife so Ali left the house with Bhabhi. I was ordered to cut off all contacts with him and I did so. I couldn't dare disobey your Dada. However, when he died a year ago, things started to get better and we resumed the contacts but we decided to keep this to ourselves, only to reveal it to our family at a proper time. The time has come. It's not a perfect one," his eyes filled with sadness, "but it's the one."

He went silent and it was the voice of the tall man with black eyes that tore the silence.

"What do you want from me, Baba?"

Omer was an intelligent man. He knew that his father didn't call him here just to tell him some stories. He needed something. What? He couldn't put his finger on it though.

"What I'm going to ask you is something very precious to you. I know this is going to be hard for you but please trust your father. He can't think bad for you. Do you trust your father?"

He asked him a simple question yet it proved too difficult for Omer to answer. He just nodded. And that's when his father requested him something that turned his world upside down. His breath caught, his eyes widened and his mind went blank.

"Marry his daughter. Marry Fariya. He's a dying man. That's his last wish, to see his daughter in good hands. Please, Omer. For the sake of your father, please marry his daughter. Accept her in your Nikah."

Omer felt his world tilt, quake and shatter. He felt loss of words. It was the land which shook or his heart, he didn't know. It was the sky which trembled or his body, he didn't know either. His father was still crying. And seeing his beloved father like that was hurting him but he didn't know what to do. He didn't know what to answer. It was as if someone had tied his tongue and he was unable to speak. But he didn't know what to answer even if he was able to speak. He can't marry a woman he just met few minutes ago but he also can't deny his father. How can he escape from this position without hurting his father? How?

☆☆☆☆☆☆

Here's a new chapter. Enjoy it and do comment and vote. Sorry for any mistakes though.

Baba - Father
Mama - Mother
Dada - Grandfather
Bhabi - Sister-in-law
Bhai - Brother
Alhamdulillah - All praises be to Allah Almighty
Astagfirullah - May Allah forgive us
Shalwar Qameez - A traditional Pakistani dress