SURPRISE!!!
Remember this time now. From now on I'll update at this time.
10pm IST

Please read the authors note at the end
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Inarah's POV,
I blankly stared at the board as I couldn't hear a word what the professors were speaking. I tried.... I tried soo hard to distract myself, to not think about him, but I couldn't.

He is engraved in my heart and soul....my every breath...in my skin my bones....in my very being.

My Zayaan.

"To you Inarah Ashfaq Qureshi ..... I divorce you!"

I forced him to say those words, I cut him off from my life.... I ended everything. I broke him.... I broke myself.... everything was shattered.

But the truth will never change.

Inarah....can never stop loving Zayaan!

When I told Mom and Dad about our decision to get divorced, I thought they'd throw a fit and yell at me but... they immediately took the next flight to London and pulled me into thier arms letting me cry my heart out as Mom cried with me.
She knows how much I love him and she didn't even question me why I chose such a painful path. All she said was....
"All I want is my daughter to be able to smile again. And I'm with you no matter what you chose."

Even Heena supported me although, even she cries with me.

Just when I thought nothing could be sadder than this and my life was already a never ending tragedy.... that's when I got another huge shock about Uddhav and Geeta. My knees gave out when I heard about them and taking the next flight, we immediately arrived in India.

Uddhav and Geeta were attacked because he left the gang. Because he chose to be happy. That was thier only fault. To try to rise up from the burning depths of the underworld. But the darkness followed them even then.

Zayaan!
Was that the reason why all these years you were trying soo hard to push me away?
Because you were afraid someone might hurt me too?
Is that why you always protected me from behind?
All to keep me safe?!

Oh my Love! I understand now. I do! I'm soo sorry! So so sorry my Jaan. You loved me too....you really did love me all this time too but your fear of losing me like that forced you to push me away....oh God...my love.... I understand now!!!

I was soo stupid!
You kept telling me.... imploring to me that you didn't wanted me in danger. You even trained me! God! Why didn't I realise this sooner?!

I hurted you too. I'm soo sorry.

I love you! I love you Zayaan!

And.... I'm coming back to you my Love. Your Inarah is coming back to her Zayaan!

****
Zayaan's POV,
So brutally she tore her eyes away from me shattering my heart into a million pieces again. Of course, she was just here for Geeta and Uddhav.

However, I was glad that I could see her atleast from a distance. Also, Geeta needed someone....a woman to be by her side in these trying times. It's was good that she and Heena are here my her side.

****
Inarah's POV,
Our eyes met as he entered the ICU and no words were required to express the heart wrenching emotions we both felt. We could clearly see them in eachother's eyes.

At that moment, I wanted to just run to him and throw myself into his arms. Tell him everything.... apologize a billion times for breaking his heart... giving him pain.
My Love... my life...my Zayaan!!

But, I couldn't do that as the fragile broken doll I was holding in my arms... I couldn't leave her. Her love....her life was fighting through life and death whilst she lost her dream....her hope....the part of her, her child. Her world was crumbling beneath her feet and if, in front of this broken girl if I lose control and embrace my love....how would that make her feel?
How brutal would that be of me!

So I held it in...but I couldn't bear to, so I painfully tore my eyes from him.

"Geeta... please calm down. Uddhav is in the next room."

Atlast! I heard his voice that my ears craved for. But I could feel the pain in his voice. I can't even imagine what he must be going through. Uddhav....and even all the others are like his family to him. All these years they've been together and now, one of his family...his brother is fighting through life and death whilst he's helpless, powerless. All he could do is pray and wait for him.

"P.... please.... please bhaiya take me to him. Please.... Uddhav...my Uddhav.... I want to be with him. H....how is he....my Uddhav? Bhabhi.....bhabhi please t....take me...my...my baby.... please...t...take me to...to my baby too... please....pl.."
Heena and I pulled her in our arms silencing her desperate cries. She's not even caring about herself one bit even though being soo physical and mentally weak. Having to abort the baby without her consent...and if she sees Uddhav in his current condition.... He's in a coma right now. His condition only detoriating more and more. God knows what will happen to her.
I'm too afraid to even imagine it.

Oh God! Why do they have to face such trials for thier Love?!

After a few minutes though, she fell unconscious with all the crying.

****
Zayaan's POV,
I walked up to Uddhav's room where I found Wafeeq and Raghav already there. Raghav was sitting on the bed sobbing while Wafeeq stood beside him with his hand on his shoulder trying to push back his own tears.

"I was soo eagerly waiting for my nephew or niece to call me Chachu (uncle) and play with them, lift them in my arms, change thier diapers even. Tsk! I... I even started buying all kinds of toys and clothes for them...but those bastards! They....how could they. How could they do this to our brother....our innocent bhabhi! I'll.... I'll shred those fuckers to pieces...drown them down the depths of the ocean!"
Raghav was saying gripping the bedsheet while raw rage reflected on his face...his eyes blazing with the desperate need for revenge.

"He was our brother... being with us through thick and thin....and now... he's on his death bed while his wife's crying and wailing for him."
Wafeeq said with the same abhor in his voice.

I walked in and hearing my footsteps they both stood up wiping thier faces. I clenched my jaw hiding my own emotions.

"What are you doing here wasting your tears like little girls? He's not dead yet.... and he won't be either. Uddhav is a survivor and he has a lot of reasons to come back. Don't underestimate him! Instead, wipe those tears and get ready for WAR!"

At this, thier eyes gleamed with fury.

"Surya Murthy thought he could get away by attacking our brother? He might not be a part of our gang but the ties of our brotherhood can never be severed. Murthy will pay for what he has done. We'll ruin him making him beg for mercy.
Zayaan Hashmi gives you his word! He made a poor innocent girl like Geeta cry tears of blood... I'll make him pay for her every tear with his blood."
I announced as my blood fumed in my veins thinking about all the possibilities of seeing him suffer.

They both smirked with the same rage in thier eyes.
"Ji bhai!" They said in unison and left the room.

I let out a shaky sigh throwing my head back and gripping my hair.

What would you say if you see me right now my Jaan?

My eyes went on the numerous pictures decorated in his apartment. Of our entire gang, of his smiling like a goofy idiot, with Geetanjali.

He has changed soo much. It's as if just yesterday he was that scared little kid scrouching himself in the dark alleys.

Flashback
It was yet another cold winter night of Mumbai. The city that never sleeps, however, this part of the city....was too forgotten or rather hidden. There were dark alleys here where all kind of crimes and sins took place.
In one of such alleys, a young boy in torn clothes and burning stomach sat on the cold dirty ground scrouching, hugging his knees, rubbing his arms and blowing on his palms trying the vain attempts to keep himself warm. Even the warm tears had abandoned his eyes that gave a little warmth on his frozen cheeks.
He was all alone in the world now, no one to hold his hand or give him solace. Even she was gone....his mother, flew away with the wings of freedom as the string of her life was cut off, escaping this cruel world. He was happy though, atleast she was free. No one could hurt her anymore...no more harsh words or no one could abuse her body.

But,
He was left alone.

No one loved him....
No one cared for him...
He couldn't protect his own mother...
His life was useless...
Pathetic...
What use was it for him to live on in this God forsaken world?
Wouldn't death be peaceful?
He could be with her too... Sleeping peacefully on her soft lap.

He smiled with the heart wrenching sadness in his heart that reflected in his flickering eyes. It would happen eventually though. Death was on it's way with open arms for him. He hadn't eaten anything in 5 days...just sat in the cold dark alley.
Even the cold felt welcoming to him...as if, it was just made for him.

Just when, everything was about to end ....and darkness was about to consume him, the warm arms of his mother were about to embrace him.... that's when a big warm hand grabbed his thin shoulder.

It was warm...and welcoming.

His eyes flickered open as he tried to make out a face of the hazy image in front of him.

"No one should be alone in this world. Even if you have no one, there is always a place for you to belong. Come on.... come with me boy. I'll make you stronger and you'll be able to protect anyone you want."

His weak eyes widened meeting the dark ebony eyes that held soo much hope and confidence in them.

His dry lips parted as he managed to speak in his hoarse voice.
"Can I.... really do that saheb?"

"Join me....and I promise you, you'll never have to lose anyone or anything ever again."

I couldn't protect my promise to you Uddhav. Please forgive me!

I just stood there motionless gazing at the good old memories captured perfectly in the photo frames when, I felt a small tug at the back of my shirt.

A warm feeling creeped into my heart making my heart race uncontrollably.

I couldn't move.

"Z... Zayaan."

I closed my eyes as I heard the voice my entire being was dying to hear.

It was...my Jaan.... my heart and soul....my Inarah!

I wanted to turn to her immediately but my feet were glued to the ground and my body frozen. I didn't wanted to snap out of this happy hallucination.....again.

I felt her head sinking on my back making me jump.

She was real?

"F... for..give... please...."

She moaned between her sobs.
"Forgive me.... please....my Love."

I kept a hand on my heart as I could feel it beating again. She called me her love... My Jaan!
Tears found thier way down my eyes.

Both her arms slowly slipped from below my arms being wrapped around my waist as the warmth of her body carassed my back.

A new life flowed inside of my dead soul.

"C...can you?"

My shaky hands rested on hers as I threw my head back to the skies blinking back my tears.... gasping for air.

This was real.... thank you God!

"I... understand now. All this time...you were just trying to protect me so you... pushed me away.
You loved me too didn't you? Always....just like I loved you...but, in order to keep me away from danger, you stayed away. I'm soo sorry my Love for being so stupid...for hurting you.... I'm soo sorry.... I ruined everything...and now, maybe I've lost your Love again..."

I turned back pulling her in my arms silencing her.... holding her like she was my oxygen.

"No! You can never lose my love. Even.... even in my last breath I'll only love you. My Jaan....my Inarah! Yes! I'm soo sorry....but I've always loved you too....but I'm sinful Inarah...so... I ran away from your pure heart. I... I always thought a monster like me never deserved your love. I was afraid my demons might get to you too and they did, many times...but, then I couldn't imagine a moment without you. I'm sorry.... please.... please forgive me too my Jaan....my Inarah.... please...."

She shook her head holding my face between her soft hands as she wiped my tears with her thumbs.
"No my love... please don't say that. You had to suffer so much because of me.... I'm the one who should be apologizing."

I wiped her tears.
"No Inarah... I'm the one who's sorry. Everytime I broke your heart...said such harsh words... I... I'm soo...."

She let out a short giggle as I watched her confused. It was beautiful though. Her eyes glistening with tears yet that beautiful dimple smile on her face.
"Look at us, apologizing like that. If someone sees us now they'd laugh at us on how stupid we might look."

I chortled too.
"Aren't we?"

She frowned.
"Talk about yourself my love. You are the stupid one not me."

"Oh really?" I said amused recovering my broken voice
"Weren't you the one who said you were stupid a couple minutes ago?"

Her mouth turned into like that of a fish and she punched my chest weakly making me chuckle. She giggled with me too.

Our eyes met again. Ah! That's my serenity. It's like I've conquered the whole world. Having my Jaan in my arms, gazing into her honey eyes which are always overflowing with the ocean of love for me in them. This is why I'm alive....for this woman right her....the love of my life...

My wife...my Inarah!

I caressed her angelic face as she closed her eyes leaning her face in my palm. My heart raced again and she got on her toes as I smiled closing the distance between us and our lips met in a slow sensual kiss. Her hand rested on my racing heart as her other arm was around my neck while I wrapped my arms around her thin waist pulling her as close as humanly possible.

She rested her head on my shoulder trying to catch her breath while my lips didn't stop loving her face and neck.

This is true happiness! This is true heaven!

We just stood there like that for God knows how long until my phone buzzed breaking our nirvana. It was a text from Wafeeq. My heart clenched at the thought that I have to part for my Jaan again.

"What's wrong my Love?" She looked up at me soo innocently as a pang of guilt stabbed me.

"Jaan.... I have to go."

"Where?!" She asked anxiously.

I sighed.
"To get revenge from Surya Murthy for hurting Uddhav and Geeta!"

She gasped clenching on my shirt petrified. I carased her face.
"Don't worry Inarah. I'll be fine. After what he did to Uddhav and Geeta...there is no way we can leave him be. He has to die....he has to suffer like our family did."

"I understand that Zayaan but...." She swallowed.
"Take me with you then." She said as her eyes reflected a firm resolve mixed with anger....and fear.

I shook my head kissing her forehead.
"No Jaan. You need to stay here. Geeta needs you too."

Her eyes teared up again making my heart ache.
"B...but what if something happens to you? This is war right? I'll just d..."

"Shh.." I hugged her.
"Nothing will happen to me. Have some faith in your Zayaan. He's strong and capable to defeat such an enemy. I promise you my Jaan.... I'll come back to you safe and sound. There's no way I can stay away from you much longer either."
****

"Zayaan please....." She implored grabbing my arm as we set out to leave.

I turned to her with a smile.
"I won't be alone... almost all the guys are coming with me too. Even Wafeeq, Rajiv and Raghav. We'll protect eachother."

"You'll be safe right?" She asked like a scared little child.

I nodded kissing her forehead.
"I promise!" I said placing her hand over my heart.

She let out a shaky breath nodding and then turned to the guys.
"You guys too. Please be safe, take care of yourself and eachother. I don't think I can...bear to see anyone else getting hurt too."

"Yes bhabhi."

"Don't worry. The only people getting hurt will be Murthy and his men."

I turned her to me.
"Asad and the twins will be here with you to protect you, Heena and Geeta."

She nodded.

With a heavy heart I kissed her forehead again and she kissed my cheek before I tore myself away from her.

My fist clenched as rage fumed in me.

Surya Murthy...get ready!
A beast is on his way to devour you.

Heena's POV,
I gasped as I noticed Geeta wasn't in her room. She's not in a condition to move around much and there's too much security for anything bad to happen to her.
So I could only think of one possibility.....

Just as I thought, she was in Uddhav's ICU room. The nurse was there too behind her to make sure she's stable. I don't blame her for allowing Geeta to see her husband. That girl had literally turned into a mad person for not being able to see him. But, after seeing him, I can't decide if she's better or worst as I observed her from outside the door.

She sat beside him holding his lifeless hand as her own body trembled like a leaf. Tears were flowing like a waterfall from her eyes as fear and anxiety was prominent on his face. Her lips were wobbly as she sobbed nonstop.

"U...udd... Uddhav...p... please wake up.... please....a... are you up.... upset with m..e? Hm? P... please... I.... I'm sorry.... I... couldn't.... couldn't p... protect our child... please.... please... forgive me.....w..
Wake up na.... UDDHAV! Yell at ne all you want...be anger ... but please....come back.... open your eyes...." She wailed on his chest.
"Y...you promised....you promised you'll never leave my side.... uddhav.... Uddhav....my Uddhav...."

My heart was beating on the walls of my chest as the pain was too much to bear and tears flooded down my eyes. I couldn't take it anymore! I couldn't see thier pain! Ughhhh! Why does it hurt soo much. It's soo frustrating!
I don't even want to imagine her pain.... Oh God.... please....
Please save him. Give him back to her.... please.....

I turned around to run away from this painful sight but as soon as I did... I bumped into a hard chest.

When I looked up, the frustrating pain in my chest intensified and without thinking I held him tight crying on his chest.

He didn't say a word just held me gently carrasing my back for an unknowingly long while till my sobs finally subdued.
When I looked up at him he gave a slight smile.

"Let's get you some fresh air. Ok Doll?"

I nodded following him wiping my tears.

****

We both sat on a seat as the night enveloped the sky. The lights in the hospital lawn were soo bright making it look like it was still daylight.
Asad handed me a water bottle which I gladly accepted realising just how parched I was.

Suddenly, it made me jump as all of a sudden Asad rested his head on my shoulder.

"H...hey!"

"Just for a min... please... don't move...just for a minute." He whispered.

I complied with his request shifting my eyes from one tree to another to distract my racing heart.

"Your shoulder is soo small." He moaned

I frowned showing him off.
"Then go find a bigger one you ungrateful lunatic!"

He chuckled.
"That's why I like it. But still.... it's a bit boney."

I snapped my head at him scowling.

"Want to see what a real shoulder feels like?"
Abruptly, he placed his hand on my cheek and snaking his arm behind my shoulder, pulled me strongly to his shoulder diluting my struggles to resist by force. However, as soon as my head touched his shoulder...it felt nice.

"Relax now Heena....just for a moment. Just relax." He said in such a soothing manner that I instantly felt soo.

I brought my hand to touch his chest.
"It's soo hard. As if... there's no heart inside."

I could hear him smile.
"You're searching in the wrong place darling. Here..." He guided my hand over his rapid thumping heart making me gasp.

"It's racing." I mumbled more to myself than him

"Can you tell me why?"

I tilted my head up as he tilted his down and our eyes met. His hot breath fanned over my lips...as we were soo dangerously close.

I snapped myself back to reality getting away from him burning with embarrassment as my heart was thumping.

"Uhm... I'm better now. Thanks." I said not looking at him.

"You're welcome."

There was pin drop silence between us and he was looking up in the night sky with his head thrown back on the back rest of the bench.

He looks soo carefree to other people but there is this mysterious and cunning side to him that he's camouflaging behind that playful mask.
What is this guy?
Who is he?
Where is he from?
What is he actually like?
Who were his parents?
Does he have any family?
How did he enter the Mafia world?
How many people has he.... murdered? And why?
What's he thinking about when he's alone...or even around people?

There are soo many questions about this guy yet.... no answers. He pretends to be an open book but in reality.... There's a most mysterious and hidden chapter in his book that... I'm pretty sure no one has touched.

And I wanna open that chapter.

"Asad."

"Hm."

"What's your story?"

He looked at me amused.
"I'm not a writer Doll."

I rolled my eyes.
"Not that.... I mean...who are you? Where are you from? Or....how did you bec ..."

"How did I become a mobster?"
He completed my sentence cutting me off.

I nodded.

"We are all the same. Hailing from different paths that you rich people could never even imagine."

My curiosity got the best of me as I dared to ask him...
"What about.... your parents?"

I thought he'd get mad but.... instead he smiled, a certain sad smile.
"I don't know doll!" He shrugged.

"Huh? How can anyone not know thier parents?" I asked confused and shocked.

"The orphan thrown on the streets because for thier parents they were too bothersome to raise. Basically, you can say that....we were product of rape...or something like that." He shrugged.

My hand flew to my mouth. That was.... shocking and sad! What was thier fault? Children who are born out of rape, I've always wondered about them. What happens to them? Who accepts them? Do they ever find love and care? Support and affection?

My does my heart ache soo much.... for him?

"Even..... Zayaan?" I asked as a distraction from the strong feelings.

He shook his head.
"He has a different story. The way he used to be before, you could say his parents somehow would've been.... stupid." He chuckled softly.

"Huh?" I was confused.

"He was a pussy. Never took any risks, never knew how to raise a fist or raise his voice. He always came back getting beaten up while we fought in his place. He was too soft hearted to even hurt a fly. It won't be wrong to say that he and Inarah were a lot alike when he was younger. Always trusting people too easily, putting others before himself....he was quite a handful."

"Then what changed?"

The sad melancholic look in his eyes at my question gave me chills.
"There's always something that happens in everyone's lives that becomes a trigger giving your life a complete 180° turn. Something like that happened with him too.... infact with all of us."

"What was it?" My curiosity got the best of me.

But in response he just smiled mysteriously tugging my hair behind my ear as he gazed into my eyes making me breathless.
"Too much information in one day will burn your braincells my doll. You've had enough for today. Although I can say, I'm really happy for Zayaan who has found someone like Inarah to love and care for him. That idiot needed someone like her to take care of him. I'm glad he found her." He said dreamily turning away from me.

I felt a pang in my chest at his words.
"Zayaan has Inarah....but what about you? Don't you need someone too?"

He smiled that sad smile again.
"I do, but... I guess there's no one made for me like that."

"What if there is?"

He looked at me intently.
"Then I'll keep my arms wide open for her to fall into them."

There was a warm fuzzy feeling inside my heart as I felt heat rising in my cheeks and heart soaring.
I smiled.

"Then Mr Asad Abbas you better keep your arms wide open because, there's someone who's planning to fall in them."

He smiled opening his arms wide
"Like this?"

I grinned throwing myself into his arms.
"Yes.... perfect."

He smiled holding me tighter.

___________________________________

Assalamualaikum Everyone!
How are my beautiful darlings?

BTW, I'm curious...
Are there any brothers here who read this story?

Moving on,
So? I'm guessing you liked today's chapter 😅
I know it's heartbreaking about Uddhav and Geeta but

ZayRah got back together 🥳🥳🥳
Even Asad and Heena....

Now,
What will Zayaan do? He's going to South India to get rid of Murthy.

Well, the climax of Part 1 stars from the next chapter filled with a lot of action, drama and what not. So brace yourselves my lovelies 😉

Also,
Asad is upto something. I wonder what it is 🤔😏

Will Uddhav come back?
Will Zayaan and Inarah get a happy ending?
Will Heena and Asad be together?

Everything will be revealed in the final 4 chapters now.

Now for the imp announcement....

You see, these last chapters need to end with a bang! A lot of drama, action and romance.
So, to make these chapters memorable and worth your while I need some extra time to work on them as they're getting really hard for me 😥

So, I won't be able to update daily from now on.

I hope you all understand. It's just 4 chapters so you won't have to wait for to long. I don't even get much time as it takes me hours to complete drafting 1 ch and my dad scolds me if I use my phone a lot...then my link breaks and I get upset...then you guys get the idea what must happen 😖

I'm not making excuses but I'll be able to update with a 3 days gap In Sha Allah!

So, don't wait for the chapter tomorrow.
I'll be back on Thursday
My apologies.

Don't forget to vote, comment and share.
❤️