الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ

Who say, when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return"

~Surah Baqarah (Verse: 156)

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Hotel room: Goa

"Izaad." As soon as those words left her mouth, Inaraah felt him getting tensed. She looked at him whose eyes were reflecting so many emotions, one among them was betrayal. Inaraah panicked seeing his state and said "He was my twin brother."

"What?" Alhaan blurted completely shocked with her revelation.

"Your brother. But I haven't seen or heard of him from anyone." Alhaan asked with curiosity.

"Because he... he is.. is dead." Inaraah said in a broken tone. Alhaan felt as if someone have dropped a bucket of cold water upon him. He knew Inaraah had a bitter experience in past but he never thought it would be so painful.

He looked at Inaraah who was sobbing by placing her face in her palms. His heart broke seeing his wife so vulnerable. He moved forward and engulfed her in a hug. Inaraah sobbed in his arms, her barrier finally breaking after holding the emotions for so long.

"He used to call me Twinu and he.. was..was.. my Twinzi. But he is no more Alhaan. I.. I lost him.. fo... forever." Inaraah spoke between her sobs. Alhaan tightened his grip on her hearing her words. He wanted to console her but he decided otherwise. He wanted her to let out her pain in front of him.

"I ... I am the reason he .... he is no more.." Inaraah said. Alhaan was even more shocked upon hearing that and pulled away from the hug to look at Inaraah. Inaraah looked away from him and re-collected the incident which changed her life.

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Flashback- 6 years back:

"Mommy.. Mommy.. Mommy.." Inaraah called out for her mother jumping in excitement. Inaraah's mother came running upon hearing her screams. As soon as she entered the hall, Inaraah jumped upon her engulfing in a bear hug.

"Inu, what's wrong with you. Behave yourself." Inaraah's mother scolded her.

"Mommy we are going on a trip. Finally our principal agreed for a two days trip after our final exams." Inaraah said jumping up and down like a kid. Izaad stood at a distance observing his sister who was not less than a kid.

"Twinu do you think Baba will give us permission." Izaad asked an over-excited Inaraah. Inaraah turned towards him and stared at him, her hands resting on her hips.

"Of course he will. I am Inaraah and I have my ways. And in very very very rare case if he denies, what for do we have our elder brother?" Inaraah said eyeing Ziyaad.

"Inu, don't pull me in between. It's your problem so deal with it alone." Ziyaad said.

"You know what bhaiya, you should never mess with those people who are aware of your secrets. I am sure you don't want me to tell Baba about your group study plans." Inaraah asked raising her left eye brow at him.

Ziyaad looked at her sister helplessly. He knew she would surely trap him if he didn't help her in convincing their father. Without a word, Ziyaad agreed to her wish.

____________

Inaraah and Izaad were busy preparing for final exams. After a lot of melodrama by Inaraah, their father agreed for the two days trip. Now only exams were the barrier between them and the trip.

Everything was going well when Inaraah suddenly fell sick. Her health was continuously deteriorating even after being on medication. Her parents were worried, so were her whole family. She was diagnosed with some blood disease and was hospitalized for a week.

Even though she was weak, Inaraah somehow managed to write the exams. With passing days she gained immunity and became the same naughty Inaraah.

Inaraah was all set to go on the trip but her father denied. He was worried about her health and didn't want to let her out of his sight. Inaraah pleaded her father saying she will take care of her health and that Izaad is there with her to look after her.

Izaad agreed with his father and refused to go on the trip. However, his father asked him to go on the trip. Izaad refused saying he wouldn't go without his Twinu but later agreed when his friends insisted him.

Inaraah was unhappy with his father's decision. She was so excited for this trip and now she is not allowed to go. She even stopped talking to Izaad since he didn't support her. Izaad tried to talk to her but she avoided him as if he didn't exist.

Izaad was depressed with her behaviour. He loved his sister so much. Though they were twins but he was 7 minutes older to her. He always pampered her and took extreme care of her. Ziyaad could see the sadness in Izaad's eyes on being ignored by their baby sister. He pacified him and ask him to enjoy his trip.

Inaraah locked herself in her room when Izaad came to meet her. Izaad's face fell when she refused to see him. Finally he left half hearten-ly without meeting his sister.

Inaraah sat by her room's window gazing the sky in anger. She tried her best not to cry but unknowingly tears slipped out of her eyes. She wiped the stubborn tears and hid her face between her palms. She moved to her bed and slept forgetting the world around her.

A day passed by but Inaraah was still mad at her family. She hardly spoke to anyone. Ziyaad tried to make her understand but she was too stubborn to listen to anyone. Inaraah was sitting in her room scribbling the paper in anger when her phone started ringing. Inaraah looked at the caller id which displayed Soha's name.

"Hello." Inaraah said.

"Hey Inu. How are you." Her friend asked.

"Soha I am sure you didn't call me to ask about my well being. What's the matter?" Inaraah asked annoyed at her question.

"Inu please talk to him." Soha requested.

"Oh so now you became a messenger." Inaraah said in a mocking tone.

"Inu..." His voice rang in her ears making her stiff.

"I am sorry. Please talk to me. You know right, I cannot stay without talking to you." He said.

"Really. Then you should have thought about it before hurting me. I don't want to talk to you. Stop calling me, you are wasting your and my time as well." Inaraah replied and disconnected the call.

Inaraah was furious at her brother for not supporting her. Her actions were hurting everyone but Inaraah was too blinded in her anger. She knew her anger will destroy everything and that's what it did. She paid a huge price for her anger.

_______________

Inaraah was sitting in the living room with her mother who was trying to explain her the consequences of anger. Her father joined them and settled beside Inaraah who refused to look at him. Before he could speak, his phone started ringing.

He became numb after speaking to the person on the other end. Inaraah's mother panicked seeing him and shook him to ask the matter. Inaraah's felt as if her world crumbled after hearing to her father's words.

Whole family rushed to the hospital where Izaad was admitted. Ziyaad inquired his friends about the accident.

"Bhaiya he got down from the bus to get chocolates for Inaraah. On the way back he saw a  speeding car moving towards a small boy who was playing at the end of the road. Izaad rushed towards the boy to save him. He successfully pushed him but unfortunately got hit by the car. The impact was so hard that he fell few meters away from the road end and hit his head on the divider." Izaad's friend narrated the whole incident.

Inaraah fell on her knees after listening everything. She regretted her behaviour towards her brother. Her anger was the reason for Izaad's condition. She broke down into hysterics seeing her brother's condition who was fighting to survive.

Doctors have clearly told that he have very less chance of survival. Inaraah's family and friends were praying for his life. It was late night when Izaad gained his consciousness. Doctors knew he had less time so they allowed whole family to meet him.

As soon as they entered, Izaad passed a weak smile to them. Inaraah's mother broke down seeing his son's condition. His head had a big bandage while his left hand was connected to the drip. His body was connected to various machines.

Inaraah stumbled seeing her brother. Her vision became blurred while her eyes poured continuously. He raised his hand towards his mother who rushed towards him. She cupped his face and placed a kiss on his forehead. He raised little and hid himself in his mother's embrace.

Inaraah along with her father and brother moved towards him. Izaad broke the hug and looked at his family. Even in his pain he managed to give them his brightest smile.

"Uh..hhhh... I... I.. am... so.. sor.. sorry Twinzi.." Inaraah managed to speak in between her hiccups. Izaad smiled at her and was above to speak but his breath labored. Ziyaad tried to move to call the doctor but Izaad caught his hand.

His breathing became harsh while his hands began to shiver. Inaraah screamed out for the doctors. She was above to move but his voice stopped her.

"La... La ilaha .... Allaahhh...." was all he said before he flat lined. Inaraah rooted on her spot hearing those words.

End of flashback.

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"I just kept looking at his lifeless body. Everything stopped around me." Inaraah said looking at the sky.

"My brain stopped processing everything. I don't know how I reached home, who brought me to my room. I knew nothing.

I stayed in my room until Ziyaad bhaiya came and took me out of the room. We were moving towards the living room. My house was filled with so many people. I kept looking at everyone while bhaiya pulled me from the crowd.

I was standing in between so many people yet I was unknown to my surroundings. A loud voice broke my trance bringing me back to reality. It was the loudest cry I ever heard and it belonged to none other than my father.

It was the first time I saw him crying. He was sitting next to my mother who was unconscious. My aunts were sprinkling water on her to bring her back to consciousness.

And then my eyes fell on my brother who looked so peaceful as if he was having the best sleep. Reality dawned upon me. My anger, his pleadings, my stubborn-ness, his accident, my apology and his last words.

I rushed towards him to wake him up. I kept shaking him, calling out his name, begging forgiveness but nothing changed. He didn't wake up Alhaan. I.. I.." Inaraah again broke down after managing to speak about the incident. Even Alhaan had tears in his eyes.

"Izaad...Izaaaa..... That's all I said before everything around me blurred and I passed out. I opened my eyes to a silent room. It took time for me to register everything. It was 10 of the morning. I panicked and rushed out of my room to check upon Izaad.

I was praying that it should be my worst nightmare. I reached the living room and saw my father weeping silently. I looked around my family who were trying to console each other.

I understood that it was not my nightmare but the bitter reality of my life. I lost my brother. I lost my twin. I lost him forever because of my anger. I rushed towards my father and hugged his legs. I cried and cried until my throat parched.

Ziyaad bhaiya came towards me. He made me drink water and rubbed my back. I looked at him whose eyes were red and swollen.

I am sorry.. I am sorry... I kept asking forgiveness for my anger. It was because of me that my family had to face such tragedy. My parents lost their son and we lost our brother. Everything happened because of me. He got down to get chocolates for me. If only I spoke to him that day, he would have alive.

It's my fault. I killed my brother. I am the reason he is no more. I killed him Alhaan. It was all because of me." Inaraah kept blaming herself while Alhaan shook his head at her.

He engulfed her in his arms to pacify her. There was no end to her tears. He carried her inside the room and placed her on the bed. He gave her water which calmed her a bit. Inaraah kept weeping thinking of her twin.

"Sssshhhh... Inaraah listen to me now. It was not your fault wifey. It was bound to happen. Everyone has to die one day. Some early and some late but everyone has to taste death.

And Izaad is a martyr. Though not completely but he managed to utter his Shahdah (testimony). He saved a life of a small kid. Allah will surely reward him jannah (paradise) for his good deeds.

You cannot change the destiny. His death was destined at that place. Even if you would have gone with him, something would have let him to that place. Pray for him instead of blaming yourself for something which isn't in your hands." Alhaan said  trying his best to make her understand.

Inaraah placed her head on his shoulder and mourned over the loss she and her family endured. Alhaan tried to calm her and finally after an hour succeeded in doing so. Inaraah dozed off to sleep in his arms. He placed her properly on the bed and kissed her forehead.

He kept looking at her face which was covered with tear stains. Small drops of tears were shining on her lashes. He kissed away her tears and determined himself to pull her out of her agony.