Chapter 44
Zubair was restlessly lingering in the porch, waiting for them. His feet stopped as he saw the lights of Salaar's car approaching. The car stopped in the driveway. Zarmeena was the first to step out of the car. She turned to Zubair.

"Where should I stay?"

Zubair gazed at Salaar skeptically Salaar nodded, signaling him to lead her.

"Come with me, madam," Zubair said.

Zarmeena quietly followed him. Upon reaching the door of Salaar's room, Zubair halted.

"Madam, I'll be outside in the lobby. This is my mobile number; if you need anything, let me know," he said, handing her a piece of paper with his phone number scribbled on.

Without showing any reaction, Zarmeena took the paper from his hand.

Zubair closed the door behind her and returned to Salaar.

"Your Dadi is not well after hearing the news. She's insisting on going to her friend's funeral, but as you texted, they didn't even let Madam Zarmeena attend the funeral. Sir Faizan has restricted her from going," Zubair finished, making Salaar more worried.

With fast steps, Salaar entered Dadi's portion. Faizan, Taimur, Nazli, and Faizan's youngest brother, Zawaar, were already in the lobby.

"Salaar, how is Zarmeena?" Faizan asked, looking concerned for his new daughter-in-law.

"I don't know, Dad. She's silent, but I know she's in trauma. What happened was too much for anyone to endure."

Salaar, depleted by the tragedy of the moment, collapsed onto a nearby sofa and leaned his head backward. But, reminded of something, he jolted back into a sitting position.

"How is Dadi?" Salaar asked, his concern evident.

"No different from Zarmeena. She wanted to see her dead friend one last time, a friend she longed to see her whole life but couldn't. She's extremely overwhelmed with guilt, Salaar! She's blaming herself for her friend's death," Faizan exclaimed, feeling his mother's pain.

"Salaar, you must be with your wife now. Go and don't leave her alone," Taimur advised his younger brother, who was enduring a tough time on the most important day of his life.

"Taimur is right, Salaar. The poor kid is in a state of turmoil. She needs you badly. Don't worry about your Dadi. The doctor gave her a sedative to help her relax. Your mom and Aunty Samina are staying with her tonight, and we are also here," Faizan reassured Salaar.

Meanwhile, Nazli stood quietly, feeling amused and triumphant about the situation. She thought to herself,
The girl who snatched my sister's happiness has lost everything and has been abandoned by her own family.
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When Salaar entered the room, he found Zarmeena curled up on the couch, her fists holding her chin. She resembled a child in a mother's womb. Salaar squatted on the floor near the couch, looking at her with loving eyes. This was the girl who had broken all the barriers he had built around his heart, fearing someone would get inside. She had captured the territory of his heart without giving him a chance to defend himself.

To him, she was the most beautiful woman in the world, even with her ordinary looks. She had shattered the statue of arrogance and attitude he had built over the years, reducing it to shredded pieces, and had made him a beggar for one glance of hers.

He gently removed a mischievous strand of her hair, revealing her face, and gazed at her a little longer. Noticing her discomfort, he scooped her into his arms and slowly laid her on the bed. Covering her with a blanket, he smirked at her light weight. The mighty Zarmeena Khan, feared by everyone, was as light as a feather.

He laid himself on the other side of the bed. He had never seen her sleep before. She seemed to have all her weapons laced, ready to attack him with her innocence and cuteness. Thinking of her agony, he felt a pang in his heart. Could this strong girl, who bore the burdens of others so effortlessly, bear the weight of abandonment?

With her image in his mind and her gaze etched in his eyes, he slowly drifted into sleep.

After midnight, someone jolted him awake.
"Sir Salaar, please wake up," Aslam said, standing by his bedside.

Looking at Aslam's worried expression, Salaar came to his senses. The first thought that came to his mind was Dadi.

"Salaar, ma'am Zarmeena was found unconscious in the lawn. I don't know how long she was standing in the stormy rain outside," Aslam informed him, extremely concerned.

With Aslam, Salaar shifted to the side of the house where she lay. His heart almost stopped beating when he saw Zubair bringing a fainted Zarmeena in his arms.

Salaar quickly came forward and took her from Zubair. This time, holding her in his arms felt completely different from the first. Her body was almost at freezing point, her breaths faint. Salaar's heart broke into pieces seeing her in such a condition, she seemed far from the Zarmeena he once knew.

"Zubair, bring the doctor, please," Salaar almost roared in anxiety. Extreme concern was palpable in his expression.

"Sir, I've already called her. She should be here soon," Zubair assured him.

A moment later, the doctor arrived.
Salaar's eyes closed as he leaned against the wall outside his room. His mind was stuck in a web of thoughts.
Was it wise to have forced her to agree to this marriage? She had willingly agreed to marry Fareed but had reluctantly married him instead.
Would he ever win her heart, knowing she had been abandoned by her family because he loved her and married her?

Amidst his thoughts, he heard the doctor's voice.

"Sir, your wife is okay now, but she strained her body by exposing it to the rain and cold. It will take time for her to recover. She may suffer from a cold and fever, so ensure she takes her medication on time and monitor her diet, she's very weak."

Salaar nodded and thanked her for coming at such a late hour. Zubair escorted the doctor out and then returned to his room.

He squatted on the couch, his eyes lingering on her. The doctor had changed her wet dress, but she was still unconscious. He couldn't sleep for the remaining hours of the night, fearing she would do this again.

At the sound of the Azan (Muslims' call for prayer), he performed ablution and spread the prayer mat. After completing his prayers, he joined his palms together and prayed:

"Oh My God, I never felt the need to ask for anything. You have given me everything anyone could ever wish for, and I always thought I had it all because I deserved it. But today, for the first time, I feel that despite having everything, I have failed to protect and win the heart of the person I love more than myself.

You said You are closer to a human being than their own heart. My dear God, I consider my love for her to be Your gift, so please don't let it turn into a curse. Please, make a little place for me in her heart. If You grant me this love, grant me her love and her happiness too. These hands will never raise to ask for anything else for myself again." Salaar prayed from the bottom of his heart. After his long conversation with God, he folded the prayer mat.

When she opened her eyes, her whole body was aching. She glanced around with blurry vision and found Salaar sitting on the couch. Realizing her movement, Salaar came forward in haste. He tried to hold her hand, but she snatched it away as if she had touched live wires. Salaar felt the heat of her hand, she definitely had a fever. He wanted to give her the medicine, but she refused to take it and turned her back to him.

"Zarmeena, please take this medicine; otherwise, your fever will worsen," Salaar pleaded, remembering the doctor's advice.

"I am okay now," she replied without even turning to face him. Salaar knew he couldn't force her to do anything, so he gave up pestering her. But even after constant pondering, he couldn't find a way to convince this stubborn girl to take the medicines. He knew she was tormenting herself.

A week passed, and Zarmeena still didn't take the medicine. She rarely talked or ate. Salaar was worried about her deteriorating health. She had lost weight and developed dark circles around her eyes. Mrs. Shameem, Warda, and Faizan all tried to convince her, but she remained as stubborn as a rock.

That day, Zarmeena had a fever again and was on her no-eat, no-talk routine.
Salaar was feeling extremely helpless when Zubair came inside.
"Salaar Sir, someone is here to meet you," Zubair informed him. Salaar nodded and followed him. In the lobby, he saw Sajid.
"Sorry, I know I shouldn't come here like this, but I was worried about Zaro. Is she..." Before he could finish, Salaar stepped forward and hugged him. Sajid was puzzled by this sudden gesture, as he had assumed Salaar wouldn't like him being there. He patted Salaar's back, but Salaar wasn't ready to let go of the hug. Sajid wondered if this was the same Salaar who had been so rude to him before.

"Please save her... She is punishing herself, and she is failing. Please, Sajid, please," Salaar's voice was hoarse with emotion. He led Sajid inside to his room.

"Zaro..." Sajid couldn't believe his eyes. This frail girl couldn't be his Zaro. Zarmeena, who was leaning her head against the bed, turned her gaze from the ceiling toward the familiar voice. Finding Sajid in front of her, she couldn't hold herself anymore and burst into tears. The tears she had caged for many days broke free and streamed down like a flood. She held out her hands for her best friend. Sajid quickly came forward, holding them and squatting beside her bed. Salaar stood at the door, witnessing the reunion of best friends. This time, he restrained himself from feeling envious.

"Sajid, your Zaro is lost... My own family used me as a pawn in their chess game... My own mother abandoned me. What was my mistake? Sajid, tell me, what sin have I committed? Was it obeying everything they said? They just threw me out of their lives like trash." Her breath hitched amidst her sobs. Salaar quickly stepped forward, but she stopped him with a gesture of her hand.

Sajid handed her the glass of water from the side table. She took the glass and sipped a little.
"Zaro, listen to me. I will not let you destroy yourself like this. Time is a big healer. Everything will settle with time. Remember who you are. You are Zarmeena Khan. There is no one in this world who can ignore you. Please, get out of this, Zaro," Sajid said, his worry evident. Zarmeena wasn't just his friend; she was his savior and angel too.
"Sajid, you can't even imagine what I'm going through," her voice faltered with overwhelming emotions.
"Zaro, don't be selfish. Think of a mother who boycotted her child for the sake of a promise she made to her dying mother-in-law. You weren't there when Dadi took her last breath," Sajid tried to lift the veil of truth.
"Sajid, don't ever think I will let it go. I will never forgive those who played with my life-whether it's Dadi, Amma, or someone else." She glared at Salaar as she said the last words, clearly directing the taunt at him.

"Okay, Lady Cobra, we understand. Now, please respect our friendship and take your medicine," Sajid said metaphorically, trying to lighten her mood.

Zarmeena let out a small smile and took her medicine.
"You know, Sir Baqir resigned," Sajid started to distract her with gossip, putting the food 's tray infront of her.
"Don't tell me! Why?" Zarmeena asked with a hint of surprise, taking a spoonful of porridge.
"I don't know. Maybe he doesn't get enough sleep at the university," Sajid said humorously, bursting into laughter. Zarmeena chuckled too, her hands and mouth busy eating.

Soon, both were engrossed in university gossip. Salaar left them with a lighter heart, watching her happy face after such a long time.