Chapter 30

Zarmeena’s hands were busy gathering her belongings in haste because she was late for the Sports Gala.

“Zarmeena, is it essential for you to go? Today is your engagement,” Zareena said, annoyed.

“Please, Amma, don’t start again. You know very well I worked so hard for this event. I can’t ruin it like this. Why the rush for this engagement?” she said hurriedly, leaving her phone on the table.

“I told you that Fareed is going on a mission tomorrow, and there’s no fixed time for his return. That’s why his mother insisted on doing this engagement in haste.”

“Okay, Amma, okay. I told you I’ll be back in 30 minutes. Just let me go to hand over things to Sir Baqir. I’ll change quickly. My phone is on the table, pick it up if there are any calls from the university and tell them I’ll be there soon,” Zarmeena informed her mother before dashing into the washroom.

When she finished and emerged, she found her mom staring at her, stunned and with an awful look on her face.

“What happened, Amma?” she asked, unable to help herself.

“Zarmeena, who is Salaar Malik?” Zareena asked, still looking dumbfounded.

“He’s my senior at the university. What happened? Do you know him, Amma?” Zarmeena asked, unable to understand her mother’s reaction. But Zareena’s answer was enough to shake her to her core.

It was beyond her imagination that Salaar would betray her trust and take advantage of her friendship. Though she wasn’t deeply attached to him, this was a huge blow to her Triple T rules of friendship. She wanted to smash his handsome face with her own hands so that no one would dare repeat such behavior with her. Unable to tolerate this sudden dismay, she collapsed onto the bed.

She didn’t even notice the passing time or her phone beeping on the table.

Soon afterward, Majida arrived and took her to the beauty parlor. She helplessly went along with the flow.

She wasn’t even aware that Sajid had arrived while she was at the parlor and was stunned to hear about this sudden engagement.

At her own engagement, Zarmeena felt like a guest at someone else’s event, sitting mindlessly beside Fareed. Fareed gazed at her, flabbergasted at her more womanly appearance. But Zarmeena wasn’t in the right state of mind to notice Fareed’s admiring eyes. Majida slipped the engagement ring onto her finger, and Zareena placed a ring on Fareed’s finger.

The same thought kept replaying in her mind: “Why did Salaar break my trust?”

After the engagement, Sajida brought her back to her room. Once Sajida had left, Zarmeena took her phone from the table and dialed Salaar’s number.

“Salaar, you’re not worthy of my friendship. You’ve broken all the rules of Triple T friendship by sending a marriage proposal. I’m giving you one chance, don’t come in my way, or else you’ll have to face my gang. I don’t want to see your face again. If you have even a shred of pride, don’t dare come in front of me again.”

She ended the call and collapsed onto the bed, tears uncontrollably streaming down her face. She hated herself for shedding tears over a man who didn’t deserve them. She wiped her tears mercilessly and rose from the bed with determination. The next moment, she was standing in front of Dadi Majida and Zareena.

“Dado, I want this wedding to happen as soon as possible.”

She proclaimed with determination. Zarmeena Khan could not be so weak as to fall for a man like Salaar Malik.

           -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

Junaid was talking with Fahad when his gaze shifted to the sound of a thud and found Salaar unconscious on the ground. Both of them ran towards him and picked up his strong, motionless body in their hands. They brought him to a nearby hospital.

Fahad called Taimur and gave him the location of the hospital where they had admitted Salaar. A few moments later, Salaar's whole family, including Nazli, was at the hospital. All were devastated to see their favorite Salaar in such a condition.

"Fahad, what happened to my son?" Warda asked Fahad, her voice shattered with dismay.

"Don't worry, aunty. Everything will be alright," he exclaimed, wrapping his arms around his aunt and lacing his voice with reassurance.

"Fahad, what happened that he fainted? I know Salaar he is a man of strong nerves," Faizan demanded in a calm but concerned voice, unlike Warda.

"I don't know, uncle. Everything went very well at the Sports Gala. He looked fine. We were just as shocked to find him unconscious on the ground," Fahad explained, but his words weren’t enough to satisfy them.

"Yes, doctor?" Taimur said as he gazed at the approaching doctor and demanded worriedly.

"He definitely experienced something heavy on his nerves, which led to a nervous breakdown. We are conducting physical treatment, but if he doesn't recover fully, you might need to consult a psychiatrist," the doctor explained professionally.

"Doctor, please tell me honestly there isn't any serious health issue with my son, is there?" Warda asked pleadingly, fear evident in her voice.

"He will recover physically, but mentally, a psychiatrist can guide you better. Make sure he avoids stress and trauma. Try to keep him in a light and positive environment," the doctor advised firmly before leaving.

Salaar was discharged from the hospital but had lost interest in life. He performed his duties just to stay alive. When the final exam dates were announced, he focused only on his studies.

Zubair grew increasingly concerned about Salaar’s declining health. Despite constant insistence, Salaar ate very little.

"Salaar, forget about that girl. Maybe you two were not meant to be together," Dadi said, her voice etched with concern.

Salaar straightened and gave Dadi a look that struck her heart with dismay.

"Excuse me, Dadi. I want to study; my exams are near," Salaar replied sternly, his face expressionless. Dadi had to leave because of his aloof behavior.

The exams ended, and due to the tight schedule, Salaar and Zarmeena never encountered each other.

     -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

It was late in the morning, but Salaar was still in bed. His thoughts wandered along silent paths.

"Sir Salaar, your breakfast is ready. Should I bring it here, or will you come to the dining area?" Zubair asked obediently, though his concern was evident.

"Zubair, can you bring my phone?" Salaar replied emotionlessly, ignoring the invitation for breakfast. Rummaging in the drawer of the side table, Zubair retrieved Salaar's phone and handed it to him.

Salaar opened the university’s news page on Instagram. What he saw jolted him to his senses. Zubair grew even more worried, noticing Salaar’s sudden anxiety.

He jumped out of bed, throwing the covers aside.

"Zubair, give me my car keys," Salaar said sternly, his expression grim.

"Sir, please let me come along. You’re not in a condition to drive," Zubair pleaded.

"Zubair, I’m ordering you give me the keys," Salaar roared. Startled, Zubair handed over the keys and called the driver to bring the car.

Salaar snatched the keys and sat in the driver’s seat.

"Please, sir, I request you let me go with you," Zubair appealed, peeking through the car’s window.

Without responding, Salaar started the car.

Salaar pressed his foot on the accelerator, increasing the speed until the car reached a rough road flanked by fields. It jerked to a stop in front of an old wooden gate.

He took his phone and dialed Zarmeena's number. After a few beeps, the call connected.

"Come outside. I’m in front of your house. If you don’t, I’ll come inside," Salaar seethed, throwing the phone onto the car's dashboard.

Salaar got out of the car. Within a minute, Zarmeena emerged from the wooden gate, shooting him a deadly glare. But her expression softened when she noticed Salaar's frail appearance his dark circles and evident weight loss.

Salaar stepped forward, grabbed her hand, and pulled her toward him. He lowered his head and kissed her lips.

Both froze in the moment, hearing the sound of each other’s beating hearts. After a brief pause, Salaar raised his head.

"I’ve claimed you, Zarmeena Khan. Now you’re only mine. No one in this universe has the strength to take you away from me. Your marriage to Fareed, which is set for the 24th of this month, will never happen. I will never allow it," Salaar declared, his voice blazing with determination.

Leaving Zarmeena flabbergasted, he curved his lips into a smirk, got into the car, reversed it vigorously, and drove away.