Chapter 48

Zarmeena was once again squatted at the corner table in Salaar's room, trying to focus her mind on her studies. But today, her mind and heart had both started a mutiny against her. She hadn't even gotten the sleep she so desperately needed before diving into her studies. Despite countless attempts to nag herself into concentration, she couldn't erase that picture of Salaar and Leena from her mind.

She decided to do a little investigation within her thoughts.

Hmmm... in that snap, that extremely annoying Leenna (if I were allowed one murder, it would definitely be hers) was leaning on Big B Salaar, resting her head on his shoulder. And tears-yes yes, tears-streaming down her face. Lots and lots of tears. Oh my God, even the imagination of it is so irritating. I wish I could kill both of them for this public display of so so so fake affection!

In a fit of fury, she threw her pencil, which unexpectedly hit Faizan, who had come searching for Salaar about an important issue at the office. He had decided to check on Zarmeena himself, but instead, he ended up as the target of her tossed pencil.

"Oh, sorry, Uncle! I am extremely sorry! Are you alright?" Zarmeena quickly came forward, taking his hand in hers to inspect the affected area.

"Oh, girl, how can you say I'm alright after being hit by that missile-like pencil?" Faizan exaggerated, clearly seeking more of her attention.

Just then, Salaar entered the room. Seeing Zarmeena's worried expression as she fussed over Faizan, he instantly understood the behind-the-scenes drama orchestrated by his father.

Look at this old man, no shame at all, hitting on my wife again.

Salaar thought, stifling a smirk.

"Oh, Dad, what happened? You look so pale." With feigned concern lacing his voice and a fake worried expression plastered on his face, Salaar leaned down, squatting beside Faizan. He took Faizan's hand in his own, signaling that he understood Faizan's attempt to garner Zarmeena's sympathy.

"This isn't the hand. It's the other one," Faizan answered with a sour tone and a plain expression.

"Oh, I'm glad that you at least know which one it is," Salaar retorted sacaristaly in the same blank and cutting tone.

As Salaar squatted beside her, Zarmeena jolted upright, glaring at him. That picture flashed through her mind again, igniting her anger toward Salaar even more.

"What is happening over here?" Their gazes followed the voice and found Warda standing at the door, her hands resting on her waist.

"Oh, Mom, I'm so thankful that you've come." Salaar stepped forward to hug his mother.

"Take your husband away. He's meddling in my life," Salaar whispered into her ear.

Warda chuckled at her son's insecurity, knowing he was jealous of his father. Faizan had already told her everything over the phone.
"What are you doing here, Faizan?" Warda rolled her eyes and shot a fake glare at Faizan.

"Oh, my darling, I was missing you. That's why I came here-to tell Salaar to call you and ask when you're coming," Faizan gave his excuse sheepishly.

"Is your phone out of order, darling?" Warda asked, refusing to be fooled by him.
"No, Mom. His mind is out of order-acting childish at this age," Salaar replied, gritting his teeth in fury.

Ignoring both the attention seekers, Warda turned to Zarmeena.

"How's my daughter? Have these naughty men in the house been teasing you a lot?" Warda asked affectionately, her voice filled with love for Zarmeena.

Zarmeena stepped forward and hugged her mother-in-law. The two men stood aside, silently admiring the deep affection shared between the two women.

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"What are you saying, Sir? This can't be true!" Zareena could hardly believe her ears upon hearing such accusations about her very obedient and top-performing son.

"This is the truth, Mrs. Khan. Your son, Ahmed Khan, is involved in taking drugs. To safeguard other students from this menace, the board has decided to expel him from the college," the principal explained firmly.

"You cannot do this, Sir! Please, he's the topper in his class!" Zarmeena refused to accept this harsh reality about her son.

"He was, but not anymore. I'm afraid no college would accept his admission at this point, especially since mid-season admissions are already closed," the principal added, leaving no room for false hope.

"Sir, please, his future will be ruined. I beg you!" Zareena clasped her hands together, pleading desperately.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I am not the one who made this decision. It was finalized by the college's board of directors. I have no authority to overturn it. Your son will have to leave the college," the principal stated, refusing to offer any assistance.

At last, she had no choice but to accept what had been decided.

Zarmeena couldn't believe the tricks life had played on her. In less than two months, she had lost her motherly and protective mother-in-law. She had been forced to abandon her own daughter, who had been more than a friend and always shared her burdens. And now Ahmed, her brilliant and obedient son, who had never let her down. He was the pillar she thought would protect her from the storms of life but had crumbled under the weight of his own troubles.

Every nerve in her body screamed in anguish, her prayers for solace unanswered. In her distracted state, she didn't notice the blaring horns. A loud bang followed as something collided with her, and she was thrown into darkness, overwhelmed by searing pain.
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Salaar, Faizan, and Taimur were sitting around the table, discussing an important issue concerning their business. Salaar was giving more exposure to Taimur's ideas, conveying to his father that Taimur was not as useless as his father thought.

A little farther from them, Nazli, Warda, and Zarmeena were sitting on the sofas. Zarmeena had joined them because her focus on studies had already deteriorated. Warda gazed meaningfully at her two daughters-in-law, who were completely distant from each other, almost at the farthest ends.

Nazli was dressed in a latest-brand outfit, her face full of makeup, and her hair styled neatly. In contrast, Zarmeena was wearing long trousers-perhaps Salaar's-folded at the edges to fit her size. She paired them with a plain qameez and had draped a woolen shawl over her shoulders, covering half of her hair. Warda thought Zarmeena needed much transformation to match their family standards. But how would she make her agree to this?

Zarmeena's eyes were fixed on Salaar, scanning for clues to unravel the mystery of that picture. Suddenly, his phone started ringing. He halted the heated discussion for a moment to answer it. His expression changed. He said something to Faizan and headed outside. Before leaving, he cast one glance at Zarmeena.

"This Big B is definitely going to meet that D Q( Drama Queen) Leena," Zarmeena fumed silently, sizzling with anger.

Nazli was silently observing her, sneering at her mix-and-match look.
This girl definitely doesn't deserve a man like Salaar. It's good that Salaar should get punished for refusing my elegant sister.

"Zarmeena, would you like to play Ludo?" Taking advantage of Salaar's absence, Faizan offered Zarmeena.

"Okay, uncle, let's play," Zarmeena said, letting out a sigh.
She needed a distraction from the thought of that man stuck on that snap.

"Hurray! Majeed, fetch the Ludo quickly! My daughter is finally playing with me!" Faizan exclaimed triumphantly, his tone bubbling with childlike glee. For once, his plan to capture Zarmeena's attention had worked, and his eyes twinkled with delight at this rare moment of connection.

Majeed brought the Ludo dice, and Zarmeena began arranging the pawns on the board.

I wish Salaar could see this. I bet he'd be burn like a coal with jealousy, Faizan thought.

Warda laughed at his enthusiasm, while Nazli pouted at the growing connection between Faizan and Zarmeena.

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Salaar hurried to the hospital. Someone had called him about an accident involving a woman. They informed him that the last dialed number on her mobile belonged to him. The caller explained that the woman's appearance resembled Zareena's. His suspicions were confirmed when he reached the hospital and found Zarmeena's mother lying on a hospital bed while a nurse checked her blood pressure.

When she saw Salaar, she was surprised.

"Aunty, are you alright? How did this happen?" Salaar asked, extremely concerned.

"I'm fine, don't worry. I'm sorry for troubling you," Zarmeena's mother replied apologetically.

"Oh, please, Aunty, don't say that. As Zarmeena's mother, you are also my responsibility. But what happened? Your worries are evident from your face... Is there something you're hiding?" Salaar couldn't help asking as he noticed the worry etched on her face. He rested his hand on her frail one and asked

Feeling a sense of warmth and support, she couldn't hold back her tears, which fell like a stream.

"Salaar, since Amma and Zaro left me, nothing has been the same. Ahmed and I have even lost our connection. I started noticing changes in his behavior. He became rude and, at times, even misbehaved. But I thought, it's all because of my decision regarding Zarmeena. I didn't know that he had gone too far..." She trailed off, and what she revealed next was enough to leave Salaar stunned.

He realized that his relationship with Zarmeena was at serious risk. If she ever found out about Ahmed's actions, it would shatter her into pieces, and she might even blame him for it.

After some deep thought, Salaar resolved to set everything right-for the sake of his love, Zarmeena, and the family he now considered his own.

"Aunty, I know I intruded into your lives without permission, and you might not have many good memories of me. But I want to tell you something very honestly," Salaar said, sitting beside the bed and holding her hand gently.

"I love Zarmeena more than my life. From now on, you and Ahmed are my family too."

Under different circumstances, he would have died of embarrassment confessing his love for Zarmeena in front of her mother. But the situation now demanded his honesty and reassurance.

"So, don't ever think that you have to face this alone. I'm here, and I will never let Ahmed drown like this."

Zarmeena's mother looked at Salaar, a boy who had suddenly become so close to her heart. For the first time in a long while, she felt the burden of life lift from her shoulders. Leaving all her dismay and worries behind, she let out a faint smile laced with motherly affection. She placed her trembling hand on his head and said,

"At last, it feels like God has lifted all the curses from my life and my children. He has sent an angel to protect us."
She was gazing at Salaar, her eyes beaming with hope.