Chapter 28

Zareena was very happy to hear about Fareed's decision. She also liked Fareed as Zarmeena's life partner. Though she was concerned about Majida's attitude,but she knew that Zarmeena could manage Majida's sternness.

Majida was a bit stunned that, without her usual melodramatic tactics, Fareed had agreed to this proposal. Now all their hopes were centered on Zarmeena's approval.

Dadi strictly ordered Zareena to keep Salaar's proposal hidden from Zarmeena, fearing for Salaar's safety. She didn't want Salaar to become a target of Zarmeena's anti-romance gang.

Salaar knew that his friendship with Zarmeena was like a feather on floating water-fragile and easily crushed. Yet, he didn't want to lose her. He decided to continue this risky game, determined to win Zarmeena's heart at any cost.

Warda, desperate to meet Salaar, entered his portion, but Zubair intervened.

"Zubair, I'm already frustrated. Don't get in my way," Warda snapped, finding Zubair blocking her entry into Salaar's area.

"Ma'am, please," Zubair insisted gently. "Sir Salaar has gone through so much and has just found a bit of peace. Your presence might stir up his emotions again. Give him some time; I'll arrange your meeting with him myself. Until then, please try to avoid him," he almost begged her.

Warda collapsed into a chair in the lobby, sobbing. She knew Salaar didn't forgive easily.

"Zubair, what should I do? Whenever I try to do something good for my children, it turns out worse. I went there to bring happiness to my child but returned with his heartbreak," she uttered amidst her tears. Zubair's heart melted at her condition. He knew how much she loved her children.

"Ma'am, Sir Salaar knows how deeply you love him and Sir Taimur. But, with all due respect, please don't try to control Sir Salaar. It might work on Sir Taimur, but it definitely won't on Sir Salaar," Zubair advised her within his limits. Warda knew well that Zubair's love for Salaar was no less than her own, so she said nothing more.

When Zubair returned from the lobby, Salaar was already dressed and having breakfast. Aslam was serving him.

"Good morning, Zubair," Salaar greeted, sipping his favorite black coffee. He looked at Zubair with delight.

Zubair smiled back, remembering Salaar's condition two days ago when he had collapsed in his arms, unconscious. Now, he looked completely different. There were very few times Zubair had seen Salaar this happy.

"Zubair, I'm going to the university. Don't worry; I'll be late today," Salaar said in a cheerful tone.

Zubair nodded, praying for the everlasting happiness of his angel.

---

Salaar's eyes searched for Zarmeena and soon found her, visibly irritated as she fumbled with her phone. A beautiful smile touched his face, and in no time, he was by her side.

"What happened? You look so down," Salaar couldn't help asking.

"This tent owner, I tell you, changed the prices at the last moment. And that Big B is also not picking up his phone," Zarmeena snapped.

"Big B... What is this Big B?" Salaar asked, confused.

"Oh, I mean big bast..." She caught herself before completing the word "bastard" and bit her tongue.

"Oh?" Salaar chuckled, completely amused by her gestures.

"You're another reason for my stress," she reminded him, her frustration spilling over.

"Me? Why?" Salaar exclaimed with an innocent face.

"You didn't even bother to collect the comparison notes from Sir Baqir. I was up all night preparing them," Zarmeena said with a hint of sulk. Salaar suddenly remembered that he'd forgotten to take the notes from Sir Baqir.

"Sorry, I forgot. Give me a minute, and I'll bring them," Salaar said penitently.

"No need... You high-fi people don't bother with these little things. We're just ordinary nobodies. Take your rest, sir. I already sent Sajid to get them from Sir Baqir," Zarmeena said with deep sarcasm. Just then, her phone started beeping.

"Huh... What? Are you out of your mind? Do you want to kill him? Just ask him how he dared to ignore my calls," she spat into the speaker. Salaar observed her every action and gesture, captivated.

"Oh, no need to break his leg, you fool; a few fists will be enough. And try to convince him to stick with his original prices. What about exams? Don't let me down, or I'll break your leg instead. I expect nothing less than a hundred percent, my boy. Okay, call me if he agrees to the old price." Zarmeena cut the call and turned to find Salaar staring at her in astonishment.

"Zarmeena, you tutor students and manage the accounts of these vendors free of cost-that's the angelic side. But then you bully people and rally them with this anti-romance gang of yours-that's your harsh side. How can one person have such a diverse personality?" Salaar asked, his voice full of admiration.

"Salaar, I place people where they deserve to be. Some only understand the language of violence." Zarmeena replied firmly.

With each new revelation, Salaar felt himself falling deeper for her with every passing moment. This love had no limitations.

"Zaro, here are the hosting notes. Sir Baqir was really furious about our slow progress. Just two days are left, and the hosts are still unprepared," Sajid exclaimed, his voice filled with concern.

"Look at him! After sleeping 23 out of 24 hours, he wakes up and starts targeting poor students," Zarmeena said sarcastically.

"And Salaar Malik, take these notes and start learning. Zawyaar is more useful than you for me. He already memorized his part of the hosting," Zarmeena exclaimed, hoping to ignite a sense of competition, unaware that just mentioning Zawyaar would set Salaar off.

"That Big B Zawyaar will be killed by my hands one day," he muttered angrily as he began going through the hosting notes.

---

Zareena lingered around the room. She peeked in and found Zarmeena fully engrossed in her work. Unable to take it any longer, she interrupted her.

"Zaro, stop it. It's almost 1 a.m.," she nagged, her tone irritated.

"What, Amma? Let me work; only two days are left until the sports gala. I have a ton of work to finish tonight," Zarmeena replied, her hands continuously scribbling on paper.

"Fine, do whatever you want, but give me some time. I need to discuss something very serious with you." Zareena squatted beside her, leaning in a bit closer.

"Okay, Amma, I'm all yours. Tell me what you wanted to discuss," Zarmeena sighed, setting her work aside and turning her attention to her mother.

"Zarmeena, you know your Dadi wants you to get married," Zareena began, pausing to gauge her reaction.

"Amma, she's been saying that for the last five years. You interrupted me just for this?" Zarmeena sighed and tried to pick up her pages again.

"This time, there's a very good proposal for you. I like the boy very much, and you've known him since childhood." Zareena managed to finish with some difficulty, but she still had to reveal the name.

"Who is he?" Zarmeena asked, now fully alert, sensing the seriousness in her mother's words.

"Fareed." With a gasp, Zareena let his name slip out, and Zarmeena's eyes went wide with shock.

"Are you serious, Mom?" Zarmeena exclaimed, utterly astonished. After a few moments of serious thought, she continued.

"I mean... that's amazing," she finally sighed in relief.

"You mean you have no objection to this proposal?" Zareena asked, stunned. She hadn't expected this reaction.

"Why would I? I mean, sure, I've always considered him like an elder brother, but we need someone like him in our family. No matter how strong I say I am, we're living in a male-dominated society. We weren't even in a position to pay Dadi's hospital bills. If Ahmed is selected for medical college, we won't be able to afford the fees. My semester fee is still pending. In these conditions, I consider this proposal a blessing from God," Zarmeena finished, her words bringing tears to Zareena's eyes.

"Zaro, my daughter, in everything you said, you didn't even once consider your own happiness," Zareena's voice quivered, blending with her tears.

"Mom, happiness... for me, the concept of happiness is totally different from others. I need a life partner who shares the same values, the same status, the same upbringing, the same preferences, and the same delights-someone who will support me as I climb each step of success. Together, we'll find happiness in our struggles and reach success. And brother Fareed understands me better than anyone else." Zarmeena's words wiped away all the worries from Zareena's mind. Tears of gratitude sparkled in her eyes as she smiled at her