-)))))!!!!"""" Chapter 36""""!!!!(((((-

Shameen unfolded the letter and began reading:

For a friend I found through good faith but lost because of my own faults.

My Friend,
You don't know how much courage it took for me to write this letter to you. When I met you for the first time, I didn't truly understand the meaning of friendship. All I wanted was to protect those who needed my help.
I still remember the way you looked at me, pleading for protection. Those blue eyes, filled with tears, made me want to hurt anyone who was the cause of your pain. I protected you because I wanted to save you, to ensure those eyes never shed another tear. But, unfortunately, I became the reason for their shedding.
When I discovered that Wahab was toying with our hearts, I didn't even think about myself. My only fear was losing you as a friend. I thought of countless ways to expose him, but doubts held me back.
What if you didn't believe me? What if you sided with Wahab, unknowingly destroying your own life? That's why I devised a plan to reveal the truth about that deceiver. I never anticipated that it would end up hurting you instead.
The girl I once thought was fragile, scared of loud voices, turned out to be much stronger than I ever imagined. You saved my life not once but twice, first from Wahab, and then by accepting the blame in front of that policeman for something you did only to save my life.
The tragedy of that night will always haunt us. The secret of what happened and where we went will forever remain between us. It's a barrier that will keep us apart in the future.
Today, I make you a promise. In this otherwise meaningless life of mine, if there's ever a way I can help you, I will consider my existence worthwhile. Test me at any time, and I will stand by my words, even if it costs me my own life.
I know this won't undo the past or turn back time, but it will assure me that you still think of me as your friend.
I wish I could end this letter with the words:

Your ever-loving friend,

Yasmeen.

The tears Shameen hadn't shed on the day she became the killer of her lover and lost her friend broke every barrier and rolled down her cheeks. She folded the letter and placed it in her jewelry box, treating it like the most precious possession from her lost island of friendship.
That was the last contact between the two. Whenever Shameen missed her friend, she would open the box and read the letter. It reassured her that her friend was somewhere in this world, alive, and that one day they would meet again.

Decades passed, but she never lost that letter from her best friend. And finally, that day came.
Shameen couldn't believe her eyes. The frail, wrinkled old lady before her was Yasmeen, her friend. They weren't just bonded by love but also by agony.
After lunch and the Dhuhr prayer, Shameen dozed off, leaning her head against the wall. Suddenly, she heard someone call her name.
"This can't be true," she thought. She could recognize that voice, even though time had changed its tone.
"Has God forgiven my sins and shown mercy upon me?" she wondered, keeping her eyes closed, fearing it was just a dream.
When she heard the voice again, her trembling words escaped her lips:
"Yasmeen, my friend, is that you?"
Tears slipped silently down Yasmeen's wrinkled face. She couldn't keep her eyes shut anymore as she sensed the reality of her existence.
She gazed at Shameen, her body shaking with emotion. Shameen, still unaffected much by old age, came forward and took Yasmeen's frail frame into her arms.
Both began sobbing, embracing each other for support. Zarmeena, Zareena, Fahad, and Ahmed stood stunned, watching the emotional reunion.
After a long, heartfelt embrace, they raised their heads, beaming at each other while wiping tears from their faces.
"Shameen, you still look the same as you did in college," Yasmeen said, with a hint of amazement, brushing away the remaining tears.
"And you've turned into an old goose. What have you done to yourself, my friend?" Shameen chuckled warmly, mocking Yasmeen playfully as if they'd never been apart.
"Ah, Shameen, I cannot tell you how happy I feel to meet you before my last breath," Yasmeen exclaimed with a deep sigh.
"Touch wood! I'm still young, so don't mention death in front of me," Shameen joked, laughing.
They continued reminiscing, their lively banter echoing through the veranda.
Outside, Fahad and Zarmeena sat silently.
"Who is this old lady you brought to our house?" Zarmeena demanded, breaking the silence.
Fahad hesitated, fearing her volatile reaction.
"She's Salaar's grandmother," he finally confessed, his voice shaky.
"What? Have you forgotten the slap I gave you, or do you want more?" Zarmeena rolled up her sleeves, ready for action.
Fahad quickly texted Salaar:

Today, I will be killed for friendship. Zarmeena is ready to take my life. Come save us, my brother. Dadi is here too.

Salaar was on the bed, fuming with fever. Warda was by his side, while Zubair stood at a distance. Both were concerned and worried for him. When the beep of a message sounded, he picked up his phone, turned his burning eyes to the screen, and got up in haste despite his condition.
"Zubair, where are my car keys?"
He demanded in gasps and broken words, his face flushed red from his high temperature.
"Salaar, are you out of your mind? Just look at your condition! I won't allow you to go anywhere, no matter how important it is," Warda said, her voice raised, etched with concern for her badly ailing son.
"Mom, please don't make me beg in this condition. I have no energy left to fight you. Just understand, it's more important than my life." Salaar uttered the words with great difficulty.
"Okay, okay. But Zubair will drive, and I will go with you. You may not value your life, but your safety is more important than anything to us," Warda said, emphasizing every word, leaving no room for objection. After some time, they were in the car, heading toward Zarmeena's house.

Meanwhile, Zarmeena was about to land a punch on Fahad's face when Ahmed quickly intervened. He grabbed her by the waist and pushed her backward.
"Sorry, brother. My sister is a little unhinged. She sometimes acts like a mafia boss. I hope you don't mind," Ahmed said apologetically. Grateful, Fahad looked at his savior and nodded.
"Go help Amma in the kitchen," Ahmed instructed Zarmeena.
"And what about you? Did you put henna on your hands?" Zarmeena retorted sarcastically.
"I've done my part of the job. Now it's your turn. Next week, you'll go Aunty Majida's house to at least learn some household skills, or else you'll be dealt by Mafia Queen Aunty Majida, my Mafia Princess," Ahmed said, lacing his voice with mockery.
Fahad sighed in relief at being saved. He pulled out his phone to text Salaar, but raised voices from inside grabbed their attention. They all ran in.

"It's not possible! Only a week is left before Zarmeena's and Fareed's wedding. Ask for anything, even my life, but this is impossible," Yasmeen said, her frail voice almost pleading.
Salaar, Warda, and Zubair arrived just in time to hear the heated exchange between the old friends.
"Yasmeen, I'm not asking for much. You said yourself that Zarmeena and Fareed don't love each other, but my Salaar loves Zarmeena beyond limits. Just the thought of that marriage put him on his sickbed. Please, Yasmeen, I'm begging you. Save me once again. I'll die if anything happens to Salaar," Shameen pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
"Today, we're standing against each other again. I thought our curse had ended," Yasmeen smirked, her eyes full of grief.
"Now, Zarmeena and Salaar are standing between us. Think, Yasmeen, this might be our last redemption," Shameen concluded, her words heavy with meaning. Everyone present was left speechless by the gravity of the moment.
Shameen opened her purse and took out something wrapped in a napkin.
"I always kept this letter of yours close to me. I didn't know it would be used today as a bargain for my grandson's happiness. Here, read it, it might remind you of the promise you've forgotten." Shameen placed the napkin on the table in front of Yasmeen.
"I don't need to read it, Shameen. I still remember every word I wrote and meant them all," Yasmeen replied firmly.
"Zarmeena, if you are truly my granddaughter, you will honor my last wish as your dying grandmother," Shameen said, her voice trembling. Zarmeena was stunned by the sudden turn of event.
"Zareena, you've always been like a daughter to me. You've always obeyed and never disobeyed my words. This time, I'm not giving you an order, this is my final request: accept Salaar as your son-in-law," Yasmeen begged, her eyes filled with tears Zareena couldn't deny. Slowly, Zareena nodded, tears streaming down her own face.
"Ahmed, go quickly and bring the Molvi Sahib for the Nikkah," Yasmeen ordered, and Ahmed left at once.

Zarmeena, gazing at the wounded Salaar, grabbed his hand and pulled him to the next room. Salaar, dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events, allowed himself to be dragged away.
When they reached the other room, Zarmeena began, "Go and stop all this, Salaar. This isn't what I want," her tone firm and warning.
"But I want this. And if you don't want it, you can go and refuse this proposal yourself. I will never let you marry Fareed," Salaar replied, his injured lips forming a smirk.
"I can't refuse Dadi, she's very ill. Please, I'm begging you. Stop all this. Tell your Dadi to back off. I'm begging you," Zarmeena said, the fierce woman the whole campus feared now folding her hands in desperation.
Salaar's heart fluttered at the sight of her vulnerability, but he composed himself.
"Zarmeena, you are only mine. I will never let you go. Brace yourself. You're about to enter my world, my life. In a few minutes, Zarmeena Khan will become Zarmeena Malik," Salaar said, his smirk widening as he left the room.
Left alone, an anxious Zarmeena stood frozen, her mind racing.