"The heart's greatest pain is wondering if the future will ever be free from the hurt of yesterday."

Happy reading.....

Naim and Fariya sat opposite each other in the living room of Naim's home, the tension between them palpable.

The air was thick with unspoken words, a bitter silence that clung to the walls like a dark cloud.

Fariya's eyes were red and swollen from crying, her face a portrait of anguish and betrayal.

Naim, on the other hand, looked as though he had been struck by a thunderbolt-stunned and deeply pained by the sight of her, alive and well, after so many years of believing she was gone.

Naim's heart twisted in his chest as he stared at Fariya, unable to reconcile the woman before him with the wife he had mourned.

She was thinner than he remembered, her face etched with a bitterness that hadn't been there before.

But she was alive. His wife, who he had thought was lost to him forever, was sitting right in front of him, and the realization left him reeling.

Fariya broke the silence first, her voice trembling with fury. "How could you, Naim?" she shouted, her words cutting through the air like a whip.

"How could you even think of marrying another woman when you have a wife? How could you betray me like this?"

Naim's heart shattered at her words, the guilt crashing over him in waves. He tried to reach out, his hands trembling as he knelt before her.

"Fariya, please, let me explain," he begged, his voice choked with emotion.

He tried to grasp her hands, to offer some comfort, but she jerked them away, her eyes blazing with anger.

"Don't touch me!" Fariya spat, her voice laced with venom. "You lost the right to touch me the moment you thought of another woman! The moment you gave up on me!"

Naim's eyes filled with tears, his entire being aching with regret. He had never stopped loving her, had never truly moved on, despite what he had tried to convince himself.

"Fariya, please," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I thought you were gone. I searched for you, I did, but-"

Fariya cut him off, her hand raised to silence him. "Stop your lies, Naim! Stop pretending. There's no one here for you to fool with your excuses. You didn't care enough to find me. You moved on, just like that, as if I meant nothing to you."

Naim's mother, Gulshan, had been watching the exchange from the doorway, her face twisted with contempt. She couldn't stand the sight of Fariya accusing her son, couldn't tolerate the thought of this woman, who she had long written off as dead, daring to return and cause such chaos in her household.

"Leave her, Naim," Gulshan hissed, stepping into the room, her voice cold and cutting. "You don't need to listen to this. Divorce her right now and end this farce of a relationship. She's nothing but trouble, a disgrace."

Naim's head snapped up, his eyes wide with disbelief. The rage that had been simmering beneath the surface erupted like a volcano.

"How can you say that, Ammi?" he shouted, his voice echoing through the room. "She's my wife! She's been through hell, and all you can think of is getting rid of her?"

Fariya stared at Naim, shocked by the sudden fury in his voice, her own anger momentarily overshadowed by the intensity of his outburst. She had expected indifference, perhaps even relief from him, but not this raw, powerful defense of her.

Gulshan, taken aback by Naim's reaction, faltered for a moment before her anger returned with full force. "She's a disgrace, Naim! She disappeared for three years, and now she comes back, expecting everything to be the same? She has no place here anymore. We have moved on."

Naim's chest heaved with emotion, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "You have no right to say that, Ammi. Fariya is my wife, and I will not abandon her. Not now, not ever."

Fariya, still reeling from Naim's defense of her, found her voice again, though it was softer now, tinged with a vulnerability she hadn't wanted to show. "Naim, I just want to know why... Why didn't you come for me? Why didn't you search harder?"

Naim's face crumpled with pain, the weight of his guilt pressing down on him.

"I did, Fariya," he said, his voice hoarse. "But it was like you vanished into thin air. No one knew anything, not the police, not anyone. I... I was lost without you. I tried to move on, but I couldn't. I never stopped loving you."

Fariya looked at him, her resolve wavering as she saw the sincerity in his eyes. But the hurt was too deep, the wounds too fresh. "It's too late, Naim," she whispered. "You've already replaced me in your heart."

Naim shook his head desperately. "No, Fariya, you're wrong. I thought I had lost you, but now that you're here... Please, let's try to make this right. Let's try to fix what's broken."

Before Fariya could respond, Gulshan stepped forward, her voice filled with icy determination. "Naim, you're being foolish. She's not worth it. This is the woman who abandoned you, who left you to suffer. Don't let her back into your life."

Naim turned to his mother, his expression hardening. "Ammi, I won't let you or anyone else dictate my life. Fariya is my wife, and I will do whatever it takes to make things right with her."

Gulshan's face twisted with anger, but before she could say anything else, Naim turned back to Fariya, his eyes pleading. "Please, Fariya, give me a chance. Let me prove to you that I'm still the man you married, the man who loves you more than anything."

Fariya's eyes filled with tears once again, but this time, there was a glimmer of hope in them. She didn't know if they could ever truly heal from this, but in that moment, she saw the man she had fallen in love with-the man who, despite everything, still wanted to fight for her.

Gulshan, seeing the resolve in both their eyes, realized that she had lost this battle. With a frustrated sigh, she turned and stormed out of the room, leaving Naim and Fariya alone to deal with their lives.

As the door slammed shut behind Gulshan, Naim reached out to Fariya again, his hand trembling.

This time, she didn't pull away. Instead, she allowed him to take her hand, the warmth of his touch a small, tentative step towards the possibility of reconciliation.

-----

Shaziya took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. "So much happened, Safia," she began, her voice heavy with hurt.

She's trying her best to not shed tears infront of her family. Because they can't be able to see her broken again.

She recounted everything-Naim's secret, the confrontation at his house, and the painful words she had overheard.

Safia listened, her expression shifting from concern to anger and then to sadness. When Shaziya finished, Safia's eyes were filled with tears. She reached out, taking her sister's hands in her own.

"I'm so sorry, Didi. I can't believe he would do this to you. I want to go punch him hard on his face, I want to kill him.."

Hoor wiped her tears, her voice breaking as she spoke. "I had such hopes for you, Shaziya. I thought Naim was a good man."

Shaziya forced a small, sad smile. "It's not your fault, Ammi. We can't control other people's actions. We just have to move forward."

Safia suddenly remembered her earlier encounter. "Didi, do you remember Azlan Shaik? The man I told you about?"

Shaziya nodded her head, she could see her sister's curiosity.

Safia continued, "I just saw him again today, turning away from the street as I stepped down from the taxi."

Shaziya looked at her sister and said. "He's the one who helped me at the mall. And...he's Naim's cousin."

The piece of information left both Hoor and Safia stunned. Hoor's eyes widened in disbelief while Safia's mouth fell open.

"Azlan is Naim's cousin?" Safia repeated, trying to process the connection. "And he dropped you home?"

Shaziya nodded. "He offered to explain everything to you, Ammi, but I told him I'd handle it. He was very kind. He said some comforting words before he left."

Safiya was literally awestruck by his personality now.

"It's such a small world. To think Azlan Shaik, the man I admired, turned out to be related to Naim. Maybe he was meant to cross our paths for a reason."

Hoor sighed deeply, the weight of the situation still heavy on her shoulders.

Shaziya shook her head. "It's just a coincidence, Safiya."

Safia persisted, her tone gentle but firm. "Coincidence or not, he helped you. Twice. And that means something."

Shaziya sighed, feeling the warmth of her family's support. "That's because he's a good man.For now, I just need to focus on moving forward and healing from all of this."

Safia nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "We'll get through this together, Didi."

The three women sat together, drawing strength from one another. Despite the day's heartache, they found solace in their bond, and a renewed sense of hope began to take root.

-----

Shaziya lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind swirling with the events of the day. The thought of how close she had come to having her life shattered weighed heavily on her.

She closed her eyes and whispered a prayer of gratitude, thanking Almighty Allah for protecting her from what could have been a disastrous fate.

But even with her faith keeping her strong, a deep sadness lingered in her heart. She had thought, even dared to hope, that her time for happiness had finally come, that marriage was in her destiny. Now, it felt like that dream had been cruelly snatched away.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she recalled Gulshan's harsh words about her skin color and beauty. The sting of those words cut deep, reminding her of insecurities she had tried so hard to overcome.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Safia rushed into the room.

Shaziya quickly wiped her tears away, not wanting her sister to see her in such a vulnerable state.

Safia climbed into bed beside her, her concern evident as she scooted closer.

"Are you okay, Didi?" she asked softly, searching Shaziya's face for answers.

"I'm fine," Shaziya replied, but her voice was unconvincing, and she avoided meeting her sister's gaze.

Safia gently turned Shaziya's face towards her, and when she saw the moisture in her sister's eyes, a wave of anger and protectiveness surged through her.

"That Naim," she muttered, her voice thick with fury. "I curse him for bringing tears to your eyes. May he never find happiness in his life!"

Shaziya quickly placed her hand over Safia's mouth, her eyes widening in alarm. "No, Safia! Don't say such things," she whispered urgently. "We should never wish unhappiness on anyone, no matter what they've done to us."

Safia removed Shaziya's hand and frowned, confused by her sister's kindness. "But why, Didi? Why should you be so good to people who only bring you pain? They don't deserve it."

Shaziya sighed, her expression softening as she tried to explain. "Because, Safia, we are not meant to repay pain with pain. If we harbor ill will in our hearts, we only harm ourselves. When we choose to be good, even in the face of hardship, we rise above the negativity. Allah sees everything, and He blesses those who strive to be kind, even when it's difficult. Remember, we are responsible for our own actions, not for how others treat us."

Safia looked at her sister, her heart swelling with admiration. Despite everything Shaziya had been through, she still held onto her values, her compassion, and her unwavering faith. Safia realized that her sister's strength didn't come from fighting back, but from her ability to remain true to herself and to the teachings they had grown up with.

"You're right, Didi," Safia said softly, her anger dissipating. "I just wish you didn't have to go through this pain."

Shaziya smiled weakly, finally meeting her sister's gaze. "Pain is a part of life, Safia. But it's how we deal with it that defines who we are. Insha'Allah, something better is waiting for us. We just have to trust in His plan."

Safia nodded, feeling a deep sense of peace wash over her. She wrapped her arms around Shaziya, holding her close as they both found comfort in each other's presence.

Despite the sadness that lingered, there was also a renewed sense of hope-a belief that, in the end, everything would be alright.

Safia had fallen asleep, her breathing soft and steady beside Shaziya.

But for Shaziya, sleep remained elusive. Her mind was too restless, too filled with the echoes of the day's events to allow her any peace. She quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb her sister, and moved towards the window.

The cool night air brushed against her face as she stood there, the moonlight spilling into the room like a soft, silvery blanket.

The world outside was silent, bathed in the serene glow of the full moon hanging high in the sky. Shaziya gazed up at it, her heart heavy yet comforted by its tranquil presence.

The moon had always held a special place in her heart. To her, it was a reminder that even in the darkest times, there was always light to guide the way. It was a silent witness to her deepest thoughts, her fears, and her hopes. As she stood there, bathed in its gentle light, she allowed herself to let go of the day's burdens, even if just for a moment.

Her thoughts drifted to the future, uncertain as it was. She had no idea what awaited her, but she knew she couldn't dwell on the pain of today.

There was a strange comfort in the unpredictability of life, in knowing that nothing was permanent-not even the sadness she felt so deeply now.

As she watched the moon, a prayer formed in her heart. She prayed for strength, for patience, and for the courage to face whatever came next.

She prayed for Safia, that her sister would find her own happiness. And despite everything, she prayed for Naim too, that he might find peace and clarity in his own life.

But most of all, she prayed for herself-that she would find a way to heal, to move forward, and to remain true to who she was. She didn't know what the future held, but she trusted that Allah had a plan for her, even if she couldn't see it yet.

Then suddenly her thoughts began to drift back to the events of the day, and amidst the turmoil, a particular memory surfaced-Azlan. His face, his gentle demeanor, and the way he had spoken to her with such kindness played over in her mind.

Though a complete stranger, Azlan had somehow seen through her, offering comfort when she had felt utterly lost.

His words had been a balm to her wounded heart, reassuring her in a way she hadn't expected. There was a warmth in his voice, a sincerity that made her feel seen, understood, and valued-feelings she had almost forgotten existed.

Shaziya's lips curled into a faint smile as she recalled how he had effortlessly lightened her burden, if only for a short while. The thought of him brought a surprising sense of peace, as if his presence had left a lasting, calming effect on her heart. She realized now that she was grateful for his unexpected kindness and for the way he had reminded her of her own worth.

She closed her eyes for a moment, sending up a silent prayer not just for herself and her family, but for Azlan too.

She prayed that whatever challenges he faced in his own life, he would find the strength to overcome them. She prayed for his happiness, for his well-being, and that he would continue to be a source of light to others, just as he had been for her.

As she finally returned to bed, a sense of tranquility washed over her. The moon continued to cast its gentle light through the window, a reminder that there was still goodness in the world, even in the most unexpected places.

With that comforting thought, Shaziya closed her eyes, feeling a little more at peace, her heart full of quiet gratitude as sleep finally claimed her.

******

Shaziya 🥺

Vote and comment
Follow me on Instagram
@/authorShazShaik 💙

Allah Hafiz ✨