After a long day finally, the whole haveli went silent.

Except for two very worried and nervous individuals, everyone seemed to be at peace. Especially elders.

They liked the family and the guy too, everything seemed absolutely perfect. And if there was any kind of doubt in their mind,it was erased by this meeting.

On the other hand, Saman was yet again anxious. She was sure of one thing now, she did not wish to be married to this guy. Yes, he was nice, his family was perfect...by whichever angle it was seen, this was great.  But, she did not want it. For the very first time in her life she had come to a conclusion, all by herself. She knew what to do but doing it would be a big hassle for her.

She had an inkling of the elders' opinion.

"Ya Allah help!" She whispered and rubbed her hands again. She was currently waiting for Ahad's message.  It was quite late in the night so Ahad had asked her to wait as he went to check where the elders were.

"Bolo kya kehna hai?(what do you want to say?)" Dada jaan asked as soon as Saman came downstairs to his room. All of her uncles and her father were there, Fahad, Zeeshan too. Saman looked at Ahad, making him nod slightly. It was finally the time.

"Dada jaan Saman wants to say something about this proposal." He started." She does not want to go forward with this." There it was, the cat was out of the bag.

"What nonsense is this?" Ihsan spoke with exasperation." Is this one of your pranks?" He asked with fury. If it was, he wasn't going to entertain them on this topic. On the other hand Mazhar carefully watched the two kids and he knew, they weren't pulling a prank.

"What are you trying to say Ahad?" Mazhar asked, making Ahad gulp nervously.

"Abbu, Saman wants to say no to this proposal." He spoke and gestured  Saman to speak only for her to shake her head. She looked scared, and on the verge of panic.

"Saman beta, is this true?" Mazhar asked. Saman again looked at Ahad making him nod, assuring her to speak.

"Yes bade abbu." She whispered. And then hell broke loose. Ihsan wasn't pleased after hearing this, he was furious to say the least. While his brothers tried to calm him down, Dada jaan was observing Saman and Ahad. Those two looked horrified.

"Calm down Ihsan." He spoke in a loud yet calm voice.

"But abbu jaan-" Ihsan started only to stop by the glare his father sent his way.

"Let the children speak first and try not to act like a child. Control yourself."

"Saman beta, can I know why you are denying?" Dada jaan asked.

Saman felt like a mountain was dropped on her head, she was questioning everything now. This was worse than she had imagined...especially her father's reaction.

"Dada jaan, I..I got to know that ...he lives abroad and...and I don't want-" she stopped talking. It was hard enough for her to even utter these words.

"Are you serious Saman, for such a small reason you want to say no?" Ihsan yelled.

"Papa...I can't imagine living so far from my family." She spoke in a low voice. Looking at her father hopefully, that maybe now he would understand her plight.

"For goodness sake! Are you a small kid? Anyways, you had to get married and go away?" Ihsan again yelled, making her flinch.

"Ihsan chachu please."

"Do not yell at her, all she is saying is that she is not comfortable with this proposal and you are yelling at her" Ahad was irritated at his uncle's rash response.  It wasn't the last proposal Saman would get and nor was this the world's ending.

"Ahad don't talk in between." Ihsan warned.

"Ihsan he isn't wrong. Why are you so worked up? If Saman doesn't want this then we should end it all." Mazhar spoke.

"Bhai jaan please,  she is my daughter and I know what's best for her. Even if we search the whole world we won't get this good of a proposal for her. And here she is refusing for such a childish reason."

"Papa-" Saman whispered but her  father didn't listen.

"Ihsan stop it. Why are you behaving like this?" Amjad spoke.

"Amjad bhai you aren't understanding, this is best for her!"

"And she doesn't want this." Amjad retorted.

"Saman bache, are you sure?" It was Fahad, he looked at her making her nod her head.

"She's not thinking straight...if we lose this rishta she will never get a good proposal again. People will talk foul and we all know this!" Ihsan yelled in frustration.

"Are people more important than your daughter Ihsan chachu?" Ahad asked. There was a bite to his tone.

"Ahad stay out of it-"

"No I won't. You might have forgotten that she is your daughter. But she is my sister too...and I will not tolerate any of your unjust decisions." Ahad stood up from his place.

He had enough now.

"Just because you all kept her with you doesn't  mean you can intervene in my and my daughter's personal matters. This is why I didn't want to leave her here, look how
mannerless she has become. So please stay out of it." Ihsan spat, leaving each person there stunned at his venomous words.

"Papa!" Saman cried.

"What are you saying?" She was now in tears, her father had not only hurt her but everybody  there. A line was crossed.

"Apni bakwas band karo Ihsan."(stop your nonsense) Dada jaan's voice roared in the silent room.

"Abbu jaan-"

"Bas ek aur lafz nahi.(not a single word now).You spoke enough. If Saman says no, it is a no. Nobody, I repeat nobody in this house, even you Ihsan can force her to say otherwise. Bhulo mat tumhara baap abhi zinda hai. Aur wo is gharane ke kisi bhi fard ke khilaaf nainsaafi bardasht nahi karega.(do not forget that your father is still alive and he will not tolerate any injustice to the people of this family)"

"Saman beta, your decision will be valued. Do not worry." He faced Saman and spoke with an assuring tone.

"Ahad take her to her room." Ahad nodded and holding Saman's hand walked out of the room.

"Abbu jaan we will regret this." Ihsan said after Saman and Ahad left.

"Not more than the unhappiness of our child. How can you be so insolent Ihsan and so blind that you could not see your daughter's feelings. And on top of that you have the audacity, asking  us to not intervene." Dada jaan was furious yet he did not show it. His eyes burned in flames, and the people around him knew what this meant.

"Go before I lose my calm." He spoke and looked away. Ihsan didn't dare to utter anything again. He silently walked out of the room followed by everyone. But Mazhar stayed back, as if he was frozen. Ihsan wouldn't know but the damage his words had caused was colossal.

"Abu jaan, Saman...she is my daughter too." He whispered in broken words. Burning tears filled his eyes as he looked at his father who himself looked pained.

"Yes she is, anyone can say anything." Zulqernain Shah spoke firmly.

"But Ihsan.."

"He is blinded...let him be. Make sure Saman is fine. Rest I will handle." Mazhar nodded. He knew his father would easily handle the outsider but the storm that had erupted inside wouldn't get silent easily.

______________

"What have I done Ahad!" Saman cried loudly.

This is not what she wanted, if she had any idea,that this was going to happen, she would have never ever taken that step. Her one step, one decision led to such a disaster.

"This is not what I wanted...Ahad did you see Papa? He was...was so angry...and bade abbu, dada jaan....what have I done!" She cried more. Tears streamed down her face while panic rose in her.

"Saman please calm down." Ahad pleaded.

"No! Ahad I ruined everything..Papa...papa will leave me now Ahad. He will go away just like mumma. Why did I do this? Why didn't you stop me?" She shouted. Ahad moved towards her fastly and grabbed her hands in a tight grip.

"Look at me Saman, you did nothing wrong." Ahad whispered each word slowly, while his eyes never left her teary ones.

"No...no...no I ruined everything-" she cried again.

Ahad took a deep breath and guided her towards the bed. He made her sit and gave her a glass of water, at this moment, everything did seem to ruin, yet the first thing that he had to do now was make sure she was fine.

"Ahad what will happen now?"

"That's not for you to worry, dada jaan and everyone else will handle it. And I am here too, I promised you that I will take care of this." He replied in a soft assuring tone. Saman had stopped crying now but she was still under a haze.

Fetching out his phone he immediately dialed a number. Saman needed someone to be with her right now and most importantly she needed to rest. The turmoil she was in was showing on her tired face.

"Nadia, can you come to my room right now?" He asked as soon as she picked up the phone.

"What?"

"Come to my room now please." He said with a grim voice. Nadia might have understood his desperation, so she said a small yes and the call was cut.

"Nadia will be here, go with her and try to sleep. Rest we will see tomorrow. Okay?" He asked, Saman nodded feebly.

Soon  Nadia was there and after briefing her about the havoc, he asked her to take Saman with her. She was the only one that came to his mind and he knew she would handle Saman better.

"Let's go Saman." Nadia said and held Saman by her shoulder, making her stand.

"Do not think about anything now and just sleep. Hmm?" Ahad spoke, making Saman nod again. He looked at Nadia with worried eyes, she nodded her head trying to assure him, yet she knew too,  his worry won't reduce this easily.

Closing the door behind him, Ahad heaved a long sigh. He felt blank at the moment, his mind too jumbled to even trace out simple things. It was blurry, everything. He had promised Saman but he didn't know if he would be able to fulfill that promise. He didn't know if he would be able to turn things back to how it was...he didn't know anything now.

He was staring in space and if it weren't for the ring of his phone, he would have stayed like this for the rest of the night. 

"Ji ammi." He spoke after picking up the phone only to hear the panicked voice of his mother asking about Saman.

"She went to sleep, don't worry Nadia is with her." He replied in a low voice. It took a lot to assure his worrying mother but she somehow did calm down.

Hanging up the call he looked at his mobile screen and found Nadia's name popped in the notification. He opened the text hurriedly.

Nadia: When are you leaving for work tomorrow?

He sighed a breath of relief. Thank god it wasn't about Saman.

Ahad:At 7 maybe.

His message was seen within fractions of seconds and soon a reply came.

Nadia:Take me with you. I will leave for home from there.

Ahad:Fine

And we have a meeting with Ehteshaam and Zeeshan bhai's team at 2 tomorrow.

Nadia: Yeah I remember, my team's       ready.  Don't worry.

Ahad: Hmm

He locked his phone and walked towards his bed, he had no energy left now. He wished the darkness would engulf him totally, making him numb to an extent he wouldn't feel anything.

And as he was about to slip into a numbing slumber a ping from his phone made him open his eyes forcefully. It was another message from Nadia.

Nadia: Don't worry too much.

His consciousness was cloudy yet he knew he had smiled at that. What an unexpected thing to do at an unexpected person's words.

__________

Someone was speaking, the words weren't clear but she knew it was coming from close.  And the voice was familiar, yet even if she tried to recognise it, she couldn't. Nor could she move…as if someone had tied her with ropes, and with each passing moment the rope was tightening more, and more. Her breathing was getting faster in an attempt to catch some air but she failed at that too…as if the very air had refused to come to her.

What was happening with her.

She tried to move, and failed.

Again and again.

Each passing second felt like years, each attempt to wake up…end this torture went in vain and when she was sure now even trying was futile her eyes snapped open.

Breathless and scared she jerked up and frantically looked around. What had happened to her!

"Saman bache, are you alright?" a  panicked  voice called making her look at that person and finally her hazy senses cleared.

"Badi ammi.." she whispered, as if in so much pain. Munazza immediately came near her.

"Han bolo." she urged.

"Badi ammi papa kaha hain?(badi ammi where is papa?)"Saman asked after a long silence. She was breathless and her voice wavered as she spoke.

"Saman-" Munazza started but was stopped by Saman."Badi ammi papa chale gaye na?(badi ammi papa left right?)" she asked.

"He said some important work came this morning, he will be back in few days and-"

"He left badi ammi, again."

Saman's teary eyes met Munazza's worried ones. She blinked back her traitorous tears and stared at her badi ammi, asking for an answer even though she knew it. She knew her father had left her, yet again, she knew she had hurt him…she knew it was all her fault.

Mumazza didn't reply to her, she just wrapped her arms around Saman and hugged her tightly…just like how she had hugged that little girl.

"It's not like that, Saman, he said he will be back in a few days. Don't worry." Munazza assured her. Her own words sounding bitter and cruel to her.

"I am sorry, this is all my fault. But…but  badi ammi…he lives abroad and…what if…what if I won't be able to meet you all again if I go there. Badi ammi I was scared. I don't want to leave you."

"It's over now bacha, nobody is sending you away. You will be here with us. Don't worry." Munazza said. Her own eyes had welled up, seeing Saman like this was worse than a nightmare.

Munazza pulled back and wiped Saman's tears softly.

"I haven't had my breakfast, I will be waiting for you. Come down fast okay?" She spoke and gave a small smile to Saman, making her nod slowly.

"Go." She whispered. Saman got up from the bed and made her way towards her closet and then to the bathroom. It was only when she went inside Munazza too got up and walked out of the room.

_______________

"Did you eat something?" Ahad asked as Nadia entered the car. She had practically ran to reach the car and seeing her disheveled state, he knew she woke up late.

"No." She replied, buckling the seat belt.

"Let's go." She said as she finished fighting with the seat belt and heaved a long breath. Ahad shook his head lightly.

"I think we have to go to the capital city in a few days." Ahad said after a while.

"Us? Why?" Nadia looked at him confused at the sudden news.

"For visiting the site,your team has to finalize the raw materials. Sham bhai and Zeeshan bhai will be there too."

"Do you know the date?" Nadia asked.

"No, we have to discuss it first with the client." He replied, making Nadia nod.

"Ahad canI ask something,?"

"Hmm."

"What happened last night?"

Ahad didn't reply to her for a long minute or two.

"Saman didn't want to get married to this guy and we went to tell the elders that."

"That I know." Nadia said impatiently.

"Ihsan chachu didn't like that and…and he got furious. Said some really hurtful things to Saman and everyone." Ahad explained, Nadia didn't ask further.

"No wonder she was so distraught." She mused.

"Thank you for last night." Ahad said, glancing at her from his periphery.

"You don't have to." She replied with a small smile.

"Aren't you hungry?" Ahad asked, making her shake her head.

"Nope."

"But you didn't have breakfast."

"I am used to not having breakfast but, are you hungry?" She asked, raising her brows teasingly.

"Well, I am." He replied sheepishly.

Pulling his car near a cafe he stepped out.

"You want something?" He asked, leaning against the window of her side.

"Latte and maybe some sandwiches if there are any." She replied.

"And you say you aren't hungry." He said and walked inside. The cafe was a familiar one and she could swear by the latte here and also the delicacies. She could see Ahad from the glass front wall as he walked towards the counter.

And she could just smile. What had she landed herself in.

Soon Ahad had their order in his hand but he still didn't walk out. Instead she saw him talking to someone, for quite a few minutes. She kept watching him, patiently waiting for his conversation to end. But when he turned around, revealing the person he was talking to,her smile immediately dropped and her heart clenched. It was Alizeh.

She was smiling, and so was Ahad who was now walking towards the car. But the way her inside clenched she hated it. Hated the way she was feeling so vulnerable and hated the bitterness of her thoughts.

Looking away she pulled out her phone and pretended to be busy.

"Here, your sandwiches, latte and a bonus cupcake." He said, passing her the brown paper bag.

"Thanks." She murmured not making eye contact.

What a mess she had landed into.

___________

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