2 days later

Faajal kept her eyes glued to the rose he had given years ago. The brittle petals gnashed against each other, stripped of their blazing crimson. The stem was too lean to pick, now. Despite its tattered appearance, Faajal preserved it with great care and gentleness. Whenever her heart wrenched for him, she would hold the rose near her chest, let her heart feel a fragment of him. After the accident and Pran's secrecy, Faajal sensed herself longing for Yusuf even more. Last night, she spent hours processing the final words of Pran. He was wrong—she imposed in her mind. If something had happened like this, she would have learned. And her Yusuf would never let that happen.

Ravinder and Gurbani were asleep. Meher and Chanchal deliberated on the recent edition of Archie's comics in their shared room. Saira had vanished to the balcony hours ago. So, Faajal had some privacy in the living room. Her feet dangled off the sofa handle as she slouched on the sofa amid the gloom of the room. The moonlight filtering through the window alone supplied light.

Jahan hain ass pass, phir bhi nahi hain ehsaas,

Aaa bhi jao rangrez, tere bina murjha gayi hain yeh shayra!

Her mind whispered to itself. Suddenly, a pang struck her head. So sharp, she clawed her head and curled into a ball. Heavy breaths puffed from her roughly as she tried to cope with the throb.

When the ache subsided a bit, her fingers crept up to check the wound, only to poke and relapse into torment. May I be in jehennam!

The bell rang on the clock for 12.00 of night when Faajal set for slumber. As she was crossing the dining table, Saira wriggled inside, flinching from Faajal. "Aren't you asleep till now?! The doctor told you to rest."

"I was just going." Faajal detained a corner of paper behind Saira. Her eyes narrowed when Saira promptly whisked it away. "What?!" Faajal removed her gaze. "Nothing."

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

The morning sun ascended to the top, darting bright orange strokes on Faajal. Faajal squirmed and lifted her eyelids, barring her face with her palm. Saira was drying her hair before the mirror as Faajal crossed her heavy-eyed. She wasn't a person to bathe this early, but today the atypical happened. "Are you going somewhere?"

"Hmm, to a friend's house. Baba agreed to drop me off when he heads for the studio."

It wasn't even a week since the shooting ended. Faajal huffed and freshened up.

At noon,

Faajal was helping Gurbani chop onions while Chanchal kneaded a roti dough.

"Didi! There's a letter for you, from HIM!" Meher squeaked, racing to Faajal. An envelope in her hold. Faajal snatched it, not able to repress her frenzy and tore the envelope. Finally, his words neared to quench her solitude and refill her with ecstasy. A huge smile graced her lips, only to vanish the moment realization sank in.

How do I say the words to you? I don't even hold the courage to pronounce your name by my cowardly mouth anymore. Trust me, I did plea to my abbu. Believe me, I tried my best to prevent the thing from happening. But, Allah didn't aid this endeavour of mine, Faajal. I had to look up to my ailing mother whose days were lessening. I had to stop her tears when mine were trickling. I had to say 'Yes' to the ceremony we had envisioned for ourselves.

These were enough to crush the remaining light of her life. Faajal didn't know if she was collapsing or just hallucinating, but the world soon blurred into a boundless blank.

"Faajal! Faajal!" Gurbani shook her arm. Faajal recouped vision. A cold cloth was placed on her temple. Gurbani, Meher and Chanchal had their eyes glued to her. "Oh my! What was in there?" Chanchal asked. No words could stir her tongue. Her stomach coiled from the blow. Memories flooded back to her as fragmented pieces—the postcard in her hands, the words that sliced her heart into tenuous ribbons, and her knees buckling.

"I-I," Faajal let out a tedious whisper, but the beads boiling on her eyes strangled her.

"Tell us what's wrong, Faajal. Is Yusuf alright? Is everything alright there?" Gurbani stroked her hair. Faajal nodded. Now wasn't the time to expose. Perhaps, soon but not now.

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Faajal watched the sun drop on the horizon as she sat on the balcony. Ravinder had returned and now discussed with Gurbani what had happened at the studio. He hadn't gotten a single offer, but Asad insinuated the opening of the film was soon. It wouldn't have ostentatious semblance like mainstream ones, but when it was your first film in a lead role, glamour didn't matter. Faajal would have been over the moon to see herself in the lead on the screen if things were normal. If they weren't driven apart.

Now, Chanchal and Pran's secrecy was clear to her. She didn't accept her suspicions, only to shatter into pieces later. Should she write him back? Should she ask once more? Was it just a nightmare that would end if she opened her eyes? She curled into a ball until her stomach clenched in protest. No! She wouldn't take another step. It was his compulsion and she had promised she would never question his path. If something was fated yours, it would return to you no matter what. If he found peace in obeying his ailing mother, let him be. His peace was her peace. His everything was hers. And both of them loved their mothers unconditionally.

Faajal gritted her teeth to drag a weep back and linked her gaze with the moon that now peeped down faintly. "If you're happy, I am happy. I shall not question your steps."

She finally left the balcony when Chanchal blocked her. "I already.....knew the.....matter, but I thought–"

A deep exhale emptied her lungs. "If taqdeer has better plans for me, why should I question it? Perhaps, some joys–" She swallowed. "Some joys are brief. Regardless of your efforts, you won't have them more than their lifespan." She flashed a smile, more of a sore curve on her lips. She was now accustomed to tearing herself from her short-spanned loved ones.

Heartbreak was a frequent companion now. 

A/N: Author is finally back and hella tried from constant brain work!! Had a rough time but so happy to gift another chapter to my dear readers!