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"Must every house be build upon love? What about loyalty and appreciation?" - Hazrat Omer Farooq (R.A)

Fariya

The words caught in her throat wanted an escape out desperately but Omer's hold on her hand prevented it. She wanted to shout out that it was her fault, that she was the one to be blamed here but Omer silenced her long before she even got a chance to utter single word.

"But Mr. Lashari we got the report of a woman driving the car." The police officer said, his eyes narrowed around the edges.

"You obviously got a false tip. I was driving the car when the accident happened and besides, it is my car. Why would she drive it when I'm present?" Omer was unsually calm, his face pacific.

The police officer turned silent for a moment, his eyes scanning their faces.

The man's face was calm and careless while the woman chewed the inside of her mouth, looking disturbed.

"Officer, I will talk to you in private. For now, I have to send my wife back home. Will you give me a minute?" Omer asked and the Officer gave him an incredulous look.

"Mr. Lashari, if not the culprit, she is a witness. We can't probably let her go." Officer answered and Omer's forehead got decorated with lines.

"Officer, I think I should talk to you first." With that said, he gestured the officer to come with him.

Fariya saw with wide eyes as Omer took the police officers with him, his steps not the slightest bit of shaking. She took in the sight of Omer who was talking while using his hands, trying to convince the officers with words she could not hear. The only thought that registered in her mind was the one of Omer taking her blame.

She still couldn't believe how the things had turned out. Had she stayed in her home and waited for the driver to come back, things wouldn't have happened like the way they did. But as they say, bad days are followed by worse days and the same was happening to Fariya now.

Heaving a deep breath, she tried to control her racing heart and ran her tongue over her lips, a small attempt to gather her thoughts and think about what she should do next. However, there was only one thing to do.

Shaking her head, she began to walk towards the three men who were engaged in what seemed to be a heated discussion. Omer's eyes landed on her when she was quite away, a distance of few metres between them. He quickly turned his face towards the men and said something inaudible to the officers.

Fariya saw as he nodded his head and moved towards her, his steps hurried and impatient. Reaching up to her, he stopped and locked his eyes on her face.

"Fariya, I've talked to them. You can go home." Omer said quite impatiently but Fariya shook her head forcefully.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to tell the police that you're lying." Fariya said angrily and took a step to move past him but Omer was quick.

He quickly extended his arm and stopped her on time, his eyes now filled with slight anger.

"Fariya, no. You're going home. The driver is outside, waiting for you." Omer's voice was laced with irritation but it had no affect, whatsoever, on Fariya.

"I won't let you take the blame for me. It's my fault and I will face the consequences." Fariya said strenuously.

Omer stared at her for a second before he clenched his teeth in frustration and closed his eyes.

"Fariya, the man's condition is serious. You have absolutely no idea what will happen if he dies." Omer gently said after opening his eyes, his tone trying to convince the stubborn woman.

"That's my point. I should be the one facing the police, not you. You're not at fault here." Fariya's voice too turned low as she said in an emphatic tone.

"I'm saying it for the last time. Go home by yourself or I'll myself take you there, whether you like it or not." Omer now angrily said.

"But Omer this is wrong. Why should you take the blame when it's entirely my fault?" Fariya asked, her tone troubled.

"Because you have no idea what happens once you have a case against you, and that too if you are a female." Omer's voice was reaching the edge, so was his patience.

"Omer..." Fariya began to say something when Omer cut her in mid-sentence.

"Fariya, there's a relationship between us due to which I have a right to make you do something. I'm not asking you, I'm telling you to go home and pray for the man's life. Please." Omer's voice turned desperate at the end, killing all the words of opposition in her mind.

Not knowing what to do, she nodded her head effortlessly and saw Omer exhaling a breath she didn't know he was holding.

"The driver is waiting for you outside. Go home but do not tell anyone, okay? I'll handle everything here." Omer said softly and Fariya took a deep breath before nodding her head.

"You'll be in contact, right?" Fariya asked for an assurance which was given to her after a moment of thought.

"I will." He nodded.

"Take care of yourself." Fariya said before turning around and walking towards the exit, her heart not liking anything at all.

◇◇◇◇

If anyone ever came and told her that only three hours had passed, she would not believe it. For her, the time since she had come back home and locked herself in her room had been like three decades.

Thankfully, Maida had not yet returned so Fariya had all the room to herself. The lady was sitting on the prayer mat, her body rocking back and forth slowly as tears fell from her closed eyes. Her lips were trembling but nonetheless, words were coming out of them without much hesitance. Her hands were raised in a form of a chalice, tears staining the lines of fate.

"Oh, Allah! I beg you for the life of that man... not just for myself but also for the people he loves.... grant him a new life... make things easier for him... have your mercy on us, Allah... ease my burdens and help me get out of this problem...Allah.." Fariya continued sobbing, her body trembling like an autumn's leaf.

Although the words escaping her mouth contained no order and regularity, they seemed to reach the Almighty who created her. But that was the miracle of prayer, wasn't it? You whisper something which even you couldn't hear and yet the Merciful hears it; and not only hears it, but also accept it.

"Allah.. help Omer.. I never wanted anything to happen like that.. you know that... I never wanted him to take my blame... I love him far too much to bear the thought of anything happening to him.. Oh Allah, please.. make things easier for him.. help him.. and don't let anything happen to that man.. don't let that man die... please..." What started out as a few tears had now turned into a river of pearls, the emotion-filled water drenching her face.

Due to the heavy curtains falling in front of the large windows, the room echoed darkness and silence, the lights turned off to match the darkness inside the lady.

Although it was only 2 in the afternoon, it seemed like the sun has abandoned the earth and stars were twinkling in the sky-it was the scene which the room depicted.

Blackness enveloped around her, completely absorbing her; telling her tales she had never heard, whispering in her ears the secrets she had always searched. Darkness really did miracles sometimes; it helps you open your inner eye when all other sights lose their magic, it helps you search for things you otherwise don't even think of. Darkness and silence were indeed miraculous.

Lightlessness was still clouding her when a small light appeared somewhere in the room, breaking through the barriers around her, followed by a sound. Fariya turned her head towards the nightstand abruptly and the next second, she was standing beside the bed, phone placed on her ear.

"Omer? Is everything fine?" Fariya asked, fear and tension lacing her voice.

"Yeah. The man is out of danger now." Omer exhaled a deeo breath, as if some sort of mountain had been removed from his shoulders.

"Really?" Fariya asked disbelievingly.

"Yes, Doctors just told me." Omer sounded tired but Fariya failed to notice that over her happiness.

"Thank God!" She exclaimed, a contented smile lighting up her face.

"You are coming back?" Fariya asked after a moment of complete silence.

"No, not yet." Omer sighed. "Although he is out of danger, there's still a lot of things to be done. I have to talk to his family to settle things and there's still police. It'll take me some time to come back home." Omer gave a detailed answer and regret and embarrassment attacked her synchronously.

It was Omer who was handling everything there, Omer who was bearing a charge against him for something he didn't even do. Everything was Fariya's mistake and yet he was protecting her from the wrath of the world. Tears again settled in her eyes, this time for different reasons.

"I'm so sorry, Omer." Fariya whispered as she wiped the lone tear that had fallen on her face.

"Fariya, as I said earlier, there's nothing you have to say sorry..." Omer started in a soft yet tired tone but Fariya cut him off.

"No, Omer. This time, it is my fault. I should have driven the car more carefully. I should have... and the thought that you took the blame for me, pains my heart. I'm desperately sorry." Fariya said while biting her lips, a small attempt to control the tears.

"Apology accepted." Omer tried to say in a cheerful tone. "But seriously, the man is out of danger so there will be no charges against anyone. So just relax yourself and go eat something." Omer said benevolently.

"Did you eat?" Fariya asked almost reflexively, concerned.

"I will eat." Omer said afer a moment of hesitation while he tried to assure her but in vain.

"Go to the café and eat something." Fariya softly spoke, disturbing the melodies of his heart for a moment.

"Okay." He acceeded quite easily, much to Fariya's surprise, spreading a smile on her face.

"Okay, bye. I'll talk to you when I get home." Omer said before hearing a good by at the other side of the line.

Disconnecting the call, Fariya smiled to herself for a moment before walking towards the prayer mat to offer Nawafil.

◇◇◇◇

Pacing around the large hall with anxious and worried steps, she gazed at the wall clock which indicated 11:21pm. Her steps wandered around the room while her heart prayed under her breath. It had been more than nine hours since Omer last called her to inform that the man was out of danger; nine hours since she had been waiting for him.

"Where are you?" She whispered to herself as she dialed his number again for the tenth time but like before, it went straight to voice mail. 

Heaving an annoyed breath, she closed her eyes in tiredness but only a moment passed when she shot them open on hearing the sound of Omer's car entering the house. Only a second afterwards and she was rushing to the main door of the house. Pulling the door open, she stepped outside in the garage but her steps halted as soon as she saw a tired Omer getting out of the car.

"Fariya?" Omer's startled voice reached her and pushed her into a pit of regret.

"My fault. All my fault." Her heart chanted as she continued staring at Omer.

"Why are you still awake?" He asked as he moved towards her, his stride a bit drained.

"What took you so long?" Fariya answered with a question.

"The man's family proved a little too hard to convince. And the man was not completely out of danger. I couldn't come." Omer said as he came closer to Fariya and gestured her to get inside the house.

Fariya turned around without a second word and went inside the house, followed by the man only two feet behind her.

"Convince what?" Fariya questioned as she turned towards him again.

"They were not letting the thing go. They wanted to file a case." Omer replied slowly as he fell on the sofa and placed his head on the back of it, closing his eyes as he took a deep breath. Fariya's heart skipped a beat as she heard him.

"Did they?" She asked, a slight hint of terror in her voice.

"No, I convinced them." He replied, his eyes still closed.

Fariya felt as if a huge burden had been removed from her shoulders and her tensed muscles started to relax.

"Omer, thank you." Fariya said weakly and on hearing her, Omer opened his one eye to see her before closing it again.

"You're welcome." He said, his voice low too.

Fariya stood there for a few seconds, contemplating her choices but finally spoke after a moment.

"Did you eat?" Fariya asked as she sat in front of the sofa on the table.

"I didn't get time." Omer said in a very low voice.

"Go get fresh. I'll bring you something to eat." Fariya softly spoke but saw Omer shaking his head.

"Just tea. And a pain killer." He said as he opened his eyes and fixed them on Fariya. His eyes were red and drowsy, a tired expression hidden beneath them. Fariya's brow furrowed.

"What happened? Headache?" Fariya asked instantly and Omer nodded his head slightly.

"Go to your room. I'll bring the tablet." She said, authoritatively yet softly, and hurriedly stood up from the table.

"Okay." Omer said before he stood up too and started moving towards the staircase.

Fariya looked at his back and it was grief which strafed her heart.

If only I had driven a bit carefully.

Pressing her lips in a thin line, she moved towards the kitchen, thoughts of regret still pressing at her heart.

"He did it because of you. He cares about you." Her heart defended its one, true owner and Fariya found herself weak at the moment.

Omer had been nothing but gentle to him ever since things resolved between them; ever since she fell for her man. And now the thought that she was continuously hurting the one person who never even raised his voice at her, sometimes tore her into small, little pieces.

This act of Omer's today, his taking the blame  for her, had complicated the things by a thousand folds. Her thoughts had messed up drastically and her heart ached so badly in her heart that she wanted to rip it out of her chest.

She wanted nothing more than to give him a chance and be happy but this heart of her wanted love alone and the mere thought that she would never be able to get it stopped her from going to the man she bled for.

"Oh, Omer. The things you do to me!" She whispered to herself painfully as she carried a tray to his room.

She entered the room after knocking and looked around it, only to find Omer lying on the bed on his back, his arms around the cushion as his head rested on the pillow.

"Omer?" Fariya whispered as she approached the bed, looking at Omer cautiously.

"Hmm?" His voice came and Fariya relaxed a bit.

"At least I didn't wake him up." She thought.

"I brought you the food. Get up and eat something." Fariya softly said as she placed the tray on the table and dragged it towards the bed. Omer, slowly, straightened and sat up, his eyes looking at the food in the tray.

"I just want to drink tea." Omer said as he picked up the cup from the tray.

"You should eat something too. You haven't eaten anything since.." Omer raised his head to look at her and his red eyes clashed with her hazel ones and Fariya stopped instantly.

"I ate sandwich in the afternoon." Omer said before he took a sip from his tea.

"Still, Omer. It's not good to eat medicine without taking any food first." Fariya argued but Omer only shrugged his shoulders.

"That's why I'm drinking this tea. Otherwise, I would have just taken the tablet." Omer said and Fariya parted her lips to object but Omer was quick.

"You say one more word and I'll not even drink this." Omer said threateningly and Fariya pressed her lips after a moment, not forgetting to glare at him as she did so.

After finishing the tea, Omer took the tablet Fariya gave him and laid back on his bed, closing his eyes. Fariya turned off the lights and just when she was about to turn off the side lamp, her eyes landed on Omer who was rubbing his temple with his thumb, lines marking his forehead.

Fariya continued staring at him through the dim lights in the room, her eyes taking in his handsome but tired features. Not too much later, Fariya gathered her chaotic thoughts and coughed a little.

"Omer?" She whispered his name.

"You haven't gone yet?" He aske without opening his eyes, his thumb now pressing his forhead.

"Should I massage your forhead?" Fariya asked, her voice laced with worry.

"No, it's fine." Omer replied in a faint sound but by that time, Fariya had already freed her feet from her shoes.

Sitting on the bed just next to where Omer's head was placed, Fariya waited for him to say anything but Omer had unexpectedly gone silent. Shyly, Fariya raised her on hand and placed it on Omer's forehead.

Just when her hand contacted with Omer's forhead, he opened his eyes and looked straight up in those big, hazel eyes. Fariya, whose mouth had went dry, gulped down the emotions and tried to look unaffected.

"It's okay, Fari." Omer whispered as he placed his hand over hers and tried to push it away but Fariya didn't let that happen and just stared at him, without even blinking.

Her heart had gone wild in her chest as the word Fari reverberated in her ears. She didn't know her nickname was this beautiful but maybe, it was Omer's husky voice which made it special.

"Sleep." That was all she said, that was all she could say over the sound of her thundering heart, before she started massaging his temples slowly.

Omer, too tired to argue, acceeded quite easily and dropped his eyelashes, his frown disappearing beneath the magic of her fingers.

Fariya stared at his face from above, her eyes taking in his every single feature as her hands worked on his forhead. Fariya saw as Omer's body started to relax and soon after, he exhaled a deep breath.

He had fallen asleep.

Fariya ran her tongue over her lips as her fingers halted and lingered at his forhead for a while before running through his hair. Slowly and gently, Fariya ran her fingers through his black hair, eyeing his closed lids with a smile on her face. 

He looked so peaceful as he slept, his face showing a sight of serenity and Fariya continued staring. A moment passed and the spell around her broke with a sound of Omer's phone ringing nearby.

Fariya instantly grabbed it from the nightstand and turned it off, her eyes watching Omer carefully who slightly turned in his sleep but didn't wake up. Placing the phone back on the nightstand, she glanced at Omer for one last time before standing up cautiously.

After spreading the covers over his body, Fariya straightened and peered down at Omer who was in a deep slumber. Smiling at the sight, Fariya turned off the lamp and exited the room after picking the tray from the table.

◇◇◇◇

Her destination was the sky that were peering down at her, her steps were the feathers that her eyes were seeing, her mind was the wind that was blowing around her, her heart was the sun that was on fire.

With low and careless steps, she climbed the small peak, her mind wandering to the emotions she knew too well. Her pace was slow-much like the speed of her life; very unlike the rapidness of her thoughts. Her eyes roamed around the uneven land beneath her feet as she moved upwards, her gait tired.

"Come on, Fari. You're taking ages." Maida, who had already reached the top, yelled from far above and Fariya raised her head to look at her.

"I am coming." She said in a loud voice and saw Maida and Urwa motioning her to come up quickly.

Nodding her head, she quickly started to climb the rest of the peak, her steps now cautious. It took her less than ten minutes to reach the top and as she stood between Maida and Urwa, staring far ahead at the obliterating sun, she knew that the climb was worth it.

Although the peak wasn't that high, the city was and so even a small height was reflecting the wonders of nature beautifully.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Fariya exclaimed, her misery drowning in the deep ocean of colours.

"It is. I've never witnessed a more beautiful sunset." Maida whispered as a smile touched the corner of her lips. Although she had reached the top much before Fariya, the beauty was still casted around her like a spell.

"I love sunsets. They are so mysterious and magical." Urwa suddenly said and Fariya's smile vanished the moment her words struck back an old memory.

Her sitting with Omer on car's bonet, both of them witnessing a sun which was tired and ready to descend.

"That's where we started." She thought to herself and suddenly, the scene didn't look as beautiful as it did before.

It lost its charm the moment Omer's face flashed before her eyes, the moment she thought about him.

"I'm going to go sit there." Fariya said in a low voice.

Thankfully, the ladies were too busy admiring the view that they failed to notice the dejectedness in her voice and nodded their heads. Fariya started walking towards a clearing at some distance, her shoes crushing the dead leaves beneath them, creating a sound that she liked.

As she approached the clearing, she saw that a woman was already seated there-the trees had hidden her from Fariya's eyes before. She halted for a second before taking some slow steps towards her and sitting some distance away from her.

The woman was probably in her late-twenties, wearing a hijab around her head over a dress which was modest but elegant. Fariya's eyes were busy staring at the sun ahead but her attention was shattered when she heard the woman slightly cough beside her. Fariya turned her head towards her and stopped when she found her eyes already on her.

"What brings you up here?" She asked in a soft tone and Fariya stared at her for a second before turning her head around.

"Peace." She replied after a moment.

"Oh, I guessed." The woman said, probably to herself as her voice was very low but Fariya's ears had vibrated.

"What?" Fariya asked, still looking ahead.

"That it's contentment that you look for." Fariya could hear the smile in her voice. "But you don't know, do you?" She whispered after a moment, frightened tp break the silence that was sprawled around them.

"What do I don't know?" Fariya asked as she finally turned her face towards the woman, her head placed on her knees as her arms were wrapped around her legs.

"That you are looking at the wrong place. Why don't you look for it inside of you? Otherwise, you'll wander aimlessly all your life and not even a scratch of contentment would be found." The woman said and Fariya's pacific face turned into an aching one.

"I have. I have searched every piece of my heart." Fariya said, pain lacing her voice.

"Then you have found it. But you don't know about it yet." The woman softly said and Fariya's shook her head after taking a deep breath.

"How can I come to know about that?" She asked after a moment of complete, serene silence.

"It's simple. Stop fighting your heart." The lady said as if it was not that big of an issue and Fariya chuckled slightly.

"You have no idea. It's not that easy to give in to your heart, even after you know that as soon as you'll let down your defences, your heart will shatter into a million pieces and more." Fariya placed her chin on her knee and stared ahead at the orange sky.

"It does shatter but it heals too. The pieces fall back into their place at the end. And when your heart has completely healed, there will not only be love in your life but peace too." The woman tilted her head to a side as she observed Fariya intently.

"So I should listen to my heart? And let it get destoryed?" Fariya asked incredulously and the woman flashed her a mysterious smile.

"Those who listen to their hearts, never have a broken heart." The woman said. Fariya turned silent, not knowing how to respond. The wind gushed around them as both of the ladies stared at the sea of mysteries ahead. 

"Is love necessary?" Fariya asked, tearing apart the silence that was her home. The woman seemed to contemplate before she turned her face towards Fariya.

"No, it's not. Love is not a necessity, it is a desire." The woman replied in the softest of tones.

"And what if it becomes a necessity?" Fariya asked quite hurriedly.

"Then you are unaware of the meaning of love. A person who loves truly, does not want it back." The woman mouthed and Fariya choked.

Wasn't her love for Omer true?

"You're wrong. Everyone wants love." She said emphatically, negating even the mere thought. She seemed to be in denial.

"Everyone but the person who knows that love is one thing, the only thing which we can never reign over." The lady uttered.

It's not under our control who we fall in love with.

Words rang in her ears and precipitation coated her forehead.

"But that will be a life of compromise." Fariya attempted, a feeble attempt, for one last time.

"I'm not asking to compromise. Just leave all your unanswered questions and worries to Allah, turn all your negative thoughts into dust and pray that you find what you desire along the path. Don't compromise; hope." The woman said as she adjusted her scarf. Fariya sensed the doors of light opening on her, felt the ice on her heart melting.

"Can I tell you a thing?" The lady asked and Fariya nodded her head effortlessly.

"There are far more greater things in life than love, far more meaningful things. Like respect, loyalty, appreciation, care. Love should never be made the basis to accept or reject."

Just because I don't love you doesn't mean that I don't care for you.

You are important to me, you always have been.

I trust you.

You are my respect, you are the respect of our family.

Omer's words rang in her ears again and this time there were loud and clear. She now realised what she was doing to her man, to the man she so blatantly confessed to be in love with. Was it really love?

"Why?" She asked, although she clearly knew the answer.

"Because love is always biased and for a relationship to work, appreciation and loyalty are needed. Love becomes secondary the moment the person offers you respect." The woman lifted one side of her lips in a smile.

"What about love?" Fariya asked.

"Love on the behalf of both of you in hope that one day, his heart will bow at your feet too." The woman added before she stood up from the grass and ran a hand over her dress. Fariya's eyes followed suit, now filled with their usual sparkle after such a long time.

"And if it doesn't?" Fariya hurriedly asked as she saw the woman smiling down at her.

"The failure is in fact a triumph in disguise. Love, itself, is victory." The lady smiled before retreating and after smiling at the aghasted lady for one last time, turned on her heels and started moving in the other direction.

Fariya Ali Sikandar sat there and contemplated on her words: words that melted her heart and rejoiced her soul; words that caged her in an unknown spell and set her free from her burdens; words that disturbed the stagnant and lifeless water of her life.

Love only adds beauty to a relationship, it's respect and loyalty that strengthen it. And Fariya would choose strength over beauty in hundred lifetimes. It took her three weeks and four days to understand that but finally, the decision was made.

◇◇◇◇

The night wind blowed across her face harshly, the cold weather freezing her very bones. She was staring right above at the sky on which the full moon shone in all of its glory and wonder. A small, enigmatic smile was plastered on her face, lifting the corner of her lips in a way that it casted a spell.

With only a shawl draped around her shoulders, Fariya was absent mindedly gazing up at the moon, clearly knowing that it was not the breathtaking scene which was melting her heart, it was the choice she had finally made. As soon as the decision was made and her mind acceeded to it, a wave of peace rushed through her veins, shattering all the burdens and miseries she was surrounded in.

Heaving a deep breath, she slightly turned her head around and her eyes took sight of her sister who was already asleep although it was just 10 pm.

But that's how the winter nights are.

Long but peaceful. Dark but serene.

Turning her head after a second, she once again gazed at the moon but this time, it didn't attract her like before. A face flashed before her eyes and she took a deep, tired breath before swivelling around-she was finally going to do what her heart begged her for.

Making her way to the dressing table, she glanced at her sister, careful not to wake her up. Stopping before the table, Fariya slowly opened the lower drawer of the table and pulled out a small bag from it.

After glancing at it for a full minute, Fariya ran a tongue over her lips and finally unzipped it, lowering her hand in the bag as she searched for something.

Her eyes sparkled knowingly just a moment later and she pulled out her hand from the bag. But this time, her hand wasn't empty. A small, velvet coloured box was clutched in her hand and she was gazing at it intently. Few seconds passed with her just staring at the box that laid in her open palm before she finally smiled slightly and opened the box that contained something which was so very precious to her.

Her eyes clashed with a beautiful, floral-shaped, diamond encrusted ring and her smile widened almost instantly. "His first gift to her." She thought with a smile.

After pulling out the ring from the box, she closed the box and placed it on the table while her other hand held the ring. Smiling at an unknown and mysterious thought, she slid the ring in her finger and straightened her hand to see how it looked. It looked flawless.

"It was about time." She whispered to herself as she ran her thumb over her ring finger, a bright smile still illuminating her face.

"And now it's time." She said a bit emphatically this time before she swivelled around quickly and walked towards the door of the room. Opening the door, she stepped outside in the corridor and tightened her hold on the shawl almost reflexively-contrary to the room, it was very cold out there.

However, coldness didn't ice her movement and she walked towards the other side of the corridor, her steps slow but determined. Finally reaching outside the door, she paused for a second as she stared at the door.

"Am I making the right decision?" She asked herself again.

"Yes, you are. He needs you for his life; you need him for your heart. Help him when he needs it, when he is in pain and he will cherish you for the rest of his life. Love really isn't more than how much he valued you."

It wasn't only her heart which was answering, it was her mind too. And when heart and mind synchronise, decisions can never be wrong.

"And the other woman?" She questioned herself for one last time.

"She's a reality you can't change but can only make peace with. He's a loyal man. He will never leave you in the midst of the chaos of the world." With that final thought, she extended her hand and knocked at his door softly.

Fariya heard a little movement inside the room and her heart beat accelerated just at time the knob was turned from inside and the door was pulled open.

"Fariya?" Omer's startled voice vibrated her ear drums and she gulped down.

"Is everything alright?" He asked as he scanned her face. Fariya's head automatically nodded in a yes before she mouthed.

"Yes, I just needed to talk to you." Fariya said after gathering every bit of courage she had in herself.

"At this time?" Omer was still worried.

"Yes. It's important." Fariya replied as she pressed her lips in a thin line and stared at him.

"Okay, come in." Omer said before giving her way to come inside the room.

Fariya entered the room and the first thing her eyes landed on was the armchair. Memories enveloped her mind but she was quick to wipe them away.

"Sit." Omer gestured towards the sofa and Fariya silently went towards it, arranging words in her mind she was going to say as she sat on it. Omer, on the contrary, sat on the armchair directly in front of Fariya and looked at her expectantly .

"Well, what is it?" Omer asked calmly and Fariya stared at him as she bit the inside of her mouth.

"Umm.. I.. I was.. thinking... about.. u.. rukhsati..." Fariya hesitantly said and saw as Omer straightened in his place instantly.

"And?" Omer impatiently asked as he looked at her with hope glistening in his dark, black eyes.

"And... and I agree." Fariya hurriedly said at the end and Omer widened his eyes in bewilderment.

"You what?" He asked incredulously. He still couldn't bring his mind to believe what Fariya had just said.

"I agree. I have no problem with the Rukhsati now." Fariya repeated as she looked down and stared at the ring which scintillated under the bright light in the room.

"I.. I can't believe it. How did that happen?" Omer's voice contained satisfaction and exhilaration and Fariya was sure he was smiling widely without even looking at him.

Finally raising her head, she looked at him and her heart dropped in her ribcage when she saw his face. A dazzling smile was etched upon his face while his eyes shone more brightly than the moon outside. Fariya's heart pounded heavily in her chest as it looked at the man who had it under his feet.

"It just.. happened." Fariya didn't know what to say, all words dying in her throat.

Fariya saw as Omer suddenly stopped smiling and looked at her, his face now serious.

"Are you saying it from the heart or has someone forced you?" Omer asked, a little worried this time. Fariya was quick to shook her head.

"No, no. I'm saying it from the heart. I'm ready for the Rukhsati." She said hurriedly and Omer's muscles relaxed a bit.

"But what about everything you said..." Omer purposely left the words hanging in the air but it didn't take a mind of a genius to understand what he was trying to say.

"I'm ready to give you a chance. I'm ready to help you forget your past." Fariya replied slowly, her eyes roaming around his face.

"It will not be easy." Omer said painfully but Fariya only shook her head slighlty.

"It will be worth it." Fariya smiled and Omer followed suit with pressed lips.

"And what if you fail?" Omer asked, his tone a bit mischievous this time.

"I will most certainly not. Not when you will be there to help." Fariya said, her mind adjusting to him because her heart already had.

"I will be there." Omer promised.

"I know." Fariya flashed him a smile.

"But I need you to promise me one thing." Fariya said after a moment of thought.

"Anything." Omer was happy and was smiling wholeheartedly after so many days.

"You will never leave me." Fariya didn't know what got over her as she said those words but didn't regret them for a second.

The thought that he would leave her if the woman ever returned in his life still lingered at the back of her mind and there was nothing more she wanted than his assurance. Omer's gaze softened almost instantly as he bent ahead a little, his elbows placed on his knees.

"Where will I go after leaving you? My every path leads to you." Omer gently said as he took her cold hands in his warm ones, setting the lady in front of him on fire.

"You're freezing, woman." Omer tightened his hold on her hands but Fariya was too lost in him to hear what he was saying.

My every path leads to you.

The words vibrated in her ears merrily, filling her heart with a kind of euphoria she had never felt before.

"Omer?" Fariya whispered after a moment, her hazel eyes clashing with his black ones.

"Hmm?" Omer tried to read the secrets that lay hidden beneath the layers of her heart.

"I'm sorry. For everything I said to you. I shouldn't have reacted that way." Fariya said regretfully but Omer only smiled.

"You have a right, Fariya. And I totally understand why you did what you did. It was not that easy to grasp everything." Omer said softly and Fariya nodded her head.

"I'm still sorry." Fariya again apologised but this time Omer only chuckled slightly.

"You don't have to, woman. You don't..." Omer's words died in his throat the moment he lowered his head and his eyes landed on Fariya's hand, more precisely, her fingers for the first time.

His smile vanished instantanly and his movements halted for a full minute as he just stared at her left hand. After slowly raising his head, he looked at Fariya right in the eye, his eyes masking an emotion of bewilderment and happiness at the same time.

"Beautiful." He whispered and heat rushed up to Fariya's face as she saw him gazing at her hand intently.

"I never thought you would wear it." Omer slowly said after a minute, his intense gaze now boring holes through Fariya's soul.

"It's very beautiful. Thank you." Fariya said after a moment, her cheeks turning a bright shade of red.

"You're welcome." Omer smiled as he looked down at her hand again, his thumb now making circles around the ring gently.

"I.. I think.. I should go now. It's getting late." Fariya said and Omer looked up at her before gazing at her hand for one last time and letting it go.

"Yeah, It's late." He said and Fariya hurriedly stood up from the sofa, her body heating up under his gaze.

"I will talk to Baba in the morning." Omer said as he too stood up.

"Okay." Fariya mouthed and looked at him.

"Good night." Fariya smiled and Omer nodded his head.

"Good night." He replied and Fariya on hearing that, tore her gaze away and walked towards the door of the room, her heart accelerating as she sensed his eyes on her back.

☆☆☆☆☆

A not very long chapter but it came out exactly as I wanted. Thank you for the patience you people showed towards me. I'm grateful!

Fariya has finally acceeded. Was she quick and was it about time? The Rukhsati is finally going to happen! *squeals*

What do you think about the overall chapter? Don't forget to comment.

Till next time,
Salam!