Chapter No 31

Chapter No 31


"Honey, have you eaten your breakfast?" asked Zara, Hania's mother. It was the first time in a day she talked to her.

"Yeah, Mom," she said while looking at her plate.

"You were lucky, Haeem was there, that night he brought you to safety, how could you be so irresponsible?" said Zara, angrily.

"I, I am sorry Mum," she said in a very low voice that only she could hear.

"I should have been grounded for a month," said Zara, angrily.

"Mum, I am already grounded for three days," she said sadly.

"I don't know anything, I am still angry Hania, you could have injured yourself while driving yourself or worst, dancing with those senior boys, you could have been harassed or gotten raped," Zara screamed.

Her father, Adam Ibrahim Kardaar was reading a book relating to species of animals, he is a Herpetologist, something she got from him in her genes. He works in the army in the position of top researcher at the Pakistan Army Medical Research Institute for infectious diseases. Her mother, Zara Adam Kardaar (nee Khan) is an epidemiologist at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

She looked at her father who was expressionlessly reading a book, clearly, he was pissed off as well.

"Mom, Dad, I am sorry, it won't happen again, I promise," she said while getting up and hugging her father.

He cleared his throat.

"You know how much I love you; it is okay to hang out with your friends but only your friends you trust," he said.

She smiled.

"What are you reading?" she asked.

"It's another edition of zoological books of Adams Evan, I think discovery of frog species," he said.

"Whoa, Dad I am very excited," she said.

Zara rolled her eyes.

"Where I got myself into? Two crazy father and daughter who love animals," she muttered and walked inside the kitchen.
"Mom, at least we are not into plants," she sings.
Zara shoots a tough look at her daughter.
Adam chuckled.

"Dad, but it will get us move to another city," she said, sadly pointing at books and her father's research papers.

"No honey, we are not moving at least for two years," he said.

"I don't want to leave my friends," she said.

"And Haeem?" asked Zara who brought apple cake from the oven and placed it on the table.

"Mom, it is not like that," she said turning slightly pink.

"We don't know? When we left this town how much upset you were, you give him your favourite toy," Zara said.

"Yeah, and when we were moving back here, remember Zara? How much excited she was, she had a hope to see him again," said her father.

"How can I forget that, Adam?" she said, trying to tease her daughter.

"I am leaving for school," said Hania, embarrassed, and then she ran out of the house.

"I said, there is no need to shy, we all know," said Adam in a singing tone and then heard Zara's chuckle.

"I heard Sofia is coming this month," said Zara.

"Haeem is a good guy what his family has been through is so unfair," said Adam.

Zara took a deep breath.

"You know the whole agency is looking for the culprit," said Zara.

He gave her a sigh.

"The family has lost their loved one," he said.

"Do you think Agency will find out who is the mole behind Haeem's father's murder?" she asked.

"I think so but all I don't believe is Zero," he said.
She looked away.

"Zero, the actual culprit. I have talked to Imran about this and Imran did not say a word," she said.

"Imran is an intelligent man," she said.

"I heard so does his son, Roman," he said.

"Our daughter is hanging out with him in the group," she said.

"I know he is friends with Haeem. I have many expectations with that guy," he said.

"One thing is making me a bit uneasy. Imran has not answered my questions. He must have hidden something," she said.

A smirk appeared on his face.
"You will know," he said.
"But..." she tried to say something but he abrupt her.
"Your cake is burning," he said while looking at the book.
She gave him tough looks.
"Adam, no secrets in the family," she said.
"Our family is not an ordinary family Zara," he said and smiled.
She took a deep breath to calm herself and went inside the kitchen.
Sometimes she thinks she is married to the most mysterious man. It was not Adam's fault, everyone who belongs to armed forced institutes is indeed mysterious to protect their motherland and that includes Zara.


Saliha's clothing was getting shorter day by day and it was obvious that Roman would get high blood pressure issues in his early 20s because of this.

She was wearing a crossed-back black body con dress. She brought her new collection last week with Hunza. She was waiting for Aunt Eliza to come back and she knows Eliza will almost faint because she was indeed looking so beautiful.

She walked down to the main door; she was getting late as it was a college event for the students and everyone from senior to junior year were going.

She put her new branded bag on her shoulder. Her hand barely touched the door when she heard his chilling voice.

"Where are you heading to?" his voice was so cold but she could feel an urge to explode. She turned; he was standing near the couch while folding his arm around his chest. He was wearing a casual grey hoodie and black trousers perfectly stretching around his flawless body.

"College event," she said, shortly.

He walked towards her slowly. His aura was dangerously scary.
"Since when college is happening to organize slut shows?" he asked while looking at her from up to down.

She felt anger rush through her body.
"Yeah, all of your fucking girlfriends are going there, go and fuck them up," she said, annoyed while looking into his eyes.

He clenched his teeth and held her arm harshly.

"You don't have any idea you are heading towards hell," he said, angrily and pushed her onto the wall, towering her.

"Let me go. why is it matter to you? If I got somewhere? You said already you do not care if I walk down to hell," she said, angrily.

"Because you are my freaking wife, you are imposed on me," he said, angrily.

She was trying to push him away but he was stronger than her. "Roman, let me go," she said, annoyed.

"Saliha, don't you dare to mock me, you don't have an idea what I could do to you," he hissed.

"What more you could do?" she asked, angrily.

Her forearms were hurting.

He smirked and moved face near to her in a matter of seconds she realized what he is up to. Her heart was beating fast.

Just then the door knocked and he looked back instantly.

She took advantage and pushed him away; he lost his balance and took a few steps back. She rushes towards the door and opened it.

It was Kashan. "Hey," he said.

"Hey Kashan, you ready?" she asked. He nods and without looking back she walked out with him but she could feel two furious eyes on her back.

"Devil," she muttered and got inside the car but then she heard a loud crash in the house and she knew he broke something precious again.

"Poor Uncle Imran, his son always breaks precious things in the house," she thought.

"Looking beautiful Saliha," said Kashan.

"You look handsome as well,' she said, smiling. He was wearing a white suit.

"Where is Hunza?" she asked.

"She is coming with Hania and Haeem," he said.

"So medical is easy?" he asked.

"Yeah, but it is a headache as well," she said.

"Hunza and I was classmate but since I have lost a year, so I will be your junior by next year," he said.



"Is that where he lives?" asked Hunza. Hania nods.

It was a beautiful small penthouse where Haeem lives. There was garden in the backyard and a beautiful pool.

"Hey, Zain, what happened to you?" asked Hunza. Zain looked so tired.

"Nothing, he just drank last night," said Haeem.

"Where is your mum?" asked Hania.

"She went to work," he said.

"You guys ready?" asked Hunza.

"Yeah," said Zain, tired.

Hunza rolled her eyes.

"Why do you drink so much if you cannot handle it?" she asked and turned towards the door.



"I did not know it could be so boring," said Haeem.

"Where is Emaad ?" asked Hania.

"Yeah, Roman is missing as well," said Hunza while looking at Saliha who was talking to Kashan, she was purposely avoiding the conversation.

"Sorry guys, I am late," he said and he had a girl beside him. Hunza recognized the girl, she was with him that night in the restaurant.

"Hey," said the girl, shy.

She looked around the age of 18.

"Hey Hala, how are you?" asked Zain.

"I am okay Zain, how are you?" asked Hala. He smiled.

She understood something was wrong with him. She knows all her brother's friends.

"Where is Roman?" asked Emaad .

"Ladies and gentlemen," just then they heard the announcer's voice. They all turned towards him.

"What is it?" asked Saliha.

"Shh.. they are going to announce the name of the final-year student who is selected for the internship at the hospital," said Zain.

"We are pleased to inform all of you....the student this year who is coming with us is Roman Ali Gardezi," said the announcer and everyone clapped.
"Roman?" Saliha whispered.
"We all knew that he could make it," said Haeem.

Roman walked through the crowd and got up on the stage.
"He was here?" thought Saliha.

"Thank you guys and I am very pleased to work with you," he said smiling and for the first time in a while Saliha saw him smiling. As usual, he looked different from the Roman she knows.

"He is indeed the genius and topper in the whole badge," said Emaad .

"What? He never lost his rank as a topper?" asked Hania.

"He got an IQ of 150," said Zain.

"Even though I am the most nerd and book lover in the group, I am unable to beat him on this," said Zain, smiling.

Roman got down from the stage and joined his friend.

"Hey congratulation bro," said Zain and they all hugged him one by one.

He looked at Saliha briefly but then started talking to Zain.

"Now the announcement for the student who has gained a one-year scholarship whether they want to avail it in this town or outside is Muaza Javed," said the announcer.

The group cheers and so does everyone.

"Whoa, she did it," said Haeem.
"What happened to you? Why do you look as if you took marijuana?" asked Emaad to Zain.

Zain looked away instantly.

"He got drunk last night and despite what I was telling him.....wait....what the hell...." Said Haeem in the last sentence in astonishment and whisper.

They all turned.

"Is that what I am seeing?" asked Hania.

"No, this can't be," said Emaad .

"That's the revolution," said Hunza, excited.

It was Muaza, she was completely transformed. Her long curly hair was now cut down to the shoulder and she changed her hair color from black to blond. She was wearing a badass purple slip dress with long-knee shoes.

The heart-shaped necklace she always wore was now gone.

She was walking elegantly and got on the stage. Everyone was astonished and there was silence in the hall. Muaza was indeed looking so changed.

"Seriously, is that what I am seeing?" muttered a boy.

"Well, I feel ashamed of myself that I never approached this beauty," said another boy.

Muaza took the certificate and walked down to the table where the group was sitting. She sat on the chair with her leg crossed.
She looked like Muaza's twin or clone but not Muaza.

"Whoa, you look like a bomb," said Haeem.

"I like this change, more power to you," said Hunza. She smiled half.

"We all have to change from time to time, we all have to bring it down," she said, confidently, even though her way of talking was so classic. She beat the most famous queen bee in school.

"Is it, not Roman?" she asked to Roman. He smiled at her.

"I liked your previous self as well," he said.

"Well, previously, long ago, I was a kid, mainly one year, you might like that as well, but we cannot change the fact that I have grown up," she said, especially looking at Zain, who had stone expressions.

A boy who was previously talking about Muaza arrived.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," she said in return, expressionlessly.

"I wonder if we can hang out for a while?" he asked. She smiled, elegantly.

"Yes why not darling," she said and it was obvious that she was chewing her words.

"I need to do something urgent," said Zain and got out of the hall.

Muaza looked at him briefly and then she walked away with the boy.

"Whoa, this was a show," said Haeem. "You changed her bro, nice work," he added while looking at Roman.

"I did not, she is my friend and she knows that since the beginning I have never given her hope," said Roman. Saliha looks at him instantly. She remembered the night when he was telling her 'I love you' on the phone.

"Oh come on, we all know that she had a crush on you," said Emaad .

Saliha gasped but only Roman could hear that, he looked at her instantly. His expression changed for a while but he got it in control sooner.

"Well, whatever made her change, at least now I am happy for her, she will not get used to this cruel world," said Hunza, and then she got up.

"Wait, I am coming as well," said Saliha, following her.

Hania followed them as well.

"So, it seems like it's us," said Kashan, awkwardly.

Roman and Emaad gave him a very tough look.

"Yeah bro, it's us now," said Haeem, smiling.