Chapter 71

The dinner ritual for the night was abandoned. Everyone was served in their room, except two persons that was Ayzel and Farheen. Jojo brought dinner for them but Ayzel was drowned in the effect of medicine and Farheen was sleeping as well. So, they were unable to eat.

In the middle of the night, Farheen felt very hungry. She felt rats running in her tummy.

"Mama, wake up. Fairy is hungry." Farheen slightly patted her mother's cheeks but she was unresponsive due to heavy medications.

Poor Farheen got down from the door. She unlocked the door and stepped out. But she gasped loudly when she saw Zain outside waiting for her. She was about to run inside when Zain stopped her.

"Fairy please stop. Listen to me for once, please." There was a pain in his voice.

Farheen halted her steps. Zain's voice had some effect on her. She turned to face him. He made her sit on the small couch and sat beside her.

"My sweet baby, you have not eaten anything since noon. I was waiting for you outside. Look, I have brought your favorite meal." Zain showed her the tray carrying her favorite meal.

She was in a dilemma but in the end, she ate and Zain fed her. Zain was longing for that moment.

"Mr. Zain, please go now. I will go to my room. I don't want the old granny and Aunt Warda to see me here with you. They will hurt me if they see me with you." Farheen wanted to rush back to her room. She was afraid of these ladies.

"NO. I won't let them touch you. I will protect you." His voice was desperate.

"But old granny has hurt my mother. You did not protect her." Her voice was glinting with sadness and heartbreak. Then she left him alone there. Zain could only gulp his tears.

**********

Ayzel woke up early in the morning. After having a proper conscious she realized that Farheen had not eaten anything last night. She immediately took out her from sleep as well and apologized.

"Mama, please don't be mad at me. But I had eaten a meal last night. Mr. Zain fed me." Then Farheen told what happened. She was guilty.

"I am sorry, Mama. But I was hungry." She gave a sad pout.

"It's okay my princess. I am happy that my little angel did not sleep with an empty tummy." Ayzel joyfully poked her belly. But inside she was feeling guilty. If it was not for Zain, her daughter would have remained hungry.

Later in the afternoon, she was summoned to Aliya Khanum's room. She was wondering the reason behind her sudden call. But in the end, she concluded that might Aliya Khanum wanted to continue insulting her.

Ayzel was sitting close yet far from Aliya Khanum. But Aliya's sick and pale face made her worried. She was fine yesterday. What did happen?

"Yesterday, my grandson confessed all his sins. All his crimes. All his atrocities. All the tortures he did to you from day first to till now." Aliya initiated the talk in her weak voice. Ayzel's eyes widened. So, all the truth had surfaced.

"Even Warda did not spare you." Aliya's eyes moistened.

Ayzel was lost in deep thoughts. In reality, no one had spared us. Everyone tortured her. But some parts of the story of atrocity were still hidden. And they will remain hidden forever, that's what she thought.

"Ayzel, my grandson's one sin in lust led you to make a mistake and a saga of sins and mistakes began. He made you suffer first and later we all suffered." Aliya sighed deeply.

"But I suffered the most and still suffering," said Ayzel's inner voice.

"Ayzel, we can't expect a tree or plant to grow on a ruin or ill roots. The same is the case with you and Zain. The beginning of your relationship was from the ill roots, so it could not nourish. The relationship between you and Zain appeared very green to us at first, but it fell due to hollow roots. Now, it's time to cut and remove these roots forever and welcome the new ones. It's time to move on for you and Zain." Aliya was finalizing something.

Ayzel frowned in confusion. What a myth!

"Zain's second marriage is already decided. I have selected a girl for him as well. Soon you will be freed from this loathsome bond." After saying that Aliya looked at Ayzel and placed her hand on Ayzel's hand.

"Zikria and I decided last night, that yours and Zain's separation won't be delayed further. The lawyer is working on the papers. Soon, you will be leaving from here respectfully. But I have a request. I want you to do something." Said, Aliya.

"Aliya Khanum, I would do it if possible for me." Ayzel was ready to do it even before knowing it.

"I want you to talk with Arham. He is our only grandson now. Soon, InshaAllah Zain would have more children with his new wife. But for now, I want Arahm to accept her new mother wholeheartedly. He is very attached to you. That's what bothers me a bit. But I am sure you will handle it. Because in all those years, you did not fill his heart with hatred against us. If you talk with him, I believe he will accept his stepmother as his own. I hope you will understand. Though I am asking the most difficult thing from a mother." Aliya was asking a mother to give up his rights over her child.

"I have seen many separated parents maintaining balance with their children, without any chaos," Aliya added further.

"Aliya Khanum, your request is granted. But I have a request as well. Can u let me meet Arham once a week after the separation?" Ayzel's words surprised Aliya. She never expected her to agree to such terms immediately.

"Of course Ayzel. You would have rights over your son. I would never snatch a child from his mother. When I had gone through the same pain." Aliya erased Ayzel's concern. Aliya Khanum apologized as well to Ayzel.

After that, Aliya Khanum called Zain in the room. She wanted the things to be declared in front of both Zain and Ayzel. Because Zain told them that Ayzel might reject the idea of separation. Perhaps he was the one who did not want separation in the first place.

Zain was pacing in his study room and Burhan was observing his condition. Yesterday night, After the life-killing fight, of course involving the rain of lots of punches over Zain by Burhan, they both were together.

"There is useless to anxious now. Just start preparing for your second wedding." Burhan yawned.

"SHUT UP! First of all, Ayzel won't say yea to separation for Arham. A mother can't live without her child." Zain scolded Burhan.

A knock on the door of the study room gathered their attention. It was Dom's call for Zain. Likewise Ayzel, Ayzel was summoned too in the court of Aliya Khanum.

But Ayzel was still there. He considered himself fortunate to have a sight of her. But she was not looking at him.

Once Zain was seated, Aliya Khanum initiated the talk.

"I have talked to Ayzel, regarding the matter of separation and your second marriage. As it is obvious such things are bound to happen, sooner or later." Aliya's words made Zain's heart beat wild. Her composed expressions and words symbolized something not well for him.

"Ayzel is more than ready to end this hollow bond with a small request of seeing Arham once a week." Aliya Khanum blasted the bomb on Zain. He looked at the face of Ayzel for any sign of pain. But her face Was neutral and unaffected by the words of Aliya.

"Tomorrow, Shazeel would be here and stay here on random days. I want her to adjust to Arham before the wedding." Aliya was talking about the girl she had selected for Zain.

"As per your doubt, I have talked to Ayzel in clear words. She has no problem. You can ask her as well if you think, I am lying or I have forced this decision on her, like you." Aliya scoffed a taunt to Zain.

"Okay. If that's what she wants." He was seething in anger. He wanted to abduct her again and love her till his last breath. But he was helpless now.

Zain banged the door of his study room with a very loud sound and marched inside.

"Ahaa-haan, so Mr. Zain skinder is getting single and remarrying at the same time. Congratulations Dear Brother!" Burhan added salt to Zain's wound.

"We are going for our plan A. Tell the main player to be ready and play well. I don't want any mistake." Zain said in his deadly and mysterious voice. What he had planned now?

But one person was feeling light today yet she had to take many hard steps. But now she was looking for a ray of freedom. The person was Ayzel.