Chapter 2

The air in the Qureshi Villa was tense as Siman glared at her sister in law and her daughter, Myra. " Baji, aap kyun meri bacchi ke peeche padhi hai?" (Baji, why are you after my daughter?) Tahreem snickered and said with a voice laced in venom, " Tumhari beti, meri bacchi ko Saad ke khareeb nahi jaane de rahi. Uska haq hai Saad ke khareeb rehne ka." (Your daughter is not allowing my daughter to be near Saad. It's her right to be near Saad.) Before Siman could say something, Saad answered. " Yeh apna haq ushi waqt kho chukhi hai jab aaplog ne Inu ko tanha chod diya hamare absence mai. Agar us din mai der se aata tho shayad Inu hamare beech na hoti." (She lost her right at the moment you all left Inu all alone in our absence. If I had arrived late that day, perhaps Inu wouldn't be between us.) Siman hugged Inayat close, remembering that incident.

As Tahreem was about to counterattack, Ahad Qureshi entered the hall and glared at his sister. " Bas Tahreem! Bas! Bohat hogya! Mai sirf Abba ki wajah se khamoosh tha. Par ab nahi. Saad aur Myra ka rasam ab nahi hoga. Aur ab ke baad agar tum mujhe mere biwi ya bacchon ke khareeb bhi nazar aayi, tho mai bhul jaunga ki meri koi behen bhi hai." (That's enough, Tahreem! Enough! I've had it! I was silent only because of Dad. But not anymore. Saad and Myra's engagement ceremony will not happen now. And from now on, if I see you near my wife or children, I will forget that I have a sister.) Before she could protest, Ahad cut her off. " Aur bhulo mat, yeh sab tumhare us shohar ki wajah se hua hai. Ab niklo mere ghar se. Mere ghar mai tumhare liye koi jagah nahi."   (And don't forget, all this happened because of your husband. Now get out of my house. There is no place for you in my home.) Tahreem's eyes widened in fear and realisation.

She glared at her sister in law and said, "Isliye mai khilaaf thi aapki is shaadi se. Ek bhai ko apni hi behen ke khilaaf kar diya hai is aurat ne." (That's why I was against your marriage. This woman has turned a brother against his own sister.) Ahad roared as his patience ran thin, " Khilaaf tho mai tha tumhare us badzaat ke saath shaadi karne se. Aur aaj mai sahi saabith bhi hua hoon." (I opposed marrying that despicable person of yours, and today I have been proven right.) Tahreem glared at her brother for opening her old wounds. She defeatedly answered, " Aapki beti ke badolat, aaj mere shohar mere saath nahi hai, Bhai. Aapne mujhe aur meri beti ka khayal rakhne ka wada liya hai, Abba se." (Because of your daughter, my husband is not with me today, brother. You promised to take care of me and my daughter, from father.) Hearing this, Ahad clenched his fist hard.

Saad, who witnessed everything, had reported the whole situation to his grandparents. A cold voice rang in the hall, and Tahreem's eyes widened, recognizing it. " Aur mai ushe woh waade se mukt karta hoon." (And I release him from that promise.) "Abba!" exclaimed Ahad, upon seeing his father. Everyone greeted him except Tahreem, who was still in shock. Sulaemaan Qureshi glanced at his daughter and ordered her to pack her bags. " Ab tum hamare saath rahogi. Hamare nighraani mai. Bohat hogya tumhara tamasha." (Now you will stay with us. Under our supervision. Your drama has been too much.) Tahreem swallowed her protest, seeing her father's glare, and nudged her daughter to move. Myra glared at Inayat and smirked before leaving.

Sulaemaan stayed for some time and left not before assuring them that Tahreem won't come here anymore. He was proud of his son for honouring his promise even when his sister was out of line. He kissed his grandchildren's foreheads and promised to visit them soon. Inayat got ready for the University while calling her brother. " Bhai! Mai late ho rahi hoon. Jaldi karein." (Brother! I am getting late. Hurry up.) Both siblings hugged their parents before leaving. Saad quickly opened the car door, and they both sat inside as they were running out of time. Saad then dropped her a few blocks away from the University as his sister keeps a low profile. He kissed her forehead and left for the company. Inayat, who was in a hurry to reach her class, didn't notice the stinging pain emerging from her shoes.

She glanced at her shoes and saw blood coming out through them. Inayat panicked and lost her balance, making the glass pierce deeper into her foot. She understood it must be Myra who did this. Ignoring the pain, she limped her way to the class and heard her name being announced. She shakily answered, " H..Here, Sir!" Azhar's gaze made her feel safe yet vulnerable. On asking the reason for her late arrival, she whispered, " M..Met with an accident." Azhar glanced at her foot and then at her. The way he clenched the pen tightly in his hands and the gaze that made her shiver down her spine compelled her to look down. She was scared of that gaze, which looked dangerous. His cold voice reached her ear, "Ms Mahveen, take her to the infirmary." Mahveen stood up and guided her to the infirmary.

On reaching the infirmary, the person on duty gasps seeing the glass piece stuck on her ankle. She explained that it might be serious and needed a dose of injection as well. Hearing it, Inayat became scared. "P..Please, not the injection." Mahveen tried to calm her down. "Inu kuch nahi hoga." (Inu, nothing will happen) The pain intensified as the person on duty tried to remove the glass piece. But on noticing that it was near her nerve, she refused to remove it as it could be risky. But Inayat made up her mind and asked her to remove it. And before things could escalate further, Azhar's voice made her flinch. " Is it, Ms Inayat Qureshi?" He stood near the entrance with his gaze that pierced through her soul.

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