❥Shahzain❥

"Congratulations on your win." The opponent lawyer states as I walk out of the courtroom.

I nod in acknowledgment, my mind still buzzing with the intensity of the trial.

"Thank you," I reply, my voice steady. "It was a tough case."

The lawyer smiles, though it doesn't reach his eyes. "Indeed. You were impressive in there, Shahzain."

I give a polite smile, not wanting to engage in small talk. As I walk toward my car, my phone buzzes. It's a message from the love of my life, my fiancee, Falaq Rehmaan.

I get inside my car and quickly dial her number. Her honey like sweet voice greets me on the call.

"Assalamualaikum, Shahzain."

"Walekum Assalam, Falaq."

"Congratulations on your 50th win."

A smile appears on my face, as I ask, "How do you know I won?"

She laughs softly, the sound like a soothing melody to my ears. "How could I not know? Your victories are always the talk of the town. Everyone's been calling me, telling me how proud they are of you."

I lean back in my seat, the day's exhaustion melting away with each word she says. "I wish you were here to celebrate with me."

"I wish I was too," she replies, a hint of longing in her voice. "But you know how it is with the preparations for the wedding. There's so much to do."

I chuckle. "You sound more excited about the wedding than I am about my win."

"Of course I am," she says, her tone brightening. "It's the day I get to marry the love of my life."

"And I, mine," I respond softly. "How's everything going on your end?"

"Busy but good," she replies. "Everything's falling into place. Just a few more weeks, and we'll be together forever."

"Can't wait," I say, my heart swelling with love and anticipation. "I'll see you soon, Falaq."

"Insha'Allah," she says. "Take care, Shahzain."

"You too," I reply, ending the call with a content sigh. With her by my side, every victory feels sweeter, and every challenge more bearable.

For me, Falaq was the only girl that existed in the whole world. I don't even both glancing at other girl, because mine was far much prettier than anyone, whether by heart or soul.

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"Ten Days."

"Ten Days Fifteen Hours Twenty Minutes Six Seconds." I said precisely, watching her smile widen with each word.

"And you've kept track," she said softly, her voice laced with amusement, as though she didn't expect me to.

"Of course," I replied, my tone firm. "Every second matters."

Her eyes sparkled, but I could see the hint of something deeper beneath them. Sadness, perhaps? Fear? It was hard to tell. She tilted her head slightly, a strand of hair falling across her face.

"Kya Sochre Ho?" (What are you thinking?) I asked softly as I gently tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Kuch Nahi." (Nothing.) She smiles which didn't reached her eyes.

"Mujhse Jhoot Mat Bolo, Falaq Rehmaan. (Don't lie from me, Falaq Rehmaan.) I know you're hiding something from me, and it's tearing you apart from the inside."

Biting her lower lip, she internally decides and after a long pause. She says, "Darte Hoon." (I am scared.)

"Kis Baat Se?" (What are you afraid of? )

"I don't know, Shahzain. But I feel like something bad is going to happen. Something that might snatch everyone.... happiness." Falaq whispered, her voice barely audible as she looked away, her gaze lost in the distance.

I could see the fear in her eyes, the way her fingers trembled slightly as she clasped them together.

"Hey, Nothing is going to happen. Do you hear me, Falaq?" I said gently, taking her hands in mine.

"But what if something happened?"

"Then, we'll face it together."

She looked at me, her eyes shimmering with uncertainty. "But what if it's something we can't fight? What if it's already too late?"

I shook my head. "It's never too late, Falaq. We'll figure this out. You don't have to carry this weight alone."

She nodded, but I could tell she was still holding back. There was more she wasn't saying, more buried beneath her fear. I squeezed her hands, urging her to continue.

"Don't let negative thoughts consume you. We should be happy that it's only ten days left for our wedding. Let's not be ungrateful."

To which she nods.

"Agar tum dono ka romance khatam ho gaya ho toh, rasta se hat jaaye," (If your romance is over, then move out of the way.) Sobia's voice cuts through the moment like a sharp blade, disrupting the fragile calm.

My mood instantly turns sour, the warmth from moments ago replaced with a familiar frustration. I look up, and there she is-Sobia, standing in the doorway, her eyes full of judgement. She always has a way of ruining the most intimate of moments with her perfectly timed interruptions.

I feel Falaq's grip on my arm loosen slightly. She senses it too-the tension that Sobia brings with her. I force a smile, trying to keep the mood light, but the words that linger in my mind are far from kind.

"Don't worry, Sobia," I say, my voice laced with a forced politeness. "We wouldn't want to keep you from whatever urgent business you have."

Sobia raises an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Just thought I'd remind you both that not everyone has the luxury of wasting time."

Falaq squeezes my hand gently, a silent reminder to stay calm. But it's getting harder to ignore Sobia's constant digs. Ten days. Just ten more days.

"We'll see you at the wedding, Sobia," Falaq says sweetly, her tone a contrast to the tension in the air.

Sobia huffs and starts walking away. But as she passes by, her hand accidentally brushes against mine. A jolt of electricity surges through my body, and for a brief moment, her doe-like eyes meet mine, as if she felt it too.

Without a word, she looks away, and I do the same, letting her leave the room in silence. The moment is ruined, but Falaq's presence next to me keeps me grounded.

"Just a little longer," she whispers, leaning her head on my shoulder. "We can get through this."

I nod, exhaling slowly.

Ten days. Then all of this will be behind us.

And it will be just Me and Falaq. And our beautiful memories.

"She is so rude. I just hate her. I wonder how you were once friends with her."

"She is upset."

"So?" I raised my eyebrow at her. "That doesn't give her the right to be rude to everyone."

Sighing, Falaq summarised me about the proposal that came for Sobia and how she slapped him for his misbehaviour.

"For once, I am agreeing that what she did was right. I mean, what was wrong with that man? Itni hawas bhari thi us shakhs mein, usse thappad maarna zaroori tha. (There was so much lust in that person, it was necessary to slap him.) How could he even think of getting away with such behaviour? She did what anyone else in her place would have done. Maybe even worse."

I felt a sudden rush of anger for what Sobia had faced. My hands clenched into fists as I replayed the scene in my mind, the humiliation, the violation of trust. How could anyone treat her like that? Sobia was strong, but even she didn't deserve to endure something so vile. It wasn't just about the slap; it was about standing up for herself, for her dignity.

I could feel the weight of my emotions simmering, barely contained. "If I had been there, I wouldn't have just stopped at a slap," I thought bitterly.

"She wasn't always like this. She was once the sweetest person that you would have ever met." Falaq replies back with a far away look and a sad smile.

"And what changed her?"

"People. And their cruel words."

I glance at Falaq, surprised by the sudden sadness in her eyes. There's a heaviness to her words that makes me pause. She's usually so light-hearted. But right now, she seems miles away, lost in memories that have clearly left a mark on her.

"People can be cruel," Falaq continues, her voice quieter now. "Sometimes, the world wears you down, piece by piece, until there's nothing left of who you used to be. Sobia... she didn't stand a chance."

I frown, trying to reconcile the image of Sobia as someone who was once sweet and kind. It seems impossible to believe, given how she is now-cold, distant, and often harsh.

"What happened to her?" I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me.

Falaq sighs, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "It wasn't just one thing. It was a series of events... betrayals, disappointments, and people who she thought were her friends turning their backs on her. It changed her. Hardened her."

"A girl who once had a soft heart has now become so heartless."

"I wonder if she'll ever become the person she used to be-the one who was my best friend," She says, her eyes filling with tears as she continues.

I stay silent, letting Falaq's words sink in. It's strange to think that beneath Sobia's tough exterior might be someone who was once vulnerable, maybe even hurt.

"Maybe she just needs someone to remind her of who she used to be," I suggest softly.

Falaq smiles sadly, shaking her head. "Sometimes, people are too far gone to be brought back. All we can do is hope that one day, she finds her way again."

I nod, unsure of what to say next. Sobia's presence lingers in the back of my mind, but I push it aside. There's nothing I can do about it now.

All I can do is pray for her betterment and whatever she desires.

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It was raining heavily, and only five days remained until our wedding. I glanced at my watch-it was past five o'clock. Leaning against my car, I held my umbrella steady as I waited for Falaq.

My eyes wandered through the quiet neighbourhood, taking in the familiar surroundings of Falaq's house. But then, they settled on a figure in the distance-a silhouette standing in the downpour, completely drenched by the relentless rain.

A sense of unease crept over me as I squinted to make out who it was. Why would someone just stand there, in the middle of the rain, without any attempt to shield themselves? Something about the way they stood, unmoving and vulnerable, pulled me in.

I stepped forward, the sound of rain hitting the umbrella growing louder in my ears. As I got closer, recognition struck like lightning. It was Sobia.

Her hair clung to her face, soaked through, and her clothes were plastered to her skin. She seemed lost, broken, a shadow of the confident woman I once knew. My heart clenched involuntarily-what was she doing here, of all places?

She stood there with her eyes closed, letting her tears blend with the raindrops that streaked down her face. The sky had opened up, mirroring the storm inside her, but she didn't care.

"Sobia?" I called out, my voice uncertain as I approached her cautiously.

She opened her eyes and look in my direction, her eyes filled with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. There was something in her gaze-an emotion that went beyond just sadness. Desperation? Regret? So much pain and anger. It was hard to tell.

Her gaze locked onto mine, conveying unspoken emotions that words couldn't capture. I found myself unable to tear my eyes away from her. As I continued to look into her eyes, my body went numb, overwhelmed by the depth of pain and sadness reflected there.

Time seemed to stand still as we remained locked in this intense, unblinking stare. The neighborhood around us faded into the background, leaving only the two of us suspended in a moment that felt both timeless and excruciatingly real. The silence between us grew heavier, filled with unspoken regrets and unheeded promises.

"Shahzain."

Falaq voice broke our connection. Sobia took a step back, shaking her head as if trying to dispel the emotions swirling between us. We both look away from each other. I glanced towards Falaq who was coming out of her house.

"What are you doing out there alone?"

At her question, I turned around, confused, and looked in Sobia's direction. She was running back towards her house, away from Falaq's gaze. Her figure receded into the distance, leaving me with a swirl of unanswered questions. I was left wondering what had transpired in her life, and who the people were that had inflicted such deep pain upon her.

And the most important thing will she ever be able to heal from it.