Every eye was full of tears.
Cries and wails rose from the haveli when the janazah was risen from the home.
Haider has passed away.
Leaving his mother-less children now father-less.
Eyes were sad.
Yet his grey eyes stared at nothing just the eye-catching verses that he recited. He was silent. Quiet. Unable to produce any response.
Placing her head on his shoulder, his wife sat beside him, with tears propelling from her eyes as her hand held rosary reciting tasbeeh for the departed soul.
Sheharzaad was crying.
But Shehryaar was silent.
It was just those eye-catching verses that had his complete attention.
His father used to teach him the Quran in his childhood but he never got the chance to finish it because his practice sessions with his grandfather awaited him so he always used to leave without finishing his recitations.
Last he read these verses was decades back and then he did not touch the holy book again.
When he was set to made his first murder.
He considered himself too corrupted to touch the holy book again.
So he distanced himself.
His father always emphasized to read Quran with translation. And he was just drawn to the enigmatic words.
'Death'
His eyes came across this word and his mind went back to the moment when he handed his father over to the soil and came back home. Lied next to him, was his mother but not for once did he raise his eyes and looked at her grave. He didn't have the courage to.
He paid no heed to the grave of the lady who bore him as if that grave never existed. His legs had shivered while moving towards the graveyard.
No.
It wasn't because of him fulfilling his duty towards his father by burying him in the depth of ground.
He shivered.
Because decades later he was coming across that grave.
His eyes didn't even raise once.
He had bent down placing a kiss on his father's head, "I'll miss you, baba," his soft whisper, from the core of his heart.
His tears had fallen down.
His mother laid there. But he was too caught up in his thoughts, considered himself too corrupt to even look at his mother's grave.
Take care of women. Women are delicate flowers.
His mother's words came across his eyes. And cursorily what he did with Sheharzaad ran in his mind as well.
It made him feel suffocated in the open air.
After finishing the recitation, he closed the Quran and placed it where he took it from. He felt obligated to do that. It was his duty towards his father.
Sheharzaad has slept. Her head was lying on his lap. The TV lounge where the whole family sat was now vacated.
He pulled her up bridal style.
She was too tired that she didn't wake up as he carried her upstairs to their room.
Placing her on the bed, his thumb caressed her brows.
He knew, he can't afford loosing this woman.
His Zaad.
....
ONE MONTH LATER
The penance of Nayab was on Irtaza. Nayab considered Irtaza her culprit and he ought to deal her in his own way.
Sheharzaad and Shehryaar had gone back to their mansion in Islamabad. She had pressed him to move from haveli since it suffocated her.
They both were invested in their respective works now.
Sheharzaad didn't leave the job and was still working under the Kirmani's and still she hid her identity.
They both slept in the same room with Chahat in the middle.
But their life was stilled.
He was quiet.
She was quiet.
There was nothing but silence between them. And no one took a step ahead to disperse that silence
They both were still struggling to process the demise of Haider.
Shehryaar never went back to haveli after his father's death. Often, his uncle, Haroon called him and told that how much the family missed him and he should at least come once in a week.
They both laid still on the bed. She has turned to her left, sleeping while he was awake, his eyes, staring at the ceiling.
Chahat's little snores rung in the room who was sleeping on his chest. His arm was wrapped around her tiny body as she slept peacefully.
His eyes noticed the distance between him and Sheharzaad.
There still existed that difference.
He was clueless how to evacuate their life from this distance.
Because he knew, Sheharzaad had still not forgiven him.
On the cue, she turned to her right, facing him and sub-consciously, her hands grasped his as she placed it under her face.
He smiled.
After a long time.
....
Sheharzaad now worked under Maaz, son of the CEO. As far as she had observed, he was a non-serious guy regarding the business. He had no qualities to lead the business. And if Raza handed over this business to Maaz, then soon they will drown in debt.
She knew it because she had worked under Shehryaar. When it came to work, there was no compromise. Even though, he was his un-announced fiancee in those days but he still was relentless towards her when it came to work. If she didn't finish her task, she couldn't go home. How serious and focused Shehryaar always has been while working and comparing him with Maaz will definitely be an insult to Shehryaar. Maaz's skills and leadership qualities were not even half of the half of Shehryaar's qualities.
They both were in Maaz's office as they worked on the new venture of the company.
"So what do you suggest, Ms. Sheharzaad?" Maaz asked. Again. And she wanted to roll her eyes but she resisted that urge.
"I already have given my suggestions, sir. It's now upto you,"
"Ah," he looked at the file and then at her, smiling and then he closed the file, "it all will happen as you say," And her eyes widened, "atleast go through it, Sir. It requires your attention," She told him, "I will," she was tired of this response because he never did.
"Can we go to a lunch?" He asked, "I'm really hungry,"
"You can go. I've some work to catch up," she said, standing up, "please if you'll excuse me," and left his office.
She knew he has been trying to take her to a lunch for a long time. But he simple can't go. Shehryaar will kill him first and in this case, she too won't be exempted from his wrath, no matter what.
She was heading back to her office when she received a call from Shehryaar and she picked it up.
"Assalam alaikum," she greeted.
"Wsalam. Where are you?"
"At office?"
"Do you've any meeting?"
"No,"
"Alright. I'm with Chahat waiting outside your office. Chahat insists on lunch at a restaurant,"
"Okay. I'm coming," She told, hanging up the call before collecting her things from the office and heading outside. She found Shehryaar's car outside her office as she approached the car and sat down.
That afternoon, they both went to have lunch with Chahat. They were sitting, waiting for their lunch when Sheharzaad received a call from Maaz.
She frowned.
Why was he calling?
"Please, a second," she looked at Shehryaar and then went to a corner to pick up the call.
"I thought you had some work to do, Ms. Sheharzaad," Maaz spoke.
It made her frown deepened.
"Sorry?"
"I just saw you going with someone in that black audi,"
"So?"
He was getting on her nerves.
"Have you done your work?"
Her eyes cursorily went to Shehryaar who was going through his phone.
"Is there something important, sir?"
"Please can we talk?"
"About what?"
"Or can we meet somewhere?"
Her eyes again went back to Shehryaar and this time her breath caught in her throat as his eyes were on her. She immediately fixed her posture because she was aware that how picky he was of minute details.
"Sir, I'm with someone. I'll call you back once I get free," She cut the call since she could feel his eyes boring holes in her back. She switched off her phone so Maaz couldn't call him again. It was her fault of not telling him about her marriage. She could feel he was interested in her.
She came back to her seat and tried acting normal.
"All right?" he asked, while turning off his phone and placing it on the table. His eyes moved from his phone to her.
Intimidated.
She felt intimidated.
"Yes," Was her lie.
Soon, a waitress came, serving them the lunch. His eyes were on Sheharzaad's while Sheharzaad just stared at the waitress.
It was the third time the waitress turned to look at Shehryaar.
When her eyes went back to him, he found his eyes intent upon hers.
"What?" she asked him.
He said while picking up his fork and knives, "jealousy suits you," and he winked at her.
"I'm not jealous,"
He brushed his finger with the tip of her nose, teasingly, "I know you like the back of my hand,"
Sheharzaad slightly tilted her head towards the waitress and breathed in relieved on confirming that she saw this cute little exchange between them before she quickly looked back at Shehryaar.
"If you want," he raised his eyes up from his plate, "I can kiss you senseless as well,"
And her whole face turned red as she immediately placed her hands on Chahat's ears who was enjoying her food.
"Shall I lock you up for other girls looking at you?" She slightly narrowed her eyes at him.
"You know you can do that,"
And she suppressed her emerging smile and looked away.