At Bukhari household, everyone was present to discuss the rumor that begun to spread after that day and Amir began to say, "Everyone has begun to talk ill of Zain and Hoorain and even the fact the main host and his wife left out of the blue affirmed their rumors." He ended in a hiss, glaring at the young couple exchanging nervous glances and clearing throats.
Sighing, he continued, "They are saying they were in a forbidden relationship at University and have done wrong things. This is soiling our name and image."
"That's completely wrong! I could never think of Hoorain like this. I never did." Zain reasoned, certainly not wanting to have any bond with Hoorain. Hoorain kept looking down, not saying anything.
"We know it but we can't shut people out." Amir sighed. "People can go to hell. I don't care what others think, I know I have done nothing wrong." Zain scoffed, glaring at Hoorain from the corner of his eyes as she kept looking down.
"You are not a hermit, Zain. You are a member of this society and you have to abide by its cultures and moralities." Amir tried to explain but Zain couldn't accept this fact.
"They are just a bunch of dudes talking ill of us. Why-" Zain tried to talk the matter out but Amir lost his patience, "Because your little stunt has caused trouble everywhere! It occurred in Paradise, the incident spread like fire and everyone hasn't stopped talking about it."
"But they did when someone beat Farhan near the women's washroom so why not us. Why are they making a big deal of us but not a mysterious beating. There wasn't a recording of it! Why us but not him?!" he reasoned, raising his voice out of frustration, causing the couple to exchange nervous glances again with a faint smirk.
"It's getting unbearable, Zain. Why don't you get it?! Hoorain is the sister of its owner, it matters, you are his best friend, people can get the wrong idea and they did!" Amir shouted. "I know, I can understand, I am not a kid. I have received a warning from University too." He tried to reason calmly emitting a long sigh to put his senses at serene.
"That's why, me and Rehman had made a decision." He sighed, "What?"
"You and Hoorain should get engaged to justify the act." He enunciated and Zain's eyes widened in horror, Hoorain was taken aback, not believing what she was hearing.
"What?! Is that your solution for everything?! Marriage?!" Zain yelled, losing his forbearance with the whole situation, not wanting to bound his life to unwanted obligations-especially with someone he doesn't love.
"What other option do we have? We will quietly exchange rings and tell everyone you were engaged for a long time." Amir reasoned, trying to convince him but to no avail.
"And later break this when things will calm down, right?" Zain asked hopefully. Hoorain's heart constricted to think why Zain felt such dejection towards her. "What? Of course not!"
"This is not fair! I can't sacrifice my life like Isra. I wouldn't do it. Why would I?" Zain declared, making everyone perplexed why he was behaving in such a way. "Why, Bro? Even Hoorain is ready. Why can't you do it?" Rayan asked, looking at his sister sadly knowing he has to convince his best friend for the sake of his sister.
She would be. He thought bitterly, "But, I am not. I can't." He hissed. "There must be a reason." Isra said, not understanding why he doesn't want it.
"Come on Zain, you are talking weirdly." Isra said.
"Weird? I am not. What if I cannot keep her happy? What if we were stuck into a bond of force?! Moreover, I don't have a job properly enough to afford her expenses." He threw his series of excuses to avoid this situation but all his efforts were in vain.
"Who is telling you to marry her now? Just get engaged."
"No." Zain rolled his eyes, closing his arms at his chest. "Okay, okay, Zain. Listen. Why don't you agree for engagement even as a pretense and we wait until you get your degree and job. Then decide whether you are better for Hoorain or not? You can do this much, can't you?" Isra suggested, hoping he would listen. Zain's gaze softened for a second, glancing at Hoorain who was sitting, biting her lips to not cry for a second and back again at Isra, "Isra... I.. I.."
"Are you hesitating that she is my sister? Bro, your sister is my wife if you remember." Rayan defended. Before Zain could reach any decisions, Amir spoke announced,
"We will do it, just all of us would be present. How about on the month's end?"
"Do I get to say anything? That's too early." Zain argued. "Then when, huh? Next year?! We are going to do it and you will keep this mouth shut."
"But-"
"No buts. That's final." Amir declared as Zain left and Rayan went after him to talk the matter out and Isra also went in the garden to ease her mind, apprehending what is happening between them until a familiar deep soft voice came behind,
"Hey." She turned and saw Emraz, offering her a glass of juice. "Oh. Hey." She passed him a faint smile, taking the glass and looking on the other side. "You finally seem happy with Rayan." He smiled.
"Because I am." Her smile grew wider, tracing her finger on the glass, staring down. Calling her stupid to never give Rayan a chance all this time while he was the one who could give her the world.
"Glad to know."
"Hmm." She hummed as they stood in silence for a while but she called him, "Emraz."
"Yeah?" When she was ready to move on from the past, she didn't want to keep reminders of what happened before.
"Rayan is your brother and I know you siblings share a deep bond that's why I don't want to become a hindrance. I am moving on towards a new life with Rayan. I want to forget that you and I were ever a thing." She said, looking at him. He blinked, trying to register her words and returned her his usual smile, "Maybe that's for the better."
~*~
Things went well, everyone was getting ready to perform the engagement ceremony, Isra and Rayan also came home. Amir was also there, trying to reassure Rehman that it was too abrupt that's why Zain behaved this way or else he would take great care of Hoorain, "Rehman... "
"Hmm?"
"People try to keep their daughters from getting disgraced but I have realized that sons need protection too. You cannot always justify that he is a man and can do this, a man also gets disgrace and he has to face the world despite all this. The thing being man objectified him, gave him the ultimate certificate of being bad while he is not. Everyone is not the same." He sighed, explaining the part of reality he had learned vaguely.
"Hmm. I agree."
"When I found Zain in this condition, I realized what you must have felt after Emraz left, why Emraz Hid from the world for a few months. You know this society, we cannot break it's rhythm but it has become so toxic that it doesn't see whether the person is a girl or boy, it places judgement. You were just trying to save what's lost and I tried to save my daughter. But now I am in your place and I have to save what's lost." Now Amir was in Rehman's place, he realized how difficult it must have been for the Father as well. Things bring troubles not only for daughters but for sons as well. No one was safe.
"I guess that means you no longer hold a grudge against me." Rehman laughed a little.
"Nah.. It's time to start things anew. Besides, It ended the moment I saw Isra smiling with Rayan." Amir sighed, turning to look at Isra and Rayan.
Isra was applying henna on her hands while Rayan was feeding her ice-cream. "Open your mouth." He said, she smiled and opened her mouth as he fed her.
"Who told you to apply Henna?" he asked, taking a glimpse of her arresting hands. "Mhm. Why not? Tomorrow is my Brother's engagement. Even if it's fake, I am going to prepare wholeheartedly." She said excitedly. "Okay. Okay." He chuckled.
As she was applying henna, he called her again, "Isra.."
"Hmm?" she hummed as he asked tentatively, "Will you write my name on your hand?"
Inclining her head in his direction, she returned a toothy smile, "Sure. I will. I will write Rayan's Bride in the middle so everyone could see, okay?" A glow appeared on his face when she giggled, beaming, "Thanks!"
Rehman and Amir smiled looking at the couple and said, "See. How happy they are."
"I shall pray they will remain like this forever."