When Malik Zubair took her back to the haveli, he knew how his father would react. Their families had been enemies for years, and the rivalry ran deep, making it impossible for his father to allow her entry into the house.

"Kon hai ye ladki?" (Who is this girl?) Malik Mukhtar asked as he brought her in. His father, looking at her wedding dress, misunderstood everything and thought Malik Zubair had married her.

"Abba ye Haya hai... Mujhe dargah ke bahir mili." (Father, this is Haya... I found her outside the shrine), he replied firmly. But his father wasn't having it.

"Tumne nikah karliya?" (Did you get married?) he asked, but Malik Zubair shook his head. "Nahi Abba, ye apne nikah se bhaagi hai." (No, father, she has run away from her own wedding).

"Phir iss apne ghar par chodna tha yaha kyun lekar aaye?" (Then why did you bring her here instead of taking her back to her own home?), he asked angrily, disappointed with his son's unpredictable actions.

"Abbu iske ghar waaley naraz hai isse, ye wapas nahi jaa payegi." (Father, her family is angry with her; she won't be able to go back), Malik Zubair replied.

Malik Mukhtar sighed deeply and turned to Haya. "Beta, tumhare ghar waalon se mai baat karta hu, apni bacchi se koi zyaada der naraz nahi reh sakta." (Dear, I will talk to your family; no one can stay angry with their child for too long).

Malik Zubair laughed and told him, "Ye Murtasim Khan ki behen hai." (She is Murtasim Khan's sister).

Malik Mukhtar pushed his son out of the door. "Ye ladki yaha nahi aa sakti." (This girl cannot come here), Malik Mukhtar shouted at his son.

"Abba subah tak rehne de... Kal chali jayegi." (Father, let her stay until morning... She will leave tomorrow), Malik Zubair tried to say, but his father shook his head.

"Kis haq se isse yaha laaye ho, Qur'an padh rahey toh itna toh pata hoga ki Islam me bina koi rishtey ke aise ladkiyon ko apne ghar par nahi rakh sakte! Kis rishtey se rakhoge?" (By what right have you brought her here? If you are reading the Quran, you should know that in Islam, we cannot keep girls like her in our home without any relation! What relation will you keep her with?), he asked.

"Acchai ke rishte se." (With a relation of goodness), Malik Zubair tried to convince his father, but he laughed in his face. "Mai accha insaan nahi hu phir." (Then I am not a good person), and he closed the door on their face.

As the sun began its descent, casting a resplendent golden hue upon the world, Malik Zubair's footsteps echoed softly through the tranquil alleys leading to the dargah. With every step, his heart grew heavier, burdened by the weight of his conflicting emotions.

His gaze, filled with a longing for the woman who still held a place within his soul, shifted towards Haya, who walked beside him with an air of vulnerability and strength. He couldn't ignore the profound realization that she needed him now more than ever. A sense of sorrow enveloped him as he contemplated the path that lay ahead.

"Maulvi Sahab, meri madad kijiye," Malik Zubair beseeched the revered scholar, his voice tinged with both desperation and hope. The Maulvi's eyes, wise and understanding, met Malik Zubair's, silently acknowledging the complexity of his predicament.

"Beta, Allah humein kai raaston se insaanon se milata hai, kabhi seerat se, kabhi taqdeer se," the Maulvi's gentle words drifted through the air, weaving a tapestry of wisdom. It was a reminder that the divine orchestrates meetings between souls, sometimes through their innate nature, at other times through the hand of fate.

As the Maulvi spoke, Malik Zubair's thoughts wandered to the woman who still held his heart captive, a bittersweet ache coursing through his veins. He understood the profound impact he could have on Haya's life, offering her protection and support in her time of need.

With a heavy heart, Malik Zubair turned towards Haya, his voice trembling as he uttered the words that weighed upon him, "Haya, mujhse nikkah karogi?" In that moment, the complexity of his emotions mingled with regret, for he knew that he could not give her the complete love that resided within him.

Haya, her eyes shimmering with a blend of surprise and acceptance, comprehended the significance of Malik Zubair's proposal. A single tear traced its path down her cheek, encapsulating her vulnerability and newfound strength. She realized that this union, born out of necessity and compassion, held the potential to provide her with a sheltered haven.

Her response, tender and resolute, echoed through the sacred air, "Haan, Zubair. Mai aap se nikkah karongi." In that moment, she relinquished her own desires, choosing to walk alongside him on this uncharted path.

The Maulvi, a witness to their intertwined destinies, officiated their union. His words of guidance and support wrapped around their entwined souls, illuminating the path they were embarking upon.

As they stood in the presence of the dargah, the timeless symbol of devotion and surrender, Malik Zubair's gaze met Haya's, intertwining their fates in an unspoken understanding. Though his heart may forever bear the imprint of another, he vowed to be her shield, her sanctuary amidst life's storms.

***

As Malik Zubair and Haya returned to their home, the air thickened with tension. Malik Mukhtar, his anger barely contained, erupted like a volcano. His voice thundered through the halls, filled with disappointment and rage, "Kaisa beghairat beta dediya mujhe, ya Khudaya! Aur aap bhi dheet hai, jaise ghar se bhaagi thi waise wapas nahi jaaskti hai!" His bloodshot eyes bore into Malik Zubair, seething with fury.

In that moment, as Malik Mukhtar's gaze fell upon the protective gesture of Malik Zubair pushing Haya behind him, he caught a glimpse of the intimacy that had grown between them. Confusion mingled with his anger, a flicker of realization creeping into his thoughts.

"Malik Zubair," he grabbed his son's collar, his grip tightening, his voice laced with suspicion, "Kya chahta hai woh Khan ka baccha yaha aakar phirse humari beizzati kare? Pichli baar uski behen ke chakkar mein goli khayi thi ab?" His words were filled with concern for his son's safety, but his tone betrayed a deeper fear.

Malik Zubair attempted to explain, his voice tinged with desperation, but Malik Mukhtar refused to listen. He couldn't comprehend how his once strong-willed son had become so tender-hearted, so vulnerable. The sudden change in his demeanor irked him, for he missed the old Malik Zubair, the mirror image of himself.

With a heavy heart, Malik Zubair lowered his head, appearing as a broken man before his father. The weight of his decisions hung heavily upon him. In a barely audible whisper, he revealed the truth, "Abba, maine isse nikah kar liya hai."

A thunderous silence engulfed the room, broken only by Malik Mukhtar's incredulous roar. "Kya bolaaaa!" His voice reverberated, echoing through the walls, as disbelief and anger merged within him. This revelation shattered his expectations and shattered the image of his son that he had held for so long.

This time, Malik Zubair lifted his head, meeting his father's gaze with newfound determination. There was a flicker of defiance in his eyes, a flame of love and protectiveness that burned bright. "Ye meri biwi hai," he declared, his voice resonating with unwavering conviction.

In that defiant moment, the clash of generations, of tradition and personal choice, filled the room. Malik Zubair stood before his father, his voice and actions defying the expectations placed upon him. He had chosen love and compassion over societal boundaries, ready to face the consequences that lay ahead.

Malik Mukhtar, his grip loosening, stared at his son, torn between his own deeply rooted beliefs and the realization that this decision was a reflection of the man he had raised. He saw the strength in Malik Zubair's eyes, the willingness to protect and honor the woman he now called his wife.

***

Previous part was inspired from Qubool Hai ( An Indian TV serial), one of my favourite, you can watch the video and know why.

This Zubaya ship was all thanks to youtube comments of Tere Bin. The thing I love the most about pakistani dramas is when the antagonist develop and make ammends. It's the most beautiful thing, because without it the story feels incomplete, what if they scheme once again. Either they need to die or change for the better.

The Haya in Tere Bin had annoyed me so much that I wouldn't care even if she died, but I didn't wanted to take it out on the Haya here.

The story of Malik Zubair and Haya ends here, although Haya's redemption would be included in the later parts.

The next chapters will be purely Mahjabeen  × Murtasim.

Btw how many people are Mir Haadi fans here?  If you are then go check out, my new book 'Love to Hate her', lol I am shameless when it comes to self promotion.