"Bhulna bhulana to insani fitrat hai,
Magar saccha pyar kabhi bhulaya nahi jata
Ye us khuda ki nemat hai..."

(To forget and being forgotten is in human behaviour,
But true love is unforgettable this is God's blessing...)

***

"Why did you do that?" Zimad asks.

"To create steps towards my destiny." Sabil shrugs.

"I can't understand?" Zimad gets confused.

"Love, hurt, betrayal and boom my destiny in my hand." Sabil moves his palm in air and then clenches his fist.

"Still can't?" Zimad gives him a confused look.

"After hearing that song that guy will remember his love, then he'll feel hurt and in return maybe he'll try to hurt Zaala for coming between them. When he'll hurt her she'll sense something wrong and then the chances of her backing out from this engagement will increase and I'll get more time to create a little space in her heart. This was my plan." Sabil explains.

"Things can happen the other way too, there are chances of failure too and how can you be so sure that only because of this thing you'll be able to create a little space in her heart when you couldn't in all these years?" Zimad asks.

"You won't understand Zimad, we should strike the hammer only when the iron is hot enough," Sabil replies.

"You have a wicked mind. I don't understand how you found out everything about that guy within two days time?" Zimad asks.

"That my friend, you won't ever know as I have devil's connection," Sabil replies with a wicked smirk.

"But I have a right to know because if my dad wouldn't have been a friend of Mr Faruqi then I wouldn't have known about your Zaala's engagement and you too would have remained ignorant. You should be thankful for this favour." Zimad says.

"I'm more than thankful your majesty," Sabil says bending his head and keeping his right hand on his chest. Both friends then start laughing.

***

At Mr Faruqi's place...

"There's no other option left for me. Please don't stop me Hani. It's better to die than getting tied in a loveless marriage." Zaala pleads.

"No Zaala your life is not worthless that you'll end it for that pathetic excuse of a man and even if you die people won't stop blaming you, in fact, they'll create new rumours. That pathetic excuse of a man will then find someone else and spoil her life maybe your future will then become Zaya's future?" Umme Hani tries to change Zaala's mind to stop her from committing suicide.

"No, it won't happen with Zaya," Zaala shouts angrily.

"Then be strong and defend yourself. If there's no one else to support you then you should fight for yourself." Zaal's mom appears out of nowhere.

"Mom, what do you mean," Zaala asks.

"Promise me Zaala you won't let this injustice happen with you. I heard everything. I'm helpless my child but you have to be strong for your self-respect, for your happiness." Zarq motivates her daughter.

"Ok mom, I promise, I won't let them spoil my future." Zarq then kisses her daughter's forehead and leaves.

"So now when I just changed my mind, do you have any plan on how to end this engagement?" Zaala asks.

"Yeah, talk to Sabil." Umme Hani replies.

"Never." Zaala glares at her.

"Ok, then break your promise, marry that jerk, accept wholeheartedly a lifetime misery and maybe in future see your sister suffer the same." Umme Hani says in an irritated tone and Zaala starts crying loudly.

"I insulted him so many times, I rejected him so many times, how can I ask for his help now? He'll rub all these facts in my face and the most important thing is, what will dad feel if he comes to know?" Zaala expresses her insecurity.

"First of all, I'm sure he won't utter a single word which will make you feel guilty or humiliated and if he does we can think of another option but believe me he has some kind of feeling for you otherwise he wouldn't have wasted all these years following you for nothing. Secondly, your dad already believes that you are having a love affair with Sabil so it won't be something new for him and if your dad cannot protect your future then it's your duty to do so. Break these social ties Zaala. Be selfish, at least once think about your future, your happiness, your life." Umme Hani makes her understand.

Zaala searches her inbox for Sabil's message and when she finds it she calls him. When it starts ringing and Zaala's heartbeat increases.

"Assalamalaikum," Sabil says upon receiving the call.

"Walaikum Assalam," Zaala replies.

"Zaala is it you or am I dreaming?" Sabil asks more to himself.

"Yeah, it's me. Please, will you marry me?" Zaala asks him straight away.

Taken aback by her sudden proposal Sabil doubts on his hearing ability and again asks to confirm, "what?"

"It's ok if you don't want to marry me. I can understand." Zaala says in a broken voice.

"No, no, I mean yes, yes. I'll marry you whenever and wherever you wish." Sabil replies with happiness.

"Will you elope with me if I'll ask?" Zaala asks.

"If you wish so I'm ready but I don't think there's any need for that as tomorrow itself I'll send a marriage proposal at your home," Sabil replies.

"No, no don't do that. I got engaged today and that boy is telling me that he loves someone else and will never accept me as his wife as he too is forced to get engaged to me but because of some problem I can't tell this to my dad." Zaala explains her situation to him.

"So it means that you want to marry me as there isn't any other option left for you, Am I right?" Sabil pretends as if he's ignorant about all that and makes Zaala feel like he truly cares for her.

"Um... It's..." Zaala can't find proper words to reply.

"Listen carefully Zaala, a marriage done on the basis of compromise doesn't last long. But don't worry I'm ready to help you get out of this mess." He assures her.

"Thanks a lot." Zaala thanks him.

"It's ok and thanks to you too for asking me to help you. Maybe you don't know but it means a lot to me. Will you call me again tomorrow?" Sabil asks.

"Maybe," Zaala replies and disconnects the call.

"Ok madam, so everything is set up." Umme Hani feels relieved.

"Yeah, he's ready to help but I'm not sure if I'll find enough strength to tell dad about us in future." Zaala gets tense.

"Don't worry. I'm sure that loverboy of your's will find a way to end this engagement and then you can dump him. It won't be a big deal for someone like him." Umme Hani tells her.

"No way. I hate cheaters and I'll never betray him. I gave him my words and if he'll really help me come out of this mess then I won't marry anyone other than him. You know it's very easy to break someone's trust that they have in you. It's not because you have the ability to fool them, it's because they trust you blindly and wholeheartedly. When my trust was broke I got heartbroken, now I don't even trust my own self and I won't ever put anyone else in my place." Zaala says firmly.

"Yeah, yeah, anyways he's always a better option after all a known enemy is better than an unknown friend and this enemy is a loverboy. Who knows in future he'll love you more than anyone else. One more thing, if you'll marry him you'll live close enough to watch Zaya and if she ever faces a situation like your's you can always help her." Umme Hani's words motivate her.

"Thanks, Hani, I don't know what I would have done without you? If you wouldn't have stayed today you would have come to my funeral tomorrow." Zaala says in a sad voice.

Umme Hani hits her head with the pillow and says, "idiot don't utter nonsense. I was always there for you and will always be." Both the friends then hug each other.

Tears start flowing out of Zaala's eyes as she cries on her fate. How she became helpless and choose the wrong path only because of those false rumours and the fact that her dad believes them instead of trusting his daughter. At last those people who spread those rumours became successful in making it a truth. Not all people do wrong things willingly but circumstances and narrow-minded society make them what they are.

wipping her tears Zaala gets up and performs salah to thank her Lord because in this state of helplessness only he can give her peace. She became distant from her Lord because of her parent's dispute but now her Lord has put her in such a situation where she felt the necessity to kneel in front of him and ask for forgiveness and put her trust wholeheartedly in him just like she did before when she was a kid.

***

At the same time, outside Sabil's house...

Sabil stands up and raises his hands, jumps and kick. Because of his kick Zimad's bike falls down. In his excitement, Sabil doesn't notice the bike in front of him before kicking.

"Sabil has gone mad." Zimad comments with a shocked look.

"No man, Zaala just asked for my help. Now just wait and watch how I'll capture her heart." Sabil says excitedly.

"It's fine but keep in mind, girls like Zaala are unique and special. If we can't marry them, we should never play with their feelings." Zimad warns him out of concern.

"Will see." Sabil replies and Zimad nods his head in disagreement.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Here's an update for all my lovely readers who requested an update.
Sorry for taking so much time to update but as you know its Ramadan and no matter how much we pray and read the Quran in this month its not enough.

"Haq ada na go saka humse tera,
Hone Chala he Tu humse juda...
Dilwa dene hame Rab ki Riza,
Alwida ae Mahe Ramazan Alwida..."

Remember me and my family in your prayers.