YOU GUYS ARE SURELY NOT EXPECTING THIS!!

There is going to be a lot of swearing. (Warning)

Afaaf

" Murad."

It couldn't be.

No.

It couldn't be.

Not him.

It couldn't be him.

Not Murad.

I trusted him with my life.

I was gonna marry him.

I staked everything for him, my life, my honour, my home.

Yet as I stared at the darkened figure of the man, I couldn't erase the reality. It was Murad. His dark eyes and that built figure of his. His intimidating aura, that once made my heart flutter now twisted my stomach in knots.

" Murad." I spoke out loud and clear not able to control my shock.

Eyes turned towards me but when Murad looked at me, I couldn't concentrate on anything else. He didn't seem shocked for even a second. As his lips curled upwards in a sinister way. His eyes were frozen on me and I couldn't function myself.

Jahan growled behind me and that made me turn to look at him. Three bulky men seized him as he tried to pry himself off. They were much stronger than him as they held him down.

" Leave him please." I found myself speaking. My voice echoing against the walls. But my efforts went in vain as one of the man, pulled a gun at my way. The hair at the back of my neck erected seeing the gun at my way.

Jahan was restless in their grip, trying to himself free as pashto profanities left his mouth uncontrollably. I turned around when Murad laughed. The brown amber eyed man was pulled by the men in the large hall. Making him kneel on the floor and pointing a gun his way.

My heart trembled within it's cage as I looked at the beast of a man.

" Won't you guys like to see the one, for whom you are here." He spoke.

" Shut up. You fucking rat. If anything happens to my family. I swear, I'll skin you alive." Jahan snarled.

" Boys!" Murad called out. Footsteps could be heard, as if someone was descending the stairs. Seconds later, two men pulled Zaryaab in the room. His steps swaggering. His face lowered and his hands tied before him. I could see the cut on his cheek bone. His disheveled state. The side of his lips swelled. And my heart broke on his state.

Wait for me Afaaf.

"Zaryaab."

The words bubbled out of my mouth in a cry and I made a run for him. My heart yearning for him. He looked up at me. His forest green eyes widened and his lips parted. His head tilted to the side. As if he couldn't believe the sight of me.

It seemed that the distance between us was only increasing. More and more. I was steps away from my husband when my steps faltered and I was pulled back. A hand wrapped around my wrist, and a gasp broke through my lips on the contact.

" No." I cried out as Murad pulled at my wrist.

" Leave her!" Zaryaab shouted. His voice hoarse. As he wiggled in the men's grip.

I groaned seeing as Murad stepped before me. His head shaking as he looked down at me. His large figure preventing the sight of Zaryaab.

" Move away." I growled at the man. Pushing against his chest.

" Now now Afaaf-"

" Murad." Zaryaab had a threat in his voice and Murad turned to him.

" Zaryaab Alam Khan, be aware of what you speak. Before becoming your wife. She was my girlfriend." A sob racked through my lips and I lowered my head.

What have I done.

" Shut up Murad Suleman. You fucking coward man. Be a man and face me, why the support of these men, huh!" Jahan spoke furiously. The man besides him, punched him square on the jaw.

" You killed your own father and now you're afraid to face me." Another jaw. I flinched on my place. Jahan was not stopping as the man punched him again and again.

" You have been lurking in the corners-" another punch.

" Giving us fucking threats to scare us." Another punch.

" Stop it." Zaryaab shouted. His body shaking from rage. A man nudged his knee making him kneel down, a hiss escaping his lips.

Oh Zaryaab!

" Afaaf." Murad spoke low. His fingers came up to my face as he trailed them down my face and I moved back. His touch disgusting me. My wrist was still in his grip.

" You were so desperate to get away that you ran away with the wrong man." He tsked and my brown eyes shot to his.

" I ran away with the right man." I spoke harshly. My lips puckering.

A small smile played on his lips.

I stared at him hard. Once his smile used to brighten up my day. Give me hope. And flutter my heart. But now his smile only caused bile to rise in my throat. His dark eyes were once calming but now they were filled with hatred and sins. Chills ran down the length of my spine, my mind rolling. He killed a man, not just a man but his own father. And I was ready to run away with him and settle down. Sign away my life with him.

" Murad, you are a murderer." I stated. Nodding at him as he frowned.

He pulled out a gun from his back pocket. Swaying the metal before me, leaning to my height.

" Am I?" He dropped the gun. The metal hit the floor beneath us and I flinched. He feigned innocence but he looked anything but innocent. His men started to laugh. He glared at his men and they shut their mouths.

" Yes. You are." His hands gripped my arms. So hard that I was standing on the tip of my toes. He stepped in my personal space and I trembled.

I could hear as Zaryaab growled dangerously. And in a split second he was on his feet as he kicked the two men. Hitting them with his tied hands. The men groaned as they doubled over. Zaryaab took long strides towards us. He raised his elbows and in a second he had smacked Murad's face and pried me off him.

Murad fell down from the impact.

I clutched Zaryaab's arm as he stood before me. My fingers trying to open the ropes but they were so tight that I failed. Murad stood up. His hands gripping the gun and he hit the barrel against Zaryaab's head. I shrieked loudly as Zaryaab bent down.

" I will fucking kill you. You bastard." Jahan yelled.

I bent down to Zaryaab, cupping his head but the bulky men came over. Murad clutched my hand and pulled me away. I cried out, thrashing in his hold.

" No. Leave me. No!"

" Don't fucking touch. Keep your hands away. DON'T TOUCH HER." Zaryaab's throat was hoarse. His voice so raw that my heart bleed for him. He kept yelling as the men pulled him away, holding him back as he thrashed in their grip. They dumped him mercilessly besides Jahan.

Murad chuckled like a sick man. Anger ran like blood in my veins as he walked us back. So that we were feet's away from the men.

" I'll kill them both. Then their property becomes mine. After Suleman, the property and money goes to Zaryaab Alam Khan and when he dies. The property goes to me. The only last option. And then Afaaf, like always you desired. We'll run somewhere far away. I'll always be by your side. I'll keep you."

As Murad went on, I balled my fists. For some reason I didn't fear the man.

" Mm. I'll keep you. You were always mine." That broke something inside me. And before I could stop myself I had slapped him across the face so hard that I impact ran deep in my fascia travelling to my muscles.

The room stilled.

Murad's face had turned to the side. All movement had stopped in the room. Jahan and Zaryaab were frozen and I could feel their eyes on us. His men were motionless as well staring at us. I heard only hear my heaving breaths besides my thudding heart.

Murad's face had turned red and as his glowering eyes stared at me, I stepped back. His hand reached forward and he gripped my hair so tight that I closed my eyes. His breath hit my face as he gritted.

" Now you'll pay." He looked at his men and gave them a nod.

I gasped as his men started hitting Jahan and Zaryaab. They punched and kicked. The two men groaned and I felt my heart bursting in my chest.

" No! No!" I cried out.

I ran to the men, trying to push them away but they were so strong. A dark skinned man pushed me and I fell to the ground. Zaryaab looked at me, his face twisting in pain. I stared at his face, his handsome face. Amd a punch was landed on his jaw. I turned my face away as taers pooled my eyes. My hair curtained his sight.
For him, I'd do anything.

Standing up, a sob racked through my body as I walked to Murad. Standing before the man, I joined my hands before him. My eyes lowered as I begged him.

" Please. Murad. Please." I sobbed.

Murad curled his lips up. I was doing this only for Zaryaab's sake. For Jahan. For Jahan's Ronaq.

" Please. Leave them." I slipped down on the ground. Sitting on my knees. Begging the man.

" Please make it stop. Please don't do this to them." I cried harder hearing the men groan in pain.

My fingers trembled as I laced them together, begging the man for mercy.

Murad paced up and down. Running his hands through his hair.

" No Afaaf. No!" Zaryaab shouted from behind me. I turned my face a little. But my heart was breaking. It was bleeding painfully.

" Please Murad. I beg of you."

Ya Allah. Where were our guards. Where was the special forces?

" Afaaf. You silly girl." Murad bent to my level. Cocking his head. His hand curled under my jaw. I took in a shaky breath. Feeling his men move away from the two men.

Hitching my breath, I looked up as Murad stared at me. His expressions masked with worry as he looked between me and Zaryaab.

" The man, you are begging for has used you." I stared at him blankly. Shaking my head.

" No." I spoke.

" Yes." The confidence in his voice made me want to slap him again.

" He has used you to get to me." My mind stopped functioning. And my heart dropped in my stomach.

" Zaryaab Alam Khan has used you, so that he could get me. Why do you think has he kept you with him, all this time. He even married you so that you couldn't get away."

I gasped at the information.

" No Afaaf. He's lying to you."

I had no energy to turn and look at Zaryaab. I was numb as Murad nodded before me. My hands fell on my lap, hopelessly.

" He had no other way to find me. You were the only option for him. He used you all these months. Faking your so called marriage. But to make him stop taking advantage of you, I found him. And I took him."

Could this be the truth.

Murad stood up, rounding me and walked to the men. I turned around, still sitting on the cold floor. Murad sat on the floor between Jahan and Zaryaab.

Jahan was lying on his stomach, his eyes wide as he stared at me. Blood oozing from his nose. His hair messed up and I could see the gash on his arm.

Zaryaab was sitting on his knees like me, his shoulders slouched.

" We are on the same page, Afaaf. If I am a bad man so is your husband. But I have the plus point. I have never hurt you intentionally. But your husband has."

I listened to him. But stared at Zaryaab.

" Who would you believe, Afaaf."

Murad was alarming.

I stared at the two men. Zaryaab was waiting for my answer. So was Murad.

I remembered every single detail about Murad. His sweet names for me. His smiles. His assuring words.

The white Alam Khan haveli appeared before my eyes. Khan Dada, Dadi Gul Jan, Norie, the terrace, the beautiful pigeons, Jahan, Gulroz, the warmth and security. Zaryaab. His smirks, his anger, his unsaid sorry, his rare smiles. His intense stares and his stolen glances. His forest green eyes and his blank expressions. His cigarettes.

" Zaryaab Alam Khan or Murad Suleman?" The man asked again.

And just then, a bulb lit up in my brain.

I smiled whilst my teary eyes.

" Zaryaab Alam Khan. I'd choose him." I stated.

Murad grinned.

"That's where you're wrong, sweety." He was such a manipulator.

" You know Murad, I never told Zaryaab your name because you meant nothing to me. Absolutely nothing!"

Zaryaab closed his eyes for a split second and a sigh left his lips as if he was relieved. As if he could breath again. Whilst Murad's face twisted into anger.

" I'd always choose Zaryaab Alam Khan."

And I could breath again.

***

Woah!! I was crying writing this !! 😭😭😭

Comment ALOTTTTTTTT!!

There is more to come!!!

Until next time,

_Hafsa💕