CHAPTER 32
AUTHOR POV:
The next day started with the couple getting ready to visit the other places, while some of the group mates chose to stay in their rooms.
"Can we ride on your bike today, instead of our car, please?" said Hayat, moving to the parking lot of the hotel with others on the side.
"Then can I drive your car, Miss Hayat?" Ashar came in front of Hayat, kneeling with his right hand out in front of Hayat.
"Of course, here." Taking the keys, all excited, Ashar ran towards the car while Ahad looked at his wife, who was all excited to ride the bike with him today. Ahad sat on his bike and gave his jacket to Hayat, "Wear it."
"Why?" Hayat asked, confused as he looked at his hand, which had the black leather jacket, "For your safety, and yeah, take my helmet too, here."
Hayat took the jacket from his hand, a smile formed on her lips, "You wear your helmet, you need it more since you will be riding the bike."
"I'll wear Ashar's helmet, you can wear this one, hmm," Hayat called out to Ashar, who was about to walk inside, asking for his helmet, she wore and took the backseat.
All of them were riding the bike except Ashar, as he was driving Hayat's car.
Riding the bike at low speed in the first gear. Ahad had tried his best to make the ride as comfortable as it could be, since it was their first time.
Ahad looked back to see Ashar following him with Hammad, Sahil, and Samir from behind.
Ashar overtook Ahad's bike and drove off before winking at the couple.
Ahad just smiled, shaking his head a little as he rode his bike at minimal speed since Hayat held him by his waist.
Stopping the vehicle at the traffic signal. Hayat knocked on his helmet and said, "You can speed up the bike, I won't be scared.
Ahad held her right hand that was holding his waist in his left hand, interlocking their fingers, "Your comfort is my top priority, Jaan."
As the moment felt so soft, it made Hayat put her left hand on the top of the interlocked fingers, caressing his fingers lightly, leaning her head on his shoulder, she responded, "I'm more than comfortable with you, and I trust you, and just so you know, I always wanted to go on a ride with my partner."
Ahad started to caress her fingers lightly, nodding his head. He flirted back, "Just so you know, too, darling, I love the way you look in my jacket."
They teased each other, not knowing someone else was recording their lovely moments from his phone, "Singles ki tou parwah hii nahi hai! Maarjaye hum kiya?" He murmured as he shared the video in the group and with his parents. Putting his phone aside, he started driving the car as soon as the signal turned green. (Translation: Nobody cares about us singles, should we go die?)
After everyone visited other beautiful places in Lahore together, they shopped for a while and made their way to Islamabad in their own vehicle, as they took the M2 motorway to reach Islamabad, covering the distance of 294.3km in two hours while talking to each other on the call and capturing videos.
"I have booked our rooms in Islamabad Serena Hotel, are you all okay with it?" asked Arham on the call, to which Hayat replied, "Oh, it's the best, thank you."
Soon, they parked their vehicles in the hotel parking lot. It was 10 pm already when they reached the place. Getting down, they settled in.
Hayat walked up to Ahad, after having a chat with Ashar, as he wanted some help, "Can I call Sana to join us here? She would be happy to know about my stay here."
Ahad raised his left eyebrow as if he would ever deny her. He took her hand in her, spinning her, pulling her towards him. He tilted his head, indicating her towards the lift.
Hayat hung up the call with Sana, then moved towards the bathroom. She looked for Ahad one last time before moving inside, just to find him on a call at the balcony.
Ahad moved out of the room, moving towards the resting area, when he found his mates talking… actually whispering, in a really low voice.
He, being a little curious, took slow steps toward them. Before he could come face to them, he heard Ashaar's voice, shocking him, "My dear bros, you won't believe me at all for this one, I swear!"
Samir joined him from behind, keeping his cigarette down, "If it's about Ahad, then I already know. That Man is living in his love delusion world."
Sahil snorted, rolling his eyes, "What did Romeo do this time? Wrote her name on his bike or heart?"
Ashar's expressions were worth a million-dollar film as he kept his hand on his heart, his face full of horror and surprise, "BRO IT'S WORSE. Do you remember the vlog unedited parts Asfia shared with us? If not for my detective eyes, who would have known this? Our MAN was staring at my innocent little sister like she was the last piece of biryani at a wedding. FULL INTENSE STARE. The same type of stare I give to my ugly brother who's trying to steal my ice cream."
Hearing the last line, Hammad, who was about to devour the vanilla ice cream of Ashar's, stopped, like a deer caught in a scene, and snorted. He changed the subject, "Shut up, continue your gossip, guys."
Samir screamed lowly, "NO, our man thinks he did something amazing that he deserves her, but I think she is too innocent to understand his flirty ass."
Sahil, lighting another cigarette, gave a disappointing look to his people, "Nah, that's it. He's gone. We lost him. Let's start our life again by giving him our best regards at his funeral."
Ashar joined him, patting Samir's head lightly. He dramatically sighed, "Let's ring a mechanic. Our racer boy is malfunctioning. And you know what, if my beautiful innocent child by mistake someday told him to jump off the cliff, he'd ask her. Jaan, do you want me to do a double flip? I'm going to be traumatized for life. You all, please save me."
"It was enough for today, my gossip queens, I never knew there was a hidden girl beneath your manly soul." Said Ahad, coming in front of them as they were so invested in gossip that they never knew Ahad stood behind the pillar.
"If any of you spoke even a word in front of my Jaan about today, then you'll be dead, got it?" The living atmosphere changed a bit, as they all nodded their heads before making an excuse to leave the place.
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"Can we have Dine Inn for now?" Hayat asked, who sat on the couch by the side of the window, hair down, eyes sleepy, she saw Ahad coming inside the room with some bags in his hand.
"Sure, we can, here. I had ordered some warm clothes since it is getting colder here, and we haven't brought a lot of luggage either." Taking the bags from his hand, Hayat found herself some beautiful kurtas and warm clothes.
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The day started with the phone buzzing with lots of messages. As Hayat woke up, she picked up the phone and checked them… Her eyes widened, her cheeks heated up as she got embarrassed, turning her head to see Ahad, going through his phone, too. She realized she was not the only one who had gotten messages from their family, friends, and the group.
Ashar shared a video of them holding each other's hands, waiting for the signal to turn green yesterday. While Ahad watched the video, admiring the bond they had created, shared without their knowledge, they had become a source of happiness for each other. There were many pictures that Ashar shared in the group.
Those were taken when they didn't know about it; all pictures were like memories now, memories they shared.
Hayat turned to Ahad and asked, "This picture looks the best, doesn't it? How did he even take out a picture while we were holding hands and walking in the park?"
Ahad sat up, making Hayat lie her head on the pillow, leaving his shoulder. He moved towards the bathroom to freshen up. Hayat also stood up, moving inside the wardrobe to get the clothes out for both of them.
"Where are you guys?" Hayat asked, irritated as she called Ashar after he didn't wake them up early in the morning as planned.
"We guys are at the pool swimming while the girls went to the gym, we hadn't had breakfast till now, just enjoying ourselves here," Ashar vocalized as Hayat could hear others from behind screaming and laughing.
"Okay, we are moving out to explore the city," uttered Hayat, trying to speak a little louder so he could hear her properly.
"I'm going to explore the city too on my bike alone since I need to shoot a video for my followers, but maybe I'll leave at night for it, so let bhai know about it, okay?" Ashar announced back as they hung up the call.
A week's stay in Islamabad is what she wanted to have… a week's stay here was Ahad's suggestion. He wanted to replace the saddest memories of Hayat with the happiest ones with him and others by her side.
He wanted to let her know that the family she found was the one and only she needed, he wanted to make her feel loved by every person around her, he wanted to let her know that she wasn't alone, he wanted to make memories they both can cherish together when they get old… he, her husband wanted to do the best for her… his wife… Hayat… Mrs. Ahad.
After having their breakfast together, they decided to visit some places together without the group. Hayat wanted to visit the school she once went to, and Ahad drove the car with Hayat to the old school.
After visiting the school, Hayat took Ahad to the park near her father's house. Sitting on one of the benches, Hayat looked ahead and spoke, "My father married my mother after two years of dating, and they didn't have a kid for seven years. While my mother couldn't get pregnant, my father cheated on her and married a woman chosen by my grandmother." Her voice started to break as Ahad caressed her shoulder, offering her comfort to speak.
"My stepmother had a child before Sana that died after birth. When my mother got pregnant with me, she discovered my father's affair. She couldn't leave the marriage because I was in her belly. She fell into depression and had a difficult labor." Hayat's voice was thick with emotion as she paused to compose herself before continuing.
"She died moments after I was born. My father didn't want to accept me, but he did because his second wife had no children at that time. Fortunately, she became pregnant with Sana four years after my birth. After her birth, I was just like a football, kicked from one place to another without understanding why. I grew up in a loveless family until I turned 14." A faint smile briefly ghosted her lips as tears still fell from her eyes.
"I met Eira online, and everything started to fall into place. We used to talk and cry together. I made many memories with her, and because of her… I argued with my father, moved to Karachi, and got admission to the same college as her. She was a year older than I was, so I followed her footsteps and got into IBA. Even though she lived in Karachi, she chose to stay in a hostel with me. We explored the city, drove Uncle's car at night, went shopping together… everything was good until that one evening," she couldn't continue, and Ahad tried to soothe and comfort her, but she wouldn't stop. She leaned her head on Ahad's shoulder.
"I was on a call with Sana when we planned to sneak out of the hostel to get something to eat. The hostel lady caught us and reported us… I-- I miss her, Ahad. If it weren't for me, she wouldn't sneak out, she— she would have been here with us." She broke down in front of him, her grip tightening around his arm.
"I'm so sorry, Ahad— I'm scared you'll leave me too because I'm pathetic, clingy, emotional-" she kept speaking, losing control of her words. The person sitting beside her was heartbroken beyond words. He couldn't process what was happening; he wanted to protect her, felt like burning everyone who caused her pain, and regretted not being there for her when she needed him most. He tried to calm her down.
"I'm too damaged… I- I changed Ahad after her death, I started to smoke, I used to go to the clubs at night, I didn't pray, I started wearing clothes which I never liked before, I started to harm myself." Her voice held pain.
She looked up at Ahad, holding his shirt in her soft hand tightly, "Why did you even marry me? I'm too pathetic, Ahad! You'll leave me too one day because I'm a piece of bad luck, I - my- my mother died right after giving birth to me, my- my sister, my best friend died after my mistake, I'm pathetic Ahad." Hayat spoke her heart out all at once while crying in his embrace. He held her tightly to himself; never for once did he stop her. He listened to her while tears were visible in his eyes.
He tried to hold himself strong, caressing her back, "You are not to be blamed for anything, and I'm not saying this to comfort you, but this is the truth, listen to me, Jaan, I won't leave you ever, my love. Meri Jaan went through a lot, but now I'm here with you, I'll always love my baby, so stop torturing yourself, my love," she cried and hugged him tightly.
He has noticed his wife loves crying when she's upset and emotional, and he can't do anything yet calm her down softly.
Coming back to the hotel, they met Ashar midway through their room, "It's evening, where were you guys?" Ashar asked Ahad, who was walking towards the room with Hayat on the side, but as his eyes landed on Hayat, he noticed her puffy eyes and was shocked.
Suddenly, he saw red; he didn't think twice as he roared, holding Ahad by his shirt collar, "You made her cry, bhai!"
Ashar was angry.
He didn't expect to see her puffy eyes after just a few weeks of their marriage. He couldn't digest the fact that Ahad did such a thing. He was so protective of Hayat that he did not realize the person in front of him was his older brother.
Ahad slapped Ashar's hands away and punched him in the face, turning his face to the other side. Fisting his arm behind him, Ahad unlocked the door of his room and gestured to Hayat to get inside.
Ahad kicked Ashar in the room, too, while he protested about the events his brother had done to him and Hayat, "Your girlfriend- NO your sissy was crying not because of me but some other reasons, and I'm her husband you idiot, why would I make her cry, do you think I don't want to protect her as much as you do, huh?"
Ahad was angry as Ashar's habit of being impulsive was getting out of hand. Ahad was about to slap Ashar when Hayat said, "Stop, stop, you already kicked, slapped, and punched him, Bubba, no more abuse on your little brother."
Ashar looked at them silently, trying to understand the situation, "Why were you crying, idiot? Tell me!"
Hayat looked up at Ahad, hesitating a little as he caressed her head and said, "If you want, you can tell him it's all up to you, Meri Jaan."
Hayat told Ashar just some chunks as she sat on the bed while Ahad held her hand, caressing it, and Ashar sat on the sofa, listening to her with his head in his hand; his body was rigid and tense.
Getting up from the sofa, he kneeled in front of Hayat as he softly spoke, taking her hand in his, "Well, you got me, bro, I'm here now, if this man or anyone else even points a finger towards you, just let me know it, I know, this your husband is kind, but I'm different so I'll kick and beat the shit out of the those for you, you got this man and me by your side, don't think about the past, hmm," getting up he patted her head and head out giving time to the couple.
The night went well, with everyone enjoying themselves in their own way. Ashar and his friends decided to have a night-long race and drive in the city and make some memories, while Ahad's friends decided to stay in the hotel, and Hammad's cousin sister Asfia decided to shoot some videos at the gym and swimming area of the hotel, and the couple decided to have some midnight snacks with Sana at a restaurant.
"How are you, sissy and Ahad-bhai?" Sana greeted them as they sat down. The name took the couple by surprise, but soon the sisters started chatting.
Ahad found Sana asking about Ashar a lot in between the conversation. He noticed her taking an interest in him, and then Ahad decided to tease him. He dropped a text, "I guess my sister-in-law is interested in you."
Ahad instantly got a response, "Bhai, to tell you the truth, I like someone already, so you need to stop discussing your sister-in-law with me. My one already thinks of me as a Playboy; if she finds out about this sister-in-law of yours, she'll be furious."
Ahad frowned at such a new found information about his brother and thought to share it with his other half, tapping her hand that he held under the table a little as she turned her attention to him and found him showing her his phone, reading the message she looked shocked at her husband as he shrugged his shoulder, nodding at him she continued her conversation with Sana, not discussing about Ashar again.
The next day, they decided to visit some of the most beautiful places together as a group, with Sana. While they were there, everyone noticed Sana taking an interest in Ashar and talking to him whenever she got a chance.
Ahad got a call in the middle of their visit to Rawal Lake, Ahad had to go back to their hotel so he could email the project details to Fawad, turning to Hayat, he saw her getting up to move back with him, "No, no, you stay here and enjoy with them, I'll come back within an hour okay, I'm going to take my bike alright, Janam."
He wanted her to enjoy herself and not get bored with him at the hotel, as he would just be working. He tried to make her understand, just then Ashar came up, "Oh! Don't give yourself so much importance, get going, bhai, I can take care of my little missy."
Ahad nodded his head and moved out after patting her head a little and giving a warning to Ashar to take care of Hayat.
"I want to go on the boat ride," Asfia said as she came up in front of others. Everyone agreed to go on the boat ride except Hayat.
"I'm scared of water," Hayat told Ashar, who kept insisting that she join the boat ride. Seeing the fear in her eyes, he decided to stay behind with her. The sun was setting, and it started to get dark while they were taking pictures.
Hayat sat at the side, enjoying the chilly wind hitting her face. Abruptly, she got a call from Sana. She asked Hayat to come to the side of the road so she could get her jacket from Hayat's car.
She looked behind to find her friends getting out of the boat, as she moved towards the car, just then Ashar interpreted her from behind, "Where are you going, idiot?"
"Well, Sana wants her jacket, which is in my car; she's feeling cold here..." Hayat tried to move towards her car when Ashar decided to follow her too.
Suddenly, Ashar was called by Uneeb, and he looked back to answer him about the matter at hand. He was so engrossed that he forgot he had to accompany Hayat.
Shortly after he heard Hayat shouting for help, turning around, he found her being dragged into a car by some men. His instinct was to run towards her, just as he did, behind him followed Uneed.
As soon as he reached the area where their bikes were parked, he searched for his keys, which were not in his pocket. Panicking, he screamed at Uneeb, "Get me the bike keys from the others."
He looked at the car that was speeding away with Hayat in it. He called Ahad, "Bhai, someone took Hayat with them in a Range Rover." Ashar spoke as he ran towards their bike, not caring about anything; he rode off.
Everyone came running towards Ashar and started their bikes, speeding up to catch up with the car, while Ashar was on the call, he heard Ahad riding the bike as he spoke, "Follow them to where they are taking her, don't stop in the middle of the road, get in the house with the guys, share your live location to me, I'm on my way too."
Ashar was getting furious yet scared for her, and he was the one who took responsibility for taking care of her while Ahad went to do his work, he was tearing up inside his helmet, praying for her safety, as he followed the car with others.
Riding the bike at a speed that made them face-to-face with the car, yet they didn't cross the path and stopped the car as Ahad had instructed, praying for her safety. He heard someone calling him from his Bluetooth, but his focus was on his sissy; he ignored the calls and followed the car.
He couldn't help himself; he was so attached to her that made scared him to even lose her. He was protective of his little girl, and his heart was beating at the speed of his bike, too. He was panicking yet trying to stay calm, not messing up; he wanted to get her back to her family safely.