Years passed.
Aaliya studied secretly,
taught herself confidence,
built courage like armor.
Arhan became successful—
respected, stable.
And then one day,
he returned not as a boy—
but as a man with dignity.
He knocked at Zahid's door.
"I came again," he said,
"because love should be fought for."
Zahid laughed,
"You think time changed anything?"
Aaliya walked forward,
head held high.
"Yes," she said quietly,
"It changed me."
Aaliya was no longer silent.
She was living.
---