They remained in each other's embrace for a few more minutes, the weight of their complicated emotions hanging heavily between them. Neither was ready to break the fragile peace they had found in each other's arms.
Tania finally spoke softly, her voice gentle, "I brought some soup. Please eat it before it gets cold. You shouldn't stay on an empty stomach."
Sarfaraaz hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to allow her to show this gesture of care or to push her away. He put her down beside him.
After a deep breath, he slowly opened the lid of the pot she had brought, revealing the warm pumpkin soup inside.
"Pumpkin soup... it's too sweet for a day... like this," he said, looking at the pot with a sigh.
"It's your birthday too, Rayan. Don't think too much. Just eat it for your health," she urged, her voice filled with concern.
He glanced at her, the sound of 'Rayan' slipping from her lips catching his attention. It felt soft, warm, and strangely comforting.
Without another word, he began to take spoonfuls of the soup. As he ate, a quiet sense of comfort settled over him, something he hadn't expected in a moment like this.
As he continued eating, she hesitantly asked, "How many days ago did you visit... them? I mean, your parents' graves?"
He froze. He had promised himself to visit them only after he completed his revenge. But now, he felt himself slipping from that goal, driven instead by a new one : her, though he didn't want to admit it.
"Long ago," he replied.
"Then at least you can pray and make duaa for them," Tania said softly.
Sarfaraaz had never been a pious person. He used to pray only when his sister forced him. After the death of his princess, he had stopped praying altogether.
"Will it help?" he asked, his voice was a bare whisper.
"It won't hurt, right? You can try," Tania encouraged him.
As he finished eating, Tania got up with the tray. "I'll be going now," she said softly.
"Take rest once you're done praying. You need it," she added before heading toward the door.
But, as always, he didn't force her to stay. He watched her back as she left the room.
Once the door closed, he took a deep breath. After a moment, he found himself bowing down before his Almighty. After many days, he felt a tint of peace wash over him as he cried in front of his Creator. He completed his prayer and reflected on how strange life could be while lying on the bed.
A few days ago, she had refused to come closer to him; now, she came fearlessly and comforted him, knowing he could shatter her on a day like this.
"Hazel... the woman you are!" he murmured before closing his eyes.
_____________________
Two days later
The dynamic between Sarfaraaz and Tania remained unchanged.
However, she no longer avoided him. She resumed her usual chores: cleaning and cooking for him, fulfilling the duty he had assigned when she first entered the house.
Sarfaraaz, in turn, didn't push her for anything further. Their relationship had settled into a civil routine, it was like a silent truce between them. . .
Tania finished her chores, like every day and was about to seek out Mubeen and her cat, Marshmallow, when a sudden sharp pain shot through her abdomen, accompanied by an uncomfortable wetness between her inner thighs.
At first, the pain had been subtle, barely noticeable while she worked.But as she realized what was happening, frustration washed over her.
She had gotten her period, and her frown deepened as she remembered she had no sanitary supplies here.
Sarfaraaz had provided her with clothes when she came here, but no sanitary goods had been included.
What was even more irritating was the strict prohibition against her leaving the mansion. The pain intensified, and the blood flow increased, amplifying her annoyance.
Determined to remedy the situation, she strode toward the main gate. Calling one of the guards, she commanded, "Hey, call your boss. I need to go outside." Her authoritative tone left no room for debate.
The guard hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by her unexpected demand. But with a warning glare from her, he quickly pulled out his phone and dialed Sarfaraaz's number. ___________________
At Sarfaraaz's Secret House
Sarfaraaz was deep in a meeting with the underworld mafias about territorial control, the atmosphere tense and heavy. Suddenly, his phone rang, shattering the silence.
"Sir..." The guard's voice wavered, barely concealing his nervousness.
"Why are you calling at this time?" Sarfaraaz snapped, his patience wearing thin.
"Sir, it's about Tania Ma'am. She wants to go outside," the guard reported.
Sarfaraaz smirked internally; what a demand she had!
"Tell her that's not happening...."
Before he could finish, Tania snatched the phone from the guard's hand. "Sarfaraaz, let me go for a few minutes! It's urgent!" she demanded, her patience wearing thin, compounded by the pain and discomfort of her period.
"No. Don't ask for something you cannot have, Hazel. What could possibly be so urgent?" His tone was low, a mixture of annoyance and confusion as he struggled to focus on the negotiations.
Tania's temper flared. "I need pads! Sanitary pads, Sarfaraaz Talukder Rayan! I'm on my fucking period! It's bleeding down there, do you even understand?"
The guards exchanged wide-eyed glances, a mix of shock and amusement at Tania's boldness.
"Pads!" he let out an inaudiable whisper with a mix shock and awkwardness ,his eyes widened at her sudden outburst.
"Yes. I need it right now. Will you let me go or bring it yourself it's up to you. You got 15 minutes at max", her voice was curt, leaving no room for negotiation.
Sarfaraaz hesitated. He couldn't let her roam free after what happened during the attack at the park.
"Fine! You'll have your things. Just don't shout for God's sake"
"Okay for now. But if you're one second late, I swear I'll kill you!" she shot back, the guard around her shifting nervously, unsure whether to say something or simply vanish into thin air.
Sarfaraaz waited for a moment; he could send one of the guards to buy her what she needed, but Tania's tone suggested he needed to act quickly before she unleashed her fury on them.
With a resigned sigh, he adjourned the meeting, surprising himself as he muttered, "Family calls."
He hurriedly left the meeting room and raced to a nearby departmental store.
Inside, he found himself perplexed by the rows of colorful packages. What the hell was all this? He felt like a fish out of water as he browsed the feminine hygiene aisle.
A saleswoman approached him, her eyes widening at the sight of a tall man flickering dark aura in a black suit amidst the sanitary products.
"Uh, can I help you?" she asked, stifling a laugh.
"I need... pads," he mumbled, feeling utterly ridiculous.
"Do you want something with menthol? It helps relieve pain," she suggested with a smirk, pointing to a package.
Sarfaraaz, desperate to appease Tania, nodded. "Sure, why not?"
After making the purchase, he left the store, feeling accomplished. He returned home and presented the bag to Tania with a flourish. "See? Your problem is solved!"
She glared at him, snatching the bag from his hands. As she put on a single pad, the menthol cooling sensation hit her, causing her to mutter in irritation. "What the heck did he buy for me?"
The cold weather only amplified her discomfort, and she stormed out of her room and went to his.
"What did you buy for me? Were you planning to freeze me to death? Menthol!" she snapped, arms crossed defiantly.
"They said, it could relieve the pain. How am I supposed to make the difference between its flavour?" he shot back, genuinely confused.
"Flavors?! Is it a condom? You are hopeless!" she retorted, frustration bubbling over.
"If you like it so much, then why don't you wear it?" she tossed the entire pack at him with a dramatic flair.
Sarfaraaz barely managed to dodge the flying packages, holding up his hands defensively. "Chill, little woman!"
"I'm feeling the chill already in my vg, you dumbass mafia man!" she shot back, her cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment.
"I want normal ones. These are uncomfortable," she said, her frustration visible.
"Okay... order them from my phone, along with whatever else you need to keep yourself calm on days like this!" he replied sighing, then he handed her his phone.
"I only need this. Send it to my room when it arrives." She quickly placed the order before muttering, "And don't even think about calling me for anything. I'm half dead already... these damn cramps are killing me." With that, she turned to leave.
"Noted," he muttered under his breath, taken aback by her feisty attitude. He had never seen Tania like this, so he decided not to say much.
Just as she started walking away, a sharp pain hit her abdomen. She whimpered softly and sank to the floor.
"Are you okay?" Sarfaraaz asked, a genuine concern in his voice.
"Does it look like I am? Besides it arrived late this month because of my stress. And it's because of you! " she retorted, her face twisted in pain.
"Alright, rest here for a while. You don't need to go downstairs." Without waiting for her response, he scooped her up and gently laid her on his bed, covering her with a blanket.Too drained to argue, she wrapped the blanket more comfortably around her. She closed her eyes, letting sleep overtake her.
While Sarfaraaz was intensely watching her movements. How she was settling within the blanket, a shed of irritation and tiredness visible in her face, which made him restless.
As she fell asleep, he started what he planned in his mind. . . . When she woke, she noticed a basket neatly arranged with the pads she had ordered, alongside some dark chocolate bars, a thermos, and a hot water bag on the table beside her. She blinked, surprised.
"Your... pads are here. And there's some chocolate, eat them if you like. The thermos has clear soup, and the hot water bag is full. You can use it for the cramps. I, uh, looked it up... apparently, these things help during periods," Sarfaraaz said, his voice awkward, his face slightly flushed.
Tania stared at him in shock He wasn't the type to show care, yet here he was, trying. And she liked it.
"You sleep here tonight. I'm going out anyway... and your room is way too cold for you today," he said, noticing how worn out she looked.
"Oh... now you've realized? After a whole month?" she replied with a sad smile, her voice tinged with sarcasm.
Her words stung, but he didn't respond. Instead, he quietly left the room, leaving her in comfort yet still battling the pain.
________________________
****Third Person PoV
"Has he tried reinvestigating his father's case?" I asked, my voice low and calculating as I paced the room, the shadows flickering around me.
"No, boss," my servant answered promptly. "He's been busy with territorial negotiations and tracking down the man responsible for the hit-and-run that day."
I smirked, a dark chuckle slipping past my lips. "Good. It's been twenty long years, hasn't it?"
Pausing, I glanced out of the window into the endless night. The secrets buried that day were not to be uncovered . "Arrange for someone to take an interview with Major Hussein. Let's rekindle Sarfaraaz's fury. Make sure his focus stays on revenge, not reinvestigation."
The mere thought of him chasing a false trail made my smirk grow wider. He must never know what truly happened that day. Or six months ago.
I clenched my fist, the dark satisfaction of control seeping through me. "He's been a lucky bastard so far, alive by sheer chance. But if he steps out of line..." I paused, savoring the weight of my next words.
"I'll make sure he, his precious nephew, and his little forced wife experience a death so painful, they'll beg for mercy."
The coldness in my voice hung in the air, and the servant trembled slightly. I didn't care. I'd keep the truth buried, no matter the cost.
__________________________
One week later
Day by day, I find myself getting used to her presence.
Hazel.
She's starting to stir emotions I thought were long buried; emotions I swore I'd never feel again.
A strange sense of what it could mean to have a family, however fleeting or delusional that thought might be. It feels like a cruel joke, especially after all the pain I've caused her. Yeah, I'm fully aware of that.
But lately... I've started seeing her in a different light. Not just as the daughter of the man I despise, but as her own person.
Her presence... it's become something almost comforting. And it's not just about physical attraction anymore. That's why I didn't push her lately. It's not that I didn't feel the pull towards her but I just didn't want to hurt her. I still remember her emotional outburst.
This morning, as I woke up earlier than usual, I made a decision. She's been living in that small, shabby room for too long. She deserves better.
Or maybe... I just want her closer.
I ordered the servants to clean the room right beside mine. I don't want her to know yet. I'll bring her there after my office work today.
Part of me wants to see her reaction. She'll be angry, no doubt, once she realizes our rooms will be adjacent.
'After All, she is mine. I need to see her... whenever I want.' ____________________
At Sarfaraaz's Office
As I reviewed the documents for the upcoming launch of my new app, a familiar heaviness settled over me, the work barely holding my attention. I turned on the TV, hoping the noise would distract me from the monotony.
Then, his name.
My attention snapped to the screen, and a cold shiver ran down my spine. It was an interview with Major Shafiq. My blood simmered as they praised his career and flashed his accolades. But it wasn't until they mentioned my father that the boiling rage erupted.
"Jahangir Talukder, a corrupt political leader who embezzled development funds and stole relief meant for the poor, exposed by the heroic Major Shafiq..."
That. Lie. Again.
The pounding in my ears drowned out the rest of the broadcast, and my breath came in sharp bursts. I could feel the walls closing in on me, the familiar sensation clawing at my chest, suffocating me.
' I didn't... I didn't do it, Saliha... I swear to God...'
My father's broken voice echoed in my head, his tearful pleas as he sat crumpled on the floor in front of my mother, begging her to believe him, to believe that he wasn't the monster the world painted him as.
I saw his face, hollowed by grief and humiliation, the shame that had eaten him alive. That night....the night they...
I gasped, gripping the edge of my desk so hard my knuckles turned white. The room spun, distorting the images before me. My throat tightened, and bile crept up, the panic clawing its way through my veins like poison.
I was back in that room, watching them...their bodies...so still. The cry of my little sister over the dead body of my parents, police all over the house, the finality of it all crushing me until I couldn't breathe.
"No!" I growled, shaking my head, but the memory wouldn't fade.
The vase next to me caught my eye, and without thinking, I hurled it across the room, shattering the TV screen. The glass splintered, but it didn't stop the flood of images of that day.
I stood frozen, my chest heaving as I stared at the wreckage before me. My heart burned, the fury mixing with the helplessness that had haunted me since that night.
Sweat dripped down my face as I stumbled toward the door. I needed to get out of here before I completely lost it. My feet moved on automatically , but in the back of my mind, all I could see was that bloodstained memory of the past.
______________________
These days seemed to be getting normal at this house. I started to think I somehow belong here. I spend my day doing chores, playing with Muneeb and my Marshmallow.
Sarfaraaz also seems to start changing. He hasn't been harsh with me lately or tired of controlling me like he used to do. I'm thinking..maybe just maybe somehow he started to soften.. I hope things remain like this. Between us. But I never thought the irony of my fate would prove this wrong very soon.
However, I still felt hollow in my heart. I cannot forget the fact I'm already so far from my dream life. Being a doctor, being with my family happily ever after.
Yesterday, I mustered up the courage to do something for myself, something that reminded me of who I used to be. I asked Nanny Haya, to buy me some medical books from the money I bought from my hostel. It felt like a small step toward reclaiming the part of me that had been buried under this forced life. At least reading those books, which I used to love, would give me a little peace of mind.
Today, after finishing my chores, I finally sat down with one of those books. The soft rustling of the pages felt like a lifeline, something to anchor me in the midst of this chaos. I curled up in the living room, trying to lose myself in the words, hoping they could transport me back to a time when my life was my own.
Suddenly the door slammed shut, my heart jumped. I looked up to see Sarfaraaz standing there, his face twisted with a fury I hadn't seen in weeks. There was a storm in his eyes, something dark and uncontrollable, and my stomach sank.
"You came... I didn't notice," I said softly, quickly averting my gaze from the book, hoping to avoid whatever anger was simmering beneath his surface.
Before I could even react, he snatched the book from my hands. I gasped in shock as he ripped it apart, shredding the pages I had clung to for comfort. It felt like he was tearing apart the last piece of my old life.
"Sarfaraaz..." I whispered, my voice barely audible over the sound of the paper tearing.
"You don't deserve this," he growled, his voice seething with rage. "You sit here, acting like everything is fine. Like I'm getting soft. Like your father didn't destroy my life!"
I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. The shift in him was terrifying. He hadn't been like this in days but now, the monster I had feared was back in full force.
Before I could say something he started again spitting venom through his words, "How did you forget so easily why you were taken here in the first place? You are the reminder of what your father did with my family in the past. And here you are reading happily, like nothing happened. How can you be in peace while I'm burning inside for twenty fucking years!"
Before I could say anything, he grabbed my arm, dragging me up from the chair and pulling me toward the door. Panic set in as I struggled against his grip, but he was relentless.
"This is where you belong," he spat, yanking the door open and shoving me outside. The cold air hit me like a slap in the face, and before I could even comprehend what was happening, he slammed the door shut, leaving me standing in the bitter evening alone and confused.
The shock of it all left me trembling. My mind raced, trying to make sense of what just happened. One minute, I was reading quietly, and the next, I was cast out like I didn't matter, like I was nothing.
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I forced them down. The warmth of the house, the fleeting comfort I had found, was now gone, replaced by the cold, harsh reality of who Sarfaraaz truly was. The fragile hope I had built over the past few days shattered, leaving nothing but the emptiness I had always known.
I stood there on the lawn, stunned and broken. The weight of Sarfaraaz's words clung to me like a heavy chain, and I couldn't move, couldn't think.
The sound of the door slamming shut echoed in my ears, and the world felt suddenly too quiet.
Then, as if the universe itself decided to add to my misery, the sky opened up, and the rain began to pour. Cold, relentless droplets soaked through my clothes, plastering my hair to my face, but I didn't care. I couldn't bring myself to move. I stood there, motionless, letting the rain wash over me, as if it could somehow cleanse the pain I felt inside.
But it didn't. The cold only deepened the numbness in my body, matching the hollowness I felt in my chest.
I couldn't comprehend how everything had changed so quickly, how the man who had been softening just days ago had transformed back into the ruthless person who saw me as nothing more than a symbol of his hatred.
Minutes passed. Maybe hours. I didn't know anymore. The world blurred, the edges of my vision darkening as the cold seeped into my bones. My body started to give in to the exhaustion, my legs wobbling as the weight of everything became too much to bear.
And then, just like that, I collapsed. My body crumpled onto the wet grass, the rain still pouring down, mingling with the tears I could no longer hold back.
Did I really deserve this?
The world around me faded into blackness as my senses dulled, and I felt myself slipping into unconsciousness, lost to the storm both outside and within.
_____________________
A sad ending of the Chapter 🥲 Don't forget to share your thoughts 🙂
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