The car ride was quiet, the hum of the engine the only sound between them. Tania sat beside him, her head leaning against the window, lost in her own thoughts. She had stopped crying, but the sadness clung to her like a second skin.
Sarfaraaz gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white. His mind was racing, trying to focus on the road, but all he could think about was the destination. The graveyard.
His chest tightened as a memory he had long buried clawed its way to the surface. He hadn't been back to that place in years. It has been 20 years since his parents were laid there.
And now, he was driving Tania there, to visit her mother. A mother she missed so dearly, one she couldn't even remember clearly despite knowing his pain would resurface.
He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, her expression somber but calm now.
Did she know? Did she realize that the graveyard they were heading to also held his demons?
The tension in his chest grew heavier with every passing mile, but he couldn't turn back now.
Tania needed this. She needed closure, a moment to feel connected to the mother she had lost too soon.
As they reached the graveyard entrance, Tania's soft whisper cut through the heavy silence, "Baba..."
Sarfaraaz followed her gaze and through the window he saw an older man in a wheelchair, holding a bouquet of flowers. Her father. Major Shafiq Hussein. The man responsible for his own darkest nightmares.
His breath hitched, and fury surged through his veins as he clenched his jaw, memories of pain flooding his mind. Every fiber of his being screamed to confront him, to finish what he had started long ago.
But then he noticed the way Tania looked at her father. The longing in her eyes, the silent grief she carried with her every day. In that moment, something inside him faltered. The rage that had threatened to consume him began to dim, replaced by something else...a fear... A fear of losing her. If he does something here he will lose her forever. She would never forgive him. He needs to keep her close. He couldn't afford to push her away. Not now. Not ever.
She was only his. His need for her was stronger than his hatred, stronger than anything he had ever felt. She had become something more to him than just a tool in his revenge. Since when he didn't know. But he knew that she was the only light in his world of shadows, and he couldn't lose that.
Tania hesitated, her eyes flickering between Sarfaraaz and her father. She knew how volatile he could be, how easily he could snap, especially in the presence of the man he despised most. Her voice was shaky, tentative. "Can... Can I go?" she asked, as if afraid her request might set off the storm brewing inside him.
Sarfaraaz's fists tightened at his sides, but he forced himself to breathe, to stay calm. He couldn't risk losing her, not when she was becoming his most basic need...more essential to him than the air he breathed.
"You..." His voice was strained, barely controlled. "You can go. Only for five minutes." He exhaled slowly, nodding toward the gate. "I'll be here, waiting."
Tania gave him a small, grateful nod before she got out of the car and walked toward her father and sister, leaving Sarfaraaz sitting there, his emotions a tangled mess of fury and fear of losing her.
Sarfaraaz's eyes narrowed as he watched Tania kneeling before her father, her hands trembling as she seemed to plead with him. From this distance, he couldn't hear the words exchanged, but the look on Major Hussein's face was cold, unforgiving. Whatever he said to her, it cut deep...he could see the way Tania's shoulders slumped, her body shaking with quiet sobs.
His heart twisted painfully in his chest as he watched her crumble. She was trying so hard to reach her father, to connect, and yet she was met with only harshness.
A part of him wanted to storm over there, to pull her away from the man who was hurting his Hazel. But Sarfaraaz held himself back, cause deep down he knew, the person responsible for her sufferings was none other than him.
Sarfaraaz Talukder Rayan.
The monster in her nightmare!
He held back, clenching his fists so hard his nails bit into his palms.
He was the reason for all this....he was the reason Tania's family looked at her with disdain. And seeing her so broken, so defeated because of that, gnawed at him in a way he hadn't anticipated.
When Tania finally stood, wiping at her eyes with trembling hands, she looked like a soldier returning from a battle she had lost. Her steps were slow, heavy, as though each one took all the strength she had left.
He got out of the car seeing her coming back.
She didn't meet his eyes when she reached him; instead, she whispered to herself in a voice so broken it nearly shattered him.
"He still hates me... he doesn't want me to see mom..." Her words were barely audible, spoken to no one in particular, but Sarfaraaz heard them all the same.
His heart clenched painfully, guilt crashed over him like thunder. He was the reason for her family's hate...the reason her father couldn't bear to look at her without bitterness. She was suffering, and in the end, it was his fault.
Even though he still hated her father with passion, he can't bear her brokenness like that. His little angel was the victim of his wrath.
When he started his brutal game of revenge he never thought he would feel such guilt for ruining a 21 year old girl's life, crashing down her dreams. And now, seeing her like this...broken, defeated, and rejected...it was like watching something precious slip through his fingers.
For once, Sarfaraaz felt powerless. All he could do was stand there, watching the woman he had claimed as his, shatter before his eyes.
He watched as she slipped to the ground in front of him, her strength finally crumbling under the weight of it all.
"He should have trusted me... despite what the world says. Despite the lies I told... If only he believed me a little, he could've understood me..." Her voice cracked, her words barely a whisper as she sat there, utterly defeated.
Sarfaraaz couldn't bear it any longer. He knelt down beside her, wrapping his arms around her fragile frame, pulling her close even though he knew..knew better than anyone...that he was the last person who had the right to console her. He was the reason she was in this position, the reason she was so utterly broken. And yet, here he was, holding her in his arms as if that could make up a little for everything he had done.
Her fate was cruel. In this moment, she had no one else....no one but him to lean on, to find comfort in, even if he didn't deserve it.
Her body trembled against him. "Take me somewhere..." she whispered, her voice so soft it nearly broke him. She lifted her tear-filled eyes to meet his, her gaze pleading, broken. "He should visit Mom freely... I'll come later."
Sarfaraaz's heart clenched painfully. Even now, in her sorrow, she was thinking of her father, of giving him the space to grieve.
But what about her? Where was her comfort?
He wanted to tell her that she didn't need to carry all this alone, that she could stay and mourn with her family....but he knew that man wouldn't allow it.
"Okay..." he murmured softly, brushing a stray tear from her cheek with a tenderness he didn't realize he possessed. "Let's go."
Without another word, he helped her to her feet, guiding her back to the car. Even if he couldn't fix what was broken between her and her family, he could at least give her what she needed now...an escape, if only for a little while.
___________________________________
I drove in silence, the weight of Haezl's grief hanging thick between us. My knuckles tightened around the steering wheel as I stole glances at her from the corner of my eye. She sat quietly, her gaze distant, lost in a world of pain I knew I had a hand in creating.
I needed to take her somewhere....somewhere far from the shadow of her broken family and shattered life even though for some hours. A place where the air might feel a little lighter, less suffocating. Without a word, I turned the car toward the coast, hoping the ocean breeze could offer her the solace I couldn't.
When we arrived at the beach, the sound of crashing waves greeted us, the salty air filling my lungs. I stepped out and walked around to open her door. She looked up at me, confused, eyes widened, but didn't resist as I helped her out. Her eyes were still red, raw from the tears she'd shed.
The sun was sinking lower into the horizon, casting a soft golden glow over the water. The waves moved in a gentle rhythm, calming, as if they knew how broken my Hazel was inside. I hoped the sight of it would bring her some peace. The peace I had stolen from her.
"I thought you might like it here," I said, my voice softer than usual. "It's quiet... peaceful."
She didn't respond right away. Her eyes scanned the horizon, the wind playing through her hair as she stood there, still so fragile. After a long moment, she stepped toward the water, her shoes took off her shoes and stepped on the sand barefooted. The sand sank with her everystep.
I followed close behind, unsure of what to say or do but unwilling to leave her alone in her grief.
At the water's edge, she paused, staring out at the endless ocean. Her shoulders trembled slightly, but this time, she didn't cry. Instead, she knelt down, letting the cool waves wash over her feet.
"It's beautiful," she whispered, her voice almost lost in the sound of the waves. "But... I still feel empty."
I crouched beside her, watching her closely, my chest tight. God, I hated seeing her like this....so lost, so broken.
I wanted to say something that would take the pain away, but I knew words weren't enough. All I could do was stay by her side, offering her the only thing....my presence.
"Why does it feel like I'm always alone?" she to herself whispering, her voice so soft, so vulnerable it cut straight through me.
I swallowed hard. I was the one who made her alone by taking everything from her. Her family hated her now because of me, and I couldn't change that.
"Sometimes..." I started again but faltered. What right did I have to comfort her? I clenched my jaw, hating myself for the role I'd played in her misery.
"I know... more than anyone," I sighed, my voice thick with regret. "I'm the reason your family hates you."
She didn't say anything. She didn't have to. Her silence spoke volumes.
The guilt was suffocating. I had caused all of this. Every tear she had shed, every bit of pain she carried....it all came back to me. All I could offer her now was this moment, this fragile peace, even though I knew it was fleeting.
I knelt beside her, my voice barely above a whisper. "Just lean on me... forget everything for today. If only for now, let it go. I won't ask for anything more."
There was a long, tense silence. But then, slowly, Tania rested her head against my shoulder. She let herself lean into me.....the very man who had shattered her life.
And for a brief, stolen moment, she found peace in the arms of her destroyer.
__________________________________
I can't believe this is the same Sarfaraaz who turned my world upside down. The man who tortured me, stripped away everything I knew, and made me hated by my own family.
And yet, here he is now, standing beside me in my grief. Offering me a quiet escape from the sadness that's been drowning me.
How can this be the same man?
I hate him, and I know he hates me too. But here I am, leaning into him, seeking warmth from the very man responsible for my destruction.
For the past few days, I've seen a different Sarfaraaz. He hasn't said much, but his actions... they speak louder than any words ever could.
I know I shouldn't trust someone like him. A part of me is screaming that this is all temporary, that he'll hurt me again. But the more I see him like this... the more he proves me wrong.
He's starting to show care.....something I never thought suited him. The monster who never missed a chance to tear me apart is now the one protecting me, comforting me.
How can I continue to hate you when you become like this... I said to in my mind. _______________________
We stayed like that for hours, leaning into each other as if, in that moment, we were all we had. My head rested on his broad shoulder, and his head was tilted gently against mine. His arm wrapped securely around my waist from behind, anchoring me to him.
Sitting on the sand, the waves gently washed over our feet, the rhythmic sound of the ocean blending with the silence between us.
It felt like we had known each other for an eternity, as though the weight of our pasts had vanished. In that space, there was nothing but a soothing peace, as if all the chaos between us had dissolved into the sea.
But...my father's words echoed relentlessly in my mind.
"Why are you even here?
You don't deserve to see her after everything you've done... Didn't I tell you I only have two daughters?"
He shouldn't have said that... not today of all days.
I missed Momma so much. If she were alive, she would have never pushed me away like this.
The thought of it sent a shiver through me, and a sob escaped my lips. Sarfaraaz, sensing my anguish, gently rubbed my back in silent comfort.
"It's alright. Please, don't cry anymore," he whispered softly. "She's in a better place. And... I'm with you now. You'll be in my sanctuary forever."
I felt his hold tighten slightly as he spoke those last words, but strangely, it didn't scare me. Instead, it made me feel secure in a way I hadn't in so long. . . . . ________________________________
"Hazel..." Sarfaraaz called softly after a few minutes, his voice gentle but firm, breaking the silence between them.
"Hmm?" Tania replied instantly, as though the name were truly her own, as though it hadn't been forced upon her by him.
"We should get up. You need to visit your mom, right? It's already late," he said, glancing at the darkening sky.
"Yeah... let's go," she replied, her sigh heavy with the weight of grief.
When they arrived at the graveyard, the atmosphere was filled with an eerie stillness, the dim light casting long shadows across the grounds. They were the only visitors, their quiet footsteps the only sound disturbing the silence.
Tania knelt down and placed the bouquet of flowers gently on her mother's grave. Sarfaraaz stood a few feet behind her, his heart tightening as he looked to the left, where his own parents lay in eternal rest.
Destiny, it seemed, had a twisted sense of irony.
Her mother's grave and his parents' resting place were only a few feet apart. His legs trembled as he stood there, his mind a chaotic whirlwind of regret and pain.
He had failed to bring proper justice for his parents. The path of revenge he had chosen had led him astray, which had caused him to hurt the one innocent soul that started to become his everything.
Tania. His Hazel.
She had been caught in the crossfire of his vendetta, and now, as he watched her broking, the weight of his actions felt like an unbearable burden.
How did it come to this?
How had the woman he once sought to break become the very one he couldn't bear to lose?
Sarfaraaz knelt beside his parents' grave, his voice breaking as he spoke into the stillness of the night.
"I'm sorry, Mom. Dad... I couldn't be the son you would be proud of." His fingers dug into the cold earth, the weight of his failures pressing down on him. "I thought I was doing this for you, for justice. But... I've lost myself along the way."
He glanced toward Tania, who was still quietly mourning her mother just a few feet away, her figure illuminated by the dim light. His chest tightened, the words on his tongue feeling both like a confession and a plea for forgiveness.
"But... I can't hurt her anymore." he whispered. "I don't know how or when, but she's become more important to me than this revenge, more important than my anger. I can't... I can't destroy her the way I've destroyed everything else."
His voice cracked, barely audible now. "I just hope you understand. Wherever you are, I hope you can forgive me for letting go of the hate. For wanting her, instead of justice."
Suddenly, the sky broke open, rain pouring down in a steady rhythm. It felt almost symbolic, as if the heavens themselves were responding to his quiet confession, offering a blessing for choosing life instead of destruction.
Sarfaraaz stood there for a moment, letting the rain wash over him, the cool droplets calming the storm that had raged inside him for so long.
He looked over at Tania, still crouched beside her mother's grave, speaking softly to the earth as if it could somehow carry her words to the woman she longed.
Without a word, he walked toward her, his footsteps heavy on the wet ground. He removed his coat and gently draped it over her shoulders, shielding her from the downpour.
Tania flinched slightly at the unexpected warmth, startled by his presence, but then looked up at him with red puffy eyes.
For a brief moment, their gazes met, and in that shared silence, there was an unspoken understanding between them.
"Let's go," she whispered, her voice raw but firm.
Sarfaraaz nodded. He didn't say anything, he helped her up, his hand steadying her as they turned to leave the graveyard, both drenched by the rain that now seemed to cleanse the weight of their grief.
As they walked side by side, Sarfaraaz felt the shift. He had made his choice, and for the first time in what felt like forever, it was the right one.
By the time they reached the car, both were drenched, the rain relentless. Sarfaraaz handed Tania a towel, but it was no us. The cold seeped into their bones, and she started to shiver even with the heater on.
He glanced at her, worried about her features. They had a long way to go, and he knew that if they stayed like this, both of them would end up sick.
"I'm stopping the car. We're not going back home tonight," he declared, his tone firm.
Tania turned to him, dumbfounded. "What? Where are we going, then?"
"A nearby hotel," he said, eyes forward as he pulled the car off the road. "You need to change, Hazel. You'll get sick if we stay like this."
Before she could protest, Sarfaraaz parked in front of a large 5-star hotel. He grabbed his coat and wrapped it around her, her wet dress clinging to her body, leaving her cold and vulnerable.
"Now, let's go."
They walked into the lobby, where the receptionist greeted them with a polite smile. "Welcome to 'Lost Paradise.' How may I assist you?"
Sarfaraaz cut her off brusquely. "I need a suite. Now."
The receptionist's smile faltered slightly. "Well, sir, at the moment, we only have one Honeymoon Suite available. The rest of the rooms are fully booked due to the winter vacations and marriage season."
Sarfaraaz didn't hesitate. "Whatever it is, just give me the room. Right now," he demanded, his sharp tone making the receptionist scramble to comply. He glanced at Tania, seeing her sneeze, and his urgency grew.
Tania muttered under her breath, horrified, "Honeymoon suite?"
Sarfaraaz glanced at her with a smirk, his voice casual yet teasing. "Relax, Hazel. We're not doing IT here. It's not the right time..." he trailed off with nonchalance, completely oblivious to her mortification, which only deepened.
Her cheeks flushed, but she followed him, her mind racing as they made their way to the suite.
The room was decorated to perfection, designed for newly married couples. Rose petals were scattered everywhere...on the bed, the floor, even the tub...and a sweet, lingering scent filled the air, making it abundantly clear what kind of atmosphere was intended. It screamed intimacy, something neither of them wanted tonight.
Sarfaraaz immediately sensed her discomfort. He turned to the hotel manager who had escorted them and gave a curt order. "Clean all of this up. You've got 10 minutes."
The manager nodded quickly, disappearing to arrange the cleanup.
Sarfaraaz turned to Tania and gestured toward the bathroom. "Take a warm shower. You'll feel better," he said, his voice calmer now, lacking any of his usual teasing.
Tania hesitated, but then nodded and made her way into the bathroom. The warm water was a relief against her cold, shivering skin. When she emerged a few minutes later, she was wrapped in a fluffy bathrobe, her hair still damp. The room was clear of the romantic setup, but as she stepped out, the tension in the air between them became heavy.
Sarfaraaz stood in the middle of the room, discarding his wet shirt and leaving only his pants on. He glanced at her briefly, his expression unreadable, before turning toward the bathroom himself. He didn't want this night to turn into something complicated, something they both weren't ready for.
She needed rest, and so did he.
"I'll take a shower. You should get some sleep not before eating something. I ordered food for us," he muttered, disappearing into the bathroom without waiting for her reply.
As the door clicked shut, Tania took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.
_______________________________
When Sarfaraaz stepped out of the shower wrapped in the same fluffy bathrobe, Tania couldn't hold back a sarcastic laugh. The sight of a tall, muscular man wrapped in something so soft and oversized looked odd and strangely amusing.
Though her laughter was tinged with sarcasm, it did something to Sarfaraaz's burning heart, like a cool splash of water on a fire that had been raging for too long. It was the first time in days he had seen her laugh, and a faint smile began to creep onto his face, though he quickly masked it with a smirk.
"What? Do I look weird?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Should I take this off?" His voice held a teasing edge, a hint of his usual provocations.
Tania's laughter faltered for a second, and she quickly shook her head. "No, no!" she said hastily, still smiling. "You look... pretty," she added with another giggle, clearly trying to hold back. "But don't take it off," she added even faster, knowing all too well how unpredictable his temper could be.
Sarfaraaz chuckled, his smirk deepening. "Pretty, huh?" he repeated, amused. Her laughter was contagious, and for a fleeting moment, the tension between them melted away, leaving behind only a sense of calm, even if just for a moment.
"Have you eaten?" Sarfaraaz asked, breaking the silence that had settled between them.
"I was waiting for you," Tania replied, her words surprising him. They had never shared a meal together since she had entered his life; she had always served him instead.
"Okay. Let's eat," he said, a genuine smile breaking across his face.
Tania blinked at the sight of his smile; it was a rare occurrence. After they finished their meal, they stood awkwardly before the bed, both feeling the weight of the moment.
"It's not like we've slept in the same bed before, Hazel. Relax; I won't do anything. Just sleep," he said, sensing her nervousness.
She nodded, climbing onto the bed. If this had been the old Sarfaraaz, she might have hesitated, but tonight, he felt like her comfort, her safety. She trusted him, even if just for today. They lay down, their backs facing each other, a silent tension hanging in the air.
After about an hour, Tania was still awake, her mind racing as she recalled the events of the day.
She could hardly believe this new side of him. Maybe this was the Rayan...the boy from his childhood..who had been buried beneath the facade of the infamous Mafia leader.
Curiosity tugged at her, and she turned to check on him. He seemed to be asleep, so she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on his right cheek. "Thanks for today. Thanks for being there for me," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"If you really want to thank me, I would prefer it on my lips, Hazel. Not on my cheek," he replied huskily, making her gasp.
"You were awake!" she exclaimed, horrified.
"That's not the action I'm expecting, Hazel," he said, his intense gaze locking onto hers.
His gaze stirred something deep within her, a silent command that sent shivers down her spine. It was intoxicating, urging her to surrender to the moment. Unable to resist, she leaned in, letting her lips meet his in a soft, warm kiss.
Write a comment ...