Shoaib's pov

"I know you're all eager to hear my story.

Everyone would be, because when a soft-hearted person turns stone-hearted, that's a sight to behold.

I'm happy with my family.

After graduation, I went to Chicago for further studies. Then, I got a job in Chicago. After five years of hard work, I got promoted and finally landed my favorite position in California.

But my happy phase was completely disturbed when I found out that Rubab, my little sister, had been kidnapped due to personal conflicts involving Daneen Phupho.

It feels like someone has put thousands of burning needles in my heart.

She is precious to me, and after ChaCha Chachi's death, she went through trauma from which she recovered with difficulty.

Five years passed, and Abraham Bhai brought her back safely.

I was on leave when Shahram literally begged me to go to the village where Rubab was attending her friend's wedding.

Initially, I didn't understand why he was insisting so much when Dishaan Bhai was willing to go.

Upon reaching there, I got to know the actual reason for his begging.

That monster bound my princess in marriage, without anyone's knowledge. Only four teenagers know about it.

Sudden anger and frustration filled my senses as I saw my baby sister behaving like a mature wife to that 37-year-old terrorist.

I didn't want to lose her trust, so I pretended to be happy in her happiness, but only I know how much I wanted to kill that bastard.

And to add to my bad luck, we are here to attend his sister's wedding."

So when I saw her crying in bridal attire helplessly,

Her brother was brutally beaten up by Abraham bhai's men.

Her elderly relative had a serious injury.

Most importantly, her would-be husband is already dead in front of her eyes.

Her eyes speak of all her miseries and vulnerability.

And thinking of scenarios in which that bastard terrorist binds my sister in marriage,

I decided to take advantage of his sister's vulnerability.

Fair enough.

Taking her elderly relative to the hospital, my eyes occasionally glanced at her makeup-smudged face and worried expression, along with her painful cries.

Tch tch, mourning for her lover.

The doctor treated her relative and prescribed some things to do.

I am planning on how to take advantage of her, which will directly hurt her brother, when Afshaan informs me about Rubab's condition.

Which adds to my anger.

So without thinking, I approach her for marriage.

Which she accepted because she is not in the state of thinking and concluding things.

I just manipulated her by saying good stuff like:

"I am Rubab's brother. Life gets hard for a girl whose wedding crashed on her wedding day," and some other things I'll tell you when I remember.

And that naive girl actually gets ready to be married to a stranger.

She must be too desperate, I guess.

But who knows if the imam is real or not?

And as you all know,

Behind a fake imam, even prayer isn't legitimate, so how can this marriage be valid?

"Too short an explanation, right? Let me explain to you.

When I took Talib Rehman to the hospital with Taniya, I clearly saw how vulnerable and heartbroken she is right now.

And everyone knows humans make impulsive decisions when they are in pain and when they are angry.

Right now, she is broken beyond words, as her would-be husband died on her wedding day, her brother is fighting for his life, and this old man has serious injuries.

Miserable, vulnerable, heartbroken, devastated, helpless, hopeless – to be honest, I feel a lack of words in my dictionary to explain Taniya's condition.

Taniya and I were both sitting in front of the operating theater. 'Ameliyathane' is written there.

Her eyes are still crying, her chin wobbling. I can bet she is fighting with her inner turmoil.

When I said, 'Taniya, have patience, everything will be alright,' I said it faking my sadness. I am only worried about Rubab's health.

She looked at me, and her emerald green eyes did something unreal to my heart.

Her porcelain skin is all red due to continuous crying, her makeup smudged, and jewelry still on with this heavy bridal attire, but her hair is completely covered beneath the heavy work-coated dupatta.

And a strange yearning to see her without a veil and play with her hair arises in me.

Shreya never covers her hair nor wears full-coverage dresses, but she is the love of my life. Why am I even comparing her with this 'baji' types? Like, who covers their hair on their wedding day?

She just nodded with tearful eyes and a wobbling chin.

'Excuse me, are you with Talib Rehman?' a  young doctor came to us

Taniya hurriedly stood up, so did I.

'Is he alright?' she asked, desperate.

'Sorry, miss, but he got a bullet in his shoulder and legs. It's completely a police case, but we are treating him because of his old age...' he stopped and his eyes staring at Taniya,

'Doctor?' Taniya said.

'But we can't guarantee his recovery because bone recovery is really crucial at this age,' he said.

That's it. Taniya broke into uncontrollable crying. I am uncomfortable with her cries. Come on, girl, he's lived more than enough.

'Be strong,' that doctor said, putting his hand on Taniya's shoulder, which made me angry.

'Why is he touching her? Why does it bother me?'

'Doctor, I can handle my wife,' I said. I don't know why I said this, but it came out of my mouth with venom in my tongue.

The doctor nodded and left.

But I feel trapped seeing Taniya's eyes boring towards me with lots of questions.

So I speak.

"'Don't take me wrong, Taniya, but he is touching you without your consent, so I.."I don't have words now.

She nodded, wiping her tears, and again sat in that metallic chair.

I also sit beside her when my phone rings. It's been 7 f... hours; I am wasting my precious time on her.

It's Shahram's call.

"Hello, is everything right there?" I asked.

"No, Shoaib chachu, nothing is alright here," it's Afshaan's voice speaking on the line.

Why is he calling me from Shahram's number?

"What do you mean, Afshaan?" I asked.

Taniya is waiting for me to tell her what they are saying.

"Rubab khala has been unconscious for the past 7 hours, and mamu took Taha to his dungeon," he informed in a panic.

"What? Dungeon?" I deliberately said this word to make her more worried.

"Dungeon? What do you mean, Shoaib?" she asked, crying.

"I'll call you later, Afshaan. Keep informing me," I said, cutting the call.

"Shoaib, what happened?" she asked, panicked.

"Rubab has been unconscious for the past 7 hours, and Abraham Bhai took Taha to his dungeon in a bleeding condition," I told her.

She cried and, while crying, said, "Is he going to kill Bhai?"

"I don't know, Taniya, but no one comes alive from his dungeon," I said, faking worry.

Don't you think it's the perfect time to use her vulnerability?

********