Chapter 1
Fear had taken over his eyes, his breath was rapid and uneven. His hazel eyes had turned red, and heavy teardrops were soaking his flushed cheeks. Even the hardest of hearts would have melted seeing that innocent soul—but the one before him was a beast.
"Uncle, please don’t do this… I’m scared. Don’t take me to that bad uncle!"
The child was sobbing and begging, but the man felt no mercy. He dragged the child and locked them in a dark room.
"Uncle, let me out! I’m scared, please open the door!"
The child screamed, cried, and banged on the door, but the man had already locked it. In the dim light of a night bulb, a tall shadow moved toward the child.
"No! Don’t come near me—please no!"
The child's breath dried up seeing the figure approaching.
"No, no, nooooooooooooo—!"
Suddenly, his eyes flew open.
He sat up abruptly, drenched in sweat, her breath and heartbeat racing. he looked around—it was just a dream. A luxurious bedroom, wooden floor.
he grabbed the glass of water from the side table and gulped it down in one breath.
"That same dream… again," he whispered, taking a deep breath and leaning her head against the bed's crown.
The clock blinked 7:45—it was nearly time for work.he got up and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.
---
In a luxurious office, a boy with fair skin and soft features sat on a sofa. His face calm, eyes half open—deep greenish-hazel—as if they saw everything but said nothing.
His hair slightly tousled, sometimes appearing black, sometimes ash-colored. A refined, straight nose. Lightly pink lips—usually silent.
He looked peaceful, but his face carried the exhaustion of untold stories.
His eyes were fixed on a showpiece on the wall, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
A knock brought him back to reality.
Standing at the door was his late friend—looking at him intensely.
"What’s wrong? You seem disturbed."
"No, it’s nothing… I’m fine," he replied in a dismissive tone.
"Zuraiz? Look at me. Are you lying to me now too?"
Rayn came and sat down in front of him.
"Really, it’s nothing new… Just the past showing up again, reminding me of what I tried to forget,"
Zuraiz lowered his gaze and sighed deeply—he was on the verge of falling apart again.
"Zuraiz, you're my brave friend… Maybe this pain is preparing you for something Allah has planned for you," Rayn tried to comfort him.
"Allah?" Zuraiz looked at him with questioning eyes. Rayn stayed silent.
"Where was He when I cried, begged for help?
Where was He when that monster made me hate myself every single day?
When I was locked in that dark room?
Where was your Allah when I was being preyed upon by filthy desires?
Tell me where He was?
Don’t talk to me about this anymore."
His voice wasn’t loud, but it was soaked in agony and pain.
"He was with you, Zuraiz… He was preparing you for what’s to come."
Rayn quickly changed the topic to calm him.
"Alright, let’s not talk about it. Did you have breakfast?"
"I'm not in the mood… and please, don’t force me today, Rayn,"
Zuraiz turned his face away, exhausted.
---
Hair like shadows brushing her shoulders, slipping slightly from her scarf and caressing her brown eyes, beautifully framed by thick lashes.
Soft pink lips, now caught gently between her teeth. Fair complexion.
Anyone would say—God made her with special care.
At this moment, she stood in front of the stove, making roti, with her mother beside her, guiding her hand.
"Aman, bring breakfast—I have to leave.
Mama, the doctor said Baba’s operation will cost 2 million rupees.
There’s not much time, and we don’t have enough money.
I applied for a loan, but I’ve only managed to arrange five hundred thousand,"
Aman’s brother’s voice echoed through the house.
"Bhai, please speak softly. Baba gets more stressed when he hears these things,"
Aman placed the breakfast tray on the table.
"Alright, now hurry up and bring some tea. I’m getting late.
And tell Mama that my salary will be less this month—we had too many holidays,"
Ejaz started eating his breakfast.
"Mama, I’ve decided. I’m going to start working."
Aman’s words brought sudden silence to the room.
"We let you study, and now this is what you plan to do?"
Asma snapped instantly.
"Mama, what’s wrong with it?
I’m educated enough to get a decent job with a good salary,"
Aman tried to reason with her.
"Mama is right… Let her work.
Our situation isn’t such that I can manage everything alone.
Aman, start looking for a job,"
At Ejaz’s words, a wave of happiness lit up Aman’s face.
