Threads of fate

The Beginning

A rose—redder than all the roses around it—stood in full bloom, filling the air with its intoxicating fragrance.

People smiled as they looked at it. Some reached out to touch its delicate petals.

Then, suddenly, a voice echoed through the air.

Everything disappeared.

Everything except one rose.

It bloomed on a tree far away, almost out of reach.

I stared at it, desperately trying to get closer, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't reach it.

I ran towards it.

And then—

A man appeared.

Before I could understand what was happening, he reached out and plucked the rose.

My heart sank.

I walked towards him and called out softly,

"Excuse me… would you give me that rose?"

The man slowly turned towards me.

The moment I saw his face—

Everything went black.

I fainted.

---

"Oh, come on! What just happened?"

"Api, these channel people seriously don't let anyone have any peace! The story was finally getting interesting!"

"Oh, Hayaat! What kind of stories do you even watch? From now on, I'm never watching anything with you again. Goodness!"

And this was Hayaat—the youngest daughter of Khan Haveli.

She absolutely loved watching suspenseful stories.

Hayaat was an eighteen-year-old girl with a fair complexion, short black hair, and brown eyes. She had a sweet smile, and whenever she smiled, dimples appeared on her cheeks.

But the most beautiful thing about her was her eyes.

Even her eyes seemed to smile whenever she did.

There was no doubt that Hayaat was exceptionally beautiful.

Hayaat often watched stories with her elder sister, Leila.

Leila was Armaghan Khan's eldest daughter and was eight years older than Hayaat.

"Hayaat! Come downstairs. Khan has already arrived!"

"Aii, Mama!"

"I'm coming!"

Hayaat quickly slipped off her shoes, picked them up in her hands, and ran downstairs.

"Hayaat!"

Sara Khan, her mother, called after her.

"How many times have I told you? Shoes are meant to be worn, not carried around in your hands!"

"Then tell your princess not to throw my shoes around and make me pick them up!" Hayaat complained.

"And Mama, please tell her not to annoy me either!"

Leila was coming down the stairs as she spoke, clearly enjoying Hayaat's complaints.

Hayaat entered the room and immediately went towards Phool Bibi.

"Phool Bibi, look! Everyone is always scolding me. Nobody loves me!"

She wrapped her arms around Phool Bibi dramatically.

Sara Khan got up. She had been quietly watching Hayaat's little performance.

She walked over, gently caught Hayaat by the ear, and made her face her.

"Oh, so I'm your stepmother now, am I? The one who is always scolding you?"

"Yes, yes!"

"Mama, I think you should pull her other ear too!" Leila said with a laugh, enjoying Hayaat's misery.

"Quiet! You're no better than her."

Sara Khan scolded them both.

"Areeee!"

"Let go! My ear hurts!"

Phool Bibi lovingly took Hayaat's ear from Sara's hand.

"Enough. Leave my child alone."

"You've spoiled her yourself," Sara muttered.

---

"Rehman Khan… I feel as though I don't have much time left."

Armaghan looked at him silently.

"You remember, don't you, how I managed to hold everything together?"

"Yes, Baba. How could I ever forget? You saved me… and you saved this family."

"Then promise me one thing, Armaghan."

Rehman Khan's voice became serious.

"Everything we've built… everything I've protected… must not fall apart."

"Yes, Baba."

Rehman Khan nodded.

These were the people who had held the Khan family together for years.

Rehman Khan was Phool Bibi's husband and the head of the household.

He had three children—two sons and one daughter.

The eldest was Abdullah.

After him came Armaghan, Hayaat's father.

And the youngest was Imbra.

---

It was six in the evening.

Everyone was gathered in the dining hall except Hayaat.

She was sitting in her room with headphones over her ears, listening to music.

Suddenly, her door opened.

Someone walked inside and pulled the headphones from her ears.

"Who is it?"

"Doesn't anyone value their life anymore?" Hayaat shouted angrily.

"It's me."

"Bandariya!"

"Ayan! You little brat! How many times have I told you not to enter my room without asking?"

"I'm not going to spare you this time!"

"That is, if you can catch me first!"

Ayan stuck his tongue out at her and ran downstairs.

"You'll see! Just wait!"

Hayaat immediately ran after him.

Ayan reached the dining hall first and casually sat down in his seat.

Hayaat followed him a moment later and reluctantly sat in her own seat.

"Daughters shouldn't be running around like this," Armaghan said in his authoritative voice.

"I don't want to see this happen again."

"Yes, Baba."

Hayaat answered obediently, but at the same time, she was glaring at Ayan as though she could eat him alive.

"Everyone, listen," Changez Khan said.

Then he made an announcement.

"My son is coming tomorrow."

Everyone froze.

"From where?"

"After all these years?"

"He is finally coming back?"

Whispers immediately spread around the table.

"Yes," Changez Khan said firmly.

"Start preparing. I don't want any shortcomings."

Having made his decision, Changez Khan got up and left for his room.

---

After dinner, Ayan and Hayaat went up to the rooftop.

They were talking when Leila came upstairs carrying tea.

She handed each of them a cup before sitting down with them.

"Api, did you already know that Bhai is coming?" Ayan asked curiously.

"No. I didn't know."

Leila took a sip of her tea.

"Even if you had known, you wouldn't have told us," Hayaat said, making a face.

"Hayaat, could you be quiet for once?"

"Anyway, I'm leaving. You two stay here."

"Aapi, sit down!"

"Let this monkey go somewhere else."

Ayan teased Hayaat.

"Fine, baby."

"My little cat… meow!"

"Stop it!" Hayaat complained.

"No problem, no problem."

"One day, my time will come too. Then everyone in this house will sing my praises."

"And when that day comes, I won't even look at you!"

Hayaat made an exaggerated face and began muttering under her breath.

Ayan and Leila looked at each other.

Then both of them burst out laughing.

Hayaat became angry and stormed downstairs.

But the moment she reached the lower floor—

She stopped.

Something strange had caught her attention.

She had heard a strange sound coming from her father's room.

"Aaah…"

Hayaat froze.

What was that?