Author's POV

Saim entered the room, but Aina was not there. He sat on the bed, Aina’s face disturbed his thoughts. He couldn’t understand what had happened to her so suddenly.

Maybe everyone was right—that she was upset about me going to prison.

Aina walked out of the bathroom looking fresh. She had taken a shower and dressed in a silk two-piece nighty. Like always, she went to the mirror, brushed her hair, and applied atter (perfume) to both sides of her neck and her wrists.

Saim silently stared at her. When she was done, she turned to him. He smiled and stood up. Even though she wanted to smile back, she couldn’t and instead looked at him in silence.

“Are you okay?” Saim asked, placing his hand on her cheek.

“Yes, I am,” she replied, resting her head on his chest and placing her hand over the left side—where his heart was beating faster. "Do I have anything to do with the way your heart is beating?" she asked.

Saim smiled and held her tighter.

“Everything about my heart beating faster has to do with you,” he said lovingly.

“You will never leave me… right?” She looked up into his eyes with hope. Saim shook his head.

“Never.” He cupped her face. “I can’t imagine my life without you,” he whispered making her feel relieved. She convinced herself that he would forgive her one mistake. He wouldn’t destroy their beautiful marriage. She could feel that he had started to love her—she could see it in his eyes—but he hadn’t said it aloud.

Maybe he doesn’t know that he has already fallen for me,

Aina thought, resting her head against his chest and feeling a strange sense of relief. Saim hugged her tightly, burying his face in her neck and hair, inhaling her fragrance. He found himself losing in her. Aina also forget everything in his arms.

••••••••••••••••

The next morning was beautiful. They spent an intimate moment together in the shower before heading downstairs for breakfast.

Everyone was engaged in small talk when the doorbell rang. The maid went to open it.

“Saim!” someone called loudly, halting everyone in place. “Saim!” the voice rang out again. Both Saim and Aina recognized it immediately. Saim, shocked at why Reema had come at this hour, stood up, while Aina, now frightened, also rose from her seat.

They all abandoned their breakfast and went into the lounge.

“What are you doing here?” Saim asked, his tone slightly angry.

“I want to show you something,” she said, stepping toward him.

“We could have met in the office. Why did you come here?” His voice still carried annoyance.

“Just see this first.”

“Reema aapi (sister), please don’t,” Aina stepped forward, her eyes pleading. Tears gathered in her eyes, and her face went pale.

“What happened, Aina? Are you okay?” Saim stepped toward her, holding her shoulders as he noticed her trembling.

“She’s going to put on a whole drama now, just because I came here to reveal her true face,” Reema seethed.

“Reema—” Before Saim could continue, she pulled a laptop out of her bag, set it on the table, and angled it so everyone could see.

“I want to confess something!”

The video began, and Aina’s face filled the screen.

Aina stared at her hands for a few seconds before looking up. “I trapped Saim into this marriage.” A tear slid down her cheek. “At the party, I spiked Saim’s drink. I drugged him. When someone at the party tried to misbehave with me, Saim saved me and took me to my room. He was about to leave, but he started feeling the effects and, as he was heading toward the door, he collapsed against it. It looked like he closed the door himself, but he didn’t. I walked toward him and made him sit on the bed.

‘Saim, are you okay?’ I asked.

‘Aina… I don’t know what’s happening. My head!’ He held his head. Moments later, he fainted on the bed. I didn’t want to do it, but knowing he would marry someone else, I felt I had to. I opened the buttons of his shirt with trembling hands and laid him down before sitting on the floor beside him. The next morning, I went and layed beside him and when everyone found us, I played out the drama I had planned. Being drugged, Saim didn’t remember anything. He was clueless. He didn’t do anything—but I did all this so everyone would force him to marry me.”

Aina began to cry, covering her face.

The video ended.

Everyone in the room was frozen. Saim felt ground slip from under his feet.

“She did all this! Didn’t I tell you she loved you before marriage and would do something like this?” Reema started. “I always doubted her, but your trust in her kept me quiet. Everything was fine until she found out I was working in your office. Then she tried to trap me again—telling me you weren’t a good person, that you forced her to marry you, even accusing you of rape…”

“No! You’re lying! I never said any of that!” Aina screamed at the false accusations.

“Oh, shut up! Now you’ll say you didn’t hire Fouziya to accuse Saim so I would leave him?” Reema hurled another accusation.

“No…” Aina shook her head and looked toward Saim, who was still frozen, his eyes locked on the laptop screen.

“Saim,” Reema grabbed his arm and turned him toward her. “She set the whole thing up. But unfortunately, the police got involved. Yesterday, I came here to meet her, but I saw her leaving alone. I followed her and found her going into Fouziya’s house. I went in after her and overheard her threatening Fouziya to withdraw the case. But Fouziya demanded a large sum of money. That’s when Aina took out a USB, saying she had proof of your innocence because she would never want you to be in prison. That’s when I decided I would expose her. I rushed in, took the USB, and told her to confess her crimes. I only wanted to know the truth about your marriage, so I forced her. Since your only proof was in my hands, she had no choice but to record that confession. After I gave her back the USB, she sent it to the police right away. You can confirm with the police—Fouziya might have given her statement by now.”

Aina stared at her, dumbfounded. She had thought Reema gave her one night to be with Saim out of pity, but Reema had been plotting this the entire time.

She remembered how, when Reema told her to record, she had cried endlessly, begging her not to destroy her home.

“Please, Reema aapi! Please don’t do this. I love him so much—I can’t bear to see hate in his eyes. Please forgive me. Please don’t break my home,” she pleaded, folding her hands.

“I will do this—just like you didn’t think of me when I left my family to marry Saim,” Reema spat.

And in the end, for Saim’s release, she had to record that confession. Reema demanded the full details and Aina had to do that.

“Aaj ek raat de mujhe. Mujhe mera waqt jeena hai Saim ke saath pura sach samne ane se pehle.” (Just give me one night. I want to live my time with Saim before the full truth comes out.) Aina said, feeling her energy drain.

“Okay. Sirf aaj raat hai tumhare paas. Kal subha sab khatam ho jayega.” (Okay. You only have tonight. By tomorrow morning, everything will be over.) Reema replied.

Aina stared at the cunning woman in front of her. How conveniently she had shifted all the blame onto her. But before Aina could say anything, the police entered the house with Fouziya behind them. Everyone turned towards them.

"We know the real culprit, but before taking action, we want you all to know who that person is. Tell them the truth," the police officer said and then ordered the frightened Fouziya to step forward.

"Sorry sir! I am really sorry! Aina ma’am forced me to do all this. She offered me a handsome amount for it, and I couldn’t refuse. I am really sorry, please forgive me and don’t send me to prison," she cried, trembling.

"Jhoot! Sab jhoot hai!!" (Lies! All lies!!) "It’s all a setup against me! I didn’t do anything like that!" Aina screamed in horror as everyone stared at her accusingly.

Reema smirked, seeing how everyone’s eyes were turning cold and distant toward Aina. She put all the blame on her, only to make Saim divorce her so that she could marry him herself. Deep down, she knew there was a chance they could forgive Aina for the mistake she made just to marry him. They might think Aina was young and had done all this out of love for Saim. But Reema made a strong plan so they would believe Aina did it because she was either obsessed with Saim or a cunning woman who could play with anyone’s life for her own benefit.

"Now tell us—what do you want us to do? Should we arrest the victim’s wife, or will you handle it yourself?" the officer asked.

"You go, officer. We will handle it. And release this woman; we take back our FIR," Hameed (Saim’s father) said, making the police and Fouziya leave the house. "You also go" he told that to Reema who wanted to see the drama but hearing Saim's father was also important so she left feeling sad.

"Bade Abbu! Don’t let her go! Ask her why she’s lying!" Aina stepped forward, but Affan held her hand and pushed her back. She looked at her brother, who now had doubt and distance in his eyes. Then she turned to Saim.

Saim would understand. He would believe her.

"Saim, please believe me, I didn’t do anything like that…" Saim, who had been frozen till now, jolted out of his trance as he felt Aina shaking him.

He stared at her before asking one question:

"Is this video real? Are you in this video?" His voice carried no emotion.

Aina felt her heart drop. She opened her mouth to speak, but the silent plead in his eyes—visible for only a second before disappearing—stole her words. A tear rolled down her cheek.

"Tell me, Aina," he asked again. She didn’t have the heart to say yes, nor the courage to say no.

Her body began trembling. She had been preparing herself for this moment since yesterday, but now her mind went blank.

"I am sorry," she whispered.

"Aina, please say yes or no. I don’t want your apology." His tone softened slightly. "Kya tumne mujhse shadi karne… ke liye yeh sab kiya?" (Did you do all this just to marry me?) his voice cracked.

He stepped forward and cupped her face. "Main sab ko jhutla dunga, sirf tum ek baar keh do ke yeh sab jhoot hai. Mujhe Fouziya, Reema, kisi se koi matlab nahi. Just tell me you didn’t drug me that day. Just tell me you didn't humiliate me that day. Just tell me this video is fake. Just tell me ke tumne mujhe paane ke liye yeh gunah nahi kiya?"

(I will deny everything to everyone—just tell me this is all a lie. I don’t care about Fouziya or Reema or anyone.)

(Tell me you didn’t commit this sin just to have me.)

He couldn’t stop the tears gathering in his eyes. He didn’t want to shatter the happiness they had, the life they built together. He didn't want to let go of that peace which he found in his Ain.

Aina couldn’t decide what to do. She could not lie while looking into his eyes. And the knife of this truth had been hanging over her head every day.

"I love you… and… I couldn’t see you with anyone else… Saim, main… main bachpan se aapse pyaar karti hoon… main nahi dekh paayi aapko kisi aur ke saath." (I have loved you since childhood… I couldn’t bear to see you with anyone else.) She fell to her knees. "Yes! I did this. I spiked your drink. Nothing happened that night. You were innocent!" she sobbed.

His hands fell to his sides, and a lone tear escaped his burning eyes.

"I am sorry! I am sorry, Saim!" she cried.

He stepped back and leaned on the sofa before slowly sinking into it. She covered her face with her hands and wept. The broken look in his eyes crushed her completely.

While Saim sat there, memories of that day came rushing back—when no one had believed him, when his character was tarnished. He had blamed himself and could never forgive himself back then… so how could he forgive Aina now?

"She’s just a child. If anyone has committed a sin, it’s my shameless son," his father's said that words.

"Don’t lie! Aina is the most beautiful girl you’ve ever seen. No Reema or anyone else can match her. That’s why you couldn’t control yourself… and RAPED HER!" Affan roared in fury.

"I will kill him!" Razzaq growled, charging at Saim and punching him furiously. Saim stood still, silently enduring the blows.

"Don’t be nice to this bastard, Aina!" Affan shouted.

Saim shut his eyes in pain, bowing his head.

"Why? What did I say wrong? He ruined your life, Aina! He deserves every curse in the world!" Affan yelled.

"I was proud to call him my brother, but now I’m ashamed. He’s a characterless man who ruins women’s lives when drunk. Who knows how many women he’s destroyed… how many rapes he’s committed?" Zaid shouts echoed.

Saim looked at the woman he had given his life to. Her tears had always broken his heart—but not anymore. She was the one who had made him feel like heaven was in the palm of his hand… and she was the same woman who had disgraced him. She had tainted his name. She had brought him shame. She had brutally shattered his trust, and now he could never trust anyone again.

They were all lost in their shock when someone grabbed Aina’s arms and pulled her up. Before she could see who it was, a hard slap landed on her cheek. Her face turned to the left, her hair falling over her face. Slowly, she turned to see who had struck her—it was Shamim.

"Tum itna gir sakti ho, main kabhi soch bhi nahi sakti thi!" (I never imagined you could fall so low!) Shamim shouted with tear-filled eyes. "We gave you so much love, and you shamed us like this? You made me question my upbringing! You made us bow our heads in front of you and your parents!"

Aina’s head hung low, tears spilling from her eyes. Someone else seized her arms and turned her around—another slap landed, and then another, and another.

"You shameless girl! I will kill you!" her father shouted, hitting her.

Saim shut his eyes tightly and clenched his fists. He didn’t want to, but something inside him hurt to see Aina being beaten like this.

"Please, please, don’t hit her like that. She’s a child, please!" her mother pleaded, stepping in front of Aina.

Aina, shocked and broken, stopped crying. She clung to her mother’s shoulders like a terrified child, trembling in fear.

"Don’t come in front of her! She didn’t even think about our reputation. She didn’t care she was tainting our name. This is what we raised! A girl like her!" her father shouted.

"Please! We can talk. She’s a child…"

"She is not my child. She died for me!" Aina looked at her father—whose days had always started and ended with her. One mistake, and he had declared her dead to him.

"She destroyed that innocent boy. My innocent son had to suffer so much because of her! I beat him! We hated him for this shameful girl. I can’t meet my eyes with my brother. She made me ashamed in front of my brother and his family for life! She is dead for me! Did you hear? You are dead for me!" her father roared.

A tear slipped from Aina’s shocked eyes. Her heart shattered into a million pieces. She had feared Saim’s outburst, but her father’s words truly broke her.

Her fearful gaze turned to the left. Saim was still sitting in the same position. With hesitant steps, she walked toward him and knelt in front of him, holding his knees.

"Please forgive me! If you forgive me, then Baba will also forgive me," she pleaded, her voice like that of a child begging her mother not to complain to her father.

He looked at her with cold, distant eyes.

"Move away," he said in a low but hateful tone.

Aina flinched and pulled her hands back.

"Don’t dare to come near me. Your father only hit you, but I will kill you if you come near me!" His voice dripped with venom, shaking Aina to her core. Her shoulders slumbed, her hands falling to her sides.

He stood and looked around. Everyone waited for his reaction, holding their breath.

"I can’t keep her with me. I can’t keep a girl who has shamed me, who has tainted my reputation, who put me behind the bars. I can’t be with someone who cares for no one but herself," he declared, his jaw clenched.

He looked down at Aina. "Main apne pure hosh o awaaz mein Aina Baig ko abhi isi waqt ta—" (In my full senses, I hereby…)

"No!!! No!! Please, no!" her mother rushed forward, screaming. "Saim, please, don’t divorce her. You are in anger. It's not right" She clutched his hands. "Please, beta, try to understand! She is just a kid! She’s only 20! Please, all of you try to understand—she did all this in desperation! She loves you, Saim! I know that! My daughter is crazy for you—please don’t kill her like this! I beg you!" She fell to her knees, sobbing.

Saim closed his eyes tightly.

"Chachi, please!" he also fell to his knees. "Chachi, jo kuch mujhse luta hai, woh mujhe kabhi wapas nahi milega. Chachi, main ise kabhi wapas waise nahi apna sakunga. Main kabhi iske saath phir khush nahi ho sakunga." (Aunt, what I have lost today, I will never get back. I can never accept her again. I can never be happy with her again.)

He clutched her hands and broke into tears.

Everyone’s eyes burned with unshed tears. Zubaida embraced him.

Zaid went to him and placed a hand on his shoulders, sitting beside his brother. Affan wanted to go too, but his blood tie to his sister made him a culprit in Saim’s eyes as well. Hameed wiped his tears, feeling responsible—after all, he had forced his son to marry that girl. Today, his son was broken because of her.

Everyone knew Saim had been truly happy with her. His days and nights began and ended with her. They knew how much he had grown to love his wife. He had accepted her with an open heart, but in return, he received betrayal, deception, and shame. She had destroyed him beyond repair.

Aina sat frozen. She had lost the strength to look anyone in the eye. She was still in shock that Saim was about to divorce her. She couldn’t believe he wanted to take such a drastic step—to kill her like this, to punish her like this. Her heart pounded in her chest in fear of her fate. What would be the fate of her one-sided love?

"Saim! Do whatever you want. She is your culprit—you can punish her however you wish, I will never stop you. But just don’t divorce her! Please, beta," her mother pleaded.

Shamim came forward and bent down to hold Saim’s hand.

Zubaida step away as his mother touched him. With her and Zaid beside him, he stood.

"Beta, do whatever you want. I will be wi

th you," his mother said, wiping his cheeks.

He looked toward Aina, still in her place, then at her mother Zubaida, who stood with Affan’s help.

And then turned and walked up the stairs before locking himself in his room.

______