Rumaan’s POV

We all stood outside Hana's room. As soon as she fainted, my parents and Riya Aapi arrived. They were extremely worried for her, and I immediately called the doctor. Now, the doctor was inside the room with unconscious Hana and Mama.

When I saw Hana lying lifeless on the floor, my body trembled with fear. I knew I shouldn’t have done this. I knew how insecure she was about me. She couldn’t even bear the smallest touch of another girl on me, and yet I kissed Ariba right in front of her. All because of my anger. My temper took the best of me.

I shouldn’t have done this.

I fisted my hair, drowning in anxiety.

After 20 minutes, the doctor came out with Mama. I ran toward them. I noticed Mama lost in her thoughts—her face tensed at first, then slowly softening with a faint smile.

Ignoring everything, I turned to the doctor.

“How is she?” I asked, my voice laced with worry.

“Who are you?” she questioned.

“I’m her husband!” The words escaped my mouth unintentionally, but as soon as I said them, the doctor smiled.

“Congratulations! You’re going to be a father,” she said warmly, and I felt as though the ground had been pulled from beneath me.

“What?!” Baba, Riya Aapi, and Ariba shouted in unison. I, too, stumbled a few steps back, stunned. My eyes darted to my mother—still lost in her thoughts, yet that small smile hadn’t left her face.

No! This can’t be happening!

I screamed inside my head and ran downstairs. I could hear Mama and Baba calling my name, but I didn’t stop. I rushed outside the house.

“No! No! No!” I yelled, rubbing my face with both hands.

“I have dreams! I can’t take this responsibility!” I muttered, terrified.

“I’m already restless thinking about my relationship with Hana, and now this baby—my baby? How could this happen? I’m not ready! I can accept Hana, but a baby? No, I can’t.” My voice shook as I whispered in fear. I got into my car and drove off, suffocating inside.

“Rumaan, Rumaan, Rumaan! What have you done?”

“I should have thought about this before going near her,” I kept muttering under my breath.

I didn’t know how long I roamed the streets before the ringing of my phone broke my thoughts. I pulled it out, parking the car at the roadside.

“Hello?” It was Jake.

“Hey dude! How are you?” he asked casually.

“Not good,” I muttered, wiping sweat from my forehead.

“What happened, man?” Jake asked.

“Hana is pregnant,” I blurted out, desperate to share this weight with someone.

“Oh! So that’s why you’re stressed?” he asked. I hummed in response, rubbing my face with one hand.

“So… who’s the father?”

“What the fu** dude! Obviously, I’m the father!” I yelled, enraged at his question. How dare he say that?

“Oops, sorry! Then why are you upset? You should be happy,” he asked, clearly confused.

“Because I’m not ready for this! I don’t want this!” I shouted in frustration.

“You don’t want the baby?” he asked.

“No,” I muttered, shaking my head.

“Then tell her to abort,” he suggested.

“She’ll never agree. Even if I manage to convince her, my parents will never allow it. I saw my mother’s eyes light up when she heard the news.” I sighed, shoulders slumping in defeat.

“So you’re accepting this?” Jake asked.

“I don’t have any other option,” I whispered, closing my eyes.

“Did you forget about your world trip? About your dreams?” he pressed, and my eyes shot open.

“No! But what can I do?” I snapped, frustration bubbling over as I fisted my hair.

“Tell them that… the child isn’t yours,” he said, and my eyes widened.

“Are you out of your mind?! I told you it’s my child!” I shouted.

“I know, I know, man! But just listen to me first,” he pleaded.

“What?! What the hell do you have to say?!” I barked.

“Calm down. Listen carefully,” he urged.

I sighed, forcing myself to relax. “Fine, say what you want.”

“Tell them Hana’s child isn’t yours. They’ll ask her to abort because the baby doesn’t belong to you. Then, you step in as the ‘forgiving husband,’ saying you’re ready to accept her despite her mistake. Your parents will be proud of you, and you’ll be rid of the baby either way.”

His words knocked the air out of me.

“No… no, I can’t do this,” I muttered, uncertain.

“Rumaan, think about your future—your dreams. All of it will shatter otherwise,” he insisted.

“And if Hana leaves me, I’ll shatter! No, I can’t do this. She loves me, yaar! I’ve already given her so much pain. If I make another mistake, I know she’ll break completely—and I don’t want that. I can’t lose my jaan-e-maan (beloved of my soul),” I said, the last part more to myself than to him.

“Rumaan, be wise. We’re talking about your future. As for Hana—she’ll never leave you. Everyone knows how crazy she is about you. Maybe she’ll be angry at first, but eventually she’ll forgive you.”

“But this is my child, Jake,” my voice barely came out, trembling with conflict.

“Rumaan, tell me honestly—did you enjoy marriage life?” he asked, and I frowned.

“What do you mean?” I asked, confused.

“You’ve told me before this serious relationship made your life hell. You can’t handle all this husband-and-wife stuff,” he said, and I leaned my head back against the seat, silent.

“Now think—if marriage already makes your life hell, what will a child do to it?” he pushed further, and I stayed quiet, listening.

“But it’s my child, yaar,” I whispered, trying to sound reasonable.

“No, it’s not—it’s just an amount of blood! Now it’s up to you. Do you want to ruin your future and dreams for just an amount of blood? Or tell one lie and save your dreams?” he said before hanging up.

I sat frozen, confused, terrified, and frustrated. I didn’t know what decision would be right, or which would truly be in my favor. But Jake’s words echoed—it’s just blood. For that, could I really ruin my life?

If I accept this child, then what? I couldn’t even handle Hana properly—how would I handle a baby? Jake was right… maybe I should do this.

But what about Hana… will you ever face her after that?

My heart whispered, and I closed my eyes.

“...I can’t live without you… our nikah (marriage)… you are everything for me… this is the reason I live…”

Hana’s first confession echoed in my head, reminding me she would never leave me. A small smile curved my lips.

“Sorry, Hanu, but I have to do this… For my dreams. For both of us. We’re not ready for this. But I promise, after this, I’ll never hurt you again.”

I muttered, opening my eyes before driving back home.

*******

Hana's POV

"Riya stop it."

"But Baba... how can she—"

"We will talk later."

I heard voices and stirred in my sleep, feeling a slight headache. Rubbing my forehead, I slowly opened my eyes.

I saw Mama sitting beside me, while Baba and Riya Aapi stood in front of my bed.

"Hanu... bachay (child), are you okay?" Mama asked, and I slowly nodded. I tried to sit up, but my body felt too weak. Mama helped me.

"I'm okay, Mama," I said softly.

"Now Mama, will you ask her?" Riya Aapi pressed Mama to question me.

"Riya, I don’t have to ask her anything," Mama replied sternly, glaring at her.

"Mama... I'm not accusing her. She’s like a little sister to me... I'm just saying please confirm it," Riya Aapi said, but her voice didn’t sound like she was talking about her little sister.

"What happened, Mama?" I asked in a low voice.

"Hana, you should rest, beta," Mama said, but I held her hand. She looked tense.

"Tell me, Mama... what happened?" I asked again, worried. But Mama didn’t say anything.

"You're pregnant, Hana," Riya Aapi said abruptly. My eyes widened, my heart skipped a beat.

What? I’m pregnant!? But... I’m not ready for this.

While I was lost in thought, someone entered the room.

I looked toward the doorway. He was standing there, staring at me blankly—and instantly, everything that had happened before I lost consciousness flashed through my mind.

Ariba and my argument.

Maan yelling at me.

Maan kissing Ariba.

Everything replayed, stabbing my heart with pain. My eyes filled with tears.

"Are you going to tell us what it is, Hana?" Riya Aapi’s voice brought me back to the moment.

I’m pregnant!

I asked myself again, and unconsciously my hand went to my belly. A small smile crept onto my lips.

Maan and my baby!

I looked into his eyes and smiled.

Our baby, Maan... I said with my eyes. But he looked away.

Now your baby will change you. You’ll have to change for the sake of your baby... our baby. You’ll never leave us. And for the sake of our baby, I’ll forgive you this last time.

I said all this in my heart, while my smile remained.

"What’s there to tell, Riya?" I heard Mama’s voice, and the embarrassment hit me again.

Oh God, it’s so humiliating... everyone is here—even Baba.

I lowered my head.

"This is Rumaan’s child," Mama declared.

I didn’t look up. I kept my head bowed—I didn’t have the courage to face her or anyone in the room.

"This is not my child," Maan said.

My head snapped toward him. My eyes widened. Shock consumed me.

What did he just say? Did I hear him right? No! He can’t... he wouldn’t...

I tried to convince myself, but as he looked away, I shuddered. My heart stopped. My breath hitched. My world shattered.

It felt like he had once again ripped my soul from me, brutally. My eyes filled with tears, but what came instead was a broken smile.

You succeeded, Maan.

"HOW DARE YOU, RUMAAN!" Mama screamed, storming toward him, slapping him hard across the face.

"Mama—" he was shocked that his own mother slapped him.

"Don’t call me Mama!" she yelled, about to hit him again, but I stopped her.

"No, Mama," I whispered, walking slowly toward them.

"He’s right... this is not his child."

I placed a hand on my stomach, shaking my head with a broken smile. Tears burned my eyes, but I didn’t let them fall—not in front of him. The one I had given my everything to. The one I loved with all my being.

But now... I was tired of crying for his love. I had been blind. Blind by love... but not anymore.

"Hana..." Mama held my hand, about to say something, but I shook my head with a small smile.

"Rumaan is right, Mama... this is not his child," I repeated, and a lone tear slipped down my cheek.

Everyone looked at me in shock—even Rumaan.

"I knew it! She slept with someone else! That’s why she refused to do the rukhsati (final send-off). How could you, Hana?! You’re in my brother’s nikah (marriage)!" Riya Aapi screamed and slapped me.

"Aapi!" Rumaan yelled.

"Now tell us that bastard’s name!" she demanded.

"Riya, stop it!" Mama and Baba both shouted at the same time.

"No! She won’t tell us, I will! That bastard’s name is Muneeb! She slept with Mune—"

"AAPIIII!" Rumaan’s scream cut her off.

I stood there numb. I couldn’t feel anything anymore. My love, my soul, my dignity—all gone. I had lost everything. Destroyed by my blind love.

"Riya!" Mama shoved her away and slapped her.

"Mama, why are you hitting your children for this whore—" Riya Aapi spat, but Baba’s slap silenced her.

Rumaan stood quietly. I couldn’t see his expression, nor did I care... but still, my eyes sought his. I gave him my bitter, broken smile. Tears filled my eyes, and a single tear slipped from his.

"Stop it! Or I will forget that you are my daughter!" Baba roared.

"You want proof? Proof that this child is your low-life brother’s child?" Mama shouted furiously, gripping Riya Aapi’s arms.

"I AM THE PROOF OF RUMAAN’S BIRTHDAY NIGHT—THE NIGHT HE SPENT WITH HANA!" Mama screamed.

I should’ve felt relief that Allah made Mama witness to my innocence. But I couldn’t feel anything. I was numb. Lifeless.

I glanced at Rumaan. He was already looking at me. Then he turned and walked away.

And I knew... I was watching him walk away for the last time.

---

Rumaan’s POV

The moment I denied that this was my child, Hana’s wide, disbelieving eyes pierced me. I couldn’t bear to meet her gaze.

Then Mama slapped me. I was shocked—but deep down, I knew I deserved it.

She raised her hand again, but Hana stopped her. And then Hana’s words shattered me. She said this wasn’t my child... and she called me by my full name—Rumaan.

My heart clenched painfully. I never knew hearing Hana call me Rumaan would make me shudder inside.

Then Riya Aapi slapped my Hana. I yelled, but she didn’t listen. She demanded the name of the “bastard.” I wanted to shout that I was that bastard—but the words stuck in my throat.

And when Riya accused her of Muneeb... I screamed.

I was horrified. It had never crossed my mind that denying this child could lead them to accuse Hana like this.

But my actions had brought her this humiliation.

A lone tear escaped me when Hana gave me her broken, bitter smile. My chest ached. My heart couldn’t bear it.

Mama reminded everyone that Hana had been with me on my birthday night. But it didn’t matter anymore. The damage was done.

I looked at Hana—standing there lifeless. My pain became unbearable.

So I turned around... and walked away.

★★★★