Hana’s POV

After Muneeb walked out of my room, I kept thinking about his words.

I placed my hand on my stomach, and I could feel something new within me. Then I realized—he was right, absolutely right. My baby needs me. It’s not my baby’s fault that he or she has the worst father in this world. My baby’s father abandoned him or her… but not me.

“Your mama is not going to hurt you, my baby. I will take care of you. We don’t need anyone. You don’t need that man as your father—we are enough for each other. I will be strong for you. I will make you happy. I will live for you. I will love you, my baby,” I whispered to my child and sat on the bed crying. This should have been a happy moment for me, but here I was, crying.

No Hana! You have to be strong.

I told myself and wiped my tears. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but I would try my best to make myself strong as soon as possible. Because before my baby’s birth, I had to become another strong woman. I had to kill that Hana whom anyone could fool—especially Rumaan.

“I will never forgive you, Rumaan. You’re dead to me. And that innocent Hana, whom you could fool so easily—she’s also dead. Now I’m only my child’s mother.” I mumbled with determination.

---

“Hana, I want to talk to you,” Aapi came into my room and said. I was sitting on the couch beside the window.

“Yes, Aapi,” I responded, and she sat in front of me.

“Hana… don’t take me wrong,” Aapi said hesitantly. I turned fully toward her.

“What is it, Aapi?” I asked, and she held my hand.

“Hana… you’ve gone through so much, beta. Now I only want your happiness.” I knew Aapi wanted to say something, so I stayed quiet, giving her the chance.

“And for that, you have to do what I’m saying,” she continued.

“What do you want to say, Aapi?” I asked, feeling anxious.

“Um… you have to abort, Hana,” she blurted out, making me instantly cover my stomach protectively. My eyes widened in shock and fear.

“Look, Hanu… it’s necessary for your happine—”

“For my happiness I have to kill my baby?” I cut her off, asking in disbelief. How could she say that? She was also a mother.

“Hanu… think practically. For your future, you have to bury your past,” she tried to convince me, but my heart broke into a million pieces again hearing my Aapi’s words.

“For my future I have to kill my baby?” I mumbled, feeling shattered. How could people be against my child… my halal (lawful) child? Even its own father.

“Hanu…”

“If you were me, would you kill your baby for your happiness?” I asked, and she looked taken aback by my question.

“You are a mother, Aapi. I know you understand more than me what a mother is… how she will do anything for her child. Then how can you say that?” I asked, disappointed.

“Here…” I pointed toward my stomach. “Here, a small life is growing. Here, my baby’s heart is beating. And you’re telling me to kill that life… to stop that beating heart?” My voice cracked, and tears started falling down my cheeks.

“It’s not a mistake, Aapi. It’s not a sin. It’s my love… it’s my halal child. What if Rumaan didn’t love me? I did. And if something didn’t go as planned, then it’s my responsibility. My baby is not at fault. What’s its mistake—that my baby got a coward father, who doesn’t have the guts to accept his own child?” I paused and took a deep breath.

“But I’m not a coward. If I loved that coward and heartless man, then I will also take responsibility for my baby. I will give my baby a beautiful world. I will bring my baby into this world. And I will make my baby strong,” I said with determination.

“Who will accept you with this child?” Aapi asked, and my heart stopped. My breath hitched for a moment at the thought of another man.

“I don’t need anyone. I just need my Aapi.” I held her hand. “Aapi, I don’t have anyone except you. Please don’t hate my baby just because of Rumaan. It’s my baby, Aapi… please accept it.” I begged, intertwining my hands in front of her.

Aapi instantly held my hands, shook her head, and hugged me.

“Shh… how can I hate my Hanu’s child?” she said, then pulled back and cupped my face.

“I was just frightened thinking about your future. But now you’ve made me realize this is not your baby’s fault, and it’s not a sin. It’s my Hanu’s child—and I’m accepting it,” she said, smiling as a tear slipped from her eyes, making me sigh in relief.

---

It took me 2 months to decide what I should do, and then I decided to rejoin my college, as per Muneeb’s suggestion.

I wanted to be independent, and for that I had to complete my studies first.

And now, it’s been two weeks since I started going to college again.

I walked out of my room into the dining room in the morning.

“Look, she is here,” Khala said happily.

“Oh! You know Hana, Mama made kheer (sweet dessert) for you. Yesterday you were saying you wanted to eat kheer,” Muneeb said, and I nodded while sitting beside Aapi.

“Behaving like you care, ha?” Aapi raised her eyebrows, and they both exchanged a look.

“What are those looks?” I asked suspiciously.

“Hana beta, he wanted to eat all this, saying you’re not coming,” Khala said, and I turned to Muneeb, raising my eyebrows. He smiled sheepishly.

“Your Aapi wanted to eat as well,” he said, and I turned to Aapi. She also smiled the same way.

“What can we do? Ammi makes the world’s best kheer,” Aapi exclaimed.

“Yes… but this kheer is for my daughter,” Khala said smiling, and I smiled in return—while missing Mama.

Yes, I really missed them. Mama and Baba. I loved them as my own parents, because I never knew my real mother. Mama was always a mother to me. And Baba… he always tried to make me feel like my father never left me. He never made me feel like I wasn’t his real daughter. That’s why I loved them, and always will, with all my heart.

Mama came here three times during all those days. Though Marzi Aapi didn’t want me to meet her, I convinced her, saying they’re my parents and I love them, and my relationship with them as daughter and parents will never change, no matter what.

Mama tried to convince me to come back with her, saying that they needed me. But I refused, and she respected my decision without forcing me.

We all chit-chatted a little, and I tried my best to get along with them.

“Come, Hana, I’ll drop you,” Muneeb said, and I nodded, saying bye to everyone.

---

“Okay, Allah Hafiz (goodbye),” I said to Muneeb as we reached my college.

“I’ll come to pick you up,” Muneeb said as I was about to open the door.

“No, Muneeb. I told you I want to be independent, so please let me. It’s been two weeks you’ve been doing this for me—taking me home to college and back again. Please don’t do this. Let me be myself. I gave you permission to drop me, but from college, I want to come home on my own.” My tone came out a little harsh.

“Sorry,” he said, looking down, and I felt bad.

“Muneeb, I’m sorry. But please understand,” I said, and he nodded.

“But Hana… only today. Then from tomorrow you can come home by yourself,” he said. I sighed in defeat.

“Fine. But tomorrow there’s no need to come,” I said, and he grinned.

“Why are you grinning?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.

“Because I planned to take you for lunch today,” he said, and I looked at him questioningly.

“Please, please, princess, don’t say no,” he pleaded with puppy dog eyes, and I couldn’t refuse. I nodded.

Yes, I couldn’t say no to Muneeb. He was my biggest support in those two and a half months. He truly supported me, always trying to cheer me up, making me smile with his antics. But deep down, I knew I would never smile with my whole heart.

My heart always belonged to him. And that heart he broke. Now I don’t think I have a heart left to be happy. I won’t lie—yes, I really missed him. No matter what had happened in my life, one thing was always clear: I loved him too much to ever forget him.

But I hate him now.

I muttered to myself and went inside my college, wiping the tiny tear that escaped my eyes.

---

After college, Kulsum and I walked outside.

“So… how’s my baby?” she asked as we stepped out of the gate, making me smile. Whenever someone talked about my baby, a smile always came to my lips.

“Fine,” I told her.

“I still can’t believe it, Hana! I’m going to be a Khala (aunt)!” she squealed happily, while I just shook my head, smiling at her excitement.

I told her everything the day I came back to college. I wasn’t going to, but then…

Can we really hide anything from our best friend?

The answer was no.

We stood outside waiting for Muneeb. She was chattering away while I just listened. But suddenly she tensed. I looked at her, confused.

“Hey, what happened?” I asked in concern. She was looking behind me. Before she could say anything or I could turn, I heard the voice that shook me from inside.

“Hanu.”

“Maan…” his name escaped my lips, but only as a whisper. I knew he didn’t hear me. I turned and looked at him. He looked changed. His face was pale, his eyes filled with emotions I had never seen before… and moist with unshed tears.

He ran to me and hugged me, making my breath hitch.

“Jaan, I really missed you,” he whispered in my ear. His voice trembled as though he was crying, making my eyes watery too.

But then, his words echoed in my mind—“That’s not my child.” And the image of him kissing Ariba struck me again. I closed my eyes tightly and then reopened them. This time, my eyes held only hate and disgust for this man.

I pushed him hard, making him stumble a little. He looked at me in shock.

“Don’t ever touch me, Mr. Rumaan,” I said with venom. I saw pain in his eyes, but I ignored it easily—so easily that even I couldn’t believe myself.

I didn’t feel pity for him.

“Hana… please listen to me,” he pleaded, but I turned my back to him.

“Kulsum, you go,” I told her. She shook her head and glared at Rumaan.

“Please,” I begged, and she hesitantly nodded. As she walked away, I turned back to Rumaan.

“I don’t want to talk to you. So kindly leave from here, and never come to my college again,” I said with a straight face.

“Hanu, please…” he tried, but I walked away.

“Hana… listen!” He followed behind me.

“Hana, listen to me!” Rumaan grabbed my hand, forcing me to look at him. But I instantly jerked my hand away, because now his touch burned me.

“I told you! Never touch me again!” I yelled, pointing my finger at him.

“Okay… okay. I won’t touch you. But please, just once, listen to me,” he begged.

I smiled bitterly and looked behind him.

“I don’t have time to waste on useless people,” I said and walked toward Muneeb, who was standing beside his car, glaring at Rumaan.

“Thank God you came. Let’s go for lunch, I’m really hungry,” I said, smiling as I held Muneeb’s hand.

We both sat in the car and drove away. I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. This was the first time I had seen Rumaan after deciding to be strong and face my problems. But seeing him… I almost forgot everything. I almost wanted to cry, to shout at him, to ask him all the questions—why he did this to me.

But no. He didn’t even deserve my anger.

“Are you okay?” I heard Muneeb’s voice and looked at him.

“Yes,” I replied, turning to look out of the window, while wiping away the tiny tear that escaped from the corner of my eye.

............

Rumaan’s POV

I called her and she looked at me. She was shocked seeing me, and after looking at her I couldn’t stop myself from hugging her. But she pushed me away, which hurt me deeply. The look in her eyes only increased my pain. She looked at me with hate, and I couldn’t bear that look from her. I had been so used to seeing affection in those eyes that this look crushed me—killing me inside.

I pleaded with her to listen to me, to give me a chance to say something, but she wasn’t ready. She refused to give me even a single chance. And then, suddenly, she smiled while looking behind me and said she didn’t have time to waste on useless people. God, that hurt me even more. And in that moment, I realized how she must have felt when I once said the same thing to her—that I didn’t have time to waste on her.

Hana walked past me smiling. I turned and saw her going to Muneeb. She went straight to him, held his hand, and asked him to take her to lunch. I swear I could hear the sound of my heart breaking.

My Hana just walked over me… to Muneeb. I couldn’t believe it. My heart clenched in unbearable pain when Hana dragged Muneeb to the car, sat inside, and drove away with him.

I didn’t know how long I stood there in that pain until I heard my phone ringing. I pulled it out and saw Ali’s call. I answered, and he reminded me about my meeting.

“I’m coming,” I said, then drove to my office.

---

Once again, I stood outside Hana’s college, waiting for her. This had become my daily routine. I waited for her outside her college every afternoon, but she never gave me a chance to say a word. She just walked away as if she didn’t even recognize me.

Only God knows how much her behavior hurt me. But then again, I deserved it. I had hurt her beyond comparison.

It had been a week of me doing this and getting nothing in return. But I wasn’t going to lose hope—not when my hope came from Hana herself. She had once believed in our marriage so strongly, enduring everything just to protect it. Then how could I lose faith now? It was my turn to save our marriage at any cost.

I saw Hana coming out of the college, and immediately, her eyes met mine. A smile appeared on my lips—she had expected me here. But she only glanced at me for a mere second before looking away. She bid goodbye to Kulsum and walked toward a taxi that pulled up first.

Yes, Muneeb wasn’t coming to pick her up anymore, which gave me a little peace, knowing they would be apart for some time. But then I realized Hana was probably heading to his home.

Allah, please don’t let Hana’s heart melt for Muneeb.

I prayed this every day. Yes, I had started praying and making dua. I hoped Allah would forgive me for all my sins, and if He forgave me, then maybe Hana would forgive me too.

I quickly walked toward the taxi.

“Hana—” I called, but she sat inside and closed the door. A few seconds later, the taxi drove off.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk…” I heard someone mocking behind me. I turned and saw Kulsum standing there with a smug smile.

“How strange life is, isn’t it?” she asked mockingly.

“What do you mean?” I asked, folding my arms.

“I mean… a few months ago, Hana was the one who used to wait for you for hours after college, but you didn’t have the time to pick her up. And now, you’re the one waiting for her every single day, but she doesn’t have the time for you.” She taunted, and I sighed, looking away.

She was right. Hana had always waited for me after college, but I took her for granted, always arriving late.

“You broke her beyond imagination, Rumaan. She has loved you since she first understood what love meant, and she always trusted that you would never hurt her intentionally. I always warned her about you because I never believed you could truly love her. Boys like you never love anyone… and girls like Hana always get hurt for loving someone like you.” She said with disgust, emphasizing you. Her words cut deep.

“I love her,” I told her quietly, lowering my gaze.

“Hahaha… really?” she laughed mockingly.

“If you even cared about her a little, you would never have broken her this much. You would have never tainted her like this. You would have never disgraced her like this!” she yelled angrily, and I lowered my head in shame.

“I love her,” I repeated, this time looking directly at her.

“Kulsum, trust me. I love her. I regret every action. I regret every word that caused Hana pain. I regret it with every breath I take, Kulsum. Now I finally realize how much I love her—after losing her.” My eyes grew moist as I confessed, and in the end, I chuckled bitterly at my cruel fate.

How unlucky I was. When Hana loved me, I didn’t care about her. I thought she would never leave me. But now, when I finally love her, she no longer cares about me or my love.

“You’re too late, Rumaan. You’ve lost her forever. She will never be yours again,” she said before walking away, leaving my pain tenfold heavier.

“She will be mine again,” I muttered under my breath, then sat inside my car and closed my eyes tightly. I have to do something. I know Hana won’t give me the chance to talk to her that easily.

An idea suddenly popped into my mind.

“Thank you, Allah,” I whispered with a smile as I started the engine.

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