Author’s POV

Just as his lips touched hers, something in her heart screamed. But her mind was blank. She didn’t move her lips, even though Ruhan was trying his best to make her kiss him back. After a few seconds, she slowly started coming back to her senses and placed her hands on his shoulders, trying to move away, but Ruhan held her tightly by the waist. Dua turned her face.

“No, please,” she said. Ruhan released her and stared at her face.

“It’s wrong,” her trembling voice came out. She moved away from his grip.

“It’s wrong,” she repeated and tried to wipe away the touch of his lips, which felt like someone had placed burning coal on her skin.

“No! It’s wrong!” she cried again, looking toward the apartment and then turning to leave.

“I love Momin. Only him. Only he has the right to touch me.”

With staggered steps, she walked inside the apartment. Finding no one in the lounge, she went straight to her room and then to the washroom. She splashed water on her face several times, hoping to wash away the burning touch.

After some time, she came out and lay down on the bed. She wanted to go to Momin, but the effect of the drink made her weak, and as sleep consumed her, she didn’t even realize when she drifted off.

---

“Please leave me alone, Maham,” Momin uttered a few minutes after entering the room. He stopped crying as Maham brought him to his room so he could rest.

Maham nodded and left, giving him space to be alone.

She went to another room and found Dua sleeping there. Sighing, she also went to sleep.

It was a tough night.

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

The next morning, Dua woke up with a throbbing head. She went to the washroom, followed her routine, and after a shower, came out wearing a simple blue Indian suit.

Slowly, she walked out of the room and found Maham on the sofa, sipping her coffee.

“Good morning. You’re not ready yet? Today is your big day, Dua. Go get dressed. I’ll make your breakfast,” Maham said happily, getting up. She wore black trousers with a beautiful green long kurti, her hair tied in a loose bun.

“I don’t want to go anywhere,” Dua mumbled, sitting on the sofa, holding her head. She didn’t care about her graduation day, as the guilt of betraying Momin weighed heavily on her chest.

She was drowning in guilt for cheating on Momin. Even though she had been drunk, that didn’t justify her actions. She felt like dying under the weight of her remorse. Nothing was making her feel okay or giving her the strength to face Momin.

Still, she asked, “Where is Momin?”

“He’s in his room,” Maham replied, her eyes focused on Dua’s stressed face.

Making up her mind to fix everything between them, Dua stood up.

“But I don’t think he’ll meet you,” Maham added, halting her steps.

“Why wouldn’t he meet me?” Dua asked.

“Because he saw you kissing Ruhan last night.”

As if her world had crashed around her, Dua slumped back onto the sofa.

“Wh... what?” she asked, her eyes wide in shock.

“Yes. He cried so much last night. I handled him with great difficulty. He’s probably still asleep—that’s why he hasn’t come out yet,” Maham said casually, unaware that her sister was breaking inside from hearing this.

Maham shrugged her shoulders and walked away with a small victorious smile.

Dua sat there frozen. She had felt guilt before, but now she felt utterly disgraced by her actions. She regretted attending that party, especially after he had pleaded with her not to go.

“Momin,” her anguished voice escaped as she stood up and ran toward his door. She knew he must be shattered, and she had to tell him she loved him.

She banged on the door, but he didn’t open.

“Momin! Momin, please open the door. Momin, you know I love you! Momin, please just listen to me one time. I wasn’t in my senses. I was drunk, Momin! Momin, please!” she cried desperately.

Maham came running.

“Dua! He’s under stress. Please leave him alone for a while.”

“No, I want to talk to him. Please, Maham, tell him to open the door.”

“Dua,” she said, clutching her hand and dragging her away from the door. She didn’t want them to patch things up.

“You have a big day ahead. Don’t think too much. Let’s go. Momin will be fine. He needs time—try to understand,” she said firmly.

“No! I won’t go like this!” she cried and tried to move toward Momin’s room again.

“I said stop this foolishness! He’s furious right now. Give him time. After a while, his anger will subside, and then you can explain your side. He’ll understand. He always does,” she said, holding Dua’s arms softly. “Right now, your big day is waiting for you. Dad and Mama have called me three times to check if you're getting ready. Please don’t break their hearts. They’re waiting to see you in your graduation gown. Please don’t upset them.”

And after half an hour of persuasion, Dua finally got ready.

•••••••••••••••••••

They arrived at the university. Dua was lost in her thoughts, while Maham was busy looking around, amazed by everything.

After a few minutes of settling in, they saw Rabiya with her family—meaning their Riya Phuphu (paternal aunt)—along with her children and husband, coming toward them.

“My beloved nieces,” she pulled them into a tight hug. “How are you both?” she asked lovingly.

They responded with a soft, “Alhamdulillah, fine.”

“Maham, you’ve been here for three days, and you didn’t come to meet me? And where’s our handsome boy, Momin?” she looked around, searching for him.

“He’s not feeling well, so he stayed home,” Maham replied. She hummed and looked at Dua.

“Dua beta, are you okay?” Riya asked after a while, noticing Dua’s dull and silent demeanor.

Dua just nodded and gave her a faint smile.

She didn’t know why her heart couldn’t find peace. An unknown fear was creeping through her.

They tried to enjoy the day, but when Dua’s name was called, she walked up without a smile, without excitement—even though she had been counting the days for this very moment. And now, she couldn’t even feel the joy she once longed for.

They handed Dua her certificate, which she held as she softly said, “Thank you.” A microphone was given to her, but she couldn’t speak. She just stared at the certificate in her hands. Her eyes welled up. This was her dream, and it had only come true because of Momin. She remembered how he had convinced Hana to let her come here, as Rumaan had given Hana the final say in that decision.

“This is only possible because of one person. Someone I love immensely. I never imagined my life without that person,” she said slowly, a tear sliding down her cheek. The weight of guilt bore down on her shoulders as she held the dream in her hands.

“Who is that person?” one professor asked.

Dua looked up, directly at Maham, who was holding her phone. She must have video-called their parents. Riya and Hammad were recording her as well.

“My husband. Momin Ali,” she said confidently with a soft smile. “I love you, Momin. Please forgive me for all my mistakes.”

With that, she stepped down and left the auditorium.

Maham’s phone slipped from her hand.

“Husband?” the word escaped her mouth in a whisper.

Riya, Hammad, and—on the other end—Hana and Rumaan were all left stunned by Dua’s statement.

*************

Dua sat in the empty classroom, clutching her head. She had a splitting headache. She knew this information must have spread like wildfire.

What would she and Momin say to everyone?

She had said all that to show him she loved him, that she didn’t care if anyone found out now—because he was more important than her status of being single. It was necessary to show him that Ruhan was just a good friend and nothing more. She would send him that video, and she knew he would forgive her after that.

The thought of her parents made her shudder. Her phone rang, and when she saw it was her Papa, the mobile slipped from her hand and fell to the floor. She bent down to pick it up, but before she could get out from under the bench, she heard Maham’s voice.

“No! It’s not true!” Maham screamed.

“It is true, Maham. I heard it myself—Momin called Dua his wife,” Rabiya said. “You should’ve found out how deep they were in this relationship before doing all this,” Rabiya’s voice sounded sad.

“No, no!!” Maham clutched her head. “They got married secretly?” She still couldn’t believe it. “I never thought their relationship was this strong. Momin is my sister’s husband. She is his wife! Ya Allah, what have I done!” Maham grabbed the desk and sat down as her knees buckled.

“Hi girls!” another voice interrupted—it was Ruhan. “Hey Maham! You didn’t come to meet me,” he complained. “Hey girl, because of me you got your love all to yourself now,” he said, while Maham sat there silently. “How ungrateful you are, Maham! Rabiya, you could thank me too—I helped you ruin Dua. And Maham, you’re a genius. I was amazed when you told me Momin was outside and I needed to kiss Dua in front of him...” He stopped, noticing their dull expressions.

“What happened, girls? Maham, last night when you called me, you were so happy. What happened now? Why are you upset?” he asked.

“We didn’t know that Momin and Dua got married secretly,” Rabiya replied.

“So what? He’ll definitely divorce her. Who keeps a cheating wife? Don’t worry, he’ll be yours. Men like Momin always accept women like you—who belong only to their husbands. Not like Dua, who’s comfortable in her so-called friend’s arms,” he laughed. “You both are very different. Dua is dumb and naive, and you’re smart,” he added with a proud smile.

“You didn’t tell me why Momin got furious at you last night?” Rabiya asked.

“Oh! I told him I would spend the night with Dua, and that ‘honorable’ man lost control. In return, he got slapped by his wife,” Ruhan laughed evilly.

“We shouldn’t have done that,” Maham said in a low voice.

“Oh, please! Don’t feel guilty. If Dua’s love and trust were that strong, she wouldn’t have done things Momin despised. She doesn’t care about him. Yes, we brainwashed and manipulated her, but in the end, it was always her choice,” he said, his voice laced with hidden hatred.

“I just hate that girl... and Momin,” he said venomously. “Dua slapped me in front of everyone and told me she belongs to Momin, that only he has the right to touch her. After that, I decided to destroy their relationship.”

He remembered that day. He wanted to teach her a lesson, but Rabiya came in his way. When he didn’t listen, she offered another way to break Dua. After that, Rabiya introduced them in a group chat. Ruhan and Rabiya sent Maham pictures of Dua’s changing personality, which made Maham happy.

“My only regret is that I couldn’t have her for myself—not even for one night,” he muttered bitterly. Maham looked up, her eyes red.

“I told you not to think of touching her. She is my sister.”

“Then why did you ask me to kiss her?”

“That was only to break Momin’s trust completely. I saw him waiting for Dua outside our apartment for an hour,” she replied. “That kiss was needed to break everything.”

Just then, Dua emerged from beneath the bench. They turned, sensing someone’s presence—and froze.

It was Dua.

She stood there as if her world had collapsed—and it had. She lost everything today: her sister, her cousin, her loyal best friend for whom she had once fought with Momin.

She walked forward slowly. Her steps were heavy with defeat. She didn’t look at anyone, just walked ahead. Her eyes were lifeless. She had been betrayed by the people she trusted most.

Maham stared at her in horror, but Dua didn’t react. She simply walked past them, leaving them stunned. Maham snapped out of her trance when she saw her sister walking away in silence.

“Dua!” Maham ran after her. “Dua!” But Dua didn’t turn back. She just kept walking.

Dua didn’t know what she was feeling. Her last four years had been orchestrated by her own sister. Rabiya’s suggestions, interference. Ruhan’s sweet talk about independence and freedom. His support, his jokes, his laughter—everything had been part of a plan to destroy her relationship with Momin. They played her... and her Momin. And she had allowed them.

"You are too immature, meri jaan (my love). You don’t know the cruel reality of this world. I’m just warning you. Don’t let anyone manipulate you. Before taking any step, think about the consequences."

Her mother’s words rang in here ears. She kept walking, bumping into people without noticing. Her steps staggered.

She stopped a taxi and returned to the apartment. She just wanted to see Momin and cry in his arms. She would cry only in his arms and tell him everything. He would not spare them. He would teach them a lesson.

She entered the house and went straight to his room.

Dua banged on his door, but it was unlocked. She walked in.

“Momin!!” Dua called out, but the room felt cold. She looked around. He wasn’t there. She checked the bathroom—he wasn’t there either. The room felt eerily empty.

She spotted a piece of paper fluttering on the table. Her heart sank. With trembling steps, she approached it. She prayed it wasn’t what she feared. With shaky hands, she picked it up.

“I am leaving, Dua.

Maybe you were never meant to be mine. I don’t know why, but even now I can’t bring myself to divorce you and free you—like a caveman, as you say.

But I am giving you the right to divorce yourself. You have all three divorce rights. You can free yourself whenever you want.

May Allah bless you with all the happiness in this world.

Goodbye.

Momin Ali.”

A single tear drop landed on his name. He hadn’t said a word. He left without a question. Without blame. Without anger. Just quietly disappeared from her life.

"I will never tolerate you being close to any boy. Pyaar ka dusra naam bharosa hota hai (Love’s other name is trust) and you are my trust, Dua. I trust you more than anyone. Don’t ever break it."

Dua collapsed on the floor, falling to her knees. Her heart began pounding painfully. Her breaths came in short gasps.

“I’m scared... I’m scared, Dua. I’m scared to lose you. Scared someone else might take you away from me. You’re the only thing I have. I love only you with all my heart. You’re everything to me, Dua. You don’t know how cruel this world is.”

Momin’s helpless confessions echoed in her mind.

“No! No, Momin! No! You can't leave me” she screamed, clutching the paper and sobbing.

Maham rushed into the room, a chill running down her spine. She froze for a moment, then walked towards Dua with hesitant, trembling steps. She sat beside her and gently took the paper from her hands. After reading it, the sheet slipped from her grasp. She looked at her sister, who was weeping and clutching her heart, as though it would burst from the unbearable pain.

Maham moved closer and wrapped her arms around her. Her own tears flowed freely as she closed her eyes in regret. If she had even the slightest idea that Momin and Dua were secretly married, maybe she would’ve stopped herself from sinking this low. A pain of a husband is greater than a pain of a lover.

“I’m sorry,” she repeated—but little did she know, she hadn’t only lost Momin as a friend, but she had lost her sister, too.

Both girls cried for the same man—the man who had left them shattered. One was his trusted friend, and the other, his lover, his wife. Both had betrayed him in the cruelest way, and he left without a single word of blame.

He simply disappeared.

•••••••••••••••••••••

Author’s POV

Momin walked down the street with a shattered heart. He was lost in memories. When his parents left him, it was Dua who had handled him and healed his wounds.

“I love you, Momin.”

Her first confession—she was only 9, and he was 13.

“I’ll always be with you.

I’ll always love you. I’m only yours, just like you’re mine.”

“It’s only for four years. After that, I’ll be back. Don’t be sad.”

Her words echoed in his mind—and now, each one felt like a lie. She never came back. He lost his Dua four years ago. He lost her when he let her go. His innocent, naïve Dua was gone, and he didn’t even mourn her death.

He wandered the streets, not looking where he was going. A small bag on his back, he kept walking.

Suddenly, a horn blared. He turned—and a car sped toward him.

He didn’t react. As if he’d been waiting for something like this. And then... it happened.

The car hit him.

He flew into the air and crashed onto the ground. His head struck hard. Blood oozed from his skull, spreading on the pavement.

His eyes stared blankly into space.

And the only image he saw... was her.

Smiling. Laughing. Blushing. Teasing. Loving.

His Dua.

Momin ki Dua.

Maybe this is my end, he thought, as a single tear rolled down his eyes.

“Dua...” was the last word that left his lips before his eyes shut closed.

Today, Momin lost his Dua.

His happiness.

His hope.

His life.

★★★★