“All of it happened, where the hell were you guys?” Aima asked Isra scoldingly. “I wasn’t feeling well so we went back. I am so sorry for ruining his night.” She made up an excuse. “A lot happened.” Sighing, she told her, “What do you mean?” She asked, worried someone might not have known, “Everything aside, your brother is stuck in a scandal.” She muttered. “I.. don’t understand..” She asked vaguely and she told her what happened, leaving her flabbergasted. “How could this happen?! Zain could never do this... And I don’t think Hoorain too could do something like this without any reasoning. Did you ask Zain? What did they two say?” Isra asked worriedly. “Yes. But both of them have sealed their lips. She said it was accidental and he is not opening his mouth. Not a single word. Could you talk to Rayan about it? I hope he could get a talk out of any of them.” Aima asked, sighing deeply, glancing at Zain who was cursing under his breath, pressing an ice bag on his jaw, going through some tests. “Sure… Let’s hope everything is okay and this predicament ends soon.” She whispered, curling her lips downwards. “Me too.” “By the way, how are you now?” Aima asked and she lowered her gaze shyly. “Better than I could ever be.” She said, putting her hand on her chest, feeling some lightness. “Why? What happened? Is there good news or something?” Aima got hyped suddenly, beaming with felicity which caused her to chuckle. “No, no. Nothing like this. I am just… happy.” She breathed out, “If you say so..” Her happiness vanished as quickly as it came. “I see.” “Anyways, I will talk to you later. Bye.” She said happily and cut the call after noticing Rayan woke up which brought a pure smile to her lips. “Dammit.” Zain cursed, throwing the ice bag away, gritting his teeth in fury. “Are you still not going to tell us?” Aima asked sternly, sitting beside him. “There is nothing to tell. What do you want to know anyways?” He replied impassively. “There must be something. I know you are sensitive and react too quickly-” She said, gaining a glare from him, “-But, only if provoked.” She completed her sentence with a sigh. “What did she do? I know you cannot do something unless you are forced to take action.” She asked. “Nothing. She already said it was nothing, just an accident so leave it.” He muttered, taking his papers and going to his room, not wanting to talk about this matter and rip it out from his mind eternally. Meanwhile Isra talked to Rayan about this matter and after talking about it, Rayan realized Zain’s words. His constant warning about Hoorain but he shrugged them off and now after paying attention he finally understood what he meant. "Do you know something?" Isra asked Rayan and he replied. "I don't. Let's see what it is." He said, wanting to see for himself what this is, "Let's hope it's not bad." She mumbled as he agreed and they got ready and left for work. But, before going to work, he needed to confront his Sister as he went home first. “Rayan. There you are, where were you last night?” Rehman asked tensely, “Isra was ill so we left early.” He said the excuse the couple agreed to tell. “Where is Hoorain?” Rayan asked sternly. “In her room, she hadn’t come out. She said it was nothing but I am sure there is something she is not telling us, I am worried for her. Do you know something? He was your best friend.” Emraz asked worriedly, his heart dropped to think about his sister, he couldn’t bear it. “I will see her.” He breathed out, praying deeply it’s not what he is thinking- she deliberately did this. Rushing to her room, he entered, earning a gasp of astonishment from Hoorain who was in her bed, hugging her sheets close. Closing the door, he stood in front of her with a dominant face, closing his arms at his chest. “B-Bhai..” She whispered apprehensively by his assertive presence. “So it was Zain, wasn’t it?” He asked mockingly, curling his lips from one side dryly. “He kept telling me over and over again. Hoorain is loving someone she shouldn’t, stop her, stop her before it’s too late but I was so facile towards this upheaval to be unnoticed by your zeal towards none other than him.” He breathed out, holding his forehead, disappointment in his own self for disregarding this matter. “I feel like I am at fault for not paying heed to his words, for not confronting you.. For being selfish..” He ended in dejection. Hoorain looked down shamefully, hugging her sheets closer, “Hoorain…” He called her softly, regaining his posture. “Who did this?” He asked strictly, demanding answers. “Bhai.. Um...” She couldn’t speak further. The lump in her throat, Zain’s painful words refrained her. “Tell me, what happened, Hoorain. You know this incident could affect your lives badly. You are his student, not a friend or lover that people will neglect. This could destroy his life so tell me, who did this!?” He growled, raising his voice. Shutting her eyes, her voice hitched, “It was unintentional, Bhai. I swear, neither I nor he meant it. It was an accident.” She whispered. Shaking her head in denial with a tear pricking in her eyes knowing Zain must hate her now. “Please, believe me.” She said, hoping her words could help Zain from facing the world's talk at least. “And I want to know why, Hoorain?” Rayan asked, relaxing a little. “You know they would fire Zain for having even a rumor of an affair and you, they will talk about you as well so why did you do this, Hoorain? You know the impact it could leave then why did you let this happen in the first place?” He asked softly, coming closer, sitting beside her. “If.. I could.. I would…” She murmured hopelessly, putting her forehead on her knees, hiding her face. “I can’t control what I should feel, Bhai. I tried… I couldn’t.. Not anymore…” Her broken voice pricked Rayan’s heart as he is the one who understands this sentence perfectly. “But you can hide them, Love.” He told the consolation he gave to himself, putting his hand over her head. “For how long? Till you guys marry me off to a random dude? Till I fall in love again? Or till I watch him loving someone else? Tell me na, for how long am I supposed to bury these feelings inside me?” She asked desperately, looking up at him with her teary gaze, “Till they become my affliction huh?” Grazing her very soul in the uncontrollable rush of agony, her voice broke. “Till you can..” He whispered. “What will I gain by this?” She asked, on the verge of crying, “What do you gain by loving him?” He counter-questioned. “I.. don’t know.” Her dolorous voice came but a smile was clear on her lips. “But, whatever it was.. It was beautiful.” She whispered, wrapping her arms around herself, going into the unbreakable rhythm of hers, smiling purely. “What started in a spur of attraction developed much more than mere gazes… A longing I couldn’t attain yet strived for it. What was nothing for him is my everything and how silly it is when you care to your deepest extent about someone and they are unaware and I.. I wanted it. All of it.” Her voice turned into a whisper, digging her nails in her arm, biting the inside of her cheek, “And by the time the thought of stopping never crosses my mind...” The smile on her lips gradually faltered, rising to meet her brother’s compassionate ones, losing her mind, murmuring, “It was too late.” Rayan’s heart clenched to see this state of her Sister who was hurting on this path he once walked upon but a bit differently. Scooting closer, she said hopelessly, “Bhai. All of it is mesmerizing and of all people, you should know it, You should understand how I must be feeling. You should know…” Her voice was lower than a whisper. “I do and that’s why I have no consolation to provide you nor false hopes, Hoorain.” He said in a spur of lamentation, averting his gaze. “Should I suffer?” She asked, tiling her head dejectedly. “I don’t want you to…” He whispered, wiping the tear on her cheek. “Then what should I do?” She asked, growing weary of the emotions manipulating her heart into sorrow. “What will I advise you when my very tale is incomplete and filled with heartbreak?” He asked in the same tone. “Hoor Api knows… I have told her everything.. She told me to move on… But it’s not easy for me.. When she can't, then how can I?” Her voice was growing faint but saddened, eyes unable to compete with another. “I can only pray..” He breathed out. “Can’t you talk to him? Wouldn’t he listen to you? You are his best friend. Bhai please do it for me, Please. Please understand my feelings, they are hurting me.” She ended up crying, clinging to her brother, holding him. “If you talk to him, he will surely listen.” “H-Hoorain, H-How I?” He asked, “Please Bhai, do it for my sake. Please talk to him, please make him understand.” When I couldn't do it with Isra then how will I be with Zain? He thought painfully. “Please bhai, I can’t forget him, it’s been a long while…” She whispered, putting her head on his shoulder, hugging him while sobbing. “Hoorain..” He whispered, “Please, Please…” And unable to bear with her tears, he hugged her back, running his hand in her hair. “Okay, okay, I will. Please stop crying. I will try but please don’t cry.” He mumbled, running his hand in her hairs to console the irrecoverable state of his sister. “I will do whatever I can for you.” I won’t let your heart break