5-Tribulation

A lot happened after Hoor’s marriage, things were taking a turn for the best but ended up ruining this whole situation, breaking the bond which could become a source of solace. Unexpectedly binding Isra's life with Rayan and they had no choice but to accept it.

When Emraz; supposedly Isra's  groom, came back, it wreaked havoc but there was no chance to avoid it. Things began to shake.

Emraz looked at  his siblings for a second with guilt ridden eyes and asked, "Do you hate me?"

"What are you saying, Bhai!? Of course not! We can never hate you." Hoorain said sadly, hugging him tightly. "Don't you dare to think about it." Hoorain said, crying a little, holding him securely, "Okay.. okay." He uttered, startled by her sudden cry, rubbing her back to ease her, "Leave everyone, I love you! I am with you!" Hoorain said, sobbing in his arms, "I get it, Hoorain. Shh.. Don't cry." He whispered, kissing the top of her head. Rayan smiled a little and was about to walk away but Emraz gave him shoulder and pat. When Rayan turned Emraz was only hugging Hoorain, trying to console her.

After she went to her room, She called Hoor, telling her everything. "Api, I can't believe Bhai asked such a thing. Things are getting so messy, Papa slapped Bhai. I am so scared." She cried over her phone. "Papa- what!? How could he do this?!" She yelled, not believing what evil eyes cast upon their happy domain.

"Bhai was... talking about his legitimacy and it.. it enraged him.. things are falling apart ever since Rayan Bhai and Isra Api's marriage.." She sobbed, trying to control her tears but couldn't. For someone who has never faced family problems, it was unbearable for her.

"Don't cry, Hoorain. Everything is going to be alright. This too shall pass. Trails come in every family, you stay strong. okay?" Hoor tried to convince her sister. "I hope you could come, Api." She whispered, dejected that Hoor left for New York after Rayan's wedding.

"I had no choice but to leave, Hoorain but you have to be strong. Okay?" She explained her sister, trying to console her. "And.. Api.." She gulped, unsure whether to tell her or not. "Hmm?"

"I don't know whether I should say it or not but... you know my course is ending soon." She whispered timidly, perturbed about it as well.

"With this going on in this house, you are worried about it?" Hoor asked strictly. "I can't control my feelings. You know we have no control over feelings." She reasoned. Hoor's eyes softened and sighing, "I know but we can't do anything. Why don't you just confess and see where it leads? Being like this would hurt you. Everyone in the home is tangled in their own trouble, You with Zain, Emraz Bhai with his stunt of leaving Isra right at the wedding, Rayan with Isra. Ah, May Lord have mercy upon us." She breathed out, praying deeply in her heart for everyone to reach their destination.

"Should.. I confess?" She asked tentatively. "Do you have any other choice? For how long do you intend to hurt your feelings by this unrequited love?" Hoor asked sternly but she had no answer and exhaling, she nodded. "I guess you are right, Api." She hummed.

"Good- Ah, Haider's home. I will talk to you later. Take care of everything. Bye!" She said cut the call immediately and went to see her husband.

"Confess, hmm?" She muttered, staring at the ceiling in vexation, not knowing how Zain would react after knowing but she had no choice either.

Later, 

"..-Etch it in your mind: Customer is always right. And- Hoorain." Zain was giving his lecture in the college, telling the students about customers but stopped after noticing Hoorain wasn't paying attention which he despises the most, "Huh? Yes, Sir?" Hoorain said after being interrupted from her thoughts.

"What did I say?" He asked sternly, closing his arms at his back, furrowing his brows at her. "Uh.." She bit her lips, looking down.

Zain sighed at her lack of response and said, "Meet me after class." He demanded.

"Yes, Sir." She said quietly and he continued his lecture.

After the lecture, Zain and Hoorain were in the garden. He was looking at her firmly, even infuriated as well as his voice came icy, "Now, tell me. What happened?"

Tugging her hair behind her ear, Hoorain replied timidly, "You know it, Sir... Rayan Bhai moved out." She used the condition of her home as an excuse to hide the actual reason.

Zain gaze softened a bit, sighing, "It was a wise decision in my opinion. Being together will only make things awkward and besides, this behavior of yours has been going on for a while now. Even before their marriage." But it came back again by his last sentence, narrowing his eyes at her, commanding for get some answers, "Uh.. I.. Sir."

"Tell me. What is bothering you? Listen Hoorain, it's your last year, then you will graduate and you can't put your efforts to waste." He tried to explain to her but her anxiety only increased along with her heartbeats. "I know..."

"Then what is it?"

"I.. Don't want to leave." She whispered, looking down.

"Huh? What kind of reason is that, Hoorain? Are you attached too much to this institute in just two years but not to your school where you studied for twelve years?" Why is my love unnoticeable? She asked herself, looking at him with a tear pricked in her eyes which stunned him for a second, thinking he might have hurt her. "I.. didn't mean to offend you, I just state the fact." He reasoned, putting his hand in the air.

"I.." She tried to speak, making an almost crying face. His voice came out low and soft, "Tell me."

"I don't want to leave you." Inaudibly, she confessed with thundering speed. Narrowing his eyes, Zain asked, thinking he might have misheard something, even hoping he did but didn't, "Come again?"

"I am sorry but I have liked you for a while, I even joined this institute for you." She finally confessed her years of crushing on him, liking him longer she could remember. She could feel her heartbeats growing wild.

Zain blinked, praying it's a prank but the tears told it wasn't. "You've got to be kidding me." He whispered in disbelief, holding his head, not believing she dared to think this way.

"Sir, I-" She tried to convince him, taking a step closer but he motioned her to stop, "Don't. Don't you dare to come closer."

"Do you have any idea what you are saying?" He hissed, taking her into a corner, the impression of fury on his face gave her a very bad omen. They went to a corner and he growled, "Disregard every fact, me being your Brother's best friend, me having no interest in you but I am your goddamn teacher Hoorain and I have no interest in starting an affair with my own damn student."

"So what? You will leave the job after your degree." Her tone was desperate, “It’s not like you are going to work here as a teacher always nor I will study forever. It’s not even a reason.” She said hopelessly, thinking he would understand but to no avail, "Listen Hoorain, stop this nonsense." He breathed out, trying to maintain his posture. 

"You can't call my emotions nonsense!" She shouted. "Shh. Someone will listen." He hissed.

Exhaling deeply, he shook his head, utterly disheartened at her, "Listen, I feel nothing for you. I don't know what hit your head but you better forget what you have said. You and I have no comparison and I don't want this thing coming to your lips again. Understood?" He ordered. "But-"

"And if this keeps going on then I am going straight to your parents and tell them about your damn audacity to even think romantically about your teacher." He threatened, taking a step closer. “I am repeating it for the last time so you could engrave it in your mind.” His tone came out stone-cold, hands resting in his pocket, standing right in front of her, speaking his next words harshly, shattering her heart,

 “I feel nothing for you.” 

A tear rolled down her cheek, chest constricted with knitted agony, “You understand?” He whispered in a dominant tone. Sniffing, she nodded, “Yes…” Startled at his anger, she took a step back, lowering her head in shame, "I am sorry." She was almost crying and his eyes softened for a second, exhaling in disappointment. 

"You have your whole life ahead of you, Hoorain. Don't waste it, this demeanor will lead you nowhere. I am sure you will find someone much better than me. Focus on your life rather than involving in something which will only hurt you. Do you understand?" He tried to advise her, calming down a bit.

"Yes... Sir." A weak reply came with a tear rolling down but she wiped it quickly. "Good. Now go and don't talk about this matter ever again." He said softly, shaking his head in approval. “Okay?”

“Yes.” She nodded, gulping her heartache, wiping her eyes and went back to her class.

“What happened to you?" Haziqa asked, noticing the moisture in her eyes, rendering her unable to lift her head. "I am fine." She spoke inaudibly as they walked down the corridor.

"Are you sure? You don't look fine." Haziqa asked again, concerned about her friend. "Haziqa..." Her steps halted, swallowing hard, lifting her teary gaze. "What happened, Hoorain?" She asked softly and being unable to take more of it, she ended up sobbing, hugging her instantly, letting out the torment stacking her chest in the form of raze.

"H-Hoorain? W-What happened?" She asked, panicking a little but she continued to cry, hugging her friend, letting out the heartbreak imprisoning her feelings to desperation. "He.. He.." Not caring about the attention she gained, she looked up at her with her teary gaze and she didn't need to ask for a reason anymore.

"He doesn't feel the same, right?" She asked in compassion, hugging her, patting her back as she cried, nodding miserably. "I told you already this would lead you nowhere." She sighed, trying to help her friend.

"What do I lack, Haziqa? Why did he do this? What is wrong with me? Why?" She sobbed, sitting down, wiping her eyes but tears spilled uncontrollably.

"Shh, don't cry, it's gonna be alright. I am sure you will find someone better than him." She whispered, patting her head. "But, I want him!" She whisper-yelled and she didn't know who to react, knowing it would be better to not advise her for now and help her to take out her ache as she continued to soothe her while she continued to cry until her eyes felt heavy from woe.

And on the other hand, Hoorain's confession left Zain flabbergasted but he acted, nothing happened, not wanting to ruin the already messed up things. 

After work, Zain went to meet Rayan. They were in a pub, talking. "How's Isra?" Zain asked. "Not ready to accept me." Rayan chuckled dryly, finishing his drink in one go.

"It's gonna be alright. This must be hard for her. You know, marrying the Brother of her fiancé." He reasoned. "Still. I am trying to reassure her but she made it clear, she is not ready to give me a chance." He said in a grieved tone, slamming his hand on the table, "Hmm.. Calm down Bro. I'm sure it will pass." Zain said, rubbing his back, trying to calm him.

"By the way, Emraz Bhai truly met Papa. I didn't know what they talked about but we are told to forget everything and move on..." Zain said, making a sour face, taking a sip of his whiskey, "I don't get it, how easy it is for them to pretend nothing happened. Can anyone imagine Isra's pain?" Zain hissed, not liking the fact things were taken lightly for Emraz who dared to hurt his sister.

"I know... that's why I just want her to let it be and give herself some time." Rayan mumbled, staring at his glass. "Well, I am relieved she has you." He smiled genuinely, looking at him.

"Thanks.. I am trying."

"And yeah, Rayan..."

"Hmm?" Zain paused a little, not knowing how to tell him about the act of his Sister, "Bro, tell Hoorain to focus on her studies, that girl is slipping out your hands." He said quickly, finishing his drink.

"What did she do this time?" Rayan laughed. "If you don't want her to fail,"

"Yeah.. But what did she do?" Rayan asked, leaning on the counter, smiling, feeling tipsy, "Crushing on someone she shouldn't." Zain replied.

"Man... it's fine. It's just liking.. a mere infatuation will falter eventually.. . Let her be like that." He waved his hand to shrug it off, "The problem is the person." Zain mumbled. "You are saying as if she likes her old ass principal." He joked. "Something like this."

"Huh?"

"Nothing, just counsel her. "

"Yeah.. Yeah.." He said, not paying much heed to his words and hiding his face in his arms,

"Anyways, I gotta go." Zain said, taking his stuff and patting his back. "And yeah, don't forget to bring Isra home on Saturday."

"I will.." He replied, without looking up.

"Bye. "

Zain knew if her brothers came to know, the one who would be in trouble would be him and he had no idea how to prevent this tribulation.