He paced the room like a madman, his footsteps echoing off the walls. He wanted to set the whole world on fire, to watch it burn as he was burning inside. The pain was too much to bear, too much to endure. Today, his love had been shrouded in the veil of death, today he had witnessed her becoming another man's wife. And if anyone could understand the depths of such agony, it was he.
His phone rang, but without a glance, he hurled it against the wall with all his might. The phone shattered into a thousand pieces, mirroring the fragments of his own shattered heart. He collapsed onto his knees, tears streaming down his face. The pain was excruciating, the loss of his love almost unbearable.
His father, Imran Ashraf, entered the room, his breath catching in his throat at the sight that unfolded before him. The room was in complete disarray, furniture overturned, shards of glass littering the floor, and amidst the chaos, his son sat on the floor, his head buried in his hands. Imran's heart ached for his son, the sight of his despair too much to bear.
With a heavy sigh, he approached his son and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Hamdan," he called out gently, his voice laced with love and concern. Hamdan looked up, his eyes swollen and red, his hair disheveled. "Baba, she's married," he croaked, his voice hoarse with emotion. "She's someone else's wife now. And I'm left empty-handed. Look at me."
Imran's heart sank. Just a few days ago, his son had been brimming with joy, ready to embark on a new chapter in his life. But now, he was a mere shadow of his former self, broken and lost. The sight of his handsome young son in such a state of despair was unbearable.
"My son, gather yourself," Imran said, his voice firm yet laced with compassion. "She was not meant for you. Place your trust in Allah, He will make things right."
"Why has Allah done this to me?" Hamdan cried out, his voice filled with anguish. "I didn't do anything wrong. I loved her, I wanted to make her mine, the halal way, but still, she was not mine. Why, Baba? Why did this happen?"
He didn't mean to question Allah, but he needed answers, he needed to understand why he was being subjected to such pain.
"We don't know what it happened, my son, but I can say with absolute certainty that Allah Ta'ala must have something good in store for you," Imran, Hamdan's father, said consolingly.
Hamdan was devastated. "But what am I going to do now, Dad? How will I live without her? You don't understand, Dad. I feel like she has become a part of me. My heartbeat only speaks her name. I don't know how she's gotten into my soul, Dad."
Hamdan's voice was heavy with emotion. Imran felt like he was looking at a madman, a Majnu who had lost himself in the love of a woman.
"Son, maybe you've made a mistake here. If you love anything other than Allah - any object, any person, or anything at all - you will only find pain in return. As you are now."
"But Dad, it was Allah who put her love in my heart. I can't not love her now, Dad. My heart is in so much pain."
"Trust in Allah, my son. He will make everything alright."
Hamdan hugged his father and broke down in tears. Imran could only offer him comfort. That was all he could do now.
Three years later...
Ruksana arrived home from school exhausted, only to be met with her sister-in-law's taunting voice.
"You're finally here, madam. Why did you take so long today? Did you find another lover somewhere?"
Ruksana closed her eyes tightly. For the past few days, her sister-in-law had been treating her with nothing but disdain. Perhaps her presence had become a burden to them, even though she paid her own way. Still, her sister-in-law seemed to see her as nothing more than a nuisance.
"Bhabhi, there were extra classes for the children," Ruksana replied softly.
"Extra classes or something else," her sister-in-law scoffed. "Look, girl, you've already brought us a lot of shame. Don't embarrass us any further. You and your lover have already ruined our reputation. I'm begging you, for my sake. I have two children too, and I need to get them married someday."
Tears welled up in Ruksana's eyes, but she quickly wiped them away and ran to her room. She didn't know what sin she had committed to deserve such punishment.
Locking the door behind her, she leaned against it and let the tears flow freely. There was nothing left but to cry. But at that moment, she felt a surge of hatred for someone: Hamdan Ashraf.
"I will never forgive you, Hamdan. Never," she said through gritted teeth.