With weary legs, Fahad approached Shahana and settled onto the bench beside her. His footsteps bore the weight of years of exhaustion. He reached out to gently stroke her hair, but Shahana, devoid of expression, recoiled. His outstretched hand hung suspended in mid-air.
Fahad let out a deep sigh, his head and shoulders slumping forward. He removed his spectacles, wiped the tears welling in his eyes, and spoke, his voice hoarse, "You're angry with me, aren't you?"
"Should I not be?" Shahana wanted to retort, but the words caught in her throat. She yearned to express her grievance, yet the words eluded her. Tears streamed down her face as she stared intently at her father.
As a child, she had fervently prayed to Allah, pleading for her father's return, for him to walk back into her life. Yet, her prayers had remained unanswered.
And now, her long-awaited wish had been granted. Yet, her heart felt no surge of joy. Engulfed in the sorrows of her life, she yearned for nothing more.
"My child, I know you're angry," Fahad began, his voice laced with remorse. "And you have every right to be. But believe me, I was helpless."
Shahana remained silent, her gaze fixed on her father, her heart a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.
Fahad continued, his voice trembling, "I didn't have a choice, Shahana. I was caught in situations beyond my control. I couldn't break free, no matter how hard I tried."
Shahana listened intently, her heart aching for her father, yet the wounds of the past ran deep.
"I know my absence caused you a lot of pain," Fahad confessed, his voice thick with regret. "And for that, I'm truly sorry. I failed you, my child, and for that, I can't forgive myself."
"Father, please don't lie to me," Shahana pleaded, her voice trembling with emotion. "I don't need your excuses. Why are you justifying your actions? And why have you returned? If you're back, why have you come to me? Why can't you just leave me alone?"
Shahana's patience had reached its breaking point. Burying her face in her hands, she let out a torrent of tears.
Fahad closed his eyes tightly, his heart heavy with the realization that his daughter was in turmoil. The illusion he had clung to for so long, that his daughter was living a happy and fulfilling life, had crumbled in a matter of moments.
A month ago, he received an unexpected email from Haya, informing him that Shahana had divorced and requested that he take Shahana with him to Turkey. Although Fahad was shocked at the news, at the same time, he was happy at the prospect of his daughter returning to him.
When he first left Bangladesh after their divorce, Shahana was just six years old. He didn't have the financial means to support her, and Haya had insisted on retaining custody.
After moving to Turkey, Fahad repeatedly attempted to contact Haya to maintain a connection with Shahana, but Haya vehemently refused, forbidding any further contact. Haya had remarried and didn't want Fahad's presence to disrupt her newly married life.
Fahad had merely requested a phone call with Shahana, once a month if not weekly. But Haya had adamantly refused.
Five years after his move to Turkey, Fahad's financial situation had improved, and he had remarried a woman named Aiket. Now, he longed to bring Shahana to Turkey to live with them.
However, Haya strongly opposed the idea, insisting that Shahana was content in her new life with her stepfather and new home and had no interest in returning to Fahad.
Fahad had pleaded with Haya to arrange a conversation between him and Shahana, hoping to convince her to come. But Haya had remained steadfast in her decision to keep them apart.
Fahad couldn't shake off the feeling that Haya was seeking revenge. He knew his ex-wife well enough to recognize her selfish nature. Despite the years that had passed, he believed Haya was punishing him for abandoning their daughter, satisfying her ego by denying him access to Shahana.
But he was at peace, knowing his daughter was living a good life. Many years passed like this, but he had no contact with Shahana, despite his efforts. Every time, Haya would tell him that Shahana hated him and didn't want any contact. Fahad didn't want to force his daughter. If Shahana didn't want to talk to him, he didn't want to impose himself on her. He thought he would go to Bangladesh and try to reconcile with her in person.
However, he couldn't make it to Bangladesh due to work commitments.
One day, while working at his small restaurant in Turkey, Azlan came to meet him. Fahad was surprised since Azlan was the son of Haya's second husband. Fahad couldn't understand why he was there.
Azlan then informed him that he was marrying Shahana. Their wedding was the next Friday, and he wanted Fahad to be there. He personally came to invite Fahad and his family.
Fahad liked Azlan a lot and promised him he would definitely attend the wedding.
But, perhaps Allah had not destined this happiness for him.
Just two days before his trip to Bangladesh, Fahad had a minor heart attack, and the doctor strictly forbade him from traveling. After the wedding, Azlan tried to connect Shahana and Fahad through a video call. However, Shahana was very quiet, responding only with yes or no.
Fahad realized that Shahana's heart had turned even colder towards him. When he was finally able to travel to Bangladesh, he found out that Shahana had moved to the USA with Azlan. Thus, the distance between him and his daughter only grew.
Now, after so many years, when he returned to bring his daughter back, all his illusions shattered. He had arrived in Bangladesh just a day earlier with his wife Aiket. They were staying at a hotel. He planned to visit Shahana on Friday to bring her back with him. But, just a little while ago, he received a call from Haya.
Haya sounded terrified. She said she was scared that Azlan might harm Shahana. She informed him that Shahana had never gone to the USA with Azlan. She had always been in Bangladesh. Fahad was shocked to learn that Azlan had deceived Shahana, married another girl in the USA, and accused Shahana of killing his sister and having an affair with his sister's husband.
Fahad never imagined Azlan could be like this. He thought Azlan was a sensible and well-mannered young man. But learning the truth, he felt immense pain for his daughter. Haya requested him to take Shahana away as soon as possible because Azlan wanted to harm her.
Haya gave him the address of the hospital where Shahana was, and Fahad reached his daughter. Seeing Shahana in such a state, he understood everything.
Seeing Shahana crying like that, he hugged her tightly.
"Forgive me, my daughter. I am a terrible father. I have wronged you greatly. Please forgive me."
Fahad cried with Shahana. After so many years, he finally met his daughter. But he had never imagined even in his worst nightmares that he would see her in such a broken state.
He felt deeply that he had committed a grave sin by neglecting his daughter. He was her father, her guardian. Yet, he had left his own child helpless.
But time had passed, and he couldn't change the past.
Perhaps Shahana just needed a shoulder to cry on, and finding her father's shoulder, her cries intensified.
"Baba, I will die. These people will kill me. I think I am going crazy. Please save me, Baba. Please save me. You will save me, won't you?"
She asked her father like an innocent little girl.
Fahad felt like someone was crushing his heart.
"Baba, I think there is a jinn after me. It will kill me, Baba. It will kill me. Please save me, Baba."
Shahana was talking incoherently as if she wasn't in her right mind. Fahad frowned with concern.
"Shahana..." he called her.
"Baba, do you know? I see Amira. But she is dead, so why do I see her? She is alive, Baba. Amira is alive. Please tell her to go away." Shahana was lost in her own world.
Fahad, already worried, became even more distressed hearing her words. He felt that Shahana's mental state was not right.
Then he heard a frantic call from behind.
When the nurse woke up from sleep, she was shocked to see Shahana missing. She searched the entire hospital but couldn't find her.
Just then, Azlan returned. When he found out from the nurse that Shahana was not in her room, he went crazy. Many horrible thoughts crossed his mind.
He remembered how Shahana was about to step in front of a car. Azlan was furious at the nurse. But right now, the most important thing was to find Shahana.
To leave the hospital, one had to sign a register. Azlan checked the register and found that Shahana hadn't left the hospital. He searched for her inside the hospital but couldn't find her, so he started looking in the garden.
Finally, Azlan saw Shahana and felt relieved. After searching her frantically everywhere, seeing Shahana safe brought him peace.
Seeing Fahad, Azlan was genuinely surprised. He didn't understand how Fahad got there. But right now, he only wanted to go to Shahana.
"Shahana..." Azlan called out anxiously and moved towards her.
"Stop right there. Stay away from my daughter." He heard Fahad's stern voice.
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