Keep Your Enemies Closer

~ a rude awakening ~

*Trigger Warning: Graphic Description*

Yasir was sat on the sofa set, one leg crossed over the other, arms resting behind his head.

Ahmer was pacing around in the room, while Ruqaiyya and Nooreh were sitting on the double seater on the side, confused.

"Bari dair ki meharbaan aatay aatay."

Yasir's smirk deepened as he leaned forward.

Zaira's hand reached for Zaviyar's as she clutched onto it for life.

Zaviyar squeezed her hand as his jaw tightened.

"Aray ye kya? Lagta hai mujhe yahan dekh ke khushi nahi hui aap logon ko?"

Zaira could feel the ground beneath her feet disappear as she refused to believe that this wasn't all a nightmare. That she was indeed living her worst dream.

"Kyun Zair - mera matlab, Mrs. Zaviyar Ahmer? Mera yahan aana acha nahi laga?"

"Us se kya pooch rahay ho, mujh se baat karo. Yahan kya kar rahay ho tum?"

Yasir's eyes moved from Zaira to Zaviyar who was trying his hardest to stay composed.

"Itni kya jaldi hai Seth sahab? Aap bethein, araam se saari kahani bayaan kartay hein. Love stories sun'nay ka to wese bhi sab ko hi shauq hota hai, kyun Ahmer sahab? Theek keh raha hoon na mein?"

Zaviyar looked at his father and saw him refusing to meet his gaze. Did his father know about this? Was he the one who let Yasir in?

He was distracted when he felt Zaira's hand in his get colder as he looked down towards it first, before looking at Zaira's face - as white as snow. He saw her looking at Yasir with a silent plea in her eyes, and it killed him to see her helpless. It ached him to see her lowering her head out of shame, when all he wanted for her was to stand tall in every gathering.

So he lightly pulled her towards himself, his hold on her hand strengthening.

"Yasir, seedhi tarah bolo yahan kyun aaye ho? Faaltu waqt nahi hai kisi ke paas."

"Yehi to mein keh raha hoon, kisi ke bhi paas faaltu waqt nahi hota Seth sahab ke un ko istemaal kar ke phenk diya jaye phir."

Yasir got up, his eyes not leaving Zaira as he kept looking her up and down. Zaviyar observed his eyes and it made his blood boil to see his nasty gaze on his wife.

"Mujh se baat kar rahay ho na, to meri taraf dekh kar bolo. Kya chahtay ho?"

"Insaaf chahta hoon. Apnay do saalon ka hisaab chahta hoon, Zaira begum se. Kyun kiya mera itna waqt zaaya, Zaira, jab aakhir mein yehi karna tha?"

"Yasir!"

Zaviyar shouted. Zaira's eyes widened. Ruqaiyya stood up in shock and Ahmer stopped pacing around, his posture stiff.

"Zaviyar ye shaks kya keh raha hai? Zaira, ye kya keh raha hai?"

"Ma mein -"

Zaira barely managed to get out when Yasir spoke again.

"Ye kya batayein gi aap ko Sethani sahiba? Mein batata hoon. Ye aap ki bahu begum, mujh se pyaar muhabbat ke waaday karti rahi hein, do saal -"

"Shut up! Yasir ab tumhari bakwaas mein mazeed aik lafz bhi nahi sun'na chahta. Nikal jao mere ghar se!"

Zaviyar shouted on top of his lungs making everyone but Zaira look at him. Zaira kept looking at her feet wondering how she got herself in this position. Every inch of her wished to be anywhere but her. Her mind was refusing to accept what was really happening.