After a few minutes when she's about to sleep her mobile screen lits up with a notification. "Haya...wanna meet?"
Her heart skips a beat. Fingers hover over the screen."I don't know if we should." Haya replies.
"Come on. It's been 2 years since we didn't even talk properly.... I'll send my driver to pick you up at 7." Haya sighs as she reads the message. She knows she'll have to go no matter how much she tries to avoid it. Cuz she knew she needs it. She gets up and walks into the bathroom to take a bath.
Time skip..
The café was quiet now, not many customers. It was good thing for her. Haya had barely touched her tea, but her fingers still wrapped around the cup like she needed something to hold on to.
Mannat didn't press her. She just waited, sensing there was more, something deeper still buried inside.
"I don't even know what happened," Haya said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "One day we were fine. The next… everything was over. And I wasn't even there to see it."
Mannat's eyes widened. "What do you mean? What exactly happened?"
Haya looked down. "They told me Haider stood up and disowned me in front of everyone. Said we were never married. Like I never existed. But I wasn't there… I don't know what he really said. Or why."
A pause. A quiet ache.
"I just remember the way he used to look at me," Haya murmured. "Like I was the only person in the world who made sense to him." She said, her voice cracked with emotions.
Flashback — Two Years Ago
The small garden behind the house was bathed in the soft light of dusk. The scent of freshly watered grass hung in the air.
Haya sat on the worn wooden bench, a light pink dupatta draped over her head. She looked nervous, her fingers playing with the silver edge of her sleeve.
Haider appeared, holding two paper cups of tea.
He handed one to her without a word and sat down beside her, close enough that their shoulders brushed, but not enough to draw attention from anyone watching through the windows.
"How are you?" He asked nervously, he couldn't even think how to start a conversation.
Haya took the cup from his hand, her fingers slightly brushing against his. Her cheeks were slightly pink even without any makeup. "I'm a little scared... our nikkah happened without your grandparent's permission...what if-"
Haider cuts her off before she can finish the sentence. "Haya, I'm here... don't worry. Baba will handle them. It's not like we eloped to get married. Our parents wanted it...and even if someone meddles in our relationship I'm here to handle it. You don't need to burden yourself." He tried to comfort her, and it actually worked. Haya put her head on his shoulder and sighed.
They both were teenagers unaware of the storm ahead. Their nikkah had been only a few days earlier — quiet, hidden, sealed behind locked doors. A secret protected by love… and pressure.
Haider looked at her now, his smile fading into something more sincere. "Don't think too much."
Haya nodded and smiled in assurance.
He reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. "I'll protect you. Always."
Those were the words that stayed with her. The way he said them , like he meant them with every part of his soul.
"I trust you," she whispered.
And in that moment, she had.
Back to present...
"I trusted him," Haya said aloud, her eyes distant. "He told me he'd protect me. That nothing would happen without him standing in front of it."
Mannat's voice was gentle. "And then he disappeared."
"Worse," Haya replied. "He broke everything. And I don't know why." Her voice cracked as she looked at Mannat. "I keep wondering… what did I do wrong? What changed his heart? Was it me?"
Mannat held Haya's hand. "Don't you dare say that. He was a jerk. He couldn't protect you. He couldn't take stand for you...you have nothing to do with it." She said with concern in her eyes, trying to provide whatever comfort she could.
Haya blinked back tears. She didn't respond. But her mind was racing with thoughts. She still didn't know what to think.
Mannat sighed. "I don't want to make you sad but tell me what happened in these 2 years. What actually happened?" Mannat wanted to comfort her tell her everything is gonna be ok but she knew she couldn't. But the least she could do was share her burden.