One evening, the sky felt heavy,
and someone knocked.
Aaliya opened the door—
and Zahid Khan stood there.
Older.
Weaker.
Eyes not filled with fire, but regret.
Behind him was Farzana,
no longer proud,
just tired.
Zahid looked at his daughter—
the girl he tried to break—
and saw a woman he could never control.
"How… did you survive without us?"
he whispered.
Aaliya smiled gently.
"I didn't survive without you, father.
I survived despite you."
Zahid's eyes trembled.
Farzana stepped forward,
"Forgive me. I was silent when I should have protected you."
Aaliya's voice softened,
"I forgave you long ago. But you need to forgive yourselves."
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