The message from Hary still glowed on Areeba's screen.
Before she could even think of what to reply, another message appeared.
Then another.
And another.
"Just tell me one thing."
"Has he proposed to you?"
Areeba stared at the phone.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.
Before she could type anything, another message came.
"You talk to him, right?"
Her confusion deepened.
How did he even know about Inam?
Slowly she typed:
"Who told you that?"
The reply came instantly.
"It doesn't matter."
"Just answer me. Yes or no."
Areeba frowned.
The way he was talking irritated her.
Still, she tried to remain calm.
"Yes, he proposed… but—"
Before she could finish typing, another message interrupted.
"I don't want explanations."
"Just yes or no."
That was the moment Areeba's patience broke.
How could he talk to her like that?
As if she owed him answers.
Her fingers moved quickly.
"Yes."
She pressed send.
---
Mili's Advice
Areeba threw the phone aside and sat quietly.
Her sister Mili noticed her expression.
"What happened?"
Areeba told her everything.
Mili listened carefully.
Then she said something serious.
"You should explain everything to him."
Areeba shook her head.
"What's the point? He's already judging me."
But Mili insisted.
"If you don't explain… we don't know what he might say to Dad."
Those words made Areeba uneasy.
After thinking for a while, she picked up her phone again.
She decided to tell Hary everything.
But when she opened the chat…
Her heart dropped.
You cannot send messages to this user.
He had blocked her.
Areeba stared at the screen in disbelief.
---
Confusion
Later she told Noor everything.
"I don't understand," Areeba said.
"How did he even know about Inam?"
Noor looked equally confused.
But neither of them had an answer.
That night, while Areeba was trying to study, her phone rang.
It was Danial.
She answered the call.
Before she could even greet him, his voice came harsh and accusing.
"What's going on with you?"
The tone immediately angered her.
But she remembered Mili's advice.
So she controlled herself.
Calmly she explained the whole story.
Everything from Inam's proposal to her rejection.
When she finished, Danial sighed.
"You should have blocked him the moment he proposed."
"Why did you let this drag on for so long?"
Areeba stayed silent.
How could she explain something even she couldn't fully understand?
She wasn't weak.
She just didn't want to hurt someone unnecessarily.
But people never seemed to understand that.
Then Danial said something that shocked her.
"You told people that once you get a good job, you'll refuse your father's proposal and marry Inam."
Areeba froze.
"What?"
"Yes," Danial continued.
"You said that."
"That's why you're keeping him around."
Her voice rose immediately.
"I never said that!"
It was true that she had once told Noor she wanted to get a job first before refusing the cousin proposal.
But marrying Inam?
That idea had never crossed her mind.
"Who told you this?" she demanded.
Danial replied calmly.
"You should know who you told these things to."
Areeba's mind raced.
The only person she had told about her job plan…
Was Noor.
She hadn't even told Safa or Wisha.
Not even Mili.
The realization hit her like cold water.
Could Noor really have said those things?
Her chest tightened.
Finally she said quietly,
"I've already told you what actually happened."
"Now believing it is your choice."
"I won't interfere."
Then bitterness crept into her voice.
"When there was trouble between Irwa and Hary, I didn't block anyone."
"I listened to everyone."
"But when it comes to me… I get blocked instantly."
"Wow."
Before Danial could reply, she hung up.
---
A Sleepless Night
That night Areeba didn't sleep at all.
She kept thinking.
Why would Noor do this?
She had already planned to refuse the cousin marriage eventually.
If Noor had simply asked her to talk to her father earlier…
Areeba would have done it without hesitation.
So why betray her like this?
The question repeated in her mind again and again.
Tears rolled down her cheeks silently.
---
Mili's Words
The next morning, Mili looked at her seriously.
"You trust people too easily."
"That's why everyone takes advantage of you."
Those words hurt deeply.
Usually when someone spoke badly about her friends, Areeba defended them fiercely.
She would argue.
She would cry.
She would even complain to her mother about people judging her friends unfairly.
But this time…
She said nothing.
For the first time, she couldn't defend Noor.
Seeing her silence, Mili suggested something.
"Record your conversation with Noor."
Areeba immediately refused.
"There must be some misunderstanding."
But Mili insisted.
Finally, after much hesitation, Areeba agreed.
---
Waiting at the Library
She didn't call anyone.
Instead she stood quietly near the library gate.
She didn't attend any classes that day.
She just stood there thinking.
Tears slipped down her face silently.
After a while, Noor appeared.
She looked worried.
"Areeba?"
"Why aren't you answering my calls?"
Areeba looked at her.
Her eyes were red.
"Why did you do this to me?"
Noor looked confused.
"What are you talking about?"
Areeba's voice trembled.
"Noor… I thought we were friends."
"I thought we were sincere with each other."
"But you proved me wrong."
She took a deep breath.
"I know if you ever had to choose between me and Irwa… you'd choose Irwa."
"And honestly… if I were in your place, maybe I would too."
"But I would never betray you."
Tears streamed down her face.
"I don't know what I did wrong."
"Why do I deserve these heartbreaks?"
"Why can't I be loved?"
"You hurt me a lot."
She wiped her face quickly.
"I don't want to talk anymore."
Then she turned and walked into the library.
Noor stood there silently as Areeba walked away.
---
Breaking Down
The moment Areeba stepped inside the library…
Her tears finally broke free.
She lowered her head and walked forward blindly.
Suddenly she bumped into someone.
It was Anny.
Anny was walking out of the library with her new friends.
"Areeba?"
When Areeba saw her, she couldn't hold back anymore.
She burst into loud sobs.
Everyone nearby turned to look.
Anny and her friends quickly surrounded her.
"What happened?"
"Are you okay?"
But Areeba couldn't answer.
She just cried uncontrollably.
Even the librarian came over.
"What happened here?"
Still, Areeba said nothing.
Anny gently hugged her.
"It's okay," she whispered.
"Let it out."
Someone brought water for her.
After a long time, Areeba finally calmed down.
She wiped her face and stood up.
"I'm sorry," she told everyone.
"Thank you for helping me."
People slowly returned to their seats.
But Anny stayed.
She sat beside Areeba.
"What happened?"
Areeba hesitated.
Finally she said quietly,
"Something happened between Noor and me."
"We might go on different paths now."
Her voice broke again.
"I don't know how to handle it."
"Why do these things always happen to me?"
"I'm tired."
"I can't handle this anymore."
Anny held her hand.
"I'll talk to Noor."
But Areeba quickly shook her head.
"No."
"She'll think I told everyone."
"I just couldn't control myself."
After a while Anny left for class.
Areeba stayed alone in the library.
---
Another Confrontation
Soon her phone rang.
It was Safa.
"Areeba, Noor is crying."
"What did you say to her?"
"Come here. Let's talk."
At first Areeba hesitated.
But eventually she went.
Before approaching them, she fixed her hair and forced a smile.
Noor and Safa were sitting on the campus ground.
The same place where they always sat together.
When Areeba arrived, Safa immediately spoke.
"What did you say to Noor?"
"She was crying at the gate."
Areeba remained silent.
Both girls looked at each other quietly.
Safa sighed.
"If there's a problem, talk and solve it."
Then she asked something unexpected.
"What if your phone was hacked?"
"What if someone tapped your phone?"
"What if Hary found out that way?"
Areeba felt confused.
Could that be possible?
Then Noor, clearly upset, called Hary.
"When did I ever talk to you?" she demanded angrily.
"Why are you blaming me?"
Hary said something on the other side.
Then Noor handed the phone to Areeba.
"He wants to talk to you."
Areeba walked a few steps away.
"Hary?"
His voice came cold.
"Why are you counting the seeds instead of eating the mango?"
He used several strange idioms.
Areeba felt irritated and confused.
She didn't understand what he wanted.
Frustrated, she ended the call.
Then she returned to Noor and Safa.
Quietly she said,
"I'm sorry."
She looked directly at Noor.
"As a friend… I should have trusted you."
"But things reached a point where I couldn't think clearly."
"It's my mistake."
"You don't have to forgive me."
"I just wanted you to know that I hate myself for blaming you."
Then she picked up her phone and bag.
And left.
That day she didn't attend any classes.
---
Collapse
When she reached home, Mili saw her swollen eyes.
Areeba broke down again.
"Noor wasn't responsible."
"I was wrong."
"I shouldn't have trusted Hary."
She cried and cried until exhaustion took over.
Finally she fell asleep on the floor.
Mili quietly placed a blanket over her.
Then she turned off the light.
And lay down beside her.
But even in sleep…
Areeba's face still carried the silent traces of heartbreak.