She was just one breath away from losing her sanity. Safa Hayat was going bonkers. What Raina had said didn't only shake her world, it also ended up leaving her hanging between what to do and what not to.

"My bhai has lost so many people in life."

What was that supposed to mean? His entire family was fit and healthy then why did she say he had lost people? Even if he did, wouldn't they link to his family as well? Then why did she take his name only? What was going on?

Too many questions. Zero answers.

And only one person in this world could give them and remove all her confusion. The person she was still not ready to come face to face with. Torn and perplexed, she sat down on the small couch situated by the window of her room as she looked out at the sky.

"What should I do?" She mouthed to someone unknown as she put her chin on her forearm placed on the headrest of the couch.

Whoever she had asked the question didn't take more than a few seconds to answer it as her phone chimed to live. Looking at the caller ID, a graceful smile pulled up on her lips as she answered the call.

"AsSalamuAlaikum, Ayat!" She greeted as she smoothed the creases on her shirt.

"WalaikumAsSalam, Safa. How are you?" The cheerful tone of hers made Safa grin.

"A lot better now." She assured.

"Alhamdulillah!" The reply came.

This was one thing she always adored about Ayat – how she was so attuned to endearments like Alhamdulillah, MashaAllah, SunhanAllah etc. She had lived with that woman for almost two weeks and never did she once see her not using them. She admired Ayat's faith in Almighty, because Allah knows she had never been strong in this arena. What with all the cruelties life had thrown towards her, she had never been able to make peace with the power above. But at least, she was trying and that is what mattes.

"Alhamdulillah!" She replied amidst her thoughts.

An awkward silence fell between the two for a minute when Ayat finally decided to break it.

"Safa, if you don't mind, can I ask you something?" She asked, a bit unsure.

"Of course, anything!"

"Did things sort out between you and Azlan?" She faltered in her words a bit and Safa's face turned serious as she straightened up.

Heaving a deep sigh, she bit her lower lip. "In all honesty, sometimes I do want to clear things out but I'm not sure if I'll be able to hear what he has to say. Right now, I'm mad at him but what if after listening to the truth, I break down? I don't wanna swim in regrets. It's too much for me." Her head lolled down as her voice wavered. "I know it's very selfish of me but I gotta protect myself. I've been through a lot. I don't think I can take any more of it."

"I can understand where you are coming from and it's only normal. But in your way of protection you can't snatch away his right of redemption."

The ocean of tears fought to keep the waves at bay as she looked up to keep them back in the cocoon of her eyes.

"He loves you a lot, Safa."

That is all it took for the waves to break free.

"Lekin, Ayat, muhabbat ruswa tou nahi karti."

At that, a small smile graced Ayat's lips. Oh, how much she related to her.

"Sometimes circumstances are not in our favor. Sometimes human do things in emotions and I'm pretty sure you must have done some mistakes, too. But does that rob you off the right of redemption. No, right?"

Safa shook her head as if Ayat could see her right now.

"Then how can you keep separate set of rules for yourself and others?" She paused, giving her time to brood over it. "Now I'm not saying forgive him right away, but at least give him the chance to explain. At least listen to what he has to say."

"I...I want too...but every time I take a decision, everything just comes rushing back to me and I...I just can't." She stammered, her head bowed down as she kept shaking it.

"Look Safa, I don't know what it is between you guys, but I'll tell you one thing. Have you seen me and Ahid together?"

"Yes, you are a perfect couple, MashaAllah!" She exclaimed, truly happy for them.

A soft chuckle escaped Ayat's lips. "We were not always. We were far from being perfect for that matter, and you know why?"

"Why?" She found herself asking as if in trance. They looked so happy together. She was actually really curious now.

"Because I misunderstood him and didn't listen to him. I believed what I saw and turned deaf ears to what the reality actually was. You have no idea what we've been through and hadn't it been me finally giving him the chance to tell his side of the story, we would've never been where we are now. Even now, we have our conflicts, but do you know what keeps us together?"

"What?" A soft whisper evaded her lips.

"Communication. That's the key always. We discuss and find the solution together. Turning deaf ears to the other person only brews more problems. Life is treacherous, Safa. Do not let it win."

Ayat's words did something to the haze of her thoughts. Life had always done her so bad. It had always won, slapping her defeat right in her face, but this time she had a choice. This time she could decide her win. It was all twisted, but she had to do something to untwist it. She was done living this fateful life.

Exchanging the final greetings, she put the phone to the side and let the plethora of her thoughts carry on.

******

Even the sun had hidden behind the curtains of black clouds after witnessing the conversation between the two women. Sitting on the bench outside, she took of her slippers off and let the soft texture of grass hug her feet which did nothing to sooth the war that had been waged inside of her after her call with Ayat.

Should she call him?

Probably not. Or maybe yes?

Her mind was going berserk. She didn't know what the right decision was. Taking a deep breath, she looked up at the sky.

It was about to rain. Again.

She had bad memories with rain. Her heart was going to break again after calling him, she knew. Rain was their destruction so it was better to let the destruction spew in the wake of it one more time. And so without giving it another thought, she opened her hand and a small piece of paper came into view that had his number scrawled on it. Dialing the number on the phone, she pressed the call option before she could change her mind. Her heart throbbed heavily as she clenched the end of her dupatta in her hand. It was time for another destruction.

But what she did not know, this time rain was not going to be her destruction. It was going to be her salvation. Their salvation.

******

Dressed up in brown shalwar kameez, he had black shawl wrapped around his torso. A magnificent vision for sore eyes. Walking barefooted on the grass of his lawn, he let the cold seep through his bones, a mug of coffee sandwiched in both his hands.

He was completely engrossed in his thoughts when the bell of his phone placed on the table, caught his attention. He huffed, getting back to his thoughts. He had a rough day today and right now, even answering a call seemed like a tiresome task to do.

Walking towards the table, he picked up the phone and was about to switch it off, but then something inside of him unfurled and he didn't know why he stopped. This wasn't some random call, his gut feeling said. Since Safa had just bought a new phone and sim, he didn't know it was her. Picking up calls from unknown numbers wasn't something he did, but this time he had a sudden urge to attend the call.

So he did what his instinct told him to and he could swear on God he recognized who the caller was the second he answered the call. But he stayed quiet as words seemed to lose all meaning. A long silence ensued as their breaths exchanged – a beautiful song to his ears. The silence finally broke after a minute with her saccharin voice he had been yearning to listen to. He took a deep and long breath to prevent his heart from going haywire.

"I want to meet you. Tomorrow. That's your only chance."

And then the call disconnected. A disconnection that was going to connect their souls forever.

******

A/N

What do you thing is going to happen? Will she still not forgive him or will our Safa and Azlan happen? Wait...we still don't have a ship name? Oh!