Tears are how our heart speaks, when our lips cannot describe how much we have been hurt. Tears are the words that heart can't express. Tears are simply the raindrops from the storm inside of us. Heaven knows we need never be ashamed or our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts. The most painful tears are not the ones that fall from your eyes and cover your face. They are the ones that fall from your heart and cover your soul. There is sacredness in tears, they are not the mark or weakness, but of power.

'' strong people have their life in order, even with tears in their eyes, they still manage to say I am ok even with a sad smile.

And I know my child is not weak. You are strong. That's why I chose you as my son's bride'' remembering Mrs. Zarina's words tore her heart. Arzoo closed her eyes and tears made their way.

Why you left me aunty?

Why you left me all alone?

Why it happened which happened that night?

'' mom what are you talking about? It's just been two days passed from your operation and you are asking about reception?

You need rest. You are weak'' said Amaan while trying to control his anger. Mrs. Zarina was feeling weak. It's been 2 days passed from her operation but she is asking about the wedding reception of Amaan and Arzoo.

''I am fine son. I want to see the reception and invite my friends. Let me show them my beautiful bride'' said Mrs. Zarina in a broken and weak voice.

'' mom you can't be serious?

Are you seriously saying this?'' Amaan was not believing what he was hearing. Drs clearly said that she needs to rest and in here she was adamant on her wish.

'' dad tell her something please'' Amaan looked at his dad and seek his help to make her mother understand of the situation. But in response he got a smile from his father. Mr. Ahmad came near his son and put his hand on his shoulder while having a smile on his face.

'' let it happen son. It will be a good change for her. If that makes her happy then let her be happy'' Amaan was not understanding what to do. How to understand them both that it's not good for her health. He sighed and brushed his hairs with his hands and looked at his mother who was nothing like before. She had lost a lot of weight. She was looking so pale and the muscles of her face had lost its liveliness. They were dull making her look older. Amaan swallowed after observing her condition. He felt helpless. And there was no way to say No to her who already was taking shallow breaths.

He sighed and came and sat beside his mother. He took her cold and weak hand in his rough and calloused hand and kissed it.

'' ok as you say. But after a week and there is no way to say any other word cause its final.'' Mrs. Zarina smiled and kissed his son's forehead and nodded. All this while Arzoo was there sitting beside Mrs. Zarina but didn't utter a word between them and Amaan didn't glanced her for once. Which was panging her heart. Mrs. Zarina took her hand and placed it on Amaan's hand. For a split second Amaan looked at Arzoo. She could feel his intense gaze on her and that was making her nervous to the core. She was wearing white shalwar kameez looking like an angel. Pure and innocent. Her milky skin was looking more radiant in white and Amaan was noticing it. Her down cast eyes were shivering. Hesitatingly she looked at him who was already looking at her. His gaze was far and intense that made her look down and churn her stomach.

'' I want a grandchild fast. Sorry if I am being fussy about it but I want it. As I am fine now so I want you guys to spend time with each other and plan your honeymoon. And after the reception I will shift to my small house leaving you both alone to give me good news. And I am in hurry about it. God knows how much I will live but I want to see my grand kids before I close my eyes.'' Said Mrs. Zarina with a sad smile on her face. Which made Amaan angry, and at the same time made Arzoo sad.

'' mom! Do I have to remind you not to say things like this?'' controlling his anger, he was trying his best to not raise his voice. But it was not settling with him to even think like that let alone let it happen.

Mrs. Zarina was home and Arzoo was doing her best to look after her, but Amaan was not ok with it. He had suggested a nurse but his mother denied it by saying that she wants her daughter in law to look after her. Reluctantly he had to agree for what his mother was saying. But he was keeping his eyes on her.

'' aunty please have some more, you will get more weak.'' Arzoo said pleadingly to Mrs. Zarina who was making faces after eating the tasteless food for days. She was feed up of the hospital's food but here at home Arzoo was making the same food for her which she was not expecting. She thought that Arzoo will help her to have normal food but she was more strict than the nurse.

'' Arzoo it's so tasteless, it makes me to throw up even looking at it and when I hardly have it, it assuredly makes me to puke and it's about days that you are giving me this tasteless food'' she made a face which made Arzoo smile. She was smiling unaware of the pair of eyes who was eying her from afar, her smile touched his string of heart. It was the first time he was seeing her smiling and some kind of weird feeling was touching his feeling less heart. she was looking beyond beautiful with that smile. Her plump and full lips curved and showed her beautiful and white pearls.

'' but aunty what were you expecting from me that I will allow you to eat the normal food?

Well if that is what you were thinking then forget it cause I am very strict in issues like this.

When uncle used to become ill then I would scold him a lot and feed him even Hamid brother. Once he had flu and fever and he completely refused from Noori but I scold him and made him have his soup calmly'' she said it all in a long trace and a curved smile on her lips. Making Mrs. Zarina smile too but, the mere talk of an unknown man's name from her lips, made him boiled in anger. He was standing by the door's threshold but this conversation made him unsettle and uncomfortable. He did not like it a bit.

He clenched his stubble with his hand, trying hard to control his anger.

'' how dare she?

She was sitting by my name in that house and still she was comfortable to be this close to that guy?

This proves how she is?

And her this smile!

She had showed her this smile more to that guy, who she called him her so called brother?''

''Amaan!

When did you come son?'' asked Mr. Ahmad while looking at his son's angry eyes who were settled on that one person who was aware of his heated and hateful gaze. Mr. Ahmad followed his gaze and realized that he is looking at Arzoo. His demeanor was showing hate and anger but the question was why?

He couldn't control his thoughts and blurt out to him.

'' what is the problem son?

Why are you so stressed out?'' his these questions made Amaan to break his thoughts and look at his dad, whose eyes were already on him. But in his eyes Amaan could see concern but for who?

Her or him?

'' nothing dad'' he sighed and massaged his temples. Amaan was trying to leave but Mr. Ahmad took his hand and stopped him. Making Amaan to give a confuse look to his dad.

'' I am your father son.

My grayish hair shows that I have more experience than you. So tell me what is it? And dare not to lie to me'' Amaan looked at his dad for good few seconds. He wanted to tell his dad a lot of things, but he decided against it because it was not the time to talk to his father about anything. Mr. Ahmad could easily see the inner fight which Amaan was having but he couldn't figure out. But one thing was clear for him, that something is not right between Amaan and Arzoo. Little did he know that nothing was right between them.

How hard it must be to keep fighting for a dream when that dream is probably a mirage. But the spectacle is at the same time the mirage of self in the mirror of things. And our expectations come crashing down when we realize that, it's just the journey but the destination is a mirage. But the beauty of mirage is that it makes you blind, and gives you a false hope that may be the illusion I am seeing is true. Although you know that it is not!

Time has come to the day when it was announced as Amaan and Arzoo's reception day. She was dressed like a doll in a long sleeve mermaid burgundy satin evening gown. It was totally fitted to her body like a second skin which was bothering Arzoo. After her wedding, this was the second dress which she was uncomfortable with. But as before, she had no choice but to wear it.

''Anabia,

It's tight and look at the shoulders. It doesn't have shoulders. I don't feel comfortable and your brother may not like it too'' she said pleadingly which made Anabia to rise her eye brow in confusion.

'' did he said anything about it?'' she said as she wanted to know what Arzoo said, made her curious.

'' y...yes. He...he didn't like the w..wedding gown'' she stuttered but managed to tell her the half truth. Couldn't tell her the full truth. How he raised his hand on her and how he humiliated her by giving her names. She closed her eyes and felt Goosebumps. For other's their wedding night is like a promise which a couple give to each other, but for her, her wedding night was like a mirror which he showed her.

'' Arzoo, we get married once, so why not we enjoy it. And there is no problem in this dress as Amaan had already seen it. So if he had any issues, then he would have told me or you. But he didn't say anything. Which means, its fine now. And one more thing about the dress it's not tight Arzoo, it's called good fitting. And about the shoulders, well it shouldn't have shoulders since it's a half shoulder gown, So stop nagging about it and sit let the stylist do her work.''

She was ripped out of her trance which a nudge on her shoulder which starlet her. looking to her side, she saw Anabia taking her picture, Arzoo was not expecting it.

'' gosh!

Arzoo you are looking breath taking girl, you are blessed with not just good looks but good figure too. Look right curves in right places. Oh my, if I was a boy then you have no idea what would I think and do but still as a girl you are giving me weird feelings'' she exclaimed happily which made Arzoo slap her shoulder while she burst in to a heart full laughter and made Arzoo blush.

'' gosh Arzoo you are so innocent. You are not made for this world though but I am lucky that you are my sister in law. Wife of my arrogant brother'' she hugged Arzoo with a genuine happiness and Arzoo couldn't control her tears knowing what kind of her life is.

'' here this is a gift from me and zahir. We didn't gift you for your wedding but we were planning to gift you on your reception'' she handed Arzoo a velvet maroon box. Arzoo opened it and she was stunned to see the beautiful diamond studs and diamond pendent with a heart shape and completed by a diamond bracelet and ring. She looked at Anabia who was calculating her reaction and looked back at the gift in her hand.

'' Anabia it's too expensive. I can't get it from you'' Arzoo said nervously but that only made Anabia smile on her innocence.

'' oh come on Arzoo you cannot count someone's gift by money. It's a gift taken by love and affection, only for my one and only sister in law. So tonight have it and wear it'' she helped Arzoo and made her wear it. Arzoo was looking breath taking. Her long sleeve mermaid burgundy satin dress, which hugged her body perfectly. Showing her curves in right places more prominent to the eyes. Her long chocolate brown hair were curled and cascaded freely on her shoulders, but doing nothing to hide her bare shoulders and collar bones. Her makeup was simple yet eye alluring.

The base of her eye makeup was nude with a little brown crease, which wasn't distracting her hair and dress, and she had a brown-pink matte lipstick. Arzoo looked at herself in the mirror, the dress hugged her body like a second dress, showing her curves more prominent, and she didn't like it a bit. She was sitting in her room. Yes she was living in a spare room which was beautiful in brown and white color. The furniture's were white with the walls but the carpet and curtains were brown, it was a simple room. Trying really hard that Mrs. Zarina or Mr. Ahmad shouldn't notice her being in other room but Anabia knew it, but she knew her brother. So she gave them time to adjust as they want. The door opened with a bang, Arzoo's heart sunk in her stomach and she took a sharp breath. She didn't dare to turn and look at him, as she knew and the pair of heated eyes is gazing her intently. She became conscious of her situation and started shivering. Amaan notices her back facing him, but he noticed her trembling perfect alluring figure too. With fluid steps he stepped further and made her turn by her arm. She turned but her eyes were down, he was drinking her whole appearance. Holding her chin, he made her to look at him. Hesitatingly she looked at him; he was the most handsome person she had ever seen. The suit was nested on his masculine body, making his muscles budging out. Navy blue and black was complimenting him. While he was looking at her beauty, she was beyond beautiful, her amber eyes, small button nose, plump lips, crystal like neck, her soft and brown hair. He wondered that how it feels like. His hands reached her hair while she flinched and closed tight her eyes, making him smirk. He touched her hair; they were soft as it looked. Amaan closed the distance between them and put his nose on her hair, he exhaled and closed his eyes, her smell was intoxicating him like a drug, and Arzoo slowly opened her eyes and looked at him who was already looking at her. There was something else in his eyes which she couldn't figure out, but when his gaze flickered to her lips, realization dawned on her. And she saw the emotions in his eyes.

There was lust

Want

Desire

she swallowed and lowered her eyes. Her breathing was uneven and she was sure that he was noticing her breathing and her drumming heart which she was right. He was noticing and liked the effect which he had on her.

'' perfect'' he whispered her ear making her heart to stop.

..........................................

Flash back has just started. Wait and see that what happened which changed her life?

Keep reading, keep guessing.