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A beautiful girl 23 years old girl with waist-long black hair and brown dazzling eyes just like her mother, came out of the bathroom, drying her face with the towel, careful with her dried mehndi.

A few moments ago she has had a yellow face because her best friend thought that she would look more beautiful with a bowl of ubtan on her face.

Her mother helped her with washing her face but then her Baba was screaming and calling her mother so she had to go.

Hooriya placed the towel on the sofa seat back and moved toward the window as she saw their backyard and the landscape.

She loves her room and the fact that it's overlooked all over their backyard is refreshing for her, as she had a habit of sitting on the window seat and admire nature and think about what life had turned for her.

She sat on the window seat and look down at the backyard that was beautifully decorated with fairy lights and flowers, she smiled, her eyes shining brightly as she thought about the reason for this decoration.

Today was her and her best friend Shameen Hayat Shahzamaan, mehndi function. And the reason she was so excited that tomorrow her best friend will become her sister-in-law.

The best friends are very happy because now they will stay in the same house and can have donut and ice cream party whenever they want, they even went as far as to names their babies and calls dibs on their future daughters-in-law and sons-in-law.

Almas Shazir Khan after a wait of 21 years, had the courage and balls to confess his love and ask for her hand in marriage and finally, they are going to be married tomorrow.

"About damn time...,"

She chuckled at her own words as she smiled thinking about all the rambling and blabbering Shameen do during their rasam. She was angry at Almas, who was also her boss, oh the irony of this.

Shameen was calling him names and cursing him, while they both sat on the stage and aunties came to put ubtan and feed them, sweets.

They can't talk in front of everyone but from all the rambling Hooriya got the idea that Almas called his assistant aka his to-be wife to come to the office on her mehndi day to deliver some important file.

"I swear... He will regret spoiling my day, he was so stupid, and to think I got myself a shy and quiet husband,"

Those are Shameen words that made Hooriya laugh at the irony. She knew her brother like the back of her hand and she also knew that he did all this just to see his wife-to-be.

Because he was restricted to even meet her for one month and he was desperate.

Even for today's function, no men are allowed but the groom was told to go to the office penthouse because Shameen mehndi was also done at the white palace.

Both the girls didn't want to miss their best friend mehndi's function so they arranged a combined function so they can enjoy, throwing both the men to live in the penthouse.

She was smiling at the moment but soon that smile fades away as her mind again went to a specific person.

He was there at the penthouse living with her brother for a week, she didn't saw him, neither he came to the white palace to meet everyone.

A lone tear escapes her eye as she thought about him, the love of her life, her savior, her support system, her Ibrahim, her husband. The person who she last saw 5 years before.

She still remembers the day, the most special yet painful day of her life, when he left her on their nikkah day.

"I miss you, Rahim...,"

She whispered the words as she gazed at the moon, sharing all her memories, worries, and heartaches in silence, as she remembered what happens 5 years ago that United yet separate them.

FLASHBACK

The Khan family was happy and content with their lives and their special bond. In all these years, they have just get more close to each other and in all this a unique bond, thrive and established.

A bond of love, protection, passion, and dedication. Everyone in the family knew about Ibrahim's possessive towards Hooriya but what they didn't know that Hooriya even if a quiet girl has the same passion for her Rahim.

She can't bear another girl's frankness and advance for him but she never acted on impulse like Ibrahim and who knew that specific trait of him costs him the most in the future.

Ibrahim and Hooriya were very close with Dadi Janam, just like Taimoor and Manizeh were. It's like fate was playing a game on them. Like history is repeating itself.

They spent all their spare time with either each other or in Dadi Janam's company who was very content with their bonding.

But Dadi Janam didn't stay with them for a long time and she passed away leaving everyone heartbroken but the most affected was Hooriya. And if his hoori is in pain how can Mir Ibrahim be happy.

So that's when they helped each other to come out of this grief together. They cried together, laughed together, and hold each other at their weakest moment.

"I will always protect you hoori... Your Rahim will never leave you... I love you, my angel,"

If he knew that the promise will be broken someday, that day will break both the souls yet bind them together for eternity.

The parents are so happy with their developing relationship but they are still some hesitations because of Ibrahim's possessive and impulsive nature.

The kids are growing up sooner than they thought, Mir Ibrahim gets his masters degree in business and management at the age of 24, while Almas got his graduate degree at 22.

Both the boys started helping in business and it's very helpful for both Shazir and Taimoor.

Taimoor was relieved from all the worries because he had performed all his duties like he married his daughter Parisa with his nephew, Mansha son Harris two years ago and now they are happy in their lives.

He was just worried about Ibrahim's possessiveness in all Hooriya matters. Soon Hooriya and Shameen both join the university, and he wanted Ibrahim to stop his caveman behavior and be responsible for once.

People will think why he was so concerned about Ibrahim's possessiveness toward Hooriya, that he might be happy that his son was protecting her or that he was not happy with their relationship at all.

But that's not the matter, Mir Taimoor Khan loved Hooriya like his own daughter, maybe more than that.

But he was scared of Ibrahim's possessive and impulsive nature because since their childhood Ibrahim fought with each boy that came near her even just for a friendly conversation.

The last time Ibrahim beat the guy because he was just asking for help on a subject. That didn't help Ibrahim's case who was suspended from college because of his reckless act.

Because of him both Hooriya and Shameen were put in all-girls school so he can focus on his studies and not on keeping the male population away from his Hooriya.

"He shouldn't talk with her, he is lucky that I didn't kill him,"

Those words shook Taimoor and now he was anxious, because Shameen was always with Hooriya to help her and all but now when both the girls selected different fields, he was worried and didn't know that he was not wrong about worrying after the girls start university or better on their first day.

Hooriya is beautiful, no doubt but she is naive and polite, even when someone is bothering her she just smiled at them and gives an excuse to ran away while Shameen just told them to leave them alone to the face.

Hooriya followed her Badi mama footsteps and join the medical field, while Shameen much to her Baba horror wanted to do a business and management degree.

But like always, fate has its own plan, Ibrahim was the one to drop them off because he wanted to be with his hoori just to calm his nerves, he was nervous about this.

Many what if's are roaming around his mind and tensing his body.

What if she didn't want to be with him anymore? What if she finds someone else? What if he loses her? All these thoughts are driving him crazy but he tried to school his emotions for his hoori.

"Take care of yourself hoori, eat food on time, and call me if you need anything... Also, try to avoid the stupid seniors and if anyone tried anything funny, call me or your staff... Ok? Now all the best to you too and be careful,"

Shameen was also with them, but Hooriya content smile was enough for his puzzled mind. He passed them a warm smile, kissing their foreheads and wishing them all the luck in the world, he drives away.

They are excited about the new journey but didn't know that this will be a new step to many paths.

On the first day of university, the girls went and were totally mesmerized by the architecture of the building, as they got admission to the best university.

The fresher are roaming around just like them, Hooriya was nervous but Shameen presence was helping to keep her sane.

But then Shameen told her that she had to go to her department that was 3 blocks away and that scared Hooriya but she just smiled.

"Ok... Take care and call me after you get free,"

"Ok baby girl... Bye, Allah Hafiz...see you soon,"

Hooriya chuckled at Shameen because she was saying all the words but still not leaving her hand.

"Go, Sham... I am ok... You don't want to be late on your first day haina,"

Shameen nodded reluctantly as she didn't want to leave her poor best friend alone but she has to do it if she wanted to socially develop Hooriya as she is an antisocial person.

"Ok, I will call you the moment I am finished... Allah Hafiz and please stay away from trouble,"

Hooriya nodded at her as Shameen pecked her cheek and ran away.

Hooriya gets her schedule and finds that her first class was not till 11:00 am and it's still 9:00 am so she just sat on the benches beside the block.

She opened her bag to play something on her phone but didn't find it and slap her forehead as she remembered that she placed it on Ibrahim's car dashboard as she was rearranging her bag in the car.

She was cursing herself when someone came and startled her. She saw a handsome man standing in front of her with a rose in hand, he was nervous.

She frowned at him, who was indeed a handsome man but not more than her Rahim, he is walking Adonis and she blushed at the thought making the boy in front of her smirk thinking that she was blushing because of him.

"Hello... Assalam o Alaikum... I am Affan and I wanted to give you this rose because you are a beautiful girl and as a welcome to the university,"

Now Hooriya is more confused, she didn't want any drama on her first day so she just smiled at him but didn't take the flower.

"I am sorry to disturb you and come as a creep but you looked lonely so yeah... I am blabbering... Can you please take the rose?"

The boy was hell nervous and anxious because he saw his seniors glaring at him and gulping he turned to her, who was equally nervous for all the attention she was getting.

"I appreciate your kindness but I don't want the rose, you can give it to anyone else,"

She whispered the words as the passerby are now stopping to see the scene, making her tense.

"Please... Ma'am, I like...,"

His words are cut off by a solid punch to his face that shocked the boy as well as everyone.

"Dare you do something like this... You bloody bastard... I will kill you,"

The sickening crack of bone-breaking was heard by everyone as Hooriya stood up gasping at the bloody boy and a raging Ibrahim who had her phone in one hand.

He came back to give her his phone when he saw the scenes that boiled his blood like lava. All the morning scenarios didn't help as he beat the boy black and blue.

The guards came and separate a furious Ibrahim from the unconscious boy. He was still angry and turned to Hooriya so he can take her home.

Be damn with studies and degree, he is taking her back home but what he saw scared him to his bones as a chilling shiver of disgust went down his spine.

Hooriya was looking at him, her Rahim with scared eyes, the tears and fear are clear in her eyes. He went to take he run his arms but she steps away in her trance and didn't know that her one little gesture killed him.

For him, seeing fear in her eyes for him was like someone stabbed him so that's why Taimoor and Shazir were summoned.

The Dean is anxious because the beaten boy was also a freshman and his seniors told him to do all this but Mir Ibrahim Khan beat him without any care in the world.

Taimoor was surprised at Dean's words and promised him that nothing like this will happen and that he will personally meet the boy's family to apologize.

They went home after all the drama and Hooriya was still afraid, not of him but the way he beat the boy. If the guards didn't come he would have murdered the boy and that thought sickened her.

"It's all my fault... All my fault...,"

She cried and cried, Ibrahim who came to apologize stand behind the door and heard her crying. He was not ashamed to protect her, but indeed his impulsiveness must have cost the life of an innocent.

That moment he knew he had to do something, and he agreed to his father's words and started packing to go London to handle the new business they started, he had confirmed his tickets after one week.

He was heartbroken but he knew what he has to do and but he has one condition, one condition that will shock everyone.

But that night another bomb was dropped on Hooriya, she didn't know, what, why, and how but she just heard her parents' words as they came to consoles her after one week.

"Hoori... Mera bacha... We wanted to tell you something,"

Shazir spoke with a smile but it was not reaching his eyes, he was not happy with all this sudden change of events but he trusted his brother.

"Ji Baba,"

Taimoor and Shazir sat on each side as the mothers stood aside with tears in their eyes, she thought they are worried about Ibrahim and how she avoided talking with him.

She was not angry at him just giving him time to cool down, but this distance was also painful for her. Taimoor took a deep breath and turned toward his favorite child.

"Hooriya... I don't know how to say this...,"

Now she was confused and worried, did something happen to her Rahim? The mere thought terrified her.

"Did something happened to Rahim? Is he ok? I am so stupid to give him time to cool down and not talk with him... I will ask for his forgiveness,"

The mothers smiled a teary smile as Shazir patted her back with his own heart heavy with the impending department of his nephew. Taimoor shook his head as he stopped her from running away.

Telling something like this to 18 years is quite intense, he thought.

"He is ok Bacha... Nothing happens to him but he is going...,"

"Going where bade Papa?"

Hooriya was curious but the next words shook her world, turning it upside down.

"He is going to handle the London branch for some time...,"

"Then why are you all so gloomy... I mean he will return after a month... We will video call him daily don't worry...,"

Shazir can't handle this anymore so he just ripped the band-aid off.

"He is going for a few years hoori... And decided to perform both your nikkah before he goes,"

She was shocked at the words, the word going for years is heavier than the word nikkah. She can't bear the thought of separation, how will she do it.

"If only you want it Hooriya... No one is pressuring you... The decision is all yours,"

Taimoor patted her head as he assured her but she was still lost in her thoughts.

"Hoori... Hooriya...,"

Shazir shook her and that brings her out of the reverie, he again asked her the question.

"Yes...,"

She just whispered the words that made the parents sigh in relief. She didn't know what to do and what to say.

And that's how the next day, she found herself dolled up in a beautiful off-white embroidered dress, hands adorned with dark henna that reflects the passion of a certain person who was announced her husband a few hours ago.

She was sitting behind a floral curtain that separates them, she was covered with a red see-through dupatta that had Ibrahim ki Hooriya printed and embroidered with golden thread.

"Oh look my Bhai is already claiming his wife,"

That's what Shameen and Parisa said while teasing her.

She was blushing really hard but her heart was still heavy with the news of his going away and his distance.

The ceremony was simple yet elegant, the mothers are crying for their kids and what their fate has decided while their fathers are relieved and anxious at the same time.

Ibrahim didn't talk with her, he just opened his mouth to give his consent and said 'Qubool hai' with a voice that was so calm, just like the silence before the storm.

Shameen was shocked at all this, but she was happy for her best friend because she knew no one can love and cherish Hooriya like Mir Ibrahim Khan, but she knew that his departure after this will break her hoori and Shameen is ready to support her.

Soon everything was wrapped up and she moved toward her room. She was numbed from everything, her everything is changed now.

She is not an 18 years old Hooriya Shazir Khan, no she is now a married woman, she is now Hooriya Ibrahim Khan.

She is married to a man, who loved her from the start but was not talking to her and that thought pained her.

She was going toward her closet when her room light turned off, and the room was covered in darkness.

Her breath hitched in her throat, not because she was afraid of darkness. But the reason for her stiffness was standing behind her, and just his warmth was enough for her.

She didn't turn around, nor he tried. They just stood in the darkness and feel each other for the last time before this hijr starts.

"Sorry hoori...,"

That's the first word he whispered to her and the dam broke loose as she let out a heart-wrenching sob. These tears are for separation, heartache, and pain.

He sighed in defeat as he back hugged her, she didn't dare to face him, neither did he.

"Why are you going? You promised that you will never leave me? Then why Rahim?"

He can't say anything, a ball of emotions stuck in his throat, he keeps his emotions at bay as he put his head on her shoulder. Their height difference is huge but he still finds solace in this position.

"I have to do this hoori... For Baba... For you... It's for good, we will know this only in the future,"