Jacob pace around in the hospital corridor trying to understand and work his brain on the situation but watching his love dying in his arms wasn't helping his case. When he had heard her broken voice he had run out of the cafe in an unimaginable speed as he tries to talk to her more but she didn't respond.

The moment he had broken into her house with police only to find her laying in her blood around her at that moment he felt his world stopped. The police arrested her family and the ambulance took her but he was stilled until her hand brushed against his and he started to come back and shouting at everyone to save her. At first, he was shouting, then begging and then he was crying like a child for help.

He had informed Isra and Ehtisham about the incident and they were just as shocked and on their way here.

"How is she?". Isra panicked voice asked

"Did you knew about her?". He asked feeling his anger rising

Ehtisham pulls her behind him, "Calm down, Jacob. Even if she knows she couldn't have done anything until Avni wanted her to just like how no one can help me until I say so".

Jacob pulls on his hair frustrated, "I know. Dammit. I know. It's just...I can't lose her".

"She is a fighter. Always have been. She won't lose when it's her time to enjoy freedom". Isra said softly, "I will go and pray for her. Please call me if you need me or there are any updates".

With that Isra went away leaving behind the two men.

"What about your therapist?". Jacob asked once he calmed down

He shrugged, "I realise before I went to overcome my trauma I need to be sure that my trauma doesn't exist to come back again".

"What does that mean?".

"What I mean is that I have decided to place that woman and my father behind the bar for what they have done to me. The doctor will give a statement and reports against them. There is a DNA test will be done tomorrow so the case should be stronger. After that, I will head to the therapist to have my sessions".

"When did you decide all this?".

"I don't want to say this because it's not the best moment but when you told us about Avni".

"And how?".

"Because I realised that her family is similar to mine in many ways. One of these days if I choose anything for myself they might just do what Avni family did to her and they will always choose what I don't want to be. I have someone I want to be with and I know they will not allow that. When I am with that person I don't want to constantly be under the pressure of their appearance".

Jacob nodded understanding, "I wish I could have saved her before".

"You already did. You just don't know".

"What do you mean?".

"She fought for what she wanted for the first time if you look from my point of view. I am sure she never even did a thing for herself and stayed down doing whatever her parents wanted. If she ended this way it means she did something they never wanted".

The time after that everyone fought their own battles with Avni.

Jacob prayed to have his love back in his arms so he can cherish her beyond the extent that he wasn't able to. When he went on a date with her before which was her first date he still remembers how beautiful she looked in that short black dress of hers. How she was shy to every single touch of his and just how amazing the night was and he promised he will be doing more of it.

Ehtisham knows it's best to leave the toxicity before it shallows his whole life. He was young- 20 years old to be exact, and 20 years old have many years ahead that they need to figure out. Whatever path he decides right now will then be the one that leads him to places. He just doesn't want to walk on the same old path if it doesn't end at her.

Isra, she had her whole life filled with tests but all she wanted, for now, was her friend back. She leaves the mosque walking back towards the hospital when she found Ehtisham in the garden with his face in his hand. His body rocked back and forth as she came near him she can hear his whimper.

"What's wrong?. Is Avni ok?". She asked worriedly

He lifts his head looking at her with tear-filled eyes as she sits beside him asking him softly what had gone down.

"I cannot fight them".

"Why not?".

"I am not strong enough. I can't fight people. I am not strong or I would have done it before".

"Perhaps. But thinking about the past you never had guidance and people you could rely on. You say you can't fight anyone but whenever I was in trouble you saved me without thinking. You fought for me why can't you fight for yourself then?".

"Because it was you, Isra. God, because it was you".

"What does that mean?".

"Is it that hard to know?".

"Ehtisham?".

"It's not the right time for this but I fought for you".

"Then fight for my sake with them. I don't think you will stay longer with me if you don't fight them off".

"Why do they have to hurt me?. Why me?. I was a child nothing else. Why?".

"Peodohiplle never made sense to anyone. They are just some sick pervert who needs some real punishment".

"I have to live with my scar all my life because of them".

"You don't have to do that. Instead of focusing on the negative and what happened, why not use it to improve and create a beautiful life ahead to show these sick people that you have come far".

"Will you stay with me?".

"I promised, didn't I?".

He smiles looking at her and she smiles back matching his smile.

After hours they all saw the doctor walking out asking Jacob to follow him to his office.

"Fortunately, she made it. Her wounds are severe on the outside however the reason she passed out is because of the internal injuries that she suffered from. The wound on her head was bad enough too that was the reason that took us time. Now, we have to wait until she is awake to know if there is an issue with her brain and body".

Jacob thanked the doctor walking out announcing the news to others.

"You should leave for home. She will not be awake until tomorrow". Jacob said looking at their drained faces

"But--". She started

"We will leave then". Ehtisham said smiling as he starts to walk and she silently stomps her feet walking behind him, "Don't sulk, Isra. He needed time alone and with her when she is shifted".

"She is my friend too".

"She is his love too and he just saw her dying in his hands".

She nodded.

"Can I have one of your coffee?. It's been too long".

"Of course! But don't you have to leave now?. You will be late to reach home?".

He shrugged, "I can be late if that means I get to have your coffee".

"Or I can make to go coffee instead". She said chuckling as she enters the cafe inhaling the scent of coffee which made a smile cover her face and her shoulders relaxes

"You have a weird obsession with coffee".

"I wouldn't say obsession it's more of something that comforts me in some ways".

"What do you mean?".

"It's like when I drink coffee I lose myself in it's rich taste and the way it's hot flavour attack my taste buds and relaxes my body".

"It is weird".

She laughs shaking her head as she walks to the counter making his coffee in one of their to-go cups. She writes his name walking towards where he sat with his eyes trained on her. She smiles handing him the coffee sitting opposite of him.

"Etiham?". He readouts from the coffee cup then break into his rich laughter that filled the silence of the cafe, "Now I truly feel like I am in the cafe".

"Hey! Not all cafe write the wrong name and I am still learning".

He smiles softly, "You learned about my name yet?".

"I will soon".

Then he left to his place not before standing in front of the cafe watching the lights turn off. He smiles walking towards Jacob's apartment he wasn't sure if the marriage was still on but he wishes they get married soon. They look perfect together.

The next day Avni was awake but quiet. She spoke a few words to the doctor or policemen who came for her statement and nothing to Jacob or the other two.

"Is she in shock?". Jacob asked worriedly as he pulls on his hair

Isra sighs looking at his state. His hair was a mess with the few buttons of his shirt opened and cuff pulled up. His face looks tired and his eyes were dull.

"I don't know, Jacob. I think it's best if you speak to her directly. I will have to leave for my classes". She said softly, "I am sure she will tell you what's wrong".

Jacob enters her room once the observation was done and she was cleared of everything. He watches her looking in space as he sits beside her holding her hand she didn't even look at him.

"What's wrong, baby?".

"Everything".

"Speak to me".

"What do I speak about?. That my parents wanted me dead because I dared to do what they don't want me to?. Or the fact they have been controlling all of my life choices?. That selling their own daughter to an old man is honourable but allowing your daughter to live isn't?. That my skin had made them so disgusted that they wanted nothing to do with me. What did I do so wrong?. Why?. Why did they do that to me?".

She cried harder and he wrapped his hands around her holding her tightly as she cried in his arms.

"You came into my mess because of them now that they are not here you don't have to--".

"No! Don't complete that sentence. Don't do this, Avni. I have told you before that I wanted to propose to you in a better way than how I did. I wanted to date you, know you and swoon you before marrying you. Marrying was always on my agenda just after treating you right. Your parents leaving has nothing to do with my plans with you. I will always stay with you. I want a life with you".

"But why?. No one loved me. I am nothing but darkness and you are like a shining moon".

"But you are forgetting something, baby". He said cupping her cheeks clearing her tears away as he smiles slightly, "A moon won't shine if there is no darkness around it. The reason the moon has that importance is because of the darkness around it. Just like that, I won't be anything without you.

"You will stay?".

"Always".

Isra exits the university after an uneventful day. The voices as she ignores them starts to lessen every day. After she had slapped that boy for coming for her scarf the people seem to stay away from her. Obviously, as long as you show your weakness to someone they are meant to use it but the moment you look into their eyes daring them to come at you, they will coward back. Because they are a facade who enjoys using power against someone who is weak but when someone as strong as them is in front of them is another case.

Just as she turns around the corner someone holds her hand making her turn around to come face to face with her worse fears of all.

Wali.

"What do you want?". She said struggling against him trying to fight him off but he held harder

"You bitch". He said slapping her across her face which was meant to weaken her attempt to fight against him but she didn't stop, "Because of you he came after me".

"What are you talking about?". That when she really look at him to find his face disoriented in a very good way

Someone had hit him well.

She isn't sure if she was near sad for him because she had been meaning to do it.

"Your new toy, who else".

"My new toy?".

"Ehtisham. He cornered today morning on my way here saying that I hurt you and he was returning it just in triple folds. He warned me that if I come near you again he won't leave me alive for long".

Her heart stopped.

He had fought for her?. She remembers him saying that he will hurt Wali but she never thought he would and that too when he himself is in bad shape. She felt the weird feeling in her stomach exploding into something she couldn't place her finger on.

"And I wasn't joking". She heard his thunderous voice that shook her to core

She watches as Wali pale letting her hand go and in a minute they were in a fight. She watches his face covered in fury burning in his eyes darkening them. She never thought he had it in him. He was always shy, polite and a man with few words. His jolly personality is quite opposite to what she is watching now. He looks murderous.

"How dare you touch her when I warned you?". He said angrily banging his fist on Wali's face

"Ehtisham". She called meekly but he didn't stop so she steps forward placing her hand on his shoulder halting his movement, "Please stop".

Ehtisham turns to look at her scared face then back at the bastard smirking as he was passed out. He stands kicking his body one last time feeling the rage building in him again as he thinks of Wali holding her hand. But before he could hit him again her face came in his view as she shakes her head and he surrendered to her.

She starts to walk away and he follows behind her quietly until they reach the cafe and into Jacob's office.

"Why would you do that?".

"Because he hurt you".

"That was in the past".

"A past that hurt you to this day".

She sighs, "Ehtisham, you cannot fight every single person who hurts me".

"And why not?".

"Because I don't want you to get hurt".

"Again why not?".

She was frustrated with his nonchalant attitude so she screamed, "Because I care about you".

Her eyes widen when she realised when she had said. She looks at him to find his thin lips turning into a full-blown boyish smile.

"Good. Then it's decided".

"What's decided?".

"I will hurt every person who hurt you and you can tend to my wounds later".

"Are you crazy?".

"Only for you, darling".

"Yeah! Before you go around declaring your relationship you have to go through me. I hope you know that". They heard Jacob voice from behind his desk as he walks out, "And you really need to check if I am in the office or not. But I prefer you don't because every time you brag in I finds something good".

She groaned rubbing her hand on her face embarrassed of both of them as she hurriedly leaves the room with their laughter following behind.

"I wasn't joking". Jacob said stern looking at him as he gulped nodding

"We are young for now when I am able to properly take care of her I will ask you". He answered wisely

Because they both have a long way to go and even if they decide to be together they have their own baggage. As for him, he needs to fight his demon off and be stable in every form to be with her. She becomes his motivation to live his life. His anchor that he needed at a very cold night of December.

As for her, she had a chance to a different life and world she was still exploring. She was only over a year into a different religion and she needs time to adjust to it and finish her studies to be who she wants to be.

"Why are you not getting married?". She asked Avni as she sits with her in the cafe

Avni was better now after a month of everything that went down. She was glad both Avni and Ehtisham were improving every day with full rest. Avni family was sent to jail for life immediately because of the solid pieces of evidence and she was finally free to be whatever she wants.

"Because I don't want to for now. We were getting married because of my family pressure and now we can take things slow".

She groaned, "But I was looking at all those beautiful dresses ready to buy them".

Avni laughs, "We will get them someday".

"You are annoying".

"But you love me".

"That I do".

"Not more than me". Jacob said sitting beside Avni wrapping his arms around her kissing her cheeks

"Your coffee". Ehtisham said placing her coffee in front of her sitting beside her on their couch

The one where everything started.

Ehtisham now works as a barista along with her.

"It's so cold". Avni said gritting her teeth

"This weather brought us all together". Isra said smiling looking at everyone cosy at the end of the day as the cafe closed and they stayed talking

"It sure did bring us together". Ehtisham said looking at her, "And I hope that with the change in season it's only the season that changes and nothing between us".

"We will stay together?".

"Always".

They smile looking at one another and turns to talk to the other two. Ehtisham had filed a case against his parents and they were arrested immediately. His father know about him being raped for a few years and he had started beating him more severely so he never speaks about it to anyone because his father wanted money even if it meant he sold his own son. Their trails took a month because of the case being sensitive but with the help of the doctor reports, friends support and her- he managed to end that chapter in his life forever.

To start a new chapter along with her.