The house was silent, as if it, too, shared Mahenoor's burden-heavy, lingering, unmoving. Morning light fell through the curtains of her room, but Mahenoor hardly noticed. Her world has been paused for what felt like forever.

She sat by the window, fingers brushing against the cold glass as her eyes lingered on the garden outside. A small girl was playing with her father-laughing, carefree, untouched by pain. Mahenoor closed her eyes, trying to drown the ache inside her heart, but it only grew louder.

"Mahenoor," A soft voice broke her thoughts. It was Sanober. She stood hesitantly by the door. "Are you okay? Should I bring breakfast for you today?"

Mahenoor turned slowly, her face pale, her expression unreadable. "I'm not hungry, Appi. You can go."

Sanober didn't move. Her eyes filled with concern as she stepped forward. "Mahenoor, now you don't even eat anything. How long will this continue?"

"How long will it continue?" Mahenoor repeated softly, almost to herself. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "Even, I don't know that, Appi."

In the living room:-

The soft hum of morning conversation had been placed by something tense. Nazia sat beside Sameer, her fingers twisting the edge of her dupatta. Across the room, Imran usual calm demeanor was replaced with concern.

"Why isn't this girl pulling herself out of this grief?" Imran said, his voice low but edge with frustration.

Nazia sighed, her voice heavy. "Bhai, Mahenoor is in a very fragile state. She only sees Asjad in the midst of all her pain."

Sameer spoke for the first time, his voice calm but firm. "But life doesn't stop. We have to do something."

"How much more can we explain to her?" Saira added softly. "Last night, I again felt that she wasn't okay. She shouldn't lose herself in the shadow of her grief."

The conversation was broken by a knock at the door. Ayaan opened it and froze. Standing outside was Omar.

Omar stepped inside, his expression unreadable but his eyes clouded with concern. Rabia, Ahmed Ali, and Zoya followed him closely, exchanging soft greetings with the family.

Omar approached Sameer and Nazia, speaking in a calm, steady voice.

"Assalamualaikum uncle, aunty. How is Mahenoor's health now?"

Nazia's face softened at Omar's present. "Walaikum Assalam beta, she is in her room. Would you like to meet her?"

Omar hesitated for a second before nodding. "Yes, Aunty. Maybe I can talk to her."

Zoya leaned close to Rabia, and whispered. "Bhai, didn't come here for himself. He came because he's worried about Mahenoor appi."

Rabia nodded knowingly. "Kuch Mohabbatein chupane ke liye nahi hoti, Zoya. Unka dard unki aankhon mein likha hota hai." (Some loves can't be hidden, Zoya. Their pain is written in their eyes.)

Ahmed Ali placed a hand on Omar's shoulder before he left. "Beta, be careful. Sometimes speaking the truth is necessary, even if it causes pain."

Omar didn't reply. He just walked toward Mahenoor's room, his footsteps echoing softly down the hall.

In Mahenoor's room:-

Omar knocked softly. When Mahenoor didn't respond, he pushed the door open. She was sitting on the floor beside her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Her dupatta lay crumpled beside her, her hair falling loosely around her face.

"Mah." Omar said gently.

She didn't move, her silence was louder than any words. Omar took a deep breath and sat down across from her.

"You should talk to someone sometimes." He started. His voice was steady but kind. "Staying silent doesn't lessen the pain, Mah."

For a moment Mahenoor said nothing. Then, her voice broke the silence, quiet but sharp. "What should I say, Omar? And to whom? There's no one here who can listen."

"Allah listens." Omar replied firmly. "And sometimes, he sends people to you so you can lighten your sorrow."

Mahenoor's eyes darted to him, tears threatening to fall. "Do you understand, Omar? Do you think this pain will ever end?"

Omar didn't answer immediately. He looked at her for a long moment, his gaze steady. "I don't know, Mah. But one day, you will definitely step out of this shadow of pain."

Mahenoor turned away, her voice almost a whisper. "Some shadows never leave, Omar."

"And some friends never leave even as Shadow." Omar replied softly.

The sunlight filtering through the curtains softened as time passed. Omar lingered by the window for a moment longer, his shoulder tense, as if holding a weight too heavy for words. Mahenoor watched him from her spot on the floor, the silence between them thick and unspoken.

Finally, she whispered, "Why are you here, Omar?"

Omar turned slowly to face her. His expression was calm, but his eyes reflected a storm. "For you."

Mahenoor's lips trembled, and she shook her head. "You all should stop worrying. I'm fine."

Omar's voice was low but sharp, each word like a blade cutting through the air. "Fine? Do you really think this is fine? What you're doing to destroy yourself-do you think that's fine?"

Mahenoor's head snapped up, her eyes flashing with anger for the first time in days. "You don't know anything about me, Omar!"

Omar took a step forward, his voice unwavering. "I know your pain, Mah. The pain written on your face-everyone can see it, but you can't."

Mahenoor's resolve broke. Tears filled her eyes as she looked away, her voice barely audible. "Have you ever felt that when someone leaves, they leave an emptiness inside you? A void that can never be filled?"

Omar's face softened as he crouched down to her level. His voice was gentle now, almost a whisper. "I have felt it, Mah. But I've also understood that life doesn't stop. Just because they've left doesn't mean you should leave yourself."

Her tears fell freely now, streaking her cheeks as she hugged her knees closer to her chest. The vulnerability in her voice was heartbreaking. "I can't see any way forward, Omar. Even those paths take me back to him."

For a long time, Omar didn't say anything. He just sat there, a silent companion to her grief, allowing her to cry. After a while, he murmured softly, as though speaking to himself. "Sometimes Allah(SWT) takes away those we love the most, so we can return to him."

Mahenoor looked at him then, her tears filled eyes searching his face. "And What if I don't want to return?"

Omar smile faintly, through there was no joy in it. "Then Allah(SWT) brings us people who become a prayer for us."

His words lingered in the air, carrying a weight Mahenoor couldn't ignore, for the first time in months, something shifted within her, like a small crack in a wall that has held her heart captive for too long.

✨

Outside Mahenoor's room, the family gathered in the living room. Nazia paced back and forth while Samee sat quietly with his head bowed. Rabia watched Nazia carefully, her heart aching for the woman's worry.

Bhabhi, don't worry." Rabia said softly, walking up to her."Mahenoor will find healing through Allah's grace. She is fighting her grief, but one day she will surely win."

Nazia's eyes brimmed with tears as she stopped pacing. "I only prayer for this, Rabia. My daughter is so broken that I fear one day she might not be able to find herself."

Sameer, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, his voice was calm but firm. "Allah takes care of everyone. We all need to stay strong for Mahenoor."

Imran, sitting nearby, added in a steady tone. "And we must understand one thing. The shadow of Asjad's memories will not leave until Mahenoor decides to free herself from them."

Ahmed Ali nodded in agreement. "Imran Bhai is right. A period of sorrow can be long, but every phase has an end."

Zoya whispered quietly to Sanober as they sat together. " Bhai, wants to do everything for Mahenoor appi. But he will never let her understand him."

Sanober sighed, her voice thoughtful."some loves remain as silent sacrifice, Zoya. Omar's love is like that too."

That night, as silence fell over the shaikh household, Omar found himself alone in the small prayer room. The room was dimly lit, and the soft rustling of the wind outside was the only sound. Omar spread the prayer mat and knelt down, his forehead touching the cool fabric as he whispered his prayers.

"Ya Allah Mahenoor ko sukoon de. Uske dard ko halka karde. Uske dil se woh dukh mita de jo uska sath chodne ko taiyaar nahi hai." (Ya Allah, give Mahenoor peace. Lighten her pain. Erase the sorrow from her heart that refuses to leave her side.)

He paused, his voice breaking as he whispered. "Aur Agar uski zindagi me kabhi Khushi likhi hai, toh mujhe uska Zariya bana de. Chahe mujhe khud kuch bhi na mile." (And if happiness ai written in her life, then make me it's medium. Even if I get nothing for myself.)

For a moment, he stayed there in the silence the weight of his unspoken love pressing against his chest. Omar wiped his eyes and looked up, whispering softly. "Kuch Mohabbatein sirf Dua ban kar reh jati hai, aur shayad meri Mohabbat bhi." (Some loves remain only as prayers, and perhaps my Love is one of them too.)

Mahenoor lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as the clock ticked quietly. Her body was exhausted, but sleep refused to come. Omar's words from earlier echoed in her mind-"One day, you will surely come out of the shadow of this pain."

She turned over, closing her eyes tightly as fresh tears slipped down her cheeks. "Kash yeh itna asaan hota, Omar." She whispered to the emptiness of the room. (If only this were so easy, Omar.)

Somewhere deep in her heart, though, she felt a shift-a small, unrecognizable feeling she couldn't name.

The next morning Omar sat with Ahmed Ali on the veranda. Birds chirped softly in the background as they sipped their tea. Omar's face was pensive as he stared at the garden, lost in thoughts.

Ahmed Ali broke the silence, his voice steady. "Beta, sometimes time and prayers do what a person cannot. Your presence is a blessing for Mahenoor."

Omar looked at his father, his voice calm but firm. "Abba, sometimes I feel like my only purpose is to pray for her. I only ask Allah(SWT) for her happiness."

Inside, Mahenoor stood by the window, watching Omar from a distance. For the first time in weeks, there was a quiet calm in her heart.

So, this is the chapter lovelies. I hope you like it.

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