Saying this, he moved his lips close to Hooreen's neck. Before he could do anything, Hooreen dug her nails into both of his hands. She also attacked his face, her nails scratching his cheeks. Infuriated, he slapped Hooreen. She fell face-down, her head spinning. Arham grabbed her by the arm, lifted her up, and, grabbing her again, he tore the sleeve of her shirt. She lunged at him again like a wounded lioness, but she was no match for a man, and her strength finally began to fail.
"Ka...ya....n........... Kayan...…. Kayan...…"
Only Kayan's name was in her heart and mind. She began screaming his name, at which Arham let out a loud laugh. "You can call whoever you want; no one will come. Everyone has left, including your Kayan… and even if someone comes, I'll put all the blame on you. Just do as I say quietly."
He placed his lips on Hooreen's arm, which was visible through the torn sleeve. At this audacity, Hooreen's screaming and crying intensified. Her heartbeat slowed; she saw her death in the form of Arham. She squeezed her eyes shut and began praying for death when, suddenly, she fell from Arham's grip onto the floor. She pulled her knees to her chest and rested her head on them. Closing her eyes, she continued to cry and call out for Kayan. Then, she felt that same scent around her that lived in every fiber of her being—but she still didn't open her eyes, fearing it might just be a dream.
When Hooreen's phone suddenly cut off, Kayan dialed her number several times, but it remained switched off. His sixth sense signaled that something was wrong. He ran back into the school. The entire building was empty. Reaching near his office, he heard Hooreen's screams and his own name, which she was calling out continuously while crying. Kayan tried to open the door, but it was locked from the inside. He struck the door two or three times until it burst open. The scene inside snatched the ground from beneath his feet. Arham was holding a sobbing Hooreen and had his lips against her arm. This act caused the lava of Kayan's rage to erupt. His veins bulged with fury. In a state of madness, he stepped forward, grabbed Arham, and yanked him away from Hooreen, causing her to fall to the floor.
Kayan didn't stop to think; he began beating Arham mercilessly. "How did you dare touch my Hooreen with your filthy hands…? How did you even lay a hand on her… huh…?"
"No, Sir… I didn't do anything. She came to me herself. She was trying to seduce me, and when I refused, she blamed me…"
Seeing Kayan there, Arham was stunned and terrified at being caught, yet even while being beaten, he put all the blame on Hooreen. At this accusation, Kayan began beating him even more savagely. "Shut your mouth, otherwise I will cut it out. Do you know who you are talking about? Whose character you are slandering? Do you know who she is…? She is my wife… Mrs. Kayan Zarrar Haider."
It was as if the seven heavens had fallen upon Arham. Kayan dragged him outside, grabbed Arham by the back of the neck, and pressed his lips against the hot engine of the car. Arham shrieked in pain. "You kissed my Hooreen with these lips, right…? And you touched her with these hands…? So how can any of this remain intact…?"
Saying this, he struck both of Arham's arms, leaving him groaning in agony. Handing him over to Waleed, he rushed back to Hooreen, who was still chanting his name through her tears. He sat on the floor by her side. When he touched her, she screamed out in terror. "N… no… Kayan…!"
Seeing her condition, he gritted his teeth. Turning Hooreen's face toward him, he spoke: "Hooreen, look here. It's me, your Kayan…"
When Hooreen saw Kayan with her tear-filled eyes, she clung to his chest and began weeping uncontrollably. Seeing her state, Kayan closed his eyes in agony, as if suppressing the boiling lava of his emotions within himself. To calm his inner turmoil, he tightened his embrace around her. He placed his lips on her hair. "Hooreen, I will never let anything happen to you. Trust me… trust your Kayan."
At his words, her crying intensified. She gripped Kayan's shirt tightly in her fists. For a long time, she clung to him, crying. Kayan let her weep. When she composed herself a little, he spoke to her tenderly: "Hooreen! Remove this incident from your mind. I will erase the existence of the one who did this from this world. Don't worry, let me take you home first."
She felt that if she moved away from Kayan, Arham would return. Tightening her grip in fear, she spoke: "No… please… just sit like this… for a while… with me. I don't want to go… anywhere right now… I just want to stay… with you."
She spoke in such a low voice that Kayan could barely hear her. Despite his rage, a smile crept onto his face at her words. One of Kayan's hands moved across her back and came to rest between her neck and head. He gently tilted her face up and breathed in her scent. She, who had been sitting peacefully in his proximity having forgotten everything, was startled by this act. Like every other time, she tried to pull away, but in vain. After a short while, he released her of his own accord. Hooreen was breathless, and her face was flushed with modesty. Kayan watched her with great interest until his eyes fell on the finger marks on her cheek. His anger flared up anew. A surge of rage and hatred erupted within him that could only be extinguished by taking Arham's life.
"That bastard… how did he even dare to raise a hand against you???"
"I will kill him…!"
He rose in a fit of rage to go back outside, but Hooreen stood up and grabbed his hand. She didn't want Kayan to take a life; she was already terrified. "No… no… Kayan… please… don't leave me and… go…!"
She hugged him again. Even in his intense rage, her words and actions were forcing him to smile, and the same happened now. She was in his embrace, unwittingly testing his self-control. Feeling Kayan's hands moving on her back again, she pulled away. Kayan left a lingering, intense touch on her arm where it was visible through the torn sleeve. She spoke nervously: "I… I… have to go… home."
Kayan let out a laugh and teased her: "Just now you were saying don't leave me, and now you're running away yourself? You're very clever, wifey."
She lowered her head at his words. Kayan took off his coat, placed it over her shoulders, took her hand, and led her out.
When they arrived home, Haleema Begum and Mr. Ilyas were sitting in the hall, waiting for Hooreen. She was late today. For a while now, Mr. Ilyas had been telling Haleema Begum to call her, as his heart was restless, wondering why she hadn't arrived yet. She had quieted him by saying he shouldn't worry unnecessarily since Kayan was with her and she would be fine. He had fallen silent, but his heart remained uneasy.
A little later, both of them arrived. As soon as they saw Hooreen, they rushed to her. Hooreen ran to them, hugging them and weeping. Once again, the entire scene played out before her eyes like a movie, and her crying intensified. Haleema Begum approached her anxiously. Mr. Ilyas glared at Kayan with predatory, furious eyes, making Kayan speak up nervously:
"I... I didn't... do anything, really."
"I gave you the responsibility of my daughter, so tell me—how is she in this state?"
He roared in anger. For the first time, Kayan felt such nervousness. He wasn't even afraid of Mr. Jillani, but he was well aware of their love for Hooreen. Today, for the first time, Kayan was truly afraid of someone, because when it came to Hooreen, their anger was identical. He stood there silently. Hooreen was both surprised and happy to see him like this; she realized he deeply respected her father and was even a little afraid of him. Seeing him silent, Haleema Begum spoke:
"Kayan beta, tell us what happened. Hooreen was with you, right? So tell us, what happened to cause this?"
Hooreen looked at Kayan, who was still standing silently. She pulled away from Mr. Ilyas and, looking at her parents, said:
"He didn't do anything... in fact, today, he protected me and my honor...!"
At her words, Haleema Begum and Mr. Ilyas looked at each other. Haleema Begum asked tremblingly:
"W... what do you mean...?"
Weeping, Hooreen told them everything. Tears welled up in both their eyes, and Kayan stood there, keeping himself under control. Mr. Ilyas looked at Kayan, but now, his eyes held gratitude, obligation, and a sense of pride. Haleema Begum and Mr. Ilyas embraced Hooreen together. Mr. Ilyas spoke:
"That's enough, daughter. Don't shed any more tears. What was meant to happen has happened. We are immensely grateful to God that you are safe. Go, change, and freshen up. In the meantime, I will talk to Kayan."
At his words, she nodded and left. As soon as she was gone, Haleema Begum spoke to Mr. Ilyas:
"I told you that a sigh from someone's heart never goes in vain. Look at what happened today."
"Haleema, I will not hear a single word against my daughter, and I have no intention of arguing with you."
He spoke angrily, silencing her. They both collapsed onto the sofa. Haleema Begum came before Kayan and, joining her hands together, said:
"Th... thank you...!"
Kayan immediately caught her hands and spoke before she could finish:
"What... what are you doing? Please don't embarrass me by joining your hands like this. Hoor is my wife. She is my honor, my obsessive passion. How could I let anything happen to her? Please, don't worry."
He hugged her, and she began to cry. His words filled the hearts of both Haleema Begum and Mr. Ilyas with peace. In their hearts, they thanked their Lord.
"I finally understand why Hooreen cries so much!"
He joked about her crying, which made both her and Mr. Ilyas smile. Haleema Begum pulled away and gave him a playful, fake glare. Mr. Ilyas cleared his throat and spoke to Kayan:
"Whatever little doubt I had in my heart regarding you has also vanished. But that doesn't mean I will forget what you did to my daughter. Until Hooreen forgives you, I will remember everything as well."
"She inherited that Hitler-like attitude from you, after all."
Kayan mumbled under his breath. Haleema Begum heard his mumbling and suppressed a laugh, while Mr. Ilyas, also understanding, hid his smile and asked in a serious tone:
"Did you say something...?"
"No, nothing... I should go now. I'll come back later; I have a very important task to finish first."
At the last part, a hardness appeared in his eyes, through which they understood exactly what "important task" he was referring to. He was about to leave when Mr. Ilyas said:
"Wait. Have dinner before you go. Begum, serve food for your favorite nephew."
"Yes, son, sit down... I completely forgot in all this. I'll serve the food right away. Don't leave without eating."
She left, feeling embarrassed that she had indeed forgotten about dinner in the midst of everything. Kayan looked at Mr. Ilyas with a reproachful tone and said:
"My stomach is full just from your talk. I'm leaving."
He stepped toward the exit, but his steps faltered at Mr. Ilyas's words, and a smile flickered on his face for a moment before vanishing.
"Don't spare him...!"
He turned back to look at them, nodded in understanding, and left. When Haleema Begum came back to call them after setting the table, she didn't find Kayan there. Upon her asking where he went and why he didn't stay to eat, Mr. Ilyas said:
"He had a very important task, and he won't eat anything until he finishes it. That's why he left."
Before going to sleep, she was checking WhatsApp statuses when her mind went numb seeing Ma'am Nafisa's status. She had posted an appeal for prayers, saying her nephew was in critical condition and fighting for his life. She immediately called Kayan. She knew he would be awake. And he was, because after what had happened today, sleep was miles away from his eyes. He felt like burning everything down—and Arham too, who had touched his Hoor. That scene kept flashing before his eyes, and he felt helpless thinking... what if he had been even a moment later?
His phone rang. He knew it would be Hooreen. He didn't pick up at first because he knew what she would ask, but after the continuous ringing, he answered and, keeping his voice normal, said:
"What happened, wifey...? If you're missing me this much at this hour of the night, should I come over to you?"
"Kayan...! Are you responsible for Arham's condition...?"
He ignored her question and said:
"Did you eat? And why aren't you asleep yet...?"
"Kayan! Are you responsible for Arham's condition...?"
"I'm missing you so much. I can't sleep, Hoor."
"Kayan, I asked you something... are you responsible for Arham's condition...?"
This time, she spoke with anger. At her words, he also spoke angrily:
"If I'm not answering you, the meaning is clear: I don't want to talk about this."
"But I want to talk about it!"
"Yes, I am the one who did this to that dog...! He touched you... did you think I was so shameless that I would just quietly tolerate it and ignore it...? I tried my best to take his life, but his luck... he survived. But not for long. I won't rest until I bring him to his end. Before, I sent him to the hospital just for looking at you with filthy eyes, and now that he touched you, how could I let him live...?"
"You... you can do this...? How can you take someone's life...?"
She spoke in a state of shock, to which Kayan responded furiously:
"In the same way, he did what he did!"
"You... are very heartless and bad... I hate you! I hate you, Kayan!"
Saying this, she hung up. Kayan threw his phone in anger and lay down to sleep, but sleep was nowhere near. He got up, took his car keys, and went out.