When they reached home that night, Zayan couldn't sleep. The weight of what he had done — and what Mahira's tears had made him realise — pressed down on his chest like a stone.
He slipped into Sahil's room just before dawn, unable to hold it in anymore.
Sahil sat up, half-awake, blinking at his younger brother's face. "What happened? Why do you look like you haven't slept in a year?"
Zayan sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his hands. Slowly, haltingly, he told Sahil everything — how he'd cornered Mahira, kissed her, how she'd broken down crying, how he'd felt her slipping away from him the moment she pushed him back.
He left out the part about losing control with his hands — some guilt was too heavy to speak aloud.
When he finished, Sahil just stared at him — then smacked him on the shoulder.
"You idiot," Sahil hissed. "You don't force love. If you want to win a girl like Mahira — you don't corner her like a thief in the dark. You make her feel safe. Wanted. Respected."
Zayan stayed silent. Sahil rubbed his forehead, sighing deeply. "Did she kiss you back?"
Zayan's eyes flickered. "…At first. She did. But she stopped. She couldn't… She doesn't want to lose her respect."
"That's exactly it, Zayan," Sahil said. "Girls like Mahira, they protect their respect more than anything. You want her? Earn her family. Earn her trust. Do it the right way. If she still says no, then you better swallow that like a man and walk away."
Zayan nodded, though his jaw tightened. Sahil clapped a hand on his back. "After my wedding with Inaya, I'll help you. I'll talk to her, her family, see if there's even a chance. But till then — stay away from pushing her, understood?"
Zayan gave a stiff nod. "Understood."
That night, as the wedding preparations buzzed through both houses, Sahil got a message from Inaya:
I'm not ready. I need to talk to you.
Panic flashed through him. Without a second thought, Sahil slipped out of his house and quietly crossed into the neighbour's garden, heart pounding in the dark. He knew Inaya's window well enough — but in his haste, he pushed open the wrong door.
He stepped in — and froze.
Mahira turned around, half-wrapped in a towel, freshly out of the shower, steam still clinging to her hair.
They both stared at each other — then Sahil cursed under his breath. Before Mahira could open her mouth to scream, Sahil lunged forward and clamped a hand over it.
"It's me! It's Sahil! Shhh! Don't scream!" he whispered urgently, his other hand hovering awkwardly as he backed away.
Mahira's eyes widened, then narrowed. She pushed his hand off her mouth and pulled the towel tighter around her. "What are you doing here?!" she hissed.
"I thought — I thought this was Inaya's room!" Sahil stammered, turning his back quickly, eyes squeezed shut.
Mahira's cheeks flamed red. She grabbed her clothes from the dresser and snapped, "Stay turned. Don't you dare look."
"I'm not! I swear!" Sahil said, hands up in surrender.
A minute later, Mahira, now properly dressed, pulled the door open. "She's not talking to me since we came back. Whatever it is, fix it — before the wedding messes up."
She stepped out, muttering to herself, and knocked on Inaya's door, then gave them privacy as she slipped out into the corridor.
Inside, the tension was thick. Sahil shut the door behind him. Inaya sat on the bed, arms folded, eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Inaya…" he began, but she turned away.
"Sahil, I'm scared," she whispered. "What if… what if this isn't right? What if you change after marriage?"
Sahil knelt in front of her, taking her hands in his. "Inaya, I love you. You know me — my family, my heart. Please trust me. But if you need time, I'll give you time."
She looked at him, torn. For a moment, he leaned forward like he'd kiss her, but stopped himself. He brushed a tear from her cheek. "Let's not ruin tonight. Tomorrow, we get married — then we'll fix everything, okay?"
Inaya nodded weakly. Sahil stood, pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, and left her room with a heavy heart.
Outside, Mahira lingered by her window, her phone clutched tightly. She watched Sahil cross the garden back home. But her mind wasn't on him — or on the wedding anymore.
A single name flashed on her phone screen — a message from the same man whose calls had filled her dreams for weeks now. Another man. A doctor — one who'd promised to leave everything behind if she said yes.
Her pulse quickened. Her fingers hovered over the reply button.
Maybe it's time to leave this all behind… she thought.
A secret only her trembling heart knew tonight.
✨ End of Chapter Eight