THE NIGHT HE VANISHED

The mansion glowed with celebration that evening, but inside the walls, something darker pulsed beneath every smile, every drumbeat, every scattered rose petal.

It was the night before the wedding.

The night the Abdur-Rauf family had waited years for.

The night Lamia believed she would finally cement her control over everything, Ajeed, the estate, the family name, the future.

And the night destiny decided to crack the mirror she’d spent years polishing.

The groom’s kaftan, white with silver embroidery, hung untouched in his room. The hallway was filled with aunties fussing over decorations, perfume fog in the air. Girls ran around carrying trays of sweets. Drums thudded faintly from the backyard where tents were being set up for the next day.

Everyone was buzzing.

Everyone except the groom.

Ajeed sat at the edge of his bed, head in his hands, breathing too fast, too shallow. His mind felt like a room with too many locked doors. Pain sat inside his chest like a stone.

He hated her...Nazneen.

He was left with no choice but to do that.

He loved her so much, and now it’s burning him.

But why did it hurt so deeply?

Why did he have to let himself be used in order to hurt his beloved Zeen?

Her tears feel like someone squeezing his ribs one by one.

Some part of him tells him he has no choice but to protect her.

He has to show them he hates her and she’s forgotten by him in order to save her from more pain.

He only knew one thing.
He was not ready to marry Lamia.

He stood, pacing.

“Why am I being forced to do this? Why does nothing make sense?”

He rubbed his forehead so hard the skin turned red. His memories of his Zeen are hurting him so badly. He remembers everything so clearly, yet he must pretend. Laughter under the rain. A soft scarf. Warm eyes. Mango leaves overhead, he remembers every moment he spends with Nazneen. But he wouldn’t dare show it to them or even her, he must act according to their plans.

A girl running toward him.

Her smile.

Her voice.

“Yaro ka tsaya mana…”

But he kept wondering why Rayhan would follow their mother's footsteps, telling him horrible things about his beloved.

“She betrayed you.”

“She chose another man.”

“She had a child with him.”

“She laughed at you.”

“She ruined you.”

Those were the words stuck in his throat like thorns.

He punched the wardrobe door again, knuckles cracking.

He felt watched. Pressured. Controlled.

Something inside him wanted to break free.

Something inside him wanted to show them he knew the truth.

RAYHAN LOSES CONTROL

Rayhan stalked out of their mother’s room, face flushed with fear.

He had ruined everything.

Rahman had exposed him earlier, partially.

If Ajeed found out the full story, everything would collapse. Rayhan stayed loyal to their mother, but deep inside, panic shook him too.

If Ajeed discovered the truth…

He would never forgive them.

Never.

Rayhan paced the hallway, muttering to himself, “I must fix this… I have to fix this now…”

He didn’t notice Haj. Rakiya is standing behind him.

“Fix what?” she asked, voice lethal.

Rayhan froze.

He turned, swallowing hard. “Mama… I mean… he’s angry. He’s questioning things. Rahman has started doubting us. He keeps saying we’re wrong, that we’re twisting truth…”

Rakiya’s jaw tightened. “Don’t worry, Rahman won’t dare to try me.”

“Mama...what if he...”

“Don’t argue.” Her voice cut the air sharp as a blade. “Rahman is weak. He will ruin everything. But that boy...Ajeed....cannot be allowed to remember anything we buried.”

Rayhan clenched his fists. “He won’t. I swear...”

“He almost did today,” she snapped. “I saw it in his eyes. I know my son more than you know yourself. He is remembering.”

Rayhan hesitated. “Mama… what if… what if the memories come back fully?”

Rakiya stepped closer, gripping his chin, forcing him to look at her.

“Then we will bury the truth again. With fire, if we must.”

Rayhan shivered.

“But Mama… what if he learns about… her pregnancy?”

A shadow crossed her eyes.

That secret, the one she carried like a knife for years, rose between them like a ghost.

“No one knows except me,” she said coldly. “And I intend for it to remain that way.”

“But Mama...”

“No one must ever mention that girl’s pregnancy. Not even you. Do you understand, Rayhan? NEVER.”

Rayhan nodded quickly. “Yes. Yes, Mama.”

“Good. No,w go ensure the wedding preparations continue. I’ll deal with both your brothers.”

THE DOOR WAS LEFT OPEN

Rakiya turned the handle of Ajeed’s door, ready to enter.

But then...

She paused.

Inside, she heard him pacing, talking to himself.

“No… something is wrong. Something doesn’t add up. Why do I feel like everything they told me is a lie?”

He sounded shaken.

Broken.

On the edge.

Rakiya pushed the door slowly just enough to slip in silently.

But before she could step inside...

She heard footsteps rushing toward her.

Rayhan came running back, panicked.

“Mama, wait...Mama!”

His voice echoed loudly, too loudly...

And at that exact moment, Ajeed stopped pacing.

He moved toward the door.

Rakiya cursed under her breath, but too late.

Rayhan reached her and said the words that shattered everything.

“Mama, we can’t hide the pregnancy forever! It’s too dangerous...if he finds out she carried his...”

The door swung fully open.

Ajeed stood there.

Frozen.

White.

Stunned.

“What… did you just say?”

Rayhan’s face drained of color.

“Mama… I didn’t mean...”

But Rakiya slashed her hand through the air.

“Don’t say another word!”

Ajeed stepped out, eyes wide, voice trembling.

“Pregnancy? Who was pregnant?”

Silence swelled...heavy, suffocating.

Rakiya forced a smile, brittle smile. “It’s not what you think.”

“WHO WAS PREGNANT, MAMA?”

Her voice cracked. “Let’s talk inside...”

“NO!” he roared.

Rayhan whispered, mortified, “Brother… forget what I said.”

“You just said it!” Ajeed shouted. “Nazneen… she… she was pregnant?”

Rakiya inhaled sharply. “That girl wanted to trap you...”

“So, it’s TRUE?” His voice cracked. “She had a child. With me?”

Rakiya snapped, “NO! That child wasn’t yours...”

“But YOU HID IT FROM ME!”

He staggered back as if someone had punched him.

“Ya Allah…” he whispered. “What else did you hide? What else did you twist?”

Rakiya reached for him. “Ajeed, listen to me...”

He stepped back violently.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Ajeed...”

“No!”

His voice shook.

“You stole my memories. You stole my choices. You poisoned me against her.”

Rakiya’s voice sharpened. “Everything I did was for your future!”

“My future?” He laughed bitterly. “Or your pride?”

He turned to Rayhan.

“You lied to me. You made me hate her.”

Rayhan’s lips trembled. “I did what Mama told me...”

Ajeed’s hands shook. “You both destroyed me.”

Rakiya snapped, “We protected you! That girl was filth...”

“DON’T EVER CALL HER THAT!” he roared so loud the walls shook.

Rakiya froze.

She had never heard him speak like that.

Ever.

He was breathing hard now, eyes burning with fury and heartbreak.

“She was carrying my child… and you hid it?”

Rakiya’s lips trembled. “It wasn’t certain...”

“It was ENOUGH to tell me!”

Ajeed stumbled backward, chest heaving.

He turned and stormed down the corridor.

“AJEED! WAIT!”

He didn’t stop.

“AJEED, WALLAHI IF YOU LEAVE THIS HOUSE...”

He stopped at the staircase.

Looked back once.

Just once.

And said quietly, painfully:

“That’s exactly what YOU said, the reason for my accident.”

Then he walked out.

Rakiya stared after him, heart thundering in terror.

Not because he left.

But because she knew.

He would go straight to Nazneen.

And the truth buried for years would finally come alive.

NAZNEEN’S NIGHT OF SILENCE

Nazneen sat on her bed, scarf still in her hand.

She hadn’t moved for hours.

Her mother knocked softly. “Naz… eat something, my daughter.”

“I’m not hungry, Mama.”

“Did you two meet today?”

Nazneen closed her eyes, knowing her mom always knows everything that’s going on in the office, she’s not surprised. “Yes.”

Her mother sighed painfully. “And?”

“He hates me, Mama.”

Her mother sat beside her. “It’s the lies they told him, and you know it. Rakiya won’t let him have you.”

“But Mama, he believes them already.”

She turned her face into her mother’s lap and cried silently.

“I waited for him… Mama. I waited. I carried his child alone. I suffered alone. I lived alone. I lost Naila alone. And still… still… I hoped…”

Her mother stroked her back gently.

“He will know one day.”

Nazneen whispered brokenly, “What if knowing brings more pain?”

Her mother said softly, “Truth never destroys love. Lies do.”

A loud knock suddenly hit the door.

Both women startled.

Nazneen stiffened.

Another knock. Harder.

“Nazneen! Open the door!”

Her heart jumped.

That voice.

It was him.