3. BETRAYAL

"The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies but from your loved ones."

Adyaan's P.O.V

It's been more than a month but the pain doesn't fade nor does the wound of betrayal heals inside him. It had been consuming him from the day he saw her walk at his doorstep.

Adyaan was just 21 and marriage was not in his charts for another three years but unfortunately, her maternal grandmother(Nanna) fell severely ill and she was in bed. She had always been so excited about Adyaan and Tazmeen's wedding that she desired to witness it and everything was scheduled at the last minute.

Adyaan was soaring in the sky as the girl of his dreams was finally going to take his surname. Everything was decided as Tazmeen had completed her intermediate and was pursuing her B.COM Degree from IGNOU as she was in her second year. He decided to give his education one more year and take up a job so both of them could start their marital life as soon as possible.

Arrangements were in high swing and he was nervous but excited as he selected everything with great attention and love for himself and his bride to be. Guests started arriving and how can he forget that fateful night when Tazmeen knocked at his door.

He was exhausted from shopping and wedding chores as he had fallen asleep instantly. It was raining outside as the winter was chilly and he wondered who was at the door. He opened it to find Tazmeen standing in front of him as he was startled. Why was she here?

It was dark in the corridor and he had a bed lamp on. He eagerly switched on the light to find out that Tazmeen was not alone as she had company. It was a boy in his late twenties with a french beard and he had light hazel brown eyes. He was tall and lanky dressed in a formal plain blue shirt and trousers along with his wet hairs and he can guess that he was out in rain for some time.

"Assalaamualaikum." He greeted Adyaan as he looked at them confused.

"Walaikumassalam. Tazmi? Who is he?" Adyaan frowned perplexedly to receive a guest at his room at this hour. Tazneem looked pale and her eyes had dark rings around as if she hadn't slept for ages.

"Addyy...this is...Tabish Siddiq..." Tazmeen said in a strong voice as I nodded in response waiting for her to say further but she hesitated. "Uh.. we know each other for some time and...."

She left it at that sharing glances with Tabish who had her arms crossed around his chest and hung his head low as if waiting for her to complete. Adyaan looked to and fro trying to make sense of this situation though inside his gut churned and he had a really bad sensation about all this. He wished it's not what he is thinking.

"And?" He said eagerly probing Tazmeen to say further as she had her gaze locked with Tabish as if silently pleading she couldn't do it.

"Adddyy...my bro!" Tabish said taking a step further placing his hand on Adyaan's shoulder as if to calm his racing heartbeat and requesting him to understand. "I and Tazmeen are in love for the last couple of months but she couldn't say it at her home because she was engaged to you."

Adyaan could feel the floor beneath him sweep as he crashed very hard on the ground letting the words sink inside him as his heart crumbled into tiny little pieces in his chest. He looked from Tabish to Tazmeen with so many questions and complaints as she feared meeting Adyaan's gaze as if it would strike her with a bolt of lightning and burn her into ashes.

"Brother....she loves me and I love him...we cannot imagine our life without each other and wants to get married." Tabish went on. "I am ready at the moment but I don't know if your families would approve."

"Addyy!" Tazmeen pleaded in a hoarse voice. "I cannot marry you...I have never loved you..."

Her words cut so many wounds inside him that he didn't know if he would be able to breathe or maybe he would die of this rejection. Tazmeen was his world and he had never thought his life beyond her. How can she do this to him? She claims to love someone and yet how can she be so blind to his love?

Adyaan had been so obsessed by Tazmeen and her beauty that never did he see her reality but today when her mask was gone, he realized she was hideous and a weird hatred filled her. Adyaan had always placed his heart in Tazmeen's foot but today he just couldn't stand seeing her in front of him.

"What do you want me to do?" He asked Tabish rather than Tazmeen as he hated to throw a second glance at her.

"We will be declaring our relationship to the family tomorrow and we don't know what will be the consequences." Tabish filled him in. "We just want you to refuse this alliance so we can get married."

"Alright..." Adyaan nodded simmering inside as Tabish smiled happily at Tazmeen. Soon they turned to leave when Tazmeen requested to stay back asking Tabish to wait outside.

"I am sorry...Addy." Tazmeen apologized as he threw her a burning look.

"What makes you think you will be loyal to him?" Adyaan growled in anger as Tazmeen's jaws dropped open.

"I love him..." She reminded Adyaan as she laughed dryly at her confession.

"Really? Do you even know what love is?" He said anger raging inside him as he felt he would burst now. "Why are you scared when you love him and you have been together for months and now you decided to tell us....tell me!"

"Addy...I was uncertain and Tabish was not ready..." She tried to explain that Adyaan was not at all interested to listen.

"What hurts me most is you betrayed me...if you would have told me earlier I wouldn't have been a fool all along." Adyaan said with pain in his voice as Tazmeen stood in silence. He knew there was no point making this conversation because she was gone. "Well...I am upset but still, I wish you well...have a happy married life."

Tazmeen's face lit up when Adyaan said those words. She smiled at her with glistening eyes and said thank you before leaving. The thunder rattled outside the window as Adyaan stood in his room realizing how empty his life had become after what happened. All the excitement and happiness that he had experienced were dead.

He could feel tears slip from the corners of his eyes as his heart wept in his chest. The pain that ran all over his body was nothing he could explain as everything replayed in his mind. How he had given 2 years and 2 months to impress Tazmeen and win her affection. He would wait to have a glance at her and he would do anything to make her smile yet she never acknowledged his feelings and chose to walk away with someone else. Why? Where had he let her down?

He had been shattered from inside and what Tazmeen did to her was wrong on her part. How can she expect to find happiness when she had pushed him into a valley of betrayal and pain?

He knew what was expected to happen the next morning. The thunders growled and the skies had opened up with showers for the night but this storm was nothing compared to what was to come in their families. He knew that once Tazmeen declares about her relationship with Tabish, both of the families will be torn apart with hatred, betrayal, and grudges for the rest of their lives.

He will lose Tazmeen's family completely which meant losing track of Tazmeen's life. He cannot afford that...can he? He cannot sit and weep for the betrayal he faced when she would enjoy her love life with her husband. He knew that she will cause immense hurt to the whole family and being selfish will eventually lead her to screw herself up later but that may take years and years for her to realize.

Adyaan wanted things to turn ugly for Tazmeen and he wanted her to face betrayal too. He wanted to see her suffer and ache for the one she loved. That day she will understand the pain she had inflicted on Adyaan. After giving so much of your efforts and energy, when the person chose to walk away without even acknowledging what you did shatters you completely.

Adyaan smirked with an evil glint as his face was wet with tears. He wiped them away promising that he won't cry anymore but work his plan. He would plot to separate Tazmeen from Tabish and see her suffer as only that will bring solace to his wounded soul.

But he needed to think fast and tomorrow when things will get blown between their families, he needed someone who can put an unbreakable knot between them. He wondered how to do it and kept thinking about it the whole night.

A knock on the door made him jump as he realized he was lying on the chair as he had slept that way. His head hurt as the sunlight filtered the room and the rain had stopped. Another persistent knock as he shook his head and sat straight calling out.

"Come in!"

"Addyyyy Jeej! You are late...I told you I had an appointment with the Mehendi lady today and you are sleeping till now." Sharmeen entered complaining as she was dressed in patiala red shalwar with a white top. "Khaala is calling you downstairs for breakfast. Get ready and come down. Okay?"

Adyaan looked at Sharmeen for few seconds as if trapped in a trance and Sharmeen glared at him.

"Hello! What happened...?" She said snapping her fingers and bringing him to earth.

"Nothing...I am coming...okay?" He said roughly as Sharmeen frowned in confusion.

"Are you feeling well? You look so dull..." Sharmeen asked her curiously as she had known Adyaan for ages. He wouldn't let a simple moment to tease her pass by and this was an awesome opportunity but he didn't react.

"I am okay...just get ready." He replied as Sharmeen eyed him suspiciously before she left. Adyaan had an instant idea and he knew how to put a knot to this family now. For a second his conscience popped its head trying to put some sense in Adyaan but the fire of vengeance in his heart burnt it down. Everything was fair in love and war so what is wrong if he decides to take Sharmeen as his wife and put a knot to both the families. This way he can always keep track of Tazmeen's married life and very conveniently create havoc without any suspicion. He smiled to himself as he started putting his plan into action caring very less what Sharmeen would feel. Right now he was driven with hurt and vengeance which had made every emotional part of his mind go numb and he would think about it later. Not now.