FORBIDDEN

23:Face It

"What do you mean, what is going between me and him?" I Ask Subhan completely shocked by his sudden question.

"If you think no one notices your weird interactions with him you're wrong. If no one else does I do, okay?" he turns towards me fully while saying.

I heave in a sigh and speak."How can I tell you even Aaliya is unaware about it."

He chuckles mockingly and says"Whatever makes you sleep at night, bestfriend."

My mouth is left open by his sudden change in demeanour." What has gotten into you Subhan? And what the hell do you mean by it?" I ask.

"She knows whatever you're trying to hide. Everyone sees it beside you. I bet she is waiting for the time you tell her yourself." he answers looking somewhat angry with me.

"I was right, she knows." I say with a harsh intake of breath.

"Yeah bingo." he speaks.

I slap his shoulder before eventually deciding to tell him. I know him A-Z probably better then Aaliya too if I were to be honest. But something in me compels me to not.

I decide against it.

I tell him the major details not going into much detail because he is still my bestfriend's brother and this is a matter very sensitive to me. And also maybe because this has shaken me up much more then I thought.

I thought.
Yeah I thought it would be worse.

With a sigh I start to tell him about the night that changed my percpective towards guys. It feels so weird telling this to him because he is a boy too and I have only half idea why I am telling it to him. To be honest.

I recall him about the night of 18th of September, 12 months after the demise of my mother. Ibtisam showered me with attention and I let him do that because I thought I was now vunerbale as him too.

He had lost his parents in a car crash and my parents had always thought of him as his own and after the death of my mother he lived in my house as if it was his own. I didn't mind it. He was like the brother I never had.

Until he showed me his true colors.

I hesitate before telling that part to him.

Maybe in fear that I'll break down or something.

He takes my hand between his and reassures me"You can trust me okay? This will stay between us for as long as you want. But I'll understand if you don't want to, alright? "

I nod my head with eyes that glisten from unshed tears.

"Don't push me to tell you more."I request.

"Ofcourse." he replies.

In the middle of the night in my bestfriend's lounge I share the story of how I nearly got raped to her only brother, by my own cousin whom my father thought as his own until he did this.

Subhan sucks in an angered breath.

"I can't remember most of it, I was sedated."I laugh of disbelief. " This seems out of some movie right? "
I speak while sniffing once.

"Stop it Daneen,you know I'll believe you in like everything. Except the times when you steal my cheetos" he says.

I laugh and a tear makes it way out of eye.

"I don't want to cry right now, you're ruining the mood baby brother." I speak.

"Alright, I won't push okay?. But you've to answer one last question." he requests.

"Spill" I say.

With a sigh he asks. "Is this the reason you hate guys so much.?" I give him a look. "No wait wait,you aren't getting the point. I mean is that the reason why you don't allow yourself to love someone?"

I open my mouth to speak.

No words come out in my defence.

I just sit still while with my hand in his, he stares at me with look which says that he knows the answer even without me telling him verbally while I do everything to avoid his stare.

"Even if everyone's against you I'll be with you though every step okay?" he speaks while his own eyes spark with worry for me.

"Agr apna bhai kaha hai to ban kr di khana bhi to hai na maine?" he speaks which immediately causes my gaze to soften in his direction.

(You've called me your brother, I have to learn to act like it too now okay?)

I give him a knowing nod and wrapping the blanket around myself he let's me lay my head on his shoulder for the first time without complaining and whispers in my ear.

"But you have to learn to face it okay?"

_____________
MORNING/10:AM

Aaliya's POV:

I wake up to Daneen sleeping peacefully next to me while hugging my huge sized Teddy bear to her chest. Looking at her immediately reminds me of the unwanted thoughts I have about her past.

I brush a strand of hair from her face while she stirs lightly in her sleep.

She seems to be so bold, so ubreakable and so not soft in front of everyone but inside that shell is just an ordinary girl who is in a love-hate relationship with affection and Love.

I don't blame her. I never could.

After her mother, Fariha Aunty died. Awan Uncle remarried almost a year later after her death which caused a huge blow to her beliefs about love.

Her parents loved each other unconditionally but seeing their side of story I can't blame her dad either.

After the scene which I fortunately came to know about Ibtisam and her, her father must have thought that she needed a motherly figure in her life to overcome the trauma.

But it never happened.
Except it only got worse in return.

Her relationship with her Baba is mutual.
Although I wish for her to talk it out with him one day.

One day.

Setting these worried thoughts aside forcefully at this early hour I make my way outside in my sleeping lilac hoodie and light grey sweatpants towards the lounge only to drop dead in my tracks once I spot the guests seated on the dining table.

I am stilled for a moment as I rub my eyes to see if this was really happening or not.

Aira's voice interrupts me.

With a hearty laugh she speaks"Thought we would reverse the tradition."

I give her a look which surely says I am gonna kill her for not telling me beforehand about her arrival. Passing an embarrassing smile towards the guests, my eyes land on Shehram who is suited and all ready to go on a meeting at literally 10 in the freaking morning.

He has an amused glint in his eyes which is paired with a small smile upon seeing me while I just give him a blank look and practically run towards my room.

"Daneen, Daneen, DANEEN UMAIR AWAN
WAKE UP" I shout at her impateintly after my attempts to wake her up peacefully fail.

"What is your problem, leave me alone."she says while covering her face with the pillow.

" Aira and Ayaan bhai with their family are here." I reveal.

She gives me a look before throwing the pillow to the floor.

" You've got to be kidding me, can't I catch a freaking break? "she exclaims