Chapter 13: Mystery of code

Present time
Fajar: "Yes. I don't want to bring this child into the world. If this baby is born, it will put chains around my feet."
Hadi: "You should have told me earlier that you loved someone else. I would never have married you."
Both of their voices were filled with heartbreak.
Fajar: "I will only bring this child into the world on one condition: after the child is born, you must divorce me."
Hadi: "I accept. If you want, you can go back to your parents' house. And if you wish to stay here, let me know. I'll move into another room."
Hadi's heart was broken. He had not only loved Fajar, but had also been sincere and devoted to her. He cared for her deeply. She was the mother of his unborn child. He wanted to question her and complain to her because he loved her immensely, but he was a man of dignity. He did not want to force someone to stay who wished to leave. Even now, he would not stop her. But if he ever got the chance, he would ask her the reason.
Unlike many husbands, he did not humiliate her, did not abuse her, did not taunt her, did not throw her out of the house, and did not threaten her family. He had even forbidden his own family from saying anything against her, and his word alone was enough.
Everyone was emotional. Zahra, Hadi, and Ayan Ahmad sat in silence. Kashaf had already gone home. Zahra had told Kashaf everything, and she too had become emotional. No one was happy with Hadi and Fajar's decision, but Hadi had forbidden any discussion about it.
---
A few days later, the atmosphere in the house had completely changed.
Mother stayed busy with household work. Ayan Ahmad spent most of his time in his room. Zahra attended university and then locked herself away in her room. Hadi came home late and left early in the morning. Even when he was at home, he mostly remained in his room.
One evening, Zahra came into the lawn wearing a light blue suit with a green dupatta draped over her shoulders. Her hair was tied in a loose bun, with a single strand hanging beside her face. She sat down without noticing Fajar, who was already sitting there lost in thought.
Fajar: "Zahra."
Startled, Zahra looked up.
Fajar: "I want to ask you something."
Zahra: "Ask."
Her voice was soft, but Fajar could sense the coldness within it.
Fajar: "Did you know?"
Zahra: "Know what?"
Fajar: "About all of this."
Zahra: "No, Fajar. I didn't know anything."
Fajar: "Then why did you say those words to me that day?"
A few days earlier, when Zahra was leaving Fajar's room, she had turned around and said:
"Fajar, don't betray my brother."
Those words had struck Fajar like a dagger.
Back in the present:
Zahra: "I had only seen you and Rafi together that day."
Fajar: "Then the video was recorded from your phone too?"
Zahra: "Yes."
It was the truth—but only half the truth.
Pain flashed across Fajar's face.
Fajar: "Zahra, I considered you my best friend, and this is what you did? I wanted to help build your home, but you destroyed mine."
Zahra remained silent.
Fajar: "May my curse follow you. May your own home never be settled. You destroyed my happy home. May God make you experience the consequences of your actions so that you understand my pain."
Still, Zahra said nothing.
Fajar eventually left, while Zahra remained sitting there for a long time, unable to believe what she had just heard.
---
The next morning at university, Zahra heard footsteps behind her. She didn't even need to turn around to know who it was. Even among thousands, she would have recognized him.
A moment later she heard her name.
Turning around, she saw Sir Sarwar Mustafa standing there in a light blue shirt and white trousers. His light blue eyes carried a gentle smile.
Whenever he was around, Zahra felt as if every problem in the world became smaller. Yet her greatest pain was that he was never truly hers. She knew he was not destined for her, but she could not stop loving him.
Who says love cannot happen behind a veil? Love begins with the eyes, and his pale blue eyes had drowned her dark ones.
Sarwar Mustafa: "Zahra."
Zahra: "Yes, sir."
Sarwar Mustafa: "I need a favor."
Zahra: "Of course."
Sarwar Mustafa: "My sister needs help choosing dresses for her friend's wedding. Since your brother was recently married, I thought you might know good designers."
Zahra: "Sure. Give me her number, and I'll guide her."
Sarwar Mustafa: "If possible, could you go shopping with her as well?"
Zahra: "I'll try, sir."
He gave her the number.
Zahra: "What's your sister's name?"
Sarwar Mustafa: "Noor-ul-Ain."
After that, he simply left.
Zahra had expected at least a word of thanks.
Zahra (muttering to herself): "A person shouldn't be this heartless."
---
That evening, Zahra called Noor-ul-Ain.
They exchanged greetings and discussed wedding shopping.
Noor-ul-Ain: "I need outfits for the mehndi, mayun, baraat, and walima."
Zahra: "That's no problem. Sir asked me to help you."
Noor-ul-Ain: "Actually, I was the one who asked my brother."
Zahra: "How did you know about me?"
Noor-ul-Ain was caught off guard.
After a brief pause, she replied:
Noor-ul-Ain: "I only told my brother to ask some girl for help. I never mentioned your name."
She had managed to cover her slip.
Eventually they agreed to go shopping two days later.
Noor-ul-Ain: "You can call me Noor. Everyone does."
Zahra: "All right, Noor."
After some more polite conversation, the call ended.
At least, Zahra thought, she wasn't as heartless as her brother.
Later
Because the university was closed, Zahra woke up late. She took out some clothes from the wardrobe, tidied her room, and then went to freshen up.
A little while later, she came out of the washroom wearing a grey long kurta with matching trousers and dupatta. Her long hair was left loose.
After breakfast, she asked her mother for permission to go shopping with her friend. Once permission was granted, she returned to her room, tied her hair, put on a brown abaya with a matching hijab, niqab, and hijab cap in her usual style.
Just as she was leaving her room, her phone rang.
Zahra: "Assalamu Alaikum! Noor, I'm coming. I'll be there in ten minutes. I'll honk when I arrive; you can come outside."
Noor-ul-Ain: "Wa Alaikum Assalam. I'll be waiting for you. I'll send the location again."
Noor sent her the location and waited.
About ten minutes later, the sound of a car horn was heard.
Noor-ul-Ain stepped outside. She was of medium height, fair-skinned, with light blue eyes exactly like Sarwar's. She wore a white shalwar kameez with a black hijab. Her face resembled her brother's, especially her eyes and smile.
She approached the car.
Noor: "Assalamu Alaikum."
Zahra: "Wa Alaikum Assalam. Let's go. First I'll take you to the designer who made my outfits. He already has designs available, and if you don't like any of them, he can make a custom design for you."
During the drive they chatted casually.
At the designer's shop, Noor selected a few designs and asked Zahra's opinion.
Noor: "Which one do you think is best?"
Zahra: "This second one."
She pointed toward a yellow gharara decorated with golden embroidery.
Zahra: "This one would be perfect for the Mayun ceremony. And this last one—"
She pointed toward a deep yellow and orange outfit embroidered with pink and green thread.
Zahra: "This would be perfect for Mehndi."
While talking, Zahra suddenly felt as if someone was watching her. She looked around but saw no one.
Noor: "What happened? Are you okay?"
Zahra: "Yes, I'm fine. Which design do you like?"
Noor: "The ones you suggested are beautiful, but let me send pictures to my brother first."
She sent the photos to Sarwar Mustafa. A few minutes later, two designs were finalized.
Afterward, they shopped a little more and then stopped at a café for food.
After eating, they continued chatting.
Noor: "Only two outfits are left now. We can get them next week."
Zahra: "Alright.
After dropping Noor home, Zahra headed back.
Her mind was crowded with thoughts during the drive. As she got closer to home, she felt an increasing heaviness on her shoulders.
After arriving, she removed her abaya, washed up, and lay down because of exhaustion. Without realizing it, she fell asleep.
That night she woke up feeling hungry.
As she came downstairs, she noticed that Hadi's room light was on. That was unusual because Hadi never slept with the lights on.
She knocked on his door.
Hadi: "Come in."
Inside, Hadi was standing near his bed. A book and a cup of tea sat on a chair nearby.
Tea?
Hadi never drank tea.
Zahra: "Brother?"
Hadi: "Hmm."
She walked over, took his hand, and guided him to the bed. They sat down in silence.
She held his hand tightly.
Hadi rested his face on her hand.
A moment later, Zahra felt tears on her skin.
Zahra: "Say whatever you want to say. Cry if you need to. I'll listen."
Hadi lifted his eyes toward her.
Tears were streaming down his face.
Hadi Ayan Ahmad was crying.
Someone should tell Fajar that she had cracked a strong wall—and walls with cracks often collapse.
Hadi: "Zahra... why me?"
His voice trembled.
Zahra placed his head in her lap and gently stroked his hair.
At that moment, her brother—six years older than her—looked like a helpless six-year-old child whose favorite toy had been taken away.
Except it wasn't a toy.
It was a person.
Hadi: "Why me, Zahra?"
Zahra: "Do you love her?"
Hadi: "I'm devoted to her brown eyes. I respect her existence. I'm comforted by her words."
Zahra felt pity for him.
Hadi: "If I don't demand things, does that mean people can take everything away from me?"
Zahra: "If she comes back, will you accept her again?"
Hadi: "I'm certain she'll come back."
Zahra: "And then what will you do?"
A sparkle appeared in his eyes.
Hadi: "Confess my love."
Zahra: "Are you okay?"
Hadi: "Completely. If she ever comes back, she'll come back forever—and I won't let her leave again."
Zahra: "People who leave don't come back."
Hadi: "She never truly left. When I showed her the video, there was no shock, no fear, no confusion on her face. I don't know why, but I feel she wanted all of this to happen."
Zahra: "What do you mean?"
Hadi: "When she was in contact with that man, none of us suspected anything. Then suddenly everything came out. That doesn't seem possible."
Zahra: "You mean she did all this intentionally?"
Hadi: "Yes."
Zahra: "But why?"
Hadi: "That's the answer I don't have."
The conversation later turns lighter.
Zahra: "Do you even have a brain?"
Hadi: "Zahra, this is getting out of hand."
Zahra: "Then should I bring you apple juice or bitter gourd juice?"
Hadi: "Zahra!"
They both laughed.
For the first time in a long while, the siblings laughed together.
Later, Zahra asked:
Zahra: "Who sent you that video?"
Hadi: "I forgot to tell you. I got a call from an unknown number. I couldn't answer. Then the video came from the same number."
Zahra: "Anything else?"
Hadi: "Yes. There was also a message."
Zahra: "What message?"
Hadi: "The letters 'BS' were written below the video."
Hadi: "Do you know what it means?"
Zahra: "No, no, I don't know." She became nervous at the sudden question.
Zahra: "Hadi, can you give me that number?"
Hadi: "Yes, I'll send it to you. But why do you need it?"
Zahra: "Nothing special, just like that. Can I tell you something?"
Hadi: "Go ahead."
Zahra: "I was the one who recorded that video."
Hadi: "You did?"
Zahra: "Yes. That day I had gone to the market for some work and I saw Fajar with that boy. I wanted to talk to Fajar myself first, so I didn't tell you."
Hadi: "Zahra, you should have told me."
Zahra: "Sorry. I thought I would hurt you."
Hadi: "And am I not hurt now?"
Zahra: "I'm sorry, yaar." She said apologetically.
Hadi: "It's okay. I'll send you the number."
Zahra: "Okay."
Hadi: "Bring me something to eat."
Zahra: "Alright."
They both could have said so much more to each other, and perhaps they already had. But had they really said everything? Had they truly?
A little while later, Zahra returned carrying a tray. When she came closer, Hadi saw that there was pizza on it.
Hadi: "Where did this come from?"
Zahra: "From outside."
Hadi: "But nobody even opened the door."
Zahra: "Yes, I brought it using magic."
Hadi: "Fine, at least you've finally admitted that you're a witch."
Then the two of them became busy eating pizza together.
A Few Days Later
Kashaf's phone rang. She picked it up and saw Zahra's message.
Zahra: "I've found out who BB is."
Kashaf: "Who is it?"
Zahra: "16,12,1,14,14,9,14,7"
Kashaf: "Okay."