Chapter 4. Meaningless Effort

After dropping her home, Rayan couldn't control his smile, it was emitting in the form of light from him. Wallowing in mere nothing, he found himself on cloud nine.

Humming to himself, he twirled his car keys in a spiral, smiling widely. The look of rejoicing on his face was crystal.

"Oh ho, you're happy even without hearing the good news." Hoorain came, smirking at her brother who laughed a little.

"Well, I am. But what's the good news you are talking about?" He asked, looking at his hand which could still feel her warmth in his, smiling to himself. "

Hmm, first can I know about the reason behind this smile?" She teased, coming closer.

Narrowing her eyes at him suspiciously but he shook his head, "I just had a good day."

"You met Hoor Api, didn't you? Your face tells she is very happy." Hoorain assumed or what could make him smile? Isra? Puff, of course not.

"Y-Yeah. What else could it be." He chuckled nervously, stretching his neck, looking away.

"I am going to my room." He excused himself and was about to walk away but stopped the moment he started climbing the stairs and called Hoorain, "Hoorain!"

"Yeah?"

"What's the good news you were talking about?" He asked in bewilderment.

"Oh, that." Her face glowed, turning to him as she beamed.

"Emraz Bhai finally agreed to a girl." She clapped, grinning. "Really!?" He asked in disbelief, trying to register her words, not believing them to be true.

"Yeah!" She chirped. "Oh my, I can't believe it. Emraz Bhai found a girl." He laughed, running his hand in his hair. "Yay!"

"Where is Bhai?" He asked excitedly. "In his room."

"I must see him now." He smirked and left to see Emraz. Knocking on his door, he entered. He was sitting on the sofa, reading a book, engrossed in it, with his one leg over the other.

"Hey." Rayan greeted, coming in. He smiled, "Hey, How was Hoor?" He asked.

"She is great. First, you tell me whether what I have heard is true or not." A mischievous look formed on his face, sitting on the other sofa, smirking at him.

Raising a brow, he asked, "What?"

"That you finally found a girl!" He beamed. "Oh that, yeah." He replied casually.

"I can't believe it." He breathed out, putting his hand on his chest.

"Why?" He furrowed his brow at his brother's comment. "Because you didn't want to."

"Because they weren't my type. I never refused to get married, I just told Mama to find a girl who knows me and we get along." He explained nonchalantly.

"So.. who's this girl?" He asked teasingly. He laughed a little,

"Isra." His smile faded, abrupt aching his heart in incomprehensible agony. Blinking he prayed his ears heard wrong and this is nothing but a terrible joke.

‘This has to be a joke’.

His lips began to quiver, unable to fathom the depth of his words which hurt his heart directly.

"Isra who? Isra Bukhari?" He asked desperately, praying constantly for it to be a lie but it wasn't and each passing second now threw a sky of affliction on his head. Burning in vehemently unspoken suffering, he took a long gulp, controlling the sorrowful face.

Emraz chuckled, "Who else, our Isra. Mom suggested and when I think about her, she complies with everything. I know her, we get along. I will try my best to keep her happy, she is so sweet.”

“Why did I never notice her before? The ideal person was always right in front of me. Anyways, I hope she accepts the proposal." He explained, returning his gentle smile.

"And if she agrees, then don't tease her much as she will your Sister-in-Law, you know." Emraz continued to speak sweetly.

Rayan kept looking on the ground with his heart on the verge of bursting from dread, his whole being shivered slightly.

Looking down sadly, swallowing hard to keep his emotions at bay but to no avail. They overwhelmed him.

"Rayan." Emraz called, shaking his shoulder a little.

"Huh?"

"Are you okay?" He asked, concerned. "Yeah, um. I am fine." He nodded, passing a forced smile. "You don't like her?" He asked.

"No. Um. I was just thinking." He smiled, looking here and there but not at him.

"What?"

"Nothing um.." He trailed off, not knowing what to say. "I am tired, let's talk in the morning." He quickly excused himself and went to his room.

Slamming the door behind, he cursed loudly, loosening his tie and throwing his coat on the bed. How beautifully it started, he went to work and then took her with him after it, spending his whole day in her presence and now this happened, taking his tranquility away.

"I wasn't kidding when I said I didn't hold your hand to let it go," He said, pulling his hairs, making them messy. Growling he threw his watch, brooch and ring, cursing under his breath for what happened.

Fuming with fury, he threw himself on the bed, punching the sheets, staring at the ceiling with an inexplicable dolorous face, lips curled downwards by the ache.

"It can't end like this."

Closing his eyes to fall into the devoid so it could ease the torment of his mind.

Trying to comprehend the darkness while remembering the day when It all started and till today he couldn't find liberation from this confinement he wasn't ready to call love.

Past

"Bro, Isra is going to study in your college, make sure no one bullies her," Zain told Rayan, dismayed, about his Sister who was going to a high-class College.

"Dude, don't worry." He assured him. Rayan has seen her many times whenever he comes to meet Zain.

"Thanks, bro." Rayan and Zain studied in the same school but for financial reasons, Zain had to go to another college while Isra came on scholarship.

He was with his other friend Quin as his eyes fell upon Isra who came, looking around. Even if it was her first day, she was chill, checking things out.

"Isra!" He called her, coming closer. "Oh, Rayan, you?" She smiled, turning to him. "Hey, your brother told me to take care of you." She smirked, closing her arms at her chest.

"Yeah right, as if I need protection." She chuckled. "Not get you involved in either ragging or getting rag." He told her, laughing a little. "Hmm."

"I will see you around. Take care. Bye."

"Yeah, Bye!" He was about to leave but stopped and turned to her. "Ah, If you want I can show you around." He offered politely.

"Thank you for the offer but I guess I am fine." She smiled, "Okay then, good luck." He waved at her and left.

Later he came to know Isra made the leader of the bad girls group her enemy by refusing to do as she says.

Isra was truly brave and rejected to bow before who tried to push her down, she was admirable. But her representation of courage made him vexed.

He was tense, the girl Isra made her enemy Liza was the principal's daughter and could do what she wanted, she had the free hand and he was utterly anxious for Isra since she is also lowered in status, she would go to the extreme.

"Why are you pacing around like this?" Quin asked. "I don't know." He sighed, holding his forehead. He promised Zain he wouldn't let anything harm her.

‘For God's sake! She was my best friend's sister. I had to protect her.’ He thought angrily.

"What is Liza doing?" He asked. "How would I know?" He shrugged. "I am not feeling good." He grabbed my phone and called Isra but she didn't pick up the call.

That was only one thing that could ease his unwanted thoughts; check up on her.

While Isra went to the washroom of the hostel, humming to herself. When she came back to her room, she saw Liza there.

"What do you want?" She asked coldly, taking her nightwear. Liza smirked and said, putting one leg over the other, "Hold her down."

Isra scowled, the three girls came to hold her, she moved back, pushed one away, and tried to hit the other but how long could she win against three?

They successfully pushed her down on the bed, holding her securely so she wouldn't run away. "Let me go!" She tried to scream but they held her mouth.

"How dare you try to refuse me?" Liza hissed. "Girls, why don't we take some great bold pics?" She smirked atrociously, Isra shook her head, trying to push them away who ripped off her shirt. She struggled, trying to push them away but to no avail.

"Mhm!!" She couldn't speak. Tears brimmed in her eyes trying to get out from this tribulation but couldn't. Before they could proceed further, Rayan came in furiously and took the phone from Liza who took a picture and broke it.

Pushing everyone away and pulling Isra close to him, hugging her, giving her his jacket to cover herself,

"What the hell are you doing!?" He shouted. Scoffing Liza left with her girls as Isra began to sob loudly in his arms.

"Hey, Hey, It's okay. I am here for you." He whispered, pulling her closer, embracing her softly and the spark aroused in his whole being.

Breaking all the shackles which caged his heart, the more she rested her weight on his shoulder, the more he accepted it gladly, looking down at her knowing one thing-

That one moment started everything.

He couldn't watch her crying, he wanted to obliterate everything which could make her cry and for it, he even forced the principal to rusticate Liza for violent behavior. He couldn't bear anything making her cry.

He will do anything to steal her tears.

~*~

The next day, everyone was having breakfast and Rayan began to make excuses for Emraz to reject this proposal.

"But, Bhai. Just yesterday, Isra and I went to Hoor's house as lovers. What would they think of her? First younger brother now older one." Rayan tried to talk it out.

"Oh this, even Dad knows about it. Don't you, Dad?" Emraz smiled, turning to Mr Ahmed. "Of course. It's not a big deal. Besides, we all know her. She is such a sweet child, she is perfect for my lion." He boasted.

"But what would Hoor's family think?" He reasoned. "Oh hush, we will tell them it was a joke or the truth," Mrs Ahmed chuckled.

"But, She doesn't want to get married." Rayan excused, knowing it was a half-truth.

"You must have misheard her. She said so herself, If the guys are good then why not, Hey Dad, do I lack something?" Emraz asked with a smirk.

"Nothing, you are my heart stealer! I am sure she will fall in love with you." Mr. Ahmed encouraged his child, laughing a little.

"Yay! Emraz Bhai is getting married!" Hoorain chirped.

"She didn't accept."

"I can't find any reason for her to reject me," Emraz mumbled. "You are her Boss," Rayan said. "So, what?"

"Wouldn't they consider her a gold digger?" He tried his best to convince everyone but to no avail.

"She would be my wife at that time and I will see anyone who would dare to do it."

"I am telling you, Isra is going to be very lucky." Hoorain tittered. "I can see it." The elderly couple smiled.

"But-"

"Do you have a problem with this, Hmm?" Emraz asked, turning his face to Rayan. "What? No, bhai. This is just too sudden for me." He reasoned. "Don't worry you will get used to it." Emraz smiled, getting up to leave for her.

"Bye, everyone!" He waved and left.

Rayan sighed deeply watching his Brother with a probably sad face, wanting to tell him what his lips can't pursue, trying to make them understand but...

Whatever he tried, was nothing but a meaningless effort.