Isra's POV.
Same night.
I stormed into my room, anger boiling in my chest. Why can't that woman just let me live in peace? God, either take me away… or I swear I'll lose my mind in this place.
First, she stole my parents from me by not saving them — and then she made sure I could never live alone.
It's been six years since Mom and Dad left me. Six long, suffocating years.
"Mom, Dad… I miss you so much."
"Why did you both leave me here, in this cruel world?"
A single tear escaped before I could stop it. I miss you every single day.
But I won't stay here much longer. I'll find a way out.
Because that woman will never let me breathe… and I can't take it anymore.
Author's POV.
Next day.
The morning sun streamed gently through the tall windows of the Raza mansion, spilling golden light across the polished dining table. Isra descended the grand staircase with a quiet yet purposeful stride, her expression as guarded as ever. She entered the dining room where her grandparents were already seated, sipping tea from delicate porcelain cups.
Without offering more than a polite glance, she slid into her chair and began her usual breakfast — crisp sandwiches paired with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. The clink of cutlery was the only sound until her grandfather cleared his throat, his voice deep yet hesitant.
"Isra, I wish to speak with you about something," he began, his gaze shifting briefly toward his wife as though weighing his words.
Isra set her sandwich down, her eyes moving to him with mild curiosity.
"Yes, Nanu? What is it?" she asked, her tone calm but tinged with caution.
Kaif glanced once more in Sofia's direction before continuing.
"Actually… Zorain wishes to stay here for a few days. He has some business to attend to in the city, and—"
But before he could finish, Isra's voice cut through the air like a sharp blade.
"I have a serious problem with him, so my answer is no," she said firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.
Sofia, who had been quietly observing until now, finally spoke, her voice measured but carrying a faint edge.
"What's the matter, Isra? If he stays here for a few days, it shouldn't be an issue. This is his home too."
Isra's lips curled into a humorless smile, her words dripping with cold disdain.
"Then why not let him live here forever? And I will gladly live far away from this place. I cannot share the same roof with that man while I'm already tolerating you every single day. I have no intention of dying young."
With that biting remark, she pushed her chair back and rose to her feet.
"At least finish your breakfast, Isra," Kaif urged, a trace of concern lacing his voice.
"I'm not hungry anymore," she replied curtly before walking out, her footsteps echoing down the marble corridor until they faded into silence.
The dining room felt heavier in her absence. Kaif's eyes shifted back to Sofia, his expression hardening.
"I told you she would never agree, but you insisted I ask. And now, look — my granddaughter has left without even finishing her breakfast." His tone carried both frustration and a deep protective instinct.
"I know," Sofia admitted, her voice taut. "But why is it that you always take her side, Kaif? Because of you, she has grown into this stubborn, defiant girl. And why do you always seem to forget that Zorain is your grandson too?"
Kaif's expression darkened further, his voice quiet but laced with finality.
"Because what you both did was wrong, Sofia. And now, my only concern is my precious granddaughter."
Without waiting for her response, he rose from his seat and left the room, his tall figure disappearing beyond the doorway.
Sofia remained at the table, alone, her tea now gone cold. Her gaze drifted toward the sunlight spilling in through the window, her thoughts tangled in memories and regrets.
On the other side.
Zorain sat in his office, papers neatly stacked on the desk, but his mind wasn't on work.
It kept drifting back to last night's dinner — the conversations, the glances, the unspoken tension.
His phone's sudden vibration snapped him out of his thoughts.
Dadi calling…
He answered immediately.
"Assalamualaikum, how's my grandma?" His tone softened, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
But as she spoke, his smile faltered.
"What? She… agreed to this?" A flicker of shock crossed his face.
He leaned back in his chair, letting her words sink in.
"Alright… I'll come tonight."
With that, he ended the call, the weight of the news settling heavily on his mind.
Words: 789.