Zayan was sitting quietly in Wail's room.
His eyes landed on an old family photo — him, Wail, and their parents. Smiling. Together. A time that felt like a different life.
A single tear rolled down Zayan's cheek as he looked at it.
Zayan (softly, to the picture): I thought I was the only one who was broken…
But wali now I realize you're just as broken. Maybe even more.
Just then, Wali walked into the room.
Wali : What are you doing here?
Zayan didn't answer. He ran toward his brother and hugged him tightly.
Wail (startled): Hey… Zayan? Are you okay? Did Dad say something? Did something happen? Tell me, man.
Zayan (hiding his tears): Ah… no. Nothing like that. I just… I was missing Mom a lot. That's why I hugged you.
Wali (softly): Oh…
He held Zayan's hand gently.
Zayan: Where are we going?
Wali (quietly): Just follow me.
Wali led Zayan into the basement.
Zayan (nervously): Bro… why is it so dark? Did you kidnap me? Or… are you gonna kill me?
Wali : Shut up, idiot. Let me turn on the light.
He flicked the switch.
The lights came on — and Zayan froze.
The room was filled with their mother's things. Her dresses, her scarf, her scent still lingering in the air. In the corner were boxes of old toys… the ones they used to play with as kids.
Zayan's eyes welled up instantly.
Zayan: Wali … all of this… it belonged to Mom. And us…
Wali nodded, his voice quiet but heavy.
Wali : Yeah…
The day you and Mom left me… Dad wanted to throw everything out.
But with Uncle Jack's help, I saved it. I hid it all here.
Wali paused little
You know, Zayan… whenever I felt low… like I was done… I came here.
It felt like you and Mom were surrounding me again.
I used to hug Mom's dresses… just to feel like she was still with me.
His voice cracked. His eyes filled with tears, but he didn't wipe them away.
Zayan: If you really loved her that much…
Then why didn't you come to the hospital?
She was waiting for you, Wali .
Why didn't you come to her funeral?
Wali suddenly stood up — anger and pain colliding in his chest.
Wali : Why should I have come, huh?
She didn't want me. She chose *you*, Zayan. Not me.
She left me here — alone.
Not just her — even Dad left me.
I had no one.
Not you.
Not Mom.
Not Dad.
I was completely alone.
You can't understand what that feels like.
So I decided to survive… with my broken heart.
And now? I'm used to it.
This broken life — at least it's comfortable.
Zayan stepped forward, voice trembling.
Zayan: You're not the only one who suffered, Wali .
Do you really think Mom was happy to leave you behind?
She missed you… I saw it in her eyes. I saw her tears. I saw her pain.
Wali let out a bitter laugh — short, sharp, hollow.
Wali : Oh really?
If she truly loved me…
Then why didn't she come to see me?
Not once a week. Not once a month.
Not even once a year.
He shook his head slowly.
Wali : Love, huh?
She had a choice — and she chose you.
Wali with burning eyes : so, I just respect her choice and try to believe that she has no place for me, not in her Life, her heart anywhere.
Zayan: No… Wail, you're getting her wrong. She loved you.
Wali snapped.
Wali : Loved me?
But where she is when I want her a lot. When I need her.
But every time *Wali * needed someone — every time I reached out —
you were all "not available."
He laughed again — louder this time, like he was trying to drown out his own pain.
Wali : So that's why I choose myself, over all of you. Because at that time they didn't want me and now I don't need anyone.
Then he turned and stormed out of the basement.
Zayan stood frozen. His voice broke as he shouted after him:
Zayan: **She loved you! She LOVED you, Wali!
But the door slammed.
Zayan fell to his knees in the middle of the room, surrounded by fading memories.
Zayan (whispering): She loved you…
Wali drove fast — too fast.
His knuckles gripped the steering wheel, jaw clenched, heart racing.
Every word from the basement echoed in his head like a siren:
*"She loved you, Wali !"*
*"You were never alone!"*
He blinked — once, twice — trying to calm down. But everything inside him was on fire.
Then suddenly—
Two figures appeared in front of his car.
Two girls.
Wali 's eyes widened.
Wali (shouting): What the hell—?!
One girl pushed the other to the side.
**THUD.**
The car screeched.
Tires screamed against the road.
Wali slammed the brakes — heart frozen, breath gone.
The world stopped.
Zara landed on the sidewalk — scraped, breathless.
But Zoya—
Zoya was lying on the road. Still. Silent.
Zara (screaming): **ZOYA!!**
She crawled toward her, shaking, her voice cracking as she cried:
Zara: No no no no no — Zoya, please… please open your eyes...
Wali jumped out of the car, panic taking over.
Wali : What did I do...?
His hands shook as he ran toward them.
Wali (breathless): Zoya... please be okay... please…
Wali rushed into the hospital, carrying Zoya in his arms. Nurses and doctors swarmed around them.
Zara ran in behind, her face pale, eyes wild.
The doors to the operation theater slammed shut.
Now silence.
Zara and Wali sat outside on the cold bench. Tension wrapped the hallway like a noose.
Wali sat with his head down.
Zara stared at him like fire — her eyes full of rage, grief, and disbelief.
Suddenly, she stood up and grabbed him
Wali rushed Zoya to the hospital in his arms, blood on his hoodie and panic in his chest.
Now, he and Zara stood outside the operation theater.
The red "In Surgery" light glowed like a warning — silent, cold, cruel.
Zara was trembling. Her eyes locked on Wali — filled with rage.
Suddenly, she grabbed him by the collar and pushed him against the wall.
Zara (shouting): **Why?! Why did you do this to her?!**
Are you blind?!
If you don't know how to drive, then stay home! Don't play with people's lives!
Wali (trying to stay calm): Zara… I know you're scared. I'm scared too. But I swear—
I didn't do it on purpose. It was just… an accident.
Zara (eyes blazing):
An accident?
For *you*, it's just an accident.
But for me… I already lost my parents to one.
Accidents destroy lives, Wali .
One mistake — and someone else's whole *existence* is shattered forever.
Wali stared at her. He had no words. Only guilt.
Seeing her break down in front of him, he gently reached out to comfort her — placing his hand softly on her shoulder.
But Zara slapped his hand away.
Zara (through clenched teeth):
If anything happens to my sister, Wali Shah…
I *won't leave you* this time.
Last time, I walked away.
But this time…
I'll *kill* you.
Wali stood frozen.
He had never seen this version of Zara before —
The one who wasn't broken.
The one who was *ready to break someone else instead*.
Wali walk away from there.
Wali stood in the lawn, staring at nothing.
His hands were shaking. His chest is heavy.
For the first time in a long time… he was scared. Truly scared.
Wali with himself : please God, save her.
Zayan came rushing out of the house.
Zayan: Wali ! Wali — are you okay?
Wali (coldly): Yeah. Can't you see?
Zayan hugs his brother and try to comfort him
Zayan: I know you're scared. Anyone would be.
But hey — you did the right thing by taking them to the hospital.
That matters.
But Wali didn't hug him back and move to pull him away from himself.
Wali : I'm OK.
Zayan:Hmm, By the way… who were those girls?
Wali (quietly): Zara and Zoya.
Zayan froze. Like for a moment his soul left his body.
Zayan: Wait — *what?* Are they okay?
Wail: Zara's fine…
But Zoya is still in the operation theater.
The doctors haven't come out yet.
Zayan: Then let's go. We should be with them.
Wail looked down, voice barely a whisper.
Wail: You should go.
Zara… she doesn't even want to see my face.
Zayan put a hand on his shoulder, gently.
Zayan: Okay. I'll go.
Zara sat alone on the cold hospital bench, her eyes red and swollen.
She was crying silently, hugging her knees, wishing someone — anyone — could be there for her.
Zara (thinking):
I wish Uncle Javed or Auntie Ayesha were here...
Suddenly, someone sat beside her.
Zayan.
Zayan (gently):
I know what you're feeling.
Watching someone you love lying in pain… it breaks you.
I've been through it — when my mom was in the hospital.
Zara looked at him, surprised by the softness in his voice.
Zayan:
I know you're angry at Wail.
I don't know the full story between you two…
But I promise — he didn't mean for this to happen.
The word *accident*… it sounds simple.
But it carries a storm.
Because the truth is — both sides suffer.
The one who causes it… and the one who endures it.
Zara:
How can the one who *caused* it suffer?
Zayan (softly):
Through guilt.
It eats them alive.
Because they never wanted to destroy someone's life. But they did anyway.
Zara's eyes softened. Slowly, she leaned her head onto Zayan's shoulder.
Zara (whispering):
Will she be okay?
Zayan (smiling gently):
Don't worry.
She's not like us.
She's our family's Mafia Don Lady. She'll fight through anything.
From a distance, Wail stood quietly, watching them.
He saw the way Zayan comforted her — calm, caring, strong.
Wail (thinking):
Why do his words sound so heavy…?
Like he already knows what guilt feels like…
Or maybe... he still carries it.
The clock hit 3:00 a.m.
Suddenly, the doctor stepped out from the operation theater.
Doctor:
Congratulations. She's stable now.
You'll be able to see her in a little while.
Zara gasped. Her tears shifted into joy.
Zayan let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
In their relief, Zara turned to Wail — and without thinking, she hugged him.
Zayan joined them.
For a moment…
Wail stood frozen. Shocked. Confused.
Wail (thinking):
They hugged me?
But then… his hands moved on their own — and he hugged them back.
And just like that, at 3:00 a.m. under flickering hospital lights…
Three broken hearts held each other in quiet hope.
Zoya slowly opened her eyes, blinking against the hospital light.
Zara (relieved): Zoya... are you okay?
Zayan: Yeah, are you okay? You scared us...
Both of them had tears in their eyes.
Zoya (groggily): Why are you guys crying like I'm dead? I'm alive, not a ghost.
They both burst into soft laughter.
Zayan (half-laughing): Girl — first you scare us to death, and now you're making fun of our feelings?
Zara leaned in and hugged her tightly.
Zara: Thank God… my Zoya is back.
Zoya (noticing): Wait — what are *you* doing here, Zayan? Zara, did you call him?
Wail stepped forward with his usual grin.
Wail: Nope. Actually… I hit you. He just came for me.
But thank God you're alive — otherwise your sister would've killed me.
(he smirked)
Wail: Just imagine — you and me dying on the same day, becoming ghosts together… happily ever after, married in the afterlife.
Zoya (rolling her eyes): Zip your mouth before I *really* send you to the afterlife.
Zayan (chuckling): Wail, stop teasing her already.
Wail (yawning): Okay, now she's officially fine. She's threatening me. My job here is done.
Zayan: By the way, Zara — where are Uncle and Auntie?
Wail (joking): Don't tell me they went on a honeymoon?
Zara: Are you mad? They're in Pakistan. Grandma's not well.
Wail (surprised): Oh… is she like, on her last stage?
Zoya: Nope. She's strong. Already survived two heart attacks and still kicking.
Wail (dramatically): Is she human… or a witch?
Zoya and Zara gives him death stares
Wali : What?
Zara (grinning):
Anyway Zayan, take your brother home — he's clearly lost his mind.
Zara and Zoya laughed together, the room finally filled with joy again.
Wail smiled, happy to see their laughter. Even if he had to be the clown for it.
Wail: Yeah yeah, I'm leaving. No love for the hero, huh?
Just as he turned toward the door…
Two police officers walked in.
Officer: Are you Wail Shah?
Everyone froze.
Wail: Uh… yeah?
Officer: We're here to arrest you.
Zara, Zoya, Zayan — all went silent.
Their eyes locked on Wail.
The laughter disappeared. The air shifted.
Wail (confused): What…?
Zayan: What the hell is going on?
Zoya: Wail…?
Zara: This can't be happening…
They all stared at each other — shocked, afraid, and speechless.