Obscured Affection (Slow Updates)

"Dad?" Ashar’s voice pulled Arham out of his thoughts.

"I’ve been calling you for a long time… Why aren’t you listening? What’s bothering you?" Ashar was genuinely worried about his father.

"No, everything’s fine. I was just thinking about something," Arham replied.

"What were you thinking about?" Ashar asked.

"Just about what Ishtiyaaq’s answer might be. I want your wedding to happen as soon as possible so that I get to see my grandchildren," Arham said with seriousness.

"I think the answer now depends on Safoora. Whatever she wants, that’s what will happen, and I want to have her at any cost," he said with a smile.

"Aijaz came to see me today," Arham suddenly said, surprising Ashar.

"Aijaz Uncle? Why did he come?" Ashar asked in astonishment.

"You know he comes to see me on this day every year… The same old apology, and as always, I made him wait for three hours. But he still sat there," Arham said angrily.

"Did you talk to him?" Ashar asked seriously.

"Yes, besides asking for forgiveness, he came to invite me to his son’s wedding," Arham said irritably.

"His son’s wedding?" Ashar was even more surprised.

"Yes, Arsalan… You can go if you want, but I will never be a part of their happiness," Arham declared firmly.

"But Dad… If he came himself, you should go. He has been asking for your forgiveness for years now… Please forgive him?" Seeing Ashar take Aijaz’s side only angered Arham further.

"No, I will never forgive him, not even with my last breath… Because of him, my whole world was destroyed. You are the only reason I’m still alive; otherwise, I would have died long ago." Arham stormed out in anger.

Ashar ran his hand through his hair, wondering how he could convince his father to attend the wedding.

***

"Do you think that because I come from a wealthy family and you are from a middle-class background, you won’t be able to adjust with me?" Arsal asked seriously.

"No, it’s nothing like that… I just don’t think—" Sara was saying when Arsal interrupted her.

"Ms. Sara, you are worthy of me… I can’t find anyone better than you. I want to tell you the biggest truth of my life, and after that, whatever decision you make, I will accept it without a word. The truth is, I am not Baba’s real son… He found me on the streets. You could call me an orphan… I was a homeless child who used to beg on the streets in extreme poverty. One day, I suddenly came in front of a car, and Baba saved me… Maybe it was written in my fate to receive his love. I was on the verge of death due to hunger, and he saved a boy like me, got me treated, and adopted me. Baba was always busy with work, so the responsibility of my younger brother, Azlaan, fell on me. We had many servants at home, but Azlaan only listened to me, so Baba entrusted his entire care to me. Baba never treated me any differently from Azlaan, and that’s why, apart from Baba and a few close people, no one knows that I am not his biological son," Arsal took a deep breath as he spoke.

A smile adorned his face, but as he recalled his past, sadness reflected in his eyes, which Sara noticed.

"You have your parents… You come from a good family, but I… I was just a beggar who, because of Baba, was able to achieve such a big name. I may never be able to repay his kindness, but his love is so overwhelming that I often forget he isn’t my biological father," he suddenly laughed.