deep darkness and dawn

The One Khizar Could Never Leave Behind 2

He smiled gently.

"Will you come home with me?"

The boy looked at him quietly.

Almost without realizing it...

He nodded.

A warm smile spread across Khizar's face.

And from that moment on...

He took the child home with him.

As soon as they reached Aeran Home, the front door opened before they could even knock.

Aryan had just arrived himself.

"You didn't go to your law classes today?" he asked casually the moment he saw Khizar.

"I quit law."

Khizar's answer came without hesitation.

At that moment...

He felt nothing but disgust for the world.

How could people be so heartless...

So cruel?

Someone could have helped that little boy.

His family could have been saved.

All he had needed was one person to listen.

But no one had.

And because no one stopped...

His mother and sister were dead.

"Oh... is that so?" Aryan replied absentmindedly.

He turned back toward the door and inserted the key into the lock.

Then he suddenly paused.

His eyes fell on the child standing quietly beside Khizar.

He turned around in surprise.

"Is... this the same boy?"

Khizar nodded.

"He's going to live with me from now on."

Aryan looked at the child for a moment before quietly nodding in understanding.

He could only imagine what the boy had been through.

Then he crouched down in front of him and gently took his hand.

"What's your name?"

The little boy hesitated for a moment.

"My... my name is Azal."

He spoke softly.

He knew Khizar didn't even know his name until now.

Someone had to tell him.

Khizar led Azal upstairs to his room.

A little while later, he opened his wardrobe and began searching for clothes.

The problem was...

He didn't own anything that would fit a twelve-year-old child.

Just then, the bedroom door opened.

Aryan walked inside carrying three or four shirts and a few pairs of shorts in his arms.

Khizar let out a deep sigh and quietly closed the wardrobe.

These were Aryan's expensive clothes.

The ones Khizar had always helped him wear.

Because they zipped up from the back after being pulled over the body.

Ever since Aryan had started working out regularly, his broad shoulders and muscular build had made those six-month-old clothes painfully tight on him.

Aryan held them out toward Azal with a smile.

"Here you go, kid."

"Go take a shower first."

Khizar accepted the clothes from him and handed them to Azal.

"The bathroom's over there."

Azal silently nodded and walked inside.

A short while later...

He came back out.

To both their surprise...

Aryan's clothes fit him perfectly.

It was almost as though they had been made especially for him.

"Come on," Khizar said with a gentle smile.

"Let's go eat."

He led Azal downstairs.

Fayaz was away in Abyred on a business trip, so the house was unusually peaceful.

Aryan stared at the clothes in disbelief.

"Wait..."

"Those clothes fit him perfectly?"

He looked down at himself in complete confusion.

"Then how on earth did they ever fit me?"

Khizar couldn't help smiling.

"Maybe you should think about how much t*****e you were putting those poor clothes through."

Aryan shot him an offended look.

"Absolutely not."

"The clothes aren't small."

"They're just... designed that way."

He pointed at Khizar.

"You should try wearing them too."

"They'll fit you as well."

Khizar simply rolled his eyes.

Neither of them noticed...

For the first time since losing everything...

A faint smile had appeared on Azal's face

The three of them had barely begun eating when the doorbell rang.

Aryan glanced toward the front door but made no effort to get up.

"You go," he said lazily to Khizar. "You're closer."

In reality, Aryan was only a single step farther away than Khizar.

The only reason he refused to answer the door was because he already knew who it was.

The delivery man.

He had come to collect payment after dropping off a package.

A few moments later, Khizar returned to the kitchen carrying a cardboard box.

"What's this?"

By then, Aryan had already finished his meal.

He wiped his hands, took the box from Khizar, and tore it open without waiting another second.

Inside was a plain white T-shirt.

Aryan unfolded it and looked at it carefully.

"I ordered the right size..."

He frowned.

"But somehow they still sent one that's too small."

Then he shrugged.

"Never mind."

He turned toward Azal.

"It'll fit you perfectly."

Walking over to the boy, Aryan gently helped him to his feet before slipping the white T-shirt over his head.

Azal stood quietly, watching every movement.

For the first time in what felt like forever...

He liked what he saw.

The shirt fit him perfectly.

After lunch, Khizar took Azal back upstairs and tucked him into bed in his own room.

Once the boy had fallen asleep, Khizar remained seated beside him.

His mind refused to settle.

What am I supposed to do now?

He let out a slow breath.

If I tell Father...

His thoughts came to an abrupt stop.

I already know exactly what he'll do.

He'll say I'm just an immature kid... and he'll force Azal into an orphanage.

Khizar closed his eyes.

I can't let that happen.

I gave him my word.

I promised I'd protect him.

I can't break that promise.

He buried his face in his hands.

"What am I supposed to do..."

He had barely escaped one problem...

Only to find himself trapped in another.

After thinking for a long time...

An idea finally came to him.

"I know this isn't the right way..."

"...but I don't have another choice."

He picked up his phone, searched for Uncle Ahmad's number, and walked out onto the balcony.

The call connected after a few rings.

"Assalamu Alaikum, Uncle."

"Wa Alaikum Assalam," Ahmad replied warmly.

"You didn't come to the office today. Is everything alright?"

"Uncle..."

Khizar hesitated for a moment.

"I need a favor."

"Tell me."

"What can I do for you?"

Khizar took a deep breath before speaking.

"I want legal custody of a child."

"Can you help me?"

There was a brief silence.

"Who is the child?" Ahmad asked gently.

"Tell me everything."

"His name is Azal."

"He's twelve years old."

"Yesterday evening, someone murdered his mother and sister."

"He has no one left in this world."

Khizar's voice grew firm.

"Uncle..."

"I want to become his legal guardian."

Since Khizar spent so much time at the courthouse, he was already familiar with the legal procedures surrounding child guardianship in Pakistan.

He knew it wouldn't be simple.

There would be legal requirements...

Official documentation...

Background verification...

And a long legal process before custody could ever be granted.

But despite all of that...

He had already made his decision.

No matter how difficult the road ahead became...

He would not abandon Azal.

Khizar was no stranger to the legal system. Having spent so much time at the courthouse, he knew that Pakistan did not have a straightforward legal adoption system like many Western countries. Instead, children without guardians were usually placed under legal guardianship, a process supervised by the courts.

He also knew that becoming a child's legal guardian was not easy. The court would consider the applicant's age, character, financial stability, and ability to provide a safe and responsible home. There would be legal paperwork, background checks, and formal court proceedings before guardianship could be granted.

None of that discouraged Khizar.

No matter how long the process took...

He had already made up his mind.

He had given Azal his word.

And he intended to keep that promise.

"Uncle, you know everything about me," Khizar said calmly. "Please prepare the custody file for me. I'll meet every requirement the court asks of me."

"Alright," Ahmad replied after a brief pause. "But first, I'll have to speak with Fayaz."

"No, Uncle." Khizar's voice carried a trace of displeasure. "Please don't tell my father. I want to obtain this child's guardianship on my own."

"Khizar," Ahmad said patiently, "whatever differences you and your father may have are your own matter. But a decision that will shape a child's life cannot be made solely according to your wishes."

Khizar's hands curled into tight fists.

"My father doesn't know anything," he said firmly. "And I don't want him to."

"He doesn't know?" Ahmad asked in surprise.

"No."

Ahmad sighed.

"No, Khizar... I can't do that."

The refusal struck Khizar hard.

"But Uncle, I'm legally an adult. I have the right to become his guardian. Why are you refusing to help me?"

"Yes, you've reached adulthood," Ahmad answered gently, "but Fayaz is still your father. Since you're unmarried and still living under his roof, you can't simply bring a child into the house without his knowledge or consent."

"But Uncle..." Khizar protested quietly. "Father will never agree."

"If you truly want to keep the boy," Ahmad replied, "then convince Fayaz. I know him. He'll come around eventually."

He paused before adding,

"But deceiving your own father isn't the right way to begin this."

"Talk to him first. Once you've convinced him, come to me."

"And one more thing..."

"Yes?" Khizar asked, his mood sinking even further.

"When you've spoken to your father, come and see me at the courthouse."

"We need to discuss something important."

"Alright."

Khizar ended the call.

As he walked back into his room, his gaze fell upon the small figure sleeping peacefully on the bed.

Azal was completely unaware of the storm surrounding him.

His soft golden curls were scattered across his forehead.

His rosy cheeks still carried traces of dried tears.

Long eyelashes rested against his skin as he slept.