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Chapter Title: The Weight of Inheritance
"Let's see the whole house once, and then we'll talk."
Yusuf, Areeba, and Fateh were searching everywhere for Mehr. A loud noise echoed from outside.
Mehr stepped out of her uncle's room. Fateh rushed toward her.
"What are you doing here?"
She didn't respond. Her gaze shifted to Yusuf.
"Why are you all looking at me like that?"
She looked at them, her face pale and anxious. Fateh gently touched her arm.
"We were worried."
Mehr pushed her hair from her face. "That's what I'm asking. Why do you all look like you've seen a ghost? Tell me."
Suddenly, she chuckled, then burst into laughter. It was unsettling—unnatural.
She walked to the sofas, laughing, and looked around the house. Then, without warning, she collapsed to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
Fateh rushed to her side, kneeling with her.
"Mehr, control yourself. Please, be strong."
But she didn't stop crying.
"Courage…" she whispered, trembling. "It's such a small word, but it holds so much. Everyone says it like it's easy. 'Be strong,' they say. But how, Fateh? How do I have courage when everything ended in one night?"
Her voice cracked.
"I lost everything. Tell me, how do I be brave now?"
Tears flooded her eyes. Her body shook. Fateh tried to comfort her, running a hand through her hair.
"You're strong, Mehr. You're Mehr Sultan."
She looked at him, pain burning in her eyes. She pushed his hand away.
"Mehr Sultan is gone. I'm just an orphan now. I have no one."
She looked at Yusuf and laughed—hysterical, heart-wrenching laughter.
"Mehr Sultan is an orphan."
Yusuf lowered his head. Fateh stepped closer.
"I'm an orphan, Fateh! In one night, I lost both my mother and father!"
She collapsed against his chest, wailing. Fateh held her tight, stroking her hair.
"Cry as much as you need. Let it all out."
Yusuf and Areeba quietly left the room, unable to bear watching her fall apart.
Mehr cried for what felt like hours. Fateh stayed by her side.
Finally, she looked up at him with hollow eyes.
"Fateh... I think I'm going crazy."
He wiped her tears with his fingers.
"Then I'll be the one to take care of this crazy person."
She leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
"What will I do now?"
"You have to be patient," he said gently.
She looked at him, broken.
"How much patience?"
Fateh paused, staring at her, then replied softly:
"Those who are patient will be given their reward without measure."
Mehr slowly nodded. "Yes... I understand."
"Good," Fateh said. "Now, let's eat something."
He helped her to the sofa and called out to Yusuf.
"Uncle Yusuf, bring some food. Mehr needs to eat."
Yusuf quickly warmed the food, and within ten minutes it was served.
Fateh tried feeding Mehr, but she took the spoon from him.
"I'll eat myself. You eat too."
Fateh served his own plate. As they ate, Yusuf watched silently, making sure they needed nothing.
Mehr looked at him.
"Did you eat anything?"
Yusuf shook his head.
She stood up, filled a plate, and handed it to him.
"Sit down and eat."
Yusuf obeyed silently, moved by her gesture. They all ate together.
Later, Fateh noticed the heat radiating from her skin—she had a fever. He asked Yusuf to bring tea and medicine. After she ate, she went to her room, and Fateh stayed with her until she fell asleep.
Then he stepped outside to speak with Yusuf.
"Uncle Yusuf, I have to go home now. Please let me know when Mehr wakes up."
Fateh left. His parents had returned from Italy. When he got home, he told them about Sultan and Khanum's death. Suleiman, Sultan's friend and Fateh's father, was already preparing to visit.
"Tell me, Fateh," Suleiman said, adjusting his coat. "What's the plan?"
Fateh looked confused.
"We're going to Mehr's house," Suleiman said simply. "I'm waiting in the car. Let's go."
Fateh didn't reply, but he understood what his father meant. Ayesha, Suleiman's wife, watched him.
"He knows," she whispered.
Suleiman smiled. "I know."
They left together. At Mehr's house, Yusuf told them she was in her father's study with a lawyer discussing the inheritance.
Fateh's heart sank. He rushed to her. He knew she shouldn't face this alone.
At the door, he paused. It was open. The lawyer was speaking, and Mehr looked overwhelmed. When she saw Fateh, she ran to him.
"Fateh, what are they saying? I don't understand. They're saying something about shares... Mama's share, Baba's share. I don't understand."
He gave her a glass of water and calmed her down. Then, he turned to the lawyers and asked for the documents.
One of them stepped forward.
"Excuse me, but are you Mehr Sultan's lawyer?"
Fateh glared at him.
"Did someone ask you to show up like this? Don't you know her parents died two weeks ago?"
"It's important," another lawyer interjected. "Mr. Sultan left 70% of his estate to Mehr. Khanum had 20%, and the remaining 10% was donated. Mehr inherits her mother's share as well."
The third lawyer stepped forward, watching Mehr carefully.
"Miss Sultan, did you have a fight with your parents before their death?"
She nodded slowly.
"No wonder," he said. "You fought with them... you learned about the inheritance... and maybe, just maybe, you—"
"Watch your words!" Fateh snapped. "Do you want to die today?"
Mehr stood between them, her voice shaking.
"What are you trying to say?"
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