"Mummy, what should I wear?"

"Wear whatever you like, everything looks good on my daughter." Said Sara while chopping onions, she was preparing for dinner and Fayra was sitting on the kitchen platform while having pears and apples. Poking the fork in one piece she lifted it towards her mouth when a man with muscular build and fluffy hair walked into the kitchen while folding the sleeves of his black shirt.

"Danish Bhai..." Fayra lifted the fork towards him and he noticed her in the kitchen.

"What are you doing here?" He asked but opened his mouth to have the piece of apple.

"Danish Bhai mujhe shopping par le chaliye please, mere paas..." Before Fayra could complete her sentence Danish rolled his eyes and, "Tumhare paas koi kapde hi nhi honge na pehenne ke liye. Kuch bhi pehen lo yaar kya farkh padta hai?" Danish replied while waiting for another piece of apple but Fayra huffed and looked away.

(Danish Bhai take me to the market for shopping, please. I don't..)

(You don't have any clothes to wear. Right?Wear anything, dude, what difference does it make?)

"Pehli baar Bisma Aapi ki sasural jaa rhi hu aur main kuch bhi pehen lu?" Fayra gave a disappointed look to Danish. Only a month ago Bisma got married to no-one else but her mother's best friend's son. Arham and Muskan's son- Ashar. It was an arranged marriage, Once Arham and Muskan came to meet Anzala and Maizah where they saw Bisma after many years. She grew up as a pretty little lady. Arham and Muskan were amazed, they were already doing a bride hunt for their son and here they found a nice match without any intention. Families already knew each other, everything was good so there was no reason to delay the wedding, moreover it was the last wish of Muskan's father to see his grandchildren getting married, Fortunately, his wish was fulfilled just a few days prior to his death.

(I am going to Bisma Aapi's in-laws house for the first time, how can I wear anything?)

"Danish, Beta mene plumber se baat karne ko kaha tha tumse..." Sara's voice attracted Danish's attention, she was struggling to turn off the running water but couldn't.

(Danish, beta I told you to call the plumber...)

"Mami wo aaya nhi? Maine call kar di thi use, aap preshan na ho main ye theek kra dunga." Danish assured her and used his muscular hands to turn the tap off. Drawing out a medicine strip from his pocket he passed to Sara and literally joined his hands in front of her.

(He didn't come? I called him already, don't worry, I'll get this sorted out, Mami.)

"Don't forget to take it on time." Sara smiled on his demand and patted his cheek as if he was still a small boy.

"Okay. Thank you."

"Mami what are you cooking?" He smiled while seeing the okra present on the kitchen platform.

"Your favourite dish."

"Bhindi." Danish was over the moon. There was a time when 'Bhindi' was no less than a torture but now it was a treat for all. All thanks to Sara and her great cooking skills.

"Give some little extra for me." He demanded like a small boy and Sara gave him a disappointed look.

"Do you even need to ask for? Tell Maizah to don't cook, I'm cooking for everyone."

"You're the best Mami in the world." Danish walked towards the door of the kitchen while passing a compliment but stopped again.

"Fayra."

"Ji Danish Bhai?" She asked while having another piece of fruit and then lifted one for Danish who took it without wasting time.

"Zunera ki Maths dekh lena yaar, kal uska class test hai, main bohot thak gya hu warna main padha deta use." Danish requested and Fayra lifted another piece of apple for him but he shook his head and pointed out towards the pear. Fayra consumed the apple and gave the desired fruit to Danish.

(Please teach Zunera maths, she has a class test tomorrow, I am very tired, otherwise I would have taught her.)

"You don't worry. I'll handle her."

"Danish Bhai." Before he could go out Fayra's call stopped him, he looked at her and raised his brow. "Have it." She passed another piece of pear which he took in his mouth and walked out of the kitchen.

"Ye na ho to pta nhi kya ho? Sab ko sambhal rakha hai isne." Sara one more time felt that Danish was becoming the backbone of Rizwi family.

(I don't know how we will manage without him? He has taken care of everything.)

"Hmm sab ko sambhal rakha hai apne alawa." Fayra muttered with disappointment and jumped down from the kitchen platform. Drawing out the ice-pack from the freezer she walked out of the kitchen and Sara smiled because she knew where her daughter was going.

(Hmm he takes care of everybody except himself.)

"Danish Bhai." She knocked on the door but didn't wait for a reply. "Haan Fayra?"

"Hath dikhaiye apna." She glared at Danish who was lying down on the bed and picking up the remote to the TV.

(Show me your hand.)

"Theek hu main."

(I'm fine.)

"Nhi, Aalsi hain aap." She held Danish's hand and rolled his sleeve to three fourth. The bruise on his forearm yelled that he was still in pain.

(No, you're lazy.)

"Can't you ride bike carefully?" The 20 years old Fayra scolded a five year older man whose anger was enough to scare anyone but she was a different case.

"It was an accident."

"Whatever. Now you won't go on the bike. Use car. Fine?" Placing the ice pack on the bruise she asked and Danish smiled at her rightful lecture.

"Itna dhyan na rakha karo mera, Aadat ho jayegi mujhe." He muttered and took the ice pack from her hand.

(Don't take so much care of me, I will get used to it.)

"Haa to achhi baat hai na, koi to hai aapka khayal rakhne ke liye aapko apna khayal rakhna to aata nhi hai." She glared at him and took the ice pack back from his hand.

(Isn't it better that you've someone to look after you, because you don't know how to take care of yourself.)

"Tumhe Mera khayal rakhne ki koi zarurat nhi hai,"

(You don't need to take care of me.)

"Main aapka khayal na rakhu to kiska rakhu?"

(If not you then who will I take care of?)

"Arsh." Danish smiled in a teasing way and Fayra suddenly looked up, her face turned pale then her lips parted to say something but then a smile crawled to her lips and cheeks blushed hard. Danish smacked her forehead lightly. "Idiot."

"Danish Bhai... Stop it." Fayra smiled shyly and ran out of the room and Danish smacked his forehead.

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"Fayra, go call Maizah and Anzala bhai for dinner and Tell Danish and Adnaan too." Sara ordered while setting the dining table. Fayra nodded and walked towards the stairs to follow her mother's order.

"Mami Saheba." Sara walked in the room of Momina who was reciting some verses on the praying beads. "Come to have dinner." Passing her hand to support the old lady Sara said and she came out of the room. She was the only elder left in the Rizwi clan. A few years ago Gul Bano passed away with cardiac arrest, soon Asif joined his beloved wife as it was getting difficult for him to survive without her.  And Rashid was already passed away when Fayra was only ten.

Now the Rizwi family wasn't a joint family like before. Adnaan, Afnaan and Anzala's family live under the same roof but in different portions. The house was divided into two equal parts, one was for Adnaan and the other half was for Anzala. On the other hand, Afnaan shifted to the back portion of Rizwi Mansion which was left empty for many years. Afnaan's wife always felt like an outsider among Maizah and Sara as they were first cousins, She demanded to left this joint family system and Momina was the one to took one of the greatest decision of her life.

It's always better to part the ways happily instead of staying together and creating difference.

Momina was the one to divide the house in three portions and separate Anzala, Adnaan and Afnaan. They were still under the same roof but without any kind of interference in each other's life. However, their children didn't know how to follow the boundaries created by walls. For them whole Rizwi Mansion was their home and the Rizwi clan was their family.

The family business was also not like before. After Rashid's death Anzala took over all the responsibilities of business. Despite Adnaan and Afnaan were the equal partners but the decision maker was Anzala. He was so experienced and confident regarding his decisions that there was no room for Adnaan and Afnaan to contribute in the business growth, they were just sleeping partners who were getting orders and money for being a part of Rizwi clan. However it wasn't in Adnaan's nature to take orders, he had the same blood that rushed as fast as Anzala. He desided to separate his business and Sara supported him in this decision. Adnaan laid the foundations of the business on a small scale but now FS Groups was one of the leading company to provide many services including advertising and marketing. Afnaan was also not interested in real-estate business, so soon he also joined his brother and FS Groups.

Afnaan was madly in love with his family, specially his daughters. Zinia and Zunera. Zinia  was sincere, polite and shy but Zunera was the younger version of Maizah. Loud, mischievous and over-dramatic, hence perfect entertainment for the family.

"Fayra beta."

"Yeah Mummy?"

"Go and give this to chachi... Zinia likes this." Passing a platter of kabab Sara ordered and Fayra gave a disappointed look to her mother.

"Why didn't you summoned chote chamu and Chachi for dinner? It doesn't look good that one third of the family is not with us."

"First of all, it's not a feast, Maizah and Anzala bhai are just having dinner with us and secondly... I didn't ask for dear Chachi to join because Zinia is preparing for a comparative exam, her schedule will be distracted by such dinners." Sara explained and Fayra rushed towards the third portion of the house.

In the time being everyone gathered for dinner and enjoyed because Sara was still a great cook. "Where is Fayra?" Adnaan and Danish asked together and Sara rolled her eyes.

"In her headquarter." And everyone laughed.

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"Chachi, kabab..." Fayra placed the platter on the kitchen platform and looked at the serving bowl being filled with palak paneer.

"Kya zamana aa gya hai, logo ko yaad bhi nhi hai ki ghar me kisi ko palak paneer pasand hai." Fayra gave a disappointed look to Fiza who just ignored her tantrum.

(How awful are the times..., people don't even remember if anyone in the house likes palak paneer.)

"Jao ise dining table par rakho aur jaldi se apne chamu ko bula kar laao." Fiza ordered while passing the bowl to Fayra but every was already gathered for dinner.

(Go and place it on the dining table and quickly call your chamu.)

Fayra took her seat with an urgency without bothering to notice if anyone was coming for dinner or not.

"Mujhe bohot teez bhuk lagi hai, Aaj Puri 3 roti khaungi main." Afnaan looked at Fayra who was filling her plate with palak paneer. Standing behind Fayra he cupped her cheek and kissed the top of her head.

(I am very hungry, I will eat 3 whole rotis today.)

"What? 3 roti?" Fiza widen her eyes and Fayra looked confused for a moment.

"Kya hua chachi? Roti kam pad jayegi kya?" Fayra asked while lifting the very first morsel. 

(What happened Chachi? Won't there be enough roti?)

Fiza smacked her forehead, "tum khaa khaa ke bhees na ho jana, thoda to apna dhyan rakha kro Fayra."

(Take care of yourself a little, Fayra. Don't get overweight by overeating.)

"Kabab... I was already craving for them." Zinia placed the book on the dining table and took her seat beside Fayra.

"Kuch nhi hota chachi..." Fayra lifted another morsel and grimaced at Zinia.

(Whatever.)

"Chachi is kitabi keede ko kaha se utha ke layi thi aap? Khana khate waqt to book ko rest de de behen, wo bhi thak jaati hogi, bechari." Fayra gave a weird look to the bookworm of the family.

(Chachi, where did you pick up this bookworm from? Sister, give the book a rest while eating food, it must be getting tired too, poor thing.)

"Fayra aapi I want to crack NEET in the first attempt." Without averting her eyes from the book Zinia replied and Fayra finched.

"Chamu..." Fayra whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Were you like this?" Fayra grimaced.

"Tauba kro, abba ke do thappad khaye bina to mene book bhi nhi kholi kabhi."

(God forbid, I never opened the book without getting two slaps from my father.)

"Really Daddy?" Asked Zunera and Afnaan nodded. "Then it's clear I'm like you. Now don't scold me ever."

"I'm full... Chachi this was delicious. Maza aa gaya." Fayra took a deep breath and Fiza looked at the roti in her plate.

"Finish this roti... 3 roti ka bol ke ek roti bhi nhi khayi, phir adhi raat ko bhatakti aatmao ki tarha sare Ghar mein ghumti rehna kuch khane ko mil jaye." Fiza scolded Fayra who just grimaced and resumed to have the remaining roti. Fiza was the only member of the family who scolded Fayra every now and then. From food to skin care Fayra got scolding every time.

(Otherwise you were ready to have three rotis but did not eat even one. Then you roam around the house at midnight like a wandering spirit, hoping to get something to eat.)

"Aur ye hamesha pajama aur t-shirt mein kyu ghumti rehti ho? Koi dekhega to kahega ke kapde nhi hai is ladki ke paas?" Fiza again gave a lecture and Fayra looked at her clothes, she was wearing a blue and white pajama with black and white old t-shirt, now it was looking faded but she didn't care about the looks when the comfort level provided by these clothes were unmatched.

(And why do you always roam around in pyjamas and T-shirts? What will people say? that this girl has no clothes?)

"I'll show them my cupboard, it's full of clothes..." Fayra did a free commercial of her toothpaste by displaying her sparkle white teeth but questioned herself... 'i have so many clothes then why don't I have clothes to wear other than the 2-3 pairs that I repeat every now and then?' well, there was no answer to this nobel question and she focused on Palak paneer instead of clothes.

"Jo tumhari harkate hain na, sasuraal mein taane padenge." Fiza huffed and Fayra furrowed.

(You will be taunted at your in-laws' place for this behaviour.)

"Taane to mayke me bhi pad rhe hain, chachi." Fayra huffed in the same way and everyone laughed.

(I'm getting taunted even in my maternal home.)

"Nice, keep practicing, practice makes a man perfect, you will be used to taunts before going to your in-laws home." Zunera's comment was a must and everyone laughed.

"Now, I'm going..." Fayra stood up in a hurry, she couldn't do any work slowly, rushing and running from one place to another was her wont, before she could walk out a thought stopped her and she turned around.

"Chachi... Make pasta for me." Fiza gave a fake glare to Fayra who returned it with a fake innocent look and Fiza smiled this time.

"Tomorrow."

"You're the best Chachi in the world." Giving a hug to Fiza from behind Fayra whispered. "If we forget your taunts." She added, Fiza grabbed her ear with fake anger.

"Chachiiiii... Please..." Fayra finched.

"You're lucky that she's tolerating your tantrums." Comments Zunera and Fayra somehow freed her ear from that grip.

"If not her then who will tolerate my tantrums?" Fayra questioned rightfully and this time Zinia smiled in a mischievous way.

"Arsh bhai..." Fayra's heart skipped a beat, her face turned pale for a moment and she looked at Afnaan for some kind of scolding for Zinia but everyone laughed and Fayra felt shy. Her lower lip nervously tucked in between her teeth and eyes cast down, a shy smile played on her lips just before she ran back towards the hall where the remaining Rizwi clan was having dinner.

"Tumhari Chachi ne kya khila diya tumhe?" Sara asked when witnessed Fayra coming but instead of answering Fayra ran upstairs holding a sky smile and blushing cheeks.

(what did your chachi feed you?)

"Ise kya hua?" Adnaan asked while adjusting his glasses, he was still handsome enough to be called the father of a twenty year old.

(What happened to her?)

"Arsh ka naam le diya hoga kisi ne iske saamne." Maizah commented and everyone laughed except Danish who was having dinner in silence and eyes fixed on his mobile screen.

(Someone must have taken Arsh's name in front of her.)

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Hello Dearest Readers

The first chapter is up...

And the next one will be out soon.

Stay tuned.

Bye bye.

Naaz Jamal