What's the best way to spend a day off when the furious golden ball present in the sky was ready to burn everything come across him?

Probably laying in a comfortable bed and watching TV...

Well, Danish was doing so! He was reclining lazily, resting his back with the headboard of the bed while watching TV. His wife was lying peacefully beside him, she was bored, Extremely Bored! Danish looked towards her and slowly pushed the hairlock away from her face, she looked up trying to fake a smile but couldn't. She just closed her eyes.

"Chai bana do Madiha." An order covered in the sheet of hushed tone and she sighed without letting any expression conquer her face.

(Madiha, make me tea.)

Kya musibat hai? Abhi thodi deyr pehle hi to chai pi thi... Is aadmi ki chhutti mere liye azaab ban jaati hai! Kabhi chai bana do kabhi pani laa do kabhi kuch kabhi kuch, lekin sab kuch karne ke baad bhi bande ko ehsas nhi hota ki main kuch kar bhi rahi hu.

(What the hell! He had tea just a while ago... This man's days off become torment for me! Make me tea, bring me water, do this and that... And blah blah blah... But even after doing everything this man never takes notice of my efforts.)

She said in her heart while stepping out of the bed. "Ginger tea or simple one?" She asked because she was unable to learn the art of understanding him yet, his mood could be spoiled at anything, either small or big and she didn't want to make him angry because of such a small thing. "Adrak wali bana do. Bas ilaichi mat dalna." He replied lazily resting his head on the headboard and Madiha walked towards the kitchen. Within five minutes a cup of tea was placed on the nightstand on Danish's side.

(Ginger tea, but don't put cardamom.)

"Tumne apne liye nhi banayi?" Taking the very first sip of that steaming tea he asked without shifting his eyes from the TV screen.

(Aren't you having tea?)

Ye chai ke naam par kaada aapko hi Mubarak ho, bina ilaichi ke adrak wali chai kon peeta hai?

(Congratulations to you for this medicine in the name of tea, who likes ginger tea without cardamom?)

She replied in her heart but didn't dare to voice it, and shook her head in reply, then noticed that her husband watching TV was more important than waiting for her reply.

"Aap chhutti wale din bhi crime patrol mein crime aur murder wali cheezein dekhte rehte hain, thakte nhi hai kya is sab se?" This time Madiha asked with frustration, she was already tired of seeing those muder stories since the morning.

(You keep watching crime and murder related things in Crime Patrol even on holidays, don't you get tired of all this?)

"Watch whatever you want." Danish passed her the remote, She sighed due to his cold tone but grabbed it and started shifting the channels, but never found anything inviting.

In the time of smart TV, they were using an ordinary DTH service... How outdated... just like their relationship.

However, after a struggle of a few minutes a small smile captured her lips when found a movie of her choice playing on the TV screen.

It was one of her favourite scenes in which the hero was giving red roses to the heroine. She glanced at the man who was sitting beside her, owning all rights to give her flowers but never gave even a petal.

Kya yahi hoti hai shadi ki asliyat? Ek aese aadmi ke sath zindagi guzarna jiski zindagi mein aapke liye koi jagah hi nhi hai? She asked in her heart.

(Is this the reality of marriage? Spending whole life with a man who doesn't hold a space for you?)

Ya shayad jagah hoti nhi hai, banani padti hai aur main to apni jagah banane ki koshish bhi nhi kar rhi." She criticises herself for his cold behaviour and decided to give one more chance to this man as well as relationship.

(I guess, Maybe there is no space from the beginning, it has to be made and I am not even trying to make my place.)

Taking a deep breath she rested her back with Danish's chest, he was surprised by her sudden act, but smiled and looked at his wife.

Madiha looked up, the overbearing face was still in front of her but she was unable to find anything which could attract her towards him. She smiled forcefully while shifting her eyes towards the TV screen and her smile vanished just like a bubble on the water. This smile was a lie... this relationship was a lie... this act was a lie... everything was a lie... and she was living in this lie because neither she had another option nor she wanted to make things even more complex between herself and Danish. For her, this fake acting was better than a fake relationship.

"Ek baat puchu aapse?"

(Can I ask you something?)

"Hmm. Puchho."

(Hmm ask)

"Aap mujhse mohabbat karte hain?"

(Do you love me?)

"Ye kesa sawal hai?"

(What kind of question is this?)

Sipping the tea he asked without averting his eyes from the TV screen and Madiha closed her eyes, suddenly a voice from the past echoed in her ears ek shakhs tumse itni mohabbat karega ki tum apna har dukh bhul jaogi Madam, a0nd unexpectedly a face flashed in her senses who was holding a pair of attractive hazel eyes. Opening her eyes with a jolt she looked at the man who was seeing her without blinking, his dark eyes holding no emotions for her.

(A person will love you so much that you will forget all your sorrows, Madam.)

Sawal to seedha hai lekin aapki khamoshi ne kuch aur hi keh diya. Her heart whispered but she didn't gathered courage to voice her thoughts.

(The question is simple but your silence said something else.)

"Kya soch rahi ho Madiha?" He asked and Madiha faked a smile while shifting away from him and then shook her head. "Kuch khaas nhi, bas itna ki jis ladki se aap shadi karna chahte the agar us se hi aapki shadi hoti kya tab bhi aapka behaviour aesa hi hota? As cold as ice?!" Danish's expressions changed immediately. His smile vanished after Madiha slapped reality on his face.

(What are you thinking Madiha?)

(Nothing special, just that if you had married the girl you wanted to marry, would your behavior have been the same? As cold as ice?!)

Unknowingly she reminded him of his one sided unsuccessful lovestory.

"Tumhe kisne bataya?" placing the cup of tea on the nightstand he sat with a straight back and asked impatiently, Madiha was surprised, the arrow which she shot in the dark hit the target. "Is ka matlab koi thi?" she whispered and Danish's expression changed one more time, this time anger conquered him.

(who told you?)

(It means there was someone?)

"Madiha, kaan khool kr ek baat sun lo, aaj pehli aur aakhri baar bta raha hu." He glared at her which immediately turned her hands cold and face pale due to fear. "Jin maamlo se tumhara koi matlab nahi hai unme ghusne ki koshish na kro. Aesa kuch nahi hai, aesi koi ladki nhi thi." Danish dismissed the matter without leaving to glare at her and Madiha's eyes filled with tears, she tried to gulp them but they shamelessly rolled down.

(Madiha, today I am telling you for the first and last time.)

(Do not try to poke your nose into those matters which are not yours. Nothing like that, there was no such girl.)

"I'm sorry." Mumbling that she dangled her legs down from the bed and turned her back towards him. Closing her eyes she let the tears flow down. This was the nth time when she tried to break the wall present in between them by talking to him but every time something wrong came out of her mouth or maybe he doesn't want to listen to whatever she says. She sniffled and wiped her tears but he didn't bother to hush her.

"Madiha, baat baat par roone wali aurtein mujhe bilkul pasand nhi hain." He almost shouted and she closed her eyes while trying not to cry but the echo of his roar pushed a sob out from her trembling lips. An unpleasant voice echoed in the room and she looked at the TV screen, now it was showing a football match. Danish wasn't interested in the match, he just wanted to suppress her voice in the commotion of TV.

(Madiha, I don't like women who cry on every issue.)

After some time he forgot everything but Madiha was not a sufferer of short term memory loss.

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A few days later

After completing the domestic chores she was free to spend some time with herself. Opening a book, which she brought from her home, she started reading it but after only a few sentences she put the book aside. Today she was missing her brother and her uncle. It had been a month whe5n she went to meet them on the fifth day of her wedding. The other day Danish sent her with Saad to meet her family, he dropped her on the doorway and Mohsin dropped her back to her new home in the evening... and after that meeting she was only talking to her brother on a phone call.

Neither Danish bothered to take her to meet her family nor she dared to demand because of his fear. If he could shout at her on any minor mistake then how would he react if she demanded for something?

Picking up her mobile phone she dialled Mohsin's number but even after a few calls he didn't receive it. She dialled his number one more time and put the mobile on her ear when footsteps coming upstairs grabbed her attention. Sitting properly on the sofa she adjusted her dupatta with the thought that it must be Saad but a tall figure in the khaki appeared in front of her eyes. She hurriedly cut the call and stood up. Placing the mobile on the sofa she rushed towards the kitchen and in no time she was back with a glass and water bottle.

"Aaj aap jaldi aa gaye?" She muttered pouring the water in the glass

(you came early today.)

"Kis se baat kar rahi thi?" He asked while loosing his belt and sitting on the sofa, Madiha shok her head while passing the glass towards him, "kisi se nhi." She muttered and Danish looked at her with a suspicious gaze, instead of the glass of water he picked up her mobile.

(Who were you talking to?)

(With no one)

"To mujhe dekh ke mobile kyu rakh diya tha?" There was something in his voice which was not sounding like a husband but a police officer who was interrogating a criminal. Madiha was confused about the explanation she had to give. "password." Danish's voice echoed in her ears to tell her that she was answerable in front of him.

(Then why did you keep the mobile after seeing me?)

"Ji?" She was shocked

"Password kya hai iska?" He asked and Madiha looked at her mobile which was in her husband's hand.

(What's the password?)

"Aap mera mobile check karenge? Mujh par shak kar rhe hain aap?" Her voice was full of pain. How could he do that?

(Will you check my mobile? Are you doubting me?)

"Isme aesa kuch hai kya jo tum chhupa rhi ho?" He asked and Madiha suppressed her tears. She was deeply hurt, No one ever doubted on her but this man was doing.

(Is there something in this that you are hiding?)

"Mohsin ko phone kar rhi thi, wo phone nhi utha Raha," placing the glass of water on the coffee table she said with anger. "Password kyu nahi bata rahi? Kya chhupa rhi ho?"

(I was calling Mohsin, but he is not picking up the phone,)

(Why are you not telling me the password? What are you hiding?)

"568690, and I'm not hiding anything," she said with anger and walked to her bedroom. Today she was not scared but hurt, the man whom she was giving her loyalty to was actually doubting her. Danish ignored her anger as well as tears and started checking her chats and call history. Today, he was working on a case, a woman was missing for the last few months and after all police solved the mystery. That woman was involved in an extra marital affair for the last few years and recently she ran away with her lover leaving her husband whom she didn't love. Madiha also didn't love him. He could see in her eyes, there was no emotion for him. If one woman can run away with a lover then how could he trust his wife blindly?

While checking her mobile phone he found nothing suspicious, mostly she was having conversation with family members but there was an unknown number in her call logs. He checked the date and duration of the call.

It was the only unknown number in the call logs, which was showing a duration of some ten minutes and the date was yelling that she talked to someone just a day before getting married. And the same number called her at the day of their wedding too, that call lasted for some twelve minutes. It means she used to talk to someone for so long! He furrowed and dialled the number.

"Hello." A masculine voice came from the other side and his blood boiled in anger. "Hello Madiha, are you there." Danish's blood was boiling by now. He was extremely good in filling the plot holes of a story so after hearing a masculine voice he immediately put two and two together to make it a five. Disconnecting the call he glared at the door of the room where Madiha was crying silently. Before he walked towards the room the mobile started ringing and he received the call .

"Hello. Kon bol raha hai?" Danish asked and for a moment there was silence on the other side.

(Hi. who is speaking?)

"Aap kon bol rahe hain? Ye to Madiha ka number hai na." It wasn't difficult for him to recognise this voice. It was the same voice he listened to only a few moments ago.

(Who are you? This is Madiha's number, isn't it?)

"Danish baat kar rha hu, Madiha ka shohor."

(It's Danish, Madiha's husband.)

"Oh achha. Main uska chacha bol raha hu. Uska phone aaya tha abhi to call back kri mene." He could sense that the voice of the person present on the other side was calm and normal without any kind of panic or nervousness. So, wasn't anything fishy? Or was he a good actor?

(Oh good. I am his uncle. I got a call from her so I just called her back."

"Ghar me mehman aye huye hain shayad kisi bachhe ne mila diya hoga. Madiha ne nhi kri thi call." Danish discounted the call and sent that number to someone to get the details of the sim card owner on an urgent note. Being a policeman he had many such powers and he knew how to use them accordingly.

(There are guests in the house, maybe some child must have dialled it. Madiha hadn't made the call.)

In the time being he went downstairs to meet Saad and asked him if anyone comes to meet Madiha or if she goes somewhere in his absence? And Saad nodded.

"A few times bhabi's brother comes to meet her when you weren't at home." Saad replied and Danish furrowed.

"Mohsin?"

"Yes." Saad nodded

"Anyone else?"

"No."

"Hmm... Fine." He muttered and walked back upstairs with only one question in his head. Was it my misunderstanding?

"Take it." Passing the mobile phone to Madiha he said in the same cold tone and she shifted her eyes from the pages of book to his face. "Keep it. I'm not used to of tolerating doubts." She replied with another level of pain and disappointment. Danish loosened his waist belt and sat down beside her while opening the first two buttons of his shirt.

"Tumhe gussa bhi aata hai?" His question was simple but the tone was unchanged as well as cold.

(Do you get angry too?)

"Aap mujh par shak kar rhe hain mujhe gussa nhi ayega?" She threw a sharp glare at him then looked away. Danish's mobile phone buzzed, he checked the message which was containing the details of the very sim card owner.

(You are doubting me, won't I get angry?)

" Mene to sirf tumhare mobile ka password manga tha, ye Shak karna hota hai?" His brows furrowed, for a moment Madiha felt scared because she knew this act usually followed by his anger but she wasn't so fearful to sacrifice with her self-respect.

( I just asked for your mobile password, is this called doubting?)

"Phir kya hota hai? Mene to kabhi aapka mobile password nhi manga. Kabhi aapka mobile check nhi kra..." Without looking at him she said with same disappointment.

(Then what's that? I never asked for your mobile password. Never check your mobile...)

"Mang leti, mene kab mana kara? Check kar lo mera mobile." Passing his mobile towards Madiha he said in a softer tone and she looked at him. His eyes were holding a new expression, what was that expression she didn't know but it was a bit near to love. After seeing this new feeling for herself she felt like after all she got the required amount of love and she eyes filled with tears.

(You would have asked, when did I refuse? Check my mobile.)

"Is rishte mein bharosa hi to sabse zyada zaruri hota hai, aap mujh par bharosa nhi kar rhe aur chahte hain ki main bhi aap par bharosa na karu? Mujhe aapka mobile check karne mein koi interest nhi hai, kya hum ek dusre par bina check rakhe bharosa nhi kar sakte?" Her voice was low and hopes were high, her eyes dropped two drops and Danish lightly pulled her in a hug.

(Trust is most important in this relationship, you are not trusting me and want me not to trust you too? I'm not interested in checking your mobile, can't we trust each other without keeping a check?)

"Achha theek hai, nhi kar rha tum par shak. Mohsin se baat ho gyi? Kesa hai wo?" Caressing her back he asked and she silently placed her head on his chest. For the first time she felt that the invisible wall between them was shettered and she found her husband's love and trust. She wasn't from those who forget easily but for the sake of a better life she decided to ignore everything happened. She wanted to spend a happy life with this man who was having every right on her.

(Well okay, I'm not doubting you. Did you talk to Mohsin? How is he?)

"Baat nhi Hui Mohsin se, usne phone hi nhi uthaya." She muttered and closed her eyes while wrapping her arms around him.

(I didn't talk to Mohsin, he didn't even pick up the phone.)

"He must be busy in work." Danish whispered and Mahida nodded while moving back. "Mohsin ke alawa koi aur nhi hai na tumhari family me?" Even after knowing the answer he asked and she smiled like a pain.

(Apart from Mohsin, there is no one else in your family, is there?)

"Hamare ghar ko to shayad nazar lag gyi thi... Ammi aur abbu ke jhagde itne bade to kabhi nhi hote the ki talaq tak noobat aa jaye... Abbu bohot pyaar karte the mujhe aur Mohsin ko." She cried out while sharing her pain and Danish waited for her to continue. "Ammi Abbu ke alag ho jaane ke baad kabhi kuch theek nahi hua, yaha Ammi bimar rehne laagi aur waha abbu. Dono bohot mohabbat karte the en dusre se pta nhi phir ye sab kyu ho gya tha." She wiped her eyes and he hummed.

(Probably it was someone's evil-eye on our family... Ammi and Abbu's quarrels were never so big that it even came to the point of divorce...Abbu used to love me and Mohsin very much.)

(After the separation of Ammi and Abbu, nothing ever went well, here Ammi started staying ill and there Abbu. Both used to love each other a lot. God knows why and how all this had happened.)

"Abbu se mulaqat hoti thi?" He asked and she nodded while fresh tears rolled down from her eyes.

(Did you use to meet Abbu?)

"Kabhi kabhi wo ghar ke bahar aa jaate the mujhe aur Mohsin ko apne sath kahi le jate the lekin pichhle 2 saal se wo bohot bimar rehne lage the, phir tab hi mulaqaat hui jab wo apni aakhri saase le rahe the, unhone bulaya tha mujhe aur Mohsin ko lekin koi baat nhi kar paye."

(Sometimes he used to come outside the house to take me and Mohsin with him somewhere but for the last 2 years he was very ill, then we met him only when he was taking his last breath. He had called me and Mohsin but we couldn't talk.)

"Unke inteqal ke baad bhi tum dono jate the waha?" Danish asked and she shook her head.

(Did both of you used to visit there even after his death?)

"Waha jaa ke kya karte? Ab waha hai hi kon?" She muttered.

(What would we do after going there? Who is there for us?)

"Kyu? Koi rishtedaar nhi hai tumhara?" He enquired with brows furrowed and she nodded.

(Why? you have no relatives?)

"Ek chacha hain,"

(I have an uncle)

"Sage chacha hain aur tumne unhe shadi me bhi nhi bulaya?" Danish furrowed and Madiha stopped fidgeting with the corner of her dupatta and looked up at her husband. For the first time she was seeing this man so keenly, for the first time she was liking him. Today he was sharing her pains and sorrows. What else she wanted?

(He is your real uncle but you didn't even invite him to the wedding?)

"Jab hamara rishta pakka hua tha tab Mamu ne unhe bata diya tha. Shadi se kuchh din pehle mene khud unhe call karke kaha tha ki Abbu ki jagah ab wo hi hain, aa kar apne hatho se rukhsat kar dein mujhe lekin wo nhi aaye the bas phone kar ke mubarakbad de di thi. Shayad unhe khatra hoga ki kahi shadi ka kharcha unke kandho par na aa jaye." Madiha smiled sadly, she had seen real faces of those relationships whom she had loved a lot... Her (chacha) paternal uncle was also one from those whom she had loved from the core of her heart.

(Mamu had told him when our match was fixed. A few days before the marriage, I myself called him and told him that he is now in the place of Abbu for us, I asked him to come to our nikkah and bless us but he didn't come just congratulate me on a phone call. Perhaps he would be worried that the expenses of the wedding should not fall on his shoulders.)

"Kon kon hai chacha ki family me?" Danish asked and Madiha sighed.

(Who all are there in Uncle's family?)

"Chachu, chachi, aur unki do betiyan."

(Uncle, aunty and their three daughters)

"Tumhare chaha ka naam kya hai? Ghar kaha hai unka?" He asked and Madiha looked at him with confusion. "Kyu puchh rhe hain?" She asked and he just shrugged like saying not for a good reason.

(What's the name of your uncle? Where does he live?)

Finding no problem in sharing the details she told the name and address of her uncle along with many more things. Madiha was so satisfied that after two months of getting married he started taking interest in her but she didn't know the reality. Danish wasn't interested in knowing anything other than the name and the address of her uncle as he had to match it with the details of that sim car owner.

"Aap har baat par gussa karte hain main chup chaap seh leti hu, lekin please, mujh par shak nahi kariyega kabhi. Main is rishte ko dil se nibhana chahti hu."

(You get angry at every minor thing and I bear silently, but please, never doubt me. I want to work on this relationship with all my heart.)

Madiha demanded and hugged Danish. Maybe her broken self wanted a shelter so she was trying to get support from the one who himself was responsible for many of her pains. However Danish liked her act and he readjusted her in his arms, Madiha looked up and found him smiling. She also smiled with tear filled eyes and soon those tears rolled down. Hugging him again she cried out on his chest.

After all I get what I wanted!

Peace

Love

Trust

And respect.

She smiled and break the hug while sniffling and clean her eyes with the back of her palms.

"Aap jaa kar jaldi se change kar lijiye main aapke liye chai bana deti hu." She walked towards the kitchen and Danish looked at her back with furrowed brows, his hand grabbed the mobile phone present on the mattress and checked it one more time. There was no clue of any social media account.

(You go and change quickly, I will make tea for you.)

Is this possible for someone in this era to have no social media account?

Or has she been hiding something very efficiently?

The doubtful mind think like a policeman and tried hard to find out the missing clues of the puzzle without knowing that he himself was about to puzzle his married life for no good reason.

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