The day seems too long, tiring and hectic to him, not because of work load but because of legal formalities. He was officially suspended, and he would remain suspended until the case against him comes to an end. However he knew how to use his resources and powers to handle such situations nevertheless he was worried. Today two feelings knocked him one after another. The very first was happiness and the other was restlessness, but the first feeling was prominent, after all he was going to become a father. What else did he want at this point of life? Maybe nothing! His life was going perfect.

After many days he forgave Madiha for whatever he overheard. Even today he was feeling something for Madiha, he didn't know what that feeling was, love, affection or just attraction, whatever it was, he was happy. His child means a world to him.

It was afternoon only and he decided to go back home instead of spending time in the police station. Though he was happy but his expressions changed when found the main door of the home already open. Shaking his head with disappointment he locked the door behind himself, Saad must have forgotten to lock the door, saying in his heart he glanced at the door of Saad's room, a lock was hanging from it that clearly means that he went somewhere, but where? 

Shrugging the thought he walked towards the stairs. While climbing only a few steps he listened Madiha's voice, she was continuously saying something. With whom she can talk? Her mobile is not in a working condition. Humaira and Umera are already gone then who could be the one? He asked himself while stopping on the second upper stair to listen to the conversation but he understood only a few words.

Mujhe pta hai jab koi itni buri tarah baat karta hai to kesa lagta hai, bohot dukh hota hai lekin kabhi kabhi hum sabr ke alawa kuch nhi kar sakte. Koi pareshani ho to mere paas aa jaya karo, main hu na.

(I know how it feels when someone talks rudely, I know it hurts but we can't do anything other than having patience. If you have any problems, come to me, I am here.)

For a few moments Danish was unable to figure out who the listener was? But he suddenly remembered that last night he scolded Saad so badly that he was on the edge of crying. So it means Madiha not only backbites him with her brother but with Saad too?

Danish gritted his teeth and walked upstairs. His blood got another boil when he noticed Madiha sitting on the sofa and a boy was resting his head on her shoulder while she was caressing his head and crying. She was so lost that she didn't know about a tall figure standing only a few steps away from her. The white part of his eyes turned red due to rage, he could kill his wife as well as this man but before he could take an action a question stood high in front of him.

Who was that boy? An average height, and average build frame with brownish black hair. Saad? Yes, of course Saad.

"Madiha." Danish's voice wasn't like a roar but not less either. It was horrible enough to make her jump on her place she looked up with a jolt.

"Aap? Is waqt." She stood up with the speed of light, unable to understand what to say other than this. Wiping away the tears with her dupatta she rushed towards the kitchen to bring water, she didn't want him to get angry on any minor or major mistake so it was better for her to perform her duties without any delay.

(You at this time?)

Danish looked at the figure sitting on the sofa, and was surprised to see that this boy was not Saad but Mohsin. Madiha's real brother.

Mohsin and Saad both of them were the owners of the same physique so technically it wasn't his fault if he concluded something else. Mohsin greeted him without making eye contact as he was hiding the tears present in it.

"Kya hua? koi pareshani hai kya?"

(What's wrong? Is there any problem?)

"Nhi Bhai, bas tabiyat thik nhi hai, sar mein bohot dard hai." Mohsin muttered while wiping his eyes and forehead with the handkerchief. Meanwhile Madiha came back with a glass of water and Danish took a big sip but closed his eyes with anger before gulping it down.

(Umm Not really but I'm not well, I have a severe headache.)

"Is se zyada garam paani nhi tha ghar mein?" It wasn't a question but a satire which was enough to shiver Madiha. Yesterday he asked luke warm water as he had a cold and today when she was only following his order he had an issue with it.

(Don't we have hotter water at home?)

But without wasting time she ran towards the fridge, grabbed a bottle of cold water and pour it in the half filled glass of water which was already present in her husband's hand. She was again feeling the same numbness in her feet and palms because she hadn't iron his clothes yet and Danish does not like to delay in taking a shower after coming back from the duty.

She rushed towards the bedroom to draw out a pair of clothes from the cupboard, spreading the shirt on the iron table she just picked the iron when Danish stepped in the room. His eyes were already saying that she should iron his clothes beforehand but how would Madiha got to know that he will arrive soon today?

"Aap... Aap nahane chale jaiye main kapde de dungi. Mujhe pta nhi tha aap jaldi aa jayenge warna..." Her voice was shivering and the last part of the sentance was even not coming out from her throat.

(You... You go and take a bath, I'll give you clothes. I did not know about your early arrival otherwise...)

"Tumhe apne bhai ke sath beyth ke roone se fursat mile to ghar ka koi kaam yaad rahega na!" And he walked to the bathroom with another level of rudeness. Maybe he himself forgot that today he felt an unnamed feeling for his wife, right now he was giving her only one feeling that was pain.

(If you get a break from crying with your brother, then you will remember some household work, will you not?)

Jab inki behno ke liye main nookraniyo ki tarha kaam karti hu tab inhe koi shikayat nhi hoti, main apne bhai se kuch deyr baat kya kar lu inhe gussa aa jata hai. She said in her heart while seeing him going to the bathroom and focused on the iron table.

(He doesn't even acknowledge when I work as a maid for his sisters and he gets angry if I talk to his brother for a while.)

Informing Danish after hanging the clothes on the bathroom door she walked to the kitchen to prepare tea for him. "Madiha, towel kaha hai?" After hearing that angry voice she gasped loudly while running back to the bedroom and drew out a towel from the cupboard, how could she forget such a small thing? She could sense that Danish was angry and she was again seeing herself failing to satisfy him.

(Madiha, where is the towel?)

Mohsin was sitting alone like an unwanted guest, watching his sister running from one place to another. "Chai pi lo Mohsin." Placing a cup in front of him Madiha was about to turn back when a whisper stop her.

(Have tea.)

"Ye har rooz itna hi cheekhte hain aap par?" Mohsin asked and Madiha looked at him then towards the door of bedroom, Danish could come out at any moment, she faked a smile and shook her head but her eyes filled with tears. "Nahi, har rooz nhi cheekhte, kabhi kabhi is tarha ignore karte hain jese sadak par bhook rahe kisi kutte ko ignore kar rahe ho." Her words were harsh but not more than the reality. Mohsin was shocked to see this side of her sister's life, before that he had a thought that Danish was overbearing man who may get angry occasionally but today he saw the reality. Madiha's tears were afraid of coming out of her eyes so she just soaked them in the corner of her dupatta while going back to the kitchen. Only a few hours ago she thought that Danish was charged after getting to know about her pregnancy but she forgot that people don't change overnight. Well, she didn't have time to think about all these things because Danish had already arrived on the sofa.

(He yells at you this much every day?)

(No, he doesn't yell every day, sometimes he ignores me like one ignores a barking dog on the road.)

"Chai (tea)." Placing the cup on the table she glanced at him, "biscuits ya rusk lenge?"

(Would you like to have some biscuits or rusks?)

"Laa kar rakh do, lena hoga to le lunga. Koi kaam khud bhi kar liya karo, ya har baat main detail mein batata rahu?"

(Bring it and put it on the table, I will take it if I want. Can't you do some work yourself, is it necessary for me to explain everything in detail?)

Nhi har baat detail mein batani zaruri nhi hai, kuch baato ka jawab sirf haa ya Naa mein bhi diya jaa sakta hai. Replying in her heart she walked to the kitchen one more time.

(No it's not necessary to give a detailed reply, sometimes only yes and no are enough.)

She placed a plate in front of her husband and sat down beside her brother, but before she could talk to him a voice grabbed their attention.

"Khana kha kar jaoge?" Danish's question was not less than a humiliation. Mohsin put down the cup of tea before even taking a single sip from it and shook his head.

(Will you go after having dinner?)

"Nhi Bhai, bas jaa rha hu." Mohsin stood up without wasting a second and MAdiha looked at her husband then brother.

(No Bhai, I'm just going.)

"Khana kha kar jana Mohsin, main bas khana banane jaa hi rahi hu." Madiha tried to stop her brother, maybe she forgot that she was tolerating harm to her self-respect but her brother was new to this.

(Mohsin, go after having dinner, I am just going to cook.)

"Nahi Aapi, aap se milne aaya tha mil liye." And he didn't waste a single second in walking towards the stairs after greeting Danish, he had come to apologize for his behaviour and now Madiha was feeling the need to apologise in front of him for Danish's behaviour. She kept watching him until he disappeared while going downstairs.

(No aapi, I arrived just to meet you.)

"Mera ek hi Bhai hai." This time she was unable to stop her tears.

(I only have one brother.)

"Maine kab kaha 3-4 hain?" Sipping the tea he replied without looking at her and turn the TV on.

(Have I said that you have 3 or 4?)

"Aap Kam se kam use khane ke liye to rook sakte the."

(At least you could offer him dinner.)

"Mene to puchha tha, usne khud hi mana kar diya." And he raised the volume of TV which was showing a cricket match Shrilanka and Newzealand, he wasn't interested in cricket as same as Madiha's complaint.

(I asked him about dinner, but he denied.)

Agar main bhi aapki behno ko isi tarha dawat du to? She wanted to say but again only thought.

(What if I also invite your sisters in the same way?)

"Humaira aur Umera se bhi isi tarah puchhte hain?" Hiding her anger behind the hushed tone she asked but Danish wasn't shy to show this emotion openly, for a few seconds he kept staring at her with cold sight as if reading Madiha's mind and yes he successfully read it. 

(Do you ask Humaira and Umera in the same way?)

"Jo tumhare is chhote se dimaag mein chal rha hai na main achhi tarha jaanta hu, tumne agar meri behno se bure rawaiya karne ka soocha bhi to tayyar rehna, wo din is ghar tumhara aakhri din hoga." Throwing the remote on the sofa he walked out leaving Madiha shocked. She literally forgot to take the next breath, she felt as if someone took away the shelter from her.

(I know what's coming in your tiny brain but keep it in your mind that the day you misbehave with my sisters will be your last day in this home.)

Danish had already noticed that there was no place where Madiha could go, She had no one in this world other than a brother, who was struggling for his livelihood, a maternal uncle who had already shrugged off the burden from his shoulders and a paternal uncle who didn't want to take a burden on his shoulder, so where could a helpless lady could go? She will have to live here only, and she'll live here in every condition. This man knew the art of taking advantage of other's helplessness, he was skillful in hitting one's weak-points for his own betterment and he was doing the same in Madiha's case too.

<><><>