Madiha switched on the light of the storeroom but closed her eyes for a moment when realised that it was not working. She was already tired of Danish's nature of delaying these small works, she was already tired of Danish. Taking back steps she went near the staircase and peeped down.

"Saad."

"Saad"

"Ji bhabi?" Saad came out from his room while looking up and replied in a not so loud voice.

"Tumhe light theek karni aati hai?"

(Do you know how to fix light?)

"Umm... Dekhna padega bhabi... Chhote moote electronics to theek kar deta hu." Saad replied after thinking for two moments and Madiha nodded.

(Um... I'll have to see, I can fix small electronics.)

"Storeroom ki light dekh lo, agar theek ho jaye to..." She left the sentence in between and Saad nodded his head. "Bhabi aap jaiye, main tool kit le kar aa raha hu."

(See the light of the storeroom if you can fix it.)

(Fine, you go I'm coming after taking the tool kit.)

"Okay," and she walked back to the kitchen. Opening the fridge she thought for two minutes about what she should cook but got no clue. Then thought of making something special for her Danish. After thinking about his words she didn't know anything to bring him around other than cooking his favourite dishes. Planning everything in her mind she walked towards the staircase again. "Saad."

"Ji bhabi, aa raha hu, bas do minute."

(Yeah bhabi, coming. Just a minute.)

"It's okay, araam se aa jana, lekin pehle mujhe bazar se kuch saman laa do." She replied in loud voice and Saad came out of his room.

(It's okay, take your time, but first get me some stuff from the market.)

"Ji bhabi, kya saman?" He asked and she told him to bring a few groceries along with some more things necessary for cooking. She gave him some money which Danish yesterday handed over her while doing shopping and she silently took a note from them without coming in his notice.

(Tell me what stuff?)

Holding a hope that maybe he'll be happy to see her efforts she started working in the kitchen. Danish wanted Madiha to show her love and she was trying her best, there was no love for him in her heart but she wanted to develop a good bond between them, she was ready to forget everything if he thought to change himself.

After some half an hour Saad knocked on the staircase and peeped in, "bhabi..."

"Aa jao Saad." Madiha replied and Saad walked towards the kitchen. "Arey waah, aaj pehli baar sab kuch le aaye, bina kuch bhule." She complimented Saad and he scratched his nape with a smile but Madiha's smile was offended with her.

(Come in Saad.)

(Oh wow, you brought everything for the first time)

"Bhabi main light theek kar deta hu."

(Let me see the light.)

"Hmm please..."

"Saad listen..." Madiha called him when he was about to turn. "Ji bhabi?"

"Tumhare Bhai ko kheer pasand hai?" Asked Madiha in a hushed tone, she didn't know much about her husband even after living with him for many months.

(What you Bhai likes to eat most?)

"Jab badi Amma thi tab Bhai ko kheer bohot pasand thi, lekin unke guzar jaane ke baad shayad ghr me kabhi kheer nhi bani." Madiha smiled softly and nodded. She already planned to make kheer but she didn't know that Danish liked it.

(When badi Amma was alive Bhai used to like kheer very much, but after her demise, no one made kheer in the home.)

"Theek hai, tum light theek kar do."

(Okay, you fix the light.)

"Bhabi Aaj kuch special bana rahi hain aap?"

(Bhabi are you making something special?)

"Special to nahi bas... Mene socha Aaj tumhare Bhai ki pasand ka khana bana leti hu."

(Not special, just something that your bhai likes.)

"Aap itni achhi hain aur Bhai hamesha aap par gussa karte rehte hain." Saad rolled his eyes

(You are so nice but bhai is always angry at you.)

"It's okay." Madiha muttered and started working, Saad also went to the storeroom but he didn't know how his words worked as a dagger on Madiha's heart.

"Allah paak please aaj wo achhe mood mein ghar wapas aye. Please Allah paak please." She muttered while washing rice and looked at the other works to be done in very little time.

(Allah paak, please send him in a good mood today.)

"Bhabi light is fixed." Saad came back in just five minutes, Madiha widen her eyes while turning her head towards him. "Really So soon?"

"Choota sa fault tha Bhabi, chutki bajate hi theek ho gya." Snapping his fingers in air Saad announced happily and Madiha smiled at his full of life nature.

(There was a small fault bhabhi, it got fixed in a blink of an eye.)

"Mujhe pta hota to tumhe pehle hi bula leti chutki bajane ke liye." Madiha again turned her head towards the sink in which she was still washing rice and Saad felt happy to help her.

(I would already asked you to blink your eye If I knew it.)

"Bhabi koi aur kaam hai?"

(bhabhi is there any other work)

"Umm... yes..." She again turned her head with a pout and Saad nodded as if he was ready to do all her works. "Bataiye na."

(Tell me )

"Chhat par algani (clothesline) tut gayi hai, use theek kar sakte ho to kar do please, mujhe bohot preshani ho rahi hai." Madiha required.

(The clothesline on the ceiling is broken, if you can fix it please do so, It's getting difficult for me to manage.)

"Abhi dekh leta hu bhabi."

(Let me see first.)

And lifting the tool kit Saad ran towards the stairs. Madiha smiled at him, she was wondering how Saad managed to stay so happy without his parents when he was living in someone else's home... His situation was very much similar to Madiha, an orphan living on someone's mercy.

"Bhabi I need the drilling machine for this work.." Saad again come downstairs and Madiha nodded. She gave him what he wanted and went to the storeroom, she switched on the light which glowed up the small room but very next moment it was darkness everywhere. "Ufff... this light can't be fixed ever." She muttered and again started her work in the kitchen. This time she was doing dishes when Saad came with a smile.

"Bhabi ho gya. Aur kya kaam hai?" He asked while panting.

(Bhabi done. What else? Tell me.)

"Saans to le lo Saad, chhat par itni garmi hai... Baith jao, thoda paani piyo phir koi aur kaam karna. Aur ye light abhi bhi theek nhi Hui hai, lekin ise baad me dekhna pehle saas le lo." Madiha instructed and Saad sat down on the sofa of the living room. Madiha passed him a glass of lemonade. Saad didn't hold the glass but kept watching her face without blinking. She was confused. Why he was watching her like this?

(Relax for a while, it's so hot on the terrace. Sit down, have some water then think about other works. And this light is not fixed yet, but check it later first take a breath.)

"Kya hua?" She muttered and Saad shook his head while rubbing his eyes with his palm to wipe away the moisture of tears.

(What happened?)

"Mene apni ammi ko bachpan mein dekha tha bhabi, uske baad to unka koi photo bhi nhi hai mere paas, lekin mujhe thoda thoda yaad hai, wo kuch kuch aap jesi dikhti thi. Badi Amma bhi mujhe bohot pyaar karti thi, bilkul ek bete ki tarha. Jab wo garmi mein mujhse koi kaam karati thi to aese hi mujhe thanda thanda sharbat deti thi... Main jab bhi aapko dekhta hu to mujhe Ammi aur Badi Amma yaad aa jaati hain." Saad smiled sadly, he was seeing two motherly figures in Madiha who was just 4-5 years older than him.

(Bhabi, I had seen my mother in childhood only, i don't even have a photo of hers but I remember, she looked like you a little bit. Badi Amma also used to love me like a son, she used to give me cold drinks after telling me to do some work in the hot summer days. Whenever I see you I remember Ammi and Badi Amma.)

"Dhyaan rakha karo apna. Ye pilo." Madiha whispered in a hushed tone, her voice was full of love, she same love she showed for Mohsin, the same love she was feeling for her little child who was present in her frame, the purest form of love one could feel for someone, and Saad smiled while taking the first sip.

(Take care of yourself. Have it.)

Madiha wiped her sweat with the corner of dupatta and restated the work she was already doing. "Saad, kuch khaoge?" She asked in a loud voice but very next moment Saad was standing behind her.

(Saad, do you wanna eat something??)

"Nhi bhabi, aapko koi aur kaam ho to bata dijiye."

(No bhabi, you tell me if you have some other work to do.)

"Kaam to bohot saare hain, kya kya karoge tum? Jitna kar diya wo hi kaafi hai. Ab jao aur parhayi kar lo."

(There is a lot of work, you can't even do all of them. Whatever you've done is enough.  Now go and study.)

"Bhabi mujhse parhayi nhi kri jaa rhi, bhai ne mera college me admission to kra diya lekin mujhe kuch bhi samajh nhi aata. English aur Pol science to bilkul bhi nhi." Saad said like a small boy who doesn't want to go school and Madiha hummed while covering her head with her dupatta.

(Bhabi I can't study. Bhai has enrolled me in the college but I can't understand anything, especially English and pol science.)

"Pya samajhna hai English aur Pol science mein?" Asked Madiha with furrowed brows.

(What the issue with English and Pol Science?)

"What is the nature of Pol science? Ye bhi koi question hua bhala? Pol science kya koi insaan hai jo uska koi nature hoga? Danish Bhai ka nature pucche to main likh bhi du ki wo khadoos hain." Saad rolled his eyes and laughed on his own joke but Madiha sighed.

(What's the nature of Pol Science? Is this even a question? Is Pol Science a human being who would have any nature?  If you ask about Danish Bhai's nature, I will write that he is rude but Pol Science?)

"Nature of political science... It is art as well as science. Science: because it follows some rigid rules and regulations but at the same time it's Art: because in art we change the applications in different ways according to situation." Madiha raised her left brow and Saad blinked in disbelief.

"Bhabi?? Aapko kese pta?"

(How do you know?)

"I have done my masters in Pol science and English too." She said in a whisper and Saad's eyes grew wide.

"Bhabi mujhe nhi pta tha aap itni padi likhi hain!" Madiha smiled sadly after hearing this question and shrugged like a sarcasm, maybe no one can say that she was so educated but yes, she was. She had done her Masters in Pol Science only when she met Athar for the very first time, and then she enrolled herself in a masters degree in English, which was very different for her to manage yet she successfully passed it, unfortunately with not so good grades.

(Bhabi, I didn't know you were so educated!)

"Kaash zindagi jeene ka bhi koi course hota to wo bhi kar leti lekin nhi hai." She muttered but didn't say it clearly and ordered Saad to quickly pick up him books and come back upstairs to study. "Aaj se main tumhe parhaungi. 1 ghanta yaha Beth kar tum sirf aur sirf parhayi karoge. Samjhe?" Madiha scolded him while returning to the kitchen and Saad rushed downstairs to pick his books. He wasn't a workshy, he liked to do work and study hard but circumstances made things difficult for him.

(I wish there would be a course that teaches us the art of living too, but there is none.)

(From today onwards I'll teach you. You will stay here for 1 hour and study hard. Got it?)

Very soon Saad came back upstairs holding a few books, a notebook and an enthusiastic smile which was not leaving his lips. "Bhabi I'm back." He informed loudly

"Baith jao aur problems nikalo. Main aa rhi hu." Madiha yelled and lower the flame of the stove before going out from the kitchen.

(Sit down and solve the problems.  I am coming.)

Opposite to her expectations, she found Saad an extraordinary sharp student who was so sincere towards his studies, closing the book with a thud Madiha looked up. "Saad you're so intelligent then why are you ho to ye distance mode se graduation kyu kar rhe ho?" She asked and Saad shrugged.

"Then what should I do?" He was confused.

"Kisi professional course mein admission lo, dil laga kar parhayi Karo, ek achhi job dhundho aur apni life behtar banao. Bura mat manana, lekin kab tak is ghar ke naukar ki tarha zindagi guzaroge?" Madiha put the bitter truth in front of his which turned his face sad.

(Take admission in a professional course, study hard, find a good job and make your life better. Please don't mind, but how long will you live like a house servant?)

"Bhabi, bhai ke bohot ehsaan hain mujh par. Wo nokar ki tarha nhi apne chhote Bhai ki tarha rakhte hain wo mujhe."

(Bhabi, bhai owes me a lot. He never treats me like a servant, but his younger brother.)

"Hmm... chalo maan liya tumhare Bhai bohot achhe hain lekin tum kab tak is ghar ke ek kamre mein rehte rahoge? Apni Umar dekho, settle down hone ki umar hai ye, I'm your good wisher. Thoda socho, padho likho apni zindagi badlo." This time Saad listened to Madiha carefully and think for a few moments then shrugged.

(Hmm... fine, your brother is very nice but for how long will you stay in one room of this house?  Look at your age, this is the age to settle down, I'm your good wisher. Think a little about this, study hard and change your life.)

"I don't have money to pay the fee for a Professional course" Said Saad in hushed tone and Madiha

sighed.

"Then let's focus on this only." She muttered while opening the book again. After explaining a few topics to Saad she went to the kitchen and he started focusing on the said topics. After some ten minutes she was back with two cups of tea.

"Thank you bhabi."

"Saad." She muttered when he almost finished his tea, this time she was looking stressed and pale.

"Ji bhabi?"

"Tumhare Bhai aane wale hain, tum chale jao, ab main kal parha dungi." Saad nod his head while gathering his books and walked towards the stairs but he was stopped again by Madiha's call.

(Your bhai is about to come, you go, now I will teach you tomorrow.)

"Saad."

"Ji bhabi?"

"Apne Bhai ko mat batana ki tum yaha upar aaye the... Please bilkul bhi nhi, bhul kar bhi nhi." Madiha instructed but this time Saad furrowed.

(Don't tell your bhai that you came up here... please, not even by mistake.)

"But why?"

"Bas Jo keh rahi hu wo sun lo. Agar wo puchhe ki tum unki absence mein yaha aate ho ya nhi to keh dena ki tum yaha nahi aate." Saad was confused but shrugged and nod his head.

(Just listen to what I am saying.  If he asks whether you come here in his absence or not, then tell him that you do not come here.)

"Okay bhabhi." And he stepped down from the stairs. Madiha felt guilty for this lying but at least she wasn't guilty for not helping a boy whom she could help. Before she could think about this matter even more a smell his her nostrils.

"Ya allah..." Smacking her forehead she literally ran towards the kitchen from which she could smell of something burning.

"Oh no..." Closing her eyes for a moment she cursed herself. The tomato soup which she had put on low flame now spreaded everywhere and remaining in the pan was almost burnt. She checked the condition of half cooked biryani, then kheer. Both of those were fine till now. She sighed and started cleaning everything and in between she was stirring the kheer occasionally.

Sweat drops were appearing on her forehead and due to extreme heat her face was looking dark red, but in return of these efforts she didn't want anything just one smile from Danish. She was not in love with this man, she was on the edge of hating him and still wanted to make it even fine because she didn't want to spend this kind of life with him. She was trying her best to change herself in a way that her husband wanted her to see.

She had already stopped grooming herself, but she didn't know that Danish wanted to see her in beautiful attire as well as in a groomed look, but he couldn't tolerate her going in front of any other man.

She had been cooking the best dishes for him to express her love, which was actually a false act only, but Danish didn't want her to cook for him, he wanted her to express some physical form of love which she never felt towards him.

"Allah paak, please unhe khana pasand aa jaye." She muttered while putting Biryani on dum (slow process of cooking on steam) and started transferring the kheer into bowls.

(Please God, he like the food tonight.)

His harsh words were not leaving to echo in her ears, each and every word was piecing her heart uncountable times. She was not from those who listen and forget, she may look normal but she keeps thinking about others' words, behaviour and the reason behind them for a very long period of time. She couldn't forget whatever Danish said in the morning only.

Psychology says, if you keep repeating a lie numerous times with confidence without making even a minor change then over a period of time you and others will start to be convinced by that, same was happening with Madiha, Danish didn't repeat his words numerous times but since morning she had already listened the echo of his voice a thousand times, and now, unknowingly she was believing that it was her fault only. His every reply was the reaction of her action. She was responsible for Danish's rude and indifferent behaviour.

Mera bhi dil chahta hai main jab Ghar wapas aau to meri biwi mujhse khush ho ke baat kare, tayyar ho ke mere samne aaye, kuch deyr mere sath bethe.

(I also want my wife to welcome me home with a smile, to talk to me happily, to groom herself for me, and spend some time with me.)

Holding his words in her mind she walked towards the bedroom, drew out a new pair of clothes from cupboard and looked at it keeply. Danish brought it for her some two months ago, but she never felt the urge to wear something good after the night he scolded her to do makeup.

Maybe he'll be happy to see me groomed for him. Maybe he'll start behaving better after seeing me happy with him. Though she was not happy but decided to pretend and without wasting any time she rushed towards the bathroom. After a short shower she came back to the room, on the name of makeup she applied a natural shade of lipstick and kohl which was enough to enhance her beauty. Tying her hair in loose braid she picked the dupatta from the bed and looked at herself from head to toe.

She was looking pretty in white anarkali dress with multi coloured dupatta hanging on her shoulders. Before going back to the kitchen she again prayed in her heart that Danish come back in a good mood.

Putting Biryani in a plate she placed it in a tray along with a bowl of kheer and called Saad loudly while covering her head but she got no response. Leaving the food in the kitchen only she called Saad from the upper most stair to get no reply one more time. Stepping down on the stairs she was about to call Saad when noticed a lock hanging on the door of his room. Sighing she climbed back only two stairs when the main gate was opened by a tall figure, she turned to see him who was also surprised to find her on the stairs. "What are you doing here?"

"Aap aa gaye..." She tried to smile but couldn't. "Wo main Saad ko awaaz de rahi thi, khana dena hai use."

(You're back.)

(Actually, I was summoning Saad to give him dinner.)

"Saad to hai hi nhi."

(Saad is not at home.)

"Ji, nhi hai, isi liye wapas jaa rhi thi."

(Yeah, he isn't. That's why I was going back.)

She replied and Danish stepped towards the stairs and Madiha walked with him. "Aap bethiye main paani laa rhi hu." Saying that she rushed towards the kitchen without even glancing at him.

(I'm bringing water for you.)

"Khana laga du ya thodi deyr me khayenge?" holding a tray on which a half filled glass of water was placed Madiha asked while leaning a bit and Danish examined her from head to toe. When their eyes met she forced a smile just because he wanted to be welcomed like this however it didn't last more than a few second.

(Should I serve food or will we have it a little later?)

"Koi aaya tha?" Lifting the glass from the tray Danish asked and Madiha shook her head without noticing his expressions and attention which was fixed on the empty cups present on the coffee table. "Nhi, koi nhi aaya."

(did anyone come?)

(No, no one.)

"To ye chai ke cup?" He furrowed and Madiha realised the reason behind the question. "Wo... Mene chai banayi thi, cup uthana bhul gyi." She muttered and pulled her hand to pick the cups but she was stopped in between by a gesture of his husband.

(So these cups?)

(Um.. I... I have made tea... but I forgot to pick the cups.)

Without looking at her he asked, he was officially examining the position of cups as if it wasn't a coffee table but a crime scene and those weren't the empty cups but two dead bodies. Madiha's heart started beating faster than normal, she felt a knot in her stomach and her breath started shortening.

Two cups were present on the table, one in front of the side chair and other on the first seat of the main sofa, clearly yelling that there were two people. The position of the cup in front of the side chair was saying that it was put down by a person who is either a left handed person who lifted the cup with left hand or it was Madiha. Because, in relaxed and comfortable time, she never holds a cup with its handle but from the middle just like a tumbler and the handle of the cup stays at the left side of hers. On the contrary, the other cup was placed just like an ordinary one, the person who had put it down was surely holding it with the handle because right now the handle was present on the right side.

"Tumne do cup chai pi thi?" Lifting his head he glared at her, Madiha's heart prayed for a miracle but all prayers don't get answered.

(You have have two cups of tea? Really?)

"Umm... Ji. Ek cup chai se dil nhi bhara tha to aur chai peene ka dil chahne laga tha..." She muttered with a fake smile and Danish noticed her pale face which was the testimony of her lie then he looked at the empty cups. Both of them were having little amount of leftover tea and both were in the same condition, no one of the cup was more dry than the other which was showing that there was no time interval in the consumption of tea from those cups.

(Umm... yeah, one cup of tea wasn't enough so I made one more.)

"Aap change kar lijiye, main khana laga rahi hu." Her heart was trembling with fear but somehow she managed to say that with the same fake smile and she picked the empty glass of water which was placed in front of Danish as well as the cups. Placing three of them on the tray and turned to go to the kitchen but only after one step she was stopped by his overbearing voice. 

(You change your clothes, I'm serving dinner.)

"Madiha." Her feet were rooted, throat suddenly dried up and hands trambled. "Mene pucha kon aaya tha?" He pressed each and every word in an under tone and Madiha turned to see him. His face was looking red due to anger, his eyes were terrifying her.

(I asked who had come?)

Madiha was confused, she didn't want to lie but she was afraid of the consequences of telling the truth. "Please gussa mat kariye." (Don't be angry) She muttered and her eyes shone in the presence of tears. Danish stepped towards her and stopped just a few inches away from her, seeing the tall figure she trambled from inside and unknowingly tears rolled down from the corner of her beautiful eyes. "Tum jaanti ho mujhe jhut se nafrat hai." (You already know I hate lies.) He wasn't loud enough to be heard with difficulty but his tone was extremely cold to give her chills. His breath was falling on Madiha's face. She could feel her heart beating faster than normal, she pressed her lower lip in between her teeth to stop its trembling but she had no control over her tears which rolled down again.

"Sa... Saad aaya tha. Wo mene bulaya tha storeroom ki light theek karane ke liye...." Madiha was mumbling when Danish glared at her. "Saad to subah se ghar mein hai hi nhi to kaha se aaya?"

(Saad... Saad has come. I've called him to fix the light of storeroom.)

(But Saad isn't at home since morning, then how can he come here?)

"Wo ghar mein hi tha, abhi gya hoga."

(He was in the home, he must be gone just now.)

"Sach batao kon aaya tha jise neeche tak chhodne gyi thi? Kiske liye itna saj sawar ke bethi thi?" he stopped for a while and held her face with first finger and thumb, tilting her head a bit he looked keenly at the small mark present on the side of her neck, but it was almost faded away so can't consider it fresh. Tilting her head on the other side he examined but Madiha jerked off his hand, she glared at him but couldn't control her tears to flow down. "Ye kya kar rahe hain aap? Kya dhundh rhe hain?" His eyes were fixed on her face which was turning red due to anger.0 She was unable to tolerate this cheap accusation anymore.

(Whom you've gone to see off downstairs, don't lie. For whom you've groomed yourself?)

(What are you doing? What are you looking for?)

"Aapke liye tayyar huyi thi, aapki shikayate dur karne ke liye itna saji sawri thi, aapko hi shikayat thi na ki main tayyar ho ke aapne samne aati, haske aapse baat nhi karti, aap se khush nhi rehti, aur kya karu main aapko khush karne ke liye?" for the first time Madiha shouted at him, she couldn't be silent anymore, if not she then who'll take a stand for her self-respect? "Main tayyar ho jati hu to aapko shak hone lagta hai. Kis baat ki insecurity hai aapko? Kitna bardasht kar..." before she could complete her sentence his big hand landed on her cheek with the loud sound like a firecracker. She didn't find energy in herself, the slap was so powerful that she fell down on the floor. The tray present in her hands made a loud thud when the glass and cups broke down in pieces but not more than a golden heart. She wasn't crying anymore because she was still in shock and disbelief, she didn't know what happened suddenly?

(I was groomed for you, just to make you happy. You have complained that I don't talk to you happily, you have an issue that I was not happy with you, and what else should I do to make you happy?)

(When I groom myself, you start doubting me. What are you insecure about? How much should I tolera...)

"Awaaz neechi rakh ke baat kar mujhse, main chup chaap sun raha hu to bole hi jaa rhi hai!" For a moment Madiha felt someone took away the soul from her body and filled her frame with numbness, she looked at her wrist which was showing the drops of crimson liquid oozing out from the soft white skin, due to broken glass bangles, then looked at her so called Ameen (protector). At the moment of nikkah, when a girl accepts a man as her husband she is technically given to his Amaan (protection), and the same moment he becomes her Ameen (protector). But this man wasn't a protector, he was a destroyer.

(Keep your voice down when you talk to me, I am listening silently it doesn't mean you'll continue this rubbish.)

"Main nhi rahungi yaha, jaa rhi hu main." After coming back to her senses she muttered while crying and stood up but Danish clutched her arm. "Kiske paas jana hai? Kon intezaar mein betha hua hai?"

(I won't stay here, I'm going.)

(Whom will you go to? Who is waiting for you?)

"Kitni gandagi bhari hai aapke dimaag mein?" She pushed Danish's hand while yelling.

(Why is your mind full of this filth?)

"Kya hua Bhai?" Saad's voice grabbed the attention of Danish. Just now he came back home and the commotion forced him to check what was happening.

(What happened Bhai?)

"Saad kaha mar gya tha tu?" Danish roared and his tall figure hid Madiha as if she wasn't present there.

(Saad, where were you lost?)

"Bhai umm..." Saad was unable to say anything after seeing Madiha crying and the broken pieces of glass on the floor, for a moment he thought that Danish had scolded Madiha for breaking the glass and cups.

"Jab main yaha nhi tha tab tu yaha aaya tha?"

(Have you come upstairs in my absence?)

Danish asked and Saad remembered Madiha's instructions Apne Bhai ko mat batana ki tum yaha upar aaye the... Please bilkul bhi nhi, bhul kar bhi nhi.

(Don't tell your bhai that you came upstairs... please, not even by mistake.)

"Nhi Bhai, Main nhi aaya tha." Saad shook his head and Madiha cursed herself to instruct Saad for hiding the truth, she thought to take a step towards her left to see Saad who was standing near he staircase but she didn't know what was about to happen. Danish turned back with the speed of light and before could even think of anything he slapped her one more time. "Ab bata koon aadmi aaya tha meri gair-mojudgi mein?"

(No Bhai, I haven't.)

(Now tell me who that man came in my absence?)

Madiha cried out loudly and her legs refused to hold her weight, she fell down after losing her balance due to that sharp slap. Before Saad could conclude what should he say or do in this situation Danish again lifted his hand in the air and he again slap Madiha but... "Nhi..." She screamed loudly while bowing down and covering her face with her arm, everything happened in a jiffy that eventually Danish's hand landed on the hard wooden arm of the sofa instead of her soft skin and he grind his teeth to tolerate the sharp wave of pain flew in his arm.

Shaking his hand in the air he saw it, it suddenly swelled up then he looked at the reason of that pain...

Who was the reason behind this pain?

Of course Madiha. How dare she to bend down to save herself? Only her involuntary action was responsible for his pain.

Madiha slowly lifted her eyes and wiped her tears Danish was still glaring at her while shaking his hand, trying to tolerate the pain and suddenly he leaned towards her, before Madiha could understand something he grabbed a handful of hair from the back of her head and pulled them to made her stand as if it was a rope from which people pull an animal. She was screaming out of pain but before she could try to detach herself from his grip she found herself free when Danish pushed her head towards the same wooden arm of the chair which was the culprit for his pain. Madiha felt dizzy when her head hit hard against the wood.

"Bhai mat mariye bhabi ko... Haan main aaya tha." Saad came forward to save Madiha but Danish turned to glared at him and grabbed his wrist before pulling him towards the stairs. "Dafa ho ja yaha se. Agar aaj ke baad tune ise bachane ki koshish bhi kri to pehle main tujhe marunga."

(Bhai don't beat her, yes I have come)

(Get lost from here and if you ever tried to save her then I'll beat you first.)

"Kon aaya tha bata..."

(Tell me who he was?)

Danish again went to Madiha and clutched her hair in his fist, this time from the middle of her head. She screamed loudly when he pulled her with her hair "Chhodiye..." (leave me...) She was feeling like Danish would pull off the skin of her scalp with her hair, the pain was so strong that she was unable to bear it and screamed as loud as possible. "Bata kon aaya tha?" (Tell me who he was?) Folding her braided hair on his hand he clenched a fistful hair from the back of the head and pulled her head in such a way that now she was standing on her tiptoes while her head was pulled backwards, she was watching the face of the man who should be her supporter and protector. "Bata kon tha?" He grit his teeth while tightening his grip and she groaned loudly. "Ma... Ma..." She tried to say something but instead of words only a loud sob came out of her lips and she cried helplessly with hiccups.

"Ma-in sach..." She was stopped by a loud sob and hiccup "sa...sa.. sach bol rahi hu... Maine Saad ko... bu.. bulaya tha... light theek karne ke liye." She complete the small sentence in many parts and felt his grip loosening on her hair. For a moment she felt he won't beat her anymore... For a moment she felt he trusted her so he would leave her. But very next moment he slapped her face with the back of his fingers. The stone embedded silver ring which he wore in the middle finger hit her lower lip so harshly that blood oozed out of it and Madiha fell down on the floor. Danish looked at his hand which was swelled up due to such a hectic work he had been doing and Madiha gathered all her courage to stand up, without wasting time she rushed towards stairs as she wanted to run away from this man and never come back but Danish was faster than her, he pulled her back with as if she wasn't a human but a lifeless toy who won't feel any kind of pain.

"Kaha jaa rhi hai? Konsa ashiq tere intezaar mein betha hua hai?"

(Where are you going? Which lover of yours is waiting for you?)

"Main... main aapke sath nhi reh sakti, mujhe ja.. jane dijiye." She literally begged while trying to breath normally but Danish slapped her and pushed her on the floor one more time.

(I... I can't live with you. Le..let me go.)

This time she didn't have power to stand up again. Danish looked at his hand which was paining after performing such a great task, on this side the brave and muscular man was tolerating this pain without even letting anyone know about it on the other side but the weak and fragile creature of God was weeping miserably.

Danish looked at the broken glass and cups lying on the floor then towards the figure who was kneeling on the floor, crying with hiccups... Her head was bowed down and uncountable hair was falling off in the form of tangled hair stands. "Ab ye tera baap aa ke saaf karega?" Kicking her arm with full force he roared and walked downstairs, locking the main door he came back holding the keys in his hand "ab jaa ke dikha kaha jayegi," and marched to the bedroom without bothering to look at Madiha who fell down on the floor. This time she didn't get up just rest her head on the floor and cried helplessly hugging her arm which was paining now. She was not a criminal who deserves torture from this policeman.

(Who will clean this? Your late father?)

(Now try to go wherever you want.)

"Bhabi." Saad, who was silently seeing everything from the upper most stair now came forward and kneeled in front of Madiha. "Bhabi, paani pi lijiye." He was holding a glass of water in his hand and two goblets of water in his eyes. Madiha lifted her head, her half closed eyes dropped fresh tears and sat down while looking here and there. She didn't realise when her dupatta fell on the floor, picking it she placed it on shoulders and grabbed the glass of water from Saad's hand.

(Have some water.)

Her hands were shivering and breath was uneven but she took a sip "go back, Saad." She muttered but He looked at the broken pieces of glass. "Ye saaf kar du bhabi."

(Let me clean this.)

"Jao tum, main kar lungi." Mumbling that she closed her eyes and rest her back with the sofa.

(You go, I will do it.)

"Bhabi, I'm sorry. It's all because of me." He muttered

"Tumne kya kra hai? Tum jao." She muttered and Saad went back, Madiha started picking the glass pieces which pricked in her finger tip but she ignored the small amount of pain.

(What you have done? You go back.)

Dragging her feet she went to the bedroom while wiping her tears. Danish was laying in the bed without even changing his clothes. She couldn't help but felt new tears in eyes. She wanted to make this day memorable but it turned memorable in different ways.

Going to the bathroom she looked at herself, swollen lip from which blood was oozing out, eyes were swollen and red, forehead had a big bump and bruise, head was bursting with pain and she was feeling dizzy. Looking towards her right arm she cried more. The white coloured sleeve of her kameez was showing a dirt mark of shoes.

After cleaning herself she wears a fresh pair of clothes and did ablution. Going back to the bedroom she looked at the man who was sleeping peacefully, or maybe just pretending to sleep.

Spreading the prayer rug she stood up for Isha prayer but her mind was busy recollecting  Athar's words... Dekhna Madam ji, jitni tum apni ammi ki khidmat kar rahi ho tumhe iska bohot khubsurat ajr milega. She was performing namaz in front of the almighty but crying aloud in between.

(Just wait and watch madam, as much as you are serving your mother, you will get a handsome reward for it.)

As soon as she stood up from Sujud (prostration) a loud sob came out from her mouth and a question raised in her heart. "Ye ajr hai? Agar ye ajr hai to azaab kya hota hai?"  wiping her tears in between reciting the verses of Quran she again sobbed.

(Is this reward? If this is reward then what would be the punishment?)

Danish was counting each and every sob of her and now he was realising that this torture was more than enough for the first timer woman, this is how he use to beat thiefs to enquire about the stolen good and they bark out everything surprisingly this woman didn't tell anything. He was busy in his thoughts when a loud thud forced him to open his eyes and he found the Madiha lying on the prayer rug.

"Madiha," almost jumping out of the bed he picked her up and checked her pulse. "Madiha, utho..." grabbing the water bottle from the side table he sprinkled some water on her face but she didn't open her eyes. This policeman was cruel and rude but he couldn't leave his wife beaten senseless.