She opened her heavy eyes with a sour head and again closed them when found herself in her bed. There was silence in the room, it means no one was present there. She felt her hand attached with something, in order to jerk it away she felt a sharp wave of pain running in the whole arm due to the niddle insertion, lifting her hand in the air she found it attached to a pine which was going to a bottle of IV solution. "Bhabi, sidiyon se kese gir gyi thi aap? Aur ab kesi tabiyat hai?" A voice grabbed her attention and she looked at the other side of the room, Umera was present there.

(How did you slipped down from stairs? And how are you now?)

"Main kab giri?" Madiha muttered, her lower lip felt heavy and swollen while talking.

(When did I slip down from the stairs?)

"To ye chootein kese lagi aapko?" Madiha sat down on the bed and closed her eyes for a while. "apne bhai se puchho," resting her head with the headboard she muttered but before Umera could ask the reason behind her bruises Danish entered in the room and ask his sister to bring water, it was nothing just a way to send her out from the bedroom.

(So how did you get these injuries?)

(Ask your brother.)

"Theek ho?" He sat down beside her as if no one can be the better husband than him, Madiha remembered everything from yesterday, her eyes turned wet and she looked away while wiping her tears.

(Are you alright?)

"Kaha choot lagi hai?" He asked while holding her hand but Madiha pushed away his hand without making eye contact with him.

(Where did it hurt?)

"Maine hazar baar kaha hai mujhe jhut se nafrat hai, jab main puchh rha tha to ek baar mein hi bata deti ki Saad aaya tha, pehle kahaniyan banane ki kya zarurat thi?" Now he wasn't angry anymore because Saad told him everything and he trusted him too.

(I've told you a thousand times that I hate lies. Instead of making stories you could tell me the truth about Saad's arrival at first when I asked you.)

"Aapko jhut se nafrat hai lekin sach par aapko bharosa nhi hota." She muttered without even looking at him, in the time being they both heard a few voices, Umera was talking to some people and Madiha knew who they were.

(You hate lies but you don't believe in the truth either.)

"Madiha beta kesi gir gyi sidiyo se?" Her mamu entered in the room with this question followed by Mohsin and her Mami. Danish was surprised to see them.

(How did you fall down the stairs, Madiha?)

"Mamu..." After seeing those families faces Madiha couldn't help but cry out helplessly as if she was a little girl who saw her father after getting hurt in a playground. "Mamu mujhe yaha se le chaliye, mujhe nhi rehna yaha." She begged making everyone shocked and told her uncle about Danish's doubts and anger. 

(Mamu, take me away from this home, I don't wanna live here.)

For a few minutes there was a silence in the room, other than Madiha's sobs there was no other voice audible. She was crying placing her head on her brother's shoulder and her uncle was only seeing her condition.

A big bruise was visible on her forehead, lower lip was swollen and showing a small black mark which was due to blood clotting, eyes were puffy due to over crying and cheeks still had a few marks which was the art of Danish's fingers. The old man's eyes filled with tears after seeing this condition of his niece who was not less than a daughter for him.

"Danish, ye kya haal kar diya hai tumne meri bachhi ka… aese to koi jaanwar ko bhi nhi maarta jis tarha tumne ise mara hai." Danish looked at Madiha then at the old man sitting in front of him.

(Danish, what the hell you have done with my girl? People don't even beat animals with this cruelty that you've shown towards her.)

"Tumne bulaya apne mamu ko?" Instead of replying, Danish put a question in front of Madiha who herself didn't know who called her family. However it was Umera who informed Madiha's family about the accident of slipping from the stairs with this thought that she'll feel good after meeting them.

(Have you called your uncle?)

"Kisi ne bhi bulaya ho, baat ye hai ki tum ise aese kese maar sakte ho?"

(No matter who told me, the thing is that you can't beat her like this.)

"Ye hum dono ka maamla hai behtar hoga aap beech mein na bole." Danish was sounding rude which was enough to enrage Mohsin as well as mamu but they somehow controlled themselves.

(This is our matter, so don't come in between.)

"Main Madiha ke baap ki jagah hu, uski shadi kardi hai iska matlab ye nhi hai ki ab us se mera koi rishta nhi rha. Betiyon ko sasural me dukh hota hai to maa baap hi unka dhyan rakhte hain." Mamu said with anger and Danish looked at Madiha then at Mamu. 

(I am a fatherly figure for Madiha , she is married, it does not mean that I have no relation with her. If the daughter is suffering in her in-laws house then the parents take care of her.)

"To phir rakhiye dhyan apni is naam-nihaad beti ka, jise aapne apne kandhon ke bojh ki tarha utar kar pheyk giya tha. Apne ghar le jaa kar puri tarha se dhyan rakhiye." Danish said arrogantly and Mamu looked at Madiha while controlling his anger. No one had ever insulted him like Danish did today.

(Fine by me, take your so called daughter, whom you've kicked out from your life empty handed, to your home and look after completely.)

"Meri bachhi mujh par bojh nhi hai. Chalo beta mere sath chalo." Said mamu with anger and Madiha dangled her legs down from the bed to but stopped by a voice.

(I'm daughter is not a burden on me. Let's go Madiha.)

"Kyu baat ko bada rhe hain. Khatam kriye is baat ko yahi, Miya biwi mein ladaiya ho hi jati hain." In almost half an hour this was the first time when Mami said something and caressed Madiha's head with full of love. "Beta, maslo ko pyaar se handle karna seekho, ladki ka ghar to uska sasural hi ho..." the sentence was cut in between by a sharp voice.

(Don't drag the matter, it common to have disputes between husband and wife so don't make it an issue.)

(Dear, learn the art of handing every matter softly, a girl's actual home is her in law's hom ...)

"Tum chup rho zara, ye nasihate dene ka waqt nhi hai." After listening to instructions from her husband the middle aged lady was unable to say anything further but she was irked with the thought that Madiha was coming back to her home.

(You keep quiet, this is not the time to give advice.)

"Danish jab tak tumhe ehsaas nhi hoga ki tum galat kar rhe ho main Madiha ko tumhare sath nhi bhejunga. Le jaa rha hu main use. Saman bandh lo Madiha, chalo mere sath." He stood up from his place and Madiha nodded while stepping towards her cupboard but stopped in between by Danish's call. 

(Danish, I will not send Madiha with you until you realize that you are doing wrong. I'm taking her along. Madiha, pack your stuff and come with me.)

"Do jodi kapdo mein aayi thi is ghar me, konsa saman bandhwa kar le jaa rahe hain aap? Ye aapka aur aapki laadli ka koi business to nhi hai na?" Madiha suddenly looked at her husband, "Main burqa le kar aa rahi hu Mamu" and she detached the drip from her hand before walking towards the cupboard. Wearing the burqa she came back in front of Danish and smiled like a pain.

(You've sent her to my home in a single pair of clothes, now what stuff are you asking her to pack? Is this some kind of business of yours and your darling daughter?)

(Mamu I'm coming after taking my burqa.)

"Lijiye, ye aapne diye the." Removing the gold earrings and gold chain from her neck she placed them on his palm and smiled sadly, "Koi business nhi hai hamara." And she walked downstairs followed by her uncle, aunty and brother.

(Take it, it was given by you.)

(We don't have any such business.)

"Bhai, Bhabi ko aapne rooka kyu nhi, aapki biwi hain wo, aap unhe ghar se kese nikal sakte hain? Ab ye na kahiyega ki unke mamu unhe apni marzi se leke gye hain, aapne provoke kra tha unhe." Umera registered her disappointment but her brother rolled his eyes while sitting on the edge of the bed.

(Bhai, Why didn't you stop bhabi when she was going? She's your wife, How can you ask her to go? Now don't say that her uncle took her along, because you were the one who provoked him.)

"Jane do use, kuchh din un logo ke sath rahegi to samajh aa jayega kitne achhe hain uske mamu aur mami. Jab rehne ka koi thikana nahi rahega to khud wapas ayegi yaha aur phir dobara wapas jane ki himmat nhi karegi." His statement was showing the experience which he had earned with his age as well as profession.

(Let her go, after staying with them she'll learn how nice her uncle and aunt are. She'll come back here herself after getting no other shelter to life and after that she won't try to go anywhere again.)

"Bhai kya kar rahe hain aap? Ek to aapne is halat mein bhabi ko itni buri tarah maara aur ab ye sab? Bohot buri baat hai. Aapko unhe maarna hi nhi chahiye tha."

(Bhai what are you doing? Firstly, you beat bhabi so badly in this condition and now all this? This is not acceptable. You shouldn't have beat her.)

"Umera Mera dimag na kharab karo, mujhe bhi use marne ka shokh nhi hai," he roared, resulting Umera turned with rage, picked her purse and left without wasting any time.

(Stop it, you're getting on my nerves, I too have no interest in beating her.)

Danish also huffed and walked out from the bedroom, with another level of anger he sat down on the sofa while holding his head in both hands, his head was already bursting with sharp pain but there was no Madiha who could give him tea as well as press his head without any complaint. Gulping down a painkiller with water he placed the glass on the coffee table only when his gaze went to the half broken red glass bangle which was present on the white marble floor. Picking it up he remembered last night, then he looked at his hand which was still swollen due to hitting the hard wood of sofa. He wouldn't beat Madiha so badly if he didn't get that injury because of her, at that time, the sharp pain in his hand took his anger to another level that's why he beat her like an animal, but now he was feeling bad for her. In these months of togetherness he started loving her presence around himself, even he lost his heart with the very first glance of his beautiful wife. She was too beautiful and young for him, he himself knew that Madiha deserved better, and he didn't deserve such a beautiful and young wife that's the thing which was triggering his emotions otherwise.

Every person handles different situation differently. Danish could feel happy and consider himself lucky to have Madiha in his life but after overhearing the gossips of ladies in the reception party he already made mind that Madiha wasn't happy with him. He tried many times to impose happiness on her but never got success, in due courses, a feeling of insecurity taking birth in him, now his self-doubt and overthinking were secretly-n-silently converting into fear and insecurity. Fear of losing Madiha and insecurity of her growing feelings towards another man better than him, to prevent anything odd to take place in future he was controlling Madiha from now only. Alas, he himself didn't know that he was going towards generalized anxiety disorder with each passing day.

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"Aapi, Ek mahina ho gya hai Danish Bhai ne aapko ek baar bhi call nhi Kari?" Mohsin asked when Madiha served him dinner without bothering to reply.

(Aapi it has been a month hasn't Danish Bhai even called you once.)

In these thirty days many times Madiha fell ill and every time she wanted her husband to look after her in this situation but he was the reason behind her pains.

In these thirty days she had encountered her aunt's indifferent behaviour countless times. From the day one the middle aged lady was forcing Madiha to forgive Danish for his cruelty, and give him another chance for the sake of her child. But Madiha was determined, she didn't want to go back to the home where she was unable to breath freely, she was tolerating Danish's anger but when it came to character assassination she was already tired and now domestic violence. She couldn't tolerate it anymore.

She wilently served herself a small amount of curry then took half a roti and lifted the very first morsel when Mohsin's voice again grabbed her attention. "Will you go back if Danish Bhai asked you to come and promise you to change his behaviour?"

"Jo hona hi nhi hai uske bare mein na socho."

(Don't think about impossible events)

"To kya puri zindagi is ghar me isi tarha Mami ki rudeness dekhte dekhte nikal dengi?" Asked Mohsin and Madiha lifted her eyes to see her brother then again shifted her eyes to the food present in her plate. She did not want to have that food but something spicy however she was unable to made a demand in front of Mohsin. Pushing the plate away she stood up leaving the dinner in between.

(So will you spend the rest of your life tolerating aunt's rudeness in this home?)

"Aapi Kam se kam mujhe to bataiye aap chahti kya hain?" Mohsin ask leaving his dinner too. He was noticing since last few days that now Mamu was also worried, in the beginning he was hopeful that Danish will come soon to take his wife back but in these thirty days he didn't even call once, asking for Madiha's condition and health was a far away thing.

(Aapi at least tell me what you want?)

"Phone aaya tha unka…" Madiha whispered without making eye contact with her brother and started picking up the plates.

(He called me.)

"Kab? Kya kaha Danish Bhai ne? Wapas bula rahe hain aapko?" Mohsin was shocked that his sister didn't even tell anyone about this.

(When? What did he say? Is he summoning you back?)

"15 din pehle aaya tha phone…" this time her eyes filled with tears but she ignored that and lifted the half filled glass. "Keh rahe the is galatfehmi mein na rahu ki wo mujhe lene ayenge, jab is drame se dil bhar jaye to wapas aa jau warna…"

(Fifteen days ago.)

(He was saying that he won't come to take me back, I can go back when I'm done with this drama and if I don't want to then...)

"Warna kya?" Asked Mohsin

(What?)

"Warna talaq de denge." She muttered and Mohsin's face turned pale. Tears rolled down from Madiha's eyes and she put the plates aside, she didn't find energy to do any work.

(Otherwise he'll divorce me.)

"Aap kya chahti hain aapi?" 

(What do you want?)

"Main…main to... (I... I just...)" She smiled bitterly… "Main sukun chahti hu, lekin mujhe khushi aur sukun kahi nhi mil rha. Na us ghar me na is ghar mein. Mohsin ye shadi aur ab talaq ke naam par mera tamasha banna zaruri tha kya? Is se achha to shadi hoti hi nhi, kam se kam divorcee ka label lagne ki nobat to na aati." Said the already broken girl and wiped her tears.

(I wanted happiness, but I was not getting happiness and peace anywhere. Neither in that house nor here. Mohsin, was it necessary to make fun of me in the name of this marriage and now divorce? It would be better if I did not get married, at least there will be no chance of being labeled as a divorcee.)

"Clearly bataiye aap unke sath rehna chahti hain ya nhi?" Mohsin asked and Madiha shook her head.

(Tell me clearly, do you want to live with him or not?)

"Baat baat par cheekhne lagte hain. Bohot shak karte hain. Bohot gande ilzaam lagate hain mujh par. Main nhi reh sakti unke sath." Maybe this was the first time in these thirty days when Madiha was crying, otherwise she was bottling up all her pain and emotions inside her heart. Mohsin felt pity for his sister.

(He starts shouting on every issue. Doubt on my character and makes a lot of nasty allegations against me. I can't live with him.)

"Then talk to Mamu and close this matter as soon as possible. You have been tolerating so much for a long time but you don't have the courage to raise your voice. Why?" Mohsin asked with disappointment and Madiha sighed.

"I'm going to talk to Mamu." Mumbling that she walked towards the stairs. Mohsin Also followed her and they both stopped on the door. He lifted his hand to knock on the door which always stayed open but he was stopped by the voice coming from behind the curtains.

"Logo se 1 beti ki shadi nhi kri jaati aapki to do betiyan hain… ab agar Madiha ki talaq Kara kar use bhi ghar mein bitha lenge to 3 ki shadi kese karenge? Aur aapko har baat ki itni jaldi kyu rehti hai? Pehle shadi karane ki jaldi thi aur ab talaq karane ki." Mami was almost shouting on mama. Madiha and Mohsin looked at each other without exchanging a word. "Chalo maan liya aap Madiha ki talaq Kara kar use wapas le ayenge lekin ab wo akeli nhi hai, uske bachhe ki zimmedari kon uthayega? Main thak gyi hu aapke khandan se, pehle aapki behen yaha apne bachho ko le kar aa gyi thi ab unki beti, aapko itna hi shokh hai na dusro ki aulaad paalne ka to paliye, main hi chali jati hu yaha se apne bachho ko le kar." With this loud voice the curtain of door was opened with a jolt to give shock to everyone. Mamu was surprised to see a crying Madiha standing outside.

(People feel it hard to marry just one daughter, you have two daughters… now if Madiha is divorced, then how will you marry three? And why are you always in a hurry, Either in the decision of marriage or in divorce?)

(Let's imagine that Madiha will live here after divorce but don't forget now she is not alone, who will take the responsibility of her child? I am tired of your family, first your sister came here along with her children, now her daughter too. If you are so interested in raising someone else's children then fine by me, go ahead, I am going away from this home along my children.)

"Madiha, andar aao beta." Mamu mumbled and the brother and sister walked inside holding a great embarrassment.

(Come in Madiha.)

"Danish ka phone aaya tha aaj, wo keh rha tha ki mene agar tumhe yaha rakhne ka feysla kar hi liya tha to is rishte ki kya zarurat hai… fesla karo aur tumhe hamesha ke liye yahi rakh lu." Mamu informed and Madiha pressed her lower lip in between her teeth, her she was sitting silently fixing her gaze on the floor but her mind was captured by countless thoughts.

(Danish called me today, he was saying that if I have decided to keep you here then why is this relationship needed? He was telling me to make a final decision and keep you here forever.)

Madiha did not love Danish the way a wife should love her husband, still she couldn't control her tears after listening about divorce. Danish was the same man whom she has been giving all her love, respect, loyalty and what not… but now that man was ready to throw her out from his life as if she worth nothing. She was not very happy with this marriage but she wanted to be happy, she also had some dreams like all the other girls have regarding marriage however she did not know that this marriage would turned into the darkest nightmare of her life.

"Bolo Madiha kya chahti ho tum?" Her mamu asked and She lifted her gaze then slowly shook his head. "Mujhe unke paas nhi jana, bohot buri tarha mara tha unhone mujhe."

(Tell me what you want Madiha?)

(I don't want to go back to him, he has beaten me so badly)

"Namraaaa... apna saman bhandh lo." Madiha looked up at her aunty on that loud call. Everyone knew how crazily Mamu loved his youngest daughter, he couldn't live without his family just because of Madiha.

(Namraa... pack your stuff.)

"Mami main... aapko koi takleef nhi dungi, aap ghar chhod ke mat jaiye." Madiha stepped closer her aunt but today this woman wasn't in mood to listen anything. Meanwhile Namra entered in the room because she was unable to understand the need to pack her stuff all of a sudden.

(Mami, I won't trouble you ever, don't leave the home.)

"Listen to me carefully, Madiha." Throwing daggers at Madiha from her eyes the middle aged lady came closer to her, "Jitna tum drama dikha rahi ho utna bada masla nhi hai ye, mard ko gussa aa hi jata hai, thoda bardasht kar liya karo, thoda nazarandaaz Kara Karo aur Thoda adjust karna seekho."

(Don't catastrophize, this matter is not as big as you're representing. Learn the art of tolerating, start neglecting a few things and learn how to adjust.)

"Itne waqt se sab bardasht hi to kar rhi hu," Madiha muttered like a begging but her statement brought creases on the forehead of this lady.

(I've been tolerating everything for a long time.)

"Tumhari shadi ko abhi waqt hi kitna hua hai? Abhi kuchh mahine hi to huye hain, saalo lagte hain mard ko apna karne mein do din mein koi aadmi biwi ka gulaam nhi ban jata. Dukh dard to har ek ki zindagi mein aate hain kya har ladki talaq le kar baith jati hai? Maine bhi to itni mushkilein dekhi hain, kya main ye rishta nhi nibha rahi?" Madiha was silently seeing her aunty, her eyes dropped two fresh drops of water as she was in disbelief. People really have two faces, this woman was the most loving person for Madiha and today she was revealing her true colours.

(How much time has passed since your marriage? Just a few months. It takes years for a man to understand the value his wife. No man becomes a slave to his wife in a few days. Everyone faces pain and sorrow, does every girl take divorce. Haven't I had a difficult time in this home? Am I not still here?)

"Mamu aapke sath itna bura rawayya karte the?" Madiha asked in a hushed tone "Main sab kuch bardasht kar rhi thi, lekin apni beizzati, unka shak aur maar peet bardasht nhi kar sakti."

(Did Mamu used to treat you so badly?)

(I was tolerating everything but can't compromise with my self-respect, I can't tolerate his allegations and violence.)

"Danish pagal to nhi hai jo bina wajah shak krega tum par, kya kar rhi ho tum jo wo maarne peetne par utar aaya? Tum wo kaam hi kyu karti ho jis se use gussa aaye?" Madiha was shocked to hear that the lady standing in front of her was blaming her to enrage Danish. What was Madiha doing other than working like a maid to handle Danish's home, seeing his rudeness silently and compromising with her self respect to make him happy?

(Danish is not crazy enough to causeless doubt on you, what are you doing that has pushed him to the limit of violence? Why are you doing such things that will enrage him?)

"Namra tumhe sunai nhi diya? Jaa kar apna saman bandho. Fooran." Mami roared at her daughter who was looking pale

(Namra, haven't you listen? Go and pack your stuff right now?)

"Ammi main kahi nhi jaa rhi, abbu please main kahi nhi jaungi." Namra announced with her same pale face and she hugged her father but her mother glared at Madiha.

(Ammi I'm not going anywhere. Abbu please, I will not go anywhere.)

"Maine keh diya na aapna saman bandho."

(I already told you na to pack your bag.)

"Mami aap aesa kyu kar rhi hain? Main aapko pareshan nhi karungi lekin mujhe wapas na bhejiye, main waha nhi reh sakti, wo bohot shak karte hain mujh par." Madiha demanded but more like a request but that lady wasn't ready to accept any demand today because she knew if she accepted this demand today then Madiha will never go away from this home and now she wanted her home free from Madiha and Mohsin.

(Mami why are you doing this? I won't trouble you ever but please don't send me back. I can't live with him, he doubts me.)

"Madiha mera muh mat khulwao. Shadi se pehle bhi tum phone par kisi ladke ke sath lagi rehti thi... ab bhi usi se baate karti ho kya? Danish ne tumhe range hatho to nhi pakad liya na?" Madiha felt as if someone poured ice water on her in the month of December. She felt her breath hitched and within a single moment she saw the expressions of her uncle changing.

(Madiha don't force me to reveal what I'm hiding. Before marriage you were always on the phone with a boy. Are you still talking to her? Has Danish caught you red handed?)

"Ye sab kya hai Madiha?"

(What's this Madiha?)

"Mamu main kisi se baat nahi karti, wo bekaar me shak karte hain mujh pe." Madiha muttered helplessly but she was shocked, how this lady got to know about Athar's calls? But Madiha didn't know many more things happened in her life behind her back.

(Mamu, I don't talk to anyone, they doubt me unnecessarily.)

Mamu looked at Madiha then at his daughter, both were crying. Both of them wanted to stay in this home but he knew that he could choose one.

"Abbu please mujhe aapke pas rehna hai, mujhe kahi nahi jana." Namra whispered without breaking the and Madiha also gave him a requesting look before mumbling "Mamu, janwaro ki tarha mara tha unhone mujhe, main nhi reh sakti unke sath."

(Abbu please I don't want to go anywhere I want to live with you.)

(Mamu, he beat me like an animal, I can't live with him.)

"Madiha, agar maazi mein kuch tha bhi to ab use bhul jao aur jis rishte mein bandh gyi ho use nibhao, Danish mein kisi cheez ki Kami nhi hai uske gusse ke alawa, humne sab achha dekh kar hi tumhari shadi kari thi, ab agar koi takleef hai to ye tumhari qismat... thoda sabr kro halaat badalne mein waqt lagta hai." Without looking at Madiha, mamu announced his decision and caressed the head of his daughter. "Apne kamre mein jao, kal exam hai na, tayyari kro uski."

(Madiha, even if there was something in the past forget it now and work on the the relationship you are in. There is no flaw in Danish other than his anger, I have married you off after seeing all the good things, now if there is any problem then it's your destiny. It takes time to change your situations, so have a little patience.)

(Go to your room, study for tomorrow's exam.)

Madiha saw her cousin walking out from the room with satisfaction that she was not going away from this home, she looked at Mohsin who was holding sorrow in his eyes for his only sister.

"Chaliye aapi, kab tak khadi rahengi yaha?" Mohsin held his sister's shoulder and Mamu looked at his enraged wife then towards the crying Madiha whose eyes were questioning him that, I wasn't the one who brought this proposal, you were the one. I just respected your choice, Now how can you put every blame on my destiny? and her uncle had no answer to her question.

(Let's go aapi, for how long will you stand here?)

That's the difference between a father and a father-like-figure. Th0e intensity of father's love is always greater than uncle's love. Today, one more time Madiha felt fatherless but what could she do?

"Mohsin... I will not go back." She cried helplessly in front of her brother who just took her in a side hug.

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