"Aapi ne kuch khaya?" Mohsin asked Aamna after coming back from the office and in reply she nodded her head. "Bohot mushkil se khilaya hai, lekin unhone phir dobara roona shuru kar diya." Mohsin sighed and Aamna placed her hand on his hand, just assuring him that everything will be fine.

(Did aapi eat something?)

(She had only when I insisted but then started crying again.)

"Mene Zayan ko aapi ke sath chhod diya, thodi deyr uske sath time spend karengi to mind divert hoga." Aamna said in a hushed tone and Mohsin kissed her forehead.

(I left Zayan with aapi, her mind will get diverted if she spends some time with him.)

"Yaar tu nhi hoti to meri zindagi bhi jahannam se kam na hoti." He voiced his honest feelings. Aamna belonged to a very rich and reputed family, she could get married to a man thousand times better than Mohsin but she had chosen this poor, homeless man who earned just thrice of her pocket money. Her family had fixed her match with a man of their status but she was the one to take stand for her and Mohsin's relationship, eventually her parents bowed their head in front of her stubbornness and married her off with Mohsin but on one condition that Mohsin will buy his own home, he won't let their daughter go from one rental home to another. In reality Aamna's parents knew that Mohsin won't be able to buy his own home that's how this marriage will not take place but Aamna decided to continue her job even after getting married. And now half of both's salary goes for the EMI of their home, and the remaining half comes in their hands for their livelihood as well as savings.

(If you were not there, my life would have been no less than hell.)

"Hai na?" She asked with a smile and Mohsin smiled too.

(Of course.)

"Tune kuchh khaya?" He asked in a soft voice and Aamna shook her head. "Tera intezaar kar rhi thi. Aaj teri favourite sabzi bani hai."

(Did you eat something or not?)

(I was waiting for you, and it's your favorite curry in the dinner.)

"Palak paneer?" He asked with a smile.

"Nope, tinday (Apple gourd)." She named the most unliked vegetable in the world to make her husband grimaced.

"Haan, main yahi to soch rha tha, tu to YouTube se dekh ke bhi ande theek tarha nhi ubaal paati, tu kya khaak palak paneer banayegi?" He pushed her hand away and she smiled. "Palak paneer hi banaya hai, lekin aaj mene nhi aapi ne banwaya hai, mene bol diya tha ki mujhe nhi aata to mujhe sikha dein... Yaar main unse ghar ke kaam nhi karana chahti lekin mere paas unhe room se bahar nikalne aur unka mind divert karne ka aur koi raasta nhi hota."

(Yes, that's what I was thinking, you can't boil eggs properly even after watching on YouTube, how can you make Palak Paneer?)

(It's only palak paneer in dinner but made by Aapi, not me. I told aapi that I don't know how to cook it so I asked her to teach me. Yaar, Mohsin, I don't wanna make her work in home but I don't have any other way to bring her out from the room and divert her mind.)

"Thanks yaar." He smiled. "Main aapi ko bahar bulata hu kisi tarha, phir sab sath khana khayenge." And Mohsin walked towards Madiha's room.

(I somehow will call aapi out of the room, then we'll all have dinner together.)

After coming back from the police station Madiha was not coming out from her room, she didn't have the courage to face anyone, especially Mohsin... The way Danish described her in front of police men was humiliating, and she was unable to come out of that shock yet. She was taking pain killers to kill her headache however they were giving her temporary relief only.

Mohsin and Aamna were already tired of telling Madiha to stop crying and now they both understood that their requests wouldn't be helpful. They need to do something else, so they were trying to find out more and more works for her so that she focus on something else instead of past horrors.

"Aapi, it's so tasty... Why aren't you having it?" Mohsin asked while filling his sister's plate and she just shook her head while mumbling that she was not hungry.

"Arey aapi aap free hi hoti hain na aaj kal?" He asked and Madiha nodded without seeing him then break a small portion from the roti, she wanted to sit alone and cry. The voices of Mohsin and Aamna were disturbing her but she was feeling helpless because Mohsin was forcing her to sit with them.

(Oh, aapi.... Nowadays you're free. Right?)

"Yaar Aamna wo jo third floor wale Rafi uncle hain na... Aaj wo mile the mujhe, bechare bohot pareshan the." Madiha didn't pay attention to the conversation of husband and wife.

(Aamna, today I met uncle Rafi who lives on the third floor... He was worried.)

"Kyu pareshan the?" Aamna asked while having a look at her son who was in her lap but was about to cry.

(Why he was worried?)

"Tuition dhundh rhe hain wo apne poota pooti ke liye, wo bachhe parhte hi nhi hain, hamesha bas mobile, TV aur video games me lage rehte hain . Mene keh diya meri aapi parha dengi," Madiha suddenly looked up at her brother, leaving her morsal in the plate she shook her head.

(He's looking for tuition for his grandchildren, those children are not studying, they are always busy in mobile, TV and video games. I told him that aapi will tutor them.)

"Nhi Mohsin main nhi padhaungi, bohot time ho gya mujhe bachho ko padhaye huye... Main sab kuch bhul chuki hu."

(No Mohsin, I will not teach, it has been a long time since I taught the children... I have forgotten everything.)

"Oh come on Aapi, 2nd aur 4th class ke bachhe hain, itna bhi kya bhul gyi aap? Aap to 10th aur 12th class to English aur Pol Science parhati thi."

(Oh come on Aapi, they're students of 2nd and 4th class, how can you forget everything? You used to teach English and Political Science in class 10th and 12th.)

"Wo baat alag thi Mohsin, wo waqt alag tha." Madiha debated.

(That situation was different Mohsin, that time was different.)

"Kya alag tha aapi? Tab bhi har rooz shaam ko 4 bajte the ab bhi har rooz shaam ko chaar bajte hain, pehle bhi 4 bje bachhe aate the padne ab bhi aa jayenge." Mohsin shrugged as if nothing had changed but in reality everything was changed! There was a big difference between that Madiha and this Madiha. She had hopes to live but this woman wants to die However Mohsin wanted his sister to live again.

(What was different, Aapi? Back then, it used to be 4 o'clock every evening, and it is still 4 o'clock in the evening every day. Earlier also students used to come at 4 o'clock, now they will also come.)

"Please Mohsin..." She requested

"Ab to mene Rafi uncle ko bool diya ki kal se bheej de bachho ko, aap dekh lijiye 10-15 din, agar bachhe duffer huye to main khud mana kar dunga, lekin agar abhi mana kara to meri baat kharab hogi aapi... Please... Mere liye sirf 10-15 din parha dijiye, kya sochenge wo mere bare me ki pehle unhe assurance de di aur ab apni baat se peeche hat gya... Please Aapi. Mere liye." And Madiha grimaced while leaving her dinner and going back to her room she was disappointed with Mohsin to force her for this but she couldn't say anything right now. She was already feeling indebted in front of her brother, how could she deny his demand which was like an order?

(Now I have told Rafi uncle to send the children from tomorrow onwards. Handle them 10-15 days, If the children are duffer then I myself will refuse, but if you refuse now it will feel like I'm backing off my words. Please... just for 10-15 days... what will he think about me that I gave him assurance earlier and now I have violated my words. Please Aapi. Just for me.)

"Rafi uncle ke poota pooti ke liye home tutor nhi aata?" Aamna asked in a whisper and Mohsin nodded.

(Doesn't a home tutor come for Rafi uncle's grandchildren?)

"Wo ladka 10-15 din ke liye chutti par gya hai, jab tak wapas nhi aata mene bol diya bachhe aapi se parh lenge..." Mohsin whispered back.

(That boy has gone on leave for 10-15 days, I suggested that aapi will help the children in their studies till the tution teacher returns.)

"Aur 10-15 din ke baad kya hoga?" Aamna asked while holding her son properly and struggling with the next morsel.

(And what will happen after 10-15 days?)

"Aur bachhe dhundh lenge. Ya aapi ko baking and mehndi classes join Kara du?" Asked Mohsin while lifting the next morsal and Aamna shook her head.

(We'll find out more children. Or should I make her join baking and mehendi classes?)

"I guess I should make her instagram and YouTube accounts. Vlogging will be a good way to divert her mind." Aamna whispered. She was excited as if she was going to start a blog page not Madiha.

"Not a bad idea, But first let's see what happens in these 10-15 days!" Mohsin nodded and looked at his son who was wiggling in Aamna's arms and not letting her have dinner.

"Give Zayan here and have dinner properly." Taking him in his arms Mohsin suggested, and kissed his son's cheek. He knew how difficult it was for Aamna to handle Zayan along with her job as well as home. This little boy wasn't present in their well planned future for the next four years, they wanted to focus on their career and build their home before starting a family but maybe this little boy was in a hurry to come into this world in the form of an accidental pregnancy and his parents didn't get the courage to kill their child just to follow their plannings.

"Meri shakal kya dekh rhi hai? Jaldi khaa le na." Mohsin turned Aamna's face towards the plate and focused on his son.

(What is my face looking at? Eat quickly.)

"Phuppo ke sath time spend karke kesa lag raha hai mere bete ko? Mumma papa ko bhul gaye ho kya..." Kissing Zayan's cheeks Mohsin whispered and Aamna just fell in love with this man one more time. He was not forgetting any relationship, he knew how to balance all of them at once. He was a good brother, great father and best husband/friend.

(How is my son feeling by spending time with Phuppo? Have you forgotten mom and dad?)

"Mohsin..."

"Hmm?" Mohsin looked at Aamna. "I love you." She whispered and got a soft punch on her cheek.

"Love you more, but less than my son." She laughed but stopped after a few moments.

"Suno... Aapi ke liye koi rishta dhundho na... She also deserves love."

(Listen... find a match for aapi too. She also deserves love.)

"Abhi ek divorce ko hi 15 din huye hain, abhi is baare me baat bhi na karna, pehle wo normal life me wapas aa jaye uske baad sochenge is bare mein."

(It's only been 15 days since the divorce, don't even talk about it right now, first she comes back to normal life and then we will think about it.)

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Madiha was sitting in her room with another level of anger, frustration as well as an discomfort... She wanted to stay alone but Aamna was not leaving her alone, she was coming to her again and again but Madiha couldn't do anything. Just half an hour ago Aamna forced her to wear some nice clothes and comb her hair. What was the need to wear good clothes and look nice? Now, there was no Danish who would shout at her if see her without wearing bangles or force her to wear those clothes that he brought for her.

A doorbell rang and Madiha sighed. She knew the children must be there. "Aapiii..." Aamna chipped.

"Bolo." Madiha said with a hidden frustration.

(Yeah?)

"Mene pizza order kra tha... Jaldi aa jaiye." Aamna entered the room, grabbed her hand and walked back towards the her bedroom, forcing Madiha to come with her.

(I've ordered pizza, come fast.)

"Pizza bahar se kyu mangaya? Mujhse bol deti to main Ghar me bana leti." Madiha told and Aamna shrugged. "Aapi aap jese 100-200 log aur is duniya me aa jaye to hamara pyara sa fast food sector barbaad ho jayega." This was the first time when Madiha smiled in these fifteen days.

(Why did you order pizza from outside? I would have made it at home if you had told me.)

(If 100-200 more people like you come into this world, our lovely fast food sector will be ruined.)

"Aapi... Cloud kitchen shuru karein? Main to bol rhi hu aap na blogging aur cloud kitchen dono shuru kar dijiye... Pesa hi pesa hoga aapi... Just imagine." Aamna said dreamily as if it she and Madiha were already sitting on the heap of money but Madiha's small smile was already lost somewhere after listening about money.

(Aapi... Should we start a Cloud Kitchen? I am telling you , you should start both blogging and cloud kitchen... you will make a lot of money... just imagine.)

"Kya karungi pese ka?" Her tone was again silent. She was sure that money couldn't buy a good destiny, all her efforts, love, care, respect, loyalty and patience were already gone to a vain, what will she do now by earning money?

(What will I do with money?)

"Arey?? Naye kapde lijiyega, nayi jewellery, bags, shoes aur... Bohot kuch... Aur phir hum har rooz pizza bhi khayenge, aap order karengi..." passing the pizza slice to Madiha, Aamna chirped

(Oho?? Get new clothes, new jewellery, purses, shoes and... many more... and then we will also eat pizza every day, you will order it...)

"Mujhe kapde, bags, jewellery kisi cheez me interest nhi hai." Madiha muttered and put the pizza slice down as the doorbell again rang and this time two children were standing on the doorway.

(I'm not interested in clothes, bags, jewellery or anything else.)

"Hello aunty." The boy smiled at Madiha, she couldn't help but return the smile with a small "hello beta." And the boy elbowed his younger sister who was standing holding his hand. "Greet aunty." He whispered, well, it will be unjust if it was called to be a whisper because Madiha listened to it clearly.

"Remove your shoes here only and come in." Madiha gave some space to the kids to step in. "Aunty aap hume marengi to nhi na?" The 9 year old boy asked and Madiha was about to shake her head but stopped by the instruction of the 6 year old girl.

(Aunty, you won't beat us, right?)

"Aunty, aap inhe maar lijiyega mujhe nhi mariyega, ye mujhe bohot pareshan karte hain, meri dolls tood dete hain." Madiha turned to see Aamna who was standing behind her and both of them laughed at the scene when the little girl was betraying her brother on the very first day of their new tuition.

(Aunty, please don't beat me... You may beat him, he breaks my dolls and troubles me.)

"Aapka naam kya hai?" Madiha asked the girl while softly pinching her cheek but the boy was fast to reply "Her name is Sufia and mine is Usama."

(What's your name?)

"She asked me, why are you telling my name?" The girl protested while pulling her hand from the grip of her elder brother.

"Aap dono Ghar mein bhi aese hi ladte ho?" Aamna asked with amazement and the girl shook her head. "Main nhi ladti ye ladte hain."

(Do you two argue in the home too?)

(Not me but he argues,)

"Aunty ye jhoot bol rahi hai, main kuchh nhi karta... Ye hi ladayi karti hai mujhse."

(Aunty, she is lying, I don't do anything... she is the one who fights with me.)

"Papa ko bataungi ki yaha aa kar bhi badtamizi kar rhe hain." The girl threatened her brother.

(I will tell papa that you're misbehaving here too.)

"Aur main mummy ko bolunga ki tum meri shikayate laga rhi thi." The boy wasn't at the back seat.

(And I will tell mom that you were complaining about me.)

"All the best Aapi... Allah aapko himmat de in dono ki ladaiyan suljhane ki... Padhai ka kya hai time milega to kar hi lenge." Aamna whispered while controlling herself to laugh out loud but she was enjoying this argument and Madiha was trying to conclude how to handle both of them but she was also smiling on this little argument.

(All the best Aapi... … May Allah give you courage to resolve the fights between these two… and if it comes to the studies, then don't worry, they'll somehow do it if they get time between the arguments.)

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