Madiha felt goosebumps covering her whole frame. Flashback to many horrible nights and days took her in an embrace after getting a glance at this tall man. "Madiha." This wasn't the first time she heard her name in his mouth but his tone was different this time. She tried to move back but couldn't. She tried to close the door but couldn't.

"Jo hua bhul jao, mere sath ghar chalo," He held her free hand but Madiha shook her head and took a step back.

(Forget everything, come back home with me.)

"Tumhari himmat kese huyi yaha aane ki?" Mohsin asked in a loud voice but surprisingly Danish did not show any kind of anger. He looked at Madiha with a softness in his eyes. The same softness that she wanted him to show in return for her efforts and love.

(How dare you come here?)

"Maanta hu bohot nainsafi kari hai tumhare sath, ab kabhi nhi marunga tumhe, kabhi kuch nhi kahunga... Ghar chalo Madiha." Madiha was unable to figure out how to react. How did those words sound a few months ago? She would feel like conquering the whole world even heaven if he had said all this but he was too late to realise everything, moreover... How could she trust this man?

(I admit that I have done a lot of injustice to you, now I will never beat you, I will never say anything... Madiha, come back home.)

"Aap mujhe talaq de chuke hain." Madiha was about to shut the door on his face but he grabbed her hand one more time.

(You have already divorced me.)

"Bhool jao sab kuch, bhool jao us talaq ke bare mein... Wada kar rha hu tumhe itna pyaar dunga ki tum sari buri yaade bhul jaogi." For the first time, Madiha felt that this man could be a better husband but she didn't want to go back to that hell.

(Forget everything, forget about that divorce... I am promising that I will love you so much that you will forget all the bad memories.)

"behtar hoga aap chale jaiye yaha se." and she forcefully locked the door. Aamna's family was witnessing the scene and Madiha one more time felt embarrassed in front of them. She did not waste time, gave Zayan to Aamna and rushed to the room.

(You better back off.)

She tried her best to not waste her precious tears for this man but emotions are like a river, a flood can break any dam. Resting her back on the wall she cried out silently but soon her legs gave up to lift her weight.

"Why?" she muttered, "Why with me?" wiping her tears she hid her face in her palms.

The dining table was set in a simple yet appealing manner showing many dishes of his liking. She was wearing a pistachio green silk suit which had a light touch of red and pink floral embroidery. After a very long time she was getting ready with minimum makeup which included only kohl and lipstick, but let her hair open. She wanted to remind him that they both could spend a beautiful and pleasant life without any disputes, without any issues.

"Ye kya tamasha hai?" As soon as he came, seeing the candles present on the dining table he asked. Madiha passed him a glass of water and he looked at her from head to toe.

(What's this new drama?)

"Aaj hamari third wedding anniversary hai." She reminds him of the hope for a little betterment but he yanked his head.

"Wedding Anniversary?" she nodded in reply "Phir to mujhe matam karna chahiye. Tere sath mere teen saal successfully barbad ho gye... In teen saalo mein tune mujhe tension ke alawa diya hi kya hai? Us budhe ne apne ghar ka kuda mere sar daal diya... Awara badchalan aurat, dafa ho jaa meri nazro ke saamne se." at that time Madiha was clueless about the rudeness of her husband. For the last few months, he wasn't even talking to her, even after every possible try she failed to get his attention. Wiping her lipstick with her palm she ran to the room without knowing her fault.

(I should mourn instead, today my three years are successfully ruined... What you have given to me in these teen years apart from tension? That old man has thrown the garbage of his home on my head... Disappeared right now, you are a characterless woman.)

"Aapi, Aapi... Open the door." Aamna's voice came along with a loud knock. Madiha could ignore but she couldn't make another spectacle in the home by not opening the door. "Yeah?" she asked after wiping her tears.

"Let's cut the cake." Aamna behaved as if nothing happened but Madiha shook her head, "Tum log enjoy kro mujhe neend aa rhi hai."

(You guys enjoy, I'm feeling sleepy.)

"Aapke bina koi enjoyment nhi hogi, chaliye mere sath." Aamna embraced Madiha lovingly and she cried out helplessly. "Aamna, maine sab kuch kra, koi shikayat ka moqa nhi deti thi phir bhi unhone kabhi mujhse theek tarha baat tak nhi kari aur ab wo mujhe wapas bulana chahte hain? Agar pehle hi ye baat samajh jaate to meri zindagi itni zyada kharab to nhi hoti."

(There is no enjoyment without you. Come with me.)

(Aamna trust me, I did my best to please him but he didn't treat me well, but now he has come to take me along. Couldn't he realise this before? My life would be better.)

"Aapi, kyu roo rahi hain aap? Wo ghatiya insaan aapko deserve hi nhi karta tha."

(Aapi, why are you crying? That low-standard person didn't deserve you.)

"Main bhi to ye sab deserve nhi karti thi phir mere sath aesa kyu hua? Main wo dard kisi ki dikha nhi sakti jo unhone mujhe diye hain, kese bhul jau sab kuch?"

(I too did not deserve all this, so why did this happen to me? I can't show anyone the pain that they have given me, how can I forget everything?)

"Of course, but now you'll get what you deserve. Come with me." Holding her hand Aamna kind of pulled Madiha along and she walked silently while wiping her tears.

"Main late to nhi hua na?" a manly voice echoed in the silence of the living room and Aamna gave the man a cold look. "Aap aaj tak kabhi sahi time par aaye hain?" she rolled her eyes and the man came forward giving a side hug to Aamna. 

(I am not late?)

(Have you ever arrived on time?)

"A very happy birthday to the patakha (firecracker) of the family. May you get everything you desire and get a long life." Placing his hand on Aamna's head he flankly blessed her.

"Kya Aamir bhai? Sukha sukha birthday wish kar denge? Gift kaha hai mera?" Aamna demanded and the man pushed his hand in the pocket to draw out a small box.

(Seriously Aamir bhai, Only wishes? Where is my gift?)

"Aamir bhai, She is my sister-in-law, Madiha."

"oh, Assamualaikum. How are you Madiha?" The question was simple but the answer was complicated to deliver. She couldn't tell anyone how broken she was. "Kya hua koi masla hai kya?" Getting no reply from Madiha he asked but she shook her head and walked to the kitchen. 

(What's the matter? Any issue?)

"Ye bohot achhi hain lekin inki story bohot dardnaak hai." Aamna's eyes followed Madiha to the kitchen and he felt bad for her. "Har achhe insaan ki kahani dardbhari hi hoti hai," Aamir muttered in a sad voice. There was a pain of loss in Madiha's eyes that connected him because his story was also painful but he had discovered the way to stay happy in front of the world.

(She is very good but her story is very painful.)

(Every good person has a painful story.)

<><><><>

Two weeks later:

In only a few days Aamir visited Mohsin's home for different reasons created by Aamna only but he was not naive to not understand the actual reason behind it. The way Aamna discussed Madiha was a clear indication of her intention, however, Madiha never felt comfortable in the presence of Aamir so she made sure to leave the room every time. She didn't know anything about Aamir besides that he was Aamna's second course so she couldn't get a clue of Aamna's intentions.

"Aamna, Mohsin breakfast is ready, come fast," Madiha yelled from the kitchen and set the little amount of food on the dining table before rushing to her room. Taking a quick shower she changed herself into a decent pair of clothes, wore her black abaya and walked out of the room after picking up the necessary accessories. "Tum abhi tak gye nhi?" seeing her brother present in the home she asked because he usually leaves earlier for the office. 

(you're still here?)

"Aapi," Mohsin grabbed her hand and made her sit down on the chair beside himself. "Hum sab ko pta hai aapne kya saha hai, lekin zindagi khatam to nhi ho jati... Chalti rehti hai."

(We all know whatever you have faced but... That's not the end of life, life goes on.)

"Kehna kya chahte ho?"

(what do you want to say?)

"Ghuma phira ke baat nhi krungi... Aamir bhai ki wife ki death ho chuki hai, ek beti hai unki jisko Aamir bhai apni jaan se zyada pyaar karte hain..." Aamna paused for a while, "Wo bohot achhe hain... Unhone apni pehli wife ko bhi bohot pyaar se rakha tha I'm sure second wife ko bhi kabhi koi takleef nhi denge." Madiha's heart started beating faster than normal and she felt a knot in the pit of her stomach. 

(I would talk straightforwardly without any formality. Aamir Bhai's wife has died, and he has a daughter whom he loves more than his life.)

 (He is very good...he loved his first wife crazily and I am sure he will never give any trouble to his second wife too.)

"Dusri shadi kar lijiye aapi. Kab tak akele zindagi guzarengi?" Mohsin said in a hushed tone but Madiha's eyes filled with tears. "kya main tumhare upar bojh ban gyi Mohsin?"

(You should marry again. How long will you live alone?)

(Have I become a burden on you, Mohsin?)

"Kesi baate kar rhi hain aapi? Aap hamare liye bojh kese ho sakti hain?" Mohsin pulled her in a side hug and Madiha took a step away from him while shaking her head. "Please, I don't wanna do second marriage," she mumbled and walked towards the door but Aamna rushed after her and grabbed her hand.

(Oh please Aapi, you can't be a burden on us)

"Aapi, please try to understand. Hum aapko khush dekhna chahte hain... Aamir bhai bohot achhe hain, bachpan se janti hu main unhe, wo aapko kabhi koi dukh nhi denge." Aamna was requesting but Madiha gave her a more requested look. 

(We want you to live happily. Aamir Bhai is very nice, I have known him since childhood, and he will never hurt you.)

"Main dusri shadi nhi kar sakti... Baat ye nhi hai ki koi mujhe dukh dega ya nhi baat ye hai ki main kisi ko khushi dene layaq nhi hu... Please aaj ke baad mujhse shadi ki baat na karna agar tum logo ko mere yaha rehne se problem ho to clearly bol dena main bina kuch sawal jawab kre yaha se chali jaungi lekin shadi nhi kar sakti..." Saying that she walked away, Aamna and Mohsin looked at each other and sighed for them it was Madiha's fear but for Madiha, it was her secret pain that she didn't want to share with anyone else.

(I can't marry again... The point is not whether someone will hurt me or not, the point is that I am not worthy of giving happiness to anyone... Please don't talk to me about marriage after today, if you have any problem with me staying here then tell me clearly without any hesitation, I will leave but I can't remarry.)

<><><><>

After 10 hours.

Mohsin dialled Madiha's number but it was off. The dining table was full of delicious dishes, maybe for the first time Aamna cooked such great food but how could Mohsin enjoy the dinner when his sister hadn't come back home yet? Madiha answered Aamna's call two hours ago while stepping out of the office, she sounded upset. Aamna apologized for the morning discussion and told her that she had already prepared dinner. Madiha replied in a hushed tone that she would be back within one hour but there was no clue of her till now.