Aamir arrived with his mother, had dinner, talked and laughed a lot with Mohsin. However, Madiha did not come out of her room. She did not want to give any kind of hope to Aamir or his mother so staying away from them was a better option.

After the guests left, Aamna called Madiha for dinner, but the real reason wasn't dinner, it was Mohsin who wanted to listen to the other side of the story. He wanted to know what Madiha was holding for Athar in her heart. 

"Aapi, aaj aapse bohot zaruri baat karni hai," Mohain said in a hushed done when Madiha was halfway through the dinner. "Hmm... " she nodded and pour another spoonful of rice in her mouth but Mohsin was silent for a few minutes. 

(Aapi, I have to discuss something important with you.)

Without giving much attention to her brother she picked the cucumber slices from the almost ujdi huyi (ruined) salad plate and kissed Zayan's cheek who was in his mother's lap. Madiha did not know how to live without this boy, he was not only her nephew but her lifeline too. "You know what Aamna, as soon as I saw that blue romper I imagined him wearing that... My boy will look like a prince... Hai na Zayan?" Madiha asked the last part of her little boy whose mother giggled.

"Does prince wear rompers?" Aamna asked and Madiha thought for a few moments then burst out in a peal of laughter while mumbling "The Romper Prince."

"Aapi, Athar kon hai aur aap kab se jaanti hain unhe?" The question plopped over Madiha like a bomb resulting in the spoonful of rice slipping away her hand. Her heart gave a loud beat and a knot developed in the pit of her stomach. It took Madiha some two minutes to compose herself after hearing this name. She didn't want to talk about Athar, she did not want to remember him one more time, only she and her heart know how hard it was for her to forget him every time. She tried to forget this man before getting married to Danish, however it was just a failed attempt; she tried her best to forget this man after getting married and this time she successfully forgot him after one year of marriage because then she had so many thoughts and worries in life that an imaginary perfect man wasn't worthy to be recall; and just few days ago she made a decision to forget Athar for the rest of her life, his chapter should be closed now. Right now she just wanted to hide herself behind something to avoid questions regarding that man but... How come Mohsin learned about Athar? 

(Aapi who is Athar? For how long do you know him?)

"Aapi... I'm asking something."

"Mohsin, let her eat first." Aamna whispered Madiha looked at both of them. It was clear that Aamna also knew something. Pushing the plate aside Madiha took a sip of water and decided to talk about this matter instead of running away.

"Tum kese jaante ho Athar ko?"

(How do you know Athar?)

"Ghar aaye the wo, shadi karna chahte hain aapse." Madiha's eyes grew wide and she looked at Aamna to read her expressions but in reality she only wanted Aamna to not think anything negative about her. What would she think? Her sister-in-law who pretend to be modest is actually having an affair with her colleague? But right now Madiha didn't know that Athar already spoke his heart out in front is Aamna and Mohsin without any hesitation.

(He came home, he wants to marry you.)

"Lekin main unse shadi nhi karna chahti, mujhe dusri shadi karni hi nhi hai." Madiha announced her decision without wasting her time. 

(But I don't want to marry him, I don't want to get married again.)

"Maine to shadi ki baat kri hi nhi, main to sirf itna puchh rha hu ki aap kab se jaanti hain unhe?" The urgency in Mohsin's tone told Madiha that there was something more than her expectations.

(I didn't even talk about marriage, I'm just asking how long have you known him?)

"Why are you asking?"

"Because I want to know a little more about my sister." Madiha found no other way but answering her brother's questions, however it wasn't that easy. How could she discuss about her biggest secret? Her life was always like an open book and Athar was the only hidden chapter, she couldn't let anyone read that chapter.

"Aapi, I'm asking something." she did not dare to delay anymore. 

"I have known him since College days." Madiha didn't uplift her eyes because she was feeling awkward.

"Iska Matlab wo baat sach thi ki Aap shadi se pehle kisi ladke se baat karti thi." Mohsin looked at Madiha while remembering his Mami accusing Madiha of talking to a man before getting married. Mohsin was deeply hurt when that lady said this about his sister, he couldn't forget those words even after many years but now everything was making sense. Only now he understood the reason for Madiha's eyes following the man who bumped into her on the day of the interview.

(It means it was true that Aapi used to talk to a guy before getting married?)

"Kya shadi ke baad bhi... Aap logo ki baat hoti thi?" For the first time, Mohsin wanted to know if Danish was also right regarding his accusation that Madiha was involved with someone. Madiha saw him with wide eyes but the very next moment she shook her head in a hurry, a tear dropped from her eye indicating the damage her brother did with only one question.

(Were you in contact even after marriage...?)

"Seedha puchh lo Mohsin... Words ko ghuma kyu rahe ho? Mera koi affair nhi tha. Na Athar ke sath na kisi aur ke sath, na shadi se pehle na shadi ke baad aur na hi ab hai... Haan main Athar se phone pe baat karti thi... Lekin..." Madiha didn't find courage to stay there for even one more second she stood up while cleaning her tears with her dupatta. She was deeply hurt, She was so pious and modest, she had maintained her modesty in every situation but neither her husband trusted her and now her brother was putting a question-mark on it.

(Ask directly Mohsin... why are you twisting the words? I didn't have any affair. Neither with Athar, nor with anyone else. Neither before marriage, not after marriage, and not even now... Yeah, I used to talk to Athar on the phone... But...)

"Don't take it in the wrong way, Aapi... I was just..." Before Mohain could conclude his sentence Madiha already walked to her room . Aamna glared at her husband,

"Kya tu apni behen ko nhi jaanta Mohsin? Tujhe lagta hai teri behen shadi ke baad kisi aur aadmi se baat kar sakti hai?"

(Don't you know your sister, Mohsin? Do you think your sister can talk to another man after marriage?)

"Mera wo matlab nhi tha yaar, main to sirf itna jaan na chahta tha ki wo sirf baat karti thi kya... Zaruri to nhi sirf baat karna affair hi ho, we can talk to the opposite gender just like a friend... If you know what I mean."

(That's not what I meant, I wanted to know if she just talked... It is not necessary that just talking should be considered as a love affair... we can talk to the opposite gender just like a friend... If you know what I mean.)

"Apni bakwaas band kar le..." Huffing loudly Aamna walked towards Madiha's room. 

"Aapi..." Madiha was crying sitting on the edge of the bed. Aamna sat down beside her but let her cry for a few more minutes. 

"Main thak chuki hu is baat ya yaqeen dilate dilate ki mera koi affair nhi hai..." She just cried. For almost four years she was trying to assure her husband that she doesn't have any affair and now her brother asked something similar, though his intentions were different but sometimes words trigger one's weak spot and a modesty was Madiha's weak spot. She was pious, she was modest, she was afraid of Allah that's why she wanted to stay away from every forbidden thing.

(I'm tired of assuring everyone that I'm not having an affair...)

"We know you can't do anything wrong." Aamna lightly pulled Madiha in a hug. "but Aapi, I want to know something more."

"what? " breaking the hug Madiha asked and Aamna thought for a moment, she wanted not to repeat her husband's fault by choosing the wrong words. 

"Mujhe to Athar bhai achhe lage, He loves you. Aap kyu unse shadi nhi karna chahti?"

(I liked Athar Bhai, he loves you. Why don't you want to marry him?)

"Loves me? No, he doesn't! Pyaar mohabbat wala koi rishta nhi tha hum mein... Agar hota to..." Madiha stopped because she felt that saying further would create more mess but Aamna held her hand before laying her son on the bed.

(There was no love between us, if it was then...)

"Keh dijiye jo bhi kehna hai, I won't judge you. At least itna to trust kr hi sakti hain aap mujh par." And Madiha closed her eyes. 

(Say whatever you want, I won't judge you. At least you can trust me this much.)

"Agar unhe mujhse mohabbat hoti to meri shadi kisi aur se na hone dete." She wiped her tears and tried to sound normal while standing up and walking towards the other side of the room but Aamna held her hand. "You still love him." Madiha's face turned pale, Aamna couldn't get the biggest secret of this lady in no time.

(If he had loved me, he would not let me to marry someone else.)

"No, even I never do."

"Tell me everything Aapi, how it started and how it ended?" Madiha kept watching Aamna and her eyes filled with tears, however this time she didn't let them come out. She blinked away the tears and sat down beside this trustworthy young lady who was all ears.

"Ammi ko har rooz maut ki taraf jata dekhti thi, Mohsin ko rooz Subah se shaam tak dhakke khata hua, and main... Main to kahi thi hi nhi, bas ek supporting character jo zinda to thi lekin dusro ke liye. Bhai ke liye khana bana do, ammi ko dawai de do, ghar ki saaf safayi kar lo aur bas... Mujhe lagta tha meri zindagi isi tarha guzar jayegi. Din me jo thoda sa khali waqt milta tha usme yaade satati thi to mene socha MA me admission le leti hu, thoda aur busy ho jaungi to kuch sochne ka moqa hi nhi milega, lekin college me Athar se mulaqat hui..." Madiha stopped for a while and smiled a bit. "Kisi ke paas mere liye time nhi tha, lekin unke paas hamesha tha. Unhone mujhe meri hi story me supporting character se main character bana diya. Wo pehle mere dost bane, phir ideal, phir supporter aur phir zarurat. Unke bina sab kuch adhura sa lagne laga tha. Unse baat nhi karti thi to lagta tha ki shayad zinda nhi hu..." and then Madiha had nothing to say, her side of the story ended here only. 

(I was seeing Ammi moving towards death every day, Mohsin was struggling from morning to evening, and I... I was nowhere, I was just a supporting character who was alive for others. My duties were to cook for my brother, looking after my mother, taking care of the home and that's it. I thought I would pass my life this way only. Negative thoughts were haunting me so I decided to take Admission in MA to get rid of some free time. So that I won't get time to think of anything but I met him in the college.)

(No one had time for me but he was always there. He transformed me from a supporting character to the lead character in my own story. He first became my friend, then ideal, then supporter and then my need. Without him everything seemed incomplete. If I didn't talk to him, I felt as if I was not alive...)

"Phir (Then)?" Aamna asked but Madiha sighed. 

"Phir... Phir kuch nhi! Bas meri shadi ho gyi... Shadi se zyada barbadi ho gyi..." Madiha smiled like a sarcasm and Aamna detected wetness in her eyes. 

(Then... Then nothing, I got married. It was more like devastation.)

"Athar bhai ki yaad nhi aati thi kabhi?" Madiha suddenly looked up at Aamna on this question, she immediately casted her gaze down to hide fresh tears but today she didn't want to hide anything in her heart. 

(Have you ever missed Athar Bhai?)

"Aati thi... Jab wo marte the, galiyan dete the tab yaad aati thi ki Athar ne kitne jhute khwab dikha diye the mujhe. Lekin unki bhi koi galti nhi thi, Wo shayad mujh par tars khaa kar mujhse baat karte the aur main... Maine pta nhi konsi khyali duniya bana li... Phir waqt ke sath sath mujhe samajh aa gya ki meri zindagi me kuch theek nhi ho sakta..."

(I Have, whenever he beat me, abused me I remembered how Athar elevated my false hopes. But it wasnt even his fault, he was talking to me just because of sympathy, I was the one to make my Air Castle... But with passing time I understood that nothing can be fine.)

"Zindagi bohot kam logo ko dusra mooqa deti hai aapi, aur aapko wo mooqa diya jaa rha hai, ise mat gawaiye."

(Life gives a second chance to only a few people and you're getting that chance aapi, don't let it go.)

"Ab bohot deyr ho chuki hai Aamna," Madiha sighed but Aamna was unable to understand the reason behind Madiha's denial. If she loves or loved Athar then what was the problem? 

(Now it's too late Aamna.)

"Why? How it's too late?"

"Aamna, can you please leave me alone and stop discussing this? I can't get married to anyone... Please." Madiha pressed her lips together while mumbling the last part. Aamna sighed while picking up Zayan from the bed.

"Fine. We won't force you."

"Thank you." She smiled forcefully. 

"But, talk to Athar bhai once. Clear everything. Either accept or deny just clear this matter." Saying that Aamna walked out from the room and Madiha locked the door from inside. Standing in front of the mirror she saw herself. Her face with no bruise, no injury, was looking better than before. Removing the dupatta from her head she threw it on the bed and kept watching herself. Pressing her lower lip in between her teeth she removed her shirt and her eyes pooled up.

Suppressing her sobs she clean her eyes and looked at her body keenly. "Why with me?" she asked the woman present in the mirror having very little self-confidence but uncountable insecurities.

The sight gave birth to a fresh tear which instantly rolled down from her eye and fell on a brown mark present on her right breast, another tear drop landed on another mark and she sobbed loudly while putting her clothes back.

How could someone love and accept her when she was unable to accept herself anymore?

<><><>

"Mohsin sun na..."

(Listen)

"Hmm... "

"Aapi ke liye Athar bhai best hain... Wo khush rahengi."

(Athar Bhai is the best for aapi, she will be happy.)

"First of all, Thankfully Aapi is not agree and in an addition... He can't keep Aapi happy." Said Mohsin while glancing at his wife who was feeding Zayan.

"I've had a word with Aapi... She secretly loved Athar bhai in the past, She's not confessing but she still loves him." Aamna said in a hushed tone and made Zayan lay beside his father who wasn't looking happy. 

"Just look at his condition... He's a man with minimal salary and no home to live in, moreover his family is against this marriage. Even if Aapi agrees I won't let her marry him. Aamir bhai is a better option, I'll convince her." saying that Mohsin changed his side and closed his eyes while switching off the lights. Aamna glared at his back and laid down beside him after shifting Zayan towards the wall. She was turning red due to anger but not getting any way to let it out so she started scrolling various shopping sites.

"Mohsin, Sun na." after all, Aamna broke the ten minutes long silence present in the room.

"Hmm" without opening his eyes he hummed.

"Ye earrings kitne pyare hain na." She showed a shopping page to her husband who nodded without even glancing at them. "Dilade yaar, please." this time Mohsin looked at the mobile screen to check the price and he blinked blankly. 

(These earrings are so cute!)

(Buy me this. Please.)

"Price dekhe hain iske? 50k? Itne mehnge earrings?"

(Have you seen its price? 50k? Such expensive earrings?)

"Can't you buy them for me?" Aamna asked and Mohsin gave her a cold look. "You already know I can't," turning his side to face his wife he muttered and Aamna glared at him.

"Why? Why can't you?"

"Aamna, for god sake, it's even more than my one-month income. Don't you know? I can't afford to buy these for you." Mohsin sat down on the bed after seeing this form of his wife. He knew that this lady was stubborn but she was demonstrating this first time for a materialistic thing.

"Okay, don't buy me these earrings but at least take me on a trip. A trip of Kashmir."

"Kya ho gya hai yaar? Tujhe pta hai na is ghar ki EMI kitni zyada hai... We can't afford these luxuries right now." Mohsin said with frustration and Aamna kept watching him for very long minute. There was something in her eyes that Mohsin never seen in these seven years. He loved him since he was a teenager, he was observing her from the very first day of college but never knew that she could talk to her eyes too. He only knew that Aamna shouts a lot out of anger but who was this Aamna? She was giving an uneasy feeling to her husband's heart with her silence.

(What has happened, dude? Don't you know how expensive this house is? We still have to pay the EMI, we can't afford these luxuries right now.)

"Tujhe pta hai Mohsin jis type ke restaurant mein tu mujhe dinner karane le ke jata hai na waha shadi se pehle mene kabhi qadam nhi rakha tha. Main tere sath car ke jis outdated model mein baith ke har jagah khushi khushi chali jati hu us car ko to main dekh ke bhi mazakh udati thi. Tujhe kya lagta hai mera dil nhi chahta usi lifestyle me jeene ka?" her eyes filled with tears which was a jolt to Mohsin's heart. "Chahta hai yaar bohot dil chahta hai lekin phir main tujhe dekhti hu, tu jab mere liye 10 rupee ke gajre lata hai na mujhe wo hi duniya ka sabse expensive gift lagta hai, tu mere liye jo kuch karta hai dil se karta hai mere liye kafi hai, agar main elite class se nikal ke ek middle-class husband ke sath khush reh sakti hu to Aapi kyu Athar bhai ke sath khush nhi reh sakti?" Aamna held his hand in a requesting way. Mohsin was forgetting his anger but he couldn't forget the reasoning behind his decision. "Mohsin, I swear, regardless of your financial status, you are the most important person to me because of your love and care... Try to understand yaar, Aapi unke sath khush rahengi."

(You know Mohsin, the type of restaurant where you take me for dinner, I had never even entered before marriage. I used to make fun of that outdated model car in which I happily go everywhere with you. What do you think, I don't want to live the same lifestyle?)

(I also want to live the same luxurious life but then I see you, when you bring cheap flowers for me, I feel they're more important than expensive things. Whatever you do for me, you do it from your heart, it is enough for me. If I, who belongs to an elite class, can be happy with a middle-class husband, then why can't Aapi be happy with Athar Bhai? Mohsin, I swear, You are the most important person to me, not because of your money but because of your love and care... Try to understand yaar, Aapi will live happily with him.)

"Aur rahengi kaha? Ek kiray ke ghar mein? Kiraya hi dete rahenge to khayenge kya?" Mohsin's point was valid, he knew sometimes how difficult it becomes to balance between income and expenses. 

"Fine, not in a rental home... Wo shadi k baad bhi yahi reh lengi... Sab sath rahenge."  Aamna suggested, and her husband furrowed.

(Fine, not in a rental home... she will live here even after marriage... We all will live together.)

"Pagal ho gyi hai kya? Hamari privacy ka kya hoga?" he already had given up on his shirtless style from the time Madiha had entered the home otherwise he used to roam around in minimum clothes, now, he couldn't imagine one more man in his home when his wife feeds a little baby.

"Okay, but Aapi can also buy a house like us... Wo dono mature hain yaar apni zindagi ke decisions le sakte hain. Tune dekha nhi aapi ke liye kitna tadap rhe the wo... Tu bhi to mere liye sab kuch karta hai na, just because you love me madly, wo bhi sab kuch karenge." Aamna suggested and Mohsin kept watching her for a long moment, closing his eyes he lay down silently. Sometimes he questioned his destiny to get Aamna. She changed herself for him... In her father's words she destroyed her life with her own hands by marrying an immature and useless guy like Mohsin, but this young woman showed that her love was higher than the level of materialistic things. She not only loved him but accepted him in the way he was and now she was thinking about Madiha's future too.

(Okay, but aapi can also buy a house like us… They both are mature and can take their decisions. Didn't you see how much he was yearning for Aapi... You also do everything for me, just because of your love. He will also do everything.)

"Ab kuch bolega?" she huffed but her husband opened his eyes, smiled a little, grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into a bear hug. "Tu kese mil gyi mujhe yaar, sometimes I feel that I don't deserve you." Aamna sighed with relief and rested her head on his chest after kissing his cheeks one after another.

(Will you say something?)

"Tu meri jaan hai..." He whispered while closing his eyes.

(You are my love my life my everything.)

"You're the best, hubby. Bas tu decision making me weak hai," she grimaced in the last part but Mohsin smiled.

(but you're a bad decision maker)

"Tu hai na mere decisions alter karane k liye, I love you yaar I love you so much." and they both smiled while closing their eyes.

(You are here to alter my decisions, I love you, dude, I love you so much.)

<><><>

After a few Days:

Sunday mornings are always pleasant because of no morning alarms to disturb, however, she was already awake and working in the kitchen. She had plenty of time so decided to prepare some good breakfast and even after that, she had time so she prepared the lunch too but her brother and sister-in-law were still sleeping.

Making the second mug of tea she served herself a few rusks before moving towards the living room but stopped by a doorbell. She already knew those sleepy bears were not coming out from their hibernation so she opened the door and her body froze at the same spot.

"Madiha..."

"Aap yaha kyu aaye hain?" she looked at the bedroom door of her brother then towards the man standing on the doorway.

(What are you doing here?)

"Ek cup chai mujhe bhi de do... Sar mein bohot dard ho rha hai." looking at the cup of tea present in Madiha's tray he demanded and Madiha glared at him however her eyes weren't showing anger but pain. 

(Give me a cup of tea too... I have a severe headache.)

"Chale jaiye yaha se. Meri zindagi aur mushkil na banaiye, kya bigada hai mene aapka? Kyu mujhe sukun nhi lene de rhe?"

(Go away from here. Don't make my life more difficult, what have I done to you? Why are you not letting live in peace?)

"Night shift thi meri, duty se direct yaha aa rha hu tumse milne ke liye... Itna rudely baat krogi mujhse?" Madiha tried to glare at him but couldn't because a voice came from behind and she turned to see a sleepy Mohsin coming out of his bedroom while fastening the buttons of his shirt. "Kon hai aapi?" he muttered but all his slumber was gone after seeing the figure standing near the door. 

(It was my night shift, I am coming here straight from duty to meet you... Will you talk to me so rudely?)

(who's this aapi?)

<><><><>