"Don't move Aapi..." Aamna said while setting her hair with bobby pins and finally, she was done with making a perfect bun of Madiha's hair. Picking up her make-up box she sat down on the bed and drew out many things. Madiha winced. "Aamna, please... Don't do all these things... I'm not feeling comfortable."

"Aaj aapki hi shadi hai, Aapi," Aamna said like she was reminding Madiha about her big day. Picking up some bottles she walked towards Madiha and drew out a few liquids on the back of her hand to apply to Madiha's face but before she could do so Madiha held her hand. "Dusri shadi... Ye meri dusri shadi hai Aamna, dulhan banne ka koi shokh nhi reh gya mujhe."

(Today, only you're getting married.)

(I'm getting married for the second time Aamna. I'm not excited to be a bride.)

"Athar bhai ki to pehli shadi hai na... Unhe to shokh hoga apni dulhan ko dekhne ka." Aamna said in a small voice without letting go of the smile on her face. 

(Athar Bhai's getting married for the first time, he must have wanted to see his well-groomed bride.)

"Ye sab kuch bohot awkward lag rha hai, Aamna." Said Madiha and Aamna sighed, she kind of forcefully started applying the base of makeup and Madiha somehow kept herself silent. "Bas kro Aamna itna make up to mera pehli shadi mein bhi nhi kra gya tha jitna tum ab kar rhi ho." Madiha tried to stop her but Aamna was surprised.

(It's feeling awkward)

(Just stop it, Aamna, even in my first marriage, I did not have so much make-up done as you are doing now.)

"kyaaa? Aapi, Itna make up bhi nhi kra tha to kya hi kra hoga?" Aamna kind of rolled her eyes and told Madiha to close her eyes as she was about to start the eye makeup and Madiha remembered the time when she was groomed as a bride. Four years ago her aunt told a random cousin to do her makeup and in the name of grooming, she wore some basic makeup that was equal to the amount of grooming a teenager does while attending a school performance. Moreover, at that time Madiha wasn't happy, she was missing her mother who passed away some two months ago holding a wish to see her daughter getting married, however, it was good that she passed away before her daughter could get married to that cruel man because after seeing that bruises on her daughter's beautiful face it would become difficult for her to stay alive.

(what? If you haven't done this much makeup it means you haven't done makeup at all)

<><><>

"Do ghante se baithe huye hain, kam se kam pani ko to puchh sakti hain aap, lekin aap to apne kamre se bhi bahar nhi aati," said Humaira with frustration and Gohar rolled her eyes.

(You have been sitting for two hours, at least you can ask for water. But you don't even come out of your room.p)

"Kyu baithi hui ho? Tumhare ghar me pani hota hai na... Wahi jaa ke pi lena. Jab koi bulata nhi hai to kyu aa jati ho muh utha ke?" Gohar replied while blowing on her nail paint which was still wet. Humaira and Umaira looked at each other. They were angry and couldn't tolerate it anymore.

(Why are you sitting? There is water in your house, right? Go and drink it. Why do you come often without inviting?)

"Ye hamare maa baap ka ghar hai," Said Umera loudly but Gohar didn't like this tone. 

(This is our parents' home.)

"Tumhare maa baap to Qabristan mein hain, wahi jaa ke baith jaya karo... Aur haan aaj ke baad mujhse in tone me baat na karna." the last part was a clear warning.

(Your parents are in the graveyard, go and sit there... One more thing, don't talk to me in this tone.)

"Madiha bhabi ne kabhi bhi humse esa behave nhi kra." Humaira had tears while saying so. She was stressed for the last few weeks, there were some issues in her family, so she wanted to spend some peaceful time in her maternal home, however, peace also left this home when an ungrateful woman left. 

(Madiha Bhabhi never behaved like this with us.)

"Achha! Tumhari Madiha bhabi itni achhi thi?" Gohar asked more with sarcasm. Umera, who was trying to give some strength to her younger sister looked at Gohar with a deadly sigh. "Aapse to Hazar guna achhi thi wo."

(Oh really? Was your Madiha Bhabhi so good?)

(She was a thousand times better than you.)

"Phir bhi tum dono ne use dhoka de diya? Badi ehsan-faramosh ho... Tum uski wafadar nhi hui jisne tumhare liye sab kuch kra, mujhse kya khaak wafa karogi tum dono?" jerking her head Gohar walked towards her bedroom but stopped for a moment and turned towards both of them. 

(Still, you both deceived her! You're both so ungrateful. You were not loyal to the one who did everything for you how can I expect integrity from you?)

"Jane se pehle ye AC band kar jana," and she walked into the bedroom, banging the door loudly. 

(Turn off the AC before going.)

"Main bhai ko bataungi," Humaira muttered but Umera shook her head. "koi fayda nhi hai wo bhi is aurat ke aage kuch nhi bolte."

(I will tell bhai)

(There is no use, he also does not say anything in front of this woman.)

"Agar mujhe pta hota ki ye sab hoga to bhai ko dusri shadi kabhi karne hi nhi deti." Humaira was pretty late to realize.

(If I had known that all this would happen, I would never have let bhai marry again.)

"Sach mein, itni bhi buri nhi thi wo... Har waqt rooti rehti thi lekin humse kabhi rude nhi huyi."

(Seriously, she was crying all the time but she wasn't rude to us ever!)

A little diamond loses its shine in the crystal shop but a hammer can reveal the real worth of it. The same was happening here. Both the sisters were demonstrating the reality of humans... Most of the time we humans forget the worth of what we get without any struggle, but understand its worth after losing it.

chal diye su-e-haram ku-e-butan se 'momin'

jab diya ranj buton ne to Khuda yaad aaya

_Momin khan Momin

(from the streets of idols fair

to the mosque did I repair)

<><><><>

It was supposed to be the simplest possible nikkah, but things were a little changed. There were only 5-10 people from the bride's side and some 50 people from the groom's side. Athar didn't want these 50 people either but he was unable to refuse to invite close relatives on his mother's insistence. The nikkah was done in the mosque and dinner was arranged in the small hall of the society which was usually used for small functions like birthday parties.

Mohsin and Aamna arranged a dinner that was a thousand times better than what Madiha expected as compared to her first wedding, they gifted shawls to all the guests and some other things to Athar's family members, along with a gold chain to Athar.

Madiha was silently sitting beside Athar without any clue what her brother was going to do next. She didn't know that they both would do this. This wedding was supposed to be a simple wedding but here she was feeling like a burden. Soon Aamna gifted gold earrings to Athar's mother and Rosie which were a token of respect. Rosie smiled at such an unexpected gesture but Athar's mother asked only one question in a cold voice, "Iski kya zarurat thi?" which was enough to tell that she wasn't interested in Madiha or anything from her side. Madiha, who was sitting with a down gaze, felt embarrassed but the question was for Aamna, how could she stay silent? 

(what was the need for this?)

"Zarurat to sirf pyar aur izzat ki hoti hai aunty, cheeze to yaade ban ke reh jaati hain." Aamna grabbed the hands of the old lady and smiled while placing the small box on her palm and curling her fingers around it. The old lady was unable to say anything in reply other than telling Aamna to quick up for the farewell ritual.

(All that is needed is love and respect Aunty, things remain as memories only.)

......

Mohsin was the one who was walking with Madiha, his hand was holding her sister's hand and his eyes holding tears while his mind remembered the same scene that took place four years ago but his heart was praying for Madiha to not face anything from the past pains.

"I don't know what to say at this moment." embracing Madiha just near the car Mohsin whispered and a tear rolled down from his eyes. He was remembering the bruised face of his sister and feeling scared of the future, "Mohsin," Madiha whispered in between her silent cries. "Ye sab kuch karne ki kya zarurat thi? Tum dono ne mujhe sharminda kar diya," said Madiha in the same whisper that only her brother listened. 

(What was the need to do all this? You two indebted me.)

"Aapki khushi se zyada zaruri kuch nhi hai aapi... Bas aap khush rahiye." Mohsin whispered back. He knew that Danish taunted Madiha now and then to come to his home empty-handed but Madiha never complained as she knew her brother wasn't in a condition to do anything. But today Mohsin went beyond his capacity, he spent all his savings to send furniture, gifts and some more things to Athar's home without naming them dowry. Athar refused to take anything but Mohain knew, Danish also did the same however he brought this topic up again and again to humiliate Madiha... This time Mohain did not want to give anyone a chance to taunt his sister. 

(There is nothing more important than your happiness... just be happy.)

The bride hopped into a car which moved towards her new home. Holding madly bearing heart she looked beside herself, her little veil did not allow her to have a complete look at her husband but she could see only his hand holding his mobile phone. Athar slowly moved his hand towards his bride and grabbed her mehndi-filled hand to give pace to her already racing heart. Madiha tried to slip her hand away from this grip but couldn't however the bangles present in her wrist made some sound to attract Roies who was present on the other side. "Ahem Ahem..." Fake clearing her throat Rosie told her brother to have some patience and the poor guy withdrew his hand with a jolt leaving his wife embarrassed.

<><>

Many relatives were present in the home. All of them were interested in seeing the newlywed to get a fresh topic of discussion for the next few days or a week. A few of them already commented that "the girl was chubby and looked older than Athar", however, Madiha was five years younger than him but maybe four years of marriage gave her a mature look! Some of the ladies commented that "Athar could get a better girl but that's fine, after all, matches are made in heaven."

Madiha was sitting in the middle of the living room listening to every whisper without showing any kind of reaction, her head was still bowed a little, and the veil was covering her half face when a voice which was more than a whisper grabbed her attention.

"Rosie, ye to Madiha hai, main is ko jaanti hu, ye iski dusri shadi hai... Iske pehle miya ne ise range hatho kisi aadmi ke sath badi nazaiba halat mein pakda tha is liye talaq de di thi. Kya soch ke tumne Athar ki shadi is se kar di?" Madiha's breath hitched, she wanted to turn and see the ladies bitching about her but couldn't get the courage.

(Rosie, This is Madiha, I know her, this is her second marriage... Her first husband caught her with a man in a compromising situation hence he divorced her. How could you select her for Athar?)

"Ye kya keh rhi hain aap aunty? Aapse kisne kaha ye sab?" Asked Rosie, she was shocked.  

(What are you saying, Aunty? Who told you all these things?)

"Umaira, Mera matlab iske pehle miya ki behen ne bataya tha meri bahu ko." the lady started elaborating on the relationship between Umaira's inlaws and her daughter-in-law's connections but Madiha pressed her lips together. How could Umaira do so? Somehow she held her tears and turned to see Rosie's gossip partner but she was shocked to witness Athar's mother standing with a pale face.

(Umaira, I mean, the sister of her ex-husband had told my daughter-in-law.)

Lifting her veil a little Madiha looked at Rosie and then her mother-in-law, they both looked at Madiha with another level of anger and disgust in their eyes as if they were looking towards a streetwalker who hypnotized Athar and trapped him in this marriage.

"Nhi nhi bhabi... Aapko koi galatfehmi hui hai..." Athar's mother somehow diverted the topic of discussion but Madiha was broken from inside. Just now she had seen disgust in those eyes for herself. She was feeling all alone in these new faces, Athar was nowhere near her... Allah knew where he went after whispering in her ear that he would be back soon.

Slowly all the guests started going away! And in the end, only family members were left in the home. "Ye jo kuch bhi Aunty ne kaha wo sach hai?" Rosie asked in a voice that was louder than usual. Madiha slowly lifted her veil and looked at the people present in front of her. Athar's mother, Rosie, Arif and his wife but Athar was nowhere.

(Is whatever Aunty said true?)

"Tum to aise puchh rhi ho jese wo sach bata dengi." Said Arif to Rosie. Madiha didn't have words to justify herself, she looked at everyone and slowly shook her head. "Jhut bol rhe hain wo log..." She muttered and looked down while soaking her tears in the napkin present in her hand.

(You're asking as if she'll tell you the truth.)

(Those people are lying...)

"Main sach keh rhi hu, Aunty, aap to mujh par yaqeen kariye please," Madiha cried helplessly. She didn't know her past won't leave her in her new life either. "Main kese yaqeen dilaun aap logo ko?"

(I am telling the truth, Aunty, please believe me.)

(How can I make you all believe in me?)

"Wo aadmi kon tha? Athar bhai ya koi aur?" Rosie asked with another level of loathing. Till a few minutes ago she liked Madiha but now she was hating this fibber and characterless woman.

(Who was that man? Athar Bhai or someone else?)

"Koi Aadmi nhi tha, main sach keh rhi hu, main kisi aadmi ke sath nhi thi..." Madiha was crying silently.

(There was no man, I'm telling the truth, I was not with any man.)

"Athar bhai hi honge jab hi to..." Arif left the sentence in the middle and Madiha shook her head, she didn't know what to do and suddenly her eyes fell on the holy Quran which was handed over to her by Aamna at the time of farewell. Standing up from her place she walked towards the table and picked that up in her hands. "Qasam khaa ke keh rhi hu, unhone mujh par jhuta ilzam lagaya hai, main kisi aadmi ke sath nhi thi. Shadi ke baad to Athar se meri kabhi baat bhi nhi huyi thi... Mulaqat to dur ki baat hai."

(it must be Athar bhai that's why he...)

( I swear that my ex-husband has falsely accused me, I was not with any man. Meeting Athar was a faraway thing I never talked to him after my marriage...)

"Kya ho rha hai yaha?" Athar's voice echoed and everyone looked at the man who was wearing an off-white Pathani suit with a grey waistcoat. He, who was holding a charm and smile till two moments ago, suddenly turned pale to see his newlywed wife crying in front of his family.

(What's going on here?)

"Aaiye, aapka hi intezaar tha... sab ke samne Khandan ki izzat ka tamasha banwa kar kesa lag rha hai? Sukun mil gya hoga..." Arif asked like a sarcasm and Athar looked at the whole scene.

(Come, we are waiting for you only... So how are you feeling after ruining the family's honor in front of everyone...)

"Kya bakwas kar rha hai? Pagal ho gya hai kya?" Athar asked with disappointment as well as anger and his brother glared at him then at Madiha. Before the argument could heat a small girl who was around two years old came near Madiha and grabbed her not-so-heavy red suit, maybe the shimmer of the clothes attracted her innocent eyes but a roar echoed in the home.

(What the hell are you saying? Have you gone mad?)

"Farha, Meri beti ko is aurat se dur rakho. Main nhi chahta ek esi aurat ki parchayi bhi meri beti par pade." Arif yelled and his wife picked up her daughter. Athar was still unable to understand the reason behind all these things but before he could say anything in reply his mother came forward.

(Farha, keep my daughter away from this woman. I don't want even the shadow of such a woman to fall on my daughter.)

"Bas kro Arif, bas bohot ho gya. Sab apne apne kamro mein jao." it was an order from the senior most lady. Rosie, Arif and his wife didn't waste their time following it but Madiha was still standing like the culprit. Athar glared at the back of his brother who was stepping into his room and grabbed Madiha's hand to walk towards his room but was stopped by his mother's voice.

(Stop it Arif, enough is enough. Everyone, go to your rooms.)

"Athar, tum mere kamre me aao." She walked into her room leaving this couple in the middle of this four-BHK apartment. Athar pointed towards a door that showed a ring of flowers hanging on it. It was a silent gesture for Madiha to go into that room and she did so without wasting her time.

(Athar, come to my room.)

Madiha stepped into the room decorated with roses, but she fell on her knees and cried out helplessly. Hundreds of flowers, Thousands of petals but she received only and only thorns.

This could be the most beautiful night of her life but only a few sentences from someone who listened to something from someone else destroyed it and converted it into one of the most horrible memories of her life.

<><><>

"Aapne kuch zyada hi overreact nhi kar diya? Wo Quran ki qasam khaa rhi thi kam se kam unki baat ko sun to lete... Ho sakta hai wo sach bol rhi hain." Said Farha to his husband who was patting his daughter to sleep and he looked at her.

(Didn't you overreact? She was swearing on the Quran. You could have at least listened to her... maybe she is telling the truth.)

"Main to mooqe ki talash mein tha, lekin ye nhi pta tha ki itni jaldi mil jayega," said Arif with a smirk and his wife furrowed while keeping her jewellery in the box then sat down on the bed beside him. "Kya Matlab?

(I was looking for a chance, but I didn't know that I would find it so soon.)

(what do you mean?)

"Is ghar mein barabar ka hissa hai mere bhai ka... Kuch din pehle tak to unhe shadi nhi karni thi to eventually sab kuch hamare bachho ka hi hota, lekin achanak unhe shadi ka bhut sawar ho gya! Allah na kre, Kal ko unke yaha aulad ho gyi to wo barabar ke hissedar ban ke baith jayenge... Main us aurat ko is ghar me sukun se rehne hi nhi dunga... Khud talaq le ke chali jayegi." Said Arif with a smirk and looked at his daughter who was sleeping with a slightly open mouth. Closing it with his first finger he kissed her cheek but his wife didn't like the idea.

(My brother has an equal share in this house… Till a few days ago he was not willing to get married, so eventually only our children would be the absolute owners, but suddenly he got married! God forbid, if, by any chance, he has a child in future, they will have equal rights... I will not let that woman live peacefully in this house... she will divorce and go away.)

"Aur agar nhi gyi to?"

(what if not?)

"Uski tension tum na lo... I will make sure that she leaves... Tum bas apna dhyan rakho..." Pulling her near he muttered and took her in his embrace. "I wish, is baar beta ho..." placing his hand on the baby bump he whispered to give a smile to his wife but he didn't think only once that he had given countless tears to the one who was crying sitting in the next room.

(Don't worry about that... I will make sure that she leaves... You just take care of yourself...)

(I hope it's a son this time)

<><><>