All memories got blurred when she closed her eyes just for a moment, her hands lifted in the air making a goblet which she wanted to be filled with happiness. "Allah paak…" and after that there were no words which could convey her feelings at this moment. She shut her eyes again and a fresh wave of pain rolled down through her memories again. This date reminds her of all the pain she had faced.

On the same date she got married to Danish eight years ago.

A loud thud which came from the kitchen indicated that something was broken, the voice forced her to open her eyes but she didn't want to stand up from her place. A few moments later she heard footsteps coming towards her then two arms wrapped around her neck which forced her to smile. "Namaz parh li?" A whisper near her ear made her forget all the pains and she wiped her tears with the back of her palms before holding those hands in her palms and kissed them one by one.

(Have you offered your namaz?)

"Ji, parhli namaz.." Madiha whispered back.

(Yea, I have)

"Mere liye dua Kari? Jo mene kal kaha tha wo wali dua?"

(Pray for me? The prayer that I said yesterday? )

"Ji. Bohot saari dua kri aapke liye. Aur wo wali dua bhi kar di." Madiha smiled and again kissed the hands present in her hands. "Thank you, Lekin wo wali dua kab qubul hogi?" and in return she got another question as well as a kiss on her cheek which filled her with happiness.

(Yes. I prayed a lot for you. And made that prayer also.)

(Thank you, but when will that prayer be accepted?)

"Come here." Pulling the hand of this little figure Madiha made her sit on her lap and embrace her while kissing her head and face softly. "Aaj raat jab aap soyengi to aapki dua Allah ta'ala qubul kar lenge." Anaya wanted a doll house that she will get only tomorrow so passing the present day was necessary.

(When you sleep tonight, Allah will accept your prayers.)

"Sacchiii?"

(Really?)

"Hmm…" Madiha nodded with a big smile.

"Mummy, Allah ta'ala aapki saari duaye qabool karte hain?" The little girl asked with curiosity and Madiha's eyes filled with tears but this time they were the tears of joy. Her biggest dua was sitting in her lap asking too many questions.

(Mummy, does Allah accept all your prayers?)

"Pehle nhi karte the, lekin ab kar lete hain." She muttered, two tears rolled down from the corner of her eyes but her lips were engaged with a smile.

(Not earlier, but he does now.)

"Mummy aap roo rhi hain?" Anaya asked but Madiha shook her head and kissed those little cheeks one more time.

(Mummy, are you crying?)

"Agar roo nhi rahi to aasu kyu aa rahe hain?"

(If you are not crying then why are the tears coming?)

"Aap bohot sawal karti ho beta." Madiha widen her eyes, surprised by the chain of question of her daughter. 

"Sorry." holding her little ears with chubby hands Anaya muttered and Madiha embraced her daughter tightly. "Ya Allah please do not let her face whatever I've faced." Madiha's heart prayed and she kissed her daughter's head.

(you ask too many questions, Anaya.)

"Madiha." A loud call forced her to open her eyes and look towards the door of the room. "Mummy, papa aap ko bula rahe the." The little girl whispered as she remembered this piece of information just now and Madiha separated her from her frame while showing disappointment.

(Mom, Dad was calling you.)

"Aur aap ab bata rahi ho." Leaving her daughter she stood up in a hurry, "Ji aa rhi hu." Taking long steps she went to the room from where she could listen to the voice of her husband.

(And you are telling me now.)

(Yes, coming.)

"Ji boliye."

"Tayyar nhi hona kya? Jaldi chalo bhai! Kitni deyr lagati ho?" He scolded her and she nodded while opening the cupboard to draw out her clothes.

(Don't you have to get ready? Be quick dude. How long does it take to get ready?)

Today they both had to go to Arif's home, because it was his son's birthday and he invited Athar as well as Madiha.

Athar didn't want to have ties with Arif but Madiha noticed the expressions of her mother-in-law. The old lady didn't say anything but it clear that she wanted to go to her home where she had spent a long period of life, moreover, she was a mother. No matter whatever children do, at one point mother's love overcome the disappointment and anger towards the children. Madiha could see that the motherly side of this old lady had already forgotten about Arif's impoliteness and now she was ready to embrace her son one more time.

"Bohot deyr lagati ho Madiha." He threw a glare full of disappointment and anger before leaving the room.

(you take too much time, Madiha)

She sighed and followed him, now he was standing near the dining table pouring water in the glass, his back was facing her. Taking silent steps towards him she wrapped her arms around his chest and placed her head on his back.

"Abhi bhi gussa hain?" he didn't want to go but Madiha forced this decision on him as well as sent her mother-in-law last night only.

(Still angry?)

"Baat mat karo mujhse." Throwing her arms away from himself he huffed but she again wrapped her arms in the previous position.

(don't talk to me)

"Aapse nhi to kis se baat karu?"

(If not you then who should I talk to?)

"Kisi se bhi kro, mujhse mat karo. Tumhare liye sab important hain mere alawa."

(Talk to anyone but me. Everyone is important to you except me.)

"I'm sorry." She muttered and they both heard the little footsteps coming towards them, no-one of them bothered to move back. The little girl climbed the chair with great effort then stepped on the dining table and hugged her father. "Papa."

"Dono maa beti ek jesi hain. Tayyar nhi hona kya?" He asked with anger but it was fake one. His anger was not applicable in front of his daughter.

(Like the mother like the daughter. Don't you have to get ready?)

"I'm sorry." Breaking the hug Madiha stood beside him and he sighed while opening his arms. Anaya as well as his wife hugged him tightly and he embrace them.

"I love you both." He whispered and kissed his daughter's head while Madiha looked up with eyes full of love and respect but she smiled sadly. "I'm sorry, Naraz na hua kriye mujhse. Bardasht nhi hota mujhse aapka yu baat na karna." Her words were full of love and true feelings.

(I'm sorry, don't get angry with me. I can't bear you not talking to me. )

Even after 5 years of separation from Danish she was unable to forget all those pains but everytime she just wanted to thank almighty for giving him Athar, this little angel and such a loving family.

They both didn't know for how long they were embracing Anaya and feeling this strong bond among three of them.

"Athar..." Madiha suddenly break the hug and without any delay her hand went to her belly. "Kya hua?"

(What happened?)

"Hospital Jana hai..." She muttered with a pale face.

(We need to go to the hospital.)

"Kya? Magar abhi to due date mein pure 10 din hain." he was also surprised.

(What? But there are still 10 days left for the due date.)

"Apni aulaado se hi puchh lijiye unhe duniya me aane ki itni jaldi kyu hai..." Madiha huffed and pressed her lips together for a moment then walked towards her bedroom. nervous, worried, scared. Athar held Anaya in his arms and kissed her cheeks.

(Just ask your children why they are in such a hurry to come into the world...)

"We're going to see a doctor, mumma is not well na... I will drop you to Dadu, don't do anything mischievous there. Fine?" Asked Athar and Anaya nodded like a good girl.

<><><><>

Madiha was inside the OT, Athar was praying for her well being along with his children. Everything was fine till fifteen minutes ago but God knows why both the babies decided to celebrate the last day in their mother's womb and while doing dance or maybe while racing from each other to go out first they curl their umbilical cords in each other's neck blocking their own paths and creating difficulties for three lives, and to save three of them doctors decided to do a C-section.

"Congratulations, both are boys." He smiled at this voice and looked up at a boy who was crying but the other was sleeping. "How's my wife?"

"Fine, but the babies are weak and they need to stay under observation." And he didn't even get a chance to hold his boys.

<><><>

After Two days:

The weak Madiha was still in pain because of stitches present on her belly, not only belly but inside the skin too, but today she insisted to see her sons who were still in NICU, which was built on the 6th floor of the hospital.

Wearing a white hospital gown she was Walking in with tiny steps holding her husband's hand with her right hand which was still showing a canula inserted in the back of her palm. "Wanna sit, if yes I'll ask for a wheelchair." Said Athar in a whisper but Madiha shook her head.

"I can walk now." She whispered back while stepping in the lift and soon they were standing outside the glass wall of a room. There were many babies there but somehow Madiha was enable to recognise two babies covered with wires and wearing only diapers.

"Those two." Ather pointed out towards the boys but she didn't need his guidance to recognise those who were inside her for last nine months. She was unable to blink for some moment then a tear of joy slipped down from her eyes. One of the boy started crying as if he knew his parents were there to meet them and he himself was requesting to come to them but the other boy was sleeping peacefully as if he doesn't care about anything, slumber is one of the most important thing in the world and he wasn't going to ditch it for anyone.

smiling brightly she was watching her sons without thinking about anything, her hand was Placed on the glass wall as if she wanted to touch those babies and a voice echoed from behind.

"Pyare hain na?"

(Aren't they pretty?)

It felt like someone pour a bucket of water on her... she felt goosbumps all over her body and suddenly a voice echoed in her ears from the past. "Pyare hain na?" (Aren't they pretty?)

She looked behind and her smile converted into tears when she remembered a dream of hers. After a dark night and imprisonment she got freedom then she found a pearl... a precious pearl, who was right now standing in front of her in the form of her husband, she remembered the next part of the dream and her tears again converted into a smile. She washed the pearl and it gave her many gems from those only two were saved in her hands. Two different coloured gems. The owners of two different personalities were sleeping and crying respectively in their cots and their mother was trying to conclude how long it took this dream to come true.

Once she glanced at her sons then towards this man who was standing in front of her with confusion dancing on his face.

"Kheriyat to hai? Kabhi has rhi ho kabhi roo rhi ho... maajra kya hai?" Athar asked and Madiha just rested her forehead on his chest.

(Is everything okay? Sometimes you are laughing, sometimes you are crying... what's the matter?)

"Maajra ye hai ki waqt badalta hai, zindagi ki Andheri raat sada Andheri nhi rehti, ek roshan subah sab kuch badal deti hai..." she had tears when she was whispering on his chest but Athar smiled and cupped her face before making her look at himself, she resumed... "Aur aap meri zindagi ki wo hi roshan subah hain, Athar." Saying that her eyes again filled with tears and Athar looked here and there, the lobby was still empty. He kissed her forehead and cheek before curling one arm around her shoulder. 

(The point is that time changes, the dark night of life does not remain dark forever, a bright morning changes everything...")

(And you are that bright morning of my life)

"Quran says, Fa inna ma'al usri yusra. Inna ma'al usri yusra... do you know what it means?" He asked and Madiha nodded. (94:6-7 The Quran)

"Beshak har mushkil ke baad raahat hai, har mushkil ke baad raahat hai." she replied in a hushed tone and Athar nodded.

(Verily after every hardship there is relief, after every hardship there is relief)

"Hmm... lekin ek baat kabhi gaur kari Allah ne ek hi aayat ko doo baar ek hi Surat me back to back rakha... kyu? Khair ye to Allah hi Jane lekin shayad isliye Taaki pareshan haal log use sirf ek baar na pade balki ek aur baar dohraye aur unhe yaqeen aaye ki unki takleef jitni badi hai unhe raahat bhi utni hi badi milegi. Ab jab allah ki taraf se rahat mil gyi hai to kyu roti ho yaar. Khush raha karo." Athar wiped her tears and smiled but he didn't know they were the tears of joy. Tears of completion of her prayers. Tears of pain that triggers her whenever she get relief of that perticular blessing in her life.

(Hmm... But consider one thing, Allah has kept the same verse twice in the same Surah... Why? Well, this is known to Allah but perhaps this is so that troubled people do not just read it once but repeat it one more time and make them believe that the greater their pain, the greater the relief they will get. Now that you have got relief from Allah, why do you cry? Be happy, dear.)

Madiha kept looking in his eyes. This man was the reward for her patience, the answers to her prayer, the interpretation of her dreams and... the destination of her aimless life. What else she wanted in her life? She was getting more than her expectations but it wasn't easy to get all of that. Her journey wasn't easy, it was a journey from nowhere in between the dark to nowhere in the heights of sky which was full of rainbows. The journey of her life could be called anything from struggle to pain to relief but, surely, It was Not A Fairly Tale.

<><><>

End of another story and now I'm taking my leave from writing for at least 3 months.

This story made me cry countless times however I still wanted to complete this because life is not a fairy tale, it's full of pains and odds, and we have to face everything. Sometimes, circumstances break us, but we need to keep going just like Madiha...

In the end... I know this story is not as good as expected but sometimes the author's personal life does wonders to the writing style and since September I am not in a state to write anything...

This is first time when I don't know while ending a story that what should I write next, I don't even have plans to write my next story but maybe I will write "Heera" it will be a Roman Urdu story, but I will write that book in two languages. Urdu and English. Two different books for two different types of readers.

That story is close to my heart because I'm going to write some of my experiences in that. Well, I have written my experiences in My mom's personal diary and Synthesis of scattered pieces too...so I hope you people will love "Heera" in the same way, rest is hidden in the womb of the future.

Till then...

Allah Hafiz.

Remember me in your dua and soon I'm going to update the bonus chapter of Synthesis of Scattered Pieces.

Your lazy and clumsy author.

Naaz Jamal 💁🏻‍♀️