"But I don't want to attend the event." She muttered in a defeated tone.

"But you have to! I want your performance at any cost." The assistant professor announced his decision making Shifa pissed off. She didn't want to attend the farewell party. And she tried her last chance.

"Sir, the party will last for late-night and my papa will not allow me," Shifa told and the professor shrugged like it wasn't a problem.

"Don't worry about that, I'll talk to Anwar." With this order, he left Shifa with no other way. He was very well known to Anwar so, his demand holds power to refresh Anwar's decision.

"What happened?" As soon as Shifa stepped out from the chamber Afifa asked.

''I don't wanna attend farewell party, I want to take rest and play Mario but he is saying that I have to come to sing a song." Shifa huffed and Afifa shrugged.

"Now you can't do anything." Sitting beside Shifa Afifa announced.

"What will I do in that party without you? Why are you going Affo? PleaseDon't go, please..." Shifa pouted because going to meet her grandmother who lives in another city, and she won't be in Delhi for next three days.

"Oh come on, Shifa it's a party, not punishment." Afifa rolled her eyes.

Who doesn't like parting?

Who doesn't like enjoying in gathering?

Who doesn't like to get ready to attend a party?

Shifa!!

Many of her friends call her weird but she is not! She is definitely different! A peaceful soul who like to stay away from crowd, who like to stay away from commotion, who like to be natural instead of doing make up and grooming herself unlike other girls.

<><><><><><>

"Assalamualaikum."

"Walekum as-salam,''  Daniyal answered the greeting while taking his seat beside her co-host.

" khairyat? Aapka chehra bata raha hai ki koi masla paish aaya hai!" Daniyal asked making her surprised.

(Is everything fine? Your facial expressions are saying that something is wrong!)

'Deni, how do you understand everything without telling? How could he read my face?' Shifa asked herself, it wasn't new but still surprising for her.

"Aap kuch bataogi?" He asked seriously and Shifa nodded.

(Will you like to share.)

"I informed mummy everything. Including my job and... And about your ammi's wish to come my home." Shifa told him in a whisper and Deni sighed.

"Better! At least one of your burdens is off."

"Not really, Deni, she is disappointed as well as angry with me. I can't handle her displease." Shifa's eyes filled with tears and Daniyal passed her a tissue. "What will be your papa's reaction?"

"I don't dare to face him... More than myself I'm scared for Mumma, how will papa treat her?" Without even thinking Shifa mumbled, but before Daniyal could reply their recording session was started and the conversation was stopped in between.

<><><><><><>

"Turn on the radio."

"C'mon mummy... Who listen radio in this era? If you want entertainment switch to Netflix." He rolled his eyes but his mother jerked her head.

"Real entertainment is present on Radio only." With a smirk, she switches on the radio where the newly launched program OLD LOVE IN MODERN ERA was broadcasting.

"It was the family function when Farhad looked towards me and smile, his smile was something different which managed to stool my heart, I was amazed at myself, how a girl like me, who always stay away from boys, could get attracted towards him?"

"Shariq, record all these programs, I think this Farhad is no one else but Faraz only," Rani smirked and Shariq looked up suddenly.

"Mummy? Are you out of your mind? Shifa and Faraz bhai?? What was their relationship?" Shariq asked and Rani rolled her eyes.

"Shifa Jitni seedhi dikhti hai utni seedhi hai nhi. Faraz se chakkar chala rahi thi wo..." Shariq was shocked.

(Shifa is not so innocent that she looks like, she had an affair with Faraz )

"Really? I can't believe it."

"Do believe or not, that's true." Rani shrugged, but it rang a bell in Shariq's mind.

"Mummy, as far as I know, Nida Phuppi ask for Shifa's proposal."

"Yes, she did because Faraz wanted it." Rani jerked her head.

"Mummy, If Faraz bhai and Shifa both were happy with each other what was your problem? Why did you create problems in their marriage." Shariq asked but Rani narrowed his eyes.

"Leave this matter and record this program," Rani instructed her son who narrowed his eyes.

"What are you up to this time?" His question was straight but Rani's intentions weren't so. "Nothing much, just want to make sure that my brother knows what her stepdaughter had done in past and doing right now on his back."

"Leave it, mummy, our main motive was to get rid of Shifa, now no need to worry about what she is doing. That girl is something weird, why do you have to waste your time on her?"

"No, It's important. Your father and my brother should know that Shifa is not an ideal daughter! You record this program and don't poke your nose in my matters."

==============

"Well done. Today's program was good." Shifa smiled and formally thanked David, then stepped out from the Radio station. Today she didn't even wait for Deni to drop her at the metro station. Somewhere she had the idea that Maryam and Anwar wouldn't agree to this marriage so she decided to take a step back from her rising feelings for Deni.

What is the benefit of travelling a path which goes to no destination? It will lead only to destruction nothing else.

"Shifa." a voice with the bright light of car headlight stopped her to take another step. "Come, I'll drop you." Daniyal open the car door but Shifa smiled and shook his head.

"I'll manage."

"Koi masla hai kya?" He asked but Shifa shook her head.

(any problem?)

"Then come, I'll drop you." She found no other way but hopped into the car.

"Shifa tell me what's wrong?"

"Nothing." She muttered but Daniyal could listen to the commotion of distress in her silence. "I know a girl who stays silent when she is hurt or nervous. Would you like to tell me, are you hurt or nervous?" Daniyal asked, making Shifa shocked. He noticed her silence too! But this question brought a smile to her lips and make the dreams alive.

What a girl could wish other than a life partner who could understand her in every situation?

"Nothing serious!" She smiled and Daniyal also smiled at her changed mood.

"I want to ask something." He said almost in a whisper and Shifa nodded.

"What's your father's name?" He asked and Shifa didn't think even once before saying "Anwar."

"Then who is Aatish? And why do you hate him?"

Shifa's face lost its colour. She was trying to understand how did Daniyal got to know about Aatish but she forgot that only she had written in her diary that 'I hate a man whose name is Aatish and I hate him more because he is my father.'

"I'm sorry if I asked something very personal but I couldn't help myself I read it in your diary."

"No, it's okay!" She muttered and sighed. "Aatish is my father." She muttered making Daniyal confused.

"What? Then who is Anwar Sahab?" He asked while focusing on driving but Shifa's nervousness had no boundaries if it wasn't Daniyal but anyone else, she were not discussing this topic but she never feel the urge to hide anything from Daniyal.

"He is my mummy's husband and my stepfather.'' This time Daniyal was shocked! He didn't expect anything like this.

"Stepfather?! Oh.. I... I'm sorry to be so personal! Trust me I didn't have any idea about it, otherwise, I would never ask you."

"It's better that you ask. I was thinking to tell you about this if mummy gets agree to meet your Ammi. I don't want to hide anything about my past before making new relationships in future." She didn't meet her eyes with Daniyal but she gain another point of respect in his eyes. 

"If your mom get agreed..." He repeated a small part of Shifa's speech under his breath then glanced at Shifa who was still sitting with down gaze and playing with straps of her bag to deal with nervousness. "It means you're agree with this proposal?" He asked and she nodded without daring to look at him.

No matter how friendly she was with Daniyal, no matter how confident she was, no matter that she's an independent girl but she still holds a big part of eastern culture in herself, which is shyness.

"Shifa." After a silence of few minutes she glanced at Daniyal who was driving towards her home.

"Ji?"

"Aap kyu ek aese shaqs se shadi karne ke liye tayyar ho jo na hi aapse mohabbat karta hai aur na kabhi kar sakta hai... Ladkiyan to us se shadi karti hain jo mohabbat ke daawe karta hai..." Daniyal was not expecting Shifa to get agree to marry him so easily as no girl would like to live her life without being loved but he has chosen a different girl.

(Why are you ready to marry a man who neither loves you nor can... Usually Girls marry the one who claims to love her)

"Mujhe mohabbat ke anjaam par bharosa nahi hai. Mujhe mohabbat se nafrat hai." Shifa shared and Daniyal smiled dryly.

(Deni, I do not believe in the outcome of love. I hate love.)

"Aksar shikasta dil logo ko ya to qismat se shikayat hoti hai ya zamane se, lekin aapko mohabbat par hi aetraaz hai?"

(Often heart broken people complain have either from luck or from society, but you have grievance with love only?)

"Sara qusur mohabbat ka hi hota hai Deni, Kismat aur zamane ko to logo ne badnaam kar diya hai. Mohabbat mein hamari expectations bohot high ho jati hain, hum chand ko paane ke khwab dekhne lagte hain jo hamari pohoch se bahar hota hai, aur jab wo nhi milta to sara blame zamane or qismat par daal dete hain." Shifa smiled with sadness.

(Deni, Love is the only reason for destruction, fate and society have been defamed by people without any reason. When we're in love our expectations become high, we started dreaming of inapproachable things and on a failure we started blaming society and fate.)

Daniyal took a few long moments to see her sad face which was glowing due to the bright glimmer entering through close glass windows of the car. He sighed while thinking deeply about her words.

"You're deeper than you look." He muttered and Shifa look at Daniyal. She had a great amount of respect, admiration and trust for him. "Not everyone could measure this deepness because I don't let everyone see this." She again shared what she was hiding inside her.

"Bharosa karne ke liye shukriya."

(Thanks for trusting me.)

"Kuch logo par khud hi bharosa ho jata hai, unse kuch chhupane ka dil nhi chahta, aap unme se ek hai." Her voice was soft as well as slow showing, giving a glimpse of her deepness.

(Some people gain trust by themselves. We don't want to hide anything from them, you are one of them.)

"Shukriya" he smiled and stopped the car at a few meters distance from Shifa's home.

"Allah Hafiz." They both greeted each other and separate their paths. Just for some time.

<><><><><>

''Mom, I was feeling scared." As soon as she entered the home, the little Zaryab ran to her and hugged her.

"I'm sorry beta, today I'm late." She kneeled and kissed his cheeks while embracing her three years old son lovingly.

"Mom,"

"Yes, dear?"

"I was waiting for you." He said innocently and Adeena smiled before kissing his cheeks numerous times.

"I am sorry beta, forgive your mom." Breaking the hug Adeena hold those little hands and Zaryab pouted.

"What happened? My son is offended with mom?" She asked and he nodded.

"Why baby?"

"Because you and dad both left me alone at home." Adeena smiled at the innocence of her little son.

"When we grow up we have to do work so that we could earn and bring chocolates for Zaryab." Kissing his cheeks Adeena passed big chocolate to Zaryab who smiled happily and hugged his mother again.

"You're best, Mom.'' That was clear buttering from the little boy.

"You're just like your dad, after him you're at the top of the list who praises and butters so well." Pulling his Cheek Adeena stood up and put her dupatta on the chair, before making a messy bun of her short hair.

"Mom, When will Dad come back?" Asked the Zaryab while having his chocolate, Adeena sighed sadly then sat down beside him and caressed his head.

''Baby, Dad is working in another country, we have to wait for some more time to meet him." Adeena embrace him and smiled sadly, she was also missing her husband hard.

"Mom, why we've back to India? I'm missing my old home and Dad, even there is no snowfall here. How will I make a snowman with Dad?" Zaryab pouted and Adeena picked him up to sat him in her lap.

"I am also missing your Dad, but he can't come back right now and we shouldn't call him again and again, he is alone there he would also miss us even more." Adeena gave a big speech to her little son; being the only son of wise parents he understood everything very well and nodded like a good boy.

"I won't call him but I'll play with him when he'll come back," Zaryab added before biting the chocolate and Adeena smiled before kissing his face again. "My little wise boy."

"Now sit here and give a big bite of chocolate to mom, so that she got some energy to cook for both of us."

"No, I won't give you my chocolate." Zaryab ran away from his mother and Adeena chased him with small steps while saying "Stop little brat, I won't leave you without having my share in your chocolate." And soon the whole apartment was echoing with chuckles and laughing voices.

<><><><><><>

"Papa aap unhe mana kar dijiye, mujhe nhi jana party mein." Shifa sighed and Anwar looked at Maryam who was having dinner without looking at anyone. They both were still angry with each other.

(Papa, you refuse him to send me to the party I don't wanna go.)

"Shifa aapi you're weird," Bilal announced as if his opinion was important! Though it was important because without his inline comments fun factor is missing sometimes.

"Wow! The world's biggest weird is talking about it." Shifa rolled her eyes

"Why don't you want to attend the party?" Anwar asked while lifting another spoonful of rice and Shifa told him using a few words that she didn't like commotion moreover Afifa won't be there. But...

"I couldn't refuse when he asked for your singing performance. Go for only an hour and come back after performing."

Shifa gave a disappointed look to her mother, "I don't even have any dress to wear to the party." This time she was a bit angry and Maryam shrugged

"Go tomorrow and buy something for yourself." Anwar put his wallet in front of Shifa but she silently pushed it back towards him.

"I have my own money. Thanks for this." With this sentence, she stood up and Anwar look at her. It wasn't normal for any to refuse to accept money from her father but after started earning Shifa never took a single penny from Anwar. Even she use to pay her college fee by herself. Other than the food expenses she wasn't dependent on her father for anything.

Slamming the door she open her diary and picked the pen with a sad smile.

Dear Diary,

Today Deni's tone was soft yet painful. I don't know if I'm doing correct by accepting this marriage proposal or not? He loved Adeena but want to get married just to show this world. Something like me! I also don't want to get married for the sake of love but I think Daniyal will be a good life partner, he holds me so well! Am I really falling for him? Or is this only a crush? Or something else?

Umm... I don't know? But I'm missing him. I want to talk to him one more time. When he talks I only want to listen; his wisdom and honesty are admirable. I respect him from the deepest part of my heart. I wish mummy and papa got agreed to my marriage with him.

_Shifa.

And she closes the diary, before picking up her mobile and sees Daniyal's page, no new post, no new story but she smiled while reading his old posts which were showing Urdu Shayari of Mir Taqi Mir and Ahmad Faraz.

Mohabbat Ke Andaz Juda Hote Hain Faraz,

Kisi Ne Toot Ke Chaaha Aur Koi Chaah Ke Toot Gaya .

(The styles of love are different, Faraz,

Someone wanted to break all the boundaries to get love and someone broke in longing.)

She smiled and scroll down but a voice stabbed her attention. Without a knock, Maryam entered the room, Shifa put down the mobile hurriedly and looked at her mother.

"With whom were you chatting?" Maryam asked and shifa shook her head. "With no one" before she could even reply properly her mobile beeped. It was Daniyal's message but Maryam glared at Shifa because of her lie. It wasn't a lie but according to Maryam, it was!

"What is he saying?"

Shifa picked the mobile and read the messages, "Nothing special just about recording and my script."

"Shifa do you have any idea how will he react after knowing about your job? I'm feeling scared." Maryam scolded her but she couldn't do anything except listen.

"Other day you had agents handkerchief, it was Daniyal's. Right?"

"Yes, Mumma."

"Is he the only reason behind your refusal for Shariq?" Maryam asked but Shifa shook her head.

"No mummy. As I said. We don't love each other."

"Then what's this? Texting at midnight??"

"Trust me, Mumma, please. We're just colleagues." Shifa pleaded.

"I trust you, but how will I explain to him what's your relationship with Daniyal?" Maryam wasn't wrong at her place. For the next ten minutes, Shifa was silent.

"Tomorrow we'll go shopping, okay?" Maryam told and she nodded but before Maryam could step out of the room Shifa held her hand and hugged her.

"Mumma you're the most important person for me. Your decision will be final. If you want to accept this proposal do and if not, just leave it but you don't be angry with me. Please, Mummy, I could tolerate everything but your anger and disappointment." This time Shifa was crying which brought tears to Maryam's eyes too.

"Stop crying." Maryam kissed Shifa's head and embrace her lovingly. "You're also most precious for me, and your happiness is my priority."

Both mother-daughter duo cried and shared their feelings to lighten their hearts. On one hand, Shifa and Daniyal's destinies were about to write a combined chapter, on the other hand, Adeena, Rani and Kabeer were present to make new hurdles, either intentionally or unintentionally.

Let's see who will win in the end?

<><><><><><>