As soon as Shifa's family leave Qasr-e-Kazmi, Daniyal took a deep breath and held his mother's arm. "I have to talk to you."

"Not now, I'm tired."

"It's important ammi."

"Daniyal, we can talk tomorrow." His father said with a tired expression but Daniyal being Daniyal shook his head, eventually his parents sat down in front of him and waited for next five minutes. 

"Now what's wrong? Don't you have to talk to us about something important?"

"Ammi, Baba... Shifa is not real daughter of Anwar uncle." After all Daniyal told his parents what he found important to tell before making this relationship strong.

"What?" Mr Kazmi was shocked, so as his wife. "It means Maryam had Adopted Shifa?" Asked the lady with curiosity but Daniyal shook his head.

"No no ammi, Shifa is Maryam aunty's daughter." Daniyal said but this statement confused the old couple even more.

"What does it mean?" Mr Kazmi asked and Daniyal felt hesitate to disclose someone's personal matter but he had to.

"Ammi, Baba, Shifa is Maryam aunty's daughter but Anwar uncle is her stepfather. Shifa's real father divorced Maryam Aunty when Shifa wasn't even born and Anwar uncle's first wife that was Hamdan's real mother, was died in an accident. Later on they got married." Mrs and Mr Kazmi were beyond shock. That was not easy to understand and digest the anatomy of Shifa's family. They both forget their exhaustion and look at each other, for next ten minutes there was a silence in the environment but commotion in the minds.

"What was the reason behind Maryam's divorce?" Asked Mrs Kazmi after thinking a lot about the whole thing. "I don't know. Neither Shifa told me, nor I found in myself to ask for." He simply shrugged but added something...

"Shifa doesn't want to get married as she's afraid of marriage just because of her mom's life." Daniyal let his parents know the truth which was not expected for them.

"Aur ye sari baate aap ab bta rhe hain!" Mr Kazmi asked with disappointed expression.

(And you're telling all these things now)

"Shifa told me all this when Ammi showed interest in her, because she didn't want to hide her personal life before making new relationships." Daniyal's statement forced Mrs and Mr Kazmi to have a second thought about it.

"Daniyal you should tell us about this beforehand." His father said with disappointment.

"Ammi main ye baate aapko kabhi bhi nhi batata, lekin main nhi chahta baad mein koi masle ho, aap dono abhi dekh lijiye aapko kya karna hai." Daniyal stood up holding an expression which was difficult to understand.

(Ammi, I would never tell you these things, but I don't want to have any issues later. Both of you think about it and take a decision what you have to do.)

''Aur haan... Agar is rishte ke liye mana bhi karein to ye reason nhi bataiyega, ise raaz hi rakhiyega. Shifa ki kya galti hai agar uski mummy ka divorce hua ya dusri Shadi hui? Wo to aaj tak khud struggle kar rahi hai apne stepfather se apnahat aur hamdardi paane ke liye, main nhi chahta wo aesi galti ke liye sharminda ho jo usne kabhi kari hi nhi." And after this request he walked to his room giving a topic of discussion to his parents.

(And... If you are going to reject this proposal then do, but please don't mention this reason, keep it secret. What's Shifa's fault in her mom's divorce or remarrige? Even she's still struggling to gain her stepfather's love and support. I don't want to make her embarrassed for a mistake she never did.)

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Next Day

Shifa's POV:

"Kese mijaaz hain mohtarma ke?"

(How are you feeling Mademoiselle?)

"Pucchiye hi mat," Making a fake cry face I mumbled and continue to write what I was writing in my diary. Making some distance between us, Deni sat down besides me with a mischievous smile and shrugged.

(Don't even ask)

"Jesa aapka hukm, mohtarma.''

(Your order my command)

"Wese to aap meri koi baat seriously nhi lete lekin ye baat ek baar mein maan li." I clearly demonstrate my angry self but in a friendly and sweet manner which made him laugh. But that's true, sometimes I feel he hears only what he wants to listen to.

(Otherwise you don't take me seriously but agreed to this at once!)

"Achha bataiye, kya masla hai?" He granted me permission as if I needed. I would tell him even he didn't ask me. Well... I told him the real reason.

(Okay tell me what's the matter?)

"My exams are in next month and... I'm not prepared."

But instead of taking anything seriously he hummed but smiled, first I was confused on his behaviour but after a while. "Don't worry. Just be confident and make a good schedule." He advised me.

He was sounding wise but I just wanted to say 'That's not so easy, Deni'

"Not so hard too, Shifa." I suddenly looked at him, he was smiling. 

Oh My Allah.... Have I said what I was thinking?

Many times I unintentionally tell him what I wasn't suppose to tell. It's like... I don't have to control over myself in front of him. That's the best part of him, he accepts me as 'Me'. For the next few moments or so, I was seeing his face, I can't say he's most handsome man, but I can say, he's an extraordinary man behind an ordinary face. His smiling face slowly lost his smile making me realise that I was seeing him with an emotion filled gaze.

Oh no... What the crap am I doing?

I looked away. Embarrassed. "By the way, Bilal is opposite to you." Before the situation would turn even more awkward he handle the situation, I sighed and again looked at him with a smile. "Yes, he's."

"You know what Shifa, Ammi ko Bilal itna pasand aa gya ki agar unki koi beti hoti to shayad Billu ko apna Damad bna deti."

(You know what Shifa, Ammi liked Bilal so much that if she had a daughter, she might have made Billu her son-in-law.)

I couldn't help but laugh, who could like a gadha (donkey) like Bilal? He's honestly good for nothing but he knows how to make others laugh. Joker.

"Your beloved Bilal stole whole kheer, and it was so tasty Deni. I don't like sweets much but that was out of the world. But that gadha..." I shared with him and he narrowed his eyes. "Gadha ( donkey)? You call him Gadha?''

"Isn't he one?" I rolled my eyes.

"A handsome and rare Gadha."

Poor Billu didn't even know that his sister and her would be fiance were making his fun. "You know what Deni, Bilal was telling me he wanted to have more kheer at your home but he felt hesitate to do so, he's such a bhuka insaan (hungry human) he could eat everything," before he could control himself to laugh his mobile phone started ringing and he received the call while looking opposing to my direction.

"Yeah ammi."

From his respond I got to know who was on the other side, for good one minute I was silently watching him. And suddenly... "Yeah, she's here only, and telling me that Bilal didn't let her eat the kheer you sent for her." My eyes became wide. Oh God... He told his Ammi what I told him. Why Deni? What will she think about me?

"Ammi baat krengi." And he passed his mobile. I was feeling so nervous and awkward. I feels uncomfortable to talk on calls, it's kind of difficult... I mean... I don't know what to talk about on call but I couldn't even refuse so grabbed Deni's mobile.

(Ammi wanna talk)

"Assalamualaikum aunty."

"Waalaikumas salam beta, May you get all the happiness you deserve." Not only this but she keep blessing me and I only smiled. Now what should I say next? That's the most difficult question, but I tackled it.

"Thanks for the food aunty, it was delicious and kheer was amazing. But Bilal didn't let me eat."

"Bilal ke liye to sab maaf hai." Aunty giggled; I wanted to cry like a baby and shout that that's not fair! But I smiled looking at Deni, I wanted to tell him that I wasn't comfortable to talk on call and he understood. He took mobile from me and told aunty that we have to prepare for the recording, that's not even a lie.

(Everything is forgiven for Bilal)

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"Aap aaj jaldi aa gye." She opens the door with this sentence while placing the dupatta on her shoulder which was slipping down again and again

(Today, you're back early)

"Hmm... Tabiyat kuch theek nhi lag rhi thi," a tired face and dull voice gave testimony of his statement which made his wife worried.

(Hmm... Wasn't feeling well, so just come back home)

"Kya hua?" Touching his forehead with the back of her fingers she asked.

(What happened?)

"Kuch nhi bas thakan hai,''

(Nothing just fatigue,)

" Suniye," Passing a glass of water she sat down beside him "Ab aap retirement le lijiye aur aaraam kriye,"

(Now take your retirement and take rest.)

"Ye ghar kese chalega?"

(And what about expenses?)

"Hamdan bhejta hai na, sab ho jayega."

(Hamdan sends money, doesn't he? We'll manage)

"Tum, Bilal aur Shifa meri zimmedari ho, Hamdan ki nhi. Shifa ki Shadi kar du, Bilal ki job lag jaye phir retirement le kar araam karunga." He sighed tiredly and Maryam keep gazing at his face. The fine wrinkles around his eyes and some gray hair were screaming hard about his age which was already five years more than a half century. 

(You, Bilal and Shifa are my responsibility, not Hamdan's. Let me marry off Shifa, and Bilal gets a good job, then I will take retirement.)

"Kya dekh rhi go?"

(What are you seeing?)

"Aaj pure 25 saal ho gye hamari Shadi ko." She muttered and passed a small smile which was holding countless emotions from pain to love, struggle to relief and emptiness to completion.

(Today, we've completed 25 years of our marriage.)

Anwar smiled and draw out a shawl from his bag and pass that to Maryam.

"Aapko yaad that?"

(You remember?)

"Aaj tak kabhi bhula Hu?"

(Have I forget ever?)

"Bohot baar." Maryam asserted making Anwar rolled his eyes.

(Many times.)

"Tumhe to buraiyan hi yaad rehti hain." Mumbling that Anwar picked the TV remote from side table and Maryam sighed.

(You only remember the bad.)

"Nhi, achhaiyan bhi yaad rehti hain, bas wo batati nhi hu."

(No, I remember good things also, just don't talk about them.)

"Pasand ayi?" Asked Anwar in his signature tone and Maryam nodded with a big grin but very soon her expressions changed and she turned toward Anwar.

(Liked it?)

"Suniye"

(Listen)

"Sunao" putting the remote down he asked and Maryam gather her courage to raise this topic.

(Lemme listen)

"Have you think about Daniyal's proposal?"

"Hmm... Even I've enquired about them, they're genuine people with no immoral background." Said Anwar with a satisfactory feeling on his face which didn't lose his overbearing charm even after two and a half decades of marriage.

"Phir kya socha hai aapne?"

(So what's your decision?)

"Wo jawab mange to haan kar dena," Anwar replied in cold tone and Maryam blinked a few times. She was not expecting something like that so easily. And her happiness brought tears to her eyes.

(Accept the proposal if they ask you for answer)

"Why are you crying now?"

"Main Shifa ke bina kese rahungi?" Maryam clear her tears but soon fresh one replaced them.

(How will I live without Shifa?)

"Tumhe bhi rone ke bahane chahiye, abhi shadi to hone do." Anwar scolded her with no real anger and Maryam sniffled while shifting towards him.

(You need reasons to shed tears. Save these tears for her farewell.)

"Are you happy with this decision or...?" She slowly grabbed his hand. "My happiness doesn't matter." Saying that Anwar pulled his hand from Maryam's grip and stood up. He was still hurt because of Shifa's one statement. 'He's not my father but stepfather' Anwar himself knew that he never love Shifa like Hamdan and Bilal but he never have wrong intentions for Shifa.

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