Daniyal and Shifa left for the Radio station leaving Badi Amma with Mr and Mrs Kazmi. It wasn't easy to handle the old lady especially when she listened to Daniyal's argument which he was doing with his father against her.

"Kazmi Sahab..." Mrs Kazmi placed her hand on her husband's arm and shook him lightly. "Hmm?" He slightly opened his eyes and again closed them.

"Namaz parh lijiye." She woke him up and he hummed without opening his eyes.

(Pray namaz.)

"Kya hua khatija? Tabiyat theek hai?" Asked Mr Kazmi while sitting down and his wife nodded but it was a lie.

(What happened to you Khatija? All good?)

"Puri raat soyi nhi kya?" Asked Mr Kazmi and his wife sighed.

(Haven't you slept the whole night?)

"Kese soo jaun Kazmi Sahab? Ghar me ajeeb kashidgiyan bad rhi hain..."

(How can I sleep when these disputes are rising heads in my home)

"Kuch na kuch raasta nikal jayega, pareshan na ho." Patting her shoulder Mr Kazmi stepped out from the bed and Mrs Kazmi went to the kitchen to check if Shifa was already making tea for everyone or not.

(We'll find out the way, don't worry.)

Mrs Kazmi found the kitchen was empty, going towards the bedroom of Shifa she knocked on the door which was half open and was surprised because no one replied. "Daniyal." Calling her son she waited for a response but never got one. In the end she pushed the door and walked into the room which was empty. A blanket was spread on the bed indicating that they were sleeping there but now they were nowhere.

Holding a few caresses on her forehead she checked the lawn but it was also empty. Daniyal's car was parked, the main door was locked and when Mrs Kazmi called on his and Shifa's mobile she found them in their bedroom. After thinking a lot she went to the terrace and a strange smile spread across her lips when watched the scene.

Daniyal was sitting on the swing and Shifa was beside him, her face was half hidden in his chest and he was putting an arm around her shoulder protectively and the other hand was holding a few papers.

"I was s..." Before Mrs Kazmi could say anything Daniyal gestured for her to stay silent and looked at his wife who was sleeping peacefully in his arms. Mrs Kazmi came forward when found her son worried.

"What's wrong?" She asked in a whisper when noticed tear marks on Shifa's cheeks... Seems she had cried her eyes out the whole night. Daniyal looked at his wife who was sleeping and lifted his hand towards his mother. She furrowed but held the papers and read them silently and soon her expressions changed.

"Now?" After reading them she asked and Daniyal shrugged. "I don't know?''

"Will you let her go?" Asked Mrs Kazmi after a long silence and this time Daniyal was unable to reply. He closed his eyes while resting his head backwards and breathing out loudly. "Daniyal? Will you let her go?" Mrs Kazmi repeated the question and Daniyal opened his eyes then looked at Shifa's hands which were clenching his shirt tightly, her small act was showing how much she trusted him.

"I don't know.... I don't want to... But..." He muttered and sighed; defeated, "I don't know Ammi... I really don't know." He was looking frustrated, the wise man was unable to make a decision. Mrs Kazmi passed the letters back to her son and saw Shifa with a merciful sight. 

"What does she want to do?" 

"She's just crying. Her life has been difficult ever since." Daniyal muttered and cupped Shifa's face. "Now you have to make sure that she won't face any problem. I'll talk to Maryam, I won't let her go." Mrs Kazmi said with determination but Daniyal shook his head.

"Don't do anything without asking her, it's her matter, we'll sort it out. please Ammi don't involve mummy in this..."

"It's Maryam's matter too."

"Please Ammi, don't make everything more difficult. And don't tell Shifa that I told you about the letters." In the same whisper he dismissed the matter but Mrs Kazmi was not satisfied. With another level of disappointment she went downstairs and Daniyal closed his eyes while caressing Shifa's face with the back of his fingers. Removing his hand from her face he picked the papers and started reading them silently one more time.

My dear Shifa,

How are you? I wish you always stay healthy, wealthy, blessed and happy. You must be grown up by now... I don't know if you remember me or not but I'm unable to take you out of my mind for even a single second. It has been 4 years since we met, in these 4 years I'm spending more and more time in my shop, regardless of whether, my health or anything else just in the hope that one day you'll come again.

I know dear, I have been unfair to you and Maryam but I've been getting punished please forgive me and come to me.

Your helpless father

Aatish

Daniyal folded the letter and opened the other one.

My dear Shifa...

I don't know if you get my last letter or not but I'm still writing another one with the hope that somehow you get my messages... I'm living with this hope that I'll be able to see you again but hopelessness is increasing with every passing moment. You remember when you come here... From that day I'm watching your video again and again. Hmm... I have a CCTV camera in my shop, which recorded you... I'm truly glad for that, I'm able to see you again... Your smile, your eyes, your tears, your hatred... I'm seeing everything. I see your photo every day and bless you to get every happiness, pray for you to be safe from every evil and to get a life partner unlike I was...

Shifa, just for once... Please just for once come here to meet me. I would come to Delhi to meet you but my health is not allowing me. I'm dying Shifa... I'm dying. Sometimes I feel afraid... What will happen if I die in my bed? Will anyone get to know about my death? Will I even get buried in the grave or will my body be decomposed here only?

Sometimes I feel that I was unfair with you and Maryam for a house and business, now these things are my punishment... I got everything but peace and happiness. Please come to meet me for once, maybe I'll die peacefully.

Your father who's counting his last days.

Aatish.

Daniyal sighed and didn't read the last letter one more time. He could feel the pain in each and every word of these hand written letters.

He could feel the longing of a father who was waiting for his daughter.

He could feel the helplessness of a dying man who had only one hope left and that hope was no one else but Shifa.

Looking at his wife he recalled her traumatic situation from the last night. Closing his eyes he placed his head on Shifa's head remembering her tears and hiccups.

"Deni please don't leave me alone." She cried helplessly hugging him and he grabbed the papers present in her hands.

"I'm not leaving you Shifa, show me what's this?" And he forcefully separates her from himself before reading the letters. He was shocked! But unable to understand the reason behind Shifa's demand for not leaving her

"Why would I leave you if he's sending you letters? Are you an idiot?" Daniyal literally scolded her but her lips trembled and she sniffled.

"Because..." She stopped "because what?"

"Because... My father is the darkest chapter of my life. Whenever his pages turn open something bad happens to me." Daniyal sighed and held her shoulders then nodded. "And like what? Tell me."

"Whenever his name comes my happiness goes away and something bad definitely happens." She was looking fearful.

"Nothing like that, just come out of your fear or tell me what is scaring you?"

"Deni..." she cried helplessly and rested her head on his chest, Daniyal kept creasing her head for a few moments then she lifted her head. "I'm afraid that our relationship will be affected... Mujhe aadat ho chuki hai aapki, ab main aapke bina nhi reh sakti." She muttered without breaking eye contact. Her words weren't only words but the first ray of light in the dark sky of Daniyal's heart... The first ray of sun doesn't brighten up the sky but it begins a new day!

(I have become used to you, now I cannot live without you.)

"Who is telling you to live without me?" He whispered and wiped her tears but Shifa sighed and decided to let him read another page of her past.

"A few years ago mummy and papa fixed my match..." Daniyal didn't know why but he felt like his heart skipped a beat. His grip on Shifa's shoulders becomes weak and his expression changes to shock.

"Who was that guy?" He asked while taking a step back. "Papa's colleague's son." Shifa muttered without making eye contact

"Hmm... Okay, then?" he also muttered like everything is fine, but there was something which was not fine inside him. "Deni, within two months they people backed off from that relationship when they got to know about my father and mummy's divorce." Shifa muttered. "Other than that, my two more proposals were rejected when papa and mummy told those people about this..." Shifa wiped her tears with the back of her palm and sniffled before she could continue She noticed Daniyal's pale face.

"Deni," She held his hand and her eyes trambled with an untold fear... "There was no relationship between me and that guy... I never met him... I didn't even see him... It was my parents choice and I silently accepted unwillingly... I wasn't even happy..."

"Mujhe kisi wazahat ki zarurat nhi hai Shifa. Mujhe aap par bharosa hai," Daniyal muttered but in reality he felt like he could breath again after hearing this explanation and he smiled while cupping her face.

(I don't need an explanation Shifa. I trust you.)

Lifting her hands she grabbed his wrists, Daniyal didn't remove his hands from her cheeks and Shifa cried one more time... "Deni, you're important to me. I can't imagine you going away from my life."

"Then don't imagine. Let's read the letters... How can you cry too much without even knowing what is written in those letters?"

<><><><>

"Kya hua Maryam?" Asked Anwar when he found his wife sitting on the edge of the bed, her feet were dangling and her face was hidden in her palms. Glancing at the clock he found it near midnight.

(What happened to you Maryam?)

"Pta nhi, kuch ajeeb si ghabrahat ho rhi hai."

(I'm feeling a weird restlessness, I don't know why,)

"Hypertension?" He asked and Maryam shrugged while sitting with the support of the headboard and grabbed her mobile from the side table.

"What are you doing?" Anwar asked

"I'm calling Shifa." Dialling hey number Maryam put the mobile on her ear but Anwar took it from her hand and hung up the call before it could ring.

"Don't be a fool. Is this time to call her? It's 12:30 of the night."

"Suniye, I'm feeling she's not well, she's in some problem."

"She's fine Maryam, she was with us just a few hours back and they both were happy and fine. Don't worry. Take this and sleep." Passing two sleeping pills Anwar told her but he didn't know that this mother is connected to her daughter magically.

<><><><>

"Shifa." Still covering her face with his hand Daniyal whispered caressed her cheek with his thumb but she was in deep slumber. "Shifa." He whispered, his hand protecting her face from the golden sun rays falling on her pale face.

"Wake up." He said in a whisper and Shifa slowly opened her eyes, but as soon as Daniyal uncovered her face she hid it in his chest to protect her eyes from direct sunlight.

"Let's go downstairs it's already very hot here." Daniyal muttered and Shifa slightly but didn't shift, for almost a quarter of an hour she was sitting in the same position, resting her head on his chest and closing her eyes she was listening to his heartbeat.

"Deni, I'm going." She muttered while shifting back and tucked her hair locks behind her ear.

"Have you decided something?" Asked Daniyal when Shifa stepped towards the stairs and she stopped in between then nodded.

"What?"

"I won't go." She forced a smile on her face but Daniyal's expressions were changed to disappointment, "I wasn't expecting anything like this from you." Mumbling that he stood up from the swing and folded those letters one by one.

"Then what were you expecting, Deni?" This time Shifa was looking disappointed in him.

"Shifa, You should go."

"Are you serious Deni? How can you even say that?" Shifa asked back in anger, this was the first time after their marriage when Shifa was so angry, otherwise her anger came out in the form of her silence and tears.

"What's wrong with this? He's your father, how can you be so stone hearted, Shifa?" Daniyal asked with disappointment, he couldn't imagine his wife being so rude towards her father. 

"Father..." Shifa smiled sarcastically and jerked her head, "he's no one for me." And she walked downstairs. Daniyal saw a venomous Shifa for the first time. Deep down he loved that Shifa who was not venomous at all, for the first time he liked Shifa too much when she told him about her feeling for Rani phuppo, that she doesn't like her but she's not sure if she hates her or not, moreover she doesn't want anything bad for Rani Phuppo. But here the same Shifa was showing her hatred.

Stepping down from the terrace Daniyal witnessed another drama in his home, Badi Amma was in her room and stuffing her clothes in the suitcase. Mrs Kazmi was standing near the stairs and Mr Kazmi was on the doorway of her room, only Shifa was standing in front of her trying to convince her to stay with them. Badi Amma was asking only one question to Mr Kazmi regarding her train tickets and each time he was replying that all seats are reserved for a few days so tickets are not available. 

"What's going on here?" Daniyal asked his mother who narrated the whole story in short and Daniyal realised the mistake he made yesterday. Well, he didn't realise his mistake magically, it was Shifa who did this work.

"Badi Amma, Main aapko naraz ho ke nahi jaane dungi... ye aapka apna ghar hai jaane ki zarurat hi kya hai?" Shifa was trying her best to handle the matter but Badi Amma was out of control by then.

(Badi Amma, I will not let you go after being angry… this is your own house, what is the need to go?)

"Daniyal ka lehja suna tha kal?" Badi Amma burst out in anger and Shifa gulped fearfully but didn't give up.

(Have you forgotten Daniyal's way of talking?)

"Badi Amma, Agar bachhe bado se badtameezi kar dete hain to bade ghar chhod ke nhi jaate, bachho ko saza dete hain... Aapko jo saza deni hai dijiye lekin naraz ho kar nhi jaiye." Shifa said in the requesting voice.

(Badi Amma, if the children misbehave with the elders, then the elders do not leave the house. Give whatever punishment you want, but don't leave.)

"Nhi Bibi, main kon hoti hu tumhe saza dene ke liye? Jo chahe wo Karo, bas zara mera saman bandhwa do." shoving the stuff Badi Amma asked in the same anger but instead of helping her Shifa held her hand.

(No no, who am I to punish you? Do whatever you want to do but help me with packing)

"Badi Amma Deni..." Shifa smacked her forehead and paused for a moment "Kazmi Sahab bohot sharminda hain, itne sharminda ke aapse nazre bhi nhi mila paa rhe isliye aapse maafi mangne nhi aaye."

(Kazmi Sahab is too ashamed to confront you.)

"Rehne do Bibi, parde na daalo."

(Stop it, don't hide.)

"Badi Amma andar aa jaun?" Asked Daniyal from the doorway, he was listening to everything silently but now he decided to go in front of Badi Amma.

(May I come in Bad Amma?)

"Andar aao ya bahar jao, jo Dil chahe Karo main kon hoti hu rookne tookne wali." Said badi Amma while stuffing her clothes in the suitcase and Daniyal held her hand while taking her towards the bed.

(Come in or go out, do whatever you want, who am I to stop you?)

"Aap Badi Amma hain, khandan ki sabse Badi... Aapke paas haq hai Jo chahe saza dijiye mujhe, lekin maaf kar dijiye... Main aapke peyr daba du? Bachpan me aap ghanto mujhse peyr dabwati thi, bhul gyi kya?" This time Daniyal asked in his usual respectful manner

(Badi Amma you're the eldest in our whole clan,... You have the right to give me whatever punishment you want, but forgive me... Shall I press your feet? Have you forgotten? In childhood, I used to press your feet for hours?)

"Sab yaad hai, main kuch nhi bhulti. Na barso purani baate na kuch ghanto purani baate" This time Badi Amma was sad, Daniyal kneeled in front of her but he was silent. "Maaf kar dijiye na Badi Amma, aap chali gayi to Mera Dil is ghar me nhi lagega." said Shifa while kneeling down beside Daniyal and held Badi Amma's hands.

(I remember everything, I don't forget anything. Neither years old nor hours old.)

(Please forgive him, Badi Amma. This house will not feel like a home if you left.)

"Bade to duao ka dar hote hain badi Amma, hamara duao ka dar band kar ke mat jaiye," Shifa requested and elbowed Daniyal to say something and he also apologized.

(Elders are the doors of blessings, Badi Amma, don't go away closing our doors of blessings.)

Badi Amma glared at Daniyal and then looked at Shifa, "Ab yahi bethi rahogi? Zara ek piyali chai bana kar de do, aur mere kapde rakh dena wapas almari mein."

(Will you keep sitting here now? Make me a cup of tea, and put my clothes back in the cupboard)

The old lady scolded Shifa, for two moments she was shocked then nodded while questioning herself... Inhe rook ke galti to nhi kar di na? (Haven't I made a mistake by stopping her?)

Mr and Mrs Kazmi were seeing the scene silently and feeling proud of their daughter-in-law.

"Ye ladki nayab hai. Ise mohabbat se rishte nibhana aur rishte bachana aata hai." Said Badi Amma with a smile and glared at Daniyal "Tum iske layaq nhi ho." She scolded him.

(She's precious. She knows the art of binding relationships with the thread of love.)

(You're not worthy to get her.)

"Theek kaha badi Amma, koh-e-noor hai meri Bahu." Said Mrs Kazmi proudly and Daniyal smiled happily. Maybe Shifa was the only daughter-in-law in the whole Kazmi clan who became the subject of praise by this lady, otherwise she only knows how to criticize. Daniyal sat down on the bed beside badi Amma and looked at the door from which Shifa left just a few moments ago.

(You're right Badi Amma, she is precious. She is koh-e-noor.)

{Koh-e-noor is the most important diamond in the world.}

"Koh-e-noor nhi hai wo." Said Badi Amma and everyone furrowed, (she is not koh-e-noor) "Koh-e-noor jiske paas gya wo barbaad ho gya, ye Paras pathar hai, jise chhuyegi soona bana degi." Daniyal felt like he conquered the world, he wanted to rush to Shifa and tell her what Badi Amma said about her but he kept watching the way from which his wife re-entered the room. Placing a cup of tea beside Badi Amma she looked at Daniyal.

(The one who got Koh-i-Noor was ruined, she is a philosopher's stone. She is an elixir of life and happiness.)

"Ye bohot saaf dil ki aur bohot pyaar karne wali bachhi hai... Har rishte ko ehmiyat dene wali, har ek ki izzat karne wali... Saalo purani ranjishe bhi mita di is ne... Sach me, ye bachhi hum sab ke liye neymat hai." Mr Kazmi was willing to write an essay in the respect of his daughter-in-law while remembering how Shifa reunite Mrs Kazmi and her brother.

(She has a heart of gold, she knows how to spread love, give respect, she values every relationship... Even she vanished old disputes too... She's truly a blessing for our family.)

"Hmm... Jo bhi ho... Bahuo ko itna sar pr nhi chadana chahiye warna khudsar aur magroor ho jati hain." Badi Amma jerked her head and showed her offended expressions which everyone ignored. She was Badi Amma, so she couldn't show her love towards Shifa clearly. It was against her morals!

(Hmm... Whatever! Daughter-in-law should not be pampered so much, otherwise she becomes rude and arrogant.)

"Deni aapne bhi..." Shifa, who just entered into the room with tea for all and parath for Badi Amma, stopped for a moment and changed her words immediately.

"Kazmi Sahab aapne bhi chai nhi pi na... Mene aapke liye bhi bana di." She muttered and passed tea to everyone before starting arranging Badi Amma's clothes in the cupboard.

(Mr. Kazmi, you also didn't have tea... I made it for you too.)

"Deni, aapke kapde..." Shifa closed her eyes while smacking her forehead and turning towards her husband. "Kazmi Sahab, aapke kapde dry cleaning ke liye gye huye hain, ghar wapas aate time le aaiyega, warna kal pehenne ki liye koi white shirt nhi milegi." And she closed the cupboard before leaving the room.

(Kazmi saheb, your clothes have been sent for dry cleaning, bring them while returning home tonight, otherwise there will be no white shirt to wear tomorrow.)

Daniyal took his leave from the elders and went to his bedroom. "How do you manage to handle her?" He asked while slamming the door of the room after him and Shifa raised her imaginary collar proudly.

"Do you like Badi Amma and her taunts too much?"

"Actually Badi Amma is just like a cactus with uncountable spikes but why do people forget that a cactus adopts these spikes because of the harsh conditions of the environment... Deni a cactus could also bloom and hold flowers on itself if it gets enough about of water and little amount of shade." Daniyal laughed at her philosophy and shook his head like he was not expecting this philosophical answer from her.

"Wo jaa rhi thi to jaane deti, bekaar me rook liya ab phir se jeena mushkil kar dengi." He rolled his eyes while saying the last part and throw herself on the bed.

(If she was going, you would have let her go. You stopped her in vain, now again she will make our life difficult.)

"Kesi baatein karte hain Deni, mehmaan Allah ki rehmat hota hai aap Allah ki rehmat ko naraz karke ghar se bhejenge?" Daniyal listened to her silently and sat down on the bed, for a few minutes he was silent but then decided to ask what he already wanted to.

(What are you saying Deni? Guests are the mercy of Allah, will you send back the mercy of Allah like this?)

"Mehmaan Allah ki rehmat hain... Aur Walid ke baare mein kya khayal hai aapka? Kya wo jannat ke darwaze ki kunji nhi hain?" Shifa, who was setting the study table, suddenly turned back towards her husband. She was in disbelief. She opened her mouth to reply but stopped herself and turned back towards the table and restarted setting it properly but her eyes filled with tears.

(The guests are the mercy of Allah... And what do you think about the father? Are they not the keys to the door of heaven?)

"Shifa."

"Deni please, don't talk about this." She muttered without stopping to do what she was already doing.

"But Shifa..."

"Can we please change the topic?" She didn't let him complete and Without turning towards him she asked in a rude manner. Aatish's name turns her rude because he was the reason behind her pains.

"No." Daniyal's reply was clear. He was watching Shifa's back who was now dusting the showpieces present in the shelf. "Shifa I'm talking to you?" He asserted and this time Shifa turned towards him with a jolt.

"Then keep talking but don't expect a reply from me, and if you really want to talk to me just bury this matter here only." She stressed on each and every word while glaring at Daniyal... In the end her eyes dropped the tears she was holding, and turned her back towards him again. Daniyal was surprised to see her new side...

The sweet and loving Shifa was shouting, and arguing with him. Really?

"Shifa wo aapke Walid hain... Jo kuch bhi hua ho lekin aap ye sachhai nhi badal sakti." Daniyal told her and this time Shifa throw the flower vase present in her hand.

(Shifa whatever happened, he's your father, you can't change the reality.)

"Main jaanti hu wo aadmi Mera baap hai, lekin mujhe nhi milna unse. Unhone Jo kuch mere sath kra hai uske baad to main unka naam bhi nhi sunna chahti, aur ye Mera aakhri fesla hai. Bas baat khatam." She shouted and pressed her lips together to control her sob but two tears rolled down again. Daniyal kept watching her with disappointment and his brows furrowed.

(I know he's my father but I don't wanna meet him. After whatever he did with me I don't even want to listen to his name, meeting him is a far away thing. And that's my last decision, that's it.)

"Aapne keh diya baat khatam to baat khatam? Har baat aese hi khatam nhi ho jaati, Shifa. Ek beti ka uske Walid ke liye is tarha ke alfaaz bolna kitna nazeeba hai aapko indaza hai?" This time Deni also raised his voice and Shifa glared at him with anger, for the first time she was stopping herself to cry in front of Daniyal, because today he wasn't the same Daniyal who holds the scattered pieces of her broken pieces, he was another Daniyal who was giving her another wound.

(That's it? Really? Every matter can't be closed so easily, Shifa. Do you know how bad it is for a daughter to say such words to her father?)

"Stop it Deni, please." She shouted and cried together but Daniyal was furious. He didn't know whatever Aatish had done, what he could see was a father begging in front of his daughter.

"Agar hamari beti hui aur wo mujhse kisi baat pr naraz ho gyi to aap uske is rawayye par kya karogi Shifa? Use samjhaogi ya uska sath dogi?" Daniyal asked controlling his anger and Shifa's heart skipped a beat for two moments she forgot to use her tongue just pressed her lips together and cried silently before mumbling.

(In future if we have a daughter and she gets angry with me for something then what will you do on her attitude, Shifa? Will you explain things to her or accompany her?)

"Will you do the same with me and your child what that man had done with mummy and me?" Daniyal had no words to reply, he didn't mean that but there are no explanations in arguments. And Shifa took that silence as a 'Yes', She sniffled and wiped her tears while nodding her head.

"I'll make sure that my child disown a father who loved his comfort more than him or her." Shifa cried and sat down on the edge of the bed, her back was facing Daniyal who was unable to understand her condition. He didn't know how a father can't love his child? He had seen Mr Kazmi showering all his love on him, he doesn't believe that a father could be the reason for his child's pain. For him, father is synonymous with safety, shelter, happiness, protection etc. He couldn't relate to the definition of father given by his wife.

"Unhone Jo kuch bhi kara unko uski saza mil gayi. Samajhne ki koshish kro, unhe aapse pyaar hai jab hi to aapse milna chahte hain." Daniyal gave his theory, he didn't know what punished Aatish got, but according to the letters he felt that Aatish had gotten a painful punishment due to which Daniyal already built a soft spot for him in his heart.

(Whatever he did, he got his punishment. Try to understand, he loves you that's why he wants to meet you.)

"Jo kuch bhi unhone kra uski saza to mujhe aur mummy ko mili hai, aur unhe mujhse pyaar nhi hai, unhe meri zarurat hai. Agar unhe mujhse pyaar hota to mujhe zindagi ke har mood par thookar khane ke liye besahara nhi chhod dete. Agar unhe mujhse pyaar hota to mujhe apni zindagi se kisi waste material ki tarha bahar nhi pheek dete. Agar sach me unhe mujhse pyaar hota to kabhi to aake puchte ki unki ek beti bhi thi, wo zinda hai ya mar chuki? Lekin nhi... Wo tab aaye jab unhe meri zarurat hai... jab unke paas koi nhi hai... Wo ek khud-garz insaan the, hain or apni aakhri saans tak khud-garz hi rahenge."

(Whatever he did, Mummy and I got punished for that and he doesn't love me, he needs me. If he loved me, he would not have left me helpless to stumble at every turn of life. If he loved me, he would not have thrown me out of his life like a material. If he had loved me, he would have come and asked if his daughter is alive or dead? But no.... He is coming to me when he needs me, when he's alone. he was a selfish man, he has been a selfish man and he will be a selfish man till the last breath of his life.)

"Itni nafrat? Itna gussa? Aap wohi Shifa ho?" Daniyal was looking disappointed, what else he linked about Shifa other than her loving nature but this Shifa was opposite.

(This much hatred? This much anger? Are you the same Shifa?)

"Haan main wo hi Shifa hu... Maine aapse ya aapke ghar walo se to kabhi nafrat nhi kari na Deni... To aap kyu is matter ko itna bada bana rahe hain?" Shifa cried in the end of the sentence and turned to see Daniyal who felt more angry. Only a few minutes ago he listened to his father praising Shifa that she knows how to value every relationship, she knows how to love and she knows how to hold the family together but here Shifa was doing the opposite.

(Yes, I am the same Shifa... I have never hated you or your family members... So why are you making this matter so big, Deni?)

"Ye kesa doglapan aur munafiqat hai Shifa?" Daniyal couldn't help but ask in a loud voice. Shifa's lips parted to say something but joined together again as she was running out of words.

(What kind of hypocrisy and double standard are these Shifa?)

For the first time ever she felt suffocation in sharing same room with Daniyal. Wiping her tears with the back of her palm she sniffled and walked towards the door. She just wanted to run away from everyone... Every single person who has hurt her ever and today unfortunately Daniyal made his place in that list. As soon as she opened the door she was stopped to take another step further. Mr and Mrs Kazmi were standing outside the room and Badi Amma was standing at a few steps away.

"Kya ho gya beta?" Mrs Kazmi asked and Shifa smiled like a sarcam and shrugged.

(What's wrong dear?)

"Kuch nhi ammi... main aap logo ko jo pyaar karti hu, aapki izzat karti hu wo meri munafiqat aur doglapan hai..." Shifa said and looked everywhere... She was trying to get a place where she could unhide her tears but where could she go? There were only three bedrooms in this home all of them were occupied, leaving with no other way she walked... Not walked but run towards the stairs leading terrace.

(Nothing much Ammi. My love and respect towards you people are my hypocrisy and double standard, nothing else.)

Every gaze fell on the culprit of Shifa's tears.

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"Hello." she received the call.

"Have you read my messages?"

"Yeah... I'm going." She replied meekly.

"Will you manage?" The question was put from the other side and she sighed.

"Do I have any other way?" She replied in the same meek voice.

"Where are you right now?"

"Delhi Railway Station." She replied and looked here and there before trying to handle her luggage. "I'll talk to you later, it's getting difficult for me to hold mobile, my both hands are busy." And she hung up the call.

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