"Abbu I've made soup for you." Shifa sat down beside her father and lifted spoonful of the soup. Aatish shook his head but eventually had it.

Yesterday when he passed out, Shifa and Daniyal took him to the hospital where they got to know that his kidneys weren't working properly and the liver was completely damaged. In the end of the checkup the doctor told Shifa and Daniyal to keep Aatish at home because now he didn't have much time left so there will be no use of him in the hospital.

"Do you like it?" Daniyal asked after sitting on the other side of Aatish, he tried to smile but couldn't. Shifa touched his forehead with the back of the fingers and looked at Daniyal. "Still feverish." She mouthed and waited for Daniyal to do something but there was nothing in his hands. Even after giving medicine Aatish's fever wasn't completely fine.

"Abbu aapke liye kuch aur laau?" Shifa asked when Aatish refused to have another spoonful of soup.

(Abbu would you like to have anything else.)

"Nah." He somehow managed to say this. Shifa nodded before dangling her legs down from the bed and walked towards the kitchen to put the bowl in the sink and when he went back to the room Daniyal was placing another pillow in between the headrest of the bed and Aatish's back. "Shifa."

"Ji Abbu?"

"Mere paas raho." He muttered with half closed eyes and Shifa sat down beside him. "Main tumhe har rooz yaad karta tha." He mumbled under his breath and slightly open his arm, understanding his gesture she placed her head on his chest. Aatish kissed her forehead and she couldn't control her tears. That's the same love she was craving for. Now she didn't want to go away from this love but soon Daniyal walked closer to both of them and gestured Shifa to move back. She was confused yet obeyed silently, only then she noticed Aatish, he was breathing with difficulty.

(Stay close to me.)

(I had been missing you everyday.)

"Abbu..." Shifa cried and Aatish opened his eyes. Exhaling loudly he lifted his hand and caressed her head, his weak hand moved to her face and Shifa held it in her left hand. 

"Shifa, recite Surah Yaseen." Daniyal whispered and Shifa suddenly looked up at her husband who was passing his mobile phone towards her which was showing the very chapter of the Quran which eases the pain of death. Shifa was stunned, she looked at Aatish then at Daniyal who slightly nodded like telling her that her father was taking his last breaths.

Shifa's eyes dropped two more tears but she grabbed the mobile and saw its screen..

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

یٰسٓۚ(۱) وَ الْقُرْاٰنِ الْحَكِیْمِۙ(۲) اِنَّكَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِیْنَۙ(۳) عَلٰى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِیْمٍؕ(۴).......

(In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Yaa-Seen.

By the Quran, rich in wisdom!

You ˹O Prophet˺ are truly one of the messengers. Upon the Straight Path....)

She didn't know how long she was taking to recite these verses while controlling herself to cry aloud with hiccups but she demonstrated one more time how strong she was! Before she could recite the complete chapter a hand lightly pulled her in an embrace and she suddenly looked at Aatish then looked at her left hand which was still holding his hand. The body which was feverish till a few moments ago suddenly turned cold.

"Dua kro Shifa... Dua e magfirat." Daniyal whispered while his free hand slowly closed the slightly open eyes of Aatish.

(Pray for his good afterlife, Shifa.)

Only she knew for how many years she had been crying and craving for this love and now she got it but loses it too. Why life and destiny plays with her heart? Why always with her? Why?

At this moment she had no one to share this feeling and pain with, other than Daniyal who sat down beside her and let her cry on his chest.

<><><><>

 مِنْهَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ وَفِيهَا نُعِيدُكُمْ وَمِنْهَا نُخْرِجُكُمْ تَارَةً أُخْرَىٰ.

(Translation: From the (earth) did We create you, and into it shall We return you, and from it shall We bring you out once again.

Putting three handfuls of earth on the grave he recited the verse which describes one of the reality of life and stood up on the head-side of the grave, Reading Surah Baqar a bit louder than mutter and after almost two hours when he looked around himself there was no one except a large number of deads sleeping under tons of earth.

After doing dua for the last time he went back to the home to find almost same picture as the graveyard, a handful of women from neighbours were sitting on the floor, reciting something or better to say acting like reciting but talking about everything happening around. In the gathering of these women his grey eyes searched for only one face and after the struggle of a few moments he found her sitting in the corner. Resting her head with the wall, a small heap of date seeds was present in front of her and the remaining handful of seeds were half falling out of the fist. She wasn't crying anymore, not reciting anything either just sitting like a dead body without any sing of life.

Daniyal sighed, walking towards her he silently sat down beside her but she didn't notice him... Maybe she was so lost in her thoughts.

"Aapne kuch khaya?" Though he already knew the answer still asked her while placing his hand on her shoulder. Shifa slowly lifted her head from the wall and blinked blankly as if she didn't understand what her husband meant?

(Have you eaten anything?)

"Ghar wapas chaliye." She muttered and Daniyal slowly nodded but he saw the ladies sitting there.

(Let's go back home.)

"Abhi 1-2 din to yahi rukna padega na, phir chalte hain ghar." He said in a hushed tone but Shifa shook her head.

(We need to stay here for a few days, then we'll go back to home.)

"Nhi Deni... Jinke liye aaye the wo hi nhi rahe... Ab bas chahiye yaha se. Mujhe is ghar me ajeeb si ghabrahat hone lagi hai." She muttered while running her tongue on her lips like trying to wet them a little and wiped the sweat drops from her forehead.

(No Deni, the one for whom we were here isn't anymore. Let's go back. I'm feeling uncomfortable in this home.)

"Aap theek ho?" He asked while touching her forehead, it was unusual to sweat in this weather. Shifa took an uneven breath and let it out.

(Are you alright?)

"Pta nhi... Shayad nhi... Mujhe kuch ho raha hai Deni... Mujhe dar lag raha hai... Aur...-" she was breathing faster than normal and Daniyal furrowed at her condition and nodded while patting at her back. "Chalo jaldi khadi ho jao, saman pack karo hum wapas chal rahe hain..." This time he didn't deny her demand because there was actually no reason behind staying here other than pleasing some of those people who were strangers for both of them.

(I don't know... Maybe I'm not. I'm feeling something weird. I'm feeling scared... And...)

(Come on, get up and pack our stuff. We're going back.)

Daniyal stood up and offered his hand to his wife, She grabbed it to take a support to standup.

"Need to see a doctor?" Daniyal asked and Shifa thought for a few moments then slightly shook her head. "I just need my family, my people and my home." Daniyal nodded in this demand and looked at the people sitting here there. Few of them were already gone and remaining were now completely indulged in gossiping. Pure gossips. Daniyal was spectating one of the harsh reality of life. How easily we humans forget the fresh example of death present in front our eyes and start thinking about worldly life one more time.

"Tayyar ho jaao, bahar kuch aadmi hain jo shayad rishtedaar ya shayad padosi hain, main kisi ko jaanta to nhi hu lekin unse mil kar aata hu, phir chalte hain." Daniyal said in a hushed tone and Shifa nodded, her eyes filled with tears one more time and this time Daniyal just pressed her shoulder to indicate that he was there for her.

(Get ready. There are a few men downstairs, I don't know who they are, relatives or neighbours, but I'm coming back after seeing them, then we'll go back.)

Seeing the indifferent hosts the remaining handful of women also left but not before showing their compassion towards Shifa.

<><><><>

After crossing the barriers of numberless questions regarding sudden arrival as well as Shifa's health after all Daniyal found himself in his room. He was tired. Even more tired than his sick wife who was sleeping in her cosy bed but he was sitting beside her trying to gather some energy to walk to bathroom and take a shower before sleeping but couldn't. In the end he removed his waist belt as well as shirt and threw himself just beside his wife.

For a few minutes he was seeing Shifa with mixed feelings and dozed off himself. Today he proved that he wasn't only a good son, son-in-law or husband, he proved that he was a good human being too. Today he was standing for a man about whom he didn't know much other than a few things told by his wife and a few things he concluded from four small letters. Today he was the only person to see everything regarding Aatish's funeral to legal documentation to arrange the grave and all, that too in an unfamiliar place, if there weren't some neighbours to help him a little bit, maybe he was unable to do anything but he did all these things... Not because that man was his wife's father but because he was a human who deserved his last resting place. And after that he wasn't able to rest even for a few moments because then he was driving back home.

Today, the road from Dehradun to Delhi saw Shifa another time and she was crying this time too, but the situation was pretty different. Last time she was crying to get the love of her father and this time she was crying for losing the love she get just for three days.

"Deniiii..." She gasped loudly and woke up with a jolt, eventually he also woke up and looked at his wife who was on the edge of crying.

"What's wrong?" Daniyal asked without bothering to sit up, Shifa took a deep breath and hid her face in her palms. "Again a nightmare." She muttered and Daniyal closed his eyes because he was too tired to listen to her nightmare after compromising with his slumber.

"Get back to sleep, Shifa." Mumbling that he turned his side and soon he was fast asleep after digging his face in the pillow. Shifa looked at him and tears rolled down from her eyes as she saw a part of her nightmare coming true. Daniyal was already ignoring her!

<><><><>

"Excuse me... Do you know where are the people who were living in this home?" Adeena, who was quite late to attend the funeral ceremony, asked a neighbour's son when found the home locked.

"They both went back to Delhi after the funeral of uncle Aatish."

"When?"

"Just half an hour ago." The boy in his late teens replied and Adeena shut her eyes for a moment.

"Does Daniyal have given his contact number to you or anyone? Do you know something?"

"I don't know about this." The boy replied and took his leave, Adeena one more time dialled Aatish's number. The same number from which she got Shifa's call regarding Aatish's death, but no one received the call because Shifa and Daniyal didn't bother to took that mobile along.

Adeena cursed herself for not taking Shifa's contact number and sighed while seeing the lock on the door. That wasn't the same lock which opens with the key that Aatish once handed her over. Daniyal replaced the old lock for safety purpose.                   

After a few days:

"Jab se wapas aayi ho tab se tumhe kya ho gya hai, Dulhan? Tabiyat kharab hai kya?" Badi Amma asked when they all were present in the hall, having fruits but Shifa was sitting silently beside her mother-in-law, when she felt much weak she rested her head on Mrs Kazmi's shoulder.

(Dulhan, are you alright or not? You're looking dull from the time you've come back.)

"Mujhe to lag raha hai kisi ki nazar lag gyi hai." Mrs Kazmi said while cupping Shifa's face softly.

(I guess it's someone's evil eye.)

"Doctor ko dikha do ek baar," Mr Kazmi suggested but Daniyal shook his head, "Uski zarurat nhi hai, Baba. Mene Shifa ki dawai yahi mangwa li hai... Bas aap log dekhiyega, raat tak bilkul theek ho jayegi aapki Bahu." Daniyal smiled and everyone looked at him with confusion. He knew very well that Shifa had no illness other than grief moreover she couldn't share this pain with anyone else that's why she was looking pale.

(Once see a doctor.)

(No need to see a doctor, I've called her medicines and she will be alright till tonight.)

"What does it mean?" Shifa asked in confusion and everyone heard the doorbell.

"Aapki dawai aa gyi Begum." He smiled and everyone looked towards the main door which was opened by the maid and the first person walked in was Bilal.

(Your medicine is here, dear wife.)

"Astagfirullah, Deni ye aapne mere liye dawayi mangwayi hai ya nayi bimari ki wajah?" Shifa rolled her eyes and now it was clear that she was feeling much better than before.

(Deni have you called my medicine or sickness potion?)

"Assalamualaikum Aunty? How are you? When will you make kheer for me?" Bilal being Bilal put all the formalities aside and came to the direct point of interest. Shifa huffed and stood up.

"What are you here?" She asked kind of rudely but Bilal pushed her aside and sat down beside Mrs Kazmi. "Shut up, I'm not here to meet you. I'm here to meet aunty and uncle. Am I right aunty?"

"Jangli Gadhaaa." Shifa huffed and stood up with frustration but before her mood could be foul two more figures walked in the home. A lady who was holding a baby and a handsome man who was holding ample number of bags as well as gifts in his both hands.

(Wild ass.)

"Bilal you're truly good for nothing." Hamdan glared at his younger brother who just jumped off the car and didn't even bother to see if his brother needed help in drawing out something from the car.

"Bas bhi kro, aap dono bade bhai behen bachare bachhe ko kitna daante ho." Mrs Kazmi caressed Bilal's head as if he was the most supressed child of the family but Shifa and Daniyal rolled their eyes.

(Oh stop it. You both elder siblings scolds my child so much.)

"See aunty... Imagine my condition at home."

"You come here, I won't let anyone say anything to you." Mrs Kazmi showed all her love at once and Shifa glared at Bilal.

"Soch bhi nhi lena yaha aane ki, hath, muh, taange sab tood dungi." And she moved towards Hamdan, he smiled as he thought his sister was thinking about him and coming to grab some bags but this lady passed by him and open her arms towards Mehvish.

(Don't you even think of it, I will break your hands, legs, face as well as every bone.)

"My little princess." Within one second the little girl was in her aunt's arms who was smiling like anything. "Told you na, your medicine is on the way." Coming closer to her Daniyal whispered on her shoulder while his eyes were fixed on the first baby who attracted him towards herself.

"You're the best, Mr Kazmi." Shifa whispered,

"Yeah, I know." He had a proud grin on his face and Shifa rolled her eyes. "How much you praise yourself?"

"I don't! I just state what's true." How truthful of Daniyal! Shifa glared at him with fake anger, though she wanted to kiss his cheek but couldn't in front of everyone.

"Ammi see, My Manha is so cute na. Masha Allah." Shifa didn't bother to see her brother or sister-in-law, what she was only seeing was her little Doll, and Daniyal was walking after her waiting for his turn to hold that baby but his wife wasn't in mood to handover this girl to anyone.

"Hamdan, Mehwish, you both may leave after having lunch, this girl is not going anywhere." Daniyal waved his hand and Shifa nodded with a huge grin while embracing the baby protectively. "Yeah... Manha is not going anywhere. Right Manha? You're my little princess na, let your parents go and we'll enjoy together here. Right?" Shifa was talking to Manha but maybe this little girl didn't like the idea, very next moment she started crying and Shifa huffed.

"Ladki tu bohot badi wali gaddar hai... Itni achhi phuppi mili hai lekin qadar hi nhi hai, bilkul apne phuppa par gyi hai." Shifa scolded her niece as well as husband in a single statement and everyone laughed out loud.

(Girl you're such a traitor, You've got such a nice phuppi but you don't value me, just like your uncle.)

"Ab dusro ke nhi apne bachhe khilane ka socho." Whispering near Shifa and Daniyal Mrs Kazmi walked to the kitchen and they both looked at each other, Shifa felt shy when she detected something unnameable in her husband's eyes, she was the first to break the eye contact and moved towards Mehvish who was rocking her daughter who was an expert in crying loudly.

(Now think about your kids instead of rocking others')

<><><><>

After a very good day she almost forgot every pain, today many days later she felt like wearing something good or to groom herself. All her fatigue was gone and she wanted to get rid of the remaining laziness or tiredness too, so decided to have a long shower. And when she stepped out of the bathroom after changing herself in a loose and comfortable nightgown, found her husband sitting on the bed reading an Urdu Novel. Seeing him with love filled gaze she walked into the dressing room but he didn't even lift his eyes towards Shifa as his attention was fixed on the protagonist of someone else's story.

Shifa towel dried her hair before applying moisturizer on her dull skin, a tinted lip balm which looks so well on her and turned to go but she smiled while stopping for a moment to spray a small amount of body mist on her pulse points.

Walking towards the bed with cat steps she stood behind Daniyal to wrap her arms around his neck from behind but this man always stay away from her expectations. Without bothering to shift his eyes away from the pages he muttered. "Kya ho gya? Ab khadi rahogi kya?" Shifa was blinking blankly. How rude!! She huffed and slipped down in the bed. Daniyal also laid down beside her after shutting the lights.

(What's wrong? Will you stay stand?)

"Deni..." Slowly scratching his beard she muttered and he hummed in reply without looking at her as he was setting an Alarm for tomorrow. "Bolo bhi..." Placing the mobile on the nightstand he asked and yawn while closing his eyes.

(Say.)

"Hay Allah, kya gunah kare the mene jo aesa aadmi mila jo mujhe dekhta bhi nhi hai." She asked in her heart while closing her eyes to sleep but she was unable to do so.

(Damn, why I've got married to such a man who doesn't even see me lovingly?)

"Shifa."

"What?" She asked in the same manner as Daniyal but he didn't mind it.

"Complete your masters degree soon." He kind of requested without opening his eyes but Shifa saw him and furrowed. "Soon? But why?"

"Because" opening his eyes he grabbed her hand softly. "Because today I was thinking about our family and I realised that you don't have time for it. That's why I want you to complete this degree soon so that we can think about our family." He hesitated a bit but slightly pressed Shifa's hand.

But Shifa didn't like what he said... She pulled her hand away from his grip and slightly glared at him. "Deni, You're saying like it's in my hand to finish my course soon. And the other thing is, I never neglect this family, only I know how many times I let my studies suffer just because this home and family needs me but here you're saying that I don't give time to this family? How can you even think this about me?" Daniyal was only blinking silently because he didn't know what to say in reply? When he said Family he didn't mean Mr, Mrs Kazmi and Badi Amma, he meant his family! His own family. But his wife took it in a wrong way.

"Shifa."

She ignored.

"Maine kehta hu na aap ahmaq ho, bilkul sach kehta hu." He smiled and pulled his wife in his embrace, though she struggled to push his arm away but he was stronger than her.

(I say na that you're idiot. That's correct!)

"Good night sweet heart." For the first time he used such endearment for Shifa before kissing her forehead and closing his eyes. Shifa was surprised to see her husband sleeping in her arms and couldn't help her lips to engage with a smile. She was on the ninth cloud because her husband called her Sweet Heart! Another milestone covered!!

"Oh no... That letter!" She suddenly opened her eyes when remembers about the letter written by Daniyal for Adeena. But she was unable to get out of the bed as her husband was already caging her strongly. So, she, one more time left the letter unread. And decide to read tomorrow.

<><><><><>

.

.

.

.

.

A door bell rang and the maid open the door, "Deni Ghar me hain kya?" Shifa asked as soon as she stepped in the home and the maid shook her head.

(Is Deni at home?)

"Nhi ji, wo to jab subah aapko college chhodne gye the tab se wapas nhi aaye."

(No, he hasn't come back from the time he went to drop you.)

"Theek hai, aap apna kaam kar lijiye aur mere liye juice bhijwa dijiye please." Shifa ordered and walked towards the hall but stopped when listen to the commotion in the hall.

(Okay you may go back to your work and please send me some juice.)

"Do we have a visitor?" Shifa asked and the maid nodded in a hurry and informed that someone was there to meet her only.

"Lo Shifa bhi aa gyi." Mrs Kazmi said when noticed her daughter in law.

(See, Shifa is also here.)

"And Shifa, now your friend is becoming my friend..." Mrs Kazmi happily added and Shifa slightly smiled but felt nervous too. "Gudiya aapi... You?" Shifa was unable to say anything then this.

<><><><>