Shifa was seeing her Gudiya Aapi who was sitting on the opposite sofa, Mrs Kazmi was looking happy to talk to her, it seems not Shifa but Mrs Kazmi was her friend. Well, Adeena introduced herself as Shifa's second cousin who's like a friend of her. Badi Amma was sitting beside Shifa sipping on her tea and keenly examining Adeena.

"Ye tumhari behen hai?"

(Is this your sister?)

"Rishte ki behen... Dur ke rishte ki." Shifa muttered hesitantly.

(Cousin sister. A distant cousin.)

"Mujhe to tumhari behen bilkul achhi nahi lagi. Mana kar dena ise, dobara yaha aane ki zarurat nhi hai." Shifa felt ashamed, for the first time she disliked Badi Amma for being so rude. For Shifa, Gudiya was a nice person, Badi Amma shouldn't say this for her in a rude manner but even after everything Shifa didn't like Gudiya's sudden arrival. She has forgiven Aatish that was a different matter but she didn't want to stay in touch with anyone from his family. There was no room for showing interest in those relatives who weren't relatives for her. Moreover Shifa was surprised, how Gudiya got to know her address? As far as she remember Shifa never shared details with her.

(I don't like your sister, tell her to don't visit again.)

"Badi Amma aapne dawayi khayi?" Shifa asked when her sight fall on the wall clock, which was reading the time of her medicines.

(Badi Amma, have you taken your medicines?)

"Nahi, main bhul gyi thi... Tumne bhi to yaad nhi dilaya aaj..." Badi Amma said the last part with disappointment and Shifa kind of laughed while standing up "Badi Amma mene di yaad dilaya hai."

(No, i forgot. And today you also haven't remind me.)

(Badi Amma only I'm reminding you.)

"Haa to ab ehsaan na jatao." Shifa didn't bother to pay attention on the last part said by Badi Amma because now she understood this lady has a bitter tongue but she was a sweetheart with gray hair.

(So just don't show off.)

In just two minutes she was passing few pills to Badi Amma then she turned to see her mother-in-law. "Ammi aapne to as usual apni dawayi khai nhi hogi na?" Passing two pills and a glass of water to Mrs Kazmi, Shifa said with disappointment and the lady nodded like a hesitant child who has been scolded by her teacher.

(Ammi, you must forget your medicines as usual. Right?)

"Bado se aese baat nhi karte Shifa, agar aunty dawayi bhul bhi gayi to unhe yaad dila do, magar pyaar se. Tum to unhe daant rahi ho." Shifa's face lost its smile and shine when Gudiya politely corrected her. Shifa wasn't insulting her mother-in-law, it was just her habit to talk to Mrs Kazmi in an informal way but today it was the first time when someone criticised her for her informal way to talk.

(Shifa, That's not the way to talk to elders. Even if Aunty has forgotten the medicines just remind her politely. You're literally scolding her.)

"Bibi ye hamare ghar ka masla hai, tumhe sikhane ki zarurat nhi hai ki kya karna chahiye aur kya nhi... Hum apni Bahu ko khud sikha denge." Badi Amma threw a sharp glare at Adeena which made her uncomfortable and she tried to maintain her smile but couldn't.

(Oh lady, you don't have to give lecture on what's correct and what's not. We'll teach our daughter-in-law ourselves.)

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean that." She looked down and grabbed the corner of her dupatta nervously.

"Badi Amma ki baat ka bura mat mano beta, dar-asl Shifa is ghar me beti ban k rehti hain, hum log riwayati bahuo wale riwazon ke kayal nhi hain."

(Don't mind what Badi Amma said. Actually Shifa isn't like a daughter-in-law, but just a daughter so we don't expect such formalities from her.)

"Wow aunty Shifa is lucky to have such a great in-laws." Gudiya muttered and Mrs Kazmi smiled but Badi Amma wasn't liking this lady a single bit.

"Taali ek haath nhi bajti Bibi... rishte dotarfa chalte hain." Shifa couldn't help but smile, she wanted to hug badi Amma to take her side and whispered to her 'you are rocking my lady' but somehow she stopped herself because a part of her wasn't liking Badi Amma's rudeness towards a guest.

(It takes two to tango, relationships are always two-way roads, efforts are made from both sides.)

"Where is Zaryab?" Shifa suddenly realised that the little boy wasn't present. "He's on the terrace, as soon as he arrived he asked where is Shifa aunty and where is the swing, and from that time he's on the swing." Adeena smiled and Shifa nodded.

"I'm going to meet him, are you coming?" She asked Adeena but before she could refuse Shifa held her hand towards her, "come on Gudiya Aapi, come fast." She intentionally said so because she wanted to talk to Gudiya but couldn't find space in front of both the ladies.

Leaving with no other choice Adeena followed her and as soon as Shifa stepped on the terrace she sent the maid downstairs who was looking after Zaryab.

"Gudiya Aapi."

"Hmm?"

"Aapko Mera address kese mila?" Shifa asked straight and Adeena smiled lightly.

(How did you find out my address?)

"Actually Shifa... Chachu ke inteqal ke baad main taaziyat ke liye aana chah rhi thi... Isliye aa gyi. Main jaanti hu tumhe ajeeb laga hoga lekin main khud ko rook nhi paayi."  

(Actually Shifa, after the demise of Chachu I wanted to come to grieve over his death... That's why I just arrived. I know it must be surprising for you but I couldn't stop myself.)

"What's more surprising for me is... How did you get my address." Shifa was as straight as line and Adeena didn't take much time to answer.

"Once chachu handed me a letter to post, it had your address." Adeena smiled and Shifa furrowed. "So you come here after following the address present on the letter?" Shifa asked in a hushed tone and Adeena smiled with a nod. "Of course!"

"Oh I see." Shifa kept watching Adeena aka her Gudiya Aapi for a long moment and tried to conclude what could be the reason behind this lie. Aatish never sent those letters to Qasr-e-Kazmi, he sent the letters to Maryam's maternal home: the only address he had!

"What are you seeing?" Adeena asked when when Shifa didn't take off her eyes from her face. "Mene aapko kahi dekha hai, magar kaha?"

(I've seen you somewhere, but where?)

"We haven't meet before. Maybe someone similar to me." Adeena shrugged and Shifa nodded with a fake but well pretended smile.

"Perhaps!" She muttered and walked towards the boundary wall of the terrace followed by Adeena.

"Daniyal kab tak wapas aate hain?" Shifa suddenly looked at her and furrowed, she uttered Daniyal's name so comfortably as if... Shifa didn't know how to conclude it? Neither she was free with Gudiya to discuss her family life nor she remember if she told Gudiya her husband's name.

(When Daniyal comes back home?)

"Do you know my husband's name?" Shifa furrowed.

"Hmm... Haven't you told me other day?" Adeena slightly narrowed her eyes with a friendly smile and unmatched confidence, Shifa returned the same smile with a nod. "Oh yeah... now I remember." She muttered but She was sure that she didn't introduce Adeena and Daniyal. No matter if she remembers faces or not but she does not forget things and events easily, this sharp minded girl notes and remembers every minor details of a person, event and thing. She remembered very well that last time she used the word DANIYAL when introduced Daniyal to Maryam, after that she had been using the name Deni... She doesn't like to utter Daniyal, so whenever she says this word she remembers it.

"Umm... Gudiya Aapi... You must have arrived by taxi or autorickshaw! Right?" Shifa asked and she nodded in reply. "It's getting late. You should leave soon now. It's already difficult to get a taxi or autorickshaw here, you'll have to walk to the main road to get one. And if you think about booking a cab online, even then you'll have to walk to the back gate of the colony because of some rules of residential society no taxi is allowed to enter until a member of the colony is present in it.." Looking towards the near evening sky Shifa indirectly told her cousin to leave because she wasn't giving her good vibes.

Adeena was stunned! She never wanted to get insulted by Shifa in this way.

"Zaryab come on Beta, time to go back home." Adeena looked at her son who was still on the swing and Shifa's eyes shone up when she heard a horn. She looked at the main entrance of the home, a black coloured car was present outside the fenced gate, a man with gray eyes hopped out of the car, opened the gate before going back to the car and Shifa walked towards the stairs with long steps. As soon as she vacated the place her place was captured by Adeena and she saw Daniyal hopping back in the car and soon the car moved to the place of parking.

Mr Kazmi hopped out from the car and walked towards the home, after a few moments Daniyal also came out of the car, close the fenced gate and walked towards the home but stopped for a moment and turned back to the car. Adeena was seeing his evey move with curiosity. She was trying to see the same Daniyal whom she loved at a time.

Daniyal opened the back door of the car and drew out a shopping bag. A red flower was peeping out from that, he readjusted everything in the bag... Maybe he was trying to hide something from his family. He walked towards the home and Adeena grabbed Zaryab's hands while walking towards the stairs. Before she could walk downstairs Daniyal passed by without bothering to glance at stairs which led to the terrace.

Adeena took slow steps downstairs, Shifa was standing in front of Mr Kazmi who was drinking water. "Shaad-o-Aabaad rahiye.(stay blessed)" Muttering the blessings, he passed the empty glass to Shifa and Adeena glanced at Daniyal who already stepped in a room.

"Shifaaaa... Ek glass Pani pila do yaar."

(Shifa, give me a glass of water.)

He yelled and Shifa walked towards the room, she slammed the door after her and Adeena remembered the time she had been spent with her husband. A happy time for which she was craving for the last two years!

Adeena, instead of leaving sat down beside Mrs Kazmi.

..........

"Deni." Passing the glass of water she was about to turn towards the cupboard as she remember the letter she had to read but Daniyal not only grabbed the glass but her wrist too.

"Ab bhi naraz ho?" Placing the glass on the nightstand he asked and Shifa gave him an unexpected reply.  

(Still angry?)

"Aapse naraz hona mera haq hai aur mujhe manana aapka farz... Puri zindagi naraz hoti rahungi aur puri zindagi aapko mujhe manana padega." Sitting beside him she told him and he smiled.

(I've right to be angry with you and it's your responsibility to bring me around. I'll keep being angry with you and you'll have to bring me around for the rest of your life.)

"Jesa aapka hukm."

(Your wish is my command. My lady!)

He whispered, leaving Shifa's hand he opened the bag and drew out a box of her favourite chocolate, Ferrero Rocher and then came out Carnations: the beautiful red flowers.

"For you." Passing the bunch of flowers to her he whispered. "Why not roses this time?" She asked a simple question.

"Because I don't want thorns between us." And he stood up to walk to the hall to spend some time with his family but before he could walk away his wrist was caught by his wife.

"Deni." She hugged him

"Ji?" Wrapping one arm around her waist he muttered and she placed her chin on his chest.

"I am a very determined person, if I decide to do something I do not step back from my oath but I feel weak in front of you. Once I promised myself that I won't get befriended by any man but when I met you I broke that promise and I don't know how I started sharing my problems and feelings with you. Once I promised that I won't get married, but when you walked in my life I broke that promise too. And after getting married I promised myself to not say these words to you, but today I am breaking this promise too." She took a pause.

"I love you Mr Daniyal Kazmi. You're the answer to those prayers which I didn't dare to ask because I doubted whether I deserve such Man and life or not. I love you more than you can imagine. I love you more than these words can describe. I love you more than I thought to love my partner." Shifa was crying with tears and today she saw wetness in Daniyal's eyes too.

"Why did you promise yourself to not tell me these things?"

"Because..." The tears of emotions converted into tears of sorrow and she sniffled, "because you do not love me." Breaking the hug she took a step back and pressed her lips together, she didn't want to breakdown in front of him for his love only. She didn't want to beg to be loved. Without meeting her eyes with him she turned to go when a voice stopped her.

"Why do you think I don't love you, Shifa?"

Shifa was standing dumbfounded but very next moment she smiled sadly. "You know what Deni, you can start loving a kitten or a puppy who lives with you but the thing is how much you love it?"

"I don't have a meter to measure how much I love you, but I do. Less or more, but I do. Trust me or not, but I do! Ahmaq Aurat itna to samjha karo, har baat ko detailed answer ki tarha nhi kaha jata, kuch baato ki khubsurti yahi hoti hai ki wo khamoshi mein chhupi huyi hoti hain agar wo lafzo mein bayan Kari jaaye to jazbaat kahi khoo jaate hain."

(Idiot woman, can't you understand that every emotion cannot be present like a detailed answer. Some statements are beautiful when they're wrapped in the sheet of silence, words kill the feelings of such statements.)

"Agar khamoshi sab kuch keh sakti to Allah ne hume quwwat-e-gooyai nhi di hoti. Aapko khamoshi sun'ni aati hai lekin mujhe nhi..."

(Silence can not say everything, that's why Allah has given us the power to communicate. You know how to listen to the silence but I don't know...)

"Main sikha dunga... Jese urdu sikha di." And they both laughed lightly at the last sentence. Shifa rested her forehead on his chest and Daniyal closed his eyes while sighing with relief. Picking up a flower from the bunch he slipped it in her bun and she giggled because of that tingling sensation on the scalp.

(I'll teach you as I have taught you urdu.)

"One phool for another Fool." He whispered and Shifa pushed him away.

[Phool- flower (in Hindi)

Fool- idiot (in English)]

"I hate you Deni I hate you. Aap bohot zyada... (You're so)" he didn't let her complete and walked out of the room while saying "Bure hain? (Bad)."

"Unromantic hain." Shifa muttered and sat down on the edge of the bed and closed her eyes. Before she could savour the new feeling suddenly a face flashed in the back of her head. "Who is she?" Opening her eyes she muttered while trying to match that beautiful face with Gudiya. 

"Who was this girl? Where did I meet her? She has the same eyes..." she was almost there! Just a few moments and she put some more stress on her mind to relate it to Gudiya. And suddenly she opened her eyes.

"Adeena." Shifa's smile was lost somewhere and she almost ran towards the hall where an unexpected scene was waiting for her.

Daniyal was standing like a dummy in front of Gudiya aka Adeena who wasn't shocked but she was on the edge of the crying for sure. Walking closer to Daniyal Shifa placed her hand on his arm but he forgot everything other than seeing in Adeena's eyes.

The eyes of Shifa, Adeena and Daniyal dropped tears at the same moment, and the remaining three elders present were spectating the scene balnkly. They were unable to understand the reason behind Daniyal's shocked state after seeing Shifa's cousin and why they both cousins were seeing Daniyal while flowing tears.

Shifa was the first to remove her eyes from Daniyal's face and shift towards Gudiya.

Gudiya wasn't similar looking to that Adeena who was present in the photo which was taken some six or seven years ago. Her features were changed after gaining weight and her hair was not as long as before but there was something unchanged in her smile and eyes.

"Daniyal" Mr Kazmi was the only person who dared to come ahead when his son was gazing at some other woman without even blinking but no benefit! Has Daniyal ever seen anyone else in front of Adeena?

"Adeena... How are you? What happened to you?" Daniyal whispered and his hands cupped Adeena's face without even realising that everyone was present there.

Shifa looked at everyone then at her hand which was still present on his forearm, she slowly removed her hand before taking a step back, but Daniyal still didn't notice her. When she didn't get energy to see this scene anymore she just ran back to her bedroom while wiping her tears. 

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