"Ab kesi tabiyat hai beta? Daniyal ne bataya aapko phir se food poisoning huyi hai." Mrs Kazmi asked when Shifa was sitting in the middle of the small lawn, repotting a plant.

(How are you now? Daniyal told me about your food poisoning.)

"Ammi I'm fine." She didn't look up as she was busy carefully placing the grapevine into the holes she made in the soil. It was near evening and today the weather was pleasant so instead of sitting in the room Shifa decided to give some time to gardening. She loved gardening but never practiced it seriously because of her busy schedule. But now she was not going to the radio station regularly. Being Daniyal's wife she got many paid and unpaid leaves as well as flexible working hours so now she's free to do this work.

"Room mein kuch changing kara rhi hain aap?" This time Shifa looked up and furrowed.

(Are you changing something in the room?)

"In my Room?" She asked and Mrs Kazmi nodded. "No." She slowly shook her head and Mrs Kazmi nodded.

"Daniyal is using a drilling machine so I thought you told him to do something."

"I don't know what he is doing? I'm not talking to him." She replied in a hushed tone and Mrs Kazmi sighed, she also sat down on the floor beside Shifa.

"Beta insaan aaina hota hai, jesa khud hota hai wesa hi dusro ko dekhta hai, Daniyal ke dil aur dimaag mein achhai aur sachhai bhari hui hai. Wo samajhdaar hain lekin chalaak nhi... Unhone dusro ko bhi achha aur sachha samajh liya. Galti ho gayi hai un se, maaf kar dijiye."

(Dear, we humans are like a mirror, we see our reflection in the other person too. Daniyal is a nice and truthful person so he sees the truth in others' lies too. He's intelligent but he's not clever. He has made a mistake, forgive him beta.)

"Ammi mujhe unse baat nhi karni, jab main yaha nhi thi to unhone ek baar bhi mujhe call kar ke Mera haal nhi puchha." Shifa said with disappointment and Mrs Kazmi remembered the day Shifa left.

(Ammi I don't wanna talk to him, he didn't call me even ones when I wasn't here. )

"What happened in between you two the day you left? I haven't seen Daniyal as angry as that day!" And Shifa remembered her words.

For a few moments she was silent because deep down she knew that she shouldn't say what she said that day. She knew Daniyal never used her to put off the fire of his lust.

Before this could be discussed further a horn grabbed the attention of ladies. Shifa's lips pulled in a smile as it was Bilal on his bike and the person was her mother.

"You didn't tell me that Maryam and Bilal are coming." Mrs Kazmi looked at the condition of the lawn, it was miserably dirty. "I should know first to let you know." Shifa muttered while hurriedly filling the pots and Mrs Kazmi stood up to welcome Maryam and Bilal.

"Bohot Khushi hui aapko dekh ke Maryam." Mrs Kazmi said while giving a hug to Maryam who smiled.

(So pleased to see you Maryam.)

"Aapko khush khabri dene hi aayi hu." Breaking the hug Maryam passed a big grin and Mrs Kazmi nodded. Shifa's smile dropped immediately because she understood what good news her mother wanted to convey. Maryam was telling Shifa to tell everyone about her pregnancy but she was not going so, and now this lady came here herself.

(I'm here to give you good news.)

"Masha Allah, kya khush khabri hai? Bilal ke liye koi ladki pasand aa gyi kya?" Mrs Kazmi asked while looking at Bilal who was standing near his mother with a few big boxes of sweets. Shifa forgot everything and burst into a guffaw.

(That's great, what's the news? Have you selected a girl for Bilal?)

"Tauba kariye Ammi, Bilal ke liye to ladki pasand aa sakti hai lekin Bilal ko kon pasand karega?" Shifa was laughing wholeheartedly but her brother huffed.

(Oh come on Ammi. A girl can be selected for Bilal but no one will Choose Bilal for their daughter.)

"Ab aesi bhi koi baat nhi hai, kya Kami hai hamari Bilal mein?" Mrs Kazmi said lovingly and Bilal grinned.

(Nothing like that, our Bilal is flawless)

"Jese Aunty ne aapko pasand kar liya tha wese hi koi mujhe bhi pasand kar hi lega." Rolling his eyes Bilal jerked his head.

(Someone will choose me in the same way aunty has chosen you.)

"Come inside." Mrs Kazmi gave space to Maryam and Bilal already took his leave as he had to go to meet his friends. Mrs kazmi looked at Shifa who was now placing the pots on their correct place. "Leave all these things, Firooza will clean it up. You just come inside."

"Yeah Ammi, I'm coming." Shifa nodded while going after her mother-in-law. After washing her hands and cleaning her clothes Shifa came to the hall, Maryam was opening one box of sweets and she gestured to Shifa to sit beside Mrs Kazmi.

"Kya khush khabri hai Maryam?" This time Badi Amma asked and Shifa shook her head to Maryam which she ignored.

(What's that good news Maryam?)

"Khush khabri to ye aapke Ghar ki hai lekin aapki Bahu ko batate huye sharam aa rahi hai, to mene socha main hi ye kaam kar deti hu." Passing the box of sweets towards Badi Amma Maryam smiled. "Badi Dadi ban'ne wali hain aap."

(This is the good news of your home, but your daughter-in-law is feeling shy to tell you, so I'm here to convey their news.)

(You're going to become a great grandmother.)

Mrs Kazmi blinked blankly and Badi Amma smiled like a winner. "Dekha khatija, mene kaha tha na mujhe Dulhan ke chehre se hi lag rha hai ki kuch.., lekin tum kabhi meri baat dhyan se sunti ho?" Mrs Kazmi was being scolded in front of her daughter-in-law but this news was so pleasant to hear that this scolding could be ignored very easily.

(See khatija, I already told you that I'm feeling that Dulhan is expecting but you don't listen to me.)

"Aapne hume pehle kyu nhi bataya Shifa... Allah! main kitni khush hu main kese batau?" Mrs kazmi was over the moon or even more than that, as was Badi Amma. They both were feeding sweets to Shifa, Maryam and themselves without bothering to think about their glucose levels.

(Why didn't you tell us before, Shifa? I can't express how happy I am.)

Shifa was shaking her head to eat the sweets but all three ladies forgot to notice her. After having three gulab jamuns one after another Shifa's stomach heaved and she ran towards her bedroom. "I'm telling you, It will be a boy." Badi Amma predicted and Mrs Kazmi smiled.

"Either it will be a girl or boy, I wish it brings blessings along." Mrs Kazmi's prayer satisfied Maryam that thankfully Kazmi's are not from those who want boys as their first offspring.

On the other hand, Daniyal turned to see Shifa who entered into the bathroom in a hurry. For a moment his right hand stopped to hammer the nail in the wall but then he hit it hard and stepped down from the ladder. Meanwhile Shifa walked out of the bathroom after throwing up and he came towards her, she was already feeling low.

"Shifa, you need to see a doctor, get ready. I'm taking you to the doctor's clinic." Daniyal was pretty concerned but she shook her head without looking at him.

"No need."

"Why? What do you think... Will food poisoning be fine without any medicine?" He asked and she looked at him. "It's not food poisoning." There was no benefit of hiding this news anymore because sooner or later Daniyal will get to know.

"So? Oh my Allah, Shifa... Don't tell me it's jaundice." Shifa felt frustrated as well as angry. "I'm pregnant." She said as if it wasn't a statement but an argument. He didn't believe what he listened to, his eyes twinkled with tears and happiness and lips smiled. "Shifa, are you serious?" he smiled but Shifa controlled her anger to burst his head with the hammer he was holding in his hand.

"No, I'm kidding, I just wanted to see your reaction." If words and tone could give some marks on the skin then Daniyal would definitely be bruised by this harsh tone. But for now he was ignoring everything other than that he was going to become a father. He cupped her face without leaving the hammer from his hand and Shifa's frustration crossed all the limits. What kind of romance he was trying to do while holding a hammer in his hand.

"Maar dijiye. Isi hathodi se mera sar phaad dijiye, aapke dil ko sukun mil jayega." He didn't know how to react but his wife already walked out from the room Leaving him in the middle of numberless feelings.

(Hit me, even burst my head with this hammer,  you will feel happy.)

"Khatoooon." He called his wife while smiling like an idiot and laughed but noticed the hammer in his hand. "Hell with it." He literally dropped the hammer while cursing it to ruined that beautiful scene but that lifeless article didn't like this behaviour and took its revenge by directly hitting his right toe. A scream left his mouth and he just hissed while jumping on leg. Shifa peeped inside the room and rolled her eyes.

"I'm dying of morning sickness and he's jumping in joy..." huffing angrily she walked to the hall where Maryam opened her arms. "Come here."

"Mumma please... Let me sit peacefully for a while." She replied with frustration and looked away without paying attention at anyone but very next moment she rested her head backward.

"Mujhe nhi rehna yaha..."

(I don't want to stay here.)

"Then where you wanna go?" Mrs Kazmi and Badi Amma asked in unison but she huffed.

"Mujhe nhi pta bas mujhe nhi rehna yaha..." Saying that she stood up and walked upstairs. Terrace was her all time favourite place, she didn't know where she wanna go but she didn't wanna sit with those ladies who fed her sweets forcefully, she was frustrated!

(I don't know, but I just don't want to be here.)

"Inhe kya ho gya? Daniyal se koi baat ho gyi kya?" Mrs Kazmi asked and Maryam gave a defeated look.

(What happened? Again argued with Daniyal?)

"Bas yahi haal hai, bina kisi baat ke gussa, har baat par roona, hadd se zyada soona aur be-sar peyr ki zidd karna, isne 25 saalo mein mujhe itna pareshan nhi Kiya jitna in 25 dino mein kar diya." Maryam was concerned about Shifa's mood swings but Badi Amma rolled her eyes.

(Anger without any reason, crying on every next thing, showing unmatched stubbornness, and oversleeping are becoming her routine. She hasn't troubled me enough in 25 years but in these 25 days.)

"Saas par gyi hai. Khatija ne bhi isi tarah sab ko pareshan kara tha, bechara Hasan to bas din raat ini ke aage peeche ghuma karta tha." Badi Amma jerked her head and Mrs Kazmi laughed.

(Same as her mother-in-law. Khatija had also thrown countless tantrums, Poor Hasan had been after her all round of clock.)

"Ji badi Amma, isi ko kehte hain Makafaat-e-Amal." Mrs Kazmi laughed

(Yeah Badi Amma, this is called karma.)

<><><><>

"Lado, jhagdo, ya kuch bhi karo, lekin khamoshi ikhtiyaar na karo." A pair of arm wrapped around her waist from behind and a pair of lips kissed the temple of her forehead. She didn't move, just kept watching the night sky which was playing hide and seek with the moon and the clouds.

(Either argue with me but don't be silent.)

"Leave me alone." Closing her eyes she took a deep breath but he only tightened his grip around her waist.

"Aapki har narazgi mujhse hai khud ko kyu aziyat de rahi ho?" He whispered and Shifa turned her side to see him properly.

(You're angry with me, why are you punishing yourself.)

"Zara ek minute bethenge? Mujhe aapko kuch batana hai." Shifa's small voice stopped Daniyal from saying anything further, there was something in her eyes that Daniyal was unable to read for the first time. Walking a few steps she sat down on the swing still seeing the beautiful night sky.

(Will you sit with me for a while? I've to tell you something.)

"Hmm." Sitting beside her he slowly grabbed his hand, she also didn't protest and glanced at his face then took a deep breath.

"When I was just a teen there was a boy in my class, he was always after me, he was my good friend but I ignored him..." Daniyal furrowed but she smiled and slowly pulled her hand away from his grip. "When I got admitted into the college there was a senior of mine... Rubaan. He was handsome, intelligent as well as rich. He had proposed to me but I refused." She shrugged and again looked at the sky. "And you already know about Faraz, he was willing to marry me but I didn't gather courage to take a stand." This time Shifa looked at Daniyal and he noticed the shine of tears in her eyes.

"I had many options but I chose you. Imagine one of them coming back to me and..." He didn't let her complete.

"Aapko kya lagta hai mujhe nhi pta? Main jaanta hu lekin aap nhi janti ki main aapse kitni mohabbat karta hu." He grabbed her hand and Shifa jerked her head while pulling away her hand.

(You think that I don't know, however I actually know, but you don't know how much I love you.)

"Achha! Mohabbat mujhse karte hain aur love letters kisi aur ko de rahe the?" Shifa was looking disappointed and Daniyal sighed.

(Oh really? You love me but gave love letters to someone else!)

"Wo love letters nhi the, ek Dastaan-e-Safar thi... Bikhre huye Daniyal ke sambhalne ki daastan. Mene wo letters Adeena ko diye the kyuki main use batana chahta tha ki ab main usi mood par nhi khada jaha wo chhod kar gyi thi, mene ek bohot lamba safar tay kar liya hai aur mujhe manzil bhi mil gyi hai." He said without looking at her, they both were still gazing the night sky which was showing twinkling stars.

(Those weren't the love letters but odyssey. The journey of broken Daniyal to mended one. I have given those letters to Adeena to let her know that I've already come far away from the point where she had left me. I've travelled too long and I already got to my destination.)

"Aur mere jaane ke baad wo hamare bedroom mein kya kar rhi thi?" Daniyal shifted his eyes from the moon of the sky to his moon and furrowed as he didn't remember when Adeena came to their bedroom then he suddenly remembered the recorded phone call he listened to.

(And what she was doing in our bedroom when I left?)

"She never came to my room! Zaryab took my mobile when I was sleeping, he was playing games and his mother played a trick." He explained and Shifa looked at him. "Trust me Shifa, main aapke alawa kisi se mohabbat nhi karta. Bohot mohabbat karta hu main aapko."

(I don't love anyone else but you. I love you too much.)

"Kitni mohabbat karte hain aap mujhse? Itni mohabbat ki 15 din mein ek baar meri yaad bhi nhi aayi, aapne mujhe ek baar bhi call nhi kri!" She was hurt and Daniyal's face turned red, Shifa knew it happens only when he becomes extremely angry but why was he angry she didn't understand.

(How much do you love me? Do you live me so much that didn't miss me even once? You didn't call me once in 15 days.)

He was silent for the next ten minutes and every passing minute was increasing Shifa's anger but his words came out like a bucket of ice water on the fire of her anger.

"Jo kuch bhi aap keh kar gyi thi uske baad inta gussa hona to mera bhi haqq banta hai." Daniyal's tone changed to something between anger and hurt and Shifa looked away from him.

(I can be angry after listening to whatever you said before going.)

He stood up and walked towards stairs but stopped for a second, "Main gussa tha, phir bhi mene aapko call Kari thi lekin aapne hi mujhse baat nhi kri... Ab Kam se kam ye ilzaam to na lagaiye ki mene aapko call bhi nhi kri." And he walked downstairs.

(I was angry but I called you however you didn't talk to me, now at least don't blame me for not calling you.)

"Is he still angry about that? But when did he call me?" She muttered and tried to remember something but couldn't.

Well, she didn't remember because when Daniyal called her she was sleeping and in deep slumber she swiped right on the mobile screen as she thought it was an alarm and received the call on the other hand Daniyal thought she was ignoring him.

Shifa looked at the sky one more time and one more time her husband came upstairs. "Come, everyone is waiting for you on the dinner table." She glanced at him then again shifted her eyes to the sky. "I don't want to have dinner." She mouthed and Daniyal came near her.

"Shifa," he sat down beside her and grabbed her hand, Shifa was seeing the sky when Daniyal also glanced at the sky. "Aapko tut'te sitare se mange jane wali baat par bharosa hai?" Daniyal asked when they both suddenly noticed a shooting star.

(Do you believe in shooting stars?)

"Jo khud toot raha ho wo kya kisi ki mannate puri karega?" She asked and Daniyal smiled.

(How the one who is breaking itself, can fulfill other's wishes?)

"Yaad hai, aapne ek baar mujhse kaha tha aap toot chuki ho..." Daniyal tightened his grip on her hand and she looked at his eyes, how could she forget? "Aap wo toota hua taara ho jise meri bekaif aur benoor zindagi ko rooshan karne ke liye bheja gya hai." Leaning forward her face he lightly kissed her cheek and patted her shoulder while gesturing her to stand up. As usual, there was something in his voice that she was unable to refuse and walked downstairs to have dinner.

(Once you told me that you're broken. Remember?)

(You're that broken star which is sent to brighten up my dull and dark life.)

<><><>

She stepped in the bedroom and stopped for a moment when noticed the calligraphy hanging on the wall. Daniyal brought the حُب (Hubb) back. But Shifa was surprised to see two more Arabic calligraphies hanging on the either side of the old calligraphy. The new ones were smaller in size but conveying a strong message! One of them was reading تَوَكُّل (Tawakkul) which means trust and other was reading صبر (Sabr) which means patience.

This wall was giving a deep message by showing تَوَكُّل (Tawakkul) and صبر (Sabr) on the either side of حُب (Hubb).

A smaller amount of تَوَكُّل (Tawakkul) and صبر (Sabr) are necessary to paint the bigger picture of حُب (Hubb).

There is no حُب (Hubb) without تَوَكُّل (Tawakkul) and indeed the صبر (Sabr) is the testimony of حُب (Hubb).

Shifa walked to the bed and sat down silently while remembering what Maryam said before going back, she was upset after that. In no time Daniyal also entered into the room and locked the door after himself.

"I've something for you." He said and opened the drawer of the study table. Drawing out a white envelope he passed it to Shifa. She suddenly looked up. It was the last letter to Adeena.

"What?" She muttered. Confused! Daniyal didn't say anything, Shifa drew out the paper from it and started reading. The very first word 'Dear Adeena' already boiled her blood and she glared at him but again looked down to read further.

Dear Adeena,

Mujhe hamesha qismat se shikayat thi ki tum mujhse dur kyu gyi aur meri sari duaye rad kyu hui? Lekin aaj khushi hai ki wo duaye qubul nhi hui, agar ho jaati to shayad zindagi itni khubsurat nhi hoti. Tumse jitni mohabbat kri thi Shifa ko uska zarra barabar bhi nhi diya phir bhi jitni mobahhat wo mujhse karti hai uski koi hadd nhi hai. Achha hai tum apni zindagi mein khush ho, ab main apni zindagi mein khush rehna chahta hu. Ab Shifa ke bina zindagi ka tasawwur bhi namukammal sa maloom hota hai. Tumhare liye ye mera aakhri khat hai Adeena. Aur aaj main tumhe apni mohabbat ka gawah banana chahta hu. Haan mohabbat ho gyi hai mujhe Shifa se, jitni tumse kari thi shayad us se kam hai lekin ab us se hazaar darje zyada mohabbat karna chahta hu.

Tum jaha raho khush raho, abaad raho, tum meri duao se kabhi dur nhi ho sakti lekin ab meri mohabbat par sirf aur sirf meri biwi ka haq hai.

Not yours anymore.

Daniyal.

Shifa ka Daniyal.

(See the end of the chapter for reading the translation of the letter)

Shifa blinked blankly after reading the letter and looked up. "I love you, Ahmaq Aurat." Pulling her in a hug he whispered and embraced her tightly. Shifa wanted to push him away but only placed her hands on his chest.

Her eyes dropped two drops of tears which he felt on his chest. "Aaj na roo Shifa, aaj main bohot khush hu." His voice was shivering as if he was about to cry but today there was no limit of his happiness. He was going to be a father, no one knew how many times he asked Almighty to bless him with this blessing.

(Don't cry, Shifa. Today I'm extremely happy.)

"I want a son." He kissed her forehead and she looked at him without saying anything "what?" He asked after seeing her silent but instead of saying anything she freed herself from his arms and walked to the dressing room with deep thoughts in her mind.

<><><><>

Translation...

Dear Adeena,

I had been complaining about destiny to take you away from me. I wanted to know why all my prayers stay unanswered? But now I am thankful to my lord for not answering those prayers because in that case my life wouldn't be so beautiful. I haven't been giving Shifa a small fraction of the love I had given you, still she loves me endlessly. It's good that you're happy in your life, now I also want to stay happy in my life. Now, Even the imagination of my life feels incomplete without Shifa. This is my last letter to you Adeena. And today I want to make you the witness to my love. Yeah, I started loving Shifa, maybe this love is lesser than the amount of love I had for you, but now I want to love her a thousand times of that love.

Stay happy and blessed. You cannot be separated from my prayers but, now only my wife has the right to share my love.  

Not yours anymore.

Daniyal.

Shifa's Daniyal.

<><><><>