She was on the terrace when listened to the footsteps coming upstairs and soon Maryam came near her.

"I'm going back." She said and kissed her forehead but Shifa took a step back with frustration and anger.

"Mumma why you come here to tell everyone about..."

"What's the reason behind hiding it? And for how long will you hide your pregnancy?" This time Maryam furrowed but Shifa was answerless. She didn't know the reason but she just didn't want to share this news with anyone. "Whatever, but you shouldn't tell anyone when I stopped you." She was frustrated but Maryam didn't like the behaviour of her daughter.

"Shifa be mindful before taking actions. What would happen if your in-laws get to know that you're intentionally not telling them about this news?"

"Mumma, I haven't forgiven Daniyal Kazmi yet. And I won't ever forgive him, that's why I didn't want to share the news with anyone." Shifa was angry but this time Maryam was looking much more furious than her.

"Shifa ab bas bohot ho gya, rishte nibhane ke liye kuch cheezon ko nazarandaaz bhi karna padta hai." Maryam's voice was strict but Shifa furrowed.

(It's more than enough Shifa. Some things need to be ignored to maintain relationships.)

"Main hi kyu nazarandaaz karu? Aap bhul gyi kya, unhone to mujhe nazarandaaz kar diya tha." Shifa said in a loud voice and walked to the wall of the terrace, she was again angry but not more than Maryam.

(Why only I ignore? Have you forgotten, he ignored me.)

"Sab ke saamne tumse thappad kha ke bhi wo tumhare aage peeche ghum raha hai, ise kehte hain nazarandaaz karna... Jab insaan ko koi neymat mil jaati hai to wo na-shukra ho jata hai, tum unhi insaano mein se ho. Itna achha shohor aur itna achha sasural mila hai lekin tumhare drame hi khatam nhi ho rhe. Maan liya na usne ki us se galti ho gyi to bas maaf kar do." Holding her breath Shifa was only seeing her mother who was showing her reality.

(After getting a slap from his wife in front of everyone he's still roaming around you, this is called forgetting. Some humans become ungrateful after getting blessings, you're one of them. You've get such a nice husband and in-laws, stop this drama. He admitted his mistake, just forgive him.)

"Agar yahi galti mujhse hui hoti to wo kya mujhe itni asaani se maaf kar dete?" Shifa gained back her confidence and asked with another level of rage but Maryam again glared at her.

(Would he forgive me so easily if I were at his place?)

"Kya hota kya nhi is baat par tum jinta over-react kar rhi ho na apna achha khasa rishta barbaad kar ke beth jana. Behtar hoga agar tum us par dhyan do jo ho rha hai. Aur agar ye baat sochni hai ki kya hota kya nhi to ye bhi ho sakta tha ki Daniyal tumhari peeth peeche us aurat se rishta jood leta, tumhe dhoka deta rehta... Ya phir tumhe apni zindagi se nikal deta kabhi wapas is ghar me na laata. Lekin usne aesa kuch nhi kiya, wo apni mohabbat har tarha se zahir kar rha hai... Lekin tumne apne dimaag me ek alag hi duniya bana li hai jisme tum mazloom aur Daniyal zalim hai. Uski ek galti ke aage tum uski har achhai ko bhul gyi?" Shifa had nothing to say in reply, she was only seeing her mother and listening to her silently.

(I'm afraid you'll ruin your beautiful relationship because of what would happen and what not! It would be better if you focus on what's happening right now! And if you want to focus on what could happen then think about a situation, what would happen if Daniyal gets married to that woman secretly? What if he would be cheating on you? What if he never brings you back to this home? But he didn't do anything like this! He's showing and expressing his love in every possible way but you've created a different world in your mind in which you're the victim and Daniyal is an oppressor. You forgot his every goodness in front of his one mistake!?)

"Kisi aur se nhi to apni maa ki zindagi se hi sabaq haasil kar lo, apni khwahishon ko maar ke, self-respect ko khatam kar ke, din raat nookrani ki tarha kaam karke, chhoti chhoti khwahiyon ke liye taraste huye zindagi ke kayi saal guzare hain mene, ab kahi jaa ke ek sukun bhari zindagi naseeb hui hai mujhe. Sab kuch itni asani se nhi mil jata jitni asani se tumhe mil gya hai, ab agar mil gya hai to na-shukri na karo. Allah neymate de to shukr kro, aazmaishein de to sabr! Tum khush qismat ho ki aazmaish sirf chand din mein khatam ho gyi, logo ki zindagi nikal jati hai lekin wo aazmaish se nhi nikalte." For the first time Shifa saw disappointment and anger in Maryam's voice as well as eyes. She didn't wait and walked downstairs without even telling Shifa that she was going back.

(Not from anyone else but at least learn a lesson from your mother's life! I had been living like a maid, killing my minor wishes and self-respect for many years, after so much of struggle now I'm living a peaceful life. No-one gets an easy life without struggle, but you're getting one. Don't be ungrateful for this. Be thankful to Allah when he gives you blessings and have patience when Allah tests you! You're lucky that your trial was short otherwise people spend their whole life in struggle still don't get ease.)

Every single word was roaming in her head for the last few days and now she was unable to sleep....

Closing her eyes she tried to sleep one more time but only one face came in her senses... It was Maryam! For many days Maryam didn't call Shifa which clearly indicating that she was angry otherwise she calls Shifa everyday like a routine.

There are some people in our life who are most important. Similarly, her mother holds the top place in the list of important people in her life, second most important person was sleeping beside her. Unfortunately, right now her relationship was not stable with both of them.

"Deni." She grabbed his arm and shook it but he was in deep slumber.

"Deniiiii..." She shook him again and he opened his eyes "hmm?" Her blurred face was disappearing somewhere in between the darkness of the room and sheets of his slumber when her sniffles echoed in the silence of the room.

"Kya hua?" Placing his elbows on the bed he slightly lifted his upper body and switched on the night lamp. Wearing his glasses he saw her to got another level of shock.

(What happened?)

Her face was drenched due to the water rolling down from her eyes to cheeks. "Shifa." Every unpleasant and fearful thought grabbed him in their arms, for a moment he again feel the fear of losing one of the most important thing in his life. The important part of his life which actually didn't become a part of his life yet however he made him part of his beautiful dreamland.

"Deni." She sat down on the bed and before he could understand anything she hugged him tightly. "Deni."

"Shifa tell me what's wrong?" His grip tightened around her ribs and he caressed her head. "Shifa, please. Now I'm feeling scared!" He tried to separate her from himself but couldn't.

"Deni... I'm sorry." Daniyal's heart stopped to beat for a moment, he felt like Allah took away the blessings from him one more time. What else could happen to make his wife sorrowful at this part of night? "Another game of destiny!" He sighed and felt his eyes filling with tears. "Stop crying." But Shifa cried more. He didn't know for how long he was controlling himself to cry and caressing her head.

"Deni." She whispered in between her sniffles and he hummed in response. "Please forgive me."

"It's not your fault, Shifa." He was on the edge of crying. "I was in rage otherwise I would never slap you." But her words echoed in his ears like a blast.

"Ar...Are you sorry just because of that slap?" His voice came out like a mechanical whisper and she sobbed in his chest. "I'm sorry for slapping you and I shouldn't say what I said, I'm sorry for that too, but I was angry"

His grip around her ribs loosened and his arms literally fell down like lifeless articles. Moving back he rested his back with the headboard and closed his eyes.

"Deni." Feeling him shifting away she looked up and cried with a thought that he was still angry. Daniyal took a deep breath and covered his face with both hands.

"Shifa," he removed his specs and rubbed his eyes then blinked twice. "Aap to theek ho na?" He was confused as well as concerned.

(Are you alright?)

"Mujhe kya hona hai? Theek to hu!" She shrugged and for a moment Daniyal wanted to slap her! Not in the return of the slap he received but for the shock she gave just a few moments ago. His heart broke down a thousand times in those few minutes, only one fearful thought killed him from inside.

(What could happen to me? I'm fine.)

He glanced at the clock which was reading ten past three, "Shifa, sleep now, tomorrow is your exam." He tried to smile but couldn't.

"Have you forgiven me? I was in anger Deni, nowadays I'm too much an.." He didn't let her complete.

"Okay okay, I understand, I forgive you. But... Get back to sleep now." He requested as he was hell sleepy but she pulled a face. "Mujhe mumma ke paas jana hai." She sniffled and Daniyal literally smacked his forehead.

(I wanna go to mumma.)

"Just look at the time, it's mid night."

"Deni, she's angry with me." She was behaving like a kid but, it wasn't her fault... Maryam never let her grew up, she treated her daughter like a little girl and her sudden harsh reaction made both of them restless.

"I'll take you to meet mummy tomorrow. Promise. But for now, get back to sleep. She must be sleeping otherwise I would take you right away?" Only if Daniyal knew, Maryam was crying silently in her bed. But for now he was seeing his wife crying with sobs.

"Naam socha?" He asked with a big smile, it was the only thing he could do to divert herp mind right now and Shifa saw him, she forgot to cry more and blinked blankly. Confused.

(Selected a name?)

"Kya?"

(What?)

She took whole 29 seconds to understand the meaning of her husband's words and a little shy smile captured her lips. Daniyal opened his arms and Shifa rested her head on his chest.

"I'm so happy. Alhamdulillah." He just placed his chin on her head and she forgot everything. "Shifa."

"Ji?"

"I'm thinking of building another floor, now this space is becoming smaller na, we'll shift to the first floor. And I'm planning of two rooms, one will be our bedroom and other will be kids room. And I'll leave half of the terrace untouched, we'll use that as a small terrace garden and I'll install some swings for our kids."

"Deni..." She stopped this man to see day dreams opps... Midnight dreams, the clock hands were still reading 3:25, "kid, not kids! It will be one kid!"

"So? There will be more in the future. Many more... At least five." Though the last part was just a joke but Shifa's eyes widened and she hurriedly moved back. "Good night." She covered her face with pillow.

What else Daniyal wanted? Nothing! He wanted this woman to sleep and he already has done a good job. But he liked her reaction too much.

"Shifa, I guess not five at least six." He whispered and Shifa suddenly looked at him.

"You'll get another slap from me." She threw the pillow on him and he laughed. After a long time he was teasing his wife and enjoying it too much. "Imagine Shifa... Just imagine. Two Kids are crying, you're carrying one in your arms and making lunch for two." He made his imaginary world even bigger and Shifa huffed but glared him too. "You need to work on your maths, It's only five."

"Because the youngest one will be about to arrive na." He whispered with a mischievous smile and Shifa hid her face in the pillow.

"Deni aap bohot bure hain." And he felt like he got an award.

(Deni, you're too bad.)

"I'm honoured, my lady!" Pulling her in his arms he kissed her forehead and her anger flew away magically. He got a kiss on the same cheek which once savored the sharp slap.

<><><><>

"How was your exam?" He asked when his wife hopped in the car and she smiled.

"It was too good."

"Great." He nodded and the car hit the road, for the next half an hour the drive was silent. After spending some one minute on a traffic signal the car took the left turn and Shifa's eyes shone up with happiness. "Deni?"

"Let me tell you one thing, Daniyal Kazmi never backs off from his words."

"Will you tell me one thing?" She asked.

"Hmm..."

"Promise me that you won't betray me ever!" She asked and Daniyal smiled without looking at her. There was a small box present on the dashboard, he slowly pushed it towards her side t with his first finger .

She opened the box, smiled and closed it before pushing it towards him again. It was a tiny showpiece, showing two teddy bears with a smaller teddy in the middle.

"Pyaar ki nazuk door se tum is rishte ko bun lena, 

Jab alfaaz khatam ho jaye tum meri khamoshi sun lena, 

Kamiyon se bhara hu main, darta hu is zamane se, 

Meri har kami ko bhula kar tum bas mujhe hi chun lena."

Shifa got her answer she kept watching her husband for next few moments then smiled. The car stopped after two more minutes of this silent drive. She was the first to step out of the car. Surprisingly, the gate of the home was already open so she walked towards the kitchen which was empty. Going to the bedroom of her parents she found Maryam sleeping peacefully.

Sitting beside her she kissed her forehead and cheek. "Mumma."

"When did you come?" Anwar came out from the bathroom while cleaning his wet hair with a towel and Shifa smiled. "just now."

"Alone?" He further asked and Shifa shook her head. "With Deni." She replied. Anwar understood the hidden meaning of Deni. He was Daniyal Kazmi until Shifa was angry with him but if he had covered the journey to Deni, it means Shifa is no more angry with him.

"Where is he?" He asked and Shifa looked here and there. She didn't know where Daniyal was. "I don't know?" She shrugged, and Anwar looked at Maryam.

"Maryam wakeup, see who's here to meet you." Anwar shook her arm with little force and she woke up. He didn't waste his time but walked towards the living room to see Daniyal but he wasn't present there. Taking a few steps more he walked to the main entrance where Daniyal was present p in his car. He was busy with his mobile phone.

Anwar knocked the glass window of the passenger seat and Daniyal pulled the glass down.

"Assalamualaikum papa."

"Waalaikum as Salam. What are you doing here?"

"Nothing," Daniyal faked a smiled. "So come inside."

"Umm... I have to go home, I have some important work to be done. If Shifa is staying then I'll come at night to pick her."

"You and I both know that you don't have to do anything important, so come inside." This time Daniyal was unable to refuse, he got out of the car and walked beside Anwar.

"Damaad tab tak azeez rehta hai jab tak beti khush rahe, beti ki aakho me aasu dekhte hi damaad se saare rishte khatam ho jaate hain." They both came to the living room and Anwar gestured Daniyal to took a seat.

(A son-in-law stays dearest until he is good with the daughter. All relations with the son-in-law come to an end as soon as the daughter's eyes reflect tears.)

"Papa these were misunderstandings."

"Past was past, focus on future and present." Anwar patted his shoulder while picking up the bottle of water and glass from the centre table. Daniyal was amazed when this overbearing man passed him water.

"Where's billu?"

"He'll be back soon. What would you like to have for lunch?" and Anwar sat down beside his son-in-law.

"Nothing papa, Ammi and Badi Amma are waiting for us. They both were making something for Shifa so we need to be there before lunch." Daniyal replied with the same amount of respect and truthfulness. Anwar nodded and they talked about every random topic possible.

On the other hand Shifa was not ready to break the hug. She was only crying and apologizing for her rudeness. Maryam was also crying and caressing her head lovingly.

"Have you resolved the matter with Daniyal?" Maryam asked and Shifa nodded. "Maybe I would never forgive him so soon, I wanted to give him a tough time but... I did what you wanted me to do. Please don't be angry with me." Shifa shared and Maryam smiled sadly and slowly caressed her head.

"I can't be angry with you." She kissed her daughter's forehead. "You're my life, my little princess."

"You're my lifeline." Shifa giggled while wiping her tears with the back of her palm and Maryam caressed her head. .

"Listen to me carefully!" Shifa nodded...

"Daniyal ek achha insaan hai, aur achhe insaan ko saza dene ki zarurat nhi hoti, kyuki uska zameer use uski galtiyan yaad dilata rehta hai aur wo insaan pachhtata rehta hai. Aur wese bhi, jinse mohabbat kari jaati hai unhe sazayein nhi di jaati. Unhe saza sehne mein jitna dard hota hai unta dard hume saza dene mein bhi hota hai... Jo waqt unka barbaad hoga wo waqt hamara bhi barbaad hi hoga." Shifa nodded and again closed her eyes for a while taking a deep breath.

(Daniyal is a nice man, and we don't need to punish a good man, because his own heart keeps criticises him for his mistakes. And also, don't punish those people whom you love, because you'll also be sad during that time. Your heart will not be at peace until that loved one gets peace. Not only their time but your time will also be wasted in this.)

"Mumma, you're so wise."

"I wasn't! But life teaches us many lessons." Maryam kissed Shifa's forehead, "but wise are those who take lessons from other's life too!"

"Now I'm going."

"So soon?"

"Yeah, actually... Ammi and Badi Amma are making a sharara from an old Saree so I need to be there." She kissed her mother's cheek and stepped out from the bed but stopped for a moment, "Arey Haan... Main to aapko batana hi bhul gyi, Deni pagal ho gye hain! Ghar me construction work start hone wala hai kyuki unke bachhe ke liye wo itna bada ghar chhota padega." Maryam laughed and Shifa stepped out of the room holding a big grin.

(Oh yea, I forgot to tell you that Dani has gone mad! A construction work is going to start in our home because that home will not be big enough for his child.)

<><><><>

Sitting on the recliner chair with her closed eyes she was recalling everything but with each passing minute her anger was increasing. It was her nth session with a psychologist but her mind wasn't at peace.

Handful of antidepressants and sleeping pills worked only for few hours then she was unable to stand strait with the line of life.

"How are you feeling now?" The middle aged lady with a professional smile asked but the patient didn't open her eyes for the next few minutes. Being a professional, the doctor gave the required time a patient needed before getting the reply. "Numb!"

<><><><>