It was extremely hot afternoon in June. The sun was ready to burn everything coming in front of him but Mrs Kazmi, Shifa, five years old Manha and four year old Alshaf were sitting in the hall of Qasr-e-Kazmi, having dinner together.

"Manha Aunty, would you like to have some lemonade?" Shifa asked and got a nod in return, "Oh sure, Mrs poppy."

"and what about you Alshaf aunty?" Shifa asked while pouring the lemonade in two little glasses and the girls picked them happily.

"Congratulations Alshaf aunty, after all Miss Rosy shifted to her new home." Mrs Kazmi said while looking at her cute gray eyed doll then towards the new doll house in which Miss Rosy moved in just today, and now the noble ladies were celebrating by having dinner at noon.

"So Manha aunty, have you taught Miss Rosy cooking or not?" Mrs Kazmi asked while putting the little glass down.

"Not yet Mrs Dadi, but I'll teach her soon." Manha replied and everyone laughed. Both the girls got two kisses from Mrs Shifa Kazmi and looked at her mother-in-law.

"Ammi, aap in dono ke sath hain main upar un teeno ko dekh leti hu."

(Ammi, you are with these two, I am going upstairs to see the trio.)

With this statement Shifa stood up and walked upstairs to see the boys who must be playing some games on the PlayStation which they forcefully snatched from their little, twenty eight year old Bilal uncle, who was not ready to give his favourite thing to the actual little boys but had to hand over it after listening "Main bhool jaunga ki teri shadi ho chuki hai aur chappal se marunga tujhe, bachhe jo maang rahe hain wo chup chap unhe de de," from his father who loved him madly at some point of life but now he only had the treasure of love reserved for his grandchildren.

(I'll forget that now you're married and beat you with chappal if you don't give what kids are asking for.)

Shifa was shocked to see the scene, Eight years old Zaryab was holding a broom in his hand, cleaning the floor and the three year olds were helping him in vanishing the proofs from the crime scene.

"Well done, well done...." Shifa glared at three of them then shifted her sight towards the floor which was showing the white-cast the after-effect of talcum powder rain done by the trio. The aesthetic black curtains weren't looking black anymore but the freshly changed sheet was much fresher than the previous hour because of the flowery fragrance.

"Ye kya haal kar diya hai mere kamre ka!" Shifa shouted on three of them. She was the same Shifa who was so polite at some point of time but now she shouts endlessly every day all thanks to Zeedaan and Zaryab. Shifa and Daniyal understood by now that when they both boys come together something mischievous had to be done for sure.

(What you have done with my room.)

"Tum teeno ko itna marungi main..." Shifa was angry, Zeedaan and Zaryab weren't affected but Aariz turned pale after seeing this form of his sweet Poppy. Yeah, Being half Angraiz (an English person) Manha and Ayaan call Shifa poppy instead of phuppi.

(I will beat all three of you.)

"Don't worry, she only says... Does nothing." Zaryab whispered to Aariz's left ear.

"Aane do dad ko, wo hi dekhenge tum teeno ko aaj." Shifa shouted while glaring at the trio.

(Let dad come back, he'll see three of you.)

Aariz was again looking scared but this time Zeedaan whispered in his right ear, "Don't worry, dad says nothing, she only tries scare us."

After snatching the broomstick from Zaryab's hand Shifa lifted it up to hit him but her hand stopped in the air, "Dil to chah raha hai isi jhaadu se tum teeno ki haddiya tood du, neeche wo bachhiyan kitne araam se kheel rhi hain aur tum log..." She left the sentence in between after huffing angrily and threw the broomstick on the floor.

(Right now I want to beat you so badly with this broomstick only. Downstairs those girls are playing peacefully and here you all are...)

"Go to your room right now, and if anything happens again I'll beat you all with my chappal." Shouting at three of them Shifa pointed towards the door, they ran towards their room and she made a fake cried face.

"Ya Allah ye kin gunaho ki saza hai? Mene to mummy ko kabhi pareshan nahi kra phir mere bachhe aese kyu hain?" And the poor lady started vacuuming the curtains and sheet followed by mopping the floor and dusting the articles.

(O Allah, for what sins I'm getting punished in this way? I have never troubled my mother, then why are my children like this?)

"Zee," Aariz whispered

"Yeah Riz?" Zeedaan curled his arm around his cousin's shoulder

"Will uncle beat me up?" He asked fearfully making Zaryab and Zeedaan laugh out loud.

"Dad never beat us, mummy only tries to scare us." They both laughed and Aariz took a deep breath and relaxed himself. Zaryab loved Zeedaan and Aariz like his real brothers. Thought Aariz was visiting India after two years, so he didn't have any memories of last visit still these cousins love each other too much because they weren't practically aparted by the geographical boundaries... All thanks to the technology. They all talk daily to each other on video call, sometimes for hours.

"Riz, wanna play games?" Asked Zaryab and he nodded in response. "Zee?" Zaryab asked and Zeedaan jumped on the bed like a kangaro full of joy.

"Of course we'll play."

<><><>

After Three Days:

It was late morning, all five kids were sitting in Shifa's bedroom. They woke up at the time of Fajr and from that time neither they slept nor let other sleeps. Daniyal was enjoying his time, he missed all this fun in his childhood it was Sunday so Shifa wanted to take some more rest but not the kids wanted to have some snacks.

They had breakfast with Mrs and Mr Kazmi, but now they were again hungry after doing many activities including painting, more than papers they paint the floor and their own clothes, gardening in which they helped Daniyal in watering the plants and breaking a planter too, but then they all became good kids and decided to clean their room in which they only broke two dolls of Alshaf, nothing else. After so many activities it was obvious for them to be hungry but they did not want to eat anything healthy. If they were staying at together it means they should enjoy together, and junk food is always an enjoyment for kids.

"Mini pizzas for my mini devils." Shifa came upstairs with a tray of food and the kids hooted. 

"Shifa, pizza? It's unhealthy for kids." Daniyal whispered but Shifa served them the same before sitting beside her husband.

"This is a whole wheat flour pizza base, that too home-made. With many vegetables and instead of processed cheese I've used crushed paneer and a dash of butter. They will not understand that it's a healthy junk food." Shifa whispered and Daniyal pulled her cheek, though he wanted to kiss but couldn't in front of children so used another way to show his love which his wife didn't love at all.

"Deniiiiiiii..." She just huffed.

"Poppy..." Aariz offered a mini pizza to Shifa and she glared at the rest of the kids and grabbed the pizza.

"Badtameezo, kuch seekho mere bachhe se, kitna achha bachha hai. Poppy ke sath pizza share kar k khaa rha hai," Shifa scolded everyone while taking a small bite from the pizza but Zaryab laughed. Daniyal and Shifa both weren't able to understand the reason behind this laughter until...

(You Devils, learn something from my boy, such a good boy he is. He's sharing pizza with Poppy,)

"Mumma wo wale pizza me cheese kam tha isliye hum me se koi nhi khaa rha tha," Zaryab told the truth and Shifa noticed the pizza, that little one was truly unfortunate to miss the cottage cheese and Shifa just looked at her husband who was also laughing with kids, she didn't understand what should she do, laugh on this or get angry but she laughed and glared at all of them.

(Mumma that Pizza had less cheese so none of us was eating.)

"Deni ye sab bohot zyada shararati hote jaa rahe hain." Said Shifa and Daniyal nodded but smiled too.

(Deni, they all are becoming miscellaneous day by day.)

They were enjoying the pizza party when Mr Kazmi called Alshaf downstairs. She rushed without wasting a second and came back within a few minutes with a big paper bag of snacks.

"Dadu has sent more snacks for us." Alshaf almost jumped in joy as if she had never seen snacks before, but in reality the kids were enjoying each other's company not the snacks.

"No one is getting more snacks, you'll get it in the evening." Taking the bag from Alshaf, Shifa kind of scolded all of them and open the bag.

"Mumma please."

"Poppy please."

Children demanded with puppy eyes and Daniyal also gestured to Shifa to give them what they all wanted. Shifa examined the paper bag and sighed after finding four packets of different types of many snacks. There were five kids but only four packets of each snack, it was clear that one kid was left out and that was no one else but Zaryab.

Daniyal also noticed the same thing and today he lost his control over his anger, he stood up with a jolt to talk to his father about this matter but Shifa held his wrist. "Ghar ka mahool kharab na kariye."

(Do not spoil the atmosphere as well as peace of the home.)

"Abhi bhi ghar ka mahool kharab ho raha hai." He said in rage but Shifa grabbed his hand with a small smile.

(Even now the atmosphere and the peace of the house is deteriorating.)

"Baith jaiye, main janti hu mujhe kya karna hai." And she walked downstairs. All the kids resumed their precious game but Zaryab was seeing Daniyal without blinking.

(Sit back, I know what I have to do.)

"Come here." Daniyal summoned him and he stood in front of this wise man. "what happened? Why you turned pale suddenly?" Daniyal asked and Zaryab's eyes filled with tears.

"Dadu and Dadi don't love me." Zaryab muttered, his lips trambled. Daniyal pulled him in a hug and kissed his head.

"They love you... but Dad And mummy love you most. You're our eldest son." Daniyal whispered and Zaryab broke the hug, there was something in his which which wasn't innocence.

"But I'm not your son. I know." He whispered back. Everyone knows that Zaryab wasn't their biological son, Shifa and Daniyal didn't try to hide this truth in front of others, they didn't force Zaryab to forget his real parents either. Whenever he remembers his real parents he talks about them to Daniyal, but Shifa's intolerance towards Adeena's name wasn't hidden from any eyes, however she never let her hatred overpower her love towards Zaryab.

Sometimes Zaryab felt himself lucky to have such a loving parents and two friends in the form of Alshaf and Zeedaan but sometimes he wished to go back to his real parents. These four years weren't able to make him forget his childhood memories, he didn't remember his father much but he remembered his mother clearly.

"Listen to me carefully." Daniyal whispered while holding him by his shoulders tightly. "There are many relationships which are known as blood relationships but Allah makes some more relationships which are not blood bonds yet no less powerful, like friends husband-wife, and..." Daniyal pulled Zaryab near and kissed his forehead before making him sit beside him. "And Allah has made such a bond between us too. It doesn't matter if you're our son by blood or not, you're and you will be our elder son forever. Do we love you less than these two?" Daniyal told him the big reality of life at such a small age and he asked the last part in a hushed tone. Zaryab shook his head.

"Don't cry." He again pulled Zaryab in a hug and this time he didn't cry.

"Ye dad aur bete ke beech kya khichdi pak rahi hai?" Shifa entered into the room with a tray of food in her hands and asked after seeing Daniyal was whispering something to Zaryab while embracing him.

(What secret discussion is going on between dad and son?)

"Khichdi pake ya biryani hum apni recipe kyu dein? Hai na Zaryab?" Daniyal replied with a fake rudeness and asked the last part to the little boy who laughed. Shifa gave a questioning look to her husband as if asking him what happened but he just blinked like saying, don't worry, I'm here to handle everything.

(It's our secret, why would we share it with you? Right Zaryab?)

Shifa Placed the tray in between the kids, instead of giving packets to everyone and leaving Zaryab she transferred the snacks into the bowls and placed in front of them.

"Come on, share with each other like good kids." Instructing it she sat down beside Daniyal. "Well, have the last snacks together for this year." she announced and all of them looked at each other. Tomorrow morning Hamdan was going back so it's last day of five of them to enjoying together.

<><>

After A Few Hours.

Alshaf and Manha were not breaking the hug, they were crying silently, so as Shifa and Hamdan.

"Bhai, pura saal intezaar karna padta hai aapse kuch din milne ke liye." Shifa cried while mumbling and Hamdan patted her head, he was also emotional but not crying like his sister.

(Bhai, we have to wait the whole year to meet you for a few days.)

"I'll try to come back soon this time." He whispered. "I must leave now." Hamdan whispered back Shifa nodded. They had to catch an early morning flight and it was necessary for them to be on time.

"I'll miss you Alshaf." Said Manha sadly. They were cousins but not less than real sisters. They both feel the need of a sister in their life but the problem was they were far away from each other, if Hamdan were living in India then they both were shadows of each other.

"I miss you too Manha aapi. Please don't go." Alshaf demanded. "Why don't you come with us? Have you ever been on a plane?" Manha suddenly forgot her crying so as Alshaf and she shook her head.

"Papa, can't we take Alshaf along?" Manha asked Hamdan and Daniyal felt like someone snatched away his heart. Though he knew it was not going to happen, he was still feeling this fear.

"Dad..." Zaryab came while crying and Daniyal looked at him. "What happened?"

"I want to go with Riz. Just send me with him. Please." Zaryab cried and Hamdan came near him.

"Study well and grow up, then I will take you along." Kneeling in front of Zaryab, Hamdan said politely but he shook his head. "Hamdan Mama, I promise I won't trouble you, take me along. I'll eat egg plants too... Promise."

Hamdan and Shifa somehow handle the kids, they were living together for the last one month and now it was getting difficult for them to accept this separation.

Kazmi(s) along with Zaryab saw off the guests and Shifa looked at the kids. They were looking sad.

"Deni, do something." Lightly pressing his arm she whispered. "Who wants to go to the park followed by an ice-cream treat?" Daniyal asked in a loud and cheerful voice. The kids looked at each other and smiled brightly.

"We~" they all yelled together and Daniyal looked towards his parents.

"Ammi, baba, I'm taking them to the ice cream house," he informed. No matter how old he was, he still informs his parents before leaving the home. Mr Kazmi nodded and walked back to his room.

"Shifa, are you coming?"

"No, you go." She whispered

"Don't trouble Dad. Fine?" Shifa threw a sharp glare at three of them and they nodded without any intention to keep those words in their minds.

<><><><>

The clock hands were hitting eleven at night, and now Shifa's heart was beating unevenly with bad thoughts. Daniyal wasn't back with children yet.

Mrs and Mr Kazmi were also sitting in the hall waiting for four of them, Shifa was tired of calling him but Daniyal wasn't receiving the call.

"Allah, please save them from every problem." Mrs muttered and Shifa felt wetness in her eyes. She dialled the same number with a hope that he will receive the call but a voice grabbed everyone's attention. It was the voice of steps, Daniyal was coming in the home after unlocking the door.

"Deniii..." Shifa almost ran towards the door. 

"Bachhe kaha hain?" She asked in a worried tone when saw blood on Daniyal's shirt and kids weren't with him, meanwhile Alshaf came in while running and hugged Shifa's leg.

(Where are kids?)

"Zeedaan kaha hai Deni? Aur Zaryab?" Shifa was panicked by then

(Where is Zeedaan? And Zaryab?)

"They are in the car, come with me." Daniyal turned back and Shifa ran after him. Daniyal picked Zaryab in his arms and Shifa picked Zeedaan who had a bandage around his head and his shirt was drenched in blood. Shifa couldn't help but cried out after seeing her son.

"Deni, why he isn't open his eyes?" She almost yelled and Daniyal gestured her to come in the home. "He is fine, just sleeping because of medicines."

Other than Daniyal no one glanced at Zaryab who also had a bandage on his chin.

Shifa was continuously crying, she was already feeling pain of her son. She sat down on the sofa of the hall and Daniyal took the sleeping Zaryab upstairs.

"Ye kese hua Alshaf?" Shifa asked while caressing Zeedaan's hair, she was crying after seeing the blood everywhere on his shirt.

(How did this happen, Alshaf?)

"Mummy mene dad ko preshan nhi kara lekin Zeedaan ne kara tha. Dad thak gaye the lekin Zeedaan ne phir bhi zidd kri football khelne ke liye," Alshaf complaint and Shifa looked at her son who was already awake due to the voice of his mother and sister.

(Mummy, I didn't bother Dad, but Zeedaan did. Dad was tired but Zeedaan still insisted on playing football.)

"Then? How did he hurt himself?" Mrs Kazmi asked, In the time being Daniyal also came back downstairs and saw his son in Shifa's lap.

"So dad told both of them to go on swings but they both started jumping on trampoline, dad was telling them not to jump so high but they didn't listen to him and kept jumping holding hand and hand, then Suddenly Zaryab Bhai fell down and Zeedaan also fell after him." Alshaf's story ended and Shifa gave a disappointed look to her son.

"When will you stop misbehaving Zeedaan? I'm tired of your stubbornness and why don't you listen to us?"

"Why are you scolding him?" Mr Kazmi scolded Shifa in the defence of his grandson. He was looking extremely angry now.

"Baba, he should listen to us." Daniyal put his point in a hushed tone but Mr Kazmi stood up in an aggressive style.

"Mere saamne ye faltu baate karne ki zarurat nhi hai, mere bachhe ki ye halat us ladke ko wajah se hi hui hai."

(Don't you dare to speak nonsense in front of me. My child is in this condition because of that boy.)

"Aap ko kya ho gya hai, Baba? Bachha hai wo bhi, dono sath kheel rhe the dono ke hi choot lagi hai, aap kisi ek ko mujrim kyu thehra rhe hain?" Maybe this was the first time when Daniyal raised his voice but he forgot that Mr Kazmi couldn't see Alshaf and Zeedaan in pain.

(What has happened to you, Baba? He is also a child, both were playing together, both of them got hurt. Why are you blaming one?)

"Apni aulad se zyada tumhe wo ladka azeez hai?" Mr Kazmi yelled at Daniyal

(Is that boy more important to you than your child?)

"Baba bachho ke beech mein naittefaqi na dalwaiye, wo masum bachha hai, aap kyu itni nafrat karte hain us se?"

"Wo abhi masum dikh raha hai, aane wale waqt mein masum nhi rahega. Meri ek baat zehen-nasheen kar lo, saap ko kitna bhi dudh pila do, wo waqt aane par dasta hi hai." Mr Kazmi walked towards his room, he didn't wait for a reply because no reply was needed in this matter. Moreover Daniyal was unable to say a single word, he was just standing like a dummy and seeing his father in this form for the second time in his life. The first time Mr Kazmi was this much angry when Adeena arrived at Qasr-e-Kazmi.

(He is looking innocent now, he will not remain innocent in future. Mark my words, no matter how much you love him, he'll backstab you one day.)

"Aur haan khatija, is ghar me sab ko ye bata dena ki agar us ladke ki wajah se mere bachho ko kabhi bhi koi bhi takleef hui to use bhi aur uske himayatiyo ko is ghar se bahar pheyk dunga. In bachho se zyada azeez koi nhi hai mere liye." Mr Kazmi stopped for a while and announced loudly without looking at anyone, then the very next moment stepped into his bedroom.

(And one more thing Khatija, tell everyone in this home that if my children ever face any problem because of that boy, I will throw him and his supporters out of this house. No one is dearer to me than these children.)

<><><><>

The First Bonus Chapter...

Well, it's a short story in itself. Let's see if you people like it or not. I'll delete it in case you don't like it.

For now I don't know when I will update.

This story will be finished after 3-4 chapters then I'll publish a new story of mine.

Kindly share your opinion, should I publish a story with only Roman urdu dialogues or English translation is a must?

Bye.

Your author

N.J