It's been a week since she was back to the house which wasn't home for her. Before a few months neither she wanted to live in that home nor wanted to go away as she didn't have any kind of hope regarding her future but this situation was different. 

It's like after a long dark night, the first Ray of the sun tears the chest of the sky but instead of spreading brightness, it is gulped by the darkness. Like an endless night… with uncountable nightmares. 

The behaviour of the Niyazi brothers was changed towards Hareem, not completely just a bit. They weren't so good to change themselves, but this time they both brothers didn't look towards Hareem with loath and disgust. However, the ladies of the family were still merciless and cruel.  They were happy to get their free slave back. And this time they all got another topic of taunts, that Hareem Fleet from home and living with Waasiq outside the marriage.

Neither anyone knows the complete truth about whatever happened nor Hareem bothered to clarify. What was the benefit of doing it when those shitty people wouldn't trust her? 

"Hareem, why are you silent since you're back?" The only kind lady of the family asked her softly and caressed her head. Hareem didn't utter a single word since the day she came back. 

 "Phuppo saheba, mujhe unse milna hai… bas ek baar" Hareem demanded innocently. She didn't wait for the reply, as the eyes of the old lady were refusing to fulfil her demand.

(Aunty I wanna meet him… just for once )

"Theek hai, milne ke liye nahi le kar jaiye, lekin mujhe waha le chaliye, main unhe dur se dekh kar waapas aa jaungi"  Hareem demanded, her eyes holding a shine, not of happiness but due to tears 

(okay, don't arrange a meeting, just take me there. I'll come back after seeing him from a distance)

"Hareem don't make impossible demands"

" Phuppo Saheba, phone par hi baat karwa dijiye unse… phir dobara aap se kabhi kuch bhi nahi mangongi… main bas un se puchungi ki ab wo kese hain, bas itni baat Karungi aur kuch bhi nahi kahungi'' This time Hareem's eyes shed tears. Her patience gave up, she was dying to see Waasiq. She wanted to feel his fragrance around herself just for few moments 

(Aunty please arrange a phone call for me. I'll not ask anything for the rest of my life. I wanna ask him how is he)

The old lady passes a weak smile before turning back. "Phuppo Saheba please" Hareem requested one more time but the fragile glass of her hope was shattered into million pieces when the old lady went back. Holding her already broken heart she resumed preparing dinner for the whole Niyazi clan. There were many more pains in her heart but the pain of love is the heaviest to hold. Wiping her tears with sleeves she sobbed silently. In these days her habit of cooking was almost finished as Waasiq never let her cook. And when she demanded he refused at first by saying the weather was hot but here no one cared about her. 

"Hareem… make me tea" She received an order and smiled like a taunt. Helplessly She was making fun of her own destiny. 

"Hareem calls him and talks to him… but be quick." Hareem was surprised to see Jameela Begum passing her the mobile of Elder Niyazi brother and luckily Waasiq's number was already saved in that. 

"Phuppo Saheba you're not less than an angel" Hareem wiped her tears and called Waasiq with a smile on her dry and chapped lips. That poor heart was dying to listen to his voice but a feminine voice reserved the call with a rude "Hello" 

"Hello… it. It's Hareem." She dared to introduce herself in a hushed tone "Why are you calling now?" The rude voice Made Hareem scared. 

"Woh kese hain?" She muttered nervously, uttering Waasiq's name wasn't less than a battle for her.

(How is he?) 

"Woh jese bhi ho, tumhe us se koi matlab nahi hai, aaj ke baad Waasiq se baat karna to dur ki baat hai uske baare me sochna bhi nahi…  tumhe talaq ke kagaz mil jayenge. Aur wo jo pesa aur zewar rakh ke bethi hui ho na, use meher Samjh lena" 

(It's none of your business. Don't dare to contact Waasiq again. You'll get divorce papers soon and take all the money and jewellery as dower) 

"Talaq?" 

(Divorce?) 

"Haan talaq…  tum jesi manhus ladki ko main Waasiq ki zindagi me nahi rehne dungi. Abhi uski zindagi me qadam hi rakha tha ki use moot ke muh me daal diya…" The rude voice of Waasiq's mother made a pool of tears in the beautiful eyes which held peace of someone's heart. 

And soon, the call ended. 

(Yeah divorce… what do you think I'll let you live with Waasiq? Such a jinxing person you're. In only a few days of your presence in his life he was almost dead) 

Hareem was numb, she wanted to cry loudly but her broken state wasn't allowing her to do so. She silently passed the mobile to her aunty and blinked blankly. 

"Hareem… What happened?" Hareem didn't reply, just blinked expressionlessly. "Hareem tell me what happened?" 

"Mene unse kaha tha, jugnu wapas jaa rahe hain…" Hareem informed her aunty and she furrowed "What?" The lady was puzzled. 

(I already told him that fireflies were going back…) 

"Wo sari khushiyan apne sath was le gaye" Hareem muttered while stepping out of the kitchen, tears were dripping from her eyes but there wasn't any expression on her dull face. 

(They took away all the happiness with them) 

"Where are you going? Where is my tea" Hareem didn't bother to reply, just walked to her room like a lifeless body. 

Entering the room she broke down in tears, "Why? Why always with me?" This time she wasn't feeling only helplessness but anger and frustration too. 

"Why Allah paak? Why are you testing me so much?" She cried miserably, mumbling that she hid her face in her palms. 

Hareem I don't want these tears in your eyes. Waasiq's words started ringing in her ears. 

"Why did he come into my life when he had to go back? I was hating him for kidnapping me, and the day when I started recognizing mine and his feelings, the same day he went away from me… Why does every time pain and sorrow wait for me?" 

After spending time with Waasiq she just started to passing over her pains and problems, but she was back to that cage. Finding no more energy to sit, she lay down on the same hard floor which had been her bed since childhood. Curling herself in a ball she was crying with hiccups when the door of her room was snapped open by the lady of the home allowing some sharp rays of light to take over the darkness of the room. 

"Ye kya naya drama hai? Waha khana jalne wala tha aur yaha maharani aaram kar rahi hain! Uth ja fooran, mere saamne ye drama nhi chalega. Jaa kar khana Bana aur mujhe chai de" Hareem cried out even more, but silently. 

(What's this new drama? Go to the kitchen and cook for lunch and give me a cup of tea. Get up in a single second, I won't tolerate your drama anymore) 

"Suna nahi tu ne?" The lady shouted, leaving with no other way, Hareem stood up. Hiccups made breathing difficult for her. Trying to cope with her condition she went to the kitchen and resumed cooking. 

"Hareem" Wiping the tears she turned around to see Jameela Begum and "Beta bhul jao use" Jameela begum said lovingly and Hareem shook her head. 

(Dear forget about him) 

"Nahi bhul Sakti main unhe" She muttered, her lips trembling and eyes again producing fresh tears. 

(I can't forget him) 

<><><><><><><>

Waasiq was on the edge of the dark cave of death, but there was a spark of hope in the rope of love that pulled him back towards life. 

His operations were successful, but deep wounds were supposed to take a long time to recover. His strong frame was bearing all the injuries but his soft heart was unable to cope with the misery of fresh wound, after knowing that Hareem left her alone when he was dangling between death and life.

"How could she go back to those people?" Waasiq was unable to understand anything. His friend had informed him that Hareem wasn't ready to go anywhere leaving him in critical condition but then a lady came and took her back.

"Are they people forcing her?" Waasiq mumbling then looked at the gold chain present on his palm. Hareem didn't take his gift with herself, this raised a doubt in Waasiq's mind that she was not ready to accept Waasiq as her husband.

Pressing his lips together to suppress the painful groan he sat down on the bed after throwing the sheet away from himself. Drawing out a well-ironed, crisp white shirt he changes himself in that. Picking the car keys he loudly calls a servant who entered the room trying to catch his breath.

"Make me wear my shoes" sitting on the edge of bed Waasiq ordered, he couldn't bend down to do that work due to wounds.

"Waasiq Bhai… Where are you going in this condition?" Asked Waasiq's stepsister when witnessed him taking small steps to the exit. Listening to that voice his stepmother also came out from her room to asked the same question.

"Chhoti Ammi, I have to go for some important work." He answered his stepmother.

"But Waasiq you're not fine." 

"Yeah Waasiq bhai, I won't let you go anywhere" This time His real sister demanded and Waasiq open his arms for his sisters. After that accident, his sisters were scared to lose him as so his mothers. 

"Nothing wrong will happen with your brother. I have to go, it's very important" Waasiq caressed the heads of his sisters who were side hugging him. 

"Bhai please…" 

"Be brave, I'm fine now. You all take care of Ammi. I'll be back soon." Saying with a weak smile Waasiq stepped out from home. 

His one real sister, and two steps sisters were very close to him. They all never got their father's love but Waasiq was always there for them, either as an elder brother or as a father. His mother and stepmother both were equally helpless and weak so Waasiq was the only shield for his mothers too. Chodhri Mateen's death didn't affect any of his family members because he was not less than punishment, that man was good for nothing, so his death was like a relief for many people. Not only for his family but for many poor people too.

But Waasiq's condition gave a big shock to his family, he was the most important asset whom no one wanted to lose.

••••••••••••••••••

"Hareem… Oo Hareem… Kaha mar gayi?"  

(where are you?)

"Ji begum sahab?" she asked with a weak voice. Her clothes were drenched with sweat and water. Eyes were swollen and red. The hair was messy. Cheeks were showing tenacious tear marks. 

(Yeah Marm) 

"Itni der se kya kar rahi hai? Mene kaha tha na ye saaf Karne ke liye" The lady of the home burst on Hareem, pointing out towards the mess created on the floor, by stubborn and ill-mannered children of the Niyazi family.

(What are you doing for so long? I told you to clean up the home)

"I am washing clothes, I'll clean this afte…" Hareem was saying when a tight slap hit her face. The sudden jolt was pretty harsh on her delicate skin as well as her heart. She took a long moment to understand the reason behind that firecracker-like feeling under her skin. 

Fresh tears dripped down her eyes and a small sob left her already dry lips. "Jo kaha jaye wo kaam kar, apni marzi chalane ki zarurat nahi hai"

(Do only what we order you to do, just follow the orders)

Hareem wiped her tears with the back of her palm and picked the broomstick. 

"Jab se wapas aayi hai dimag asman par chada hua hai… Manhus, Badzaat '' Hareem was shocked to hear that slang for herself. She gulped down the insult but looked up at the open sky. 

(You jinx, whoreson What's making you so arrogant till you come back?)

'Why Allah paak? What is my fault that I have only disrespect my fate? These people are doing everything wrong with me but you never do justice in my case… they people don't even pray once a day, and I never miss a single namaz, but you help them not me… why? Do you also help cruel people?  What about the helpless ones like me?' Her heart questioned the lord, she was hurt. Without getting an answer she started cleaning the floor. At the same moment, a loud knock on the gate was heard. Hareem was about to stand up to check it but…

"Clean this, I'll break your every bone if you dare to leave this work" Hareem only sobbed while cleaning. 

On the other hand, the gate was knocked by Waasiq and opened by a child. "Where is Hareem?" Waasiq inquired but without bothering to get the answer he stepped in. 

Taking a few steps ahead he was shocked to witness the scene.  "Hareem" She was startled by that loud and overbearing voice. 

"Who are you? How can you intrude like this?" The lady of the home shouted out with anger, listening to the voice, her husband i.e Elder Niyazi brother also came to the courtyard. But a deadly gaze of Waasiq was enough to make her blood cold turn.

Waasiq's anger had no limits after seeing Hareem's condition. While Hareem's heart was skipping every second beat. The broomstick slipped out from her hand, and she took long steps towards Waasiq. Though she needed to hug him but couldn't as by then almost whole Niyazi clan was gathered there.

"Are you fine now?" Hareem asked with tears of joy but Waasiq didn't reply as all his attention was fixed on his wife's condition. Her faded garments were drenched as he was washing clothes, hair was so messy like she hadn't combed for two days. Actually it was true, for two days she hadn't had her hair combed. She was feeling no need to groom herself. Her face was showing tiredness. And puffy eyes were telling the story of her non-stop tears.

"Yeh kya haal bana liya hai tumne Hareem?" Waasiq questioned in reply to her question. Ignoring everyone's presence, Waasiq lifts his hand and gently tucked her messy hair behind the ear just to get another shock. Three-finger marks were printed on her cheek due to the slap she got a few moments ago. 

(Look at you condition Hareem)

"Hareem" Waasiq was outraged by then, "Kiski himmat Hui is par hath uthane ki?" The roar was so loud that every heart skipped a beat due to fear, and the blood of the culprit rushed cold.

(Who dared to slap her?)

"Hareem batao mujhe kisne mara tha?" Waasiq questioned. His eyes were reflecting an extreme level of outrage.  She gulped with fear of Nizami's to reveal the name at the same time Waasiq was not going to leave that question.

(Hareem, tell me you slapped you?)

"Hareem" He gently slipped his big hand to the side of her neck, fingers tangled with her messy hair and thumb delicately caressed the skin of her jaw bone. A warm sensation ran down her spine. This time his touch brought pleasure. "Daro nahi, main aa gya hu na… batao kisne mara tha?"  His tone was soft, so was his touch which was becoming the reason for her abnormally beating heart. Hareem looked at the lady of the home who was turning pale by then. 

(Tell me who slapped you. Don't worry about anything, just tell me)

"You have only five minutes, take a quick bathe, change your clothes and let's back to home" removing his hand from her neck Waasiq whispered, Hareem was shocked. 

"Ji?" She asked in disbelief. 

(What?) 

"Tayyar ho jao, tumhe lene aaya hu. Ghar chalna hai." Waasiq explained and Hareem was still confused. Waasiq's mother said that he will give her divorce but Here he was taking her back with himself. 

(Get ready, I'm here to take you back to home) 

"kya hua? Mere sath chalna nahi chahti kya?" He asked softly and Hareem shook her head. Waasiq was shocked. 

(What's wrong? Don't you wanna come with me?) 

"Do you wanna live here for some more days?" He asked in a whisper and Hareem looked at every face of the Niyazi Family, not a single one was welcoming for her. In response to Waasiq's question she shook her head again. 

"Hareem what's wrong? Wanna come with me or not?" Hareem kept watching him for a very long minute then shook her head but her eyes dropped off two precious tears which were loud testimony of her false answer. 

"I need you ready to go within five minutes" This time Waasiq didn't ask but directed her rightfully and leaving with no other way she walked to her room to take another pair of clothes. And Waasiq's eyes looked everywhere, faces of Niyazi's were showing their confused state. 

"Main aurato par hath nahi uthata"  Waasiq uttered in his deadly whispering style which turned the blood cold of the same lady who slapped Hareem. "Lekin agar koi meri biwi par haath uthate to use saza dene me ek pal bhi nahi lagata" 

(I don't believe in showing my power on ladies) 

(But I won't take a moment to punish one who had slapped my wife) 

-A slap-

The Niyazi Clan was shocked. None of them utter a single word. The slap was so powerful that the lady fell down on the floor. Her husband glared at Waasiq in order to show his protest against Waasiq's slap. 

"I want all the money and jewellery back within 48 hours." Though Waasiq wasn't interested in money, he had an abundance of money but he didn't want to leave a single penny for those who were messing with his wife. 

Niyazi were also shocked to hear the word Wife for Hareem, they were considering that Hareem was living with Waasiq outside the marriage and he sent her back when was fade up with her. 

In the time being Hareem came there to get a shock when found the honorable lady of the family with finger marks on her face. 

"Chalen?" Waasiq asked. Hareem looked at everyone's dull faces, except one. Her Phuppo Saheba. 

(Should we leave now?) 

"Go beta, stay blessed" The kind lady blessed Hareem and kissed her forehead but Hareem shook her head. 

"Phuppo Saheba mujhe inke sath nahi jana," Hareem whispered, but a bit louder. The sharp ears of her husband caught her worlds. 

(Phuppo Saheba I don't wanna go with him) 

"Hareem ye kya mazakh hai? Pehle to tum ro rahi thi ki bas ek baar Waasiq se milna hai, ab jab wo apne ghar le kar jaa raha hai to tum jana nahi chahti" The old lady asked back in whisper. 

(Hareem are you kidding? Aren't you the one who was crying to meet him? Now when he is taking you with him, you don't wanna go) 

"Phuppo Saheba, mujhe dar lag raha hai. Mujhe inke sath nahi jana… kuch bhi kariye bas mujhe rook lijiye…" Hareem mumbled innocently whilst glancing at Waasiq who was already listening to her audible whispers and throwing deadly glares at her. 

(Phuppo Saheba I'm feeling scared, I don't wanna go with him. Do something and stop him to take me along) 

"It's enough for today. I guess the ritual of your farewell is stretched too much" Grabbing her Hareem's arm Waasiq pulled her with himself. She had tears in her eyes, she wanted to resist to go but her fragile frame was weak in front of her husband. 

Waasiq stopped for a while and turned back. "All the money and jewellery… within 48 hours. Otherwise…" He intentionally left the threatening in between to dry out all the blood of The Niyazi brothers, as they had already spent that money. 

"Get in the car" Slightly pushing Hareem Waasiq ordered her with rage. He wasn't soft or polite like before but carefully taking his wife back with himself. 

Taking his driving seat he secured himself with the belt, but Hareem was looking clueless. It wouldn't be a lie if she says was her first car journey in her seventeen years of existence. Waasiq again glares at her but leaning toward her, he tied her seat belt. That proximity was enough to beat her heart like a drum.

She looked at Waasiq and closed her eyes to let the tears flow down. 

"Why are you taking me along? You can div.. divorce me and marry any other girl." 

Gritting his teeth, Waasiq leaned to her, he was only an inch away from her face, his harsh breath was burning her frame and melting her heart. "I'm not asking for your advice. Enough now. I was way too polite with you."

================