THIRD PERSON'S POV :

Bilal and Shifa stepped into the home after an enjoyable but tiring day of school.

"Aapi"

"Billu" both exchanged their looks and smiled when their noses recognised the aroma of their favourite dish.

"Biryani" Both almost yelled happily and ran towards the kitchen

"Mummy, you are making biryani, right?" Bilal and Shifa asked in unison and Maryam turned to see them, then nodded with a smile

"Mummy I love the biryani which you make," Bilal stressed on you and Maryam kissed his cheek but Shifa made a pout.

"Mummy you love Bilal more than me, not only you but papa, Hamdan bhai and all others love Bilal more than me" She complained and Maryam opened her arms "Come here" she embraced her daughter and pecked her head.

"I love my Shifa more than anyone, you are mummy's little Jaan(life)" Maryam kissed Shifa's head.

"And what am I?" Bilal huffed, the attention seeker couldn't digest if his mother showed her love only for Shifa. 

"You're our Little Prince" 

"And what is Hamdan bhai?" Bilal and Shifa asked in unison

"Hamdan is my proud son," Maryam replied while stirring in the utensil "Now you both go and change your clothes, your phuppo is coming," Maryam informed and Shifa looked at Bilal

"What? Phuppo is coming!! Really?" Shifa and Bilal asked in unison but different ways. Bilal was happy as a Cheshire cat but Shifa's voice was full of dissatisfaction and sorrow. 

"Yes your phuppo is coming, that's why your papa told me to make biryani," Maryam said and Both kids nodded, Shifa half-heartedly but Bilal joyfully. 

"Mummy, can I go to Nani's home?" Shifa asked and Bilal huffed before frowned at his elder sister 

"Aapi, what will you do in Nani's home except listening to the old stories of Nana abbu and Nani Ammi?" Bilal asked so that Shifa could change her decision.

"At least they talk to me, unlike phuppo. Mumma, can I go?" Shifa replied to Bilal and asked the last part to her mother. 

"Go, I'll send Hamdan to pick you up after dinner," Maryam granted permission in a hushed tone, she was holding a small smile but the pain in her eyes was visible. 

"Now you both go, I have many things to do and You are wasting my time" Maryam scolded them before dismissing them. 

"Shifa, don't forget to take your books to study in Nani's home" Maryam yelled from the kitchen while cutting salad and she got a reply in the form of 

''Okay mummy"

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SHIFA'S POV: 

"Assalamualaikum lala"

"Waalaikumussalam lalu"

"Lala, why do you always call me lalu? My name is Shifa, S.H.I.F.A," I said with a Pout, I didn't like when Khala call me that, but I'm helpless to call her Khala 

When I was very young I had a problem pronouncing many words, it was difficult for me to utter Khala so I converted it into Lala

"I call you lalu because you call me Lala, you start calling me Khala and I'll start calling you Shifa" Maham; my dear Lala said while pinching my cheeks, and I again pouted because I also don't like when anyone pulls my cheeks.

"I can't call you Khala now. It's my habit to call you Lala and Khala is so boring, but Lala sounds interesting. Don't you think so" I asked happily while going towards the room of her grandparents and Maham Lala smiled?

"Sometimes you behave just like aapi" Maham Lala said and we both entered the room where Nani Ammi was sitting. 

"Of course I'm your aapi's daughter so I will behave like her. I'm just like my mummy" I announced happily, I love my mumma very much, she is so beautiful, sweet and loving, I wanna be just like her. But Nani Ammi looked at me as if I said something odd

"You are Shifa, no need to become Maryam," Nani Ammi advised me and I nodded without asking the reason behind her words. Nani Ammi was drawing out some clothes and jewellery for Maham Lala's Marriage. I'm excited to attend the marriage.

I need to see how mummy and Papa were looking. There were no photos or videos of Mummy and papa's wedding.

But mummy and Nani Ammi told me that At that time photos and videos were not that common, so there aren't any photos. It's indigestible for me, my friends have pics of their parents' wedding. 

But for now, I have to shrug off these thoughts and study. "Ohh no" I smacked my forehead after opening my school bag.

"Shifa what happened?" 

"I forgot to bring an English grammar book"  

"No problem, Go to the storeroom, the third cupboard from the right side is full of books. You will find out something suitable for English grammar, we have a good collection." Maham Lala told me and I nodded then marched towards the storeroom, where a wall occupied several cupboards. 

" Third cupboard from right... Or from the left?" I mumbled while looking at the cupboards.

"I think from the left" I opened the cupboard and it was full of woollen clothes and some trophies. I smiled and picked up one that had the name of my Mumma "Maryam Naaz" . I felt proud, but I had to concentrate on the book hunt. After having a rummage around, I didn't get any book but suddenly my gaze went to a book.

"Thankfully... This must be Lala's so-called good collection of books" I made her fun with a mocking laugh and pulled out the book which was almost hidden between the clothes. 

That wasn't a book but an old diary.

A personal diary.

"It must belong to Mama or Lala." With this thought I opened the first page which showed MARYAM written in bold.

"Wow... It's My Mom's Personal Diary" I was excited, turning a random page started reading

I can't imagine... Was that real or a dream? I can't believe it...

I had read just a single line when a call grabbed my attention 

"Lalu" 

"Yeah Lala" I yelled in reply

"Why are you taking this much time? Isn't there any useful book?" Lala asked while entering the storeroom and I shook my head.

"Lalu I told you to open that cupboard, but my moron Niece" She stepped towards the other cupboard and opened it.

"Come and take what is good for you," I witnessed a mini library in that cupboard. 

"Lala, what a huge collection!" I exclaimed! Lala's face lost her smile.

"Shifa What are you holding? Where do you get it from?" Maham Lala snatched the diary from my hand 

"From that cupboard. It's mummy's diary, give this to me I'll give her." I explained and she shook her head 

"No, aapi doesn't need this, you go and start to study." 

"I'm not going until I get my mom's diary," I huffed, putting both hands on my hips

"Fine with me, stay in the storeroom and I'm going, but you will not get this"

"Lala" I huffed.

"Shifa everything does not go according to you, you are not getting this diary and it's final. Pick the book and focus on studies" Lala scolded me.

That was the first time when she scolded me so harshly. I was shocked by her behaviour but I just nodded and picked a suitable book for me and marched out from the store. I turned to see what she was doing.

Lala was placing the diary in a trunk. 

"It's mummy's diary and I'll give her this" I mumbled and I was very stubborn with my decisions. 

At night, when Everyone was having ice cream after dinner, I found a good chance. I went to the storeroom and opened the trunk. There was another diary, many photo albums and few more things. 

The first page of another diary was also showing mummy's name. I picked both diaries and hid them in my bag. 

I'm Shifa, no one can beat me in stubbornness.

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I went back home with Hamdan bhai. Papa and mummy were sitting in the courtyard having their night tea. 

"Mumma, papa" I ran towards them, mummy opened her arms and I hugged her. 

"Papa today I've sung a song in school and I got a byname The Melodious Girl, and everyone clapped for me," I shared my achievement with my parents, mummy kissed my forehead but papa as usually just nodded.

I know he doesn't love me like my brothers, just because I'm a girl.

"Go and sleep," Mummy said after caressing my head 

"Papa Afifa's family is going to the Lohagarh farmhouse, can I go with them?" I asked and papa shook his head without wasting time 

"No, you are not going anywhere, focus on studies"

"Papa please.." I pleaded and Hamdan bhai came forward 

"Papa let her go" Bhai defended me and I smiled with a hope building inside my heart. 

"Hamdan you focus on studies only" Papa scolded him and I was silent. 

"Shifa go to your room," Mummy ordered me and I opened my mouth to say something but before any word could make their way, mummy grabbed my wrist "Come with me" saying that she dragged me to my room. 

"Do You want to go?" she asked and I nodded. Of course, I wanted to go, was that even a question?

"I'll talk to your papa, he will allow you," Mummy assured me

"Thanks, Mumma, but why does Papa never allow me to go anywhere?" I asked and she stayed silent not for some moments, it seems she was lost somewhere. 

"Mummy" I shook her shoulder 

"Hmm?" 

"why papa never allow me to go anywhere" I repeated

"I.. I.. Actual.." Mummy was saying something but stopped in between and took a deep breath

''Good girls don't go outside the house uselessly and also they don't go anywhere with friends and other people. Your papa wants you to be a very good girl that's why he always keeps an eye on you" Mummy said and I nodded.

"But mummy if not with friends then with whom should I go? Papa never takes me anywhere. Hamdan bhai go with his friends he takes Bilal with himself but I don't go anywhere except Nani ammi's home" I said and mummy held my both hands

"I'll talk to your papa, to plan a trip during this summer vacation," Mummy said and I just nodded. That's nothing new. We plan a trip every year but unfortunately, that summer vacation hasn't arrived yet in which that plan could be executed.

"But mummy, you never go anywhere with Nana Abbu or Lala or Mama's Family! Even mama never asks you to join them." I shrugged. 

" I'm married, I can go with your papa. Why do I have to go with them?" Mummy smiled and I nodded

"But Papa doesn't ta.."

"Stop it my question bank," Mummy smiled and hit my head with her fingers

"I'll not go with Afifa," I said and hugged my mummy

"Why?"

"Because I'm a good girl" I replied and mummy hugged me back.

''I'm a good girl just like my mummy'' I tried to butter her and she broke the hug.

''You are a thousand times better than your mummy" she pecked my forehead and caressed my hair.

"Bilal bring your cricket bat or cane" we listened to papa's shouting voice

''Mummy, is there any thief?" I asked 

"No beta, don't worry. I'm going to check" I nodded but I was feeling scared. 

"What are you doing? Stop it! Please don't beat" I listened to mummy's shouting voice and I went to the courtyard.

Mummy was crying sitting on her knees in the middle of the courtyard. She was holding a cat with both hands near her thighs.

"Mariyam, she will destroy everything," pointed out the cat with the help of the stick he was holding in his hand to beat the cat. Hamdan bhai and Bilal were watching the whole scene as was I. 

"At least see her condition, how can you be so heartless?" Mumma shouted while crying and caressed the back of the cat. 

"Maryam, she will create a mess in the whole house, let me throw her out of the house. And why are you crying for this cat?" Papa asked. I was also confused, mummy was crying as if papa wasn't beating the cat but her. 

"Can't you see, she has a small kitten! Where will she go, how will she find shelter?" Mumbai asked papa with disappointment and he was shocked.

"But why am I expecting this from you?" Men can't understand this situation and this pain," Mumma cried silently as if she was feeling that cat's pain.

"Maryam. Stop crying" Papa said while wiping her tears "Shifa bring some milk for this cat" papa ordered me and I nodded.

"Papa, Can we keep this cat?" I also kneeled beside mummy, who was now caressing the back of the cat, Mumma looked at papa and he nodded.

"Thank you so much, papa," I jumped happily and hugged his arm but his brows became furrowed.

"Shifa go to your room and sleep, you have to go to school tomorrow," Mummy instructed, and I stepped towards the room after a nod. I wanted to read the diary but I was very tired, so I preferred to sleep. 

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_Naaz Jamal