THIRD PERSON'S POV :

She was sitting in the room waiting for Aatish, but he didn't came back, till the time of dinner. Maryam was feeling very very hungry but she decided to wait for Aatish. To pass her time and divert her attention from the hunger she decided to write her diary. Making herself stand she marched towards the corner of room where her diary was placed, she didn't use to write diary in regular bases but she use to enter only some important, sad or happy events in that.

Dear Diary....

Today I have mixed feelings in my heart. I'm happy for Aatish because his family is accepting him, but I'm sad that they didn't accepted me. At the same time I'm feeling alone, Aatish got back his parents and family's love and I was left with nothing. I only have Aatish no one else. I want to meet Abbu, it's been many months since I talk to him. Once I saw him in market but he didn't saw me or maybe he ignored me and I didn't got courage to talk to him. There is Maham's birthday After three day, I always wished her first on her birthday but this time I won't be with her.

Aatish is also becoming frustrated with our condition day by day but I hope that he will be happy now as he got his family and wife both. But I.. I left my family for him.

Maryam was writing the diary but she heard a knock on the door and she suddenly closed the diary before scooting towards the door.

Opening the door she found Aatish standing there, he was looking so much happy. Entering the house he closed the door and kissed Maryam's forehead.

"Aatish go and freshen up, I'm serving dinner.. I'm starving" Maryam said while stepping towards the kitchen.

"Rose Why didn't had dinner?"

"I was waiting for you" She replied turning her head to his side

"You do dinner but I'm full, Ammi and baba didn't let me come back without dinner" Maryam felt hurt on his reply, she was waiting for him and he was feeding himself with his parents. Aatish didn't wait for Maryam and went to bed. Maryam open the dish to eat food, but looking at the food she didn't want to eat that....

"What happened? Have dinner?" Aatish asked and Maryam shook her head while laying beside him.

"Why?" Aatish asked turning his side to face towards her.

"What did you have in dinner?" Maryam asked in slow voice.

"There were many dishes but I only have biryani and kheer" Maryam looked at him silently and closed her eyes without saying anything, but she felt hurt. There was only daal for her in dinner and he was consuming delicious food.

"Why my rose is shrivel up." embracing her in his arms he asked and she looked up slowing opening her eyes.

"Aatish"

"Yes My rose" He smiled.

"I want to eat apples" She demanded and he looked her with wide eyes then looked at the clock which was showing mid night

"It been many months I didn't eat any fruit" Maryam added and he looked at her with sad gaze.

''I'm sorry, I'm not giving you anything. It's midnight so I'll bring apples for you tomorrow" Maryam nodded very happily and closed her eyes to sleep.

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"Maryam I'm going" Aatish said while wearing shoes, and Maryam nodded while picking up the plates of breakfast from dining area.

"Aatish what will I make for dinner today?" Maryam asked and he looked at her.

"Make what ever you want to eat'' standing up with a jump he said happily and Maryam looked at him with hopeful eyes.

"What ever I want?" sHe asked and Aatish nodded without looking at Maryam, he was wearing his wrist watch.

"Aatish can we go out for dinner? It's being four months we didn't went out for dinner or lunch." Maryam asked and he looked up ''Only if you have some money" Maryam added and Aatish nodded with a smile.

"Yes we can go for dinner, but Rose not today! Since Aapi's wedding I'm very busy, baba gave me all the responsibilities of gifts. So I'll go to my home from office" Maryam nodded downheartedly and stepped in the kitchen.

"Will you take your dinner with your parents or with me?" Maryam enquired in slow voice.

"Ofcourse with my rose" Aatish said happily and Maryam showed him a beautiful smile.

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"Aatish please come back soon I'm hungry..." Maryam mumbled while holding her belly with both hands and looking at the clock which was showing 11:10pm.

When she lost her patience on hunger she decided to had dinner.

On the other hand.....

"Aatish, beta take one more roti"

"No.. Ammi I'm full I can't take a single bite" Aatish said while showing his palm to stop his mother to fill his plate.

"Look at your health, these dark circles... Don't she give you food on time" His mother said holding disappointment in her tone

"Ammi she gives me food on time as well as she cook very well, once you should try food cooked by her" Aatish said and his father glared him.

"Don't talk about her in front of me" his father said angrily, looking his father in anger Aatish's elder brother tried to divert the topic

"Where are you working Aatish, what is your income, and rent of house?" Aatish listen his elder brothers question and replied everything but the whole family was shocked because his income was just equal to the pocket money which he used to get from his father before marriage.

"How do you manage Aatish? I mean rent of home and other expenses?" His brother asked with concern and Aatish passed a sad smile.

"Moreover you were full filing her demands" Aatish's mother said with while jerking her head in taunting way.

"No Ammi she never do any demands, this is the first time in these six months when she just asked for apples." Aatish said in slow voice, he didn't forget to bought apples for her.

"Its starting... Today she asked for apples then tomorrow will ask for some bigger thing then something else and you will be fulfilling her demands for whole life." his mother said while glaring him and he preferred to stay quiet.

"Ammi its alright na.. She is his wife, from whom she will do demand if not from him?" Aatish's brother said and his wife nodded in agreement.

"Don't talk nonsense, I said not to talk about that girl in my home." His father shouted and there was pin drop silence in very next moment.

Aatish finished his dinner and went to wash his hand, after that he talk to his mother for a few minutes and stepped towards the door holding the polythene of apples in his hands. His brother found change to talk to his and he also followed him

"Aatish wait!" he turned to saw his brother.

"Keep this" looking here there Aatish's brother gave some money in his hand.

"Bhai.."

"Keep this... You may need it." Aatish hugged his brother.

"Bhai I'm fade up by eating daal everyday, only we know how we are living" Aatish shared his problem with his brother.

"I'll try to convince baba to give you share in business, either he allow you and Maryam in this home or not, at least you will able to pay off rent easily and bear all the expenses." His brother said and he smiled sadly.

"thanks bhai" saying that Aatish stepped towards the road and his brother again stopped him.

"How will you go? In auto?" he asked and Aatish shocked his head.

"Its not that much far away, I'll go while walking, it will be a good night walk" Aatish said and his brother understand that he was saying that just to save some money.

"Wait for a minute" Aatish nodded on his brother's order

"Take your bike, I'll handle Baba in my way" his brother passed the bike keys to Aatish and he nodded.

Aatish went to his home and knocked the door. For first three times Maryam didn't open the door because She was sleeping after having dinner but after a loud banging I'm the door she came out from her slumber and open the door.

"Why you take too much time?"

"Why you take soo much time?"

Both asked the same question to each other

Aatish entered in the home and closed the door behind him. But that day Maryam was in anger.

"Dinner?" She asked without showing any expression on her face

"Ammi and baba didn't let me come back without having dinner." Aatish said with a satisfied smile and Maryam huffed

"If you have to do dinner with your family then why you said that you will take your dinner with me? I was starving here waiting for you and you were busy in dining!" she exclaimed angrily and Aatish made his brows furrowed.

"I took a dinner with my family. What's wrong with this? I take my dinner everyday with you, what happened if I stay with them for some time. Why you are making a mountain of a mole-hill?" Aatish said with furrowed brows and Maryam was shocked on the way of his talking.

"I'm not saying that you can't spend time with your family, I'm asking that why you didn't informed me? I was waiting for you for dinner" Maryam also yelled and Aatish glared her.

"Maryam Sometimes you are a mood spoiler. I was happy today but you... You spoil my mood." He said with frustration. Holding her wrist he lift her right hand and placed the polythene of apples on her palm before moving towards the bed.

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To be continued...

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I know it's short...

But something is better

than nothing..

_Naaz Jamal