Author: writerbyheart01
Published: 08/10/24
In a world where society claims to forgive, the reality often paints a different picture. We are told to rise like a phoenix from the ashes of our past, to embrace each bad chapter as a lesson. Yet, how often are people truly allowed to leave their past behind? Mistakes cling like roots to a treeāan inseparable part of who we are, shaping how we are judged and remembered. This thought-provoking book delves into the harsh truth: can anyone truly escape their past, or will society always hold it against them? Through powerful storytelling, it explores the journey of self-redemption and the constant battle for acceptance. Will the characters rise above the judgment, or will their past define them forever?
THIRD PERSON'S POV
(Flashback)
Aatish was sitting in his room busy in deep thoughts, he was thinking about what should he do. In the end he got up, and stepped towards his mother's room, but he put down the bike keys on side table.
"Ammi I'm going"
"Where beta?" his mother asked with a happy smile
"Ammi she is my wife." Aatish said in hushed tone.
"Aatish Pariza is not less beautiful than her, her parents are still ready to marry her with you if you divorce Maryam" His mother said and he stay quite.
"Ammi at least you think about us. Baba said that I have to leave Maryam in that home to join family business, I did so. In whole month I only went three or four time to meet her." Aatish said and his mother glared him.
"You were going to meet that girl and..." Aatish didn't let her complete
"Come on Ammi, it's not a wrong thing. She is my wife, if I was meeting her then why are you making this a huge matter? I wasn't going to meet any unknown girl at midnight." Aatish put his point in front of his mother and she turned her face to other side.
"Go if you wanna go, I'll not stop you. But you still have one month to decide anything, so think wisely and tell us your decision" His mother said while caressing his head as if her son was going to do a battle.
"Ammi I left the job to join family business, now I don't have a single penny to feed myself and Maryam. I have to find out another job. Now I'm regretting that why I left that job." Aatish shared his problem with his mother and she nodded.
"This is what we are saying, don't do efferts to find out any job, you are the equal partner of this family business. Live your life with all the comfort" His mother said while caressing his head
"Ammi accept Maryam... She is very kind girl. You will like her... Neither I want to leave my parents nor her. You both are important for me. Ammi don't give me share in business, just allow both of us to stay in this home. I'll find out another job and we will stay here, just like bhai and bhabi lives" Aatish said to his mother and she think about some five minutes.
"I'll talk to your baba tonight, his decision will be final" his mother said and Aatish nodded before going back to the room, he was still had fever.
MARYAM'S POV
(Flashback)
I was washing clothes, and remembering my maternal home. In my abbu's home I never washed a single hankie with my hands. These was a washerwoman who use to do this work but here I was doing all the works. After washing clothes I make masala rice for myself and consumed that. I was alone so I didn't do any efforts for my meal. After done with dinner I was sitting in the corner of room. Neither I had any work to do nor I had anyone with whom I talk. So again I picked my diary and started writing about my whole day and feelings. I was missing Aatish. He was doing so much efforts for me. I was thinking about him and his health. I had fever.......
I didn't realised when it tuned to evening and sky starting gulping the sun. I offered magrib namaz and again sat down in the same corner holding my diary and a mug of tea. I didn't realised when sleep consumed me...
When my slumber got weak I realised myself laying in the bed covered with duvet and a pair of arms were caging me against a hard chest and hot breath was fancing my face and neck. I felt a different fear running in my nerves, my heart started beating fast and I felt my legs were shivering. I open my eyes with a jolt and took a deep breath.
"Aatish..." I muttered under my breath and hugged him back. I don't know how he come inside, but I slept peacefully in his embrace.
"Wake up my beautiful rose" I listened a small whispered then felt his lips on my temple.
"Let me sleep" I mumbled and covered my eyes with forearm but I couldn't help the urge to ask him how he came inside.
"Aatish..." I suddenly open my eyes and he was smiling as of he won something.
"How and when you come back?" I asked suddenly.
"I came at 11:45, the door was unlocked and you were sleeping sitting here" He informed me and I realised that I forgot to lock the door.
"How are you now, your fever" I asked while touching his neck with the back of my fingers.
"I'm fine Now, get ready we are going to my home" Aatish said happily and I was Amazed.
"What do you mean Aatish? Have you forget how your parents treated me when I went there. I visited there three times and every time I face the same insult" I shared my feelings with my husband and he held my both hands.
"Rose I lost my job again, I don't have money to pay rent. I'll try to find out another job, but till then I don't have money. Rose I will do some work but for now we don't have any other way except shifting to that." I was thinking many things in single time
"Aatish why your parents will allow us to stay in their home?" I asked the only question from the numerous from my head.
"I talk to Ammi and she made baba agree to give us space in that home. Baba will not give me share in business, but they said that we can live on the upper floor." I nodded and he also smiled and kissed my forehead.
"Rose It's just starting, Everything will be fine soon" Aatish said happily and I nodded with a smile. I was feeling happy that his parents accepted me and allowed us to stay in that home.
But we both did the third biggest mistake by taking the decision to shift in that home. Aatish's words were exactly opposite to reality.
That was really starting, not for making everything fine but everything was going to be worst....
===============
We went to Aatish's home, I was happy that finally I'll be welcomed in my in-laws house with warm heartedness but...
"Assalamualaikum Ammi" I greeted Aatish's mother, and she looked at me as if I was the biggest criminal of this world.
"Don't ever try to make relationships with us, your room is on second floor, don't you dare to show your face downstairs. Your room, kitchen and bathroom everything is on upper floor, never date to step down a single step" I felt tears in my eyes. No one even talk to a begger in that way in which she was talking to me, I looked at Aatish but he didn't said anything and my eyes dropped two tears which I wiped suddenly. I was continuously watching Aatish for a single word in my defence but he was silent.
"Why are you looking at him, what do you want, he do argument with me?" She said with anger and I shook my head with lower gaze.
"I'm going upstairs" Aatish said to his mother and he held my hand before stepping towards stairs. We went to second floor. There was a big room which was well furnished. When I stepped in the room I jerk his hand with disappointment.
"What happened?"
"Aatish your mother was insulting me and you are behaving like there isn't anything wrong" I asked with anger and my eyes were still dropping tears.
"Don't cry Rose" He hugged me, I tried to free myself with his grip but he held me tightly.
"Aatish I never faced so much insult anywhere" I said with anger but I was hurt.
"I'm sorry Rose, I'm sorry" He whispered on my hair and I cried out resting my head on his chest.
"Now stop crying." kissing my forehead he said and wiped my tears and I nodded.
He made me sat on bed and sat beside me holding my hand.
"Now we have to manage here, I'll try to find out some job, till than..." He didn't complete but I nodded.
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THIRD PERSON'S POV :
Whole week passed in same situation. Aatish was trying to find out some job, but didn't get one. The money which he had was finished in that week.
Maryam was sitting with bended knees, resting her head on Aatish's shoulder, holding her belly with left hand, she was feeling dizzy due to weakness, because she was hungry since morning as so Aatish was. Aatish didn't bring anything to cook and they both were hungry.
"Aatish I can't tolerate now. Please bring anything to eat... Anything" She said with tear filled eyes and he nodded after wiping my tears. He Left Maryam alone in the room and she lay down, Soon she was consumed by the slumber.
Aatish went down stairs and found her mother sitting in dining area and his bhabhi was serving her dinner. Before Aatish made his way to outside the home his mother's call stopped him.
"Where are you going?"
"I'll bring something to eat" He said in hushed tone and his mother keeled her head.
"Didn't she cook?" She passed a taunt
"I.. I didn't bring anything to cook" He said and his mother gestured him to sit for dinner. He sat down beside his mother and started feeding himself without wasting a single second.
"Slowly.." his mother instructed and he nodded but didn't stopped his hand to eat while filling his mouth. After done with his dinner he was sitting with his mother who was talking to him. When his mother went to her room he found a chance to go to the kitchen.
"Bhabhi give something to for Maryam. She didn't have anything since morning" He asked to his sister-in-law and she looked here there.
"Aatish Ammi and Baba strictly warn us, not to talk to you both or doing any type of help. Be careful" saying that in hushed tone his bhabhi passe a plate with some curry and roti, but not before looking here there.
On the other hand Maryam was sleeping for some half an hour, but she woke up when listened the door opening voice and Aatish entered in the room with long steps as if he was a thief who was running to save himself.
"What happened?" Maryam asked with concern and he locked the door behind him.
"Nothing, you have dinner." placing the food in front of her he said and she had her dinner with tear filled eyes.
Tear filled because she was the girl who was treated like a glass doll by her father but then she was craving for only food.
"Maryam I never thought to live A life like this.." Aatish said and Maryam nodded while wiping her tears with the back of her palm and taking another bite.
"When will you got a job? I don't want to live on others mercy. Who give this good?" Maryam asked and Aatish informed about his bhabi.
"Maryam don't ask same question everyday, you are asking same thing that when will I get the job.... I'm not sitting in home, I'm trying to find out the job. I'm also fade up of this life" Aatish said in petulant way. He was becoming more peevish day by day due to hardship of his life.
==============
After three days :
That become the daily of both of them. Aatish went out in the morning for searching of job and came back late at night. Sometimes they both get food and sometimes not. Aatish's brother gave him some money sometimes from which he brings something to eat. At the same time Maryam was caged in that home. she wasn't allowed to even took a step down from the stairs.
"Aatish"
"ji baba" his father's call stopped him to go upstairs.
(yes)
"Come and have dinner" his father said and he scoot towards dining table without wasting a second.
"Baba I didn't got any job, I left previous job to work in your office but..." Aatish stopped in between after saying that.
"Baba can I join business again?" Aatish asked and his father looked at him with sharp gaze.
"Choice is still yours, if you have to live with that girl then no need to join the business and if you have to join business then leave that girl" his father repeated and he nodded while getting up from the chair and stepped towards the stairs.
"Aatish I'm serving dinner, go and freshen up" Maryam said and Aatish shook her head slowly.
"Baba stopped me for dinner, so I had that" Maryam got hurt with that words
"Aatish how can you fine dine when I'm dying with hunger here?" she complained
"Maryam don't make a mountain out of mole hole, baba stopped me so I had dinner with them, you have your dinner." Aatish said in peevish tone and lay down on bed but Maryam had her dinner angrily.
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AATISH'S and MARYAM'S life is going to take a new turn in next part...
Stay tuned and don't forget to vote and Comment...
What Is your opinion about this part??
_Naaz Jamal