THIRD PERSON'S POV :

(Flashback)

Time was passing as usually, Maryam entered in the sixth month of her pregnancy, Rani and Amma's deeds were unchanged towards Maryam. Rani never let go a single chance to taunt on her character and Shifa was the target of her hate without any of the fault of that innocent soul. But with the passing time Maryam was experiencing a new Anwar who was so much careful for her health and safety. He use to bring fruits and ice-cream for her. But his expressionless face was still expressionless and his rough and rude tone was still unchanged. They both still didn't share the bond of love but they were sharing responsibilities of their family.

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That was Sunday morning Anwar was sitting on the bad helping Hamdan who was doing his homework. And Shifa was continuously trying to pull the notebook from Hamdan which he was trying to save from that little fists.

"Daan bai..." Shifa said while standing in front of him and Hamdan forgot about his homework, he kissed shifa's cheeks and started playing with her.

"Hamdan first complete this, then play with Shifa" Anwar scolded him and he nodded, but little Shifa was still wanted to play with her Daan bai so she keep uttering his name sitting on bed, beside Hamdan.

"Maryam give her something to play she is disturbing Hamdan" Anwar ordered to Maryam who was ironing Hamdan's uniform and she nodded. Speading the play mat on floor Maryam made Shifa sat in that and placed some soft toys in front of her.

"Tomorrow is your appointment with doctor. Right?" Anwar confirmed and she turned to saw him then nodded slowly.

After some half an hour Maryam was sitting on floor with Shifa playing with her and Anwar was busy in Hamdan and his homework.

"Suniye" she looked at him who was sitting on bed.

"Hmm" without paying attention to her he hummed.

"Hamdan if you repeat this mistake then I'll slap you. Be attentive while studying" Hamdan got tarrified due to his father's scolding, Anwar was very sincere about the studies except that there wasn't any topic on which he scolds Hamdan.

"Shall I go to my home for few days, its been a long time since I visited there" Maryam said and this time Anwar just nodded without saying anything word.

Maryam smiled and kissed shifa's cheek. "Will my baby go to meet Nana abbu?" Maryam asked in happy and childish tone, and little Shifa nodded happily while babbling ''Nana bu"

"Papa I'll also go to Nana abbu's home" Hamdan said and Anwar nodded.

"Fine, but complete this within ten minutes" Anwar commanded and Hamdan nodded happily, he feels happy after spending time with Maham, she was also love him as he was an adorable child. For Hamdan, Maham wasn't the sister of his step mother but like a friend or elder sister.

Maryam happily drew out her clothes from the cupboard to go to her maternal home and Anwar was still busy with hamdan. At the same time....

"Hamdan bhaiiiii" Maryam turned to the owner of voice and he was Rani's son.

MARYAM'S POV :

(Flashback)

"Hamdan bhaiiiii" Rani baji was standing outside the room holding hand of his son I closed the cupboard as I knew then I couldn't go to my home.

"Rani phuppo" Hamdan went to her and she kissed his cheek. That's true she loves Hamdan very much. I greeted her and made my way towards the kitchen after glancing at him.

Maybe he understood what I wanted to say. That wasn't anything new After our marriage my life was like a maid and nanny but at least he didn't scold me then.

"Maryam" I started preparing for lunch and heard his call, placing back the onions on kitchen counter I made my way to the room.

"What are you cooking?" He asked with furrowed brows while glancing at me then again looked towards Hamdan

"Pulao, palak paneer and daal chawal for Hamdan" I replied and he lifted his head

"No need to make all these things make a simple dish, make Rajma chawal for everyone, no need to cook so many things" He ordered me as I was his made and I nodded but his cate was hidden behind his rough tone. 

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After serving lunch and sat down beside Him and started having my meal. I was very hungry.

"Amma I'm thinking to send Maryam to her maternal home for some days, she will do some rest"  He said to his mother and she furrowed her brows

"Yaha bhi konsa zyada kaam hota hai! Pura din wo karti hi kya hai? bas khati hi rehti hai ya apni beti ke aage peeche phirti rehti hai"

(There is not much work here! And What does she do all day nothing Just keeps grazing like a cow or wandering around her daughter)

Amma said while looking at me, I was feeding rice to Shifa and Hamdan too. I use to do all the work but she was saying as if I don't do anything.

"Mummy when will we go to Nana abbu's home?" Hamdan asked and I looked at him, he didn't said anything.

"Babu we are not going. We'll go some other day" I replied with a down face.

"Hamdan eat with your hands, now you are a big boy" I said him after caressing his head and started feeding small bites of rice to Shifa.

"You have showed your step-mother side... You are feeding your daughter with your hand and saying him to feed by himself." I jumped on my place when suddenly Rani baji yelled on me, that sudden voice made my heartbeat fast.

"Rani baji he is becoming...." I was saying something whe

"Maryam go inside" He ordered me but I didn't followed. I was taking care of Hamdan just like Shifa but Amma and Rani baji always gives me the tag of stepmother.

"But I never treat him as a stepson, I take his care just like Shifa" I put my point in front of everyone.

"A stepmother can't love like real mother" Rani baji said while glaring me.

"Why are you repeating same thing again and again? Sometimes I ignored Shifa for Hamdan's work" I said with frustration.

"Rani... Maryam stop it you both" throwing the plate to other side he roared and I was numb.

"Maryam Aren't you listening, I said go to room it means get lost from here" He shout while glaring me, his eyes were bloodshot and he was grinding his teeth.

"And you!! can't you be quite without arguing?" He scolded his sister angrily.

Picking up Shifa I marched towards the room while wiping my tears. I was feeling hungry and supposed to feed myself after kids but...

His loud roar was echoing in my head

'Get lost from here'

Sitting in the room I was crying badly embraceing my daughter. No matter whatever I do, I always get negative result.

After sometime which was like ten minutes he entered in the room and looked at me with his Sharp gaze which made my heart shivered with fear, but he didn't utter any word. Picking the bike keys from table he left the room...

"I got only a day to spend in Home but you can't digest my peace" I listened his voice from outside the room. I don't know was that for me or for his sister.

"Mummy what is step-mother?" Hamdan asked and I ignored the question.

"Mummy tell me naa... What is step-mother?" He shook my hand while repeating his question

"I don't know ask to your papa when he come back" I said while sniffing and Hamdan nodded.

My whole day passed in the same way, he didn't came back to home till night and cherry on the cake Rani baji decided to stay for some two days. I even couldn't went to meet my parents for few hours and she could stay for day and night.

....................

I was serving dinner when he came back home. After serving for amma and Rani baji I looked at him, I didn't wanted to talk to him but I didn't have any other way.

"Khana lga diya hai, aa jaiye" without looking at him I said and made my way towards kitchen to bring plate for him.

(dinner is served, come and have it)

But he didn't came for dinner.

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After completing all my work I was laying facing opposite to him and most probably he was sleeping.

'Its always impossible to understand this man, neither he 3 l smiles nor he change his rude attitude. He cares for me but his anger has no boundaries. He never says anything to his sister or mother but shouted on me just if I defended myself. Whatever it is... He is good or not.. I again started hating him... I was wrong that he is good he even didn't talk to me after shouting on me. I hate hi...' suddenly a hand caressed my head and I turned with a jolt to saw him.

"Weren't you sleeping?" he asked surprisingly and pulled his hand back as soon as he could

"Had dinner?" his voice was full of rudeness as usual

"No" I replied and again turned my head to face opposite to him, but....

"I already told not to skip your meal" his manly and rude voice hit my ear drums and I didn't turn my side.

"I'm already full" I said and closed my eyes while muttering "with your scoldings" but I think I muttered enough loudly that he listened the same.

"Hmm??" He asked but I closed my eyes tightly.

"I was in rage." after some ten minutes he said and his big and hot hand held my shoulder, on which I opened my eyes. I turned my side to face towards him, he was still in anger his furrowed brows were showing that.

"I never treat Hamdan like a stepmother, sometimes I leave Shifa crying but complete his work on time" I stated in small voice, I was feeling scared dur to deep creases on his forehead which was indicating his rage

"I know, but I was saying to go inside then why you didn't listen to me?" he said angrily and I felt tears in my eyes.

"I'm sorry" I said without any of my fault and closed my eyes to sleep.

"Maryam I'm telling you again when I say something then listen to me and obey that" He scolded me with anger and I just sobbed, with closed eyes.

"Sorry" I mumbled without opening my eyes and going to turn my side to face opposite to him when he held my arm and I open my eyes

"Sari baate to maanti hu main aapki" I said while sniffing and wiping my tears

(I obey your every order)

"Even I didn't went to my home without saying anything because I knew I have to cook for Rani baji" I added and he nodded slowly but he had some creases on his forehead.

"Go and bring food for yourself as well as for me" He ordered and I nodded in defeated way and bring food for him, not for myself. Placing the tray in front of him I sat down silently.

"Have it" He ordered and I shook my head

"khana khao.. Zyada drama karne ki zarurat nhi hai, Gusse me sab ese hi bolte hain, koi phuul nhi deta." His rude voice was as usually rude, I lifted my gaze on his order, I hadn't any room to refuse his order.

(Have food... No need to show all these dramas to me. Everyone talk like this in anger, no one gives flowers)

"Phuul.. Wo to kabhi bina gusse ke bhi nhi diye, gusse me kya denge!" I mumbled while creeping towards him to started having food from his plate.

(You even never gave me flowers without anger)

''Hmm?" He raised his brow and I shook my head in Reply, he shifter roti on my side and I keep feeding myself, I was very hungry, before I could finishing one roti he placed another one in front of me and I keep having that without lifted my gaze, then he placed another one in front of me

"I'm full" I said while pushing the roti towards him

"Sure?" I nodded slowly.

"Make me tea... You haven't give me today!" he ordered me and I made my way towards the kitchen.

"This man is extraordinary sometimes I feels that understanding him is not less than solving a mystery." I said to myself while making tea for both of us. But after spending those 11 months with him at least I got success in understanding one thing, he can't digest if I go against his order he wants me to work according to him....

Holding the cups of tea in a tray I stepped in the room he was standing near the study table reading a file when I towards the file I got to know that were my prescriptions and reports.

"Be ready tomorrow, after dropping Hamdan to bus stop I'll come back to pick you to go to hospital" He ordered me and I nodded without uttering any word.

After having tea I lay down on my side I looked at my baby who was sleeping with slightly open mouth, she was looking cute. I kissed her cheek and closed my eyes to sleep, taking Shifa in my embrace, but sleep wasn't consuming me, I opened my eyes and my gaze went to the clock which was showing 12:15 of night, suddenly I remembered the date, that was my birthday. I turned my head towards him, he was sleeping....

After all those things in my life I was really supposing that someone would wish me on my birthday!!

"Humans and their expectations..." I smiled sadly in my heart and soon I  slept after sometime without knowing about an unexpected incident which was waiting for me next day....

The incident which was going to break me Again.....

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To be continued.....

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How it is??

_Naaz Jamal