THIRD PERSON'S POV.

Shifa's depression was not hidden from any eyes but luckily Her poor Rank in NEET gave a reason to everyone to believe in her sadness, otherwise she had to hide her tears and her sorrowful expressions from everyone. Shifa's sorrow was increased more when A knock on the door grabbed her attention.

Maryam open the door, Ifra and Nida entered in which was a surprised cum shocked for her.

They both come to give invitation of Faraz's marriage. Though Nikkah was done five days ago but Aamna's farewell wasn't done yet.

"Maryam rukhsati (farewell) will be done on this Saturday and reception will be on Monday, you all have to attend the function" Nida said with a smile and Maryam also smiled.

"What happened to Shifa? Why she is looking pale?" Ifra asked about Shifa who was giving water to guests.

"Nothing serious... Her mode is off because her papa didn't allow her to go to Afifa's home." Maryam said and Ifra smiled while pinching her cheek

"Aww... Don't worry, meet your friend in Faraz's wedding, she will also come there, its only four days now" Ifra said and Shifa tried to smile. But only she knows what she was feeling.

"Nida Baji it's the time for lunch, I'll not let you go without having that" Maryam said and Nida shook her head.

"Faraz must be coming back to home. And there isn't anyone in home" Nida said but Maryam insisted and Nida and Ifra got agreed maybe hesitantly or unwillingly

But Shifa got busy in preparation for lunch without knowing that Faraz reached his home and that was locked, he didn't had keys so he called his mother and she said him to take the keys from her.

The door bell ranged and Shifa thought he must be Bilal who had returned from school. She scoot to the door and when open that her heart stopped to beat.

"Ammi is here, right?" Looking away from Shifa's face, Faraz asked and Shifa nodded.

"Come in Faraz" Maryam said with a smile and Shifa's heart again clenched with pain.

Faraz was saying to go back after taking keys from Nida but Maryam stopped him too for lunch.

"Allah Ta'ala... Why he come here? Isn't it enough that I tolerate the pain that he got married!" mumbling the same Shifa fisted her hands angrily but her anger was actually her frustration of her broken heart.

IN some time Bilal also arrived from school and both mother daughter served lunch for guests.

Shifa didn't uttered a single word just placed the dishes on dining table, and left the room, Faraz also didn't even glanced at her. Shifa come out from her room just to clean dining table. For a moment Shifa and Faraz's gaze met with each other when Shifa was picking the plate from his front. Both felt a different pang and suddenly averted their gaze as they knew there wasn't any relationship between them.

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"Suniye"

"Hmm''

"Shifa is very depressed since a week" Maryam shared with her husband and he nodded.

"Send her to parents home, she will become happy after sometime with Razi's children" Anwar suggested and Maryam think for a while.

"I think I should take her to market for shopping, she also don't have good clothes to wear in Faraz's wedding" Maryam said and Anwar nodded then gave his credit card to his wife.

"Do shopping for yourself too." He added on which she smiled with a nod.

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SHIFA'S POV

I was just watching that card without blinking. And soon two tears rolled down from my eyes. Which I suddenly wiped with the back of my palm. Wall Clock was showing two of night, I wasn't sleeping but crying my eyes out. That all happened just because of Rani phuppo.

I was angry at that time, if she didn't creat those misunderstandings then Nida aunty would our home. But what's the matter of beating the dead horse then,controlling my heart I decided to sleep and luckily I got success.

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We were roaming around the market, mummy took me for shopping even after my refusal she thought that I would be happy by doing shopping, but she didn't know that that shopping was like a salt on my injury.

"Shifa how is this gown?" pointing out towards a red and black colour long gown mumma asked

"Mummy I don't want anything, I already have many clothes" I said but my mumma never listen to me.

After some ten minutes we passed by a shop and mummy liked an unstitched cloth.

Once I told mumma that I wanted to wear lacha. And my luck... we got invitation for Faraz's wedding.

"Shifaaaa... You wanted to wear lacha right? See this color will suit you" Mummy said and I was numb.

Mumma bought that cloth and immediately ordered the tailor to stitch the lacha which I desined for my ownself, but I wasn't happy, I wanted to scream loudly.

'I wanted to wear that lacha in my own engagement with Faraz..., not in Faraz's Marriage with someone else..' I wanted to tore that cloth but I was helpless. Mummy did some more shopping for herself and she bought me new footwear which go well with the lacha. She was trying to do everything which could made me happy but each and every thing was killing me from inside.

Finally the wedding day of Faraz arrived and I tried to make myself as strong as I could but it wasn't easy.

"Shifa have you try your dress?" Mummy asked coming in my room and I shook my head.

"Mummy I don't wanna go, please." I pleaded.

"Shifa, babu what's wrong with you? Why you always stay away from people?" Mummy asked lovingly.

"Mummy I'm going to Nani Ammi's home" this time I didn't asked for permission but announced my decision, and picked my mobile from the bed.

"what happened to you Shifa? Don't be so stupid and stubborn. Don't you know today is Mami's sister's wedding too, Razi, Ammi and abbu will go to that wedding, what will you do alone there?" Mumma asked in scolding way and I wanted to shout on her that 'Don't control my life. I'm not a puppet, I'm also a human with a heart and feelings'

I wanted to shout and pour out all my pain and frustration but again I was helpless.

" Mummy I don't wanna go to Faraz's wedding" I don't know how I said that with frustration and mummy looked at me with furrowed brows

"Why?" I was silent on her question

"Because Shariq bhai will make my fun" I lied and mummy caressed my head

"But beta what will yo..." I didn't let her complete

"Mummy I'll go with Razi Mama" I said and mummy sighed then the matter goes to papa because his decision would be final and I requested in front of him

"Papa I promise I'll stay with Nani Ammi, I'll not leave her for a single moment, even I'll not go to eat chat but sit with only her" in the end papa got agreed and I smiled with satisfaction. Somehow I managed to not attend the wedding function but the reception was still left and to be honest I didn't knew how to make an excuse for reception function.

Razi Mama and Mami become happy when they both got to know that I was going with them. Mummy, papa and Hamdan bhai went to Faraz's wedding but I and Billu went to Mami's sister's wedding. I wasn't feeling happy but I had to show my big smile to everyone.

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After all the day of Faraz's reception come and I was praying to Allah that I got high fever so that I could get a reason to not go to that function, but....

"Shifa get ready babu" Mummy come inside my room and said with a smile unwillingly I nodded and headed towards the bathroom holding the clothes whose design I shared with mummy sometimes ago. I was taking shower but crying continuously.

"Shifa it's okay... You have to smile..." I mumbled and smiled but tears again rolled down from my eyes..

I was enough strong to hide my emotions from the whole world but I wasn't that much strong to hide my emotions from myself. My heart was broken and My dreamland was destroyed, To be honest I was totally broke down.

But when I stepped out from the bathroom I was again smiling.

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Mummy said that I was looking good and I smiled showing that I was happy. We reached to the venue and firstly I examined Aamna. Before that I only watched her pic one or two times on Ifra aapi's DP but I was looking at her directly for the first time. And she was not a good looking one at all. His and Faraz's pair was not looking good but she was his wife, I had to accept the reality and I did so. I decided that I won't think about Faraz ever.

"Shiffo" I listened a well known voice and turned to saw Afifa.

"You are looking good" She complemented me down heartedly and I smiled half Heartedly.

"Don't be sad yaad" she said in whispered and I smiled.

"I'm happy" I think my words didn't go well with my expressions.

"I wish you will" Afifa said with a genuine smile and I nodded with a sight.

I lifted my gaze towards the stage where Faraz was sitting with his wife. She was smiling with lower gaze and suddenly Faraz and mine gaze met, I wanted to averted my eyes but couldn't. But he bowed his head down towards his mobile and took some two minutes then again lifted his head and looked at me while taking his mobile near his chin, but I understand what he wanted to say.

Indeed he wanted to show me his DP, first I think for a moment to open that but I lost my control over my heart and open WhatsApp to saw his DP which gave me a big shock.

He slightly glared me and I gulped my tears, meanwhile Afifa asked me what I was doing in my mobile so I showed her the DP which Faraz had changed just then.

'Don't I have a heart? I only have a single heart... First it got break when Faraz got engaged, then it again break when his mother come for my proposal for Faraz but next day an information came about his nikkah. But Faraz's that type of behaviour made my heart like a broken glass, whose pieces can't be count.

'Ya Allah why you let me dream about him when he isn't in my destiny?' I asked to my almighty with crying heart but smile on my lips.

Many people were gossiping about the pair of Faraz and Aamna. I was feeling sharp pain in my head but I didn't show to anyone

"Mumma it's very cold, do you have any shawl?" I asked to mumma when Its impossible for me to tolerate cold, and I literally started shivering. Mummy checked my temperature and found that it was fever...

High fever... After all my prayer got answered and I got fever but too late

Mummy immediately informed Papa and we come back to home within an hour. My fever didn't get low for two days so papa said to mummy to took me to hospital and mumma also, got agreed.

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"Lab is on third floor on the right corner." a nurse informed us and we nodded. Doctor said me to do some blood tests and I was going to give blood sample with mummy when we reached to third floor a voice grabbed our attention.

"Abbu... My abbuuuu"

"Aamnaaa... Be brave honey" Aamna was crying hugging her husband and Faraz was embracing her protectively, his chin was resting on Aamna's head and he was caressing his back in soothing way.

"But Abbu..." Aamna was continuously trying

"Don't cry honey, he will be fine... Its just a small operation" Faraz said while kissing Aamna's head and caressing the back of her head. His back was facing us so he didn't know about our presence behind him.

"Faraz... Is everything fine?" Mummy asked after going closer to him. First he was surprised to saw us, then he informed about Aamna's father's health. I preferred to not go close to him and made my way to the Lab to have my blood sample and in no time Mummy was also with me.

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_Naaz Jamal