THIRD PERSON'S POV

Aatish was kneeled down in front of Shifa, he was crying something like that Maryam cried in front of him when he was saying to divorce her. He was feeling the pain of being left by the one who is most important in the life. Maryam was still crying but silently. She was watching Aatish and thinking about his condition. He was not 'so handsome' anymore. Even Anwar who was ten years older than Aatish was looking better than him. Aatish was looking ill and weak, his eyes were covered with dark circles as if he hadn't sleep for many nights, his hair were messy, clothes were unironed as if he was just completing the number of days of his life without any reason to live. Anwar was standing with his wife, encircling his arm around her shoulder and Maryam was feeling protected with him.

There were two pair of eyes who were noticing everything with full confusion. They were Hamdan and Bilal...

Bilal was trying to understand something but couldn't, he was still supposing that Hamdan was Maryam's biological son, that scene was making him confused, but at the same time Hamdan was trying to understand what Maryam had faced!! Before that he thought that maybe Maryam's first husband was died that's why she was remarried with his father but he was witnessing the reality.

"Where is your parents? Are they alive or..." Shifa asked to Aatish and Maryam looked at Anwar.

"Shifa how do you know about everything? Who told you? Maham or Razi?" Maryam asked in some angry way

"Why are you alone? Where is your wife what was her name... Pa.. Pariza, and where are your children?" Shifa asked, she knew about Pariza because Maryam had wrote about her in her Diary when she saw pariza and Aatish in hospital

"But I never shared anything with anyone then how do you got to know?" Maryam almost shouted on Shifa but she ignored.

"I don't have anyone beta... Except you" Aatish said and held shifa's hand

"I'm not your beta... Don't waste my time just answer me" Shifa said rudely while pulling her hand from his grip and Aatish looked at Maryam.

"Rose Aft...."

"I'll kill you if you do dare to call her Rose again with your dirty tongue, she is my wife." Anwar roared while stepping towards Aatish to grabbed his collar but Hamdan and Bilal stopped him.

"Yes.. I shouldn't call her that..." Aatish mumbled while nodding

"Maryam After divorcing you I didn't wanted to do Marriage but Ammi and baba forced me to do so, as they were concerned for me. But to be honest I was happy after marriage" Aatish said And Anwar huffed and fisted his hands, he looked at Maryam who was trying to control her tears but couldn't

"Bhai and bhabhi left the home on same day when I divorced you. I was living a happy life with Pariza... The day when your son was born I was also in the hospital" Aatish said to Maryam and she looked at Anwar.

"Pariza was also hospitalised at that time, I saw you coming in hospital but you didn't noticed me" Aatish informed and only Anwar knows how he was tolerating everything.

"Next day I also become father of a boy... But.." Aatish cried out

"My... Son wasn't alive... He born dead" He added and Maryam closed her eyes, she was a mother so she could feel that pain.

"Ammi and baba always use to say that Pariza was very lucky for me because I was getting success in my life, and I also believe on that. After one year I was again blessed with a son but again he didn't stay alive more than a few hours. At the time I was dealing with a very big company which gave me a very big contract and I took loan to produce that order and our factory started producing their the goods but before the delivery date they cancelled the order and I was on road..., I didn't had any other money to pay of the loan, and the order which our factory produced were not needed by anyone. We sold our home, machinery, and factory to pay off the debts." Aatish stopped after that and found Maryam silently crying, Anwar was caressing her back.

"We left Delhi and Shifted here as one of my friend suggested me. I bought this small piece of land, built this shop and home... Then started living here... Within two years of divorcing you I was on road. I left you for the luxurious life but that luxuries left me... After one years we were again blessed with a girl.. She was very beautiful. And she stay alive, I gave her name Bushra..." Maryam who was not making eye contact with Aatish suddenly looked at him. She remembered that she informed Aatish and his brother that she wanted to give Bushra name for Shifa but she respected her parents choice and kept her daughter's name Shifa.

"Bushra was my life.. My Bushra.." Aatish mumbled while crying and Shifa furrowed her brows.

"Bushra was... Where is she now?" Shifa asked and Aatish made himself stand, till then he was sitting on his knees.

"Beta I left you na.. So Allah punished me. My Bushra always sleep when I took her in my arms, but when she was about two years.... She become sick and... Allah took her back..." Aatish said to Shifa and she really felt bad for him.

"Maryam At that time I remembered your baddua (curse). You cursed me that I don't deserve a daughter like Shifa.... And see.. What that curse did with me... It took away my Bushra from me" Aatish shouted on Maryam out of frustration and helplessness.

"Lekin... Tumhari baddua main bhi dard tha jab hi to usne meri masum bachchi ko mujhse chheen liya... Wo tumhari baddua nhi balki meri galtiyon ki wajaho se mujhse dur chali gai.." Aatish said with helplessness and Maryam felt his pain, she didn't felt happy for his miserable condition

(but... Your curse was ful of pain that's why it took away my innocent daughter from me... But she went away from me because of my mistakes not your curse)

"After Bushra's demise Pasiza also left me... She said that I'm Manhus (jinx) that's why she was facing so many problems with me.... I was working day and night to give her everything, but she left me... I literally begged and joined my hands in front of her but she didn't listen to me... I begged in front of her parents to made her understand but they also didn't listen to me... She filed divorce petition, I never wanted to divorce her but..." Aatish said and Maryam smiled sadly.

"Takleef hui thi?"

(had you felt tormented?)

Maryam asked in her cracky voice and Aatish nooded while resting his back with the wall to support his frame.

"Mu..mujhe bhi bohot takleef hui thi... Tumhari Ammi to mujhe bhi Manhus kehti thi... Tab tumhe kabhi bura nahi laga tha? Mene bhi to tumhare maa baap ke peer pakad liye the taki wo apne bete ko samjha de ki mujhe talaq na de... Tab tumhe takleef nahi hui thi? Tumne to ek minute main teen baar talaq bol kar meri zindagi hi badal di thi.. Mujhe to ye bhi nahi pta tha ki main jaungi kaha? Agar Ammi or abbu bhi mujhe ghar se nikal dete to main kaha jati? I was two months pregnant at that time..." Maryam placed many questions, her voice was telling about the pain of her heart, her every word was giving pain to Anwar, he wanted to take away his wife from her ex-husband but he didn't because Maryam was cross questioning with Aatish, she was pouring out her anger and her helplessness for the first time.

(I was also felt tormented... Your mother used to call me jinx... didn't you ever feel bad for that? I also told your parents that they should explain to their son not to divorce me, but they also didn't listen... Weren't you feel pain that time ? You have divorced me in a minute and changed my life .. I didn't even know where I would go? Where would I go if my parents also didn't accept me and let me stay in their house? I was two months pregnant at that time...)

"Mujhe maaf kardo Maryam... Baba aur Ammi ke keh ne ki wajah se mene tumhe Talaq di thi... Mujhe maaf kardo" Aatish said with helpless voice

(Please forgive me Maryam.... I divorced you as my parents forced me to do so. Please forgive me)

"Aap itne achhe bete the ki aap ke Ammi baba ne kaha or Aapne mumma ko talaq de di.. Shadi bhi to aapne apne parents khilaf jaa kar kari thi, divorce ke liye unke khilaf ja kar decision kyu nahi liya?" Shifa asked with rage and Maryam was shocked on her befitting reply

(Were you so much obedient son? You did Marriage against your parents will then why you couldn't go again your parents when they said to divorce mumma)

"Aatish tum to Shifa ko hospital me bhi dekhne nhi aye the.. Woh Sirf 4 din ki thi jab main use tumhare paas lai thi.. Tum ne kya kra... Kya is Waqt tumhe yaad nahi aaya tha ki Shifa tumhari beti hai! Tumhe kabhi Shifa se pyar kra hi nhi.. Ab tum akele ho is liye tumhe koi chahiye to meri beti beti yaad aa gai...." Maryam said angrily but pain was also present there in her voice

(Aatish you didn't even come to hospital to saw Shifa, she was only four days old when I took her to you... Haven't you remember at that time that Shifa is your daughter! You never loved Shifa... Now you are alone and you need someone that's why you remembered about my Shifa.)

"How is your brother? Where is he?" Shifa asked and Aatish think for a while....

"Bhai faced many problems... He lived in a small home along with his family, for some two years he was struggling for his business. Baba said him many times to come back and join the business again, but he said that he will not take share of that business which is the reason of someone's divorce. But after sometime he started his own business and now he is living happily, but he broke every tie with me and baba, he didn't even come to meet baba, but he send money for his medicines." Aatish informed and Shifa smiled.

"I wish I could meet him... He is an ideal man unlike you." Shifa said and turned towards Anwar with a smile and tears in her eyes.

"Beta I did many mistakes, but I really love you.. You are my daughter.." Shifa jerked his hand which was on her shoulder.

"That weren't mistakes but sins which you did intentionally, and your parents were equally responsible in all your sins." Shifa said rudely

"My parents get the punishment for their sins and now I am getting that too. Ammi died many years ago" Aatish said

"And you baba is alive..." Maryam asked and Aatish nodded.

"Baba is alive but he pray for his death every moment, his life is not less than a damnation. His lower half body is paralysed since many years, he evev can't do his small work, I do all his work" Aatish informed and Shifa nodded.

"How can anyone think that they would live a happy life after destroying someone's..." Shifa mumbled and held Anwar's hand.

"Papa you are my papa and I am your daughter" Shifa said and Anwar placed his hand on her head

"Yes... You are only my daughter" He mumbled and Shifa smiled

"Maryam... Forgive me.. Please forgive me" Aatish said and joined his hands in front of her

"When I lost my three children at that time I realised what I did... And when Pariza left me alone at that time I realised how would you felt when I divorced you... Every night When I live alone in my room I remember how I left you alone in separate room like a useless piece of my life and I use to live in separate room with every possible comfort. Maryam now I realise the pain which I have give to you... Yesterday I didn't had anything to eat and I remember that night when you were hungry and asking me to bring something for you but I didn't listen to you... I'm feeling your pain each and every moment... Please forgive me... I did wrong with you" Aatish said and Maryam remembered everything.

"I.. I fo.. forgive you.." before pressing her lips together and closing the eyes Maryam said and Anwar looked at her, she was still crying with hiccups but trying to control herself.

"Don't forgive him mumma... He is the reason behind your pains" Shifa said angrily and Maryam opened her arms for Shifa, she hugged her mother.

"Allah already gave him pain which he gave to me, and if he got that pain because he that all those things with me then I don't wanna be the reason of someone's miserable life..." Maryam said in hushed tone and Shifa cried silently.

"Beta forgive me... I did wrong with you but I am ashamed on my every deed." Aatish joined his hands in front of Shifa and Maryam nodded looking at Shifa .

"No.. I'll never forgive you... I never felt the love of Father its all because of you" Shifa cried and siad on which Anwar also felt bad,

"Beta.. Allah took away the blessing of being a father, isn't it enough as a punishment?" Shifa felt bad for that.

"I don't have any right but still I'm asking for forgiveness... Forgive me beta" Aatish joined his hands together, Shifa took some ten minutes to reply

"I'm forgiving you just for the sake of Allah, otherwise you don't deserve forgiveness." Shifa said and Aatish embraced her and cried out.

"Come Shifa..." Anwar said and Shifa took a step back. Aatish kissed her forehead while cupping cheeks.

"Go beta.. But come again someday... Maybe you found me alive... Because I don't have anyone. Sometimes I think what will happen if I will die in my room! No one will come to check me if I'm alive or dead! I don't know will someone do my Funeral or not?" Shifa cried on that helpless voice and took a step back, she drew out the keyring from her pocket which Aatish gave her sometimes ago. Holding Aatish's hand she placed that on his palm

"I don't need any tocken of remembrance of you... You are the dark side of my life." saying that she held MARYAM'S hand and they all left from there leaving Aatish alone with his guilt, sorrow, pains, and whatnot..

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Hamdan was driving the car back to Delhi, Bilal was on front passenger seat and Maryam and Shifa both were crying sitting on back seat.

Anwar was sitting in the middle of his wife and daughter, both's head were placed on his chest, he was caressing the head of Shifa, and back of Maryam..

"Where were you hiding so much pain inside you?!" Anwar asked to Maryam and she cried more..

"you never shared that you faced so much problems.." Anwar said Maryam looked at him

"once I started to share with you but you didn't felt good that your wife talk about her ex" Maryam mumbled and Anwar rub her back in soothing way.

"Since when did you know about everything and who told you?" Anwar asked to Shifa, and she informed about everything about diaries. Maryam was amazed that Shifa knew everything since almost ten years but she never said anything

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