Adnaan's heart was pondering fast, after witnessing Sara's ill health and her rude behaviour towards him. He wasn't finding peace anywhere. Fayra was laying beside him, he was dabbing her back gently but both father and daughter were not sleeping.

"Papa"

"Ji beta?" He turned his head with a small smile. Papa was a small word but for him, it was his world.

"Aap thoo (soo) kyu nahi lahe?" Fayra spoke softly and innocently while pushing back her curly hair which was the only part of her appearance that resembles her mother Sara.

(Why aren't THLEEPING? (SLEEPING))

"Aap so jaiye, mujhe neend nahi aa rahi" Adnaan replied with the same softness in his voice, but the little girl was way too intelligent to understand her father's condition.

(I'm not sleepy, you sleep now)

"Main thula du aap ko?" sitting on the bed with a jold she asked innocently and Adnaan smiled; forgetting everything he was only adoring Fayra and her innocent cuteness.

(May I make you asleep)

"Kese thulaogi aap mujhe?" Copying Fayra's lisping way Adnaan asked suppressing his smile on which his daughter crawl near him before placing her one tiny palm on her father's chest and the other on his forehead.

(How will you make me asleep?)

"Eyes close" she ordered and Adnaan followed the order. The little girl started patting at her father's chest as well as forehead, and her soft cushion-like palms gave peace to Adnaan.

"Fayra" He open his eyes to see his little life, who was sitting on her knees. "Aap ke haatho me to jaadu hai, bilkul apni mummy ki tarah" He convey the fact after remembering that Sara sometimes use to massage his head and only by two or three strokes of her hands were enough to make him feel like heaven, the same he was feeling when Fayra's small hands were running on his forehead.

(You've magic in your hands, just like your mother)

Fayra display her cute grin before kissing Adnaan's cheek and in return, he kissed her both cheeks.

"Your hands must be tired na... Leave it" Adnaan spoke in a soft voice but the stubborn girl shook her head.

"Eyes close" She ordered and he again obeyed with a smile but soon his eyes started flashing something from the past.

"Jangli Billi I'm tired" he throw himself on the bed, just beside Sara and she ignored him as her eyes were fixed on her novel. After getting no response he shift his head in her lap on which she looked at him suddenly.

"What is this?" She huffed as her flow of reading was disturbed by Adnaan.

"I'm tired yaar... Just want some peace" He shut his eyes and she smile, holding the book in her left hand she placed her right hand on his head and started running her fingers on his scalp. She was busy with reading a book but Adnaan was feeling peace and soon he entered the land of slumber.

"Papa" Fayra utter in soft whisper just to make sure her father was sleeping peacefully, and even after making sure she was still patting and stroking his forehead in the same way.

On the other side, Sara wasn't able to sleep without Fayra so she came to Adnaan's room and the scene made her amazed. Fayra was still kneeling down beside Adnaan and kissing his cheek. Sara silently went to bed before lifting Fayra in her arms and taking her to her bedroom.

"Fayra papa ke room me Kya kar rahi thi beta?" Sara asked when she was trying to sleep after taking her daughter in an embrace.

(Fayra what were you doing in Papa's room?)

"Main papa ko thula lahi thi" she replied and Sara smiled at her innocent love towards her father.

(I was making papa asleep)

"Who is better and whom do you love more? Papa or mummy?" Sara asked a question addressing her insecurity

"Papa also ask me same"

"And what do you reply" Sara asked and Fayra's reply dropped Sara's small smile. "Papa"

"Papa to khush ho jaate honge ye sun kar," Sara mumbled before closing her eyes, she felt hurt. Even after giving her best time and efforts Fayra still loves Adnaan more.

(Your papa must be feeling happy to listen to this)

"No, he says mummy is better" Sara was surprised by Adnaan's lesson but she ignored it.

"Mummy, but who is better, you or papa?" Fayra questioned

"Neither mummy nor papa, My Fayra is best" Sara kissed her forehead and cheeks before embracing her in a warm hug.

"Mummy"

"Yea baby"

"Papa was thaying (Saying) I've magic in my hands, just like you" Sara nodded with a gust of memories in her mind.

"Sleep now, it's already very late," Sara whispered and Fayra close her eyes but again open her eyes with a demand.

"Mummy, will you bring me tow that chachi was wearing?" Fayra asked about the floral bracelets which Afnaan's wife was wearing and Sara's heart skipped a beat.

"Fayra so jao warna ek thappad marungi ab" Sara shouted, making her daughter scared and Fayra close her eyes while trembling her lips. Sara regret her anger but she was also holding many pains in her heart. Those floral bracelets were not only a lifeless material for her but something else.

(Fayra sleep now, otherwise I'll slap you )

Sara closes her eyes and a lone tear dare to come out from the corner of her right eye. Even after almost three years, she could feel the softness of those flowers on her wrist and its fragrance around herself. Another tear jump out from her eyes when she recalled Adnaan's love but a silent sob left her mouth when she remembered his distrust and all the things that happened between them. Sitting on the bed she covered the sleeping Fayra with a blanket and kissed her cheeks.

"I'm sorry beta" Sara mumbled and kissed her head one more time. Opening the medicine box she took out the thermometer and put it in her mouth. After a minute it was showing 104°F. Her eyes were burning due to fever, as so her heart which was burning with anger. Taking a pill out from the blue coloured strip she gulped it with water. She thought to tell Aasif or Momina or Gul about her health but she was stopped by a feeling of guilt. During her pregnancy, they all already had done enough for her. Moreover, After a long time, Rizwi Mansion was echoing with laughter and giggles, otherwise, Adnaan's accident and dispute between Sara and Adnaan took away the cheerfulness. Sara didn't want to become the reason for worry one more time, so she preferred to hide about her health.

================

Cheeks were puffed like a red balloon, the small nose was clenched with a good amount of anger on its tip and those two chubby arms were wrapped on the chest; She was sitting on the stairs.

"Fayra why are you sitting here?" Danish Asked while performing his duty, ie. Shifting his specs.

"Main nalaz hu" She muttered

(I'm angry)

"kis se?" He asked.

(with whom?)

"Aap shey aur mummy shey" She huffed.

(With you and mummy)

"Mene kya kra?" Danish asked with shocked expressions on his face

(What I've done?)

"Mujhe totlate (chocolate) nhi di" She looked away and Danish smack his forehead

(you didn't give me totlate (chocolate))

"Fayra I don't have chocolate, but I'll bring chocolate for you while returning from school. That's a promise." Fayra looked at him and show a cute pout.

"Sachhi?" she asked and Danish nodded his head which slipped his specs and Fayra giggled

(Promise?)

"What you both are doing here?" Adnaan who was going downstairs asked both the kids. All the other members were already present in the dining hall for the breakfast.

"Chamu I'm going for breakfast" Saying that Danish rush downstairs holding his school bag on his shoulders.

"Fayra kya hua? Meri beti ko gussa kyu aa raha hai?" lifting her in his arms Adnaan asked and Fayra hugged him while placing her head on his shoulder.

(What happened? Why is my daughter angry?)

"Mummy meli baat hi nhi shunti, wo gandi hain, mujhe daat ti lehti hain..." Fayra Huffed and Adnaan smiled at her innocent anger. But in reality, he didn't know the reason behind Sara's ignorance towards Fayra.

(Mummy doesn't listen to me, she is bad, she always scolds me.)

Sara had a very high fever she was unable to wake up but Fayra was demanding to give her something to eat, so Sara scolded her and told her to go to Adnaan. After that scolding Fayra went to Adnaan's room but he was taking a bath so the little girl came back to her mother's room and Sara became angry on her.

"Mummy se gussa nahi hote, ye achhi baat nhi hai. Aur meri Fayra to achhi bachhi hai na." going downstairs Adnaan whispered.

(It's not good to be angry with mummy, and you're my good girl. Aren't you?)

"Main ab un shey baat hi nhi kalungi" she huffed and Adnaan smiled, he knew if Fayra came to her stubbornness, no one could change her mind. Just like her parents.

(now I won't talk to her)

"Chalo aap gussa nhi ho, Aaj aap papa ke sath office Chalo." Adnaan kissed Fayra's cheek one more time and went to the dining area.

(Come on, don't be angry. Today you'll come with papa to his office)

Adnaan feed Fayra with his hands, Sara was not present there.

"Fayra where is your mummy?" Maizah asked and little Fayra again made an angry face.

"Wo to tho lahi hain" Maizah fake a smile and gave an angry look to Anzala before serving breakfast for all.

(She's sleeping)

Adnaan went to Sara's room to get Fayra ready to take with him, Sara was sleeping on her stomach without covering herself with a blanket. Adnaan jerk his head with anger and covered her properly before drawing out Fayra's clothes and shoes from the cupboard.

<><><><><><><>

Sara:

Flipping a roti on the pan, I rolled out another one and at the same time, stir in the vessel of curry. It was difficult for me to stay standing for long but I had to cook for everyone. In the morning my fever was very high so I wasn't able to come to the kitchen, Maizah had prepared breakfast all everyone alone. I could feel her small amount of anger due to this. She thought I was resting after leaving all the work for her only, so after breakfast, she had announced that she is sick and couldn't cook for lunch and dinner.

I know she was lying. But she is not at fault, I hadn't informed anyone about my health so it's my fault. Everyone was busy with Maizah who was showing her fake tantrums and I was cooking for the big family in 101°F fever.

"Chudail how are you now?" I suddenly looked at Anzala bhai who stepped into the kitchen with this question. "Where is Mazi?" He asked when didn't find his wife in the kitchen.

"She is taking a rest" I mumbled and focus on the roti. Nodding his head he turned back to go but stopped by my call.

"Anzala bhai"

"Hmm"

"Where is Adnaan?" I asked but corrected myself the very next moment

"I mean to ask where is Fayra..." Practically, I explained to myself that I wasn't inquiring about Adnaan but my daughter only. "He has taken Fayra to the park, after that he'll go back to the office," Anzala bhai informed me.

I was missing my Fayra. Moreover, the guilt was killing me. I scolded my little princess without any of her faults.

"Anzala bhai, please call him and ask him to take my Fayra back," I demanded.

"Sara, There is a lot of work in the office, Afnaan is already not present here and I come back earlier because Mazi is not well, so only Adnaan is there to handle all the work. He can't come back soon" Saying that Anzala bhai stepped out from the kitchen and I felt a pang in my heart as a result my vision turned blur.

Mummy was right, my life was already devastated. What did I have in my life? Only Fayra. But she loves her father more than me. I know, I wasn't a good mother, many times I drew out my frustration by scolding Fayra and she finds peace with Adnaan. Sometimes I feel scared, I couldn't afford to lose Fayra too. What will happen if she'll also forget me? Just like Adnaan. She is already a replica of her father.

Why my life is not like others? Why?

Since childhood, I wasn't a green-eyed and jealous person but now I was turning covetous.

'Don't I deserve a happy married life?' My heart asks me this question every day.

"I hate this man" I muttered after gritting my teeth.

'Really? Do you?' My heart asked like a satire. Yes... I do not hate him. I still love him.

But he doesn't love me anymore.

Holding all the pains in my heart I finished all the work before going t9 my room. Resting my back with the wall I sat down on the floor and shut down my eyes. I was feeling fear of losing Fayra.

How will I live without her?

A few days ago Adnaan was telling Anzala bhai that he wants to do a job instead of a family business and he was getting a few offers from Mumbai.

What, if Adnaan will shift there?

What, if he'll forcefully take Fayra with him?

Will he find out someone else?

Fighting with myself and these thoughts I don't know when I fell asleep.

<><><><><>

Adnaan:

Fayra was playing in front of me, but instead of her, I was seeing a family. A couple was playing with their two children and I was missing this feeling. I wish Sara would be with us, Fayra doesn't need a mother or a father, she needs her parents. Both mother and father, that too together

I also need my wife, sometimes I just want to hug her tight and never let her go. I miss our fights and arguments. I miss out on night coffee and I miss my Jangli billi. But I know she doesn't hold any place for me in her heart and I couldn't tolerate her rudeness anymore. We were living under the same roof, but indifferent from one another.

I don't know where my love was lost? How could Sara forget my love so easily?

"Papa" I looked at Fayra, she was pulling my clothes to draw my attention. "Hmm?"

She opens her arms and I lift her while kissing her cheek. "Are you feeling sleepy?" I asked and she nodded. It's Fayra's habit, when she feels sleepy she opens her arms to come to my lap.

"Fayra, will you miss me if I will go away from you?" I asked in a whisper and she nodded after wrapping her little chubby arms around my neck.

"I'm going beta" I whispered while kissing her head one more time and she hurriedly break the hug.

"Aap taha jaa lahe hain?" Her eye expressions resemble her mother, she talks with her eyes more than her words. I could notice a good amount of curiosity in those two little eyes.

(Where are you going?)

"Bohot dur" I whispered with a sad smile.

(Far away )

"Why?" She asked me innocently. I didn't find the correct words to answer her.

"Papa loves you beta. I'll come back whenever you'll need me" I kissed both cheeks and embrace her again. Going away from Fayra was a punishment for me but living in front of Sara like a stranger was bigger punishment. My heart shattered into many pieces when she glares at me for no strong reason. If I couldn't get forgiveness in the last three years then nothing could be changed.

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To be continued...

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😁😁😁😁

How is this chapter??

The next chapter will be published soon as half of it is already present in my draft.

_Naaz Jamal