Yasir stood still in shock as he tried to comprehend what his cousin had just told him. He just could not believe his ears. Zulekha? How did she even come into all of this? It didn't make sense at all.

"Have you lost your mind Khaleel?"

"I am telling you bro, all this is because of that 'cake shop'."

Yasir sighed as he felt for his chair and sat down.

"Now what on earth is 'cake shop'?"

"That is Zulekha Akram for you!"

"What?"

"Haven't you seen the amount of makeup that woman puts?"

"I am blind Khaleel."

"Consider yourself lucky then," said Khaleel a large frown on his face.

"Khaleel..."

"No Yasir, im very serious. Wallah sometimes i personally get worried that if she goes out in the sun she will melt. Like for real."

"Why are you hating on her so much? She is our sister, remember that," said Yasir.

He genuinely considered his Akhi's wife to be his sister and he was not at all happy with the way Khaleel was badmouthing her.

"That 'cake shop' is not my sister," grumbled Khaleel his frown deepening.

"Okay fine, so how is she behind all this? Why would she of all people, want my shares?"

"Maybe she wants to sell your shares to buy more make up," he huffed and Yasir immediately palmed his face.

He just could not believe that they were even having this conversation. And what was this conversation really about? Shares, makeup or cake?

"Khaleel this is wrong," began Yasir.

"The only thing or person wrong here is that 'cake shop' and il prove it to you and that too with facts, Khaleelo's facts," said Khaleel as he pulled an office chair and sat right next to Yasir.

"Let me start with Hisham," he said and Yasir slowly nodded his head waiting for him to continue.

"Is your Akhi a spendthrift?"

"Not at all," Yasir immediately replied.

"Does he like luxurious things?"

Yasir remained silent for a while and Khaleel could clearly see that his cousin was deep in thought.

"Well he does own an expensive sports car," began Yasir but Khaleel quickly cut him off.

"Forget his sports car bro, we both know his love for sports cars is to a whole new level but other than that, when has Hisham spent money on luxurious things?"

"Never, unless he is buying something for someone else," whispered Yasir at the same time wondering where this conversation was heading. So far, he had not could not see how Zulekha came into all of this.

"Exactly bro, now look at how all this will flow," said Khaleel as he grabbed a paper and pen from the desk and began drawing a flow chart totally forgetting that Yasir could not see.

"Where does your Akhi live now?" he asked excitedly. He just could not wait to drive his point home.

"In a house?" replied Yasir confusedly.

Khaleel put his pen down as he stared at Yasir in disbelief. Did he just say house? Like seriously?

"Really Yasir? That is not a house bro. That is a freaking palace. Like dude, its even bigger than the Hosseini Mansion."

"Okay, so?"

"So when did Hisham buy that mansion come palace?"

"After he got married," said Yasir still wondering where Khaleel was heading with all of this.

"When did Hisham go on a honeymoon and that too, to Maldives for over two weeks?"

"Of course after he got married Khaleel. How can a man go for his honeymoon before getting married?" asked Yasir while rolling his eyes.

"Whatever bro. So who came into your Akhi's life after he got married?"

"Zulekha?"

"Do you get the bigger picture here?" asked Khaleel a small smile on his face.

"Nope," said Yasir and Khaleel threw his pen on the floor in frustration.

"Its so clear Yasir. Look at the pattern of his life after marriage. He has been living like a billionaire and I am a hundred percent sure that all of this is because of that woman."

"Who is our sister."

"Not my sister. No thanks," said Khaleel he too rolling his eyes.

That 'cake shop' his sister? No freaking way.

"I don't see anything wrong here Khaleel. Maybe its their dream as a couple to own such a house. And as for going on a honeymoon to Maldives, whats wrong in that?" asked Yasir.

"Okay, have you and Yumnah gone on your honeymoon yet?"

"Not yet," replied Yasir and Khaleel didn't fail to notice the red tint on his brother's cheeks.

"So what if Yumnah asks you to take her to Maldives and that too for two weeks? Will you take her?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"That is too expensive. I don't think I would be able to afford it," replied Yasir.

"So you think Hisham is able to afford a big mansion and a trip to the Maldives all at one go? Do we also own oil wells or something of the sort apart from this construction business which I am not aware of?" asked Khaleel as he leaned back in his chair.

If Yasir could still not see his point then he wasn't too sure if he could stop himself from strangling him.

"Maybe he had saved money. Akhi began working before us," said Yasir still not wanting to see Zulekha as the bad person.

"So like he earns in billions or what?"

"Khaleel..."

"Yasir just think about it. He simply cannot afford it. Not even if he had been working for ten years."

"Then where did he get the money from?"

"Simple. He must have sold his own shares and now, due to his wife's crazy demands, he needs your shares as well."

Yasir sighed as he rubbed his temples. His migraine was getting worse and worse by the minute and after what Khaleel had just told him, he felt like his head would explode anytime soon.

"But why are you blaming Zulekha? We just said that Akhi likes buying luxurious things for other people right? Maybe he is doing this for her out of his own will?"

"Buying things he cannot afford?"

"I don't know what to say Khaleel..."

"Look bro, its simple. Lets use you and Yumnah," said Khaleel as he sat up straight. He was determined to make Yasir understand even if it took him the whole day.

"You love Yumnah right?"

". "

"MashAllah bro. So what if the love of your life asks you to buy for her a mansion similar to Hisham's? Will you buy it for her?"

"No!"

"Why not?"

"Simply because I cannot afford it. Maybe I would just work hard and buy it for her one day when I have enough money," replied Yasir calmly.

"Exactly. Now put Hisham in your shoes? What would he have done if he was you? Would he have waited?"

Yasir went silent once again and Khaleel too let him be.

"No my Akhi would not have waited. He would have gone out of his way to buy her the house regardless of his financial situation. He would have 'moved mountains' just to make her happy. He would have worked day and night just to ensure that she got what she wanted and he would have done that not only for her but for everyone else," said Yasir.

"Exactly Yasir but Zulekha is the type of woman who will never get satisfied with whatever you give her. She will always want more and more."

"How do you know so much about her? Did you know her from before?"

"Of course not and Alhamdullilah for that," said Khaleel as he fake wiped his forehead.

"Then how come you have her all 'figured' out? Are you a detective now?"

"Well, lets just say that I have studied her the few times we have met."

"What? Isn't that haram?"

"Dude, by study i meant ive noticed a few things."

"Like what?"

Khaleel let out a long sigh. Why was it being so difficult to explain things to Yasir? Wasn't everything so clear or was he being too judgmental? He doubted it. He knew shit when he saw it and Zulekha Akram was definitely that and he did not feel sorry for feeling that way about her.

"Well, have you ever noticed how she says 'Salam' ? Its like as if someone has put a gun on her forehead and forced her to say it," Khaleel began and Yasir once again palmed his face.

"Maybe she is shy?"

Khaleel stared at Yasir for a while before he burst out in laughter.

"Zulekha Akram and shy? Oh please!"

"Okaaaaaay so apart from her Salam, what other things have you noticed detective Khaleelo? asked Yasir.

"Well, has she ever asked how you are? Has she ever bothered with any one of us? Has she? And forget us, we are her non mahrams its not like we should be really talking to her anyway but how many times have you ever heard her talking to Khaltu or Yumnah?"

Yasir's mind drifted off to the many get togethers they had had as a family and to be honest, he had never heard Zulekha speak to Mama nor Yumnah. He quickly made a mental note to ask Yumnah about it.

"And Yumnah is like the most friendly person I have ever met. I have never seen her speaking to Zulekha. Don't you think that is weird especially for Yumnah?"

"It is," whispered Yasir quietly. How had he not noticed all of this?

"Do you know why they don't get along?"

"No! Why?"

"Because all that Zulekha does is sit at the dining table and sulk while your poor Akhi will be serving her everything. In the beginning it was cute but now whenever I see him doing that, I feel like throwing up Wallahi."

"And then after she has eaten, she doesn't even help in picking up her plate. She leaves her plate for Yumnah and Khaltu to pick, like what are you? Queen of Canada?"

"Khaleel..."

"No Yasir, I don't how all of you don't see such things. Its small things for sure but with bigger meanings."

"And then she will cling to Hisham throughout. He will then get up, serve her dessert and bring it for her on the sofa. Like woman, don't you have legs?"

Yasir remained silent as he let Khaleel vent out all his hate for Zulekha. He just didn't know what to think anymore.

"That woman is mean Wallahi. Think about it Yasir. How many times has Hisham invited us to his house? Forget us, has he ever invited Khalo and Khaltu over even if its just for tea? Has he?"

"No!"

"Is Hisham the type not to invite people over?"

"Not at all."

"See once again, Zulekha magically lands into the picture and I'm not making anything up. Its the truth," said Khaleel.

"Everything is because of Zulekha. Each and everything. She is the one who wants your shares now. I am very sure about that."

"

"What?" asked Khaleel shock evident all over his face.

"I said, I will give them to her."

"Don't be stupid Yasir. After all that I've told you, why are you making things easier for that witch?"

"

Khaleel slammed his hands on the table in annoyance and Yasir winced.

"You are not making things easier for him Yasir. You are only but helping him dig his own grave. That woman will finish him. I am telling you bro. I can see it from now."

"Nothing will happen. In Sha Allah. I still have hope in Zulekha. I still feel like we are misinterpreting everything. But incase everything you have just told me is true, and if this will bring back happiness into my Akhi's life, then I will give him my shares."

Khaleel shook his head not at all believing what he was hearing. What sort of man was Yasir really?

"Yasir, you are a good man. Maybe that is why you don't want to see the bad in her. Which is there by the way. But just because of your goodness, don't ruin things further. If you want to help your Akhi, then confront him about all the things I have told you. Ask him to tell you the truth. He loves you a lot and I am sure that he will open up to you. Don't give him your shares yet..."

"No Khaleel. Ive made up my mind. I want to help him."

"You are one stubborn man Wallahi," said Khaleel.

"Thank you. Now just help me to put my thumbprint on this papers."

"

"Khaleel please."

"No!"

"Fine, Il just call Mark to help me then," said Yasir as he attempted to stand up.

"I'l lock that door and swallow the key. Try me bro. Wallah I will," said Khaleel adamantly. No way was he going to allow his cousin to make such a grave mistake.

"Khaleel...," Yasir sighed and Khaleel didnt miss the hint of sadness in his cousin's voice.

"Let me do this please. My Akhi has done a lot for me since the day I was born. I should have signed this document the minute he asked me to. I don't know what came over me and I said no. Please let me do it bro, please."

"So you are doing this because he has done a lot for you?"

"Yes. I guess its my turn now to return the favour."

"Okay, so if its about returning favours then don't sign, instead let me give him my shares."

"Why would you want to do that?"