Sandal's POV:

With shaking hands, I rang my house bell. The door was soon opened by Hareem. Her eyes were swelled and her nose was red ... I don't want the reason behind it.

Asalam o Allaikum bajjo!"

"Wallaikum Salam." As I stepped into the living room, I saw Ami sitting numbly on the floor, clenching two bags to her chest.

"Ami...!" Throwing my bag on the side and ran towards her. I sat before her, she looked at me and before dropping her eyes to bags again.

"Ami!... Ami, look at me. " I said cupping her face with my both hands.

"B-bags...are here... b-but where are kids? Sandal why didn't your brother and sister come back?.... call them Sandal ... ask them... when are they coming back?"

"Ami ....!" I embraced her tightly.

"Ask them, Sandal... Ask them... they say they won't come.... why won't they... I sent them with these bags, what will I tell you father?... why didn't they... ask them why they took away my kids like that-" she started to shout hysterically and I tightened my grip on her to calm her. I can also hear Hareem sobs and Areeba voice, who is trying to hush her.

Slowly Ami sobs died down and her body relaxed a bit. Areeba and I helped her get up and make her to the bed. Quickly Areeba went to the kitchen and brought dinner, which she barely eats and lay down after taking medicine.

"Bajjo, eat something, Hareem will not eat alone. I will take care of Ami." Areeba said after a while, as she sat beside me.

"Areeba! Does anything else come with bags?"

"You mean school notification?" I nodded.

"Hareem has it."

"...Did she say anything?"

"She wants to go back." She sighed.

"Why?"

"I think you should ask her yourself." Nodding my head I got up and walk to my room. Where Hareem was looking at Palwisha's stationery items.

"Hareem! Aren't you hungry? It's getting late." I asked, taking out my clothes from the closet.

"Bujjo! Don't you miss them?" My hands stopped for a moment before I turn around to face her. She was standing near the closet with questioning eyes. Cupping her face I kissed her forehead.

"Of course I miss them... a lot."

"Then why don't you cry like everyone else?"

"Because you can't always cry... I miss them every minute. So, would it be okay if I cry every minute?" She shook her head in negative.

"Let's eat something." I patted her head and walk into the bathroom.

A cold shower was relaxing in this warm weather. It washed away all my tiredness. It would've been better if it's washed away my pain too.

'Bujjo! Don't you miss them?'

I sigh and finished bathing quickly. Walking out from the bathroom I peeked into Ami's room making sure she was sleeping, I prayed Isha prayer. After dinner, I prayed and I lay down beside Hareem. I love to cuddle someone or something while sleeping.

"Bujjo?" Hareem call.

"Hm?"

"Can I say something?"

"Sure."

"I want to go back."

"...why? Don't you like here?" I saw that was coming.

"No. I like here. I also made new friends but I want to go because I am not a coward... I am not scared of them...I also want to join school again like others... bajjo please take me back." She pleaded to hold my hands tightly.

"Okay, I will talk to Ami and Areeba tomorrow." I insured her and closed my eyes.

~*~

Ahmed's POV:

"Ahmed!.... listen to me, beta. You will get what is rightfully yours, so there is no point in taking the wrong route.... you have your whole life in front of you... Live it, enjoy it.... don't dig up the past."

"Chachu. Past, present, and future are linked with each other. Allah has connected them. Past has the power to affect our present..... and future as well...Especially if it's haunted by darkness, its shadow lingers for a long time...Sometimes for eternity." I said and taking a sip of my tea.

" Ahmed I knew your father since childhood. We were best friends and I am sure my friend wouldn't want his son to be stuck in negative things like revenge ...I agree that sometimes shadows do linger for a long time.... but that's why Allah create light.... so it can chase off the darkness along with its shadows."

"Am I wrong Ahmed?" He asked me with calculating eyes. I know he was right so silently averted my gaze.

He slowly got up and stood near the window, looking at his garden.

"You see this garden? I have spent a long time taking care of it... now I am old. I cannot take care of it anymore but I can see its beauty ... And soon there will be a day when I die and not be able to see its beauty again ..... still want this garden to be like this, even if I am gone......" he paused for a moment, " Every parent wishes the same for their children too. I do... and so did your father and I hope one day you will have the same wish for your kids too."

There was again a moment of silence. I glanced at Chachu and visualize him standing there in place. Old, wrinkled skin but satisfaction in eyes and smile on lips.

Will Allah allow me to have such a future ....?

"It's beautiful right?" He asked out of nowhere.

"Huh?"

"The future you're imagining to have."

"You mean being an old man?... not at all." I lied.

" You know you are a terrible liar" he chuckled and continued, " You can find happiness if you stick with your dream... the future...Not the past."

"I came here because I thought you have a practical mind... I guess I was wrong." I said getting up.

"I may have a practical mind ... but I also have a practical heart, which only cares about the well-being of my kids." I rolled my eyes. And giving me a satisfied smile, he continues, "now hush kid ... it's almost Isha time and walking to Masjid takes time."

"Okay. Allah Hafiz." I pick the file from the coffee table that I have got from Rasheed.

"Leave the file here boy... I don't believe you."

"It's a good thing Aleem chachu.... you shouldn't believe anyone." I said and waving my hand I walked outside.

I will have to find another way.....

~*~

Sitting on the bench I tried to look at the sky but ended up closing my eyes. As the light breeze touches me, it calms my nerves, which needed right now. I received a call from mamo earlier, to inform me that Sandal is planning to continue her further studies so she might quit the job soon. So, we need to look for a new employee... I don't mind hiring a new assistant. We can find a thousand times better than Sandal. But the thought of her absences from my life is alone enough to irritate me. I felt a sudden urge to see her or to talk to her, making sure doesn't leave me yet. But looking at the time I refrain myself and walk out of the house.

Sandal was making everything difficult for me as well as for herself... why did she have to be so stupid not to understand it...I know I don't have any room in her heart right now, nor in her life... I was ready for it.... ready to give her time. But intentionally or not, she is pushing me to do something that she might not like..... I won't let her go... Even if it is for a month.

I felt a hand in my hair and opened my eyes.

"You're awake?" I asked.

"How can a mother sleep when his young son sitting in the garden, worried." Ami said as she sits beside me.

"Ami don't be a filmi mom. It doesn't suit you." I teased her and she hit me on arm.

"You'll know when you become a parent." She said her typical motherly dialogue, but I didn't roll my eyes like I used to. Instead, I grin.

"You are not worried about Zohma's wedding. Everything is going perfectly about it thanks to Allah...... Then what is it?" she said eyeing me suspiciously and my grin widened.

"I am worried about your future daughter-in-law." Leaning back, I put my arm on her shoulder.

"What?" she nearly shouted.

"You heard me." I said calmly.

"Who is she? Don't tell me she is one of those models you hang out with..... I'll never accept it."

"Woah! You look like a typical mother-in-law." I chuckled and she hit me again.

"Who is she?"

"Sandal."

"Sandal?" She asked me in disbelief.

"Yes. Don't you like her?"

"Yes, I like her... it's just I never thought about her that way."

"Well, now you can." My tense muscles relaxed when I get a hint of a positive response.

"But when did this happen? You two don't seem to be close and you telling us now when both of you already made a decision of being together.... does Sandal's mother know about this?" There was still disbelief in her voice with a bit of anger too.

"Ami, first and most important. Sandal doesn't know anything. Second, it's my one-sided feelings. Third, I am telling you this right now because I want you to talk to Sandal's mother."

"You mean, you're serious about it?"

"Yes Ami, that's why I told you."

"I know but still... I can't believe my son is confessing his love for a girl and want me to ask her hand in marriage ..... I always thought you will bring a model home one day and announce her your wife." She sighed.

"Okay, Ami! Please don't insult me any further." I said in an irritated manner.

"Sorry beta. I am still confused that should I dance a happy dance or sit still in a daze. This dream might be over soon."

"Ami..."

"Fine fine... I will talk to your sister first." She said getting up.

"She already knew ... just tell her that you want to meet Sandal's family."

"Beta this is improper to bring up such talk when you know what happened to their family. "

"I know, that's why I am saying this." She gave me a weird look and walk into the house.

"Come back inside the house."

"Coming." I got up and also walk into the house, relaxed and satisfied. All irritation has vanished... soon there will be a day when I walk into my house with Sandal as my wife.

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