Closing the window she tried to make the rain stopped from entering the Haveli, quickly climbing down the stairs her bangles and anklet made the sound of tinkling,

"Kya Kar rahi ho?" She entered the kitchen and saw a maid was there looking outside of the window

(What are you doing?)

"Woh barish..." The young girl got scared she quickly close the window, she turned to her and fixed her dupatta

(Nothing... Just rain...)

"Woh to mujhe bhi dikh raha Hai ki ho rahi Hai, jaldi se haveli ki sari khidki aur darwaze band kardo isse pehle barish ka pani andar aye," she looked at the girl in front of her, she was in the age of her own daughter

(I can also see rain, close all the doors and windows,)

"Darwaze band karde? Lekin abhi toh koi aya hi nahi," she was new here and she needed to be told everything otherwise she end up making disaster

(Close the door? But no one has returned yet,)

"Jab sab ayenge toh darwza khul jayega," as she said that they heard the faint sound of car honk

(We will open the door when everyone will return,)

They both quickly looked outside of the closed window, because of the rain the window was covered with fogg they couldn't clearly see anything but they saw a figure getting down from front seat then opening the door of the backseat helping another figure to get down

The other figure was feminine and by the color of dress which was red they assume it was the bride

They both tried to get glimpse of her but it was hard for both of them

They stayed by the window untill everyone got down and they heard the sound of doorbell

The older maid ran to main door and opened it one by one everyone got inside none bothered to say anything and went inside of their respective room

"Rifat bi, aap Azeen ko kamre mein le jaiye," Halima Shah said

(Please take Azeen to her room,)

Rifat bi looked at the youngest lady her face was hidden behind red veil

Rifat bi point in front of herself asking her move with her

Grabbing her lehnga and picking up a little she started moving with little step, her anklet tinkling with her steps,

"Apko kuch chahiye!" When they reached the room rifat but asked her but she quickly nod her head negatively

(Do you need something?)

"Theek Hai, izazat dijiye," Rifat Bi tried to see her veiled face but when she still didn't make a move to remove her veil the old lady left her alone,

(Okay! I'll leave,)

"Rifat Bi! Apne nayi dulhan ko dekha?" She returned to her room and lay down on her bed, Bilqees who shared the room with her asked

(Did you saw the new bride?)

"Nahi! Ghoonghat liya hua Tha unhone," Rifat Bi answered and turned to other side, she has saw her somewhere her heart whispered but she couldn't remember where

(No her face was hidden behind veil,)

She may have not seen her face but she was feeling bad for the girl

Being someone's second wife is the most painful thing a girl can go through

Specially when the husband has gave all his love to his first wife and has clearly said the new bride will be here only for his son

"Rifat Bi! Shah ji ki pehli biwi kaisi thi?" Bilqees or Billo as everyone called her asked, she was new here and she wanted to know what happened to his first wife

(How was his first wife?)

"Bohot khoobsurat thi badi bahu," Rifat Bi replied as she remembered the day when badi bahu first time came here

(She was very beautiful,)

Zaigham Shah was the eldest son of his parents, everyone's exception were high from him. For higher studies he went abroad and when he returned he came with a wife

Zeeniya Ali, she was beautiful and confident, but also very innocent, she used to get scared easily but she also laughed on little things, she was very talkative and used to talk with everyone, wether it was family member or servant. She never treated anyone her inferior

"Toh phir Shah ji ne unhe chora kyu?" Billo again asked

(Then why did he remarried?)

"Tumhara kaam sawal puchna nahi Hai, koi yaha Kya Kar raha Hai tumhe ussey koi Matlab nahi hona chahiye," Rifat bi scold her harshly and put cover on herself

(You are not here to ask questions,)

Billo also turned to other side making faces, she just wanted to know everyone here, but she couldn't talk to anyone in the Haveli, she o ky know Rifat bi but she always scold her

He took the last puff of cigarette and place it on the ash tray, the bride who was sitting on the same place for last two hours looked at him from the her veil which was still covering her face, the light of the room was turned off only luminous was coming from moon and the curtains was trying to block it also.

"Apko yeh Shaadi se pehle Halima ne sari sachhai Bata di hogi?" Unwrapping the cream colored shawl from his broad shoulders, he asked her the dominance dripping from his voice

(Halima must have told you everything before marriage?)

She quickly non her head. He unbutton the cuff of his kameez,

"Umeed Hai ki apki koi umeedein nahi hongi." Saying this he didn't waited for her reply and left the

(I hope you don't have any expectations from this marriage.)

How can she expect anything from him? When he has crushed every hope of her before

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

The sun has come out with a frown when he heard from the stars that the man has left his newly wedded bride alone in his room all night,

That's why the sunrays reflected off each tiny crystal of the chandelier, lighting up the dark stony walls of the room maybe trying to cheer her up with its beam

She was drying her long slick black hair with towel, the mehndi in her hands was dark in colour making her soft delicate hand more beautiful, placing the towel on the chair she took surma from dressing table and apply it in her eyes, it gave her eyes the smokey look her eyes were the most rare feature of her it was emerald green that matches with her jet black hair and snow like pale skin she applied lipstick on her pink plump lips that looked like patel of rose. She wasn't in the mood of getting like a newly wedded bride, but her Appi instructed her to.

Putting a beautiful golden stud in her ear she saw a figure standing on the doorway looking at her so much interest.

She nod her head to permit him to come inside and she started putting churiya'n in her wrist

"Aap mere baba ke kamre mein Kya Kar rahi Hain? Apko pata nahi Hai baba ko bilkul nahi pasand jab koi unke kamre mein aata Hai." first he asked her normally then he leaned toward her and whispered, she also bent little down to match his level.

( What are you doing in my Baba's room? He doesn't like anyone's presence in his room)

"Sab log bol rahe hain meri mummy aai hain Kya apne meri mummy ko dekha?" The innocent boy thought his mother has returned. Azeen not knowing what to say nod her head negatively.

(Everyone is saying my mummy has came, have you seen her?)

"Aunn idhar aaiye." Zaigham who unknown to them was listening their conversation standing in the doorway of bathroom called Aunn.

(Aunn come here.)

Azeen stand up, Aunn quickly ran to him and asked him the same question where is his mother.

Gently talking to Aunn he tried to make him understand that now his mother won't return and Azeen is his mother but the little boy was still confused and asked question after question

Zaigham brushed Aunn's hair with his hand and replied his every question calmy

Standing still in her place looking at her hands she was listening to their conversation not knowing what to say or how to left the room

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