until she was awake again looking at the ceiling thinking about his words.

He accepts her.

She smiles blushing at his words and his eyes looking at her. Good thing she is sick so she acted like she wanted to sleep.

She heard the bell ringing and decided it was time to head down to look at the girls. She freshens up walking downstairs hearing the shouting.

"Why did you take an off?. Does your father pay your instalments just so you can stay at home?". His mother yelled at the girls

She walks down faster hearing those words looking at the girls shivering in fear standing in front of that woman, "No, he pays them for them to excel in their lives and to be able to stand tall in front of the world. Not to be burdened and insulted for it".

Their eyes turn towards her and the girls immediately run towards her hugging her tightly and crying.

"You". His mother said angrily

"Ammi". They heard Yahya voice booming through the house as he stands beside her

She asked the girls to go back to their room not wanting them to hear the next exchange.

"She is here for less than two days and already she is destroying everything I have built". His mother shouted

"What exactly is that you build?". She asked challenging

His mother glares at her, "When that cheap woman left her children three years back I was the one who handled this house and helped those two kids to not feel left alone. I took care of everything".

"Really?. Because as far as I know, you were never home". She said smirking

His mother eyes widen, "What?. You are trying to blame me?".

"No". She said shortly taking steps down, "Do you want me to get that woman who told you about me?. She is one of the women who you have your kitty parties you have all the time. Or do you want me to bring the kids back down to speak?. I can ask the security to bring the footage to show how many times you have actually stayed home so what exactly do you mean by you are the reason this house works?".

"What is the meaning of this, Ammi?". Yahya asked shocked

"You are doubting me?". His mother said with fake tears, "You are doubting your own mother over a girl who hasn't been here for two days?. I was the one who raised you and your children. How can you say this to me?".

She sighs feeling pain in her head from this drama. She dialled the number placing it one speaker.

"I am sure you know who I am". She speaks to the same aunt who told his mother about her, "Just before I tell your husband about your hidden life I would like if you start speaking and also send me the video and pictures immediately".

"No, stop". His mother said scared

"S-She is always with us every day at all-time betting money (a lot) and complaining about the kids. She told us how she threatens them that she will throw them out if they speak to their father or if they ever don't listen to her. She takes all the money Yahya provide for the girls care betting it". The aunt explained

Yahya looks at his mother shocked and her face says more than her words could.

Zariah was about to cancel the call when the aunt speaks, "A-Also, she asked us to find a bride this time who is younger so she can train her the ways she wants and control her".

Then, the call ended leaving a painful silence behind.

"I want you to leave to other house. I will send my trusted house worker with you immediately". Yahya spoke walking away

His mother looks at the floor knowing she had no chance.

"You shouldn't have ever done what you did to the girls. As long as it was just me I wouldn't have done a thing but the moment I saw tears and fears in those little kids eyes I knew I will not let anyone who hurt them near them". She said walking back to her room

She took a deep breath knowing he is behind the door probably heartbroken. She opens the door entering inside to find him sitting on the floor holding his head.

She walks sitting beside him not sure what she has to do.

"I was no better than her". He said remorse

She realises her is his first wife. She wasn't so sure that she wanted to hear about her.

"How?". She asked softly

"She left me because I was poor because I didn't have enough money to fill her needs". He said angrily, "She didn't care about her two years old daughter who needed her the most of the older (Noor) one who was begging for her. She just walked out of the house without a word".

He pauses, "I didn't say after that and just worked hard to build this life for my kids. I never thought I will be married or that my Ammi would turn out like this".

She looks at his hands in his lap for a moment but then she forwards her hand holding them in her own. Her heartbeat rises but not in panic for the first time.

He looks at their hand together smiling to himself knowing that is her best so far. He turns to look at her watching the little innocent blush covering her cheeks.

"It wasn't your fault". She said softly, "You trusted someone who brought you up and you expected the same from her while you provide for your children. Even when you should have better communication with your children and that is your fault you can still do better now. They are still young and you can still do a good job to not allow these last few years to affect their lives in future".

"I never thought you were smart". He said

She blushes more but shrugged, "I am smart you are don't know me".

He holds her hand tighter, "I want to know you".

"Why would I tell you?". She said chuckling trying to take her hand away from his hand but he pulls her making her squeal looking at him wide eyes

"You want to know the reason?". He asked

"No". She said pushing him away running outside

He chuckles shaking his head.

******

"Why?". She asked frowning looking at the paper of her last instalment

"You once told me I am not anything to you to pay for your expenses". He said stepping closer to her, "Now I am your husband".

"But-". She started

"No, I don't want to hear it. I am your husband and I can pay for everything and I will". He said firm

"Fine". She said sighing looking at the paper

She has exams in a month and this is the only way she can appear.

"Do you have a dream?". He asked curiously

She shakes her head, "No. The time I was supposed to be thinking about it everything was taken from me".

"You have been working so hard to study". He stated

She shrugged, "That is because if I didn't people will look down on me. Apparently, that piece of paper holds the value of a person and if I refused I couldn't stay in the society without being considered dumb. First being raped is enough to disqualify me I had no idea if I would ever be able to marry so I needed something to keep me going".

He nodded.

"There must be something you really wanted". He said smiling

She stayed quiet.

They heard the bell ringing while Yahya went to open the door she went to pick Hooria in her arms playing with her.

"Bhai, whatever was the reason she is our mother". She heard Hamza voice

Soon enough he enters inside with his mother who was crying silently. She sends the kids back to their room.

"Beta, it was all a mistake". His mother cried

"Ammi, even if it was all a mistake how can you do that to my children?". He asked sadly

"I never liked what their mother did to you". His mother confessed

"They were still my children, Ammi". He stated, "They were innocent and they didn't even have a mother to take care of them".

"I agree". His mother said holding his hands, "I will be better, I promise".

"No, I will be better". He said taking a step back, "Nothing you say will change my mind. I saw how you reacted in these days with them and my wife. I cannot have that happen all the time. I know my wife won't say anything about what you do to her but I don't want her or my children to live in constant pain just because I am too busy to not look at them".

She looks at him speaking and standing for her knowing he has her heart now or maybe he had her heart all this time but she didn't realise it. If she allowed him to hold her in his arms so easily he did accepted him before that.

"Beta, I am the one who brought you in this world. How can you change because of one woman?". His mother said angrily breaking her trance

"She is a woman too like you, Ammi. My children will become a woman one day too. I don't know how you can change so much from being my mother to caring for my children and my wife. They were all the same as you. You were the reason for my existence and they are the reason I exist. You all have parts in my life, your own parts and nothing can change that but I can move things around". He said sighing, "You and Hamza will live in our other house. You can come to visit us but you cannot stay here. Neither you can talk in my wife decision for my children. I trust her to groom them in the right way".

"Bhai". Hamza started

His mother turns to Hamza, "You told me she studied in your school with you, right?".

Hamza frowns, "Yes?".

"So you must have seen her talking to other boys-". His mother started

"Ammi". Yahya said stern

"What?. I am saying the truth. We don't know her past or what she must be doing in school. She is young obviously she has affairs here and there". His mother said

She just stayed quiet. She looks over at Yahya who seems to be fighting between her and his mother so she holds his hand trying to keep him back.

It doesn't matter.

If his mother blames her she doesn't care about it. She have a husband and two children why care about someone else?.

"No, she doesn't". She heard Hamza say, "She never had any boyfriend and she always had boundaries with interacting with any male in the school. She had no girls as her friend's boys were far from her. She even rejected me".

Yahya eyes widen, "What?".

"Yes, it wasn't her fault. When we were in junior year I told her I liked her and she clearly said she was not interested but I insisted on her to like me. That day you asked me why I was angry it was because she rejected me in front of everyone again". Hamza confessed

"But-". Yahya started

"She was never for someone like me. She was more mature than any of us in the class. I asked her if she married you for revenge or on purpose and s-she slapped me hard saying she isn't the one to treat (make) relationship for these petty reasons. She said relationships are valuable to be exploited like this". Hamza said sighing

Hamza pauses, "I am sorry, Zariah. I will take Ammi and keep her away from you all".

With that, another chapter ended.

*******

She sits on the bed looking at him praying peacefully. The look on his face even after his heartbreak from his own mother and somehow brother the peace still remains. She has to agree the moment he did his ablution his face seems to shine even more and the moment he speaks to his Lord like there is no one than him he can turn to help.

Who had she turned to help?.

Definitely not people. Because they are weak with their own emotions to take the burden of hers.

But she knows the Lord is someone who doesn't judge, listen and help us. He holds more power than a weak being.

She wonders the reason she needs to pray for?.

"What are you thinking?". She heard his voice as she walks back to bed

"Why do you pray?". She asked conflicted

"Many reasons. But you have to find yours on your own". He said smiling

She frowns.

"I don't like that answer". She stated

He chuckles, "When you have your own answer you will like that more. Just know that he is the most forgiving".

She nodded.

"I am going to see the girls". She said moving off the bed

"What about me?". He said

She shrugged, "You will live".

She walks outside of the room through the darkness towards the girl's door when she stopped. She can hear the sound of last bits of prayer outside making her heartbeat frantically.

She opens the door shaking her head to find the girls in deep sleep. She sits beside them looking at them for the longest time until the sun was about to rise. She looks at the sunlight entering inside falling on them.

Why should I pray?.

She walks near the sink in the room remembering the ablution she had read before. Slowly she opens the tap following the procedure and soon she is standing on the mat praying. The steps and words seem to come out of her mouth like have always been praying.

The moment she raises her hands was the moment the tears start to pour from her heart.

The pain, suffering and the longing of the soul to it's Lord.

She cried for the pain she had been holding in herself not being able to find a way or anyone to speak to. Then she realised she prayed for despair, for hope for the future, for her needs, for her happiness (thanking) she had found after so long and most of all for the protection of her family especially the girls to never face what she have faced.

Her family.

She prayed for everything the goods and the bad.

She knows praying wasn't just a simple thing it holds every emotion perfectly. We pray when we feel too much and we pray when we feel too little. We pray when we are in sad and we pray when we are happy to be thankful.

For people who don't understand that prayer is made to stop us from evil not for a moment but for life. Because we aren't focusing on life hereafter but life here.

She knows now.

******

She sits on the ground watching the girls laughing playing around with their father.

It's been years.

She passed her senior year scoring a perfect score.

Her life seems to be passing by without any more storms besides the storm of her past (memories). Scars felt at such a tender age leaves a mark for life. People usually expect the girls to forget and get over these scars to have a normal life as nothing happens.

That is not possible.

The scars stay and they need to have a person who understands them. She still sees those nightmares and it was hard to carry on with her disturbing health and fears of being physically involved with him.

But he understands. He gave her space with his small gestures still staying with her. It took her all strength to realise that one scar isn't worthy to ruin her beautiful future.

The future she likes.

"What's your dream?". He asked her again after her results

"I have one dream I will tell you someday". She said grinning

Her dream is in front of her eyes.

"I wanted to be a mother". She whispers to herself smiling

She cannot be one naturally. Her health doesn't allow her that treasure.

She cannot have a child of her own.

But faith was on her side this time since she has two daughters (Noor and Hooria) who were her own blessings. She wanted to feel what it was to feel like a mother.

To guide a little being to make them into a person.

She is one now.

Those two girls are her world she lives for.

That was her dream.

"Wouldn't people look down on her?". She asked herself

"Were people there when you were in pain?". He asked sitting beside her wrapping his arms around her

She shakes her head and he kisses her cheeks, "Then you shouldn't care about them".

People still spoke ill of them especially when his mother played the victim but they stayed together.

People are just trying to bring you down. You don't need to be at their standards to be accepted. Being a mother is a blessing and if someone doesn't understand that you don't need to explain.

Standards are just illusion set by people.

She wasn't sure if Yahya loved her but she wasn't the one who knew love either. What Yahya provided her with was all she ever wanted, respect.

Is respect a form of love?.

For her, it was more than enough to spend her life for them.

That was their life walking through a dark path to the light.

She laughs when he tickles her making the girls runs to her aid.

"Ammi Jaan". The girls yelled

Her heart melts. The first time she heard them saying that she cried all day.

She is a mother.

They all laughed.

That was them.

Yahya and Zariah.

*******