****~~~****

Mahek looks around the mansion then back at the people who were staring at her. She looks at them curiously trying to figure out the were 4 people in front of her of which two are his parents and she has no idea if the other girls are his siblings yet.

"What have you done, Bhai?". His sister (Hanifa) who must be her age asks holding her hand pulling her with the other family

Now it was all of them looking at him.

"Doesn't matter. I have a new daughter". His father said forwarding his hand for a high five which she enthusiastically returned

"What's your name, beta?". His mother asked

"I am Mahek". She said smiling as his mother hold her hand

"Which room is her?". Hanifa asked excitedly, "Do you play games?".

Muzamil hit his sister head at her useless questions as usual but he didn't believe his own eyes looking at his family being so favourable to all this situation rather than asking questions as a normal family should do. But his family was filled with a bunch of comedians so he can only blame himself for thinking they will behave sanely. He wished that they finally had enough of his actions and throw him out but he should have thought this through.

It was his family he was thinking about and they are not normal.

He shakes his head heading towards his room because this one place he did go because of his parents forcing he ended with a wife with him. He promises to never ever listen to his parent's demand anymore.

He isn't someone to bend his rules for anyone he is always standing firm on his rules because those are what helped him in his 29 years of life. But he did bend a rule and look where he is today.

He has no idea what to do with the current situation and he hates the fact that he has no solution for it. He wasn't thinking of marrying anyone in his life because he was done with it already. But his life seems to love playing with him because it brought him a wife walking to him without him wanting.

He sighs.

He falls on his bed deciding it's best to sleep this stress off before his brain starts to play with him more games.

"Stay in the room beside Muzamil's room. You are just 18 so I don't want to pressure you". His mother said kindly, "If you need anything just tell me I will do it immediately".

"Ji". She said nodding, "Um, what's the name of the one who asked me to play with her?".

"Oh! She is Hanifa". His mother said happily

"Then I can play games with her". She said as she walks in the room his mother showed her

She looks around the spacious room covered in beautiful colour with everything matching the paint on the wall.

When she watched his house from the outside she knows it was a mansion because there was no way this gorgeous house wouldn't be called one. She was afraid because she has heard about rich people being strict and bad.

And when she was coming here she was given the guidelines according to those people. Even though she heard each advice it never truly reaches her mind. She heard from one side and out with another because she isn't the one who judges.

She does miss her Mamo (uncle) and her best friend that she left behind. There was no need to miss any more people but those two always help her in every phase of life.

She sighs.

She closes her eyes and the softness of the mattress she drifted to a peaceful sleep.

She heard whispers around her and she frowns in her sleep moving her head to sleep some more when someone taps on her shoulder lightly. She turns her head opening her eyes to look at who it is who disturb her sleep to find his sister.

"It's time for dinner". Hanifa said smiling

She nodded hurriedly standing on her feet as Hanifa stop her before she can move away.

"What happened?". Hanifa asked concerned

"Everyone told me to help in household works or you all will think bad about me". She said innocently

Hanifa falls into a fit of waves of laughter shaking her head after a while taking a deep breath.

"How old are you?". Hanifa asked

"18". She replied softly playing with her hand nervously

"I am 18 and my name is Hanifa. I have never touched a thing in this house. I am pretty sure my parents will only he mad at you if you do touch something in this house". His sister spoke making her more confused so she explained further, "My parents adore their daughters and they always told me that I have no need to work unless I want to do it by heart. So, they will be sad if you choose to work because of force".

"Really?". She asked confused, "Because everyone told me that if I want to be fed I need to work for it".

His sister eyes widen, "What the fu-". She pauses taking a deep breath, "Who said that?".

She blinks her eyes comprehending if she should speak because when she used to her Mami (aunt) would be mad at her and that results badly for her.

She shakes her head because she doesn't want to lie either.

His sister sighs, "I brought you some clothes. I don't know if my idiot brother brought your clothes but these are brand new and we can go to buy some more tomorrow".

"Thank you. I did pack my bags but I don't know where they are". She said softly

"Come down soon and I will sort the thing with your bags too". His sister said walking away with a smile

She looks at one of the plain white dress which had a golden embroidery around it. She decided to wear that against the order of her family to wear heavy suits after marriage. She doesn't like wearing a heavy suit much. She likes it simple.

Once she was done she walked downstairs looking around the beautiful walls making her smile widely until she bumps into something making her wince in pain that shoot through the side of her body.

"Maybe look down instead of the wall and you won't go around hitting into things". She heard his deep voice which held dryness

She blushes to bite her lips looking at him embarrassed, "I will try".

With that, she immediately turns around running back downstairs and into the dining room. Just as she paused everyone was looking at her making her blush even more with the attention she never had before.

"Can I help with something?". She asked softly

"Nahi nahi. Hamare ghar ki betiyan kaam nahi karti". His father said smiling as he places the food on the table (no-no. Our daughters don't work)

She watches Hanifa asking her to sits beside her and she did when he entered sitting opposite of her without a word. She starts to eat quietly as she listens to the soft talking going around.

"Did you decide the university?". He asked Hanifa

"It's hard to know which is the best here". Hanifa replied as she stands to hold her plate taking them inside the kitchen where she found his mother placing the food away

"Can I please do the dishes?. I don't like sitting idle". She said playing with her hands

"If you want to I won't stop you but you don't have to do it, beta". His mother said smiling patting her shoulder

"No! I like doing dishes". She said truthfully as she grins sweetly

His mother shakes her head with a chuckle, "Go ahead then. I will ask the others to help with the table".

She nodded starting to clean the table and she can still hear Hanifa discussing her studies. She had completed her high school just over a month and her results will be out soon. She wonders if she was allowed to study further. She doesn't want to burden them as she did to her family so she didn't speak.

"Something's on your mind?". Sadaf asked standing beside her cleaning the dishes with her, "If you don't want to talk to me then my mother is the best listener. Try her".

She nodded smiling as she finishes her dishes heading back to her room.

Three months later:

It's been three months since she was married and she came to this new heaven on earth. Every single member besides her husband had spoken to her and made her comfortable. Her results came out and she was super happy so were the others to watch her achieve such a good position.

"Why don't you study further?". Hanifa asked

She shrugged, "Am I allowed to?".

His mother frowns at her reply, "And why will anyone deny you of your rights?".

"Um, my family said girls shouldn't study because in the end they have to handle the house and all the money only go to waste".

"That's some cheap bull--". Hanifa started but cut herself off when her mother glared at her,"-thing to say".

"Beta, do you know about your rights as a woman?". His mother asked softly

She shakes her head as his mother starts to explain about her rights and further the responsibilities both as a woman and as a wife. After that, she went back to her room thinking about his mother words. She didn't realise she had that many rights for herself.

She came back down when she was called again. This time she found him sitting beside his father speaking about something.

"We were thinking about sending Mahek to university". His mother said holding her hand

"So?". He asked confused

"We were thinking if you could help her in the entrance exam?". Sadaf spoke nervously

"Why will I help in that?. A person should go in with their capabilities, not from someone else power". He replied rudely making her heart clench as she looks down blinking her tears away

"Bhai, you don't even know how capable she is. Do you know her percentage?". Hanifa said angrily as he meekly shakes his head at his sister outburst which was a rare sight, "She scored 95% and she is one of the toppers in the country. I think she is capable of everything".

"So, what do you need my help with?". He asked confused

"Oh my God, where did his brain go?". Sadaf asked shaking her head

"We were asking to know which university will be best for her as you helped Hanifa to find her the best one". His mother replied remembering to lecture him later on his absurd behaviour

"I can help". His father offered, "He is an idiot so let him be. What did you study for?".

"Doctorate". She said smiling as she ignores his eyes staring at her

"Perfect. I will look into the university and inform you tomorrow then". His father said warmly glaring at his son who stays there not responsive

"Thank you". She said softly as she turns to speak excitedly with Hanifa

The night falls and so does the lecture on his ears.

"What is this behaviour, Muzamil?". His father asked looking at him stern

"What?".

"You and I both know that your behaviour to her is not justified by any means".

"I never intended for this to happen. You were the one who made me go there and look what went down".

"So, if the life turns you around facing situations that are not to your liking you will start to run away and hide?".

"I am not running or hiding away".

"So, do you want me to use ignoring as the right term?. It still doesn't make any difference".

"You don't understand".

"No, you don't understand. You have a responsibility with you whether you like it or not. She is in your nikkah which means she has rights that you need to provide for. She is a young girl who has a lot of potentials which is yet to be discovered. Perhaps this was an unexpected event but it can turn to much more if you simply take a step forward".

His father patted his shoulder walking away from his room leaving him with his thoughts. The next day, he was awake before anyone else as he heads to the garden he found her sitting on the grass moving her hand over it with a smile on her face as she feels the softness of the grass.

He stayed leaning on the wall watching her humming to herself lost in her thoughts and that's when he felt the tugging at his heart. It was as if an invisible thread she held in her small soft hands pulling her towards herself.

"....chai?". He heard her voice breaking his daydreaming (tea)

"Kia?". (What)

"Mai poch rahi thi k apko chai chahiyeh?". (I was asking if you wanted tea)

"Mai khud bana sakta huin". (I can make it on my own)

He saw her face turning grim at his words which confused him because he does makes himself breakfast. It was their tradition.

"Apko chahiyeh?". (You want some)

"Ap mujhe bana kar dain gay?". (You will make for me)

The shock in her voice made him raise his eyebrows as he head inside with her soft steps paddling behind him making him smile.

"Haan toh mai nahi bana sakta?". (Why I can't make it)

"Nahi per woh apki Ammi nae kaha tha--". She trailed off playing with her fingers nervously as he turns around waiting for her to speak (no but your mother said--)

"Kia kaha tha?". He said taking a step closer to her and her sweet scent immediately invaded him (what did she say)

"Kagaryehristachalanahaitohhumaeekdosrekakhayalrakhnahoga".

He frowns, "Thora araam se bolo".(speak slowly)

"Ji woh, ammi nae kaha tha k ek dosre ka khayal rakhnay se rista mazboot hota hai per mujhe nahi pata kaise karte hain, kyun k meri pehli shaadi hai. Apko pata hai?". (Your mother said that by taking care of one another we can make this relationship stronger but I don't know how to do that since it's my first marriage. Do you have any idea)

"Meri bhi pehli shaadi hai". He said amused (its my first wedding too)

Her shoulder slumped, "Toh phir ap kisi kaam k nahi". (So you are of no use)

He laughs unable to control it any longer,"mujhe umeed hai k pehle ammi nae tumhare rights samjhae the". (I am sure my mother taught you about your rights first)

"Ji". (Yes)

"Toh pehle woh poore karnay do mujhe phir hum is riste do sambhal lain gay. Ab chai bana luon?". (Then let me fulfil them and we can handle this relationship after that. Now can I make tea)

"Per ap mujhe kuch batate nahi aur na ap kuch karnay dayte hain toh phir mai apka khayaal kaise rakhoon gi?".(but you don't tell me anything neither you let me do anything so how will I take care of you)

"Mai apna khayaal rakh sakta huin".

(I can take care of myself)

"Toh phir mai kia karoon?".

(So what do I do)

"Mujhe dekhti raho wohi kaafi hai".

(Keep looking at me that's enough)

"Apko dekhoon?".

(Look at you)

"Haan Sirf Mujhe Dekho".

(Yes, only look at me)

She nodded playing with her fingers as she thought about how she can take care of him. If he is making tea maybe she can make him breakfast?.

"What are you thinking about?".

"Can I make your breakfast?". She said sweetly looking at him as soon as he starts to shake his head to say no, she added, "Please".

He sighs, "If it makes you happy. I am sure my family will have my head after this".

She giggles making him smile, "I will ask them not to".

"Here". He said placing her tea in front of her, "Do you want to head to the garden?".

She nodded following behind him entering the garden as they sit on the bench side by side.

"I will take you for your entrance exams". He said softly

"But Baba--".

"He asked me to work on it so I did. The entrance exams is from tomorrow".

"I am not ready".

He chuckles, "With your percentage, I am sure you are ready. Is there anything you need?".

She shakes her head drinking her tea, "Where did you learn this?. I don't know any men who know how to cook".

"Not even the man you were getting married to". The venom in his voice was not even hidden

She flinches, "No, he didn't know but that shouldn't be a surprise he doesn't know basics ethics".

"Such as?".

"Such as when we met for the first time and our family asked us to talk so we went outside where he spoke two words before holding my hand and I told him I didn't like it but he didn't listen and--".

"There's more?". His voice was dangerously low

"He--".

"Bhai Jaan". She heard Sadaf voice, "Breakfast time".

"I will go cook for you". She escaped before he could ask more

He closed his eyes as his fist clenched maybe he should have murdered that man when he saw him that day. The fury that builds in the pit of his stomach took over all of his body.

"What's wrong?".

"Why do people not check on the man they are handing their daughters to?. Aren't they precious?".

His father sighs, "Some don't care and others don't know their values. Mostly, those are the cases besides that there are few times when parents can be wrong too".

"But if others can see the kind of man they are marrying her off to why can't they?".

"Maybe because they don't want to. We have started taking our women as a second class citizen even when they have such high values in our lives".

"I will never allow my daughter to live that kind of life".

"Then have one soon so I can see how well you treat her but before that, you need to treat the mother of your soon to be a child as a woman she truly deserves to be".

"I will, Baba. I promise I will until my last breath".

After having an exciting breakfast and watching him devouring in the breakfast she made for him. She places the dishes on the counter ready to clean when he stood beside her.

"See me off?". He asked nervously

"Ok". She said softly as she walks beside him to the exit where his mother and Sadaf was seeing Hanifa and his father off

"Take care". She said grinning at him and he smiles back coming closer to her making her eyes widen

"Here". He said handing her a small envelope, "I am sure my family will take you out. I will have a card made soon as our joint account so you can take it with you until then I will have to give these envelopes".

She shakes her head, "But I don't need it".

"But I do. It's my responsibility so be good and enjoy yourself, ok?".

"Ok, thank you. I will cook you something tonight then".

"You will make me fat from cooking for me".

She giggles at his words and he smiles as they gaze at one another until his father called him and they break their eye contact blushing.

"I will see you later". He said walking away to his car