"It....looks..looks like..uhh bandage. Nahiaan! Why do you touch Dadda's stuffs? Bad boy."

Tanveer fake angered at Nahiaan who's sitting in the floor beside him with a box placed in his lap, his hands occupied holding two tampons in tearing them, messing them and what not!

Shahveer, who was ignoring his brother's and son's foolishness plus stupidness, suddenly jumped on his place and looked at them with irritation hearing his brother.

"These are not my stuffs Bhai. Astagfirullah, for Allah's sake behave like an adult. Stop tearing it like Nahiaan."

Tanveer rolled his eyes at Shahveer looking questioningly as he glared at the tampon in his hand, thinking how stupid his brother is.

"Allah! Bhai!" Shahveer gritted his teeth unable to bear the drama as he moved away and concentrated back on his laptop.

"Dadda! Howaith howaith."

Nahiaan showed his hands occupied with cotton fibers, his voice excited as he showed them to him.

Tanveer bowed down chuckling and placed a kiss in Nahiaan's head.

(White white!)

"Mummum will scold you Nahi......."

"Yeah exactly! Bhabi will scold him but beat you with all the brooms we have at home."

Shahveer fake chuckled, little angry.

"Come on Veer! Stop taunting me. What's this? Say first."

"For your stupid and silly information, these are womanly stuffs...Tampons. Now please clear all the mess before Bhabi appears."

Shahveer pointed at the floor.

"Ta..po...n..mmm I thought they belong to you."

Tanveer thoughtfully said, tearing the tampon more, as if all the information about it is gathered inside it.

"Allah! Seriously! Please Bhai clean it all. And hey you son of a stupi........uhhh my son, don't you feel ashamed of playing with all these stuffs?"

Shahveer snatched the tampon box from Nahiaan's hand at which he immediately roared up with the sudden shock as he stared at Shahveer helplessly. He pouted lifting his lower lip out as he jumped near him and held his legs.

"Dadda....."

He extended his hand to Shahveer asking for it back, but a serious glare from him and he moved back, crawling away to his other toys.

"Uhh....how do you know that...tam..tampons are.. womanly........stuffs?"

"Bro come on? I was married once, I know it all!"

"I'm....also married.."

Shahveer face palmed looking back at him.

He rolled his eyes taking it casually, finally understanding what kind of womanly stuffs he's playing with.

"Never mind!"

"What's happening here?"

Hearing the voice, both of them shut their eyes off wanting to vanish from here to escape from the upcoming embarassment.

Shahveer tightened his grip over the tampon box regretting to snatch it from his son.

"Nahiaan did it all."

They justified together, voice low and embarassed.

Before Thanzia could say anything, Shahveer stood up and walked to the door, passing by her.

"And your husband was his partner in all these." Shahveer softly said, looking back at Tanveer whose eyes widened at this as he looked at him with his mouth hung open.

Shahveer walked away leaving them alone after he winked at Tanveer.

"Wifey......" Tanveer bit his lips as he dropped the torn tampon in the floor and looked anywhere but her in awkwardness.

"Yes...dear hubby."

She pulled down her Niqaab and locked the door.

Her gaze walked to Nahiaan who's busy playing near the bed with his toys.

"Zia I was just about to clean this mess." He said as Thanzia sat beside him, looking doubtfully, controlling her smile.

"Were you?" She shook her head showing strictness.

"Yeah I was....uhh he..he brought this.....I..I don't know."

Tanveer justified as she nodded her head and stared at the floor.

"You'd let him do this to my stuffs?"

"Yeah but I didn't know that these are your stuffs."

"Oh you didn't?"

"No I am not married like Shahveer so........WHA...eeehh...I just didn't know yaar. I'm sorry."

He ran his fingers through his beard unable to say any word correctly. She chuckled seeing him not meeting her gaze even for once due to awkwardness.

She leaned over and surprising to him, placed a kiss in his forehead.

She didn't move her lips from there as her eyes closed feeling a different kind of peace running above her body, but then it replaced with fear as she shivered and held him by his collar.

"Tanvi....."

"Hmm....."

"Whe..when will you..ag..again be back?"

"Umm.... anytime you miss me?" He chuckled backing off as she looked at him unsatisfied, knowing that surely they'll meet after at least half an year later.

She slightly nodded her head and rested her head against his chest.

'Did I begin loving my husband?'

••••

after Tanveer left.

If only I knew loving someone would throw me in such a condition today!

Unexpectedly falling in love with a girl I didn't even know, I didn't even see, I never even talked with, and then..... proposing someone else misunderstanding her to be the girl I loved!

It just happened. I accepted, obviously if that was planned for me then something good it had in it.

The feeling I had in my heart was deliberately increasing. I didn't even know that I was getting married to someone else.....until she behaved the exact opposite to the girl I ever unknowingly loved.

Alas....Nikah wasn't any joke for me that I can play with.

The night I thought would be the best of all, gave me the worst feelings and emotions ever. She was someone else, and it was my fault to create this misunderstanding.

One part of me wanted to leave my bride in her wedding night, craving to search for it's love. But how could I be so cruel to a girl I just married?

I had to forcefully love her.

Unfortunately all she loved is nothing in me. Nothing! We even gave birth to a baby still.....still not even a drop of love existed in her for me.

She so easily left me. But how could she do this to her own baby? Maybe just because he's a part of me whom she can never accept.

And.....Thanzia Bhabi!

Why do I don't get convinced with her love for Nahiaan? Why would someone love a baby who is no one to her?

And it's not even like she's fond of babies.

In fact....she isn't even so close to Zahra whom she found from the first day of her birth, being her own aunt.

She obviously loves her but not to that extend level.

And being no one to my son.......she accepted him so easily!

I maybe needed my answers to be assured that she really is like a mother to my son. But I didn't know that I would get them so soon, right now!

And the answer is me....

If Shahveer knew that his ex wife is also invited to this reunion party, he wouldn't have come here. But now he surely won't regret it.

Before looking at Thanzia from top to bottom, he stared around seeing his friends and others far away from them as they are standing near the store room.

Unlike he ever saw her before, she wore a long and round olive coloured kurta, simple and loose, with a black Hijab wrapped around her head. Other times her Hijab would say that it was with her for fashion, unlike now as it made her look modest enough than before.

Thanzia clenched her fists unable to see the man she hates, for no reason.

He passed her a smile as his mind filled with nervousness.

He didn't like her, ever. He didn't want her back in his life too. But.....

"You...you...started wearing Abaya?"

He softly asked, looking around.

"Come on Shahveer. Just because it's long, it's not an Abaya."

"Thanzia don't you...."

He was about to say something but she came a step near him and met with his gaze, she asked something which slipped all his other thoughts away as she looked at him questioningly waiting for his response.

"How's Zia? Happy with your wife? Does she love your son?"

He sighed, smiling. Doubting that most probably she misunderstood.

"Yeah..she loves my son who isn't hers, but you don't love your son."

"Come on Veer! Now when she bought him from me then why would I love her son?"

She said, smiling casually at him.

Shahveer closed his eyes to calm his anger, not at all understanding the meaning behind her words.

"And now when she found you, obviously she must b...."

"Thanzia for Allah's sake don't talk rubbish. She is married to my brother not me. And Alhamdulillah being not even his step mother she loves him like a mother...un..unbelievable to me."

He said with disgust, stepping away not wanting to increase their chat as that will only increase his guilt of marrying her.

"No...t..y.ou?"

She looked at him confusingly.

She thought over his words for a while as he turned to leave.

"Shahveer wait. Did she marry Tanveer Bhai?"

He looked back at her for a second with hatred and begin walking away.

Obviously his matter doesn't concern her, but she wanted to know what really is going on.

"Shahveer wait for a minute! Why would she marry your brother when she loves you?"

She came running near him but he didn't show interest to her words knowing that she's full of lies.

"Hey man!"

"Just leave Thanzia."

"Wallahi Shah... Shahveer...aahh hahahahaha! What a mess! Allah! Hahahaha." She couldn't control laughing out as if jokes are being said here.

She held her mouth as he turned back to her and looked with anger, pain and hatred.

He is aware of her lies, drama and dirty jokes.

"Shah.. veer..Allah she got married to your brother! She..she was so relieved when we got divorced! Poor soul! And..and you fool! You say that she loves Nahiaan like a mother...Allah! She loves him because......"

"JUST SHUT UP AND KEEP YOUR DIRTY WORDS TO YOURSELF."

"At least hear me out. She doesn't love your son for no reason. She loves you that's why she loves him. Awwwee and my ex husband thought that she's such an angel to love his son so much being no one to him."

He heard her attentively, watching her expressions and digesting her words. His anger fell off as he stared at her having many questions in his mind to be answered.

"Shahveer! Come on yaar we are waiting for you."

He turned around hearing his friend calling him.

"You may leave now dear ex hubby. Get your further answers from your lover...or I say, your Bhabi."

Thanzia smirked and crossed his path leaving him speechless.

He couldn't believe her words, though all of them had sense.

"Thanzia...."

"Thanzia wait."

"Just...for few minutes. Come here."

She turned to him and put an annoyed expression. She didn't want to waste her time with him but surely she would love messing his life more.

"Awwwe baby boy! Now say why she loves your son hmm?"

She smirked, folding her arms as his eyes hopelessly stared at hers, feeling so weak and unknown inside.

"Can..can we walk there?"

He pointed to the garden.

"Why not!"

They began walking together.

Shahveer felt his legs losing their strength to walk even a step ahead anymore. The questions and confusions he has made him even more sick and tired.

"How...do..you know that..."

"That she loves you?"

•

•

•

He began breathing heavily hearing her words. His head as if will burst with blood out anytime, he held his phone tightly in his grip and looked at Thanzia's smirking expression.

"What wrong I did to you Thanzia? Why would you....."

"Please don't involve me in yours and her life. You married me, my parents forced me to marry you. And I didn't want a son at such an young age."

Lies, it was her who fought a war at home against her parents when they rejected Shahveer's proposal as he was not well established yet.

But she was crazed by his looks, believed it to be first sight love and ended up hating him at last for his spiritual character.

"But he...he IS YOUR SON. Just because you hated me you can't hate him too!"

He punched on the wall, even if he's angry, his helplessness covered that. His voice sounded as if he'll cry anytime soon.

"I don't hate him Shahveer. I just don't want him. I wanted to abort him bu..."

"THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU? WHY DID YOU RUIN MY....."

"Because she paid me for it....for not aborting your baby."

For the first time she sounded guilty to herself. But obviously she didn't want to express that to him. Her anger won over her every kindness and mercy.

Her words again made him shocked.

Though he believes that she can stood lower than this limit. He gritted his teeth as his eyes met hers once again.

"She.... Zia..bhabi.."

"And you think she loves him for no reason?"

"You gave birth to him Thanzia! At least feel guilty of what you did to your son! Why wou...."

"Please! Shut up! Stop again and again dragging me to it. I'm talking about the girl who loves you and you're continuously asking about me!"

"SHE IS MY BHA..."

"And your Bhabi loves you that's why she loves your son. And don't call me the mother of your son. I gave birth to him for my profit. End quote.

Aaaahhhh I shouldn't have wasted my time for you. Stay well."

She walked away.

Silence covered the atmosphere as he stood unmoved, pondering over her every word. His body shivered at the thoughts of the truth he neglected to believe.

"Bha.. bhai....."

He became even more worried thinking about Tanveer.

His pain doubled as he questioned himself if she still loves him and doesn't love his brother.

••••

"I'm upset with you. You suddenly left and never came to meet me again."

The old lady turned her head away as Thanzia sat on her knees and rested her hands in her lap.

She made a puppy face though it stayed covered by her Niqaab. She held the lady's hands and brought them near her face.

"I'm sorry. I missed you."

"You missed me after more than 2 years?" She asked, pouring anger and pain in her voice.

"No...I always missed you...I..I just.. couldn't come."

"I knew no one related to you. I was worried. I even visited the Quran institution. They also said that you stopped working without any notice."

She spoke making Thanzia more guilty. She leaned up and kissed the lady's forehead.

"I brought Biriyani for you. Please forgive me."

As she said, the lady immediately moved her gaze to her and looked at her with an undefined feeling, thinking about Shahveer.

"He...also searched for you... crazily."

She whispered.

"Who...?"

Thanzia confusingly shook her head as the lady looked tensed.

"No..nothing....."

"Won't you forgive me? I really missed you....but I couldn't come.... believe me.."

She pleaded.

"Hmm....Do you know Thanzia... someone else searched for you a lot. He still comes here wishing if for once he could meet you."

The words made Thanzia chuckle as she exactly didn't understand her words.

"Whom are you talking about? One of those kids in that institution?"

"No no. I never told you because he denied to........................."

And the story unfolds.

She listened to her every word carefully. She has no lack of trouble and pain that another shock has the right to hurt her more, still it did.

"Meet him for once? Please Zia...He madly loves you."

"Aa...I..am married...."

"Shahveer..."

•

•

Even though the bundle of sufferings and distress were unlimited to both of them, they had a way of handling their lives, until now.

He got to know that his sister in law loves him and she got to know about someone loving her secretly whom she doesn't even know.

Well...that was enough to kill their hearts brutally. But how much more?

Shahveer stood numb, standing many steps away where she sat with the old lady.

He was already in enough pain to give place to the bigger shock.

He came to meet the lady to cry in her lap and pour all his pain out, unaware that it will cost him even more.

She wore a similar Abaya that she used to wear in those days.

And obviously now he realized that it's her. He's meeting her after years, finally.

"Shahveer!"

The old lady voiced out excitedly, happy that finally Shahveer and Thanzia are face to face.

Thanzia confusingly turned her head back and as her eyes looked up, they widened in shock.

She immediately stood up and walked a step away.

She stayed silent until Shahveer stopped looking at her and moved his gaze away.

Normally at home he sees her eyes clear with her half forehead open but here she's more covered, like in those days. So he couldn't understand that it's his Bhabi.

Shahveer looked at the lady and gave her a warm smile that didn't want to appear in his lips.

"Shahveer! Shukr Allah!"

"Is...she..."

"Yes my jaan. She's Thanzia."

Thanzia confusingly looked at both of them as she stood behind the chair where the old lady sat.

She didn't expect to see Shahveer here, especially known to the lady, still unaware that he's the one about whom the old lady was talking.

His thoughts that were occupied about Thanzia and Tanveer, now vanished as all that he could think about is that he's finally meeting the love of his life.

Yet to know who she actually is!

Shahveer blankly looked at Thanzia, his eyes complaining her a lot about herself. His chest begin paining more that he so wished to cry out loud and lessen it.

"Shahveer..."

He moved his gaze to the lady and stepped forward.

"Veer do you know her too?"

And that's it! Her voice answered who she is.

He felt himself breathless as soon as he heard those words. He couldn't even handle one shock that another appeared immediately after the other.

"Aaaeeeee? Thanzia do you know him already? How do you know him?"

The old lady looked back at her as she nodded her head and stared at Shahveer confusingly.

She sensed his worried condition that made her worried too.

"He's my br..."

"Thanzia...I was...talking..about him dear...and he finally is in front of you. Alhamdulillah."

Thanzia immediately turned her head back to him as a gasp escaped her mouth. She looked at her shockingly for a second and then thought that she surely most have misheard her.

Shahveer too was waiting for her to speak again so that he can calm himself believing that the girl he loved isn't his Bhabi.

"Shah..veer...I..I told her..about you."

The lady expressed, really praying for Shahveer's happiness.

He has nothing to say, no way to react. His feelings became a burden to him.

"It...can't..happ..en.Veer.."

She begin shivering in shock as she held her mouth with her hands, begging her eyes to not explore tears.