Saliha reminded. "Make sure it doesn't get stuck in the wheel."

She placed Manal in the wheelchair to bring her out of the room.

"Meri beti bohat pyaari lag rahi hai." Saliha stemmed a kiss on Manal's forehead. Then patted on her head. "Daddy will be happy to see you."

"Kiya sab bhar hain living area mein?" Manal asked with a tinge of fear.

"Yes."

"And her too?"

"Yes. Zoha is there too." Saliha lightheartedly smiled. She went behind the wheelchair and gave a tap on Manal's right shoulder as if to keep her ready.

Zoha poured the fresh hot tea in the china tea pot and put it on the tray. She was really happy this evening because Saliha allowed her to prepare everything. She displayed the biscuits on the plate and organized the cups and saucers.

Rumina came in the kitchen.

"Bibi, aap ko koi madad chai hai?" she asked, looking over Zoha's shoulder.

"It's okay, Rumina," Zoha said, setting the dishes on the tea trolley. "Mera kaam ho gaya hai. Shukriya."

"Acha." She stood looking at Zoha.

"Can you tell me if everyone is in the living area?"

"Saliha bibi brought Manal bibi and Zafar and Shehryaar sahab are already there."

Zoha smiled. "Okay. Sahi hai." She began to push the trolley.

"Zoha bibi, you look pretty today."

"Yes, I am happy today." She looked at Rumina. "Thank you." Then continued heading to the living area.

When Saliha saw Zoha, she happily came up to help. Zoha looked at Zafar and then Manal as they were talking to each other.

"Thanks, beta, for all of this," Saliha said. "Rumina didn't even help you. She kept coming up to me and told that you were constantly refusing for any assistance." She chuckled.

"How long does it take to make a tea," Zoha said.

"Still."

Saliha placed the items on the center table, as Zafar and Manal chatted.

"Baray Abu, do you take sugar?" Zoha asked after she poured more than half cup of tea.

"Too little. Half teaspoon," Zafar cut his talk and replied.

Zoha added the sugar and stirred with spoon. When she began giving it to Zafar, simultaneously Shehryaar reached forward for a biscuit. Then halted amid. Zoha moved back after serving the tea and glimpsed at him.

"Manal, do you drink tea?" Zafar asked.

"No, daddy."

"Then what do you like?"

Manal looked at the center table. For beverage there was only tea and beside that there some biscuits at which she frowned.

"What I like is not here."

"Manal, if you like chips I can bring it for you," Zoha proffered.

Manal's gaze shifted on her. She sat quietly. Then said, "thank you."

Zoha went to the kitchen, pulled out a big bag of potato chips, purchased from wholesale market and poured some in plate. When she gave it to Manal, Manal received it without a word.

"Now, Zoha, sit down. Have some tea," Saliha invited.

"Yes, Bari ammi, I will." Zoha got half cup of tea and sat next to Saliha.

"This tea is amazing. It tastes perfect," Zafar complimented.

From inside Zoha smiled wide, but her lips stretched into small curve.

"Chai to Pakistan ki best hoti hai," he said, enjoying every sip of it, with buttered delight.

Shehryaar was quiet the entire time. He checked his phone frequently and then resumed his attention back to the conversation. Saliha reached forward for a biscuit and nibbled on it with tea.

"By the way, what days does Manal have physical therapy?" Zafar altered the topic and tone.

"Doctors recommended thrice a week. Monday, Thursday and Saturday," Saliha said.

"How is it going so far?" Zafar directed the question to Manal.

"Good," she said with less interest.

"Are you comfortable?"

"Yes."

"All you need is the motivation and courage. Then you will have more strength and sooner you will be able to stand again. In Shaa Allah."

"In Shaa Allah," Saliha hoped too. "She has missed a lot in college."

"It's okay," Zafar said. "Right now her health is more important. She should focus on one thing at a time."

"Daddy, I think I will not be able to catch up with my studies. Notes and everything," Manal sounded worried.

"Obviously it's not going to stay that way. We will talk to the authority. I'm sure they will help you."

Manal casted a glance at the floor. Zoha was listening but didn't speak. She finished the tea and got up.

"Zoha, where are you going?" Saliha asked, cup near her mouth, eyes filled with wonder.

"Actually, Bari ammi, I have to study for my test. This semester is tough."

"I thought you could stay with us for longer."

Zoha looked at everyone's faces. "When we get together for dinner, then maybe I will be free."

"I think that's a good idea." Zafar sipped his tea. "Baad mein gupshup kareingay." He grinned.

Zoha dismissed them with a smile. She went to the kitchen and washed her cup. Later headed for the study room where she disappeared for hours and hours.

"Maza aa gaya," Zafar said after finishing his tea. He put the cup on the table and leaned back on the couch.

Saliha gathered the cups and plate of biscuits on the tray and took them to the kitchen. Manal wheeled her chair to get closer to Zafar and Shehryaar since Saliha was no longer there to accompany her.

Zafar turned his attention to Shehryaar, part concerned. "What is it, beta?"

Shehryaar broke out of this thoughts and cleared his throat.

"You have been quiet the whole time."

"I was thinking." He spoke a bit absentmindedly, like he wasn't full out of his thoughts.

"Is there something you want to share?"

"Was thinking about talking with you. But- I don't know if it's appropriate."

"Feel free. I am open-minded about whatever you will say."

Shehryaar took a brief moment to speak. He looked at Manal who was listening and watching.

"I wanted to say-" he paused momentarily. "that- that I don't want to marry Faiza. I can't accept her as my life partner."

Zafar breathed. "Beta, why didn't you say that before? Before the engagement and everything? Don't you think it's little too to reject?" His expression was masked with surprise.

"Before- I thought it was already late when Rubab Khala approved this proposal."

"But you weren't engaged to Faiza yet. You had the chance to say no."

"So you are saying that nothing can be done about it? I mean-we are not married."

Zafar thought.

Manal seemed more interested in this than anything else. But she didn't interfere.

"Does your mummy know about this?"

"I want you to tell her this. She might not agree with me. Please, daddy?"

Zafar hissed a sigh. "Beta, I thought you were happy with this relationship. If it was like this, then you should have talked to me first."

"Sorry, daddy. I am really sorry for causing such trouble." Shehryaar was mortified to express his thoughts this late.

"Kher," Zafar said. "It is still not too late. Marriage is a commitment of lifetime. If you are not happy with it, then it should be taken under consideration. I will talk to your mummy."

Shehryaar's tension released. He felt he could breathe again. "Thank you so much, daddy. I knew you would listen to me."

"But I can't guarantee you that your mummy will agree with this to happen. Faiza is her sister's daughter. This might greatly affect their relationship."

Shehryaar had nothing to say for this. He knew he was at fault if things went wrong. But he also couldn't do something that he would regret for life. He made the right decision to tell this to his dad. It was better to say it than to keep it buried in the heart.

"Mummy never gave me space to think," Shehryaar told on Saliha. "She said Faiza would keep me happy. She is the best choice. But-"

Zafar perched his hand on Shehryaar's shoulder, appearing reserved in the situation. "I will talk to your mummy. You deserve the right to say no. It's about your life. I have always favored giving my children the space to decide what they want. It was a different thing when you were little. But now you are grown up, educated and mature enough to differentiate what is right and what is wrong. Saliha shouldn't have done what she did."

Shehryaar lowered his gaze in respect. His mind was charging with various thoughts about the future.

Sitting at the desk, pen in hand, Zoha was breathing in some other world. She was lost in thinking about Shehryaar when he confided his love for her. Sometimes she thought it was just a dream because dreams only lasted for short time.

Since it was a secret between him and her, she felt this was always going to be hidden from the world. Nobody would know it. Faiza was the true reality to everyone. She was meant to stand by Shehryaar's side and be his wife, even if he didn't believe in this marriage. Zoha was no one to him. Nobody could even imagine that he loved her and expressed his feelings to a girl, who was living with her uncle's family after losing her own. People had mercy on her for her loss. She was an orphan. Nobody cared about her except Zafar. Although Saliha's attitude changed toward her, she was still her aunt who valued her own children first and then anyone else. That's why when Manal was in hospital, she said it was all because of Zoha.

After that Saliha could only accept Zoha as her niece, but never as Shehryaar's love.