"Kehnde loki lamiyan ne rahwan ishq diyan

Haye!!! Ki dasa ki baat sunawan ishq diyan

Aukhay painday tez hawawa ishq diyan

Jaan na chhadan vekh wafavan ishq diyan"

The next day Maham and Salaar get ready and spend the whole day working.

Maham even didn't get a chance to meet Hina but she planned to go to baby Mahi's room after finishing her work.

She asked the nurses and Dr. Afzal about Mahi's progress and was happy to know that she was stable but still in an induced coma for fast recovery.

Maham finished her work and told Salaar that she was going to meet Hina.

"Ok dove... But I am not going without you ... You go and spend time with her but then you will call me and we can go back,"

Maham knew that arguing with him was futile so she just nodded her head and hugged him.

"Ok fine... Now bye... I will call you when I am free,"

She moved toward baby Mahi's room to find Hina and have the talk unless she wanted to be hunt down.

She smiled at the door and opened it quietly to not disturb the baby girl but the next moment, she froze.

"Hey, baby... I hope you are feeling well now. Just get well soon... Baba is missing you so much,"

In the room beside baby Mahi bed was Affan sitting holding her small hands and looking so broken that Maham heart pained.

She knew it was painful for him to see his daughter like this, surrounded by wires and machines but she will be good soon, in sha Allah.

"You know... You are the only family except Dado, phupho, and her... I can't lose you... just come back to Baba soon... Please baby,"

Affan was now crying but his words were causing more pain to her.

Maham closes her mouth when she heard the specific mention of her, he meant Minal, right.

But where is she? Why she is not with her daughter right now? She thought.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she got startled when someone placed a hand on her shoulder.

She turned around to look at Hina who was looking at her with raised eyebrows.

Maham looked at Affan but he was lost talking with his girl who was sleeping peacefully that he didn't notice her presence.

She closes the door politely and turned to the girl who was still eyeing her cousin with questioning eyes.

"You scared me Hina... Don't sneak up on me like this,"

"Api... You are the one who was acting all sneaky looking at them and not going inside... Leave that... Where were you? I was waiting for you since morning... Now come on I want to talk with you,"

Maham opened her mouth to explain why she was standing by the door when her baby cousin stopped her and grabbed her hand.

"We will talk soon api... But first, we have to go somewhere private... Too many ears here...let's go to the nearby cafe...ok?"

Maham nodded at her and soon they reached there.

Hina ordered their coffee and when it was placed in front of them she turned toward Maham with accusing eyes.

"So start talking api... Why did you do this to me and Baba? You want to leave Bhai na... Then why give us the punishment of the things we didn't do?"

Maham closed her eyes as Hina dropped the bomb and asked the question she regretted the most.

She opened her eyes with so much guilt and regret that Hina feels sorry for her but stopped because she needed some answers.

"Hina...I...I don't know how to answer that...I was stupid and heartbroken then... I thought that if I keep in touch with you... Affan will know where I am and if I know that he was happy in his life then I will break more,"

Hina opened her mouth to decline her words but Maham cut her off.

"I know... I know... That was stupid of me to assume things but I was insecure then Hina. I thought that it was necessary to leave everything behind that's why I did it,"

Hina looked at her with misty eyes, 'oh the things love made you do' she thought as she looked at her api.

She loved her brother and was destroyed and broken in the process.

While her brother was unaware of the fact but still he was equally devastated by all this.

She prayed to soothes these broken hearts and guide them to their Ishq Kamal 💘.

"Api... I understand... And it's ok. Now we have you back and it's the biggest blessing for us. You came back when we need you and saved our baby girl,"

Maham smiled softly as baby Mahi was mentioned, now her heart knew why she felt such a strong connection for that innocent soul.

"She was a fighter Hina... She was meant to live more... Our LORD has planned best for her and I am just HIS servant doing the things He has planned and written for us... But I am so happy that He selected me for this beautiful work,"

They both smiled and get busy in talking, Maham told her about how the Malik twins helped her establish a new life and now they were like the siblings she didn't have.

Hina felt a little bit of jealousy when she heard how much the twins are close to Maham.

But she was also relieved that someone was there to help her.

After telling her all the stories, Maham asked the question that was bugging her most.

"Hina... Where is Minal? I mean her daughter was in danger and she just survived the biggest fight of her life... So where is she and why Tayi Ammi didn't come?"

Hina's breath hitched as she looked at Maham with shock but she knew this can't be keep hidden for long.

She took a deep breath as she looked at Maham who was already looking at her with curiosity.

"Api... Wo... She...,"

"What happened Hina? Why are you so nervous?"

"Api... She is not Affan Bhai wife now... They divorced,"

A gasped left Maham mouth as she looked at her cousin with astonished.

Hina soon started telling her everything, how Minal filed for the divorce, and how she confesses everything to Affan.

Affan fights with his mother and moving out, his divorce, his depression, his broken heart, and how he found Mahi and adopted her.

"You know... He also named her Maham... Silly... I know but we thought that if it soothed his heart somehow then it's ok... And indeed his daughter become a reason of him returning to life,"

Maham was so devastated by all this, the reason she left him was to keep him happy but she didn't know he will be destroyed and broken just like her.

Tears were flowing down her cheeks as she heard each word that came out of Hina's mouth.

"His daughter didn't take the place he reserved for you... but she just makes a new place in his broken heart for herself ... he loved her with all his might... Giving everything to protect her from everyone even from our mother,"

Maham looked upward, Hina's words were like a knife to her heart but as she mentioned Naseem beghum, Maham's heart was pounding loudly.

"Well... Mother continues her heritage of hating the innocents... She didn't like Mahi... More like she despises her... But Bhai was fighting for his daughter just like he fought for you...,"

"She can't hate her... She is just a child... She was so innocent.. how can she hate her... What did she do to her?"

"Let's just say our mother was used to doing this... Hating the innocents... She has been doing this for many years... You should know it. You are her first victim... But as Mahi was weak she can't break that hatred and we all have to protect that girl from our mother,"

Maham remembers all the time she wasted in getting that woman love but all in vain.

She was naive to think that Naseem beghum will change after she leaves but listening to Hina she knew that something or some people will never change.

Her helplessness was at its peak, she felt so devastated, she did not just ruin her life but his also.

She looked upward at Hina who was also crying but her eyes had witness of all the anguish her brother has to go through just because of her decision.

"I am so sorry Hina... I... It's was my fault... I did this to them... Because of me... Just because of me... He was ruined... You said right... Ishq Kamal ki Chah main sab Taman hogya... Sab kuch,"

Hina looked at the broken soul and knew that they are still a chance of happiness and with that hope in heart, she holds Maham hands as she shook her head consoling her.

"No api... You didn't do this... It was written in your fate... You both have to endure it... Just don't blame yourself... Everything will be fine now... Everything... You will get your Ishq Kamal... Apne Rab par mamla Chor kr Tu dekhe...,"

Maham nodded her head, she was crying embracing Hina when her phone pinged as she read Salaar message.

She wiped her tears and looked at Hina.

"Let's go before Salaar goes crazy... We didn't notice that it's already dinner time and he was a bhukar but he did not eat without feeding me and Maya,"

"Well, that friend of yours is cute and handsome,"

Hina giggled as a schoolgirl and Maham looked at her wiggling her eyebrows.

"Cute and handsome huh... But don't tell him... His ego was already ready to burst... I can't handle a hyperactive Salaar if you praise him or compliment him,"

They both laughed and soon part ways promising to meet again.

The next few days went peacefully as Maham and Salaar will frequently go to visit baby Mahi who was still in an induced coma but the doctors were happy with her progress.

In all these days, Salaar was doing his best to irritate Affan with his touching, teasing, and caring for Maham and he was very much successful.

Affan red face and fisted hands were the proof that he didn't like another man's presence with his Jhalli.

But he was silent because he didn't want to lose her again.

But Salaar surely wanted to die soon because he was deliberately poking the lion as he always claimed Maham as his best friend in front of Affan and that boiled his blood.

'She is my best friend and she will always be mine' He screamed these words inside his mind every time Salaar put his arms around Maham.

He wanted to beat Salaar to a pulp but the love he saw in his Jhalli eyes for this idiot stopped him.

Just like the last time, they came to meet Mahi and when Affan moved to talk with Maham who was avoiding any kind of interaction with him, Salaar came between and took his Jhalli away.

FLASHBACK

Maham and Salaar came to meet the Qureshi's and the sleeping angel who was like this for 5 days now.

But the doctors said that her small body needs energy to recover.

Also, Maham and Salaar were keeping a close eye on baby Mahi's progress.

Maham was avoiding talking with him each time he tried her 'so-called' friend will interrupt him.

Maham was busy talking with Hina while Ahmed Sahab was busy with Salaar, Affan was standing in the sideways like the grumpy kid.

Maham was stealing glances at him but whenever she looked his way he was already looking at her intensely that surprised her.

She controls her wandering eyes and strictly prohibited her heart from beating so loud in his presence.

Affan moved toward her after few minutes ready to call her when Salaar beat him and put his arm around his Jhalli waist.

Maham was shocked at Salaar sudden appearance, he was protective of her but he was being extra clingy for a few days.

She looked at him with questioning eyes but he was already beaming at her family.

"Sorry, uncle Ji... We have to go now... It's weekend and we have a strict policy about having dinner together and spending the weekend night... We also have to call Maya... She was alone there and want our attention so, please... We will now take your leave,"

"Yeah sure... But you two have to come more often... I missed my daughter so much and now you are also like my son,"

Salaar gave his best charming smile to Ahmed Sahab and Hina ignoring Affan glared at his hand.

"We will... Now come on dove. We have to go home,"

"No Romcom tonight please,"

"Hey!! You are the one who always made me watch Disney movies... Now it's my turn... Don't worry you can always hug me and cry on my shoulder,"

Salaar smirked at Maham who was rolling her eyes at his stupid evil expression as a small smile graced her face, but she didn't know that her one smile burns someone else heart.

'I will beat him someday... How can he hold her like this in front of us? Why Baba was so ok with all his touching?' He cursed Salaar as his hand fisted.

His heart was burning and he wanted to cry but he knew that this is his last chance and he will not ruin this for everyone.

"Allah Hafiz everyone... gets go my dove...,"

With that they were gone, the thing that pained his heart was Maham didn't even notice him nor tried to.

He now knew the pain his Jhalli has to go through when he was with Minal, he took a deep breath as his heart was paining immensely.

But he didn't know that his mere presence in the room was overwhelming for her and she was also having an internal battle and sighed in relief as Salaar pulled her out of the room.

Flashback ends

The next day Maham and Salaar were working when the nurse told them that baby Mahi was awake and perfectly fine.

Maham was so happy that she dragged Salaar who was finishing some files but his dove excitement didn't let him work.

They stop at the gift shop the hospital has and buy something for the baby girl.

Salaar choose some balloons and Maham picked a beautiful hand made diary for her.

Salaar frowned as he was paying for the stuff and hold the diary up.

"Dove... Why did you buy this for baby angel? I mean the girl just wakes up from a coma... You can't expect her to study now,"

Maham took the diary from his hand and hit him with it as he groaned rubbing the sore area.

"Why did you hit me now? Are you ok? Because you are acting weird yar,"

"I am fine you idiot and I hit you because this is a diary, not a notebook... I had a habit to write when I was little so I thought to give one to baby Mahi also,"

"Yeah, that can be explained without violence also... But it won't be you... Maar maar ke mujh bechary ko ganja kardein gi yeh auratein,"

He grumbled the last part as he picked the stuff and moved out as Maham tried hard to control her laugh.

They reached the room and when they opened the door the sight welcomes them was surprising.

"I missed you so much bacha... Baba missed you... Don't you ever scared me like that ever again... Your Baba will die without you...,"

Affan was kissing his daughter's face as he was crying, embracing her, and loving her.

Even now when Maham knows all the truth she can't believe that this much has happened.

Her heart melted as she saw them together, her respect for Affan increases, he has so much love for his daughter who was not his biologically but still, he loved her more than anything.

She still remembers his words when he was talking with comatose baby Mahi about someone 'her'.

First, she thought that it was Minal he was mentioning but now when she knew the truth she was confused.

'Did he was talking about her?' She shook her head and came back to the real world when she heard the most cutest voice.

"Baba... I am ok now... Stop crying please you look like phupho and she cried like a banshee,"

"Hey!!!,"

Everyone in the room laughed at baby Mahi's words except her sulking phupho who was giving the stink eye to the little girl but one puppy dog face and Hina's anger melted away.

Maham can't control her giggles and that got the attention of everyone in the room as they turned toward the door.

Baby Mahi was confused as her mind was still foggy and hazy under the effect of drugs, Hina and Ahmed Sahab were grinning at them.

But Affan was lost in the beauty who was laughing and his heart was snooping with each giggle of her.

She was looking so beautiful with her simple light grey frock, churidar, and dupatta on her shoulder as her beautiful chestnut hair was flowing down her waist.

He came out of his trance when his father spoke.

"Come beta... See your patient is up...,"

Maham and Salaar said their salaam and moved toward the bed.

Baby Mahi was still looking at them with confusion that's when her dado introduces them.

"Mahi... Baby this is the doctors that help you and save you... Now you will be healthy...,"

Baby Mahi looked at her baba for confirmation and his nod was enough for the little girl as she smiled at them wholeheartedly.

"Thank you for your help,"

"Your welcome baby... But you did all the work... You are a fighter,"

Maham spoke softly as she caressed the little girl cheek smiling politely at her.

Baby Mahi looked at her with so much concentration as she frowned but soon the expression changed into shock and then excitement.

Everyone was observing the interaction with so much curiosity but the next word the little girl spoke shocked them.

"You are Jhalli... You are my Baba Jhalli,"

The scream was so loud that everyone was stunned at their place.

Maham was looking between baby Mahi and Affan with wide eyes and agape mouth.

Affan was also surprised at his daughter's words but soon embarrassment caught him when everyone laughed.

"Yes, Mahi... She was your Baba Jhalli...,"

Hina adds oil to the fire as she confirmed the little girl suspiciously.

Salaar was enjoying all the drama and Hina was an equal participant.

"You mean... You are the one Baba missed... And you are the one Baba named me after... And you are his best friend... Whose pictures he had in his room... The one whose diar...,"

The little girl was blabbering out all her father's secrets in her excitement but before she can do more damage Affan cut her off immediately.

"Baby... Relax... You have just woken up... Don't speak so fast... Ok, you are recovering...,"

Everyone in the room can see he was nervous after his daughter busted him oh so amazing.

Maham gulped at baby Mahi words, she was avoiding everyone's eyes as a blush of embarrassment was adorning her face.

Ahmed Sahab took pity on his son and Maham as he distracted his granddaughter and both the embarrassed people blessed him for the help.

"Mahi... what do you want to eat? You must be hungry...,"

The little girl's eyes twinkle as she heard the mention of food and she tells the first thing her stomach demands as she was already salivating.

"Donuts!!! Donut and coffee, please... Can I have them together now Baba?"

Affan rolled his eyes at his daughter's demand she was so like his Jhalli but before he can deny Maham already spoke up.

"Mahi baby... You can't eat it now... It was not good for your recovery but I promise you... I will bring the treat for you when the doctor gives a green signal for it... You know it was my favorite too... So we can enjoy it together. What you say?"

Baby Mahi looked at her with a beaming smile and nodded.

"Ok fine... I will wait and we both will party then... I like you... You are so pretty,"

Maham laughed at the baby girl's words and caressed her head.

"Thank you bacha... but you are much more pretty and brave than me,"

Suddenly Salaar moved with the gifts and let his presence know.