"الفت بدل گئی کبھی نیت بدل گئی

خودغرض جب ہوئے تو پھر سیرت بدل گئی

اپنا قصور دوسروں کے سر پر ڈال کر

کچھ لوگ سوچتے ہیں کہ حقیقت بدل گئی"

(Ulfat badal gayi Kabhi niyat badal gayi

Khudgarz Jan hoye Tu phr seerat badal gayi

Apna qasoor dosro ke sar or Dal or

Kuch log sochty hai ke haqeeqat badal gayi)

۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔

The next whole month was bliss for everyone in the Hamdani House.

Umer is back to his normal self and Jannat was now enjoying her life without any guilt but the happiest person about this change is Mannat.

She was now always bouncing around, teasing either her sister or Umer.

Just like today, Umer always made Mannat's favourite breakfast for her.

But today Jannat was feeling low because of the fever she got last week, it was pretty harsh and everyone took great care of her specially Mannat and Umer who acted like a mother hen.

Jannat was not eating enough food so Umer made her favorite French toast with the side of caramel sauce and fruit salad. And Mannat was busy teasing them.

"Bhai you never made my French toast this tasty... This one is so creamy and delicious... How can you be baised?"

Umer rolled his eyes at the drama queen of this family as he twisted her ears.

"Because you never let me add cream or butter... You will always say 'Ewe Bhai it's so yucky I won't eat it,"

Mannat paled at his words and the next moment she dashed toward the bathroom to vomit the said ingredients out.

Ramsha shook her head as she followed Mannat but not before giving her two cents.

"You should have told her before you idiot... Now she will go all hulk on your ass when she came back...,"

"You told me to do it...,"

Adam and Umer spoke together in fear as they pointed toward each other.

"I am innocent...,"

"Stop copying me...,"

Jannat just huffed at their banter as they keep saying the same thing together.

"Will you both shut up? We are the twins, not you two and it's creepy...,"

Both men smirked at her as she rolled her eyes eating her food when she suddenly craved coffee.

She wanted to drink it, she was going to get up when a lukewarm cup of her favorite coffee is placed in front of her.

She looked at the hand and followed it to the owner's eyes. Umer smiled at her and nodded toward the cup.

"You can have mine... I know you wanted coffee but mama won't let you so have some of mine... It will reduce the craving and all...,"

"But it's yours... You are drinking it... You have it I will make another...,"

He rolled his eyes as he nudges her shoulder and spoke in a stern but caring tone.

"Like you never eat my leftover... Now don't argue and drink it...,"

She smiled at him mumbling thanks. This is how their whole month had been.

He gave her things and helping her without her saying a word or asking for a thing.

It's like childhood again, where Umer will always solve Jannat's problems without her saying anything to him.

But this time the emotions blooming in her heart are different and more intense, than her childhood crush.

Mannat came back fuming with Ramsha coming behind her as she tried her best to control her laughter.

Umer was lost in Jannat and Adam was eating like he was starved for years when Mannat hit them both from behind, as they are sitting together with their back to her it's easy for her to attack them without alerting them.

"Oww..,"

They yelled and glared at her as she stood behind them with a rolling pin in her hand as she stood with her hands on her hips glaring at them.

"What the hell Mannat?"

"What the hell? What the hell you say? I show you hell... How dare you made me eat that knowing I get nauseated each time...,"

That's how the whole living room turned into the live show of Tom and Jerry where a 5'7" girl was running behind two hulky men of 6'1" with her rolling pin as Jannat and Ramsha sat on the couch enjoying the show.

Shameen and Hadiya beghum came there and the scene in front of them made them facepalm.

"Enough!!!"

Everyone stopped at the roar of Hadiya beghum who looked at five adults who surely didn't act like adults.

"How many times I told you guys this is a house, not your playground... Why are you two running and manna bacha why are you holding that rolling pin?"

Shameen beghum scolded them but soon looked at her kids who are smiling sheepishly at her.

"Mama they made me eat the cream French toast... You know I don't like the dairy products...,"

Mannat pouted at her mother who looked worried for her. Everyone knows Mannat hates something like that and will always end up vomiting.

They tried everything to tell her to eat it but she never listens.

"I will punish them later manna... But for now, I want you kids in the living room we wanted to tell you something...,"

"We are not kids...,"

All five of them groaned together but their mothers just glared at them.

"Well, you guys surely act like one... Now come on move it... And manna please return my rolling pin to the kitchen...,"

Mannat bit her lip as she nodded and after glaring at them she ran back to return the rolling pin.

As everyone sat down the mothers told them that had the girls squealing except Ramsha who was blushing and two grumpy men.

"So My friend Mrs. Kashani is coming tonight for dinner with her family to see Ramsha... They had seen her in some event and they send a proposal...,"

"Yay... Wedding... Congratulations api...,"

Both Jannat and Mannat are squealing and teasing Ramsha while Adam and Umer looked serious.

"I know the look boys... You don't have to be all alpha male... Your sister is grown up and ready to start her own family so be mature and don't do something stupid tonight...,"

"Yes ma'am...,"

Hadiya beghum spoke sternly and when they respond she smiled and told the girls to go and get ready.

"Go girls start getting ready... We are going to prepare for dinner. You all go and dolled up your sister,"

Soon the ladies went and Adam and Umer looked at each other mouths agape.

"ITS LITERALLY AFTERNOON!!! How much time they need for getting ready for dinner?"

Before Adam can respond to Umer's words, their mothers called them.

"To the work boys... Your Baba and Mamu Jaan called... Go and do something productive,"

They both grumbled under their breath as they went towards the garage to start the day, they are obviously late.

.......

It was after dinner when the guest was sitting in the living room, they had already like Ramsha and they wanted to marry their elder son with her.

Hamdani family and Hadiya beghum asked for some time to respond but everyone knows that they will agree to this.

But every girl's family had to be 100% sure before giving their daughter to someone else.

Ramsha supposed to be in-laws are very talkative and they had 3 sons, Arham being the eldest like Ramsha, and send his parents for the alliance.

Arham's mother hinted the whole night that she likes all three daughters of the Hamdani family.

Mannat was uncomfortable, Jannat just rolled her eyes while Ramsha keeps blushing.

"Shameen Bhabhi... Shafiq Bhai... Mirza Bhai If you don't mind... I wanted to say something...,"

Shameen beghum looked at everyone but nodded at them to continue.

"I like Ramsha very much and like we said we will wait for your answer... But I wanted to say that I like the manners your daughters had and their politeness and kindness are very heart-warming... I wanted to ask for both your other daughters' hand for my other sons... I know this is a lot but please think about it...,"

Everyone looked at the family in shock, mannat and Jannat didn't know what to do, while the elders are just speechless.

But the most comic reaction was when both Umer and Adam choked on their tea.

"What the hell?"

Umer was the first one to respond but his response was not much liked by the other family.

"Sorry, everyone... But aunty with all due respect this cannot happen...,"

"But why? We are well established and you are trusting us with one daughter why not with others...my sons are very good and respected,"

This time Shafiq Sahab spoke before umer burst at them and ruin Ramsha's chance at happiness also.

"Mrs. Kashani... Not many people know about this but our Mannat is already nikkahfied to my elder son Murad... And Jannat is just pursuing her career...,"

The lady blush in embarrassment as she apologized for her blunt demand.

"It's ok... Not everyone knows about it, so it's not your fault...,"

They nodded and soon started to bid farewell to everyone, but Arham's mother was not backing down easily and thus angered Umer.

"But if you change your mind about Jannat marriage then please consider my proposal first... Please...,"

Umer felt unexplainable angry coursed through his veins as the lady words keep roaming around in his mind.

But he can't ruin Ramsha's happiness that's why he moved with the family to see them off.

Umer stood there when Mrs. Kashani looked at his unmoving figure in confusion because his family was long gone.

"do you want something Umer?"

"Wo aunty... I really like you and your family... I know you are good people for our Ramsha... But...,"

Mrs. Kashani frowned at him as she told him to continue with his words.

"But what? What are you trying to say?"

Umer looked toward the gate where Jannat stood talking animatedly to Mannat with making scary and weird hand signs and Umer found that a perfect chance.

"Aunty looked there... I wanted to warn you about this...,"

"Yeah, that's your sisters looking so cute...,"

He felt like hitting his head on the car bonnet but took a deep breath.

"First she is not my sister... And I am saying that please don't propose for Jannat hand in marriage for your son,"

Now the lady was more confused but he was not going back without eradicating the threat.

"But why beta?"

"Aunty ji listen to me carefully... Our Jannat is not well... She had a disease, she grows up looking at soap opera dramas where the mother-in-law is very cruel to the innocent daughter-in-law...,"

"but what it had to do with this?"

Umer felt like killing someone, he made the most innocent face he can and looked at the lady with sympathy.

"she vowed that she will never let her mother-in-law rule her that she will never be like those innocent girls who bear everything without a word and will teach every strict mother-in-law a good lesson of a lifetime even if it means torturing them... My family loved her and didn't tell anyone this thinking she will get better after marriage or after her mother-in-law died but I like you that why I am telling you this... Our Ramsha is a very good girl so please don't ruin it for a crazy person who can kill you even in your sleep...,"

The lady looked terrified as she looked at Jannat who was by luck making throat-cutting signs to Mannat, the lady paled and he wanted to laugh at her face but keep his posture.

"And please aunty don't tell anyone about this...,"

"I understand beta... And don't worry I won't tell anyone, thank you very much for warning me... I don't want to die this soon... And I really love Ramsha but now I will try my best to stay away from Jannat...,"

After bidding the woman farewell, he smiled victoriously at Adam who laughed at him. He heard each word and enjoyed it too.

"Well done brother... You saved the day by creating an amazing story... Jannat and mentally ill... It's hilarious...,"

"It had to be done or she was ready to come with two baraat...,"

"The things people do for love these days...,"

Adam teased him, Umer walked away without giving him an answer as Adam laughed at his lack of response.

..............

After two weeks both families agreed to the alliance and soon Ramsha's wedding preparations get started.

Hadiya beghum wanted to marry her daughter soon, so she was relieved of this responsibility.

It's a whole emotional scene for the whole family but they went through it together.

Shameen beghum announced that she was calling her stupid elder son and getting both his sons married.

Because she wanted grandchildren that cause Mannat to blush the whole day as Jannat teased her.

The funniest thing was Mrs. Kashani's reaction, she avoided Jannat at all cost, and everyone found that weird but ignore it because that woman adored Ramsha very much.

Umer and Adam had a good laugh whenever they saw their interactions because Arham's mother always stays alert and extra warm in Jannat's appearance, but only they know the reason.

Ramsha wedding was one month away and everyone was busy with the preparation.

Mirza twins were trying clothes in their room for the functions when Mannat asked Jannat something.

"Janna... You never told me anything about your time in Paris or with mother,"

Jannat got tense for a moment but then keep looking at herself in the mirror.

"There is nothing to tell manna... I went there, stay in the boarding schools and then got my degree, work in a good company and then come back home...,"

Umer came there to talk with the girls, he was going to knock when he heard Mannat question.

He also wanted to know this so he without alerting them stood there and listen.

"that's not what I am asking you... I wanted to know how you feel there? Do you like it there and please tell me the truth... What she did to you?"

He holds his breath as he waited for her to respond.

He knew this is not good and ethical to eavesdrop but he wanted to know this because Jannat always changes topics when he asked.

"I don't know manna... I spend my half-life there alone and even when I don't want to admit it... I love it there in a weird twisted way... I made it my life goal to make husn-ara beghum life hell and I am proud to say I am very successful in doing that,"

"What do you mean Jannat?"

"I hated her for what she did to us... to me... she is the reason I went away so I had to do my best to avenge that and I did... I made sure to pull every prank I possibly can and she was done with me at the end of the month... let's say she had to get a nose job, renovate her new house kitchen and living room, and her new husband ran away,"

"She throw me in various boarding schools... When I cause trouble they punished me but I will cause more damage and they had to call mother... She was tired of me but she didn't want to lose the money she got by the child support and the upper hand she had on Baba... So she keep me... To live my life alone without my parent...,"

Jannat spends her life alone in various boarding schools because her mother gets tired of her. Jannat also didn't talk with her and she lost count of her mother's marriages.

"I spend holidays and breaks either at her house or any hotel because she was too busy with her life... I don't mind either because I hate her too much... It wasn't until I was 18... She left me on my own...,"

"What did you do?"

"Why did you say that manna?"

Jannat smirked at her and Umer can feel it. She was trying her best to mask her emotions and pain of years.

"Because you are smirking so tell me what did you do?"

"Nothing special... I just pulled the final and

Grand prank on her and burned her car in front of her eyes while I hired a girl to filrt with her husband number #2... Let's say that lead to a dramatic divorce and my freedom because mother didn't meet me or talk to me after that... Her last words to me were 'I regret that I give birth to you... You and your sister ruined me years ago and are still doing it'... That's when I know that she is crazy...,"

Jannat sighed as she thought about her life there. she was living her life in peace, working her dream job when one day she got the news of her mother's death.

she was sad but she didn't cry because that woman never acts like a mother to her or her sister.

"She was never our mother... She didn't even come to my graduation or my birthday or any event... I am thankful that I had some saved up money that I used to set a new life for myself... I can't get back because I was still legally under her clutches but I don't think she cared after some years... I didn't came back because I wanted to become something and find my own identity... I spend a very difficult life there but I loved it there... I love the freedom and passion,"

He released his breath, he already knows this, just wanted to hear her say it was like a stab to the heart but he can understand why she felt like that.

If you spend your half-life alone in the most beautiful city, you will get addicted to the loneliness and started to enjoy it.

"I know it's wrong but I lived a different life there... I am free to do whatever I want... I didn't even sketch or touch a pencil since I came back but there it's the only thing I do... That's how I got a job in a world-famous fashion house,"

Mannat wiped he tears away, she was hurt but also happy that she had her sister back.

Mannat didn't say anything she just wanted to listen to her sister talk but they didn't know someone else is also listening.

"I loved it so much that even now I missed it... The busy streets, the no-nonsense environment, the peace, and freedom... I missed it...,"

Umer just listened to her words, he didn't like it one bit but he wanted to hear more. His breath hitched at Mannat next question.

"So if you get a chance to go back there... Will you accept?"

"In a heartbeat...,"

Umer felt his heartbreaking, so she can go back there but not live here with her family, with him.

He felt like she again rejected him. His love and care, it's hard to heal a broken heart but it's impossible to heal a broken soul.

"What about Umer Bhai?"

He was going to dash away but stop, Jannat looked at her sister trying to act all cool but her eyes are telling another tale to Mannat.

"What... What about him?"

"Don't you love him? Because I know he does...,"

Umer and Jannat both gasped at that moment, Mannat looked at the door frowning but ignore it soon focusing on her twin.

"What are you saying Mannat? He doesn't love me... And so do I... We are just best friends and I am still getting his trust... Don't misread it...,"

"So you don't love him?"

Umer waited for the answer, he prayed to his LORD and gulped in nervousness but he stumbles back the next moment.

"I don't... He is just my best friend...,"

He can't hear more, another rejection, another heartbreak after a month of peace.

He ran away from there to grief on his yet again rejected love.

Mannat shook her head at Jannat who was not meeting her eyes and give her the stink eyes look.

"So you are telling me that you don't love him and you can go back leaving him for thousands of girls who are dying for his one attention...,"

Jannat's expression hardens as Mannat laughed in her mind, she was successfully riling her sister.

"And that he can marry anyone and start a family with another woman and that he can unlove you and live happily ever after with another...,"