Dedicated to @amreennajwa

Thank you so much @chweetcat for making this beautiful cover 😍

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Haya thought next day would be the worst, Nasreen and Kusum couldn't say anything to her because of her uncles' presence and just because Haroon was there. But now, they have left for the office, what will Nasreen and Kusum do to her? Scaredly, Haya left her room with her books, she thought of skipping breakfast to avoid everyone.

But, before she could cross the foyer, she came across Kusum.

"Kaha ja rahi ho?" Kusum asked as she looked at Haya from head to toe.

(Where are you going?)

"Um... Chachi, College..." Hesitantly, Haya replied, Feeling nervous of her gaze as if it is judging her. Thinking Kusum will forbid her to leave the house.

"Beena Nashte ke? Nashta karlo phir chali jana." Kusum softly holds her hand and dragged her inside. Haya was too astounded to say anything.

(Without breakfast? Have breakfast first.)

Kusum pulled a chair for her and went to sit too.

Still in daze, Haya sat down and looked at Kusum, expecting her to drop her mask of kindness.

"Kya hua? Nashta karo." Surprisingly, Kusum smiled and told her.

(What happened? Eat up.)

Haya quickly picked a toast and buttered it,

"Chachi, ab main jau?" Haya finishes the toast in four bites and asked.

(Can I go now?)

"Tumne toh khaya hi nahi...." Kusum looked at her empty plate and said.

(But you didn't eat anything.)

"Woh.. main late ho rahi thi..." Before Haya could complete her sentence, Nasreen came there.

(I...I'm getting late for my class.)

"Haya!" This made Haya stand up.

"Driver aaj ghar par hi hai, tum uske sath chali jao college. Roz late ho jati ho rikshaw ki wajah se." Nasreen told her.

(Driver will drop you to your college.)

This made Haya's eyes widened as she looked at both her Aunties and nod her head. Leaving the dining room, she again looked at her back, both Nasreen and Kusum had smile on their face. She couldn't understand what's wrong with them, why they are behaving so lovingly? Especially after what happened last night. Shaking her head, Haya left.

Nasreen's face dropped its smile as she turned to Kusum with narrowed eyes, in return, Kusum gave her a sweet smile.

Haya only had one important class that day, after submitting her assignment, she returned to her house. All-day, at home, no one called her for anything neither gave her any chores. Not that Haya always completed the chores which are given to her, but this never stopped them by making her life more miserable. And this made Haya doubtful.

What are they thinking? Are they planning something? But what? Haya asked these questions to herself while laying on her bed, looking at the soft blue ceiling. She turned to her left, putting her hands under her cheek.

Wish you were here, Baba. I wouldn't have to worried about these things. She thought in her heart, her vision was getting blurry due to the tears, which she quickly gulped down.

Setting up, she thought of going to Asher and Samaira, maybe playing with them will cheer her up.

•••

Afsha combed her long hair and put them in a loose braid, picking a light shade of lipstick, she was about to wear it when she heard the sound of honk from downstairs. Instantly, her face brightens up as she quickly wore the lipstick. She ran downstairs, catching her breath, Afsha sat on the sofa and made herself comfortable as if she was sitting there from some time.

She was still edgy, looking at the main door after every two seconds, waiting for him to come but he didn't.

Her brows furrowed in confusion as she got up to check.

She came outside of her house, for whom she has gotten ready and for whom she was waiting was there. Haris was talking to someone on his phone, that's why he didn't come inside.

"Maa, I'll call you later." Seeing here there, Haris disconnected the call. He thought he is there to call him as it was already time for tuition.

"Assalam-Alaikum!" Greeting her, Haris went inside. While Afsha's face bloomed into a huge smile as she replied to him.

She was also about to go inside after him when her eyes fall on his bike. The black bike of his reminds her of the bike which dropped Haya home yesterday night.

There are many bikes with the same model. Afsha shook her head negatively.

•••

When Haris entered the room of Asher and Samaira, they were not present there. But, Haya. She was picking up the books which were laying around and putting them on the study table.

He wasn't expecting this, that's why he didn't knock, and seeing her there, he didn't know what to do, clear his throat to catch her attention or go back and knock on the door? These thoughts were running in his mind when Haya raised her head, seeing him there, the notebook falls from her hands as she quickly stood up straight and proper her dupatta. Haris avert his eyes away from her and placed them on the floor.

"I... I'm sorry... I wasn't expecting you..."

"I'll call Asher and Samaira." Haya told him and was about to leave. But Haris was still standing on the doorway, which Haya raised her eyebrow at him.

"Eh?..Oh, sorry." Haris looked confused but then realized he is blocking the way, he quickly stands aside to give space to her.

"Haya!" Haya has just left the room when Haris went after her.

Haya stopped and turned to him with questionable eyes.

"Are you okay?" Haya looked more confused by his question

Confusingly, she nods her head.

Both of them didn't notice Tabu, as Haya left and Haris also went inside the room.

•••

"Haya! Why was Haris asking you are you okay?" Tabu asked Haya when they were alone.

Haya, who was making roti, stopped and looked at Tabu with expanded eyes.

"Bhabhi!" Haya started saying but couldn't find any word as she looked at the door of the kitchen, afraid someone might come from there.

"Sach sach batao." Tabu sternly said.

(Tell me the truth.)

Tabu was elder sister of Haya's best friend, Hareem. Haya was in 12th grade when Tabu came to her house to pick Hareem, it is when Arsh saw her and fall for her in first sight. Tabu and Arsh's marriage was love and that's why Kusum was still not contented about. But what can she do, her eldest son was most stubborn.

Tabu was most comfortable with Haya because she already knew her and becuase Haya was the only who gave her warm welcome.

After Haya's father death, Tabu was the only who was there for her. Haya always thought of her elder sister. That's why, Tabu could even scolded her and Haya wouldn't mind.

"He was the one who dropped me last night." Leaning toward her, Haya said in undertone, not wanting the walls to hear her.

A loud gasp left Tabu's mouth as she looked at Haya, asking so many question and not opening her mouth.

"Bhabhi, it isn't what you think." Haya quickly raised her hands in air and said. "We just bumped into each other last night." Tabu nods her head, looking uncertain but did not ask anymore questions to Haya.

•••

"Yeh Kya hai?" Bilqees picked a casserole from the fridge and asked to her son.

(What's this?)

"Woh... yeh woh uss din restaurant se laya tha." Haris looked at the casserole and told her, not really paying attention as he was searching for jobs on internet.

(It... I ordered it from restaurant from that day?)

"Uss din kis din?" Bilqees smell it and cringed her nose.

(Which day?)

"Kitni baar kaha hai zyada din ka rakha khana na khaya karo. Aur bahar se kyu khate ho? Ghar mein bana liya karo kuch." Dumping the casserole in sink, she scolded him.

(How many times I have to tell you not to eat left over food? And why do you even eat outside? Why don't you cook something?)

"Ek khud ke liye kya banau? Aap kyu jati hain Mamu ke yaha mujhe chorhke?" In return, Haris asked her.

(Why do you go to Mamu's house when you know I don't like cooking only for one person?)

"Tum dono bhaiyo ki wajah se waise bhi saal mein do hi baar jati hoon bhai ke ghar, Ab woh bhi na jau. Waise tumhari Mami ne iska solution diya hai mujhe." Rolling the sleeves of her kurti upto her elbow, she started washing the dirty dishes.

(Because of you two, I don't even go anywhere. I have gone to Bhai's house after a year. But now, your Mami has gave a solution for this matter.)

Haris gave his attention to her on her pause. Bilqees cleared her throat to speak clearly

"Tumhari Mami kehti hain tumhari shaadi karwa doon. Phir do log ke liye khana banane mein tumhe problem nahi hogi aur main bhi aram jaha mann karega aungi jaungi." Said Bilqees, teasingly.

(Your Mami told me to get you married, then you won't have problem for cooking for two people? And I can also fo whereever I want to.)

"Maa!" Haris could only whine. "Job settle hai nahi aur aap shaadi ki baat kar rahi hain."

(My job isn't settled.)

"Bade buzurg kahte hain ki jab nayi dulhan ati hai toh apne sath barkat leke ati hai." She shouted on the top of her lungs which made Haris groan.

(Our elder says that bride brings prosperity with her.)

"Aap atey hi shuru ho gayi? Issey achha tha aap Mamu ke ghar kuch din aur ruk jati." Haris mumbled the last part But she heard it.

(You have again started this, you should have stayed at Mamu's house for some more days.)

"Badtameez, Sharam nahi ati maa se aise baat karte hue?" Taking handful of water, she threw it on Haris.

(That's how you talk to your mother?)

Haris grouches as he protected his phone from water.

•••

Afsha angrily placed the cup of tea on the table and crossed her arms over her chest to show her displeasure.

"Kya ho gaya?" Nasreen picked the cup and asked her only daughter, without even glancing at her.

(What happened?)

"Mummy, mere samajh nahi araha hai ki aap kar kya rahi hain? Jiss Haya se aap har chote mote kaam karwati thi ab aap uske hisse ka kaam bhi mujhe de rahi hain."

(Mummy, Why are you treating Haya so nicely? You have always told Haya to do my work and now you told me to make tea for you.)

When her mother told her to make tea for her, Afsha ordered Haya for it but Nasreen scolded her and this was the reason why Afsha was angry.

Her mother always treated her like a princess, she never let Afsha do any chores. Nasreen would always order Haya to do the chores of Afsha too, then why so suddenly her mother is showering love to Haya? Afsha couldn't understand it and she didn't like it.

"Main yeh sab sirf tumhare liye kar rahi." Putting the cup again on table, Nasreen told her.

(I'm doing this for you.)

"Lekin kya?"

(But what?)

"Tum nahi samjhogi, abhi bohot choti ho tum. Bas wmain jo kar rahi hoon mujhe karne do." Nasreen solemnly said. But Afsha was still dissatisfied.

(You won't understand. Just let this things the way it is.)

•••