She didn't had to knock twice, the door opened in one knock, a young lady stood there looking at them confusingly

She wasn't the girl that Subh-Dil left, nor she herself was like before

They both have grown up, the immature girls that they were before has changed into women

It took her few seconds to recognize her and when she did a huge smile formed on her face

"Soni!" She happily said

"Barkha!" Same happiness was also in her voice, Barkha pulled her in tight hug

"Tum?... Yaha?.... Kab?......kaise?" Breaking the hug she asked, both friends seems to forget the third company

(You?...here?....how?....when?)

"Andar ajaye'n pehle?" Subh-Dil smilingly asked

(Can we come inside first?)

"Haan.....?" That's when her eyes fall on Ammar, she turned to Subh-Dil

(Yeas.....?)

"Yeh Ammar Hain mere husband.... Aur Ammar yeh Barkha Hai meri bachpan ki dost,"

(He is my husband Ammar.... And Ammar meet Barkha my best friend,)

"Assalamualaikum!"

They went inside of her house,

"Idhar mere sath baitho tumse bohot baatei'n karni hai," when Subh-Dil saw Barkha going to kitchen she grab her hand and made her sit beside herself

(I have so much to talk with you, come sit with me,)

"Inhe toh bula loon at least," she said, then Subh-Dil left her hand, she went inside

(At least let me call him,)

"Soni?" Ammar looked at her

"Goav mein sab mujhe Soni bulate the, jab hum sheher shift hue toh Maine Amma aur Abba se mana Kar diya tha iss naam se bulane ke liye," Subh-Dil looked around the house, the interior had changed but the warmness she felt here before was still here

(Everyone used to call me Soni. But, when we shifted to city I told Amma Abba to call me by my real name,)

Few minutes later a man came there,

"Assalamualaikum! Shafi bhai!" Subh-Dil got up when she saw him, Ammar also followed her,

<><><>

The whole village was awake when she returned her home, everyone saw her without any Chadar or dupatta, her hair opened messy, and her surkh ankhen

None bothered to ask her where she was or how is she, they just started assuming things and judged her

When she came to her house, her father was sitting on chair while her mother was saying something

"Amma!" she called her mother on the door

"Soni!" Farida and Akhtar both ran to her, Soni broke down in her mother's arms

"Soni! Kaha thi?......Kya hua?...... Kuch toh bolo!" Her feet were very weak she couldn't stay stable, she fall on floor. Farida was still hugging her while asking questions

(Soni! Where were you?....... What happened?........ Say something,)

The judging eyes of the people and their curious ears were on their door, which Akhtar close on their face

"Soni Kya hua?" He also say on floor and aksed his only daughter

(Soni what happened?)

Seeing her appearance they had got the idea but still hoped it wasn't true

"Abba woh........." Crying she told them everything

"Abba Meri koi galti nahi hai," hiccuping Soni said

(Abba it's not my fault,)

Akhtar put hand on her head trying to make her stop crying, he knows very well it's not his daughter's fault

But can he do? The talks if people had started, last three days they have said so much about Soni

Spread many rumours that at one point Akhtar and Farida themselves got tired and thought maybe Soni won't returned now

And now when she has returned none will bothered with real story but assume different things, no one will believe her

Now there is stain on her character

Without doing anything Azam snatched her dignity away from her

They decided to leave the village and went to city, there Akhtar's one friend helped them to settle there

Akhtar got job in a supermarket then at night he worked as night guard in restaurant just for his daughter to complete her studies so she can become the person she has always dreamed of

Subh-Dil did became a teacher like she wanted but she wasn't like the person she was before, the bubbly, fun loving girl who always voice her thoughts changed

She has became silent only speaking when needed

She also told her parents not to call her Soni against, she wanted to forget everything that happened in village

But the event always haunt her like nightmare

<><><>

"Main tumhare liye bohot khush hoon Soni, main hamesha sochti thi ki kaha ho tum kaisi ho lekin ab tumhe tumhare shohar ke sath dekh ke mujhe bohot Khushi ho rahi hai,"

(I really happy for you, I always worried about you, where you are, how you are, but now seeing you with your husband I so happy,)

"Ammar bohot achhe hain!" Subh-Dil smiled

(Ammar is really nice,)

"Meri choro apni batao," Barkha was engaged to Shafi since childhood after her school complete Raza got them married,

(Forget about me, tell me about you,)

Two friends who had met after years had so much to talk, after dinner they send Shafi and Ammar to sleep and went on terrace with cup of tea

They both talked and didn't realize when it was already time for morning prayer

"Aaj aur ruk jati," after breakfast when Subh-Dil and Ammar took their leave Barkha whined on the door

(Stay here for tonight,)

"Phir zaroor aungi,"

(I'll come again,)

"Bhai aap ruk jaiye tab toh yeh rukegi," she turned to Ammar

(Bhai you stay here, then she'll stay,)

"Filhal toh Hume chalna hai lekin ab apko ana hoga humare Ghar," Ammae smile her at

(Right now e have to go, now you come to our house,)

"Jaiye bhai ki help Karwa dijiye saman rakhne mein," Barkha told Shafi, and both man didn't asked what saman?

(Go help Bhai with luggage,)

They thought maybe two friends need time alone so they grant them

"Tum Sach mein apne gaov jaogi?" Barkha asked Subh-Dil seriously

(You'll seriously go to your village?)

"Haan mujhe Fareen bua se milna hai,"

(Yes! I have to meet Fareen bua,)

"Lekin Soni!..... Azam....." Barkha slowly said his name as if afraid someone will hear her

(But Soni!.... Azam...?)

"Uski tension na lo, Ammar Hain mere sath," Subh-Dil assured her

(Don't worry about it, Ammar is with me,)

"Woh sab jante Hain?"

(Does he know everything?)

__________

😬