in the air that were choking her. She didn't want to see him and tell him why she did what she did.

She sighs.

"Who is she?". He asked when the child was reading her book upside down

"She is Shaikhah and she is my child". She said looking at her baby

"She is older than the time we spent together so what's the story?". He asked

"Ammi (mother)". A soft voice said from beside them

He turned around looking at the exact copy of Shaikhah beside the hair looking at her 'mother' shyly.

"Jee (yes), Shariah?". She asked pulling her in her lap

Shariah turned around closer to her ear whispering something while she whispers back to her. Shariah nodded getting down and walking to Shaikhah.

"They are twin?. How old are they?". He asked curiously having a liking towards them

"Yes and ten". She replied sighing, "Can you leave now they are already asking questions. If you need bread wait for sometime I have to bake it".

He sighs.

He watched her walking away from him and that was the only thing he hated the most.

Her walking away from him.

Only if he was courageous enough to say what's in his heart and actually do something.

He sighs again.

"Are you sad?". He heard the sweet voice bringing a smile on his lips

He turned around to find one of the twins standing in front of him but he wasn't sure about her name.

"Shaikhah". She said softly smiling, "I know people cannot differentiate between us".

He smiled apologetically," Sorry, I will be sure to learn soon. But, why do you think I am sad?".

She played with her frock, "Because when Ammi Jaan is sad she always does the same".

His face fell, "She is sad?".

She nodded innocently, "She is sad many times". She said trying to count on her hand but failed, "I can't count".

"It's fine. I am a little sad too, so what can you do for me?". He asked

Shaikhah thought for a moment walking back to her bag taking a paper and drawing something. She says something to Shariah and she looked at him then back at the paper quickly.

"Here". Shaikhah said smiling

He looked down at the paper that had a smiley face on it, "You do this with Ammi?".

She nodded proudly, "I did it once when I saw her crying and she smiled after I gave her this paper. I do it every time now".

"This is great. Thank you". He said patting her head

"Come, Shariah". Shaikhah said hurriedly

Shariah didn't even look and took a few steps stopping immediately shaking her head.

"He won't hurt you, come on". Shaikhah said, "I am here I will protect you, promise".

Shariah shakes her head again.

"Here". She said placing the bread

Then she looked around to what was happening. Shariah looked a little scared of whatever was happening. She quickly walked near her holding her to herself.

"It's fine, beta (daughter)". She said patting her back

Once she calmed down she moved back holding her hand walking back to him and holding Shaikhah hand too.

"Leave". She said

"No, I am not leaving until I finish eating. It will be cold if I take it back". He said challenging

"Let him eat, Ammi, you said not to starve people". Shaikhah said smiling at her mother

She sighs.

"Fine". She said moving to another table with both the girls

"How was your day today?". She asked placing Shariah in her lap kissing her cheeks lovingly

"It was soooo good, Ammi...". Shaikhah started her stories

She listened to her daughter words with the utmost attention and reacting when she would want her to and comment on other points.

She kissed Shaikhah head, "You did well today, meri Jaan (my life)".

Shaikhah smiled sweetly looking at her sister sadly.

"What is it?". She asked confused looking at Shariah who was not looking at her, "Did someone say something?".

"Ah, you might have to come to school tomorrow!?". Shaikhah said smiling anxiously

She raised her eyebrows, "Who did you hit this time?".

Shaikhah crossed her hand on her chest defensively, "It was because they were being mean to her. I don't want a friend if they are good to me and mean to her. They were saying bad things and then saying that if she tells me or someone they will not be my friend. So, I just....".

"So, you just hit them and broke your friendship again". She completed her sentence to which Shaikhah nodded her head enthusiastically

She sighs.

"Beta (daughter), I told you violence is never the answer for your problems-". She started but was cut off

"Don't fight for me". Shariah said sadly

She looked down at her tears filled eyes hugging her.

"Tell her not to do it, Ammi Jaan". She insisted

She looked at Shaikhah sad eyes,"Beta (daughter)-".

"What you did for your sister is the best thing but instead of fighting all her battle, train her how to fight one. If you stand beside her instead of in front of her she will be able to do much more". He said interrupting her words

"So, she will hit them?". Shaikhah asked innocently

"Only people who cannot do much otherwise use violence". He said patting her head, "You are big enough to find another way".

"You are done eating?". She asked placing Shariah on the chair brushing her clothes

He nodded.

"Then?. You want something else?". She asked walking away towards the plate to pick it

"I just want to know". He said desperately

"With what right?". She asked taking his dish away in the kitchen

His heart stopped.

He walked out of the bakery waiting for them and after a few minutes she stepped out with the twins talking to her animated.

"I will drop you". He offered

She turned around annoyed that he is still here when she really want him gone.

"But, we like to walk". Shaikhah said and her sister nodded her head in support

"You like walking?". He asked

"Yes, Ammi said to observe the things around and walking make us happy". She replied excitedly

"Ammi likes walking". Shariah said nervously looking at her feet

"Let's go". She said

"Abir-". He started

"Don't". She said walking away

She sat alone on her trance looking at the sky she always looks at when she would have his thoughts. It wasn't easy to forget someone you have given your life to. It was so hard to build herself and then having two little girls so lost around her. She was trying to find a way for herself and then she had to suddenly find a way for two more lives.

It always hurt to know what they been through and what they are going through even with her by their side. She placed her hand on Shariah head moving to her hair away from her face. She remembers the day she saw her eyes for the first time and the pain, fear and emptiness they held even the questions they asked her she is still so scared to answer.

"So, you saw her again?". His friend asked casually

"Did you even hear the whole story?". He said frustrated because he didn't sleep for a week now

His friend shrugged, "You were meant to run into her at some point. I don't see anything unusual instead I think I will visit her to see those two girls".

"You seem very happy about it". He said sitting on his chair

"I am. I always admired that woman. Do you find any woman who would sacrifice everything instead believe in someone who had nothing and made him a man he is today?". His friend said sadly, "My wife left me because I couldn't buy her that expensive purse she wanted to show off in her party and some more. While, she was a woman who never showed off your money even when you had enough. Don't you understand?".

She holds her children hands walking along with her as she hears their sweet voice telling her stories. She always loved to go walking to observe thing she wasn't the one to be caged inside a luxurious house. Instead, she was like a free bird who wondered but come back home again.

But, when she was caged and trapped inside a world that she hadn't imagined the suffocation it brought still shakes her to the core. She tried so hard to pull herself together in that world but it was a world she wouldn't ever again try to be in.

No matter what.

He sat in his car looking at the two girls walking out of the school holding hands until someone pushed them apart causing in them leaving each other hand and falling on the ground.

Shaikhah glared at the girl in front of her while Shariah looked at the ground.

"Oops, that was a mistake". The girl said who pushed them

"It wasn't a mistake". Shaikhah yelled angrily

"So, what?. You are going to go to do what?". The girl asked, "You don't even have real parents to help you anyway".

"Is that a way 10 years old should be talking nowadays?". The girls heard someone say

Ibrahim walked towards Shariah helping her stand on her feet but his heart clenched when he saw blood coming out of her scratched hands. He was about to hold her but he was pushed away by Shaikhah who held her sister near her.

He sighs.

He turned towards the young girl who seems to be the bully of the kids.

"Maybe, they don't have real parents but they have parents who love them more than an actual parent and that is good enough. Some people cannot leave their parents even when they are the worse it's good they don't have that kind of situation instead they are happy where they are". He said then he looked at them, "They have real parents. I am their father".

"Why would you say that to them?". She asked frustrated when she heard her children screaming the story to her

"What should I do then?. They are being bullied for so long do you have any idea how that feels?". He asked angrily

She narrowed her eyes, "I have a perfect idea of how that feels and I would have done it better without you having to tell them nonsense".

"What nonsense?. How was any of it nonsense?". He asked moving closer to her

"You are not their father". She said angrily, "You will never be their father".

"Then who is it?. Who is their father?". He asked trying not to be charmed by her beautiful eyes he had imagined for so long

She knew that look in his eyes that make her weak too, "I don't know and even if I did I wouldn't tell you that. Leave us alone".

"Why are you even angry?". He asked softly losing himself again

He could never even fight for more than a minute with her.

"I don't know". She replied trying to control herself but failing

He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, "How is that we can't fight for more than a minute but we ended up living away from each other for so long?".

"Maybe because we found something that was more appealing". She replied blinking her eyes moving away from him

"What was that I found?. I always wanted you, what did I found?". He asked her while she takes steps away from him again breaking his heart

"You know what". She said disappearing

"This is a big deal of how can we not force the owner out of that land. Do you know how much that place is occupying?". His director said

He loosens his tie, "As I said, we are not forcing anyone out of that place no matter what".

"This makes no sense. You were the one who said that we need that land for our million dollar project and suddenly that money doesn't matter. That is not how you were". Director argued

His friend remained on the side shaking his head quietly.

"What do you mean by that?". He asked angrily

"You were always after money no matter what. You chased it so blindly and make so much profit. How is that in less than a week you have changed so much. You used to spend your nights in office just to make money how is that you are never in the office these days?". Director said

His heart stooped.

"I heard the owner is a beautiful woman who runs a bakery and you went to see her. Before you went you were ready to take her land then by any chance did you-". Director started but was cut off

He banged his hand on the table startling everyone, "Don't speak about her like that".

"Or what?. We want our investment in the right place. Why are you protecting her like that? Is she your play thin-". Director said angrily

He moved from his chair holding the director by his collar, "I said to not talk about her like that. She is MY wife, she is not some beautiful woman or play thing, she is MY wife".