That most abused word of this century by anyone and everyone. For everyone this word holds different meaning yet we fail to realise that the word was not made by us, it was made by the people who are different from us, religiously, culturally, ethically and in every single way.

To know the best is to strive for knowledge. We have confined ourselves in a box with no knowledge of what our own religion taught us and that empowerment was given to us thousands of years ago. Somehow, through the time, slowly yet surely we started to think we are pressed down however we are not. It's just how people abuse anything that they don't like and in the same way, they abuse the words of His without knowing completely.

Today, we are locked in a box known as self-righteous where when anyone tries to bring us out of that small box, we are offended. It's a genuine natural reaction of people because everyone loves comfort zone and whoever tries to enter in it, we tend to push them away. That's not how we will succeed, the one who succeeds is the one who learns, changes, listen and understands that they could be wrong and work on it.

She walks through the dark woods scared out of her wits as she tries to take steps ahead of her yet she couldn't seem to find her way. The darkness doesn't allow her to see or find anything even when everything is right around her. The way is simple and in front of her yet the darkness forbids her to walk on it making her go back to the same way over and over again.

She feels her chest tightening as she wishes for away and she looks around to find clothes hanging around and none of them was modest. They were the dresses she had worn from the time she entered in this showbiz. She chooses to stay in her towel not having the will to wear those clothes on her body again.

What's the use of clothes if they aren't covering you?. Weren't clothes made to cover us?. How come now we choose to show off our body to no one in particular for no good reason to feel happy, bold and confident?. Is taking off clothes all it takes to have them?.

She starts to walk again when she was forced backwards yet again. Frustrated she fell on the ground crying for a very long time remembering all those time she has done wrong begging for forgiveness.

"Ya Allah! Maine aj tk teri zaat se kuch nahi magha. Meri zaat ko maine duniya k samne nelaam kia hai. Meri rouh jo teri di howi thi, us ko bohat takleef di hai, mere Rab. Toh toh sub jaanta hai. Mujhe maaf kar day, mere gunnah ko maaf kar day. Mujhe un logo mai se bana day jo tujhe pasand hai. Teri zaat toh bohat alla hai mujh per apna karam kar day". Those words escape her broken heart in the utter darkness reaching to the one who loves his being asking him to provide (Oh Lord! I have never asked from you, for anything. I have auction myself to this world. My soul that is give by you, I have harmed it. You know everything. Forgive me, forgive my sins. Make me from those peoples whom you love. You are truly the Magnificent of all).

She feels her body being lifted and her eyes didn't seem to open until she feels herself standing again. She opens her eyes and a gasp escape her plump lips when she finds looking right at herself in the mirror yet the woman that stares back at her was nowhere her.

She was wrapped in a beautiful white gown and her head wrapped in an even more beautiful scarf making her look exquisite as the aura around her changed. The darkness seems to sweep away running away from her and the sun shining brightly over her. The rough ground that injured her legs before starts to turn in a beautiful soft grass under her feet and now she stands in a beautiful garden around her.

Tears flow down her face as she feels her heart being content looking at the woman that now stood here.

"Kyun ro rahi ho?". She heard his soft voice,"Kitni dafa kaha hai k apna bhi dehaan kia karo jaise Hanan ka karti ho. Agar woh tumhare liye important hai toh tum us se zayada mere liye ho. Per nahi tum nay kasam kahe hai k apne shohar ki umar kum karni hai". (Why are you crying) (I have told you so many times to take care of yourself like you take care of Hanan but you never listen to me. You have swore to reduce your husband life span)

She feels his hand holding her feet and she looks down to find him looking at her feet disappointed and concerned.

"Kyun takleef dayti ho khud ko is tarha?. Agar samjh kar shoe pehn layti toh yeh na hota. Ab dekho zakm ban gaya". He said looking at her with his eyes shining in concern,"Agar apni zaat ko takleef dayti raho gi toh isi tarha zakm bantay jaye gay aur zindagi bahr rahay gay". (Why do you hurt yourself like this?. If you have understood and wore the shoes, you would have never gotten hurt. Now, see there are wounds) (If you keep tormenting yourself like this there will be wounds and they will last for your whole life)

"Toh kia karuin?". She asked crying (so what do I do)

He places his shoe in front of her making her wear them.

"Asaani toh khuda nay kaha nahi k is duniya mai mile gi. Lakn yeh zaror kaha hai k agar us k raste per rahay toh muskilaat bhi asaan ho jayein gi". He said smiling standing in front of her wiping her tears,"Us ka rasta muskil zaror hai per us ka waada hai k us ka anjaam bohat khoobsurat ho ga. Ek dafa us per chal k toh dekho". (Now Lord haven't said that there will be ease in this world. However he said that if one stays on his path, he will bring ease with each problem) (His way is hard but he promise a generous reward too. Try walking on his path once)

She gasps opening her eyes to find herself in the same damn hotel room. She was here for the award show and she hates that she has to leave her family behind. She looks at the time to find it was near prayer time and looks at google to know when exactly the prayer call will happen. She walks towards her luggage opening it to find a beautiful shawl in it.

"I am placing this in for you. When ever you feel like he called for you, go for him".

That was Hanan's exact words. She realised that her sister had indeed grown into a beautiful woman and she couldn't be more thankful for it.

"You need to at least thank him for what he did for you".

Hanan's lessons always surround her and she understands the reason why her husband said that to plant a seed in someone's head even when they don't realise it in that exact moment, they will eventually play the scenarios and conclusions in their head to come to a point and that seed might bloom and help them to make a decision.

She heard the prayer call going off in her phone and her eyes widen because she never downloaded any application but her sister must have. She shakes her head wrapping the shawl around her and she sits on the ground and listening to the beautiful call for her to come to him.

Once it ended, she feels her feet moving her to the washroom and she did her ablution walking out of the washroom taking the prayer mat her sister had packed for her placing it on the ground.

Finally, after ages, with a shaking hand and even more shaking body, she stands in front of her Lord. Tears flow down her face repeatedly throughout as she feels like he was speaking to her and she was speaking to him directly. Her heart shattered as more tears fall down as she went into sujood feeling the burden on her soul lessing.

She raises her hand asking for the same dua she did in her dream and then she feels her heart contented. However, that doesn't stay long as exactly at 6 her hotel door opens and in walks her manager with the same ridiculous dress. She has seen this one in her dream, she remembers that was the last one that she saw on display and her heart shakes to even think of exposing herself again.

She looks at the dress and back at her shawl that provided her with the comfort of heart thinking of a way out. She was ready in her dress disgusted yet again by herself however this time she had things to do. She was determined that today she will take her own decisions and for her own self. To provide some peace to her broken wounded heart.

She holds the shawl in her hand walking out of the room and she doesn't understand the need for awards shows happening out of the country. Shouldn't the place they work the whole year should have them?. Adding in the extra expenses and more things for no good reason. The disgusting glancing, behaviour and everyone sticking to one other is far from anything good.

As she enters the venue she wraps her shawl around her whole body hiding the body from the thousands of eyes that were all on her making her sinful. She heard her manager trying to stop her but since she was in front of media he cannot exactly do anything.

"What do we have here?". She heard one of her previous brand owners says, "Did you start preaching now?. I wonder how you can do that when you have done nothing but sins in your life?. Are you going to start acting like a religious woman?. You do know they don't belong in this place, right?. You will lose all your followers and brands soon enough".

"Are they even worth it?". She spoke for the first time, "I don't think they can provide what I need".

She was one of the few people that were sitting in front and her manager tries to rip that shawl off her but she held onto it as if her life depends on it. With glances that show she is lower and to the even worse words she didn't pay heed to any of them.

"Are you going to start preaching now?. What's the fun in that?. Look at all those performances. Aren't you going to do one?". Her colleague said and she shakes her head not looking at any of the performances

Her phone rings and she looks down to her husband name flashing as she reads his message, "Do what your heart craves, Jaan. You know the people you love and the one who truly loves you will always stay by your side. Don't lose yourself again. We are here waiting for you. Come soon. I miss you".

"We will now speak to one of our favourite models, Mahak". The host said walking towards her, "So, Mahak, what brand are you wearing?".

"I don't know. I don't know what brand this shawl belongs to". She said shrugging nonchalantly

"Why don't you show you beautiful dress?. I am sure yours will give tough competition to the ladies here". The host said chuckling

"I don't have any such competition with them". She replied plainly

"I am sure people will appreciate it if you were more open. We are overseas and we should look more friendly". The host commented

"Coming here means we lose our values and culture blindly following them to fit in?". She asked

The host chuckled nervously, "Let's move on. Do you know how many women are jealous of you right now and all the boys that admire you?".

She feels sick at his word and she held the shawl closer to her, "Is that something to be proud of?".

"What?". The host asked confused

"Is being admired by someone who is not my mahram something to be proud of?". She asked again, "I would rather be admired by my husband who is the man I truly want to please than the random men looking at me for my body".

"You are saying like you have a husband". The host said laughing and people followed

"I do". She said with pride, "I have a husband who is my world. And I am here today to publicly say that I will not be a part of this filth anymore where people abuse others, mock and think that losing ourselves is fun".

With that, she turns around running out of the hall. She books a taxi heading towards her room. She changes into more modest clothes wrapping a scarf around her head and wearing a mask as she checks herself out.

She doesn't understand the concept of people being obsessed with having few people admire them for their outer appearance. The more she looks at, the more she finds the hole in this concept. Women are going mad about men and vice versa. There is no need for any of the gender to indulge in any sort of relationship besides the one that their Lord had gifted them with. With only sins, heartbreaks and whatnot waiting on that wrong path for them.

She enters the airport taking the first flight back to her home. Soon enough, she landed back and she walks out of the gates booking a taxi that directs her to his house. That is their house now. She decided she will finally shift in here for her own peace now. He had asked her before but she declined because of Hanan but now she needs to leave everything that held her back.

She opens the door softly knowing it's too early for anyone to be awake and not wanting to disturb them right now. She leaves her luggage in the hall walking towards their room. She opens the door lightly not making any sound and the sight in front of her had her heart bloom in love for this man.

He was sleeping holding both his daughters in his stronghold and she knows what his hold meant- that he will protect them against anything. His face was illuminated with bright sun rays falling onto him and the peace his face held had her heart flutters. She watches Sobia leaning more into him until she was laying on his chest and she smiles knowing that now the girls were more attached to him.

She knows today is his birthday.

And she was his present.

She walks out of the room after kissing their forehead walking downstairs sitting on the couch waiting for them to be awake as she starts to delete all her social media accounts that had her pictures and videos.

By the end of it, she felt free and she knows the article will start to come out soon enough. She takes her sim out throwing it away and deleting all the applications that anyone can reach her. Of course, her manager and many others have already sent her disgusting message that she chooses to ignore.

She knows the path she embarked on now will not be easy but she had lived through her worse phase all alone and now she has a family with her.

She heard a gasp and turn around to find her husband standing there with wide eyes.

"Mahak?. Am I dreaming?". He asked shocked as he walks in slow steps afraid that she might vanish in thin air as she has been for the past few days

He raises his hand gently placing it on her cheeks and the moment he felt the same emotions coursing through him- he knows she is here. His eyes take in her appearance and he couldn't even describe the way her beauty multiple in ten folds and his love for her in hundreds.

His eyes brimmed with tears of joy and appreciation, "You finally listened to your heart".

"You are my heart. I had to listen". She said as her own eyes filled with tears

He pulls her into his tight hold as their tears flow down their face and they embrace themselves for their new journey together.

"So, what's my gift?". He asked as they sit in the lounge with their daughters playing around them

And she will never forget their reaction at seeing her. They were laughing, giggling and clapping their hands as they look at her with so much love in their eyes that her own heart feels like it might burst.

"I am your gift". She insisted on raising her eyebrows

"Tum toh birthday se bohat pehle mil gai thi". He said whining placing his head on her shoulder (I found you long before my birthday)

"Haan toh ab poori zindagi k liye mili ho toh aur kia chahiyeh ab tumhay?". She said softly smiling (yes, so you have me for your entire life what else do you want(

"And you say I am mean". He said sighing

She rolls her eyes pushing his head away,"You have a duty".

"Abhi toh begum mili hai ittne din baad ab bhi mai kaam per jao!?". He said frowning deeply (I have my wife with me after so long and I go back to duty again)

"Haan jao". She said holding Sirat in her hands kissing her cheeks, "Babies, say bye to Baba". (Yes, go)

"Bye, Baba". His daughters said

His eyes widen as his feel his heart thunders in his chest.

"W-What did you call me?". He asked stuttering as he didn't believe his own ears

His daughters giggle at his reaction, "Baba".

He broke down in tears right at that moment because he hadn't listened to those words in their five years of life. He knows how excited he was to listen to it when he came to know about them however then everything went down the hill and to finally listen to these words was the most beautiful gift ever.

"Thank you". He said looking at his wife while his daughters run into his arms to stop him from crying wiping his tears away hugging him

She smiles nodding.

*****

"So, let me get this straight. You want to marry my sister?". She asked stern looking at a nervous Zain

Her husband leans towards her, "Did I tell you how attractive you look when you are serious?".

She elbows him because she doesn't want to smile or blush at this moment and her husband isn't helping, at all.

"Yes". Zain said after a decade of thinking what could be the right words

"Will you promise to cherish her?". She asked seriously

"I promise to cherish her until my last breath". Zain said firm

"Ok. I will speak to my sister and she can decide the next". She said softly smiling

"So it's a yes from you?". Zain asked wide eyes