he can see her towards her room.

"Rukho". She heard Uzair voice but she enters inside her room locking it as she breaks down (stop)

"Who is that?". His older brother- Hadeel asked frowning

His brother was 4 years older than him.

"That's my doctor, beta". His mother spoke before he could

"My wife is here to meet you". Hadeel said smiling as his wife- Asma enters inside

After a reunion and crying which he didn't take any part in because all he wanted to do was run towards her to know if she is doing ok but he was stuck. Stuck between his family and his love. He had chosen his family for years over his love- for 8 years to be exact. He had given his everything for it should he be sacrificing more?.

The answer was clear- not this time. He will be not stepping back from the fight that awaits.

She heard him outside her door asking for her to open the door however she didn't. The whole night the door separates them and she thinks of the way she can confront him. She just doesn't know if she was that strong to do that.

The next morning she takes a deep breath because she cannot neglect his mother no matter what. If it means she has to face that man, so be it.

Or maybe she should stay the day in just to prepare herself. The dilemma was taking all of her strength and power from her. She wishes there was someone to tell her it was going to be ok and that she can do it. But she had no one.

She opens the door not paying attention to anything as she was lost in her thoughts when she bumped into someone. She raises her tired red eyes looking at his concerned filled eyes looking straight at her reaching her heart.

He raises his hand placing it on her cheeks, "Why are you crying?".

"Because it hurts". She replied as her lips quiver

He smiles sadly, "But you have Ammi and you have... me with you this time. You don't have to handle the pain alone".

"I don't want to go down". She said shaking her head as she steps back into the room and he follows

"Give me your hand, Heer". He said firm and she looks at him frowning, "We are going down as husband and wife".

Her eyes widen, "Are you crazy?. Do you know what-".

"Hand". He said cutting her off and she places her hand in his when she finds that determination in his eyes, "I think I have wasted enough time over issues as petty as this one. I am not ashamed to have you as my wife to keep you in hiding".

She nodded gulping as she closes her eyes to take a moment but when she opens them he was looking at her with a beautiful smile adorning his charming face.

"Meri baat suno dehaan se". He said adamant, "Tum meri izaat ho, Heer. Ab tum woh larki nahi ho jis ko jo jaise kahta tha woh karti thi. Tumhae toh meri sunae ki bhi zarorat nahi per mai bata raha huin k ab tum kamzoor nahi ho. Jub waha jao gi yeh yaad rakhna k tum meri equal ho aur tumhara mere per poora haq hai. Kisi k samnay jhukna ya darna nahi hai. Ok?".

(Listen to me carefully) (You are my honour. You are not the same girl who did what everyone asks of her. You don't even have to listen to me but what I am trying to say is you are not weak. You are my equal and you have all rights over me. You don't have to bow down to anyone, ok)

She nodded.

He smiles wanting kissing her forehead but refrain as he takes her downstairs towards the lounge where everyone was sitting and talking. His brother eye widens looking at her.

"What is she doing here?". His brother roared in anger

"She is my wife". He snapped angrily not liking the way he was speaking

"What?". His mother said shocked looking between them

"Ammi, she is the one because of who Baba died". His brother accused angrily, "And what the hell do you mean by your wife?"

Before he can punch him, his mother slapped his brother hard on his face and the sound of it restoring through the silence.

"What did you just say?". His mother asked seething in anger, "Because of her?. No, I shouldn't be blaming anyone since taking a life is Lord work but in the end, you were the one because of who he suffered a heart attack. You didn't even care that he was on his death bed and went ahead to leave your own wedding. She?. She is the one who told me to forgive you and embrace you and you are accusing her. Own up to your mistakes before I make you own them".

"She is a manipulating bit-". His brother started in anger

He takes his hand out of her hand punching his brother once, twice, thrice not stopping as his anger only rises.

And his mother didn't even stop it neither did his wife. It was just his brother's wife who was shouting at him to stop and he didn't.

"Woh meri izzat hai, bhai. Us per mai is tarha ilzam bardasht nahi karo ga. Jis tarha ap ki begum ap ki izaat aur mohabbat hai, woh meri hai. Agar ap us ki izzat nahi kar sakte toh wapis yaha na ayein". He warned not caring about anything

(She is my respect, brother. I won't tolerate accusation on her. Just like how your wife is your respect and love, she is mine. If you can't respect her, don't ever come here)

She feels her heart flutters at his words and she looks at him with tears in her eyes. She felt valued for the first time and wanted in someone's life.

His brother pushes him away walking out of the house with bleeding wounds along with his wife. He sits down on the couch sighing.

"Tell me everything from the start". His mother said calmly yet they both gulped looking at her expressions that were scary

"I-I, tum batao na". He said stuttering looking at her for help (you tell her)

"Mere se na sunae toh tumhare liye acha hai". She said shrugging not helping his condition at all (it's best for you if she didn't listen from me)

"Ammi, pehle wada k ap maarein gi nahi. Mai 30 ka huin, please". He pleaded (Mother, first promise me you won't hit me. I am 30 years old, please)

"If you don't start speaking now I won't spare you". His mother warned

He gulped,"After bhai ran away without informing me. I was still there and everyone was questioning me. In the end, they all told me that I had to marry her because it was my brother that ran away".

"Then, why didn't she come with you?". The question he dreaded the most

"Um". He said with a forced chuckle watching her smirk at his condition, "I didn't bring her".

"That's it". His mother said slapping him hard against his face making her giggle, "Did both of you brother swear to be stupid?. I taught you manners and dignity and this is what you did. Where is my stick?".

"Ammi, please please not with the stick". He begged running to his wife hiding behind her

"Mai is ko choro gi nahi". His mother roared in anger," Meri ittni piyaari bachi ko waha chor k a gaya. Wapis aao yaha warna aur zayada maaro gi".

(I won't leave you) (you left my sweet child there. Come out or I will come there to beat you)

"Acha, Ammi, pata hai kia". She said smiling at his mother (oh, mother, you know what)

"Aur bhi kuch hai toh bata do aj toh yeh mere hath se jaye ga". His mother said taking threatening steps towards him and he hides behind his wife (If there is something else tell me, he will die from my hands today)

"Arey nahi nahi. Mai is ko khud dekh luin gi ap ayein beth jayein". She said holding her hand making her sit on the couch handing her water (oh no-no, I will handle him myself, you come and sit down)

He came and sit down on the couch sighing, "Mujhe samjh nahi a rahi k is baat per khushi huin ya nahi". (I don't know if I should be happy about this or not)

"Nahi ho". She said smirking (you shouldn't be)

"Ya Allah madad yeh dono auratein tere banday per zulm kar rahi hain". He said looking upwards (Oh Lord! Help me these two woman are torturing your person)

"Ek minute mai batati huin tumhay". His mother said standing (wait, I will tell you)

"Ammi, maafi maafi". He said smiling (mother, apologies)

The day went on with his mother keeping his wife beside her talking about everything while he suffers alone in his room because she wouldn't even look at him. When he was sure his mother is asleep and that his wife is in her room he went on the mission.

He had enough of the heartbreaks already. He needs to tell her the truth.

Anyway possible.

He enters inside her room not finding her in it when he heard the noise from the washroom. He lay down on her bed hugging her favourite pillow inhaling her scent that always excites him.

"You made yourself at home". She commented as she exits to find him comfortable on her head

"Well, it is my house". He said shrugging

"Haan theek hai yeh bhi tum yaha raho mai tumhari Ammi k pass jaati huin". She said rolling her eyes (Ok then, you stay here and I will go to your mother)

He immediately stands from his place pulling her towards him as she fell on his chest and he lay back down caging her in his arms.

"I have something important to talk to you about, Heer". He said tucking a strand of her hair moving his hand to her soft cheeks, "Please, listen to me without interrupting". She nodded as he takes a deep breath continuing, "8 years ago I was 22 who was still studying for my degree and to be something. When Baba dropped the bomb of marriage on my brother he went crazy over it. Baba told him that your father was very close to him and he promised him this marriage. I remember the continuous fights in my exams. I was sick of them and my brother wouldn't ever stop. I hated watching my Baba so sad and I have always seen him smiling at us. He never asked us a thing and this was the first time he did. He was admitted in the hospital because of his weak heart condition yet he forced us to go back to get you a month before the marriage date. Everything that happens, I came back to tell everyone about our marriage but that same day Baba left. My brother just came to his funeral and I had to handle everything. He said he didn't wish to here anymore and that he already had a wife. I was shocked and Baba business was thrown at me to handle. My mother was admitted after a month of Baba passing away for surgery and my brother never came back. For that whole year, I had to drop out of my university, handle Baba business somehow and handle my mother condition over it".

He pauses taking another deep breath closing his eyes, "I came back for you, Heer. I never once forgot about you all this time. I tried, I really did to find some time but everything was out of control. I came back after a year to take you with me with respect not how you were forced at me. I needed to handle my emotions at the top of all to accept you as my wife and to bring you with honour into my life. But, when I came to your house you weren't there. I asked your family and they refused to answer me however they said that you didn't wish to have any contact with me and hence you left from here to never ever be with me. I was broken, I remember sitting in my car crying just outside your house because I fought everything even myself to come to you and then you were not there".

Her eyes brimmed with tears, "I didn't know".

He smiles sadly wiping her tears as his own filled watching her in pain, "I know, Meri Jaan".

"Why did he hurt me?". She asked smuggling into his comfort closing her eyes

"Because you deserve the world he couldn't provide you with". He said holding her closer to him

That night, the two souls weep together sleeping the night in each other arms.

The next day came and she was energetic to say at least. She works on her due assignment submitting them but she remains in her room for a long time until she moves to pray her prayer when it was called.

He gives his mother a glass of water smiling as she speaks to him about her things.

He heard the door banging open and a weeping broken Eisha came in his view which worries me immediately. He steps forward but halts as Eisha speaks.

"W-Where is she?. Where is she?". Eisha cried harder

"In her room". He replied watching her running towards her room he looks at his worried mother, "I will look at what happened. Don't worry".

She finishes her prayer sitting on the prayer mat a little longer when her door burst opens and in walk Eisha who falls right beside her crying hestacticcally.

"I didn't something bad. I didn't something bad. What do I do?". Eisha cried holding her hand shaking her

"What did you do?". She asked calmly looking ahead at the plain wall

"I-I hurt my father. I told him what my mother has been doing to me and blamed him for never stopping her. I told him he never loved me". Eisha explained crying

"What did he say?". She asked nonchalantly

"H-He didn't say anything and I ran to you. You were a great daughter of your father, what would you have done in this situation?". Eisha pleaded to know a way out of what she was feeling at the moment

"Great daughter?". She chuckles sarcastically, "Who told you that?. I was the worse daughter of my father".

"What?". Eisha said confused

"When I was 10 I had a school race at my school. It was a race I always went to with my mother and we always won and I get to show off in front of everyone. My school organise it every year however when I was 9 I didn't take part in it because I didn't have my mother. Everyone teased me saying how I didn't have a mother and all. Next year, the same thing started with everyone teasing me for my mother death but a day before my father came to me and told me that he will come with me to the race. That he will take my mother place, I was excited to win this race to feel my mother in any way possible". She took a deep breath, "We went to the race and we started struggling in the middle because of my father until we fell straight on the ground. We lost the game. I didn't say anything but right that moment I looked into his eyes as if saying we lost because of you, this happened because of you. That pain I saw passing through his eyes had my heart stilled and my lips sealed. I came to know that he had a surgery when he was young so he couldn't walk properly much less run in a race. He did that for me and yet I did that to him. We went home without a word shared and I didn't even apologise to him. He never asked for one either. We slept alone that night. The next day I thought he will be mad at me however he woke me with his usual smile and did everything that he used to. So, I pretended that he must know I was guilty and never asked for his forgiveness. But-".

She closes her eyes holding herself together, "The next day was our parent-teacher meeting and I waited hours for him outside of school. Those moments I thought worse of him and everything I shouldn't have thought about. Then, my teacher came running to me hugging me telling me that he had l-left me. That all the time I was thinking ill of him, he was trying to reach me and died. He was over speeding that he hated the most yet he did that to reach me and there I was blaming him".

She turns to Eisha looking in her eyes, "I have lived in regret for years and when he was in front of before he was sent to his Lord. I begged for his forgiveness hoping like always he will answer me even when he was busy. He never did. He never replied to my apologies. He was gone".

She pauses, "You know what I realised?. My father wasn't responsible for anything. He was supposed to provide for me and protect me from the world and he was doing that. My mother went away and he was dealing with everything alone and I made it harder for him. Why do you think we are attached to our mother before we are even born?. Why were we kept in her and not in our father's?. Because she was the one who was supposed to fulfil our emotional and such needs. Our fathers were supposed to fight the world for us- that was it. But how come when he is the one because of who we were even able to exist, we love him second?. Why don't we appreciate them?. When I came into the working world I used to break down often yet I never saw my father ever coming home complaining or ever speaking of his trouble to anyone. Why do you think we forget to love them?. Why do you think that even when all our feelings are with our mother he continues to work for us?. Pay for us and if he gets to work extra with a little amount he will do it?. Why do you think he never show his love but he sees everything?".

Eisha wipes her tears, "My father never asked me to choose a profession like my mother. He never asked me to go to the kitchen and learn household. He never discriminated between me and my brother. He always paid my fees and for extracurricular activities. He smiles at me and he brings whatever I liked to eat. He did everything for me. I never saw it".

"Why do you think he did that?". She asked

Eisha stands from her place running out of the door leaving it opened.

"Because he loved you. Because my father loved me and I took him for granted". She cried holding her arms around her

He heard it.

He heard her weeping as he stands outside thinking about her words. There were things that were familiar to him and the fact that it made sense made him scared. He walks inside hugging her to him as she cries in his arms.

"Thank you so much for caring for my daughter. She told me all about you". Eisha's father said smiling looking at her

"She is an amazing child. I had to do it". She said smiling

Eisha comes to sit beside her and she looks in her eyes as she speaks,"Eisha, you will have two way in your life. The right or the wrong way. The wrong way is very tempting and easy to go on with while the easy is plain and difficult. Don't ever step on wrong because once you did you will always remain empty. Always choose right even when it's hard because it will lead to you places, ok?".

They spoke for a while and she realised that even if Eisha's father neglected her at the time, he was a human who made a mistake. It's not because he wanted to neglect her intentionally having a daughter scares him with the responsibility. He had open an account for her saving money for her and he explains how he wanted Eisha to pursue her own career.

She realised that her own father left her fortunes that he wanted her to have to live a comfortable life yet she was stubborn enough to not ask for forgiveness instead she made herself believe that he must have known she was in guilt and she never told him she loved imagining that he must have known that too. She was going to live in that guilt for the coming years because no one can ever bring anything back for her. We need to speak to convey our emotions and show them through our actions. With one of them missing nothing will be known. The reason why we are so distant is that we have built an ego that the next person needs to apologise first, speak first and show first that we waste all our time in it not doing anything on our own hence creating distance.