reassuring his brother that he will handle everything that been happening around here.

Just as he was about to knock on her room door Aiza stops him.

"You shouldn't be around her". Aiza said sweetly

His expressions remain blank as he leans on the wall of her room door showing off his muscular body, "Care to explain your unwanted concern for me?".

"Just that, she is a widow and everyone will think wrong of her if you go in her room without anyone else". Aiza said causing his expressions to hardened

"Let's be very clear about something, Aiza. The way you are standing in front of me speaking to me could be taken wrong by anyone and it truly depends on the person how they want to take things. Our actions don't necessarily be the reason for it. Also, she is my cousin who is in problems that I will solve so excuse me and stop wasting my time". He said knocking on her door softly and then took her name so she knows it's him

Ifta timidly opens the door for him as he enters inside with a graceful smile adorning his face as he looks at her daughter who was busy playing with the toys that his brother bought for her.

He slowly walks near her daughter not wanting to scare her off from him as he sits in front of her crossed legs and gentle expression on his face as he watches her playing with puzzle pieces and he was amazed at how she managed to place them in the right sequence.

"My husband loved playing a puzzle". He heard her soft voice as she sits beside her daughter admiring her, "She loves to do the same".

"What's her name?". He asked softly watching her daughter looking at him curiously

"Zoya- it means--". She started

"Life. I know. I wished to have that name for my daughter when I met one of my friend's daughter who has the same name". He explained smiling at how beautiful her daughter is, "She is absolutely beautiful".

Like you. He wanted to add in but didn't do it.

"Why does she looks at me like that?". He asked when her daughter didn't stop looking at him and starts to take small steps towards him standing in front of him

Since he was sitting down she reaches his face easily as she places her small hand on his cheeks and when she feels his bread tickling in her small hand she releases a series of giggles.

"You look like Yaqoob bhai so she is trying to understand if you are the same or not. When you went out she asked me why you two look same so I explained her. I think she understands". Ifat said smiling as her daughter pats his cheeks

"Oh. Why doesn't she speak now?. Does she speak like a sentence or something? I am sorry I have no idea how this works". He said nervously chuckling at his lack of knowledge he wishes to improve

"Even after you watched me grow right in front of you?. I heard our parents say that you were the only one around me most of the time". She said smiling slightly as she remembers those times

He scratches the back of his neck, "Yeah! I liked being around you but will it makes me look stupid that I didn't realise at what time you start to speak and I forgot about it now?".

She stifles her laugh shaking her head, "No-No. It's understandable since you were young and you cannot possibly remember such details. If you have kids then you might have known. She speaks sentences rarely but joining her few words if you try to understand you can know what she means".

"Look at your speaking like an adult. Here I used to think I will have to stay by your side at all time to protect you since you will never grow". He said teasing watching her daughter bringing him her toys showing them to him proudly and he couldn't help chuckle at her innocence which was similar to her mother

"Time teaches everything". He heard her say as she stands from her place, "I need to go back to work-".

"No". He said hurriedly as he stands from his place not before gently placing her daughter on the carpet to play

"But-". She started walking towards the door but he stands in front of it stopping her

"Listen to me, Ifat. You know whatever I do and say will only be for the best right?". He asked softly and she nodded looking in his eyes that made it hard for him to breathe, "Just take a day off and stay with your daughter. If you want we can go outside since I know your daughter hasn't been out in a while".

She shakes her head rapidly remembering the last time she went with his brother and how everyone curses at her.

Her eyes brimmed with tears, "I don't what and why you are doing this but they will hate me more".

"They don't hate you". He stated as his heart clench at her tears rolling down her beautiful face

He used to make sure that she doesn't cry for any reason when she was young and now that she was crying in immense pain he stands helpless in front of her not even having the right to comfort her.

Marry her, Bhai.

His brother words boomed in his head as he tries to shake them off but the words were heavy for his heart. Something he wasn't sure about and something he might have just dreamed for years.

"Ifat, will you tell me why?". He asked cooing her so she at least calms down a little

He finds her daughter wrapping her hands around his legs looking at him as her lips quiver and then she looks at his mother sadly. Her daughter then turns back to him as she speaks, "Shhh, shhh, shhh".

He frowns not knowing what her daughter meant but a burst of rich laughter from Ifat looking at her daughter actions made his heart skip a beat.

"She asking you to do what I do when she cries". She explained at his confused expressions

He chuckles holding her daughter in his hand moving closer to Ifat and her scent immediately invaded his scenes.

Her daughter moves her small hand towards Ifat face wiping her tears, "Cry, no, please".

"See, your daughter hates you crying just like me. So, no crying for mommy, right Zoya?". He asked smiling at Zoya

Zoya claps her hands excitedly, "Zoya".

Ifat laughs, "She loves when someone calls her name".

"Zoya, Zoya, Zoya". He said tickling her belly as she falls into a beautiful series of laughter along with her mother who laughs looking at her daughter

After settling Zoya on his laps who plays with his big hand looking at his fingers curiously he looks at her again.

"So?". He asked

She sighs, "Last time Yaqoob Bhai took us outside because Zoya was being cranky staying inside all day. When we came back D-Dada he- he-".

His jaw clenched because his brother had only explained some of the main events for him to have an idea of what's happening to say all other parts were her stories to tell about.

"He slapped me saying how I shouldn't be with men who are not mahram of mine. That I shouldn't be forcing my responsibility on someone else shoulder and things I don't want to say". She said as she shudders remembering that day

"In front of Zoya?". The underlying of anger as he imagined her being slapped and that too in front of her daughter course boiling anger passing through him and her silence confirms it all

He closes his eyes imagining the pain she must have felt dealing with everything on her own. She was fragile and sensitive since she was young and one mean word or a little raise voice at her used to break her innocent heart. How is that they managed to break her heart for over two years without any remorse?.

"Ifat, no one will ever hurt you again. Not when I am here. Be ready for dinner tonight. You will sit at your rightful place on the table with us". He said leaving no rooms for arguments

"B-ut they said that my husband house was the only place that was my rightful place to be at and since I didn't stay there, this house is not mine anymore. They said woman respect was only in her husband house after marriage and when she comes back to her parents like me, she has no respect or rights over anything and anyone". She explained as she reminisces about those bitter words she had heard right when she walked inside the house with her baby growing inside her

He closes his eyes for the longest moment hearing the sadness lacing through her voice and the pain that everyone caused her was visible in her timid form and eyes.

"That's all just some crap they fed you to have you quiet. You were born and raised in this house. You stayed here all your life how can your rights ever end here?. You have every right, respect and place in this house since it belongs to you as much as it belongs to any of us. Now, be ready and come down we will be waiting". He said smiling as he walks out of her room with a heavy heart

"Son". He heard his grandfather calling him and he turns to find him moving to his study along with his father and he knows what's going to happen now

"What can I help you with, Dada?". He asked roughly as he remembers her words he heard a moments ago

"Keep your tone in check. I am your elder". His grandfather said angrily as he sits in his high chair glaring at him, "We don't want you to interfere in our and Ifat matter".

"And why is that?". He asked challenging him which no one had ever done and he heard sharp intake from his father at his words

"Because it's not your concern". His grandfather said angrily

"What if I make it my concern?". He asked not backing down as everyone wishes him to do

He finds his brother smirking at his words and he knows he is proud of him probably relaxed too.

"What does that mean?. She is not anyone to you beside your cousin. Now, she is a grown woman with a child who you cannot meet secretly in her room because-". His grandfather started

"You are right about meeting her in that way is wrong, I admit. However, there are few more things that are wrong happening around her which involve every single member of this family. What do you have to say about that?". He asked as he looks in his grandfather eyes making his anger rising when he remembers the words of his brother

"We have done nothing wrong. We just did what was best". His grandfather argued weakly

He chuckles a deadly chuckle that restores through the silence, "Best for who?. You?. Your dignity or your weak fake honour in society?. I cannot believe that something like societal pressure was enough to shake a strong man like you, Dada. I looked up to you and admired you while I was growing. I wanted to be exactly like you however what you have done to that poor soul who was already bearing with the loss of her husband has made me lose all my admiration for you all. You were her family she came for comfort and to heal her broken heart yet you all choose to push her away saying that she has no right to be in this house?. How?. Explain to me that a girl whose husband died while she was still a young girl carrying a child and no other place to be at where is that woman supposed to go?. How is that the place she was born and raised in was suddenly turned into a place she can't be in?. Would her be on streets or woman shelters would have shielded your honour?. I cannot believe you have stooped so low".

That earns him a tight slap against his face but he didn't budge from his place or apologise for his words.

"I cannot believe that you asked her to kill her own child". He said watching their face pale