"I thought you would never come to meet me. " I sat there at the corner of this jail.

"I needed answers!" Sheharyar Ali was here to talk to me.

"Should I laugh at my destiny or should I pity at your condition? Because its been 6 months you have been asking the same question and I have been giving you the same answer, and tomorrow is my case in court and you are here again with the same question. " I walked over to him and he stood there still with same anger and serious expressions.

"I just came for one last time, if you have changed your mind...." he asked and I laughed.

He was then about to leave when I spoke.

"I know tomorrow I would be given the punishment of hanging till death, so yeah! Today I wanna tell you the truth. "

He stopped in his tracks and I looked down at the weird patterns I had made on the floor.

"Haarib is your brother! " I didn't looked up to see his response because I know he would be surprised.

"Pata hai! Meri maa ko tune ya tere baap ne ya mere baap ne nahi mara tha... un ko us guilt ne mar dala tha jo burai unho ne teri maa k sath ki thi.... jab un k sath bhi wahi hua jo unho ne teri maa k sath kia tha, being thrown out of the house by your husband is a not a small thing.... "

I took a deep breath.

"Meri maa ne marty hue mujhe ek baat kehne ko kaha tha tujhe.... mai toh apne badlay ki hawas mai yehi bh gaya tha k us ki ek akhri khuwahish bhi thi jo mujhe puri karni thi..."

"Kia?" His voice was a whisper.

"She ....folded her hands...and asked forgiveness... from your mother...and...from you!" I looked his way and he was just standing there astonished.

"She wasn't a whore or some kind of cheapster.... she was just....in love....

Han bas piyar kisi galat admi se kar baithi thi woh... " I stood up and folded my hands in front of him.

"I too ask for forgiveness.... ho saky toh mujhe mere gunnaho k liye muaaf kar dena. " an unwanted tear escaped my eye and he just nodded.

"Sir! Time for visit is over. " the police standing at the door said. He was about to leave.

When he was out of the cage of jail, I called him.

"Aj tak mere bhai ka khayal tum ne bhai ban k rakha hai.... aj us se yeh soch k nafrat na karne lag jana k woh MERA BHAI HAI... he has nothing to do with these. " I stopped and then said.

"Ek gunahgar ki akhri khuwahish samajh k sahi.... mujhe aur meri maa ko maaf kar dena...aur...mere haarib ka khayal rakhna..."

He left and I sat back there with tears scrolling down my cheeks.

Mom! I have done your job. I am coming to meet you soon. Just a few more hours.

And I'll find my peace!

-----

"Yar zarnab itna acha nam hai. Bus final karo isay! We'll call her zarnab. " I picked up the baby girl from the cart and hold it carefully in my arms.

She is just so beautiful. Just like her father. Her sparkling eyes and beautiful smile.

But her nose is on her mother. Small and Cute.

"Aur is ka nam ho ga fawad! Because he is quite handsome. " zuhaib came holding the baby boy towards me.

I smiled.

"Han toh bas final ho gaya. Zarnab and fawad. " ifra clapped and I laughed at her.

"Han bhai final to ho gaya par koi mummy se bhi toh puch lo k un ko ye nam achay lagy k nahi. " haarib came and looked at ifra and winked.

Ye dono hamesha sab ko hansane mai sab se agy hoty han.

"Bohat achay nam han. I have no objections. " Alia smiled and replied.

"Aur dada,dadi aur nani se bhi toh koi puchay. " I looked over to the couch where all the elders were sitting.

"Nam toh jo marzi rakh lo. Humai toh hamare pota poti mil gaye. Yehi shukar ki baat hai. Alhamdulillah. " baba said while looking at mama.

"Toh phir ye lai, mithai khaye sab. Mu kholoo" I picked up the box of mithai and let everyone eat.

"Here goes a gulab jamun for the youngest nano ammi! " I laughed and placed a gulab jamun in front of aunty. She smiled and also put one in my mouth.

I gave everyone and then asked everyone to leave alia to do some rest.

Then moved towards Alia. She was sitting on bed and looked a little tired.

"Mithai?" I asked and she took some from the box and extended her hand over to me.

I smiled ans ate it. But then a tear fell from her eye.

"Hey! What happened? Is it pain anywhere?" I asked while she shook and hugged me.

"Th..ank you..soha... fo...for everything... I.... " she sobbed and I soothed her.

"Shh...shh..shhh.... its okay. Everything's fine. " she moved away and looked at my face.

"Soha! Bhai ?" Her eyes were finding him but I knew he wouldn't be here....

After everything, he had gone under a severe depression.... may be he would have been a patient of PTDS but I helped him recover.

Yeah! He is totally a baby sometimes and sometimes its like I am the baby one. But we both are trying to find ourselves while living with each other.

"He'll be here. He just need some time sweetie!" I hold her face and she nodded in understanding.

"Bhai is really lucky to have you. " I smiled.

"Ab tum thora rest kar lo. Babies are fine aur hum sab bahir han okay. " I left the room and moved outside.

Everyone was smiling and laughing.

Har jagah khushiyan hi nazar aa rahi han. Inhi families mai 6 months pehly aisi dooriyan ho gai thi k khusiyo ka kahi nam o nishan tak nahi nazar ata tha. Aur aj dekho... ye do nanhay munhay mehmano ne aa k kitna haseen mahol bana dia.

Zindagi itni asan nahi thi....

In khushio ne is ghar ki rah dekhty dekhty bohat time laga dia ....

Par ye bhi sach hai k agar zindagi mai gham na hon toh khushio ki gadar nahi rehti...

Bohat se mushkil rastay aur faslay teh karne pare thay...

Khud ko mar k dubara zinda hona para tha.... apne zameer ko dafan kar k dil k un faislo par amal karna para tha jo is ko manzor na thay....

Yeh sach hai k larkio ko hamesha self respect aur dignity se kam lena chahiye par yeh bhi toh sach hi hai na k Allah ne aurat ko aisi naram mitti se banaya hai k woh har haal mai compromise kar hi leti hai.... she is the one jis k bina par ek sada eento (bricks) se bana makan (house) ek ghar kehlata hai!

Ek larki hi ki toh himmat hoti hai k woh ek beti se le kar biwi aur biwi se le kar bahu aur phir ek maa ka safar teh kar leti hai....

Par yeh safar bhi toh yaha khatam nahi ho jata...phir bacho ki parwarish aur un ki dekh bhal ka silsila....

Is sare safar mai agr ussay himmat milti hai... jazba milta hai toh apne baap se... phir apne shohar se....phir agar Allah atta kare toh bete se....

But I guess a huge part is been played by a girl's father and her husband....

I was smiling looking at my happy family while suddenly I felt someone is missing.

Is se yaad aya....

Mere husband jee han gye?

------

Life is so unpredictable....

Sochtay kuch han...

Hota kuch hai...

Aur galat sahi ka pata nahi chalta....

Like a puzzle......99 correct moves...but one wrong move and you are again there ...at the starting point

"Ap yaha khare han aur mai ap ko sare ghar mai dhoon..." Suddenly soha came out of nowhere and I turned my face to wipe my tears.

Yeh larki hamesha pakar leti hai mujhe...

"Sheharyar?" She whispered and I hmmed in response.

"Ap...roo rahy han?" She placed her hand over my shoulder and I tried my best to smile.

"Rona kiu hai mane? Khushi ka mahol hai. Come on lets go downstairs. "

Ye mujhe dhondti hui chat par bhi aa gai. I thought no one would find me here.

But then! She is Soha!

"Ho gaya ap ka?" She placed her hand in front of me and asked.

I looked confused.

"Ye jo bacho jaisi shakal hai na is par saaf likha nazar aa jata hai so stop lying to me and tell me why were you here? Hospital bhi nahi aye thay alia ko dekhne. Ap ne toh babies ko ek dafa bhi nahi pakra. " she complained and I turned my back towards her.

I pinched close my eyes and ran my tongue over my dried lips.

"Sheharyar?" When I opened my eyes she was standing in front of me holding my face.

"Dar lag raha hai.... kahi... Meri man...manhosiyat ka saya un masoom bacho par bhi na par jaye...." a tear escaped my eye and I looked away from her face.

I can't face her....

Itnay mahinay ho gaye is baat ko par still its not leaving my head.

"Should I be the one crying or you?" She asked in amusement and I looked at her. Is she for real?

"Soha I am serious....I... " I tried to move away but she held my arm.

"Ap ki behn k bachay han woh.... You should have been there and hold them in your arms. " she looked directly in my eyes and I couldn't stand.

I cried.

"Jo insan apne hi bachay ko nahi bacha paya woh ...." I left the sentence hanging...

"Rishto ki geli zameen pr log aksar phisal jaty han...." she placed her hands over my chest and continued...

"Par rishta toh wahi kamiyab hota hai na jahan ek saathi apne dosre saathi to ghirne se bacha lay..."

"Par yaha hamesha tum ne mujhe sanbhala hai... hamesha mai hi kiu ghirta hun...hamesha mai hi kiu gala..."

"Shhh! Bus chup!" She placed her hand over my lips and wiped my tears.

"Jo guzar gaya usay yaad kar k roya nahi karty....

Aur jo ane wala kal hai usay soch k dara nahi karty ....

Bas jo humara aj hai us ko dil khol k jiya karty han..." she smiled and I looked at her.

She really is a blessing for me.

"I love you" I said with a weak smile and she slapped her forehead.

I frowned.

"Wase ek baat bataye? Yeh itna macho man jo sab ki bolti band karwa deta tha... woh itna rondu kab se ho gaya?" She asked and I smiled.

"Jab se tum se piyar hua hai..." I pulled her by her waist.

"Acha... toh matlb piyar ne rona sikha dia?" She wrapped her arms round my neck.

"Ek baat puchu?" I asked ignoring her question and she nodded while playing with my hair.

"Mujhe se piyar karne ki bohat bari saza di hai na mane tumhay?"

The guilt is just always eating me inside....

But her answer made it all go away... like a wind...

"Maalom hota tujhe chahne ki itni bari saza ho gi,

Khuda ki qasam, pehly saza lete aur phir tujhe apna bana lety..." she smiled while looking at me with utterly cuteness and forever love.

I smiled at her innocent yet lovely answer and then hugged her.

Now whatever the circumstances may be...

Zindagi k is safar mai humara sath kabhi nahi chootay ga...

Lakh mushkilai sahi...

Mil k samna kare gay par faslay kabhi nahi bharay gay....

Agar is zindagi k baad bhi koi zindagi ho toh Allah us mai bhi mujhe yahi saathi dena...

"I Look forward to growing old with you so that one day when we are both weak and fragile, WE CAN SIT ON OUR ROCKING CHAIRS, LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND SAY '' WE LIVED A PERFECT AND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LIFE.'' Her words always make me smile wider.

"I love you so damn much!"

"I love you more!"