Bismillah hir rehman nir raheem

In the name of Allah, who is the beneficient and the most merciful.

ANAYA'S POV

Anaya looked at her mother in surprise, when she stood up very abruptly. She was about to exchange a glance with her brothers when her mother's voice stopped her head, midway.

"Iqbal Bhai!!".

"Surprised, Anaya looked at an elderly man standing before them. Her mamu_if he derserved to be call this_ was standing infront of them. She turned to look at her brothers and found them mirroring her expression.

Anaya, remembered, when they were young, their friends used to tell them stories of their mamus, and other relatives; how they brought gifts for them and how they enjoyed going to their homes. The siblings didn't know then, what those relations ( mamu, khala, phupho, nani, dadi etc) even meant.

Their mother always told them they didn't have any. When they got a little older, she told them story of her brothers kicking her out mainly because their ego didn't permit them sending their sister to work and people saying to them that the sister is more educated than the brothers. Anaya was lost in her memories when her so-called mamu's voice reached her ears, bringing her back from her thoughts.

"Maysa! I have come to take you back."

"To where??" Maysa asked in a toneless voice.

"To your home,Maysa." Iqbal said, sweetly, but his gentleness didn't fool Maysa.

"The place where you are standing is my home, bhai!" Anaya admired her mother who, despite the situation was talking calmly. Perhaps the storms she has endured had steadied her.

"No, Maysa, this is your husband's home. The home where I live is your actual one."

"My husband's home means my home. And bhai, the home where you live ceased being my home when all those years ago, you told me to get out." Anaya couldn't understand why her mother was calling him bhai, bhai is someone who is someone who loves and protects you,not someone who kicks you out of house and never contact you again for many years.

"Maysa! Look, it was past, let's forget it and move on." Anaya was now getting angry. The man didn't once looked like he was sorry for making his sister suffer so much.

"I have moved on, bhai. That's the reason I am still talking to you after all you did. "

"Then you should come back and forget everything. Maysa! You have three children. They need their relatives. How will you do everything alone?" Anaya stopped herself from rolling her eyes with difficulty.

"I have been and will provide everything for my children. I have Allah. I do not need anyone. And, one more thing bhai! Anaya watched her mother going towards him until she was just few inches from him and looking him in the eyes.

" You never cared for me. You do not care for me even now. You just want me back so that you can tell the world how compassionate and caring a brother you are, brought back a widowed sister and her children and is keeping him in his house. Neither I nor my children need these sympathies. I am living with dignity and will continue to do so."

"I care for you Maysa! You are getting everything wrong."

"Yes, you care for me, that's why you kicked me out at 9 in the night. You care for me, that's why you told everyone in the town that I was having an affair and ran away." Anaya got an electric shock hearing these words. And from the expression of her brothers' face, so did they. How much more their mother suffered yet never told a soul??

Meanwhile, Iqbal went pale. "No, Maysa, I didn't____" But Maya didn't let him finish.

"Please Bhai! I don't need to hear any lie. You know, a lady who was our neighbour, once met me in a bazaar and called me characterless in front of everyone. And told me I ran away from my home with a boy. Then I came to know it was you who told everyone that I ran away, you chose to mask your cruelty with this bhai?

"Maysa_ I_ She_ was lying___" Iqbal tried speaking something. But Maysa didn't let him finish.

"Furthermore, you cared for me that's why you told everyone that my husband left me, divorced me. When, in reality, neither I ran away nor my husband divorced me. He embraced martyrdom while fighting for his country."

Tears were now shining in Maysa's ashen orbs and making Anaya as well as Yousuf ans Saad restless.

"If I go back now, I will be known as a run away girl while my children, the children of a run away and divorced mother. While in reality, we are the family of Major Misam Shaheed." Tears were now running down her cheeks.

"Bhai! I am not going to go with you and that's my final decision." Wiping her tears, she turned to go back while Anaya, Yousuf and Saad, getting a signal from their mother, also stood up to leave when Iqbal came forward and stood infront of Anaya.

"You children will regret this decision of your mother. In our society, their is no place for Yateems like you. All your life, you won't be able to walk with your head held high In Sha Allah."

In Sha Allah?? He was giving them a bdua.

Then, pointing a finger at Anaya he said, "No one marries a yateem girl and no one permits it. And the same will happen to you, mark my words."

Anaya went numb, a clump formed in her throat as her uncle's words pierced her heart like an arrow. Yateem, the harsh reality hit her so hard that she had stopped her tears with difficulty.

"Bhai! Don't you dare torture my children like that." Anaya saw her mother coming to stand infront of her like a shield ."They walk and will walk with their head held high, as they are the children of Major Misam Shaheed. I will send my children myself to army, you'll see."

"Hmph, army,huh!" Iqbal snorted and left, leaving behind three young souls, shattered by his words.

■■■■■■■■■

So, chapter four is finished. How was it??

Y

ou would want to kill Iqbal by now right?? Hehe

Ok a question,

Short chapters or long ones??? As this story is going to be a long one a little hint:

This will be a journey about approx. 15 years.
So, advice me abt the length of chapters accordingly.

QUESTIONS:

○ What do you think will the reaction of the family members will be??

○Will the children really get affected by their mamu's words or not??

○ Did Maysa took right decision?? Or do you think she should have gone back??

○Why didn't the children have any relatives from their father's side?

GLOSSARY:

Khala~ Maternal aunt

Nani And Nana ~ Maternal grandparents

Phupo~ Paternal aunt

Chacha ~Paternal uncle.

Dadi and Dada~ Paternal grandparents.

Yateem~ Whose father is dead.