"Roshnaq koi phone aaya Maya ka?", sitting in the lawn with morning newspaper in his hand Waseem demanded.

Roshnaq came out from the kitchen with the tray of morning breakfast. "Waseem kabhi apni choti beti ke baare me bhi pooch liya kijiye", she snapped.

Folding the newspaper and keeping it aside Waseem lifted his head to look at his wife standing in front of him with a blank face. "Kya poochna h unke baare me? Woh khush h apni zindagi me", his lips raised in a smug smile & extended his hand to take a tea cup from the tray.

"Aakhir unhe woh mil hi gaya h jo woh humesha se chahti thi", he commented with a dry smile while sipping his tea.

Shaking her head in disbelief Roshnaq kept the tray on the table and sat on the opposite chair. "2 saal ho gaye h Waseem aap ab tk uss baat ko nahi bhule h. Ab to Zoya ko maaf kr dijiye", she pleaded with her eyes.

"Hamare maafi dene se jo pichle 2 saalon me hua h woh nahi badal skta Roshnaq", he said curtly and picked a biscuit from the plate.

Roshnaq placed her palms on his hand and trying to make him understand, "Pr Zoya humari beti h Waseem. Aap kb tk yun unki taraf patthar dil bane rahenge? Woh 2 saal se roz sirf yahan aapki maafi paane ke liye aati h. Kya aapka gussa aap ki beti se zyaada bada h?".

"To kya chahti h aap?", he stood up in so much anger that the table trembled due to the force.

He turned his back to her, "Maaf kr de unhe aur bhool jaye jo thappad do saal pehle aapki laadli hamare muh pr maar kr gayi thi. Yaa phir woh beizzati bhool jaye jo bhari mehfil me unke Shauhar ne hamari ki thi?"

Roshnaq too stood up matching him, "To kab tk aap unn dono ke khilaf apne dil me gumbaar liye baithe rahenge? Kab tk Waseem? Aap itne sakht dil to nahi. Zoya ne aisa bhi kya kr dia h?".

He turned to look at her and raised his palm to explain her, "Dekhiye Roshnaq hum aapse....."

"ABBU AMMI"

Waseem stopped in mid sentence at the familiar voice. And both of them turned to find their elder daughter standing at their entrance with a smile on her face.

"Hum iss masle pr aur koi bahas nahi krna chahte h", he declared pointing his finger to her before turning and walking towards the door with a warm smile.

"Pata nahi aap kb smjhenge Waseem ki aap kitna galat kr rahe h", Roshnaq said looking at his back sadly.

"Kaise h aap Abbu?", Maya asked giving him a side-hug.

"Abhi tk to theek the. Ab kuch keh nahi skte humare ghar ki Hitler jo aa gayi h", Waseem teased causing her to giggle.

"Hmmmm", Maya shoved her arm inside his arm. "To Hitler sahiba yeh jaan na chahti h aap apni medicines time pr le rahe h yaa nahi?", she asked in a strict voice.

"Jii mohtarma hum saari apni dawaiyaan waqt pr le rahe h", he replied obediently.

"Good", she smiled patting his back lightly.

"Aap dono darwaaze pe hi baatein karte rahenge yaa ander bhi aaenge?", joining the father-daughter duo Roshnaq asked.

"Arre bhai hamari beti kitne dino baad ghar aayi h. Zaraa hum theek se mil to lein", Waseem boasted with a wide smile praising his favourite daughter.

"Kaisi h aap beta? Aur Sahir bhi to aane wale the na aapke saath me?", Roshnaq asked glancing at the door.

"Ammi woh car bahar park kr ke aa raha h", Maya told hugging her.

"Maya humne aap se kitni dafaa kaha h Sahir shauhar h aapke. Unke baare me zaraa adab se baat kia kijiye", Roshnaq scolded Maya while she rolled her eyes with a smile.

And just then the front door opened and the elder son-in-law of Siddiqui family stepped inside carrying his meaningful aura inside his silky long beautiful hairs, looking formal like always in his 3-piece grey suit.

"Lijiye Ammi aa gaye aapke Damaad Ji", Maya smiled indicating at the door.

"Salaam Alaikum", a manly smile on his face enhanced his sharp features.

"Waalaikum Salaam Janab", Waseem embraced him lovingly in his arms. As much as he was fond of Maya, his love for this son-in-law was no less. In his view Sahir was a perfect match for his daughter.

All of them walked inside and settled on the couch. Waseem and Sahir took their seat on single couches while both mother-daughter sat together.

"Maya aap Doctor ke paas gayi thi na? Kya kaha unhone?", Roshnaq asked with silent yet concerned voice and Waseem's eyes too immediately shifted at Maya with full attention. She looked at Sahir who made a comforting nod to her. Then slowly turned to her parents who were desperately waiting for her to answer.

"Ammi-Abbu hum abhi Clinic se hi aa rahe h test krwa kr. Reports 2 week baad aayengi tb pata chalega. Doctor ne kaha h ki hume try karte rehna chahiye", she told them with visibly upset voice and looked down. Sahir too kept mum as the topic was sensitive for the couple.

Roshnaq placed a comforting hand on Maya's shoulder. "Aap niraash mt hoiye beta. Hume yakeen h Allah aapke jeevan ki iss kami ko bhi jaldi bhar denge. Bas uss pr bharosa rakhiye", she kissed her forehead wishing only for best.

"Inshallah", Waseem sent a silent prayer.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Aditya aapko lagta h hume wahan jana chahiye?", Zoya asked him nervously as she was unsure of her own decision.

"Aur kyun nahi jana chahiye?", standing with his hand wrapped around his torso he questioned her back.

She looked at her mangalsutra while whispering, "Abbu ko pasand nahi h". He sighed.

"Yahan baitho aur meri baat dhyaan se suno", he held her shoulder and made Zoya sit on the bed. Then enveloped her hand between his palms & sat on the floor himself.

"Zoya woh pichle 2 saal se hum dono se naraaz h aur inn 2 saal me ek bhi din aisa nahi gaya h jb tumhari aankhon me maine aansun nahi dekhe ho. Kya main nahi janta ki inn 2 saal me tum ne apne Abbu ko kitna miss kia h?", she listened to him quitely as a tear fell from her eyes on his hands. He brushed it off with his lips.

Holding her hand firmly in between his warm ones, he spoke, "Main maanta hu Zoya ki 2 saal pehle cheezein jaise honi chahiye thi woh waise nahi hui. Unka naraaz hona jaayaz h pr isska matlab yeh to nahi hua na ki hum koshish hi karna chhod denge. Woh tumhare Abbu the, h aur hamesha rahenge. Aur unhe manane ka haq tum se koi nahi cheen skta. Woh khud bhi nahi". He shook his head with a smile.

"Woh nahi maanenge Aditya", Zoya muttered in a rather weak voice.

"Tumhe kaise pata? Woh bhale hi mere shakal nahi dekhna chahte ho pr tum unki beti ho, woh tumse zyaada time tk naraaz nahi reh payenge. Abhi thode se gussa h pr dekhna jb unhe realise hoga na ki woh tumse kitna pyaar krte h woh tumhe apne gale se laga lenge", his eyes shone bright positively.

He got up from the floor and sat next to her. "Meri taraf dekho Zoya", lifting her chin with his fingers he made Zoya look in his eyes.

"Mujh pr yakeen h?", he asked her trust. Zoya nodded, "Khud se zyaada". Aditya smiled and cleaned tears from her face.

"Mujh se mohabbat h?", he again asked. Zoya replied with smile, "Sab se zyaada".

Aditya brought his lips and kissed the tears filled in her eyes, "To bas hum yeh jung bhi jeet lenge". She closed her eyes feeling the tenderness of his lips on her eyes.

"I promise main tumhe kabhi bikharne nahi dunga", he promised looking in her soft eyes that only had love for him. He gently cupped her face with his hands & softly pressed his lips on hers. Zoya held his collar as Aditya tilted his head to the side and they lost in love.

After a minute, he withdrew his lips and looked at Zoya who was blushing badly. "I love you both", he smiled placing his hand on her belly.

~~~~~~~~~~

Closing her eyes she silently wished that be the day when she would get free from the burden she was carrying for 2 years. Sliding the iron gate she stepped inside the house. The delicious smell of kebabs that filled her nostrils told her what was being cooked in her mother's kitchen for the dinner. She pushed the metallic door of the lawn in & entered. Hearing her mother humming sweetly Zoya smiled & followed her voice. Without making any sound with her steps she slowly walked towards the kitchen prepared to surprise her mother.

"Aa gayi aap?", her hand stopped in mid air hearing Roshnaq's voice as Zoya was about to cover her eyes.

"Ammi aapko har baar kaise pata chal jata h?", she wrapped her arms around her waist instead.

"Ammi h hum aapki. Aapki har shararat se waakif h. Aapke kadmo se aapki aahat pehchan jaate h", Roshnaq replied while stirring the kebabs. "Aur jb aap aa rahi thi tb hi dekh liya tha hum ne", she told her.

"Hmm to aapko pata tha hum aane wale h", Zoya rested her head on her shoulder.

"Nahi to, hume bhala kaise pata hoga ki aap aane wali h?", she smiled defensively while adding masala in the kebabs.

Zoya kissed on her left cheek and asked, "Achcha ji? To fir itne saare kebab kiske liye banaye jaa rahe h? Aapko aur Abbu ko to Doctor ne spicy khaane se mana kia h na". Roshnaq smiled knowing that her daughter knew her very well.

"Sach boliye Ammi aapko aapke laadle Damaad ne phone kr ke bataya h", Zoya kissed on her other cheek and walked to the fridge to get herself some water.

"Aap pehle yeh bataiye hamare damaad ko itna tang kyun krti h? Bataya Aditya ne hume kis tarah roz aadhi raat ko aap unhe ice-cream laane bhejti h bahar", Roshnaq demanded Zoya while stirring the pan.

Zoya shut the door of the fridge taking a water bottle from it & turned to face her. "To aap dono Saas-Jamaai mil kr hamare peeth peeche se hamari burai krte h", she claimed trying to divert the topic so as to not get scolded by her mother.

At that moment Roshnaq turned to Zoya with sweat dripping from her forehead. "Aditya theek kehte h. Aap apna dhyaan bilkul nahi rakhti h Zoya", with a frown on her face she walked towards Zoya and snatched the water bottle from her hand.

"Kitni baar kaha h hum ne aise mausam me thandi cheezon se door rahiye. Aapke aur bachche ke liye sahi nhi h", Roshnaq opened the door and kept the bottle back at its place inside the refrigerator.

"Allah jaane ap kb badi hongi Zoya", she shook her head in disappointment while scolding her daughter for being careless about her health. She turned & find Zoya coughing badly because of all the smoke that was rising from the stove in kitchen.

"Yaa Allah", she quickly ran towards her. Zoya was unable to breathe due to heavy smoke. Roshnaq held her & took her out of the kitchen and ran inside to get some water for her. When she returned Zoya was holding her chest trying to breathe.

"Yeh lijiye thoda paani pijiye", Roshnaq helped Zoya drink the water rubbing her back. Zoya calmed after drinking water.

"Zoya aap theek to h na beta? Yaa Allah sb hamari galti h. Hume dhyaan rakhna chahiye tha. Pata nahi hamara dhyaan kahan tha. Aapki tabiyat pehle hi bahut naazuk h aur hum aapko daant rahe the. Allah na kare agar kuch ho jaata to", she chanted while blaming herself.

"Ammi pehle shaant ho jaiye aur yahan baithiye", she held her shoulder & made her panicked mother sit on the couch. "Hume kuch nahi hua h. Dekhiye hum bilkul theek h. Aur aap please khud ko kosna band karein" she said sitting next to her and smiled in order to lessen her mother's guilt. But her smile soon faded when she spotted tears in her eyes. "Kya baat h Ammi? Aap pareshaan lg rahi h?", she asked holding her hand.

"Hum kitni badnaseeb Maa h naa Zoya. Na khushi me theek se khush ho sakte h na apne gum me ro skte h", she chuckled sadly.

"Kya baat h Ammi? Aap aise kyu keh rahi h? Humse koi galti hui h kya?", she asked with concern.

"Allah ne hume 2 khoobsurat betiyon se nawaaza h. Pr yeh khushi woh hamari ek beti ko dena bhool gaye. Hume aapke liye bahut khushi h pr jb bhi hamare saamne uss beti ka chehra aata h jiski gaud ab tk sooni h to hamara dil phir se tootne lgta h. Iss aadhi-adhoori khushi se hum thak gaye h", Roshnaq expressed the heart of a mother insider her and wiped away her tears from her dupatta.

Zoya quickly understood what was she referring to. "Appi aayi thi?", she asked. Roshnaq nodded lowering her head in despair. Zoya knew what this meant. The only void in her sister's life that she has always prayed to fill soon. She wiped the tear forming in her own eyes and cupped Roshnaq's face. "Woh theek h na Ammi?" she asked although knowing the answer.

"Aap to janti hi h beta woh kahan kabhi apne dil ki baat kisi se krti h. Ek aap hi h Zoya jinse woh baat to krti h, pr hum se to woh kabhi kuch nahi kehti", Roshnaq confessed in sad tone. While Zoya had always been open with her regarding any matter, Maya has always been reserved. And this has always bothered Roshnaq.

"Ammi aap fikar na karein. Appi se hum baat karenge. Hum aapko aisi nahi dekh skte h", Zoya promised wiping her tears.

"Aur phir Jeeju bhi to h na Appi ke saath. Jb tk woh h aapko kisi baat ki fikar krne ki zaroorat nahi h. Appi ko unse behtar bhala kaun sambhaal skta h", Zoya tried comforting her mother with words.

"Roshnaq?", both the ladies jumped with the voice. "Hum aa gaye h. Arre bhai ghar me koi h?", their moment was disturbed by Waseem's approaching voice from the door. Both of them quickly cleaned their eyes and Zoya immediately stood alert at her place. Waseem was standing at the door with a smile on his face. Roshnaq quickly went inside the kitchen to fetch water for him and Zoya turned to face her father whose smile faded as soon as he saw her.

"Salaam Abbu", with a cheerful smile on her face & hope in her eyes, she greeted. But as usual he ignored & walked inside. He sat on the couch far away from her as Zoya still tried to maintain a smile while fighting her tears back.

Roshnaq returned from the kitchen with a glass of water & handed it to Waseem. Meanwhile she looked at Zoya who was looking hopefully at her Abbu. She knew that the environment has got tensed and even though all of her past attempts had failed yet she tried again to make father-daughter talk.

"Waseem dekhiye na aaj Zoya kitne dino baad aayi h", she spoke loudly to gain his attention hoping that he react positively this time. And Zoya too was wishing that atleast for once he look at her.

"Humne to bulaya nahi h. Pr ab aa hi gayi h to khaana khila kr hi bhejiyega. Aapki mehmaan h, aap hi sambhaaliye", he coldly commented handing the glass of water back to Roshnaq who glanced at Zoya who had lowered her head hiding her tears. She looked back at Waseem & frowned showing her disapproval for his behaviour towards their daughter and irritated with her husband, went back to the kitchen.

There was complete silence between the father & daughter now. She remembered Aditya's words he had said this morning. No matter how angry Waseem is, she has to keep trying. And once again with hope in her heart Zoya nervously walked near the couch where he was sitting & spoke in low yet audible voice, "Abbu hum....."

"Roshnaq hamara khaana laga dia dijiye. Hume bhook lgi h", he stood and walked past Zoya towards the dining table while she remained still at her place with tears falling on the floor.