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*

Jasmina

"Jasmina?" Ammi's concerned voice came through the door of my bedroom at the Sheikh family home, later that night.

I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. I didn't want to talk to anyone or see anyone.

"Hua kya hai? Jabse aayi ho kamre main band ho." 

*"What happened? Since you came, you've been locked up in your room."

"I'm fine, Ammi." I called out weakly.

The door opened and my mother walked in. "Listen, I'm going to Islamabad for a couple of days. I'm leaving in the morning. Speak to Fawad and come with me."

I sat up. "Islamabad?"

"Your Mamu isn't well, so I want to visit him." 

"What happened to Rashid Mamu?" I frowned worriedly.

"He had these strong chest pains..." Ammi said. "We're all concerned, and I want to go and see him."

"Sure, Ammi. I'll come with you." I instantly reached for my phone to message Fawad. But then my hand paused just as it was about to grip the device.

Ammi didn't miss this little hesitation. "What's wrong?" She walked over to sit at the foot of my bed. "Jasmina, is everything okay between you and Fawad?" 

"Yes, Ammi. It's all okay." I averted her gaze. 

She sat in silence for a few moments, before she started speaking again. "Beta, I'm not going to ask you the details, nor am I going to automatically assume who's right or who's wrong. I'm just going to say that I hope that you have a genuinely valid reason for being here. Of course, you have every right to be here, as this is your parents' house, but you know the reason that you actually are here, and I hope it's justified."

I don't think it's justified. I think I overreacted.

She put a hand over mine. "Speak to Fawad about tomorrow." 

I nodded. "I will, Ammi."

"I'm not kidding. He needs to know if you're going to be leaving the city." She stood up. "Let me know the finalised plan when you're done talking to him." 

"Okay." 

She leaned down to kiss my forehead, before walking out of the room, closing the door behind her.

I dialled Fawad's number.

"Hello!" Saad's loud voice came through, making me wince and pull the phone away from my ear briefly.

"Hello, Assalam Alaikum, Saad. Is your Mamu there?" 

"No. Nano and Nana Jaan has some guests over, so Mamu is inside with them." He replied. "He gave me his phone to play a game."

"Could you get your Mamu for me, please? I need to speak to him."

"You can speak to him later. I'm playing. Bye!" The call ended abruptly.

Badtameez. The thought instantly entered my mind, even though I knew that he was just a kid, and probably didn't mean to be rude.

*Insolent.

My phone rang and I glanced down at it, hard pounding hard.

Fariha.

"Assalam Alaikum, Fariha."

"Walaikum Assalam, Bhabi. I entered the room just as Saad was ending the call. I'm so sorry about that. You want to speak to Bhai?" 

"Yes, please." 

"I'll get him for you." 

"Thank you, Fariha." 

I bit my lower lip as I waited. 

"Assalam Alaikum." His deep, not-angry voice came through a couple of minutes later.

"Walaikum Assalam." I paused, allowing silence to briefly descend before I continued. "My Mamu isn't well, so Ammi is going to Islamabad tomorrow. I want to go with her." 

"What happened to him?" He sounded concerned.

"He was complaining of chest pains. Ammi is going tomorrow and I..."

"Of course, she would appreciate your support right now. May Allah give him good health. Ameen." 

"Ameen."  An awkward silence fell between us. I felt guilt eating away at me. "I'm sorry, Fawad. I regret what happened."

"I'm sorry as well, if I overreacted. We should have talked properly."

"You asked me to come back home so we could talk. I am the one who refused." I leaned back against the headboard. "Listen, I'd never do anything to intentionally hurt you. I shouldn't have discussed, or mocked, your relatives in front of Bhabi... or anyone. I have no right to mock anyone." 

 "You apologised, and I should have left it at that."

"Let's end this matter now, please. I hate fighting with you." I whispered.

"I agree." He said. "Anyway, how long are you going to Islamabad for?" 

"A couple of days, maybe."

"Okay, look after your Ammi and yourself. Keep me updated."

"I will. You look after yourself too." I already missed being in his arms, his scent, the feeling of safety and security while I was with him. I missed running my hand through his soft hair, over the stubble on his cheeks. I missed his gaze on me, the way he smiled teasingly at me with mischief in his eyes.

I've lived on my own before, but now that I was married, I had gotten used to feeling protected while he was around. Even though I was safe here at my parents' house, I missed him.

"Come back as soon as possible, okay?" 

"Why, do you miss me already?" I teased him.

"No, I'm enjoying the peace." He laughed.

I gasped, as if I was offended. "So mean. You know what, I bet that you can't last a day without contacting me."

"Is that a challenge, Mrs. Jasmina Fawad?" 

"It's a statement that I'm making quite confidently." This time I laughed.

"Challenge accepted." 

*

When the scent of coffee made me throw up, I took the Sheikh family driver to the twenty-four hour pharmacy, as sneakily as possible.

I was relieved to find a female pharmacist working, and I approached her. "Assalam Alaikum."

"Walaikum Assalam." She replied. "How may I help you?" 

"I..." My cheeks burned. "I need a pregnancy test, but I have no idea how to find the right one."

"I'll help you, don't worry." She came out from behind the counter and led me to the aisle that had the pregnancy tests. "Your first?"

I nodded.

She started showing me the different types of test, and explaining things to me, and eventually I ended up buying three different kinds of tests, because I wasn't sure if I could rely on the result of just one... unless it was positive. I've heard that there's a chance of false negative, but not false positive.

Stuffing the shopping bag into my large tote bag, I headed back to the car.

When I was back home, I headed straight into the bathroom, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My skin was pale, clammy. When was my period due?

It was late. My period was late. My vision started to spin as I started to panic. "I may be pregnant." I whispered the words. 

I can't avoid it anymore. I need to take the test(s). 

*

One of the test I bought was so advanced that, if pregnant, it would even tell you how many weeks. 

I paced the bathroom floor, waiting for the result. I wish you were here right now, Fawad. I need you to give me the courage.

If it's positive, my whole life is going to change! And how do I tell Fawad? Phone, video call, text message?

I shook my head at my own silliness. Text messaging him that I'm pregnant? Really?

It was now time. Taking a deep breath, I turned to have a look.

*

Fawad

Early the next morning, I was standing at the nurse's station, reading over the notes of my patient, when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up and saw Asad Uncle standing behind me.

"Assalam Alaikum, Uncle." I greeted him with a smile.

"Walaikum Assalam, beta. Do you have a few minutes?" 

"Sure, Uncle. Let's go to the staff canteen and talk over coffee, if you want?" 

He nodded. As we started walking, he spoke. "Afreen and Jasmina have left for Islamabad." 

"Mina messaged me, yes." 

A short while later, after we were seated at a table by the window with our coffees, he began to speak. He had a habit of getting straight to the point, and not beating around the bush. "I'm worried about Ahad. I know he made mistakes, big ones, but I'm his father and I just... I can't help feeling helpless. How do we help him?"

"What does Arhaan have to say about this?" I peered at him over the rim of my cup as I took a sip.

"Well, I suggested that you and Arhaan both talk to him. He respects you like an elder brother, and you and Arhaan are sensible and might get through to him together. He needs help, Fawad, but he just doesn't know how to ask for it. Arhaan agreed and he is willing to talk to him." 

"Do you really think that us talking to him will help?" 

"I think that after seeing Aliya's behaviour, he feels awful." Uncle stared out of the window, thoughtfully. "His family means more to him than he knows, and I think that seeing Aliya's trye colours really shocked him." 

"Okay, we'll talki to him. Don't worry, Uncle."

Even I believed that Ahad wasn't a lost cause. He was a Sheikh family member, after all. We could still help him.

*

FLASHBACK

I was there when Ahad had gotten his first motorcycle, when he was eighteen.

I was hanging out with Arhaan as usual, and we had just returned from London for the summer. Zafar had also come over, and he and Ahad seemed really excite about something.

"Are you worried?" I looked at Arhaan.

"It's Ahad. Of course, I'm worried." My best friend replied. We were lounging on the garden chairs and there were snacks set up on the table in front of us, courtesy of Afreen Aunty. It included samosas, biscuits from the local bakery, chicken patties and slices of plain cake.

We soon found out why Ahad and Zafar were looking like two hyper kids who had eaten too many sweets. There was a horn outside the gates and they both ran towards them, whooping.

"What the actual...?" Arhaan stuffed half a samosa into his mouth. "I swear, my siblings are weird." 

We saw Ahad and Zafar bring in a motorcycle, along with a guy who was probably the delivery guy. Curiosity got the best of me and Arhaan, and we got up and made our way towards the gate.

"What? How? When?" Arhaan seemed to have forgotten how to speak in full sentences.

"Papa finally agreed!" Ahad grinned. "I'm officially the owner of a motorcycle." 

As if on cue, his parents walked over from the direction of the front door of the house.

"This is a terrible idea, Asad. I hate this." Aunty's tone was filled with disapproval.

"Ammi, come on!" Ahad protested. "I already promised Papa that I'll be careful." 

"One mistake, Afreen, and I'll take the bike away from him." Uncle looked at his wife.

"That one mistake could cause him to get hurt, or God forbid, worse, Asad!"

"A motorcycle!" We heard a squeal, and fifteen-year-old Jasmina came running out of the house, her high ponytail bouncing. "Bhai, take me for a ride around the neighbourhood!" She glanced at Ahad wide-eyed, her brown eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Absolutely not." Asad Uncle said, firmly.

"Why, Papa? If Ahad Bhai can ride a motorcycle, why can't I...?"  She pouted, turning her gaze towards her father.

Mina had a talent of getting what she wanted because, being the youngest and the only daughter, she knew that everyone had a soft spot for her. But this was the one thing that her parents were not willing to compromise on.

"You're only fifteen, Jasmina." Asad Uncle crossed his arms over his chest. "And I can barely trust Ahad to take care of himself while riding the bike, let alone you as well." 

"Thanks." Ahad muttered.

As her parents went inside, Mina turned back to Ahad. "I promise I'll do whatever you want for a whole week! Just take me for a ride, please! I trust you, you'll be careful."

"I'm still here, Jazzy. Don't disregard my authority." Arhaan spoke up. "You're not going anywhere on that motorcycle."

Yes, but Ahad and Jasmina had a tendency to not listen, and when we were all busy with other stuff, they rode off.

I was still at their place when they returned, with Mina sobbing and nursing a fractured wrist. Ahad looked like a complete mess; he felt so bad over the accident.

That incident had really shaken him, and after that, he refused to take her on the bike. But we all saw a caring side of him, which we probably never expected from him before.

Ahad Sheikh wasn't a bad person, but sometimes he needed to be reminded that.

*

PRESENT

Ahad was playing snooker in a club, a cigarette pressed between his lips.

Arhaan and I approached him cautiously. Zafar, who stood watching the game, nodded discreetly at us before walking away.

Ahad straightened up to blow a puff of smoke an he saw us then. "What are you two doing here? This place is too cool for you both." He grinned.

"We're the ones who showed you this place, you tw*t." Arhaan lightly smacked the back of his head.

"Seriously, what are you two doing here?" 

Ignoring his question, Arhaan focused on the cigarette. "I always find it ironic when a doctor smokes." 

Ahad looked at him, then me, and then back at his brother. "Is this an intervention or something?" He glanced around. "Where's Zaf? Oh sh*t! This is an intervention!" 

"Everyone's worried about you, Bhai." Arhaan spoke calmly, cautiously.

"I'm a screw up and I screwed things up again. Nothing new." Ahad leaned against the table.

"Look, Ahad, we've all made mistakes at some point in our lives." I spoke up. "Tossing you aside is not an option for anyone in the family. We all just want to help you."

"No disrespect, but you and Arhaan Bhai won't get it, Fawad Bhai." Ahad stared off out of the window. "I was fooled by Aliya. I was a complete idiot in love, and I hastily married her, even though everyone kept warning me. She was nothing but a gold-digger who didn't give a sh*t about me. She could have destroyed our family, and I brought her into our family. That's unforgivable." 

"There's a way you can make it up to us." Arhaan sat down on bar stool in front of the non-alcoholic bar at the edge of the room. "You can see a professional." 

"You mean therapy?" Ahad looked uncertain.

"Don't sound like it's a bad thing." Arhaan continued speaking cautiously. "We don't hesitate to visit a doctor when we're physically sick, so why is there such a stigma around mental health? It's just as important to look after your mind, Ahad, and as a doctor, you should know that."

"Fine. I'll get help." Ahad sighed.

"Ammi and Papa known a good psychiatrist." Arhaan continued. "Go and see him, and we'll see how it goes, okay?" 

"So, all this plotting was going on behind my back?" Ahad teased, a weak smile on his face.

"You're lucky to have such a good family, Bhai." Arhaan grinned.

*

We thought that we'd gotten through to Ahad, and Arhaan was more relaxed.

An hour after I'd gotten back home, I received a phone call from my best friend.

"Everything okay, Arhaan?" I was lying on the sofa, just about to watch some TV.

"Ahad has lost it, Bhai. I got a call from the club where Ahad was playing snooker. The manager is threatening to call the police because Ahad's getting too violent." 

I closed my eyes, feeling exhausted. "I'm coming. Give me twenty minutes." 

Thanks to the empty roads, I reached there in fifteen minutes. As I got out of the car and headed towards the club, I receive a message. Taking my phone out of my pocket, I glanced down at the screen and immediately smiled.

<Jasmina: How is the challenge going? Unbearably hard?>

Her challenge that I couldn't last a day without contacting her was somehow not hard to win, because I had been so distracted, but now that I had seen the message from her, I was tempted to reply.

<Jasmina: I need to talk to you about something important. I'll call you in around an hour. ❤️>

I loved her so much that even I found it hard to believe it sometimes. It's funny how fate works. I'd known Mina her entire life, and our families had been friends since before even our parents were married. The five of us - Ali and Sheikh siblings- had basically grown up together, but Mina and I had been completely oblivious to the fact that we were each other's future spouses.

I missed her. I wished was here in Lahore right now. I would have gone home to her and taken her in my arms, breathing in her familiar vanilla and jasmine scent.

When I got inside, I was surprised to see the Sheikh brothers facing off against each other.

"Whoa!" I stepped forward and pulled Ahad back, because he was more of a liability with his uncontrollable temper and a habit of throwing punches. "Ahad, what the hell?!" 

Arhaan was breathing hard, glaring at his younger brother. However, it wasn't just anger on his face, there was also a mixture of bewilderment, hurt and concern. His hair was a mess and a swelling on his cheek.

"Did you punch Arhaan?" I asked Ahad in disbelief.

"He's being a righteous pr**k, as usual!" Ahad replied. "What the hell do you know, Bhai? You married the first girl that you were attracted to. I doubt that you even know real love. It's easy for you all to say that I should let go, but how can I? I loved her!" He was shaking, sniffing.

"Is he high?" I asked Arhaan quietly.

"I have my suspicions." He replied just as quietly, before raising his voice at his brother. "You're hurting yourself and your own family for a girl who doesn't give a sh*t about you!" 

"You don't know the pain I'm in!" Ahad yelled. He tried to free himself from my grip, but I tightened my hold on his arms.

"We're bloody trying to help you!" Arhaan roared. I'd never seen him like this in the entire time that I'd known him... which was basically forever.

"No, you're just trying to be the good guy again." Ahad snapped. "You're just trying to show the world that you're the responsible, mature Arhaan Sheikh, once again having to clean up the messes of his younger, idiotic brother." 

"You're kind of proving them right at the moment." I told him. "Calm down and talk like a civilised person." 

Ahad turned to look at me now. "You should know how it feels to have your heard crushed. You have been in my situation."

"I've never hurt my loved ones because of that." I replied calmly.

"Of course. Because, like Bhai, you're perfect too." Ahad sneered. "Like Bhai, you never gave anyone else a chance either. You took the girl who broke your heart back in a second." 

"Ahad, you're upset." I tried to remain patient. "Let's get you home, and we'll talk in the morning." 

"There's nothing to talk about." Arhaan's younger brother shook his head, jerking his arms free. "You righteous pr*cks can leave me the hell alone!" He began to walk away.

"Where are you going?" Arhaan said, wearily.

"To hell. Wanna join me?" 

Arhaan and I exchanged a frustrated look. He looked so exhausted that I felt terrible for him.

Sighing, I followed Ahad, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Ahad, wait..." 

He turned so quickly that I had no time to react. The next thing I knew, he'd slammed a fist against my jaw, sending me flying back against a table.

"Ahad!" Arhaan looked horrified as he rushed to stop him, but with a show of surprising strength, Ahad shoved him away before turning back to me.

Groaning under my breath, I straightened up. "Ahad, you're making a mistake." I tasted blood in my mouth.

He punched me again, this time in the stomach, seriously testing my patient. My hands curled into fists, and I was tempting to give him the pounding of a lifetime, but...

"I know that Ahad Bhai has done a lot, but seeing him hurt shatters me." Mina had said with tears in her eyes, when Ahad was going through the phase where he was resenting his own sister.

I can't hurt him. He's my Mina's big brother, and Arhaan's little brother. I put my full strength in resisting the urge to punch Ahad. I could have easily used his recent treatment of Mina to fuel my rage against him, but for her, I stopped.

Biwi ki khatir, maar bhi sehle. A sarcastic voice in my head chuckled.

*Tolerate being beaten up for the sake of your wife.

Meanwhile, Arhaan stepped between me and him, shoving his younger brother backwards. "That's more than enough, Ahad!"

The police arrived then, probably called by the as-of-yet unseen manager that Arhaan had mentioned earlier. The manager spoke to the police officers, pointing towards Ahad.

As the police began to take Ahad away, I threw up blood, possibly a mixture of the blow to my stomach and the bleeding in my mouth from the punch to my jaw.

"Fawad!" Arhaan rushed up to me.

Ahad's face was pale and etched with anxiety. "Bhai, I'm so...sorry." 

A sudden wave of pain seemed to wash over my stomach, causing me to groan and double over.

"Why the f**k didn't you fight back, you idiot?" Arhaan muttered as he wrapped my arm around his shoulders and began to drag me to his car.

I have no idea what happened after that because I lost consciousness in the car.

*

Jasmina

"Let me know if you need anything." Hamida Mumani told me.

"I will, Mumani. Thank you." I smiled.

Ammi was downstairs with her sisters and sisters-in-law, while I had come up here to get some rest as I was feeling exhausted. 

Mumani left me alone to rest in the huge, air-conditioned room with a large double bed and polished marble floors. My mother came from a well-off background herself, and it had been brilliant fun to spend holidays in our naniyal. They had seriously pampered me and my brothers.

I picked up my phone and dialled Fawad's number. It rang for a while, before I ended the call, frowning. Tapping on the messaging app, I messaged him instead.

<Jasmina: You know how impatient I get when I need to talk. 😫 Call me the moment you're free!>

After a few moments of attempting to watch TV, I picked up my phone again.

<Jasmina: Fawad.>

<Jasmina: 👨🏽‍⚕️>

Where is he? Maybe he got busy at work, called for an emergency?

I exhaled dramatically, feeling bored... yet also impatient.

*

Ahad

I'd always been jealous easily, uncontrollably at times. It made me act irrationally, and without thinking.

When we were kids, and Arhaan Bhai or Jasmina got something that I thought I liked better, I took it from them. Arhaan Bhai, like the typical eldest child, gave up quietly and without a fight. Jasmina, on the other hand, threw serious temper tantrums, and ran to Papa immediately, who ended up forcing me to return whatever I took.

Jasmina is the one who caused the most amount of envy inside of me. She got away with everything and anything. If Ammi wanted to step in and say something, Papa defended my sister.

She hurt Fawad Bhai, and everyone stood by her and forgave her easily, including Fawad Bhai himself- who, perhaps, was not even angry with her in the first place. 

And now, when my marriage had broken down, I wondered if it would have happened had it not been for Jasmina and her utter intolerance of Laiba. Rage started to grow within me, and I couldn't stand the pity I felt from everyone around me. It p**sed me off to no extent. Initially, I wanted to accept their help, but after Arhaan Bhai and Fawad Bhai had left the club earlier, I had spoken to my friends. They told me that my own family didn't understand what I was going through, and wanted to send me to a doctor because it was easier than to deal with me themselves. Only Zaf had disagreed with them, but I had ignored him. He was just another righteous pr*ck, even if he was my best friend. Some of the other friends of mine had joint me at the club, and one of them had given me something to smoke, which had made me feel very lightheaded. 

I now realised that I'd been hanging out with bad influences, and if I knew what was best for me, I would drop the rest of them and just stick to Zafar.

I should have listened to Arhaan Bhai and Fawad Bhai.

I should have listened to Zaf.

When Arhaan Bhai came to stop me, I'd lashed out at him. I was in a state of mind where I constantly felt that nobody understood me, and they all just pitied me. It was then that I started to realise that my family was right and that I really needed help.

And when Fawad Bhai came after me, I think I took my anger for Jasmina out on him. My envy, my rage just came pouring out and I punched him. He didn't fight back, even though I knew that if he wanted to, he was capable of beating the s**t out of me. I knew that he was holding himself back for Jazzy's sake, for Bhai's sake.

When I saw him throw up blood, I realised what I'd done. He was one of the nicest, kindest people I'd ever known in my entire life, and he'd never done anything against me. He didn't deserve this.

Bloody hell, even Jazzy doesn't deserve this! I was shaking hard as I stared at my brother-in-law, who was clearly in pain. What the f**k have I done? That's my sister's husband!

As Bhai rushed over to him and the police led me away, I called out weakly, "Bhai, I'm sorry. Let me know if he's okay."

I don't think Arhaan Bhai heard me, or maybe he was now refusing to acknowledge my existence. I didn't blame him.

*

"What the hell, yaar?" Zafar glared at me in the interrogation room.

I had no idea how much time had passed by, but it seemed hours later, or maybe it was just minutes and I felt like it was hours because of the guilt that was devouring me, slowly tearing me apart inside.

I remember when we were kids and my grandmother had likened the feeling of guilt to a termite-ridden house. "When you do something that evokes guilt within you, it's like the first termite in a wooden house. It starts small, and gradually eats away at everything, potentially destroying you from the inside, as a termite destroys a house."

"How do we stop it, Nano? Do we call pest control?" Arhaan Bhai had asked, naïvely.

Nano had laughed. "No, my sweet boy. The human equivalent of 'pest control' in this case is repentance. I'm not saying that repentance solves everything, as in some cases it might be too late. But it might prevent further damage to you, to your soul, and it will ease you, as well as starting the process of healing for the person you've hurt."

"How is he?" I looked up at Zaf with damp eyes.

"Do you really care?" He shook his head. "What is your problem, yaar? Why are you attacking people who want to help you?" 

"I lost my temper." I tapped my fingers on the table in front of me. "I have no control of my temper, Zafar. I need anger management."

"Firstly, you need a lawyer, especially if Fawad Bhai decides to press charges." He frowned. "But nobody from your family is here, so I'm going to call Asad Uncle, or shall I call Arhaan Bhai?" 

"Bhai probably hates my guts right now. Call Papa." I put my head in my hands.

He nodded. "I'm not sure when they'll come though. They must be at the hospital." 

"I'll understand if nobody comes." I felt like I was drowning in self-pity, even though I should have been facing self-loathing right now.

Allah, please don't let anything happen to Fawad Bhai. I prayed silently.

*

Fariha

We were gathered outside the emergency room where Bhai was being looked at by the medical team.

Ammi was shaking with silent sobs as she sat on the bench, her tasbeeh out as she made supplications for the wellbeing of my elder brother. Papa was pacing nearby, looking anxious. He'd already been on shift and had been informed of the incident by one of the nurses who had recognised Bhai.

The sounds of footsteps made me turn and I saw Bhai's father and Arhaan Bhai walking towards us. Ammi stiffened as she saw them, turning her head away. Papa stood up to greet them.

"How's he?" Asad Uncle asked.

"We were just..." Papa began to speak, but Ammi jumped to her feet.

"Well, your son certainly wanted to finish the job, Bhai sahab." She snapped.

"Fatima." Papa looked at her, before turning back to Asad Uncle. "We're just waiting for the doctor to update us."

"We..." Uncle looked embarrassed. "We don't even know how to start apologising."

"Your apology is going to be worth nothing if anything happens to my son!" Ammi lashed out.

"Ammi." I wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "In Sha Allah, he'll be okay."

"Fawad didn't deserve this." Uncle kept his gaze lowered. "I'm so ashamed that my son cause this..." 

"Is your concern merely because of the fact that he's your daughter's husband?" Ammi practically spat fire. "Is that the only reason that you're sorry that this happened?"

"Ammi." I squeezed her shoulders, and glanced at Bhabi's father and brother. "I'm so sorry. She gets extra overprotective when it comes to Bhai." I paused. "Should I call Bhabi?"

"No, leave it. She'll be stressed on the long ride back from Islamabad." Ammi turned away.

Bhabi was going to be devastated, especially when she found out that her own brother did this.

*

Fawad

"I'm fine. You guys are panicking over nothing." I chuckled.

"You threw up blood!" Ammi cried out.

"He didn't." Papa turned to face her. "He was bleeding in the mouth, and he must have dry heaved due to the impact of the blow to the stomach, which caused the blood. The doctor has cleared him, that there's nothing of concern."

Just what I'd thought. I felt satisfied at my own diagnosis on the spot earlier.

Ammi reached forward and kissed my forehead. "We were so worried about you. You slept through the night and the morning, and I was panicking." 

"Ammi, you're a doctor. You know the impact of certain medication can be drowsiness." I tensed up. "Wait. I slept through the night and the morning? What time is it now? Can I go home?" 

"It's almost four in the afternoon." Papa checked the time on his phone.

"Why am I here in the afternoon for minor bruises?" I was bewildered.

"Why do you think?" Papa grinned teasingly at Ammi. "She wanted to be sure that everything was okay." 

Mina needed to talk to me about something important last night. "Where's my phone?" I asked my parents.

"I think Arhaan has it. He was given your belongings when you were brought in here." Ammi replied.

"Can I borrow yours, Ammi?" I asked. "Mina was meant to call me last night, and she must be getting worried after not having heard from me since then."

"She can wait." Ammi said, stiffly.

"Are you seriously mad at her?" I asked in disbelief.

"Here, take mine." Papa handed over his phone to me. "Come on, Fatima. Let's give him some privacy." They walked out, Ammi begrudgingly, and the door closed behind them.

I dialled Mina's number and held the phone against my ear, listening to the dial tone.

Afreen Aunty answered. "Assalam Alaikum, Fawad beta."

"Walaikum Assalam, Aunty. How are you? How's Rashid Mamu?" 

"Alhumdulillah, he's okay. The doctor is concerned though about his overall cardiac health, and has given precautions, but he's back home."

For a while we chatted a bit about his state, before I asked her, "Aunty, is Jasmina around?" 

"She's downstairs. I'll go down and ask her to call you back, okay?" 

"I don't have my phone with me at the moment, I'm using Papa's." I stood up and winced at the pain in my jaw. "I'll call her back when I get it. Please tell her that when she tried to call, my phone wasn't with me."

"Okay, I'll let you know. Take care, bachay."

"You too. Allah Hafiz, Aunty."

"Allah Hafiz."

As the call ended, I wondered how Mina was going to react to all this. She might have forgiven Ahad's treatment towards herself, but would she be as forgiving when she found out that her brother had done this to me?

*

Jasmina

"Something smells good." Hamida Mumani walked into the kitchen. "But, what are you doing, Jasmina? You should have asked the maid to cook.

I finished making French toast, smiling at her. "It's okay, Mumani. I don't mind."

I had been trying not to worry about Fawad. He was a doctor. He must have gotten stuck with work. However, my mind refused to rest. He is taking this challenge very seriously!

"Keep your phone with you, beta." Ammi walked into the kitchen, setting my phone on the kitchen table. "Fawad called."

"Fawad, my husband?" I had no idea why I asked that.

"No, Fawad Khan, the actor." Ammi shook her head. "Of course, Fawad, your husband."

"I'll call him back in a few." I told her.

"He said that he was using Ali Bhai's phone, but he will call you when he has access to his phone."

That was strange. Why did he only have access to Ali Uncle's phone?

Ammi and Mumani let the kitchen, discussing the stricter diet plan for Mamu. I sat down at the kitchen table. 

My first cravings. It was official. I was pregnant, and the test had confirmed it. Based on the date, it was safe to assume that it was the night he made pasta for me, our very first time. I blushed just thinking about it. Now I just need to find a way to tell him.

My phone rang.

My heart sped up and I lunged for it. I was disappointed when I saw that it was my mother-in-law calling, and not my husband.

"Assalam Alaikum, Ammi." I answered politely. With this special new change within me, I wanted to seriously heal the relationship between myself and my mother-in-law too. If calling her 'Ammi' was the first step, then so be it.

"Walaikum Assalam." Her voice sounded weird, but I couldn't figure out the emotion behind it. "Are you alone?"

"Yes, I am. Is everything okay?"

"I wasn't going to tell you, and it's not easy for me to do so now, Jasmina, but it must be done. I cannot hold myself back anymore after what your brother did. He has crossed all limits."

"What happened?"

"Fawad's in the hospital."

"On duty?"

"No. As a patient." Her voice was grim.

My heart practically stopped. "What?" I stood up, knocking the chair back. "What happened to him? Is he okay?!" 

"Ahad punched him in the jaw and in the stomach." She sounded tearful. "My son was throwing up blood." 

"Allah! Is Fawad okay?" I gasped out.

"No, thanks to your brother." 

"Is Fawad okay?" I repeated, impatiently.

"The doctors are examining him, but Ali says that he should be fine." She replied. "Alhumdulillah. But you need to make a decision, Jasmina."

"What kind of a decision?" 

"If it was up to me, I'd have no association with anyone from the Sheikh family. But since Fawad won't leave you, you need to choose. You keep your ties with either us, or your Ahad Bhai."

"Aunty..."

"If you refuse, I'd assume that your love for your brother is greater than your love for Fawad. I'd assume that you forgive Ahad for the pain that he caused Fawad."

"I...I'm not saying that, Aunty. I just..."

"It's your decision, Jasmina." She ended the call.

I could only stare blankly at my phone.

Fawad. In the hospital. Hurt. All thanks to my brother.

Ahad Bhai hurt Fawad.

How could you do this, Ahad Bhai?

*

Will Ahad ever find forgiveness now?

Will Jasmina forgive him? 

She's pregnant!

Unfortunately, she immediately had to hear such a shocking news after that.

Thoughts and comments?

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