I was blinking away the tears constantly, holding my mum's shoulder to calm her. I couldn't stand her crying, I couldn't see any woman crying, specially when they were the most important ones in my life, after God. My wife and my mum.

' Then after few months I got pregnant again, and this time I had prayed to God that please let it be a son so that I don't have to die a deathless death. Allah listened to me and I got to know that it were boys. They were you and farhaan. I was so happy, I missed my baby girl but that space had somehow filled with your arrival. Your father was happy, he changed himself to be a better man, but that was a deceiving act. Your grandmother valued me as her own daughter, she began treating me as if I'm a Queen and not a servant, as I was treated previously. She made me two gold bangles and said they were her blessings for me and you both. I was also happy. I never knew happiness was short lived. '

She stood up from the chair, and wiped away a lone tear from her lashes.

' One night and everything was changed, I don't know why he did so, but anyways it was meant to happen. Your father never loved me. He sneered, wearing a scornful smile and then snatched farhaan from my arms. He wasn't even six months. He bellowed that I was to be treated and also said that his mother's death was due to my negligence, I couldn't take care of her so I'm not a good mother. She was old, I didn't want her to die but that doesn't mean I can stop her from dying the natural death. She was a heart patient and it was a sudden cardiac arrest which took her life away, as the doctors said. He allegedly spoke that I had paid them money to say so and so whereas she had been murdered. I found this absolutely senseless. You both were delivered through an operation, and that meant I had to undergo pain with the passage of time. I searched everywhere, asked his relatives, even pleaded help from the police but no one knew where he was. I could never see my farhaan again. '

She took a deep breathe and then gathered some courage,

' Beta, I know I've wronged you by hiding this reality that Farhaan is your brother. But for you to perceive any brethren like acquaintance, I dread that he is a rebel. '

" But why maa, what did you do? It was not your fault, you did your best to find him but father has escorted somewhere, where the police even couldn't help. Zahra told me she was married to him before, and ... Has twins... "

I waited for her to respond but she stayed quite, indicating me to continue.

" He came here when you thought she had disappeared. He threatened her that if he doesn't gets back The Rehaan mansion he'll not bother killing his twins. "

' Ahh. I knew he'd be grown up like his father, he raised him up with his poisonous nature and all the fake lies. He have pushed him so far that he can't return back to accept loving us. I don't know if your father is alive yet or not, but his tone, his ways around, everything is so much like him. I wonder how did he managed to love farhaan. He hated kids. He hated me. '

" If you say Maa, I can use my power to go across this city to find the slightest of detail of where Farhaan lives. I'll confront him. "

' No beta, You shouldn't. Let him take the property, of course it won't affect you that much right? '

" But Maa, that mansion is a symbol of my hardwork,of my dedication to the business which father left hanging. The company was on the verge of going bankrupt. "

' I know Beta, I know. '

" Promise me maa, that until I find about him myself you won't let this secret out anywhere else. It's between us only. "

The shuffling sound of the curtains, and a small sob escaping her lips make me turn back to look at Zahra. She was holding the small table which had a vase too,and her hand shivered slipping the vase away into pieces. She stepped with bare feet on the pieces and let her blood flow. She had heard either all of our conversation or some part of it.

" Zahra, what're you doing... Your feet, they're wounded! Please for the Lord of Heavens move away. "

' I didn't expect you to be another snake in my sleeve, though I should have had learnt this before. When my brother killed dad, when my stepmom left me, then who are you? A stranger whom I just met few weeks ago? '

She had so much hatred in her voice, she was just getting to see one side of the portrait. She ran upstairs closing the door loudly enough to let her frustration out. I followed behind her and waited for her to say something. I knocked slightly and then opened the door.

She was sitting on the floor rug, hiding her face in her palms crying recklessly.

" Bella.. Look at me "

' No way, I didn't see that coming from you. You stabbed me at my back. Why have you told your mom about this? And you knew right that he might be your brother? I was a fool to marry you! Divorce me now! '

I didn't expect that to listen, it was like a nail stricken deep in my heart making it bleed. She was not ready to believe me. She didn't want me to tell all this to maa.

' You're playing a villain right? You're actually along with your brother, that's why you didn't overreact when I told you I was a divorcée. It was all your game plan. And maybe, who knows you're the one behind patricide. You killed my dad. Didn't you? That's why you haven't caught the real culprit yet '

" Listen Zahra, it's nothing what you're thinking. I told maa so that.. "

She turned her face away from me , her back towards my face. I stepped closer to her and hugged her from behind, snuggling closer to her back.

' Shut up! Just go away from here. Don't you dare touch me. I don't want you to be near me anywhere. I thought you'd help me, support me, be with me in this dark time. But no, you cared more about your lost brother, you had to be a more dutiful son, than being a more loyal husband. '

" Where are you taking the argument to? Heck, this is not even an argument. Zahra I informed her so that I may know if Farhan Rehaan Siddique was my brother or not. Because in that case, finding him and assisting you would be easier. I wanted to help you. I never thought of betraying you. Whatever I got to know from maa, it's hard to swallow. Do you feel that? Do you feel my pain? "

It was me who was now breaking, scattering into pieces. I hated to feel sympathy towards myself, and I had this gushing inside my veins now. I was sympathising myself. She needed to trust my decisions. But how can I blame her, she is too a victim of all the time's consequences.

" If you want me to divorce you, then fine. I'd. "

I gathered my pride above my soft side, I can't break. She can't break me.

' I ... I.. Didn't mean that, Azfar I love you.. '

She faced me her eyes red and puffy with too many tears making her kajal smudged.It's true as someone has said, to understand a woman is a hardest task amongst many.

" I never thought you'll be so mean and short tempered. I too suffered in all this. "

She moved her hand towards my back caressing it back and forth, and then held my hands strongly, placing a soft kiss on my cheek.

' I'm sorry Azfar, Yes I'm short tempered... But I do love you... Pls never leave me... I can't leave you... I don't have anyone other than you... Forget about whatever I said... Pls... '

I freed my hand from her hold and asked her to give me some time to figure out dealing with it, peacefully.

" Zahra, I won't leave you. I'm sorry for those words, but pls I have to go now. "

' He'd come again... '

" He won't because now I know what I've to do. I promise your babies would be fine. I don't know if I'll accept them and love them as a father or not, but I'll love them as your kids. "

I left the room processing what I had just said, I had to do something with Farhaan. I can't let him come between my future and my life.

Mu'adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,7

“Allah says,

‘My love is promised to those who love each other for My sake.

My love is promised to those who go out to visit each other for My sake.

My love is promised to those who give each other for My sake.

And My love is promised to those who stay connected with each other for Me’.” (Ahmad)