EDITED

'' I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. "

* Douglas Adams *

' No, who is Farhan? '

I asked my question with pleading eyes upon which I earned a smack on my chest which was not expected at all.

' Oh Farhan? He is my fiancée and I got married to him just three years ago. And now you Mr, Don't get jealous pls, because this Cinderella is only of her Prince '

She giggled and taking off her arms from my neck made her way downstairs adjusting her hijaab properly.

What is happening here?

" Maa "

I came along with her following her to the kitchen where mom was busy in toasting the bread and making omelettes.

She smiled at me turning from the kitchen counter and then raised one of her eyebrow, asking about my query to which I called her upon.

" Maa.. "

I called her again, but words refused to come out of my tongue and she stared at me in disbelief that I was acting like a child calling her again & again but not actually mentioning what I wanted to.

' Are you going to annoy my sweet mom with your Maa Maa and nothing else? Do you want her to burn her hand or something you fool! Can't you see she raises her head up every time you call her and then you choose to stay silent '

Zahra rolls her eyes after her angry tone, making her look like a cute angry bird, and oh that beautiful eyes.

" Maa, I want to ask something. Can you pls come to my room for few minutes? "

I finally gather some courage to ask her this simple question, which I was planning to ask since ten minutes.

" Okay beta "

She smiles at Zahra, and she too nods her head courteously and insures mom that she will not add too much milk in her tea. She loved strong tea and so she instructed her before coming along with me.

Why is she not acting strange with Zahra? She is assuming her to be her daughter in law, too? I don't get it!

As soon as we reach upstairs, I drag my mother's hand into my room and shut it behind.

She gives a death glare but I choose to ignore it.

" What's wrong maa? You're seeing her behaving like your daughter in law and you're just watching her? Infact, no. You're playing along with her in all this drama right? "

She laughs at my sudden confrontation, and holds my face in her hands and places a feathery kiss on my forehead. She caresses my cheeks and then with teary eyes she says ,

' I'm seeing you happy after a long time jaan. You were never like this before. Is this the girl you mentioned me previously? She is beautiful like a hoor descended from heaven. I really love her as my own daughter. And you know why I'm playing along with her? That's because she has lost her memory and if anything unusual happens to her, putting a pressure on her mind... She will be forced to go back from where it all got paused... You'll lose her beta. I know I'm being selfish, but that's the only option left for me to buy you happiness. '

She holds my hand but I loosen it from her grip, mom was acting unbelievable. How can someone be so selfish for any stranger, whom you don't even know well? I don't know her story, I don't know what she has gone through, I don't know anything about her life except the little things I know about her family and her. Then how can I claim her to be mine, when she hates me in her real self? Right now, she thinks I'm Farhan to whom she's married since three years and that's how she is treating me as her husband. I feel lucky though, but her love is not mine. Sigh.

" Maa , how can you say this all? When you know I brought her from an accident and tried to cure the pain I caused her and... "

' That's what I'm saying jaan. You tried to cure her pain. Do you know what does it mean? It means you're in love with her. I can see it in your eyes. Then why are you denying her love? '

" Because her love is not mine. She loves her husband, Farhan. I'm not Farhan. I wish I had been him. "

' Then what can you do to make her yours? I suggest you talk to her family about this issue. Talk to her parents about this guy, ask them who is he and where is he now if she really was married three years ago '

" Yes Maa, I wanted to take her with me dropping her safely at her home but it seems difficult now. She clings on to me as if I'm her real partner, and that would not be any pleasing sight to her parents obviously. "

' Then, shall I come with you? I'll see if I can handle this situation any better? Hmm. ? '

She assures me with her smile and I force a weak twitch of lips in return just to calm her soul.

****

" Assalam.o.Alaikum Arham Sahb. "

We greeted her father when he opened the door to us, Zahra was alongside me.

He was looking with shift of gaze from me and my mother to his daughter and then again he directed his attention towards me. He was trying to figure out what seemed wrong.

' Walaikum Assalam, come inside pls. '

He welcomed us with a smile emerging slightly on his face but not reaching his eyes, he was definitely not happy seeing his daughter in this state where she was not even able to recognize her own father.

' How are you beti? Do you know me? '

Zahra,fidgeting with the corners of her hijab gave a slow reply that she didn't knew him. Hearing this, he became more sad.

I tried to calm his distressed mind and mood by keeping my hand over his hands, but all in vain.

' How come you don't know me beti? Did you forget your baba? The one who used to stay with you when you used to fear thunderstorms while loving the rains, when you needed to hug the teddy bear but instead chose to hug me while I tucked you to sleep, when I held you tight in my arms when your mother left us and used to tell you bedtime stories until you fell sound asleep?
I know, I was busy in my work from few years and couldn't pay attention to you and didn't give you any chance to ask me love and didn't listen to your silent sobs... But does that mean you'll punish your Baba like this? '

He broke down like a child seeing someone snatch his favourite stuff, and then facing the sky he uttered , why me Lord? Why me? What did my daughter do to recieve all this?

" How can ye reject the faith in Allah? seeing that ye were without life, and He gave you life; then will He cause you to die, and will again bring you to life; and again to Him will ye return "

( AL-QURAN 2:28 )