Black starry sky greeted her as she pushed aside the curtains from the windows of her room. It meant that she had experienced the first night in the lively city of Lahore since she arrived here. After having a light lunch, which Rahmeen recalled was a really good change from the meal she was used to eating abroad as it was purely homemade by the hands of her sister-in-law, she felt tired and then slept. Perhaps her sleep and wake cycle was still regulated according to New York.

She stifled a yawn as she struggled to wake her mind properly as her gaze roamed around. The tall green trees and colorful flowers of their garden welcomed her sleepy eyes. Then she did a journey of her room. Her beloved room which she had missed a lot as she had to stay away from her hometown. She recalled that she had decorated every bit of her private territory by herself. Rahmeen had a liking to see things in a perfect order. She loved to adorn her belongings, and perhaps that was why she had opted for a career as an event planner.

Rahmeen opened the lids of the window, which let the pleasant breeze of wind enter the room. A small smile crept over her face as the wind hugged her. The spicy smell of oak tree plants reached her nostrils, providing her with a serene feeling. It gave a familiar, homecoming and amazing sensation which she couldn't recall that she had missed every bit of it.

Home was home and no other place could replace it.

She was still in her thoughts when the door knocked. Mumbling a come-in, she came back to her bed to randomly scroll through the mobile.

"Are you awake?" That was Nisha's voice and Rahmeen lifted her head to stare at her.

She realized that Nisha had gotten more beautiful and confident than she could remember from the last five years. Wearing a plain white shirt and trousers with a red dupatta over her shoulders, she gave innocent vibes as well, which was her forte. Rahmeen knew that her brother had fallen in love with that innocence, sweetness, love, and loyalty which that girl offered.

"Oh yes, I just woke up a while ago. Did I oversleep?" She asked back, chuckling.

Nisha smiled as she shook her head. "Not at all. Instead, it's got that you rested a bit. Come downstairs. Let's have dinner together. Everyone is waiting for you."

Rahmeen walked over to her. "Of course. But you didn't need to come yourself to fetch me, Nisha. I just feel a bit of a brat to actually see my sister in law in my room to see whether I am awake or not so that everyone can start their meal. I know with the kids in the house, you all must have a proper time for meals and everything else. I'll try to get the routine which is followed here."

Nisha's eyes widened as she held her shoulders. "Hey, hey, Rahmeen. Slow down. It's not at all a problem. You are a part of our family and a family works by everyone's effort. And what did you just say? I ain't just your sister-in-law. I am your sister, Rahmeen."

She huffed. "My goodness, I didn't mean it, Nisha. You know I am just a...you know a bit nonchalant. But I actually didn't mean it. Of course, I love that you are here. I never remember a single time where I considered this big bungalow as a house, not as some collection of bricks before you came. You, Ruhaan Bhai, and Dadi made me feel and experience what family is after Daddy left us. Twins and even Azan. I am just so excited to spend time with them."

"And they are also very excited to play with their Phupho. Eshal is already so excited to show you her dolls and her clothes as she finally got another female figure," Nisha said, laughing.

Rahmeen's lips spread too. "Eshu is a cutie. I think I can understand this feeling of missing a sister. So why don't you give the poor soul a sister who can be paired up with her?"

Her mischievousness turned Nisha's cheeks red. She slightly hit her shoulder. "You are very bold. But I think I am already very involved with the three of them. They, especially the boys, keep me on my toes."

She raised a brow in amusement. "The boys? My brother as well?"

The crimson of Nisha's face increased more. "Stop this."

Rahmeen burst into laughter at this and seeing this, even Nisha smiled as well.

"Get freshened up and then come for dinner. Okay?" Nisha again told her.

Rahmeen nodded and as she noticed Nisha going away, her eyes turned wistful. This bond had definitely come a long way to see this day. Her mind reverted back to the past at this.

Since she always deemed Nisha as the enemy, it wasn't easy to find her brother falling in love with her and going against all odds for this girl. He hadn't married her to spend an eternity with her, but here he was, claiming to be head over heels for her after realizing that Nisha was innocent. However, still, she was guilty in Rahmeen's eyes. She was very close to her father and his loyalty wasn't letting her see the truth. She considered her brother to be someone who had lost his sense of being a good son and brother after becoming someone's husband and father.

Nisha became the mother of Ruhaan's kids and with this, her brother even seemed more inclined towards Nisha. Rahmeen felt this as a pang in her heart. She had lost her mother because she was pregnant with her and then her father left. Her brother was here but he was completely blindfolded by the charms of that girl who was their enemy. She even became more distant from everyone else.

By living a secluded life with just the money and status as her constant companion, Rahmeen wouldn't deny that she had become rude, arrogant, and self-centered. Her father had pampered her, and she had become used to this lifestyle where people loved to look up to her. Her brother wasn't there with her as he was sent to abroad to study by their father. And this just gave her a free environment to grow into however form she wanted and she liked. Now as she thought, since Ruhaan came, his presence and love had calmed her wild personality very much. A lot of the effort was made by the family, which Nisha and the kids provided for her.

When the truths unfolded and Nisha came back to their house, Rahmeen's guilt was there. She hadn't treated her right. She was involved in the plan to ruin her. She never thought good about her. However, Nisha was always nice and loving to her. Rahmeen felt weird to face Nisha again. She was never upright and good. She was flawed and she had tantrums. In the beginning, it was very difficult to live with Nisha, who portrayed her as if nothing happened. However, Nisha was sweet, and she never let her feel down as well. Her fault was very minor when it came to Nisha's case; however, Rahmeen managed to bring forgiveness out of her even though that was the most difficult thing for her because she wanted to change herself. Change herself for the most recent change in her life. That change involved her heart and she also preferred to taste the flavor of love as her brother did.

Nisha hadn't allowed her to say sorry even for the first time as well. She quickly hugged her, saying that nothing was Rahmeen's fault. Destiny played its part here, and everyone, including Nisha herself, had made mistakes, but the best thing was how they rectified their faults. That was the time Rahmeen realized that mistakes need correction as well and there was no shame in admitting it.

That was one of the instances when she was finding it hard to pinpoint what to call Nisha. She was younger than her but she was the wife of her elder brother. It once again brought a smile over her lips recalling how dumb was that time when she really called Nisha a Bhabi and cringed a big time.

"I am really sorry but I just can't call you Bhabi at all. You are and even look younger than me. How can I just call you Bhabi?" She rumbled, apologetically.

Nisha gritted her brows before she snickered. "No need to call me that, Rahmeen. I would rather like it if you consider and call me your sister."

"We are sisters without any doubt. Perhaps you are that female figure that I never knew I wanted in my life until you came to our house. Just like a friend and sister," she murmured truthfully, and there she found tears in Nisha's eyes.

Rahmeen had always missed growing up in a family and her brother's family filled that void in her life to some extent. However, things didn't see a happy end as something inevitable occurred, which had pulled her back into the abyss.

The abyss that had turned her whole life upside down.

                       ___________________

Assalamualaikum/ Hi guys!

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Here's the 3rd chapter.

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