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You guys met the 400 word chapter in a day! Congratulations!

**BONUS CHAPTER** As a thank you to you all! 

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Yamna

I was reading a book downstairs in the living room at around one in the morning, when I heard a creak. My heart pounded hard, and I glanced up.

Fareeda Nano walked in, making me sigh in relief. At least it wasn't a serial killer (like the one in the book that I was reading!). She wore silky blue pyjamas, with a button-down shirt, as well as bedroom slippers. "Oh, you're awake! Do you have a fan?"

"A fan?" I was confused.

"It's hot. In Toronto, in our home, we have air-conditioners everywhere! Here, my room doesn't have one!" She grumbled.

"Due to the British climate, there's isn't really a requirement for air-conditioners yet." I shrugged. "I think we do have a spare fan in the garage."

"Be a dear and bring it for me." She sat down on a sofa, fanning herself with a handheld fan.

I thought about bringing the big revolving fan on my own from the garage while pregnant. "I'll see if Rohaan is awake. I'll ask him to..."

"Girls today have no regard for their husband's rest and peace." She muttered. "It won't kill you to bring it, dear."

I frowned. I usually had a higher tolerance when it came to people's annoying behaviour, but I was seriously losing my patience with her already.

*

Arsalan

"I am not offended." Tahira told me. "We are happy, Alhumdulillah, and your family has wholeheartedly accepted me, so who cares about what a random distant relative thinks about us?" She applied moisturiser to her arms as she prepared for bed.

"Yeah, but still. Who does she think she is, coming into our home and insulting us like this?" 

"I don't like what she said about you, Aslan, but when it comes to me, I don't care. We made a mistake, we repented, and I like to believe that our Nikah meant that Allah has forgiven us for that act." She shrugged.

I walked up behind her and placed my hands on her shoulders. "You're my favourite dua-come-true." 

She smiled at me in the mirror.

"Beghairat." Fareeda Nano's voice rang in my head. "Disgraceful, shameless boy!"

I'd always been very close to my Nano. I wondered what she'd thought about her cousin speaking to me like that.

*

FLASHBACK

"Rohaan! Kyun tang kar rahe ho mere shehzade ko?" Nano lightly told my brother off.

*"Why are you troubling my prince?" 

"Nano, save me!" I hid behind my maternal grandmother, as Rohaan attempted to attack me.

"He's not a prince! He's a dragon!" Eight-year-old Rohaan glared at me. He lunged for me again.

"Rohaan, no, my love!" Nano shook her head. "He's your younger brother! Don't hurt him!"

"You always defend him, Nano! Papa always defends the Silly Sisters." Rohaan frowned. "Nobody is on my side!" 

"Oh, my Rohaan, I'm on your side, and Arsalan's side, and Hoor's side and Haya's side." Nano smiled gently. "But Arsu is the youngest, and if you pick on him, then I will stand up for him!" She kissed the side of my head, as I leaned against her. "Nobody can trouble my sweet little Arsu as long as I'm around." 

*

PRESENT

I almost had to fight back tears as I thought about my late Nano. To think that one of her relative was so nasty to me was almost unimaginable.

"Aslan, I can sense that you're taking her words to the heart." Tahira stood up and turned to face me. "Look, she's irrelevant. She's here temporarily, then she'll go back home and out of our lives."

"It's not just that." I sighed, heading towards the bed and sitting down. "I think having her here is making me miss Nano even more." 

She came to sit beside me, placing her hand reassuringly over mine.

"There's not a day that I don't miss her." I closed my eyes. "You must think that I'm such a wimp."

"No, I don't, Aslan. I can never think that about you!" 

I turned to look at her and was surprised to see tears in her eyes.

"Your pain hurts me." She explained, as if she had read my thoughts. "I've left my darkness behind, and found my light with you, and found my light with you, so it hurts to see you in darkness." 

I smiled weakly at her. "You sound like a writer yourself."

"It's the result of being a writer's wife." She laughed lightly.

"Soulmate. Not just wife, but soulmate." I corrected her. "Now, come on. Let's have a midnight coffee party." 

She slid her arm through mine. "That sounds fun." 

We headed downstairs, trying to be as quiet as we could be, so as to not disturb anyone else.

But we were surprised to see Yamna in the kitchen, chopping strawberries with an angry frown on her face. I don't know whether her presence was more surprising, or her anger. 

"Wow, shall we call Detective Rohaan about the strawberry murder?" I teased.

"More like a massacre." Tahira added, smiling.

"She wanted me to get the revolving fan from the garage for her!" Yamna blurted out. "Unbelievable! She said to me that it won't kill me!" 

"Did you?" I asked, worriedly.

"No! Of course not!" Yamna looked horrified that I'd even asked that question. "She commented on how lazy our generation is and walked back upstairs, so there was no need for the fan." 

"What are you doing, anyway?" Tahira asked.

"I'm making strawberry milkshake." Yamna replied.

My wife grinned. "Enough to share?" 

"Absolutely!" Yamna finally smiled. 

"Where's that brother of mine?" I asked.

"He's upstairs. I think he was dozing off." Yamna replied.

"I'll call him, hang on." I dashed out of the kitchen immediately and headed up the stairs. I knocked on his door lightly.

"What?" He called out, sounding sleepy.

"Strawberry milkshake." I spoke quietly.

The door opened moments later, and my brother glared at me. "The drugs you took better not be illegal, because you sound high as f**k right now."

"Your wife is making strawberry milkshake. Join us." 

"Who the hell drinks strawberry milkshake in the middle of the night?" His frown deepened.

"Your wife, and now me and Tahira too." I grabbed his arm. "Come on!" 

"You all are crazy people." He muttered, letting me drag him towards the stairs.

"And you're our leader." I laughed lightly.

*

Yamna

"Causing unnecessary drama in a family should be a crime." Rohaan sat on the kitchen isle, looking almost hilarious as he held his disposable glass containing strawberry milkshake. "I'd f**king arrest her myself." 

"Who cares? Mama said that she'd ask her to leave, so she's only here for one night." Arsal Bhai said, taking a sip from his own glass.

"What does she even want?" Tahira looked thoughtful as she sat beside Arsal Bhai at the kitchen table.

"What does the devil want? To cause chaos and rift." Rohaan shrugged. 

"But we won't let her bother us, or get to us." Tahira declared with determination. "People like that poison minds, and sow hatred, or at the very least resentment, within people's hearts." 

Arsal Bhai looked thoughtful. "I still can't believe that she's related to our Nano." 

Tahira yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. "Alright, I'm ready to sleep now. Thanks for the milkshake, Yamna." 

"Anytime." I smiled at her.

"Thanks, Yum-Yum." Arsal Bhai smiled at me, also standing up.

The couple headed out of the kitchen.

I absent-mindedly picked up a spare piece of strawberry and popped it in my mouth.

"Strawberry milkshake at this time?" Rohaan raised his eyebrows at me.

I rolled my eyes. "Blame Chipmunk." 

"My poor little Chipmunk. You're going to blame him or her for everything now." 

"It's your child. It's definitely not 'poor'." I grinned at him.

"Sassy hamster." He narrowed his eyes at me.

I picked up another piece of strawberry and held it up towards his mouth. As he opened his mouth, I brought it towards my own mouth instead and ate it. Seeing the bit of milkshake over his mouth, I stood up and moved closer to him, using my thumb to wipe it away, before putting my thumb in my mouth. 

"Chipmunk has definitely changed you." His gaze remained locked with mine. "Ma Sha Allah!" 

I placed my hands on his shoulders. "You like this side of me, Detective?" 

"I like every side of you, Yamna Rohaan." His voice turned almost husky as he spoke in a low voice.

All my annoyed, irritated mood had seeming evaporated. First the lively company of my family members, and now these moments with Rohaan, all made me feel much better.

She's irrelevant. Pay no heed to her words. I reminded myself.

*

Arsalan

I was standing at an empty beach, completely unfamiliar to me.

"Tahira!" I called out. I couldn't see her, but I felt an intense feeling of loss and it ripped my heart apart.

"You're not worthy of this happiness." An unfamiliar voice echoed around me, but I couldn't see who it was.

"TAHIRA!" I ran towards the water.

"Arsal!" Suddenly, I was being pulled back, and I saw my father grabbing my one arm, and my brother grabbing the other.

"What are you guys doing? I need to find her!" 

"It's too late, Arsu." Papa said, grimly. "You didn't deserve that happiness anyway." 

"Yeah, you f**ked up, and you deserve to suffer your whole life for it." Rohaan added.

*

I woke up, drenched in sweat.

Fareeda Nano's words were eating away at the peace of mind.

I reached for my phone to check the time, and saw that it was almost time for Fajr. I got up from the bed. With prayer I need to find the peace that had been lost within the influence of that woman's words.

And suddenly, I smiled. When Papa was around, we always prayed downstairs with him, with him leading the prayer. 

I performed wudhu and headed downstairs wearing my white shalwar-kameez.

As expected, my father and brother were already there, in their own shalwar kameez.

"Assalam Alaikum." I smiled at Papa.

"Walaikum Assalam." He replied, patting my head.

As we took our positions for prayer, before we started, I saw Mama join us in her abaya and hijab. I gave her a small smile. "Assalam Alaikum, Mama." 

"Assalam Alaikum, Boss Woman." Rohaan turned to look at her too.

"Walaikum Assalam." Mama beamed happily at her sons and husband. 

And finally, Yamna and Tahira joined us as well, both also wearing abayas and hijabs.

We prayed together as a family, making dua to Allah to protect our family from harm, evil, and the bad intentions of other people.

*

"She's targeting me and Yamna because she considers us the weakest." I blurted out to Rohaan, when it was just him and me in the living room. Our parents and wives had gone up to their respective rooms. "That's what I think."

"Well, she's in for a nasty surprise because neither of you are weak." He said.

"Yeah, but we're emotional and sensitive..." I trailed off. "She thinks that we're too easy to manipulate us."

"The fact that you realise that shows that you're, in fact, not easy to manipulate." He patted my shoulder. "Grasshopper, stop overthinking, yaar." 

But I couldn't. The woman had left a huge impact on me.

"Mera hassas bacha." Nano used to say lovingly to me.

*"My sensitive kid."

Maybe I was too sensitive and emotional! That's why I was such an easy target.

And Fareeda Nano had succeeded in messing with my mind, it seemed.

*

Yamna

If it weren't for the presence of Tayan and Anabia Mama, I wouldn't have even gone downstairs as long as Fareeda Nano was around.

It was only because of my parents-in-law that I went downstairs for breakfast.

"Yamna!" Fareeda Khalla spotted me as I passed by the formal living room.

Pursing my lips, I turned and faced her, forcing a smile on my face. "Assalam Alaikum."

"Walaikum Assalam!"

"Aao, betho mere paas." She patted the space beside her on the sofa.

*"Come, sit with me."

I swallowed hard, not sure if that was a good idea or not. I wasn't raised to be rude, however, and I pushed back my hesitations to sit beside her.

"Tell me, how are your parents?" She asked, placing her hand over mine.

"Alhumdulillah, very well." I replied.

"Tell me the truth, did your Taya Jaan get you married off to his son because of a favour to his beloved brother?" She asked conspiratorially. "I don't think Yasin would otherwise be capable of finding a good rishta for his daughter, that naïve man!"

I looked at her, stunned into speechlessness. Her audacity!

"Rehan ke aagay to waise hi tumhare Papa kuch bhi nahin hain." She laughed as if she had told a joke.

*"Anyway, your father is nothing compared to Rehan anyway."

My heart broke, hearing those words about my father.

"My Papa is a wonderful, loving person." I spoke timidly. I wished that I was a stronger, more confident person so that I could boldly defend by beloved Papa!

"Dekho, beta. Neither you are that naïve, nor am I." She grabbed my chin. "This seems like a pity marriage to me. Otherwise, there's no match at all!" 

*"Look, dear."

"Are you saying that Allah didn't make the right pair? Astaghfirullah!" I have no idea where I found the courage to speak those words. "Because Nikah is formed by the blessings of Allah Himself." 

She looked slightly taken aback, but she continued. "Charity is also beloved to Allah, and maybe, as an act of charity,  your Taya Jaan got you married to his beloved son." 

"Fareeda Khalla." 

Both me and Fareeda Nano turned towards the doorway, and my eyes widened when I saw Tayan,  with Anabia Mama behind him.

I felt tears fill my eyes. I think it's almost natural to want to cry when you feel the comfort of parental presence, as I felt around my Tayan and Anabia Mama, as much as I did around my Mama and Papa. I got up and rushed to Tayan, burying my face against his chest, as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

"You are coming into my home and insulting my brother and niece?" Tayan sounded angrier than I'd ever heard him.

"It just doesn't make sense to me how you got your handsome son married off to her?" She sounded almost repulsed.

"It doesn't need to make sense to you because it isn't your f**king business." Rohaan strode into the room. "You have no right to disrespect my wife or my Chachu that way!" 

"Rohaan..." Anabia Mama began to stop him.

"Yasin has been like my own kid to me, and Yamna is no less than Haya or Hoor to me, so I will not tolerate anyone insulting them." Tayan didn't raise his voice, but his fury was obvious to all. "Please leave." 

A cold silence fell over the room, but nobody argued with his decision.

"Anabia allowed you to stay till it was daytime, and it's daytime now, so please leave." Tayan continued.

"Anabia!" Fareeda Nano sounded horrified.

But Anabia Mama didn't speak up in her defence, and averted her gaze from her mother's cousin instead.

"We gave you the respect, and that's how you behave with members of my family?" My Tayan tightened his arm around my shoulders. "Please gather your stuff and leave this house."

And that was the final decision of Tayan that everyone accepted without any further argument.

*

Rehan

FLASHBACK

Yasin and I stood at the patio deck of the family home, and watched as Hoor and Haya taught little Yamna to walk.

My daughters strolling, each holding the small hands of Yamna, as she stumbled along on the grass.

"I can't believe that she's mine!" Yasin looked amazed. 

I smiled. "I know. She's too adorable, Ma Sha Allah!"

"Bhai!" Yasin protested, shaking his head, making me laugh.

Haya got down on her knees and pulled little Yamna into a tight hug, kissing both her cheeks. "My sweet Yum-Yum."

My sweetheart of a niece held up both her arms towards Haya, pouting.

"She's tired, girls. Pick her up, Haya." I called out, my heart melting at the sight of my niece.

Haya picked Yamna up, almost as if she had been waiting for the opportunity to do so. Yamna clung onto her Haya Appi, already a big fan of her. 

"My three girls." Yasin said, a fond smile on his face. Hesitantly, he looked at me. "Please take care of my Yamna like a father, Bhai. I'm not sure if I can be strong enough to be a good father  for her."

I patted his back. "Of course you are a good father, Yas. The strength of a parent comes naturally, as soon as you become a parent. Trust me. But there's no need to worry. Yamna is like my own daughter. I'll cherish her and protect her, just the way I do with my own daughters." 

Yamna's gaze landed on me and she squealed happily, now reaching out for me.

"She adores you, Bhai." Yasin chuckled.

"Come here, my little Yum-Yum." I reached for my niece and held her against myself.  She instantly wrapped her small arms around my neck. "I'll always, always protect my sweet little Yamna, In Sha Allah."

Haya wrapped her arm around her Chachu's waist, smiling at us. "We all will, Chachu. Don't worry." 

Hoor came on my other side, and leaned up to kiss Yamna's cheek. "We all love her so, so much."

Yasin looked satisfied as he watched us. "I have no doubt about any of that." 

*

A short, bonus chapter as my appreciation to you all!

Will Arsal strongly be impacted by Fareeda's visit?

Will sensitive Yamna be impacted by her harsh, insulting words against her father?

Well, Fareeda got kicked out! Serves her right!

Favourite part?

Thoughts and comments?

Thank you for reading and don't forget to vote!