•••|Two Weeks LATER |••

That night Ishmal was feeding dinner to her mother. Farah's condition had gotten much better but she still had some of the capacities of the left side of her body functioning not properly. She yet needed to get help to perform some of the everyday important things. However, she was healing well. And Ishmal was the one doing that. It had been a while since she was back from Haider's place and her stepfather got arrested. Since then, her brothers couldn't return to them. Ishmal knew that was the only reason for her mother's sudden decline in health.

Calling Haider also didn't do anything. He neither contacted her back nor acted upon her request. She couldn't understand the reason for his sudden favors over her. He shouldn't be caring for her after their separation but he was deliberately coming into her life again and again indirectly.

"Have dinner, Ammi," she said, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Farah's swollen eyes took in the sight of her. All of this happened because she had misjudged someone vile like Abid to get married again. Ishmal made a morsel and pulled it towards her mouth. A tear fell on Farah's cheek which clenched her heart. Ishmal left everything and held her hands.

Ishmal swallowed hard. "I am sorry for everything. It's all happening due to me. I asked him to release Uncle again but he isn't agreeing. I don't know why. Maybe because he is a good policeman. Now the only solution is that you disown me. Show it in front of everyone that you don't believe in me anymore. By this way, you can perhaps meet..."

Farah shook her head. "Don't... don't make me feel more guilty Ishmal. I am all.. already very embarrassed. If it's in my fate then I will again my sons. I don't want to become the culprit of your lost happiness again. F...first it wasn't in my domain now it is."

Ishmal's eyes blubbered with tears as she cupped her face. "I am not worth of such a thing, Ammi. They are your sons. They will be getting rid of both of their parents because of me. I lost my father and I know the pain."

Farah hugged her by her right arm which was still working. "D... don't say that again. You are precious t...to me above every other relation."

Farah kissed her forehead and Ishmal swallowed back the upcoming tears to show herself strong for her mother. She was sacrificing so much for her. They were interrupted when the doorbell rang.

"Who came at this time?" Ishmal murmured to herself and exchanged a look with her mother.

Knowing that someone else would open the gate anyway, she continued feeding the small bites to her mother. However, when some unfamiliar noises got louder, they had to get attentive towards it again. Ishmal squeezed Farah's hand before making her way out.

As she reached the hallway, she found both her brothers looking very terrified from their faces and appearances. Her grandfather was the one who opened the gate perhaps and was now asking them what were they doing here so late in the night.

"Some policemen came a while ago to Dado's place. They forcefully took us away and made us sit in their mobile and then dropped us here," Ayyan explained as his forehead was shining because of the sweat.

"We were so scared. We wanted to meet Ammi but Dado and Dada didn't allow us. We cried and did everything in our hands to make them understand but they scolded and even hit us." Ibad continued the story. His condition also didn't look any different than his brother's.

Farah's father hugged the boys as a sigh of mitigation hit him seeing his grandson's back.

"Ibad, Ayyan..." Ishmal whispered, still not sure that whether this was a dream or reality.

Ibad looked up at her. "Ishmal Api. I am so sorry. I called Dado that the police had arrested Abbu. I shouldn't have done that. We made Ammi so anxious."

Ishmal rushed towards him and wrapped her arms around him. "It's okay my love. Ammi was indeed very anxious but now you should go and meet her. You don't even know what happened to her in your absence. Seeing you both, she will be really happy."

Folding another arm around Ayyan, she hugged both of them tightly as a breath of relief left her mouth. She thanked Allah in her heart.

                     ________________

She was half lying on the bed as her mind was recalling all the happenings from the past. Her brothers said police had rescued them from Abid's parents. That meant it was Haider again who helped her. Her call to him was worthwhile perhaps. Ishmal lifted her left hand and touched the ring on her third finger. Despite so much that happened and many days that passed, she was still his wife. He never proceeded with the divorce and instead eased her problems.

Haider once said that he would make it difficult for her to leave him. And today as she was sitting in her room, Ishmal realized he was right. Maybe physically she had left him but emotionally and mentally, it was so difficult to stop thinking about him. She still had the ring given by him on her finger as a small proof of this statement.

               ______________________

Haider was sitting in his office when his inspector informed him that Abid's father had come to the police station.

"Send him away. I don't want anyone to waste my time in that bastard's case," he replied, while calmly going through some of the files.

"Sir he is making a disturbance outside. Yelling and shouting," the inspector enlightened.

Haider narrowed his eyes at him. "Then what are you for? Make him shout for some other reasons then."

"Sir, I am sorry for speaking up to you. But that man said that the stepdaughter might have conspired with the convict. I mean, there are a lot of cases now that the woman is...."

The inspector had to pause because Haider had reached just a few steps away from him, towering over him with his strong and heightened build. His eyes were spilling daggers at the man who gulped in fear.

"Today you spoke up to me. From next time, I won't tolerate that. I know what I have to do so don't teach me. Get lost now!" He stiffly said.

Haider didn't know what was happening to him. In his work, he always worked as a team and allowed everyone to give their opinion. But every time Ishmal's name got defamed directly or indirectly, it simmered him from head to toe and then he had to control the dire need to lash out or worst beat the hell out of the other person. That feeling was what led him to outside.

In the corridor, he found Abid's father who had been held by another policeman in his arms. Seeing him, he again started crying out.

"Leave my son, please. He is innocent. That bitch of the girl is so cunning that she had trapped my Abid. She had fled from the house when Abid found her intention to make dirty moves on him. And then don't know where she had spent those three months. Perhaps given herself to someone very rich and influential who is using all his power and money to help her tangle my son more. She even got the same man to...."

Haider punched his mouth sharply, preventing him from saying anything further. The man wasn't expecting this hence he lost his balance and fell on the ground with a thud. Haider bent a bit and yanked him up by grabbing his collar. His nose was now bleeding from the attack.

"If I find you here again, you will be the one behind the bars with your son. I know how you used your rotten strength to intimidate innocent women and helpless children. You kidnapped the kids. There's so much punishment for it and if you won't keep your mouth shut, you will see the worst side of it. Believe me," Haider declared roughly and again left him to tumble.

That was so weird. The burning emotions in his heart were never settling. They were increasing and there was no turning back. As far as he knew, he hated women. They were cheaters and as far as this girl was concerned, she admitted from her mouth that she was lying to him. She had an affair with another man. Wasn't that the definition of women that he knew? Then why his heart was not understanding it? Why it was speaking in her defense? Why was he fighting with everyone who spoke against her? Why he couldn't bear her disrespect?

In the same rage of emotions, he had driven back to a home that evening. When he arrived in the passageway, he was welcomed by the pleased voices of his siblings who were as usual busy in playing cricket in the garden. He was feeling irritated by everything hence this display of happiness also irked him. On the back of his mind, he remembered the time when Ishmal also played with them and her hit caused the ball to reach his room.

Haider curled his finger at this memory and stepped towards the garden. More than anything, he was furious over the fact that she was never leaving him. Wherever he used to go, he somehow got to remember her.

"What are you guys doing? Don't you have any productive thing to do?" He snarled.

Huzaifa who was batting sighed and approached him. While Unaiza and Hiba stared at him in fear. Haider remained angry and irritated before too but since Ishmal left, he became more unhinged. He got indignant at small things. And now there was no distinction of family members as in the past as far as his behavior was concerned.

"Chill Haider Bhai. We are just playing. What's wrong?" Huzaifa patted his shoulder.

Haider soon realized his odd outburst and then breathed out. "Nothing," he mumbled and then turned around to leave.

Huzaifa shrugged his shoulders. "I don't understand you. You were functioning weirdly before too. But since Ishmal Bhabi had left, you don't make any sense. It's like she has...."

Haider again faced him, this time his red eyes showing the raw resentment. He raised his hand near Huzaifa's face.

"Shut up Huzaifa!" He shouted making everyone shocked at what he did.

                       _________________

AssalamoAlaikum/ Hi guys!

How are you?

Here's a new chapter for you.

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Till next one, Allah Hafiz/ Bye. 💞💞