After she knocked, Ibad opened the gate. She smiled at him but his face seemed to be drained of all colors.

"Hi buddy," she said, ruffling his hair but soon some voices from inside made her get attentive towards it.

"What's happening? Did someone visit?" She asked, walking past him.

"Dadi has come," Ibad replied in a clutter.

Ishmal raised a brow. Why was she here again? Was it again to snatch her brothers from them? But after whatever Haider did with her husband, they shouldn't dare attempt this again.

Ishmal nodded before stepping inside. As she entered the lounge, she didn't expect such a harsh welcome. The old woman who was Abid's mother marched towards her and held her by her arm.

"So you came back? After putting dirt over your face and a stain over your family's reputation, you dare to roam freely like this? How shameless you are," she yelled at Ishmal.

Ishmal couldn't understand what she was talking about. She glanced over at her mother who was currently seated in a wheelchair and then at grand grandparents, all looking at the scene worriedly but with irritation.

"What are you saying?" Ishmal whispered, trying to free her arm from her grip.

"Leave her, Zubaida. She doesn't know anything. How can you even think she can be involved in all of this?" Her grandmother argued.

"She is just acting to be innocent. I can't believe I let a filthy and characterless girl like her become a part of my family," the woman snarled, giving Ishmal a disgusted look.

"Stop this! Your own son was a piece of trash and we don't know anything about what's bothering you. So kindly leave. I won't tolerate you one second more in my house " Her grandfather stood and pulled a finger at the woman.

The woman again turned towards Ishmal. "Tell me where is my husband? Where did your lover again take him?"

Ishmal's eyes widened at this. What was she hearing? She didn't even know anything.

"Sh...shut your mouth before saying things like this," Farah spoke suddenly after remaining quiet for a while.

"Oh, truth always stings, Farah." She smirked at her face. "Your so-called innocent daughter isn't pure anymore. When she fled, she must have pleased that ASP to get a place to live. Or maybe he found her rotten figure on a road and to survive, she only got this way. To become a call girl for him. And now that policeman is doing the things which she wants. She is making him plunge a havoc on my family. First my son and now my husband. You again spent a good day with him today. Right? The glow on your face is telling this."

Tears brimmed in Ishmal's eyes at her nasty words about her. She never heard someone use such language for her. She was calling her someone who would sell herself for ulterior motives to a guy. "Please don't say things like this. Fear Allah, Aunt."

The woman laughed wickedly. "And what about you, the pure angel? Telling me to fear Allah by spending a whole day with that stranger ASP. God knows what he gets from you that someone powerful and rich like him is wasting his energy and time on a low girl like you. Why don't you tell everyone today by what relation he is doing all this for you and why did I see you in his car today?"

Ishmal sobbed hard at this. Was she caught by Abid's mother when she was out with Haider? At that time, she felt her tongue refused to work. She started shivering badly. Why all of this was happening to her?

'Ishmal, you don't have to worry about anything. No one will walk over you again. Or else I will chop him into pieces.'

Haider's voice reverberated in her ears. He said he would take care of her and he would take a stand for her. And today she was giving him this task to let her have her respect, dignity, and honor back. Something that got brutally crushed by Abid but could come back if Haider wanted.

Ishmal wiped the tears from her cheeks and she lifted her head to stare into the woman's eyes again. "He is my husband."

"Husband?" Abid's mother was confused.

Both her grandparents' reactions were also no different from hers. On the other hand, Farah was looking at her with a dropped jaw as to why did she disclose her hidden marriage.

"And beware not to use such language for me again or maybe like your son and husband, you will also have a taste of your own medicine. Both your men are suffering for their own deeds. Don't pull me into this. And please leave now." Ishmal slid aside and made a clear path for the woman to follow.

She glared at Ishmal. "I'll see you." She then left the house.

After Abid's mother was gone, her grandmother approached her. "What were you saying, Ishmal? Did you marry someone?

"She is right, Ammi," Farah answered instead.

"How can you do this, Ishmal? Why did you find a need to marry someone?" Her grandfather was the one who implored her now.

She was at least glad their reactions weren't intense. I was disappointed. Ishmal told them everything from start to end. The fact that Haider was the one behind this change of events and she was really with him today.

"Okay what happened today which led you to meet that ASP was coincidental but why did you spend the day with him? And on top of all, you announced your marriage to that woman? She acts as a BBC. Very soon, she will put headlines of your marriage on everyone's tongue," her grandfather said with a sigh evident in his tone.

They were both occupying the sofas in the living room. Ishmal's eyes landed on the ring finger of her left hand. It was empty yet it had a band-like pattern present on it because of how long she had been wearing that ring. 

Ishmal bit her lower lip. "Because I wanted to do that. She was mercilessly accusing me of every dirty thing. Moreover, Mr. Haider wants reconciliation. I do too. We want to resume our marriage. And that was the reason why I did that."

Farah shook her head. "Oh God Ishmal. He must be making you a fool. Why did you trust him so easily? I asked you to get a divorce from him and you are saying this in return."

Ishmal held her hand. "No Ammi, he isn't like this. Please let me find my happiness. I...I love him. He is my husband and I want this marriage."

"That won't happen, Ishmal. I won't let you become someone's prey again. I am already not able to do anything for you because of my state. He is a rich dude who is only having fun with you and nothing else," Farah insisted.

Ishmal exhaled sharply. "I am his wife. Why would he do that?"

"He married you because he needed it for some time. He has even kept this relationship hidden. What can you expect from a guy like him?" Farah snapped back.

Ishmal pressed her lips together. "Ammi please...."

"No, Ishmal!" She pulled her hand in front of her. "And you should proceed with divorce quickly.  I don't know how will we clear this mess that you created today by telling that woman the truth."

Farah moved her hands on the arms of the wheelchair and drove them towards her room by herself. Ishmal pouted and then called her grandparents.

"Nano, plea..."

"No, child. Your mother is right. You shouldn't get involved with someone like him. Let the past leave in the past. Don't dig it," her grandfather asserted before both of them too left.

                    ___________________

As soon as Ishmal came out of the school's building, her eyes spotted Haider's car in the parking. He was standing closer to it. He looked the same tough, aggressive, and unforgiving as before in his uniform which fit his body perfectly. He exuded a strong and fierce aura. The same which she once feared so much. When he found Ishmal, a warm expression came into his eyes. His facial muscles relaxed and a smile struck his lips. That was the effect of Ishmal on him. He was trying to change for her. Come out of his coldness to give her the warmth she deserved.

She straightened the dupatta over her head and walked in his direction. She looked beautiful in a dark green colored dress having golden borders and embroidery on its full length. A layer of her golden hair was coming out of her dupatta. But he wanted to see all of it. Looking innocent with bare minimum makeup and look, she did so much to his heart actually.

"You are looking lovely," he murmured with a smile again.

Ishmal loved his smile. In the past, he seldom smiled at her. And now this feature of his looked so endearing that she wanted to capture it in her memory for forever.

She wanted him to fight for her. Made himself come across as someone whom her family could trust her with. And something in her knew Haider would do that. He claimed to love her.

                    __________________

AssalamoAlaikum/ Hi guys!

How are you?

Here's a new chapter.

What do you think will happen next?

Will Haider fight for Ishmal as she wanted?

If you like this chapter, plz vote and comment. ❤❤

Till the next one, Allah Hafiz/ Bye ❤❤