Not edited.

Sheheryar's POV:

I glanced again at my wristwatch before turning my face to Sadaf and Taha who were busy eating ice cream. We arrived early at my lawyer's office, therefore I bought ice cream for kids to divert their minds for a while from the promise of taking them to an amusement park, or else they wouldn't be listening to me.

Since I read the news in the morning, the first thing I did was to contact my lawyer and postponed my meeting tomorrow as taking kids with me or leaving them with Fiza or Ehtesham doesn't seem like an option.

I was thinking about taking custody of kids before too, so Ehtesham and Fiza could live a normal life, later I become more assured of my decision when I felt the disturbing relationship of them and now after knowing that Ehtesham has announced his engagement, I couldn't let kids stay with them. Whatever happens in future between Ehtesham and Fiza is their personal matter but I would never allow Sadaf and Taha to be a burden on them, they are free to take decisions of their life.

"Mamo, bus!" Taha said putting his half-finished ice cream cup on the table saying that he couldn't eat anymore.

"You said that you will eat the whole cup." I said.

"Nai, bus. (No, I am done)." He said raising his hand. I sighed and pick his cup to finish the half-melted ice cream.

This is something I have learned from Fiza. I only have eaten twice with her in kids' presences but have learned many things. I thought she was being reserved for not ordering a proper meal but later she had a proper meal by finishing leftovers of Taha and Sadaf. I always used to waste that food but after watching her, I remember a basic manner 'not to waste food'. Although it is hard to swallow the cold food left by kids, still I start eating it. Why? Perhaps I also want to set a good example for kids. Just like Fiza does, I don't want to be someone like Ehtesham.

I quickly finished the ice cream before it melts completely and sits straight, expecting that Sadaf would also give me her ice cream also, instead, I find her wiping Taha's mouth with her tissue paper.

She is growing up...

A smile formed on my face. I opened my mouth to praise her but my phone buzzing sound stopped me.

"Hello Assalam o Alaikum!" I said, picking up the call.

"Wallaikum Assalam, I am speaking to Mr Sheheryar?" A masculine voice asked.

"Yes, speaking."

"I am calling from Ehtesham's wife's home, I am... Fiza's uncle."

"Oh,... is everything alright?" I asked sitting straight.

"Yes. Well, actually I have to ask you for a favour."

"Ji? (Yes?)." I said carefully.

"Fiza... is not feeling well today. So could you keep the kids with you for one more day?" He asked hesitantly.

What happened to her???

"I can keep them more than one day, I don't mind they are my kids too. Don't worry and take care of your niece." I avoid calling Fiza by her name, I never addressed her as Bhabi or something and Mrs Ehtesham wouldn't sound right if they have also seen today's newspaper.

"Thank you, I will send someone to pick kids tomorrow night." He said in a serious tone.

"You don't have to send anyone. The kids will be staying with me until your nice recover properly." I reassure him, "But may I ask what happened to her? Is something serious?"

"No, it's nothing to worry about. She has a slight fever that's all, she will be fine by tomorrow."

"Inshallah, don't take tension from the kids' side. They will be fine here." I said grabbing Taha's arm, who was about to run from his chair.

"Thank you, Allah Hafiz."

"Allah Hafiz." I put the phone on the table and lift Taha in my arms.

"Where were you going?" I asked Taha, putting him on my lap.

"Fish." He said enthusiastically, pointing towards the huge colourful fish tank on the corner.

"You want to see the fishes?" I asked and he nodded.

"Okay, let Sadaf Api finish then we will all go to see the fishes." I said patting Taha's back and he turns to the table and grabs my phone to play a game.

She has a slight fever...?

Quit kidding me...

~*~

Ehtesham's POV:

"What is this Sania? Why did you tell the media?" I said showing Sania the newspaper. It was utter humiliation when my friends called to congratulate me and my colleague those who are friends of mine. I didn't go to the office, how could I?

After reading the newspaper, I really feel like burying myself in the earth. I don't understand why did Sania do such a thing? I know she was hurt when I ask her to go home that day, but I couldn't help it, Fiza's Chachu has come and everything could've gone to waste.

"Look Ehtesham please don't get mad at me. I was so upset that day and Daddy noticed it, I tried to avoid his questions but in the end, he won and I had to tell him everything. You have no idea how angry he was after knowing what happened and he told me that he is losing his faith in you and you are only passing your time with me. I explain to him that you aren't like that but he didn't believe me and ordered me to cut all my ties with you. So...., that was the only solution I see to make him calm and he did, when I told him that we are planning to get engaged soon after your divorced." She said putting her hand on mine and I quickly retract my hand.

"You shouldn't have come to my house, especially today." I said and get up from the sofa.

"But I was worried, you weren't picking my calls." She whined.

"I wasn't picking calls from anyone."

"Why you are mad at me, I only did this because of Daddy's anger."

"You could've found something better or just called me. I would talk to him."

"I don't think he would've listened to you, he was so angry."

"Anything would've been better than this." I slammed my hand on the back of the sofa back.

"Why can't you understand that I didn't have any choice." She shouted, "You are always like this, you never care about what I face because of you. You didn't think about it while getting married, even now you don't think about me. You only care for your family, back then and even right now. It's always about them, your parents, your niece, and your nephew. You sacrificed our love because of them. What did I do to deserve that, huh? Why I am suffering everything?" Tears dripping from her eyes.

She is right...

I really never thought about what she has to face... I was so mad at my parents for rejecting her and making them understand that like Sania, no girl would accept kids, I completely forgot what she will face.

What foolishness I have done...

I sighed and walk in front of Sania.

"Hey, I am sorry." I said wiping her tears and she abruptly holds me in an embrace.

"I love you Ehtesham." She tightened her arms around and so does I.

~*~

Mazhar's POV:

I leaned back in the armchair. Sleep is miles away from my eyes and what they see is huge chaos. The strange thing is that the chaos has nothing to do with my life but with the life of my very precious friend's daughter. My Bhabi, my dear friend.

I still remember the day when she came to our house after getting married. Bhabi was a ditto copy of Fiza, nice, sweet and loveable, she becomes the centre of attention for the whole family and become my best friend, she was my Bhabi, sister, and friend at the same time. On her death, I lost all three of my relations but got Fiza. Standing near her grave on her funeral day I promised myself to take very good care of her daughter, as her Chachu, and as her mother's friend. But now I see, how miserably I have failed to keep my promise. I stepped back and allow Bhai to take the biggest decision in Fiza's life, which turns out to be torture for Fiza. I wish I would've talked to Ehtesham before her wedding and had done a proper search on his background, not just blindly believe in him because he is the son of Bhai's friend.

I sighed and close my eyes. Sumbul called Qudsia as I told her to and she asked her the whole situation. All of us know that she is the only person who knows everything about Fiza and she gingerly told us everything. I didn't talk to Bhai after that, I am afraid that I would say something inappropriate to him for keeping Fiza so far from him that she choose to suffer instead of sharing her problem.

Fiza kept silent for all this time...

I also called Nuwair and asked him about, how he found Ehtesham when he visited Fiza, but he told me that he didn't get the chance to him. He got extremely worried, upon hearing that Fiza fainted due to the stress of the situation and decides to come back. It will be the first time he would be coming to this house after his grandmother took him away from us. I don't know how Fiza would react to this news when she woke up the next morning. Would she be happy that her brother is coming after this long time or will she be sad because of the news that causing his abrupt return?

I am afraid of what is that child is about to face...

______________________

Salam and hello everyone!

Sorry for the short chapter, I will try to update the next chapter soon.

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