Salam and hello everyone!
☆RAMAZAN MUBARAK ☆
Sorry for the late update and late wishing.
@ParvathySNair @Ruhi_Khan thank you for Ramazan wishes

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Not edited.

Fiza's POV:

"You and Chachi are not coming with us?" I asked Chachu looking at him with wide eyes. Asaaf, Sumbul and I were planning our trip to Ziyarat when Chachu and Chachi also join us and broke the news that they won't be accompanying us on this trip.

"We were planning at first but looks like your Chachu will be busy in those days." Chachi explained.

"We can postpone the trip." I suggested and received a pinch on my arm by Sumbul, who was sitting beside me.

"You three go and enjoy. We will go to someplace near on any weekend later." Said Chachu.

"Chachu but how can the three of us go to Ziyarat alone? We don't even know-" before I could finish, Sumbul interrupted me.

"We have been there several times Apiya. Papa's friend lives there. Whenever we go to Ziyarat, we stay at his home."

"Oh." I didn't say anything else after receiving hard stares from both siblings.

The next day the three of us leave the home with the very happy looking face of Asaaf, because he was driving the car. On the other hand, I was quite nervous, not because of Asaaf's driving but because of the fact that I never went out of the city without an elder before and now I have to keep an eye on these guys too.

'Get a grip Fiza is you can take responsibility for travelling with two kids in the middle of the night, then this is nothing compared to that.'

I told myself and suddenly the event flashes back in my mind. I shuddered at the thought that if Sheheryar Sahab hadn't come to pick us and something went wrong that night, what would've had happened.

I will always be grateful to Allah for sending His aid in Sheheryar Sahab's form...

~*~

Sheheryar's POV:

There are times in life when you have to stop yourself from doing things that don't count in bad deeds, in fact, they are good deeds. On one side, your heart wants to go with it, yet on the other hand, your mind stops you by calculating the social boundaries.
I always find myself baffled in such situations, where I have to make choices between the right things and social values.

Societies are made by men, then why do the values contradict human emotions? If we are the ones who created these values then why it is so hard for us to easily adjust to them? If these values are really so important then Why I find myself on the edge of putting them aside and reach out to the person.

I dropped the file on the table which I was pretending to read and went to the sofa at the corner of my office. For a few moments, I stared at my seat behind the table, imagined myself sitting on it. It has been so long that this seat belongs to me. Since Dad stepped down from his position, I was the one sitting on that seat, taking all the burden on my shoulder, making decisions, working hard. I came to learn that, handling a business isn't easy, the challenges and risks are no jokes, especially when you have to maintain the reputation of your work.

Calm and collected, unafraid of taking risks, that's how I see myself from here and I am very proud of it. But if I am really that strong as I think I am then why I was shaken on hearing the news of Humaima getting engaged to someone. Why I had to look to people for inspiration to get over those feelings. I was hoping to find someone who could lend me an ear to hear me out but instead, I find something entirely unexpected. I found a fragile woman, fighting alone with everything in her life. From her husband to her emotions, nothing was in her favour, yet unlike me, she didn't look around to people for help. Keeping her head up all the time she faces everything with a smile. Her courage always left me in awe and no matter how much I try to think I couldn't understand how she can endure everything and still smiles. Her strength gave me the courage I seek for and without realizing start to look up at her and admire her. Although the fact never went out of my mind that there are boundaries between us, which we should never cross and I never wanted to cross those lines. Not even now, when she is alone facing the same storm, once I faced. I admire Fiza from the moment I learn the truth about her and Ehtesham. This admiration and respect grew with time and now I feel obliged to help her move on in her life, as a person who saves me unknowingly and as a person who gave unconditional love to my niece and nephew.

But what can I do for her? As far as I know her, she is a person who puts her self-respect before everything. She will refuse any help, any support from me and should be. I mean, who am I to her? Her ex-husband's acquaintance?

Suddenly the telephone extension of my office rings, reminding me that I am still in on my work and wasting time like this will be no use. The battle between my mind and heart is taking me nowhere. I take out my phone and call on Fiza's number. I want to get over it.

~*~

"Hello Assalam o Alaikum." The call was picked by someone other than Fiza.

"Wallaikum Assalam, can I talk to Ms Fiza?" I asked directly.

"Um... you are Sadaf's Mamo right?" The voice asked hesitantly.

"Yes."

"I am Sumbul. Fiza Apiya's cousin. If you remember we meet the other day in the restaurant."

"Oh, yes. I remember. How are you Sumbul?"

"I am fine Alhamdulillah, um... actually Apiya is not in the room right now and I pick the call without her permission. I have to ask you for a favour. Can I borrow Sadaf and Taha for a few days?" She explained picking up the call and suddenly ask an unexpected thing.

"What?"

"Um... can I call you from my own number? Apiya will be here anytime soon and I would definitely get in trouble."

"...Sure."

"Okay, I will call you back." She said and hung up.

I stared at my phone for a moment and was about to call back Fiza when I received a call from an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Sheheryar Bhai, Sumbul speaking."

Bhai...

I don't know I feel surprised or nostalgic all of the sudden by hearing the word 'Bhai' from her mouth.

"Um... I hope you don't mind me being blunt but I really need your help. I, Apiya and my little brother are on holiday in Ziyarat. And I was thinking that if you could allow Sadaf and Taha to stay with us for a few days." She said all in a single breath.

"I don't mind it. If you give me your address I will personally drop them at your place."

"No,... actually, if you came Apiya will get suspicious."

"Suspicious? About what?"

"... I don't know if you use social media or not, but... the news of Ehtesham Bhai getting marry again is becoming viral on it. Because the girl he is marrying is the sister of a supermodel as well as a daughter of a very rich person. I try my best to keep Apiya away from the news but I am not sure how long I can hide it. If kids were here, she would definitely get too busy to check social media or any sort of Media."

"Are you saying that she doesn't know about Ehtesham wedding?"

"I suppose." Her voice wasn't confident.

"...Why don't the three of you come to my house? I will go outside the city for a few days."

"Apiya would never agree to it and besides you don't have to leave the city."

"Fine then, tell me in which hotel you are staying."

"Actually,... we are staying in the house of our acquaintance."

"Then I suggest you should move to a hotel. Or you can go to my house in Abbottabad."

"What's wrong in living here?"

"They are unknown to Sadaf and Taha."

"But what will I tell Apiya?"

I sighed and said, "I will talk to her."

"You will?" She sounds surprised.

"Yes." I said calmly.

"Oh, okay. Thanks. Allah Hafiz."

"Allah Hafiz."

After ending the call I feel quite light-hearted like a burden was remove from my heart. Sumbul seems more mature than I thought she was. I feel much relaxed knowing that Fiza's family is on her back, otherwise, the shock would be unbearable for any person to take. It hasn't been a year and Ehtesham decides to marry someone else. He throws Fiza out of his life like she was some fly in milk.

Disgusting man...

~*~

Fiza's POV:

"Is this is his house?" Said Asaaf looking through the windscreen.

"It looks like." I answer.

"It is the only house which is built in western style."

"Wait, I will call him." I said taking out my phone from my handbag.

"Hello." Sheheryar Sahab picks on the first ring.

"...We are near a house with a green roof and white walls. Where should we go now?"

"You are in the correct place. Drive towards the right side of the house. You can park your car there. I am coming out." He said and hung up.

"That's the house. Drive to the right side." I told Assaf.

As we reach there, I saw Sadaf coming out of the house followed by her Mamo.

Where is Taha????

My eyes search for him until our car stopped but he doesn't come out.

"Tai-Ami....." Sadaf shrieked and start coming towards me as soon as I stepped out of the car. I also quickly crouched down and engulf her in my arms.

"Meri Jan (My Life), I missed you so much."

"Me too." Came her voice as her arms wrapped around my neck. Kissing her cheek I try to get up cradling her in my arms but wasn't able to do it.

"Oops, Sadaf grew up a lot. How am I going to pick you up? I miss my little Sadaf." I pouted and she leaves me giggling.

"Assalam o Alaikum." On hearing, Sheheryar Sahab voice and I straighten up.

"Walaikum Assalam." I give him a formal smile, "Oh, this is my cousin Asaaf." I almost grabbed Asaaf arm and pull him towards me, on this I receive his glare for a second.

After they exchange Salam, Sumbul reintroduces herself to Sheheryar Sahab.

"Where is Taha?" I asked him, as he starts leading the way into the house.

"He is sleeping." His smile widened as he answers.

"Oh, can I see him?" I couldn't help myself.

"Sure, Sadaf take her to your room." Sadaf nodded and held my hand to lead me there.

"You are not our Tai-Ami anymore?" Sadaf asked as I enter their room and for a moment I froze in my place.

"Who said this to you?" I pretend to be unfazed.

"Mamo."

"Ah, Sadaf can you bring me a glass of water?" She quickly nodded and left.

Why did he say such a thing???

I shook my head to subside the thought and walk over to Taha, who is sleeping peacefully. I slowly sit beside him and touches his soft hair.

I missed you so much...

I lean closer and kissed his head.

~*~

Sheheryar's POV:

She leaned towards Taha and kissed her head, the look on her face stopped me from entering the room. Happiness, longing, sorrow there were many colours on her face. A tear escapes from her eye as Fiza caresses Taha's hair and I asked myself again why life become so cruel to them? But the answer isn't easy to find.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door and she quickly straightened herself.

"Sorry for the disturbance." I said stepping into the room and she shook her head in negative with a fake smile.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice, the work suddenly came up and I have no option to go." I skillfully lie to her. There is no work, I will be staying at my home.

"It's no trouble at all, in fact, I was really missing them." She said looking at Taha.

"Then why didn't you came to meet them?" I couldn't help myself from asking the question.

"The circumstances aren't in my favour right now." Of course, it wouldn't be, anyone could raise a finger on Fiza for visiting my house. House of an alone man with two kids.

"Circumstances rarely goes in favour. You are very important to kids, they longed for you, just like you longed for them. It's not fair to punish yourself or them because of circumstances." She uncomfortably changes her position but says nothing.

"I will be leaving in half-hour. Feel yourself home, I already order the maid to guide you, Sumbul and Asaaf and if you need anything you can call me."

"Thank you." She nodded.

"You're welcome." I said left the room. Coming outside I find Asaaf teasing Sadaf by blocking her way to reach Fiza. A sad smile appears on my face as the memory of Safina and I surface up in my mind. I used to tease her in the same way. I wish I could go back and live those moments once again.

Life is so unfair.....

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