Not edited.

Fiza's POV:

"Happy Birthday dear." I was embraced by warm arms.

"I thought you would not come." I put my head on his chest.

"How can I miss my baby girl's birthday." He said and placed a kiss on my head.

"I told you not to wish me on this day. I hate my birthday." I said pulling myself back from him.

"And I told you that no matter what you say I will always celebrate the day when Allah gifted me with the most beautiful baby doll in the world." He put the flower bouquet on my head and holds it until I didn't accept it.

"This doll snatched your mother away from you." I said taking the bouquet.

That's right, I was the cause of my Ami's death. She died while giving birth to me.

"No, you didn't. Her time here was over, so she left. Now come on, no more sad faces. I didn't come here to see your ugly crying face." He said jokingly poking a finger on my cheek.

'My ugly wife' Out of nowhere Ehtesham words echoed in my mind.

"If I am not mistaken they are Sadaf and Taha right?" His made me come back to my senses and I follow his gaze. Both Taha and Sadaf were peeking out from the car's window. I couldn't stop myself from chuckling when Sadaf hid and dragged inside Taha when she saw me watching.

"Yes, they are the kids." I told him.

"Sadaf, Taha come here quick." I shouted and Taha jumped out of the car first.

Even with his tiny feet, he was faster than Sadaf and when she looked at him reaching before her, she also fastens her pace. Still unable to reach before him she got jealous and punched Taha's arm.

Not this again...

I quickly pick up Taha in my arm before he could react because he never cries on Sadaf's attacks but tends to revenge on her, which was quite disastrous. He not only pulls her hairs but didn't stop until she starts crying. Even after coming in my arm, he kept struggling to get down so he could hit her.

"Taha, don't. You're a good boy and a good boy don't fight. Sadaf didn't I tell you not to hit your little brother." I scolded them. Sadaf lower head and tears start hitting the ground.

Abe Yar...

"Fiza look what have you done. You made a princess cry." Nuwair crouched down and starched out his hand to Sadaf.

"Asslam o Alaikum. I am Nuwair. What is your name princess?"

Since when he become so polite towards kids???

I looked at big brother in utter shock.

"Sadaf!" She replied sniffing and shakes hand with him.

"Ary! That's a very pretty name. So tell me Sadaf do you like ice cream?" He asked and she abruptly noded.

"Then come with me. We are going to eat ice cream." He said picking her up and starts walking towards his car. I blink my eyes, again and again, unable to believe what I was watching.

"Ami." I came back to earth on Taha's voice.

"Hm? Oh." I quickly walked to the car and sit in the passenger seat.

~*~

Ehtesham POV:

Coming home and greeted by silence was the best thing. I was really thankful to Fiza for giving me this luxury after Taimoor's death. It isn't like I hate kids and their responsibilities but I want some time to myself. Suddenly life moved so fast and I lost everything, like sand slips from hands. I lost my loving little brother, his wife who was dear to me as Taimoor. My bachelor life and my freedom.

No matter how much I deny that I was the same person as before, I am not. My involvement in children lives increases after Fiza came because before her it was Ami who take care of them.

Maybe it was the guilt, which made me do these things. Fiza was a complete stranger to the kids, yet she loves them and cares for them like her own nephew and niece. On the other hand, I wasn't like an average person to them. I looked at the clock it was almost my gym time. I quickly took a shower and went for exercise.

After two hours I came back home and on inquiring to my gatekeeper about Fiza and kids I was informed that they have not returned yet. This answer didn't please me a bit. I maybe enjoy being alone but Fiza should have called me if she was planning to come late. Without wasting a second I call her but her number was switched off.

Seriously this woman is annoying!

I thought to call her mother's home or her friend to know where she was but suspended it as soon as I remember that we are married and we supposed to know everything about each other. So, I left with no option other than waiting.

Running my hand through the hair I start switching channels on the TV. Nothing seems interesting and this silence was making it worse. I didn't understand the reason for my restlessness, Fiza should have filled me in with before doing anything. Contract or not, as a wife it is her duty to ask my permission. And kids? How can she take my kids out without my permission? I am their guardian not her and I don't know anything about her, she is a complete stranger to me. I am aware that no woman can forgive, what I have done to Fiza but still, she shouldn't forget her duties.

'I shouldn't trust her too much either.' I combed my hairs with fingers and turn around to take my phone and saw Fiza standing there with sleeping Taha in her arms.

Shit! Did she hear me..?

Sadaf came running over to me and held out her hand for Salam. Ignoring the disbelieving look in Fiza's eyes I bent down to shake hand with Sadaf.

"Assalam o Alaikum." She said shaking my hand.

"Wallaikum Assalam. Where were you beta? I was waiting for you." I asked scooping her into my arms. I couldn't ask this question to Fiza because she never answers me properly. Especially not after hearing me, so Sadaf was the only source of information here.

"We go with uncle Nower (Nuwair) to meet lots of grandmothers and grandfathers." She said circling her arms around my neck.

"Grandmothers?" Unable to understand what she meant I gave Fiza a questioning look but she averted her eyes quickly and left.

Okay! Now I am sure that she heard me...

I felt little guilty but shrugged it off. I need to know who this 'Nower' guy was.

"Did you guys eat something?"

"Yes, we went to a BIG hotel. We cut the cake, eat and he leaves us here. Uncle Nower promises that he will come again soon and also bring me toys." She said excitedly.

"Beta why you ask him to bring toys? You could tell me what you want." I didn't like the fact she was asking a stranger.

"He says it will be my birthday gift, just like he gave to Bari Ami." She defended herself.

Birthday gift?

"And what did he give to her?" My curiosity took over me.

"Lots of flowers and jewellery and a Teddy bear too. He was calling Bari Ami a baby." She giggled telling me the last part.

Okay! I think Fiza and I need to talk.

~*~

I went inside Fiza's room before coming back to my room. I saw the huge flowers bouquet lying on her bed with the gifts Sadaf told me about and she was sitting at the edge of bed lost in her own thoughts, staring into space. I took a step towards her to inquire her about that Nower guy and where she had been. But the single tear dropped from her eyes stopped me and next second I turned back to my room.

I cannot handle crying women...

Now, I keep rolling on the bed but couldn't sleep. Her sad face was not allowing me, every time I closed my eyes her image of leaving the room with Taha in her arms flashed in my mind. Was she crying about what I said???

As much as I think about it, more and more questions kept popping up into my mind and the guilt made me more uneasy.

What if she really was hurt because of me?

Who was that Nower?

Her lover?

Does she love someone else?

Was she also forced to marry?

What the hell!

I left the bed and start pacing in my room. Moments later the sound of faint whimpers caught my attention. At first, I thought it was my hallucination but as soon as I realized it was not, I rushed towards kids room and let out a sigh of relief after finding them sleeping peacefully.

Than those whimpers???

Fiza...?

I didn't rush this time. Tiptoeing I came over to her room, the lights were still on. Carefully I peeked inside, didn't want to catch like this because I also don't know the reason for being here.

I can still hear the low whimper but cannot see Fiza anywhere. I took a few steps inside and my eyes widened when I saw her sitting on the floor with her head on the bed. The flower bouquet was given to her was completely destroyed. She was sitting between the torn petals, wearing the same dress as before.

What happened here?

"Fiza?" I called her.

No response.

"Fiza?" I crouched near her.

Again no response.

"Hey, Fiza?" I touched her shoulder and her body jolted.

"No...It wasn't my fault ... I swear, it wasn't my fault." She said and start pushing herself to the wall behind her.

What???

"Fiza?" I reached towards her.

"They say it was because of me ... tell them it was not my fault. It was not. Believe me... it was not." She said hysterically, trying to convince me but she didn't even look at me for once.

"Fiza?" I called her name again but she hid her face in her hands and starts crying.

What is wrong with her???

The only thing I understand now is, she needed to be calm down and that what I did.

Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her to me. She kept mumbling that it wasn't her fault, clinging to me and I kept convincing her that I know. Slowly her sobs died down and I leaned back to bed, still holding her. When she completely quiet down, I again called her name but she was already in deep sleep.

Great! Now I have to babysit my wife.

Carefully I got up and lay her on the bed. After putting her gift on the side I tucked her in a blanket when I notice her swell eyes.

Why she was crying???

Moments later I found myself staring at her. She looked so innocent, the complete opposite of when she was awake.

"Fiza" I tested her name, as I was calling her name the first time.

'I am not going to sleep with a man who doesn't acknowledge me as a wife after marriage.'

Suddenly her words echoed in my mind and my lips twitch upwards.

Tomorrow morning will be an interesting one!

I lay beside her, pulling her to me. I snuggle my head into her hairs and circled my arms around her.

Wow! She is so soft...

"Shab a Khair (Good Night) my wife." I mumbled and allow sleep to take over.

________________________________________

* Shab a Khair: Good Night (in Urdu)

Salam and hello everyone!
*So sorry for every.... late update.

*Thank you so much for supporting this story and liking Fiza.

*So! What do you think? What happened to Fiza?

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Take Care :)