"What happened?" Noor asked.

Zeeshan sat down on the couch. Noor quickly stood up. She brought water from the kitchen and gave it to Zeeshan. He rejected it and kept in on the side table.

"Drink it."

"I don't want to."

"Ok."

Noor slowly sat down next to Zeeshan. Zeeshan took a long time thinking about what happened in the hospital. He was angry and did what he thought was the best. He didn't think much about Noor or Iiman. Now when he came home he started thinking maybe what he did was wrong.

"They gave me a choice. Either leave the job or pay the Payment of two patients."

"Why?"

"Those kids needed operation urgently but they both are very poor and parents could not afford their operations so I and the surgeon decided to get the surgery done and later we would think what to do. Before we could think of a solution hospital management came to know about that. They asked us to pay the money or leave. The surgeon payed his share but as I could not pay they asked me to resign."

"How much is the amount?"

"It's not about the amount. I don't want to go back."

"Why?"

"I don't want to work in a place where money is more important than kids life."

"Oh."

"I don't know if what I did was right or wrong but that's the decision I made."

"Zeeshan we can...."

"I don't want to talk. I will be back soon."

He stood up and left. Noor did not stop him. She didn't know how to console him in such a situation so it was better to let him be with himself rather than making him feel worse.

Noor waited for him for a really long time but he didn't show up. She went back to their room when Iiman started crying. She didn't know what to do. She had never faced such a situation before. For almost an hour she was making notes of what she should say when Zeeshan comes back. She wanted to be like those wives they show in the TV shows. She knew she was not good at consoling so notes should help,she thought. She had a lot in her mind but she didn't know if she will be able to do all that or not. Around three in the morning Noor fell asleep.

***

"Good morning." Noor said when Zeeshan came in the kitchen.

"Hmm." He took an apple. He took the cup of tea kept on the counter and started to walk out.

Noor quickly took his left hand,"Zeeshan wait."

"What?" He asked softly.

"I don't know what I should do in this situation but please know that I'm with you. You are not alone."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Ok. Thanks."

Zeeshan again turned around to leave but again Noor made him turn around. "wait!"

"Ok."

"Tell me how are you feeling?"

"Good."

"Zeeshan."

"What?"

"Truth."

"How does that matter?"

"Because I want to know."

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because I am Psycho."

"That's true."

"Now tell."

"Are you sure?"

"Zeeshan just start!"

Zeeshan smiled, Because whatever the situation maybe annoying Noor will always remain his favourite hobby,"Ok."

"Good."

"I'm feeling....Ok I want to use a not so appropriate word."

"Horrible." Noor suggested

"Right. I'm feeling horrible. I don't know what to do but I really want to kill the head of our hospital. I want to break the head of that doctor who complained about me. I want to go and shout as loud as possible. I want to do a lot of things mainly destruction."

"Ok."

"And I want to."

"Want to?"

"I don't want to say."

"Ok."

"How do you feel now?"

"Same."

"Ok. Go and freshen up. I will make breakfast till then."

"Ok."

Zeeshan did as ordered. Noor started cooking.  Noor was trying to stay calm and not panic. She was really scared. All her life she never thought money as issue. Her father had worked hard and never let his kids feel like they didn't have money. Once they were teenagers their father had an established successful business. Noor never thought twice before spending money. She was more worried than Zeeshan. Zeeshan had faced money issues all his life so that doesn't scare him but Noor was new to this situation.

"I'm back." Zeeshan said coming back from their room.

"I'm done."

Noor made Zeeshan's favourite pancakes. Noor thought maybe that would make him feel better.

"Wow pancakes."

"Yes!"

"You know how to make pancakes?"

"Zeeshan today you tell me what do you think about me?"

"Lazy, careless, immature, short."

"I'm not short!"

"And you are lazy, careless and immature?"

"No!"

Zeeshan smiled again,"ok."

"Zeeshan I'm trying hard to be good and helpful."

"That's exactly what I don't want you to do."

"Why?"

"Because that will make me think something so wrong."

"Ok."

"You remember when I was trying to get sober you did not change. You were stilling annoying me."

"That was because I was angry."

"Why were you angry?"

"Because your spoiled your life. Everyone was talking about you. I hated when they said something bad about you."

Zeeshan smiled again,"really?"

"Stop smiling! I hated it because they knew you are my cousin and with you they were taking bad about me as well!"

"Oh really?"

"Zeeshan!"

"Sorry sorry continue."

"I don't want to continue."

"No no say."

"I'm not saying."

Zeeshan smiled before taking a bit of his pancake,"anyways, that used to make me feel better and gave me hope that things will go back to normal. So I want you to stay normal."

"Staying normal around you is impossible! You always test my patience!"

"This is exactly what I want you to say! Good going."

Noor turned around and saw a hand towel. Picking it up she threw it at Zeeshan.

"You are such a bad human being."

"I'm​ fine with that."

"Zeeshan!"

He smiled again,"eat eat."

"Zeeshan you know what.."

They kept on arguing and eating breakfast. For others it would be irritating and sad but for them they had a good morning. After breakfast they both cleared the kitchen together. Then together they sat in the living room.

"And then you started shouting." Zeeshan said laughing.

"You break my toy and I'm not even supposed to shout!?"

"It was a small robot."

"So what? It was my favourite. It looked like my cousin Maroof."

"Now that is the weirdest thing I heard."

"That's true!"

"Or you were just found of him."

Noor thought for some time,"well maybe. He was one of my favourite Cousin." Noor looked up and saw Zeeshan's eyebrows high up.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Zeeshan what?"

"So what should we do about this problem?"

"Good try. But yeah. I thought about it."

"Go ahead."

"Cost cutting. We should make a list of all the things which are unavoidable and then the things we can avoid or live without. Then we will calculate the exact amount we need per month to survive. Then we will decide form where that will come."

Zeeshan shook his head,"that's a good plan."

"Ok then wait."

Noor quickly ran to her room. She opened the drawer and took a note pad and a pen before running back to the living room. She sat on the couch and opened the book.

"Ok so tell me all the expenses we have."

"Ok." Zeeshan sat upright before telling her all the expenses they have. Noor was quietly writing everything perfectly​ and neatly.

Once done she said," ok so let's see what we can cancel. By the way I must say you are too good with finance. You don't waste money at all! They are mostly the necessary things."

"When I was a teenager we had a lot of money problem. I learned a lot from that. Since the day I started earning I started saving."

Noor smiled,"wow. That's good. My dad always asks us to save but we are really bad. Although now Aman Bhai have a huge savings​. Thanks to Kehara. She loves to saves. Actually now that I think she said the same thing. When she was a teenager even they had financial crisis so that's why she saves a lot."

"That's the time you shape yourself."

"True."

"So what all can be avoided?"

"Not many things as you hardly spend on useless things. But yes we can cut down all the useless snacks."

"You can survive without them?" Zeeshan teased.

Noor narrowed her eyes,"whatever. We can control electricity bill. Then going out for dinner and lunch is out for a long time. We can control spending on Iiman. She has a lot of clothes and toys so I think she can easily survive without new clothes or toys for many months."

"That's good."

"You know Zeeshan what is your biggest expense?"

"What?"

"Rent of this house. It is huge!"

"I know but that's​ unavoidable."

"We can avoid it."

"How? Are you suggesting we move to a small place where the rent is less?"

"That's a really nice idea but we can totally avoid it."

Zeeshan frowned,"I didn't get you."

Noor quickly stood up and sat next to Zeeshan,"See if we move to another place, even if small or cheap we will have to pay some amount but if we move in with your parents we won't have to pay a penny."

Zeeshan started thinking about what Noor said. He knew what she said was right and a good idea but he was not sure about it. He was still confused.

"But that involves a lot of planning and thinking."

"We will do that."

Zeeshan turned his face to her,"are you saying that because you want to go back to your city?"

Noor Smiled,"look I won't lie. Yes I want to go home but that will help all of us! Iiman will be able to be with her grandparents. We won't have to spend such a huge about on rent, we will have people around us who love us."

"But I what will I do there? I cannot stay unemployed for a long time."

"You don't have a job here as well so what's​ the harm?" Zeeshan aagain started thinking about what she said. "See moving in with them that won't only solve our rent problem but a lot of things more. We can easily share responsible for all the expenses. That will reduce their burden as well."

"I don't know."

"That house is owned by your father right?"

"Yes." Zeeshan said nodding his head.

"And it's big enough for all of us?"

"Yes."

"Then what's the problem. Don't think that how will we live with your parents as we are adults and stuff like that. They are our parents and will need us as much as we need them."

"Let me think no let me first try here. If I don't get a job then we can go for that option."

"Think about it. There is no rush."

"Hmm."

"Now you sit and think, I will go and check Iiman."

"Can you pass me my phone."

"Where is it?"

"On the chair."

Noor stood up and went towards the chair. She gave the phone to Zeeshan and then went to her room. Zeeshan took his phone and Kept staring at it's screen. He wanted to inform his parents but he was scared that maybe they will be disappointed again. After disappointing and hurting them years ago the last thing he wanted was to hurt them again. He knew that would make them sad no matter what. He had a doubt if he should call his parents or not. After fighting with himself for a long time he decided to leave it for now. He needs to first find a way to bring everything in control and then he can tell them. He knows he won't be able to hide it from them for a long time but he wanted to avoid telling them as long as possible.

After deciding that he kept his phone on the couch and stood up. He went to his room because he wanted to see Iiman. Iiman was now a very important part of their life. She was their stress buster. Whenever he was sad or stressed he plays with her. She makes him forget everything, all his problems and stress. Now she was not just his daughter but his life. He wanted to do everything for her. When he lost his job her future was the first thing that came in his mind. Even now he wanted a new job desperately just for her.

He opened the door and came in the room. Noor was sitting next to Iiman who was peacefully sleeping. Zeeshan went and sat next to Noor. She smiled at him and he smiled back. They both kept looking at their daughter. Now non of them thinks she is their niece. For them she was their daughter,who was their everything.

They did not make any noise but maybe Iiman understood someone was staring at her, she slowly opened her eyes. Looking at them she smiled instantly. She looked around for some time before looking at them again.

"Amma." She said softly.

They both smiled instantly.

"Zeeshan are you jealous that her first word was Amma?"

Zeeshan smiled again,"No."

Noor smiled this time,"I really wish she had my eyes and your name."

Zeeshan looked at Noor for some time before turning back to Iiman. Smiling he said,"I wish that was true."