Assalam-o-alaikum :)

Here is the update guys.....

Forgive the mistakes...there is gonna be a hell of them coz typing on cell phone SUCKS :/ :(

Happy Reading <3

CHAPTER 58: ANGER AND PAIN

Maheen's pov

Hussain was sitting there over his knees, in front of his Dad holding his hands...who was looking daggers at him.

"If you want me to forgive him??? am sorry Hussain! I will not" Asif uncle stated firmly and pulled his hands off Hussain's grip. "Shehry ki waqalat kerna band ker do tum" he added and Hussain helplessly shook his head.

"Dad! We know you are hurt but please ek bar, bus ek bar Shehry ki jaga reh ker sochiye" Hussain repeated his words for like 5oth time in past few hours.

"Mom! at least you try to understand..." he looked at Aunty who still looked shocked.

"You lied to us Hussain?" her voice had disbelief. "humein jhoot bol ker yahan bulaya tum ne? humein laga Shehry waqa mein aa gaya hea mager yahan to.....' she trailed off and I slowly rested my hand over her shoulder.

"Maheen beta! even you?" she looked at me disapprovingly.

"Aunty! Just listen to Hussain for once' I literally pleaded. "there was a cause behind that....."

"Cause?" Uncle cut me through as he looked at me frowning and I gulped the fear down.

"Jhoot jhoot hota hea beta! or jhoot ki koi waja nai hoti" He added sternly and I looked down unable to look at his face.

"Shehry ko waqai itni bari bat sab se nai chupani chaiye thi" Razia aunty stated, on there way to apartment Shaista aunty had informed her about Shehry's arrival and so she arrived...

Soney per sohaaga ho ga aj to....

"Mager Asif bhai! ub jo hua, ho gaya.... ub gussa janey dejiye" she added trying to convince him but he looked unmoved. "dekhiye Hussain ko kitna murjhaya chehra lag raha hea is ka"

"bachey waqai mein buhat barey ho gaye hen...jab ye apney faisley khud ker he saktey hen to Maa Baap ki kia zarrorat?" Uncle stated angrily.

"or tum kia her bat mein Shehry ki waqalat kerney aa jatey ho?" he looked back at Hussain. 'humein kuch nai sunn'na samjhey tum?" he pointed his index at him firmly and he looked down.

"Shaista! Hum aj rat he wapas niklen ge" Uncle announced and Hussain's head shot up as he held his hand trying to make him keep sitting.

"Dad! please....." my heart skipped a beat as saw his eyes turning moistened.

I still couldn't wash off his sobbing weeping face from my mind...the way I found him in his apartment all vulnerable and broken after talking to Shehry, finding out about Heer.

Wahan Shehry ro raha tha...yahan Hussain! Ya Allah! rehem ker dey

"Just think once what would you have done if you had found a baby on the corner of the road in the middle of a night; all vulnerable, needing your help" Hussain took a pause.

'Ap bhi woi kertey Dad jo Shehry ne kiya, us ne theek kiya Dad! or....

"Or shadi?" Uncle frowned cutting him through and for a moment Hussain glanced at my way. "Shadi kerna, hum se chupa, humein na batana bhi majboori thi us ki?" his voice rose, aunty was still quiet saying nothing.

"itney din hum se ye bat chupaney ki kia waja thi? Hum ne kabhi kia tum dono ko kisi kam se roka hea? Sara se shadi ka faisla bhi us ka khud ka tha, na tab hum ne usey roka tha na ub roktey...mager hum se poochna to door humein batana tak zaroori nai samjha us ne?" disbelief evident in his tone as he looked daggers towards Hussain.

"Dad Dad! samajhney ki koshish kijiye, Shehry Rehmat k bager nai reh sakta tha...or wo us ki maa hea, ek majboor besahara lerki jis ka koi nai tha, apney maa baap tak paraye ho gaye thy"

"Uncle ek terha se dekha jae to Shehry ne ek neik kam kiya hea us se shadi ker k, wo apni choti si bachi ko le ker kahan der bader ki thokerein khati" I took part in the debate, Uncle shook his head, he was still unconvinced.

"wo lerki kon hea? Kahan se aai? Kia background hea us ka? Ye sab jan'ney ki zehmat bhi nai ki ho gi nawabzadey ne or nikah ker liya, aesey kertey hen shadi?' Uncle got up from the sofa, his face was stern and red as if all the blood was pumped up there out of rage.

"Mein janta hoon bhabi k barey mein sab kuch...." Hussain got up to his feet, Aunty frowned at him before looking at me and I gulped down.

"Aunty! Shehry ki bivi ka nam...Heer nam hea us ka" I stated and my gaze shifted to Razia aunty who was frowning deep.

"Mahrukh ki behen hea Heer" I added and disbelief spread across her face once again.

"Kia?" Aunty gasped in utmost shock before looking at Razia Aunty, who looked equally stunned.

"Ab to ap ye nai kahne ge na Dad k ap ko bhabi k khandan k barey mein nai pata" Hussain held his arm and Uncle looked away from his face. "she is Mahrukh's sister dad!"

"Heer ki shadi Shehryar k sath? kesey?.....wo dono to...." Razia aunty was in dead shock, she looked at me and I nodded my head.

"Asif bhai! agar waqai Shehry ki bivi Heer hea...to Allah ne shaid us bachi ko us k sabar ka phal de diya" she stated nodding her head and I felt a ray of hope lit up in my heart. Hussain and I exchanged a glance.

"Heer Woi behen hea dad! jis ne apni her khushi qurban ker di Mahrukh k liye per usey khaber tak nai honey di" Hussain said lowly, his head hung low in front of uncle, who looked a little moved himself.

"Hum to soch bhi nai saktey jitna kuch berdasht kiya hea Heer ne in pichley do salon mein, Aunty! She has already been enough and finally after all that, she is happy, please accept her" I held her hand in mine as I stated.

"Shehry and Heer, they both have had enough Mom! please! Or mazeed tensions hum un dono ko na den to behter hea....pehley he kam nai museebatein hen undono k sr per" Hussain added and I looked at him, asking him to calm down.

"Kia Mahrukh janti hea ye sab k barey mein?" Shaista aunty asked.

"janti hea per aadha sach" Hussain spoke before I could reply.

"Aadha sach?" Razia Aunty frowned looking at Hussain and I gulped the pain down my throat. He turned and looked at her, his eyes blood shot and face muscles stiffened.

After talking to Sherhry on phone, he had been into sobs all night... and once again I could see his eyes turning glassy as he rolled his tongue over his perched lips.

"Hussain! kia chupa rae ho tum hum se?" Asif uncle held his arm and jerked him hard making him look up at his face..

"D-dad! Dad bhabi....she is-she is in hospital" He stuttered a little and Aunty got up from the couch, I followed her knowing what was about to come.

"Hospital?" Razia aunty exclaimed.

"She is sick Dad! bhabi bemaar hen buhat" he stated.

"Bemaar hea? kia hua hea usey?" Shaista aunty asked looking closely at Hussain's face as he looked at her, I could see sudden panic on her face.

"She had a brain stroke Mom!" Hussain's voice came out into a shallow whisper and she gasped, keeping a hand over her mouth as shock struck her.

Razia Aunty and Asif uncle were equally stunned as they stared Hussain's face blankly, as if they couldn't believe what he just said

"Hussain! kia keh rae ho ye?" Aunty held his arms and shook him hard, whose head was hung low once again and I could see tears flowing.

"Hussain!" my hand rested over his shoulder, I just couldn't see him like that.

"ye? Ye kesey...ye?"

"Mom! Shehry se bat hui thi kal, he was in the hospital buhat-buhat pareshan tha wo.. wo akela hea wahan Mom!sari pareshani sari takleef wahan Akeley berdasht ker raha hea"

Aunty just stood there staring him still not believing while Uncle sat back in the couch, or he fell back...I couldn't tell, but he looked worried, sudden grim, worry full wrinkles spread across his face.

"Asif! meri bat kara dejiye merey bachey se pata nai kitna pareshan ho ga wo wahan akela" aunty held his arm, insisting and he looked at her face still silent.

"Asif! kun khamosh hen kuch to boliye...ghalti ki hea us ne humein na bata ker mager us k peechey koi waja ho gi ye to mantey hen na ap? Hamara beta hamara Shehry itna bara qadam yunhi na uthata Asif!" tears rolling down her face and uncle looked away.

Hussain sat down in front of her over her knees. "Mom! they are coming back soon Inn Shaa Allah! I want you people to welcome them with smiles....not with tears" He wiped her face with his hands and she sniffle.

"Kia qasoor hea merey bachey ka? Q Allah itna aazma raha hea usey? Usey he q?" Aunty shook her head as tears once again soaked her face.

"Razia Aunty! Mahrukh nai janti is sab k barey mein, ap please usey...

'I know" she cut me through nodding her head softly as she wiped the moisture away from the corner of her eye.

"Mahrukh to pehley he besudh pari hea Maheen beta! na kha rahi hea na pee rai hea....jesey pathar ki ho gai hea" She stated lowly.

"Heer ko aa janey dejiye Aunty! Sab theek ho jae ga" I pressed my ahnd over hers and she sighed deep.

"Dad? dad ap maaf ker den gen a Shehry ko?" Hussain asked him, who was still silent saying nothing. "he is already worried Dad! he needs you at his side...please Dad!" he added holding his hands.

"Kab aa raha hea wo?" Uncle asked, sternness was there in his tone and I gulped down.

"kal rat ki flight thi but Bhabi ki tabeat ki waja se extend kerwa li hea, ub Monday ko puhanchen ge Inn Shaa Allah" Hussain replied and he got up, pulling his hands out from Hussain's grip.

"mein itney din nai ruk sakta, consignment receive kerni hea. Shaista tum ko rukna hea to ruk jao" he looked back at Aunty who was still in tears and then stepped towards the door.

Me and Hussain exchanged a sorrowful glance before Hussain lept onto his feet.

"Dad! please don't do this, I know koi consignment nai aani apki, I know ap abhi bhi khafa hen Shehry se...." Hussain stopped him by blocking his way.

"If you know everything then you better stop forcing me Hussain!" Hussain was about to say more when Uncle stopped him by raising his palm up in front of his face, his tone was flat, ragged up and desicive.

"How can you do this Dad?" Hussain asked lowly, helplessness there on his face.

"I can only pray for Heer, Allah sehat de usey... or kuch expect mat kerna mujh se" stating firmly, Uncle left the room and Hussain's head hung low once again as he stood there in the door frame all helpless, defeated.

"bhabi! Sambhaliye khud ko, Allah ne chacha to sab theek ho jaye ga" Razia Aunty consoled her.

"pata nai kis ki nazer lag gai merey bachey ki khushion ko" Shaista aunty looked broken. I got up and followed Hussain as he barged out from the room.

"Hussain! Wait....."

HUSSAIN'S POV

"Dad! Dad listen to me please!" I almost ran towards him as he walked out from the apartment.

Dad halted in his track and turned to look at me. "Hussain! I don't want to here anything anymore, band karo apney bhai ki tarafdariyan kerna" he pointed his index at my face stating harshly and I gulped down.

"Dad! mein tarafdari nai ker raha I just want you to at least sympathise with him if you can't forgve him even" I insisted helplessly.

"He will be here next week, already so much going on in his life, ap ko nai lagta Dad! humein filhal us se naraz honey ki bajae usey samajhna chaiye"

"Am going to see Mahrukh, wapsi mein late ho jaoon ga" Dad informed me ignoring my pleas and turned to walk out.

"Dad! he needs you....." I called out as he reached to the door frame, for one last time he looked back at my face. "Please! Forgive him" I added and he walked out.

This isn't going to be easy....

"Hussain!" I heard Maheen's voice calling my name softly.

When I didn't turn she slowly held my hand filling the gaps between my fingers with hers and I held her hand firm.

"Am sorry! My idea sucked, you were right Hussain! this isn't going to be easy" she stated and I looked at her face. "am sorry" she mouthed again and I tried to press a smile.

"Your idea rocked girl! You just don't know" I assured her and her pout turned into a frown, I turned and stood right in front of her.

"Dad is angry, right?" I asked and she nodded.

"That's actually fantastic....jitna gussa hea mujh per nikal den ge Abba muhtaram, bus phir jab tak Shehry aaye ga kuch na kuch gussa thanda ho chukka hoga Dad ka" I explained and she blinked her eyes.

'Though he is not willing to listen anything but still I will keep on telling him, forcing him and you will see! unka gussa khatam ho jae ga Mahi! Don't worry" pulling my hand from hers I rested my palms firm over her shoulders.

"Jab tak Shehry aaye ga bhabi k sath, mein Dad ki sari daant khud sun loon ga"

"but he looked so much angry Hussain! merey plan ki waja se tumhen itni dant piti' she pouted once again and I chuckled a little.

"Anything for Shehry" I stated and she smiled.

"I love this love of yours for Shehry" she replied with a smile and I smiled back, pulling her into me for a hug and she wrapped her arms around me resting her forehead over my chest.

"Dua karo sab theek ho jaye Mahi! I can't see him in pain" my grip around her tightened.

"sab theek ho jaye ga Hussain! trust me all will be fine" she assured me despite the tears she was shedding silently.

"Inn shaa Allah!!!!" I softly left a kiss into her hair shutting my eyes.

SHEHRY'S POV

"Ground floor per day care hea, ap bachi ko wahan chor aaiye' a female voice strikes my ears, pulling me out from my pool of thoughts and I looked up. "Hm?"

"Its been a whole day, how long will you sit here like this? Ap bachi ko day care mein chor aaiye, befiker rahiye...wahan khush rahe gi baki bachin k sath" the nurse standing above my head assured me with a smile and I blankly looked away.

"Nai-am–am fine" I shook my head as I looked down at Rehmat sleeping in my lap with her mouth partly open.

Pulling my hand from under her I raised my finger and pushed her chin up, despite being empty mouthed she chewed something and tried to turn her side in my lap but couldn't as she didn't have much space.

I moved a little back and sat crossed legged on the hell uncomfortable wooden bench and made Rehmat laid down a bit comfortably now. Leaning back with the wall I rested my head back and shut my eyes.

Wapas aa jao Heer! please come back, don't leave me...not now, not ever

We can't live without you.

Maybe I shouldn't have told all this to Hussain, he got so much worried on the phone....but one day or other he was going to know about this, even Mom Dad....

God! How will I manage to face them? how am I gonna tell them about everything?

I just hope they understand me... and accept Heer. she has already gone through so much pain in her life and still going, I wish I could remove all the pain, I wish I could suck all her tears and give her all the happiness of the world.

"Shehry?" a voice startled me and my eyes flutter open, a tear rolled down my cheek.

"Shehry! beta kahan hea Heer?" Tahira aapa was standing over my head, bending a little down resting her hand over my shoulder and soon Hamza appeared.

"Shehry! how are you man? how is Bhabi now?' he asked as he sat next to me on the bench.

"She is under observation" I told them lowly, my eyes were fixed on Rehmat and head hung low.

"Her EEG is being done"

"But what happened to her?" she asked and I gilped down.

"Brain attack"

I felt her hand pressed a little firm over my shoulder.

"You could have called us here man! kab se aesey betha hea?" Hamza stated and I shook my head, not feeling like talking to anyone about anything.

"Lao Rehmat ko mujhey de do" Apa asked for her, I was about to protest when she gave me a shut up look and took her cautiously from me, I got up and she sat down.

I felt my knees stiff and legs hurt out of sitting over that bench for past almost 24 hours on and off.

"Shehry! mein dekh sakti hoon usey?" she asked and I turned looking at her.

I shook my head. "am afraid you can't"

"What happened to her exactly and what have they said? the doctors" Hamza asked and I ran a hand through my hair. "kal se yahan hen bhabi kuch to bataya hoga doctors ne"

"She fainted...I brought her here in the emergency it was quiet late in night, tab se ub tak doctors are doing their best but...but...she ..."

"sab theek ho jaye ga Shehry!bharosa rakh Allah per" he rested his hand over my shoulder, as I halted in between my sentence, words just felt too bitter to even utter.

"She is not responding to anything" I almost said to myself, my heart was beating faster once again, thumping in my chest.

"Shehryar Asif!" Suddenly a voice made me jump up and I turned, finding the junior doctor on duty, looking at me standing in the door frame of the ICU, I lept towards him

"ji?"

"You can meet her now" he stated and I felt my heart bounced so hard I felt a thud inside my ribcage.

"Is she-is she...

"She is still unconscious; you can see her only...but the good news is, she has started responding to medicines" he added with a short smile and I almost lunged towards the door.

"Wait!"

"what?" I aslmot shouted as a nurse stopped me, she looked at my face with her eyes widened then narrowed as she looked down at my feet.

'Remove your shoes, wear the gown and cover your hair, take the mask from the shelf" she snapped back in a monotonous way.

"I don't need that"

"Please sir! This is obligatory, you have to follow or else you can leave" she stated in a flat stern tone and I helplessly fisted my hands.

Moving to the shoe rack I took off my shoes, she handed me the green gown and I wore it; I guess I was suppose to tie the strings at my back but I didn't bother. Covering my hair and holding the mask in my hand I looked back at the nurse who was observing me constantly.

"You have to wear the mask Sir! The rays are dangerous" she pointed at the mask in my hand.

My life is already there, inbetween those rays ... nothing can hurt me more.

Reluctantly wearing the mask I turned to leave.

"Don't worry your wife is gonna be okay" she stated rather softly as I walked ahead, I turned and glanced at her for a second before stepping into the ICU.

My throat went dry and mouth perched as my gaze landed on the bed in the centre of the room, she laid all motionless, lifeless there her mouth was covered with the oxygen mask.

With heavy shaking feet I stepped into her direction, my eyes pooling and heart skipping beats with every breath I was taking; her wrist had an IV attached to it and a strange kind of white strap was tied around her head with circular red and yellow patched over her temples, her hair were scattered over the pillow and eyes shut above those dark circles.

I took another step towards her, tears falling down my face and I felt suffocated... pulling the mask from my mouth I almost threw it a side.

"Wha-what-what is all this?" I looked at all those wires attached to her scalp and forehead and temple...all those wires connected back to a system near the back post of her bed.

"He-heer!" my voice hiccuped as I touched her forehead; cold and numb like there was no life left there.

"heer! get up...please! Ple

"Please stay away! You cant go that near" sudden the nurse stomped in and warned me, I could look away from Heer's face all pale and motionless.

"Heer! get up!"

'Sir please! Get a side...sambhaliye apney ap ko" she tried to held my arm but I shook it away, tears just couldn't stop flowing.

"ye-ye sab...what is all this?" I looked at the nurse pointing towards the wires and she shook her head.

"Ap please bahir jaiye! She is fine now....she is just unconscious, soon will be up. But you go out please!" the nurse ordered and I looked back at Heer and then at those wires...horrible looking wires.

"they are only electrodes, they are recording her brain's electric activity....they aren't anything dangerous" I heard her stating, I raised my hand and my fingers touched hers; her fingers remained unmoved, not a slight shiver I felt under my skin.

Please Heer! answer me...kuch to kaho, laro jhagro, gussa karo mager yun khamosh mat raho Heer!

'you should leav....

"Can I stay here?" cutting her through I turned and looked at her face who gaped at me as if I had asked for her possession or something.

"Please! Let me be here with her...please!' I almost begged her but she shook her head.

"you can not Sir! Try to understand... I can not let you stay here, the doctors will be on round and

"I know when they have their round, it is still so many hours left for that" I cut her through. 'I promise I will leave before they come" I insisted and she remained quiet for a while.

"Please!" I mouthed.

"You better switch off your phone and don't...." she pointed her finger at my face. "Don't talk to her, she is not listening anyways" she stated and left me standing there.

"She is listening Nurse!, you just don't know" I said to myself, before I looked back at Heer.

I looked around, an ICU...no chair or stool was there, they make sure nobody stays long here....

I scooted down and sat over my knees, resting my elbows on the brim of her bed and held her hand in mine.

"I know you are listening Heer! I know..." I stated lowly almost in a whisper as I leaned in and kissed the back of her hand, her skin felt too cold over my lips.

"Please uth jao...wapas aa jao, mein nai reh sakta tumharey bagher. Rehmat kesey rahe gi....usey zaroorat hea tumhari Heer!"

"Mujhey zaroorat hea tumhari....."

"Please come back...."

HEER'S HALLUCINATION

Am going...am going for good.

My feet unknowingly moved into the direction where I saw a shadow, asking me to follow and I felt my wits stopped working any more. Automatically my feet were taking steps, my gaze fixed on the shadow... my heart beats were completely calm as if this is what I wanted; I wanted to go.....

Heer! come on yar! come back, where the hell are you heading? A voice suddenly startled me, a voice I knew...a familiar soothing voice. My feet halted in there tracks.

Wapas aao foran... my heartbeats calm before suddenly started beating faster and faster in my ribcage.

Abbey o! shehrni! O heeriye!!.....Kithey chali menu chad k????? my feet were frozen I couldn't turn.

Don't turn Heer! don't look back....come here! you have to leave, you have to leave Heer! step up. I heard a strange voice the shadow was getting closer and my feet took a step back instantly.

Mama! Mama! am here...Mama! Giggling was heard, my throat became dry and my eyes widened as I recognized the voice....

Rehmat!!!

Dady! Where is Mama going? why is she not listening to me?why is not looking at me????

Mamaaa!

Heer! wapas aa jao...please come back heer! my body was trembling as I turned and my gaze landed onto the two figures at a distance.

A man...smiling softly at me.

He was holding a baby, who was clung on to his neck while a little girl was standing close to his legs with her arms snaked around them. She was smiling widely looking at me as she pointed at me and looked up at the man, he pressed the same broad smile at the little girl.

Mama is coming back....

Come back Heer! aa jao..... I took a step in his direction, they were not feet any more I felt I was following my heartbeats, where ever they were taking me.

Mama!.....

I stood right in front of him, his eyes were glassy as he searched my face.. I felt I couldn't look away from his eyes, they were so engaging but soon the baby pulled his head up and looked at the man's face he turned his head and looked back in the baby's eyes... both smiled.

See! Mama is back love.... The love, the joy he had in his eyes as he looked at the baby made my heart skipped a beat. The baby looked at my face.

He smiled and I frowned...who was he???? Why wasn't I recognizing him????

His smile same as the man holding him, his eyes big deep brown...eyes which have power of captivating you, showing every emotion.

Look! Mama is back...... I shook my head as a strange kind of fear started engulfing me from all sides.

Heer! come back...you can not stay here anymore, its time...you have to come with me.

Heer! stop don't go.... my feet started taking steps backwards when the man almost shouted, extending his hand towards me but I kept on shaking my head, trying to tell him...

I cant stay....I can't, let me go, let me go......

"Heer! Heer! Heer open your eyes...

"heer!

"Doctor!!!!

"Doctor! Nurse....

"Heer!

HEER'S POV

My body was shaking badly, my legs and feet were stiff like wood...I couldn't move them as I wanted to but they were shaking, trembling over the bed.

"Heer! Heer! Heer open your eyes...

Somebody was close...too close to me, holding my face in his hands as he tried to shook me into senses, but I couldn't....

"Doctor!" I heard him yelling at the top of his lungs as his still hands cupped my face, holding me intact as if he was afraid of letting me go

I was afraid too...don't let me go!!!

I knew it was him...it was Shehryar! But I couldn't open my eyes, I couldn't speak, couldn't tell him I was there for him... for how long I didn't know but I was there.

"Heer! stay with me...Heer! Open your eyes" he shook me a little, I heard footsteps getting closer.

"get a side"

"Doc-doctor! What is happening to her? ki-kia hora hea isey?"

"You please stay aside....Nurse! injection" I heard voices, there was a sudden hastle around me and I felt he reluctantly let gor of my face making me feel into a sudden deep abyss.

Don't leave Shehryar!...dont leave me

"Doctor! She has improved...."

"The readings are finally getting normal"

"Turn it off"

Random voices were making my head even sore and I felt a sudden hard jerk in my body, my head pulled up a few inches from the pillow before landing back on to it, pain struck hard.

"HEER!" I herad him screamed my name, I tried to open my eyes.

"Ap bahir jaiye please!"

"No I will stay...let me be here please!"

"No you can't stay, please! Wait outside your wife is okay...."

"wha-what is this injection? What...what has happened to her? aankhen kun nai khol rai wo?' I heard him screamed once again and my heart ached...I tried to open my eyes but I felt them gelled up, my hands slowly turned into fists and my joints roared pain as if they broke apart.

"Shehryar! She is okay....this is just a relaxant, her brain needs to relax, trust me she is fi......

I felt a prick in my skin and I winced quietly, my senses slowly going numb, and the pressure the pain over my eyelids faded off as I fell down deep into sleep...

Eternal sleep or not???? I didn't know.

Guys I hope it was an okay okay kinda chappy :-p :D

Sorry am keeping you all wait....

Am gonna get my lappy on 15th Sep Inn Shaa Allah, its on the way ;) :D

Love u

Stay tuned.