The morning air carried the faint aroma of roses from the garden as Naira made her way to the kitchen, her footsteps light but hesitant. Zara and Mina were still asleep upstairs, their soft breathing a source of quiet comfort. She hadn't seen Ahad yet that morning, but she found herself wondering where he might be-an unusual thought she quickly brushed aside.

The sound of clinking dishes greeted her as she entered the kitchen, and she froze at the sight of Romaisa standing by the counter, stirring a pot of chai.

Romaisa turned, her warm smile lighting up her face. "Good morning, Naira. Did you sleep well?"

Naira nodded, her hands fidgeting with the edge of her dupatta. "Yes, thank you. I didn't expect to see you here so early."

Romaisa chuckled softly, pouring the chai into two cups. "I like to start my mornings in the kitchen. It reminds me of when my children were little." Her voice softened as she added, "Of course, it's been a long time since there were children in this house."

Naira hesitated, unsure of how to respond.

Romaisa gestured to a chair. "Come, sit with me."

Reluctantly, Naira sat at the small table near the window. Romaisa joined her, setting down the cups of chai. For a moment, they sat in silence, the warm aroma filling the space between them.

"I wanted to thank you," Romaisa said suddenly, her voice breaking the quiet.

Naira looked up, startled. "For what?"

"For bringing Zara and Mina into our lives," Romaisa said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "This house has been so empty without children. They've brought joy back to it."

Naira swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond to the older woman's heartfelt words.

"They're such bright, beautiful girls," Romaisa continued, her voice soft. "You've done an incredible job raising them, Naira. You should be proud."

Naira's chest tightened, her fingers gripping her cup. "I just... I've only tried to protect them."

"And you've done that," Romaisa said firmly. "But they need more than protection now. They need love, freedom, a chance to laugh and grow. And I want you to know that this family-this house-is their home too."

Naira blinked back tears, the weight of Romaisa's words settling over her. "Thank you," she whispered.

Romaisa reached out, placing a gentle hand over Naira's. "You don't have to do this alone anymore."

Later that morning, Zara and Mina came bounding down the stairs, their giggles filling the house as they ran into the sitting room. Ahad was there, reading through a stack of documents, but he immediately set them aside when the twins climbed onto the couch beside him.

"Uncle Ahad!" Zara exclaimed, tugging on his sleeve.

Mina held up a small sketchpad, her eyes shining with excitement. "Look! We drew something!"

Ahad took the sketchpad, studying their colorful scribbles with mock seriousness. "Is this me?" he asked, pointing to a large figure with what appeared to be a shawl draped over its shoulders.

The girls nodded eagerly. "And that's Mama!" Mina added, pointing to a smaller figure holding hands with the first.

Naira entered the room just in time to hear Ahad's response. "You're both very talented," he said, his voice warm. "This deserves a special place."

He stood, walking over to a nearby shelf and propping the sketchpad up where it could be easily seen.

The girls beamed, their earlier shyness around him completely forgotten.

"You spoil them," Naira said softly, crossing her arms as she watched from the doorway.

"They deserve it," Ahad replied without hesitation.

By the afternoon, the girls were back in the garden, running between the flower beds as Naira sat on a bench nearby. She tried to relax, but her mind kept drifting to Romaisa's words from earlier.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of voices, and she looked up to see Romaisa and Kabir approaching. Kabir, tall and imposing but with a warmth that mirrored his wife's, walked with measured steps, his gaze fixed on the twins.

"Mama, who's that?" Zara asked, running over to Naira and clutching her hand. Mina followed closely, her small body pressing into her mother's side.

Naira stood quickly, her heart racing as Kabir stopped a few feet away.

"These are Ahad's parents," she said softly. "This is Romaisa and... Mr. Khan."

"Call me Kabir," he said with a faint smile, his deep voice calm and steady.

Zara peeked up at him, her wide eyes curious but cautious. "Are you scary?" she asked, her tiny voice breaking the tension.

Kabir chuckled, crouching down to her level. "Do I look scary to you?"

Zara tilted her head, studying him. "A little," she admitted.

Romaisa laughed softly, stepping forward. "He's not scary at all," she said, her tone light. "He's just a little grumpy sometimes."

Zara giggled, and even Mina smiled, her grip on Naira's hand loosening slightly.

"They're beautiful," Kabir said quietly, his gaze softening as he looked at the twins. "The first grandchildren in this family."

Naira's chest tightened at his words. She hadn't thought about it that way-how much Zara and Mina's presence might mean to Ahad's parents.

Romaisa knelt beside Kabir, holding out her hands. "Would you like to show us the garden? Ahad says you're very good at finding the prettiest flowers."

Zara hesitated, looking up at her mother for reassurance.

"It's okay," Naira said softly, brushing Zara's hair back.

The little girl nodded and took Romaisa's hand, leading her toward the flower beds. Mina stayed behind for a moment, her gaze flickering between Kabir and her mother.

Kabir held out his hand, his expression patient. "Shall we?"

Mina looked to Naira again, and when her mother gave her an encouraging nod, she slowly reached out to take Kabir's hand.

Naira watched as the twins led Ahad's parents around the garden, their laughter ringing out as they pointed out flowers and shared stories. A lump rose in her throat as she realized how natural it all seemed-how much her daughters were beginning to feel at ease in this new world.

That evening, as the family gathered for dinner, the girls sat between Romaisa and Kabir, chattering excitedly about the garden and the fountain. Naira sat quietly, observing the scene with a mixture of relief and trepidation.

Ahad, seated across from her, caught her eye and gave her a small nod. "They're happy," he said softly.

Naira swallowed hard, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. "They are," she admitted.

"And you?" he asked, his voice gentle.

She hesitated, her hands tightening in her lap. "I'm trying," she said finally.

Ahad's gaze softened. "That's all anyone can ask for."