OK!

So, I have announcement. My first ever interview is published now. If you want to know me better head over to HiddenInAShell profile to read about me in "A peak into the masterminds".

This is one of the announcement I talked about before there is still one to go.

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And she chooses to live.

For once, someone in her life wanted her to live how she wishes to not dictating her on her life decisions, not looking down on her and not at all ignoring her.

Someone actually wanted her to do what she likes and hence she looks at the laptop (which he left for her) for a very long time because she is not a person who can face people on her own especially when she hadn't done that much in her life.

"I am thinking of operating my boutique again". She heard his mother strong voice

She has to agree with his mother and his voice and tone are very similar. They are both authoritative yet they have something soft within them.

"No. I have done enough rest in two years I would like to have a report on all the designs and everything else". His mother ordered entering the lounge

"You are acting like a wonder woman". She said smiling

His mother chuckles, "I realise how much I still have to do. You know what I am excited about next?".

She shakes her head looking at the gleeful look in his mother eyes as his mother speaks, "Waazi's wedding".

She smiles at her excitement nodding.
But the moment she remembers that night her smile falls and the pain in her chest appears. She clenches her hands to not break down here.

Then the doorbell rings.

Soon enough two women who appear to be mother and daughter walk in while she still remains in her own little world unaware of the new presence.

"Sarah and Maham, it's so good to see you". His mother said smiling warmly

"Who's this?". Maham said looking at her

"Beta, she is my caretaker". His mother said looking at her with so much warmth that the pain in her chest lessens

"Oh! Why is someone so young in this house where your son is always in?". Sarah- his mother sister said sitting on the couch, "It's not right".

"Well, all of it depends on intentions of oneself, in the end, no decision is right or wrong it's just how people intended it to be". His mother replied

"Still, men are very vulnerable and you should not have a young woman in this house especially when you are so sick". His Khala argued

She frowns not liking the way they speak about his mother but she wasn't strong enough to defend her. But she feels the need to do so.

"She is not sick. She was just resting". She said softly even when her words weren't

Their head snapped at her and her eyes widen the moment she realises what she did.

Then she heard a chuckle.

Then all head turns to the entrance to find him standing there with a graceful smile that not many have the opportunity to have.

"Sorry, ladies I don't have time I need to borrow Gul for a moment for work". He said respectfully

She moves to go towards him and it always seems that her steps are deliberately slow which have his eyes on her every move attentively.

"The file can you save it on my device?". He asked hopefully

She nodded.

He forwards her the laptop as she leans on the couch working to save the file on his desktop.

"Here". She said softly

"Thank you". He said walking away

"Look how they are talking shamelessly". His Khala said angrily, "I told you that she should not stay in this house or she will take your son away".

She shakes her head walking to the kitchen to bring them some drinks.

"Well, you should know that my children are mannered in a way to never cross their limits. And she is a beautiful child who had helped me and I don't want to hear more about her". His mother defended

"Leave that". Maham said smiling tightly, "I wanted to know why you want to start again?. You can simply rest while I work. You don't have to stress so much".

"Beta, just send me the files. I want to take part in what my husband left for me". His mother said smiling kindly

She places the drinks on the table giving one to each not to his mother because she can get sick.

"One drink won't hurt me". His mother said smiling

"No. You know you are sensitive to cold drink. I will make you something warm". She said softly

His mother shakes her head smiling looking back at the two figures glaring at her.

"Files?". His mother asked sighing

Maham passes the files after much trouble to her and the moment his mother looks at the clothes collection her face turns into distaste.

"These are made by my designer?". His mother asked confused

"No. They weren't working well enough so I had to fire them. These are from some experienced designer". Maham said tightly smiling

"Where are my designer, Maham?. They were my family I told you to take care of them. They were the only ones who knows my bouquet values". His mother said not happy thinking where must they all be at

"Arey Khala, you know we need to bring in new talent for sales. Those were old folks who were just feeding on our money". Maham explained

"So, once a person is old you discard them?. Then you must be thinking of doing the same to me". His mother said strictly scaring both the mother and daughter

While she looks at his mother amazed. That is some good woman power she would love to learn about. The way her mere sharp words can have people breath stuck is absolutely fantastic.

"You are taking it wrong. We spoke and talked to them many times but they chose to leave the company". Sarah piped in to save the situation

"As far as I can see in these reports which I will be discussing with my son a rather large amount of money was demanded of him for various reasons that I don't see fit to my bouquet. Why is that?". She asked narrowing her eyes knowing bringing in her son card will be scarier

Because just like his mother he was as scary for other people.

"T-Those were because when you went away the clients were leaving too so we needed money for marketing". Maham said stuttering and sweating by now too

His mother leans back raising her eyebrows, "I would like to have a full meeting with the marketing team then so they can brief me about what type of marketing needed this much money and what it was worth".

"O-Ok". Maham said nervously

"I don't even know where I can find my designer back. These are absolutely ridiculous". His mother said throwing the file on the table

"Look at my designs". Maham said hopefully showing her the other file

His mother and Gul look at the designs with even more distaste.

"Why do people have to add western ideologies in our society?". Gul said before she realised, "Our culture is so beautiful and vast that one can find so many things to do with it".

His mother looks at her stunned and Gul realises what she just did and she covers her mouth immediately.

"Who do you think you are to say that?". Sarah said angrily

"How do you know that?". His mother asked ignoring Sara

"I-I am fashion designer". She said softly

"How old are you?. And how many years of experience do you even have to say my designs are not good?. They made the highest sales for us". Maham said stepping closer to her

She moves back scared, "I-I just think that we don't have to wear all these western styled-".

Before she can complete her words Maham raised her hand on her slapping her hard.

"Know your place". Maham said

She looks through her blurry eyes running upstairs hearing his mother distressed cries for her.

"How dare you, Maham?". His mother asked angrily, "Leave my house right now. I would have slapped you for slapping my child but I know better than to stoop as low as you. Out".

The mother-daughter duo immediately packed their stuff walking away. His mother pace around thinking about what to do next and the time passes until she finds her son entering inside.

She didn't want to involve him in woman matters.

But, can he help?.

Obviously, she has seen the affection her son has reserved for Gul only. She has never ever seen him interacting with a woman, not even his own cousins. He is a man of strict rules and standards and he never ever went beyond them.

A mother knows her son more than he knows himself at times.

"Ammi Jaan". He said smiling hugging her tightly he moves back cupping her face in his hands lovingly, "How are you?".

"I am good. What about you?. How was your day?". She asked as he holds her hand bringing her to the couch placing his head in her lap

"I am good now". He said sighing tiredly but then his eyes seems to look around when he heard complete silence which is not something he expected

He knows his mother and she are always talking when they are together. Maybe his mother spoke more words to her than she ever did to him in almost three years now.

He didn't mind though he knows they understand each other pain better than him.

"Is everything ok?". He asked confused looking at his mother stressed face

Watching his mother shining personality it isn't hard to know when she is not ok. She always does this thing where she will be tapping her hand somewhere and she is doing exactly that. That's was how his father would always know she is troubled and turn the world upside down to make her feel better.

"Kia howa?". He asked moving to sit beside her wrapping his arms around her for comfort, "Mujhe batayein mai sub sahi kar duin ga, Wada". (What happened) (Tell me, I promise I will make it all right)

"Beta, I don't know if I should tell you I don't want you to stress with these matters". His mother said softly placing her head on his chest

"Ammi, when Baba was here he used to come every day and tell you every single thing about his day and what bothers him without a thought that maybe you won't even be able to help but telling you used to help him more. And he always told me that it is best to always listen to what our woman say to us even if we can't solve it at least they know that we are there and if they need a shoulder they have us. He said woman heart are very soft and they can have immense sorrows in it but their hearts need to be protected by the men because that is their duty as a real man ". He said smiling sadly at the day his father said that

His mother sniffed, "Can you bring her back to me?".

"What happened to her, Ammi?". He asked worriedly, "Did she hurt herself again?".

"I will tell you once she is here". His mother said moving back from him, "I feel she needs support from someone else right now but doesn't cross your limits".

He nodded strictly and his eyes anxiously turn towards the stairs. He climbed in large stride standing in front of her door-knocking at it for a couple of times. He feels his heart-stopping with the thoughts that go in his brain such as what if she hurts herself again or maybe more.

He couldn't stop the negative chain of thoughts so he diverts his mind and heart to his Lord praying for her safety instead. Because when your days turn gloomy and you feel either nothing or everything its best to turn those feelings to HIM and leave them instead of suffering yourself with the burden.

Trust in Lord.

He heard the shuffling on his hundredth knock and the moment she opens the door he felt his breathing returned.

She was ok.

At least physically he didn't see any bleeding on her.

"Will you come down with me?. Ammi is really worried". He said as soft as a feather because the way she was shaking he was sure she will break down

Or maybe she already has.

She nodded meekly following behind him and her soft steps make a sound as they descended down the stairs. His heart although it was at ease it wasn't at the same time. He wishes to have her joyful and she was when he left her earlier then what went down so soon?.

He remembers after the whole time after watching and listening to her soft voice how much he felt lighter at his work.

He was in a good mood.

After a very long time.

He sighs.

He enters the lounge with her and the moment his mother saw her she envelop her into a tight hug apologising to her.

After a minute or so she hugs her back but didn't say anything but her eyes weeps the whole time which only made his situation worse.

He had to wait for one of the ladies to speak before he loses his mind but none seems to not until his mother separated from her and he saw something that had him burning.

Someone is about to die from his hands.

"Who dared to raise a hand at you, Gul?". He asked angrily