Addiction.

It is the most powerful poison that a human can have and especially when that poison is connected to the mere things around them. Usually, the level of addiction vary from one to another and it's hard for others to understand each other addictions.

The most strong addiction to drugs and other harmful activities can lead to an asylum soon enough. And it is easier for them that way because at least they can be taken away and locked down from what they have surrendered to.

However, for other, those desires are hidden from the world or are comparatively smaller than the other and hence they are ignored. One of such is feeding your own souls the wrong. The wrong can be seen as something mere which might not have an impact on the world but it does have a huge impact on one's soul.

Just like her.

She has chained herself to her own desires. The times she walks on-ramp or does her modelling, she places herself in a world that brought her comfort in a twisted way. Her faith was always twisted with no guide in her hands.

She looks at her room ceiling blankly remembering his words, "Almost five years ago, I had a happy family. My sister's friend was my wife and we were living a good life. Since that was the start of my career I used to come home late and she used to always be there, with a smile waiting for me. She never complained to me about her suffering yet I know that my absence used to disturb her. This went on and she was going to have our children. We were ecstatic to bring them in this world. But, that night she went to the hospital- she never came back alive. She died because of blood loss leaving two girls behind with me. I was broken, devastated and above all, I was lost. I didn't know what I could do and how I can heal myself and provide for their needs. That's when my sister moved into my house and started to look at them. She told me it was best if I earn for these babies because their financial needs are important. So, I started to work harder for them. One day, I came back and heard my children calling my sister's husband their father and my sister their mother. I broke down even worse than the last time. I didn't want to break my children so I asked my sister to think of them as her own. I give all their responsibilities to her. I-I don't know-".

She didn't hear more than that because it was of no use. She has seen the two twins and they are always so guarded. Obviously, because their minds are in frenzy she wishes to slap Shayaan for his explanation because, in the end, he was their only parent alive who didn't look after them.

She sighs.

She looks at the moon from her window and she hasn't been away from his house yet this apartment feels so cold to her. The bed she slept used to be the most comfortable place and yet she feels nothing like that. Perhaps her comfort has changed and now his arms were her warm place. She needed to come out of there because of Hanan. She knows tomorrow is their parent death anniversary and she needs to stay with Hanan.

She heard her phone ringing and she turns around to look at his name flashing on it.

She answered it.

"There is something I remembered". He said sighing, "Who is Mustafa?".

Her breathing hitched as she stumbled back.

"W-What?". She asked lowly, "How do you know about him?".

"When we were in the village and you were unconscious. You said his name and asked him why he did that to you. I forgot about it in the happy moment but now that I lay down alone and in cold, I remember that". He explained, "Who is he, Mahak?".

She closes her eyes, "I know you will never want to see me after I tell you who he is".

"Mahak". He said as his voice hardened, "Don't assume things off me".

She sighs, "Mustafa and I met when I was 15 living in the orphanage. He was about 26 years old working in the fashion industry but at that time he was not that famous. He came to visit the orphanage when he wanted to donate his clothes to the children. He started to come regularly and he used to always sit with Hanan and I. He started talking to me explaining and showing me how beautiful the showbiz is. At that time, Hanan was suffering badly mentally. After my parent's death and our Aunt behaviour shook her bad. She needed help from a psychiatrist and the orphanage didn't care about it. I needed money because her health was going down real quick. I told all of this to him because he was the first person I trusted after everything. He told me he has friends who can help me if I listened to him and I agreed". She chuckles dryly, "I was stupid dumb bitch who didn't know what I went into. He took me to a studio asking me to change into a short dress and I didn't like it but he convinces me that it will only help Hanan. I did my shot and everyone praised me especially for a beginner to do so well. I was in that same short dress when I came back to the room to change into. As I came in I heard the door opening and Mustafa came with the person who was the owner of the brand. Mustafa left me with him and h-he...."

She didn't even get to finish her sentence as she chokes on her tears. She throws the phone away holding her head as she starts hyperventilating again. She stands from her bed only to fall down on the floor when she heard the prayer call going around her. She was always sleeping at night to ever hear this call. She crawls towards the terrace dragging the door open and crawling forward as there was no energy in her.

She looks at the moon shining brightly and the loud sound going off everywhere. The sight of a few of the house lights starting to switch on as they heard their Lord calling them to him was something that she will never forget. The moon seems to shine even brighter at the beautiful sound that lures people to the one who made him. And all he ever asked from his being was to ask what they need the most from him.

She raises her hands, "Give me freedom from my desires".

And she fainted.

The next morning she finds herself wrapped in a warmth that seems familiar and the way heart seems to absorb his warmth making it beat softly at his rhythm tells her that it's him.

It's her husband.

"Baby, sleep some more. I didn't get to sleep properly last night". He whines pulling her more into him

"Why- how- what are you doing here?". She asked confused

"You ended the call and I was scared that something happened to you so I ran here". He explained pulling back looking at her beautiful face, "You need to stop scaring me like that".

"You didn't understand what I was told you last night?". She asked as anger fills her, "I told you I was raped and sold off by Mustafa for him to become successful".

She starts to struggle in his hands yet he wrapped her more firmly in his hold.

"Choro mujhe-". She struggled (leave me)

"Toh kia howa?". He said halting her movement, "You think I will not want you now?". (So what)

"Yes, that's exactly what-". She started but he placed his lips against her silencing her in a swift moment kissing her passionately to convey his feelings

"You have never been more wrong then". He said pulling back placing his forehead against her, "Why do you think that I will look past your heart and look at your figure instead?. Do you think that was the reason I started to ever want you in my life?".

"Yes, everyone was always after my body-". She started and he placed his lips yet again

"They were not me". He said looking directly into her eyes to pass his point through her, "Those people who love others for beauty or their body are not an actual human. They are just people who choose to not accept reality and live in fantasy. Doesn't your world provide them with it?. Perfect lives, perfect face and everything perfect with no worries. Isn't that what people look at and become depressed thinking about how better the world of yours is?".

He pulls her over him, "I never once looked at you for your body. I always loved these brown eyes of yours that shined so bright that day at Rahul's place. When you walked out of the washroom in that dress- your eyes were the thing that made me lose my heart to you. That's why I said you look beautiful in light shades because they make your eyes more beautiful".

"I have your heart?". She asked confused, "So you don't care about-".

"At first, I was at the denial of this marriage. I didn't know what I can do and what I need to do because most of the decisions especially important ones were taken by my sister. I can work on my job well but I am extremely stupid in my own life. Then, the night when I held you in my arms I felt something. I know there was just something that continues to pull me towards you. I realised that even if our marriage was done in ways that are wrong- we were still in a sacred bond. The bond that held power given by the one who made us. It was easy for him to bring my heart to you. And the part that you keep asking me- I don't care about it. I do care about knowing both those men so I can beat them to death. But, it wasn't your fault. Stop tying yourself down for it, baby. You have done enough". He said caressing her cheeks, "Will you?".

She took a deep breath, "I have been thinking to".

"That's good enough. I brought the girls-". He said and she jumps away from him looking at him excitedly and he looks at her taken aback

"They are here. Where?". She asked grinning

He shakes his head smiling, "With Hanan".

She runs out of the room and he follows behind. As she walks out she finds the girls playing with Hanan and the minute they see her, they came running wrapping their arms around her legs.

"I missed you too". She said kissing their forehead, "How about we spend the day together?".

The girls nodded giggling.

"I am leaving". Hanan said standing from the ground dusting her clothes

"Where are you going?". She asked confused, "You don't have classes today".

"Can I speak to you?". Hanan asked and she nodded

They enter her room and she closes the door behind her.

"I don't want to do the same thing we do every time on this day". Hanan said looking at her as her tears brimmed with tears, "I don't want us to go to their graves and tell them about our lives anymore. We always open our wounds to bleed when they are close to healing. I know they wanted us to live better lives and I want to do that now".

She nodded hugging her tightly as Hanan speaks again, "You are married to a good man, Appi. Please think over everything. Please, please, stop thinking about me now. Think about yourself".

She nodded.

Hanan exits the apartment building walking down the lane towards the bus stand. As she waits for her bus to arrive she looks ahead to find a car stopping a little away from her and then Zain walks out of the car. She turns around abruptly hoping he didn't see her or she will end in deep trouble.

"Haan Haan ab bewafa yaar se kia kahna". Zain said standing beside her and she closes her eyes groaning (yeah, yeah. What can I say to a disloyal lover)

"Why are you here?". She said turning to look at him

"Why are you here?". He asked her

"I am going to apply for a job interview". She said shrugging

"Why?. You don't have to work anywhere. Come work at my company". Zain offered

"I don't want to use short cuts to success. They always end in more trouble". She said sighing

"Come on. Let's go from here and we can talk". He said, "And if you decline I will call your sister-".

"Fine. I am coming". She said angrily walking towards his car

They drive in silence and he stops the car in front of the cafe as they both enter inside taking a corner seat.

"So?". Zain asked

She took a deep breath, "I want to stop being a burden to my sister. I made her already hard life harder and I think she is still hooked onto that stupid career of her because she wants to save enough money for me to have a comfortable life ahead of me".

"That's because she loves you". Zain said softly

"You don't understand. She was abused at her first day at work but then they paid her a good amount and she sent me to hospital first thing with them. But she realises that hospital are all in for money and my treatment will take many sessions which made her go back to that filthy world again. Even when she was scared herself- she never once told me anything. She continued to work and still do because of me. She never spends on herself and I always find the pain in her eyes when she comes from the shoot. It is not right. She needs to live for herself. So, I decided to do a job to show her that I am now grown adult and she didn't have to worry anymore". She explained further

"I think she will be more assured and at peace, if you come to work with me instead of some other company. They usually scam new talent and I know how they work". Zain said sighing, "Just not your sister I will be worried sick too. Come work with me. You can apply and if my team thinks you are good enough only then you can come?. Ok?".

She nodded.

****
"I need to go to work". Shayaan said kissing her forehead, "Are you sure you will be fine with them?".

She hits his shoulder and he winces, "Don't talk about those angels like that".

"Fine. Fine. Now that they are here you will start treating me like no one". He sulks rolling his eyes

She moves forward kissing his cheeks watching his eyes widen, "Now leave".

He smiles shaking his head leaving to his work.

She walks back inside holding the picture album he brought of the twins. She sits on the ground watching them play with their clay while she looks through the pictures.

He wasn't in any of the pictures.

She shakes her head taking out the most recent picture he is in and looks at it.

"Sobia, Sirat". She called and the girls coming running towards her giggling, "Look who is this?".

"Baba". Sobia said and her eyes widen because her finger was at Shayaan

"You know he is your father?". She asked holding the girls in her arms and they nodded, "Then why didn't you say so?".

Sobia moves her finger placing it over his sister's face and her anger rises, "She told you not to?".

Sobia nodded crying in her arms and Sirat joins her. She pats their back as her eyes darkened knowing that his sister played her game. She knows his sister cannot have children that don't give her the right to do something like that to the children.

"Babies, that means you can speak?". She asked placing them in front of her, "Can you speak for me?".

The twins shake their head.

"Are you scared?". She asked softly caressing their cheeks and they nodded, "Don't worry. Now that I am here I will make sure everything is right".

Shayaan opens the apartment door to find utter silence and he walks inside to find both his daughter sleeping beside her. He looks at her writing something on her laptop and he walks to stand in front of her.

She looks at him startled because she was so immense in her work that she didn't hear him coming in.

"You are back early". She commented

He nodded kissing her forehead lovingly and she closes her eyes feeling his warmth surround her.

"I decided that I need to give my family time too". He said sitting on the couch

"Really?". She said rolling her eyes

"What is that suppose to mean?". He asked confused

"I want you to give more time to your daughters, Shayaan". She said biting her lips to refrain from crying, "Why don't you take care of them?".

"Did something happened?". He asked confused at her eyes turning into pain

Her eyes brimmed with tears watching how the twins were crying to her for so long and that she still isn't sure what to do about this. He walks towards her sitting in front of her wiping her tears away.

"Kia howa hai, Meri Jaan?. Kyun ro rahi ho?". He asked softly (What happened, my life?. Why are you crying)

"You are very mean". She said frowning angrily

"Kia kia maine?". He asked confused (what did I do)

"I want you to give them more time and to look after them. I want you to observe everything that happens around them". She insisted

"Howa kia hai?". He asked worriedly, "Are they ok?".

"They are young and they need you, Shayaan. Please, don't ask me questions. You are policeman you should be able to know things". She said huffing wiping her tears away

"Ok. I promise". He said smiling, "Will you come home tonight?".

Her heart stopped for a moment hearing the word home knowing he is calling her back there and the way the intensity of his words sends shivers everywhere. She feels Sobia stirs breaking her trance and she look down to find her eyes opening.

"My birthday is next month". He said holding Sirat from her looking down at her soft curls

"Now I need to think of a gift". She said softly smiling at Sobia who opens her eyes looking at her

"I don't need a gift, agar tum ho gi toh mere liye kaafi hai". He said smiling (if you are with me that's enough for me)

"Tumhae kaha tha yeh cheese thora kum rakha karo". She said shaking her head with a smile (I told you to be less chessy)

"Aur maine kaha tha k nahi rakho ga. Meri marzi mai jo marzi bolo apni begum ko. Haq halal ki ek ittni achi begum mili hai us ko nahi bolo ga toh kis ko bolon". He said watching her face turns red and he laughs (And I told you I won't. It's my wish what I say to my wife. You are my beautiful wife if I won't talk to you like this then who will I talk to)

His laughter made Sirat stirs in his hands and she opens her eyes smiling at her father.

"They look happy with you". He commented kissing Sirat forehead and her giggles

"No, they look happy with you". She said softly caressing Sobia cheeks, "I have an award show this week".

"What are you planning to do?". He asked confused

"I will think about it. For now, let's enjoy some family time". She said smiling

Hanan enters inside the house and her eyes fall on her sister wrapped in her husband hands while their daughters sleep beside them. She smiles loving that her sister might just understand what is truly important in her life.

The next few days they all went into a comfortable routine where she would stay in the house with the kids teaching them how they can speak well and then spending time with their father. Shayaan started to stay more in her apartment saying he can't sleep all alone in his house. His sister was mad at him for taking their daughters to Mahak but he said since she is their mother, she has all rights over her.

Which started a war.

"Do you think you can just take them away after I took care of them all these years?". His sister screamed as soon as he enters inside with the children

"Appi, please calm down. They are getting scared". He said holding a crying Sirat in his hands and Sobia wraps her hands around his legs

"No. You will answer me today. You throw them at me and I raised them. They are not your daughters anymore I own them". His sister said angrily

He frowns at her words, "Own them?. How are my children indebted to you?. You choose to move in here and take care of them for which I am grateful. But, in all this, they went away from me and I want to make it all right for them".

"No. I will not allow you to take them away from me". His sister said snatching Sirat forcefully from his hand and she starts to cry harder and then she proceeds to hold Sobia hand in a tight grip

His eyes widen as he finds the hint of obsession in his sister eyes and the way she tries to scare his daughter off by saying something in their ears that had them stop struggling in her hands. It took him merely a minute to realise what he had done to his own daughters.

"Beta". He said softly to them and they look at him with tears in their eyes, "It's ok. Come back to me".

The children look at his sister glaring at them clearly telling them not to do as he says and he feels almost helpless.

"Babies". He heard her voice that made him turn to find her standing beside him and her hand wrapped around his hand providing him support, "Won't you come to me?".

That was all it takes for Sobia to push his sister hand away and run into Mahak arms and he went forward forcefully taking Sirat away and hiding her in his chest as she weeps.

"I think you understand now". She said to him as she holds Sobia in her arms patting her back as she cries in her chest

He nodded looking at his sister that he thought was his last family yet she choose to do something to his children.

"Appi, I truly respect you and I know you have done enough for our daughters. Now, I don't want my daughters around you and it will be best if you move out of our house. I want to keep my family safe in my house". He said a stern, "Please leave immediately".

"I will never leave you". His sister said angrily, "You bitch-".

"Don't call my sister that". Hanan said angrily glaring at his sister

"She is everything that I ever said. She is the worse human who is self-centred, manipulative, whore and-". His sister started

"I said to mind your words". Hanan said leaping forward

By now, even his friends were here because they were supposed to watch a movie and they understand that something went down.

"Why?. She is jealous of you too. She is manipulating that's why she made you think she is nothing but a gold digger who sleeps-". His sister started

"Appi, stop right there. I won't hear another word". He warned angrily

"No, I will kill her". Hanan said taking another step towards her but she moves forward stopping her and hugging her to herself

"She doesn't know anything". Hanan cried in her chest," She is just speaking about things. She doesn't know what we went through and what you did for me".

"It doesn't matter. We don't have to tell anyone". She said patting her back

"No, she should know what she made me do to you". Hanan said moving back looking at her with tears in her eyes, "I cursed and blamed you for being in this profession. I told you so many things and hated you for so long. She doesn't know what reading her article made me do to you".

****
A/N: sorry for the late update. My parents health is distorting and this week is getting harder because of the every day hospitals visits. I tried writing this in all the free time I get. I hope it is worth it.

Next chapter will be the end.

Thank you so much for your support. In case I am not active here, please know I am stuck at the moment.

- Faiqa