She walks down the road with her luggage dragging it behind her through the cracks and hole of the street with everyone interested in the new gossips that are coming in.

She already knows her sister-in-law will say that she slept outside or something due to which her brother kicked her out instead of killing her, how he should have.

She doesn't understand the concept of being hurtful to another human who is simply trying to live their life. Is it hard watching them live?.

She stopped when she travelled far enough from her house or that is what she called that place. Maybe she had a misconception about what a home is. Though she was taught it's a place we are safe and happy, she never found any of them at her parent's place or her ex-husband.

They both just placed her in their home for their benefits.

She walked some more until she stood in front of a woman's shelter and she never thought she will have to come here when she has a family of hers yet her she is.

She enters inside and after a brief introduction of herself without the back story, she got inside a room that looked ready to break at any given moment.

She found women around her and every single one of them carrying a story of their own lives. She didn't want to listen to them neither she wanted to disclose her story so she went outside to the little opening behind the shelter where some women were sitting.

As she stands there she felt something hit her head and she places her hand on her head to find blood. She didn't realise when more of the stones start to hit her as she stands there until someone pulled her back.

She kept her eyes closed tightly trying her best not to cry or whine about whatever happened however the pain that courses through her made her fall on the ground. When she felt no more of the stones hitting her body, she opened her eyes to find some women in front of her looking at her.

She found an elderly woman who sits in front of her placing her hand over her cheeks lovingly, "I am sorry you have to go through that".

"What was that?". She asked lowly as she feels her throat drying

"Those are some ignorant people who think all women who sinned or are a curse were taking in this shelter". The elderly woman explained taking her hand as she helps her stand, "I will take her to apply medicine on her wounds".

The woman didn't let go of her hand as they walk through the corridor until they reach an office. She enters after her as she asks her to sit on the couch while she brings the ointment.

After the woman was done applying the ointment even to the wounds gifted by her family, she gives her a pain relief medication.

"You should rest. You look like you have been through a lot". The elderly woman said warmly, "I am a visitor and a person who helps in the finance of this place. If you need my help, let me know".

She nodded trying to walk back to the room when all she feels is immense pain through her body and the moment she hit the bed, she was out.

Hamza stops his car in front of the shelter his mother love to visit for some reasons and he knows every time she leaves from here, she is sad.

He looks at his watch and exact 5 pm is when his mother came out and he went towards her hugging her tightly.

"Meri piyaari ammi jaan". He said smiling (my beautiful mother)

He didn't realise until a minute after that his mother is weeping in his embrace which made him worry. He takes her hand looking at her face filled with tears which he wipes away.

"Kia howa?. Kisi nae kuch kaha hai?. Bataein mai sub ko dekh loon ga". He said as raged filled his eyes (What happened?. Did someone said something?. Tell me, I will deal with all of them)

His mother shakes his head taking his hand, "Kabhi kisi auraat ka dil na dukahna, bohat kamzoor hoti hain woh dil k mamlay mai". (Don't ever hurt a woman's heart, they are very weak when it comes to their heart)

"Mera khayal tha k auraat he duniya ki woh ek hasti hai jo kisi bhi mamlay mai kamzoor nahi hoti bus log us ko majboor kar dayty hain is tarha sochny per". (I thought woman are the one being that is never weak in any situations, just that people make them seem that way)

"Duniya ka muqabala toh woh kar layti hai per apne dil ka nahi kar sakti". (She can deal with the world but not with her heart)

"Phir toh us k dil k muhafiz honay chahiyeh". (Then there should be guardian of her heart)

"Agar tumhae mauka mile, meri jaan, toh kabhi koi kami na chorna". (If you ever get a chance, my life, then don't leave any shortcomings)

"Vada raha". (I promise)

He made his mother sit in the car while he starts the car driving back to their house.

"What hurt you this time?". He asked softly

His mother sniffed and he couldn't ever get tired of her soft his mother is, "Today a 24 years old- young girl came in and she was bruised badly. She didn't want to go to the hospital when the management offered. I decided to speak to her so I went to find her and she was standing at the backside of the shelter where is a little garden for them. As I was about to go to her, those people started throwing stones at her a-and--".

He stopped the car at the side looking at his mother wide eyes, "What?. Stone?. How is she?. Should we take her to the hospital?".

His mother shakes her head, "She was ok. I took her inside but she looked so scared. She didn't even cry or do anything. She was just standing there as if she expected that. Like she knows the world will not stop hurting her so she started voluntarily getting hurt instead of saving herself. She is so young, Hamza, what has the world done to her?".

"They don't even leave children these days, what can we expect?". He said sighing as he worries about the women safety in that area, "Maybe we should move them".

"It's not like they will be safe anywhere. People will follow them wherever they go. I just feel so helpless. Why hurt them when those women were already hurt enough?". His mother said crying harder

Knowing that he will need his father help to calm his mother down, he drove back sending a message to his father to be home before they reach. As the car stops his mother went running inside and he knows that she went to his father arms.

He drives away from the house towards the park he always goes to draw alone. He places his things starting to paint as he looks around now and then but no one came. After having enough of the thoughts about her, he decided to find out exactly where she is.

She stands in her bakery the next morning looking at the male customer who just came walking inside as if he owns the place and the strong smell that oozes off him made her dizzy. She kept her face blank as she looks at him selecting the pastries randomly and she added them in a box.

She hands the box to him with the receipt and instead of holding the box, he held her hand. Her eyes widen as she tries to push his hand off her but he held her wrist twisting it causing pain to course through her body.

That was until someone held the man hand pulling it off her and she looks to find Hamza fury filled eyes looking at the man. He twists his hand painfully as a scream ripped through the man's mouth.

"Now you know how it feels when someone hurts you". Hamza snapped, "Get out of here before I break all your bones".

Hamza dust his clothes off watching the pastries now on the floor, "What a waste but good thing that filth didn't deserve such good sweets. Would you mind passing me a cloth to clean?".

She stands there looking at him shocked, "What?".

"Did you not hear me?". Hamza asked coming closer to her and she moves back so he stopped, "Sorry. I was just trying to grab the cloth behind you".

She stayed there watching as he takes the cloth passing her a smile going back to cleaning the floor. She stood there trying to process the whole situation and why is Hamza in her bakery?.

"Done". He said proudly when the floor was cleaned properly

"What are you doing here?". She asked confused

"Uh, this is a bakery?". He asked and she nodded, "So, I must have come to have something".

She frowns nodding innocently not thinking much about his action as he orders a coffee with a pastry. She places it in front of him walking back when he called her.

"I never got your name". He said even though he knows her name from his research

"Hadiya". She said softly as she starts to walk away but he calls her again

"Would you mind accompanying me?". He asked as she shakes her head, "Please?".

"You don't understand". She said in a low rush tone, "If someone sees you here with me, they will say bad things to you".

"And not to you?". He asked as his hand clenched

"I am used to that". She said shrugging

He sighs, "I told you to not lower yourself like that. When they say things that hurt you, fight back".

"What's the use of doing that?. They will only hurt me more". She said as she didn't even realise that she is sitting in front of him as he wanted

It was something about him that draws her to him.

"Will you continue to live your life with those people coming at you?. How long do you think you will do it before you can't anymore?". He asked leaning back as he observes the wound on her face and they only seem to increase every time he sees her

"I don't know. My life was never in my hand to plan anything until yesterday and if I think now it is in the hand of society to dictate". She said sighing

"What is that you want?". He asked curiously, "Everyone has something".

"I want to live". She said thoughtfully, "I just want some--".

She stopped hesitating because she doesn't think she deserves what she craves for.

"What is it?". He asked genuinely curious

"You will think I am not worthy". She said sighing

"How can you decide that?". He asked raising his eyebrows

"Respect. I want to live my life respectfully". She said in a hurry before she overthinks and ruins it

"That's your basic right. It is something that people have to give to you not that you have to ask for it". He stated

"People don't respect other people". She said looking at her hands, "They will mock, drag, abuse and do everything that they are in the power of just so they can entertain themselves".

"People are the real devil and you want them to dictate your life?". He said agreeing, "No matter what form they come in, they are all devil in the end".

"Were you hurt by them?". She asked then her eyes widen, "I shouldn't have asked--".

"It's fine. I don't mind". He said waving off her concerns, "I was hurt by some important people who I should be looking up at and to navigate my way and cover the pain away from the one who loves me, left me--".

"Alone". She said completing his sentence and he nodded, "Something similar in my case. Now I know why you look so familiar".

He smiles, "I look familiar to you?".

She curses herself to say those thoughts out loud as she purses her lips looking anywhere but at him.

"I-I never said that". She said hurriedly as she runs into her kitchen hearing his laughter behind her

After he left, she felt a little lighter than she felt when she had to come to work in the morning. With a soft smile gazing her lips, she starts to work her way in the bakery. The door opened again and she anticipated a customer when she finds him walking inside again with a bag in his hand.

"Every time I see you, there are more wounds on you". He said placing the bag full of medicine in front of her, "Your body is yours to take care of and to do what you want with it, you will be questioned by Lord about it. Do you think placing it in front of those filthy people to abuse it, is the right thing to do?. Because as soon as you show your weakness, they will rip you apart".

"You think I own my body?". She asked confused and he frowns because was the even a question

"If not you, then who?". He asked

"Um, my husband or family?". She said getting more confused

He took a deep breath, "No one besides you can have any rights on your body. What you choose to do with it and how you wish to protect is on you and no one else. If they were they so-called protector of it, you would not be suffering this way".

"I don't think people appreciate women when they think of their body first before anything else". She commented watching as his eyes held nothing short of burning fire

He leans in closer towards her, "People appreciate nothing no matter what".

He moves out of the bakery and she watches him going into his car, driving away. As she shut her bakery she starts walking when she finds herself back in the park.

For the first time in years her curiosity strike as she walks towards the place she first found him. Luckily, she found him on the same spot painting and look around.

"Looking for someone?". She asked startling him which made her laugh when she watches the way he reacted, "You said I was easy to scare".

"Funny". He said deadpan but with a smile because this is the first time he saw her smiling

"What are you drawing?". She asked trying to look past him at the drawing he was hiding, "Let me see".

He shakes his head looking at her nervously, "I promise some other day".

"Please?". She asked adorably as he felt his heart pounding harshly

"No. Not today". He said firm

"Fine. I am leaving". She said standing from the bench starting to leave

"Wait". He said halting her as she turns around excitedly at the hope that he will let her see the painting, "How about you come to my exhibition day after tomorrow?".

"You have your gallery?". She asked moving closer to him, "That is so amazing".

He shrugged a little embarrassed, "Uh, my Ammi Jaan wanted me to display them once in a while".

"She is right. I love your last painting too". She said smiling, "I will come. Give me the address".

"You have to come, ok?". He said looking at her not wanting her to miss this event

"Promise". She said without realising what she was heading to

After that day she waited excitedly to see his painting and finally, the day came in and she wore her best dress not wanting to embarrass herself. As she walks inside she finds many people looking at the painting and she knows just by glance they all had similarities showing off the pain.

She walks further inside when she finds that in the centre was his masterpiece that everyone was looking at and as she makes her way through the people, her breathing hitched when she found the painting.

Maybe not many people could see that it is her but she can. It was the day in the bakery after he went out of the bakery and she had a smile on her face.

However, that was not what she finds breathtaking, it was that the ugly bruises that covered most of her face and body were shown as a battle scar. They were made so beautifully as the flower stems out of those wounds and it was something similar to those wounds bringing her back to life.

"He is here". She heard someone say as she turns around to find her ex-husband walking inside with his head held high

"Shah Nawaz". She feels her heartbreaking as she watches him