She feels something on her face which she slaps away irritated as she turns the other side only to feel the tingling sensation again.

"Badar, agar mai uthi gayi na toh ap k liye acha nahi ho ga". She said frustrated as she closes her eyes again (Badar, if I woke up then it won't be good for you)

She continued to feel the same feather irritating her as she opens her eyes sitting on the bed watching her husband with his usual smile on his face.

"Kia masla hai jo ap subha subha shoro ho gayein hain?". She asked huffing knowing she can't sleep now (what is your problem that you woke me this early?)

"Begum, zara time to dekho?. Yeh subha hai?". He asked pointing to the clock on the wall that reads 1 pm, "Yeh aj kal tumhari subha isi time hoti hai wese".

(Wifey, look at the time?. Is this morning?) (By the way these days your mornings are always at this time)

She rolls her eyes, "Toh saari raat agar ap mera damag kharab karain gay, toh isi time he utho gi na". (If you eat my brain all night then my morning will be this late)

She tie her hair in a messy bun with a hairband which he removes from her hair shaking his head.

"Is tarha zayada achi lagti ho". He said grinning (you look pretty like this)

"Apko lagti hoon gi mujhe is waqt ap zahar lag rahy hain". (To you I might appear good but you don't look good to me at this moment)

"Konsi koi nayi baat hai, yeh toh pichly kitne saalo se sun raha hoon". (That's nothing new, I have been hearing that since years)

"Zara jo koshish ki ho apne ap ko badalny ki". (You haven't ever tried to change yourself)

"Kyun karoon ga mai?. Mai behtareen hoon". (Why will I?. I am the best)

"Uff! Ek toh yeh attitude kum nahi howa ittne saalo mai". She said groaning while he chuckles, "Ab kia kaam tha jo ap nae yeh zulm kia hai?".

(Uff! This attitude didn't change in years) (Now what is the reason of this torture?)

He rolls his eyes at his wife usual dramatic tactics, "Maine socha tha aj toh tum khushi khushi utho gi per lagta hai bhool gayi ho". (I thought you will wake up happily today I guess you forgot about today)

She thought for some time when she realised they were supposed to prepare an event for the orphanage children.

"Mujhe pehle kyun nahi uthaya?. Ab toh ittne late ho gaye". She said panicked (why didn't you wake me early?. It's so late now)

"Begum, aj tk yeh tension layni wali adaat nahi badli". He said wrapping his hand around her waist pulling her back to the bed, "Mujh per barosa karo, maine saara kaam kar liya hai".

(Wifey, this habit of taking tension never changes in you) (trust me a little I have done all the work)

"Akele kyun kia?. Pata hai k kaam ittna zayada tha phir tabiyat kharab ho gayi toh?".

(Why did you do it alone?. You know it was a lot of work, what if you get sick again?)

"Toh ap theek kar dayna". (Then you nurture me back to health)

She glare at him, "Doctor hoon mai?".(Am I a doctor)

"Nahi. Meri mohabbat hain". (No, you are my love)

"Mazak nahi kar rahi thi mai. Medicine li thi?".  (I am not joking. Did you take your medicine?)

"Ji ji. Sub kuch kar liya hai ab ap ko layny aya hoon". (Yes, yes. I did everything now I am here to take you to orphanage)

She nodded as she went to the bathroom preparing for the day. They always do an event once a year in the orphanage where the children can enjoy themselves without being burdened of life.

Orphanage starts to grows every year and the children start to increase though she didn't like the fact that many children were simply thrown away she was glad they have a place to live in.

It is when she looks at those children wanting to live even after everything they have been through is when she thinks about how she has wasted her time in thinking she shouldn't have lived.

Those times where she lost the love of her life were hardest with people making it worse with their bitter words. Not even a day after his death and everyone started accusing her and more. She wasn't even in her right mind to fight them off.

She was still thankful her parents stayed with her for enough time to help her state.

Now when she looks back at that time she wishes she has spent those golden years in a better way.

But don't we all regret the time we can't go back to?.

Instead of continuous regret of the things she couldn't do in the past, she starts to live in the present. She starts to grow again in a different way this time.

In his love.

She has seen his love over the years in many forms and each of which she is pleased with. The understanding they have was nothing like what anyone can understand. Their pain joined them together to build a better life.

He was still the same in the sense of annoying her. The constant bickering becomes an important part of their lives which made their day a little more exciting.

Even when her external family abandoned her and her past husband family wanted her as their personal property, she was struggling with everything all alone. Her cousin- Eisha was forced to stay away from her because they all said she was jinxed.

That is when she met him who walks in her life as a bright shining star of hers.

He faced criticism from everyone around him even his mother for choosing a way to live without securing his future. The most he heard were the fact that he chose to live in his wife house which is a shame for men in this so-called modern world.

He wasn't the one who built weak enough to be swayed by this nonsense though his soft wife does sway at times. Even he had a nightmare, especially whenever the date approached of his last war.

But, they were prepared for those days.

They know how to handle one another and not push each other away. They embraced each other whenever they reach their lowest.

He didn't understand the need of people to pinpoint the things in their marriage. She was criticised along with him for not having a child even when they were getting old every day.

People simply forgot how important it is to be stable enough to have a child. They have their mental and financial problems at all times to bring a child in their suffering and mess his beautiful life with theirs.

The fact that the child will bring his wealth just as a wife will bring her fortune is said in the society is the reason for many broken and unstable people today.

They weren't listening to anyone else besides themselves.

She enters inside the orphanage with the dress she is supposed to wear in her hand because she has to work for now and she didn't want to dirty the dress.

She moves to the office placing her dress looking at the owner picture on the table. She smiles because this amazing woman brings her out of the dark and made her meet her amazing husband. This woman sorted so many lives and in the end, she went away a year and a half after her marriage.

She named her husband the guardian of this orphanage since she trusted no one else. It came as a shocker to everyone because they weren't expecting this and she never spoke of this until her will was read.

She was glad though because that woman saw the deeper image no one else could look at. Because her husband was juggling in his life while cursing himself for not being enough, that woman gave him a world where he can be anything he wanted to be.

She never saw her husband more at peace while he became a hero in front of all those children who loved hearing him and some even went to the army because of his stories.

Because these children never judged him and never hear his stories for gossips or giving pieces of advice. They just listen in their innocence while looking up at him.

That is the new role he is living up to.

To have a reason to live is the thing that carries one forward and the fact that they found their purposes in life because they were married and wanted to do their best is the motive that brought them so far.

Life never stopped giving them hardship and they stopped expecting to only find happiness in this temporary world. They never run after money but they run after each other to strengthen the bond they had.

He wrapped his arms around her placing his head on her shoulder, "Ittna kia soch rahi ho?". She shrugged, "Log sochy gay k mai apni begum per ittna zulm karta hoon k un ka ittna sa mu nikal aya hai. Yeh mu lay kar bahr na chali jana meri izaat ka janaza nikal jaye ga".

(What are you thinking about?) (People will think I torture my wife that she has this look on her face. My respect in society will be gone if they look at you like this)

She laughs wholeheartedly, "Ap bhi pata nahi kia kia bolte hain. Mai toh yeh soch rahi thi k kaha hum sochty the k hamare koi bachy nahi ho gay aur Khuda nae hamare zindagi mai ittne saare bachy likh diyay".

(You say weird things. I was thinking that we used to think we will have no children and then Lord gave us so many of them)

He turns her around watching the shine in her eyes which he had prayed for.

"Khuda k kaamo mai hum kia kah sakty hain. Woh jub apne bandho ko nawaazna shoro karta hai toh insaan sirf shukar he kar sakta hai".  (What can we say in Lord work. When he starts to bless his people all we can do is to be thankful to Him)

She nodded placing her head against his chest, "Ab mujhe kaam karny jana hai toh ap chorein mujhe warna log kahy gay k bechare shohar ka keema bana diya hai maine". (Now I have to go and do work so let me go or the people will say I torture my poor husband)

He chuckles kissing her cheeks as she blushes, "Ab toh is sub ki adaat dal lo. Abhi bhi lagta hai k wohi meri naye dulhan ho".  (Be habitual of this now. It still seem like you are my new bride)

She rolls her eyes, "Jaha tk mujhe yaad hai apko mere se shaadi nahi karni thi". (As far as I know you didn't wanted to marry me)

He laughs, "Aur ap mere pichy bandhy chorny wali thi ab apni jaan kis ko piyaari nahi hoti!?". (And you were going to hire men to marry me. Who doesn't love their life!?)

She slaps his chest, "Ab ap mujhe chorein". (Now let me go)

"Abhi chor raha hoon lakn phir nahi choroon ga". He said smiling as she moves away from him, "Is na cheez k liye time zaror rakhein apne busy schedule mai". (I am letting you go now but I won't later) (make some time for this poor man in your busy schedule)

"Kis khushi mai?. Mere pass farig kaamo k liye koi time nahi hai". (And why?. I don't have free time to spend it on you)

"Ab ittna bhi farig insaan nahi hoon mai". (Now I am not that bad that you can't make time for me)

"Yeh ap ki khush fahmi hai, mere se pochein toh kuch aur he hain ap". (That is what you like to think, if you ask me you are something else)

He shakes his head laughing as he turns to look at their family picture on the desk. He picks it up with a smile that they have come this far. His phone rings with a message and he went out of the office.

She looks around the decorations and the event started already. Her husband is the only one missing from here. She was frustrated that she managed to get ready in an hour while her husband who she wishes to show her dress to is not here.

She sighs.

"Is this your child?". She heard her husband's voice as she turns around and her eyes widen looking at them

"Adi". She said as tears brimmed her eyes and her son came closer to her hugging her tightly

Adi was the name that she wanted to name her child but she didn't wanted to offend her husband (Badar) by doing that. But, to her surprise when they found the gender Badar was the one who said they will name him their Adi.

"Don't cry, Ammi Jaan. I am here". Adi said smiling as he comforts his mother he had missed so much, "How do I look?".

She moves back still in her son's arms as she places her hand on his heart and to find him in his army uniform is something she has been proud of.

Their son came as their blessing after 2 years of their marriage when they were stable enough. They wanted to make sure they bring him in an environment where he learns the best values and in the end, he did learn the values they wanted to teach him.

Inspired by his father- Adi decided to enter the army just like his father at an early age. There was never bad blood or objection from any of them in Adi's decision because no matter what and how many lives goes in this work of line- it was still a job not everyone can do.

Though she fears losing him she understands through time what is meant to happen, will happen no matter how safe a job is so she let her child pursue what they like.

"Don't forget your only daughter, Ammi". She heard her daughter whining as she turns to find Adi's twin standing there in her army uniform

Both of her children went to the army after they were of age. She went towards her daughter hugging her tightly because when her daughter was young, she almost lost her and the fear still lives in her.

"They are my children". She said smiling as she looks at her husband

"Our". Her husband said smiling as he hugs his precious daughter while she hugs her son, "Let's go and enjoy ourselves".

"You said you can't make it". She said passing her son a piece of cake that he likes, "Did you take some days off?".

Her son nodded, "I wanted to see my mother so I can function properly".

She shakes her head smiling, "You are just like your father".

"Can I ask you something?". Her so said turning to look at her as she nodded, "Do you love Baba?".

She smiles, "Why do you ask that?".

"Baba told me that even if a woman doesn't love you from her heart, the fact that she stays with you and takes care of you is enough for you if you love her. He said that whatever a woman does even if it's staying with a man she can't give her heart to, she still does it by her heart and to her best abilities". Her son said, "He said he loved you enough. He said that your presence with him was all he ever needed for his heart to be at ease. He said that love isn't something constant and it can change but if you feel the need of someone for your soul, that connection is stronger and that is what you two had".

She places her hand on his face lovingly, "Beta, agar us shakhs jis nae dobara jeena seekhaya ho us se mohabbat na karo toh gunnah he ho ga shayeed".  (Son, if you don't love a person who made you want to live again, it might be a sin)

"Toh ap Baba se--". Her son started (so, you--)

She feels someone bumping into her and she turns around to find her husband.

"Dekho meri galti nahi hai tumhari beti--". (Look, its not my fault, your daughter--)

"Ap ki galti kub hoti hai?. Aur yeh kia jub hamari beti kuch galat kary toh woh sirf meri beti ho jati hai?. Maine akele banaya tha us ko?". (When is it ever your mistake?. And what's with only my daughter whenever she does something wrong?. Did I make her alone?)

"Akele toh nahi yaad karny per mai bhi tha shamil". He said haughty making her roll her eyes, "Aur mai koi maafi nahi magny wala jub meri galti hai he nahi". (No, as far as I remember I was also involved in her making) (and I won't ask for an apologise when it's not my fault)

"Baba never apologised to her, did he?". Her son asked her daughter

Her daughter chuckles, "I think he never apologises so they can revive their past memories".

"Dekhein ap-". She started (look, you--)

He wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer, "Dekhao na". (Show me)

"Wese hamare bete ko mohabbat ho gayi hai". She said excitedly as she place her hand over his chest (by the way, our son is in love)

"Apne baap ki tarha". He said gazing at her fondly, "Hamari beti ko bhi mohabbat ho gayi hai". (Like his father) (and our daughter is in love too)

She smiles as her eyes shine in love looking a the man who changed her life to the better, "Bilkul apni maa ki tarha". (Just like her mother)

His eyes widen because this is the first time she confessed, "A-Apko mere se mohabbat hai?". (You love me?)

"Be-had". (Very much)

"Mai bhi". (Me too)

She started to live for the one who was living with her instead of dying with the dead.

That was them.

Badar and Sanam.

The end.

*****

Woah! They have come so far.

You didn't think I won't give my favourite children, did you!?. ;)

How many past references did you see?.

Even I squeal when their son came in their her daughter.

:D.

See you all soon.

Your author,

Faiqa.