An early update for you all. Enjoy. Don't forget to read the note at the end.

***

"Mama, you cannot cook". Her oldest son- Rayan (10) said trying to look intimidating but he must have forgotten that she had dealt with his father for years now

"Yes, ma". Her youngest son- Wali (6) said trying to copy his brother by standing beside him

"I will tell papa if you try to cook". Rayan warned

She huffed.

He looks at his files, tried of the day and the same old meetings he had to attend. All he wishes in this part of his life is to stay in the home with his family.

Family.

It seems like yesterday when he never even thought of a woman much less having a family with one. He had always stayed away from woman besides the one he needed to save.

He understood that the fear from his mother abandoning him was deep. Hence, he never thought of having a woman by his side. From his mother teaching, he never tried to be with anyone either. His mother taught him to care, respect and loyalty to the one he might love and he learned it.

But his mother didn't teach him about the fear that she instilled in him. While trying to create a perfect man out of her boys, she neglects the part where she needed to teach them something more than the good things.

He learned them anyway. Staying in a shitty orphanage, being bullied, abused, thrown away, harassed and look down on- he learned his ways to this world at a young age. He was glad his father's party died when he started his work or it might have caused an issue- just that he never told anyone that he had a big part in presenting their secrets to the world.

He wanted them gone. Not just because of his father. But because each of those men was filthy, disgusting and criminal who were out to ruin lives. He killed most of them especially those who went on with women and for the other- he placed them in faraway jail.

Just like that, he learned the way to the world. But, he didn't learn the way to his heart. Yes, he found his demon and he dealt with them perfectly. He neglected his heart in all of this. He didn't care for it and just let it be.

Until, she knocked on it and ripped it out of him. His wife. She was the one who told him what was the purpose of his heart. She showed him emotions and feelings. She showed him a world he never thought he could create and she showed him what he deserved.

His wife was the sole purpose of peace in his life now. He had cared for her in every way possible and he loved watching her every phase. From, being the mother of his children, caring for them and most importantly her school.

Yes, she managed to build a school.

The fact that she did manage to have people invest in it was something he was proud of. Though, he takes a small part of the share just so he can support her decision when the board members reject it- most of the people were from everywhere.

She was still working on expanding it further and the hustle for success was rather endearing to watch. He stood beside her proud of everything they have done so far and how far they have come.

He cracked his neck hearing his bone making a sound and he sighs. He wants to go home.

"Why so sad?" He heard the annoying voice and this man never learns

"I swear I told my security to not allow you in". He grumbles

Zaheer laughs naughty, "Guess how I managed to pass through?"

"You called my wife". He said rolling his eyes knowing she was the only one who can pass through his security

"Your little birdie is the only kind-hearted person around here".

He shakes his head looking at the file so he can be done. If there is a slight improvement in him, it's that he let this man bother him sometimes. Only because he was the reason he met his wife.

"What can I do for you?" He asked placing the file on the desk, "Who do I need to save? And don't even say we because the last time you said it, I met that brat".

He remembers that day after a month of his marriage.

"Who do I need to save?" He asked sighing because it's just been a month and he wants to take his wife somewhere away from here

Zaheer smirks, "We are going to save someone, actually".

"Who is this?"

"His name is Zubair".

He shouldn't have agreed to same this boy. He has serious attitude and anger problems. Why does it remind him of someone?

"Look, you can't walk in places and think that you will save the world. That's not how it works". He said looking at Zubair sitting on the side of the broken street breathing heavily

Zubair glare at him, "I never asked for your help".

"But you did needed it. Why don't you work without causing trouble and placing yourself in one and you won't ever need me". He said narrowing his eyes

"Just because they call you devil doesn't mean there aren't more walking around".

He places his hand on his shoulder that was hurt pressing on it, "They called me the devil for a reason. And if you know better, you should know the devil lives longer than anyone else".

Zubair pushes his hand away standing, "I am leaving".

"Your thanks is due". He shouted watching him run down the street, "That boy has no manner".

Zaheer rolls his eyes, "You are complaining".

"No. I liked him".

Zubair turned around the corner feeling the anger coursing through him and he wants to go back and knock those men out. He couldn't do that with a broken shoulder and more bruises decorating his body. One of the scar he managed to have crossed over his left eye and down his cheek.

Zubair just feels so much anger. He wants to kill. He wants to murder. He is a psycho.

"Save me". He heard someone yelling and his head turned to the terrified voice

He saw a little crowd standing away watching the scene as if it was an entertaining scene. In reality, a woman stood there with a man hovering over her and a sharp knife in his hand. The flashes of the scar he had on his skin passed through him and his feet march to the man kicking him. In a minute or two, he managed to put the man down and he watched how people were taking out their phone to film this and build him as a hero. Oh, they love hero only that they don't try to be one when needed.

"Get lost". He yelled and everyone shattered away

He turned to the petrified woman bending in front of her taking his jacket off placing it on her shoulder. Her beautiful warm brown eyes look at him in the glee of being saved and as if he was some superhero.

"Thank you so much". The woman said who looks younger, "My brother would have killed that man if he gets to know about this".

He snickers, "What? Your brother is a murderer".

She looks at him angrily, "No. My brother is an amazing man. Don't talk about him like that".

She huffed standing hissing in pain, "Thank you for the help".

She turned around walking away when he spoke, "What's your name?"

She turns to look at him, "I am telling you only because you saved me. I am Aima".

Then she walked away. Not for long.

That brat was a lot more close now. More than he would like.

"Come on. Zubair is a good addition to us". Zaheer said grinning and he throws the first thing he found at him which he dodges, "I will send the details to you".

"Ok".

He will do saving sphere tomorrow. He is going home. His home.

He enters the house to find his wife sulking on the couch with her hand crossed over her chest.

"Who dares to cross you?" He asked amused

She huffed, "Your children".

"Our, actually". He said earning a glare, "Ok, what did they do?"

She throws her hand in the air, "They kicked me out of the kitchen".

"They did?" He asked grinning, "Let me go and praise my boys work. Maybe just increase their allowance".

"Tauheed". She said angrily

"Ji, Tauheed ki Jaan?" (Yes, Tauheed's life)

She huffed, "Why am I still banned from your kitchen?"

He taps her nose smiling, "Because the men of this house are capable enough to make their women feel like Queen. Now sit tight and I will have a word with our boys".

He enters the kitchen to find his boys cooking perfectly something they took from him. Even at this age, they are well trained.

"Good job, sons". He said startling them and they came running to him showering him with hugs and kisses

He remembers how he was scared the first time and even after that to be with them. The fear of hurting them and not being good enough. But, he knows something that he was the one who they will look up to and he needed to do the best for them to learn from. He was glad that by far they have learned the best things from both of them.

He kissed their forehead lovingly, "I am proud of you both. Don't tell mama that".

Ryan chuckles, "We made pasta because Afifa likes it".

"Right. That little angel of mine". He said dreamily, "Let me get her and we will all eat".

He walks past his wife kissing her cheeks as she continued to work on her presentation and entering inside his daughter room who just turned four. He knows she must be taking her nap after a full day of entertaining everyone in the house. Just like she had him wrapped around her little fingers, she had everyone wrapped too.

He slowly moves to her small bed where she was sleeping and he places his hand on the bed and his head on it looking at his angel. His daughter was the best and beautiful creation ever (of course, after his wife). She had his heart the first time he heard of her. He was sure that this girl will be the best addition to his family and he was right.

He cooed her and she opens her eyes blinking them. After a minute or two, she finally looks at him and jumped at him giggling when he caught her. He always have a heart attack when she does that, he learned real quick to make sure he catches her and she doesn't get hurt. He doesn't like her being hurt. Instead, he doesn't like any one of his family getting hurt.

His daughter placed her tiny head on his chest sighing, "Pa".

Just like his son-Wali, she has a speech problem too. They both are improving but they know they need their time.

He sighs, "Your brother made pasta for you".

"Pashta". His daughter said grinning, "Pashta".

He laughs nodding, "Let's go".

He turns around to find his wife looking at them and she spoke coming closer, "You need to clean yourself before you join us for dinner".

"Let's go and clean yourself instead". He said smirking and she blushes taking their daughter

"I am good. Get going". She said shaking her head as she starts to talk to their daughter animated

After cleaning himself he felt better as he exits the bathroom to find his wife waiting for him.

"Where is everyone?" He asked walking towards her taking her hand kissing it

"They are well behaved so I left them to watch some cartoon until we can join". She said smiling

"Well, is there a specific reason for you to invade my private moment".

"I didn't complain when you invade in my life".

He laughs, "It's the other way around you know that".

"No way. All I did was to tell an annoying man off. I didn't know he will be my husband. Imagine if I was getting husbands like--".

He kissed her.

He pulls away, "You are not getting any more husbands. We promised we are staying together here and hereafter".

"I am stuck with you everywhere". She said huffing

He smiles, "That's true. I am not leaving you alone".

"You better".

He kisses her cheeks lovingly, "We should go because if the pasta gets cold, they will be sad".

He looks around the table to find his sons helping their sister to eat nicely and his wife busy talking to them. The laughter, joy and pain they share only made them stronger to be a family of four now. Who knows there might be more additions? He doesn't mind at all.

"Oh, right". She said as she was done with her presentation looking at her husband, "There is someone who wishes to meet you".

He frowns, "Please don't tell me it's Zubair. I swear I will kill him".

"I think you are in love with him". She said and he looks at her weirdly, "I never even took his name and you are thinking about him".

"Because you always try to make us have a civil relationship". He said disgustedly whenever his wife made them hug when they are only throwing insults at each other

She rolls her eyes, "He is family".

"Not by choice that is".

"Forget it".

"But who is that you were talking about?"

"I am not telling you".

"Come on, please, Meri Jaan".

She smiles gently, "Our child in about eight months".

Oh, he already knew about that. Time to pretend he didn't have any idea.

He wrapped his arms around her kissing her forehead lovingly,"You know what you are?"

"What?"

"My little birdie".

That was them.

Tauheed and Sarah.

****

Ok, we need to get serious.

Who is cutting all these damn onions?

Honestly, this was the best journey ever. If you look back to this story, it was all based on words and conversations.

This story was one shot at first before I decided that this cannot be just a one-shot- it was much more than that.

I wanted to write about mental health in raw form for a while. I wanted to write where the trauma shows real effects and how some people whose trauma doesn't leave them but they fight them every day to be better.

This battle that they fought was simply so overwhelming for me to witness. I just love them.

*coughs* did someone see the teaser of the possible story *coughs intensifies* yeah might just happen along the line.

But, this story is close to my heart. It was easy to write even when the topic was sensitive. I tried my best to show the aspects of both their lives, fights, pain and most of all their happiness.

The improvement especially in his character was so real. Like, I know for a fact because all day I imagined his scenes and waited to write and show them to you all. He did so well. They did so well.

It was his character that had made me write after my writer block. And the line of 50.1 where he says "what's so good about this modern world" and that was it. Bam! I have a story that need to be published.

What was your favourite part? Did you liked it? Who was your favourite?

Ok, but serious question- Zaheer or Tauheed? Choose wisely

God, I just don't want to let them go this soon. 😭❤

I have two more stories lined up. Hopefully, when I complete them, they will be out. Just a little writer block on them.

I love you all and your support. I have a small gift coming out tomorrow so stay tuned. And no, it's not a story- I mean it is but it's not. Yeah, if that makes sense if not wait until midnight GMT.

See you all soon.

Your author,

Faiqa.