Pointers:

1- Gulnar was not mentioned in the previous two shots.

2- This is the story of second brother- Danish

3- Gulnar is the daughter of Zoya's stepmother brother's (if you get what I mean, hehe)

**♡♡**

Danish open his eyes, looking at the stars on his ceiling. He heard a soft cry from outside. He frowns, because his mother told him that children don't stay awake past 7 pm.

He is eight.

He opens his room door quietly, tipping towards the soft cry. He walks towards the kitchen, before he could enter, he found a small body on the side of it.

Gulnar. She is four.

He bends in front of her, shaking her as she was about to shout, he places his hand over her lips. He places a finger to his lips asking her to be quiet and she nodded.

He removes his hand, sitting crisscrossed in front of her. He tilts his head, watching the tears leaving her eyes so carefree.

"What's wrong?"

Gulnar sniffed, wiping her snorts with the sleeve of her shirt, "I am hungry".

"You didn't eat?"

"Aunt said I don't deserve food because I am a bad girl. She didn't give me food".

He frowns at the mean words, "Then eat now".

She slams her tiny hands frustrated on the ground, "I can't eat because I can't reach".

A soft smile covers his lips as he moves forward, placing his tiny hand over her cheeks, wiping her tears away.

"You are crying just because of that?" He asked softly and she nodded as more tears filled her eyes, "Woah, your eyes are so big and your tears are bigger. They shine when you cry. I like it".

She pouts, "You like when I cry?"

"No. I like your eyes".

He forwards his hand, once he was standing, to her which she takes immediately. He brings her to the kitchen as he opens the snacks rack that no one is allowed in. He sneaks a few snacks from there.

"Give me". She said grinning as she tries to reach for a bag and he moves it away, which made her sad, "I don't deserve it?"

"Nothing like that". He said huffing, "I just don't want us to be caught. So, we will take these snacks to my room and eat. What do you say?"

She nodded immediately as she silently follows behind him. Following his every move. The way he walks and the way his head turns to the side, she copies it all.

He trips when he enters his room and she trips beside him. She looks at him, with her twinkling eyes, waiting for his next move. He did want to cry because he did fall pretty badly. He usually cries every time he is hurt a little because his mother always comes to his aid and care.

But, if he cries now, she will cry too. He didn't like her crying. So, he took a deep breath and she took a deep breath too. He hides his tears away.

He stands from the ground, forwarding his hand to her and she places her small hands in his hand.

"Woah. Look at your hand". She said, clapping their hands, "Mine is so small".

"Because you are just four". He said, tapping her red nose, "And, I am eight".

"Eight is big?" She asked, innocently

He puffs his chest, "I am big, aren't I?" She nodded vigorously, "So, eight is big".

"I want to be eight". She said, crossing her small hand on her chest and a determined look on her face, "I want eight".

"You can't turn ten like that". He said sighing, "You have to turn 6, 7, and then 8".

"Why?"

"Why, what?"

"Why no eight?"

He twisted his lips, "I don't know. Everyone told me, that I turn eight after going through all the other numbers".

"So, I can't be eight". She said sadly, "Means no food till eight".

"How about this?" He said softly, gaining her interest, "Until, you turn eight, I will help you to food. Ok?"

"Promise?"

He takes out his pinky, "Promise".

She grins, as he asks her to hop on his bed and she starts to jump on it, giggling.

"Jumping bed". She said, laughing because she hasn't seen such a bed, "I like it".

"Shhh". He said scared, "Someone will hear you".

She immediately stops, looking at him sadly, "I don't want to go, please".

"I won't let them take you. But, you have to stay quiet. Ok?"

She nodded, placing a finger on her lips then she whispers, "If I stay quiet, no one will take me?"

"Yes. No one will ever take you".

"Ok. I won't speak".

****

It was her first day of kindergarten. She has Zoya with her. But, she is nervous. She is five.

She doesn't want to go. Maybe if he is there with her, she will be fine?

She sulks as she sits in the lounge dressed in school uniform.

"Why are you not happy?" He asked, sitting in front of her as he gives her a sandwich he made

She takes the sandwich eagerly as she starts to eat, "I don't want to go".

"Why not?" He asked, placing her hair in a pin so they don't fall on her face

"I don't know".

He smiles, "You wanted to grow, right?"

She nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, please".

"This is what you can do to grow quickly".

She realised he is right because he goes every day and he is growing. She actually enjoyed her first day. Though the annoying children were crying for their mother, she didn't have one so she can't exactly cry and if she cries for her aunt, she will slap her instead.

So, even when she felt like crying, she didn't.

She walks out of the door, knowing the driver must be here. Her face was pale and she was exhausted. She didn't even get to eat much because someone pushed her lunch box to the ground.

"Was it that bad?" She heard his voice as her eyes widen looking at him

She runs towards him, wrapping her hands around his leg, "Dawnish".

He laughs, holding her in his arms, "Now I can see you are happy".

"Because you are here". She said smiling, "Everyone parents came to pick them so I was alone. I thought I have to go back with a driver and everyone will laugh".

He nodded sadly, "But I am here?"

"Yes. I will tell them you are my family so they can never tease me".

He did become her family.

*****

She grabs a few snacks from under his bed when she heard the door opening, thinking it must be him, she raises her head, hitting it on the bed.

Her eyes filled with tears as he rushes towards her, pulling her out of the bed and in his arms.

"Why did you not move out, silly?" He said, patting her back like his does whenever he cries, "It's ok. I promise, it will be ok soon. The sun shines after the darkness".

She sniffed, holding his shirt in her tight small hands, "I want food".

He laughs, "You always want food".

She grins as she pulls back, looking at him, "Food is good".

"I know. I know". He said, making her sit on the couch as he takes the snacks out, giving it to her, "Have it".

*****

She sighs.

She has been in his room for the past hour and he isn't here. He is supposed to be home after school, but he wasn't here.

She is eight.

She heard the door opening, and she immediately starts to squeal only to find his younger brother- Ahsan walking in.

Her smile fell.

"What are you doing here?" Ahsan asked confused as his eyes fell on her snacks that she was waiting to eat with Danish, "Oh! Food".

Before she could have stopped him, he started eating the snacks. And, it was the end of the month so there weren't enough snacks left.

She wanted to eat them with Danish.

Her lips wobble as she stands there, looking at his brother eating all the snacks. She cannot even say anything because her aunt had always hit her whenever she said something that she didn't want to do.

"Why are you crying? What happened? Did someone hurt you?" Danish said, throwing his bag on the side of his room, running to her, once he saw her eyes filling with tears

She shakes her head, ready to wipe her tears when he wipes them off.

"Then?"

She pointed wordlessly to his younger brother who was busy on his eating spree to even notice his presence. He hit his brother who groaned at him.

"Why did you eat her snacks?" He demanded

"I didn't know it was her snacks. She didn't say anything". Ahsan said hurriedly, scared of his brother anger

"She is crying because of you". He snapped

"I am sorry". Ahsan said sadly

"Don't cry". She said, moving to his brother, placing her hand on his hand, "It's ok. The sun shines after the darkness".

They were the word he always said to her whenever she cries. And, she learned to say to anyone sad.

Ahsan smiles, "You are not mad at me?"

"No. Sad, but not mad". She said smiling lightly

He didn't like this.

He takes her hand, making her sit on the bed.

"Do we have more snacks?" He asked, looking under his bed and there were none

The only snack left was the one for him. They have labelled the snacks for themselves. He takes the packet, giving it to her.

"Eat it. I had something earlier". He lied, not looking at her because he was a bad liar, "Come on".

She grins innocently, taking the bad as she starts to eat and he continues to watch.

*****

She sits sadly, looking at her aunt scolding Maya.

Maya is not a bad girl. She is bad to Zoya for some reason, but she always shares stuff secretly with her.

She went out when her aunt raises her hand on Maya. She didn't like watching that. It always hurts.

She starts to weep as she sits in his room.

"Why are you crying?" He asked, worriedly

"I don't know". She said, as she hiccups

He sighs until an idea came to his mind.

"Look who is here?" She heard his voice as she raises her head, "The cow is here to make you happy".

She laughs. He looks ridiculous in that cow outfit. She continued to laugh as he did some stupid gestures.

"You look funny". She said, giggling as she touches his costume

"I can do that for you". He said tapping her nose, "If that's what makes you happy".

****

"How many times do I have to say that you are not allowed to play?" His aunt yelled angrily

His aunt was not a nice woman. His aunt always hits Zoya. And, she is also mean to Gulnar. Zoya is always protected by his older brother so she is safe for the most part.

But, what about Gulnar?

He watches as his aunt continues to hit Gulnar and scream at her. Gulnar remains on the ground, crying, begging and more crying which breaks his tiny heart. Tears build in his eyes until his mother stops his aunt.

His mother bends in front of Gulnar who immediately move back, scared that his mother might hit her like his aunt. That only creates more pain in his heart.

"Please, no". Gulnar said, scared for her life, "It hurts".

"If you don't let me see, I can't help you, beta". His mother said softly as she tries to reach Gulnar again and she moves away

"No. No. No". Gulnar said crying harder

"Why are you standing here?" Ahil (older brother) asked, standing him looking at Gulnar, "She needs you more than anyone".

"I am not strong. I am not strong to protect her like you protect Zoya". He cried

"I didn't become strong in a day". His brother consoled him, "All you have to do is be sure to become strong in time".

He nodded. He took a deep breath, walking towards Gulnar who immediately runs into his arms.

"It hurts". She cried and he blinks his eyes to not cry, "It all hurts".

He pats her back, "It's ok. The sun shines after the darkness".

****

She swings her leg, sitting on his bed as she waits yet again for him. He started taking football classes after school so he is always late.

He knows there are no snacks left for her to munch on. And if there are no snacks, it means, she will be sad. Sad doesn't look good on her.

He holds his pocket money in his hand as he stops his friend, "Take my book with you today".

"What about the homework and tests?" His friend asked

"I will do something. Just take them". He said, handing all his books to his friend

He went to the nearest store, buying all of her favourite snacks from his pocket money. He hides all of them in his bag later. He knows he is very late today.

After his mother wrath on that, he will have to make it up to her.

He sighs.

He enters the room, to find her sleeping on his bed. He frowns, not happy with himself that he had her wait that long. He places his bag on the side, going closer to her as he covers her with the duvet.

He knows, his aunt never allows her to sleep on the bed. Instead, she throws her out of the room at night, and she used to sleep on the couch or something. So, he always sneaks her into his room to sleep.

He closes the curtain, closing the lights, leaving the room so she can rest well.

*****

He had stayed with his friends for a birthday party. He wanted to sneak a piece of cake for her, but that didn't feel right.

He enters the living room, to find Ahsan acting as a model for Gulnar makeup experiment. The makeup he had begged his mother to give him because he can't go to the children store to buy a toy version alone.

He stands on the side, watching as she makes Ahsan wear all the makeup and all the makeup in the wrong way. The lipstick was smuggled, the eyeshadow was all over his face and the little dress (that is hers) didn't fit him well.

As Ahsan move a little, she gives him a simply adorable glare and she learned that from him. It can't even scare a soul, but she believes it does.

He smiles watching them until she squeals.

"You look like a princess". Her said, clapping her hand, "A little ugly princess".

"I knew I shouldn't have fallen for your eyes". Ahsan said groaning as he looks at him, "Save me, please".

He shrugged.

She immediately runs to him with her eyes wide open, "Do you like it?"

He looks over at Ahsan who looks like a clown and back at her eyes waiting patiently for his approval.

"I love it".

"Yes". She said hugging him

*****

"What are you looking at?" He asked, standing behind her

She shriek, looking at him annoyed, "That. What is that?"

He turns his head to find the women of his house applying henna for Eid.

"That is henna".

"I like it". She said as she admires the women applying it, "Does it hurt?"

"No". He said shaking his head, "Do you want to put it on?"

"Yes". She said excitedly

"Come on". He said, taking her hand as he walks her in, "Can you apply some on her hands?"

"No. Why will we waste money and henna on this brat?" His aunt (Zoya's stepmother) screamed and she hides behind him

"My father paid for it". He replied as his eyes held anger, "She can apply it if she wants to".

His aunt shut up and he makes her sit on the couch. As he was about to leave, she holds his sleeve, looking at him. He sighs, sitting beside her knowing that she is afraid her aunt will be angry again and the fear of women being near her.

Once they were done, they walked out and she jumps around in pure happiness.

"This is so pretty". She said joyful, "Look".

She raises her small hands for him and he smiles nodding.

"It does look good on you".

****

"Look. Look". She said giggling as she turns around in her frock, showing it off to him, "I look pretty".

He smiles, tapping her nose, which made her giggle, "Yes, you do. Like always. Do you like it?"

"I love it". She said, grinning and her beautiful eyes showing just how much she adores this new dress

He left her to enjoy with Zoya, knowing his elder brother is keeping an eye on those two.

"Are you sure you are ok with using your pocket money on her clothes?" His mother asked concerned

He smiles, hugging his mother, "It's fine, Ammi Jaan. Don't you see how happy she looks with her new clothes? You know aunt only get her daughter old and torn clothes for her".

He didn't like it. It always makes him mad whenever he finds her in those clothes. He had learned to stitch because of that. He did bleed a few times and did wrong knots, but after a few times, he learned how to stitch them.

But, that doesn't mean that he likes how she has to wear used clothes. He knows she rarely complains about things unless it involves food. But, he likes to see her in new pairs. Everyone remains focused on Zoya because she is the daughter of the house.

Gulnar isn't the daughter of this house. She is the daughter of his aunt's late brother. Having no one else takes her in, brings her to their doorstep. Her aunt rejected the idea too saying she doesn't want the child when she came in at the tender age of three. But, there was no other option.

Her mother died from giving birth to her and her father died when she was three because of a heart attack. She lost her family at an age she doesn't even remember anything about them. Yet, no one shows mercy to her especially his aunt.

"It's all good if it makes her happy". He assured his mother

****

"How can you be happy after killing your mother?" Her aunt said, shaking her hard as she continued to cry

She doesn't understand how she killed her mother. But, she did. It was her fault.

"I am sorry. I am sorry". She said, clasping her hand together, "Please, I am sorry".

Her aunt slaps her, "I don't care about you sorry. You killed your parents. You don't deserve happiness".

All she did was laugh with Zoya and few others. Her aunt heard her and she had forbidden her from laughing, playing and enjoying. That's why she always do all these three things behind Danish's room door.

She was just so excited when Zoya asked her to play with her new set. She didn't realise that it will not end well for her.

"I am sorry. It was all my fault". She cried

"No. It isn't". He snapped as he enters the room

He has been searching for her for the past few minutes since he came home. Zoya was crying when she told him that his aunt took Gulnar by her hair screaming at her.

This isn't the first time his aunt had done it. They do it to Zoya, but she is protected by many. And his aunt doesn't have that authority over her. But, Gulnar, his Gulnar always suffers because she is not anyone responsibility.

He snatched her out of his aunt's arms, placing her behind him.

"How can you do this to a child?" He screamed as rage filled his lungs, "Ammi told you to mind yourself, didn't she?"

"Who do you think you are?" His aunt shouted raising her hand

Gulnar immediately holds her aunt's legs, "Please don't hit him. Hit me. Please not him. It's not his fault. It's my fault".

"It's not your fault, Gulnar". He screamed, "Let her hit me once and she will see what everyone will do".

"No. No. It will hurt. I don't want you to get hurt. It hurts. No". She cried, as she pleads him to leave

He struggles to find a way to take her away and not feel this pathetic weakness in him. Watching her tears, hiccups and plead how long can he withstand?

He runs out of the door, hearing the beating as he runs to his parent's room, weeping.

"Please, Please, help Gulnar. Please". He cried, running towards his mother, "Please, Ammi. Us ki koi galti nahi hai per aunt us ko bohat maar rahi hai. Please us ko bacha lain".

His mother turns to her father as they run out of the room towards Gulnar. They have been sick of aunt behaviour for a long time. They can't speak against what their elder has decided, but this woman was a venom.

His father banged the door open as they found a badly beaten Gulnar on the floor, almost unconscious. His father held onto the child in his arms as tears filled his eyes.

"How can you do this to a small life?" His father snapped, "I will have your accountability after I save her".

His father runs to his car as much as he pleaded they all asked him to stay back. He continued to cry as his older brother tries to comfort him.

He is just weak and pathetic.

He can never be like his older brother. He can't be strong. He can't save Zoya and now he is going to lose Gulnar.

After spending hours in tension and crying, he heard his parents calling for him. His guilt starts to grow as he steps into the lounge where she was sitting in his father's hands because she is scared of motherly touch.

She was covered with bandages all over her body.

"Come on, Danish". His mother encouraged, "It isn't your fault if an elder does something wrong".

"I didn't stop her". He said, looking at the ground

"But you tried". She said with a painful smile, "I told you to leave. But you found help".

He shakes his head as she speaks again, "The sun shines after darkness".

*****

She wraps her arms around herself as she sits in the garden filled with all sorts of trees and flowers.

She starts to cry again. She doesn't know but this day hurts so much. She doesn't even know what to do. She just cries and she wants to hide because she knows he doesn't like it when she cries.

"Tumhae lagta hai k tum ro rahi ho gi aur mujhe pata nahi chaly ga?" She heard his voice as she raises her head to find him in front of her, "Kia howa hai meri Gul ko?" (You think you will cry and I won't know?) (What happened to my Gul?)

Her lips wobble, "Mujhe nahi pata". (I don't know)

"Pata toh hai per bata nahi rahi ho. Batao gi nahi mujhe? Apne Danish ko?"
(You know, but you are not telling me) (you won't tell me? To your Danish?)

She forwards the papers to him, "Why do they always do this?"

Parents day. It is a day where parents come to the school and spend few hours with their children doing activities.

He frowns. He clearly remembers the last time his parents informing the school to not involve her in such activities as she is sentimental about it.

"What is this?" He said, looking through the paper as he finds the anger building in him, "We spoke about this last year".

"Us se yeh din toh nahi khatam ho ga na". She cried, "Mere Ammi Abbu ko kyun lay liya mere se? Mujhe woh wapis chahiyeh, Danish". (That will not end this day) (why did Lord takes my parents away? I want my parents back, Danish)

He finds no way to comfort her. He doesn't want to touch her and invade her privacy anymore.

"Shayeed kuch acha daynay k liye?" (Maybe to give something better?)

"Kuch acha milne k liye apne parents ki qurbani?" (To get something good I have to sacrifice my parents?)

"Nahi woh toh azmaish hai tumhari jaise hum sub per koi na koi hai. Per yeh soch k zindagi guzarna k kisi din, kuch ya koi zaror mile ga jo in sub azmaisho ka reward ho ga". (No, that is your test, just like how everyone else have theirs. But, you have to live your life thinking all of these suffering will find someone rewarding)

"Tumhae lagta hai mere liye koi esa likha hai?" (You think I will have someone like that?)

"Dekhny per toh Khuda bhi mil jata hai yeh toh phir banda hashar hai". (If we look we can even find Lord, that is still just a human)

"Aur agar galat mil gaya?" (And if I find someone wrong?)

"Dil ko sub pata hota hai hum us ko sunty nahi. Agar insaan sahi ho ga toh us k saath rahny ka soch k dar nahi lagta. Ek yakeen hota hai k yeh shaks asaaniya lay kar aye ga na k pareshani. Jub jub dil bolay k yeh insaan woh nahi us ki suna zaror".

(Heart knows everything. If that man is right for you, then staying with him will not scare you. You have a believe that this man will bring you comfort, not pain. Whenever your heart is not at ease with someone, listen to it)

"Mujhe kaise pata chale ga k yeh wohi hai jis k saath mujhe rahna hai". (How will I know I want to stay with him?)

"Waqt anay per sub pata chal jata hai". (When the time is right, you will know)

*****

He heard the loud sounds from the lounge as he enters the house. It was another day where his uncle and aunt must have done something. He just hopes it has nothing to do with those two souls. Who was he kidding? It must be one of them.

He was sixteen. Gulnar is twelve.

He saw how his father screamed at his uncle to leave the house and his heart stopped. His brother looks relieved at the statement so does everyone else, but the knife that passed through his heart and his silent protest against the decision went unnoticed.

He saw his uncle taking the bag and Gulnar came out with a small bag of hers.

She turns to look at him, with tears in her eyes, "I stayed quiet. Please don't let them take me away. Please, Danish. I don't want to go".

Her cries break his heart and he wanted to hold on. To hide her somewhere so no one can take her.

His aunt holds Gulnar hand, smirking at him, "Come on. Move it".

He tries to go after her as Gulnar cried, "No. No. I want to stay. I want to stay, Danish. Please. I will be quiet. I will be quiet. Please. Please, no".

And just like that, his heart was ripped from his chest in front of his eyes.

His Gulnar was gone.

**♡♡**

Eid Mubarak to all those celebrating today.

This is a gift from me to you all.

You know the drill, these are two shots so the next will be out tomorrow. ;)

What was your favourite part? How do these two look?

I love them.

See you all soon. Have a fun day!

Your author,

Faiqa