Mahinoor's P.O.V

"Have you called him?" Nehmat asked me as soon as she walked through my apartment door with Naaz on her hip.

I zip up my last suitcase and say, "Hello to you to"

"Mahi." She said giving me a bored look. "Have you spoken to Rehan?"

I shake my head no, "I haven't gotten the time."

"Mahi, this ain't the time to avoid talking to him. You need to call him." I know she was right but I had no idea what the hell I was suppose to say to him.

Pulling out my phone I sit down beside her, My finger hovered above his name as Nehmat gave me more sport by sitting beside me. "Call him Mahi." Nehmat said firmly.

"How do you even know he wants to hear from me?" I question her. "He barely spoke to me on Jiyas birthday and the ride to my apartment."

"That was different." She said, "This is different, I am sure he wants to hear from you Mahi. During your marriage, you are what brought him closer to his family again. To Khala and to Khalu...I know he wants to hear from you."

Nodding I push back any fears and press on his name leaving it on speaker. It immediately went to voice mail.

"Hey, this is Rehan, if you have reached my voice mail that probably means that I am busy so either leave a message or wait for me to call you back."

I look over at Tejo with a knowing look. "See?"

"Try again"

Doing as she said it once again went straight to voice mail.

"Hey, this is Rehan, if you have reached my voice mail that probably means that I am busy so either leave a message or wait for me to call you back."

"He does not want to talk to me." I say firmly. I knew this from the beginning, now I am going to be the one who looks like an idiot two times, wanting to contact him. Embarrassed by his rejection I walk away from her and Naaz, who as peacefully sleeping in her lap to the kitchen to make some coffee for myself and her. "He has never wanted my comfort or support Tejo."

Tejo sighed, "Sorry, I just thought after finding out something so big he would want someone to talk too or at least check in on him."

"Yeah, and I am not the person who he wants to hear from." I say firmly as I bring back two cups in my hand, "Anyways, I have booked tickets for tomorrow morning so I was hoping that you could drop me off at the airport."

"Of course," She said relaxing back as she maneuvered Naaz to lay on the sofa. I look over at Naaz, almost longingly hoping that Tejo doesn't catch on but she does. "She is yours as well you know, there is no difference between her or Jiya between me or you."

I look down at my coffee cup, "I know," I didn't want her to see the tears that were awaiting to fall down. 

Tejo rested her cup on the table in front of us, and wrapped her arms around me as I began to cry, "I know." She whispered, "I got you." I hug her back tightly, "I got you Mahi."

Only she knew how much I suffered after our divorced, I truly did love him, no matter what he thought but at a point and time Rehan was my whole world. My day started with him and it ended with him, until he decided to completely destroy the the scared bond that we had created with misunderstanding and no communication at all. 

He doesn't even know what truly happened that night, why I went out. . .

All he knows is that I. . .

All he knows is that he hates me for it, and he forced me to hate him, due to his actions.  

Now I am scared of what everything will play out like, once I actually go home. . .

.  . .  The Next Morning . . .

Rolling my suitcases out of the airport gates, I look around for Roza and Salaar's car. I lean against the wall and quickly pull out my phone calling her, "Hello?" She said immediately answering after one ring. 

"Where are you?" I ask softly, "I landed like ten minutes ago."

"Oh fuck!" She exclaimed, I could hear her beginning to rush around, "S-Sorry Api, Salaar, and I- Hey!"  I could hear some rustling, "Salaar, give me my hpone. back!" 

"Hello?" Salaar said huskily tone,  "Mahi Api?"

I bite my lip holding back my laughter knowing exactly what was going on. I may or may not have interuppted something, "Yeah?" 

"We will be there in like fifteen minutes is that okay?"

"Fifteen? Salaar, the air-mhm!" I hear Roza struggle against him, 

"Fifteen?" I question him, "Last I remember your house is like maybe five to ten minutes. away from the airport Salaar." I was enjoying teasing both of them, "Why fifteen?"

"Traffic." He said firmly, "Are you okay to wait?" Traffic meant they definitely were doing something that cannot be put off. 

"You know what," I say feeling generoous, "Take as much as time as you need with her, I'll just call a cab." 

"Api!" Roza said breathlessly, obviously managing to grab the phone from him. "We will come." I heard Salaar graon in the background, "Just wait," 

I chuckled, "Roza, stop tortuing my future brother in law, dont worry I'll meet you at home." 

"You sure?"

"Yeah," I say, "Make sure to wear protection."

"Api!" She whined, "I am going to kill you at. home,"

"Bye," Hanging up the phone I quickly book a uber, which arrives in less than ten. minutes, since the airport is an hotstop in any country.  Gathering my things, I put my stuff in the trunk, before getting in myself. I give him my address before relaxing back into my seat as my eyes began to admire the beauty of my hometown. . .there truely wasn't no place like home. 

Hunstvile is beautiful, and there are many times that I think to move back here, the furthur away from Rehan I am, the better I am but then I think about the marriage pressure Amma will begin to put on me especially since now Roza is getting married to Salaar. 

That is one aspect that stops me, but the other is leaving Tejo alone there, she has always been my wrong through tough situation,  and it felt wrong to just drop everything and move here, leaving her behind.  

The good side would be, I am closer to Amma, Baba, and Roza along side the Khan family. I could get a full time job here, the pricing for rent is less, and just have a small but perfect world, without the worry of always running into him. 

"Ma'am?" The driver said, "We are here." 

I smile softly at him as I get out of the air breathing in the fresh cool air of Huntsville, Ontario. He brings my bags out of the trunk, "Thank you," I say before e-tranfering him the fare for the ride. "Have a good day."

"You too Ma'am." He said before leaving me in the footsteps of my childhood home. Dragging my bags up the stairs I rub my hands together for warmth as they begin to freeze over due. to how hold it is. I rang the door bell and waited for some one to come to the door, but there was no answer. I resort to knocking on the door thinking that the beel may not be. working but. again no one came. Leaning down. I slip out the spare key from underneath one of the flower pots and gain access to my home, and warmth for that matter. 

"Amma!" I call out as I bring my stuff in. "Baba?"

Shutting the door behind me, I walk deeper into the house, "Hello?"

Receiving no answer once again, I call Baba's phone, and after a few rings he answers, "Baba?" I say, "Kahan ho aap?"  (Where are you?)

"Kya matlab?" (What do you mean?) He answered, "Tum kahan ho?" (Where are you?) Did everyone forget that I was supposed to come back home today? 

"Baba, I am standing in our home." I respond,  "Did you and Amma. forget that I am suppose to be flying in today?"

His silence confirmed my suspiousn they forgot I was supposed to come back today. "I-Um, just wait there your Amma. and I will be home shortly."

"Baba, where are you?" I ask him again this time firmer. 

"We. are just down the street, we wanted to check in on Zaid, and since. Rehan came back yesterday so, just meeting up with everyone." His voice sounded alittle hesistant. "Mahi, Ill call you back." Without waiting for a response he hung up the phone. 

Looking down at my phone highly offened I shake my head, this is exactly one of the reasons why I was so hesitant to come down so early before Roza's wedding. This awakrd atmosphere of, who should I speak to and who I shouldn't speak too. 

I do not know why even in today's age and time, the women is blamed. for the failure of a marriga, it hurts.  . .it truely does.   Clenching my jaw trying to contain. my anger, I lift up my bags and take them to my old room, slamming the door shut behind me as soon as I enter it. 

I bascially throw myself on the bed and stare at the ceiling as tears of anger begin to drip out the corner of my eyes, beginning to drench the sheets underneath me. 

What have I done so bad that even after my arrival back home I am being treated like a stranger?