Mahinoor's P.O.V.

Turning off the stove as the noodles for the pasta I was making were done, I looked over at my phone where Roza was struggling to bring all the packages she ordered from Pakistan. "Where is Amma?" I ask shaking my head as I mix the noodles and sauce, "Why are you not asking for help from here?"

Roza glared at me through the screen, "Dont start, you have no idea how much she yelled at me this morning over getting these gigantic bags through the front door."

I chuckle, as I lift the phone up and. walk over to my small living room sitting down on the. couch, "You should have just shopped locally Roza, I sh-" I stop myself as I accidentally mention the mistake that I made exactly five years ago, "You know it was easier."

Roza's smile fell slightly as well as I quickly changed the topic from my wedding to hers. "Um, well. Sallar wanted to take me shopping but I just felt like it would be a lot cheaper to just order from Pakistan, plus you know. Amma's sisters are always ready to face time and show off their homes back there."

"Roza," I say as Amma walks through the door behind her, but she seems oblivious to it. I sat back and began to enjoy the drama that was about to pop off due to that small comment she made against her family.

"What?" She said as the atmosphere lightened, "It's true." Roza turned to open her package when she realized Amma was standing right beside her, I could totally imagine the look on her face as her whole demeanor changed.

"Busted," I say mockingly,

"Yeh joh saab yaha tak aaya hain na." (All this stuff that has arrived here.) Amma began pointing at the packages all over her room, "Is because of those showing off relatives."

"Sajal," Baba said basically running into the room, "Bachi hain woh," (She is still young) That was not the right thing to say to calm down the situation.

I physically flinched as Amma inhaled sharply knowing she was about to go off on both of them, but Roza quickly lifted the phone up and basically shoved it in her hand, as I smiled sheepishly at her. I hated that I still got brought into family drama, but if it meant that I could save ruining Roza's mood before she got married, I would do it. "Amma!" I say happily, "Kaisi ho aap?" (How are you?)

She looked at me with a bored expression, "Tumse matlab?" (What's it to you?) The thing is I barely called anymore and if I did call it would end up as an intervention of why I left Rehan, and why I didn't try harder to stay with him. Baba has tried to get her to back off, but that same old Pakistani mentality that having the label of divorced women is horrible.

"Amma," I try to reason with her, "I do care, I have just been busy with work, and have a lot of other responsibilities here."

"Your work is more important than your family here?"

"I never said that." This is exactly why I do not call. "I just-"

"Have you ever booked days off Mahi?" Amma interrupted me. Shit, I completely forgot. "Judging by the look on your face that means no, seriously Mahi when will you-"

"Okay!" Baba said taking the phone away from her, "How was your day Mahi?" Exhaling heavily I shake my head disappointed at Amma's behaviour. "Mahi, your Amma-"

"It's fine," I say softly, "I. . .um will book the days off, and will be there as soon as I can, just tell her to get off my case. She hasn't properly spoken to me since the divorce and I have no idea why she has become my enemy Baba. It wasnt only me. who wanted a divorce it was both of us. Why should I have tried harder when he didnt even want to look at me after what happened?"

"Mahi," She called my name,

"It wasn't my fault!" I snap,

The whole room went silent, "Send me the details, I will be there." I quickly hang up the phone and turn it on. completely off so they can't spam it. I looked up at the ceiling as tears began to blur my vision.

Why is it always the woman's fault when a marriage falls apart? Why doesn't one point fingers at the men? No one argues by themselves, there are always two equal partners. . .

It wasn't just me. . .

It wasn't just my fault. . .

Why didn't anyone understand that?

. . .

Feroza's P.O.V.

"The number you have dialed is currently switched off." The AI voice spoke, as I glared at Amma. This was the tenth call that I had made to Api since Amma spoke to her like that, Baba and me both were irritated at her behavior.

I stopped pacing around the room and came to stand infront of her, "What is your problem?" I snapped attracting her attention to me.

"Roza," Baba said softly,

"No Baba," I say shaking my head, "What is your problem Amma? Why can you not just speak to her normally? She still is the same Mahi, that you gave birth to so what is going on that you can not just let her live?"

"Do not speak to me this way," She said standing up, "I am her mother and can-"

"Cut the bullshit." I say quickly, "What is the problem?" Amma exhaled heavily, "Amma, I am-"

"Zaid Bhai is sick!" She exclaimed.

The room fell silent, "Kinza Api called me last night crying telling me that he has been diagnosed with stage three lung cancer."

Baba stumbled back in shock to which I quickly held his arm, as tears began to blur my own vision. "Api told me to keep it a secret for now, but this news has been eating me from the inside from the morning. So I am sorry if I spoke to her like that but. . .Bhaiya wants the whole family to be with him here, and I know Mahi won't be here for a week or two. I know she wants to stay away from their family now, and. . that is the complete opposite of what he wants."

"Yah Allah," Baba whispered, "How did it go undetected for so long?"

Amma shrugged, "She said to would explain everything to everyone as soon as Rehan came back home. He said that he would be there tommorow morning, and then they. will be telling everyone."

My heart began beating faster, "Is he receiving treatment?"

"This morning was the first round of chemo," Amma answered,

I breathe out heavily, "Sorry," I apologize to Amma pulling them into a hug, "I shouldn't have spoken you to like that." She accepted the hug obviously wanting the comfort that she had been craving all morning. "I'll tell Api."

"Roza,"

"Trust me," I whisper, "I got this." Amma nodded as she and Baba walked out of the room without saying. another word. This is defintiely a tricky situation but I know my Api, she isnt so bad that she would deny a dying wish.

She wouldn't.

. . .

A few hours had passed when I tried her phone again, "Hello?" Api answered with a hoarse voice, she had been crying.

"You okay?" I whisper looking out the window, not really knowing how to tell her.

"Yeah," She whispered back, "I am used to her shit now."

Inhaling sharply I say, "She isnt so bad,"

"Roza," Her tone changed immediately, "Did you not see how to degraded me?" I did, and it was wrong but. . .

"I saw, and it was wrong." I try to take her side. "But Api,"

"What?"

Oh, fuck it. "Um, there is no good way to say this but Zaid Khalu is really sick." My voice trembles alittle, "Amma was told by. Kinza Khala last night to keep it a secret, so that's why she was being super snappy. I know it's not an excuse to treat you like that Api but there's a lot going on."

I heard her take a big breath in. "What's wrong with Khalu?"

"Stage three lung cancer." She felt silent.

"What?"

"Yeah," I whispered. "I know it's a shock for all. It went by undetected so long that they began his chemo right away."

"Hai Allah." Her voice broke. "Does Rehan know?"  There is the billion-dollar question. Well for her since I already know he knows.

"Yeah." It felt good to know that she still cared for him. "Amma said he will be flying in tommorow morning because Khalu requested all his family to be around him so that means you to Api."

"Rosa."

"Forget about the divorce Api. You still were something to him before the marriage. You still are family to him."

Api inhaled sharply. "Let me talk to my boss tommorow. I have sick days saved up and I had already booked days off your marriage. I am sure it will work out."

"Okay," I say not wanting to push her. "Talk to you soon."

"Bye." She said barely above a whisper before hanging up the phone.

Exhaling deeply look out the window. I know she'll come, she has to come...

I know my Api.