"Ayla, tum jaan ke karti ho kya?" It was late when Ayla returned from hospital, once they were in their room, Kaif asked.

(Ayla, you do all of this intentionally?)

"Kya?" Confusingly, Ayla looked at him, tiredness and wary was visible on her face as she was massaging her neck.

(What?)

"Kya zaroorat thi hospital jane ki? Tumhe mummy ke sath jana chahiye tha, unhe bilkul achha nahi laga tumhara hospital jana."

(Why did you go to hospital? You should have gone with mummy.)

"Kaif, please, abhi hum bohot thake hue hain..." Ayla didn't have any energy to talk about it, as she stood up to go to the washroom.

(Kaif, please, I am really tired right now...)

"Main kya yaha khudse baat kar raha hoon?" Her reply instigated his anger, going after her, he hold her arm to stop her.

(Am I talking to myself?)

"Kya ho gaya hai?" Her eyes widened as she looked at her arm then at Kaif. "Humara hath chorhein."

(What's wrong with you?)
(Leave my arm.)

"Tum hamesha sirf apne barey mein kyu sochti ho? Kabhi kahi toh adjust kiya karo." Her struggle made him hold onto her arm tightly, as he spoke in low voice.

(Why do you only think about yourself? Can't you adjust somewhere sometimes?)

"Apki problem kya hai? Tayi ammi se puchke gaye the." Frustratedly, Ayla asked, struggling to free her arms.

(What's your problem? I asked for Tayi Ammi's permission before going.)

"Phir wahi baat." Dropping her arm, Kaif pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Mummy se puchke gayi thi zahir hai woh tumhe mana nahi karengi lekin tumhe toh sochna chahiye tha na." At last, he raised his voice at her. Making her jump a little.

(Mummy will obviously say yes if you'll ask her. You should have thought about this.)

"Aap bewajah larh kyu rahe hain?" Confusion was clear in her voice.

(Why are you arguing with me without any reason?)

"Main pagal hoon bewajah larunga tumse?"

(Do I look like an idiot who will argue with you without any reason?)

"Tumse na, Ayla... baat karna fazool hai." Saying this, Kaif left the room, slamming the door after him.

(There is no good talking to you.)

Ayla stood there for many minutes, trying to process what just happened.

But then realised it was Kaif. His mood was dependent on his mother and definitely Rukhsar wasn't happy when Ayla left for Hospital Instead of going to the relative's house with her.

Next morning, Ayla thought Kaif has calmed down, just like always. He will be angry at her because of Rukhsar, then they will have an argument, and after sometimes, his anger would be gone and he will apologise to her. But she was wrong. Kaif was still upset.

He ignored her in the room, while at dining table his cold demeanour made her awkward knowing that his anger was because of her.

•••

For Shyra, it was a pleasant morning. The sky painted in hue of orange and blue, teamed up with the golden rays of the arising sun, and chirping of birds just made that morning more beautiful.

But what was more beautiful was the emerging feelings in her heart, the butterflies in her stomach.

Happily humming, she got ready for the day. Even on breakfast Kazim and Hamna noticed the unusual changes in their daughter.

"Masha'Allah, aaj toh tum bohot khush lag rahi ho. Koi khas wajah hai?" Lovingly, Kazim asked his only daughter.

(You look really happy today. Did something happen?)

"Kuch nahi, Papa, bas aise hi." Buttering the toast, Shyra shrugged her shoulder.

(Nothing happened.)

"Maha ke sath kahi ghoomne jane ka plan hai?" Hamna guessed.

(Are you going out with Maha?)

"Nahi!" Shyra shook her head.

(No!)

"Aaj University ke baad main bade Mamu ke yaha jaungi." Shyra suddenly said.

(After University I will go to Huzaifa Mamu's house.)

"Khairiyat? Aaj toh Rehnuma bhi nahi ayi." Hamna asked.

(Why? Rehnuma didn't come to visit.)

"Eh... woh... Ayla api se milne jaungi." Shyra quickly made an excuse.

(To meet Ayla api.)

"Main bhi sath chalungi tumhare. Kafi time ho gaya bhabhi se nahi mili. Fir baad mein Azlaan bhai ke yaha bhi jayenge. Kal Khushnuma se baat hui thi toh bata rahi thi Rubab bhabhi pehle se behtar hain par ek baar hum mill atey hain unse." Hamna made plan for them.

(I will also go with you. Its been long time since I met bhabhi. After that we will go to Azlaan bhai's house too. Khushnuma told me about Rubab bhabhi health she is doing fine now. But we should go to meet her.)

"Ab toh Azlaan bhai office bhi aney lage hain Kabhi kabhi." Kazim added. And soon the husband and wife started talking about Azlaan and Rubab.

(Azlaan bhai has started coming to office now.)

"Mera ho gaya. Main chalti hoon." Wiping her mouth with tissue, Shyra said and stood up to leave.

(I am done. I am going.)

"Allah Hafiz." Kazim said as Shyra left.

"Jaldi ajana University se." Hamna said after her.

"Ji, Maama."

•••

Even in University, her friends asked her for her chirpy behaviour.

"Kya ho gaya hai? Kuch bhi toh nahi." At last, Shyra got irritated.

(What's wrong with you all? Nothing happened to me.)

"Kuch toh hua hai. Aisa ho hi nahi sakta kuch na hua ho." Nidhi teasingly said, wiggling her eyebrows.

(Something must have happened.)

Beside her, Maha started singing. "Kuch toh hua hai, kuch ho gaya hai..."

They were sitting in the back ground of the University. Sitting on the grass, they were enjoying their free period.

"Tum log... bohot irritating." Picking up her bag, Shyra said and was about to leave when Saba held her hand and made her sit again.

(You guys are... very irritating.)

"Achha baba mat batao, nahi puchte hum uska naam. Lekin aisa na kaho kuch bhi nahi hua."

(Okay fine, don't tell us. We won't ask for his name but don't say nothing happened.)

"Lekin mujhe janna hai naam." Maha instantly added, and Nidhi nodded her head, agreeing that she wants to know too.

(But I want to know his name.)

"Kiska naam?" Confusingly, Shyra asked.

(Whose name?)

"Uska jiski wajah se tumhare andaz hi badal gaye hain." Maha said as the matter of fact.

(Whose influence changed your behaviour.)

"Mera koi andaz nahi badla hai." Shyra rolled her eyes.

(My behaviour didn't change.)

Or did she really changed?

"Rehne do, tumhare chehre pe har waqt ek ajeeb sa cold look hota hai bilkul... bilkul aise." Saba mimicked Shyra's expressionless face, which she was very good at.

(Oh really, you always have this cold look on your face like... like this.)

"Haan bilkul aise." Maha and Nidhi agreed with her.

(Exactly like this.)

"Aur ab dekho... you are smiling, without any reason. Itne tever tabhi badalte hain jab dil ka mamla ho."

(And now... you are smiling, without any reason. One only change this much when they are in love.)

This made Shyra hold her cheeks, was she smiling too much?

"Sachhi mein, tumhe smile karte dekh mujhe laga tum Shyra nahi koi behrupiya ho." Nidhi said.

(Seriously, seeing you smile made me think you are an imposter.)

"Aur mujhe laga qayamat nazdeek hai." Maha added.

(And I thought end day is near.)

"Tum sab log... Aaj bohot zyada irritating ho." Shyra groaned.

(You guys are... really irritating today.)

Can't she be happy without anyone asking her the reason?

•••

Ayla never had habit of sharing her personal problems with anyone, she thought it will bothers others. She has always bottle up her feelings and thoughts to herself, but this time, Kaif's behaviour was upsetting her more than she could ever imagine, she wanted to cry, wanted to share her problem with someone, wanted someone to tell her what her fault was.

Her and Kaif had more serious disagreements than this, but this thing was hurting her more than she could imagine.

Her emotions were swirling inside of her.

Ayla's disturbance was visible, and Rukhsar decided to talk to her.

As if Ayla's patience break as she burst into tears.

"Tayi Ammi, hum toh apse puchke gaye the. Agar aap mana kar deti toh hum na jate, hume nahi samajh araha Kaif kyu itna naraz ho gaye." Ayla told her everything, excluding their fight. Just that Kaif is angry at her.

(Tayi Ammi, I asked for your permission for going to Hospital. If you had refused I wouldn't have gone. I don't understand why Kaif is upset because of this.)

"Kaif thora sa... sensitive hai. Tum zyada pareshaan na ho. Tumse bohot pyar karta hai iss liye tumse jaldi khafa bhi ho jata hai, janta hai haq hai uska. Tum pareshaan na ho maan bhi jayega jaldi hi. Chalo ansu saaf karo, Hospital jana hoga na." Rukhsar consoled her.

(Kaif is... little sensitive. Don't worry. He loves you that's why he gets upset with you easily, thinking he have rights on yoh. Don't worry about him he will come around. Wipe your tears, you are getting late for Hospital.)

•••

After Shyra returned from university, Hamna and she went to Huzaifa's house as they've planned in the morning.

Rukhsar and Hamna were busy in their talk while Shyra was just looking around, trying to look for someone but that someone wasn't there.

"Shyra, kya hua?" Rukhsar saw her looking around and asked.

(Shyra, what happened?)

"Yeh toh Ayla se milne ayi thi. Ayla nahi hai?" Hamna said on her behalf.

(She came here to meet Ayla. Where is Ayla?)

"Woh toh iss waqt Hospital mein hoti hai." Rukhsar informed her.

(She is at the Hospital.)

In return, Shyra nods her head.

"Agar tum bore ho rahi ho toh ghar chali jao?" Hamna mumbles to Shyra.

(If you are getting bored, you can return to home.)

And Shyra agrees with her. As she stood up and left. But she didn't go to her house, instead she went to lawn.

Sitting on the swing, she just sat there idly, she didn't know why but she was feeling deject.

She sat there aimlessly, until she saw a figure entering the lawn. Instantly, her face glowed, and dimmed in the same speed.

Kabir didn't enter alone, with him entered a girl.

She was tall with slender figure, clad in simple yellow shalwar kameez, she looked one of those female protagonist who just came out from Yash Raj Film's screen.

"Shyra, hi!" Kabir saw Shyra there, and greeted her.

"Yeh kon hai?" Asked Shyra, eyeing the girl.

(Who is she?)

"Yeh Sarah hai, meri dost, mummy se milwane laya tha issey." Looking at Sarah, he answered. In return, Sarah smiled at him.

(She is Sarah, my friend. I've to introduce her to mummy.)

To introduce her to Rukhsar? Shyra's breath hitched, as she once again looked at Sarah, then again at Kabir.

"Badi mami se milwane?" Asked Shyra, scared of the answer.

(To introduce her to Rukhsar Mami?)

"Haan woh actually issey na kuch kapre ya designer ko leke mummy se..." Before Kabir could complete his sentence, his phone ranged.

(Yeah actually she needed to ask mummy about some designer...)

"Issey kya kaam hai ab?" Looking at the screen, he groaned. "Ek minute main abhi aya." He excused himself.

(What does he need now?)
(One minute I will just come.)

"You must be Ayla, Kabir's bhabhi." Sarah, who may not have heard Kabir taking Shyra's name, guessed.

"I am his cousin, not his bhabhi." Shyra's nose scrunched in disgust.

"Ohhh, Kabir ne tumhare barey mein bataya tha. Ab tum kaisi ho?" A look of familiarity ran over Sarah's face. She asked, concerned.

But Shyra was confused.

(Oh, Kabir told me about you, how are you now?)

"Theek?"

(Fine?)

"Tum chatt se gir gayi thi na, Kabir ne bataya tha..."

(You've fallen from terrace, Kabir told me...)

"Woh Ayat thi. Main Shyra hoon."

(That was Ayat. I am Shyra.)

"Oh!" Now this was Sarah's time to turn confused. "Kabir ne tumhare barey mein toh kabhi nahi bataya." She answered honestly.

(Sorry, Kabir never mentioned you.)

"We aren't that close." Shyra said, mocking herself, and left from there.

Sorry, Kabir never mentioned you.

•••

Things in Kaif and Ayla's life were rough. Kaif was still upset with her, but now he had another reason, why did Ayla tell about their problems to Rukhsar.

Ayla didn't know how rectify, she did try to talk to him once, but he wasn't listening, so she just gave up, thinking he will come around.

But how wrong she was.

Her impetuous behaviour made him more angry than he already was.

According to him, Ayla doesn't care about him or their relationship. Whenever there is emergency, she always put her job first and her family second. He always tries to understand her, support her, but she never once tried to understand him.

•••

Today was her birthday, and the only ones who wishes her were her parents and uncles. Khushnuma was in America, she didn't call, Rukhsar never wished anyone on birthdays, she thinks these things are childish, and Kaif, he was still angry.

Ayla got ready for Hospital half heartedly, she didn't want to go. Ayla looked at Kaif through mirror, he was getting ready for office. She was expecting him to talk to her, to wish her. She never cared about these things earlier, but neither she hated wishes or special treatment on Birthdays.

They weren't in talking term, but couldn't today be exception? Ayla thought. It is not she was expecting him to apologise, she doesn't even care about sorry now, if he will just wish her, she would happily forget everything.

Ayla was still busy in her thoughts when loud bang of door startled her. Kaif left the room. Without even glancing at her.

Ayla's eyes filled with tears as she sat on the bed, holding her temple, her head was spinning because of him and his cold behaviour.

"Bhabhi, Happy Birthday." On breakfast table, Kabir wishes her, happily, passing her a single red rose, which he must have plucked from their garden.

"Thank you." Smiling, she took it from him and put it on the table.

Kaif looked at the flower on her side, then again turned to his breakfast.

•••

"Happy Birthday. Tumne toh yaad dilaya nahi, Facebook se pata chala." As soon as Ayla entered hospital, Samad greeted her on reception.

(You didn't remind me, I got to know about your birthday from Facebook.)

"Kya farq parhta hai." Asked Ayla.

(It doesn't matter.)

"Are you okay?" Samad saw her pale complexion and asked.

"I am fine." Ayla nods her head and turned her heels toward her department.

•••

He completely forgot her birthday. If it wasn't for Kabir wishing her on breakfast table, Kaif wouldn't have remember it was Ayla's birthday today.

And now, he felt a crushing, inescapable weight on his chest.

Should he call her? He asked, but then his mind nagged how they are not in talking term.

Their fight lasted more than a week now. He misses her.

At last, his heart won as he decided to surprise her at Hospital.

Quickly leaving the office, he first went to florist shop to buy her favourite flowers, pink carnations, then bakery shop for cheesecake, that was her favourite too.

Happily, parking the car, he went inside the hospital, he left the cake in car, that they would have later when he will take her to their favourite picnic spot, but he did took the bouquet.

He asked receptionist about her, the girl on the reception knew him, and told him Ayla is on round.

Happily, he went where she told him Ayla is.

But he stopped halfway, when saw Ayla coming out from a room, with her was Samad, holding her arm. He was also telling something to Ayla but maybe she wasn't listening, both of them didn't notice him.

Kaif felt like someone punched him on his gut, as the air knocked off around him, his heart burned as the flowers fall from his hands on the floor.

•••

"Dr. Ayla, you are indeed so lucky." Salwa said to her, wishfully. They were in canteen, making tea for themselves.

Salwa was a cute girl in her late 20s, curly hair and short plump body.

Ayla didn't know why she said that, figuring she may have heard from Samad about the good news, Ayla just smiled at her and went to take sugar from pantry.

"Honestly, her husband loves her so much." Salwa continued to another girl, who was also a reception but she wasn't there when Kaif came.

Ayla, who heard her (as they were not very far.) confusingly raised her eyebrows.

"For her birthday, he brought these beautiful flowers for her. It was so beautiful and romantic." Clapping her hands together, Salwa said.

"What did you say?" Ayla couldn't help but asked.

"Huh?"

"When did my Husband come with flowers?" Ayla asked.

"Today, around noon." Salwa informed her.

Then why didn't he meet her? Ayla was about to ask her, but then didn't. How would she know?

Ayla left from there. While Salwa and Ridhima looked at each other confusingly, then shrugged their shoulder.

•••

It was very late when Kaif entered their room, in evening, he shut himself in the study room, at dinner he was silent, then again went to study room without sparing her a glance.

Ayla was already ready for the bed, as she was applying lotion in her hands, while sitting on bed.

She looked up at Kaif, wanting to say something, but once again, Kaif ignored her and laid down on his side.

This made Ayla confused.

Hospital aye the flowers leke toh mile kyu nahi? Ayla asked herself.

Maybe he got some other urgent work? She answered.

"Aap... Aap hospital aye the?" She mustered the courage to ask him, but only silence answered her.

(You... you came to hospital today?)

"Aap mile nahi humse, koi emergency agayi thi kya?" She again tried.

(You didn't meet me, did some emergency occur?)

"Kon tha woh?" At last, Kaif broke his silence and asked, sitting up.

(Who was he?)

"Kon?" Perplexed, Ayla asked.

(Who?)

"Wahi, jiski bahon mein hath deke tum hospital mein ghoom rahi thi."

(Him, in whose arms you were wandering in the hospital.)

Ayla was still confused when realisation hit her. Kaif saw her with Samad.

"Woh toh Samad the..."  Ayla started saying.

(That was Samad...)

Samad! This sure rings a bell. Kaif remember him as Ayla's friend, whom he has saw many times when he used to pick her up from her university, but never once he saw him in Hospital. Ayla never told him they work together.

"Samad!" Kaif said the name bitterly.

"Aap... Aap jaisa soch rahe hain waisa kuch nahi... Kaif, aap aisa kya soch rahe hain?" Disbelief run over her face as she looked at Kaif with huge eyes.

(You... it is not like what you are thinking... Kaif, what are you thinking?)

"Kya sochna? Dekha hai maine tum dono ho Hospital mein."

(I've saw you two at Hospital.)

"Are you accusing me?" Ayla asked, sternly.

"Answer me, are you accusing me?" She repeated.

"We will talk about this later." Saying this, Kaif got down from bed to leave once again.

"We will talk now. Right here. Are you accusing me of cheating?" She also got down after him, holding his arm to stop him.

"Apko wakai mein lagta hai hum aisa kuch karenge? Aap aisa soch bhi kaise sakte hain?" Tears started burning in her eyes.

(You really think I will do something like this? How can you think like that?)

"Sochne samajhne ke liye kuch bacha kaha hai? Jiss tarah se maine tum dono ko sath mein dekha hai koi bhi meri jagah hoga yahi sochega."

(What's there to think? The way I've seen you two anyone will think the same.)

"Kis tarah se? Chakkar agaya tha hume woh hume support..."

(What way? I was feeling dizzy, he was just supporting me...)

"Rehne do."

(Let it be.)

"Ab samajh aya tum Family se badh kar apne kaam ko kyu priority deti ho..."

(Now I understand why you always priorities your work before your family...)

"Main waha aya tha tumhare Birthday celebrate karne. Tumhare favourite flowers leke aya tha socha tha itne dino se humare beech jo misunderstandings chal rahi hain sab clear kar lunga but nahi. Misunderstanding toh meri clear hui hai ki kyu tumhe itne dino se farq hi nahi parh raha tha meri narazgi se. Tum toh kisi aur ke sath..."

(I came there to celebrate your birthday. I've brought your favourite flowers, I thought we will clear all out misunderstandings that are going on between us for so long. But no, my misunderstanding has become clear why you were not bothered by my anger from so many days. You were with someone else...)

"Bas kare, Kaif." Ayla shouted, as she couldn't bare it anymore.

(Enough, Kaif.)

"Awaz uchi mat karo." Kaif also raises his voice. "Awaz uchi karne se sahi nahi ho jaogi tum."

(Don't raise your voice.)
(It won't make you right.)

"Kya sahi kya galat aap sochne samajhne se qasir hain. Apko toh hamesha wahi sahi lagta hai toh Tayi Ammi kehti hain. Aap jake Tayi Ammi ke pallu se bandh ke..."

(You are unable to understand what's right and what's wrong. You always think whatever Tayi Ammi says is right. Why don't you go and hide yourself behind your mother's...)

"Ayla!" Roaring, Kaif raised his hand, frightened Ayla as she took a step back, eyes widened, looking at him.

"Apni. Hadd. Mein. Raho." Grabbing her arm, he gritted his words.

(Don't. Talk. Nonsense.)

And then he left. Without another word.

Ayla's feet couldn't support her anymore as she fall on the floor.

She couldn't believe what just happened.

Kaif's hatred eyes, accusing words, and his hand which almost hit her.

Hiding her face in her palm, she cried on her fate. Why does whenever something good happens in her life, it is followed by catastrophe?

At her wedding, the most important day of her life, Ayat fell off from terrace.

Now, when she got such a good news that she is expecting, Kaif accused her of cheating and almost hit her.

Was her happiness cursed?

•••

Oh god!! You know I had in my mind that now I will update Sharar only after I'll have all of its chapters in my draft. (Yk taki ek sath sarey chapters post kardu apki tension bhi durr aur meri bhi...) but Sharar is very dheet bro, dheeter than dheet. Complete hone ka naam hi nahi le rahi. And it has been so long that I thought I should update something to tell y'all that 'Abhi hum zinda hain.'

I am sorry, ik y'all think Sharar is stuck on loop but... soon it will break out from the loop. Hope that soon comes really soon.

Anyway how was the chapter?

-Ufaq

P.S, I have published a new book named Khizaan do check it out.