"Aapko ek baat batani thi", Maryam said as the two settled in the lawn, before leaving the house Murtasim made sure that Bakhtu kept an eye on the two of them. Although according to the islam they were allowed to have their privacy, he wanted to protect his sister. Every person has their way of expressing their love, Murtasim's way was by ensuring their safety.

"Haan boley", Naurez replied, he placed down his cup as he saw the serious look on her face.

"Nikah se pehle mai kisiko pasand karti thi", Maryam told him the entire story, how they met and she left the house. How she and Mahjabeen took their revenge and till the end when Malik Zubair went on his knees asking for forgiveness.

There was silence, as Naurez took in her words and Maryam couldn't meet his eyes. Although this marriage was something neither of them wanted, Maryam wanted to start on the right foot.

Naurez cleared his throat, "Agar aap bura na maaney toh ek baat puchu?". He asked in a calm voice, Maryam met his eyes and found no judgement. Instead their was a look of understanding. She nodded, the frown on her face disappearing as she picked up her cup of tea.

"Kya aap abhi bhi unse mohabbat karti hai?" He asked softly, she noticed the vulnerability in his eyes as he added, "Agar jawab haan hai toh mai aap par koi zor nahi dunga, aapko jo munasib lagega hum woh karenge"

Maryam knew the love she had for Malik Zubair wasn't true, if it had been she would have left with him when he went on his knees or when she saw him breaking down. She didn't love him, "Mohabbat hoti toh sab chodkar unke saath bhaag jaati. Shayad nikkah ke waqt inkaar kar deti, mujhe kabhi unse mohabbat nahi hui"

"Maryam, mujhe aapke mazi me hui koi baat se aitraaz nahi hai. Aur aaj ye baat share karke aapne saabit kardiya ke aap ek acchi life partner hai, isse badi baat mere liye kuch nahi hai", he said with a  smile,  the weight Maryam carried on her shoulder went away. This is the second time he smiled at her and it took her breath away.

"Yaar kabab m haddi banna pasand hai kya aapko", Mahjabeen's voice took them out of their love bubble, they turned to find the two couples struggling at the entrance. Mahjabeen was trying to drag Murtasim out by pulling his arm, but it wasn't working. The poor girl was applying all her force, "Mahjabeen aaram se chot lag jayegi", as he steadied her because of his physique the poor girl literally fell on the floor.

She gave him an angry look as he tried to help her up, " Aapke wajeh se lag gayi mujhe", she dramatically cried uncaring of the dirt on the ground and the eyes on them.

She covered her face to make her act look real, Maryam and Naurez were controlling their laugh as Murtasim Khan tried to convince his crying wife.

"Mujhe nahi baat karna aapse, jungle nahi legaye. Biwi pass hui saarey exams me chaar saal baad, na koi party upar se aapki wajah se mujhe chot bhi lag gayi", now the tears were real, as she cried.

Maryam quickly went near them and kneeled, " Bhabhi aap theek haina?" she asked helping her up, Mahjabeen didn't show any resistance and before they reached the lawn, she threw one last sarcastic remark at him. "Mubarak ho, ban gaye na kabab m haddi"

Murtasim couldn't help but face palm, "Kya musibat hai!" unfortunately for him his wife heard it, "Mahjabeen hai mera naam"

She retorted as she settled down on the lawn chair, he followed and sat beside her dismissing Bakhtu. "Congratulations bhabhi", Naurez broke the awkward tension between them.

"Shukriya, tum chai peeyona aur aise sukhi chai toh nahi pee sakte. Murtasim...", she turned to her husband and requested her anger from a second ago vanishing, " Naurez ke liye kitchen se toast laadey"

Naurez shook his head, "Nahi bhabhi chalega-", she cut him off and gave him a look, "kaise chalega? Ghar ke aiklotey damaad ho"

Mahjabeen nudged Murtasim but he shrugged, "Aise zabardasti bhi mat karo, nahi khaana haina usko", he said leaning back on the chair defiantly uncaring of his wife's wrath.

She leaned towards him with a smile and whispered, "Aapko toh mai baad me batati hu", her threat carried weight as Murtasim nodded, visibly tensing up.

"Mashallah mere chaaron bacche ek saath", Maa Begum said as she walked towards Mahjabeen, " Allah tumhe aagey bhi kamyaab karey", she kissed her head, blessing her. Murtasim sighed in relief for the interruption from his mother, hopefully his wife will forget this in a few hours.

The four sat in the lawn drinking tea, when they were interrupted by another guest. This time all of them tensed up, Murtasim stood up in anger.

"Tum? Wapas kyun aayi ho!" He roared at the woman he once considered his sister and a great friend. "Bakhtu isko andar kyun aaney diya? Gate se bahir kardena tha"

"Mujhse galti hogayi thi", Haya whispered not able to meet anyone's eyes tears rolling down her cheeks, " Galti nahi gunnah hua hai tumse, tumhe koi andaaza hai humein kitni ruswai jhelni padhi thi tumhare wajah se!" Maa Begum spat out.

"Maaf kardijey Maa Begum, aaj aap sab se apne gunnahon ki maafi maangne aayi hu", she wept covering her face, " Mai aap sab ki gunehgar hu"

"Ye konsa drama dekh kar aayi hai?" Mahjabeen whispered in Maryam's ear, who shrugged, " Wohi jaaney"

Naurez was awkwardly looking around feeling out of place, Mahjabeen noticed  it and tried to assure him in her own way "Fikar na karo, ye toh roz ka drama hai. Aapko bhi aadat lag jayegi", he nodded and adjusted his chair so he was shielded by Maryam and Mahjabeen.

"Gunnah Qubool karo", Murtasim said, he knew this was another game of hers. He wouldn't forgive her for causing so much chaos in her family. 

"Aaj hogya tumhara walimah", Mahjabeen whispered in Maryam's ear , if Haya apologized for every single sin of hers then it would probably take an entire day.

"Murtasim theek keh raha hai, apne gunnah qubool karo. Jis par zulm kiya hai unse maafi maango", Maa Begum repeated as she sat down on the chair, Haya kneeled on the grass as finally she counted the apologies she owed. She didn't come here on her own, Malik Zubair had forced her to apologise. He didn't wanted to spend his life with a woman who carried no guilt and sins on her shoulder. As when Allah would take matters in his hand, Malik Zubair would suffer as well.

"Khuda ko maafi manganey aur maaf kardene waaley log pasand aatey hain", these were his words as he left her at the gate.

"Murtasim, maine baar baar tumhare aur Mahjabeen ke beech m mushkillat khadi ki. Mujhe maaf kardo", she confessed, " Mujhse nahi meri biwi se maango maafi", but Mahjabeen

Haya stood up and walked towards Mahjabeen, taking her hand in hers. She cried, "Meri niyyat kharab nahi thi shuru se, bas tumse jal gayi thi mai. Tum mujhse har mamle me behtar thi, paison me, seerat me aur taqdeer me. Kaash maine bhi tumhe unhi nazron se dekha hota jaise tumne mujhe dekha tha, bina koi hasrat ke, bas mohabbat aur apnahiyat ke saath badi beheno ki tarah.  Mahjabeen maine humesha tumhara hosla giraya, woh sab jhoot tha. Tumse acchi Khaani koi nahi bansakta. Mujhe maaf kardo"

Mahjabeen who had carried the hatred in her heart for so long finally gave in, although she had the strongest resolve, her heart was too soft.

"Maaf kar dungi, magar meri do shartey hain", she replied as she took Haya' hand in hers, " Tumhari saari shartein qubool hai mujhe"

"Pehli Murtasim ko tum bhai jaan bulaogi", Haya nodded as Mahjabeen smiled with relief, " Aur dusri ye kadha apne pas rakhogi humesha"

The bangle was her favourite, she believed it carried luck although it never  made her pass in any of the exam. But her husband did, she no longer believed in such superstitions and if the bangle indeed carried luck, Haya needed it the most.

Haya went on with her apology, she apologized to every single person even the servants she mistreated. At last when it was Maa Begum's turn, she stopped her.

"Haya tum chahti hona mai tumhe maaf kardu?" She asked in a cold voice Haya nodded desperately, "Mai tumhe maaf krdungi agar tum aaj ke baad iss ghar me wapas nahi aayi toh"

Haya couldn't help but cry as she nodded, this was the harshest punishment. She was getting kicked out of the house she grew up in, soon Bakhtu dropped her outside and she saw her husband standing at the door. He hugged her as she sobbed in his chest.

***

As the night fell, the house was getting decorated while the parlour ladies applied henna on Maryam and Mahjabeen's hands.

"Maryam ek sher yaad aaya mujhe, sunau?" Mahjabeen asked as Murtasim entered the room, "Zaroor sunaye sunaye", Maryam replied with excitement, " Bhai aap bhi baithey"

Maryam noticed her brother's anguish because of Mahjabeen's cold shoulder. She wasn't talking to him, ignoring his apology not even meeting his eye as he sat down beside her.

"Shaadi me lagi mehendi ka rang nahi chut ta", she enunciated as Maryam encouraged her with 'oho oho' making her giggle, " Shaadi me lagi mehendi ka rang nahi chut ta, aise maukey par na jaaney kitne aashikon ka dil hai tut ta"

"Wah wah", Maryam applauded, she realised this shayari was for her brother, whose face was red.

"Kiska dil tuta tha?" He asked her seriously, "Bolo"

Mahjabeen didn't pay him any mind, as she stood up her hands covered with beautiful henna design, "Art mela jab lagega na toh tumhe bhi bulaungi, mashallah kitni safai se banaya hai sab", she said to the girl who had applied mehendi on her hand, " Dekhna bohot aagey jaogi tum"

The girl thanked her as Mahjabeen left, Murtasim borrowed a henna cone and went to the balcony . On his palm he scribbled a letter, the first letter of his lovely 'nakchadi' wife. He would have written her name, if he knew how to write with the cone. It took twenty minutes to neatly write the letter,

"M"