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*

Jasmina

08:30 am.

The stupid alarm went off, and I wanted to throw my phone out of the window.

"Why do mornings exist?" I groaned, turning over after I'd turned off the alarm and snuggling under the duvet for just five more minutes. In my sleep drenched mind, I was back in my bedroom at the Sheikh family home, and I thought that any minute my Ammi would come and wake me up because she just knew that I would go back to sleep after turning off the alarm. My eyes fluttered open, my mind refusing to return to Dreamland. My husband's bare back reminded me that I was not in fact at my parents' house, but that I was at my in-laws' house, where we'd been staying the night.

I sat up, yawning. I better get up otherwise Bisma Aunty would have a lot more to say about my parents' upbringing. Loose locks of my hair had slid out of my pony and hung on one side of my face. Fawad was still asleep and I smiled as my cheeky mind decided to tease him a little. I moved closer and brushed tips of my hair against his stubble-covered cheek. He swatted at his face with his hand, probably thinking that it was a fly. I bit my lower lip to prevent a giggle from slipping out.

I moved away to get off the bed, but he turned over and grabbed my wrist.

"Where are you going, you little tease?" He muttered sleepily, his eyes still closed.

"I have to help with breakfast before..." I stopped short. Before my entire bloodline is insulted this time...

"Don't worry about it." He kissed my wrist. "One more time?" 

My cheeks burned from the memory of our passionate and intimate night. We had fallen asleep just around an hour before Fajr, before waking up again to pray. Even after we'd prayed, he ha been in a very teasing mood, but I had been too tired to do anything but sleep. "I really should go."

He folded his arm underneath his head, while pulling me closer with his other hand until I lay over him. "Are you giving your in-laws priority over your husband?" 

"My husband won't taunt me for the rest of my existence if I make a mistake." I blurted out.

"Mina..." 

I hadn't even told him about everything that had happened before his return, and I certainly wasn't going to start when I was already in a rush to get downstairs.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm kidding." No, I'm not. I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I seriously have to go."

"You can leave at nine." He wrapped his arms around me.

"Fawad..." I protested weakly, but being there in his arms was so comforting that I surrendered. We didn't speak, just lay in each other's arms, just enjoying this brief peaceful time we had with each other before the day resumed. My eyes began to drift shut again. A nagging voice at the back of my mind told me to get up, but sleep silenced it.

*

A loud knocking on the door made me jump up. I was in bed alone, but I could hear the shower running.

I glanced at the time and almost screamed. 12:05 pm! "Ya Allah..."

"Jasmina?" Aunty's disapproving voice came through from the other side of the door. "Aren't you awake yet?" 

"Allah!" I jumped out of bed so fast that I felt dizzy. "J-Ji, Ammi. I'll be downstairs in fifteen minutes." I headed towards the bathroom and knocked on the door. "Fawad, can I come in and brush my teeth?"

He probably didn't hear me, but I entered anyway. Desperate times call for desperate measures. The steam from the shower warmed my skin and the scent of body wash and shampoo blended in an enticing scent that filled my senses completely. I turned on the tap and started washing up. Behind me, Fawad slid open the shower door and raised an eyebrow questioningly at me. I met his gaze in the mirror, my cheeks heating up. 

"I asked! You didn't answer!" I spoke defensively.

He chuckled. "I don't even mind if you'd joined me in the shower."

My cheeks warmed up even more as I squeezed out toothpaste onto my brush. "You wish."

He turned off the shower and reached for the towel hanging on the rack outside the shower stall. Wrapping it firmly around his waist, he stepped out.

I really shouldn't look if I don't want a repeat of last night, right here. I focused on brushing my teeth, even though my hands shook with nerves.

He stepped up behind me, putting his hands on my waist. "Weren't you supposed to get up at nine?" There was a teasing tone in his voice.

I turned to face him after I'd rinsed off. "This is your fault!" I poked him in the chest with a finger. "I was getting up at eight-thirty! Hell, I was literally about to step out of bed t hat time, but you stopped me, you... you..." I shook my head. "I can't even insult you! Everything seems too rude when it comes to you!"

He grinned lazily, pulling me into his arms and nuzzling my neck.

"Easy for you to be relaxed!" I was filled with anxiety. "I'm the one who's going to be bombarded with taunts." I wasn't exaggerating, nor was I being dramatic. I had seen plenty reality-based Pakistani TV dramas to know that Bisma Aunty seemed to be the sort of taunting personality that seemed to be a villain in each drama. It was bad enough that Fatima Aunty was intimidating enough since she became my mother-in-law.

His smile disappeared and he stared down at me, his arms still wrapped around me. "I'll go downstairs first, and I'll handle it, don't worry." 

"Fawad..."

"Do you trust me?" 

"You know I do, jaan."

"Phir mujhe sambhalne do, theek hai?" He kissed my forehead.

*"Then let me handle it, okay?"

"I love you." I pressed my forehead against his chest.

"I love you too, Mina." He lifted up my chin and pecked me on the lips before heading out of the bathroom.

*

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, knowing Fawad Ali, but nobody said a word about me coming downstairs late. Nobody.

Fatima Aunty and Bisma Aunty both didn't look happy, but neither of them said anything. While I felt partly relieved, I wasn't naïve enough to think that I was clear; I knew that this was potentially just the calm before a raging storm. The storm was going to make landfall the moment Fawad left me on my own. I could feel it.

"Kahan jaa rahe hain aap?" I asked my husband after our late breakfast when I walked into our room.

*"Where are you going?" 

"Kaam se pehle Papa ke saath ek appointment pe." He changed into a white button-down shirt, looking at me. "Agar akele jaayeinge to ya to kuch chupayeinge humse, yeh doctor ke mashware ko seriously nahin lainge woh. Doctor hoke bhi woh har baat ko halka laite hain..."

*"Before work, I'm going to an appointment with Papa."
"If he goes alone, he's either going to hide something from us, or he's not going to take the doctor's advice seriously. How can he be a doctor himself and take something so lightly?"

"Ab mujhe pata chala aap main yeh cheez kahan se aayi hai." I teased him.

*"Now I see where you get it from."

He smiled at me. "Fariha's here, in case anything goes wrong. And if Khalla gets too overbearing, you can always got to your parents' house."

"That's not a solution, Fawad! I can't just go to my parents' house because of an intimidating relative! I'll be fine. And, like you said, Fariha is here." I turned to leave the room. "I better go. The daal should be ready. Bisma Aunty specially requested that I make it." The basic lentil dish was simple to make, but I was nevertheless nervous while making something for her.

"Mina?" 

I looked over my shoulder at him.

"Don't worry, okay?" He gave me a reassuring smile. "No matter what happens, I'm with you. I will not tolerate anyone mistreating you."

"You're the only reason I'm still here." I spoke softly before I headed downstairs.

*

"Did you give Ali Bhai and Fawad lunch for work?" Bisma Aunty looked up at her sister.

"Of course, Appi." Fatima Aunty nodded, sitting down next to her.

"Ab yeh zimedari tum sambhal lo, ladki. Fawad ki Maa kyun bhijwa rahi hai uska khana uske saath?" Bisma Aunty glared at me.

*"Now you start taking over this role, girl."
"Why is Fawad's mother still sending lunch with him?"

"Khalla, she literally just got married." Fariha spoke up in my defence, keeping her tone light.

"To? Uska yeh matlab ke woh shohar ke liye kuch nahin kar sakti?" Bisma Aunty shook her head. "Aaj kal ki aurat to bas ghar ki zimedari se bhagti hai. Feminism, aur woh sab bakwas."

*"So? Does that mean that she can't even do anything for her husband?"
"Women these days just try to avoid housework, that's all. Feminism and all that nonsense."

I saw my mother-in-law glaring at Fariha to remain silent, but my nand looked annoyed.

"Dal ke nahin dogi?" Bisma Aunty gestured towards the bowl set at the centre of the table.

*"Aren't you going to serve me this?" 

I jumped up and grabbed her bowl, before pouring the daal into it. Taking a roti out of the hot pot, I set it on her plate. Sitting down nervously, I played with my fingers and watched her break off a piece of roti and dipping it into the lentil dish.

"What is this?" Bisma Aunty made a disgusted face.

"It's daal." I replied weakly, wondering what I did wrong.

She had the nerve to spit it out directly into the bowl!

I grabbed Fariha's wrist. She squeeze my hand with her other hand, reassuringly.

"Khana pakana nahin aata?" Bisma Aunty snapped at me.

*"Do you not know how to cook?"

"I..." I started to replay in my head every single step I'd followed to make the daal, but I couldn't think of what I did wrong. I'd followed the recipe perfectly as I knew it.

"Namak kahan hai?" Bisma Aunty practically yelled.

*"Where's the salt?"

Instead of helping me, my mother-in-law sat quietly, staring down at her own plate. She discreetly pushed it away.

Allah! I forgot to put in the salt! I winced and Bisma Aunty noticed.

"Are you really that good for nothing that you can't even make a simple dish correctly?" She asked me, accusingly. "Fatima, she's going to starve our poor boy! What kind of a wife is she for our Fawad?" 

Tears filled my eyes. Yes, I didn't cook much before marriage, but it wasn't a sin. I had never been spoken to in this manner, not even by my own parents when they'd been upset at me over something. But my grandmother always use to say that  for us desi girl, real life started after marriage, and that's when our real tests started, when we left the comfort and safe zone of our parental home and started afresh with a new family.

The worst part was that this wasn't even a new family. I'd known them my whole life... but maybe I didn't. Maybe marriage was that key which had opened up a whole bunch of family secrets, and hidden faces that I'd yet been unaware of.

"Khalla, you're being a little harsh." Fariha spoke up again. "You can just add more salt to the bowl."

Her Khalla glared at her, but Fariha didn't seem intimidated. "Fariha, girls shouldn't speak up when adults are talking!" 

Wow. Simply wow. Did we time travel back to the 1800s?

I stood up. "I'll get the salt..."

Before I could walk away, she lifted the bowl of daal and sneered into it, and before I realised what was happening, she threw the bowl towards me. I jumped back with a scream as the bowl fell and shattered onto the marble floor, spraying daal all over the table and a little bit on me.

"Appi!" Now, my mother-in-law looked horrified.

"Khalla!" Fariha yelled, jumping up and rushing to my side. She wrapped an arm around my shoulders as I trembled.

"I... I can't be here." Sobbing, I rushed out, desperately yearning for the warmth and safety of my parents' house.

This disgusting, repulsive, abusive behaviour was far from what I was used to dealing with. I'd never faced family politics before marriage, certainly not on this level, and it terrified me and shocked me at the same time. I was starting to realise how much my parents had sheltered me from the real world.

I didn't go by car. I walked all the way to my parents' house. I was out of breath, an the heat of the sun did nothing to calm the whirlpool of emotions inside me. Halfway to their home, I paused to take a deep breath. The mixture of heat and the erupting sobs was causing exhaustion, and I felt like I was going to collapse. I took a few moments to take in deep breaths, before continuing walking to the Sheikh family home.

The guards looked startled and concerned when they saw me, and they immediately let me in. I jogged to the front door and pushed it open. For a few moments, I just stood in the cool foyer, my eyes wandering around the familiarity of the place. Papa had shielded me even against Ahad Bhai when my middle brother and I argued. Ahad Bhai had defended me against any kid my age who'd ever upset me at school. Arhaan Bhai had constantly been a protective, fatherly figure for me. And my Ammi? No matter how many times I burnt a dish, or made a mess, she never spoke to me the way Bisma Aunty had spoken to me, let alone thrown a bowl full of hot daal at me.

"Jasmina?" Ammi had come out into the hallway. She paused in her steps, looking shocked as she saw me. "What happened?!" She rushed up to me and put her hands on my shoulders. "Are you okay? Is Fawad okay?"

I hugged her tightly, crying hard against her shoulder, and she wrapped her arms around me.

"What happened, meri chanda?" She whispered, stroking my head. "Asad!" She called up the stairs. She let me cry my heart out, and even without looking up at her, I knew that she was in tears herself.

"What's going on?" Papa came rushing down the stairs, followed by my brothers, who had clearly heard the panic in Ammi's voice.

"Jazzy!" Ahad Bhai frowned in concern.

I was crying so hard that I started gagging.

"Ahad, get her some water!" Ammi ordered. He nodded and ran towards the kitchen.

"Beta, what happened?" Papa ran a hand over my head in a way that only a father could, which made me cry harder.

"Did you and Fawad...?" Arhaan Bhai asked cautiously.

I shook my head in denial.

"What happened then?!" Ammi asked, as Ahad Bhai returned with a water bottle.

"Drink this before you dehydrate yourself, chanda." Ammi helped me drink.

"I... I want to go... t-t-to my room." I gasped out after gulping down some water.

Ammi and Papa exchanged a worried look, but they helped me upstairs.

"I don't want to talk about this!" I said once we were in my room, and I was sitting on my bed. "I just know that I'm not going back there!"

"Well, we're all here. Whenever you feel like you're ready to talk." Ammi told me gently, kissing my forehead. I nodded.

My family left me alone then, respecting my need for space and privacy.

*

Fawad

I returned home with Papa after work to see Fari nervously pacing the foyer. "What's going on? That prick Umair didn't come again, did he?" 

"No." She sighed. "Bhai, Bhabi's gone."

I frowned. "Gone where?" 

Ammi and Khalla came out of the drawing room.

"Do you want to let your brother and father rest before you start burdening them with problems?" Khalla snapped at Fariha before turning to me. "Girls toady are very delicate, Fawad. They can't handle a little criticism, that's all."

I turned to her. "What did you do?"

"Fawad!" Ammi told me off, horrified at my harsh tone.

"What happened in my absence?" I asked both of them.

Neither one of them replied.

"I'll tell you." My sister spoke up. "Bhabi forgot to add salt to the daal, and Khalla threw the bowl of hot daal at her!"

"What?!" My voice rose as I glared at my maternal aunt.

"Fawad, it wasn't intentional." My mother actually tried to defend her sister's downright abusive act. "Appi just got a little angry, and you know how sensitive your wife is, being the youngest and most pampered one in her family."

"This is not called being sensitive. This is called being educated enough to not tolerate abuse." I lowered my voice, struggling to remain calm, but the rage was obvious in my tone, even to myself.

"Your sister was angry, so she threw a bowl of hot food at our daughter-in-law?" Like me, Papa rarely yelled, but even his quiet tone expressed his rage well. "I warned you both the last time, when Bisma Appi was extremely rude to Fari in front of all the guests at our dinner party, I warned you that behaviour like that is not acceptable in my house!" 

I turned to my mother, feeling let down by her. "You're educated, Ammi, a doctor no less. You raised me to respect women, and yet you yourself allowed your sister to abuse your own daughter-in-law? I didn't expect that from you!"

"After my experience with my in-laws, I would have thought that you would have learned your lesson, and you wouldn't treat someone else's daughter like that." Fariha added.

I took my phone out of the back pocket of my jeans and dialled Mina's number. The call immediately went to voicemail.

"Shikayat laga rahi hogi apne Maa Baap ko. Pata nahin kyun un logon ko ghaseet rahi hai hamare gharilu mamlay main." Khalla just wouldn't give up.

*"She must be complaining to her parents. Why is she involving her family in our personal family matter?"

"If she feels unsafe here in my absence, of course she'll go to them!" I snapped. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I thought things through. "Fari, do me a favour. You and the boys pack up and go to my flat. It's in one of the safest societies in Lahore. You'll be fine there. I'll stop by later." 

"Why are you sending Fariha away?" Ammi looked bewildered.

"Because I'm not staying here either." I replied. "As long as she's here." I nodded towards Khalla. "I won't be here, and if I'm not here, I don't think that Fari should stay here either. Papa's hardly home, and I don't trust Khalla enough to leave my little sister here." 

"Where are you going?" Papa asked me as I began to walk out.

"To Jasmina's house." I shrugged nonchalantly.

"You're going to stay at your sasural?" Again, Ammi seemed horrified.

"I'm certainly not bringing my wife back here as long as Khalla's here." I told her clearly. "To hell with what people think. I'm going to stay there, and I'm sure that I'll be more than welcome there." I turned to my sister. "Pack up. I won't leave until you do."

*

The driver took Fariha and the boys to my flat. I told my father to call me if he needed me before I drove off to the Sheikh family home. 

Maybe, if Arhaan and I hadn't been lifelong best friends, I might have hesitated in staying at my in-laws...maybe. But considering how modern and educated Mina's family was, I had no problem with staying over. In fact, when I thought about the Sheikh family, I felt ashamed knowing that I had dragged my sweet, naïve wife into the dirty family politics of my family.

The guards opened the gate for me, and I drove into the car porch.

Asad Uncle opened the front door a few moments later, but he didn't look surprised to see me.

"Assalam Alaikum, Uncle." 

"Walaikum Assalam." He nodded, his burrows furrowed together thoughtfully.

Afreen Aunty appeared in the foyer behind him. "Fawad!" 

"Assalam Alaikum." I greeted her as well, and she replied to my greeting. "I would like to talk to the two of you, if that's okay?" 

"Of course." My father-in-law led me into the drawing room, where he closed the door behind the three of us.

I took a seat opposite them. "I'm sure you must be wondering what happened." Knowing Mina, I had a feeling that she wouldn't have told her parents anything.

"Jasmina wouldn't say a word." Uncle confirmed my thoughts.

"I would like to apologist to you both."

"What happened, Fawad?" Aunty looked worried. "She was crying so hard that she almost made herself sick." 

I felt guilty beyond words. I shouldn't have left her alone with those two, even with Fari around. My sister herself was a victim of Khalla's misogynistic behaviour, and Ammi didn't have it in her to stop her older sister. "That's why I'm apologising. My family caused that." I briefly explained what happened at my family home in my absence.

Aunty clutched her husband's arm, her eyes filling up. His jaw clenched.

"How dare she?" Afreen Aunty snapped.

"I'm so sorry." I dropped my gaze, feeling remorseful. They'd expected me to take care of their daughter, and I'd failed.

"Who does she think she is? What century is she from?" Aunty was fuming, and it was clear on her normally calm face. In fact, I don't think I'd ever seen her like that.

"Afreen..." Uncle put his hand on hers.

"Jasmina's a child compared to her! How dare she treat my daughter like this? Does she think that Jasmina has nobody from her family to support her against this abuse?" 

"Afreen, stop. Please."

"No, Uncle. She has a right to be angry." I paused briefly before continuing. "In fact, I need to ask you guys a favour."

"What is it?" He looked curious.

"I have let Fariha and her sons stay at our flat, because I don't intend to stay at the family home until Khalla's around, and I don't want my sister to be alone there. Is it okay for me to stay here temporarily until Khalla's gone?" 

Aunty's jaw dropped open.

"Of course!" Uncle smiled genuinely. "Why are you even asking, beta? You've stayed over many times before!" 

"As Arhaan's best friend, not as your son-in-law." I smiled back, weakly.

"We don't think like that, and you know it." Aunty's words washed away my doubts that she would be mad at me. "We'll be honoured to have you here, and Jasmina would be really happy as well."

If she wants to see my face after everything that happened...

I cleared my throat. "Speaking of Mina, I should probably go and apologise."

"This isn't your fault, Fawad." Aunty said, gently. "Yes, I was initially angry when I heard about this, but you've grown up in front of us and we know you. You're a good man, and I know that you'll do your best to take care of Jasmina."

"I will. I promise." I nodded.

"But Fawad, I don't ever want to hear about such incidents again. She's our daughter, and I won't tolerate her being abused." Aunty added.

"I won't tolerate it either, Aunty." I spoke quietly. "Mina is my responsibility, and I will protect her from this abusive behaviour no matter what, In Sha Allah." 

Her parents looked slightly relaxed as they heard my words.

Excusing myself, I headed up the stairs and to Mina's room. I paused briefly for a few seconds as I thought about the kind of carefree life she had lived in this house, in this very room, and what she'd faced at my house. Raising my hand, I knocked lightly on the door that had an intricately carved letter 'J' in purple, attached to it.

"Go away, Bhai!" Her voice came through the door. "I don't need your unhelpful suggestions!"

I opened the door and entered.

"I said go away!" She grabbed a throw cushion and launched it towards me, without even looking my way. It landed nowhere even close to me.

"Whoa!" I bent down to pick it up.

She turned sharply and her eyes widened. "Ya Allah! I'm so sorry!"

"It didn't even hit me." I shrugged. "Even if it did, it's just a cushion." 

"Fawad!" She got off the bed and ran up to me, jumping straight into my arms like she had yesterday.

"I'm so, so sorry, Mina." I held her protectively in my arms.

"I'm not going back there!" Her eyes were closed as she rested her head against my chest. "You can't make me!"

"Actually, I'm going to stay here as well." I spoke casually.

She pulled back and looked at me, stunned. "What?" 

I headed over to the bed and flopped down on it, onto my back. "Yep. I'm not going back either until Khalla leave. And I've asked Fari and the boys to stay at our flat, as it's a safe place for the, where she doesn't have to be insulted in front of her kids."

"You're going to stay here? At my parents' house?" Her eyes widened again.

"Don't tell me that you share that mentality with Bisma Khalla!" I gave her an amused look.

However, she had a huge grin on her face as she got onto the bed beside me, leaning over me. "Are you kidding me? I'm so happy! Now my whole family is together!" In an instant, her mood had changed. 

"It's a bonus that it would also annoy the hell out of Khalla if I stay here."

"Aren't you meant to be the sensible one?" She raised an eyebrow. "Instead, you're acting like a rebellious teenager..." She placed a hand over my chest, right over my heart.

"This is the only way to behave with people who don't understand logic." I grabbed her hand as she lay on her back beside me. "You aren't hurt, are you?"

"No."

"Good." I lifted her hand to kiss it, as we both lay on our backs staring up at the ceiling. "You never have to tolerate that behaviour in my absence, no matter who the other person is. I'm glad you came here. I'd rather that you be here than to tolerate that repulsive behaviour." 

"Ammi and Papa aren't mad at you, are they?" She looked worried.

"Your parents are very sensible and mature people, Ma Sha Allah. They listened to me, and I reassured them in return."

"They know you. They know that you're just like your father, mature and wise, and that you'll never mistreat me." She squeezed my hand. "Mujhe aaj bohat darr laga tha, laikin aap ka saath mujhe apne liye khaday honay ki himmat de raha hai, Fawad."

*"I was very scared today, but having your support is giving me the courage to stand up for myself, Fawad."

I turned my head to look at her, and she did the same, meeting my gaze. For a few long and peaceful moments, we stared at each other silently.

"Why don't you ask Fariha to come here as well?" She suggested.

"I know that she feels bad enough being at her own parents' house. She won't feel comfortable being here, especially with the boys." I knew my sister too well.

"She's family as well. She has nothing to be embarrassed about." She reached forward and traced her fingers along my face. I closed my eyes as I felt her fingertips graze my jawline, my cheeks, and finally my lips. I grabbed her wrist and kissed each fingertip individually. "You never fail to amaze me, Fawad. You could have easily just taken me to our flat, and that would be all. But you are so considerate of your sister as well, and you let her go to the flat instead so that she doesn't face that behaviour in your absence. I'm in awe of you, Fawad Ali. You think of everyone. Ma Sha Allah!"

"Fari has been through too much. She doesn't need anymore of this drama." 

"Do you think I overreacted by running away and coming here?" She moved closer to me, resting her head against my chest.

"No, meri jaan. I told you, you did the right thing." I kissed her forehead. "What Khalla did is not normal, or acceptable behaviour. She had no right to treat you like that, and my mother should have defended you." That was what hurt me the most. Ammi claimed to love me so much, and yet she had stood by and watched the love of my life, my wife, be abused. "I'm sorry, Mina. My family is... complicated, to say the least. There are too many issues. And ironically, my mother kept us away from our dadiyal to avoid these exact issues. She just refuses to see that her own sister..."

"Well, if it helps, for me it only matters how you are." She spoke softly. "As long as you're with me, I don't really care about anything else." 

A knock on the door interrupted our quiet discussion.

"Fawad!" Arhaan's voice came through.

Hearing his voice, I wondered if he was going to be angry at me. We were best friends, like brothers, but Jasmina was his little sister. I got up and opened the door. "I'm guessing you found out?"

He was grinning, to my surprise, exactly the way his sister had. "For once, you actually did a good thing."

"You mean, apart from marrying your little sister?" 

"Yeah, sure." He dismissively waved a hand, laughing. "It's good that you're here, Bhai."

"I'm here for Mina, as her husband." I was amused as I studied his expression. There was no sign of resentment or anger anywhere, and his eyes were lit up as they did whenever he was happy.

"Screw you, Bhai!" He shook his head. "You're here because you obviously missed me."

Behind me, Mina laughed. "Keep dreaming, Bhai."

"He says he's here for you, Jazzy, but he clearly missed the good old days when you were a pain in both our backsides." Arhaan grinned at her before turning back to me. "I'm taking the Xbox out. Do you want to try beating my high score at literally all the games?" 

I glanced over my shoulder at Mina, who shrugged.

"You need her permission?" Arhaan teased, that khota.

"You are a pain my my...backside." I amended my language out of respect for Mina. Otherwise, both Arhaan and I had a language that both sets of our parents would be incredibly proud of... not. "Let's go." I looked at my wife again. "You coming? I would like for you to witness me beat Arhaan in literally every game." 

Arhaan swore at me in Punjabi, as Mina and I laughed.

*

"Behan hai woh meri, choti aur akloti." Arhaan was setting up the Xbox. "I trust you, Fawad, you're like a brother to me, but I will not tolerate my sister being treated in that manner. You know that I've always treated her like she's my kid, rather than my sister, and I cannot bear to see her the way I saw her when she arrived here earlier." 

*"She's my youngest and only sister."

"I know, Arhaan. I cannot even begin to tell you what she means to me. Don't worry about her." I looked at him as he sat down beside me. "You and your family behaved impressively. If anyone had done that to Fari, I would have gone there and cause chaos, no doubt." 

"Ahad had the same plans. If it wasn't for Papa, he would have gone there right then and there.  Imagine the reaction if Jazzy's angry brother turned up to confront your Bisma Khalla." 

"I'd probably have to leave the country with Mina." I chuckled. "But I can understand Ahad's reaction." 

Speaking of the hot-tempered brother-in-law of mine, he walked in, followed by Mina, as Arhaan and I played our second racing game.

"Who's winning?" Ahad flopped down onto the armchair.

"Definitely not Arhaan." I grinned, my gaze on the screen. For a while I continued focusing on the game, but then I briefly glanced towards Mina, who was sitting on the sofa on our other side, her legs pulled up, scrolling on her phone. In black leggings, a loose long white t-shirt, and her hair pushed back by a thin hairband, she looked like the pre-marriage Mina, carefree and relaxed. That's how she should always be.

"Fawad Bhai. what are you doing? You will let Bhai win!" Ahad's loud protest made me turn back to the TV.

"Whose side are you on?" Arhaan asked him, bewildered.

"Anyone who plays against my siblings is my friend." Ahad chuckled.

It wasn't long before I glanced towards Mina once again. She was biting her lower lip as she studied the screen of her phone. After briefly turning back to the game, my eyes returned to her. This time, she looked up and met my gaze. She smiled, her cheeks turning pink, and I smiled back, giving her a wink.

"Fawad Bhai! What the hell, yaar?" Ahad Bhai groaned, and I turned back to see that I'd lost.

"Ahad, tumhare behnoyi hain woh, tameez se baat karo." Afreen Aunty walked in. "Kids, dinner is ready." 

*"Ahad, he's your brother-in-law, talking to him with respect."

Arhaan laughed. "I'm a champion."

I stood up. "Nope. Just thank your sister for this."

Mina's eyes widened. "What did I do?" 

"Whatever you did, thank you." Arhaan told her.

"I didn't do anything!" Mina protested.

I chuckled as I walked out to wash my hands. As I stepped out in the hallway, I made a quick phone call to Papa to make sure that everything was okay at home. I hated upsetting Ammi, but I was not going to support her even if she was in the wrong, not when it would be an injustice to Jasmina. My father reassured me that everything was okay, and that he was proud of me for taking a stand for my wife. He had even spoken to Fari, who was okay at my flat.

When I joined the Sheikh family for dinner, I didn't feel uncomfortable or awkward at all. I felt like I was a part of the family.

"Aapko bhindi pasand hai na?" Mina asked me, scooping some onto my plate.

*"You like okra, right?" 

I nodded, staring down at the okra dish that smelled delicious.

"I made this especially for you." She whispered. "It has salt."

"If you make something especially for me, I'd even eat it with poison." 

She rolled her eyes. "Aap bhi na!" 

*"You're too much!" 

I only had bhindi with roti, and it turned out delicious. "You're going to make me gain weight if you keep cooking, so don't bother."

"I'd still love you." Her eyes widened as she realised that she had just said those words while her family was present at the table, but fortunately for her, they were all busy in their various discussions.

My heart felt light because I knew that I had done the right thing by supporting my wife. She didn't deserve the treatment that Khalla had given her. However, a small part of me knew that I should take to Ammi as well. I wanted to at least try to make her realise that her silence in front of Khalla wasn't right. It made Khalla think that she supported her, whether it was true or not.

I looked around me at the beautiful and peaceful environment of the Sheikh family home, and I prayed to Allah that it remained as such. They were truly a great family, and they deserved all the peace and happiness in the world.

"Fawad, khao na, beta." Aunty told me.

*"Fawad, eat, my dear!"

"Admit it. The bhindi is rubbish." Ahad laughed.

"Ahad." Uncle looked at him, warningly. 

"Well..." I smiled teasingly at my wife, who looked at me with narrowed eyes.

The Sheikh brothers laughed, and Mina's parents smiled in amusement, with Mina cutely wrinkling her nose at me.

We had a wonderful dinner, and I was grateful for the hospitality that the Sheikh family had shown me, even though according to Ahad, they were forced to behave nice because of the infamous 'damad protocol', but no matter what it was, I didn't feel like an outsider at all.

But what really won my heart was the way Mina cared about me, the way she ensure that I had everything that I needed. She was proving to be a brilliant wife, a caring partner, and I promised silently to myself that I would be the best possible husband to her.

I just wish my family doesn't cause more drama.

*

Despite the drama revolving in his family, Fawad is, and will continue to be a caring and supportive partner for Mina.

Through this drama, their relationship is strengthening.

A good partner, a loving and supporting spouse, can help through the worst of storms.

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