Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Author's pov

"(mama , 'iilaa 'ayn nahn dhahibuna?) Mamma, where are we going?" Omaira asked Maryam getting close to her.

Opening the car window, Maryam grabbed Omaira's back neck and threatened," (kalimat 'ukhraa wa'ana sa'atrahuk fi alkharij) Another word and I will throw you outside."

Getting scared Omaira moved away from Maryam and sat close to her brother. Holding his hand tightly she hid in his embrace.

"(mama limadha takrahinana kathira?)Mamma, why do you hate us so much?" Yamir asked meekly looking at Maryam with sorrowful eyes.

Maryam mumbled fuming in rage," (Apne ush buddhe bap sey jakar puch. Ush buddhe ney meri puri zindagi barbad kardi.) Ask that old father of yours! That old man has ruined my whole life."

Saying that Maryam got emotional and started shedding tears. Yamir didn't understand his mother's words but seeing tears in her eyes he felt extremely guilty. He wondered did he say something hurtful to his mother? Then why she is crying?

"mama , la tabki. 'aeiddk bi'anana sanakun 'atfalak aljayidin walan nudayiqak. ( Mamma, don't cry. I promise that we will be your good children and won't bother you)," Yamir said innocently touching Maryam's hands.

Taking away her hand she shouted making him flinch," askut(Shut up)."

Very soon the car reached in front of a two-storied building. The building was looking quite old but the lights which are coming through the windows were indicating the living beings inside this house.

Getting off the car Maryam became a statue for some time looking at the building. Angry tears left her eyes looking at the place where she used to live. Like every ordinary woman, she should be happy to be in her home but she isn't happy instead she is furious.

Grabbing Yamir & Omaira's hands tightly she entered the building and rang the doorbell. A few moments later an elderly lady opened the door and her pupils dilated seeing Maryam standing at the door with her children.

An overwhelming expression appeared on her face after meeting her daughter and happy tears left her eyes. She expected Maryam to hug her or at least greet her but Maryam didn't show any emotions on her face. A few moments later all the members of this family gathered in the living room to greet Maryam but her next movement astonished them.

Throwing Yamir & Omaira to her parents, Maryam screamed," You sacrificed me for their sake, right? Then, let me tell you that I am now done with them and from this onwards you guys are going to take care of them."

Hearing her announcement her father, mother, 3 brothers and 2 sisters stiffed in their place. They felt like she has lost her mind.

" Maryam, have you lost your mind? What are you talking about? How can you leave your children like that?" Her father roared when Maryam roared back.

She replied gritting her teeth," I am not their mother. They are not my blood."

" Does Yardan know about all this? Does he know that his wife has lost her mind?" One of Maryam's brothers taunted and she diverted her burning eyes at him.

Without uttering any words to her brother she started yelling at her parents," Aap log ish duniya ki sabse ghatiya waldain ho. Mera keya kusur tha ki mujhe 2 bacche ki bap, ush buddhe ki gale mey fasha diya? ( You are the worst parents in this whole world. What was my fault that you married me off to that old, father of two children?)

" Yardan might be elder than you but he is a good man and has a golden heart. You are lucky that you got such a gentleman as your husband but as always you are ungrateful," Maryam's mother said rudely and tears threatened to fall from Maryam's eyes but she controlled her emotions.

Getting close to her mother she whispered mockingly," I wish Baba was like that gentleman of yours. Only then you could have understood my situation."

Maryam was in the middle of an argument with her family when her phone started ringing. Receiving the call when she heard Mikaeel's voice she didn't waste another second and stormed outside the house hurriedly.

Turning off the engine Mikaeel came outside of the car and found Maryam standing in front of the lake. Coming into this place he felt a sudden sting inside his heart. It was the same place where he and Maryam used to spend time together.

Maryam heard footsteps approaching her and she turned behind. Seeing Mikaeel an overwhelming expression appeared on her face and she ran toward him. Opening her arms she tried to hug him but he moved away instantly.

She looked at him with emotional eyes when he said sounding angry," Maryam, be within your limits. You are just my business partner. Nothing else. Please, keep your distance from me. We are not in a relationship that you can jump on me anytime."

" But, we can go back to our previous days, Mikaeel. Allah has given us another chance then why don't we make good use of this chance? I know that you still love me. We still can be together," Maryam replied trying to touch Mikaeel's face but he flinched backwards.

Mikaeel shouted glancing at her in disbelief," What's wrong with you, Maryam? Don't you know that I am married? I can never cheat on my wife. I can't step so low to backstab my wife. I am a married man now. Keep that in my mind."

" So am I, Miki. I am married too but we can divorce our partners and start a new journey together. Let's fulfil those dreams which we used to imagine together," Maryam said emotionally holding his shoulder and Mikaeel was getting pissed off by her words.

It took a lot of effort for him to move on and now he just can't go backward. He doesn't want to let these emotions control him again.

Mikaeel replied nodding his head," Seems like I have to cancel this deal of ours."

Saying that he turned behind to leave when Maryam questioned shedding tears," Why can't you accept me again?"

" Because I am married and I have a wife. Do you understand? I love my wife a lot. Maybe I love her more than I loved you. Do you know why I love her too much because she didn't play with my feelings unlike you who ditched me for a rich guy like all the gold diggers," Mikeel growled pouring all the anger he has for her.

Bursting into tears Maryam shouted," I am not a gold digger. I was forced to marry. You know about my family but still, you are blaming me for whatever happened!!"

" You are giving me the family excuse! Seriously, Maryam. Then, let me remind you what I did when my family refused to accept you," Mikaeel screamed at the top of his lungs clutching her shoulder tightly.

Maryam's lips quivered when Mikaeel continued yelling on her face," Do you remember our graduation day? On that day, my father came to know about my relationship with you. He declared in front of the whole college that he will never accept a barber's daughter as his daughter in law. Do you remember that?"

Maryam remained silent when Mikaeel growled," Do you remember that?"

She nodded her head when he continued," And, do you remember what I did? I declared in front of the whole college that I will only marry you even if it cost me leaving my house, my father's name. I was that much dedicated to you. I was ready to leave everything for you but what you did?"

Maryam closed her eyes letting the tears flow when Mikaeel shouted making her flinch," You couldn't even voice out in front of your family. When I literally begged in front of you to elope with me, you refused. You chose to obey your family because of fear, society's fear! You ditched me like I was nothing to you. I haven't forgotten all these yet."

Saying all these he jerked her away from him and started breathing heavily. He was feeling easy after saying all these like a burden was removed from his chest. This outburst was needed for him. He had been burying all this anguish inside him for a long time and after sprouting all these he was feeling better.

" In our society it's not easy for a girl to go against her family. I was blackmailed emotionally to marry someone else. I didn't do anything on purpose. My feelings for you were genuine always," Maryam said hiccupping while Mikaeel only looked in another direction.

Taking a deep breath Mikaeel said, "If you could have gathered even a little bit of courage then our future could have been different."

Maryam looked down when Mikaeel continued saying with a painful voice," 10 years, Maryam. I suffered for 10 years. You did leave me but your memories didn't. You can't even imagine how many sleepless nights I have spent. You can't even imagine how depressed I was. Every single cell of my body cried for you, my mind was sunk under grief. The more I tried to move on your memories would pull me back."

" Mikaeel, please..liste........" Maryam's talking was interrupted by Mikaeel.

He said having a smile," But, finally I managed to come out of this grief. Those painful memories. And, everything happened because of my wife Aurin. The person who taught me how to move on and filled my life with happiness, I can't backstab that person. I am sorry. You were my past but my wife is now my present and future. So, I can't let my past ruin my present and future."

After saying all these Mikaeel forwarded his legs to leave when Maryam grabbed his hand tightly and he looked at her. With teary eyes, she nodded her head, and begged with her eyes to not leave her but Mikaeel was emotionless. Though his heart broke into tiny pieces seeing her like that, he can't do anything. No matter how much hard is the truth. He has to accept it for the well being of everyone.

" Now, you are just my business partner. Nothing else. So, I am warning you for the last time. Be within your limits otherwise, I will have to cancel our deal," Saying all these rudely, he freed his wrist from her hand and drove away hurriedly.

Bursting into tears Maryam fell to her knees. His every word continued ringing inside her head making her condition miserable. She was regretting her decisions. He was right. If she gathered even an ounce of courage then this situation could be avoided.

" Why? Why?" She asked screaming and in response, she could only hear her voice.

Hiccupping continuously she said," If everyone deserves a chance then why can't I?

On the other hand, Mikaeel reached his house and decided to tell Aurin everything. He felt that she deserves to know whatever is happening around him.

Reaching his room he found her packing. He wasn't astonished by her actions because he was expecting something like that. Aurin guessed his presence but didn't say anything. She just resumed doing whatever she was doing.

" Wifey, listen to me," Mikaeel said taking away the cloth from her hand which she was folding.

Glaring at him she took another one and started folding it fuming in rage. She didn't utter a single word with him since she has lost interest to talk to him.

" I need to talk to you," Mikaeel again said and he was ignored again.

Losing his patience he messed up all the clothes she just folded and it was the last trigger he pulled. Shaking with anger she looked at him with burning eyes and the next moment Mikaeel's face turned in another direction because of the impact on his cheek.