Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Author's pov

Standing in the restroom Maryam looked at her reflection in the mirror and found a broken, heartless, cold woman staring at her. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes and then washed her face with cold water.

She started wiping the water from her face using a tissue when a thought came across her mind. Without wasting another second she took out her phone and called someone named Raisa.

" Maryam!! Thanks to Allah!! Finally, you called. I was getting worried for you," Raisa said sounding concerned.

Maryam asked softening her voice," Bhabhi(sister in law), How is Yamir & Omaira?"

" Fine. But, just upset a little. They were just asking about you," Raisa said lowering her voice and Maryam looked at her reflection with blank eyes.

Then, she said sounding extremely sad," I will send you money for Yamir & Omaira every month. I just want you to take care of them."

" Ok. But, Maryam...... Ummm...... I mean...... Ammi...........," Raisa was shuttering to pronounce the correct word and Maryam got confused.

She asked curiously," What happened? Why are you shuttering? Is everything alright?"

" Actually, Ammi was requesting me to tell you about some money. Salehin bhai(brother) wants to start a new business so he needs some money. So, they are saying if you could send some money!!" Raisa said with hesitation and Maryam was already fuming.

She shouted clutching the phone tightly," Money.....money......money!! How much they want, huh!!! I wonder how can someone be so greedy! For the past 10 years, I have been giving them money even after their cruel behaviour towards me. They didn't marry me off to that buddha(old man) for Yamir & Omaira. They sacrificed me so that their source of income remains intact. What do they think that I don't understand anything? What do they think that I have a money plant!!! Never. I am not going to give a single penny to them!!!"

Hearing her fuming voice Raisa didn't say anything and kept her mouth mum. She heard Maryam breathing heavily and decided to not say anything about money again.

" Umm....Don't get angry, Maryam. I understand your hatred for us but don't punish Yamir & Omaira like that. Those poor kids are crying for you all day & night. They are innocent," Raisa said but Maryam didn't say anything. She just cut the call.

Maryam mumbled with her trembling voice," I don't care about them."

Suddenly, Maryam started feeling uneasy. She felt like her breathing rate was increasing and her forehead was sweating. She felt her heartbeat increasing and lips getting dryer. She also felt her head getting heavier. Rubbing her chest and taking deep breaths she started searching for something in her purse.

" Where is it? I brought it with me. Then, where is it?" Maryam shouted searching for something in her purse.

She was searching so impatiently like anytime she will rip apart her purse. Her body started shaking uncontrollably when she didn't find whatever she was searching for.

She yelled throwing away her purse," Where is it?"

" I think you are searching for this," A lady's voice startled Maryam and when she looked at the door she found that it was none other than Aurin.

Aurin was forwarding her hands holding a bottle of water and that packet that she found on the couch. Seeing the packet, Maryam didn't waste another second. Grabbing the water bottle and the packet, she had the medicine hurriedly. Her breathing started getting normal and Aurin was just looking at her with curious eyes.

" Are you ok, Mrs Shamsi?" Aurin questioned but Maryam didn't reply.

Aurin again said politely," I think you aren't feeling well. I think you should see a doctor."

" When my own parents didn't care for me then who are you to care for me? Huh!! Leave me alone. I can take care of myself," Maryam screamed at Aurin and Aurin was dumbfounded by her reaction.

Saying that Maryam left the place and Aurin found her behaviour weird yet disrespectful. She helped her and instead of showing gratitude, she just showed her arrogance!!

" That's why people are reluctant to help each other nowadays. Arrogant & ungrateful woman!!" Aurin mumbled rolling her eyes and left the place hurriedly.

At Night

Aurin was brushing her hair standing in front of the mirror. She was wearing a blue colour nighty and looking sexy in her attire. She was still brushing her hair when Mikaeel entered the room. He removed his shirt showing his toned body and Aurin bit her lips looking at him through the mirror.

He noticed her looking at him with admiring eyes and a chuckle left his mouth. Walking towards her, he stood right behind her and circled his hands around her waist. Pulling her nighty upwards he shoved his hands inside it and directed them towards her boobs.

" Wifey, you are making me hot. What should I do?" he whispered fondling her boobs and resting his head in the crook of her neck.

Moaning unknowingly she replied," AC is on. Just lower the temperature a little. Its remote is on the table."

" Aha!! Then, where should I press? Here.....here......or.....here?" Mikaeel asked pressing her nipples and at a time tickling her belly.

Aurin giggled arching her back and Mikaeel continued his sweet torture on her. He sucked her sweet spot making her shudder and laughed seeing her reactions.

After a hot lovemaking session, Aurin was resting her head on Mikaeel's chest and he was playing with her hair with one hand. And, with the other hand, he was holding the tv remote and watching TV. Both of them were watching a romantic movie.

Mikaeel was engrossed in watching a sex scene when Aurin said catching his attention," I don't know how are you doing business with her?"

" Her? Whom?" Mikaeel questioned concentrating on the heated kiss.

Aurin switched off the TV when Mikaeel looked at her. He found her looking at him with side-eyes.

" I was just learning another technique to kiss you," He replied pecking her lips and she couldn't help but chuckle.

Mikaeel asked pulling her close to him," So, whom you were talking about?"

" Mrs Shamsi. Your business partner!" Aurin replied having an annoyed expression.

A frown appeared on Mikaeel's face and he asked," What about her?"

After that, Aurin narrated the whole incident. She told him how Maryam was struggling to breathe and how she took the medicine from her hand. Mikaeel was astonished hearing Aurin and somewhere in his heart, he felt sorry for Maryam. He wondered what happened to her.

Aurin continued saying," I think she is going through mental problems. I saw her taking medicines for that and mood stabilisers."

A concerned expression appeared on Mikaeel's face when she said sounding annoyed," But, do you know what she did? Instead of thanking me, she showed me attitude. Arrogant!"

" You shouldn't come to any conclusion like that. Maybe she was going through tough times and that's why she behaved like that. We shouldn't judge a person without knowing him/her properly," Mikaeel replied and Aurin looked at him raising one of her brows.

She questioned," Why are you taking her side, hmm?"

" I am not taking her side. I was just saying the fact," He replied thinking about Maryam and Aurin understood that he is right.

Aurin mumbled nodding her head," Hmm. Maybe she is going through tough times."

Mikaeel was wondering what happened to Maryam when Aurin said smiling," I don't know about her but you know what her kids are so cute!!!!"

Mikaeel didn't concentrate on Aurin's words but she continued saying," Specifically, her daughter. That girl is chubby with red chubby cheeks. Aww.... I wish I had a daughter like her."

" A kid is wishing for another kid. Now, sleep," Mikaeel mumbled pulling the comforter over them and closing his eyes.

Aurin asked pinching him," Don't you think you are forgetting something?"

Mikaeel let out a yelp and looked at her. He found her looking at him with pouty lips and understood what she was demanding.

" Happy?" He questioned kissing her forehead and she snuggled into his chest closing her eyes.

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Sitting on an easy chair Maryam was hugging a photo frame tightly and looking outside. It was a photo of her, Yamir & Omaira's. In this photo, both of them were kissing her cheeks. Looking at the photo she trailed her fingers over it but didn't show any emotion on her face.

Sighing slightly she again looked outside and someone rang the doorbell. She thought it was the maid who might have returned with grocery.

But, opening the door Maryam froze in her place seeing the person standing in front of her. She wasn't expecting the person and a stunned expression appeared on her face.

" Mikaeel?" She uttered widening her eyes and Mikaeel gave her a genuine smile.

After a few seconds, gathering her shocked state she said politely," Come inside. You are here, suddenly?"

Entering the house he walked towards the couch and sat on it. He asked for a glass of water which Maryam brought hurriedly. Seeing him here suddenly she felt her heartbeat increasing at an uncontrolled rate. She got excited unknowingly.

" Ummm..... You are here! Any emergency?" She asked curiously.

Mikaeel asked having a concerned look," Are you ok, Maryam?"

" Yeah! What will happen to me?" She questioned back blinking her eyes and wondering why he is concerned about her suddenly.

Then, Mikaeel replied taking out a card from his pocket," It's Mr Omar Afzal's card. He is one of the most famous psychiatrists in the whole Pakistan. If you are going through tough times or emotional turmoil you can consult him."

" Why are you concerned about me? Who told you that I am going through tough times?" Maryam asked looking directly into his eyes.

He replied genuinely," Actually, my wife told me about you. Since you are my business partner and once we were friends so I thought to help you. That's it."

She took the card and while taking it her fingers brushed with his fingers. She started getting emotional by the touch but Mikaeel took away his hands hurriedly.

" See ya," He said shortly and left her place in a hurry.

He doesn't want her to take his concern as something else. He thought to come forward just for humanity or maybe he got emotional hearing her condition. No matter what he loved her once. But, he doesn't know that his one visit has already incited a storm already.

Hugging the card Maryam got emotional and started shedding tears. Her emotional state was already shaky due to the things happening in her life and medication. His one visit and concerned gesture has triggered a strong nerve inside her.

" I knew it, Mikaeel. I knew that you still love me. I know it's just a matter of time when you will realize your feelings," Maryam mumbled shedding happy tears.