Chapter-21

Maryam's pov

" Omi, finish your homework otherwise Mamma will stop talking to you," I said to Omaira who was lost on the tv and I am sure she didn't hear me.

I turned off the tv when she whined," Mamma, no. Let me see Oggy & the cockroaches."

" After homework," I ordered and having no other choices she started doing homework.

Diverting my gaze at the clock I noticed that it was already 10 p.m. Yardan hasn't returned yet and I am not waiting for him either. I have already understood that for him, I am just a substitute of my sister. Nothing else. I also realized that he is not going to be the husband I always dreamt of. He will never be like Mikaeel.

Maybe he has no respect for this marriage but I have. I am not like him. I took the responsibility of raising Yamir & Omaira and I will do it properly. I respect this marriage with my whole heart and I will be committed to it always. No, I am not expecting him to change because he won't change ever. I am just respecting this bond. This Marriage might be a plaything for him but not for me.

" Mamma, look what I draw," Yamir said excitedly and I looked at his sketchbook.

It was a family sketch where I was holding Yamir's hand and Omaira was holding Yardan's hand. It seems like we are a happy family. I wish this miracle happens!

I whispered nodding my head," Your father isn't that slim."

I was talking to Yamir when an angry Yardan entered the room. I don't know when did he return. I looked at him and got startled by his intimidating eyes. His nose was flaring like a raging bull like anytime he will kill me.

" What's the matter?" I asked shuttering.

He marched toward me when I flinched backwards automatically. Standing in front of me he raised his hand to strike right across my face while I closed my eyes expecting a harsh slap.

A few seconds passed but the impact didn't come. Opening my eyes slowly I looked at him and noticed him looking at Yamir & Omaira while his hand was still in the air.

" Yamir & Omi, go to your room right now," Yardan roared and the kids didn't waste a single second.

Before I could say anything he held a fistful of my hair and shouted in my face," With whose permission you went to meet my father?"

I remained silent when he yelled making me tremble," You even took Yamir & Omaira with you!! You let them meet that man whom I hate the most!!"

" Baba isn't very well. He requested me to let him meet his grandchildren for the last time," I replied shuttering and shaking with fear. I never saw him that much angry.

Well, I know about Yardan's family. Not so much. I know that he doesn't like his father, stepmothers and step-siblings. That's why he never meets them though they always want him to meet them and forget about the past incidents. I don't know which past incidents they always talk about.

Last night one of my step mother in law called me and requested me to convince Yaradn to meet his father. As expected he didn't meet his father so my father in law requested me to let him meet Yamir & Omaira. Hearing his sad and weak voice I couldn't deny it and today I went to meet him. There he requested me to tell Yardan that he is sorry. I don't know why he apologised but honestly saying I felt really sorry for my father in law.

" Didn't I tell you that not a single person in my family won't go to meet that man? Then, how dare you!!" He yelled throwing me on the nearby couch.

I shouted back," He is your father. He is on his deathbed. How can you be that ignorant toward your own father!! What would have happened if you went to meet him for once?"

Clutching my jaw tightly he growled," Who permitted you to put your nose in this matter? Even Mahi never questioned me about my relationship with my family members! Then who are you to interfere?"

" You are such a heartless human. Today I am feeling sorry for your father that he has an irresponsible & selfish son like you. If he knew that you will turn like that then he would have killed you just after your birth," I shot back and the next moment I was on the floor because he threw me on the floor due to anger.

I cried out touching my scratched knees when he warned me," It's the last warning. Stay out from this matter and never go to meet those people again. If you let my children meet them again then you will see the worst side of me."

" Those people are yo............." I tried to say something but looking at his burning eyes I swallowed down what I wanted to say.

Author's pov

A week passed after that incident and Yardan vented his whole frustration on Maryam. He didn't hurt her physically but the mental abuse is no less than any other abuse. In fact, it's the worse.

Right now Maryam is getting the kids ready for school but she was looking so pale and tired. The corner of her lips was cut, red fingerprints all over her wrists, several bite marks on her neck and her gloomy face were indicating that something wrong has happened to her. Looking at her red eyes anyone can understand that she cried the whole night.

Last night Yardan forced her out of anger because she again brought up the issue of his family. She argued with him which resulted in this situation.

" Mamma, what happened to you?" Yamir asked touching Maryam's cut lips.

She replied meekly," Nothing."

" Who hurt you like that, Mamma? Why are you so sad?" Omaira asked Maryam sounding extremely sad.

Forcing a smile on her face Maryam replied," I am not sad. See I am smiling. You should be going now otherwise you will be late for the class."

" Won't you drop us today?" Yamir asked innocently.

Taking a breath Maryam said caressing his cheeks," Today Bashir uncle(driver) will drop you at school. Mamma isn't feeling well so I can't go with you today. Sorry."

" It's ok, Mamma. Ta ta!!" Both of them said kissing her cheeks and leaving for school.

Maryam stood up with the help of a nearby chair and walked towards the mirror. Looking at her reflection she felt extremely disgusted and burst into angry tears.

Taking some of the face powder she started rubbing it on her full face and those bite marks on her neck. Taking a red lipstick she smudged it all over her lips with shaky hands.

" No........ I can't live with this man anymore..........No...... I can't.......last night he.....crossed all limits," Maryam whispered wiping away her tears and searching for something desperately.

Then she mumbled," I have to talk to Abbu, Ammi and Aftab bhai."

Taking the phone in her hand she will just call her father when something clicked inside her head. She remembered her family's previous behaviour and realized that if she tells them all this then they will try to convince her and she won't be able to say no.

" It would be better if I go to the police instead of informing Abbu & Ammi," Maryam thought mentally and this time she is determined what she is going to do.