Chapter-23

Author's pov

" I was angry with my husband and wanted to teach him a good lesson. That's why I filed this fake complaint against my husband. He never abused me," Maryam told the officer looking down.

Tears threatened to fall from her eyes but she controlled herself somehow. Clutching the hem of her dress she was trying hard to not burst into crying in front of the officer.

" Mrs Shamsi, if someone threatened you to change your statement then you should not get scared at all. Tell the truth and we will take action against your tormentor. You just have to say the truth to us," A lady officer assured touching Maryam's hand gently.

Maryam answered nodding her head," No one threatened me. I did everything out of anger and frustration. There is no fault of my husband. He is a good man actually. It is I who always lose my temper and misbehave with my husband."

" If that's the case then why your lips were cut and those fingerprints on your wrist that you showed us yesterday. What about all these?" Another lady officer inquired suspiciously.

Maryam replied gulping down her saliva," Everything was done by me. I did this to myself."

After that, the officers only looked at each other and then diverted their gaze at Maryam. They tried a lot to make Maryam speak about the actual incident but she was rooted in her opinion.

" I am sorry for wasting your time," Maryam apologised and then took back the complaint.

Maryam wasn't ready to fall into Yardan's trap but imagining her mother's situation she agreed to take back the complaint. She is already guilty of Mehzabin's death and now if her mother dies because of lack of treatment she won't be able to forgive herself ever. No matter what she can never see her mother dying due to lack of treatment. She is even ready to endure 100 Yardan for her mother's sake.

So, a few moments ago Maryam came to the police station along with Yardan. While she was talking to the lady officers Yardan was talking to the male officers. Both of them were getting interrogated by the police.

" Your wife confessed that she lied to us so that she can teach you a good lesson. According to law, if you want you can file a defamation complaint against your wife," One of the lady officers said to Yardan.

Yardan answered chuckling," I am a respected person in this society. I don't want this matter to spread because it will bring problems not only for me but also for my children and wife. I am not going to file any kind of complaint against my wife."

" You can demand a fine if you want," a male officer said.

Yardan answered letting out a chuckle," Come on officer. I am a billionaire. I don't need my wife's money. I am happy that my wife realized her mistake."

" Oh. Ok, then. You can leave now," the officer said and Yardan came outside the police station with Maryam.

Returning home the first thing Maryam did was to drag Yardan to her room. Entering there she closed the door and looked at Yardan with angry teary eyes.

" I did whatever you ordered. Now tell me when you are going to send my mother to the USA," Maryam asked.

Holding one of her upper arms he whispered," I am not done yet. Apologize in front of me getting on your knees. Confess that you are regretting whatever you uttered last night. Admit that you deserved that punishment because of your disobedience."

" No. I won't. There was no fault of mine," Maryam refused to obey him while Yardan gave her a challenging amusing look.

He said in disbelief," You still think you are in the position to refuse me!!"

For a few seconds, Maryam only cried looking down and thought about her mother. Then, having no other choices she got down on her knees and joined her hands in front of him. Seeing her like that a satisfied smile danced over his lips.

" I am sorry. Everything was my fault. I should have listened to you. I shouldn't have disrespected your mother. I deserved that punishment," Maryam apologized while fat drops of tears left her eyes.

Maryam was apologising and Yardan was enjoying her helpless situation. But, someone saw all this and became extremely sad. And the person was none other than Omaira. She may not understand a lot of things but she realizes one thing that her mamma is sad.

It was midnight when Yardan returned to his room with a sweaty body. It's not needed to describe where he was and what he did that he is sweating like that. Looking at the mirror he started wiping his body with a towel when he noticed a long hair over his shoulder. He took the hair in his hand and automatically Maryam's crying face flashed in front of him.

" I am just thinking about her unnecessarily," he mumbled and threw away the hair after tearing it apart.

Yardan was putting on his night suit when he heard a baby voice from behind. He turned behind and found that it was none other than Omaira.

" Omi, you haven't slept yet!!" He asked in disbelief and pulled her into his lap.

Omaira answered sadly," I am sad and that's why I am not sleeping."

" Who made my princess sad? Tell baba. I will punish the person so badly. I promise," Yardan said kissing one of Omaira's tiny hands.

Omaira answered innocently," I am sad for Mamma. Baba, why do you scold mamma so much? Is she a bad person?"

Yardan was taken aback by Omaira's questions. An awkward silence filled the whole room and Yardan wasn't understanding what to reply. Looking at Omaira's questioning eyes he became nervous.

" Your mamma told you to ask me all these?" He asked Omaira.

She answered innocently," She doesn't say anything. She only cries. I feel bad seeing her crying. Baba, can you stop scolding her? She loves me a lot. I don't want my mamma to cry all the time."

Yardan was silent for a few moments having an awkward expression. He wasn't understanding what he is going to say right now.

" Promise to me that you won't scold Mamma again. Promise me, Baba," Omaira requested holding Yardan's large hands.

Taking a breath Yardan promised kissing her forehead," Ok. Promise."

Two weeks passed after that incident and Yardan kept the promise that he made to his daughter. He didn't scold Maryam nor did he abuses her. He acted completely normal which astonished Maryam. She was wondering what happened to him suddenly that he is behaving normally with her.

That doesn't mean she has forgotten his barbaric behaviour. She is just going with the flow. She is now tension free that her mother is getting proper treatment.

Right now, she is standing outside the kids school. She came here to pick them up. Today was Yamir & Omaira's exams and Maryam was just hoping that her kids did well.

" Mamma," Yamir & Omaira said in unison and jumped on Maryam.

Maryam asked laughing," How was your exa.............."

Maryam couldn't finish her sentence when she started feeling dizzy. She couldn't continue standing anymore and fell to the ground. Yamir & Omaira became terrified seeing their mother like that. The driver came forward and without wasting another second he called Yardan.

A few hours later Maryam discovered herself in her room laying on her bed. Opening her eyes slowly she looked at her surroundings and noticed Yardan standing beside the bed having a blank expression on his face. She also found a lady doctor who was checking her pulse.

" What happened to me?" Maryam asked trying to sit back but the doctor stopped her.

The doctor said smiling," Lay down and take a rest. It's not good to take stress in this situation."

" What situation? What are you saying?" Maryam asked the doctor confusingly.

The doctor answered smiling," You are going to be a mother. You are 3 weeks pregnant."

Those words left the doctor's mouth and it took a few good seconds for Maryam to realise. The moment her brain understood the doctor's word, a terrified expression appeared on her face. She diverted her gaze at Yardan and clutched her belly protectively.

" You aren't going to kill my baby again. No.......... I won't let......you," Maryam screamed shivering with fear where her eyes were already teary.

Yardan sat beside her and pulled her into his chest. He started patting her head gently to calm her down but she was still shivering and crying.

" Please, it's a request. Don't kill my baby. I promise I won't discriminate among my children," Maryam pleaded looking at Yardan's emotionless eyes.

He replied wiping away her tears," Sh..h...shh....Don't cry. I won't do anything to your baby."

" Promise me that you will not harm my child," Maryam asked showing her hand to him.

He answered placing his hand over her hand," I won't harm your child. I promise."