Chapter-3

Author's pov

Sitting on the couch Yardan was looking at the door having a longing expression on his face. He knew that Mehzabin wouldn't return but still, he was waiting for her. Fat drops of tears left his eyes which he wiped away using the back of his hand.

" Yardan, I know it's really hard for you to acce..............." Abdullah tried to console Yardan but he didn't let Abdullah finish.

Yardan said emotionlessly," Your consoling words are not going to bring back my Mahi. They won't help me either since I have to endure alone. So, please don't bother. I will return to Dubai the day after tomorrow."

Hearing his announcement, everyone looked at each other and then diverted their gaze at Yardan. Momena signalled Abdullah to talk about Maryam and he gulped down nervously.

" Umm...Yardan. I was saying...... I mean to say.......Yamir and Omaira need a mother. Right?" Abdullah said shuttering but Yardan didn't pay attention to whatever he said. He was just looking down.

Momena pinched his hand when he continued saying," I mean to say you just lost your wife and the mother of your children. How many days you will stay alone? It won't be easy for you to handle Yamir & Omaira alone."

Raising his head, Yardan replied sounding suspicious," You know that I don't like puzzling words. So stop beating around the bushes and come to the point."

Everyone shared a look with having nervous expression and Yardan understood and guessed something suspicious. He wonders instead of mourning over Mehzabin's death why they are so concerned about him.

Maryam's elder brother Aftab said in one go," We want you to marry Maryam."

That one sentence left Aftab's mouth and Yardan stood up. He gave them an astonishing look and everyone started gulping down nervously. Looking at Yardan's eyes Abdullah almost had a heart attack.

" What did you just say?" Yardan questioned in disbelief coming toward Abdullah having an intimidating aura.

Yardan's voice boomed in the whole room like a thunderstorm," I have lost my wife a week ago and you are already telling me to move on!! How could you? Do you think it's easy for me? huh!! How could you just tell me to marry my sister in law!! Do you think I am that cheap!!!"

Hearing his outburst everyone lowered their heads where Yardan was still reciprocating what the hell they just offered him right now. He continued looking at them with astonished yet burning eyes.

Breaking the silence Momena said," We are saying it for your well being. Since your parents are no more so it's our responsibility to think about your future. We are offering Maryam's hands in marriage. Only for your children."

" For my children! Do you think I am not capable enough to raise my children? That's what you think about me!!" Yardan yelled making Momena flinch.

This time Abdullah said angrily," Yes, we saw your capability already? In this one week, have you ever asked about your children? Did you ask once if they eat or not? How are they? What they are doing? You have lost your wife but they lost their mother. What do you think about how they are feeling and going through?"

Hearing him Yardan looked down feeling embarrassed. No matter what he shouldn't be that careless towards his children. He felt like he has failed his children as a father.

" Your children need a mother and that mother can only be Maryam," Abdullah announced loudly.

Yardan questioned confusingly," Why, Maryam?"

No one answered this time looking at each other so Momena came forward. Holding Yardan's hand she started dragging him somewhere. He asked her where she is taking him but she didn't answer. Reaching in front of a room she told him to not make any kind of sound and look inside.

Looking inside the room his eyes widened with astonishment and his mouth got opened. He found his son sleeping on Maryam's lap where Omaira was sleeping over Maryam's shoulder. Noticing her holding them with so much affection he almost felt like he is looking at Mehzabin.

" That's why we were telling you to marry her," Momena said and after that, she explained how Maryam have been taking care of Yamir & Omaira.

Yardan heard everything silently keeping his eyes on Maryam. Looking at his facial expression Momena was sure that she has managed to convince Yardan but his next sentence startled her.

" Thank Maryam on my behalf. But, I am sorry. I can't marry her. I can't give Mehzabin's place to someone else. Not even for my children," declaring that he left the place to pack his stuff. He wants to leave this place as soon as possible.

A few moments later Yardan was packing his stuff and thinking about Mehzabin silently. Remembering Mehzabin's face he doesn't know when his eyes got watery. He burst into tears hugging one of Mehzabin's dresses and started mourning for her.

" Mahi, how could you do this to me? How could you? Why did you leave me like that? How am I going to live now?" He mourned closing his eyes.

He was still mourning over her death when Ayesha & Noor entered the room silently. They didn't come here to console him they are here for their selfish reason.

Maryam's family is so eager to marry her off with Yardan not because they are caring for Yamir & Omaira. They don't want to lose the source of their money. Mehzabin used to give her family a lot of money which is none other than Yardan's. Since Mehzabin is dead so obviously they won't have any connection with Yardan anymore and they can't ask for money from him. That's why they are so eager to marry off Maryam.

" Mehzabin was really a gem. We can feel your pain, " Noor said sounding extremely sad and Yardan stopped crying.

Wiping away his tears he resumed whatever he was doing when Ayesha said catching his attention," Everything happened because of Maryam. Because of her carelessness."

" What do you mean?" Yardan questioned raising one of his brows and Noor & Ayesha shared a menacing look.

Shedding some crocodile tears Ayesha replied," Mehzabin died while saving Maryam."

After that Noor narrated the whole incident that happened that day. She narrated it in her own style mixing up it with lies. She managed to make him believe that Maryam is responsible for Mehzabin's death.

Looking at Yardan's blazing eyes Noor added more fuel," Don't you think she should be punished for her irresponsibility? Her carelessness took an innocent life."

Noor and Ayesha flinched gulping down their saliva hearing the loud sound. Yardan just broke a flower vase due to anger. He was fuming like a raging bull and his eyes were blazing like fire. He was looking like he will eat Maryam alive right now if he gets her.

" I feel more sorry for your children. Because of Maryam, they lost their mother. Poor babies. Tsk....tsk...tsk," Ayesha said covering her face with a sad expression and Yardan stormed outside the room angrily.

No sooner had he left than they took relaxed breaths and cracked into laughter. Wiping away their crocodile tears they shared a menacing look.

" I thought we are going to lose our Swiss bank," Noor said sounding concerned.

Ayesha replied huffing," Mehzabin did well by dying. Finally, we are going to get rid of this burden named Maryam."

Entering the living room Yardan found Abdullah talking to his 3 sons. Seeing his angry face they stood up having nervous expressions.

" I am ready to marry Maryam," He announced and Salehin spit out the juice he was drinking.

Aftab asked widening his eyes," Are you sure? I mean you refused a few moments ago."

" I will marry Maryam the day after tomorrow and the following next day I will leave for Dubai with her," Yardan announced sounding annoyed.

Abdullah asked," What's the hurry? When will we prepare everything?"

" If you keep thinking about preparation then forget about this marriage," Yardan announced and it didn't take two seconds for Abdullah to agree with Yardan.

***************************************

Placing a blanket over the children Maryam kissed their heads and stood up. Walking towards the window she started shedding tears looking at the sky. Mehzabin's blood-covered face was coming in front of her continuously making her more guilty.

" I am sorry, Api. I am sorry," She apologised shedding tears silently.

Maryam was looking outside aimlessly when her brothers, sister-in-laws and parents entered the room. A confused expression appeared on her face seeing everyone together in her room. Her eyes widened when Noor and Ayesha took outside Yamir & Omaira's sleeping figure.

" Umm....Is everything alright? Why are you here together?" She questioned curiously.

Abdullah announced making her stumble back," We have fixed your marriage."

" What.......are......you......saying?" Maryam shuttered touching her forehead which was already sweating.

Her brother Dabeer announced making her freeze," We have fixed your marriage with Yardan."

" The day after tomorrow is your marriage and the next following day you will leave for Dubai with Yardan and your children," Salehin said dropping another bomb on Maryam.

The next few seconds went by quietly but very soon Maryam overcome stunned expression and protested angrily.

" Marriage! What are you talking about? Did you guys take my consent before fixing my marriage? And that too with my brother in law? Have you guys lost your minds?" Maryam shouted and started crying.

Momena held Maryam and said softly," Maryam, we are marrying off you to Yardan for Yamir & Omaira. Looking at their faces don't refuse. Those poor children won't survive without you."

" Then what about me, Ammi? You thought about your grandchildren but what about me? How can I just marry my brother in law and take my sister's place? No...never. I won't marry Yardan. Most importantly, did you guys ask about his opinion before coming to me with this proposal? He will never agree to this madness," Maryam questioned nodding her head vigorously.

Aftab said loudly," Yardan is ready to marry you."

That one sentence left his mouth and Maryam felt like she has heard wrong. She felt like the ground under her feet has slipped away. Nodding her head vigorously she started going backwards.

" No. That's not true. I can't marry him. I can't," Maryam refused crying bitterly.

Her mother said patting her head, " Maryam, I know that it's shocking for you. But, dear whatever we are doing is for everyone's well being. You care for Yamir & Omaira then how can you refuse to marry Yardan. We want you to marry him and accept Yamir & Omaira as your children."

" Ammi, how could you? How could you tell me to marry a man who is 12 years elder than me! Moreover, he is my brother in law," Maryam shouted in disbelief where tears blurred her vision.

Momena replied wiping away her tears," He was your brother in law. And, about the age.  It's just a number. I assure you that he will keep you happy just like he kept Mehzabin."

" No.....No......I can't marry him because.........." Maryam's sentence was interrupted by her elder brother.

He asked dangerously grabbing her jaw tightly," Don't say you like someone else and have an affair. I will bury him alive whoever dared to look at my sister."

Maryam got scared and jerked off the idea of sharing her & Mikaeel's relationship. She looked at her mother helplessly who was hell-bent to convince Maryam for this marriage.

" I will die rather than marry that old man," Maryam threatened placing a blade on her wrist and a harsh slap landed on her face.

Falling on the bed she looked at her father in disbelief when he said right in front of her face," You are the murderer of my daughter Mehzabin. If you refuse to marry Yardan then you will see my dead body too. And, you will be responsible for my death."

After that Maryam didn't struggle anymore and stopped crying like she has went numb completely. She looked at her family members and found them looking at her with irritated and annoyed expressions. She searched for sympathy in their eyes but there was nothing. She remembered their words that she is responsible for Mehzabin's death and this sentence triggered a strong nerve inside her.

Placing a huge rock over her chest she agreed meekly," I am ready for this marriage."