Chapter-6
After six months
Author's pov
Sitting beside the window Maryam was shedding tears silently. She was holding a ring which she was pressing against her chest. Fat drops of tears continued leaving her eyes remembering Mikaeel. This ring was given by Mikaeel on her birthday.
" Miki, I miss you a lot," She whispered looking at the horizon and wiping away her tears.
It's been six months since her marriage and nothing changed in her life. Her family members always mentally torture her for money. They never call her to know about her well being. They call only when they need money from her.
Another thing they never forget to do is remind her about Mehzabin's death. Maryam goes through a lot of emotional and mental pressure because they never let her forget that she is responsible for Mehzabin's death. The accusations of Mehzabin's death are taking a great toll on Maryam's emotional state. She always feels guilty and down for her sister's death. She feels like she is a murderer.
In these six months, nothing changed in her & Yardan's relationship. It's still stuck where it was on the first day. He never acknowledges that she is his wife and deserves his love, care & attention. He is still stuck with Mehzabin. He never talks to her or even asks about her well being. Except for asking about the kids well being he never utters a single word with her. He is also leading a depressing life because still, he couldn't get over Mehzabin's death. Out of guilt Maryam took a few steps to approach him and have a normal conversation with him but every time he pushed her away. She feels guilty that he lost his wife because of her. She swallows his every insult silently because she thinks that she is responsible for Mehzabin's death and he has every right to snap at her. She even apologised to him a few times but he never accepted her apology or tried to hear her perspective.
On the other hand, Maryam is still living in grief and needed someone's shoulder to rely on. She needed someone's love to overcome the grief of losing her sister and the things happening in her life. But, no one is there for her and she knows that she has to go through this alone. Among all these miserable situations the only thing which can bring a smile to her face is her children. Yamir is now three years old where Omaira is 9 months old. The kids have accepted her as their mother and their innocent giggles bring happiness to her face.
She also misses Mikaeel and feels guilty for breaking his heart. A lot of times she thought to talk to him but couldn't gather enough courage to face him. Finally, she decided to move on since she is married. But, how can she console her heart which still aches for Mikaeel?
She was looking outside having a doleful expression on her face when her phone started ringing. Taking the phone she looked at the screen and it was none other than her father. An irritated expression appeared on her face seeing the call and she cut it swiftly. But, after 5 times she couldn't ignore it anymore and decided to receive it.
" Now you have started ignoring me!! Good. Very good. I raised you for 25 years to see this day," Abdullah said sounding disappointed.
Maryam lied to avoid his taunting," You are misunderstanding me. I was busy with Omi. That's why I couldn't receive your call."
" Anyway, I need 1 lakh rupee. I am going to repaint my shop. So, I need some money. Send it this weekend," Abdullah demanded and Maryam lost it.
She shouted angrily," Abbu, I don't have a money plant that you will ask for money anytime and I will be able to give it. I can't give a single penny to you right now. Moreover, Yardan doesn't like it if I ask for money."
" I knew it, Maryam. I knew that you can never be like Mehzabin. If it was Mehzabin in your place then she would have sent the money even before I could tell her the amount," Abdullah taunted and Maryam's eyes got watery instantly.
Then, he said butchering her heart brutally," When your mother was pregnant with you, she was facing complications and the doctor suggested us abort you. But, we didn't. Seeing your behaviour and attitude towards us I think we committed a mistake."
Maryam didn't argue with her father anymore and let the tears flow silently. She tried to say something but nothing came out of her mouth.
" Don't worry, Abbu. I won't let you feel that you committed a mistake by keeping me. I will try to send the money as soon as possible," She answered with her trembling voice and cut the call.
Throwing the phone on the bed Maryam burst into tears. Sitting on the bed she continued hiccupping placing both hands over her face. She started thinking about why she is even living in this world or why she didn't die just after her birth.
Her crying was interrupted by a pair of tiny hands touching her hands. Removing her hands she looked frontward and found that it was none other than Yamir.
" Mamma, why are you crying?" He asked touching her wet cheeks.
She questioned instead of answering him," Baby, am I a bad woman?"
" No," He replied trying to understand her feelings.
Hiccupping continuously she said looking down," Nobody loves me, baby. Because I am bad."
" But, I love you, mamma. And, Omi loves you too," He replied innocently and Maryam's heart warm up.
Picking him up she hugged him tightly and he also hugged her back. She flooded his tiny face with uncountable smooches and he giggled. She started playing with him when an idea came to her mind.
She knew that she can't ask for money from Yardan but she can earn money to satisfy her family's greedy demands. She is well educated and it's time for her to search for a job.
After one week
" Omi is going to fly......hu.....iya........," Maryam said laughing holding Omaira upwards in the air and keeping herself on the bed.
Omaira giggled and her chubby cheeks turned red making her cuter. Placing Omaira over her chest, Maryam tickled her belly and Omaira cackled crawling on Maryam's chest.
" Is this mamma's Omi's tiny hands? Aww.... Whose legs are these?" Maryam let out kissing Omaira's tiny hands and feet.
Maryam was playing with Omaira when Yamir entered the room holding one of his toys. He jumped on Maryam like a kitten and hugged her from behind. Maryam chuckled holding Omaira in her embrace and feeling Yamir's tiny hands around her neck.
" Mam, stay like that. You guys are looking adorable. Can I take a picture of yours?" A maid asked smiling and Maryam permit her to take a picture.
" Aww, this is cute. My children are looking adorable. Once you are done with work send me this picture," Maryam said to the maid seeing the adorable picture.
After a few times, Maryam is now feeding her kids. Both of them were putting tantrums over food but she didn't lose her patience. She continued doing her duty when her phone started ringing. She picked up the call, greeted politely and asked who was speaking.
" ana habibat min sharikat XYZ. laqad taqadamat liwazifat fi sharikatina , 'alays kadhalika? (I am Habiba from XYZ company. You applied for a job in our company, right?)," A lady's voice said and Maraym's face lit up.
Maryam didn't have to face problems while understanding Arabic since she has learnt it already. The maids in the house helped her a lot with this matter.
She replied politely," naeam taqadamt fi alqism alaiqtisadii. (Yes, I applied in the economic department)."
" tama akhtiaruk lilmuqabalati. lidha , taeal ghdan fi tamam alsaaeat 10 sbahan (You are selected for the interview. So, come tomorrow sharp at 10 a.m.)," Habiba informed and Maryam agreed instantly.
Cutting the call Maryam sighed in relief. Once she gets the job then she won't have to beg in front of Yardan anymore. She knew that the salary isn't enough to satisfy her family but still she wants to be self-dependent rather than begging in front of Yardan.
The Next Day
" ladayk muahilat 'akadimiat mumtazat watutqin allughat alearabiat wal'iinjiliziat bitalaqatin. hadha tayib(You have excellent academic qualifications and you are fluent in Arabic as well as English. That's good)," One of the interviewers complimented looking at Maryam's CV.
She replied politely, "shukran lak sayidi (Thank you, Sir.)"
"muafiqu. yumkinuk aldhahab alan. 'atamanaa lak kula khayr(Ok. You may go now. All the best)," Another interviewer said to her and she left the office.
Coming out of the office she sighed in relief since her interview went well and the interviewers were pretty impressed by her. Now, she just can't wait to return home to her kids. She has left them with the maids and Yardan has no clue about all these.
Maryam was waiting for a taxi when her phone vibrated. She looked at the phone screen and it was an unknown number.
" Hello," She said receiving the call.
A deep male voice boomed over the phone, " Come to Al Zahra hospital."
" Yardan, You!!" Maryam uttered surprisingly. She recognised his heavy voice.
Yes, both of them are so distant from each other that they don't have each other's phone numbers with them. In the case of any emergency, they would contact through landline.
" Now!!" Yardan shouted and Maryam didn't waste another second.
Reaching the hospital Maryam found out that Omaira gulped down a marble accidentally. Yamir was playing with marbles and that's when this disaster happened. Omaira had serious diarrhoea and she was rushed to the hospital. Hearing all these Maryam couldn't control herself and started crying.
" Is she fine?" She questioned Yardan who was fuming in rage.
Raising his hand he shouted," Shut the fuck up!"
Maryam closed her eyes turning her head in another direction expecting a harsh slap on her face but the impact never came. Opening her eyes slowly she looked at him and found his hand hanging in the air. Fisting his hand he lowered it down and Maryam gulped. She looked at her surroundings and found that the nurses, doctors and other people are looking at them with wide eyes.
" I don't like abusing women but I don't know how long I will be able to refrain myself," Yardan shouted at her face and she flinched backwards.
Holding her arm tightly he questioned angrily," Why did I marry you?"
" Listen to me first, please," Maryam requested hissing in pain when he tightened the hold around her arm.
He yelled making her tremble," Answer the damn question."
" For your children," She replied meekly and didn't dare to look at his eyes.
Noticing her surrounding, Maryam said lowering her voice," Please, leave me. We can talk later. Everyone is watching us. What will they think about us!!!"
Clutching her jaw in a tight grip he growled at her face," My daughter is on the hospital bed and you still care what people will say!! Huh! Today, my daughter almost died because of your carelessness. And, how did you go outside without my permission? What was the emergency that you left the children with the maids? Huh!!"
" I went for a job interview," Maryam replied truthfully and Yardan lost his temper.
He roared loudly," You greedy bitch! How much money do you want? After the marriage, I didn't let you feel any kind of lacking but still, you need money!! Money became so important for you than my children!!"
" Because I am tired of begging money from you," Maryam yelled back and this time Yardan couldn't control himself anymore.
Dragging her outside he snatched her purse and before Maryam could understand anything he lit her purse in the fire. Just in a blink of an eye Maryam's CV, educational certificates and a lot of important papers turned into ashes.
For a few seconds, Maryam couldn't utter a single word looking at the burnt papers just like her burnt dreams. With teary eyes, she looked at Yardan in disbelief but didn't see a single ounce of remorse on his face.
" How could you?" She asked sobbing.
Clutching her hair he warned her," If you need money then I will pay you. But, I won't tolerate any kind of carelessness from your side regarding my children. And, it's the last warning. So, don't think of a job again."
" What if I refuse to obey you?" Maryam questioned back gathering all the courage she has.
Yardan replied letting out a chuckle," Go ahead. I won't stop you. But, later don't accuse me for any kind of consequences."
Jerking her away from him, he forwarded his legs when she mumbled in her shaky voice," I wonder how Mehzabin api loved a person like you!"
Yanking her hair behind he taunted stabbing her heart for the nth time," Didn't you feel ashamed before taking her name? Huh!! After killing her, you still dare to take her name! You murderer!!"
" I didn't kill her. I didn't kill my api. I didn't," Maryam screamed getting tired of the same thing again and again.
Throwing her on the ground Yardan yelled," Yes, you did!!! I wish you died that day instead of my Mahi."
