Author’s POV

He was asleep when he felt someone’s fingers softly caressing his head. He stirred, trying to shield his eyelids from the sunlight. That hand lovingly brushed through his hair, and after a few minutes, Saim slowly opened his eyes.

“Mera baccha” (My child), his mother smiled and kissed his head. He laid his head on her lap just like he used to when he was a kid. Shamim gazed at her son with love. “Wake up, beta. Eat something. It’s already 11 o’clock,” she said.

“Hmm,” Saim hummed, snuggling into her lap. The warmth of his mother relaxed him for a few minutes, otherwise he was restless even in his sleep.

“Saim beta, why did you sleep here last night? That’s your room. If you can’t tolerate her presence, then get her out of your room,” Shamim said as Saim sat up.

He didn’t say anything, which agitated Shamim.

“Beta, why don’t you say something? Usne tumhari zindagi ka tamasha bana diya aur tum ab bhi chup ho!” (She made a spectacle of your life and you are still silent!)

“Kya karun mai, Mama? I don’t know how I should react. She took away my peace, my smile. I invested so much in this marriage, Mama, that I feel I’m finished after knowing the truth about my marriage and the evil side of my wife.” He chuckled dryly. “I accepted her with all my heart. I wanted to spend my life with her, but this truth broke me. She didn’t just break me once—she disgraced my character twice only to keep Reema away from me. This side of her makes me hate her so much. She has ruined my life.” His voice sounded defeated.

“No beta! Why should you suffer? It’s her sin. She will pay for it.” Shamim cupped his face in her hands, She made him meet her gaze. The redness and moisture in his eyes were clear, and it only fueled Shamim’s growing hatred for Aina. “Saim, meri jaan, you deserve every happiness. You love Reema, don’t you? You sacrificed your love for that girl and for your family’s reputation, but now when everything is clear, why don’t you marry Reema? That girl truly loves you. She’s still here—maybe that’s what Allah also wants.”

Saim stared at his mother. He was about to refuse—he could never marry again, because Aina had ruined him for anyone else—but before he could say a word, the door burst open and Aina walked in.

“How could you say this, tayi ammi? I am his wife! I know I made mistakes, and I will earn his forgiveness. You have no right to come between us!” Aina screamed hysterically, because even the thought of him marrying someone else shook her to the core. She had been outside the room to wake him up, but hearing their conversation after two days, she had listened silently. However, when Shamim spoke about his marriage to Reema, she couldn’t hold back.

“Keep your voice down, Aina!” Saim growled, standing up from the bed.

“You heard what she said?” Aina asked.

“Haan, I know what I said. And I will make him marry his first love,” Shamim stepped forward and pushed Aina aside.

“He didn’t love her! Saim, tell her you never loved Reema! Remember, I asked you a day before that party if you loved Reema or not—you said you didn’t know. If you had said you loved her, then I wouldn’t have done what I did. But when you said you didn’t know, I thought—why should I sacrifice my love? She may have been an ideal person for you to marry, but she was never your love!”

Saim remembered. Aina had asked him if he loved Reema or not, and he had said he didn’t know. He clearly recalled her lecture about love that day.

“That was my choice. Love or not, she was still my choice! I wanted to marry her. No one had the right to interfere. Then how could you decide it was okay?” He gripped Aina’s arms tightly. “You made me guilty, and I did everything to keep you happy like a fool!”

“You love me, Saim,” Aina said, and his hold loosened.

“She was your choice, but now I am your wife and your love,” her words added fuel to fire. Saim shoved her away.

“Maine tumse kabhi mohabbat nahi ki!” (I never loved you!) “You were always my responsibility. I did everything only to keep you happy, even though I was never happy with you, because the guilt of ruining your life never left me.”

Aina stumbled back, staring at his hateful eyes and his harsh denial of love.

“No… you are lying,” she whispered, shaking her head.

“He’s not lying. I always pressured him to accept you, to keep you happy,” his mother added, breaking Aina’s heart further.

“No! I don’t believe you. I saw happiness in his eyes when he was with me…” Aina mumbled.

Saim stared at her, and for a strange moment, it felt like cold water had been poured on his burning heart when he saw her hurt.

“That was all an act. I never loved you. I was never happy with you. You are just a compulsion and a duty that I accepted because I thought I was at fault. But now, when everyone knows the truth, maybe I should stop pretending that I’m happy with you.” His words were cold breaking her heart into millions peices.

Aina stared at his face for a few seconds before running out of the room, unable to bear the disdain in his eyes.

His mother placed her hand on his shoulder.

“She deserved it,” she said.

“Yes, she deserved it,” Saim repeated, trying to calm his heart, even though inside, it screamed that what he had said was a complete lie.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

She entered her room and collapsed on the sofa, hugging her knees tightly as they shook from the weight of her anxiety.

“He was lying…” she kept mumbling to herself, rocking back and forth.

He had turned all their happy moments into nothing but duties. Every laugh, every smile, every gesture of care—he had called them compulsion.

“No… he is lying. I saw his happiness. Whatever he did was out of love,” she told herself, forcing her heart to believe.

Just then, Saim opened the door and walked in. Aina looked up. He glanced at her once and then headed toward the washroom to get ready for the office.

“Saim…” Aina rushed toward him. “Please forgive me. I drugged you that day, but I didn’t hire Fouziya for those false allegations. Please trust me. I didn’t do anything to taint your name. Please, trust me!” she pleaded, clutching his arms, which he immediately pushed away.

“Do you think I will ever trust you again?” he asked coldly. “I will never forgive you.”

“Saim, have you forgotten our happy moments?” she asked hopefully, thinking he might soften.

Saim chuckled dryly. “I already told you, I was only doing my duty. I never fell in love with you. You were only an obligation to me,” he spat.

“Saim, I once read that a man can never be forced unless he wants it. And you always told me you couldn’t keep your hands off me when I was around. You said I satisfied you in ways no woman ever could. That isn’t duty, Saim. That is emotion,” she said with a faint smile.

Saim smirked. “Are you really that innocent, or just pretending?” He grabbed her hand and made her stand in front of the mirror. “Look at yourself. God has given you beauty more than enough. Tum kisi bhi mard ka imaan dagmaga sakti ho. Mai toh phir bhi ek aam sa banday bashar hoon jo tumhara shohar bhi hai.” (You can shake the faith of any man. I am just an ordinary man—and also your husband.)

He held her shoulders and leaned close. “How many nights did I spend with you only out of needs, not love. Girls like you, who don’t care about their dignity, deserve to be used for man's needs not love.”

He pushed her away and walked into the washroom, not realizing his words had carved scars deep into her innocent heart.

Aina stood frozen, shaking her head. “No, he is lying…” she mumbled.

Inside, Saim shut the door and leaned against it. He felt sick, yet there was a twisted satisfaction inside him. His burning heart found ease in her pain. Seeing the hurt in her eyes gave him a strange sense of relief.

Aina’s head was spinning. She sank onto the sofa. After some time, hunger pangs stabbed her empty stomach—she realized she hadn’t eaten since yesterday. Slowly, she stood up and walked out to get something.

*********

Reema stepped into the house since Saim hadn’t gone to the office today, and she wanted to meet him. She found his mother sitting in the living room.

“Aunt,” she went near her. Shamim’s face lit up seeing her son’s choice in front of her.

“Arre beta tum, ao ao (Come, child, come),” she pulled her into a hug, surprising Reema with her sudden affection.

“I just came to meet Saim. We had an important meeting today, so I just wanted to know if he will be able to join, or should I go with Zaid?”

“He will come soon. You sit here, I’ll bring him,” Shamim said and walked out.

Reema’s eyes roamed around, searching for Aina. She wanted to see her face and figure out how much her moves had affected her. She couldn’t get anything out of Saim’s mouth.

She asked a passing servant about Aina’s whereabouts. The servant told her Aina was in the kitchen.

Reema walked towards the kitchen and smiled, seeing Aina sitting there with half a paratha left uneaten. Her face said it all—how hard her time was going. Reema’s smile widened as Aina looked up, sensing someone’s presence.

Aina stood up. Reema smiled, making Aina’s eyes turn cold with anger.

“How is Saim treating you, Ain?” she asked sweetly, calling her name the way Saim did.

“It’s none of your business. We husband and wife will sort things out. You stay away,” Aina said firmly and was about to leave when Reema grabbed her elbow and pushed her to face her.

“I’m talking,” Reema narrowed her eyes.

“But I don’t want to talk to you,” Aina said tiredly freeing her arms.

“Oh really! Do you think it matters what you want or don’t want?” Reema smirked.

Aina stared at her. “Why are you doing this? You told me you wanted to reveal that night’s truth, and you did. Then why did you accuse me in Fouziya’s case? I didn’t do anything—you know that. Then how can you blame me for that?” she asked, her eyes filling with tears.

Reema smiled wickedly and leaned forward. “Because I want Saim. I’ll do everything and anything to get him back. I will make him divorce you and marry me,” she whispered, making Aina’s eyes widen in shock.

“How can you stoop so low?” she asked in bewilderment.

“Just like you did on the day of my wedding,” Reema snapped.

“I said sorry! Sorry for everything, Reema api. Please, leave us alone.”

Reema chuckled. “I will leave—but with Saim. Remember my words, I will take him away,” she said.

After a few seconds of silence, Aina smiled. “You think Saim will ever divorce me?” She folded her arms across her chest. Reema’s eyebrows raised at her confidence. “You also remember one thing—even if Saim doesn’t say it, I, his wife, know that he loves me. He is happy with me. You can never get his love and happiness, and he will never leave me,” she said confidently.

Reema’s jaw clenched at the truth in her words. She knew Saim was truly happy with Aina, but she also knew his anger would destroy their relationship. She had spent years with him in London; she knew Saim didn’t have forgiveness in him. He never forgave. Even if he thought of forgiving Aina, Reema would never give him that chance.

“Really!” Reema nodded and walked to the counter. “You think Saim loves you?” She picked up a knife and turned to Aina, whose eyes widened.

“Ye… ye ap kya kar rahi hai! (Wha… what are you doing!)” Aina stepped back while Reema stepped forward.

“Reema api, aap ye… (Reema sister, you are…)” Before Aina could finish, Reema placed the knife under Aina’s chin.

“I will show you how much he loves you. I will prove everything you say is a lie,” Reema hissed, and suddenly she cut her own arm.

A loud scream left Aina’s mouth, mixing with Reema’s painful cry.

“What… what are you doing?” Aina shouted as Reema cut her other arm. Instinctively, Aina rushed forward to snatch the knife. “Leave it!” she said and finally managed to pull the knife from her.

Just then, Shamim entered, panting, with Zubaida and Saim behind her. The men of the house had already gone to the office that morning.

“Saim!” Reema ran to him and hugged him tightly. Aina stood there, stunned, still processing what had just happened, holding the knife in her hands. As Saim’s eyes locked onto hers, she instantly realized the situation and threw the knife away as though it burned her skin.

“No! I didn’t do that. She cut herself!” Aina screamed, seeing the disbelief in Saim’s eyes.

“You witch!” Shamim stepped forward and slapped Aina hard across her cheek. Aina looked at them in shock.

“I…”

“Shut up! Just shut your mouth!” Saim roared, making everyone flinch. He held Reema’s arms and pushed her slightly away before walking towards Aina. “You can… do this?” he asked, pointing at the knife.

“No! I didn’t do this. She is lying, just like she lied that day about me being involved in Fouziya’s case!” Aina pleaded helplessly.

“The one who is lying is you! You are the liar here!” Saim pointed a finger at her.

“Saim, trust me…”

“Trust you? You broke that! Now everything from your mouth will sound to me like a new lie!” he shouted, making her shut her eyes tightly.

“I didn’t harm her, she is lying,” she repeated softly, but no one believed her.

“Reema, beta, come with me. I’ll call the doctor,” Shamim said and took her to the living room.

***********

The doctor came and treated her wounds. Reema sat on the sofa in Shamim’s arms, crying as the pain grew, while Shamim comforted her like a mother. Saim stood glaring at Aina from time to time. Aina stood far away, watching Reema’s drama. She didn’t want to leave, knowing Reema would say or do something, and she wanted to defend herself. But little did she know—no one believed her.

“Aunt, I think I should tell you what happened. Aina is Saim’s wife, and she doesn’t like me. She wants me to go from here,” Reema wiped her tears, sitting up straight. “I argued with her, and she lost control. I think she has a problem—she can’t control her anger. She even threatened me that she will kill me if I don’t go away. Saim,” she looked at him, “I think we should take her to a psychologist.”

“Enough of your drama! Go from here!” Aina marched towards her but stopped a little short, knowing Saim would misunderstand her actions. Still, she couldn’t bear this drama anymore. “You are such a cunning woman. I respected you, but you don’t deserve it. And you are right, I am Saim’s wife—the elder daughter-in-law of this house. And I don’t like you here. Go away!” Aina shouted, her patience finally snapping.

“This is my house!” Shamim glared at her. “And Reema will stay here.”

“Why? Are you adopting her? Making her Saim’s sister? If yes, then I have no problem,” Aina replied.

Reema’s face turned red with anger. She glared at Aina.

“No! I will make her my daughter-in-law. My Saim will marry her,” Shamim announced.

“Saim will never marry her. He loves me. I am his happiness. You both can do anything, but you can never erase my existence from his life,” Aina said with confidence.

“Reema, you go to the guest room. We will talk later,” Saim said, ignoring Aina.

“No, Saim! Just confirm my ticket. I will leave. I don’t have the energy to be insulted by her anymore. I stayed here just to reveal her true face.”

“Good. Now you’ve succeeded in your work, so go. I will confirm your ticket,” Aina interrupted.

Saim’s silence during this conversation boosted her confidence. Reema clenched her jaw and closed her eyes to control her anger before standing up but Saim's voice stopped everyone in the room.

“Mama, give invitations to all our relatives and friends. I want my wedding to be grand. I want to introduce Reema as my wife to the world.” He turned to the stunned Aina. “I will marry Reema tomorrow. So prepare everything,” he said before walking out of the house.

Aina stood there, shocked and silent.

Saim’s words had snatched away her pride.

His words broke her pride.

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