Author's POV

They came into the room and sat on the sofa before she started crying.

"How can tayi ammi (aunt) do this with us?" she covered her face, remembering her father-in-law and brother-in-law being there. Saim stood there controlling his rage. This was not a small thing. The only thought that haunted him was — what if they had been in a more inappropriate state? What would he have done then? And the same thought made her cry even harder.

"She hates me so much," he heard her mumble but didn’t say anything and went to the washroom.

After getting ready for the office, he walked out of the dressing room. Aina was still on the sofa. Without saying anything, he went out of the room. Aina looked at the door and sighed — maybe he was disturbed.

She thought for a while and looked around. Seeing the bed, her eyebrows knitted. Getting up, she pulled the bedcover.

"It's my room. Today Saim gave me back my position," she smiled happily after so many days.

I know you will divorce Reema soon. Because yesterday you proved that you only love me and want me.

She thought to herself and went to the dressing room to get ready for the day.

**********

Saim was about to go out of the door when his father came.

"Saim," he called. Saim stopped. "What do you think you’re doing?" he asked with a hard face.

"Baba, I have to go…" Saim wanted to leave from there.

"No, first talk to me," he cut him off, held his hand, and dragged him to their room.

"What?" Saim asked, annoyed.

"What do you want? Why are you not being clear with your decision? You married Reema yesterday and spent the night with Aina? How can you do this?" his father asked. Saim’s jaw clenched tightly.

"Baba, sorry to say but you don’t have any right to ask me this. I was with my wife, not with some outsider woman," he replied coldly.

"Yes, I don’t have the right to ask you about this, but you also don’t have the right to play with everyone’s emotions," Hameed said angrily. "You decided to marry Reema, and we accepted. Then what was the need to make her feel this low? Do you have any idea what she is going through right now? Your mother is crying on the other side. I know what she did today was wrong, but you also have to think about what Aina did that no one can forget. Do you know why your mother hates her? Because Aina made her bow her head in front of everyone. Aina made her question her upbringing. You have no idea what we went through when Aina put allegations on you two times."

Hameed’s eyes burned when he remembered doubting his own son. His own blood. And how ashamed he was to call him his son when Saim was innocent.

"Baba…" Saim felt his heart clench when he saw the moisture in his father’s eyes.

"Don’t put your emotions in front of him, Hameed." His mother walked into the room. "He only thinks about himself. He wants that girl’s closeness — the one who humiliated us. He shouted at his mother for that girl who bowed his parents’ heads in front of everyone." Shamim sat on the bed, sobbing. "I always treated her like my daughter but she hurt me so much that I can never forgive her. I can’t accept her again," she said and then looked towards Saim.

"Saim, what do you want? If you only want her, then leave this house because I can only accept Reema as my daughter-in-law. And if you plan to leave Reema, then just tell me. do you still want Aina?" she asked with red, tearful eyes. Saim stared at his mother’s painful, tear-filled eyes and then at his father’s moist ones.

All this… because of Aina. His parents were hurt because of her, and yet his heart still wanted her?

"No," the whisper left his mouth. Saim shook his head and held his mother’s hand. He sat on his knees and cupped her face. "Don’t hurt yourself, Mama." Wiping her tears, he softly said.

"Then accept Reema. I will not force you to divorce Aina as that will be your decision, and we don’t have anything to say in this. But I want you to accept Reema because I will never accept Aina as our daughter-in-law again. I want only Reema as my daughter-in-law. And I don’t want you stuck with Aina in an unhappy life. I know we can never forgive her — not even you. And it will only hurt you," she held his face. "I want to see you happy with the girl you deserve. I want to see Reema happy. I married you to her with so many dreams, Saim… just don’t break my dreams. You can keep Aina as your wife… no one will question you. But you have to give Reema her rights."

She said this, making him nod. His mother was right. He could never forgive Aina for what she did, and it would only hurt him. Why should he endure all this when he had no fault in anything? He should shield his heart. He couldn’t let Aina’s tears affect him.

His mother kissed his forehead, giving him her prayers before he left for the office.

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

"I know Mama. Saim will divorce her," Aina said happily, hugging her mother from behind.

"Aina, beta, don’t assume. He married her so as not to divorce her." Her mother tried to make the foolish girl understand.

"Mama… you know na, he left Reema for ME!" she asked with wide eyes and smile on her lips. "He was with me all night, he didn’t think about Reema once." Blush crept onto her cheeks saying this. "And he took me back to our room. Saim forgave me, I am so happy today." She happily said, roaming around the kitchen and eating to her heart’s desire.

"Reema biwi hai uski. Tumhe haq nahi hai ke tum Saim ko force karo talaq ke liye."

("Reema is his wife. You have no right to force Saim to divorce her.") Zubaida said, making her frown.

"Biwi nahi… Mankuha."

("Not wife in the real sense… only on paper.") she reminded her mother.

"How long will it take Saim to turn her into his real wife?" Her mother’s words hit her heart. She shook her head.

"Saim can never accept anyone else. I am his wife and I will always be his only wife," she said before running away from there so her mother wouldn’t say anything else to disturb her restless heart.

Zubaida wiped the tears that fell. She knew even if Saim wanted to, his parents would never let him forgive Aina. She felt hurt thinking how naïve her daughter was. Just one night of Saim’s kindness filled her with false hopes…

Allah help her.

She prayed for her daughter. But some prayers meant to me accept late.

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

Aina was in her room going through her notes. The new semester had started, and Aina hadn’t visited her college yet. She was talking with her friends about the classes she missed when Shamim barged into the room. Aina looked up and hung up the call, getting up from the sofa.

"Thodi bhi sharam nahi hai na tum mein?"

("You don’t have even a bit of shame, do you?") she seethed. Reema stood behind her. Aina looked at both of them.

"What do you mean?" she asked, trying her best to hide her annoyance at seeing Reema in the room.

"What are you doing in her room?" She asked, pointing toward Reema.

"It's MY room," Aina replied emphasizing the word MY, glaring at Reema.

"Yesterday it became hers"

"And today Saim brought me back here with so much respect," she reminded them proudly.

"Saim just brought you here to get your clothes, but you mistook his kindness for love," Shamim shook her head, smiling mockingly.

Reema watched the drama, wrapping her arms across her chest with a smirk on her face. She thought she had to fight the battle alone, but her mother-in-law was fighting her battle too.

"You please go from here. When Saim comes, he will tell you that he forgave me and doesn’t want anything to do with Reema. He will divorce her," Aina said with such conviction that both women wavered.

"Aina… I don’t want to argue with you. Just leave from here. I’ll send your belongings to the guest room," Reema said in an agitated tone. She had been pissed off since morning after seeing Saim and Aina in the guest room in each other’s arms.

"I will not go. This is my room! You will go!" Aina yelled in anger. Hearing Reema tell her to leave enraged her further. Aina came forward and grabbed Reema’s arm. "Don’t come into my room again. Saim will divorce you soon. So go from here!" She pushed her out of the door. Reema was about to fall when Shamim held her.

"You filthy girl!" Shamim shouted and was about to hit Aina when Saim stepped in.

"What is happening here?" Saim said as he entered the room and found the three women yelling.

"Saim, tell her to leave. And divorce her. She has hope in this marriage," Aina rushed to him, holding his arm, her voice filled with her faith in Saim.

But Saim came here after shielding his heart. He would not let her affect him. He would not let his parents suffer by keeping Aina happy. Aina had hurt them too much and didn’t deserve any happiness. She deserved their hate.

"Why will she go? Yesterday it was decided that Reema will live here… with me," he said in a cold voice, though the words became difficult to utter as he saw her eyes widen in disbelief.

"What… what are you saying, Saim?" Aina asked in bewilderment. Her heart sank. Dread filled her stomach. "You brought me here this morning with so much respect, then how can you say this?" Her eyes filled with tears.

"Your clothes are here. You needed to change, that’s why I brought you here," he said again in a cold tone. Aina clutched his arm with both hands in fear.

"Saim… you came to me last night. You said you were with me. What does that mean?" she asked, terrified by his answer.

"You were not feeling well. You were in the lawn in the middle of the night, freezing. I just took care of you as your husband. At that time, you needed me," he answered, and Aina felt humiliated by his words in front of Reema and Shamim. Her lips quivered as tears began to fall.

"Saim… I thought you forgave me," she whispered.

Saim looked at her with distance. "I can never forgive you… maybe I could’ve if your only mistake was giving me drugs. But what you did with Fouziya, I can never forgive you for that. You disgraced me. You humiliated my father in the company, and for that, I will never forgive you," Saim snapped.

Reema shifted nervously on her feet. Aina knew even if she screamed that she had nothing to do with Fouziya’s case, he would never believe it.

"Why did you do this to me, Saim?" she asked helplessly. "I was shattered… and if you never meant to forgive me, then why did you piece me back together? Just to break me all over again?" Her voice cracked.

"Think whatever you want. But the truth is that Reema is my wife and I will not leave her. I can leave you, but not her. I like her, I want to start a fresh life with her, so please go from here and don’t come here again," his tone was firm and cold.

"Saim… I didn’t do anything in Fouziya’s case. I wasn’t involved with her," she begged, but he didn’t believe her.

"Aina, I don’t want to hear anything. Just go away from here," he said, holding her arms and pushing her toward the door.

She fell on the floor. He hadn’t pushed her hard, it was Aina’s expectations that made her fall this painfully.

"Sorry, I didn’t mean to," Saim instinctively went to her. He was about to hold her arm, but she held her hand up. She raised her broken eyes, before gathering herself, she stood up.

"I can take care of myself." She smashed the words he had told her only seconds ago and took a step forward, but stopped beside him. "And thank you for medicating me yesterday." Saying this, she walked past him and left.

Saim stood there silently. Shamim went out, saying she would send (the maid) to gather Aina’s belongings and settle Reema’s things here.

Reema pulled him inside and hugged him. "I was so angry at you, but seeing you stand up for me melted my anger." She looked up and kissed his cheek. Saim took a step back as he felt his skin burn.

"I… I need to freshen up," he said and went to the washroom. Reema stomped her foot on the floor in anger.

Aina entered her room and closed the door. Her heart started aching painfully. Her breathing became difficult. The happiness she had felt since last night shattered. Her world had been destroyed.

He said he could forgive her for what she did to marry him, but he couldn’t forgive her for being involved in Fouziya’s case.

It meant he was punishing her for things she hadn’t even done. Aina slid down.

I can leave you but not her. I like her, I want to start a fresh life with her, so please go from here.

His words rang in her ears.

"Why Saim? Why did you punish me with another woman?" She held her head. "It’s hurting, Saim. It’s hurting!" She clutched her chest. "I will die," she broke down. "Don’t punish me like this… Allah! Don’t punish me like this. He is everything I ever wanted, and You took him away from me. Why, Allah Miya, why?!"

She cried, heartbroken. Tears drenched her face and neck.

Her expectations had broken her far worse than she had ever imagined.

********