7 years later

"Sakhr,that's not a good thing! You shouldn't be so naive go ahead and do it" I warned him.

"But I shouldn't do it,isn't it wrong Mother" he resisted me.

He's just like his father.

"Go and join Amir and Amar" I said disturbed.

"Mum are you mad at me" he pouted and tapped me.

"It shouldn't bother you that much, go" I said now irksomely.

"Mum are you angry?" He's persistent.

I took his hand and left him in the other room.

Just like his father,why does he have to be like that? I shook my thoughts and began working again. It's very seldom that my past haunts me,I have forgotten every single thing.

I looked outside,it was sunny and bright. I washed the dishes and after cleaning the counter I sat on the window.

"Mum...look" he came with his drawing.

I smiled at him,my only reason to be alive,I love him more than my own life,if it wasn't for him I would've killed myself. I tried so.

I brushed my hair and the mirror reflected my image,I look the same. The same twenty three year old Mahnoor,who was kind and humble. My hair,shining and curling around waist like open waves. My eyes shining with same benevolence that I possessed before that gruesome year killed it all.

This large white room and open widows and fresh air makes me grateful.

I don't remember anyone,I don't have to remember anything.

The bell rang,someone was at the door.

Sakhr and Hana opened it before Ruqya could.

"He loves to open the new door" Ruqya laughed patting his back.

The door opened and it was Hamaan. I smiled at him.

He picked Sakhr up and said "I bought a gift for my son"
He was overjoyed and he picked Hana "I've got one for my princess too"

They all went in the room.

I stirred up a cup of coffee for him. Life is amazing here.
All the people around gentle and loving.

When they kids were asleep,they sleep usually around 8pm.

We all had dinner. A big joint family as it is,there are no hateful grudges. The apartments are divided each for one family. Three brothers live separately in these three apartments on different floors and have one meal of dinner together. And then we recite Quran and approach our rooms for sleep.

When I sat at the dinner table the doorbell rang again.

I opened the door.

.........

"Aabish" I gasped,

........

He was there standing,my tears gathered. I was emotional.
He entered inside with Imran and I did not lose a word all the time throughout. Silently I ate staring him,my friend ....my best friend......

When everyone left for their apartments and the mess was cleaned up; I was alone. I saw him leaving.

I called "Aabish!"

"You both talk,I'll take a leave" Imran said as he left the silence behind.

"How are you?" I asked.

"Mind if I hug you" he said with his broken voice.

We both embraced each other. I held him firmly, the chills ran through me,this embrace is my favorite, the same filled with affection and love that none can understand.

Hamaan was informed by Imran that he was my brother. Aabish didn't speak,he kept looking at me.

"I'm sorry" I cried losing the pain of all these seven years!

"Noor!" He hugged me again.

"Aabish,did you forgive me?" I asked.

"I guess seven years is a very long time for old people to remember what happened" he laughed with his misty eyes.

I aligned "so you're old now"

"Eek,don't talk about numbers,I'm twenty seven!" He said, he looks so much more handsome.

I laughed.

"I love you Aabish!" I sighed.

"I love you more than more Noor!" He pushed me.

"Mum?" Sakhr came from the room rubbing his eyes.

"Oh my God! Your nose is on him!" He fired.

"He's my son!" I laughed.

"I can see that....it's so weird" he said astonished.

"I married Hamaan" I told him.

"That's great!" He said smiling. He does not make me feel different at all,and that is how best friends are. We can go on anytime,after no matter w how may years and you still start from where you left your talk. My temporary best friend isn't  temporary at all.

I ran away to Coney island. I realized life isn't easy at all. And earning and making living that was the hardest time.

I was broken,raged and burning in pain. I took a job but I couldn't even support my expenses. My money was coming to an end. And the salary would go into rent.

After a month I was thrown out of the house I rented. That's the point when I was finally divorced. Hungry without shelter and money I was running helter and skelter for my life and the life within me. I would've ended my life but I couldn't kill my baby,he did not deserve it.

Finally as they said it's a small world. I met Imran. he came to Coney island near Brooklyn for some work. I was so desperate for him and for care that I approached him instantly. He recognized me easily.

He did not knew I had no relations with Aabish at that time nor did he have any idea that I outed their secret relationship. He asked me how Aabish was,I lied that he was fine.

He took me to Brooklyn,he provided me with care,shelter and food. I was given the job to nurse and teach his twin disabled children; Amir and Amar.

I stayed there for his family treated me like I was kind and I was gentle but the truth was they were so,I was is scared to be the Mahnoor I became after meeting Burhan that I did not tell anybody my story. I only revealed that my husband and I are divorced,he Lives with his other wife and I don't want to ever return there again. At first they urged me to call my family but then when I'm tried to run away from their persistence, they didn't force things on me. I was finally happy.

Imran had one older brother,who I married; Hamaan.
His wife died leaving her daughter who I nursed and breastfed. Things fall into place like a puzzle game. We got along well. Here I felt myself returning, myself and my smile returning. I was loved her and I never wanted to lose that. I grew attached. To keep,four years back I married Hamaan. I'm the happiest now,stable as I know the price of happiness.
He loves my Sakhr more than Burhan could ever love him. I named him after the rock,solid and strong. He cannot be like Burhan,I detest his manners in him in any form. But he still looks exactly like him....pity. My and Haman's relationship is though formal, I admire him. I don't understand how things are so simple here,back there everything was so complicated. Here I am loved,they treat me so well,they have never ending compassion In them and their goodness never makes me wanna free myself away. Simple. They are very simple.
We have never argued, we both have been through a lot to fight over anything. Love? I don't know what that is. We are greater friends. I have a great family,two kids and a loving husband. I'm finally Mahnoor,the Mahnoor I was.

"How are you with Imran today?" I asked as I know Imran and Aabish had not been in any connection since the first time I saw him. Maybe It was fate to meet him year after,I felt the connection that day to Imran and till now, he's the most supportive though he doesn't know the reason he treats me right over,I have scratched it,ripped it.

"Came for a camp here,couldn't resist seeing him. I felt very lonely here" he sighed. He still loves him but he looks alright.

"Did you marry?" I asked him

"Yes I have seventy kids!" He exclaimed and I laughed.

"No ... I'm alright being single. I fear commitments they scare me also if I marry I would turn old and I don't wanna look like my Dad,ew that would be disgusting! I would die the day I look I'm the mirror realizing I'm the bald man now" he said and I laughed harder.

When I caught my breath,I composed.

"Oh,how's Mehreen?" I curiously asked.

"She's good" he said smiling.

"And Aunt?" I asked growing a bit weary inside.

"I've heard they all are good,your mum too. Masirah is married,Mawra too,her husband looks nothing like Douglas Booth. I don't even know if she even remember who Douglas is anymore!" he said laughing with misty eyes.

I smiled that all is happy. I miss them but I never wish to return there again.

"You heard? You..?" I paused rehearsing his sentence.

"Thanks to you my ugly bald dad threw me out the very next day,I've been moving from city to city to rest my heart"

It hurted now. What did I do? Like he heard my voice.

"Perhaps it was the best for me. See I'm a good doctor now" he consoled me. He then paused for the silence seemed like our thing,we inhaled the cool air.

"I don't understand one thing,may I ask if you don't mind?"
He said looking over me.

"Go ahead" I gestured.

"Why did you divorce Burhan?"

"He was too good for me. I was tired of his fairness. I didn't like the way they made me feel. It was loathsomely tiring"

"But you had him all for yourself..."

"When did I?" I detested.

"You don't know? It was true,you don't know!' he said realizing some rumor was true.

"What do I don't know?" I ask

"Mehreen divorced Burhan a few days before you ran from his house"

"What!?" I was shocked.

"But she was moving out--"

"Yeah she took a house in her alimony and she divorced him and then you divorced him right after. I couldn't understand"

But I didn't care now. I was sorry that the misunderstanding happened but I don't know how to feel about the situations seven years past over.

"So Mehreen left him?" I wondered.

"Yes, the divorce was a secret. But that day when you ran from his house, as heard. Few days earlier than that the formalities were done."

"Burhan?" I asked.

"He went into depression and then he left his house. He joined a refugee aid camp,he goes over to help people over all the world. He's ....he is not the same."

Surprisingly still I felt nothing! I pity him but I don't love him anymore,I cannot sympathize with anyone anymore,I loathe these things all in themselves.

"Did Mehreen Marry?" I asked.

"Yes two years back Shahid married her" he responded.

"So still has got a husband who loves her"I stated with creasing forehead.

"So have you"he smiled.

"I'm sure I can't be more lucky than she is" I stated with a frown.

"Perhaps you are Dangerously Discontent..."

~The End~

Thank you so much for reading. I'm really scared if you guys would like it or not?!!!! Please leave your feedback!