(Note: Next time I will make sure not to call my stories as OS🙈 I just can't limit my thoughts to one part😝)

Rahman's POV

"Humein der ho rahi hai" I said without paying heed to her words and walked away.

I was not angry on her, nor was my anger directed towards Romi. I was angry at myself for not being able to fulfil the promise I had given to my mother.

People say that she was my STEP mother, but I knew none except her as a mother.

My biological mother had breathed her last with my first breath. I never saw her, I never felt her presence. The only connection I had with her was that I stayed in her womb for 9 months. I realise she has undergone lots of hurdles to grow me within her & she even lost her life in the struggle to give me life but unfortunately I have no memories of her.

On the contrary, there is this woman whom people termed as my STEP mother yet the one I have had all the wonderful memories and a strong connection with.

The first much needed warmth I received on entering this world was in her arms.
She was the first person to bathe me & wrap me in a warm white cloth.
It was her who fed me from time to time when I stayed in the incubator for a week after my birth.

Shahnaz Rizwan was a nurse in the ward where my first cry echoed.
My mother had unwillingly left my side, while she willingly stepped ahead to cater to my needs.

She used to say that she had seen hundreds of babies coming to this world but there was something very special about me that she felt attracted and a sense of responsibility towards me.
And so she had done for me more than what her job demanded from her.

My Dadi who had been silently observing her bonding with me at the hospital decided to approach her with a proposal.

She had agreed immediately to the proposal, not because she could be my father's wife but because she wanted to be my mother. In a quick & simple ceremony she was wedded to my father and stepped into our home as my mother.

She did everything in her capacity to give me the love I deserved. She even went to the extent of deciding to not have a child of her own fearing that I would be neglected. It was my father who made her understand and finally after years of convincing she gave in to his demands.

And then after 8 years of my birth was born my sister Simra. Two years later exactly on the date of my birth was born my little brother. She named him Raheem which comes from the same root word as my name. But I liked to call him Romi. She used to say that she wanted my brother to be my reflection and she trusted me to be his role model.

I loved my siblings the way she loved me and taught them everything that I learnt from her.

We were a happy family until fate played a cruel game & took my parents away from me in an accident. I had just completed my graduation and was planning to study further but the sudden demise of my parents left a huge responsibility on my shoulders. My father had a well-settled business in UAE where we had been living for the past 15 years. I then had to look after the business and also take care of my siblings who were still very young.

On her death bed, my mother had just said "Tumhara khayal rakhne keliye ab mai nahi rahungi. Tum apna khayal rakhna beta"

Even while breathing her last, all she was concerned about was my well-being. I clutched her hand tightly and promised silently that I would be a parent to her children like she was for me.

I failed her! This is the only thought that comes to my mind whenever I am reminded of what happened between me & Romi 6 months ago.

My heart filled with guilt & my eyes filled with tears at the memory.

I felt a pull near my knees which brought me out of my thoughts. I looked down and found Ruhi trying to gain my attention.

"Abbu meri Eidee* kahan hai?" She demanded putting her palm out.

(*A monetary gift given to kids by elders on Eid)

There was too much going on in my mind and I was in no mood to fulfil her demand. "Abhi nahi Ruhi. Wapas lautne ke baad" I said without looking at her.

"Abbu please. Mujhe abhi chahiye. Please Abbu please please please" she begged.

I could not deny her. I just opened my wallet and extended a 100 Dirhams* bill in her direction.

(*Currency of UAE)

"Ye nahi chahye Abbu. Mujhe 10 - 10 Dirhams ke bills chahye" she demanded.

"Ruhi..." I was beginning to reprimand her but Ishrat pressed my shoulders making me realise that I was pouring out my frustration on the wrong person.

I tried to calm my nerves and fished for 10 Dirham bills in my wallet. I gave them away to Ruhi without counting.

She happily accepted them and began walking towards the gate.

"Kahan jaa rahi ho Ruhi. Der ho rahi hai" I shouted.

"Sirf 2 minute Abbu" she said and went on her way without waiting for my approval.

I followed her out of concern and curiosity. I saw her standing between the kids of the security and other maintenence employess of our apartment. She gave a 10 Dirham bill to each kid, hugged them wishing Eid Mubarak and returned to where I was standing.

People Are Giving Charity
And Helping Those In Need

Before I could ask her anything, Shravu came ahead and enquired "Aye Ruhi. Tune apni saari Eidee un logon ko kyun baant di?"

"Kyunki mai unse badi hoon. Aur bade log chote bachhon ko Eidee dete hain" she explained.

"Par tu toh abhi bhi baby hi hai na. Tu kahan badi log bangayi hai?" He teased.

"Abbu kehte hain age se koi bade chote nahi hote. Jiska dil bada hota hai wahi sabse bada hota hai" she told him. A faint smile appeared on my face momentarily erasing the painful memories from my mind.

"Tujhe kaise pata chala ke tera dil bada hai?" Shravu was curious.

"Maine apni Eidee charity me de di. Toh hogaya na mera dil bada!!!" she exclaimed.

"Isse tera kya fayda hua? Tera toh loss hi hua na. Teri Eidee toh saari gayi" he mocked showing an inverted thumb.👎

"Shravu tujhe na kuch nahi pata. Jab hum charity dete hain tab hamara loss nahi hota balki profit hota hai" she said.

"Woh kaise?" Shravu was confused.

"Jaise popcorn machine me 1 Dirham coin daalne par humein hundreds of popcorns milte hain, waise hi jab hum charity me 1 Dirham dete hain toh Allah un paison ko rewards machine me daal dete hain aur phir humein hundreds of rewards de dete hain" she cleverly explained.

"Achha aisa hota hai? Itna sab kuch tujhe kaise pata hai?" Shravu was amazed.

"Mujhe Ammi ne bataya" she proudly declared.

"Hmmm...Aisi baat hai toh mai bhi charity karunga. Amma ne mujhe kuch paise diye hain ke agar bhook lagi toh kuch khareedke khaaun. Mai woh un chote chote babies ko deke aata hoon" Shravu made a plan.

In Giving They Are Competing

"Phir agar tumhe bhook lagegi toh tum kya karoge?" Ruhi asked innocently.

"Mai ye soch loonga ke un paison ke maine hundreds of popcorns khaaye" he said.

"Sochne se kya bhook chali jaayegi?" She wanted to know.

"Ermmm...Ye toh nahi pata. Bhook lagegi toh mai control kar loonga. Mai toh baad me bhi ye sab khaa sakta hoon. Par Saleem Uncle aur Mahesh Uncle ke bachhon ko ye sab nahi milta na. Isliye mai unhe de doonga ye paise" he spoke selflessly.

Today There Is No Greed

"Chalo phir hum sath me de aate hain" Ruhi said and they went hand in hand to donate.

How innocent and how selfless they are! Even we used to be as innocent and as selfless as them when we were kids. I wonder why don't the innocence and selflessness increase with our age? Sometimes I wish we never grew up!!!

Seeing the kids returning, I knelt down and welcomed them into my arms. I kissed them both and prayed that they grow up to remain as selfless as they are now.

"Bhai jaldi chaliye. Phir parking nahi milegi" Simmi reminded.

"Arey haan. In bachhon ki baaton me mai toh bhool hi gaya ke humein Eidgaah jaana hai. Chalo bachhon peeche ki seat pe baith jaao, Simmi aur Ishrath beech ke seats le lo aur Romi aaj driving tu karle. Mujhe parking dhoondne me badi dikkat hoti hai" I said in a flow.

Ishrat & Simmi stared blanlkly at me making me realise that Romi was not with us now.

"Mai drive karloon?" Ishrat asked softly.

"Nahi. Mai karlunga" I said unlocking the car.

-------To be continued------