"Mahjabeen tumne homework complete kiya kya?" Mahjabeen's friend asked her, the class had yet to begin as the girls sat facing each other.

"Haan", Mahjabeen replied with a proud smile, as she dished out her notebook. The chatter in the classroom silenced at her response, this was the first time she had actually completed her homework. Mahjabeen had a busy schedule in life, she would wake up early prepare tea for Murtasim, although Raza did that too she wanted to show her appreciation in her own way. And everyday the little effort bore fruit in the form of a beautiful smile from her husband that made her day.

"Zara dikhao", her other friend extended her hand and Mahjabeen passed her the notebook. She had indeed done the homework on her own, after Maryam had taught her all the problems. These questions were much simpler compared to Maryam's test questions.

"Ye toh pura sahi lagraha. Konsi kitaab se chaapa?", the girl gasped and asked in shock. This wiped off Mahjabeen's proud smile she quickly shook her head and glared at the accusation while denying her claim.

"Kitaab se nahi. Khud se likha hai maine"

"Tumne? Rehne do tumharey grades sab jante hai", the girl mocked as the entire class started laughing at her. Mahjabeen was angry, she felt wronged despite working hard people laughed at her.

"Mai jhoot nahi bolti", she said with authority climbing on the chair glaring at everyone. These girls were just like her old classmates, in the beginning they would talk sweetly and then later make fun of her.

"Accha theek hai aisa hai toh, aaj Teacher Shaneela ke saarey sawalon ka jawab dena", they challenged, Mahjabeen got down, folded her hands across her chest like Murtasim and gave them the intense look.

"Isme mera kya faida hoga?" she asked biting her lip, her intimidating posture actually working as the girl fidgeted and offered a deal.

"Tumne jawab diya toh paanch sao rupey dungi, warna tum dena mujhe"

"Theek hai yaad rakhna magar", she reminded and the class started.

Teacher Shaneela entered the class, wiping away the board and took the attendance. She started the lecture by asking some questions, and every time Mahjabeen raised her hand to answer them.

" Miss", she would confidently call out, answering each question.

At the end of class the teacher addressed her with a prideful look.

"Beta mujhe ye baat acchi lagi ke aap koshish karrhi magar aapke saarey jawab galat they Mahjabeen. Mai chahti hu aap aur mehnat karrey"

The class that was admiring her a second ago burst out laughing.

"Maine suna hai iski pichle mahiney hi shaadi hui hai"

"Apne hi tarah kisi bawle ko pakdi hogi"

"Miss dekhye hass rahey hai mujh par", Mahjabeen complained pointing at them.

"Quiet, aap sab Mahjabeen se kuch seekhey uspar hasne ke bajaye apni padhayi mai man lagaye" the teacher admonished, silencing the class.

Mahjabeen smiled and nodded as the girls finally stopped laughing. After the class ended, Mahjabeen went out to wait for Murtasim, but she was stopped by some of her classmates.

"Ji aap kaha bhaag rahi", the girl from before cornered her, Mahjabeen shook her head hesitating. She pushed her making her fall on the ground, Mahjabeen felt her throat clogging up but she controlled her tears and screamed at them.

"Tumhara masla kya hai"

"Paanch sao rupey nikalo saarey galat jawab dekar aayi ho", the girl threatened pulling the strap of her shoulder and dropping the contents of her bag on the ground beside her. Mahjabeen felt the rage hit her, and she caught the girls ankle making her trip.

"Konse paise tumne saarey sawalon ka jawab dene bola tha, maine diya. Ye toh nahi bola tha ke sab sahi ho", Mahjabeen argued angrily catching her wrist and placing her hand on the fallen books.

"Meri kitabein uthao aur mere bag mai daalo", she threatened standing up and glaring at the girl with her hands crossed across her chest. The girl was terrified at this point, she quickly scrambled around to find all her books and did as Mahjabeen ordered. As the girl tried to run away, she was stopped yet again.

Mahjabeen didn't notice Murtasim's car approaching as she cornered the bully.

"Pehle toh hisaab barabar karenge, kya bol rahi thi mere shohar ke baarey mai aap. Bawla", she grabbed her face and screamed her anger finally bursting as the bystanders tried to separate them. Someone grabbed Mahjabeen's wrist and pulled her to the car, Mahjabeen who was still spitting fire tried to push away the person.

" Mahjabeen kya hua?" He asked trying to cool her down, as soon as she recognized him her anger melted off and she hugged him as if a minute ago she wasn't threatening another girl.

Mahjabeen grabbed his wrist and shouted the girl's name.

"Ye hai mera shohar, kahase bawla dikh raha. Behadd zaheen hai, zara saath ka pahada toh sunade", she requested Murtasim who was still staring at her in shock. Mahjabeen saw his expression and whispered in his ear.

"Bhool gaye kya? Kuch nahi hota mera haath pakde aur gadi mai kheech kar lejaye"

Murtasim nodded and pulled her to the car as she put an act of resistance screaming at the bully.

"Ye kya ho raha tha?" Murtasim asked confused but he hid it by his serious tone. The scene she made wasn't going to go unnoticed by the school authority, she could get suspended due to this.

Mahjabeen's smile disappeared and she narrated him the entire incident.

"Tumhe chot toh nahi lagi?" Murtasim asked now feeling a little guilty, he would deal with the school authority and make sure the girls were punished for bullying Mahjabeen.

"Nahi mujhe aadat hai", Mahjabeen replied lightheartedly laughing it off. He didn't like the fact that bullying was an everyday occurence for her. He shook his head and held her hand.

"Aaj theek kiya tumne", he praised with a smile, Mahjabeen laughed and nodded.

"Ek baar pahada sunadete aap bhi toh unko pata chalta", Mahjabeen complaint a little bitter but then shrugged as they changed the topic.

***