Third POV

"Haya ....??" He hardly uttered not believing what his eyes were seeing. It was like he was making sure it was Haya.

"Can I .... Come.... in" Haya hardly said as her swollen cheek were frozen in the cold winter.

"Haya....?" He again asked to confirm that she was really Haya because from the attire she didn't looked Haya and more over her bruised face.

Haya nodded to his answer. He quickly gave her way to enter. He had many questions but for now he couldn't ask her on the door.

She entered with a suitcase in her hand which he saw later.

He ushered her to sit on a seat closed to the heater in the hall having two single seated sofas and a three seater.

She quietly sat with her face down as close as possible to the heater to warm her frozen limbs and hands. Cold never bothered her because she never faced one. One of her favorite season but now she hated it.

Rubbing his hands Ashar sat on a far seat.

There was a silence which was broken by his question "Haya! Did something happened?"

He asked a obvious question.

Haya didn't say anything. Actually she didn't have anything to say. What should she say.

She was too ashamed to tell that she was slapped by her mother several times in a day and her own father threw her out. She was ashamed to tell that she was disowned by her own parents.

Getting no response from her side. He brushed his hair back with his hand and stood up from his place.

"Okay! I will get something to eat" saying this he went to kitchen. Before Haya could stop him he was already gone.

But by the time he came back she was fast asleep on the couch with her face showing her bruised side of face.

A band on eyebrow, bruised lips and red swollen cheek. He felt a sympathy for her and wondered what happened to her. But what could happen to her.

He placed the food on the table there and went to wake her up but before he can do that a cry made it's way through the hall, echoing stopping him in the way.

Was it a baby. Haya and a baby ....

Haya came out of her slumber, the first thing she noticed were his eyes which had many questions.

Quickly engulfing Noor in her arms to soothe her. She stood up from the sofa afraid that he might throw her out too. The question in his eyes made her afraid. She wanted to keep Noor save till she finds somewhere to stay.

"I will tell you ..... Please .... Please let me stay" She said hurriedly fearing of losing the only roof that she needed for now. Rocking Noor in her arms she calmed her down

Ashar eyes widen a little on her abrupt action. Looking into her weary eyes he didn't questioned her further. He felt sympathy for her. Moreover it was too late.

"Let me show you your room for now" He said calmly, silently wiping her all fears.

Sighing in relief she quietly walked behind him dragging her suitcase.

Opening the door of guest room he walked inside and turned on the heater.

Haya quietly sat on the upper end of the bed clutching Noor to her chest.

He was about to go. When Noor wailed again. She was hungry. Haya knew it.

"Can I use ..... the kitchen...?" Haya asked sensing her distress while looking at him with hopeful eyes.

Giving her a soft nod he walked out of the room. He wanted many answers but she was not okay. For now it was best to leave the topic. The helplessness in her eyes changed his mind.

As he left, Haya opened her suitcase and saw Noor's formula milk in it, for which she was more than thankful to Sarah.

She was not new to the house. She was here many time. She easily spotted the kitchen and prepared milk for Noor. She was feeling a little hesitant in using things for their kitchen on her own. Using as less utensils as possible she prepared milk for Noor.

She made her self comfortable on one the bed placing Noor on her lap. She made her drink milk. She was happy as Noor latched onto the bottle like a hungry kid and finished it no time. She placed her on the bed to sleep.

A pain in her cheek stopped her, her cheek started paining.

Ashar was about to go back to his room after taking the some files from the study room but he stopped listening to a hiss. She was slowly pressing the bruised cheek and hissing badly sitting on the bed.

Sighing he moved back to his room. She needed first-aid.

Going back into his room he brought the first-aid box and moved to her room and hastily placed on the side table near to Haya's bed.

She looked at things he placed on the table.

This embarrassed her. She hadn't saw her face since morning. How could she have time to see her face when they were accusing her of such heinous sin.

She mumbled a small 'thank you' under her breath as he was about to leave.

Closing the door after his exit. She quickly unwrapped her hijab exposing her tangled hair which she didn't brushed since morning. After getting rid of her Abaya. She sat by the vanity to observe her face closely. Bruised, full of red marks, swollen cheeks stained with tears.

How can she not be in pain. When her face was this much bruised.

Opening the first aid box she took a pain killer and took a small heating pad applying it slowly to her swollen check.

Squinting her eyes she walked towards the washroom.

Where did she came in life. This was not she dreamed of. This was not what she wanted.

And that was life. It always proves you wrong. When you say this cannot happen to you, life makes it happen to you.

Opening the tap, she splashed water on her face, hissing every time water touched her face.

Leaving her physical pain aside she made ablution to pray.

She didn't cry in front of Allah that she is innocent because he was Al- Basir (one who sees all things clearly) . He knew about his creation more than creation itself knows. This was her Imaan (faith).

After praying she quietly made her way covering herself and Noor with quilt, it was the first night when she didn't sleep. Her brain refused to let her shut her eyes. The whole night she keep looking at the ceiling without even blinking once.

What will she say to Ashar, will he also throw her out like her parents did. Will she be on road again. Where will she go, women hostel but where she will get money from.

What is her next destination? Where will she end up.

Some shelter or some orphanage.

_____________________________________

In morning Ashar walked into the kitchen ready to leave for office but at the same Haya also came out too holding Noor.

She was wearing a light pistachio color shalwar kameez with dupatta on her head.

Ashar was shocked seeing her. Last time he saw her in a short frock and tight trousers. Showing her skin of her arms.

She was walking towards kitchen without thinking, seeing Ashar she halted in her way.

With his might, Ashar pealed his shocking eyes off her and got seated clearing his throat.

She came and got seated leaving two seats in between biting her lips.

After all night she decided to tell him everything. But will she able to say those accusations?

Ashar for first time saw Noor who was in her lap. Light brown hair, chubby cheeks, pink small pouted lips and small eyes wandering here and there and her small clutching Haya's dupatta.

"I am ready to tell you everything" Haya voiced fearing what his reaction would be.

Nodding, he encouraged her to continue.

Haya told him everything leaving the part where her mother accused her of that heinous sin. In short she said " I .... adopted her and Mama, Baba didn't wanted me to keep her .... and we got into a argument and ..... He asked me to leave"

She was still herself digesting the accusations. She was unable to voice them so soon. She was not ready to answer questions related to them.

He looked at her face "And what happened to your face?" He asked frowning in concentration.

Gulping down she looked away "I ... I fell down" she shuttered lying to him. A thing that he was aware of. At least he knew when she lied and when she didn't.

He acted like he believed her but he never did. He knew she had more to say then she said but for now it was enough.

After having his breakfast he went to office.

After his departure she went into her room thinking that if someone else might see her she wouldn't not be able to answer their question.

but to her idea Mrs Hassan was already gone to her sister's home and Shayan never came back. It was almost a year now.

_____________________________________

It was Haya's 5th day here. After first meeting on the breakfast table Ashar and Haya were not able to meet. By the time he usual used to come she was already asleep.

It was all okay until Mrs Hassan returned back. Seeing Haya her eyes widen, realizing that it was Haya who opened the door for her house. Without saying anything she moved in straight to her room. She was never a fan of Haya from the first day. At first she liked her but her parting nature further destroyed all her reputation in her eyes.

She called Ashar seething in anger that why is she, staying here and as a result he had to come home from half way from his office immediately as he was not able to understand what his mother was saying at all.

Parking his car he threw his half cigarette before going in. He didn't wanted to fume his mother more that too, in the morning.

____________________________________

Haya was sitting with Noor on her bed when Noor accidentally hitted her injured eyebrow making her hiss in pain and whine

"Ssssss ..... Nooooooooooor"

making her erupt into small giggles.

Ashar exhaled deeply ready to face his mother.

He was passing by the hall when a giggle echoed through the hall stopping him.

It was Noor's giggle, who was clutching Haya's neck while giggling.

He saw them through the opened door of her room, sitting on the bed with Noor clutching her neck standing on her fragile legs.

Haya laughed along with her throwing her head back with tears that came into her eyes due to pain.

"You don't hit a injured person" Haya whined in a kids voice making her laugh again.

She too smiled widely seeing her breaking into giggles Not caring about the situation she was in.

Ashar was awe struck for a moment looking at them from the hall.

Looking at them with longing eyes. This was what he wanted. He wanted this when he would came home after office.

Giggles would welcome him rather than silence with Maryam whining like Haya on the antics of their baby girl.

Ashar was lost looking at them. If they didn't died would they have been the same. As he was seeing a same scenario would be welcoming him.

Desperately waiting Mrs. Hassan came towards the hall as she saw his car entering the gate.

Mrs Hassan came in the hall and frowned looking at Haya and Noor. She seethed in anger seeing Ashar, who was looking towards them.

"Ashar .... " She gritted her teeth.

"Jee (Yes) Ammi (Mother) " He responded as he realized her eyes were in the same direction as his.

"Come to my room now" She said and walked back to her room followed by Ashar.

As soon as Ashar entered the room. She snapped "Did you allowed her to live here?"

She knew his son well. He was a kind person. One look and he would have molten in seconds.

"Yes why?" Ashar responded curiously.

"Do you even know about her?" Mrs Hassan said scowling turning towards him.

"What do you mean by that" his eyebrows knotted as he took a seat on the sofa

"She was in Harram (prohibited in Islam) relationships" Mrs Hassan said molding her face like she has seen something very yucky.

"What are you saying? Ammi (mother)" he counter questioned looking at his mother.

"She is carrying a illegitimate child that's why her parents threw her out. Can't you see that." She said sternly through her hands in air.

"You don't know about her, the things people are saying about her. Even her own parents threw her out because they asked her to give the baby to a willing family but she refused. Tell me
.... okay you tell me, who does that for someone's child. She was even gone somewhere to hide her child"

"Ammi how can you say that so surely" Ashar's forehead visible frowns while asking her that. This was serious accusations.

"You are busy with office that's why you don't know anything .... Beta(child)" Mrs Hassan said in a soft sternly voice.

"Ammi I don't think she can do such ......" Ashar stopped as he didn't knew how to say that. He was not sure.

"You are too innocent beta ..... Your world is your company but the world out there is not like what you think" Mrs. Hassan said while caressing his cheek.

"I don't want her in my house anymore" Mrs Hassan said while clenching her jaw back in angry

"But Ammi (mother) where will she go and that also with a baby" Ashar showed sympathy because he had seen her they way her face was bruised when he first saw her.

"That's. not. our. problem. ...... I cannot tolerate her a day here in my house I want her out of here as soon as possible" Mrs. Hassan warned.

Ashar Nodded and stood up to leave like a obedient child. He always was.

As he reached the door he came across the last person he wanted for now.

Standing outside was Haya.

The door was opened while they were talking so there is no way she couldn't have listened to it.

Ashar saw her face and he knew she had listened to it all. The tear making its way down from her cheek was proof of it.

Ashar for a second felt bad but not for the women with illegitimate child but for his childhood friend that he had many good memories with.

∞|∞

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