A couple days passed since the incidence and Rehan just couldn't stop thinking about it.

So Muskan was back and she met Murad. However, when he asked Murad about it, he meekly said that he didn't knew who she was and he himself asked her to pretend to be his mother because he was scared Rehan wouldn't give him his b'day present. He had grown up soo fast that he even understood the meaning of pretend. His innocent child .... didn't even knew the woman he asked to pretend to be his mother was actually his mother. Rehan never told him....he just couldn't.
All this time he had given false hope to his son and to himself that his mother would come back to them and now that she was here...she was still a Stanger.

∆∆∆∆
Even though Muskan had promised herself never to see her son again....a mother's heart wasn't ready to stay apart from her child. Seeing Murad after soo long had kindled her motherly love even more that had never extinguished in the first place. Every minute of her life for the past 6 years she lived in the pain and regret of parting with her child....she didn't even held him once. What a cruel mother she was!

She couldn't hold back anymore and soo she came to the school everyday to see him secretly from a distance. She tried soo hard to get a job so that atleast she could meet Murad in the school but it was no use.
She had to satisfy herself by just seeing him from a distance. She used to see Khushi's kids too and couldn't help but smile at the adorable trio. They all took care of eachother soo well that it warmed her heart.

Just like that, that day too she was secretly watching the kids as they got down the school bus and as always her heart sank as they all disappeared into the building. However, when she turned around ...her heart jumped to her throat and a gasp escaped her lips seeing the person standing front of her.

"K...khushi Didi."

Khushi clenched her jaw and grabbed Muskan's arm painfully making her wince.
"Come with me!" She said sternly and was already dragging her thin frame behind herself. Muskan said nothing and just followed her.

Still in the campus, Khushi halted under a huge tree and raised her hand at Muskan who stood there with her eyes shut, waiting for the impact, a lone tear sliping down her closed eyes.

However... Khushi just couldn't do it. She didn't understand if she was happy or sad to finally see her cutie again but one thing was sure that she was really.... really mad! Her raised hand closed into a trembling fist and helplessly fell down as she let out a shaky breath. Her heart clenching.

"Why are you back....and why the hell are you here cu... Muskan?!" It pained her just to utter her name.

Muskan opened her eyes and her silent tears just wouldn't stop. After 6 long years she was finally hearing her Khushi Didi's voice, but, it wasn't the sweet loving tone that she always used with her, rather a cold and hateful one that she never knew about.

"Khushi Didi..."

"DO NOT CALL ME THAT! I'm not your Didi anymore! Didn't you say that yourself?!" Khushi yelled and it was a good thing that they were all alone.
"Wasn't abandoning us enough? Are you back to mock at us or traumatize your own son? Oh wait! He's not your son right? He's just Rehan bhai's son. You just gave birth to him!" Khushi mocked spitting fire.

Muskan just silently kept listening to her shedding tears.

"Don't show me those crocodile tears Muskan. I already know how heartless you are to shed any real ones." She took a step towards Muskan as her blood boiled in her veins making her tremble but the ache in her heart grew too drawing out tears.
"You abandoned us! We did anything and everything for you. I loved and cherished you like my own sister, my husband called you his little sparrow, you were like a daughter to Zarina ma...and for bhai...you were his whole world. We opened our hearts to you and made you a part of our family....we did soo much for you yet you were soo ungrateful. As soon as you got your eyesight back you declared us dead and left just like that. And that too why? Because my brother looks like your parents' murderer?! What was his fault huh? He didn't even know anything... he had suffered because of the same man too and you made it worst! You made him hate himself again... even more than before!
Did you know how much he had resented his own self all his life because he looked like our father?! But ...when he found you, he found a reason to love himself because you loved him and all that love you had for him all this time turned into dust as soon as you saw him huh? You're such a lier Muskan! Tell me, did u ever loved him, us... or was it all your selfish desire to be able to live a good life?"

"N...no... that's..."

"No Muskan! It was like that! You used us! You took advantage of our love, our patience, or kindness... you're just a selfish, manipulating, selfcentered vixen who doesn't care about anyone else....not even the child you carried in your womb!"

"Khushi Didi!" Muskan yelled unable to take it anymore.
"I do care... I do love you all but..."

"But what huh? Just because of the monster who's already dead and who's already being punished for his crimes in hell...you abandoned your husband and your newborn child. Was that monster more important to you than us? Was your revenge and your hatred bigger than your so called love for us?"

Muskan had nothing to say as she felt too weak to even keep standing in front of her. As if the guilt from all those years wasn't enough to eat her up from inside out....now Khushi's words were just like salt to her wounds. She didn't even deserve to ask for forgiveness.

"I hate you Muskan!"

Her whole body went numb.

"I hate the mere sight of you now. All that time, we begged you to forgive us for the mistake we hadn't commited and too just come back to us. I...with my twins inside my womb I begged and cried on your doorstep to just give my brother one chance...but you were soo cruel that you didn't even see me...."

Muskan recalled those moments when Khushi used to come to meet her but she would just lock herself in the room and cover her ears and cry on the floor like her world was on fire.

"... Murad had to grow up without a mother and my poor brother had to be both his mother and father while he himself wasn't able to handle his own emotions. Did you know how countless times Murad had cried for his mother and bhai helplessly cried with him because neither could he bring his mother nor his wife who he loved soo much. Eventually, at such a young age the boy had to grow soo fast that he himself used to wipe his father's tears when he cried for you. Do you know how painful it was for us to watch?! How would you know? You were busy despising us all this time after all. I'm pretty sure deep inside you're rejoicing hearing about our miseries."

Muskan shook her head unable to utter a word as she just kept crying. Her head, her heart, her soul...her entire being was in pain to hear that. She was just as miserable as Rehan as she missed him and also her child. But Khushi wouldn't understand that.... maybe she did realise it...but all that frustration from those 6 years had blinded her from seeing Muskan's pain.

"Go back to where you came from and don't you dare even cast your shadow on my innocent nephew and my brother." Khushi warned wiping her own tears angrily and pushing Muskan back as she stubbled but somehow maintained her balance.

Muskan looked up at her horrified.
"No...no please didi...just let me atleast see him from a distance..." She begged grabbing her hand.

Khushi but her lip soo hard almost drawing blood and shoved away her hand ignoring the helpless and desperate look in her emerald eyes. She was reminded of her old, innocent cutie.

"NEVER!" Khushi grunted.

"Didi..."

"Shut up!!! I'll never forgive you Muskan. You don't even realise how much damage you've caused. Because of you even Ma...." Khushi paused looking away.

"W..what happened to ma? Didi? Please tell me. Zarina ma is ok, isn't she?" Muskan questioned desperately as fear settled inside her by Khushi's silence.

"You don't even deserve to know! I'm warning you Muskan....if you even dare to think about traumatising our Murad and making him cry for you.... I won't ever let you even breath peacefully either. I give my word at that!" Khushi threatened and stormed past her leaving poor Muskan in shock and tears.

When Khushi reached a distance, she found Yasir watching her with a painful expression and she ran into his arms crying her heart out as he silently held her consoling her. He saw and heard everything.

∆∆∆∆
"Mamuuuuu we're boreddddd!" The twins ran towards Rehan whinning as he just came back from work.

He smiled getting on his knees and spread his arms for them.
"Bored? And my kids?! Oh God! How can we let that happen?!" Rehan said over-dramatically.

"Mamu...mumma won't let us play!" Sarah pouted.

"Really...come I'll scold your Mumma!"

The kids giggled.

"Saif! Sarah!"

Both of them gasped and ran to hide behind thier strong mammu (maternal uncle).

"Khushi...why are you scolding my niece and nephew?" Rehan pretended to scold her.

"Bhai... they haven't even done thier homework yet and ran off as soon as they heard your car. You've spoilt them too much." She said crossing her arms.

Rehan chuckled.
"It's my duty to spoil them." He winked bringing the twins ahead and in one swift motion picked them both up in his arms.
"How about this? After you both finish your homework... Mamu will take you both to the park. Ok?"

"Yaaaay!" Both the kids screamed deafening his ears and kissed his cheeks from either sides making him and Khushi smile and Rehan let them run off as Khushi watched them shaking her head.

"Finish your homework first!" She yelled after them.

"Where's Murad?"

"He's doing his homework in his room like a good boy he is. I wonder how my kids turned out to be soo naughty!"

Rehan laughed.
"Ask your husband that." And Khushi laughed too.

Rehan went to his room and found Murad seriously doing his homework.

"Hey champ!"

"Don't disturb me Papa, I'm busy!" He said in his baby voice but raising his hand like an adult with his eyes in his book and pencil in hand.

"Oh sorry sir..." Rehan said raising both his hands up.
"What are you soo busy with by the way?"

"I'm doing a very hard sum. 39-25="

"Oh... that's very hard! Do you want Papa to help you?"

"No! A man has to learn to do the hard things himself." He pouted and Rehan was trying soo hard to hold his laugh.
"Of course my Man!"

So leaving the Man with his hardwork, Rehan went to freshnup and change.

"All done Papa!" Murad stretched grinning happily.

"Well done champ! Nowadays my son is working quite hard. What is it that you want this time?" Rehan raised an eyebrow. His son had an habit to start working hard in his studies and even start eating vegetables whenever he wants something even though Rehan would give him anything and everything before even asking for it.

Murad sheepishly jumped off his chair and went to his father who picked him up in his arms.
"Papa...will you give me anything I ask for?"

"Of course! Have I ever said no to my champ? Tell me, do you want a new bike?"

He shook his head.

"Mmm...a new game? A new toy?"

He shook his head again.

"Don't tell me you want a new mobile. That's a big No no! You're too young for it."

He shook his head again, confusing his father.
"Then?"

However, the thing he asked for just broke Rehan's heart.

"I want my mummy?"

Rehan looked away for a second to blink back his tears before managing to smile at his innocent son. Murad wasn't the only one who wanted his Mummy.
"Uh...why champ? You don't love Daddy anymore?"

"I do. I love you soooo much." He said spreading his hands wide
"...but, all the other kids have thier mummy and they always tease me that I don't have one. Even the teacher says that mummy left you. Can't you bring her back to us? I promise I will never trouble her... I will love my mummy soooo much too! Can you bring her as my bday present?"

Rehan swallowed the huge lump in his throat that made him unable to breathe and hugged his son tightly lost for words. He didn't know what to say to his gullible child.

Just then Sarah and Saif ran to thier room saving him.
"Mamu we're ready!" They both sang in unison.

Rehan smiled putting Murad down.
"Ok! Let's go to the park then everyone!"

Murad pouted being ignored again.

∆∆∆∆
"Yaaay.... I'll go on the slide first...no let's go on the swing.... See-saw ...see-saw..." The kids ran to play and Rehan sat on the seat at a side from where the kids and the whole playing area was visible. He took out his phone randomly going through the news.

"Middat...Middat come here....pass me the ball..."

Rehan froze. That voice....it was the one he was dying to hear for the past 6 years, the voice that made his heart beat and breath fastened, the voice that made him feel alive.

Was it really her?

However, he was too scared to turn around. His heart was palpating and palms sweating. He just wasn't ready to see her yet he couldn't wait to turn around and atleast catch a glimpse of her as he didn't know what he would do he if saw her. So he got up and decided to just get away from there but a baloon ball rolled towards his feet making him hault.

"Middat.... you threw it soo far away beta?" It was her again

Muskan walked towards the ball which had stopped near a mans feet. She didn't raise her eyes to look at him as her attention was on the ball, but till the time she reached there the man had picked up the ball.

"Oh, it's our ball, thank..." Her voice trailed off and her heart almost stopped beating seeing the person in front of her. Warm tears pricked her eyes and her whole body went numb.

"Rehan?" Her voice was no louder than a whisper.

Time had completely stopped for them as they just stood there staring into eachother's eyes. Green to brown. Unspoken emotions and hearty questions being shared between them.

Where were you?
How are you?
Did you miss me?
Why do you look soo pale?
Are you doing well?

There was no need to say all that as thier eyes said everything.

Just then a small girl around 2 years ran towards Muskan's legs grabbing her breaking her trance, making her jumpy. Rehan too watched them as she picked the little girl in her arms. His heart suddenly ached unbearably in his chest noticing the slight similarity between the baby and Muskan's appearance. Unable to contain himself, he mustered up the courage to ask

"I...is that....your daughter?"

Muskan swallowed and looked down painfully avoiding eyecontact with him. She was dying to hear his voice again and now that she was hearing it, her will power was weakening. Still, she managed to say one word
"Yes."

Rehan's eyes widened and he felt as if a train hit him.

"Fairy aunty....fairy aunty!"

Muskan's face split into a huge smile as Murad can running towards her.

"Sarah... Saif, see I told you she's real and she's as beautiful as a fairy!" Murad told his cousins.

Sarah giggled shyly.
"My mummy is pretty too."

Muskan looked at the twins and got down on her knees.
"You two must be Khushi Didi's..." She stopped remembering Khushi's words to her.
'Don't you dare even cast your shadow on my innocent nephew and my brother.'

Rehan watched them with tears brimming his eyes. How he craved to see his Butterfly and his son together like that... however, these weren't the circumstances he dreamt of. His son was calling his own mother as aunty. What could be more painful than that!

Muskan reluctantly took her hand back from touching her son and forced herself on her feet.
"I need to go."

"Fairy aunty...come home with us na. I want you to meet Phupi, Phupa and also Nani." Murad said jumping up and down.

"I'm sorry.... Murad... I cannot come with you." Her voice was breaking.

"Why aunty?" Saif questioned.

"Kids, aunty is busy. Don't trouble her. Let's go now. It's getting late." Rehan said abruptly.

All the kids began whining.

"Murad... let's go." Rehan said holding his hand gently yet firmly as he kept gaping at Muskan with his big doe eyes. He too looked at Muskan one last time before tearing his eyes away from her and took all the 3 kids with him as Muskan watched them helplessly holding back her tears.

"That was your ex-husband wasn't it?"

Muskan jumped at Fiza's voice beside her. Yet, she said nothing and the baby in her arms jumped at Fiza as she took her smiling.

"The kid who ran to you must be your son, right Didi?"

Muskan let out a shaky breath.

"Say something you fool!"

"It doesn't matter anymore." Was all she said emotionlessly.

Fiza scoffed.
"Look at your face! It's written all over it how much it matters to you. It's been 6 years already and we all know how much you love them all. How can a mother stay away from her child for soo long?! I cannot even stay away from my daughter Middat for 6 hours" she said holding the baby tightly.
"Muskan Didi.... I know we've been too cruel to you for a long time but that family...they loved you soo much and you loved them too. Heck! I've seen you cry every night for the past 6 years for your son and his father, isn't that enough? Who are you trying to punish huh? Yourself? That innocent child? Or the man who loves you too death. OMG! It was soo obvious the way you two were looking at eachother that it was almost embarassing. Listen didi, my abbu...your khalu has passed away, bhai is married and settled in Dubai with his family, I'm married to and have a daughter as for Ammi, she can live with me, my husband said so. You're the only one left now. The mansion is literally empty. I don't care what you do with it, whether you sell it or stay.... it's your decision. Just don't be alone. Go back to them...if not for anything then atleast your child. What was meant to happen, happened. No one is at fault here. Did u noticed that boy recognised you? Even though he doesn't know you're his mother, he felt a connection to you. Don't hurt him atleast. Please Didi.... think about it!"

Muskan's fist went to her heart.
Can I really do that?!

_________________________

Sorry for the delay. I know you've all been waiting desperately.
Thankyou soo much ❤️

Hope you liked the chapter. But the story doesn't end here.

Next, the Epilogue on Sunday.