Mubashira was doing everything for Zaid, to keep him happy. That didn't mean she had to put up the act when he wasn't home. For most days, the two wives could live in the same house and never cross paths. But now Ayra was stepping up her game and making her presence in the house.

One day, Mubashira was walking through the house, absently pacing through the hallways as she usually did. Until something caught her off guard. Her decor was different. Mubashira walked back two steps and stared at the unfamiliar painting.

"Farida!" Mubashira yelled for the house maid, who came running.

"Ji, badi begum," Farida meekly said.

"Yeh kya hai!?"

"Ji, choti dulhan ne..."

"Mere se pooche baghair yeh kaise hua? Kisi ki himmat kaise hui! Wapis karo. Jo pehle yahaan tha, woh dobaara lagao!"

"Bibi ji..." Farida cut in.

"Kya?!"

"Woh, Ayra ma'am abhi aur bhi..."

"Kahan hai?"

"Ji, woh udhar aage..."

Mubashira stormed to the place the maid had pointed out. She found her rival ordering the servants to change the setting.

"Yeh kya kar rahi ho tum?" Mubashira demanded.

"Kya kr rahi hoon main? Apna ghar decorate kr rahi hoon. Jaise mera haq hai," Ayra calmly replied.

"Tum... tum yeh nahi kr sakti. Tumhara kisi cheez pe haq nahi hai."

"Excuse me," Aira crossed her arms and stepped closer to her senior, "yeh mere husband ka ghar hai. Aur main jo chaahe kr sakti hoon."

"Tumhara kuch bhi nahi hai. Yeh ghar bhi mera hai, aur husband bhi. Tum sirf eik khalona ho, that I've let him have. Jabh uska dil bhar jae ga, woh mera ho ga."

"Oh, accha," Ayra again calmly said, "toh yeh plan hai tumhara. Good thing you told me. Mujhe pata tha tum kabhi acchi toh ho nahi sakti. Good. Abh main Zaid ko bata sakti hoon."

Ayra began to walk away, scaring Mubashira.

"Tum Zaid ko kuch nahi bataogi. Suna tumne?" She grabbed Ayra's arm to pull her back, but did it too hard and Ayra fell on the floor, passing out.

For a few moments, Mubashira was happy. And then Zaid came to her mind. Zaid would be upset. Zaid would cry for this girl. Zaid would accuse her of hurting his love. Then Mubashira began to panic.

"G-get up," Mubashira nervously ordered. "Ayra main ne kaha na utho! Ayra!?" Mubashira got down and shook Ayra's shoulders, getting no response.

"Jaldi car nikalo!" Mubashira ordered a servant.

One of the servants ran outside to ready the driver, while a few others came to take Ayra to the car. Mubashira went too, to make sure she could control the narrative.

Mubashira was pacing outside the hospital room when Zaid finally ran up to her.

"Zaid! Za-Zaid, main ne usse hurt krne ki koshish nahi ki thi. Woh, woh, bus gir gayi," Mubashira rushed to explain, not letting him say a word.

"I swear to you, tumhari qasam, Zaid. I didn't hurt her."

"Mub-Mubashira, it's okay. It's okay," Zaid held her hands to stop them from wavering. "It's okay. I believe you."

Mubashira calmed at the last three words. They rang in her head, and she took breaths to calm herself. Zaid noticed.

"Mr. Shahwari?" A nurse finally exited Ayra's room.

"Ji?" Zaid turned towards the nurse. "How's my wife?"

The nurse smiled. "Congratulations, aap baap banne vaale hain."

Zaid smiled and chuckled, awed by the news. Mubashira's world turned upside down. She collapsed into the nearby waiting chair.

"Meri wife kaisi hai?" Zaid asked again.

"Unke arm pe bruise hai, shayad behoshi mein girne ki wajah se. Lekin other than that, koi issue nahi hai. Main apko prenatal medicines likh deti hoon. Bus make sure unko time se dawai milti rahe. Aur ho sake to kum se kum stress ho."

"M-main khayal rakhoon gi," Mubashira said, drawing herself out of the shock. "I'll take care of her."

She stood up and smiled at her husband, placing one hand on his face. "Tumhara baby hai. I'll make sure uska bohot accha sa khayaal rakkha jaye."

Zaid took her hand and kissed it. "Thank you."

"Jao, under jao. Tumhara wait kr rahi ho gi," Mubashira nodded to the room and Zaid went in with her permission.

Mubashira let Zaid go in, but she was dying inside. She was conflicted. This baby felt like a betrayal, but she was the one who brought Ayra into their lives. She was having a panic attack as she walked the hallway, not knowing where she was going. As long as Zaid was happy with her and didn't leave her, as long as he believed her, she would make herself put up with anything. If she appeared happy, or at least unbothered, it would look like she was winning.

She didn't look it though when her knees gave out, and she supported herself against the nurses station. A few nurses ran around to come check on her.

"Don't tell my husband," Mubashira warned them, and passed out.

Zaid was sitting by his wife, holding her hand, waiting for her to wake up.

"Zaid?" Ayra asked in confusion as she slowly woke up.

"Ayra," Zaid smiled and caressed her head.

"Hum kahan hain?"

"Hospital mein hain. Tum behosh ho gayi thi."

"Main behosh kyun hongi?"

Zaid kissed her hand. "Kyunki tum maa bunne vaali ho."

Ayra smiled and chuckled lightly. "Meri eik baat mano ge abh?"

"Kaho?"

"Humein naye ghar mein shift ho jana chahiye."

"Ayra? Tum kya keh rahi ho? Itna bada toh ghar hai. Log saath janmon mein hamara ghar nahi le sakte, aur tum..."

"Meri bhi toh baat samjho na, Zaid," Ayra pleaded. "Pehle hi mujhe is ghar mein koi accept nahi karta. Mere bacche ko kon kare ga?"

Zaid clasped her hands. "Yeh mera baby bhi toh hai na? Dad at least apne grandchild ke liye tumhein tung nahi karein ge."

"Aur tumhari woh, Mubashira?"

"Mubashira bhi kuch nahi kahe gi. After all, wohi toh tumhein hospital layi hai."

"Are you sure ussi nein meri tabiyat kharab na ki ho?"

"Ayra, Mubashira kuch nahi kare gi. Aaj kal I don't know usse mujhse kya obsession hai. Woh tumhein tung kya, usne promise kiya hai ke woh tumhara aur mere bache ka khayal rakhe gi."

Ayra scoffed and looked the other way. "Please. Mujhe uski koi khidmat nahi chahiye. Door hi rahe toh thik hai."

"Accha, please mood off mut karo. Abhi itni khushkhabri mili hai, zara toh khush ho jao."

Ayra turned to look back at him. "Thik hai. Sirf tumhare liye. I love you."

"I love you too."