I sighed and finally got out of the car as I headed towards the large gated house in Phase 6 DHA. Ringing the bell, I waited for someone to answer the intercom.

"Gee, aap kon hain? (Yes, who are you?)"Came the gruff voice of an old man. I cleared my throat. "Main Zakriya Islam hoon. Aaliya Faisal say milna hai. (I'm zakriya islam. I want to meet with Aaliya Faisal.)" I conjured up in the little bit of Urdu that I knew.

"Acha mai pooch kay btata hoon. (Okay let me ask and tell)"

I waited for a couple of minutes till the small door on the gate opened to reveal an old security guard. "Gee, Aaliya bibi andar bula rahi hain. (Aaliya madam is calling inside.)" he relayed. I nodded and entered.

The porch was very nicely made with cream colour marble tiles and potted plants. There were two Mercedes standing as well.

"Asalam Alaikum," I saw a woman greet me from the frame of the main door. I stopped dead in my tracks and scrutinised the woman standing in front of me. She looked like the younger version of Amber except for her skin being more fairer. Now that I think about it, Amber's mother was fair in complexion as I remember.

"You must be Zakriya bhai," she said. "Haleema aapi had called and told me that you wanted to see me."

I nodded.

"Please come inside," she invited wholeheartedly. She led me to a elegantly decorated living room where there was already a coffee table ready and laiden with all sorts of snacks. "Please make yourself comfortable, ill get the tea." She said and left. I had the urge to tell her that there wasn't any need for anything but she has already before I could say anything.

She was back within a few minutes with a tray of tea set in a beautiful white floral china bone set. "Please there wasn't any need for all this." I said modestly.

She smiled and placed the tea in front of me. "This is the first time I'm meeting my brother in law so of course there's a need for this." She said jocundly.

There was an awkward silence between us I sipped on my tea. I saw that Aaliya was staring at me. I smiled and placed my cup in the table. "What's the age difference between you and Amber?" I inquired.

"I'm four years younger then her," she answered, her brown eyes looked as if she was deep in thought.

"Do you live here with your husband?"

"Yes, as well as with my two children." She answered proudly. "Anyways, how's Amber? Why didn't she come as well?"

I sighed, my shoulders sagging. "Actually, that's why I'm here. I know that you find it odd that a complete stranger came to meet with you but the thing is that, I'm completely lost; I need your help." I said, my voice slightly breaking, my hand automatically going to my covered neck to rub the stinging feeling of the bite marks.

"Is everything alright?" She inquired.

"Can you please share with me about how Amber used to be when she was living with you and your parents." I asked. She looked at me in confusion as if asking this question was completely absurd especially coming from her own husband but what could I do, I couldn't possibly tell her that I was completely unaware of my own wife's past.

"It's no surprise that you're asking me about this," she said. So she was already aware. "Amber has always had trust issues and she doesn't let others know about herself unless she really wants to." She revealed.

True.

"I know because Amber was always close to me. We've always shared everything. Even in the five years of exile that she inflicted on herself, she kept in contact with me until three years ago when she stopped. Since then I have no idea how she's been. But i wasn't surprised when I got a call from Haleema aapi that Amber's husband wanted to meet with me. I knew that Amber would marry on her own accord because she was always rebellious." She relayed.

She sighed deeply and looked away. "I won't ask what the problem is or for you're reasons for visiting me, so ask anything that you want."

I repeated my question again and took out the family photos that I had found in Amber's desk. "Our father, a proud Pakistani man, always wanted a son but he got two daughters instead. Of course being open minded, he never blamed my mother because their marriage was a love marriage. So, he raised Amber like a son. She was very Tom boyish when she was a child. Of course she was my father's most spoiled and favoured child. Even when I was born, I couldn't compete for my fathers love with her. However, things changed as soon as she entered adolescence. Father became very strict and her relationship with our mother was always a sour one. It was during her teenage years when we actually became close and shared everything. At school, Amber was bullied for her weight and plain looks while at home, the parental pressure was killing her. That's when she started to confide in me as her one and only sibling"

"It became even harder for her when it came for her to choose a career goal; pir father of course fulfilled that by choosing his own line of work for Amber, completely disregarding that Amber wanted to be a designer. And of course, Amber couldn't really deny our father because she loved him too much so she agreed to pursue Medicine and enrolled in our father's Alma mater. It was from there onwards that the situation became too tough for her."

"Her relationship with mother wasn't good from the start because they always held different opinions. Our mother wanted her to get engaged with her favourite nephew. Amber would always fight with her for it because she knew as well as i that that guy was lazy good for nothing dead beat. We both strongly disapproved but our mother wouldn't take no for an answer. So by Amber's fifth year in Med school, she was forcibly engaged to Khalil. The plan was that once she's completed her medical internship (house job), she would be married. However, it was that time, almost five years ago; the night that I would never forget."

I arrived around 8 pm from university after completing the massive assignment that I ha to submit by tomorrow. I sighed and yawned. All that I wanted now was my warm bed.

But as soon as I entered through the main door, my ears detected the sounds of the shrill voice of my mom. Oh boy, here she goes again, she must be shouting at Amber for no reason again. I quietly climbed the stairs and tried my best to avoid the door that led to their path because I didn't want Ammi to involve me in her quarrel. But when I was about to reach my room, I heard the noise of crying child coming from Amber's room. In confusion, I frowned and opened her door: shocked and frozen when a saw a new born baby lie crying on the bed.

I dumped my bag in the floor and the first instinct that reached me was to stop th baby from crying. I made to the bed and carefully took the baby in my arms and rocked it carefully in an attempt to calm it down. I couldn't tell what it was though, a boy or a girl.

After a few minutes, the baby calmed down and opened its big brown eyes to stare at me. I smiled and forwarded my finger which the baby took enthusiastically.

"There you are," Ammi came bursting through the door. "Aaliya, will you kindly knock some sense into your sister! Apparently she isn't listening to me and making it very difficult for us." She shouted and exited the room, banging the door at the frame. My eyes sought the baby who's eyes were almost closed and then landed on Amber who looked exhausted and stared at the ceiling.

"Mind explaining to me what's going on?" I inquired in a low voice, being careful not the wake the baby who was sleeping now. She stared at me and then opened her arms to take the baby from me. I handed it to her. "Why don't you go and freshen up, then I'll explain." She said and slowly rocked the baby.

I gaped at my sister: there was so much tenderness and affection in her eyes as she stared the small infant in her arms. I had never seen her that way before; she was always frustrated or calm or laid back, these are pretty much the only emotions I saw her express ever since she joined the field of medicine and usually after a quarrel with mother, she's either fuming or seething or just quiet. She was neither at the moment.

I obeyed and quickly went to take a bath and say my isha prayers. When I returned, I found Amber lying on the bed, rubbing her forehead. She had changed out of her hospital clothes and was looking relaxed. The baby was still asleep. "Amber what's going on? Who's this baby?" I inquired in a low voice and sat at the edge of the bed. She opened her eyes and stared at me.

"This is Tooba," she claimed. "I've adopted her as my daughter from today onwards." She claimed, her eyes looking at me contendedly.

I gawked at her as if she was a crazy person. "What?"

She nodded. "Last week, I was on duty in the ER when a fully dilated pregnant woman was brought in. The attending house officer was on leave. I found out that woman was in an accident and bleeding badly. I had to perform the delivery because she was haemorrhaging badly. I didn't perform any deliveries before but I didn't hesitate.When I delivered the baby, the woman had bleed out so much that she slipped into shock and died. She tried out hardest to save her but couldn't. She had no ID on her that I could inform her household about the baby. The hospital sent out word to the nearest residences of that woman was related to them but no news came," she explained and sighed.

"But Aaliya, I couldn't leave her there. When I delivered her, I couldn't believe that I saw my first ever birth. It was almost beautiful. And you wouldn't understand, I fell in love with Tooba as soon as I laid my eyes in her." She claimed.

"What are you taking about Amber? You can't be serious."

"I am, if I hadn't adopted her, they would've sent her to an orphanage since no one came to claim her for over a week. I couldn't let her go," she spoke with so much passion that I had never seen before. Her voice even broke at the end. "Please Aaliya, you need to take my side. Ammi wants me to give her back. I can't do that Aaliya," she cried, her voice broken and eyes flowing now. I was taken aback. This was the first time I saw her crying. I couldn't believe how desperate she was.

"But Amber, Ammi is right. Your wedding is due in a few months and your in laws and husband will never accept Tooba."

"I don't care!" She hissed and glared at me. "I never wanted this marriage. Ammi forced me into it. I'd say good riddance if Khalil decided to break off the engagement." She declared will fully.

"So is that what this is? You're using this as an excuse to break of your engagement?" I couldn't believe that Amber would do something like this, she is anything but cunning or conniving. I know that she strongly dislikes Khalil because he's a dead beat and good for nothing guy. I share her sentiments in that regard but our mother doesn't because he always manages to win her favour over Amber. Both our parents had a string desire to have a son but couldn't and thus, my mother fills the void by dotting over our stupid cousin. And she wanted nothing more then to have my talented and intelligent sister marry that jerk. And like always, she was obedient so it's not possible that she's doing this on purpose just to spite Ammi.

"Amber please think about what your doing." I tried to reason with her. Her eyes became hard. "What is it that I should think about Aaliya? Abu has always decided my fate for me before I knew about it myself and Ammi has always pushed me into doing her bidding. I've never had the chance to do anything for myself but Aaliya, for the first time, this is what I want for myself. Tooba is mine now and I'm not separating from her." She declared fearlessly. I couldn't say anything to that because she was right.

I gave her a stiff nod, a sign of my approval and support for her. I saw Tooba's tiny fist reach up to her face as she stirred in her sleep. She really was an adorable baby; how could I resist her? How could anyone resist her. I smiled at her.

Ammi had informed Abu about this and like always he let it slip, taking no interest in women's quarrels because he knew that Amber would always do what he would say. However he was wrong.

Khalil found out in a dinner party and he demanded an explanation which Amber gave in the form of scorn and ridecule, not at all fazed that Khalil strongly disapproved. He even threatened to break off the engagement and his mother also intervened, insulting Ammi and Abu. And Amber didn't feel the slight bit of affect from it.

Amber took a leave from her House Job because I had university and Ammi refused to look after Tooba while Amber would've been busy at the hospital.

However, that was when things got serious. After a few days, my aunt returned and demanded that Amber return back the baby. Of course, Amber didn't budge. She proposed that they needed to Accept Tooba along with her. Her maternal instincts had gotten the best of her and she treated Tooba as if she were her own flesh and blood and refused to part from her.

"Amber return that child immediately!"

"Where to Ammi? She has nowhere to go."

"Then we haven't started any charity to adopt every child that's left abandoned?"

"What's ring with you Ammi. Taking in an orphan is the greatest deed that you could do."

"But marriage is more important. It's equal to completing half your deen." Ammi countered. "And what about our reputation? What will people say? That my daughter adopted an orphan without getting married first? This will not only marr you for being inappropriate Amber but also scar mine and your father's reputation in our society. Don't you care what happens to the huge amount of respect and dignity we hold amongst our peers?"

Amber stared at Ammi for a few seconds.

"I'm sorry Ammi, I will not give up Tooba. She's my daughter now and my responsibility. I don't care what anyone thinks. If Khala and Khalil can't accept her along with me then I don't see any need to commit to this engagement. They can break it off for all I care." She claimed nonchalantly.

Ammi and Khala gawked her as if she had gone mad. There was silence between the three women and I was glad that it came to a stop. I began to hear Tooba's crying from Amber's bedroom. Amber took that as an opportunity to take her leave.

"Fine, Gazala, consider this engagement called off." Khala claimed and strode out of the house despite Ammi begging her to reconsider. I don't went to her and consoled her but she stormed directly into Amber's room. "You selfish ungrateful woman! How dare you insult me, your own mother like that in front of my own sister? Where did I go wrong in raising you? I spent my whole life and wealth and my health in bringing you up and giving you the best of everything but this is how you t pay me? I made you into a doctor and this is how you pay back for my hard work and devotion? And all for what? That child," she shouted and pointed at the sleeping Tooba in Amber's arms. "That child who could very well be a bastard and you took it and owned it over your own mother!" She yelled. "I won't forgive you for this, Amber, mark my words. Allah will judge you on the day of reckoning for your behaviour!" She avowed and left for her bedroom and locked herself in. I was so scared. As soon as Abu came back, Ammi began to cry. I don't know why hat happen then because they were both in their bedroom.

At dinner, Amber didn't join us in the table. After dinner, Abu commanded all the members of the family to gather in the living room. That demand sent shivers up my spine. Abu was now involved because if he called in a family meeting then that means he's deadly serious.

When we were all gathered in the living room, the maid and NCB (male servant assigned to Army Officers) were dismissed. I saw Ammi with a smug look in her face and I felt disgusted. How could she look that way? This means that she succeeded in getting Abu by her side. I feared for Amber now. I know how much she loved and looked up to Abu. There was no way that she was going to disobey him if he demanded that she left Tooba.

When Amber entered in the study, she looked calm, her eyes looked determined.

"Amber, what your mother told me about today, is that true?" He inquired calmly. She nodded.

"Yes Abu, I only demanded that they accept Tooba with me but Khala didn't agree and broke off the engagement." Amber told rather proudly. And even Abu had sensed that.

"And you feel proud about this?!" Abu almost shouted: I flinched in fright. Abu was the scariest man alive. "No," she lied blantantly, not scared at all while I was scared out of my wits.

"That's it!" Abu shouted and stood up. Amber and I also stood up.
"I will say this only once. Return that child immediately and go to your Khala and apologise. Get the engagement called in again even if you have to beg!" Abu yelled at her in anger. I saw Amber shiver and quiver under his gaze: yes she was definitely terrified of Abu now; we both were because we had never witnessed our father get this angry ever before.

"No Abu." She denied confidently. I was flabbergasted. This was the first act of Disobedience Amber even displayed. I mentally applauded for her. It was about time she stood up for herself. Sure she possessed the stoic and stern nature as our father but she always obeyed him silently and never expressed her desires.

"I will not Abu. All my life I did what you asked and never asked you for anything that I wanted but I won't,"

She as silenced immediately when Abu's left palm landed on her cheek. Ammi and I gas ed in unison at the horrifying act that Abu just did. I was frozen in my place because this was the first time I saw my father raise his hand at anyone least of all Amber. She would've fallen to the ground if my body hadn't instinctively gone up to her and grabbed her shoulders to supported her in time. She touched her cheek, her eyes staring at me with desperation to help her but I bowed my head in shame. How could I stand up to my father. I wasn't as brave as her. And I know it must've taken her so much effort to stand up to Abu that way.

"You're a disgrace! I'm ashamed to call you my daughter! If you can't get rid of that child the g t rid of yourself instead. Get out of my sight immediately." Abu shouted and strode out of the room.

Ammi also followed behind Abu. There was just the two of us left in the living room. There was silence for a few poignant seconds. It was getting painful so I touched Amber's shoulder but she slapped away my hand. She glared at me, shooting fire at me. My guilt and pity for her was beginning to eat me up.

"Amber I,"

"Don't!," she snapped, her eyes filling up with venom. "You were supposed to support me but you didn't! I've had enough!" She spat and ran towards the stairs. I followed behind her but she locked her room. I called out to her many times but she didn't respond to me. Giving up, I returned to my room. After half an hour, I heard her door open. When I got out of my room, I saw her carry Tooba in a baby rocker in one hand while in the other, she held a small suit case.

"Amber, where are you going?" I demanded, running after her. She didn't say anything but kept on walking. I asked her many times until she placed Tooba carefully in her car and her suit case in the trunk. "Where are you going?" I asked agin but she completely ignored me and drove out of the premises. My heart was beating so frantically. She completely disregarded me. This wasn't like her because just like Abu she never displayed her emotions but she left that night in a storm of emotions raging up inside her. I tried to look for her the next day. She called up all of her acquaintances but thy hadn't heard from Amber. I was getting worried.

The next day, Ammi felt bad about what happened so she joined in with me to find Amber. Abu wasn't affected and refused to acknowledge the fact that his favourite child and protege had run away. Abu had practically disowned her for such a pert thing. So what if she had adopted Tooba? It wasn't like she had done anything wrong.

Two days passed without us hearing any word from Amber. I tried her cell phone countless times but she didn't reply.

After a week, I got a call from Haleema Aapi who was living in Karachi that Amber was with her. Ammi and I went all the way from Islamabad to Karachi to bring Amber back but she refused to see us. Ammi got fed up with her tantrums and decided to leave her alone. I wasn't giving up and tried to appease her for as long as I could but she never returned my texts or answered my calls. And before we knew it, six months passed. Ammi and Abu refused to go to Karachi to bring Amber back. Abu got agitated after this long and went to Karachi to bring her back. He was willing to forgive her disobedience said that I she turned Tooba in to Eidi orphanage then he'll accept her back. Amber had nothing left to loose. She rejected his offer and refused to return home.

My aunt caused quite a ruckus in amongst our relatives and made the whole event so dramatic and in her favour that it completely humiliated my parents and they stopped attending family dinners and get togethers. That was when they realised that my aunt was just a jealous woman who envied my parents because of their success and money. They also realised this when she had Khalil get engaged to a rich girl whose father was a successful businessman.

It was a life turning even for them.

She stopped and began to stare out of the window.

I still couldn't believe what I just heard from her.

"Abu was so angry at Amber for spoiling everything for them. He refused to acknowledge Amber as his own and a year passed by in sulking. Until I got a call from Haleema Aapi informing me that Amber departing for the US on clearing her first step of MLE." She informed.

"I had no way of getting in touch with her and Haleema didn't know where she was gone to." Her voice broke in the end. She rubbed her face in weariness, her brown eyes recalling the Past. "The only way we knew Amber was alive and well was Until two years later, every month, there was an amount of ten thousand dollars deposited into Ammi's bank account. Abu had it traced back to New York City.I received an email from Amber after that in which she had given me details in regards to something that resembled a will. I was shocked to get that email and my heart worried and cried for her so much. I wasn't able to get a visa for the US so that I could go and find her. However, thankfully, I knew that she was okay as long as the money was transferred every month into my mothers account. She never drew that amount because we never knew why Amber was sending that money. And so, five years passed. Until Abu and Ammi met her a few months ago in Murree and with a husband no less." She finished and gave me a small sad smile.

"Because of such pety issues, it broke my family. Abu and Ammi learned later on that their actions cost them the loss of their daughter and in the end, society or what people said didn't matter. They were broken and even decided to find Amber but there was no way they could do that. Abu was a serving Officer in the Army and he didn't have any connections with any higher ups or any government agency who could help swear he for her in New York City. So all that they could do was wait and leave it in Allah's hands."

"But I'm glad. She's out of my over controlling parents' hands and she's accomplished a lot these past five years. She's published papers in the same journals that it took my father a life time to publish and even opened up her own boutique." She revealed and sighed. "My parents let me do anything that I wanted but not Amber. She had the expectations of our parents and the family honour weighing her down. But now she's free to do what she wants." She said and crossed her arms and legs.

I kept silent and stared at her until a light chuckle made its way from her throat. "Silly really, I always envied and even hated Amber for all the attention she got from my parents but it was only later that I learned how lonely and miserable she was." She said, more to herself.

"Anyways, how is she and Tooba? Tooba must be five years old by now, turning six in a few months as I recall."she asked, genuine concern brimming in her eyes.

I swallowed hard. What was I suppose to tell her? That I never met Tooba? Or that her sister is currently detoxing and is being rehabilitated by me for cocaine abuse?

Oh God, what should I do?

VOTE AND COMMENT guys

Also my exams are about to start so the next update might be late. But I'll try my best to update. Now at least you guys know what happened five years ago right?