Without a word, I got my scarf then wrapped it around my head into a hijab before stepping out with Amir. When we skidded down the steps, I could hear angry voices coming from the living room. A familiar voice which belonged to Ramlah aunty screaming and begging echoed from it. I could hear the chaos. Amir and I walked as fast as our legs could carry us until we got to the living room where the scene before me was bad.

Suhaan Khalu grabbed Tubassum by her hair hard and painful. Tubassum let out a painful scream before a hard slap across her face, causing her to scream again. Her body reeled back before she fell on the floor. Sami bhai and Faiz were launching blows and kicks at Aaban who was sprawled on the ground.

"Papa, I am sorry" Tubassum cried getting on her knees. Her body racked with violent shudders.

Suhaan khalu took slow steps towards his daughter. Tubassum cried, trembled and begged her father. Suhaan Khalu's eyes were bulging out of his sockets. They were red and filled with fury. The veins in his neck and balled fists stretched under his skin. Ramlah aunty kept begging Tubassum's brothers to stop beating her son. Shazia stood behind her weeping mother, biting on her fingers saying nothing but the line of tension on her face showed her fear. Sami bhai said something in Urdu before giving Aaban a blow on his bleeding face. I was elated at what they were doing to Aaban. They were doing something I could never do.

"Papa, I am sorry" Tubassum wailed moving back as her father took another step forward. She was sweaty and juddering. Her fear filled eyes begged her father. Aaliyah khala was seated on the sofa crystal balls dropping on her red cheeks. Aunt Caroline sat by her side consoling her. What's going on? I thought rooted to where I was standing, my heart racing at everything going on.

Suhaan Khalu's wide palm connected with his daughter's cheek again, this time it resounded across the living room leaving red marks on her cheek.

"Papa!" Tubassum wailed tumbling to the floor again. She scrambled back joining her palms together, begging.

The rest of the family watched everything quietly. I gazed at Sahibah bhabi who stood with distress not able to talk. Zoya bhabi did the same thing, her darting eyes showed her anxiety. My legs finally moved under me but I could not say anything.

"Suhaan stop!" Nani shouted. Suhaan Khalu's hand stopped in the tension filled air. His breath shuddered, coming out faster as he stared at Tubassum who was begging and crying. Nani stepped in between them. "Stop it please" she begged.

Suhaan Khalu looked at his pleading mother before dropping his hand and turning away.

"Answer me Tubassum" Suhaan Khalu roared his hand dropping to his side. Tubassum crawled to Nani's side holding on to her leg. "Is that bastard" he pointed at Aaban.

"Please, stop beating him!" Ramlah aunty howled trying to pull Sami bhai and Faiz away from her son. Sami bhai and Faiz kept saying some things in Urdu giving Aaban a blow and kick each before stopping. "This is your fault" Ramlah Aunty turned towards her cousin. "This is your entire fault" she shouted pointing a finger at Aunt Caroline.

Aunt Caroline stood up, the drape of the orange sari she wore fell covering her hand. She lifted it up bringing her hand out before walking to her fuming cousin.

"How is everything happening my fault?" she asked.

"You should not have spoken. Look at my precious son" she pointed at her bleeding son whom Shazia had ran to. "If you had not opened your maggot filled gutter mouth, none of this would have happened"

"I saw the wrong thing going on and I said it and let everyone know what's happening under their nose" Aunt Caroline argued back. "So tell me now balloon, how is it my fault?"

"You really cannot see your fault in this?! If you had not spoken who will know something was going on between Aaban and Tubassum! No one would have known that Tubassum is pregnant for Aaban" My hand flew to my mouth "They would have aborted the child peacefully but you just have to let your mouth rushing all the time" Ramlah aunty barked.

"I used to think you had a little heart Ramlah but I can see you are heartless. You would have killed that innocent child growing in Tubassum's stomach?" Aunt Caroline shouted.

"You know what?" Aaliyah Khala said getting up. "I am tired of you and your children in this house Ramlah!" she shouted wiping away her tears furiously. "We have had enough. Since you came to this house, you have caused nothing except pain and chaos" she took gradual strides towards Ramlah Aunty, her breathing surfaced faster. Aaliyah Khala balled and released her fists, her knuckles turning white. "Look at what your son has done to my innocent daughter. He took advantage of her innocence. Why? Why?" she screamed, tears bursted from her tear glands like a water fall.

"Don't blame my son Aaliyah" Ramlah Aunty replied her with a little smile. "Your daughter was foolish to believe my son loves her. She was more foolish to believe his deceitful lies and the fact that he was going to marry her" she laughed throwing her head. "No matter how much your sons beat my son" Arrogance filled her voice. "There is one thing. My son will not suffer the disgrace or shame neither had my pride and dignity gone down the drain. It is your daughter" she pointed at Aaliyah Khala "That will suffer everything including you" Aaban smiled wiping the blood on his lips like the jerk he was while his sister glared at Tubassum.

"You foolish woman!" Aaliyah Khala exploded, her hand making contact with Ramlah Aunty's face. "Get out of here! We are tired of everything! We are tired! Why does it have to be my daughter?!" she pushed Ramlah Aunty back before falling back into a chair painful wails filled with agony escaping her throat.

No one said anything or moved. Everyone had their lips sealed. Aaliyah Khala and Tubassum kept wailing. In Suhaan Khalu's eyes, I could see the pain he was feeling, the turmoil going on in his mind. Nani who was the eldest was mute. She kept pacing the living room. It was as if she had lots going on in her mind. It must been tough to have so much problems within twenty four hours. The problems were caused by no one except a woman and her children. I turned slightly to my side to look at my husband. Amir eyes were narrowed, his face stone cold as he stared at Aaban, his hands curled to his sides and his jaw kept moving like he was grinding his teeth.

"I think I know what to do" Nani broke the silence, her weary voice echoed across the room. "No matter what I say or do right now, it will not change what has happen" she sat down, leaning on the seat with a groan. "Ramlah, you have caused much than we can take in this house. What had happened between today and yesterday had been caused by no one except you and your children. I think I am also tired of your palaver. I have stomached enough. After thinking, I have made a decision" she paused, her eyes shifted around the noiseless living room looking from one person to another. "Ramlah, you and your children will no longer stay in this house. You will leave this manor. Sami, you should start searching for a house for them before next week. I want them out of my house by next week. As for Tubassum, I am not heartless enough to give you out to someone who does not deserve you" she stared at Tubassum who had stopped weeping "Marrying you off to Aaban will only bring you suffering because he will never cherish you. You will live with your mistake. You will bear that child and together, we shall take care of you and your child" Tubassum broke into tears again. "Things like this happen. Who are we to stop fate? This is just your own life and we can't punish you by neglecting you and your child. I have nothing more to say again" she stood up "Shazia clean your brother's wounds"

We watched Nani stride out of the foyer to the hallway leading to her room. I remembered the night before I had not seen anyone since I ran up in the evening. I felt as if I had been rude the day before and thought I should apologise to Nani. Unhurriedly, I went after Nani.

Please vote, comment and share. Thanks a lot.