The rays of the sun fall on her face, enhancing her beauty with its gleam as she stirred in her sleep. Turning to her left side, Hafsa hug the comforter more close her and reaches her arm out to hold Daniyal. But found his side of the bed empty.
Opening her eyes, she looked around to find him, but he was nowhere.
He must have left for his morning exercise. Thinking this, she sat up and put her long brown hair in a bun.
Today, she has to go to the office. There was an important meeting which she couldn't miss.
•••
"Huzaifa, Ayaan, Wake up." After getting ready, Hafsa went to her sons' room and shook their shoulder.
"Hmm, Mamma, please." Her Five-year-old son, Ayaan mumbled, and hide his face in his pillow.
"What, Mamma, Please? Get up, you'll get late for your school... Huzaifa, wake up." Lightly slapping Ayaan's back, Hafsa went to Huzaifa's bed and shook him too.
Huzaifa was seven years old. He woke up by his mother's shake, though still confused as he looked around and rubbed his eyes.
Hafsa laughed at his cuteness and brushed his messy hair with her hands. "Good morning," She kissed his head.
"Ayaan, get up, look Bhai has woken up." Then she again turned to her other son. It was really difficult to wake Ayaan up.
Exactly after one hour, they all were at the dining table.
"Are you sure you'll come to the office today?" Daniyal asked when she was serving him tea.
"I can not miss the board meeting, but I won't stay for long too. There is PTM at Huzaifa and Ayaan's school." Sitting on the chair, she told him and filled her bowl with milk.
Nodding his head, Daniyal focuses on his breakfast.
•••
The board meeting was done. Now, Hafsa was putting her phone in her bag and was about to leave when her P.A came there.
"Ma'am, here is the schedule of Mr. Affandi's meeting." Her assistant gave her some files and told her.
"Mr. Affandi's meeting? But wasn't that supposed to be done yesterday? Daniyal sir was in charge of it." Taking it from her, Hafsa asked.
"Sir left the office early yesterday." Her assistant informed Hafsa.
Left early? But he came home around 11:40pm, where was he yesterday? She asked herself
"Okay fine, I'll manage this meeting." Hafsa dismisses her assistant.
Her assistant left her alone, as Hafsa sat on her chair and looked at the file. But her mind wasn't on the file. She was thinking about her husband.
If he wasn't at the office then where was he yesterday?
Maybe he met his old friends so he was with them. This voice belongs to her heart, which never listens to any word against Daniyal.
But he is not that careless type of person who goes out with their friends and forgot their family. This was the sensible part of her mind, which was thinking with facts and points.
Nor he has any relatives or family member where he can go. This made Hafsa's head hurt, as she shut the file and slammed it on the table.
Hafsa didn't want to doubt him, but his action from last few months were making her.
•••
In the evening~
Hafsa was helping Huzaifa and Ayaan with their homework.
When Huzaifa was born, Hafsa took break from office because she didn't want to give her son to the maids' hand, as she doesn't trust them with her son. But after Ayaan started going to school, she again joined her office, only during their school hours. When their school ends, she also comes back home.
"Mamma, I'm hungry..." After Huzaifa completed his homework, he complained.
"I'll make something for you both, and you? Complete your maths homework before I'll come." Hafsa, who was checking Ayaan's notebook, nods her head and was about to get up, but not before telling Ayaan to complete his homework.
"I wanna eat at McDonald's. Can we go there?" Huzaifa again asked.
"Yes please! And I'm done." Ayaan said, showing Hafsa his notebook.
•••
"Mamma, do something to my hair." Hafsa was buttoning up Ayaan's shirt when Huzaifa said from behind
"Just leave it that way, beta. You know it suits you." Hafsa didn't glance at him, as she was busy with the buttons of Ayaan's shirt.
"But I don't like it that way." Sulking, Huzaifa said and sat on his bed.
"Huzaifa, it really suits, your hair is just like your father's." Turning to her eldest son, Hafsa tried to pacify him.
True, Huzaifa inherited his father's messy hair. It never got set no matter how much hair spray or gel he uses. While Ayaan had Hafsa's soft brown hair and hazel eyes.
"Don't be sad, Bhai, we are going to McDonald's" Said Ayaan throws his hands in the air in excitement.
"Yes, Bhai, don't be sad, we are going to McDonald's." Hafsa laughed a little and said in a baby voice, pinching Huzaifa's chubby cheek. A soft grin falls on Huzaifa's face.
•••
A soft rush of wind brushes her hair as it sways on her slender back. Unconsciously, she put it behind her ear, Hafsa was strolling around the lawn barefoot, the cold grass beneath her feet was giving her chills and it would have brought peace to her at any part of the day, as it was her therapy things. But not today.
Today, her mind couldn't find any peace.
Flashback*
"Hafsa! How are you?" When they were returning, in the parking lot, she ran into Khirad.
"Khirad? I'm fine, how are you?" Hafsa faked a smile and asked. Khirad was her distant relative, who Hafsa didn't like that much.
"Main bhi theek hi hoon. Bas Allah ka shukar hai. Par tum dono miya biwi ka kya hai?" Khirab pinched Huzaifa's cheek and asked, laughingly. Ayaan quickly hides his cheeks with his palm.
Her question made Hafsa confused as her brows knitted.
"Dono akele akele ghoomte ho? Kabhi ek dusre ke sath nahi dikhte?" Khirad understood her silent question and elucidated.
"Huh! Matlab?" Asked Hafsa, still being confused.
"I saw him yesterday in the city center Mall, he was with some girl that I thought was you. But when I went near I didn't recognize, her maybe she was his cousin or something, so I didn't stop to say hello to Daniyal." Khirad told her.
Flashback ends*
Daniyal didn't had any cousin, or any relative for the matter of fact. Then with whom he was at the mall? Whom did Khirad saw him with? Who was that girl?Was Daniyal hiding something from her?That night, he came late and said it was office work when in reality he left the office early that evening. Where was he that evening?Many questions came in her mind, but answer was none.And who was that girl Khirad saw him with?Was Khirad telling truth? Hafsa asked herself.
The five months of Hafsa's pregnancy passed soon, and now it was the sixth month. Hafsa took a leave from the office because the doctor advised her for bed rest.When she was pregnant with Huzaifa or Ayaan, she wasn't that sick. Huzaifa was her firstborn, she didn't have her mother, or mother-in-law who would tell what to do, or whatnot. Hafsa only had her father and Daniyal but her first pregnancy passed smoothly, she was hardly sick or had any mood swings, most of the time she was just sleepy or hungry. Her second pregnancy was also easy as she already knew now what she had to do or not. But this time, it was very troublesome for her as she was always sick."Mamma, please!" Ayaan jumped on the bed and whined.
Her blood pressure was high, seems like she was taking tension about something but what?Daniyal sees off the doctor to the door and again went to his wife, who was laying on their king-size bed.Putting the white comforter to her waist, Daniyal sat beside her and held her forehead in his hand, she also had a fever. Although, the doctor gave her a shot, but Daniyal was still scared for her and his baby.He felt her moving which made him sit straight.Hafsa slowly opened her eyes and looked around confusingly."Hafsa, are you okay?" Daniyal held her h
Flashback continues*One evening, she was serving her father tea when he invited her to sit with him, which was unusual, Ubaid Siddiqui always has his evening tea alone with his book.Nevertheless, Hafsa sat on the floor and put her arms in his lap."Although, I'm feeling weird to have this conversation with you because most of the time, it is mother, who talked to their daughter about her feelings. But what can I do? Your mother passed away when you didn't even know how to talk properly." Putting his hand on Hafsa's head, Ubaid lovingly told her.Hafsa was his only kid, and very precious to him.
Her husband was hugging another woman. This shattered her trust into pieces. Even after everything, she never questioned him because her love was greater than the doubt. And that's what she got in return? Her husband had another woman in his arms.Feeling someone's eyes on him, Daniyal raised his head and saw Hafsa looking at him. Her hazel eyes clash against his black eyes."Hafsa!" He whispered when saw tears in her beautiful eyes.The girl in arms raised her head confusingly to look at him, then turn to look where he was looking at. Shock plastered over her face when saw Hafsa outside of their ward.Hafsa didn't wait another second and left
Her husband was hugging another woman. This shattered her trust into pieces. Even after everything, she never questioned him because her love was greater than the doubt. And that's what she got in return? Her husband had another woman in his arms.Feeling someone's eyes on him, Daniyal raised his head and saw Hafsa looking at him. Her hazel eyes clash against his black eyes."Hafsa!" He whispered when saw tears in her beautiful eyes.The girl in arms raised her head confusingly to look at him, then turn to look where he was looking at. Shock plastered over her face when saw Hafsa outside of their ward.Hafsa didn't wait another second and left
Harsh rays of sun falls against the car window, as Daniyal drove them somewhere.Hafsa didn't have courage to ask him where they are going. Although, her heart was dying to know.While Daniyal was driving the car in silence, Hafsa was sitting in passenger seat without uttering a word, kids in the backseat were chirping happily.Huzaifa and Ayaan were really happy that after many months they are going for an outing with their parents. Laiba was at home, in the care of her nanny.The car stopped outside of a small house
"I- I didn't know..." Hafsa's throat dried, thinking what her father did to Daniyal, and now she doubts him too."I'm really sorry, Daniyal. I don't know why papa did this... If I knew about this, I would've never asked you to leave your family for me." Hafsa tightened the grab of his hold and apologize."Hafsa, it wasn't your fault." He held her cheek in his free hand. "It wasn't anyone's fault. Your father did this only for your sake."But separating you with your family wasn't right.""Maybe, but it's okay, it doesn't matter now." Daniyal shrugged his shoulder.