Hola!

I would take itsy bitsy time of yours to thank people who considered my work to be followed and like.

Peace and Love

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"No, please..., I didn't do anything, I swear I didn't know" 

Asmaira was crying in her sleep, mumbling unconsciously.

"Please...".

"Don't leave me, I am sorry, " she kept crying, holding herself together while lying on the floor  wearing the same dress she wore for her wedding. Her hair was all messy, scattered here and there, shivering wildly, closed eyes. One look at her and anybody can guess she was in pain, yet she was in sleep. Her face was covered with incessant beads of sweat mixed with her tears. Not a day has passed when she didn't have  nightmares since she heard that news. News which turned her world upside down. News which caused an invisible hole in her heart that never let her be at peace, the restlessness never left her since that day and no matter how much she tried she could never fill that hole. Never in her life has she been so helpless and to make it worse, her Savior was also not there with her.

"Raina..." She screamed out, with trembling body, quivering lips and a continuous trail of tears mixed with her sweat, she woke up from her sleep. It took her time to come out of her trance back into reality. She placed a hand on her chest to calm the rapid heart beat. She was still lying on the floor exactly at the same place she was last night to hide from her husband.

Husband!

She came back to her senses and a new emotion replaced her. Fear.

The day she agreed to her marriage, that day she knew she lost everything. She knew every day she would have to face her fear, she knew she had to be strong to fulfill the promise, the promise she made to herself, as that was the only way she can fill the emptiness of her soul, the promise that will ease out the burden she has been continuously living in. No matter how much Amaan loathed her, she will still not give up. This time she was the only one to help herself, neither her sister nor her brother will come to her rescue. This time she has to take a stand for herself.

For the past 8 months she has been a coward running away from it, but now she can't. If she loses this time she can never forgive herself. She needed forgiveness from Raina, yet she can't get it. She knew it was too late to ask for forgiveness and she was no more with her to forgive. Nobody can understand what she was going through including her family, nobody knew why she agreed to the marriage, nobody knew her motive behind taking the decision. Everybody thought she changed, she changed into a woman who loved luxury, who depended on her rich husband to fulfill her dream, everybody, including her own father who knew her completely and she didn't bother to correct or explain to anyone. Because now she doesn't want to justify people, now she wants a solution to her emptiness and that can only be achieved by agreeing to marry Amaan.

With a cautious step she moved from the terrace towards the room, his room. Hiding behind the door, she surveyed the complete room to see any trace of him. She immediately looked at the bed to see whether he was still sleeping. She lost the track of the time and can only wish she was not late for her first day after marriage. Not that she was behaving like a shy newlywed but not to offend anybody in the mansion and spoil her plan.

To her surprise Amaan was nowhere to be seen. She tiptoed and walked towards the bathroom and the closet. Surprise! No sign of him. She sighed with relief, 'you can't be so sure he won't come back, make it quick and get out of the room as quickly as possible'. With that thought she quickly grabbed her stuff which was all scattered on the floor, grabbed her suitcase which she used for carrying her things from her home. She stuffed everything in it and hid it near the closet door which was a blind spot much to her relief.

With trembling hands and rapid heart beat, she quickly took a shower, glancing towards the door every now and then, fearing that Amaan would pop up any minute. She was always a simple girl with no wish to doll herself up. She neither wants to give a good impression to her in-laws, nor wants to come out as an arrogant woman. Finally, she thought it was better to be herself than to pretend. With water still dripping from her hair, she dashed out of the room as she was already suffocated staying inside. She knew she was already late, but didn't know whether it was morning time or afternoon. When she stepped out of the room, she was welcomed with new confusion. The mansion was so big she stopped and looked like a lost puppy to look for direction or help. God knows which part of the mansion she was in and whom she should meet.

'Honestly, nobody cares whether I am there or not' She thought. She had seen the Hashmi family at her wedding and from the look of it, she was sure nobody was fond of her. 'You are not here to impress them' she scolded herself. While she was in her own sweet world, a maid approached her with a smile.

She was not expecting someone to come to her and the moment Asmaira turned around, she was startled to see the maid who was standing behind her without making any sound.

"Miss, Good afternoon. My name is Maya and madam Hashmi asked me to assist you".

The first thing that Asmaira asked her was the time. This confused Maya yet she answered her politely saying it was 12 in the afternoon and she was told to bring Asmaira to madam`s room.

Maya looked at her from head to toe, 'She doesn't look like a newly wedded bride, wearing such a simple dress in Hashmi`s mansion. Madam will be upset seeing her like this'. She thought.

Asmaire smiled and requested her to lead her to the room. While on the way every maid smiled politely and yet the same thought was running in their mind as that of Maya`s.'She is too simple, no wonder the young master did not want to get married to her. She was no way like their young mistress who was so beautiful and elegant, a perfect match for their master.'

Asmaira was lost in her own thought and was ignorant of all the judgmental stares coming from her back.

Once they reach Madam Hashmi's room, Maya knocks and waits for the order from inside. Once it was confirmed she opened the door of the room and let Asmara step in. With a gesture she was asked to leave them alone and she bowed, went out of the room, leaving the Mother in law and the daughter in law alone.

"Maya, is she like a young mistress? She looks simple, not like our young mistress. She was so beautiful and polite. Remember how lively the mansion was when she was here, tell us." her colleague asked her.

Another Maid added, " yes, yes, we were waiting to know how our new mistress is? I saw the young master last night and he was not in a good mood when he came out of his room. I never saw him like that before not  even on the day the young mistress left." 

Maya knew how her friend loved to gossip, however, she had a good impression about Asmaira, the innocence in her eye was something which could not be denied. Though she was not a bit like her previous mistress, something about her was intriguing.

She shook her head thinking Madam Hashmi was an intelligent woman and would never choose anything that was too simple or plain. She might have her reason and as her employee they have no right to discuss their matter.

"Would you like to be thrown out of the mansion? Did you forget how Madam Hashmi has saved you from your family and gave honor and let you work in the mansion?" This was all enough to disperse the gossip. Maya was a loyal servant and never pry into their matters and that is why she was chosen to escort Asmara in the mansion till she gets habituated in the new environment.

She looked at the closed door wondering what was happening. 'None of your business, don't forget your place' she sighed.

After 20mins of a wait, Maya was called in and was told to help Asmaira to get familiar with the mansion.

"Make sure she eats her food before you show her around" was Madam Hashmi`s order before they left.

'She is interesting, though she looks thin, I have to make sure she is healthy before handling the responsibility. Would Amaan like her? She is so unlike her? How can they both be so different?'. Madam Hashmi thought before immersing herself in her NGO work.

"I am not hungry." Asmaira told, while lowering her head in embarrassment. She can't tell directly that she can't eat alone while she is being stared at by everybody. In her family it was mandatory to eat food together no matter how busy any one was.

'Well, I guess rich people don't eat together' She thought while looking at the food on the table yet she lost her appetite. Seeing her hesitation and embarrassment Maya told her, "Please eat something or is there anything you want me to cook? Madam has given instruction. I am afraid I have to oblige."

Last thing Asmaira would want is to let someone suffer because of her. She shook her head and ate silently. Unknown to Maya, deep down Asmaira was trembling with nervousness as she never left her house not to mention staying at someone else's house, no, not house mansion.

She spent the entire afternoon getting accustomed to that mansion. Maya was patient enough to answer her questions without rolling her eyes.'She already forgot the way back to her room, how naive?' Maya thought while smiling. On the other hand Asmaira was embarrassed to ask her the way back to her room, not that she wanted to stay there.

While Maya was showing her the garden area Asmaira hesitantly asked her, "Where is Kabir`s room? I remember you showed everything except that room." Maya`s smile froze and she was blank for a moment thinking how to answer the question. She turned to look at her and said, "Madam is the right person to ask the question, I am just a servant here." Asmaira understood the hidden meaning and thought,'Maybe it's not the  right time’. She simply nodded and followed her.

"How do you remember everything about this place, this mansion is big enough to accommodate 10 villas? Did you ever get lost here?"Asmaira asked innocently.

Maya, who was escorting her, was taken aback. She tried hard not to laugh at her question yet she could not stop herself from chuckling which she covered up with a fake cough."You will get used to it" is all she could manage to answer.

At the evening time, Asmaira was called to the living room by Madam Hashmi for tea. This was a daily ritual which she never missed, including the meal time where all the family members are supposed to be present. It was a custom in the Hashmi Mansion that the entire family will meet at least for one meal. To Salar`s annoyance Mrs HAshmi herself has set this custom and no one including Salar could go against it.

This was also the first time when Asmaira met her co-sisters, whom she didn't get to see in the afternoon.

"How was your day?"Mrs, Hashmi asked while gesturing to her to sit beside her on the couch. Her co- sisters who were already there sat opposite to them.

"Good", was all she could whisper lowering her head. Her answer, however, amuses the rest of the inhabitants of the room.

All three of them looked at each other and then at Asmaira whose head was still low.

'Is she scared of us?'

"Good! Take your time to adjust in your new home, Maya will always be there to assist you with anything" Fariya could not help but smile looking at her daughter in law. 'One was Fire and other is cool like ice, what an irony' she thought.

"I wanted to formally introduce you to your sister in laws, Hania and Ishaal. You might have met them yesterday." They gave a genuine smile while being introduced.

"Nice to meet you Asmaira,, Mummy told you still needed time, that's why we didn't meet earlier." Hania told while looking at Fariya. "If you need anything you can call us anytime" Ishaal added. Both seemed to be polite and easy going.

'Were they good to her also', Asmaira thought.

They spoke about everything, mostly Hania and Ishaal did the talking, while Asmaira was quiet and answered either by nodding or shaking her head.

'So unlike her, will she be able to handle the responsibility'.Fariya couldn't help but have the same thought again and again.

After evening tea, Fariya was in her study looking out of the window, looking completely lost. After a very long time in her life Fariya`s face showed new emotion;fear. Hania and Ishaal were also there along with her. Not knowing how to console their mother who was lost in thought.

"Mummy, what about Kabir?"Ishaal broke the silence. Though Hania was warning her not to talk about Kabir now.

Fariya glanced at her, "It's time for him to meet Asmaira". Though she was still hesitant. 'How will Amaan react?'Thinking about how her son would react to the new changes.

"What about Amaan then?"Hania could not help asking.

This time with a cold expression Fariya told, "If he took the responsibility before instead of running away we would not have taken the step. He lost the right to have any say to it".

Hania and Ishaal know their mother`s temperament. Not even Salar, a ruthless business dare to disobey her.

Ignorant Asmaira doesn't know, a storm is coming..