Dard-e-Dil

Wearing a simple cotton suit, without any makeup, jewellery or any other type of grooming, she was washing the dishes, Nayla was also helping her. Both were busy in their talking when Nayla asked her that do she miss Tameem or not on which Shehla shook her head without wasting a second...

"Till now I didn't even glanced at him how can I miss him" she said and Nayla nodded. Meanwhile they listened a knock on the door.

"Chachi sahebaaaa... Aapke ammi abbu or Nasir bhai aye hain" Shehla listened what Asahi said and she become happy.

(Shehla aunty your parents and brother has arrived)

Leaving the dish washing in between she stepped out from the kitchen, Mrs. Khan was surprised to saw her daughter who was married just two months ago. She wasn't even wearing any jewellery, nor any makeup. Her clothes were full of wrinkles. Kehkasha and Sayra both were looking more groomed than Shehla even after 15 or 16 years of their marriage.

"Have Tameem come back or not?" That was the first question which Shehla faced from her father. She slowly shook her head but informed that after five days He would come.

Mrs. And Mr. Khan brings a very big box of mangoes and Lychee for Shehla and she got tears in her eyes because she was craving for mangoes from many days. Before marriage Shehla use to make demands to her father for different fruits and snacks because she was a foodie, she couldn't live without fruits. But in her in-laws home she couldn't demand from anyone to bring mangoes for her. Aaqil asked her many times if she wanted something but she denied in hesitation. Nayla also said her if she need something she could tell her without hesitation but self-respect was very important for Shehla so she never demanded anything from anyone.

A girl can do demand with her husband without any hesitation but not her in-laws.

"Why are you crying Shehla?" Mrs. khan asked and she shook her head.

"I was missing you" She mumbled and hugged her mother, but smiled when her father patted her head. Nasir brought many gifts for his dear sister on which Shehla became happy.

Nasir loves Shehla very much, both siblings were incomplete without each Other, their love and bond was famous in whole neighbourhood.

After sometime Mrs. And Mr. Khan along with Nasir took their leave and Shehla felt like her happiness was also taking leave from her. But suddenly....

"Ammi can I go to my for some days.." Shehla asked to her mother-in-law and she nodded with a smile.

"But come before the day when Tameem come" Her mother-in-law instructed and she nodded.

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"How are you Shehla and how is our bhai sahab?" Shehla was sitting in her room reading a book when a voice attract her, that was Yasmin who was her best friend just like a sister Gudiya aapi. She came in the room with her elder sister who was like an elder sister for Shehla too.

"Fine..." Shehla replied shortly.

"Have you went anywhere with Tameem bhai??" Yasmin asked happily and Shehla nodded.

Mrs. Khan instructed Shehla to not share with anyone that Tameem didn't even see her till last two months, so shehla obeyed that.

"Where?" Gudiya aapi asked and Shehla was confused about the answer, she made many excuses but Yasmin's sister understood that something was wrong, so she asked Shehla about the reality.

"Aapi don't tell anyone and don't tell Ammi that I informed you" Shehla said to her friend and her sister after informing everything.

"when your husband is coming back?" Shehla replied as ''Tomorrow evening, and I'll return there tomorrow morning"

"Shehla will you go like this?"

"What! Like what Aapi?" Shehla asked confused.

"Bewaquf ladki, tumhe gudda gudiyon ki shadi karne se time milega jab hi to apni bare me sochogi... Tameem bhai ne abhi tak tumhe dekha bhi nhi hai.. Tum unke samne ese jaogi?" Shehla looked on herself to found some problem but couldn't, she shrugged in questioning way.

(Idiot! You will think about yourself when you get time from your dolls house and doll play. Tameem bhai haven't see you till now. Will you go in front of him like This?)

"Pagal ladki, tayyar ho kar jana.." slapping her head Gudiya aapi said and ordered Yasmin to apply heena on Shehla's hands and feet.

(idiot, don't go back without grooming yourself)

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Shehla came back to her in laws home next morning, she was wearing a red and green chudidaar suit, wrists full of matching glass bangles and a gold chain and pendant with matching earrings which was gifted by Fuzel were making her more beautiful. Kehkasha smiled on her looks and compliment her, but she was waiting just for one compliment from the special person of her life.

After all the wait was over and Shehla's gaze went to the big iron door of home and a man entered in holding a big suitcase in his hand and creases on his forehead.

He wasn't anyone else but Tameem

Shehla smiled, Tameem took a few steps further and his mother hugged him and cried out, he loved her son very much and Tameem was pampered one for her.

Maybe because a mother loves her weakest child most!

“How are you? Are you fine? Have you took your medicine on time?" Mrs. Mirza (Tameem's mother) asked and Tameem nodded while wiping her tears.

" Ammi I'm fine, don't worry" Tameem replied to his mother but shehla was shocked to heart that.

"What medicine? Is he sick?" Shehla asked to Nayla and Tehseen who were standing beside her.

"He is fine... But he was weak so Ammi is asking about his supplements" Shehla was not satisfied but still she nodded.

Nayla glared Tehseen and he blinked slowly in response of his wife, on which Nayla glared him more shehla was trying to understand their conversation with eyes but couldn't

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Tameem was busy in taking to everyone in his home except the one who was his namesake wife

"Come for dinner" Sayra announced and everyone gathered in dining area. Daughter-in-laws of family arranged dinner and took their seats with their husbands.

Sayra and shahid took a plate as so Nayla-Tehseen and Aaqil-kehkasha did. That was just like a custom in their family that husband wife shared the same plate for their meal, but since many days Shehla was eating alone. But following the practice Shehla aslo sat beside Tameem and filled his plate with food, she was going to lift the very first bite when..

"Dur ho kar betho or apni plate alag lo"

(sit away from me and take different plate)

He said without looking at Shehla and take the plate in front of himself which was in between both of them. Shehla was shocked, all the family members looked at both of them.

"Tameem biwi hai tumhari" Mrs. Mirza scolded him

(she is your wife)

"Ammi biwi hai, isi liye barabar main betha hua bardash karna pad raha hai"

(she is my wife that's why I'm tolerating her sitting besides me)

Shehla placed back the bite which she was holding in her hand, Tameem's words hurted her heart but not more than her self respect. Self respect was most important for her and she couldn't afford if anyone hurt her self respect.

"Samiya you sit there, beside your chacha sahab (uncle)" Making herself stand to exchange her seat with Samiya (Shahid's daughter) Shehla said

"Shehla sit there.. You are his wife" Aaqil said while glaring Tameem.

"Sorry to say bhai but I'm not that much low that someone treats me like an untouchable and I still sit beside him just because he is my husband, I too have some self respect" Shehla said in respectful manner but in confident way and Aaqil rolled his eyes in her arrogant filled nature.

Shehla had the power and habit to call a spade a spade, and her that habit was going to be her biggest problem in her life.

"Put your self respect back inside your pocket and sit there silently" He ordered Shehla which she didn't wanted to obey but sometimes it's necessary to respect elders and shehla did so. Aaqil always treat Shehla like a daughter so it's necessary for Shehla to give his respect like a father.

"Tameem Shehla is your wife... Mind it" Shahid scolded Tameem with a glare and Aaqil also glared him.

After watching his brothers glare Tameem felt fearfulness and placed the plate back between him and shehla but shehla wasn't on back seat in ego even she was ten steps further than anyone else, she pushed his plate back and took a fresh plate for herself.

"Ammi aapki chhoti bahu bohot ziddi hai... Tameem ko suthar degi"

(Ammi your youngest daughter-in-law is very stubborn, she will righten and tighten him)

Aaqil said with a smile and everyone smiled expect three, one was Tameem and other two were Shahid and Sayra.

"Achha hai ye sudhre to" Mrs. Mirza said happily and Shahid huffed.

(it will be good)

"Itna khush mat ho Aaqil ye ladki hamare liye pareshaniyan khadi kar sakti hai"

(Don't be so Happy Aaqil, this girl can create problems for us)

Shahid said in hushed tone but Aaqil ignored he really admire Shehla's intelligence, even he advised his son and daughter to take advice from Shehla whenever they needed. In only two months Shehla became everyone's favourite either youngsters or elders.

Favourite of youngsters due to her childish nature and love towards dolls, kite flying and cricket

Favourite of elders because of her wiseness and manner filled nature.

Mrs. Mirza loves her very much and shehla also loves her like a mother. Mrs Mirza feels proud on Shehla's beauty and introduc her with everyone proudly. She always says

"My daughter-in-law knows the manner of attending get togethers."

Since they were from royal family so their get togethers were also full of royalties; and maintaining that reputation in their society was a big responsibility for Bade Mirza Sahab's family. Shehla always fulfill that responsibility that's why she always get love from Mrs. Mirza and all others

But... Is only in-laws love enough to spend life?

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