Substitute Wife

Chapter-2

Maryam's pov

" Who is this pretty baby? Is this Khala's(aunt) Omi? Khala is going to love her little kitten a lot," I said affectionately touching my nose with Omaira.



She cooed licking my nose and I mumbled kissing her fluffy cheeks," Aww....You love Khala, right. I love you too, baby."

" It's strange that she is letting you touch her. Otherwise, she doesn't let anyone touch her except me and Yardan," Mehzabin api said patting Omaira's head and I chuckled.

Well, it's been 2 days since my favourite sister returned home after years. She returned with her husband & children and I can't explain how delighted I am to see them. Not everyone. Just my sister and her children.

I don't know why for some unknown reason I get uncomfortable in front of my brother in law. He looks grumpy and rude. I never talked to him properly except greeting him casually. His face looks like he will start scolding me anytime soon. So, I just keep my distance from him.

" Aww....my baby bunny is sleepy. Sleep on Khala's shoulder," I cooed in Omaira's ear and very soon she drifted into a deep sleep over my shoulder.



" You will be a great mother, Mayam. I am telling you," Mehzabin api said and I hushed her putting Omaira on the bed and placing a few pillows around her.

She was going to say something when I held her hands and said meekly," Api, I need to talk to you about some matter."

" What happened, Maryam? Is everything alright?" She questioned sensing the nervousness in my voice.

After that, I told her about Mikaeel and my relationship. I told her how much I love Mikaeel and I won't marry anyone except him. I shared it with her because only she has the ability to convince my brothers and father.

" Api, I can't live without Mikaeel. I love him a lot. Please, convince Abbu(father), Aftab bhai(brother), Salehin bhai and Dabeer bhai. If I tell them about my relationship they will bury me alive. Only you can make them understand my situation. Please, api," I requested holding her hands.

She replied assuring me," Ok. I will talk to them. You don't have to worry."

" Thanks....thanks......Api.....ummah.... I love you," I let out excitedly kissing her cheeks and she giggled seeing my childish behaviour.

After that, we started talking about random things when my sister-in-laws entered the room. Let me introduce these two bitches. One is Aftab bhai's wife Ayesha and another is Salehin bhai's wife Noor. Looking at them I rolled my eyes and they did the same.

Mehzabin api greeted them politely," Bhabhi, please come inside."

" Mehzabin, you are so lucky that you got such a billionaire husband," Ayesha said sitting beside Api and looking at Api's appearance with greedy eyes.

Noor said touching the expensive necklace around API's neck," It's very expensive. I wish I could have a necklace like that."

" Why not bhabhi? Let's go shopping. Though I won't get exactly like it, I will buy you something like it," Mehzabin API said smiling

I mumbled nodding my head," Here comes Mother Teresa!"

" You guys don't see anything except money, right," I taunted and both of them looked at me with killer eyes and obviously I didn't pay any attention to them.

Sensing the tension among us, Mehzabin api said excitedly touching my shoulder," Why don't you join us too? It's been years since I went out with you. Let's go shopping and then movie together. Let's have some girl time together."

I wanted to refuse because I really don't want to go somewhere with those bitches. But, looking at my sister's excited eyes I couldn't refuse. Forcing a smile on my face I nodded my head and Api's face beamed with happiness.

" Let's have fun and call Mikaeel to come to the movie theatre. Let's see your choice," She whispered in my ear and I blushed looking down.

Author's pov

After shopping Maryam, Mehzabin and their sisters-in-laws went to watch a movie. Maryam was pissed off by her sister in laws behaviour since they bought the whole shopping mall literally. And, obviously, they did with Mehzabin's money. Maryam felt embarrassed whenever her sister-in-laws were asking for money from Mehzabin. Maryam wonders how can someone behave so cheap!

Coming outside the movie theatre Mehzabin whispered in Maryam's ear," Tell Mikaeel to come to the nearby cafe."

" Umm...What about Ayesha bhabhi and Noor bhabhi? If they come to know about me and Mikaeel then it won't take a few minutes to spread in the locality. They are worse than BBC news," Maryam replied giving her sister-in-laws a boring looking who were busy talking about the jewellery they bought a few moments ago.

Mehzabin replied giving an assuring smile to Maryam," Don't worry. You just call Mikaeel. I will handle them."

Nodding her head Maryam stood a little away from everyone and called Mikaeel. After a few rings finally, Mikaeel received the call.

" Farmayiye begum sahiba. Achanak ish nacheese ko kaise yad kiya ( Tell me wifey. Suddenly, how did you remember me)," Mikaeel asked with his mischievous voice and Maryam giggled.

She replied sounding serious," Stop these flattering words and listen to me carefully. Umm...Actually, my elder sister returned from Dubai and I requested her to convince Abbu and my brothers about our relationship. But, before that, she wants to meet you."

" Really! Your elder sister! Then I have to present myself politely in front of her, right? Umm....which shirt I should wear? The black one or the blue one. What if she doesn't like me and refu.................." Mikaeel started murmuring impatiently and Maryam couldn't control her laughter hearing his nervous voice.

She replied chuckling," Miki, wear the blue colour shirt. You look damn hot on that."

" So hot that melts your beautiful.............." Mikaeel was trying to talk naughty with her but she stopped him in the middle.

Maryam was so engrossed in talking with Mikaeel that she didn't notice where she was walking. She started walking in the middle of the main road unknown of the fact that a break failed car was marching towards her with full velocity. The driver started honking repeatedly when Maryam looked behind. A horrified expression appeared on her face seeing the car coming at her with full velocity.

" Maryam!!!!!" A loud scream echoed through the whole area and after that everything was finished.

Falling to the ground Maryam scratched her elbows and knees. She doesn't know where her phone flew away after the push that Mehzabin gave her. Everything happened so quickly that Maryam became bewildered for some time.

Turning her head towards the road, a loud agonising scream left her mouth. Seeing her sister Mehzabin lying in her own blood, Maryam couldn't tolerate anymore.

" Api............" Maryam screamed at the top of her lungs seeing her sister's motionless eyes and lifeless body.

***************************************

Two days passed since Mehzabin's death and the whole Baig household got drowned in sadness. Specifically, Maryam.

Ayesha and Noor informed the other family members that Mehzabin died while saving Maryam and that's it. Now, everyone has started blaming Maryam for Mehzabin's death. They started taunting and cursing Maryam every now and then making her guilty. She tried to convince everyone that it was an accident but nobody was ready to hear her. Because of everyone's blaming she accepted that she is responsible for her sister's death.

After Mehzabin's death, Yardan went completely mad. He couldn't believe his ears when he got the news that Mehzabin is no more. He couldn't believe his eyes seeing Mehzabin's dead body. Falling on his knees he cried like a child hugging her lifeless body. He felt like he has lost his hopes to live. His mind was so drowned in grief that he even forgot about his children.

Yardan was in so much grief that he didn't return home after Mehzabin's funeral. He stayed behind, near her grave. Shedding tears he screams her name, begs her to return and not to leave him like that. He still couldn't believe that she can never return. Mehzabin's brothers tried a lot to bring him back to the house but he refused. He was spending his days laying near Mehzabin's grave.

The worst sufferer of this sudden accident is none other than Mehzabin's innocent children. Yamir was wondering where his mother went and why everyone is crying all the time. He even searched for his father but Yardan was lost in his own grief. About Omaira? That poor child is crying all the time for her mother unknown to the fact that her mother isn't going to return ever.

The problem increased when Yamir & Omaira refused to let anyone touch them. Except for Maryam, they don't get close to anyone. Yamir bit everyone if they come close to him and Omaira only cries if someone else cuddles with her.

Right now, Yamir is jumping here & there and crying for his mother. Raisa was struggling hard to feed him but he was giving her hard times. It's been one hour since she was running behind him with the food plate.

" I am done. I can't handle him. He is too much," Raisa shouted placing the food plate on the dining table.

Her mother in law said having a pitiful expression," Don't get angry, dear. Try to understand that poor child's feelings too."

" If you are so concerned then you go and feed him. I am done," replying rudely Raisa left the place making her mother in law disappointed.

Taking the food plate Maryam's mother, Momena walked towards the room where Mehzabin and her children were staying. She prepared herself to endure Yamir's tantrum but before she could even enter the room, a beautiful and adorable sight caught her attention. She noticed that Yamir was eating food sitting on Maryam's lap and she was feeding him.

" Khala, where is mamma?" Yamir asked innocently chewing on the food.

Controlling her tears Maryam replied affectionately," She has gone to meet the angels."

" When will she return? I am missing her," Yamir questioned looking down and this time the guilt literally stabbed right across her chest.

Kissing his head she replied softly," She will return very soon but till then she told me to take care of you & Omi."

" Oh. But, who will take care of Baba? Mamma used to say that Baba is like us. He also needs her care. Didn't mamma tell you to take care of Baba too?" Yamir's questions created a writhing sensation inside Maryam's chest and she wasn't understanding what she should answer right now.

Gulping down her saliva nervously she continued feeding him unknown to the fact that her parents has heard their conversation. Momena was eavesdropping on their conversation when Maryam's father Abdullah joined her.

Suddenly, Omaira started crying loudly and Maryam didn't waste another second. Placing Yamir on the chair she rushed towards Omaira and picked her up affectionately.

She started rocking Omaira and said affectionately," Shh....Shh....baby....what happened to my Omi? Khala is here. No one will harm you. Are you scared? Don't cry.....aw....aww.....Shh...shh........

Placing Omaira's head over her shoulder she started pacing here and there in the whole room when Yamir hugged her waist coming forward. She picked him up and he clung to her like a baby monkey. Maryam was taking care of them like they are her own children.

Looking at this adorable sight Momena's eyes got watery as well as Abdullah's.

" Are you thinking the same as mine?" Momena questioned Abdullah keeping her eyes on Maryam.

Nodding his head he replied," I will talk to Yardan."