Chapter 73

After the sun went to his home and the moon occupied the sky, Ayzel went to Arham's room. She has been preparing herself for the talk since morning. Because tomorrow the soon-to-be new bride was coming.

Arham was lying on the bed. Ayzel slid along him and covered themselves with a blanket.

"My beautiful and brave son" Ayzel kissed his forehead.

"Mama ki jaan (Mama's life). Mama is going to tell you something and you will understand it and listen to it. I know my baby boy is very smart and loves her mama." Ayzel threw starting good words.

Arham was looking at his mother innocently. His mind was taking time to process the words said by Ayzel.

"Arham, my son. A few years ago, when you were a tiny baby, Mama made a big mistake. Because of me, everyone got hurt here. Dadi Jaan(grandmother), Aunt Warda, Grandpa Zikria, Burhan Uncle, Osama Uncle.....and your Papa." Ayzel's voice got teary.

"That's why they all are not nice to you," Arham asked her. In answer, she only nodded.

"Mama can't they forgive you and be nice to you again? You told me that Allah loves forgiving other's mistakes. And we should also forgive others." Arham's voice was concerned with worry.

"Mama's mistake unforgivable." Tears flew from her eyes. But then she wiped them.

"But now listen to the important thing, my lion. Tomorrow a new lady is coming here. In a few days, she will marry your Papa and become your Mama. Promise me, my baby, that you will love and care for that lady. She will love you back." She told him with a smile.

"Mama, where are you going? Are you leaving me!" the poor boy exclaimed in worry.

"Ssshh...Ssshhh calm down, my baby. Let Mama complete." Ayzel relaxed him.

"You know that no one wants Farheen here. But she does not have anyone except me. So, for her happiness, we both have to make a sacrifice. In a few days, I would be leaving with Farheen. We both will stay with Aunt Saliha." She said the most hurtful words to Arham. Inside her heart was bleeding as well.

"So, you are leaving me." Arham sniffled. "Fairy is also leaving me." Tears started to flow from his eyes as well." I will be alone."

"No, no. My son. Mama and Fairy will come to meet you. You are not alone, Meri Jaan (my life). Papa, Dadi Jaan, Dada Jaan, your aunt and Uncle will be here with you. They all love you. You won't be alone." Ayzel hugged him.

Both cried together. After releasing the burden of their heart, both did some happing talking as well. Ayzel told him not to reveal Ayzel's identity in front of the new lady. She slept with him. She had limited days with him.

**********

The next day Arham and Farheen were playing in the garden. Fraheen was hiding behind a pillar. Arham was counting when a very pretty female face encountered him.

"Hello sweet boy, you must be Arham Na!" The lady chirped.

Arham nodded in confusion. The girl was a stranger to him.

"Hey, don't be scared. My name is Shazeal." She introduced herself. She forwarded her hand for a shake. Before Arham could touch it, Farheen came.

"Arham, what are you doing? I have been hiding for a long time." She pouted.

Shazeal was stunned to see her.

"Who is this adorable girl!" She exclaimed.

"She..is..she..Mama.." Arham was trying to lie at the same he was avoiding lying.

"MAID's DAUGHTER!" Ayzel's loud and anxious voice along with her physical appearance handled the situation.

"I am a maid here. She is my daughter." Ayzel said further. She was covering herself and Farheen.

"Hi, I am Shazeal." She said with a faint smile.

"Can you tell me where would be Zain right now?" She asked Ayzel. In return, Ayzel told her the address of his study room.

The girl Shazeal rushed to Zain's study room and without knocking she entered the study room.

"Just tell me that little fairy-like girl is out of our plan!" She asked him.

"Don't need to announce it to the whole mansion," Zain said in a little angry voice.

"Answer me first" She retorted.

"May Allah burn me if I even think of hurting." The way Zain said that sentence put Shazeal in a swirl of dreamy emotions.

Soon Burhan joined them as well. Now they were discussing the steps of their plan.

"All I have to do is make Ayzel jealous and hurt Arham so Ayzel will kick me out." Shazeal got saddened at the part hurting Arham. But it was a necessary evil.

From the beginning, it was clear that Aliya Khanum had selected her for Zain. But off the record, Zain and Shazeal were never in for that bond. They trusted Ayzel but in oblivion, she checked mate them.

Now with the suggestion of Burhan, they made a new plan. In the past, Zain remembered very well, once Ayzel got very jealous and insecure by seeing Zain with a girl in a video. But it was just a friendly gathering. So, they were going to use that fact. If Ayzel was jealous in the past, so surely she would be jealous again by seeing Zain with another woman who was going to be his fake second wife.

But they forgot that there was a huge difference between the Ayzel of now and then. Her heart had died. The cruel world had snatched the blooms of her heart and soul. Now, there was only a hollow and broken soul caged inside the skeleton of Ayzel.

After some time they all were gathered in the main hall. Shazeal was introduced to everyone. But when Jojo came to know about her and the reason behind her presence she could not stand it even for a moment. She rushed to Ayzel's room and barged inside.

"Do you even know what is happening here!" Jojo screamed in worry at Ayzel. She frowned in confusion.

"Your home is about to end. Go downstairs and see with your own eyes. Your husband's soon-to-be second wife has ARRIVED!" Jojo was screaming in worry.

Ayzel remained stoic. Jojo's words did not affect her. But she was confused as to why the new bride was alarming Jojo.

"I know it, Jojo." Ayzel's calm answer blew Jojo's brain.

"WHAT!" Jojo screamed.

"Have you gone mad? Your husband, the father of your son, is going to marry. He is going to bring another woman to your place. How disgusting they are all! And what's wrong with you? How are you allowing another woman to have the name of your husband when you are still alive and in his nikkah? For God's sake! You are the mother of his child!" Jojo's anger crossed the boundary of her brain.

"You are coming with me downstairs right now! And tell that woman who is Mrs. Zain Skinder." Jojo dragged Ayzel by her hand. But Ayzel's resistance stopped them.

Jojo was flabbergasted at her behavior. Ayzel removed Jojo's grip from her hand.

"Jojo, Shazeal has not come to replace me. She has come to heal the wounds given by me." Ayzel's voice got teary.

"I am the wife of Zain skinder only in Papers. And in a few days, this hollow contract would be ended. I will be free and they will be free from my curse." Ayzel's words overwhelmed Jojo.

"Ayzel.." Jojo spoke her name softly.

"Shazeal would have come years ago. But Fate has its own timing. It's time to move on. Shedding the old leaves and blooming the new flowers." Ayzel sniffled with a smile.

"And how will you get the patience to endure all this? Hmm? You know that Skinders would never give you your son. How will you live without Your son? What about Arham?" Jojo expressed her worries.

"Like they lived without Arham, years ago. Arham would be good without me. He will have the love of everyone here. I am sure Shezeal would also love him. Zain and Aliya Khanum would make sure of it." Ayzel was saying all these softly.

"Jojo, I feel suffocated here. I want to breath. My fairy is also sad here. I have to choose between my two children...." She broke down in hiccups. Jojo hugged her.

"I am a cursed daughter. I am a worse wife. I am a unfortunate and cruel mother!" Ayzel broke down into sobs in Jojo's embrace. Jojo cried along with Ayzel.

The meaning of husband and home ended for her the moment she trusted Sameer and mistrusted her husband. Her soulmate. The ruined paradise by her hands can't never be bloomed again. That's what she thought.

Her decision was freeing her and others from the clutches of broken chains. The broken chains of their broken relationship. Ayzel would be from the everyday painful torture.

But was her freedom coming so easy?

Has her sufferings would be ended?

has the moments of peace arrived for her?