Chapter 2: The Perfect Family

Third person's POV

"Shut up!!! I don't want to hear anything. You are never going to change. Just shut the fuck up." Inayat yelled at her husband.

"You know what??? I am fed up with explaining the same thing to you again and again. Think what you want to think!!" Rashid replied to her.

"How will you explain you had a one-night stand last night, Rashid?? I am sick of your behavior. You're a father of three children. Your elder daughter is now of marriageable age. Despite all this, you continue to act like that."

As the three siblings are listening to their parents' argument, Hiba is positioned in the middle with their heads on each shoulder. Although both younger siblings are crying, Hiba has an expressionless face. She just consoles them.

"Shut up!! Just shut up!! Don't make Hiba, or my children, for that matter, a part of this. And if you are so sick of me. Then give me a divorce. We'll all be relieved."

"Yeah, right. Now you want a divorce so you can commit your dirty deeds freely, but I won't let it happen."

And that's when Hiba's tolerance level broke. As she walked out of the room, she reached for her parents. Her expression was deadly. She didn't say a word. Just looked at them for a while. Then she uttered in a deadly, yet calm voice while folding her arms at her chest.

"Are you both finished today or are there still some details? If yes, I recommend you continue on. Though, let me let you both know that I will take away Hamdan and Kashish from you both. And we'll never return. You may continue your fight in peace if you wish."

"Hibo, it was your Ammi who said, 'where were you last night and ..?" Her father tried to calm his daughter but got cut off in the middle."

"It doesn't matter who started it. If you want your children to live with you, stop it now." She said, narrowing her eyes at them. No words were exchanged. Just staring at each other. Her mother spoke after they had finished staring.

The woman got up and left the room, slamming the door behind her. Hiba took a deep breath and approached her father and said,

"Abbu, go get freshened up. I and Kashish will cook dinner for you."

Afterward, her father also left the living room, leaving her feeling exhausted. As if her whole energy had been used to solve their matter. She lowered her head. Suddenly, her sister approached her and hugged her, saying in tears,

"I love you, Aapi. They wouldn't have stopped fighting without you. Nani Ammi and Dammi were right. You are the heart and soul of this family. You keep us together." Kashish said, Hiba hesitant a bit at first. But she quickly recovers and replies,

"You aren't 12 anymore. Stop crying. They aren't fighting anymore. Go make me some tea." Kashish responded firmly and went into the kitchen. Hiba followed him into her room. Hers and Kashish's room.

Hiba's POV

Standing up, I glanced at the clock on the side of the bed. The time was 5.30 in the morning. I usually awaken at this time every morning. That's not something I need an alarm for. Sleeping is quite difficult for me. The mind keeps going even when I'm asleep. Kaishish says that I occasionally talk in my sleep. I also don't feel refreshed after waking up. I glanced at my sister who was sleeping next to me. I considered waking her but decided against it. I went to the bathroom to take a quick shower. Once I was done, I wrapped a towel around myself. I checked the time, and it was 6 a.m. So I walked over to Kashish to wake her up.

"Kashish, get up!! It's 6 a.m. or you'll be late for college. Get up now."

"Just five more minutes, please."

"Okay. Don't tell me to drop you if you are late."

I went to the wardrobe to get my clothes. I changed into a black Kurti and navy blue jeans, leaving my hair half-opened. And did other necessary things and woke her up. After that, I came down to the kitchen. As I saw my remaining family was already there. Ammi was making breakfast for Hamdan and Abbu. Abbu was talking to someone on the phone and Hamdan was telling Ammi to make his favorite breakfast. As I entered, I greeted everyone.

"Asalam walaikum everyone." And everyone replied to me. I helped Ammi to prepare breakfast as she also has to go to school. Ammi and Abbu were not talking because of their last argument. I thought not to pay any heed to it and carry on with my breakfast. Suddenly, Hamdan asked me,

"Aapi, can you please drop to college today?? I have to purchase some books on my way. I don't want to get late. Please"

"What happened to your bike???" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him. My sudden question gathered my parents' attention as well.

"Your aapi is asking something. Answer her!!" Abbu said in a strict tone.

"The- the thing is, its clutch had some problem. So, I gave it for repair. I'll get it in the evening." He replied, looking nervous. I understood something more had happened than the clutch problem. But the environment of the house was not very good. Asking any more questions will only worsen it more. So, I thought of doing it in the car. Instead, I said,

"Fine, I'll drop you. But you better hurry. Cause I don't want to get late as well."

With that, I finished my breakfast and got up. As I was leaving the room, I saw Kashish coming down the stairs hurriedly. She came and said,

"Aapi, why didn't you wake me up?? I have a very important presentation today. I couldn't cause any delay. Because of you, I didn't dress up properly."

I looked at her in amusement. And check her out from head to toe. As far as I know, she was more than dressed in a yellow crop top, blue scarf, and white jeans. What else did she require?? As I was about to ask her. She already headed to the kitchen for breakfast. I closed my eyes and shook my head. Why do I only have the most unique human beings of humanity as my family members?? Each one of them was extraordinary in some or the other way. Thinking about this, I told Hamdan to come directly into the parking lot. As I was about to leave the house, my never-gonna-grow-up sister said,

"Where are you going??? How can you forget me??? Please drop me as well, Aapi."

"Going into a secret dungeon planning the destruction of humanity," I answered her question with a plastic smile. And continued, "Fine. But, come fast. I don't have all day."

She put the last piece in her mouth, grabbed her all things, and came running. Hamdan followed her, and we three left the home. I silently prayed that my parents didn't pick up another fight behind our backs. I sighed lastly as I couldn't do anything about it. I just really miss my Nani Ammi and dammi. If they both would here, I wouldn't have to deal with them. I think who thought that these two should marry each other. I really wish that even Muslims had that matching their 'kundali' before marriage to see the compatibility between two people. It would be a great help for their future children. They don't have to deal with their parents' fights like us. My thoughts stopped as I saw the least wanted to see a person in the morning before going to the office. Our neighbor Amira aunty. She might go to drop her granddaughter off on her school bus. I self-palmed my face. She came to us like she hadn't seen us for a decade. She took me in a bone-breaking hug and said,

"OHH!! Hiba, it's been a while since I last saw you. Where have you been???" She is a friend of my dammi. That's why she sometimes thinks that she is my dammi. I don't know why she used to talk to her.

"I'm fine, aunty. I was quite busy with my last project. I used to go early in the morning and came late at night, that's why." I replied to her with a most awkward smile of mine. I don't like someone asking about whereabouts other than my family members. But, she was older than me, so I couldn't tell her this directly. But I try every single way to make her understand. I don't like her nagging. But, she never gets it.

"OHH!! Really. You are young. You shouldn't work so much. Enjoy your life. Once you get married and have children. There will be no word like 'rest' in your life." I just tried to smile at her. And she continued, "You know, my friend Aqsa. Her son has just returned from aboard. He is well settled over there. If you want, I can fix a meeting with him. What say???" she asked me like a friend of mine who is excited to fix a blind date for me. She thought being single was a disease and her mission in life was to cure the world of it. I sometimes wondered if she thought I was man-hungry or she just really wanted to pair me up with someone out of the goodness of her heart. I was about to answer her, but got cut off by Hamdan,

"Sorry, aunty. But Aapi never told you to find someone for her. And why do you want her to set up with some NRI??? She doesn't want to meet him. She will never marry someone who lives abroad. She will never leave us behind here alone. So, stop setting her up with unknown boys. If she wants, she will find one. Thanks for your concern." With that, he dragged me from there. As I turned back, I heard Kashish saying with her hands folded to her chest.

"I hope my brother made it clear to you to stop doing that with our Aapi. Hope you'll never bother her again in the future." And she also left from there, leaving Amira aunty shocked. And when she recovered, she mustered something in-breath, cursing all three of us.

We went to our car and drove off. Kashish sat in the passenger seat and Hamdan in the back seat. Both were quite annoyed because of her. So cooling down the temperature in the car. I asked, looking at Hamdan from the rear-view mirror.

"Would you care to explain what happened to your bike??? I didn't want to ask in front of Ammi and Abbu because the environment was not good at the house. I didn't want to fuel it up because of you. So, now tell me. And don't you dare give me the same excuse which you gave them?"

He widened his eyes and gave me a how-do-you-know look. I just shrugged off my shoulders as an answer. What he thinks, he can fool me. I am his elder sister. I know him more than himself.

"Speak" I ordered him.

"Aapi, first promise me you won't tell Ammi and Abbu about it."

"That depends," I replied. I thought stupid creature if I had to tell them, I would have asked in front of them only.

"I gave it to my friend, and he parked it in a no-parking zone. And-" I understood what happened next. I tried my best not to burst out on his stupidity. Kept my voice as low as possible, and said.

"And you are getting it in the evening. Right??" He nodded. I continued, "May I know the name of this friend of yours??" clenching the steering wheel. From the things most difficult to do for me, one of them is controlling my rage. It took everything in me not to shout at him and bang his head for his stupidity. How can he just give his bike to that idiot friend of his??

"Saad. His name is Saad. Aapi, I promise, I will never give my things to anyone ever again. Just forgive me once." He replied with guilt in his tone. And one of my weaknesses is I can never see my people getting hurt, especially because of me. So, I just nodded at him.

First, we drop Kashish at her college. And then went to the petrol pump. We reached there and filled it. As it was 7.30 in the morning. Few employees were there at the pump. So, I have to swipe my card for payment myself. I got out and went to the machine. I tried a few times. Every time it shows an error. As it confused me what was happening. That's when I heard someone's voice.

"It doesn't work. Try this one." He said from a distance while pointing out at the machine in his hands. At first, I thought he was telling to someone else. So confirming, I pointed a finger at myself and asked if he was talking to me. And he nodded. So, without wasting time, I went to him. And as I was about to approach him. A man from another car looked at me and said,

"Heyy, Barbie doll needs some help???"

"Nope. Thanks for asking. Just don't want some bullshit help for an asshole like you." I replied, twinkling my eyes at him. He laughed and got off the car, and came to me. Suddenly, he held my wrist and said,

"Not be so rude, Barbie doll. I just wanted to help." I removed my hand from his grip and twisted it back painfully. With my free hand, I jabbed him in the nose, and my left knee connected to his dick. He fell to his knees. And I said,

"Didn't your mother teach you it's not nice to touch women without their permission??" As I was about to punch his face again. His friend came running to me out of nowhere. And stopped me from punching his friend and said,

"Heyy, heyy, don't hit him. He is drunk. Sorry on his behalf for whatever wrong he did. Please forgive him. Extremely sorry." I was so pissed off that I wanted him to beat me up right here, right now. But the things on my plate stopped me from doing it. So, I left him and said,

"If he is drunk, why did you get him out??? Keep him caged properly. If you don't want the police to handle this matter. Take his asshole away from my sight."

"Thanks. I'll take him right away. And once again extremely sorry." With that, both the idiots went away. That's when I remembered I came to make the payment. And when I turned, I saw a bunch of people shocked by my stunt now. Including the man who told me to use another machine. His mouth hung open.

"Is it really a big deal to see a girl protecting herself??" I asked him. But before he could answer, Hamdan came and asked,

"Aapi, what's causing you so much time?? We'll be late."

"I am sorry, dude. Just taught an asshole to not touch women without their permission." I answered him.

"If you were there. Why didn't you come to help your sister???" the man asked Hamdan.

"Why would I take the stress if Aapi could handle it by herself?? My aapi knows how to protect herself. She didn't need me for that." I answered. With that, we both made the payment and then went back in the car and drove off.

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