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𝓕𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓕𝓸𝓻 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓘𝓼 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓑𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓕𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓞𝓯 𝓜𝔂 𝓛𝓲𝓯𝓮

T H I R D P E R S O N

|After 4 years|

The huge garden of Rahmani Mansion shone brightly as it was the day of their heirs' comeback. The garden was watered, the interior of the mansion was changed including his room. The hues of orange and yellow cascaded through the windows. Everything was changed.

Hamza Rahmani was coming back to India with his wife Mehrish Rahmani and 2-year-old daughter Hifza Hamza Rahmani. They were beyond delighted to receive the trio. Hifza was just like his father. Stubborn and gentle just like him. She was a replica of him.

Shaina ran towards her mother Zoya's bedroom when she heard the sound of the car horn.

"Mumma! Hurry up. They are here."

Zoya nodded and went out with her daughter. They went towards the entrance where Dira with her 3-year-old son Daniyal and their parents stood. Sahir couldn't come as he had a job and he earned a fine. More than fine for them now. Hamza, Mehrish and Hifza came out of the car and excitedly grinned at them.

"Mera bacha!"

(My child)

His mother hugged him tightly, following Mehrish. Hifza just stood there silently as the kid could recognise anyone quickly other than her parents. Taking Hifza in her arms, Shaina gave a side hug to Mehrish and they let them inside.

They sat in the living room talking about random things. Zoya and Dira were playing with Hifza but she wasn't paying attention to them and cried in their arms. When Daniyal dragged her and showed her around. Admiring her, and being careful around her. His small actions made Hamza and Mehrish look at each other as they remember their conversation about Mehrish being carried by Hamza.

Hamza took Daniyal in his arms and made him sit in his lap. When Hamza ruffled his hair gently, Daniyal gave a gentle smile to him.

"It's been so long," Shaina said.

"Yeah, Hifza gets bored in Dubai. I am glad that she is getting settled here." Mehrish agreed, staring at Hifza who was playing with Daniyal's toys. Her cheeky smiles made everyone stare at her in admiration.

"Her smile is yours Hamza." Zoya declared. "Jee appi!" He agreed.

"And lips are of Mehrish Mami's," Shaina exclaimed. Mehrish scrunched her lips at the way Shaina called.

"Shaina, please don't call me that. It's better to hear Appi from you." A range of chuckles followed after Mehrish shrieked. "She is still not used to it," Hamza uttered between his laughter.

"Of course! Shaina used to call me Appi from her childhood. How can I just digest her calling me with a different name?" She chuckled. "But I have only one Mami. I am sorry I am not backing off. You are my Mami only." Shaina declared.

"Ok. Whatever pleases you." Mehrish agreed.

"Take some rest for an hour or two then we can proceed for the day. You guys must have been tired." Afreen told them to take a rest as their luggage was getting shifted to the room. Mehrish tried to take Hifza but she was adamant. She didn't want to sleep nor did she wanted to go upstairs.

"Leave her here Mehrish. We will look upon her. Daniyal is taking care of her. You guys should take some rest now." Zoya suggested. They laughed at how Daniyal was sharing his toys with her, staring at her in admiration. She passed Shaina the kit-bag which contained Hifza's necessary things.

"Boil the milk if she needs it Shaina and give it to her after it cools down a bit."

"Okay. Don't worry Mami! I'll take care of her." Mehrish laughed when Shaina called her Mami teasingly.

"Daniyal, How is Mehrish baby? You were waiting for her right?" Dira asked.

"She is cute Mumma..." He answered and quickly left Dira's room to take more toys for her. "You guys also need to go for dinner tonight to your home, Mehrish. Your mother had called me too to send you guys."

"In Shaa Allah, We will Ammi."

Hamza agreed and they left towards their room. Even though they used to come here once in a year or twice for a month but the feeling of coming back home hits different all the time. Hamza inhaled a long breath opening the door of his room.

"Seems like someone missed their room so much," Mehrish teased.

"Indeed this time I missed it. I don't know why?"

"Happens Hamza." She took the suitcase and took a simple salwar kameez. Changing into the cotton salwar kameez of violet colour, Mehrish comes out after taking a shower. Hamza had already showered and changed in another room's washroom. He was checking his laptop and Mehrish just closed it with a thud.

"What the hell? I was working." He looked at her shocked.

"We did not come here for this Hamza," She snatched the laptop and kept it on the tea table near to the bed. The corners of his lips quirked up and he smirked. "Then what have we came here for? Hifza isn't here either."

He rolled up his sleeves and swiftly pulled her towards him. In a fraction of seconds, she was in his arms. Warmness and peacefulness hugged them. The safe heaven, the cool serenity and the captured eyes. Everything on its swim.

She pressed her index finger in the peak of her nose and pushed him. Her lips drew up in a smirk as she answered, "We have come here for..."

"For?" He asked again.

She stared at his eyes teasingly. The gloomy weather gave them naughty suggestions but Mehrish decided to tease him and continued.

"For..."

"For?"

"Rest!" She decreed and pushed him away and went towards the other side of the bed. Slipping inside the blanket, she pretended to sleep. Seconds passed and turned into minutes but there was no sound of Hamza. A pang of regret sparked in the corner of her heart if she had hurt him.

She sluggishly opened her eyes only to be startled by his storming silver ocean. His eyes staring deep at her ebony ones.

"Hamza! Why are you staring at me like that?" She questioned startled.

"I can't take my eyes off you. Divine... Watching you is like listening to the angels' singing." He praised.

Her heart melted like butter on a hot pan, like ice on heat, like fire which calmed the beating hearts. His silvery eyes digging in her ebony one's, piercing through her heart and resting in her soul.

"Hamza..." She stuttered, unable to catch any phrase to escape her pink leashed lips. Blood rushed to her cheeks, painting it crimson red.

"When I looked at how Daniyal pampered Hifza, I remembered how I used to pamper you. How we used to play even though I was not a toddler you were. Your small face and pointed nose, doe eyes... I remember everything," He expressed in a daze, rolling the ends of her chocolate brown hair, smoothly.

A curve found its way to her lips, into a breathtaking and warming smile. She pushed him and he laid beside her, his eyes on her all the time. Opening his arms, she kept her head in his arms. He stroked her shoulder, pulling her close to him.

"Being wrapped around your arms is my happy place. Safe heaven and a warm cuddle bear I could ever turn to," She snuggled close to his arms, grinning at her home. She was home.

"I feel home in your arms."

"I love you, Mehrish. You are everything that I want and need." He pecked her forehead.

"I love you too my cuddle bear." She said with her eyes closed as sleep slowly consumed her exhausted body. She could hear him laugh as she called her cuddle bear and she smiled against his chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat. Her favourite sound in the whole world.

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They went in the huge together with Hifza in Hamza's arms. Mehrish carried gift bags that she got for Amaar and her mother. Hifza dolled up in a beautiful maroon gown, with a maroon bow on the top whereas Mehrish wore a maroon long dress with a simple touch of golden embroidery on the corners. Hamza wore a simple plain maroon shirt with a shade of middle buff-yellow coloured pants.

"Assalamu alaikum!" Amaar opened the door of his two-storey vintage themed home. He had worked hard to gain everything he has now. A lifestyle that they craved once upon a time. Sahir and Amaar worked together and built up their business of real estate with Amaar being a civil engineer helped. With the help of Allah (SWT), they have a well-established business now.

"Walaikum assalam!" The couple greeted back.

This was the first time Mehrish came to their new house. Her eyes felt heavenly seeing the vintage beads on every corner of the place.

"Ma Shaa Allah! It's so beautifully made Amaar. I mean how?"

Amaar chuckled.

"What I meant is how and when did you turn so intelligent to build something like this?" Hamza chuckled and nudged Amaar. Amaar scoffed and glared at her. Hamza began,

"Dekh lo. Tumhari behen ab nahi choregi."

(Look at her. Your sister will not leave you now)

Hifza crawled towards Amaar.

"My Hifzu! How are you Hifza?" Hifza pecked his cheeks, smiling at him.

"My girl grew up so beautifully and I just noticed that the trio is matching."

Amaar exclaimed as soon as Mehrish removed her abaya. "Yeah, I wanted to come here like this. Where is Ammi?" Mehrish blushed.

"Ammi was praying. I guess she is in her room across the kitchen." Amaar said and dragged Hamza with him.

"Bhaijaan, Come on I'll show you upstairs until Ammi comes out."

"Don't call me Bhaijaan, Amaar. Call me Bhai. It's more than enough yaar." Hamza cringed.

"You handle this girl Mehrish and you deserved to be called bhaijaan and I will call you that for the rest of my life." Amaar declared and they dragged themselves up the stairs with Hifza in Amaar's arms.

"You will never agree with me." Hamza shook his head.

Mehrish went towards the direction Amaar showed. She entered the room across the kitchen with a range of admiration. The two-storey house was beautifully built and the interior was breathtaking.

She took a glimpse at the room before her eyes landed on her mother who was reciting multiple prayers, moving the beads of her rosary with her eyes closed.

"Assalamu alaikum Ammi!" She excitedly ran towards her and hugged her.

Her mother's lips found their way into a smile and she blew the prayers that she read on her forehead. "Walaikum assalam! How is my bachi?"

"Alhamdulillah Ammi! What about you? Ma Shaa Allah! You have gained weight. I am so glad to see that you are finally gaining weight."

Her mother, Afia stroked her head and responded, "It's all because of Hifza's videos and images. Where is she? I miss that little girl." Her eyes stared at the entrance of the room but there was no one standing.

"She is with Amaar."

"Ohh." Afia passed and stared at Mehrish intently when Mehrish laid down on the couch and kept her head in her mother's lap, the safest and protected place on earth. She closed her eyes.

"Mehrish?"

She hummed a response. Afia questioned, "You are happy right?"

Mehrish slowly opened her eyes and glanced at her mother.

"Yes, Ammi! I am more than happy. Hamza takes care of me soo much. He gives perfect time to Hifza and me even if he has worked. He never takes work as his priority but he always cherishes Hifza and me."

"I am glad." Afia grinned and they left towards the hall. Amaar and Hamza were chatting with bickers laughter being followed. Hifza played around and ran towards her Nani as soon as she saw her. Afia caressed her cheeks and gave a peck on her cheeks. Hifza was grinning as she was seeing her Nani after so many days.

"Assalamu alaikum Ammi!" Hamza greeted Afia. She greeted him back and asked about his health and he did the same.

"Amaar, I am proud of you. This house is so beautiful." Mehrish exclaimed softly walking towards Amaar. He turned towards her seriously when she sat down.

"It's all because of you Appi! I thought I had lost my father when Papa died but you became my father. If you weren't there after Papa, my career and life would have been destroyed then and there."

He kept his head on her shoulder. She softly ruffled his hair and said, "Even though Hifza is my first daughter but you will forever remain my first son and my first baby. I have always taken care of you as mine. You are my baby Amaar."

"Yes, I am." He chucked. "Well, we bought gifts." Hamza passed the bags of gifts to Afia and Amaar.

"It wasn't needed Hamza. You guys always buy something on every visit. It's wasn't necessary." Afia foretold.

"Why wasn't it necessary Ammi? Hamza Bhaijaan is like a father. Mehrish Appi is like my mother. Who will spoil me if not them?" Amaar intervened. Afia glared at her which made Mehrish laugh.

"Yes, he is right Ammi. Sometimes I am his Bhaijaan, sometimes I am his father. Do one thing, make me your grandfather, great grandfather every old man that exists in this world." Hamza joked.

With that, they had an amazing time having dinner. Post dinner, they decided to go back to Rahmani Mansion and Mehrish promised Afia that she will return after three days to stay there for some days.

As the Hamza swiftly drove the car, Hifza fell asleep sitting in Mehrish's lap in the passenger seat. Hamza thought of teasing her.

"Mehrish?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't you think you have gained weight?" He asked making her chuckle. Confused by reaction, he glanced before looking back at the road in front.

She stopped laughing and stared at him, "Firstly, you will take me on several different cuisines' dinner dates. Secondly, your daughter won't let me exercise or go to the gym and you are telling me I have gained weight?"

Hamza laughed as she answered. "Okay... Okay," He tried to stop her.

"Now don't you dare to ask if I have gained weight, Mr. Hamza Rahmani!" She foretold making him laugh more. She couldn't contain her smile hearing his laugh. She equally burst into a pit of laughter. Loud enough that Hifza doesn't wake up.

There was pure happiness and love in the air. The comfort that fell into the bond was exceptional and beautiful. There was no pain, no regret or hopelessness in their eyes. Their eyes shone brightly and the range of chuckle made their hearts flutter and fall for each other more. They were happy and falling again and again with the same soul. The painfull facade that they once used to carry was all snatched away, there was only love.

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لوگ آپ کو تکلیف دے سکتے ہیں ، وہ آپ کو تکلیف دہ تجربات دے سکتے ہیں۔لیکن جو توبہ کرتے ہیں اور معاف کر دیتے ہیں ، وہی لوگ زندہ رہتے ہیں اور دوسروں کو جینے دیتے ہیں۔

People can hurt you, they can give you painful experiences. But those who repent and forgive, they are the ones who survive and let others live.

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Let me know how the epilogue was through the comments. This was the end of the story Painfull Facade. I hope I did justice with every character of it.

Word count: 2,600+

Take care.♡