Broken Family

Sana's POV,

I was walking back and forth in my nightdress in the dining room waiting for Bhai to wake up. I couldn't sleep all night after my fight with him. My curiosity to know the answers to my questions kept me awake. Why does he hate mom so much?? What happened that mom left us?? Why didn't dad say something when Bhai was saying such horrible things about his wife?? Cause as far as I know dad used to love mom way too much. What caused my happy and loving family to scatter so badly??

I asked the maids when Bhai usually wakes up as I didn't know because he used to go till the time I woke up. But sleep was far away from my eyes last night. I stopped in my tracks when I saw dad coming. He looked like he had just woken up. I glance at the wall clock and it's 8 am in morning. What I don't understand is if today is an exception or if my brother-father wakes up at exactly this time every morning.

"Heyy dad, good morning." I wished him.

"Good morning honey. I can't believe you woke up so early today. Didn't you sleep last night??" He asked. I widened my eyes at him.

"How did you know??" I asked thinking did he keep an eye on me at night as well.

"Huh!! I am your father, baby. I know you better than you know yourself. You didn't sleep because of your fight with your Bhai. Am I right?" he asked as if it were the most obvious thing. I nodded my head at his question. He chuckled lightly and shook his head. I don't know why I felt the urge to hug him and I did it.

"Heyy, my girl. What happened?? Are you okay??" He asked while caressing my hair with a worried tone.

"I love you, dad. I love you so much. You won't leave me, right??" I asked with a shaky voice. I didn't realize when tears started to roll down my cheeks. I try to hold them and wipe them away before he sees them. He broke the hug, removed my hair from my face, and cupped my face in his huge hands. Knowing very well what would happen if I looked into his eyes, I looked downward. It won't take him long to figure out that I was crying. Holding my chin between his two fingers, he forced me to look at him. I sniffed as I saw his face.

"What happened?? Tell me, Sana. You are making me worried." He asked again when he didn't get an answer from me.

"Dad, I want to know something. You will tell me the truth, right??" I asked him back.

"Yes, bacche. What do you want to know? When did I ever lie to you??"

"Why didn't you say something when Bhai lashed out about mom?? Didn't you love her?? I know how much you miss her. You still have her photo in your wallet. Then why didn't you stop Bhai?? Didn't you want your family to be back together??" I bombarded him with my questions.

He didn't reply to anything. He removed my face from his hands and proceeded to sit on the sofa. I walked after him and sat beside him. I waited for him to say something, but he didn't.

"Tell me dad what happened back then?? What are you and Bhai trying to hide from me?? Please!! Don't test my patience, dad!!" I shouted when he was not ready to tell me about my own family.

"You won't understand or believe it, Sana." He said in a low voice only audible to me. That's when I lost it. I stood up and shouted at him.

"Don't you dare say that to me!! I am not a freaking 5 year old kid, who won't understand. So stop with this excuse. When will I be treated as an adult by both you and your son? I am fucking 23. So just stop kidding me!! I have the right to know. What the fuck happened to my family that got crushed? Why did my mom leave her own children alone at such a young age? Why did my father and brother not want her back?? What caused my brother to hate his mom so much?? I am a part of this family. So for god sake tell me what the fuck happened?? Please!! I beg you, dad. I beg you to tell me. I really want to know." My voice got low at the end. He also stood up and caressed my arm to calm me down.

"Who said I stopped loving your mother?? That I don't want her back. I.... I still love your mom very much. But..." he stopped and sighed.

"But, what dad?? Only you can convince Bhai. No matter what happened she's still his mother. He will forgive her once she comes back. Only you can bring her back. Please, dad." I begged him.

"I do love your mother. But, I love my son more, Sana. He is my boy. He never asked me anything. He never forced or told me to do something which I didn't want to do. And I won't do the same to him. If he doesn't want his mother to return, then she won't. Cause no matter how much I love her?? Absolutely no one in this world is more important to me than you both. I will never do anything which either of you doesn't want me to do. You can meet her, talk with her or do whatever you like. But, she won't return to this house if your brother doesn't wish to. Get that thing straight!! I love you, Sana. I really do. And I won't stop you from doing anything you want to do. However, he's also my son. All these things applied to him as well. So, no she won't be back here." He said with determination in his tone at the end. I harshly removed his hand from my arm and yelled,

"Why?? Why can't you?? At least tell the fucking reason behind it."

"Because.... because....." Dad stopped when he saw Bhai standing near the staircase. As I looked at him. He started coming towards me.

"Because that woman ran away with another man leaving her husband and children behind." He said calmly. But the hurt in his eyes was clearly visible. It felt like my whole world stopped right there. My brain couldn't process this information. I blinked my eyes to see if I was dreaming all this. The woman I desperately want back in my life left us for another man.

"Yo...u You.... are lying, right. It...it can't be the truth." I said between my sobs.

"I told you, you won't believe it," Dad said while sighing.

"Dad, tell me he's lying." I shook my father. He just looked away from me, saying what I just heard is true. I left him. Tears were continuously flowing from my eyes.

"You wanted the truth. So, here it is. She left us. And not once in these 20 years has she ever checked on us or tried to contact us. And you wanted her back here. We are a family, and she isn't included. We love you. We are always there for you. She's just a woman who gave birth to us and nothing else." Bhai said holding me, trying to make me understand.

I felt like my world crashed down all at once, AGAIN. I thought I would have my mother back after 20 years. But it looked like my mother's love wasn't written in my destiny. The woman I yearned for my entire life did this. Everything around me started to rotate and then darkness hugged me into its arm as I fell to the ground with a thud.

Imran's POV,

I have been in my study room since the morning. After finishing all my work, I called my secretary to ask him if he got any updates on her. He said he'll be here in an hour after completing the remaining work at the office. By the time he arrived, I decided to see the pictures of her. I made an entire folder for it. As much as I hated that dress she wore at that party. It would be a lie if I said she was not looking damn hot in it. I didn't want to look creepy staring at her all the time. So I made someone click her pictures as much as possible. And within so many pictures of her, she hardly smiled in a few of them.

As I said before she is like a Pandora box. I don't understand why she refuses to smile or be happy? What made her like this?? The lines around her eyes make it seem as if she has so many scars that she wants to hide from the world. And she does that with her arrogant attitude. As I moved ahead, I stopped at one picture. My fingers formed a fist. I gritted my teeth at it. It was the picture of her and that Asad guy. She was smiling at him as he had his arm resting on her shoulder. The genuine smile. It boiled my blood.

I closed my laptop harshly. I ran my fingers through my hair to control my anger. I banged my hands on the table. I opened the side drawer of the table and removed the pack of cigarettes. With one removed and lit, I place it on my lips. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I stood up from my chair and walked to the window and put one hand in my pocket. After removing the cigarette from my mouth, I exhaled. I was busy thinking when I heard the door opening.

"How many times do I have to tell you that don't come inside without knock??" I asked without turning around and continued,

"Leave it. Did you find something new about her?? It's been more than two weeks You can't find anything else other than her family and friends. Do I pay you for doing nothing??"

"Find out about her. Who is her, Bhai??" I heard instead. That's when I realized it was Aiman. As I closed my eyes, I tried to figure out what to say to her. Exhaling sharply I turned to face her.

"Aiman, can't you knock before coming in??" I asked dodging her question. She rolled her eyes at me and came inside and sat on the sofa opposite my table.

"Why should I knock in my own house??" She said sarcastically. I huffed at her reply

"And mine as well. And for your information, this study room is mine. So it would be much better if you knock before coming. And if I was doing any important work." I told her. She leaned in front of me and said,

"Leave it. I came to ask you something. Can you come with me shopping??? Tomorrow is my friend's birthday. I wanted to buy some gifts for her. Please!!" She pleaded with a sweet voice. I raised an eyebrow at her.

"And why do you think I will come?? I have work. Why don't you take the driver with you? You have your own car. " I asked her instead.

"You think I haven't thought about it. My car has gone for servicing. Mom and Dad have taken theirs. So, there's only one left. And that's ours. And I know you don't let someone drive yours. Therefore, you can only come with me. We'll have fun. Please!!" She said showing her cutest puppy face.

"No, I can't. I have some serious work. And besides my secretary is also coming. We have some discussion to do. You can book a cab for yourself." I said trying to make her understand.

"Oh, come on!!! I wanted to be with you. You lost our last bet. You said you would do whatever I say for one day. So, do it now. And you can buy something for that girl you want to have a discussion about. You know girls like gifts very much." She said winking at me at the end.

"What did you hear??" I asked her with wide eyes.

"Not much!! Just how your secretary didn't find anything about her for more than two weeks. And you were staring at her pictures before I came. And nothing else." She said standing up from her place and moving from left to right with hands at the back.

"You were keeping an eye on me," I asked with narrowing eyes to her.

"Nope!! I just wanted to know if your mood was alright or not before I ask you to come with me!!" She answered.

"Can you tell me who she is?" I might help you. After all, she would be my sister-in-law. Don't worry I won't judge your choice. I know, your choice was not the best, but still." She continued.

"It's none of your concern, how my choice is?? And I won't tell you about her. So better try not to figure it out." I snapped back.

"Fine. I'll tell mom and dad about her. I know they will be happy to hear that their future daughter-in-law and son liked someone at last!" She said calmly. I was shocked to see her blackmailing me. I banged my hands loudly on the table in frustration. Thinking about asking him about Heeba on-call only when my blackmailing sister is busy shopping. I decided to go with her before she really tell my parents about it.

"Fine!! I'll come. But you should finish it as soon as possible. Or else I will leave there alone. UNDERSTOOD."

"That's like a smart boy. Fine, I'll try. Let's go now." She said cheerfully and clapped her hands.