For Asif, it was normal to stay awake at night and wake up the next day but for Zainab, it was new and she was too sleepy. She was dozing off while sitting at the breakfast table.

She got a smack on her head and saw her mother glaring at her.

“Kya hai ammi? Maar kyu rhe ho?”

She whined and rubbed her head releasing another yawn.

“Kaun kehta hai raat raat bhar phone chalane ko? Time se soti nhi hai aur phir pura din aalas. Kuch seekhti kyu nhi ho Amina se tum?”

She was fine till her mother scolded her. But the moment she introduced her elder sister in the conversation, her anger spiked. Asif looked at her changing expression and decided to intervene.

“Arre chachijaan. Aap toh jaanti hai na ye college ke assignments kaise hote hai. Aur waise bhi final year mai toh kaam aur bhi jyada hota hai na.”

Her mother smiled and nodded at him, making Zainab scowl at her mother's double standards.

Zainab was in her room counting the money she received from her order. It was enough money for her to go through her daily expenses for atleast three months.

The door to her room opened and her sister came in. She was about to say something when her gaze fell on the huge amount in Zainab's hand. Her eyes widened and she snatched the money from Zainab.

“Ye sab kya hai Zainab?”

“Aapi! Wo mere hai. Wapas kre mujhe.”

“Tumhare hai? Itne paise? Abbu se churaye na tumne? Ab tum chori bhi krne lagi ho Zainab?”

“Kuch bhi bakwaas mat kre aapi. Wo mere paise hai. Maine apne business ke kamaye hai. Aap wapas kre mujhe mere paise.”

But Amina was not to listen. She glared at Zainab and said.

“Abhi ruko tum. Ammi ko batati hu mai zara.”

She rushed outside and Zainab groaned running behind her. What was her sister's problem with her? By the time Zainab reached her sister and mother, her sister was already telling her mother about her own believed story.

“Zainab! Ye kya sun rhi hu mai? Abbu se paise churaye hai tumne?”

Her mother asked enraged and Zainab sighed glaring at her sister who looked at her with disappointment as if she has actually done that.

“Nhi ammi. Paise churaungu kyu mai? Mujhe chahiye honge toh mai abbu se maang lungi na. Ye mere paise hai. Mai ek small business krti hu usse kamaye hai maine.”

She said with a smile thinking her mother would feel proud of her but who was she kidding. She would never feel proud of anyone but her beloved Amina.

“Achha? Ye 15000 rupaye tumne kamaye hai? Puchhti hu zara tumhare abbu se. Ruko tum. Bhut sar pr chadd gyi ho. Aaj tumne zameen pr laaungi mai.”

She called for her father who looked utterly confused at being summoned like this. Hearing the commotion, Asif and his parents too came out.

“Kya hua bhai? Kya masla ho gya?”

“Isne aapse paise maange the kya?”

Her mother asked her father while pointing towards her. Her father looked confused and shook his head.

“Haal filhal mai toh nhi.”

“Dekha ammi! Kaha tha maine. Abbu se maange nhi hai isne.”

“Iss ladki ko toh mai-”

Her mother was about to hit Zainab when Asif intervened.

“Chachijaan! Hua kya hai? Kya kia hai Zainab ne?”

He looked at Zainab who stood there as if she had accepted it. She was tired of being accused of things she's not done.

“Ye dekho! Ye 15000 rupaye churaye hai isne apne abbu se. Aur ab keh rhi hai ki iske hai. Iski kamayi hai.”

Asif looked shocked at the accusation and looked at Zainab who looked like she had given up.

“Ye wo order wale paise hai na?”

He asked quietly. She looked at him and nodded. He cleared his throat and stepped forward. 

“Zainab ne koi paise nhi churaye hai chachijaan. Wo ek small business krti hai. Scrunchies banati hai. Aur abhi haal filhaal mai usse ek bhut bada order mila tha. Ussi ki earning hai ye.”

“Crunchy?”

Her mother frowned hearing the unknown word. Asif looked confused as to how to explain her. His gaze fell on one scrunchy around Zainab's wrist and he held her wrist showing it to her mother.

“Ye! Umm…sorry.”

He then dropped her hand and whispered an apology for holding her hand without her permission.

Zainab snatched her hard earned money from her mother and then glared at her sister.

“Dobara meri cheezon ko haath na lagaye aap. Aur dobara meri ijazat ke mere room mai nhi aana.”

With that she ran to her room.

“Dekh rhe hai aap kaise badtameezi krke gyi hai.”

Her mother yelled and her father spoke.

“Bas bhi kro begum. Aur Amina bete, aapse ye umeed nhi thi hume. Aapki chhoti behen hai wo. Chori ka ilzaam! Aur agar usne humse paise le bhi liye toh kaunsa pahad tut gaya. Walid hai unke, humse nhi toh aur kisse mangegi paise agar zarurat lagi toh.”

Amina lowered her head feeling genuinely guilty. She hadn't thought much when she saw so much money in her hands.

“I'm sorry abbu. Itni badi rakam uske haath mai dekh kr mujhe samajh hi nhi aaya.”

“Koi baat nhi. Jaakr sorry bol dena usse. Maan jaayegi. Aur begum aap.”

He then turned to his wife.

“Thoda narmi se pesh aaya kariye uske saath. Bhut sakht hai aap Zainab ko lekar. Aapki hi aulad hai. Jitna aitbaar Amina ka hai utna uspar bhi rakhiye. Apni tarbiyat pr rakhiye.”

Her mother looked away but nodded nonetheless. Asif was satisfied seeing the accusation being cleared off Zainab's character.

Amina did apologise to Zainab and she did forgive her because at the end she was still the innocent and narm dil (soft hearted) girl that she had always been.

It was another usual day and Zainab was having her breakfast along with Amina and her father when her tayaabbu and Asif came into the dining room.

“Hasan! Kuch baat krni thi tumse.”

Her tayaabbu called her abbu and Zainab looked at the two while munching on her parantha.