Ishq In The Air

•|Ahl-e-dil|• 4

-Unedited-

Fariya stared at herself in the mirror with blank eyes. Her dark curly hair was braided into a simple bun. The eyes which held the turmoils of her miserable life were adorned with kohl. The thin lips which were sealed and forbidden to speak out her griefs were painted red. She radiated. She looked ethereal.

Except she felt dead. She wanted to be dead.

The door behind her slammed shut, and Fariya immediately threw away her dupatta from her head. She abandoned her bangles so harshly, that her wrist bled. She didn't even flinch at the pool of blood. She couldn't. How could she when her heart was bleeding too and she was ignorant of it?

The tears no longer came. There was no energy left. Her soul was damaged beyond repair.

He destroyed the last shred of patience and signs of life she was holding on to.

He. Zaid Ebrahim. The man who thinks he can get everything he wants
The man whose name's ring she has been wearing. The man who made her his destination. The man who was willing to risk his everything for her. The man who was determined to bring her by his side rightfully in every manner.

And she loathed his existence.

For his unrequited infatuation has dragged her house to the brink of ruination.

Sania was hurt. Her heart shattered to dust and she despised Fariya's sight. Fariya couldn't blame her either. Her numerous calls to her, her pleas for forgiveness, and a chance to explain fell on her angry ears and Sania never retorted.

Her anger reached its peak when Aasiya begum suddenly changed the winds. She agreed to Zaid and Fariya's Nikkah. This was the final nail in the coffin.

Arshad Sahab burst into a fit of rage while Fariya wasn't one to stop him from knocking some sense into his wife this time.

Because she didn't want Zaid either. All she thought of him was a nuisance that was forcefully making a place in her life and destroying the thin shred of peace she had been trying to maintain.

But of course, a sick wheelchaired man could do only much. Arshad Sahab lost to his wife once again. He was defeated like every time. Aasiya begum's smiles were haunting Fariya. She begged her not to marry her off to him. She didn't want him. Not at the cost of everyone's happiness. Never. Not when Sania was sad. Not when they weren't meant to be in the first place.

But Aasiya Begum was adamant.

Fariya was scared of what awaited her. She didn't trust the woman even a bit. No one would. Not when she raised hell for this proposal and suddenly changed her opinion and agreed to Fariya. She not only agreed but also persuaded Fariya for her approval.

Fariya was confused. Why was this woman suddenly ready to marry her off to the man her daughter was supposed to get hitched to? With those smiles?

This was only the beginning of another disaster.

•••

Days passed like a dream. A creepy and terrifying dream. No one would speak with anyone. Sania kept herself away, locked into her room, and came out only after midnight for food. A maid was arranged by Zaid's family as now they have become their soon-to-be in-laws. Aasiya begum was all happy and dancing.

Arshad Sahab's condition was deteriorating. He was turning weak with every passing second. He wasn't this sick even when he was injured months ago. It was as if the old age had finally found its way to him. His hair greyed at a speed that only felt strange. He was sick. The guilt and the environment of the house were suffocating.