Forbidden

My Mastoorah

Iyad

I was so excited to go back to my hometown. It had been more than a month since I last saw everyone. My family and of course Mastoorah. I missed her. A smile stuck on my lips thinking about her. Very soon she would become a pivotal part of my life.

When I reached home, I was welcomed by the worried faces of my family. It turned out to be something unbelievable and shocking. According to Baba, Mastoorah had left Dada Jaan's house and went to Aunt Javaria's house; the same one where she had been living before her admission with Aunt Hania.

"Why did this happen?" I was confused.

"Your Uncle Faraan is her father and he was the one who murdered her mother," Mama explained in a stupor.

I couldn't believe it in my own ears. Turned out that we all were kept in oblivion regarding the real thing that sent Uncle Faraan to jail. He had been convicted of murdering his own wife.

I didn't know how to react. Mastoorah was now hating her father and had left his house. What was she going to do with our engagement now? I tried calling her and sending her messages numerous times but she didn't reply.

"She isn't picking up my calls, Mama," I said after getting disappointed by the lack of response.

Mama shrugged. "Neither fine. But she is fine. I asked Javaria Api. She has just locked herself in her room and not talking to anyone. You don't worry about her, Iyad."

"How I can not? She is my fiance and she is in stress," I enlightened her.

"Don't push her, Iyad. If she wants a break, let her. If any of us will push her then I am afraid she will leave your Khala's house as well. Keep calm. Everything will be fine," Baba told me.

I remained silent at this. Maybe he was right. At least for now, Mastoorah was in safe hands. And even in front of my eyes as Aunt Javaria was there. She was a rational girl. She wouldn't do anything on impulse.

                  _________________

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Ajwa

When I came into our bedroom, I found Faris sitting on the corner of the bed lost in his thoughts. Whatever had happened shouldn't have happened. But one can't either blame Faraan or Mastoorah. What could one hold against that man who had reformed and didn't mean any harm to anyone? One couldn't even hate him. Yet Mastoorah's reaction was totally justifiable. All her life she had been living with the memories of her mother. She loved her and the fact that she had some kind of emotional attachment to her to actually remember something that a newborn didn't, showed that she was a special kid. I hope everything will be fine.

Mastoorah was my Iyad's fiance. He loved her and he would be hurt if she would leave him.

I put my hand over my husband's shoulder. "What had happened, Faris?"

Faris lifted his face to look at me before shaking his head. "I don't know. I can't even believe it."

"What will happen now? How can we pacify Mastoorah?" I asked as I sat beside him.

"We can't, Ajwa. It's Faraan's job. She has issues with him and he should resolve it," Faris replied.

I bit my lower lip. "I seriously don't know what to think, what to do, and who to blame. It's so complicated."

"Mastoorah is more like a family now. She is Faraan's daughter and our niece before our Iyad's fiance. She is our responsibility more than before now. We can't let her go," I explained, feeling sad by all this.