Mine To Be Called ✓

~~•Thirty nine•~~

Andaleeb suddenly felt disgusted by herself for breaking the trust of her mother like this. She did do wrong in the first place, and despite how much she wanted to correct Fariha and let herself be held accountable for her actions, she couldn't do so because of Aurang's sister's safety. "And you all gave the punishment of my doing to Dani? You guys shouldn't have married her off to Mohid."

Fariha's jaw dropped. "How do you know this?"

She stared at her hands recklessly. "I called her yesterday. Mohid instead answered. She doesn't want to talk to me. And I think I deserve her anger for ruining her life. I hurt all of you so much."

Fariha caressed her cheek lovingly. "No, my love. Your sister isn't angry at you. It's just that she is having adaptation issues with her sudden marriage. After your abrupt disappearance, that was the most plausible thing to do. The guests were already there and Mohid's parents wanted a replacement because that was their humiliation. But she doesn't hate you. She will feel better after a while. But she loves you and she can't stay away from you at all."

A tear fell from Andaleeb's eyes. "I feel so remorseful. I am a witness of the love she had for Zaroon."

Fariha shook her head. "Don't talk about him now. Mohid is her husband now and she is trying to adjust."

She gasped. "I hope she can be happy in her life now."

Fariha kissed her hair. "But I want happiness for you too, my child. After what he made you go through ----" Her eyes again lingered over her figure which was giving a totally wrong story. "The way he had been torturing you, physically and mentally humiliating you, and was proud of it to confess it in front of your parents with no remorse; that time, I resisted an urge to kill him. He played this game so aptly that once it was clear that Masab Shah Alavi was involved, police hesitated to act and asked us for reconciliation with him.  The way he had made a living example of the torture he made you go through by sending you here in such a state is so despicable. He had been dishonoring you like that makes my heart slashes. Your father sadly---"

Andaleeb's jaw dropped at hearing this. Physical and mental torture and words like dishonoring. When did this happen to her? Why did Masab make her parents believe that he forced her when whatever touch happened between them had her full will? Was it because he wanted to coerce them that she really was his? He wasn't even ready to come close to her unless she wouldn't give her consent. She hated to admit that apart from the earlier violent encounters that occurred because he tried to flee away, she was living a pretty normal life as his captive that sometimes he forgot that she was here because he kidnapped her.

Fariha cupped her face between her palms, bringing her attention back to the present. "Always remember that I love you and I will even die for you. But somethings are not in my control and I can't do anything about it."

She grabbed her mother's hand and kissed her palm. "Just become my strength, Mama. I need both your and Baba's support. I managed to come here after surrendering to his obsession by giving myself to him in his nikkah. And now I just need your love and support."

"You know this that he wouldn't let you go easily, beta. Right? Whatever you are thinking your victory is just his one step closer to you and nothing else. And in front of the mentality like of your father and uncles, that's Masab's victory instead."

Andaleeb knew this fact way better than her mother because she had lived with that man for more than a month. She had seen his obsession with her and he wasn't a fool to let her go so easily. He hadn't played a raw or weak game. But after showing him that she was accepting his conquest over her, she wanted Masab to just slip some control gradually. She was aware that he recorded their nikkah as proof, but at least if he would let her meet her family again, they could help her. Masab was rich, but her father wasn't also that poor to not fight for her. And there wasn't an illogical judicial system everywhere. If provided with a rock-like support, she could get rid of him and fight for Aurang as well. And maybe that opportunity was bestowed on her. Not very soon but maybe someday.

"I know, Mama. I know that he had somehow marked me as his. And now whoever will even try to come near me, he would see his death. That's how those politicians and landlords work without any morals. But I won't become a part of this, Mama. I had curtailed my self-respect just to find a way to reach back to all of you. All I need is your support to fight against that ruthless and cruel man who considered me his property. Like a piece of land that he liked and then considered his right over it. I know I must have become a stigma in this society. No matter how much progressive you are, if you live with a stranger alone, people will name-call you. I want to come out of this stigma, Mama. I want to fight against Masab. I am Andaleeb Sultan. I always remained outspoken and prestigious. People looked up at me. If I have all of you, I can get my respect back," she asserted.

Fariha sighed. "I am your Andaleeb. I love you, and I want the best for you. But my intention in suddenly letting all this heartbreaking information dawn upon you wasn't to make you feel guilty. That was for you to see things properly. Lower your expectations with people and instead live in reality. And this life is your reality, no matter how dark it is. I wish I could do something for you but I am helpless. In a world so surrounded by men and their orders, a woman like me would be helpless there to even stand up for her daughter. I wish I would be a bit strong to not let this happen to you."

She narrowed her eyes at her. "What are you trying to say?"

Fariha's stare again went towards the neck. "I hope and I pray that by seeing your face, your father will remember that he considered his daughters his strength, a blessing, not a burden. I just can wish for it, Andaleeb. Whatever it is, I hope you can find your happiness one day. None of this is your mistake and you deserve happiness."

"Mama, you are making me worried. What's the thing?" She asserted, impatiently. What was she hiding from her?

Fariha closed her eyes to calm herself down before standing up. "It's nothing. You should calm yourself down for a while. Stop thinking about anything. Let's have a delicious lunch together."

Andaleeb gave it to just a mere worry from her mother. On the other side, her own anxiety was Daneen's avoidance of her. "Mama, can you ask Dani to at least talk to me?"

Fariha smiled. "She will do that, my love. She loves you. For now, come downstairs. Your father will be looking out for you."

A meal with her family after such a long time. She didn't know how it would feel.

                  ___________________

Assalamualaikum/ Hi guys!

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What thing her mother is hiding from Andaleeb?

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