Jaan-e-Jaaha

2-Gullabi

Without another word, Shehnaz allowed herself to be guided upstairs, her body moving on autopilot. Her mind was still racing, but exhaustion was pulling her down like a weight. As soon as she entered her room, she sank into the bed, barely managing to change out of her dress. Her thoughts were scattered, too overwhelmed to focus on what had happened. The adrenaline drained from her body, and within minutes, she drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep

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The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, pulling Shehnaz slowly out of her slumber. For a moment, everything felt calm, but then the events of the previous night came rushing back. She sat up in bed, a knot tightening in her stomach.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. It was one of the maids. "Mam, sahab ne aapko study mein bulaya hai," she said hesitantly, glancing nervously at the ground. "Wahan Sidrath sahab bhi hain."

Shehnaz's heart skipped a beat. She hurriedly got ready, her mind spinning with questions. Why was Sidrath in her father's study? What did they need to discuss after everything that happened?

When she entered the study, her father was seated behind his large mahogany desk, his expression stern, but it was Sidrath standing by the window that made her breath catch. He turned to look at her, his face unreadable.

"Shehnaz," her father began, his voice heavy with concern. "Jo kal raat hua, uss ka shor sirf yeh ghar tak nahi ruka. News is all over, and people are already making assumptions-" He hesitated, glancing at Sidrath before continuing. "Log yeh tak keh rahe hain ke tum dono shaadi-shuda ho, ya phir shaadi karne wale ho."

Shehnaz's eyes widened in shock. "Lekin-hum ne-aisa kuch-" she stammered, unable to find the right words.

Her father raised a hand to stop her. "Mujhe pata hai tum dono ki koi ghalti nahi thi," he said quietly, "lekin is waqt logon ki baatein humare haath mein nahi hain. Aur jab baat izzat aur reputation ki ho, to humein faisle jaldi karne padte hain."

Sidrath, who had remained silent until now, turned fully to face her, his expression calm but serious.

Her father took a deep breath. "Shehnaz, tumhari aur Sidrath ki izzat dono daav par hai. The best way to stop all this talk is through an arranged marriage." Elections are near his supporters wont be there to support him.

Shehnaz felt the ground shift beneath her. Marriage? To Sidrath? She opened her mouth to speak but found she had no words. Her father's voice, full of authority, made it clear this was more than a suggestion-it was a solution to the scandal.

Her father's eyes softened slightly, but his tone remained firm. "Beta, mein samajhta hoon ke tum dono ke liye yeh asaan nahi hai. Lekin ab humare paas aur koi rasta nahi hai. Log jo baatein bana rahe hain, wo aur zyada nuksaan karengi."

Sidrath took a step forward, finally speaking. His voice was measured, but there was a hint of tension in it. "Sir, I understand the situation... but Shehnaz deserves to have a choice in this. If she's uncomfortable with-"

Her father interrupted him with a wave of his hand. "Main tum dono ki raaye samajhta hoon, lekin waqt hamare haath se nikalta ja raha hai. Shehnaz, tum samajh rahi ho na? Tumhari izzat, hamara khandaan... ab sirf ek faisla hi in baaton ko khatam kar sakta hai."

Shehnaz felt trapped, like the walls of the study were closing in on her. She had never imagined her life taking such a turn-least of all with Sidrath, someone she barely knew beyond brief interactions at social events. But now, the weight of the situation was crushing her, and her father's words left little room for argument.