Strings Attached

~Chapter 13~

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I've been working quietly at my graphs of Demand & Supply for half an hour, with my earplugs on. And when I eventually remove them, I hear them once again. The strange sounds. They're not so loud this time round. It's only a faint, strange moan I hear from time to time, but they're eerie all the same, maybe even more so because there's complete silence in the house. It feels as if somebody is going through a severe bodily pain. And in spite of myself, my hair stands on end.

Last time I checked, there wasn't anyone else in the house beside the three of us. But this voice doesn't seem to be of Ayaan's. No, it's a girl's voice. Most probably Hiba's. But if it's hers, it's really weird.

Is she okay? Is she in pain? Has something happened to her? Scary thoughts running along these lines ring in my ears alarmingly. And I quickly get up to check on her. My mind tells me not to, discarding it as another one of her stupid games. But I don't pay it much heed. The voice is very convincing. And there's no harm in checking, anyway. Uncle Jabbar gave me a duty to perform after all.

Keeping that in mind, I make my way to the other side of the corridor, towards her room. And the moaning gets louder. I'm convinced now that she's in pain. Poor girl. I feel guilty for not coming earlier.

When I reach her door, I call out her name in a soft voice. "Uh...are you okay, Hiba? Are you in pain? Shall I get you something?" There's no response from the inside, except that the moaning gets even louder, effectively drowning out my voice.

By now, a strange fear is gripping at my heart and I feel my hands and feet go cold. Hiba is a bit asthmatic. Is she having one of her panic attacks? Her breaths are coming out in gasps from what I can hear. But the door is too thick to let me hear anything more.

And after much deliberation and even more of wringing my hands together, I decide to go inside and see for myself. But the sight that greets me, makes my eyes go wide (which I shut tightly in a second) and freeze in my spot, a heavy jolt coursing through my veins.

For I've never seen such vulgarity played out in front of my eyes, in my whole life!

I can't describe the scene, it's too obscene! And even though I could, I won't. I am not able to get out of the room as fast as I'd have liked to. And I hear any one of the two getting out of the bed with a drunken laugh. And it's so familiar in it's taunting nature, that I place it instantly. Daniyal.

What is he doing here?! I ask myself stupidly, although it's perfectly clear what he was doing. I never knew Hiba could go this far with anyone. I'm almost angry at myself for pitying her now.

If I'd opened my eyes a second earlier, I'd have known how close that goon had come to me. But the stupid person that I am, I don't open them until I smell his breath on my face, a second too late. And with another horrific jolt, I remember I don't have my veil on!!

He can see me. The thought is so new and scary that it overpowers all of my senses. And before I can do something to cover myself up, he catches hold of my arms. My eyes go wide in horror as I struggle to get out of his grip. 

"Get away from me, you filthy rat!" I'm finally able to find my voice. He begins to laugh diabolically, his reeking breath fanning my face, making me want to throw up. He's clearly under the influence.

How Hiba could bear to be in his company, let alone touch him in this state is beyond me. Thinking of the girl, my eyes naturally turn to her. She's made herself a little decent by now, but the thing in her hands makes my eyes go wide yet again in utter horror. For she's recording us, with a witch like smile upon her face.

Seeing her, I double my efforts to relieve myself from his iron grip. But it's to no avail. He's too strong for me. The crazy boy keeps getting closer to me, his eyes droopy and his voice slurred. I'm disgusted with him, but his hands don't let me get away. I'm not even sure he sees me.

"Let me go!" I try once again, putting extra force in my statement, but he doesn't budge. If anything, he grips me even tighter. "You're so pretty," the goon tells me, contrary to my belief that he isn't seeing me.

I'm getting desperate, now more so because I know Hiba is making our video. God knows to what advantage she'll use it, and how many people she'll show it to. She loves playing the victim, more than anything else. Ya Allaah SWT! Help me.

The boy keeps pushing me backwards to corner me into the wall and out of the room. But I resist. I don't want to become impure. Not with those dirty lips. I can't break my dadi's trust. No, no, no! Not when I promised her.

And in spite of my resistance and my shouts for help, he does manage to corner me. High on liquor, this boy is adamant on defiling me, in front of my Lord. But I won't let it happen.

And as he slackens his grip on my arms to touch his lips to mine, I quickly slip out of his grasp and run towards my door. But not before feeling a wet stain on my cheek...

And I know that I've been violated.

I'll never be able to show my face to my Lord again. Neither will dadi trust me again, ever. Nor will Abba. The thought is so painful that it brings on a severe headache. And I hate myself as I've never hated anyone before. 

As soon as I close the door of my room and block the threat outside it, I fall to the floor and lose consciousness.

A/N:

Sorry for the cringeworthy ending scene... If it makes you feel better, I too felt really weird writing it. I had my nose scrunched the whole time and was wondering why I ever thought of it!

Thanks for reading! 

Wish me a happy, safe and secure journey, guys. Bye for now❤️