•_____________•
Laga k saari basti main aag
Wo poochtay hain qusoor kiya hai
•_____________•
His dark obsidian gaze remained fixed on her for a longer moment making her barely resist the urge to jump with the way she was freaking out.
She wished she could disappear from his sight or hide somewhere.
Man, how could someone's gaze be this intense and intimidating?!
She felt her soul almost depart from her body.
The palms of her sweating profusely in immense fear she was feeling.
Small beads of sweat had also formed on the milky skin of her forehead glinting like diamonds when sunlight fell on them.
Shanzay recited Ayat ul kursi under her breath as she completely hid behind Shahmeer's back.
Not able to withstand his intense, cold and merciless gaze any longer, she lowered her gaze and dipped her head down biting her lower lip, inwardly praying that he averts his gaze from her.
Why was he even looking at her in the first place?
And he was not just anyone. He was the merciless, the scary, the cold blooded, the heartless, the arrogant beast, Sardar Badar Nauraiz Shah. That's what she had heard from Zainab.
A man who wouldn't give a second thought to killing someone. A man who lacked a heart and fed on fears. A man who was a bloodthirsty beast.
And standing here, under his merciless and intense gaze, she realized why people feared him, called him cold hearted and ruthless. Intimidating and scary. Cruel and unforgiving.
Only his mere gaze was difficult to stand.
Her heart was shivering deep inside.
Shahmeer sensed his gaze on Shanzay and his jaw clenched,
"Sardar sahab, main yahaan hn tou mujhay dekhain".
He spoke through gritted teeth, trying to sound calm and keep his volume not too high.
He couldn't afford a fight, even verbal here. He couldn't afford it especially with Shanzay being here.
He knew better to test his luck and infuriate the Sardar. The one, even his grandfather kept his distance from.
The one, who won't even give a second thought and empty bullets in his head.
Sardar Badar Nauraiz Shah's obsidian gaze averted from her small frame that was hidden behind Shahmeer's back but due to his 6'3 ft height, he was few inches taller than Shahmeer and could easily see her behind him.
Shanzay wasn't short at all, she was straight 5'6, but the two men standing there were very tall compared to her, both exceeding 6 feet dwarfing her frame.
The sardar's chilling midnight obsidian gaze settled back on Meer's eyes that held anger but he was trying hard to control himself and keep his composure.
"Oh that I can see well. Tell me Shahmeer Chaudhary, Is my presence making you uncomfortable"?
He asked raising his perfectly arched thick eyebrow at him, challenging him in some way.
And damn did his deep raspy tone held amusement as if he was enjoying Meer's condition provoking him somehow.
How sinister!
Shanzay flinched at the cold, baritone voice that echoed holding nothing but raw chillingness.
She felt Shahmeer tensing in his position.
Shahmeer gulped down. He wasn't scared for himself. He wouldn't need to hold his anger if Shanzay wasn't with him.
But now, She was and not only this, his family was having clashes with Shahs, specifically the one facing him at the moment, and he couldn't dare to say or do something that could further escalate the fight and lead to bloodshed.
The man standing infront of them could make them disappear in few seconds without their traces to be found.
He was actually worried for Shanzay's wellbeing.
He struggled and gave Sardar a fake smile that didn't reach his eyes,
"Not at all. You are mistaken Sardar sahab. I was just taken aback to see you on our lands. I was here on a walk with family".
Sardar Badar Nauraiz Shah nodded but stayed silent.
Shahmeer knew all too well that Azfar had done nothing but ignite the fire and there was no way this sardar was going to let it go.
The air was thick with hostility making Shanzay shudder unconsciously.
Just how much hatred did these two families bear against each other?
Shahmeer knew something was going to happen in the future, something that'll be unexpected and even Dada jaan won't be able to handle. Nobody messed with Sardar Badar Nauraiz and got away with it.
And this calm and composed side of sardar was just the silence before the storm.
They had to wait before he officially announced war. Sardar Badar Nauraiz Shah was sinister and he was definitely planning something big.
"I hope you received the wedding invitation and will honour it with your presence. Ap aiye ga zaroor".
Shahmeer spoke looking at him.
The sardar's face remained neutral, almost stoic and his face gave away nothing to what he was thinking, his well sculpted features radiating chilling-ness,
"Ye tou waqt bataye ga".
Shahmeer wasn't a fool to not understand the threat lying beneath those words.
Would he take his revenge during wedding?
Shahmeer wished he didn't. He wasn't planning something so sinister. Their reputation would be at stake than but not inviting this sardar would worsen the matters more.
Shahmeer turned slightly and grabbed Shanzay's wrist that was turning cold.
Shanzay raised her head at feeling the grip but involuntarily her eyes went on him again.
This time, he was staring intently at Meer's hand holding her wrist.
His face neutral and sharp jaw clenched as she saw it earlier leaving nothing but utter coldness to surround his frame.
As if his expressions were also as cold and vague as his eyes that barely held any emotion, any expression and any hint of light.
"We'll get going than. Khuda Hafiz Sardar sahab".
Shahmeer spoke.
The sardar on other side just nodded and raised his gaze from their hands, his gorgeous obsidian eyes stopping on her frame for a second before turning back towards Shahmeer.
He didn't move and remained rooted in his position.
He was arrogant to such an extent that he didn't even deem Meer worthy to give him a reply.
How arrogant!
Shanzay could already feel displeasure coursing through her body.
Shahmeer turned and began walking away on the trail that led to the clearing where their car was parked.
Shanzay followed him behind without a word, not daring to turn and look back to where the sardar was still standing.
The intimidation in air had already caused goosebumps to invade her skin and she was deep inside terrified enough to not let a word out atleast till they were out of the sardar's sight.
She only let out the breath she had been holding in for so long when they reached Meer's car. The sardar was out of sight now.
Shahmeer opened the door for her and she got inside.
He closed it and walked towards his side climbing in the driver's seat.
He ignited the engine and pulled the car on the road that led to haveli.
"I'm sorry Shanzay. I should havebeen careful and brought a weapon or guards with me to make sure you were safe. I had no idea that this sardar would pop out of nowhere and that too on our lands".
Shahmeer spoke with a clenched jaw as he held the steering wheel in a tight grasp.
"It's alright. We are safe and that's what matters the most.
However, tell me one thing Meer. Aren't these lands nana jaan's? Than why did he appear there"?
She asked deep inside trying to forget the torturous moment she felt a while ago, under his scrutinizing cold gaze.
That man could just kill anyone with his eyes, he didn't even need guns or bullets to do the deed.
Shahmeer let out a shaky sigh as he drove the car, his brows furrowed and features stern,
"The lands behind where I took you are his too. But it's very rare of him to take this trail because there is another road that connects his lands to his village that he and the other villagers usually use to enter and exit the area. Definitely something would have happened for him to take this secretive route".
Shanzay's brows furrowed in confusion as she slightly turned towards him,
"Than he was trespassing your property right? So reasonably speaking, you should have been the one asking him his whereabouts and to leave from there"?
Shahmeer chuckled sarcastically, almost remembering something as he spoke through clenched jaw,
"Every single person including my grandfather fears that man, even my father and uncles. Not only us but other families settled in our and nearby villages too. Even if the thought of showing him his place seems tempting enough yet I couldn't risk creating another havoc leading to bloodshed. Dada jaan would have never forgiven me for destroying the peace that he spent years on building.
How cruel that the Sardar will only turn more arrogant and the only ones to lose their dignity would be us".
Shanzay gulped softly as she bit her lower lip in contemplation,
"But aren't you a police officer Meer? How could you not deal with him if he's at wrong"?
A wounded look raked across Shahmeer's orbs as he held the steering wheel tighter causing the bluish green veins covering the back of his palm to pop out,
"Isi baat ka tou dukh hai Shanzay, isi baat ka tou dukh hai! k jab Meray apnay dada razi nahi us shaks say dushmani mol lenay k Liye tou main kaisay karun. Baat chahay haq aur insaf ki hou, agar main nay ghalti say bhi ye qadam uthaya tou sab say pehlay mujhe disown kernay wala mera apna baap hoga, mera apna khandan hoga".
Shanzay gasped in disbelief at his words,
"They fear that feudal lord that much"?
Shahmeer sighed softly,
"You have no idea Shanzay. You have no idea how dangerous and cruel he is".
Shanzay inhaled shakily as she turned back towards the windscreen .
Shahmeer turned towards her as he spoke,
"I have a request munchkin. Please don't tell Dada jaan or anyone about the incident that happened earlier. A huge scene would be created at haveli and Dada jaan will make sure you don't leave the haveli premises again till you are here. And I don't even want to think what he'll do with me. Aur agar kişi tarha Faseeha chachi ko Pata chala tou wo tou aisa tamasha lagayen gi k toba".
His tone held genuine concern.
He turned his head back towards windscreen focusing on the road ahead.
"Dont worry Meer. I won't tell anyone".
She replied and Shahmeer heaved out a sigh of relief gazing at her with gratitude.
🍁🍁🍁
"Shayad aglay haftay Mehrunnisa chakkar lagaye. Keh rahi thi Akram nay zameenon ki taraf Kisi kaam say jana hai tou shayad usay rastay main yahaan chorta hua jaye".
Her tayi Ammi spoke as she kept sewing beautiful floral patterns on the small piece of white cloth held in place by wooden circles that were hollow from between where the white fabric rested.
Mehrunnisa was her eldest daughter married off to Akram Shah eight years ago and they had a five year old beautiful daughter now. They lived in Multan and visited her after every few months.
Her tayi Ammi had two daughters, Mehrunnisa and Zebunnisa.
Her mother who was massaging the coconut oil in her hair sighed softly turning her gaze towards tayi ammi's figure,
"Ye tou bohut achi baat hai".
Tayi Ammi sighed shaking her head in disappointment,
"Mehrunnisa tou chalo phir bhi chali ati hai apni boorhi maa ki taraf, us Zebunnisa ko kon samjhaye k uski maa taras gayee uski shakal dekhnay ko".
At the end her expressions had turned gloomy.
"Tayi Ammi, don't worry. You have me atleast, why worry about others".
She spoke giving a comforting smile to her tayi but the other second a light slap landed on the back of her head as her mother spoke,
"Aye larki chup ker k beth. Baray baat nahi ker rahay".
Daneen could only make faces as she zipped her mouth as she gazed at her tayi with complaining orbs making her tayi give her a consoling smile.
"Ap ye bhi tou dekhain na bhabhi, k Zeb ki Shaadi bhi kin halaat main hui. Itni jaldi wo sab tou bhool nahi sakti na".
She heard her mother Razia begum reason as she massaged her hair.
Daneen munched on the dried salted peanuts from the bowl placed on her lap as she listened to the conversation attentively.
Tayi Ammi let out a soft huff,
"Jaldi? Pooray paanch saal hogaye hain ab tou. Ab tou bhool jaye sab. Maa hn uski, Kuch bura tou kabhi nahi chaha na. Thek hai Shaadi marzi k bagher hui lekan khush tou hai na wo. Javaid Kitna khayal rakhta hai uska aur Allah nay kitnay piyaray betay bhi diye hain usay. Kiyun itni nashukri kerti hai"?
Razia begum replied in a soft tone,
"Bhabhi, waqt lag jata hai kuch zakhmon ko bharnay main. Ap udas kiyun hoti hain. Ap Maa hain uski, kabhi na kabhi tou loutay gi na ap k pass".
Daneen couldn't help but unzip her mouth again as she asked with her brows furrowed in confusion,
"Magar Amma, aik tarha say baat tou such hai. Ap logon nay Zeb apa ki Shaadi unki Marzi k khilaf kiyun ki? Ab haq tou hai na unhain naraaz honay ka".
The response only resulted in another landing of a slap on the back of her head making her wince,
"Chup ker k betho, baron ki batain tumhari samajh main nahi ani".
Daneen rubbed the back of her head as she whined,
"Is main samajhnay wala kiya hai, sab zahir tou hai. Aur Amma yarr, is tarha bar bar mujhe sar par thapar na mara karain, kisi din meri khopri main cracks par janay hain phir koi nahi karay ga mujh say shaadi".
"Koi yarr war nahi hn main teri. Chal uth aur ja, kaam kernay de mujhe".
Razia begum spoke withdrawing her hands from Daneen's hair.
Tayi Ammi chuckled at their banter,
"Meri beti ko na satao Razia. Idhar ao Daneen beta, main tumharay sar ki malish kerti hn".
Daneen gave a huge smile to her rushing towards where she was sitting causing both the elderly ladies to break into chuckles.
She wrapped her arms around tayi ammi's frame as she spoke ,
"Ap dekhiye ga tayi Ammi, Zeb apa ayen gi na tou aisi class lngi main unki. Itni piyari Ammi ko kaisay dukhi kersakti hain. Band bajaun gi main unki".
Her words made tayi Ammi giggle as she shook her head at her antiques.
🌹🌹🌹
She rushed downstairs with Javeria as they made their way towards the dining hall.
Shanzay was clad in a cream coloured loose kurta reaching her knees paired with blue denim jeans.
Her feet were embraced in white khussas.
They both entered the hall and were greeted by the presence of all the women of the house along with Shahmeer and Basit.
She greeted them all and walked towards the table.
She pulled out the seat next to the one zainab was sitting on and sat on it.
Not a minute later, Faseeha Mami and her daughters entered occupying their seats.
Shanzay inwardly groaned when Shahana pulled a seat beside her and sat on it, hitting her elbow on Shanzay's forearm intentionally in the process.
Shanzay winced but didn't say anything not wanting to create a scene on the table.
She didn't know what was wrong with Faseeha Mami's eldest daughter named Shahana.
Why was she so rude to her?
She always caught her glaring at her as if she'll kill her the other second.
She didn't remember doing anything to infuriate her.
"Pata nahi kiya masla hai inko mujh say".
She asked internally, heaving out a dejected sigh.
"Khana shuru karain beta g".
Nano spoke and they all started devouring their dinner.
"How was the trip to the lands Shanzay? Did you enjoy"?
Sajjida Mami who sat opposite to her beside her mother asked affectionately.
Involuntarily, Shanzay's frame tensed as she recalled the earlier incident and her gaze swept passed them and met Meer's who had also halted with his rice filled spoon still in the air.
Shanzay inhaled a deep breath before turning towards Sajjida Mami and smiling,
"It was good. The orchards were so beautiful and the air there was so refreshing".
She replied honestly.
Sajjida Mami nodded with a soft smile.
She was always so kind and Shanzay's favorite among all her aunts.
She was Meer and Zainab's mother too that made her grow an even closer bond with her.
"What do you mean by lands? Where did she go"?
Faseeha Mami asked in confusion as she placed the spoon down on her plate halting her eating.
Shanzay immediately tensed up at seeing her speak.
It was obvious that whenever she spoke like that, something big was going to happen which mostly consisted of her insulting Shanzay.
Sajjida Mami turned towards her and replied,
"Bhabhi, she went to see the lands. The orchards of oranges and guavas in the morning".
Faseeha Mami's face fumed in anger and it was like she was digesting the words with shock,
"Main aisay tou na kehti thi k ye bachi mujhe azaad lagti hai . Dekh lain amma jaan, kaisay gaon ki sarı zameenain ghoom ker dekh ayee awara larkiyon ki tarha".
Shanzay looked at her Mami in utter disbelief.
How could somebody's tongue be so venomous? So poisonous? How could she not realize how badly she was hurting Shanzay with her words?
Shahmeer's face turned serious and his jaw clenched tightly as he straightened on the chair placing the spoon back on the plate.
"Chachi bolnay say pehlay aik martaba soch tou liya karain ap".
He seemed pretty annoyed.
Nano jaan also fumed,
"Apnay bhai k saath gayee thi wo akeli nahi gayee. Shahmeer saath lekar gaya tha usko apnay dada huzoor ki ijazat say. Kuch lehaz kerliya karo Faseeha k kiya aul fol zubaan say nikaal rahi ho".
Nano's thunderous voice boomed at the table.
Faseeha Mami huffed and turned her face getting back to eating the food as if nothing happened.
However, from the corner of her eyes, Shanzay felt Shahana stiffening in her position at the mention of Shahmeer's name.
Shanzay shook her head getting back to her plate.
Faseeha Mami's bitter words succeeded in leaving another deep mark on her heart.
She felt utter sadness engulf her frame as all the appetite she felt earlier disappeared instantly.
She'll never understand why this mother daughter duo despised her so much.
She half-heartedly began devouring the mouthwatering biryani that looked so appetizing earlier.
She had just filled third spoon of rice and raised it to her mouth when out of nowhere Shahana's hand with her pink painted pointed nails appeared and ever so naturally and slowly hit the bowl of chicken karahi spilling it all over Shanzay's shirt.
Shanzay stood up immediately with a startled shriek as she saw the brown curry leaving a huge unpleasant spot on the cream coloured fabric of her shirt looking so prominent.
Shahana also stood up from her seat,
"Oh I'm so sorry Shanzay. I just hit it by mistake. I'm so sorry".
She spoke with shocked and concerned expressions but it didn't take long for Shanzay to understand that she was faking it.
Shanzay sighed and turned towards Nano,
"I'll go and get changed Nano".
She spoke before rushing out of the dining hall.
Shahana and Aunt Faseeha's behavior was hurting her. Why were they like this? It was out of her understanding.
It didn't cost one to be kind than why was treating others kindly so difficult for them?
It wasn't like she had hurt them in some way.
She didn't know what made them so riled up.
She hadn't been made familiar with such treatment before.
It was new for her.
She was left speechless and flabbergasted as to what to do.
She didn't realize her eyes had turned teary when she reached her room.
🥀 🥀 🥀
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Word Count : 3,385 words
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Someone's gaze lingered for a 'longer moment' 👀
*Clears throat*
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Haan g, so how did you guys find the chapter?
Do share your thoughts ❤️
Till next time,
Take care 🌸🌸🌸