•_______________•
Marna tou iss jahaan main koi hadsa nahi
Iss dour e nagawar main jeena kamal hai
_Jaun Elia_
•_______________•
She felt the coldness, utter chilling-ness penetrating her skin, seeping into her bones from the thin attire cladding her frame as she took swift steps in the white marbled corridor filled with beautiful decoration pieces, antique vases, expensive paintings and embellished floorings as her black khussa clad feet swiftly moved on the white spotless tiles, the slight grazes and scratches marring her porcelain feet glinting under the bright chandeliers adorning the ceiling.
The soft, silky luscious honey brown strands slipping from the grasp of her dupatta cladding her back and shoulders as they slid across her neck, cascading down her shoulders.
Some stray strands cupping her cheeks.
Tucking them behind her ears with her lean fingers of one hand while gripping the black net dupatta draped around her frame with the other one, she took swift strides as she finally passed the long corridors turning in the hallway that opened into zanan khana of the haveli.
A breathless sigh left her lips as she walked past the sitting room catching glances of housemaids who now halted in their positions with gasps escaping their mouths as they gazed at her frame dumbstruck.
Hushed whispers had started echoing making her increase her pace as she, without throwing anyone of them a single glance, silently walked past them with her gaze fixed ahead.
Just when she turned entering the lounge did her feet come to a halt as her death like grip on her dupatta loosened.
The first one to catch her sight was Javeria who sat on the carpet with a stoll wrapped around her head as she gazed back at her from behind the round spectacles with the widened orbs of hers,
"Shanzay"!!
The astounded voice of hers caused many heads to snap towards her direction in astonishment but the first one to stand up from her seat and literally run towards her was no doubt Zainab.
She reached Shanzay engulfing her in a bone crushing hug,
"Shanzuu, thek ho tum"?
Her voice coming out in a shaky whisper, thick with emotions as she held Shanzay close to her.
Shanzay nodded softly whispering back,
"I am Zainab, don't worry".
"Shukar Alhumdulillah".
Zainab murmured under her breath before parting as she gazed back at Shanzay with her glossy eyes,
"You have no idea how scared I was. I was so worried for you, so so damn worried. The mere thought that you were there alone in the orchards especially at this time of the night haunted me to no extent".
Shanzay let out a soft sigh shaking her head as if telling Zainab not to cry,
"I'm fine Zainab. I'm completely fine".
Zainab nodded gulping back the tears threatening to fill her orbs as she turned towards Javeria who had approached them,
"Go bring water for Shanzay ".
"G Api".
Javeria nodded rushing out from there as Zainab held Shanzay's hand walking her towards the sofas making her sit on them.
Shanzay couldn't help feel the way the girls were throwing strange glances at her.
They were nodoubt her cousins that hadbeen staying in haveli for the wedding festivities.
Shanzay couldn't help feel uncomfortable as she reluctantly sat on the sofa.
Their gazes were uncomfortable to say the least.
Some gazed at her with worry, some scanned her frame from top to bottom with their judgemental eyes while others stared at her as if she had grown horns over her head making her clutch the hem of her dupatta tightly in her fist to stop the unnerving feeling she was getting under their scrutinizing gazes.
"Chalo shabash! Tum sab bhi apnay kamron main jao. She has arrived back safely and there is no need to sit here to wait any longer. Jao shabash".
Zainab's slightly authoritative voice echoed making the girls reluctantly stand up from their positions and unwillingly walk out from there not happy that they couldn't get any drama they were waiting and hoping for to happen nor could they get a sneak into the earlier events that happened with Shanzay.
They couldn't even get any news they could use to gossip about later.
What a waste of time!
Huffing and puffing, they left the lounge disappearing in the corridors and some walking upstairs while taking the staircase.
Shanzay gave Zainab a grateful glance,
"You are such a saviour"!
Zainab gave her a firm nod,
"Oh that I am, do you have any doubt in this"?
She spoke handing her the glass of water that Javeria had brought for her.
Shanzay took it taking a sip as she felt the parched and dry throat of hers feel better.
She never realized she was this thirsty as she literally chugged down the glass of water in one go.
"Zainab baji, should I go inform everyone that Shanzay has arrived back safely"?
Javeria asked fixing her glasses back on her nose bridge.
"Haan jao shabash".
Zainab nodded at her.
Seeing the retreating figure of Javeria, Shanzay turned towards Zainab in confusion,
"Where are they? I haven't seen any one of them".
"In Dadi jaan's room".
Shanzay nodded at her response,
"They would have been worried witless, especially Ma".
"Oh you've no idea".
Zainab spoke as she completely turned towards her gazing at her with an underlying concern,
"Magar pehlay tum mujhe ye batao k tum thi kahaan?
Tum nay humaray saath nahi ana tha wapis? Phir kidhar ghaib hogayee tum? Us manhoos Shahana nay kaha k tumhain nahi dekha us nay magar phir bhi hum wapis agaye ye soch ker k shayad tum Sadain bhai ki car main agayee hogi magar Kuch ghantay pehlay pohunchay tou pata chala tum tou ayee hi nahi. Hum pohunchay tou Mahi bhabhi sou gayee thi safar ki thakawat ki waja say aur dado nay unhain uthanay say mana kerdiya k subha Waleema hai tou araam kerlain wo.
Shabana bilkul chup thi.
Sirf Sadain bhai thay jo aglay lamhay dada jaan k hukam per bundon k saath gariyan le kar wapis zameenon ki taraf nikal gaye.
Mera tou qasam say dil chah raha tha k jaan le lu Shahana ki,
Agay say kehti hai Dadi jaan ko k usnay tum logon ko nahi dekha tou usay kiya maloom tum un k saath thi ya nahi. Zameenon per tou isay bari jaldi thi wahaan say nikalnay ki".
Zainab huffed at the end as if she literally wanted to strangle Shahana to death.
Shanzay heard her words silently as she raised her gaze from her lap gazing at Zainab.
Seeing her not respond, Zainab raised her brow as she placed her hand on Shanzay's shoulder looking at her with concern,
"Kuch tou bolo Shanzu"?
Shanzay heaved out a deep sigh as she finally parted her lips that seemed dry due to being exposed to cold winds earlier, light brown orbs of hers holding Zainab's worried dark ones,
"She had seen me".
"Hun"?
Zainab asked in confusion as the skin between her brows creased up slightly.
Shanzay sighed softly,
"Shahana. She indeed saw me. She was the one who guided me towards the restrooms, how could she not have known where I was"?
Shanzay stated truthfully.
The words caused Zainab's orbs to widen in disbelief,
"What"?!!
And than the expression in her orbs shifted as she gave Shanzay an 'are you serious look',
"Shanzu, tum nay us, us kerwi mirch say restrooms ka rasta poocha? Why didn't you ask me or Javeria? How could you even trust a person like her when she has done nothing but to degrade and humiliate you till now?!
You should have atleast informed me that you were leaving for restrooms".
Her voice seemed disappointed.
Shanzay gazed back at her helplessly,
"I didn't think she'd be like this. I thought she'd atleast have conscience no matter how rude she is to me. I didn't....I don't know why I didn't think she'd play such a dirty trick on me.
Also, at that time you were busy talking with the workers, I didn't want to disturb you".
Zainab pursed her lips in a thin line,
"It would havebeen much better if you had disturbed me rather than asking help from that vile woman! Shanzay itni bewakoof kiyun ho tum yarrr"?!!
Zainab felt like pulling out her hair in frustration.
It was after few seconds that she spoke again trying to calm herself,
"So, she locked you there or something"?
Shanzay shrugged her shoulders,
"I'm not sure, but later when I tried to open the door, it indeed didn't open.
I kept banging on it many times but nobody came".
Zainab orbs widened more in disbelief as she gritted her teeth in sheer anger,
"Is Shahana ki bachi ko tou main batati hn, sabar karo tum".
She huffed and puffed as she stood up the other second pushing her feet in the slippers.
Her frame emitting raw infuriation.
Shanzay stood up too trying to stop her,
"Zainab, yarr listen to me"---
"Nahi main nay kuch nahi sun na, aur tum bhi chalo na zara meray saath"!
She spoke grabbing Shanzay's hand as she began dragging her towards the staircase with her.
Shanzay halted at the foot of staircase making Zainab halt too.
Zainab turned her neck gazing at her with her infuriated unforgiving orbs,
"Shanzay if you dare think of letting her get away with this"-----
"I'll only talk to nano jaan".
Shanzay stated seriously making Zainab's brows furrow in utter confusion,
"Hun? Kiya matlab"?
Shanzay let out a soft sigh as she spoke in a firm tone,
"Zainab main uss k mun nahi lagun gi na hi uss say kuch kahun gi. Main seedha nano k pass jaun gi aur unhain aik aik baat bataun gi k kiya hua. Ab wo hi Shahana say baat karain gi kiyun k main"-
Shanzay paused gazing back at Zainab with her sad orbs,
"Main thak gayee hu usay apni narmi ka faida uthatay dekh dekh ker. Ab jo baat hogi, nano k samnay hogi".
Zainab sighed softly as she gazed back at her for few seconds before turning completely towards her,
"I won't stop you. But at this time, all the elders are in Dado's hujra and there is no way we'll be allowed to enter not until their meeting has ended and it won't be any soon so Shanzay"-
Zainab paused as she gave an assuring squeeze to Shanzay's hand,
"Wo jo itnay sukoon main bethi hai usay jakar batao k uski chaal kaisay nakaam hui hai".
Zainab completed as she gave her a nod before turning and tugging at her hand as she took steps making Shanzay silently follow her.
Once reaching Shahana's room, Zainab yanked it open making the two figures present inside to jump in startle.
Shahana laid on the bed in a semi sitting position with her back resting against the backrest of bed with cellphone in her hands where she seemed to be busy scrolling through something while Shabana sat beside her on bed saying something to her which was interrupted by Zainab's sudden entry.
As the two startled figures turned towards them, Shanzay noticed the colour draining from Shahana's face when she met her orbs while a slight hint of relief hitting Shabana's frame at catching her sight.
Zainab didn't stop just at the door, instead she strode towards the side of bed before roughly yanking Shahana's arm making her stand up from the bed.
Shahana, utterly taken aback at this sudden assualt, tried to push away Zainab's hands roughly as she stood up glaring at her with her infuriated orbs,
"Kiya badtameezi hai ye?! Tameez nahi hai tumhain"?
Zainab's brows arched higher at her words as her nostrils flared,
"Tum main bhi tou nahi hai na Shahana bibi! Na tameez aur na hi insaniyat"!
Shanzay unnoticeably closed the door of the room not wanting to attract the housemaids of the haveli who were already wandering around with their ears perked up wanting nothing but to get even a slightest bit of news that they could spread further.
"Kiya bakwas ker rahi ho tum"?
Shahana snapped back in a loud tone not liking Zainab's behaviour and tone a bit.
Shabana had also stood up from the bed gazing at the duo in worry as if trying to understand what had happened.
Zainab glared back at her not backing off an inch as she folded her arms on her chest,
"Sharam tou tumhain ati nahi, maloom hai mujhe. Magar itna gir jao gi iska andaza nahi tha".
Shahana also huffed angrily in response,
"Zuban sambhal ker baat karo Zainab"!
Zainab chuckled sarcastically,
"Main tou apni zuban sambhal lu gi magar tum apna kaala dil kab tak chupao gi? What did you think that you'd do such a vile and shameful thing and we'd not even know? Apnay apko samajhdar aur baqi sab ko bewakoof samajhti ho kiya"?
Shahana utterly ignored Shanzay's presence, not giving her a single glance as she glared back into Zainab's infuriated orbs,
"Bakwas nahi karo"!
The low, warning edged growl left her lips making Zainab's brow arch higher,
"Bakwas tou hogi kiyun k bakwas tum nay shuru ki hai. Abhi ja ker Dadi jaan ko sab batati hn phir dekhti hu k yehi attitude rehta hai tumhara k nahi".
She was about to turn when Shahana immediately grasped her arm halting her.
Shanzay noticed ever so slightly as the colour utterly drained from Shahana's face,
"You won't do this"!
Her voice tinged with underlying fear.
Zainab gritted her teeth,
"Oh I definitely will".
"Zainab please ye tou batado k hua kiya hai? Baji nay aisay Kiya kerdiya hai jo tum is tarha behave ker rahi ho in say ".
Shabana's voice echoed for the first time as she walked towards them stopping beside her sister's frame who seemed to be fighting an inner turmoil as her face turned more pale.
Zainab turned her gaze towards her,
"Why don't you ask this from this precious baji of yours"?
Her tone came out visibly sarcastic.
Shabana turned towards Shahana gazing at her with her quizzical orbs yet no response came nor did Shahana make any move to meet her questioning orbs.
Shabana felt her brows crease as she asked shakily,
"Baji"?
"Ye kiyun bataye gi tumhain apnay karnamay, main batati hu na. Why do you think Shanzay was left behind in the orchards even without us knowing?
Your precious baji was behind all this"!
Zainab seethed.
An audible gasp left Shabana's lips as she turned towards her sister in disbelief.
Shahana spoke through gritted teeth,
"I didn't".
He stubbornly denied.
"You liar! You were the one who locked her in the restrooms"!
Zainab snapped back utterly infuriated.
The nerve of this woman to do something so vile and than not even accepting that she did it!
How infuriating!
"I didn't"!
Shahana snapped back in an equally rude tone making Zainab's nostrils flare and before she could launch herself at Shahana, Shanzay immediately stepped forward stopping Zainab not wanting to see them enter a brawl.
Her light brown orbs swept past the air stopping on Shahana's frame as a disappointed look crossed her eyes,
"Apko makafat e amal say bhi khof nahi ata Shahana? Apko nahi maloom k jo jaisay kerta hai waisay bharta bhi hai? Whatever you give turns back to you one day"?
She asked in her usual soft tone, no hint of sarcasm or mocking present as she gazed back at Shahana with disappointment so obvious in her light coloured orbs.
Shahana clenched her jaw tightly at her words as she narrowed her eyes at Shanzay,
"Has it ever occured to you Shanzay that maybe, I wasn't the one who locked the restrooms because if I followed you, someone would have seen me. What if the locks were faulty and you got abducted inside because of them"?
Shahana spoke raising her brows as she folded her arms on her chest.
A soft sigh left Shanzay's lips at her words as she silently kept gazing at her for few seconds before speaking in the unwavering tone of hers,
"And has it ever occured to you too Shahana, that eventhough the locks might be the ones faulty or the door was the one that got jammed but....
But indeed you were the one who not only saw me going to the restrooms but also guided me the way ".
She completed making Shahana's face turn stiff as her face blazed immediately.
"And you said that you didn't see her afterwards. Hmm, let's ask from Shabana.
Haan g tou Shabana, Kiya kaha tha tumhari baji nay tum say jab tum log wapis anay lagay thay"?
Zainab spoke this time as she turned towards Shabana who looked shocked to an extent as if she couldn't believe what was actually being unveiled,
"Sh-she said"-
She paused glancing at her sister whose face was clenched and almost pale before turning her frightened orbs towards Shanzay's frame,
"She said that Shanzay might want to l-leave later with you guys in the other car".
Zainab clapped at her words,
"Ah-ha! Right. And than later what did she say to us, let me tell you guys".
She spoke taking a step closer to Shahana glaring back into her orbs that were turning red brimmed,
"She said that she didn't know, maybe Shanzay left with you guys earlier".
Zainab paused tapping her index finger on her cheek thoughtfully as she spoke,
"So it turns out, despite knowing everything including Shanzay's whereabouts and even the fact that the locks were not working in the restrooms which sounds extremely fishy, she lied to us, manipulated us in leaving earlier and not trying to search for Shanzay knowing well deep inside that Shanzay was still stuck in between those orchards.
Tell me Shahana dear, is it still not your fault"?
Zainab remarked sarcastically throwing her a disgusted look.
Shabana gazed back at Shahana utterly taken aback as if in shock,
"Baji, how can you-------
Was this the reason you ....you didn't leave your room since we arrived and.... didn't even confront Dadi "?
She was in disbelief.
Shahana chose to stay silent.
"Well no worries Shabana dear. Jo ghatiya harkat tumhari behan nay ki hai na, dobara Dadi say samna ho hi jaye ga iska kiyun k main tou isko na hi bakshun gi aur na hi Kisi aur ko bakshnay du gi!
Is ka dougla chehra tou main Dadi k samnay faash ker k ati hu"!
Zainab huffed throwing her a disgusted glance as she turned to leave only for her arm to be held in a tight grasp by Shahana again,
"You won't do this"!
Her voice underlaced with slight panic.
Zainab snorted,
"Kiyun? Ab dar lag raha hai? Ye nahi socha k us masoom ko kitna dar laga hoga un khofnak kheton main raat k is pehar wo bhi bilkul akelay? Jab tum kisi per reham nahi khati tou koi aur tum per kis khushi main reham khaye ga"?
Shahana dug her pointed red painted nails in Zainab's soft skin as she whisper growled,
" Main jaan le lu gi tumhari Zainab agar Dadi ko kuch pata chala"!
Zainab stifled the wince struggling to escape from her lips as she pushed Shahana's frame away with as much force as she could muster as she nearly shouted,
"Lesakti ho tou le lo! Darti nahi hu main tum say"!
And Shahana who had opened her mouth to send some crude remarks her way immediately stopped and so did everyone else present in the room when the door knocked softly before after few seconds it opened as Basit's head peeked out.
His brows furrowed and forehead creased as he gazed at them for few seconds before opening the door a bit more and stepping inside completely,
"Ye kiya shour machaya hua hai tum dono nay? Pooray zanan khanay main tum logon ki cheekho pukar goonj rahi hai. Bahar mulazmayen bhi jama hogayee hain"?
He spoke glancing at them with slight hint of anger in his dark irises.
"Basit I"-
"Bilkul chup".
Basit cut Zainab off raising his finger to his lips as if shushing her.
The face of his grave serious,
"Abhi corridor say guzar raha tha aur tum logon ki awazain suni jis nay haveli sar per uthayi hui hai. Bilkul aik lafz koi na bolay".
He spoke giving them stern looks before turning his orbs towards Shanzay's frame,
"You, come with me Shanzay".
"Where"?
Shanzay asked with confusion marring her features, she felt that sudden feeling of shudder rise in her chest that made her insides churn ever so slightly.
She couldn't name it, though it indeed caused her heart to drop in her stomach.
A feeling too ominous, too shuddering and too horrifying.
Basit let out a soft sigh,
"In Dadi jaan's room. Your presence is demanded there".
He replied briefly as he opened the door before he turned his neck the other second glaring at Zainab and Shahana's frames as he raised his index finger in air,
"And you both, behave! Dada jaan is also sitting in the hujra along with abbu and chachu. Don't let them or me hear your voices again"!
He warned before walking out of there entering the corridor.
Shanzay let out a shaky sigh turning her neck as her gaze met Zainab's.
Zainab immediately closed her eyes giving her a nod before opening them again.
It was a gesture of assuration that everything would be alright.
Though deep inside Shanzay knew that was the most Zainab could do at the moment, because whenever elders gathered for meetings in the grand hujra, no youngster was allowed to wander near the room.
It was upon strict orders of nana jaan.
Shanzay let out a shaky sigh and glancing at the three silent figures in the room for the last time, turned and walked out closing the door behind as she tried to catch up Basit's swift steps.
They descended the grand staircase before turning in another hallway that opened into another corridor.
Basit walked ahead silently as they finally entered the corridor at the end of which the grand hujra stood.
Basit opened the door for her waiting for her to enter.
Shanzay let out a soft shaky sigh as she gripped the dupatta tightly with her clammy hands and reluctantly stepped forward entering the room followed by Basit who silently walked inside closing the door behind.
Shanzay raked her gaze across the surroundings to find her mother, Romaisa auntie and Faseeha mami seated on the sofas while on one single sofa sat nana jaan with his full intimidating glory while on the one beside him sat nano jaan along with Sajjida Mami on the double seater sofa.
The single plush cushioned chair had baray mamu seated on it while the one beside it seated chotay mamu and Azfar bhai's father on it.
The faint scent of gulaab and motiya lingered in the air overwhelming one's senses.
Shanzay let out a shaky sigh as she fisted her hands tighter to stop their quivering,
"S-salam".
Seeing no one answering her Salam, the anxiety and fear bubbling in her heart palpated as she stood there frozen like a wax statue.
"Tashreef rakhain".
It was after few seconds that nana jaan's booming authoritative cold tone echoed making her flinch ever so slightly as she felt her heart shudder at the mere echo of the tone.
It was cold, came out loud, extremely chilling and dominating, scaring other to no extent.
Shanzay tried hard to not let her hands shake as they turned sweaty.
She gulped softly as she took small shaky steps towards the other side near the sofas where her aunts and mother sat as she approached them taking a seat beside her mother on sofa.
"Mera bacha, thek ho ap"?
Nadia begum asked as she leaned in kissing her forehead as she took her hand in hers gazing back at her in worry.
"I'm f-fine M-Ma".
She replied in her meek low voice that came out shaky.
"Ab choonkay sab baray yahaan moujood hain, tou mouzu ki baat per atay hain".
Nana jaan's loud, unforgiving and authoritative tone echoed silencing everybody and snapping their attention towards the elderly figure seated on the plus cushioned oakwood chair.
His presence so dominating and authoritative that even raising one's head to glance at him was nearly an impossible job.
"G baba jaan, hum bhi kafi dair say intezar ker rahay hain.
Meray khayal say ab baat shuru hojani chahiye".
Baray mamu, also Sadain Bhai and Basit's father spoke making nano nod too as if she herself was curious as to what the thing was about.
Shanzay didn't dare raise her head in his presence.
She didn't dare gaze at nana jaan as she simply sat there with her gaze on her lap fiddling with the hem of her dupatta trying to somehow stifle the palpating anxiety seeping in her frame.
There was something so painfully churning inside her chest as her hold on her mother's hand unnoticeably tightened.
Nana jaan hummed arrogantly at baray Mamu's words as he spoke in his deep authoritative tone,
"Durust baat".
He paused for a second before continuing and Shanzay felt oh so clearly as the tone of his sounded stern and colder this time,
"Is haveli k basiyon, aur is khandaan k logon nay hamesha is pagri, is khandaan ki izzat aur waqar ko sab say ooper rakha hai. Salon say, nasal dar nasal, ye pagri, ye izzat aur waqar sambhal sambhal ker werasat main jata raha hai aur aj tak".....
He paused and his voice literally turned booming here as Shanzay flinched internally and so did many other figures seated inside the huge room.
"Aur aj tak Kisi ki itni himmat nahi hui k is pagri, is waqar per kharash bhi anay de, magar afsos ka maqam ye hai k ab nasirf is pagri per ungliyan uthayee jarahi hain balqay is ko uchala bhi jaraha hai jo Rehmat Chaudhary bilkul gawara nahi kersakta!
Meray buzurgon ki jaanain qurban hui hain is pagri ki salamti k liye, Meray aba o ajdad ka khoon baha hai aur ab jab Kuch sukoon, Kuch khushhali ayee hai tou main hargiz,....
Hargiz bardasht nahi karun ga k Kisi ki is pagri per ungli uthanay ki himmat bhi ho"!!!!
His growl echoed causing shudders to run down everybody's spine seated in the room.
And here she thought only the arrogant Sardar possessed this daunting and intimidating aura,
Her grandfather literally outran him in this, no doubt.
She gulped softly as she felt her whole frame cover with goosebumps at the fear the mere growling tone caused.
She let out a shaky exhale not daring to raise the canopy of her lovely eyelashes and gaze at the enraged elderly figure.
"Isi liye faisla kiya hai main nay nasirf is pagri ki laaj rakhnay k liye, balqay is khandaan aur anay wali naslon ko aman o sukoon main dekhnay k liye bhi.
Aur bakhuda agar "........
His voice took a sharp turn, sounding like a threatening snarl as he seethed through gritted teeth causing the hearts of many to quiver,
"Agar kisi nay is faislay say ikhtelaf Kiya tou us ki jaan main apnay haathon say lu ga"!!
Silence.
Utter silence.
Pindrop silence.
Nobody dared to even let out a slight sound, as if they had even stopped breathing to not let the pious silence of the atmosphere shatter.
Though the next words that left Nana jaan's lips, indeed, not only shattered the eerie silence lingering in the air but also, also shattered everything inside Shanzay,
“Abhi isi waqt nikkah hoga!
Sardar Badar aur Shanzay ka".
______________
Numbness.
Utter numbness was all she felt even after a whole minute since those words echoed.
Her ears easily picked up the audible gasps leaving the lips of many, startled orbs that gazed back at her frame or the soft hushed whispers but still......
She remained numb.
Numb to every sense she possessed.
Numb to the whispers, the gasps, the voices.
Numb to the glances thrown at her frame .
Numb to an extent she felt not only her limbs turning stiff but also the brain of hers turning silent, as if unable to reason, unable to process, unable to digest the words that left the elderly figure's lips.
She tried to raise her head to gaze at the man who so easily, as if it was some sort of a joke, an easy game, decided her future for her.
She tried to get a hold at something to grab something that could give her assurity, that could make her believe that everything spoken earlier was just a hallucination, just a fragment of her imagination and nothing else.
She wanted to move her frame, to straighten her back that hurt oh so badly due to sitting in one position but helplessness,
Utter helplessness was all she felt when she felt the inability to do anything.
Her brain, her senses and her frame had turned numb.
The only thing still able to reflect a hint of life making her believe that she was still miraculously alive and not dead was the loudly thudding organ in her chest.
Her heart that thudded loudly, hammered against the ribcage frantically almost madly as if pleading her, pleading her to grip on the last bit of sanity, of life and turn back to her senses, speak something and not act like a dead.
The sudden ringing of a cellphone made her slightly jump from her position as she felt being brutally snapped back to reality.
Her gaze fixed on her lap seemed to have turned hazy making her realize that her orbs had filled up with unshed moisture.
Moisture that was now wetting the curve of her eyelashes.
"Haan g Moulvi Sahab, kidhar pohunchay ap"?
The elderly frame stood up from the grand seat as he replied to the person on the other side of the phone also gesturing with his hand for his eldest son to follow him out along with Basit as a minute later, the three figures left the grand hujra closing the door softly behind.
The moisture finally broke the fence as it dripped down from the curve of her lashes falling on her lap.
She felt her head throb in pain, her heart nearly explode in panic and the soul of hers.......
The soul of hers nearly shatter into pieces as she finally, for the first time, raised her head.
The teary orbs of hers swept past the chilly air not bothering to glance at anybody present in the room, only stopping when she found her mother.
Her light coloured orbs met her mother's warm ones that looked as panic-stricken and astounded as hers.
The delicate lips of hers quivered, the pale rosy chin wobbled as the tears dripped down her beautiful orbs cascading down her cheeks,
"Ma"?
A whimper of agony.
A quiver of horror.
A whisper of disbelief.
The other second a small, almost inaudible hiccup left her lips as she immediately shook her head clutching onto her mother's hand tightly like a child who knew, oh he knew so well that only his mother could save him, understand him and protect him,
"N-nahi"!
And for the first time after all these years, Nadia begum too wished for nothing but to hide her back in her womb where she had kept this precious child of hers for nine months.
Nadia begum's orbs turned cold as she averted her gaze from her daughter, holding her hand, as she turned her unforgiving gaze towards her brother and her mother,
"Amaw huzoor, bhai jaan! Meri aulad itni bemol nahi k sirf khandaan k waqar aur izzat k peechay qurban kerdun"!
Her brother's jaw tightened at her words,
"Lekan pagri ki hifazat k liye is khandaan k har fard per qurbani dena lazim hai"!
Chotay mamu who was Azfar bhai's father and Romaisa Mami's husband, snapped back without any remorse.
Nadia begum's nostrils flared and cheeks blazed red,
"Lekan meri beti is haveli, is khandaan ka hissa nahi hai!
Meri Shanzay Salman Malik ka khoon hai, uski beti hai na hi k is haveli k basiyon ki"!!
She seethed utterly enraged.
Chotay mamu huffed softly at her words,
"Tou phir is haveli ki izzat badnaam kernay ki Kiya zaroorat thi isay"?
Shanzay quivered at the raw anger the tone held as she barely resisted the urge to close her eyes with the way her head was throbbing painfully.
It looked as if she was moments away from collapsing.
"Ye kiya behas laga li hai tum dono nay? Aur Waqar, tum batao mujhe ye sab kiya hai? Tumharay baba huzoor itni taish main kiyun hain aur aisay hi kaisay is masoom ki zindagi ka faisla ker rahay hain"?
Nano jaan spoke in an astounded tone trying to make sense of everything that escalated oh so quickly leaving them all spellbound.
"Isnay is khandaan ki izzat aur waqar ko nuqsan pohunchaya hai Amaw huzoor! Baba huzoor tou kabhi is ko maaf na karain".
Waqar Chaudhary seethed in a venemous tone.
Nadia begum's nostrils flared at his words as she demanded,
"What on earth has my Shanzay done to harm the so called Izzat of this khandaan Bhai jaan?!
She didn't willingly remained there in the orchards.
It was not her fault to be left stranded there. How can she be blamed for something like this"?!
She asked almost in disbelief wanting nothing but to hammer some sense into the empty heads of these utterly unreasonable people who valued family respect more than someone's life and someone's future not caring whether the person was responsible for it or not.
Chotay mamu huffed softly as he raised his hand in air gesturing towards Shanzay's lowered head as he spoke in the most venomous tone Shanzay had ever heard,
"Tou phir apni is masoom aulad say poocho, k kis k saath ayee hai ye haveli wapis wo bhi raat k is pehar k fajar honay aur sooraj ki kirnay nikalnay main bamushkil ghanta dou ghantay baqi hain"?!!!
His voice mocking.
Nadia begum's brows creased not liking the tone of her brother,
"Bhai jaan, agar wo raat k is waqt bhi wapis ayee hai tou apnay bhai k saath ayee hai. Sadain le kar aya hai isay. Koi haq nahi apko aisay hi iski zindagi ka faisla kernay ka"!
"Bilkul Sahi baat hai".
Nano jaan stated with her furrowed brows.
A soft sarcastic grumble left Waqar Chaudhary's lips as he gazed at Shanzay's bowed head pointedly before turning his unforgiving cold orbs back towards his sister's,
"Sadain k saath nahi ayee ye".
The words not only left Nadia begum spellbound for few seconds but also everyone present in the room including nano jaan.
Romaisa Mami opened her lips to speak for the first time, gazing at her husband in confusion,
"Tou phir kis k saath ayee hai?
Sadain hi tou wapis gaya tha na isay lenay".
All the gazes were now fixed on chotay mamu's frame who spoke through his clenched jaw as if the mere name coursed displeasure through his being,
"Wo Sardar....
Wo Sardar laya hai isay.
Sardar Badar Nauraiz Shah k saath ayee hai ye wapis".
Silence dwelled on the atmosphere as another series of shocked gasps left everyone's lips.
Faseeha mami snorted leaning back on the sofa as she eyed Shanzay with visible disgust,
"Aisay hi tou main na kehti thi k mujhe ye larki awara lagti hai".
Shanzay raised her teary lashes for the first time as the glossy cups gazed at Faseeha Mami's frame.
The face of the aged woman couldn't hide the pleasure this mere news coursed through her frame as she turned her face towards other side trying to hide her smile.
How ironic that it was her own daughter who had pushed her to this ruination, this devastation!
Shanzay for the first time felt a fury towards them so strong, she felt her head throb more in pain.
The sealed lips of her parted as if finally having enough of all this,
"It wasn't j-just me. Faseeha mami, it was Shahana, your daughter, who saw me leaving for the restrooms and still not bothered telling others that I was left there"!
She finally spoke gazing back at Faseeha Mami's orbs that widened with every word leaving her mouth.
"Jhooti hai ye! Khud apni izzat bachanay k liye meri beti ko beech main ghaseet rahi hai'!
Faseeha mami growled back as if stung by a snake utterly enraged as her murderous orbs glared back at Shanzay.
A soft sarcastic chuckle left Shanzay's lips as the gathered moisture on the curve of her lashes dripped down mercilessly,
"Ap Sadain bhai aur Zainab ko bulayen, abhi pata chal jaye ga k jhoota kon hai".
"Is ki bakwas per koi yaqeen na karay! Khud ko bacha rahi hai ye aur bus"!
Faseeha mami snapped back in her venom dripping tone.
"Sach aur jhoot kiya hai, iski tasdeek tou main kerlun gi, lekan agar tumhari Shahana waqaee main zimedar nikli tou yaad rakhna Faseeha, Zindagi us per tung kerdun gi main"!!
Nano jaan snarled with utter chilling-ness and warning lacing her tone.
Waqar Chaudhary huffed as he turned his gaze towards his mother,
"Even if it was Shahana, still what was the need to leave with that despicable Sardar?! Hun?!!
Why couldn't she wait for Sadain to arrive?! Aisi bhi kiya mout per gayee jo us shaks k saath chal pari"?!
"Bhai jaan, aisay na kahain. Apko maloom hai raat k waqt khet kitnay khatarnaak hotay hain. Aisa bhi tou hosakta hai k sardar nay sirf uski madad ki ho"?
Sajjida Mami spoke trying to reason.
Faseeha mami grumbled in her sharp tone,
"Wo Sardar kisi ki jaan letay huay doosri martaba nahi sochta aur is larki k liye khamoshi say apnay dushmanon ki haveli chal para jin k chehray dekhnay ka bhi wo rawadar nahi?! Acha mazaq hai"!
"Humari izzat ka maamla hai Nadia. Aur izzat say barh ker kuch nahi"!
Waqar Chaudhary seethed in an unforgiving tone.
"Apko apni naam ki izzat ki fikar ho ya na ho lekan mujhe apni beti per poora yaqeen hai. Meri beti agar us zalim insan k saath ayee hai tou koi waja hogi"!!!
Her mother spoke in an unwavering tone.
Shanzay really felt another round of tears choking her throat struggling to escape though her eyes as she bit her lower lips to contain the whimper.
Chotay mamu seethed this time in a heartless tone,
"Than be prepared to lose her Nadia. Tum bhi janti ho k is khandaan walay janain tou qurban kersaktay hain lekan izzat kharab nahi honay de saktay"!
He than turned his infuriated gaze towards his wife as he spoke in an authoritative tone,
"Jao Romaisa! Amma jaan ki khandani chaddar waghera lao, sar per karao is k.
Abba huzoor Moulvi Sahab k saath atay hi hnge".
"Waqar".
Her nano jaan spoke in displeasure making the aged man turn towards her,
"Amaw huzoor, you also know well that if Baba jaan has decided something, no matter what happens he won't stop. And this time, it's not just a small matter. Izzat ka maamla hai. Agar hal na Kiya tou bohut khoon beh jaye ga, afratafri phel jaye gi. Maslehat ka ye akhir raasta hai".
Romaisa gulped softly at seeing her mother in law become silent after that as she herself stood up giving Shanzay a sympathetic glance before leaving the sitting area of the hujra walking inside the main bedroom as she started seraching for the Laal ghoongat in the closet that all the brides married from this haveli or in this haveli had to wear during their nikkah.
Shanzay felt her hands sweat at the turn the events were taking.
She wanted to escape this so badly.
She wanted the earth to swallow her or the sky to hide her frame somewhere.
She tried to open her mouth to speak, to say something but the vocal cords refuses to cooperate.
What a misery!
She gulped back the tears as she tugged at her mother's dupatta wanted to voice out the miseries she went through earlier and the cause of them, oh the cause of them!
She wanted to say that the arrogant Sardar had saved her life and safely brought her back home.
Her mother turned towards her frame at feeling the tug but before any word could be exchanged between them, the loud voice echoed from outside belonging to none other than Basit,
"Parda kerlain, Moulvi Sahab arahay hain".
Shanzay shivered visibly as she turned in panic towards her mother,
"M-Ma, n-nahi"!
She shook her head vigorously clutching her mother's dupatta.
Romaisa Mami had reached them as she tried to spread the huge red net dupatta with a thick gota kinari golden border.
Shanzay immediately retreated away from the dupatta that was about to be draped on her head.
She turned towards her mother shaking her head trying to speak something but her vocal cords refuses to cooperate.
Her throat felt obstructed, the tongue of her almost numb.
Just the salty tears left her beautiful eyes sliding down in chain.
Her mother pointedly stared at Romaisa to which she heaved a soft sigh looking at Shanzay with sympathy as she spoke in a low barely audible tone,
"Nadia ye log bohut zalim hain!
Bohut zalim!
Tum janti ho k agar kisi tarha ye na jopaya tou is say ziada zalim saza di jaye gi isay. Mat karo zid.
Jab tak ye nikkah nahi hoga, tab tak is haveli say aik qadam bhi bahar nahi rakhnay diya jaye ga tum dono ko"!
Nadia begum barely stifled the tears from entering her orbs as she let out a shaky whisper turning her gaze towards her mother,
"Ye kahaan ka insaf hai Ammi"?!
Nano jaan let out a helpless sigh as if trying to do great deal of control on herself, to not let the sadness invade her features that she was trying so hard to mask,
"Tumharay baba jaan bohut taish main hain. Is waqt un k khilaf jana unhain jalal main le aye ga aur kuch anhoni hojaye gi. Aik dafa nikkah hojaye tou jab maamla dheema paray ga, main khud un say baat ker kay ye maamla khatam kerwa du gi. Rukhsati bhi nahi honay du gi. Magar beti, abhi main kuch nahi kersakti".
Her voice coming out utterly helpless.
On the other hand Romaisa stepped forward draping the red net dupatta with delicate and exquisite embroidery at corners over Shanzay's head.
Seeing this happen and her mother drape her own dupatta over her own head like the other women present there, Shanzay visibly felt her heart shake with fear,
"Ma"?
Her voice shook with disbelief as she gazed at her through the thin see through veil.
Orbs of her wide in panic, fear and pain, agony oh so obvious in them.
Tears dripping down in continuous chain.
Nadia begum caressed the back of her hand gazing deep into her orbs as she spoke in a firm tone,
"Allah per bharosa rakho meri jaan. Ye bebasi aisay hi nahi.
Meray Rab nay aj tak kisi masoom k saath koi nainsafi nahi honay di, tumharay saath bhi nahi honay de ga.
Allah k faislon per yaqeen rakho.
Kuch bura nahi hoga tumharay saath, Kuch bhi nahi".
She tried to say something but her throat had turned parched.
It became so painful that she coughed shutting her eyes tighter spilling more tears as the other second the huge double doors opened and stepped inside nana jaan, baray mamu and Basit accompanying the Moulvi Sahab.
Basit came forward as he pulled a chair near the sofa Shanzay sat before gesturing for Moulvi Sahab to proceed further to sit.
The elderly man nodded taking his respective seat as nana jaan took his earlier grand seat followed by baray mamu who sat beside him on another chair.
"Rukhsati nahi hogi Rehmat".
Nano jaan spoke in her shaky voice the other second leaving no space for arguments.
Nana jaan remained silent for a couple of seconds before humming softly giving her a slight nod,
"Nahi hogi rukhsati".
Before turned towards the seated frame of Moulvi Sahab.
Basit silently stood behind the Moulvi Sahab with his hands folded on his back.
"Nikkah shuru karain Moulvi Sahab".
Upon nana jaan's booming voice, Shanzay felt her heart visibly quiver as she bit her lower lip to stifle the whimper bubbling to be let out as her hand in her mother's grip shook ever so slightly.
"Allah per bharosa rakho betay".
Her mother murmured softly only for her ears to hear.
The elderly figure started speaking as the silence invaded the air.
Only his voice echoing.
Shanzay's grip on her mother's hand tightened as she shut her eyes tighter.
Ya Rab reham!
"Bahrosa kersakti hain ap mujh per,
Nuqsan nahi pohunchaun ga apko".
In between the cluster of these stone hearted, cruel and manipulative people,
the slight echo of that deep caressing and comforting tone suddenly echoed just beside her ear as the emotionless obsidian irises flashed behind her closed lids making her abruptly open the orbs as she stiffened in fear.
"Pareshan na hn, main ap k saath hu".
The caress of the sound echoed again making her stop her breath to gaze around her but there were only those figures present.
She became afraid as she abruptly turned her neck towards her mother.
Why was she suddenly hearing his earlier said words?
Why were those heartless and lifeless orbs of his flashing across the screen of her mind again?
Nadia begum slightly pressed the back of her hand,
"Beta jawab do".
Shanzay's brows furrowed as if trying to understand what was she saying when the voice of Moulvi echoed again snapping her back to the reality.
"Shanzay Malik, daughter of Salman Malik,
Do you accept Badar Nauraiz Shah, son of Aurangzeb Nameer Shah in your nikkah as your husband"?
They weren't just words, Shanzay felt as if they were daggers aimed at her chest stabbing her heart again and again.
She let out a shaky sigh, parting her lips to say something but nothing came out.
Her teary lashes rose as her glossy orbs raked across her catching all the waiting faces of people who were waiting for her.
Waiting for her to sign the certificate of her death, her ruination.
How easy it was for them to decide future for others, to give orders to them, to control their lives and than sit back and gaze at everything like a spectator seeing how the story unfolds and ends whether in a tragedy or happy ending.
Because it wasn't their life, they hadn't had to live it later,
How would they know what miseries those decisions would bring forth in other's lives?
The rejection danced at the tip of her tongue as she mustered up all her courage and shut her eyes parting her lips to speak, to refuse.
"You're safe. No one will dare hurt you".
The soft caressing whisper sounded like a sprinkle of water on the burning, raging inflamed heart of hers, as if a balm, a medicine spreading on her hurting wounds, like a soft caress of comfort, a slight whisper of assuration, spoken in a low tone as if careful not to startle her as the dark obsidian irises gazed back at her under the cold starry nightsky.
Shanzay immediately opened her orbs as she heaved out a startled gasp.
Slight shivers raked her spine making the hands of hers quiver.
She jumped slightly from her seat when she felt a hand rest on her shoulder,
"Shanzay beta, bolo".
It was Rumi Mami's voice who stood behind the sofa on which she was seated.
Her startled orbs raked past the chilly atmosphere stopping on Moulvi sahab's frame who was repeating the earlier said words again.
"Do you accept Badar Nauraiz Shah, son of Aurangzeb Nameer Shah as your husband"?
He asked again .
"Bharosa kersakti hain ap mujh per".
The soft caressing whisper echoed just beside her ear almost tickling the shell of her ear making her shut her orbs tightly letting go of the moisture accumulated on her lashes.
"Pareshan na hn, main ap k saath hu".
The voice whispering somewhere near her ear again as she opened her orbs the other second.
She felt her mother press her hand gently encouraging her to say something.
The obsidian irises of his flashed across her eyes.
The mere gesture of his hiding those bloodied hands behind his back under the nightsky flashing on the screen of her mind like a film.
She kept gazing at her lap feeling the loud thudding of her heart in her chest turn calm.
The churning dissolving slowly and the chilling-ness slipping away from her frame as her lashes peeking from the thin red net veil quivered letting go of the crystal clear drop that fell on the back of her hand as her lips parted letting out a shaky breathless whisper,
“Qubool hai”
She heard many soft sighs of relief leaving the lips of the inhabitants of the haveli at her words as the Moulvi asked the words again.
“Qubool hai”
Her voice sounded more clear, much more audible this time.
The elderly man repeated the words for the third time and Shanzay spoke this time, raising her head and chin as she spoke in a firm and unwavering tone,
“Qubool hai”.
The nikkah nama was forwarded towards her frame by Basit who pointed at the places where she had to sign.
Shanzay shut her eyes before opening them again as she tried hard not not let her fingers holding the pen quiver.
Leaning on the papers slightly,
Her henna painted left hand held the edge of paper as the henna devoid right hand grasped the pen tightly to an extent her fingertips turned white.
The nip of the pen moved on the papers signing smoothly as the tears blurred her vision yet she stifled them from invading her irises again.
Once the nikkah nama was taken away,
Shanzay shut her orbs as the tears slipped from her left eye cascading down her pale cheek getting stuck in between her honey like soft silky strands as her lips quivered in a low murmur,
“Ya Rab, main nay apna maamla ap k hawalay kiya".
And at that moment the fajar azaan echoed from the nearby mosque as she raised her hand wiping her tear.
She hadbeen tied with that man for eternity,
Whose mere shadow haunted her, scared her and left her utterly frightened.
She had become his wife in those few minutes, those few unfortunate moments, moments she was never ever going to forget.
🥀🥀🥀
🥀🥀🥀
Word Count: 8,470 words
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What did just happen??!!!
Things escalated pretty quickly right there
And so did the precious heart of somebody shatter ever so painfully
Honestly speaking, this was the most emotionally draining and difficult chapter to write.
It was as if feeling agony, churning and every feeling oh so vividly with Shanzay as I wrote this chapter
Also, to state clearly;
I'm not glorifying forced marriage or forced nikkah here in this book
I'm actually trying to highlight how this is ever so easily and shamelessly done in not only many rural/feudal areas but also in the civilized educated urban societies.
Thanks for taking out your precious time to read this chapter.
I actually wanted to update it early but couldn't because I literally finished writing it few minutes before updating it.
I kept writing new drafts, deleting them than rewriting them and than editing them again;
It was extremely exhausting 😟
But hopefully it was worth it at the end,
Don't forget to share your precious feedback and reviews in the comment section ❤️
Also for those waiting for Sardar sahab's POV,
Next chapter is for you guys.
Though it would be from third person's perspective, but you'll definitely get a slight glimpse into his character.
The next update would be dropped on Sunday, October 22nd, 2023.
Please be patient till than 🫶
And also, don't forget to keep yourself warm since it's turning cold these days
Take care 💕