"Meri galti hai isme, mujhe wakai mein tumhare sath zabardasti nahi karni chahiye thi." Hanif Mirza gazes at Hayder, apprehension and guilt in his eyes.
(It's my fault, I shouldn't have forced you for this marriage.)
"Baba, aap kaisi baat kar rahe hain. Apko pura ikhtiyar hai meri zindagi ka faisla lene ka." Hayder holds Hanif Mirza's hand and told him.
(Baba, please don't say this. You have all the rights to take decision for me.)
"Haan lekin shadi jaise mamlat insan ki marzi se hona chahiye..."
(Yes, but one shouldn't be forced into a marriage...)
"Baba, jab meri Hyra se shadi hui thi yeh baat sach hai main gusse mein tha, lekin fir dheere dheere... mujhe adat ho gayi hai uski."
(Baba, I was angry when I got married to Hyra, but... then I got used to her.)
"Lekin tum khush nahi ho. Tum dono hi khush nahi ho."
(But you are not happy. You both are unhappy.)
"Main khush hoon." Hayder takes a deep breath and looks into his grandfather's eyes with conviction.
(I'm happy.)
"Tum wakai khush ho?" Hanif Mirza studies Hayder's face, searching for sincerity.
(Are you really happy?)
"Toh fir tum Hyra ko aise treat kyu karte ho?" Relief washes over Hanif Mirza's face, and he nods slowly. He started talking about Hayder's behaviour, which was the main reason why Dawar took Hyra with him.
(Then why do you treat Hyra like that?)
"Baba, mere yeh samajh nahi araha maine aisa kya kiya uske sath? Pehle bhi toh uske sath aise hi tha na main, ab kyu itna issue ban raha hai." Desperately, Hayder ask.
(Baba, I am unable to understand what I've done. I treated her same before, what's the issue now?)
"Pehle aur ab mein farq hai, Hayder. Pehle woh tumhari chachazaad thi bas, lekin ab biwi hai, agar tum wakai khush ho Hyra ke sath, toh tumhe uski khushi ka bhi khayal rakhna chahiye" Lovingly, Hanif Mirza tries to make him understand where he is wrong and how he could mend his ways.
(There's a difference between before and now, Hayder. Earlier, she was your cousin, but now, she is your wife. If you are truly with Hyra, you should consider about her happiness too.)
•••
Uswa takes a deep breath, her voice trembling as she begins to apologise to Hayder and explains how it isn't Hyra's fault. She had no word in this matter. Everyone decided everything their own, without listening to her.
Hayder remains silent, his expression stern. Uswa shifts uncomfortably, fearing his temper.
Just as she turns to leave, Hayder's voice cuts through the tension.
"Uswa?" Uswa stops in her tracks, turning to face Hayder
"Kya Hyra iss shadi se khush thi?" Hayder's question surprises Uswa.
(Was Hyra happy with this marriage?)
Uswa hesitates, the words catching in her throat. She struggles to find the right way to convey the truth to Hayder.
"Jab aap dono ki engagement hui thi toh woh kafi khush thi, lekin fir..." Uswa's sentence trails off, her voice barely above a whisper. She can't bring herself to complete the sentence, but Hayder understands the unspoken words.
(After engagement, she was happy, but then...)
"Tum ja sakti ho." Hayder dismisses Uswa, his thoughts consumed by the revelation. As Uswa left, Hayder reflects on his actions and their impact on Hyra.
(You can go.)
Hayder realizes that his anger is not a trait he wants in their marriage. He needs to ensure that Hyra feels safe and loved in his presence, not scared. The weight of his responsibility as a husband sinks in.
As the clouds of misunderstanding lifted in Hayder's heart, the love he had for Hyra surged forth like a tidal wave. All he desired now was for Hyra to stay by his side.
But Hyra was afraid to even speak to him, ever since the incident about the sofa. Since then, he had never spoken to Hyra with the same anger. He was trying to be soft with her. Yet, Hayder couldn't help but notice how Hyra flinched at the sound of his voice, even when he called out to Kubra, who was sitting beside her.
Hayder understood that he needed to change the image he had created in Hyra's heart. He always speaks straightforwardly. He wasn't one to beat around the bush, and that's why he had laid out his feelings to Hyra. But it was too late.
"Sab hamesha apki marzi se nahi ho sakta," Hyra said, her voice trembling with emotion. But she couldn't beat to cry in front of him, so she rose up from the sofa to walk away.
(Not everything can happen according to you.)
But as she turned to leave, Hayder held her wrist tightly, stopping her, and pulled her back towards him. Caught off guard, she stumbled and fell into his chest. Her eyes widened on Hayder's act. The tears which she was trying to hold, spilled. And landed on his cheek, leaving a trail of glistening droplets.
"Aisa kya keh diya jo tum itna ro rahi ho." Hayder, following his usual pattern, began scolding her instead of comforting her.
(What I've said which made you cry?)
And Hyra, in line with her usual habit, continued to cry.
There were so many things she could have told him about why she was crying. First of all, Hayder's anger at Hyra for no reason at all, had to be mentioned. And then him insulting her all the time. Rejecting her on the wedding night assassinated her self-esteem, and now, after doing all this, he is saying these things.
Hyra's heart wanted to count each complaint on her fingers to Hayder. Hyra's fingers might run out, but the complaints wouldn't.
"Aap... aap mujhe hamesha datte hain," When she complained like a child, Hayder found himself falling in love with her even more. She had already captured his heart, and today, Hayder surrendered to her completely.
(You... you always scold me.)
"Ab nahi datunga," he promised.
(I won't scold you now.)
"Aap mujhe pagal larki bulate hain," Her complaints were not going to end anytime soon.
(You call me dumb.)
"Achha bas kardo, keh diya na ab nahi datunga. Rona band karo warna main bohot sakhti se pesh aunga." Hayder made his voice stern, which sucked her breath.
(Okay, enough, I've told you I won't scold you now. Stop crying otherwise I will scold you.)
"Dekha!... Aap... aap bohot bure hain, Hayder," Hyra's eyes widened as she managed to say between her hiccups.
(See!... you... you are very bad.)
Taking a defeated sigh out, he gently placed his hand on her cheek and brought her close to him.
In a desperate attempt to comfort her, Hayder ran his hand in her hair.
"Sorry," that's all he could say, and placed a kiss on her head, as if hoping to absorb the pain he had inflicted.
The room was filled with a heavy silence, broken only by the soft sound of Hyra's sniffles and her unspoken emotions.
As Hayder held Hyra close to him, her body trembling from the weight of both physical exhaustion and the emotional turmoil of their conversation, he could feel her gradually relaxing in his arms. Her tears continued to flow, but they grew softer, and her breathing began to steady.
Hayder gently stroked Hyra's hair as she cried herself to sleep. He knew that healing would take time, but he was determined to be there for her every step of the way.
As Hyra finally succumbed to sleep in his comforting embrace, Hayder held her even closer, vowing to do everything in his power to mend the wounds he had unintentionally caused. They remained entwined, finding solace in each other's presence amid the peaceful stillness of the room.
•••
The ancestral feud between Abbas and Khan had raged on for generations, and it didn't surprise anyone when Hamshad Abbas, son of Mir Shad, beat Faiq Khan, Jamshed Khan's son. Mir Shad was worried about his reputation. He was afraid that this thing would take a new turn. But just like Mir Shad, even Jamshed Khan was tired of the feud between them. He wanted no more fights between Abbas and Khans, and that's why he didn't take revenge of his son, instead, he put the proposal of Faiq for Deema, which was accepted by Mir Shad instantly.
When Hamshad Abbas heard of it, he was against the proposal, but Mir Shad heard none of it, as he is the father, and he has all the rights to fix his daughter's marriage.
They were in Khan's house for formal dinner to celebrate the union between two families.
Just when it seemed an agreement was within reach, Hamshad spoke up with a serious look. "I have a condition, Mr. Khan. If you want this marriage to happen, one of your daughters must marry me."
Tit for tat. The only way to ensure his sister's safety.
Jamshed's eyes widened in surprise. All of his daughters were already married, except for one. He glanced at Burhan, who looked down, avoiding eye contact.
Jamshed reluctantly agreed, his voice heavy with resignation. "Very well, Hamshad. My niece, Zara, will marry you."
Burhan remained silent. He could never go against his brother, who was like a father to him, but his face reflected the weight of the decision he had just made for his daughter.
The scene was set for a union meant to end a feud, but it had inadvertently ignited a new, clandestine conflict within the hearts of those involved.
•••
The next morning, the room was bathed in the soft glow of dawn. As Hyra slowly stirred awake in the unfamiliar bed, a brief moment of confusion washed over her. Sitting up, she looked around the room, and the memories of the conversation from the last night gradually flooded back into her consciousness,
"Uss raat woh darri sehmi Hyra mere dil mein utar gayi thi." Hyra bit her lip in contemplation. She wondered whether Hayder's words had been genuine.
Just as she began to dwell on these thoughts, the door to the room swung open, and Hayder entered, engrossed in a phone conversation.
"Baba, aap fikar na karein, hum..," He was talking to Hanif Mirza.
(Baba, don't worry, we are...)
However, the moment he spotted Hyra awake, he swiftly disconnected the call, placing his full attention on her.
Their eyes met, and a sense of vulnerability hung in the air.
"Kya hua? Theek ho?" Seeing worry and hesitation on her face, Hayder came to sat in front of her on the bed, making Hyra scoot a little back.
(What happened? Are you okay?)
Hyra couldn't help but recall all the times he had treated her with indifference or coldness, which made her feel neglected, and now he is asking if she is okay.
"Kya hua, Hyra?" Hayder again asked, putting his hand on her hand.
(What's wrong, Hyra?)
Unable to contain her feelings any longer, Hyra started saying, her voice trembling as she spoke, "Main sab itni jaldi nahi bhool sakti."
(I can not forgive everything so easily.)
"Maine tumhe bohot hurt kiya hai main janta hoon, Hyra, lekin main dawe se keh sakta hoon meri jagah tum hoti toh tumhara bhi yahi reaction hota." Hayder's voice was soft and tender. Today, he wanted to clear Hyra's doubts.
(I know I've hurt you a lot, Hyra, but I can confidently say that if you were in my place, your reaction would have been the same.)
"Bachpan se jante hain ek dusre ko hum, tum toh Kubra se bhi choti ho, hamesha bachho ki tarah tum aur Uswa ghar mein khelte rehte ho. Achanak se jab mere dil ne tumhe pasand kiya toh main khudse bhi nazre nahi mila saka."
(We've known each other since childhood. You're even younger than Kubra, and both you and Uswa always used to play in the house like kids. Suddenly, when my heart started to like you, I couldn't even meet my own eyes.)
"Aur fir Mujhe toh shuru se hi mature larkiyan pasand thi, tum kisi bhi tara se mere mayar pe nahi utarti thi. Fir bhi na jane main tumhari taraf kyu attract hota chala gaya."
(And from the beginning, I liked mature girls, you never fit my criteria in any way. Still, I don't know why I kept getting attracted to you.)
"Inn sab mein tumhari koi galti nahi thi janta hoon. Lekin uss waqt mere zehen mein ek nahi hazar waswase arahe the. Main shuru se hi kam bolta hoon, Hyra. Ghar se bahar toh main kisi gair larki se kabhi baat bhi nahi karta, shayad yeh bhi wajah thi ki mujhe maloom hi nahi tha yeh sab kitne nazuk halat hain aur mujhe gusse se nahi sabr se kaam lena chahiye. Maine bas taish mein akey pehli raat tumse aisi baat ki."
(I know you weren't at fault in all of this. But at that time, thousand of doubts were running through my mind. I've always been reserved, Hyra. I never talk to any girl outside my home, maybe that's why I didn't even realize how delicate these situations can be, and that I should have handled it with patience, not anger. I spoke to you like that just out of frustration on our first night.)
"Lekin tumne toh meri soch se bhi zyada react kiya. Tumne bhi toh kaha tha main tumhara ideal nahi, aur fir tum toh kabhi meri biwi banke rahi hi nahi. Ek ghar mein, ek room mein reh kar bhi gair the, tumhare liye toh sirf tumne room change kiya tha jaise, baki toh tum pehle jaisi hi rahi, hamesha niche Uswa ke sath hi hoti thi. Shadi shuda hone ka koi farz nahi nibhaya. Tum thora narm hoti, thora jo kabhi meri biwi banke apna haq jatati toh shayad mera dil bhi narm ho jata aur..."
(But you also overreacted more than my expectations. You also said I'm not your ideal, and you never really acted like my wife. We were living in the same house, in the same room, but still were strangers. For you, it was as if you just changed rooms, everything else about you remained the same, you were always with Uswa. You didn't fulfill the responsibilities of a married woman. If you had been a bit more gentle, if you had ever asserted your rights as my wife, maybe my heart would have softened, and...)
"Apka matlab yeh sari meri galti hai? Apke rejection pe mujhe apke kadmo mein gir jana chahiye tha ki please mujhe accept kar lein." Hyra interrupted him and asked.
(You mean it's my fault? I should've begged you to accept me as your wife.)
Hayder never liked anyone interrupting him, but when she does it, and complained, he softly chuckles. "Bohot tezz ho tum, Hyra, bas dikhawe ka darr rehta hai tumhe."
(You are very quick, Hyra, you just pretend to be scared of me.)
"Main tumse bohot mohabbat karta hoon, pagal larki, aur tumhe jo hurt kiya hai unn sab ke liye maafi chahta hoon. Main janta hoon tumhare liye yeh sab bhoolna asan nahi, lekin please, koshish toh karo." Hayder held Hyra's hand,
(I love you a lot, dumb girl, and I want to apologize for hurting you with all of this. I know it's not easy for you to forget this, but please, try.)
Now, Hyra was so overwhelmed by Hayder's heartfelt confession that she momentarily forgot her reservations. All she remembers that Hayder loved her, and he was apologizing for his past behaviour. She wanted to reciprocate, wanting to hide herself in his strong arms and confess about her feelings, but her shyness got the better of her, and she couldn't hug him. But just as she was about to respond, Hayder's phone began to ring, interrupting their moment.
•••
Okay, Ik short chapter. y'all probably wants 10k something long chapters, but yaar, long chapters were never my expertise🤧. If you read my previous stories, all of it have short chapters between 2k to 3k bas 👉🏻👈🏻. It was different for Sharar because Sharar reached 50 chapters and if I keep writing shorter chapter it would have crossed 100 chapters and I didn't want that, that's why I wrote longer chapter for Sharar🐒. Now coming back to Khizaan, I wanted to give a long chapter, trust me, but as soon as it hit the 2k mark, my mind just stopped working, it was like nope, publish this only then I'll write next scene... aur fir late bhi kafi ho raha update ke liye Toh maine socha kar dete hain post😬
Khair, how's the chapter?
Hayder bhai ne ek dam se waqt badal diye, jazbaat badal diye🤭
-Ufaq