Shehrina lay down to sleep after performing the Isha prayer; she didn't want to listen to the message, but her heart was still uncontrollably drawn to it. Her finger touched the screen, and Sarim's voice reached her ears.
"I cannot live life without you, and living is far off; even imagining it is life-threatening. Why have you become so harsh? I know that even today, the final say in your life's decisions will be considered yours. Don't let this injustice happen to me as well as yourself. I want to send my mother again. Please don't let her return disappointed this time."
He was addressing her in a helpless manner. Shehrina squeezed her eyes shut in anguish. For so many days he had been calling her, and she wasn't attending his calls. She would delete his messages without even reading them. As a result of today's involuntary action, she listened to the message, but now she regretted that action too. On the other side, perhaps the mobile was in Sarim's hand. As soon as he saw the blue tick, he made the call. Shehrina took a deep breath and then attended the call.
"How are you, shehrina?" He spoke in a restless tone.
"Why are you doing this? Uncle's displeasure is right .."
But you can take a stand for us. Auntie has already apologized. She is ready to come and apologize again. Please ask your uncle to have a big heart and forgive her."
"Even if my father forgives my aunt, what do I do about my heart? Along with my aunt's accusation, your distrust also broke me, Sarim! She said it as if she was choked."
"How do I remove this misunderstanding of yours, shehrina? There was no distrust on my part. At that time, it was just a communication gap," he said helplessly.
"A good term you've coined," she said sarcastically. "Anyway, I just have to say this to you that there is absolutely no need to send Auntie here again for this purpose. Father's decision is final, and whatever Auntie did to us, I still don't want Father to deal with her harshly. If the chapter between the two of us closes, maybe after some time the relations between the two families will be restored again. Who do Mother and Auntie have besides each other? I don't want the relationship between the two sisters to be sacrificed for our relationship."
"Father had told Auntie last time too that if she comes to this house only as Mother's sister, she is welcome, but broken relationships cannot be restored now. Please, Sarim, don't send Auntie here again for this purpose. This is now absolutely impossible." She addressed him in an unyielding tone, hiding the pain in her heart.
And without listening to anything more from Sarim, she immediately disconnected the call. He was calling again, but it was decided that shehrina would not talk to him again. Turning off her mobile, she lay down on the bed tiredly. Tears began to soak her cheeks.
Sarim was her maternal cousin as well as her best friend. They spent their childhood doing mischief together. Her aunt's house was not too far away. Both of them used to go to school together, and in the evening Sarim would come to play with her. He was very intelligent; he would complete his homework and come to find shehrina entangled in the books.
"You quickly memorize and recite it to me. I will complete the homework."
shehrina anyway hated writing. She was grateful for Sarim's help. He was her helper and supporter everywhere, every moment, every second. In school, no child dared to look at shehrina with a crooked eye.
In the evening, when both of them used to play with the children of the neighborhood, even in Sarim's presence, no child had the courage to cheat or foul play with shehrina in any game. Yes, sometimes shehrina and Sarim would fight with each other, but the duration of the sulking was very short. It was Sarim who would take the initiative to say sorry himself, whether there was a mistake or not, in both situations. Childhood passed, both of them stepped on the threshold of adolescence, and then somehow they came to know about their mothers' intentions.
Rafia Khala had years ago asked her sister for shehrina's hand for Sarim. Allah had blessed Arifa with Shehryina in the form of offspring. Both husband and wife loved their only daughter very much. Who could be better than Sarim for their princess? The aunt doted on her niece, and Sarim was also a promising child in every respect. Shehrina came to know about the big relationship between her and him...
She would not be the same old shehrina, but would have gathered herself on her modesty. Now she had the courage to face Sarim, that now she had a strange shyness and modesty in being informal with Sarim. Then the students, then the mother's.
6th grade.
Both were very mindful of family values. All the lessons of shame, modesty, ethics, and manners were instilled in Sarim and shehrina. Poor Sarim used to long to even see shehrina's face. Now it was impossible to go to auntie's house without any justification. Only on some occasion or festival would the whole family gather, then shehrina or Shahram would come to each other's house. He would sit there pretending to be an obedient child in front of the elders, but after much effort, he would find such an opportunity when shehrina was alone. Two or four minutes were insufficient to express the restlessness of the heart. Still, he would somehow express the state of his heart. shehrina's shy eyes were his affirmative answer. That period of life was very beautiful, then a slight difference arose between the two families.
Rafia was not in favor of her niece going to university. In her opinion, what she had studied was enough. Nisar Ahmed wanted to educate his daughter further, or rather, it would be more appropriate to say that he would not allow anyone to stand in the way of his daughter's wishes. shehrina had completed her graduation with very good marks, and studying further was her intense desire. Akifa, in this matter, was in agreement with her sister instead of her husband and daughter. She was hesitant to send her daughter to a co-educational institution.
"Try to understand the matter, shehrina's father, Rafia, does not consider girls going to university as a good thing. He did not allow his three daughters to study further either. Tomorrow, our shehrina has to go to his house. We have to consider shehrina's..."
In this matter, their likes and dislikes will have to be considered. Rather, the husband should be made to understand the delicacy of the staff, they were staying at night and keep the night. Rafea came but Nisar Ahmed was not ready to listen to anything.
Although they should also give high education to their children, but they did not do so, then it is their wish, no one including me can blame them in this matter, but my daughter is at my home right now, regarding her life, she is a child, I have full authority to make any decision. If Shehrina is desirous of further studies, I will definitely educate her further because education is a fundamental human right, no one can snatch this right from my daughter.
Nisar Ahmed said in a clear tone. Aaila failed to make her husband understand, so she pounced on her daughter alone.
"You yourself are sowing thorns in your path. Rafea Apa has made it clear not once but many times in clean and clear words that she will not like you studying with boys. Why doesn't the ghost of going to university get off your head?" She was getting angry at her daughter.
"You don't worry, Ammi. Even if Khalah gets angry, this anger will be temporary. Sarim himself will persuade Khalah." Shehreena consoled her mother, this trust in Sarim was not without reason, but this trust was bestowed upon her by Sarim himself. ☆☆☆
He had continued his education without caring about the opposition of his mother and aunt. Sarim had also stepped into practical life after hoisting the flags of success in the field. He was soon given a very good job based on his brilliant educational record.
Rafea remained genuinely angry with her brother for a long time, gradually the aunt's anger also died down. She now wanted to make her darling niece the bride and the glory of her courtyard, anyway, shehrina master's was about to be completed.
The dreams had been fulfilled. For the fulfillment of those dreams, she was grateful to Sarim as well as her father. From Sarim's side, there was no restriction on her not doing a job.
"I know that doing a job is also your childhood passion. If there is a good offer, accept it. Don't make everyone tired by sitting at home with such a good degree; it would be an injustice to that degree."
"So what do you want, Sarim! That Aunt completely drops the idea of making me her daughter-in-law?" She said, staring at him with suspicious eyes. With age and the passage of time, she had at least become so mature that instead of shyly locking herself in the room upon Sarim's arrival, she would now talk to him comfortably in a friendly manner. Sarim couldn't help but burst into laughter upon hearing her words.
"You are right. If Granny finds out that I am allowing you to do a job, she will kick me out of the house with my mat and bedding before bringing you home."
"When you know Aunt's mood, why do you say such things?" she asked with a smile. "If I don't understand the dialogue, I consider it my duty to fulfill your every wish." He smiled, looking at her with loving eyes.
"These are scholarly dialogues, but you will remember that I believed your words." She was laughing.
These days, a smile never left her lips. Who knew that very soon these lips would forget how to smile? To fix the wedding date, Amina Api's arrival was expected. Sarim's three elder sisters were married. Safa and Anti Api were married in the same city, while Amina Api was married to her paternal uncle's son across the seven seas.
The three sisters had many desires hidden in their hearts for their only brother's wedding. When Amina gave the green signal to come to Pakistan, both families started preparing for the wedding with great enthusiasm.
It was one such day. Shahrina had just returned from the market with her mother. Meanwhile, Khalah Rafia arrived. Shahrina felt something unexpected or wrong as soon as she looked at her aunt's face.
"Is everything alright, apa? Have you come alone at this time?" Akifa looked around for Sarim.
"Sarim has gone to Islamabad for office work, your brother-in-law and I have come," she replied to her sister in a flat tone. Akifa was even more surprised to see Tanveer sahib coming. Both sisters frequently visited each other's houses. Sometimes Shar Ahmad would also go to his sister-in-law's house with his wife, but Tanveer sahib hardly ever came here except for Eid and Bakr-Eid. He rarely went anywhere other than his shop and mosque. Nisaar Ahmad came forward to meet him.
"Wow, today Tanveer bhai has also come with Apa. This is truly amazing!"
"The amazing thing is what your daughter has done, Thar," Rafia said in a huff.
"Rafia Begum, talk to Amal. I brought you here after so much convincing," the gentle Tanveer Khalu explained to his wife in a low voice.
"When is there any room left to talk to Amal, Tanveer sahib! You let me talk in my way. I will finish the matter and be back in two minutes." Rafia glared at her daughter-in-law. She didn't even want to bring her husband along for this reason. Even in this difficult situation, she had to bring him.
They had been advising to stay calm and Rafe'a was very eager to express her heart's grief and seeing the expressions of Shahrina's aunt, she was inwardly thinking of her as an infidel. The aunt, with an age-old manner, looked at her in such a way that she could not bear those gazes. After all, what mistake had she committed? Hakima and Nisar Ahmed were standing there surprised and worried.
"I was against Shahrina going to the university to avoid that day, Nisar Ahmed, but you were obsessed with giving your daughter a higher education. Now look at your daughter's deeds, what is she up to?" She said this in a disgusted tone and extended the mobile phone towards Nisar Ahmed.
Nisar Ahmed took the phone. Aakifa also moved closer to her husband. Both husband and wife looked at the mobile screen at the same time. Then Aakifa looked at her daughter with disbelief while Nisar Ahmed looked seriously towards his sister-in-law.
"Yes, look at this picture, what will you say now, Nisar Ahmed? Will you offer any justification for this shamelessness?" She addressed her in a venomous tone. Shahrina's heart beat fast. What pictures is this aunt talking about? She rushed forward and snatched the mobile from her father's hand. As soon as she looked at the screen, her mind exploded. An extremely obscene picture of her with a boy was present on the screen.
"Dad, this is a lie, it's a fake picture, it's photoshopped." She addressed her father in distress. "Don't be so impudent, Shahrina. If you have done the mistake, then accept it. Who is this boy and since when has this affair been going on?" Rafe'a's aunt addressed her in a disgusted tone. Seeing the tone and manner of the aunt who used to dote on her, Shahrina almost fainted.
Believe me, my aunt, I know that boy. This picture is a forgery, it has been made." She said tearfully.
"What kind of forgery? Say that these clothes you are wearing are not yours. Oh, these are the same ones I sent for your Eid gift. Look closely, or has your eyesight weakened?"
"Yes, aunt, this is me. I used to wear this suit to a university function, but someone has joined my picture with someone else's picture, believe me."
"Why would anyone need to have this enmity with you? Something must have happened, yes, on the basis of which..."
"Please, sister, when my daughter has said that this is not her picture, why are you prolonging the matter? I have full trust in my daughter; she cannot do anything that would tarnish her parents' honor," Nisar Ahmed had interrupted his sister-in-law.
"It is your fault, Nisar Ahmed, that we all have to see this day today. If she had sat at home after studying till 14th grade like other respectable girls, all this would not have happened."
"What are you talking about, sister? Girls who get higher education are not respectable? And there is absolutely no need to accuse my daughter. She went to university to study with her father's consent and permission."
"Yes, so look at the result of going to university then. You can deny this picture, I cannot. Think for yourself, someone must have taken this picture, yes, and then why was it sent to my number? Who gave my number?"
"You are blindly trusting your daughter. We are neither so blind to sense nor do we have a blindfold over our eyes," she spoke in a venomous tone.
Nisar Ahmed also got more upset. Neither of them was ready to talk calmly.
"Sister, please sit down, we will talk with ease." Aila was flustered seeing her sister's attitude.
"What is there to talk about now, Akifa? With what fondness and aspirations we two sisters tied the knot between our children. If Shehrina liked someone else, why was she pretending to marry Sarim happily? Honestly, you didn't force her into this marriage, did you?" Rafia Khala was becoming so suspicious for some reason.
Shehreenah's hands and feet started to go cold. The direction the conversation was going in, she could clearly see its logical conclusion. She immediately hurried towards her room and dialed Sarim's number. It rang twice and then went to voicemail.
"Why is Sarim not picking up the phone? Khala hasn't told him everything and made him suspicious too, has she?" Her heart sank. "Who sent the picture to Khala's number? Why was this picture created through forgery and what was the sender's purpose?" Pushing all the questions swirling in her mind aside, at that moment she only wanted to save her relationship with Sarim. But why wasn't Sarim picking up the phone? She dialed the number once more with trembling hands.
"Yes, shehrina, hello, what's the matter?" He was attending a very important meeting at that time. After shehrina repeated attempts to contact him, he excused himself from the meeting participants, went to one side, and attended the call. There was haste in his manner. But shehrina interpreted this hurried manner as indifference. "Stop Khala, Sarim, or everything will be over."
"What do you mean?" He was confused.
"This picture has no reality. I wonder what envious person is after our happiness. This picture has been prepared very skillfully, but still..."
Auntie should have believed me. Does she not trust me even a little bit? Talk to her and make her understand that by believing in a baseless and false thing, she shouldn't put our relationship at stake.
"What are you saying, Shehr Bano! I haven't understood anything you've said. He said, slightly irritated.
Shehr Bano wasn't expecting his irritated tone at that moment. She wanted to make Sarim realize the satisfaction of the topic again, but for some reason, Sarim wanted to get rid of her at that moment.
I don't know what you're talking about, what picture, what kind of picture, and until I see this picture, how will I understand the matter? For now, I'm attending a very important meeting. Because of your repeated calls, I've come aside to listen to you. But honestly, I don't understand anything. I'll call you back after I'm free from the meeting.
Shehr Bano kept fidgeting, but the connection from Sarim's side was disconnected. She looked at her phone in disbelief.
The one who promised to stay together for life didn't live up to the first test. When else could she need Sarim's support more than that moment? Like a losing gambler, she came out of the room, crying to herself. There, her father and auntie's argument had reached a satisfying mode.
If I don't have the right to ask for an explanation, then who does, Naru Ahmed? I'm about to include her in my only son's life. The matter is not just about your daughter, it's about my future daughter-in-law.
If my daughter is not worthy of your trust, then there is no justification for this relationship to remain, and when the relationship doesn't remain, then you (said in Shehr Bano's tone).
Are you blindly trusting Shehreen? Will you not ask her even once what matter came up in the university? The boy in the picture, who is he? If someone has done all this even in their mind, then why did it come to this? You are threatening me that I should end the relationship. Rafeea was furious.
"Sister, I am not threatening her, as far as I am concerned, this relationship is over. I cannot marry my niece in my own home where her character is not even considered trustworthy."
Shaar Ahmad's patience had also run out. Aakifa, who was listening to her sister and husband's conversation in shock, was further bewildered upon hearing this from her husband's mouth.
"What kind of things are you saying, Shaar! This is the time to act with sense, not emotion. Sister, please sit down. Shehreen is standing in front of you, whatever you want to ask her, whatever clarification or explanation you want is your right. If she has made any mistake, she will accept it and apologize to you." At Aakifa's insistence, Shehreen looked at her mother in disbelief.
"He has said everything is over, then on what grounds are you asking your darling to apologize, Aakifa! The mistake was ours that we came here thinking we had the right to ask for clarification and explanation." Rafeea's attitude had worsened further.
"You didn't come here for clarification or anything, but to blindly believe a lie and merely accuse, and indeed my daughter is not obligated to give you an explanation. Her father has complete faith in her," Shaar Ahmad said firmly.
Shehreen's eyes welled up. Perhaps if it had been any other father, his faith might have wavered, but her father did not believe in this deception for a m
oment.
It was enough, Now staying here is tantamount to more self-respect, so she had left. The owner made them cry, 'O Heer, you didn't even want tea, you have killed me!' This was the time to act with tact, and Shereena, you tell me what it was. Who is this boy with whom she was standing, smiling shamelessly and clinging? She growled and addressed her daughter.
'Mom, I told you this picture is photoshopped. Someone skillfully merged my picture with another picture. I was at the function with Sidra and Ibtisam, you remember Mom, I wore this suit to the university function.' Her mother's disbelief had wounded her, yet she was still explaining while crying.
'And then send this picture to Apa's number. Something must have happened at the university that you hid from us. Maybe you scolded this boy or some other boy. Someone might have tried to approach you and you didn't reciprocate his feelings, so he took this step out of spite.' She was now considering every possible angle. Shereena kept shaking her head in denial while crying.
'You might have had a fight with one of your friends, and she did this out of jealousy, stubbornness, or envy. Something must have happened, tell me everything, Shereena, for God's sake, don't hide it.'
'Mom, I told you nothing happened. And I only have two friends, you know that, right? Sidra and Ibtisam have been with me since school time. They have come here so many times. I go to their houses with you. You know their families well.'
She knows it well. If you don't believe me, call them and ask. Nothing happened there that would cause me concern and force me to hide something from you."
"This is the time to give courage to your daughter, don't distress her with your investigation, Aakifa." Nisar Ahmed addressed his wife in an angry tone.
"You stay out of it, and Shireen, show me your phone." Aakifa wanted assurance for all her apprehensions. Shireen gave her the phone even before a moment passed, yet she was saddened by her distrust.
"My Lord knows, Abu, that I have never done anything in my life that would make me avoid eye contact with you people. I really don't know why someone did this heinous act. Please believe me." She addressed her father in a helpless manner.
"Your father's trust in you has not wavered for a moment, my daughter, why are you so worried?" Nisar Ahmed consoled his daughter by embracing her. This trust and confidence from her father made her respectable in her own eyes. But tears kept soaking her cheeks. After checking the mobile for a while, Aakifa wanted to return it.
"No, Ammi, keep this with you for now. When my contact with the outside world is cut off, maybe that's how I can win your trust." A complaint inadvertently came out of her lips.
"Whose evil eye has jinxed my child's happiness? What did anyone gain by doing all this? My head is bursting from thinking about it." Aakifa pressed her temples.
And this was the question to which no one had an answer. Shehriyar was going crazy just thinking to herself who was behind this heinous act and what purpose they wanted to achieve with this act. She had not taken her mobile back from her mother. Arifa also, for some reason, switched off the mobile and put it in the drawer.
☆☆☆
Sarim was in distress after failing to contact her. On his return from Islamabad, he came to know about the whole incident. It was obvious at a glance that it was a fake picture and you reached your aunt's house making a fuss. He was confused, not understanding the purpose of the person who sent the picture, but he was also very angry at his mother's actions. It was still difficult to convince Rafia that this picture was not real.
Sarim had the picture forensically examined and convinced his mother that Shehriyar's picture was created by forgery. Rafia was somewhat ashamed, but now the nature of her fears changed.
If the nature of fears changed, then why would someone need to do this heinous act? There must be some factors behind this act, right? Now, along with Sarim, the daughters also jumped into the field to convince her.
"Mom, why should Shehreen suffer for someone else's actions? Shehreen's whole life is like an open book in front of us. You suspected an innocent, simple, virtuous girl for no reason, and then Sarim loves her like crazy. Your son won't be able to live without her.
"For God's sake, you go and talk to Uncle Nisar. Whatever he said in anger, if you apologize, he will definitely agree, and the relationship between Sarim and Shehreen will be back..."
Even across seven seas, Amna used to present the case of Kala with diligence. She was an old-fashioned woman who had fought the case of Corona and Rafea, which city is this? Her general opinion about girls studying in educational institutions is that they are grown-up girls. She was strongly against Shehrina going to university, but when Nisar Ahmed sent Shehrina to university without paying heed to her opposition, she remained upset for many days that her opinion had been dismissed. But then, for the sake of her children's understanding and especially for Sarim's happiness, she agreed to swallow this bitter pill. And now she was busy with preparations for Sarim's wedding with great enthusiasm when a picture from an unknown number proved her apprehensions true. Without verification, she immediately believed it, and not only believed it but also went to her sister's house and blamed Shehrina.
After the picture was proved fabricated and false, she became remorseful and went back to her sister's doorstep to ask for Shehrina's hand again.
"Sarim has had the picture tested, what does he say?" "Yes, he had it forensically tested. Some ill-wisher tried to create a misunderstanding between us. Nisar Mian! I am ashamed of my emotional outburst. Forget what happened and tell me when I should bring my Sarim's wedding procession to your doorstep." Rafea was addressing her brother-in-law very politely. "Sister! That matter ended that very day, and now please do not embarrass me by repeating this question. So what if the relationship between Shehrina and Sarim is over? The relationship between you two sisters remains intact, yes, and you will always be respectable to me in this regard, and the doors of my house will always be open for you, so then..."
Besides this relationship, no other relationship will be restored. Please accept my sincere apologies.
He had failed to convince his husband. After his sister left, he wanted to make him realize his foolishness many times, but Nisar Ahmed was not ready to listen to anything in this matter now.
"You are my wife, Aakifa, but throughout my life, I have had strong differences with some of your views. Not just a few, but you both have a specific mindset. Now I don't know if this was the result of the suffocating environment of your home or if these things were instilled in your minds from childhood that you don't want to give girls the freedom to live."
"Aapa has displayed her specific mindset many times before, and you never disagreed with anything she said. Sarim is a good boy, and considering his intelligence and capability, I overlooked many aspects of his family, but that was my mistake. I do not want to marry my daughter into that narrow-minded, old-fashioned home. Who knows, if such a situation arises again at some point in life, my daughter will again be considered suspicious in your Aapa's eyes."
"Every step she takes will be under strict surveillance. Rafia Aapa is emotional. First, in anger and emotion, she blamed my daughter for a sin she didn't commit, and now she has come running back after accepting it, but forgive me, Aakifa, your sister has now lost my trust, and I do not have the courage to hand over my flesh and blood to them."
Aakifa, who was attributing her husband's refusal to his stubbornness and ego, was stunned by this logical and blunt answer.
They knew that no power in the world could now change her husband's decision, yet they wanted to persuade him by mentioning her sincere feelings for shehrina's . Nisar Ahmed called his daughter, informed her of his decision, and also asked for her opinion.
How could Shareena break the trust of the father who had not broken his daughter's trust at a time when even her mother's eyes had shadows of doubt for her?
"I trust your wisdom and intelligence more than my own sense, Abu. Whatever decision you make regarding my life, I will accept it wholeheartedly." She had bowed her head to her father's will without a moment's hesitation.
Arifa was upset over her daughter's foolishness, but there was nothing she could do. It was beyond Sarim's wildest dreams that this relationship between him and Shareena could break so easily. He wanted to meet Shareena once and sort out the whole matter, but for many days her number remained switched off, and even when her mobile was on, she was neither attending his calls nor listening to any messages. Aila was angry with her husband and used to express this anger openly. That day was also such a day when the argument between husband and wife escalated. Shareena was helplessly watching her parents argue with each other. When Nisar Ahmed repeatedly expressed his helplessness, she became worried.
"Abu! Are you feeling alright? Your face is turning completely red." Shareena approached her father in a state of concern.
"What's wrong? My blood pressure must have gone up because of your mother's talk." He pressed his temple.
"Check your father's BP." Arifa also forgot the quarrel. Shareena ran and picked up the BP apparatus.
He brought it. Now Nisar started pressing his left arm. After checking his blood pressure, Shehr Bano's senses flew away.
"Oh my God, Abu, let's go to the hospital immediately. BP is shooting up."
"I won't be able to drive. I'll take some medicine. I'll be fine. You don't take tension."
"Go to Hidayat Sahib's house and see, maybe he is at home at this time. He will drop us off at the hospital." Akifa also lost her senses seeing her husband's condition.
Nisar Ahmed wanted to stop his daughter, but she ignored him and quickly left the house. Professor Hidayat was their neighbor. He was a good-natured and noble person. Nisar Ahmed had a good relationship with him, although Akifa did not like his family; she found them too liberal. Apart from the exchange of dishes on a special occasion or festival, she had not tried to establish any relationship with the family living in the neighborhood, but at this time, the idea of taking help from them came to her mind. Suhaib was Hidayat Sahib's middle son. When Shehr Bano rang the bell, he opened the door.
"Abu's BP has dangerously increased. Driving is not possible for me. Can one of you drop us off at Aziz Hospital?" She asked the important question immediately without any preamble. Her frantic face was enough to explain the gravity of the situation.
"Yes, yes, of course, I am coming. I will inform my parents and be right there. You take Uncle to the car."
Suhaib also did not take a moment to think. Along with him, he took Nisar Ahmed to the nearest hospital. Due to immediate medical attention, Karo's condition was fine, otherwise, according to the doctors, the danger level on our bare skin had touched a dangerous limit and there was a risk of death, including a heart attack. Allah was merciful, and by reaching the hospital in time, his health improved.
The only benefit of this illness was that Aalia stopped arguing with her husband. At the moment, she was not saying anything that might cause Nar Ahmed anxiety. Shereena also breathed a sigh of relief in the peaceful atmosphere of the house, but little did she know that this moment of peace was temporary.
A few days later, another unexpected situation caused a stir in their hearts and minds. Professor Hamdani arrived at their house with his wife to ask for Aalia's hand for Sohaib. When Nar Ahmed broke off her engagement with Sarim, she had put her heartfelt emotions for Sarim aside and only proved to be a good daughter.
She might have a thousand grievances against Sarim in her heart, but it was also true that even today, her heart beat only for Sarim. She had just closed her eyes like a pigeon at the end of her relationship with him, perhaps the hope that everything would be fine was still alive in the hidden corners of her heart.
It was not even in her wildest dreams that someone else would come forward as her suitor during this time. Professor Hamdani and his wife had come to ask for her hand with great respect and love, and the worrying thing was that Nar Ahmed was seriously considering this proposal, while Aakifa had never liked this family and was still openly expressing her dislike.
What you are calling liberalism in an unpleasant way, Aakifa Begum, is their enlightenment...
They are extremely polite, well-mannered, and educated people. You have become so. Since you are not formally educated, your sense of inferiority also prevented you from mixing with these people, even though they have been in front of us for years. Anyway, I like those people very much and I am going to give them a positive answer very soon.
"You have become stubborn for no reason; shehrina will not be happy with anyone other than Sarim." A'ilah now avoided arguing with her husband, even now she wanted to convince him in a very pleading manner. "I ended her relationship with Sarim only after asking for shehrina's consent, and now before connecting her relationship with Suhaib, I will definitely ask for her consent, don't you worry." He addressed his wife.
shehrina found herself at a strange crossroads; her heart had not yet accepted the decision to separate from Sarim. How could her heart accept someone else so quickly? Perhaps A'akifah's contact with her sister was still restored. This news also reached Sarim, which is why he was restlessly sending messages on the stage. shehrina was helpless; Sarim had surely broken her trust badly. She thought that Sarim would trust her, but Sarim had to get a forensic analysis of that fake picture to trust her. Her soul was pierced by his act, but despite this, he was still the peace of her heart; the thought of spending life with someone else was tormenting. A'akifah was repeatedly provoking her to express her opinion clearly in front of her father.
"I had given my father the authority to make all kinds of decisions related to my life, mother! Now I cannot go back on my words." She said slowly.
"Okay then, accept your father's decision happily. Suhaib is a good boy, handsome. He has a great job and a good salary. Forget Sarim's job as a thing of the past."
Aila also accepted the reality and was teaching her daughter to compromise with the situation. She knew her husband's decision was final; he would not connect the relationship with Sarim at any cost.
Refusing the proposal of Suhaib, who lived in the neighborhood, was not a wise decision. Apart from minor differences with the residents, he had no major flaws. According to her husband, they were educated and gentle people, so Akifa also somehow convinced her heart for this relationship. Shereena's heart, however, was not ready to cooperate with this, but she was trying that her heart's condition should not be revealed to her father. Although Suhaib really had no shortcomings.
He was her senior in the university. A talented and capable boy whose ability was famous throughout the university, but everything was being decided with such speed that her mind had become completely numb. Akifa had already completed her daughter's wedding preparations, so when Professor Sahib and others indicated to have the wedding soon, Nisar Ahmed happily accepted their demand. shehrina was watching all this with a numb mind but was unable to do anything.
"If you want to invite Rafia to the wedding, I have absolutely no objection. She is your older sister and this relationship is not going to break." At Nisar Ahmed's words, Rafia looked at her husband with a complaining gaze but refrained from saying anything. What was the point of saying anything now? They had sent the wedding card via WhatsApp instead of going to deliver it. shehrina blocked Sarim's number. She had no control over her heart, but she wanted to start her new life with honesty. 2
025.
The wedding days came closer. A distant relative aunt and uncle arrived with their family to attend the wedding. There was hustle and bustle in the house; Aliya too was busy trying to make the wedding ceremony memorable with enthusiasm, forgetting everything else. Humayun's ceremony was held at home, but Akifa fulfilled all the desires hidden in her heart regarding her only daughter's wedding.
All their traditional family rituals were being fulfilled. Everyone was enjoying thoroughly, only Shehrina was there, whose heart seemed to be sinking into the abyss with each passing moment.
The Nikah ceremony was scheduled before the Mehndi function, but there were no signs of any kind of solitude in the neighborhood yet; the aunt then openly expressed her surprise about this.
She is educated. Very mature and sober people, not like you who make noise with drums. You people have created a ruckus for four days, Chhoti. Nisar Ahmed teased his sister with a smile.
So brother, if they are educated, we are not illiterate either, but some fun is warranted on a happy occasion. There is silence in the neighborhood; it doesn't even feel like the boy of that house is getting married. Laiba aunt expressed her surprise.
And this surprise was not without reason. In the afternoon, Professor Sahib and his wife came to meet Nisar Ahmed and Aila. From their embarrassed faces and stooped shoulders, Nisar and Aila began to feel that something unusual had happened.
Wedding estimate
is the day
and women's digest
Is everything alright, Professor Sahib? You look a little worried. Nisar Ahmed, feeling disturbed,
He asked. Drops of sweat appeared on Hamdani Sahib's forehead. Both husband and wife looked at each other.
"Tell me, what's the matter, sister-in-law? My heart is sinking looking at your faces." Aakifa addressed Begum Hamdani, looking worried.
"Soaib has been missing from home for two days." Begum Hamdani informed with a trembling voice.
"What are you saying? Where did he go? God forbid, nothing happened, did it?" Nisar Ahmed's thoughts could only fly this far.
"No, nothing happened to him. He is fine, but he has surely killed us while we are alive. He kept his mobile off all day yesterday, and we kept searching for him like crazy, and today he contacted us himself and informed that he is not ready for this marriage and will keep himself hidden until the wedding time passes." Hamdani Sahib informed with burning eyes.
"Oh my God, what are you saying? The wedding is tomorrow. What face will we show the world? Didn't you ask your son what the purpose of this action is? When he wasn't ready for marriage, why did you agree to this proposal? In fact, we should ask you this question. Why didn't you ask your son when you were arranging the marriage?" Aakifa pounced on them.
"You are completely misunderstanding, sister-in-law. The truth is that we asked for this proposal on Soaib's insistence. Even I don't understand what happened all of a sudden. All the wedding arrangements were entrusted to him. The estimate of guests, the selection of the marriage hall, the food menu... he was busy with all these things until two days ago, then..."
Suddenly, he refused to marry; this reality is not sitting well with me.
Anyway, let me talk to him, I will ask him about it. Maybe there's some misunderstanding, Nisar Ahmed said slowly. Akifa looked at her husband with tearful eyes. Perhaps no one else would have understood the depth of the matter.
"Mr. Hamdani, the good thing is that Moheeb gave us a chance to make eye contact with you people before coming to you. We tried our best to contact him, left no stone unturned. Now we have come here disappointed. Obviously, how long could we hide this reality from you people? There was no end to Mr. Hamdani's embarrassment. Akifa and Nisar Ahmed were looking at them silently and helplessly.
"If you people get in touch with Moheeb tonight, tell him to talk to me just once. Maybe he has misunderstood something," Nisar Ahmed said in a low voice. The couple sitting in front certainly did not understand his point. They had apologized profusely and left in that embarrassed manner.
"Are you thinking the same thing that I am thinking?"
After they left, Akifa addressed her husband in a tearful tone. Nisar Ahmed took a deep breath.
"Certainly, some unknown person must have sent that fake picture to Moheeb. I wonder who is after my daughter's happiness." Akifa started crying bitterly.
"I was afraid of this day, Nisar Ahmed! My..."
Sister, after accepting her mistake and acknowledging Shehrina's innocence, had come back to your doorstep, asking for shehrina. Your stubbornness and obstinance have led to this day. She came begging for forgiveness from you, but you remained adamant. If Sarim and shehrina relationship had been established, why would that unknown ill-wisher have succeeded in his malicious intentions again? Now, after the engagement is broken here, it is impossible for shehrina to get a proposal from any good place. If the groom disappears one day before the wedding, who will stop the world from talking?
Aakifa was crying uncontrollably. "Have courage, Aakifa." He said slowly.
"How can I have courage? My daughter's engagement has been broken for the second time. The first time was manageable, but now the wedding cards have been distributed. Who will we inform that the wedding is postponed?" Nisar Ahmed had no answer to Aakifa's questions.
"And even if we succeed in arranging our daughter's marriage somewhere else, what is the guarantee that all this will not happen again? Oh, my innocent girl, I wonder what is written in her destiny. In a little while, guests will start arriving for the mehndi function, what will we tell people?" Thinking about all this increased the intensity of her crying.
"Okay, leave everything to Allah. It might be possible to contact Sohaib. I will talk to him myself and make him understand," Nisar Ahmed said hopefully, just to console his wife. It was merely a consolation for the sake of consolation. Time was passing, but it was not possible to contact Sohaib. At twelve o'clock at night, he called Hamdani Sahib for the last time.
I asked about Sohaib.
"Now, even if your son is found, my answer is no, Professor Sahib! I cannot bear any more mental anguish." He said with trembling lips and disconnected the call. The matter, which was only between the husband and wife a few hours ago, was now known to everyone in the house.
Laiba had sent the outside guests away saying the sister-in-law was unwell; some close relatives were still in the house. Abrar (uncle) and Laiba (aunt) were comforting the brother and sister-in-law as much as possible; their presence was a blessing, otherwise Akifa and Nisar would have argued with each other in tension. The night passed somehow.
☆☆☆
The hearts of both husband and wife were sinking at the thought of the coming day. How to postpone the wedding ceremony? Nisar Ahmed sat down with trembling hands to take out the "guest list". According to this list, cards had been distributed among all acquaintances far and near, and now they had to contact everyone individually to inform them that the wedding had been postponed. At this, Rafea and Tanveer Sahib arrived like angels of mercy.
Despite the invitation to the wedding, no one from that family attended the pre-wedding ceremonies of henna,
and mayon, etc. It was highly likely that those people would not come to the wedding either, but somehow the news of the wedding being postponed reached them. In the morning, the couple once again
came to ask for Shireena. Akifa was overjoyed. She emotionally hugged her sister. Nisar Ahmed had no justification left to refuse today.
Forget what happened between us, dear. Today we have come with the same respect and love seeking Shehrina as we did years ago, when you happily put Shehrina in my lap. Today too, without any resentment in your heart, say yes with the same good cheer. Perhaps God intended our children to meet in this way. For God's sake, do not create any obstacle now.
"Aaya! I am indebted to you. Why would I be ungrateful by refusing? You have saved our honor today, I can never forget this favor until I die," he said in a choked voice.
"Today is a day of happiness. Broken relationships have been mended again, so stop this crying and wailing. I will make everyone's mouth sweet," Laiba Phopho chirped happily. Everyone seemed to come alive again. The wedding festivities in the house resumed. Shehrina's mind was numb with so many rapid changes happening in her life. Exhausted, she surrendered herself to the flow of fate.
Here, the wedding preparations were complete. But Rafia Khala suddenly had to bring the procession, yet the enthusiasm of those people was worth seeing. Despite such short notice, they fulfilled all their wishes. The procession arrived with great fanfare.
"Indeed, a drama could be made about the many dramatic turns that have come one after another in your life, yaar." Baidara, being her best friend, confidante, and well-wisher, was present with her in the bridal room at that moment and teasing her with a smile.
My heart and mind are numb, my ability to think and understand is currently paralyzed. I have just left myself at the mercy of circumstances," shehrina said with a helpless smile to her friend, who was also smiling. That's why the third member of these friends, Anam, had also arrived.
"What is all this, Shireena? I heard the groom has changed. Is it true that you are getting married to Sarim bhai?" she asked with excitement and joy, holding her friend's hands. Shehrina smiled gently and nodded in affirmation.
"My heart was already giving some kind of signals. Five or six days ago, we were sitting with Saadi bhai for coffee, and I saw Sarim bhai sitting with Sohaib. I was surprised. I thought of calling you to tell you, but then I thought you've just recovered with such difficulty, I didn't want to disturb you again. I think Sarim bhai must have presented his case of love to Sohaib, and look, he won." Anam was telling all this with great enthusiasm, but Shireena remained still in her place.
Sarim was not at all a stranger to her friends. They had seen him many times in pictures, and Sohaib was their university fellow. If Anam was saying that she saw them both, she might not be wrong, but the conclusion she drew after seeing them was not correct.
After Sohaib's disappearance, both his mother and father thought that some unknown ill-wisher had passed on the information and had also sent that photoshopped picture to Sohaib. Sohaib was also suffering from the same misunderstanding as Khalajaan Rafia was. Shireena had thought a lot about this, and her parents' words seemed weighty to her. Obviously, what other reason could there be for Sohaib...
He refused to marry her at the last moment. But the thought that still kept her restless was: who in the world would resort to such cheap tactics out of enmity with her?
She kept thinking about her university fellows, whether anyone had tried to be overly familiar with her without reason, or if Shehrina had harshly rebuked someone as a result of their wrong actions. Whether she had received any affectionate remark from someone or if Shehrina had stopped someone's advancing steps towards her. She repeatedly searched her memory, but no such incident surfaced on the screen of her mind.
Exhausted, she had given up thinking about it. After her marriage was arranged with Sohaib, this chapter was also closed at home, but when she heard the refusal from Sohaib, Aakifa again started cursing that unknown adversary repeatedly, the cruel person who had come in the way of their daughter's happiness for the second time. Shereenah was still unaware of the person who had sent the picture to the aunt of Rafeea's daughter, but this time the act was not done by the same unknown adversary, and after realizing this fact, Shereenah felt like crying loudly. She could not even imagine such a cheap act from Sarim, but how could she deny what her naive friend had seen with her own eyes?
For how long Sarim used to beg her, but after not getting any response from Shehrina he resorted to a very low act. God knows if he showed the picture to Sohaib or just forced him to back out of the relationship by telling him his love story. The thing her naive friend was calling the victory of Sarim's love, Shehrina felt disgusted by that love at that moment.
When Professor Sahib left after conveying his son's refusal, it was as if Shehrina's parents had died on the spot. This humiliation was not an easy thing to bear. Shireenah repeatedly looked at her father's face. He was a patient of operation, would he be able to bear this or not. Thinking this, Shehrina's own heart was sinking into the depths. Then when Rafeea Auntie brought Saarem's proposal, with what humility and pleading manner her father was expressing gratitude in front of them.
Shehrina herself was also feeling indebted to Rafeea Auntie's favor. The joy of getting Saarem back was left far behind somewhere, but now that Saarem's reality had come to the fore, let alone love, she did not even consider Saarem worthy of her hatred. The irony was that she could not show Saarem's real face to anyone.
Like a robot, she had signed the Nikkah papers. When her aunt hugged her to her chest, two tears fell from her eyes. At that moment, every complaint against them died. At least there was no flaw in their love. They were all immensely happy and the person sitting next to her was also very happy. His shining eyes and joyful tone could not hide his happiness either.
Tariq Ahmed was once again overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude and felt indebted to his sister-in-law.
It is in reference to what I said in the past, please do not taunt my daughter. He was addressing Rafeea in a choked voice.
Shake off every apprehension from your mind, Nissar Bhai
Leave Rafia. I guarantee that there will be no grain. Tanveer Khalu assured them. Rafia nodded in agreement with her husband. Nisar Ahmed and Aifa were both at peace, but Shahrina's peace was ruined.
Her aunt's house was by no means a stranger to her, but never was it a stranger. Today, when she stepped there, it was as if she had come to a foreign land. Asi and Hifsa Appi's enthusiasm knew no bounds. They were performing different rituals. Amna Appi, sitting across seven seas, was also participating in every ritual online.
"Yes, please do. I am exhausted, yaar." Sarim was calling out again and again. Yehin was teasing him mischievously. Finally, Rafia felt pity for him.
"Hold Sarim tightly. Take whatever 'neeg' (gift/money given at wedding rituals) you want, but now don't exhaust my girl anymore. Take her to her room."
At Rafia aunt's instruction, both maids brought her to her decorated bedroom. Sarim was relieved some time later, and when Sarim came into the room, she was at the stage of cleaning her makeup after taking off all the jewelry.
"This is a foul, yaar! I haven't even looked at you to my heart's content yet," he almost whined in a subdued tone. Shahrina gave him a sharp look.
"It's the same face you've been seeing all your life. What's new in it?" She couldn't control the sharpness of her tone. Sarim was startled by this manner.
"Yes, the face is the same, but the relationship is new, right? Today you are present in Mr. Sarim's bedroom as Mrs. Sarim." At that very moment, he overlooked her attitude and spoke in a light tone. "My bad luck," she muttered to herself.
What did you say?" Sarim looked at her in disbelief.
"Didn't say, but am saying now that I am terribly tired. My head is splitting with pain too. Want to sleep." She addressed Sarim in a flat tone, without meeting his gaze.
"What happened, Shereenah? Why are you behaving like this? In the moment of 'nikah' (marriage contract), one considers oneself the luckiest person on the face of the earth. It was the sincerity of my emotions that today you are present before me as mine." He was ecstatic.
"Not just the sincerity of emotions, Sarim! Your capabilities also had a full hand in all of this. Those hidden capabilities that even I could not fathom." She taunted further.
"I said my head hurts, want to sleep." She turned slightly and spoke. Sarim kept looking at her in silence for a few moments.
"If something is disturbing you, you can discuss it with me." He adopted a conciliatory tone.
"At the moment, I am most disturbed by your presence." She snapped back.
"Why do I feel that you are not happy with this marriage?" He spoke, pressing his lips together.
"I have always been a fan of your intelligence, Sarim. What you are feeling is absolutely right. Today, the moment I signed the 'nikah' papers, I considered myself the most helpless girl in the world. If it were in my control, I would not have done this either, but we girls are very helpless. Unwillingly One has to drink the bitter pill of the company of an undesirable person. His tone had become more resentful. You still haven't forgiven my slip of the tongue."
"How do I convince you that when the incident with the picture happened, I was in Islamabad attending a very important meeting. I couldn't understand the context of your words at all. By God, I couldn't make sense of a single word of your conversation at first. Then later I kept calling you, your phone was constantly off. Anam api called and told me the whole story, I returned from Islamabad immediately."
"For a single moment, I didn't doubt your character. How could I assure you of my company when your phone was off?" Sarim was connecting her displeasure to the past incident, so he started giving an explanation to clear her misunderstanding, but Shireenah had no concern with that explanation.
"Sarim, it is my compulsion that I cannot leave this bedroom, but it is also true that your presence is beyond my tolerance. Obviously, you cannot leave the room either. Just do me this favor and be quiet at this moment," she said with annoyance. Sarim couldn't speak for a few moments. "My presence is beyond your tolerance?" he inquired in a disbelieving tone after some pause.
Shireenah's heart pounded. Lest Sarim's patience should run out at this expression of annoyance, he was now her husband, the owner of her body and soul. Fearing how he might treat her in a fit of rage, she still controlled her pounding heart and remained silent with a seemingly expressionless face.
"No need to be disturbed by my presence. Understand that I am not present here at all. In the first drawer of the dressing table, you will find some painkille
r..."
It will definitely be found. Take it and go to sleep. Forget that a person named Sarim exists in this room or in your life. He was no longer in the mood to give any further clarification or explanation.
Shehreenah had no reaction to his words. That night was spent as strangers.
The next day, in front of the family members, he was the same smiling Sarim, and a new bride has to sit silently with her head bowed anyway, so no one could feel the coldness between them.
Aunt, uncle, and sisters, everyone was very happy to see them laughing and smiling. The same was the case with Shumail Ahmed and Akifah's family. When they saw the satisfaction on their faces upon seeing them both laughing and smiling, pretending to be happy didn't seem like a bad deal to Shehreenah.
☆☆☆
Five or seven days had passed since the wedding when Sarim addressed her at the dinner table that night.
"Shehreenah, yaar! Finish my packing. I have to leave early tomorrow morning," he called her in a routine manner.
Shehreenah had no idea what kind of packing he was asking to finish and where he had to leave early in the morning, yet she said, "Yes, okay," fulfilling the duty of an Eastern wife.
"Take some more leave, son, it's only been a few days since the wedding," Rafeea addressed her son.
"I would definitely take it, Mom! If it were possible. I came after taking a week's leave before the wedding. I had to take eight more days off. When is it possible to get more leave than that?" he said in a calm tone.
"You haven't even gone anywhere to roam around yet," Rafeea was worried.
That next time he will take Shaheenah to Islamabad with him, won't he? Then from there, they will go out for a trip every weekend." "Living in Islamabad, it is easy to go everywhere like Murree, Swat, Naran, Kaghan. Auntie I was at her parent's house today, and from her words, she and they guessed that Sarim's posting is currently in Islamabad.
"And your father and I were saying that he should take Shaheenah with him now, but he is procrastinating," Rafeea said, giving her son a slightly angry look.
"It's not procrastination, Ammi! You tell me, who would want to leave their newlywed wife and go, but Tofeeq also lives with me. Now my wedding happened on such urgent notice. That poor fellow will need time to find another place to live, won't he?" He tried to satisfy his family by stating a genuine compulsion.
"Yes, then tell Tofeeq to find another house for himself as soon as possible. Now if you live like bachelors even after marriage, what's the point of marriage? Ever since your transfer to Islamabad, I can't swallow food thinking that my child is alone there in a foreign place. His stomach gets upset with market food, and he can't even boil an egg himself." Rafeea once again felt pity for her son.
"Don't say that, Ammi. I can only boil an egg," he said, laughing.
"Anyway, arrange to take Shaheenah with you as soon as possible. If Tofeeq doesn't want to leave the house, then you leave him and find another house for yourself." She addressed her son in a commanding tone.
"I said I will take Shaheenah with me as soon as possible."
She is a unique mother-in-law in the world; instead of keeping her daughter-in-law close, you are trying to send her far away." He started teasing his mother with a smile.
"I am not your mother-in-law. I am your mother and her aunt, and I want my children to hold hands, smile, and live life together." Rafeea had smiled.
"Your niece is not as good as she appears in front of you; the reality is the opposite. She is quite a shrew. Here, she is being polite out of respect for you. Once she reaches Islamabad, who knows what she will do to me." He had sighed deeply. Auntie did not pull her brother's ear.
"You don't stop teasing Shehreena."
"I wish this was a tease. In reality, your Shehreena does not stop teasing me." He sighed deeply again, and this time too, Shehreena, who was sitting next to him, only smiled with her head bowed.
"Islamabad is done. Why didn't you tell me that your transfer has been made?" The eastern wife was staring at him with bloodthirsty eyes, and that poor man was busy doing his own packing. When Shehreena asked, he looked at her with a bold expression.
"Does this news make any difference to you?" he asked seriously.
"No, what difference would it make to me?" Shehreena shrugged indifferently.
"It is a temporary transfer. For now, there is a vacant seat in the main office. The concerned person has gone abroad for a course. When he comes back, I will also come back, but I will be there for six or eight months now." He had given the details relu
ctantly.
Anyway, whatever it is. Keep putting off the aunt and others. I will never go there with you." Abeena said firmly in a city-like manner.
While folding the shirt, Sarim's hands stopped. What if he made a ball of that shirt and threw it at the face of this ill-mannered girl? She was constantly testing his patience and tolerance. He didn't know what the problem was with her that she was all worked up like mashed lentils. Sarim, compelled by his heart, had thought many times about taking a step towards her, but her spoiled expressions forced him to change this intention. "It's not that I want to impose myself there either. I had to take seven or eight days off after the wedding to avoid the family's questions, otherwise I would have left a long time ago," he said, pressing his lips together.
"Okay, granted you took leave after the wedding for the sake of showing the family, can I ask the reason why you were here a week before the wedding? What was that special mission for the completion of which your presence was necessary here?" she was asking in an irritated tone.
"What do you want to say? Say it openly?" Sarim looked at her in confusion.
"What I want to say, you don't have the tolerance to hear it, so for now, turn off this light quickly. I am feeling very sleepy," she said in a bored tone.
This time, Sarim's patience really gave up. He made a ball of the shirt but instead of throwing it towards her face, he threw it on the distant sofa, then clicked the light off and went out of the room. As soon as he left, all of Abeena's stubbornness and ill-manners also vanished.
She put her head in her hands in a tired manner. The truth was, she was getting tired of all this too. A corner of her heart was quietly starting to ask for leniency for Sarim. Sarim had only acted on the saying that everything is fair in war and love. If Shahreenah started listening to her heart, her mind would get angry and scold her. No justification could be presented for Sarim's fallen act, forgiving was a far cry. The mind was not at all ready to give him any leniency. And this conflict between heart and mind was breaking Shahreenah.
☆☆☆
The next day Sarim left and with his departure, all the liveliness of the house seemed to end. Rafeea herself was sad but she was more worried about her sadness than her own, she took her to meet her mother and father. "If you have to stay for a few days, stay, beta," she gave her permission with an open heart.
"No, you are also alone at home. Uncle's life is spent mostly at his shop. Annie Api has also gone back home. How will you stay alone, I will go back with you." Rafeea was delighted with her saying.
"Beta, I will have to live alone after a long time when you also go to Islamabad. It is good that I get used to it." She said, looking at her with love.
"I will not leave you and go anywhere. Think about it yourself, Khala Jan, how will my heart feel alone there." She became tearful again.
"Should I think about you and not think about my son? How will his heart feel alone there now?" Rafeea smiled. Shahreenah lowered her head at this mention.
☆☆☆
Sarim talked to his family every day and...
Both the aunt and uncle had the same demand: that she should immediately go to the city and arrange accommodation there. She never felt the need to go; the girl herself didn't want to talk to him, yet she would inwardly fret when he didn't contact her. A week passed in this restlessness after he left. Her heart said he would visit on the weekend, but that proved to be her wishful thinking. When he didn't come the second week either, the aunt started getting angry at him over the phone. The girl's heart's anxiety was also not taking the name of subsiding. The contradictory states of her heart and mind were exhausting her badly; that day was one such day.
After finishing dinner and the Isha prayer, she went to recite the 'Durood Sharif' rosary. A little later, her aunt also came to sleep next to her. Since Sarim's departure, she had been sleeping next to her. The girl felt embarrassed, but she was not yet used to sleeping alone in this house. At her parents' home, her mother and father's bedroom was right next door, so there was a psychological comfort. Here, Sarim's room was completely separate, which is why when the aunt offered to sleep next to her, considering her loneliness after Sarim left, she couldn't refuse her. Since then, she slept next to her every night.
After the aunt came, she massaged her feet with olive oil for a while and offered prayers, then the aunt, as usual, quickly started snoring. She also tried to sleep while reciting Durood Sharif. She had barely fallen into a light slumber when she heard her uncle's voice from outside.
He must be calling the aunt for some work. She quickly got up and opened the room door.
Seeing Sarim standing with uncle, a shock of surprise ran through. It wasn't even the weekend yet. He came in the middle of the week. However, controlling the surprise, it was necessary to become a modest niece in front of the uncle and aunt and politely say hello, and also ask about warming up the food.
"Didn't feel hungry, had snacks on the flight." Sarim did not put her in a difficult position.
"Go on, son! Wake up your aunt. Even if a drum is beaten near this virtuous woman, her eyes will not open. You will have to shake her awake," the uncle addressed her.
"Aunty is sleeping inside," Sarim was surprised.
"Don't wake up Aunty. Why disturb her at this time? Let her sleep peacefully." The very next moment, she stopped Shareena from waking her mother. Shareena stopped, but the uncle loudly called his virtuous woman and went inside the room. Indeed, her eyes opened after being shaken two or three times.
"Sarim has come. Let's go to your room," the uncle informed his wife. With a surprised joy, the aunt came out in a half-asleep state. She expressed her happiness by kissing her son's forehead, then asked the first question about food. "Your wife will ask about food and all. You are dozing in your sleep. Let's go to the room, the rest of the news can be taken in the morning."
The uncle took her to the room. Sarim entered the bedroom carrying his bag. Shareena followed behind.
"Aunty used to sleep with you every day," he asked in a serious tone, sitting on the sofa and taking off his shoes. Shareena slowly nodded in affirmation.
"Well, your enmity with me is beyond comprehension, but what fault had my venerable father committed that he too was separated from his better half? He was speaking clearly. Shahrina felt very bad.
'Auntie herself used to come to sleep next to me out of concern for my loneliness. I didn't ask her to,' she expressed in an angry tone.
'You could have refused her, couldn't you? You are a little girl who gets scared sleeping alone.' He taunted her again.
'Yes, I was scared.' She said it in a manner that suggested, 'Do what you can.'
'You were scared sleeping alone?' Sarim looked at her with surprise. Shahrina stood pouting slightly.
'By the way, what are you afraid of?' His astonishment seemed endless.
'What are girls afraid of? Obviously, jinns, ghosts, and witches, aren't they? So I'm also afraid of the same things,' she said defiantly.
'According to my information, girls are only afraid of things like cockroaches and lizards. If children are scared of jinns and ghosts, that's one thing, or if someone our age watches an intense horror movie, they might feel temporarily scared, but a mature person having such fears is something never heard of before.' He was probing the reasons for her fear at this hour of the night. Shahrina got even angrier. 'Now the truth is out, you've heard it and seen it too. Believe it or not, some people are weak-hearted like me. I couldn't sleep alone in a strange place.' She admitted even in her anger. Sarim found it very difficult to contain himself.
And sleep would come in the sound of mother's snores. He kept prolonging the conversation for some reason. This time, Shahria did not fall into his trap. She merely sufficed with a sharp gaze.
"Looking at your pink eyes, it seems you haven't slept for many nights. Anyway, I am here tonight. In my presence, you will have a very deep sleep. Sleep peacefully." He said this to her and headed towards the washroom. Perhaps there was truth in his words; she had fallen into a deep sleep, oblivious to the world, in a very short time.
☆☆☆
"Mother!" Shaheena was worried about how she would manage packing so quickly. "Please call Aunt Aabi or Hafsa sister to help her with her packing."
Sarim did not address his mother at the breakfast table; instead, he dropped a bomb directly into Shaheena's ears. She anxiously looked at Sarim, who, after saying this, calmly continued with his breakfast.
Aunt Rafia was reassuring Shaheena not to worry, telling her that they would all help her complete the preparations and that she had no need to worry at all. She obediently nodded in affirmation but went to her room and pounced on Sarim.
"I told you I don't want to go to Islamabad with you. Why don't you understand this?"
"I will call her and you can explain this to them because they have been constantly calling morning and evening, insisting that I return immediately and take you with me." Sareim said, utterly irritated. This time, her surprise was evident.
Shehrina remained silent.
"There is little time, you have to pack too. If we are going to meet Aunt and Uncle, then let's go, we will return after a couple of days, Hafsa Aapi will also come, Ammi has called them."
"We are not going to Switzerland for our honeymoon, that we would need to do extensive packing. You unnecessarily troubled Hafsa Aapi; her children go to school and college. It is not easy to leave home and come like this, it would have been different if it was Sunday." She spoke with a heart full of displeasure.
"'You want to go to Switzerland for a honeymoon?' Sarim seemed to notice only this one thing in the entire sentence. Shahrina regretted speaking.
"I will call Ammi and tell her we are coming. If I go without telling her, she gets upset that she didn't get a chance to cook something I like." Shahrina changed the subject, avoiding eye contact.
"How gluttonous you are, how long has it been since we had breakfast, that you are already worried about eating something there too." Sarim cooperated with her in changing the subject. For some reason, despite all kinds of cooperation from his side, Shahrina annoyance was not ending.
After spending some time with her parents, as she was returning with Sarim, Sohaib was seen coming out of the professor's house. At the exchange of glances, he got flustered and immediately sped away on his bike.
"You have a good acquaintance with him; it's surprising you both didn't even say hello to each other," Shahrina adopted a soliloquy-like manner. Sarim looked at her, irritated.
"What do you mean by your words?" Full of displeasure,
I haven't said anything so urban that I should start interpreting it. You used to be quite polite before. If you ever came face to face with Professor Hamdani or any of his sons, at least a greeting or a wave of the hand was exchanged instead of passing by as strangers. Today... you are completely different."
Her tone was still taunting. Sarim looked at her with a deep sigh and she silently continued driving with her eyes.
It was a small two-room apartment, which surely his colleague used to share with him before, but now the lady of the house had arrived to manage the home and was looking around critically. "How dirty the house is, how did you used to live here?" she said, wrinkling her nose haughtily.
"For God's sake, I called the maid from across the street for a special cleaning before you came, otherwise, Taufeeq and I just used to manage the house somehow. Today the house is sparkling clean and you're calling it dirty," Sarim's shock was natural.
"Oh no, how would you people clean? There isn't even enough cleaning stuff. If there's a nearby market, get me some necessary items. I'll make a list." She was ready to take charge of the household.
"Why don't we start all this tomorrow? I'm tired today, yaar," Sarim said lazily.
"Why, did you walk here?" Sharmeena glared, and now Sarim returned the fierce glare. Now there was no fear of the in-laws hearing anything, so he would happily tolerate all the misbehavior of this ill-mannered girl. Since he was a husband, it was also necessary to show a little husbandly authority.
Shehryena was a little flustered seeing his sharp looks.
"Anyway, I am cleaning my bedroom. I won't be able to sleep in a dirty place." At her saying this, Sarim looked at her in surprise, as if the cunning woman had already decided on a bedroom for herself and had spoken to Shehryena, but then felt something.
"You have put your luggage in the front bedroom, obviously that will be your bedroom. I will set this second one up for myself." This time she adopted a conciliatory tone.
"Do whatever you want. I am starving. You don't seem to be in the mood to go to the kitchen at all, even though there is mince, beef, chicken, everything in the freezer, but I think I will have to order something from outside today as well," and he thought that now he would get home-cooked food. Sarim had soliloquized in a mocking tone.
"So you expected that as soon as I enter the house, I would immediately go to the kitchen and fulfill your wish? You didn't even think that I am tired?" She felt a natural shock at not being given any protocol by Sarim.
"And why are you tired?" Sarim did not delay in retorting the sentence. Shehryena had no idea at all that he would change his colors like this as soon as he came to Islamabad.
"And anyway, I was giving you a respectable position, you yourself preferred to take a broom and mop in hand as soon as you came." He spoke with indifference.
Shehryena did not think it appropriate to waste time getting into this useless argument. But she could only sleep peacefully if the room and the attached washroom were absolutely clean.
She had cleaned the room and washroom using only the available things.
"Now eat food. No one will come to inspect this room at this time." Sarim was getting annoyed at her busyness. Food was already late, and the lady's busyness was not ending.
"If you are hungry, you eat. I will take a shower." At her saying this, Sarim turned back.
When she came out after bathing, Sarim was waiting for her at the table. Thank goodness so many "apni case" were still left. After eating food, she gathered the dishes and put on tea for herself. She asked Sarim out of courtesy, but he refused. The condition of the kitchen was relatively better, perhaps because it was rarely used for cooking, but the necessary groceries that Sarim had brought and stuffed into the kitchen according to his understanding before her arrival, that equipment needed to be arranged properly, but she put this work off until tomorrow. She drank tea, washed the dishes and put them away. Now only prayers were left to perform. Her body was really tired today. She hoped that despite being in a new place, she would get a peaceful sleep.
It was a small apartment. Through the open door of Sarim's room, there was light. He was sitting with his laptop open. Shehrina knew he wasn't used to sleeping early at night. If she slept while he was awake, the restlessness of a new place, or the element of fear, would not remain. But when she peeked out after performing prayers, Sarim had closed the room door. She felt sad at this indifference, but then she convinced herself.
And the environment is so peaceful, what is the need to be afraid? She will have to get used to this routine now, so why not from today? Convincing herself, she also closed the room door. Sleep was miles away from her eyes, yet she lay down with her eyes closed as usual...
her routine was to recite Durood Sharif. After arriving here, it was Sarim who had informed her and her family of their safe arrival. If it had been later, she would have called her family, but now that was not possible. She kept her eyes closed, trying to sleep, when there was a knock at the door. Shahreena's heart pounded. What was Sarim's purpose in knocking at the door at this time of night? Still, controlling her nervousness, she opened the door and looked at Sarim with a questioning gaze.
"You're not scared, are you?" Sarim asked seriously.
"What is there to be scared of? I was already asleep." She lied, forcing a yawn.
"Good thing. Actually, Taufeeq used to get very scared while sleeping in this room. But this room is bigger and its washroom is also more splendid, so he would not be ready to leave the room. But often in the middle of the night, he would come to my bedroom with a pillow and sheet to ruin my sleep. Well, I shouldn't have mentioned this right now. It slipped out of my mouth unintentionally. Sorry for that. You rest, you must be tired; hopefully, you will fall asleep soon." Sarim said goodnight in a friendly manner and turned to leave.
"Listen to me." Shahreena called out to him, flustered.
"What were you telling me? Why was that Taufeeq sahib scared here?" she asked, swallowing.
"Nothing bad, Shahreena, please relax. Nothing unusual happened to Taufeeq here. His problem is psychological. Actually, when we rented this apartment, it was famous for being haunted. People had spread many rumors related to this room...
An strange creature is seen by most people in the window of this room.
Sarim stopped mid-sentence. When his gaze fell on Shehreena's pale face, it was realized that he had said too much.
"You brought me to this haunted house without telling me. Why was this not told before? Shehreena was about to faint from fear and shock.
"Look, trust me, these are just made-up stories spread by people; the purpose was to lower the price of this apartment, and it actually worked out well. Otherwise, people like us in this area of Islamabad could never afford its rent. Now its rent is very reasonable, so the benefit was for us from these rumors. Security here is excellent."
"To hell with security and necessary facilities. A terrifying creature wanders inside the house and you keep saying the security is excellent." Shehreena was close to tears.
"It is my fault, random stories were started for no reason, was told that have been living here for so many months, nothing has ever happened." He started comforting her.
"You live in that bedroom. These rumors are about that one, aren't they?" She looked scared. Sarim made a very innocent face as if he regretted telling all this.
"You are mistaken. How about you change bedrooms? He will come here. You take his bedroom." Besides Sarim's bitterness in speech, there was no other option.
Shehreena thought for a few moments, then nodded in agreement. Turning back, she picked up the mobile kept near her pillow and left the room. Sarim also went there...
He quickly started picking up his laptop, mobile, charger, and other things. As soon as he left the room, Shehrina felt invisible eyes on every wall of the room. She spontaneously called out to Sarim. He turned back with an innocent face.
"Are you sure that thing never came into your room?" Shehrina, believing every rumor, wanted confirmation that the thing hadn't come here.
"Dude, if you look at Tawfiq, you'll get an idea of how clumsy a person he is. After he leaves the room, those creatures must be celebrating. But today, for the first time, they would have seen your form, such a soft, delicate, and beautiful presence, in this room. Now, after your shifting here, they too might plan to come here. What can I say?" Sarim, who a little while ago was calling the things he mentioned his own spread rumors, now started expressing his views on the intentions of those creatures.
"You're saying all this to scare me, aren't you?" Finally, Shehrina's sense worked a little as she asked suspiciously. He smiled as one would smile at a child's talk: "Okay, if your heart can be satisfied this way, then think so. I was joking, don't worry. Sleep peacefully. I'm going to sleep now too. Have to go to the office in the morning, man. It's very late." After destroying her peace, he walked away after advising her to sleep peacefully.
"Listen, Sarim," Shehrina called him again. He turned back, apparently bored.
"Pick up the mattress from there and put it here. Tonight, sleep here tonight." Her tone was slow, with a very pleading manner. Sarim thought for a few moments, then sighed heavily, as if it was late at night.
"I started the conversation and got stuck, I'll bring the mattress," he said, turning in a very obliging style. Shehreenah breathed a sigh of relief. At least today's problem was solved; she didn't catch the smile on Sarim's face, which had settled the issue of separate bedrooms not just for today but forever.
Her eyes opened only when Sarim called her in the morning. She wondered how she slept so deeply that she didn't wake up even to the noise. Sarim was standing ready to go to the office. She was seeing him in formal office dress for the first time, and there was no doubt that he looked smart and handsome to the point of being eye-catching.
"I'm leaving for the office. All breakfast items are in the kitchen. Take a look in the kitchen; I seemingly brought everything, but cooking ingredients (items) are definitely needed. Something will surely be missing; you make a list. The rest of the things you need, we will go and get them in the evening. No need to clean yourself. I told the maid from across the street; previously the house used to be closed during the day, so now she will come for cleaning." He was telling her quickly. Shehreenah was a little flustered at the thought of staying alone at home. "You're going to the office, so I'll stay here alone?" she asked nervously. A smile flickered on Sarem's lips.
"Obviously, bringing wives along is not allowed in my office, otherwise, one would leave office work and keep touring different places." At Sarem's remark, she gave him a look of disapproval, as if she wasn't expecting such playfulness from him.
"I'm just kidding, man. .while having a wife, why would I stare at other people's wives? He said this slowly, testing her.
"Nonsense, don't talk rubbish," her heart pounded, but the expressions of displeasure remained on her face. "If I stay here tonight, I won't be able to control this kind of nonsense, so let me go." He said this while taking in her innocent form in his heart.
"Okay fine, go, just tell me this, no one says anything during the day, right?" On her asking this, Sarim suppressed his laughter with great difficulty. It wasn't hard to understand what she was hinting at.
"No, yaar, even they must go out to earn a living during the day. Inflation is sky-high; how can one survive without eating in this era?" He said this with apparent seriousness, holding back his laughter.
"I know you were just spinning tall tales last night too." In the daylight, Shereena's fear automatically started to disappear.
"I hope you stick to this statement tonight as well." He smiled.
"Anyway, take care of yourself. You won't say it, but I will try to come back soon." He smiled and left. Today, the sparkle in his eyes was unique. Even after he left, Shereena kept trying to control her heartbeat.
The whole day was busy. After the cleaning lady (Bazan) came, a detailed cleaning of the whole house was done. The kitchen cabinets were cleaned and everything was put away neatly. Setting Sarim's wardrobe also took a good amount of time. Today she also thought of cooking her aunt's darling's favorite food. Sarim liked beef pulao. She prepared the broth. She also made a vegetable dish. For breakfast, an omelet he preferred to eat paratha with the leftover curry from the night. Thinking this, she had made mixed vegetables. He was just saying that the ingredients for cooking wouldn't even be enough, but the truth was that he had done all the shopping very thoughtfully or after someone's guidance.
After finishing all the work, she took a bath and put on a simple dress.
Her aunt and sisters had filled the wardrobe with such clothes that she wouldn't wear them all the time like a show-off, nor did she ever intend to wear such clothes. In fact, she hadn't even kept those clothes in the wardrobe. He had said he would come soon but hadn't arrived yet. During the day, she had talked to Aunt Rafia. Now, there was no better option than the phone to pass the time, but even during the phone conversation, her eyes kept looking towards the wall clock repeatedly. After a forty-five-minute conversation, she said goodbye to her mother. Sarim still hadn't returned. She started feeling worried as well as angry.
It was his first day in their city; how could he provide proof of such irresponsibility? Surprisingly, at that moment, there was no sign of the fear from the night. She was in the middle of deciding whether to call him or not when he finally arrived.
Contrary to the morning, now he was quiet, silent, and serious. Despite being fresh, he didn't look refreshed from his appearance. Shehreenah set the food on the table. She also looked at his expressions from the corner of her eyes. Despite it being his favorite food, he ate only a nominal amount. Shehreenah felt disheartened. Was she waiting for a phrase of praise from him? She asked herself. Her mind scolded her for this foolishness, but the truth was that today, the heart didn't listen to the mind at all.
With a heavy heart, she collected and washed the dishes, then came to Sarim.
"You look tired, shall I make tea?" she asked in a conciliatory tone.
"Yes, make it, but it should be strong." He really did look very tired. Shehrina made strong tea and came to him. Sarim took the cup, saying thank you. His formal manner was not sitting well with Shehrina.
"Is everything alright? Did something happen at the office? You look a bit upset." Shehrina couldn't help but ask.
"I am upset, that's why I look it. And yes, please go back to your bedroom. I swear I was joking yesterday. There's no ghost or anything here. I will never disturb you again with such talk." He spoke in the same serious tone.
"What happened at the office that you are so upset?" Shehrina seemed to have not heard his second point.
"Nothing like that is happening at the office, Shehrina ! It's happening in my life, and now I am tired of this abnormal lifestyle. You know, today our office boy came back after his wedding leave, and his happiness was uncontainable. He was showing off his full dress and receiving congratulations from everyone, and the moment I realized I was secretly jealous of that poor, simple person, I felt like cursing myself." He spoke mockingly, as if making fun of himself. Shehrina couldn't say anything.
"That's it, Shehrina, I am tired, yaar, of living this abnormal life. It's not about carnal desires, it's about
That love which was once between us, but your heart has denied that love. You are not just my wife, you are my love too. Even if you don't appreciate my feelings, a person keeps staring at you all night like a madman, but just to quench this thirst for a glimpse, a drama like a conversation has to be prepared. The mistake was not so big that it is not worthy of forgiveness at all. There was only a delay in responding immediately to one of your calls. It has been repeatedly assured that at that time the situation could not even be grasped. Trust in you didn't waver for a moment. The picture was forensically examined not for personal reasons but to remove any kind of suspicion from the mother's heart and mind. She is a woman of old thoughts; despite wanting a conversation, she couldn't understand.
The environment of grandfather's house was so obsolete and suffocating; the way mothers were raised, they kept holding onto those same thoughts all their lives. The mother was against going to university, when her apprehensions took the form of reality in her eyes, in a state of shock and sadness, she did all that which she definitely shouldn't have done. The uncle is also considered justified in his reaction. Your anger always seemed like your right, but this period of anger has become very long, my dear. Tell me in what words forgiveness should be asked so that the heart becomes clear. Saarim was really tired now.
"The fault you keep apologizing for, Saarim, I had already forgiven you for that long ago. Yes, there was a lot of anger temporarily, but what you said was believed. You never doubted my character, my love became respectable knowing this, but I also had to prove myself right in front of my father.
I didn't make the decision to refuse because my love for you had ended, but when I had to choose between baba and you. You tell me yourself, what should have been the choice of a daughter at that time? She asked Sarim.
"Then when did I complain about your decision? But when fate brought us together again, what should I call your indifference and avoidance?" He was not asking.
"Ask this question to yourself, not me, Sarim," her eyes filled with tears.
"I'm tired of asking myself, I don't get an answer, that's why I'm asking you today. Shehrina, I'm really tired now, for God's sake, give some justification for your attitude. If I know the accusation against me, only then can I defend myself." He said helplessly.
"If it's about me, then listen. You were the one who got my marriage to Suhaib cancelled, knowing this fact, how can I trust your love?
I don't know who that malicious person was who disgraced me the first time, but knowing that you were the one who did this the second time, I died while alive. Just to get your love, you disgraced me. What little girl stories did you tell Suhaib about me that he backed out of the wedding two days before the wedding itself?
You didn't even think that because of his action, God forbid, the heart of one of my parents could stop. To get me, you used such a cheap trick, it would have been better if our paths had parted forever.
Our love would have remained respectable, you disgraced both me and my love, Sarim. How can I forgive you
Shehreenah also started crying. Sarim
said, "Yar, tell me, where will you find an explanation for this accusation, and I
know you cannot denied before our wedding, my friend Anam saw you with sohaib in a cafe seven days ago."
Shehreenah revealed this while crying. The burden on her heart
and mind seemed to have tired her out. But she definitely wanted to hear an admission of guilt and an expression of apology from Sarim, and now she was waiting to hear such slogans from Sarim, knowing that lying was not in his nature. He would bravely confess his mistake.
"I wish you had told me this before, you cruel girl. How much precious time of our lives has been sacrificed to this foolishness of yours." Sarim was in a bad state due to shock and regret, and she was not expecting to hear such a sentence from Sarim's lips at least.
"Please, Sarim, I will believe your truth and forgive you too. Don't lie to me." She pleaded with trembling lips. Sarim took a deep breath and picked up his mobile.
"Whatever I say, I will also give practical proof of it. First, allow me to say something, یار (friend)." He spoke with such helplessness again that Shehreenah stared at him with surprised but teary eyes.
"Do you know who that unknown person was who sent your photoshopped picture?" Sarim asked. Shehreenah shook her head in denial in surprise.
"He was Saib's friend who did this at sohaib behest." Sarim spoke slowly.
"Lie." She spontaneously blurted out.
"First, listen to my whole story quietly, then...
Then decide between truth and lies. He gave her a date. Shahreen looked at him silently, eyes filled with disbelief.
After a lot of struggle, I traced the number of the person who sent the photo. He lived in a remote village. It was beyond my understanding what a stranger wanted to gain from this heinous act.
Do you know a friend or my friend or sir? His uncles are in a secret agency. With their cooperation, I reached the person's house after tracing him. There was no need to threaten him; upon learning of the reference case through which I reached him, he immediately started trembling and confessed that the real mastermind of this act is Sohaib. He was Sohaib's classmate and did this for friendship or money etc. Sohaib did not use his own SIM for this work because he would be afraid of being traced. Anyway, we reached him through his agent as well.
But why did Sohaib do this? She was disbelieving.
Yes, I wanted to ask him this question, but during this time, your relationship with him was quickly settled, and not only settled, but a wedding date was also immediately set. The first thought that came to my mind was that he is your neighbor, he must have lost his heart seeing you come and go, and to get you, he wanted to clear my name and did this mean act for this purpose. The truth is, I just wanted to meet him once and grab his collar. But the situation had reached a very delicate point. The wedding was right around the corner.
At such a time, I could not expose his real face. Even if I tried, who would have believed me? But a person who would do such a mean act...
I didn't even have the courage in me to hand you over to him. Until I met him, my own mind wasn't clear about what step I should take next. I would have been forced to forgive him for the sake of your family, sacrificing my love, if I had seen love, sincerity, and truth in his feelings for you. But without knowing his intentions, I didn't want to take the risk of including you in his life. Just to gauge his intentions, I decided to meet him, and that was the day your friend must have seen me with him." Sarim stopped to catch his breath. Shehryar was listening to him holding her breath...
...had already realized from her friend's words that he had been exposed, so I didn't have to struggle much to make him confess the truth. According to him, he had secretly taken your picture at a university function, and then through that, another fake picture was made and sent to Karachi. The maid who worked at their house had seen Ani etc. coming and going to your side many times. It wasn't a problem for Suhaib to get that number. The next thing I was expecting to hear from Suhaib was his confession of being in love with you, but the thing he told me was beyond my wildest imagination."
"What thing?" Shehryar asked impatiently.
"Later, he confessed that behind this cheap act, only the passion for taking revenge on your family was at work."
"Revenge?" Shehryar's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes, revenge. Years ago, when the matter of his elder sister's marriage was pending, a proposal came to see..."
That family came to their house, but since they came without prior notice, the house was locked. They went to the house next door to inquire about the girl and her family; that house was their house, and the aunt gave very negative remarks about the Professor Sahib's family when those people asked. She narrated stories of his daughters' free-spiritedness, or rather, in other words, their waywardness. According to her, the elder daughter comes home every other day taking a lift in some boy's car. Every brand is different. Sometimes she even comes and goes sitting on the back of a bike. Professor Sahib has given a lot of freedom to his daughter, and according to the aunt, these are not the signs of decent girls, and such girls are not fit to settle down and build a home. That family had arrived here through a marriage bureau and, saying "Toba Toba" (God forbid), turned back from there. According to Sohaib, his elder sister was a highly educated, mature, and extremely intelligent lady. At that time, she was completing her Ph.D. thesis under the supervision of Professor Sahib.
The Professor and his wife had always been associated with the field of teaching. Begum Hamdani used to teach the children at college, and many students would visit their home for guidance. Both husband and wife did not hesitate in the matter of sharing knowledge, so many children had become like family members. Later, many of these students also started going to the university.
Nayab Aapa (elder sister) was like an elder sister to them; there was a big age difference between those people's ages and her age. Many times, one of them would come to drop Nayab home. According to Sohaib, even if his Aapa came with one of her classmates, the family living next door would still throw mud at his sister.
Anyway, his sister's proposal was not decided in this family; it was a pure coincidence that she was married into another family who were distant acquaintances of this family. Apart from this, it was heard that after the marriage, these people very generously passed on all the information to Nayyab's in-laws that Aakila Khala had provided them. According to Suhaib, his sister's life had become miserable because of these baseless allegations. Her character had also been tarnished in the eyes of her husband. She endured so much mental torture that she even tried to commit suicide once by taking sleeping pills. Soon after the marriage, she received the good news of children, so she was forced to endure it, but the price of this endurance was the constant mental torture she had to bear. Suhaib was young at that time, but his sister's distress could not remain hidden from him. After suffering in silence for a long time, Nayyab told everything to her parents, and because the matter was discussed at home, Suhaib came to know everything. He had decided at that very moment that he would take revenge on your family for the pain his sister suffered.
However, after a long time, his sister was able to win the trust of her husband and in-laws, but the fire of revenge in Suhaib did not cool down. Everything he did was the result of burning in that same fire of revenge. But the problem was that he was also the child of very noble parents who had raised all their children keeping high moral values in mind. Suhaib's conscience began to feel restless after doing that wrong act. Then when Khalu Jaan's health deteriorated, you people reached the hospital with him...
When he heard the doctors saying with his own ears that such a high rise in blood pressure could have been life-threatening for nisar Khalu, God forbid, his conscience began to reproach him further. He knew that the tension in your household could not end until you were married into a good family. To alleviate the prick of his conscience, he asked his family members to take his proposal for you. Now, no matter how patient, educated, and kind-hearted a lady Begum Humdani was, how could she take her son's proposal to that family because of whom her daughter had suffered a lifetime of agony?
In a state of helplessness, Suhaib told his mother about his actions, and Begum Sahiba was left with no choice but to agree with her son. However, the Professor was only told about Suhaib's liking for you.
Whether Suhaib's actions were forgivable or not is unknown, but his parents were truly very dignified and noble people. They never at any point reminded the family living in the neighborhood that their lives had been subjected to a kind of torment because of their a few baseless words. If there had ever been any grudge or bitterness between the two families, perhaps this relationship would not have been possible.
After hearing everything from Suhaib's mouth, I only asked him how serious he was about maintaining this relationship.
His heart and mind were already under a great burden. He admitted that he had formed this relationship only because he was troubled by the prick of his conscience; otherwise, he loved a distant cousin of his and wanted to marry her. How you were to be included in his life...
when this was just a bond of compulsion. Who knew that at some point in life, the fire of his revenge would flare up again, and the bitter truth is that seeing you become his, I would have died while still alive. I told him to refuse this marriage himself, otherwise I would go to his respected father with evidence and inform him of all his misdeeds.
He got scared but then also agreed that he was getting married under the pressure of his conscience, yet there remains a restlessness in his heart and mind—it is this anxiety that bothers him, whether he will be able to fulfill this bond or not. He fearfully asked me if he disappears from the public eye, could I become a substitute candidate for Shariq Sahib's family? If after hearing all this I still seem guilty to you, then even now I am ready to apologize with folded hands and feet. Sarim finished his talk while taking a deep breath.
"And yes, all the conversations between me and Suhaib are recorded in this mobile, which I had taken so that I could play them for the Professor Sahib if needed, but that time did not come. Who knew that to prove myself innocent, I would have to play all this for you." Sarim's fingers moved on the mobile.
"Stop it Sarim," she had started crying with sobs. Sarim had comforted her by drawing her close. I remember once it became famous in the neighborhood that Professor Sahib's married daughter had tried to take her own life by taking sleeping pills, and mother had also criticized that family a lot regarding this matter. I never thought that a few baseless words from my mother would force a decent girl to attempt suicide. She kept on crying.
"Yes Shahrina! How sad it is that our..."
Religion strictly forbids us from exposing the faults of others, let alone fabricating lies to assassinate someone's character; furthermore, not everything heard with ears or seen with eyes is necessarily correct. Khala (Aunt) did not commit slander in her own mind. What she said was true in her eyes, but this truth made someone's life miserable." Sarim shook his head with regret.
"I will tell Ammi (Mother) all of this," Shehreen immediately resolved.
"No, I don't think that is necessary. Khala has already suffered a lot of mental agony regarding your matter. It is not appropriate to give her more tension. However, she can certainly be made to understand gradually and imperceptibly by telling fictitious examples and stories, just as we siblings did so much brainwashing of Ammi after the incident with your picture that she not only realized her mistake but also agreed to apologize."
"But I don't understand how to apologize to you." She spoke in a choked voice. The feeling of embarrassment was so intense that she could not meet Sarim's gaze. A smile played on Sarim's lips. "Truly Sarim, I cannot tell you how happy I am that I misunderstood you." She had made an innocent confession. Sarim pulled her away from him with a jolt.
"You are happy for misunderstanding me?" he spoke in a tone shattered by shock. Shehreen felt sheepish.
"I mean that you were right; the person I loved was indeed worthy of love. Today, every grief of mine has been washed away." It was as if Shehreen's very soul had been freed from every burden.
"And for this love which was kept disgraced for so many days..."
Who will settle the account for this?" Sarim asked with a smile.
"I am truly very ashamed. I kept showing you unnecessary attitude and so much pride. Why didn't you fix my mind with two slaps? Anyone else would have grabbed me by my braid and thrown me out for such insolence."
She was admitting all her faults with an open heart. Sarim's high-mindedness had truly left her unable to meet his eyes.
"It is easy to throw someone out of the house, my dear. To throw them out of the heart is not just difficult, it is impossible. You live in my every heartbeat, that is why I was bearing your every cruelty with a smile."
"Okay, baba, I said forgive me!" She sought forgiveness by hiding her head in his chest. Sarim, smiling, placed a seal of love on her forehead.
"By the way, however much I hurt your heart, you settled the score last night by making my blood boil. What if I had died from that fear?" She was now showing her annoyance again.
"And what if, despite being in the same house, I yearned to see your face and died of grief and shock?" he spoke, smiling, in her tone.
"I won't trouble you at all in the future, I promise," she said softly.
"Tomorrow, I will first thank that noble person because of whom I am getting to hear this confession today," he smiled.
"Which person?" She couldn't really understand.
"Brother, our office boy, who else? If I hadn't come home today, burning with jealousy because of him, this whole matter wouldn't have opened up. I had been linking your anger to some past incident until now."
Khawateen Digest.
Thank that person on my behalf as well, Sarim. Because of him today, I have not only gotten my love back but my faith in love has also been restored. But please, in the future, there is absolutely no need to be jealous of that poor soul. Now I will remain such a good wife that you will feel envious of your own luck." She had spoken with all her heart, and at this innocent assurance, Sarim felt an intense wave of love for her.
"I will also try my best to be a good husband, my life, but I am telling you this in advance that perhaps I may not be able to fulfill your every wish or demand." He spoke with apparent seriousness, suppressed a smile.
"Why would I even make such a demand?" she assured Sarim.
"Well, you have already made one such demand which is currently beyond my jurisdiction to fulfill," he said in a very helpless tone. Shehrina looked at him with questioning eyes, feeling surprised.
"I don't have the means to take you to Switzerland for a honeymoon, man. I can take you at most to Gilgit or Azad Kashmir," he said, taking a cold breath.
Shehrina considered his words for a moment, then glaring at him with slight annoyance, she landed a punch on his arm.
"Just now you were claiming to be a good wife, and already you've started physically abusing your poor, humble husband," Sarim said, catching her hand while laughing. Shehrina wanted to glare at him, but in the next moment, she burst out laughing.
Finally, the mist of mistrust had cleared and love had once again proven itself.
