"Zahra wake up" Dua shook her body, trying to wake her up who was sleeping soundly without any worry.
"Noooooo. Not yet!" She slurred in her sleepy voice, pulling the pillow over her head.
"Stupid. Wake up. You've to get ready. Today is your rukhsati."
Her eyes wide opened as her words registered in her mind and she abruptly sat up, rubbing her eyes.
"What?"
"Yes. The beautician is waiting for you" Dua announced.
"Where?"
"In your mother's room. You'll be getting ready there. Its already 11 and the function is at 5 so get up, hurry up before Dadi comes here."
Zahra nodded her head. Her heart felt heavy. Finally the day has arrived and no miracle happened which could save her.
She got up and went inside the washroom to take a shower. She was fearful what Irtaza will be doing with her at night. She had agreed to him that night.
She was so afraid to face him. She didnt want this rukhsati. She didn't want this marriage. And today is the day, she has to leave everyone and settle herself in his mansion.
Suddenly an idea sparked in her brain. She knew it wont work but she felt so helpless that she wasnt afraid to give a chance to it. She was praying that somehow this idea works. She was ready to do anything which can stop this rukhsati.
After taking a quick shower, she wore her clothes and went towards Irtaza's room. She opened the door but he was not there. She then went towards his study but he was also not there.
A maid was passing by and she asked her about Irtaza, who told her that he was in his grandparents room. Zahra rushed towards the room and knocked on the door, entering inside after getting the permission. She found him talking with his grandfather, holding some files in his hand. Now his grey eyes were stuck on her.
She gulped.
She was confused now whether she should do or not.
"What is it?" Irtaza asked.
"I..want to...talk to you." She said in her small voice.
"Go Irtaza." His grandfather said and he placed the files on table. He moved towards her and held her hand, following her towards his study.
Her heart was beating wildly.
They both entered inside and he closed the door, turning towards her.
"Say." He commanded.
"I...please...I....please....I...do..nt wa..nt this mar...riage." She stuttered. Anticipation hazed her mind as she continuously fidgeted with her fingers.
"Why?" He simply asked.
All the helplessness and hopelessness she felt surfaced, making her cry. She had to convince him.
"Please....please....I'm so afraid of you
.. I dont know (hiccup) what you'll do to me after rukhsati. I'm so worried. So tensed...I cant even breathe properly (hiccup) with the constant anxiety! I know you'll punish (hiccup) me in the worst possible ways...but I cant face your wrath! (hiccup) I'm so afriad of you! Please (hiccup) I beg you! Its in your hands you cant stop the marriage!! (hiccup) Please! No one else can stop this marriage other than you! Please! Listen to me! I beg you!" She sobbed her tears flowing out of her eyes.
Her whole body shook with her every hiccup, her head down, eyes closed and tears freely floating out of them.
"And my answer is no." He declared and passed by her to leave the room, when she suddenly fell into his feet. She joined her hands, looking at him helplessly.
"Please...don't do this to me. Please"
He tried to move past her, paying no heed to her pleads but she held his hands.
"No, please. Please free me! Please don't cage me." She begged helplessly.
"I had already said, Zahra. I won't let you go." His voice coarse, void of any emotion.
"No! Please! I'll not be able to live in constant fear! What's my fault?! Why me?! Why you married me?! Why?! Tell me why?! Why you're caging me?! Let me free!" she sobbed badly and covered her face with her hands.
He looked at her. His anger was growing more and more with every passing second.
His fingers threaded into her locks and he hauled her body up with a sudden jerk, his hands behind her waist. Pain etched on her face and she closed her eyes tightly, her hands still covering her face.
He released her hair and jerked her hand away from her face and held her chin, bobbing her head up towards him.
"Do...n't pun...ish me." she sobbed, looking towards him with teary eyes.
He was watching her with his infamous no emotion gaze but his anger was increasing by leaps and bounds.
"Zahra you should have thought of this before fucking with me. I had warned you, fucking look at me!" he boomed suddenly, when she looked down not being able to match his intense gaze, and she immediately casted her eyes towards him, "I had warned you million of times not to break my trust. And well done, you striked at my weakest point then how can you expect from me I'll let you go that easily. And how many times I had told you to think before fucking things up. It was your stupidity that you tried to play with me. There is no escape from me. I've told this to you from day one. By hook or by crook, you'll be mine. Always mine. And I don't give a fuck what do you feel now." He gritted and let her go.
He straightened his clothes and dipped his hands in his pockets, looking towards her.
She knew he'll not let her go. There was no use of begging him anymore.
"Now go and get ready for tonight." He ordered and she left the room hopelessly.
As soon as she left the room, he picked the vase from the table and threw it on the wall.
"FUCK!" He roared and threw away all the things from the table.
He was beyond livid. The strong blow of betrayal was breaking him. His Zahra was so manipulative and cunning. He loved a fake woman all his life. The innocence and character of her which made him love her, in actual it was all fake.
But still there was something inside him telling her she is innocent.
........
Her head was hung low as she was walking towards her room. She felt so helpless at the moment. She was breaking apart. There was no hope now. This marriage will occur today, no one can stop it. After that night there was no chance she would even try to give this marriage a chance. Today, she gathered all the courage inside her to face him and deny him of this rukhsati.
She'll be caged there. In his mansion, without her mother, without her cousins, how she'll survive there all alone? He will kill her bit by bit. He will punish her for betraying him. She felt restrained, caged as if someone is choking her.
Her face was red, her eyes had tears in them, her head was hung low and she was just walking when suddenly she bumped into someone's chest. She looked up, it was Haseeb.
His eyes widen with surprise.
"Zahra why are you crying?"
"No I'm not." She denied, clearing her tears, her voice heavy.
"I'm not blind. Tell me why're you crying?"
"Noth...ing." her voice cracked, she so wanted to share her sorrows with someone else to alleviate the pain which she felt at the moment
"Irtaza bhai said something to you?"
She cried out not able to control herself.
"He isn't let...ting me fr...ee" her voice broken.
"I'm afra...id of him a...nd he kn...ows this. I cant spend my whole life in co...nstant fear. He sca....res me. I dont know what he will do to me af...ter rukhsati! Ple...ase save me Haseeb. Please save me from him. Please help me. I dont want this rukhsati!" She cried. Her tears freely flowing down her eyes.
"Zahra, did you act upon my advice?"
"No," she shook her head.
"Why?"
"Due to some reasons." She replied, sniffing. That night what Irtaza did to her, she was sure she can't live with him, her whole life. He had scared her to a great extent.
"Zahra, calm down relax. I wish I could do something for you. Even you can't tell Dada and taya abu about this. The whole story of Daniyal will be revealed infront of them. And also Irtaza bhai is so stubborn, if he has his eyes on something he'll get it by hook or by crook. No one can stop him siso"
"I'm not a thing." She retorted.
"Someone. Fine now?" he tried to joke to cheer her up.
She slightly smiled, clearing her tears.
"Zahra, its better for a man to accept his fate and place all his trust in Allah. Believe in your God, Zahra. He will help you. Ask for His help. Whatever is happening with you might be for your own good. Entrust all your affairs to Him. Hope for the best and InshAllah best will happen to you."
"Haseeb you won't understand. Allah will never....listen to me. Allah had never listened to me." She muttered under her breath, her face pouting like a child.
"What?" He said, her words unclear to him.
"Nothing. Thankyou so much for everything. I can't thank you enough." Her voice gloomy as she cleared her face, trying to gather herself.
"Zahra be strong."
"I will."
"Do you promise?"
"I'll try to."
"Go now before Dua hunts down all the city in your search."
"Hahhahaha. Ok ok I'm going." She said and turned around to leave.
.....................
She was standing still infront of the mirror, staring at her intensely, not for a single second her eyes wavered. Her hair hung loosely by her side, her neck was adorned with a glamorous diamond necklace embedded with pearls and rubies as well. Her lips were painted blood red, her cheeks were tinted with light shade of red, her brown eyes looked the most beautiful, conveying every emotion she felt.
Fear
Anticipation
Not a trace of happiness could be seen in those brown orbs. From head to toe, her everything looked perfect. Cladded in a black bridal dress, she looked like an enchantress, from which no one can take there eyes off of.
The black color contrasted with the darkness and hopelessness in her life. Today was the day, her love story was coming to an end and she wore black to mourn, and bury all the memories of her lover.
She accidentally bought the right color for the right day.
"Daniyal, tell me one thing who do you love the most in this world?" She asked childishly looking towards him.
"Umm.......Mama"
"Then"
"Papa"
"Then"
"Umm.....my bike"
"Get lost Daniyal. Don't talk to me ever again." She pouted like a child after not getting her desired answer.
"Ohooo stupid I was teasing you. I love you the most, my most beautiful Zahra."
"I love you too Daniyal. I'm so lucky to have you."
"Zahra promise me one thing?"
"What?"
"Promise me you'll never leave me"
"I promise. I promise with my whole heart."
"Can I hold your hand Zahra?"
"No" she denied straightly, "not until our marriage."
"I'm so excited for that day."
"Me too"
"Wow Zahra we both will be married one day."
........
A lone tear escaped her eye. Her dreams shattered in just a month.
The haveli was a mess whole day, the people kept coming and going, the caterers, stylists, beauticians, the whole staff and security was on high alert. Media was also present and many well known buisnessmen and ministers were invited in the ceremony.
It was a big day after all.
But unfortunately the bride wasn't happy at her own wedding.
She was lost in her own thoughts sitting alone in the roon when suddenly she heard ringing of a phone. She knew it wasn't hers because Irtaza had broken her phone that day. She looked around and stood up following the voice, it was placed under the bed. She analysed it, it wasn't of her mother's as well.
An unknown number was calling, curious to know who was it, she picked up the phone.
"Hello" she said uncertainly.
"Zahra" the familiar voice answered in its shaky breath, causing a sudden smile to break on her lips.
"Daniyal." she whispered.