Submission

7

'Marry Haya, Zafar ', She requested him. 

The scene of Haya being tied and four naked men looming over her swam in front of him; he closed his eyes, trying to dispel the disturbing image. 

He couldn't reply to her, as he wasn't sure of what to think anymore. He just looked at her in disbelief!

'I beg you, Zafar, please save us from this doom', she held his hands in a tight grip and pleaded. 

'Please don't..', he supported her falling form.

'Zafar if you value or respect us even a tiny bit, please agree to it', he was the only option she had.

'I have never thought of her in such a way', he replied. 

'It doesn't matter Zafar. Please just tell me whether you will agree or not ?', she again asked him.

'She is just a child, why don't you look for someone more suitable for her age? It's OK; people will forget about this incident after some time, don't worry about it ', Zafar tried to soothe her.

'Her father would never forget it; our Conservative relatives would never let us forget it. They will arrive here soon, and they might take her away just for this ', She again held on to his arm and tried to make him understand the desperate situation they were in.

Finding him silent, her anger took better of her.

'So, for all we have ever done for you, is this how you repay us?', she sneered at him in anger. 

'Had I not taken you inside my home that day, you would still be on the streets, Zafar. Everything you are today is because of us and our kindness. How quickly you have forgotten it all! Now when we need your help, you are finally showing your true colours ', she finished, was breathing heavily by the emotional impact it had on her.

Zafar was more hurt then shocked by her words; he had never imagined that all that would eventually lead here, destroying everything he had for them. They were just waiting for their 'kindness' to mature so that it could be valued at an appropriate time.

'Consider this as your debts being paid. You would have no liability towards us after this ', she tried her ultimate card. 

He almost laughed mentally. They proved themselves to be real businessmen after all! 

If that's the price they have quoted for their kindness, so be it.  I would pay the price!

' I will marry her', he said, although not sure if he could ever erase that scene from his mind and accept her fully as his wife.

But he would marry her for sure! 

'But I have a condition ', He said. 

'I will accept every condition of yours Zafar; you just have to say it once ', she quickly replied, willing to bear all his demands.

'After this marriage, WE would no longer be a part of your family ', Zafar said, looking straight into her eyes. 

'Zafar..!!  What do you mean by this ?', Mrs Gul was taken aback by his strange condition. 

She looked into his eyes for any signs of emotions or hurt even, but Zafar's eyes were as hard as a stone. 

'I would accept this marriage only on this condition. Didn't you just say that all my debts would be paid ? ', he said in a final tone,' You can take your time and decide.'

'I accept', she quickly replied, without giving much thought to it. She was desperate to get her daughter redeemed.

'Fine then. It should be a simple ceremony,  tomorrow morning so that we could leave by the evening', Zafar said nonchalantly. He looked every bit of a formidable man as he was rumoured to be by outsiders. 

' Zafar, I would do as you want...but promise me you would keep my Haya happy', Mrs Gul requested, somehow suddenly she felt as if she hadn't known Zafar at all. He seemed a total person altogether.

'You shouldn't concern yourself over other's matters Mrs Gul', he replied without even looking at her.

'She is my daughter ', she replied aghast.

'After the marriage, she would simply be Mrs Zafar Abdullah, with no threads attached to her previous life. And honestly speaking,  I don't like people interfering in my personal life.', he replied while staring coldly at her.

She had no words left to argue with him anymore, wasn't it the condition on which he agreed. 

She would accept it! She had to take it!

In their society, girls like Haya were killed off to preserve their family honour. She was scared for her daughter. And Mrs Gul wanted her daughter to live a long and happy life.

Before, their rigid and conservative family comes to know about Haya's scandal; she wanted to marry her off.

She knew that Zafar was probably angry and disappointed, but was sure that, with time, he would come around. After all, they have made him what he was today and apart from them, what other family does he have?

She had to discuss this with her husband now. She was worried about her husband's health, but her daughter's reputation was a more pressing issue right now. 

She thought, and without saying anything else, she exited his room and entered hers.

In her room, she told everything to her husband, Nazar Gul, whatever discussion she had with their daughter and then,  Zafar.

'How could you do this to Zafar?', he was agonised to hear about his daughter but was sad for Zafar as well.

Haya had suffered unfortunately due to someone's vile planning, but Zafar was put deliberately into that fire by them.

'Nazar our daughter's reputation is at stake. We must do this at the earliest ', she tried to make her husband understand. 

'Mrs Gul, Probably, you don't know Zafar enough. He would never be able to accept Haya after this episode. You are compromising both of them ', He tried to make her see some sense.

'I care only about my daughter Nazar; I can't see my innocent daughter suffer throughout her life. Maybe they will learn to love each other with time'. She was now in a state where nothing could have convinced her otherwise. 

'You don't care about Zafar?', he asked his wife, who seemed like a different person to him at that time. He felt as if he didn't know her anymore. 

'Nazar, I care about Zafar, but I care more about our daughter. Please don't make it more difficult for me', she begged her husband.

'Do as you see fit', he finally gave in.

'I hope you don't regret it later', he was now scared for his unfortunate daughter.

▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎

Next morning, Haya was still on her bed, with Noor, lamenting her decision and crying over the previous day events, and Noor was trying her best to console her distraught sister.

It was when their mother barged in with a maid carrying some brand new outfits.

By the look of it, it appeared heavily adorned, and there were some jewellery boxes of her mother's, accompanying as well. 

They were still confused when her mother discharged the maid and asked her to wear one of those.

'What's this for mother?' Haya asked, her face still red from crying and her eyes swollen.

'You are getting married ',  her mother replied. 

'What !!', Haya exclaimed in surprise, and as did her sister. 

'Mom, are you serious? How could you do this to Haya ?', Noor couldn't digest the fact that her mother was indeed serious about the marriage.

'Yes, I am, and I don't have much time to answer your queries,  just save them for later. And you,

Haya, wear them quickly and get ready. The officers would be arriving soon 'Her mother told them. 

'To whom am I getting married?' Haya's eyes were tear-filled by now; she knew that her mother was trying to salvage her situation. Her foolishness of yesterday had cost her freedom and education. 

How dearly she wished to back and make things right if only she would have listened to her sister!

'Zafar !', mother replied and left the room.

Noor and Haya looked at each other in understandable astonishment.

Although Haya had wanted nothing more than that in her whole existence, the circumstances in which that was happening were the least desired. 

She was in a real predicament. Indeed her heart's deepest desires were somehow becoming real, but wasn't it Zafar himself who witnessed her whole ordeal!  Would he ever be able to forget that and accept her? She was still in doubt, but if he has agreed to marry her, wasn't it evident that he was willing to forget it all!

She made up her mind to go ahead with her mother's decision. 

She was getting married to him, in whatever circumstances that maybe! She smiled faintly.

Her prayers were finally being answered after this long and dark night! 

Finally, God has decided to have mercy upon her.

She decided to give her best to this marriage. Hopefully, Zafar would soon realise her love for him and return it.

Soon, she was dressed up in her wedding outfit, and as demanded by Zafar, they got married in a simple ceremony. 

When all the ceremonies finished, Zafar finally looked up to see his wife; she was wearing light makeup and a light coloured outfit. He could see her fidgeting hands, giving away her anxiety. 

She signed the register where she was asked to without much hesitation or thoughts; she was also involved in her mother's plan of blackmailing him into this farce. 

She looked so innocent, who would have known she was as calculative as her parents. 

After having an illegitimate affair with another man, she was quick to change course when an opportunity presented itself.

He cringed from the insides; he had never imagined her to be such a loose skirt. She always seemed pure and innocent, but Zafar, you were wrong here as well !!

And now she is your WIFE!

His jaw and hands clenched in a tight fist.

There wedding was quite contrasting to the traditional ceremony, but he had wanted it like that. His heart held no happiness or delight for whatever was going on, why to make a show of it! 

He hasn't allowed any jewellery or adornment on her person, from her family's side. He hated this whole thing going around him and wanted it to finish off quickly. He just wanted to leave from there.

Soon after, Zafar asked Mrs Gul to pack her suitcase, as he wanted to leave right away from their home.

'What's the hurry, Zafar, please at least stay till the evening ', Mrs Gul tried to reason,  to which Zafar refused and insisted on leaving right away.

Nazar Gul was silent throughout the whole process; he couldn't meet Zafar's eyes as he felt that they have betrayed his feelings and compromised his rights.

He was very well aware that Zafar had served them, more than whatever they had done for him. But his wife had snatched away even the last thing he had, his right to choose a life partner! 

He just couldn't face him anymore; after all, he had also supported her in the end.

Soon, Zafar left with Haya, leaving all their gifts and presents behind.

☆☆☆☆☆