Hired Bride

She was running through those furrow between farmland for her dear life and for her dignity. She didn't know where she would go but she wanted to go far away from those filthy men following her. Her thirteen year old mind couldn't comprehend everything but she was sure that if she stopped for a second she would be in a trap from where she could never be able to come out. Her lungs were burning due to lack of oxygen. Her vision was blurred thinking about her uncle. She wasn't the loved one among her cousins but she could never imagine it before that her uncle to whom her father made her guardian before dying would sold her for money. Her mother died while giving birth to her. She was seven year old when her father also left her alone in this monstrous world to fight for her survival, her dignity and her right. It was her luck that she came to know it before it was too late and for that she would always be thankful to her cousin Sania who informed her about her father's evil plan. After running almost for half an hour she could still hear the men following her. Her tiny heart was sinking in her stomach whilst praying Allah (SWT) for help. After running a little more she could see the main road and ending farmland. She motivated herself a little more and increased her speed and climbed on the main road leaving behind the farmland and the village she spent her 13 years of life. She looked back for the last time and saw the faint outline of those men still following her. She turned ahead and resumed her run. She was running when a bright light coming opposite from her blinded her vision and in a blink she collided with the vehicle hard. She saw the car stopping and a old man came out running towards her before she was drowned in the world of unconsciousness. Amjad Khan was going back home after visiting his friend in nearby village when suddenly a girl came running from somewhere and got hit by the car. He knew his driver wasn't at fault. He instructed the driver to stop the car and came out of it. He came near that injured girl followed by his driver. She was severely injured. He looked around to find anyone but nobody was there. It was strange for him to see a girl running alone at this point of night. 'Was she in some sort of problem?' He thought. "Shabbir, I can't see anyone here, I think we should take her to the hospital as soon as possible. "He said to his driver and nodded whilst picking the girl to put her inside the car. She opened her eyes and found herself somewhere unfamiliar. Her heart started thudding inside her ear out of fear. Everything happened to her came at once crashing. "How are you child?" She heard someone asking her. She moved her head towards the source of voice. She saw the same old man she had seen before blacking out. He was looking harmless but still she couldn't let her guard down. "Fine. "She answered in a hoarse voice. "You are in my home. After getting you treated in the hospital we took you home since it wasn't necessary for you to stay there."He explained her in a soft voice. "Baba, how's she? "A woman in her mid thirties entered the room whilst addressing the old man. She was holding a bowl. "She is better now I guess."He said getting up from the stool beside her. "Feed her and let her take rest. "He instructed the woman and patted her head lovingly before finally leaving the room. The woman sat beside her and smiled at her. She tried but couldn't return her smile back. She was scared, among strangers and that too injured. Her situation wasn't helping her mind to relax. The woman made her sit with the support of headrest and fed her soup. She was looking at the woman awestruckly, because no one ever fed her like this after her father was dead, instead she has to cook food for everyone. Her vision got blurred and a lone tear escaped from her eye. "What happened kid? are you feeling pain?"The woman asked her worriedly and in a motherly tone. "No, I'm fine. "She answered her and wiped her tears with her uninjured hand. "Okay, you sleep, we will talk tomorrow."She said and made sleep, covered her with blanket and came out of the room after switching of the light. "Baba, she seems to be having some other issues as well. "Rafia said to her father in law in the breakfast table. "Hmmm, I observed it too. Something is eating her from inside. And that before accident she was running with fear stricken face, I clearly remember. "He said wiping his mouth and taking the cup of tea from Rafia's hand. "I think we shouldn't ask her anything until she is fully recovered."She shared her thought and Amjad khan nodded. It's been almost ten days and she was almost fully recovered but nobody has asked her anything. A girl of the same age as she was used to come to her room daily whose name was Alina as she came to know later on. She used to talk her without minding her silence. She liked that girl but her guard wasn't letting her open up with anyone. She was betrayed by her own relatives, how can she trust someone else. It's in the evening when the women she was asked to call her aunty and the old man who asked her to call him dada jaan came to her room. "How are feeling darling." The woman said sitting beside her. She nodded. "You know it's very necessary for us to somethings about you and we hope you answer us honestly. "The old man asked her softly. She nodded. "What's your name?" "Ayesha Ahmad."She answered shortly. "Masha-Allah, you have nice name."The woman praised her name happily. She knew in the span of ten days that they couldn't be as bad as her uncle was, otherwise they wouldn't have taken care of her like their own child. "So would you like tell us where your parents are?"The old man asked very cautiously. "In jannah (paradise). "She replied calmly but both the person in her room weren't calm any more. "I'm so sorry for your loss dear."The woman said hugging her. She nodded in acknowledgement. "My uncle sold me."She knew they wanted to know everything but was finding it hard to ask her anything more after the heartbreaking news they got. They both were surprised to listen her what she just uttered. They waited for her to speak and a while later of finding to words to convey her miserable life she continued. They listened her quietly without any interruption, fearing she might again wear the cover of silence. 11 and I was running to save myself from those men who bought me from my uncle paying him heavy amount."She end her story with a sob that escaped her mouth without her consent making her weak in front of them which she never wanted. The woman simply hugged her and a while later they were out of her room after asking her village, and her uncle's name. She didn't know what she was going to do, but after letting her misery out in words made her little calmer and she fell a sleep soon thanking Allah (SWT) for saving her from those men and providing her with food and shelter. It's been three days since she told them about her. After that day, they had been extra sweet to her.