The Sabr Untold.

CHAPTER 3.

Chapter 3: The (Un) Fortunate Event.

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"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."

-Albert Einstein-

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Telling his brothers was harder than Safwah had imagined. He knew his brothers would understand but apparently he was wrong. And right now, they were running out of patience with him and Safwah saw it right through them.

“We got married because her stepmother was planning an assassination after she got married. Initially she was getting married to her stepmothers godson, Zyed. When Zamaairah heard this, she called me. We met and I found out everything. Do note that she found out after I arrived there. I couldn’t think of any other way to keep her safe and out of this mess,” Safwah told them and the brothers stared at him incredulously. It was Karmaan who spoke first.

“So how exactly did you think marrying her would keep her safe?” the brothers turned their glares to him who shrugged, holding his hands up.

“I am merely asking because, no offense bro, it makes no sense to me.” Karmaan was honest with his feelings and the other brothers somehow agreed with him. The brutality in this child! We’ll talk later, bro. You wait.

“Try making sense of it all, Safwah.” Yazdan told him and Safwah sighed, rubbing his face.

“This whole issue will not arise if you told us the entire story, from day 1.” Kayan told him.

“Fine. I’ll tell you all but promise me, it doesn’t go out of the four walls here.” Safwah told them and the brothers frowned. They have been blood brothers since birth and their secrets were secrets forever. So Safwah asking this meant this was big.

“Safwah, what's going on?” Kayan questioned him with concern. Sahl let out a small smile and Safwah caught this. He knows.

“When I met Zamaairah, she was a mess. She needed someone with her that time and since Ayisha was in UK, I stayed back. Her father was in the ICU with heart problems and the entire property and business dealings went to Zamaairah. The will of her father was that whoever marries Zama will be the one taking over all property and business alongside her.

Farah, her stepmother knew this. Somehow, she convinced uncle to get Zama married to her godson Zyed. That night, when we met; her maid was the one who confessed the plan to us. After marrying Zyed, Farah was planning to harm Zama. And I don’t mean the small cut harm, I mean taking away her breath harm.” The brothers stared at him with shock evident on their expression. Except Sahl of course.

“But why?” Yazdan finally asked.

“Because once Zama is out of the way, all business, property and money goes to Zyed and then ultimately to Farah. She married uncle and yet he didn’t leave her anything. She was furious.

Now about me marrying her, it was to save her from the marriage itself. The law allows only one marriage per person right now and if Zamaairah is already married, they cannot make her marry again.”

“So you both eloped?”

“No. We got married the following day in court and then had our Nikah in UK a week later. I just needed the marriage certificate signed in order for the lawyers to see that the entire wedding is not possible. It worked and a week later we flew out to UK, to Ayisha’s family where we had our Nikah and then I left for work.” Safwah didn’t mention where he left for and if the brothers noticed, they didn’t question.

The boys were silent for a while, processing the information in.

“Okay. Tell us straight up, Safwah. What is the relationship between you and her?” Yazdan questioned him and Safwah stared at him blankly. Married? I just explained! Kayan and Yazdan exchanged looks while Sahl looked away, not wanting to be part of the conversation.

“You all are grown up so I’ll put it as bluntly and politely as possible. Are you intimate with her?” at Kayan’s question, Karmaan spit out his tea and Safwah’s fair skin went tomato red. Sahl on the other hand, looked like he was ready to bolt out of the room.

Yazdan laughed as he patted Karmaan’s back.

“It’s not a big deal, Karmaan. Relax.”

“One doesn’t simply ask that question randomly, Bhaiyu!” Karmaan’s British English slipped though his panicked state making Yazdan laugh more.

“Back to Safwah. Well?” Kayan questioned and Safwah shook his head, no. No. All I have done is hug her, hold her hands and I guess kiss her forehead (this was today so-)

“No. We are really good friends, Bhai.”

“You sure about that?” Yazdan asked and Safwah nodded.

“When we agreed to this, we knew what we are putting on line. Whatever happens now, will happen.” Safwah muttered, running his hands through his hair. He really had no idea what will happen now. He didn’t plan this far. All he knew was that he needed to save her back then. The urge and instinct was too fatal for him to not do anything.

The boys fell into silence again. What will happen to the two of us now?

“And what happened in Sri Lanka?” Sahl questioned, leaning onto his knees. Ah look who’s finally interested.

“That’s another story.”

“Yeah. I can’t take it anymore. I have a headache coming,” muttered Yazdan, rubbing his head. Kayan nodded at him. It’s not that hard to digest you know.

“Guys. I don’t know if this is the right moment to tell y’all,” began Karmaan while looking at his phone. The boys turned their attention to him.

“But?” Kayan urged him to continue.

“Zamaairah didi is in the house.”

“Excuse me, what?” spluttered Safwah, staring at his youngest brother with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. Yazdan saw his reaction and let out a laugh.

“Time to go see wife dearest, Safwah. The same wife that the Zaeef family have no idea about.”

“A secret wife!” Karmaan grinned and high fived Yazdan. Kayan hit both their heads.

“Stop it. We need a plan before this gets serious boys. We cannot let them know everything now. Daadi is sick and breaking news out like this to her is detrimental to her health!” Kayan had a point. Grandmother Zaeef hasn’t been doing well lately and it had began to worry the household.

“So what do you propose?” Sahl questioned Kayan who sighed, running his hand through his hair.

“Let’s not tell them yet. At least not until we find a way to break the news to them. Have you thought about how to tell them?" Kayan asked Safwah. Safwah stared back in confusion. No. If I had, I would have told them at once. 

"No." The answer was simple and he expected his brothers to groan but no such thing happened. Instead, the brothers accepted without question. 

“What if they find out from someone else?” Karmaan voiced out. 

“Then we have to work extra hard to ensure they don’t find out. Also why do we have Zuwailah walking around the house every time I am outside?” this was Yazdan. Zuwailah’s parents were good friends with the Zaeef’s hence she was usually over. Not to mention they were from the same neighborhood. 

“I don’t know. Now to the main point, why can’t we just tell them he is married?” Sahl questioned them and Yazdan rolled his eyes.

“Okay. Picture this, we go out there and gather everyone in the living room. Then we tell them how Safwah is married to Zamaairah, our family friend’s daughter. Also, that he didn’t get their permission first or their blessings as matter of fact. Oh and did I mention that Zamaairah was about to be murdered?” the brothers stared at Yazdan as if he had grown two heads. It was clear as day he wasn’t taking any of their crap today.

“Right then. What do we have to do?” Sahl muttered turning to the others.

“First, call Vardah Siddique. I want to talk to her.” Kayan ordered and Sahl groaned. Today was not his day indeed. All I can do right now is pray things go well.

“Also how did you end up almost dying in Sri Lanka?” the boys turned to Karmaan with laser glares making him flinch. “I was just curious, never mind then.”

A knock on the door interrupted the brothers and Karmaan stood up to open it.

“Good afternoon young master. Grandmother Zaeef has asked you and the other masters to come to the main house now.”

“Now?” Karmaan questioned her and the maid nodded. Karmaan shot the brothers a questioning look and they shrugged in return.

“Tell them we will be there shortly. Thank you Martha.” Kayan dismissed the maid and Karmaan closed the door.

“Lets go then.”

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