Untainted: The Purest

—In a faraway Village— "Umeed Hussaini, Wald Ayazuddin Hussaini you are given to Shaikh Abdul Ahad in marriage for twenty lacs haq meher. Do you accept this marriage?" Umeed's heart fluttered with happiness and her breaths became heavy. Was this a dream? She nodded and slowly whispered "Qubool Hai" (I accept.) And her mother conveyed it to Qazi Sahab. After that moment there were crackers, happiness, celebrations and joyful laughter scattered around. It was a small village which made it louder. Umeed wanted to laugh out loud and show everyone her happiness but she was the bride- this would be labelled shamelessness. She sat there catching her breaths with her sisters who teased her every now and then. Her young brother Zain and her father were out there looking at the arrangements. "Oooo look at the blush!" Umeed's youngest sister Zara said pinching her reddened cheeks. "Yeah. She must be blushing. A big businessman she got." Her other sister Sania spoke with a fake smile and a hint of jealousy in her tone. She was the most beautiful among the four sisters and yet the great businessman, Shaikh Abdul Ahad chose her and not Sania. "Okay you all are done teasing. Now go and have dinner because I have to talk to my sis... alone." Umeed's eldest sister Asma ordered. The two got up and left. "What is it Asma Api?" Umeed asked. Asma took a deep breath before starting. She placed a hand firmly on Umeed's and started, "I have been married for four years by now. I have faced what you are about to step in. Remember, always respect your husband no matter what. And be the most beautiful and obedient woman in his life. If you ever have to choose between him and us, don't hesitate to leave us behind. We would understand." She said looking down. "Api..." Umeed was on the verge of crying. How can she say such things? "No Umeed you need to understand this now. When you are not perfect you have to accept other people's imperfections too. Look at me, four years of marriage and I am still childless. So even if Wahaj taunts me on this, I have to bear. Even if Wahaj's mother remarries him, I wouldn't have the power to stop it or oppose it. And Ammi wouldn't allow me to come back." By now Asma had tears in her eyes. Umeed hugged her tight. "That won't happen Api! I always pray for your happiness. Allah wouldn't disappoint me." Asma pulled her apart and spoke, "I'm a little worried about you. I just can't grasp how all this happened all of a sudden. Shaikh Sahab comes to our Village for seeing a land, then sees you and wants the wedding in a week. Whenever he is asked about his family, he makes excuses. And at the wedding, no one from his family arrives, only a distant cousin, Mumtaz. He brings everything, does everything for us." "Api..." she looked around to confirm that no one was watching, "That's because he asked me directly first. I refused saying I would only marry the man my parents chose for me." She said sincerely, looking down like confessing some crime. She was hoping this would satisfy Asma's questions but she said, "Why didn't you tell any of us before?" Asma hissed in shock. She knew how men were. Their egoistic nature doesn't make rejection so easy to digest. What has this girl done? What has she brought upon herself? "I think you should talk to Abba (father) about this." Asma said getting up and pulling Umeed with her. "About what?" Umeed asked, still not getting the point. "Think about it again Umeed. This marriage-" " Wow. What a dutiful sister you are, trying to brainwash her against her husband?" Their mother interrupted. She pulled Asma by her wrist and asked her to get lost. Asma sadly left. Her mother sat beside Umeed and said, "Listen very carefully Umeed. If I ever hear any complaints about you from Jamai ji, you will see the worst side of me. Now onwards, the only purpose of your life is... his happiness. Take care of him, his family, his home. Be there for him whenever and however he needs you... physically or emotionally. Because if you don't, someone else will. Men don't starve... they just go somewhere else and get it. And that will be your fault. No need to argue or rebel over anything. Listen and obey everything he says without a word. Learn to live the way he keeps you. He is your guardian and maintainer. I don't know what has happened to this society? Men are imitating women and women want to be men, to go out and earn money leaving their homes behind. They are no more proud of the Womanhood that God has gifted them. They don't take it as a fulltime job, an occupation but a burden." She paused to inhale a breath and continued, "27 years ago my mother told me one thing on the day of my Rukhsati and I am saying the same thing to you, Your Doli (Palanquin)is leaving from this house but your coffin should be leaving from your husband's house. Because you will only be honoured and respected as long as you are with him. No one respects a deserted, widowed or divorced woman. They believe it is always her fault. Now wear this, it's your Rukhsati in an hour." Saying this, she handed a bright red lehenga with heavy golden work and left. Normally, all these words would have scared her so much but her heart had trusted Abdul Ahad too much for anything bad to happen to her. She knew deep down in her heart that she would never face any such circumstances until he was there for her. They were having a fairy tale wedding and what awaited was a happily ever after. She got dressed in the heavy lehenga that Abdul Ahad brought especially for her Rukhsati. She looked at the mirror and the girl wasn't the same. She was far more beautiful, elegant, contented and happier than she had ever been. *** After all the rituals, Umeed left her home with a heavy heart saying her final Goodbyes to her father, mother and siblings. She had never seen her father crying like that. But he strongly overpowered his emotions and took Umeed to the car. She was strongly clutching her father's arm. She couldn't let him go. Abdul Ahad came forward and promised her father to take good care of her, always. That was contenting enough for her father. He gave Umeed's hand to Ahad and asked her to go to her home and be happy. They sat in the car and Ahad started driving. He was silent while Umeed's sobs won't stop. He hesitantly placed a hand on hers and said, "Relax. I'm here for you." His soft voice, his touch did something electrifying to her body. She nodded but didn't stop crying. "They'll be there for reception day after tomorrow." Ahad said the first thing that came to his mind. "And you're spoiling all the make-up. I haven't even seen you properly." He said, glancing at her. Umeed felt his heated gaze on her and heat rushed to her cheeks. Even his stare had such an effect over her. Hearing those words, her sobs became lower and died down after some time. "You had dinner?" He asked. "Yes. Zara and Sania fed me. Aapne khaya (Did you eat)?" Umeed said. "I ate with Mr. Hussaini and Zain." And he stopped the car. "We're home?" She asked in surprise. City was supposed to be far away from their village. "No. It's a two-hour drive. And you must be tired. So, we're staying here for the night and leaving in the morning." Ahad walked out and held the door open for her and she walked holding his hand. "Masha Allah. It's so beautiful." She said looking at the large, marvellous place with wide eyes. "Yeah. It was a rich family's abode. Three years ago, I bought it." He said casually. "B... bought. You mean this place is yours?" She asked her eyes wide open in wonder. He just smiled as they walked to their suite. *** As Umeed opened the door, she was greeted with a strong scent of roses. She walked inside to see the room was mesmerizingly decorated with roses and orchids. "Jazakallah it's beautiful." Umeed gasped feeling her heart race against her chest. But his face held the same surprise as her. "Mumtaz must have done it. I'll go and check on her. Wait for me." He kissed her forehead and without waiting for her reply quickly turned to leave. She heard the door close behind her and she was sad, disappointed that her husband left her like that to see his cousin but she consoled herself thinking she was his responsibility. She sat gracefully in the middle of the bed spreading her Lehenga beautifully all over and waited for her love to come. It was going to be a memorable night of passions, dreams, love, and eternal happiness for her. After waiting for almost an hour which seemed like forever, finally the moment came. She heard the door knob turn and Ahad walked in. He walked into the room and Umeed's heart skipped a beat as he looked at her. She lowered her gaze and couldn't contain her smile and fluttering heart. Her cheeks were red with the blush. Ahad walked closer to the bed and sat beside her. She clutched her hands against her knees when she heard his voice. "God you're beautiful." When he spoke, she felt a strong breath of alcohol hit her face. She was taken aback. She couldn't believe what just happened. Her head snapped in his direction and she could see his eyes dizzy and lips trembling. He slowly moved closer but Umeed was trembling with fear now. She kept moving back as he kept moving forward until she hit the headboard. "A... Ahad? Are you-" before she could say anything else, he sealed her lips with his and caressed her face with his hands. This time his touch wasn't the same caring, welcoming and mild. It didn't make her feel secure and comfortable. Rather, it scared her to the core. He slowly pinned her on the bed and subsided her tiny frame with his. She didn't know what to do. She just clutched her eyes shut and lied down there letting him have his way. She felt such revulsion like his hands, his lips on her body would burn it. The dress, jewellery rubbed against her skin causing blisters as he pulled them away from her. She tried to talk at first but soon realized it was useless to say anything to him now. He was intoxicated and so were all his senses. Many times, she weakly tried to push him away but she couldn't risk his anger as well. God knows what he would do. Her bangles were breaking in her wrist, jewellery lying on the side and the clothes covering her dignity wrinkled and torn. She was too drained to move a finger or say a word but he wouldn't stop until his desires were fulfilled. It was like her weak, broken sobs and painful moans were giving him some s******c pleasure, her sighs of exhaustion only provoking him more. Many times, she bit her lip roughly to stop a scream. Every time he hurt her and she tried to get up, his grip on her wrists tightened giving her more pain. His violence, harshness was going to leave marks on her body for days and on her soul forever. This was not how she had expected her life to start! His right on her was equitable but his actions of claiming her weren't. They were wicked, immoral and painful. She felt like tears in her eyes would be drawn out completely but her pain wouldn't end. Today she was not only stripped of her clothes but her dignity, her self-esteem and her right as a human being. The passing night wasn't the same for both of them. His wishes fulfilled, her dreams broken. He acquired everything, she lost everything. How was she ever going to live with this man? -------------------------------