Mehmal

Chapter 23. ( MMC )

For the whole week, they had been filming in Gaza, meeting various people. One of the crew members was busy editing the footage. Thomas, using his connections, secured a van and transformed it into a fully equipped production vehicle. They had a complete production system in place. If the coverage of Palestine received positive feedback, a media collaboration could be on the horizon. Mehmal wanted to establish the project's foundation and relied on her crew as her support system.

"Did you decide on a name, Mehmal?" Thomas asked.

"Muslim Media Collaboration, MMC," Mehmal replied.

"If it succeeds, the next targets will be Syria, Yemen, and other countries. But that will be strictly news coverage. It could expand to include entertainment, talk shows, and more, connecting different worlds," she said, her team noticing her enthusiasm.

"That's for later. Let's start here, though it's not as easy as we think," Thomas cautioned.

Mehmal nodded. "Thomas, you and the rest of the crew can back out if you want to. I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened to any of you," she said to her crew. They were five teammates; others were working in the UK. Designers, social media managers, and OIC were funding them, and if successful, the media collaboration would gain recognition from other organizations as well.

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Zaryab stared at the email. He remembered Mehmal applying for it, and he knew it was challenging to get. He had given the interview, even though the salary package at this company was a dream job. The post he applied for had perks.

"Offer letter." Zaryab was elated. If Mehmal were here, he would have told her and his mother first and taken them out for dinner. Zaryab accepted the offer, with a start date a month away. Enough time to inform his previous company.

A sudden call from his boss made him anxious. He went to the office.

He sat in front of the members and his boss. They had suffered a huge loss. Anaya's project was declined by the company where they had invested. They didn't want to proceed further, and all the investments the company had made would take time to recover.

"Zaryab, I know you were just supportive, but everyone warned you and Anaya. Now tell me, will she recover the cost?" the boss demanded. "You all signed it, and none of you stopped it," the boss yelled at everyone.

"They say the investment cost is low and they need more; otherwise, the project is finished. Didn't we have other projects and staff?" the boss raged. "Who designed the project financial report?" He looked at Zaryab, whose signature was on it along with other members, and Anaya made the report. They had agreed to let Anaya handle everything.

Zaryab was furious at Anaya, and his reason was genuine, but he was mad at himself. He wasn't satisfied until he let it pass.

Was he blind enough to destroy everything?

The other members were angry, wondering why they had approved it. Anaya's job was to bring in projects with her staff under her.

"Where is she?" the boss asked.

"She's in her office," someone replied. Zaryab knew what would happen to both of them—they would be fired. Anaya's insult was something no one liked, but who would stop the boss? Zaryab was insulted like every other member.

The next day, his boss called him to his office. "You and her relationship ruined the company image. What will I tell the chairman about the staff I hired? Not only did they cause us a loss, but also a scandal. The second marriage wasn't the problem; it was an office romance, and your wife leaving you is a problem. Look, I know it's your issue, but it should stay personal," he said. Zaryab was embarrassed. His character was ruined, as was Anaya's.

"I want you and Anaya to write a resignation letter. That's all I can do for you before I'm forced to fire you both," he added. But Zaryab had already placed his resignation on the table.

"Don't fire Anaya. I take all the blame. She gave me the project and financial report. I took it for approval, so it's not her mistake. She just brought it," Zaryab said, knowing she had a father and brother to look after.

"You are saving her?" the boss asked. Zaryab shook his head, feeling defeated. "What should I do?" he asked.

Anaya was ashamed that Zaryab had saved her. He was packing his stuff when Anaya came in. "Zaryab, you don't have to do it. It was my mistake," she said.

"Anaya, it's okay. Everything happens for a reason. You focus on your work. It was your last warning; take care of your family," he said and walked out of the office.

"Will I not see you again?" Anaya asked, her voice trembling.

When Zaryab came home, his uncle and his uncle's wife, Taya and Tai, were there. Zaryab sat with them. "When is your wedding?" his aunt asked. He looked at her, struggling to find words.

"Thank God you broke that marriage. I told your Taya she wouldn't live here for more than two months. These girls who live abroad have no patience and don't know how to make a home," her words hurt Zaryab deeply.

"Bhabhi, Mehmal is not like that. She is my niece. She suffered a lot," Zarmeena said. Zaryab tightened his fists.

"Leave it, Zarmeena. I met Anaya. What a beauty, a perfect wife material," his aunt said.

That was it. "Tai, please, I respect you, but I will not hear a single word more from you about my wife," he said. His aunt looked at him with wide eyes.

"ZARYAB," his father yelled. "She is your aunt," he added. Zaryab stayed quiet.

"Leave it, Bhai sahib. When Anaya comes, he will forget her. Now he fulfills his desire of marrying that foreign girl who lived with her for a year and now marries a sophisticated woman here. Anaya..." that was the last straw.

"That's it, Tai. What did you say? Fulfill my desire? She is my wife, my honor. She lives here," Zaryab pointed to his heart. "She is still my wife, and I will never forget her. You are right. We lived for a year. She was the perfect wife, more perfect than any girl for me," Zaryab yelled. Everyone stood from their seats.

"Zaryab," his father yelled. "Have you forgotten your manners?" he said.

"Leave it, Bhai. He forgets it. You are in pain but now get yourself straight. Soon a new bride will come to the house b..." Zaryab left the place and walked out of the house. He was running, not knowing where to go.

He felt the pain of losing something. If he married Anaya at that time, would Mehmal and Anaya face such a reality?

Zaryab, what were you thinking? Mehmal will face these words if you bring Anaya. Why are you worried? It's not your problem, Zaryab's inner voice said sarcastically.

Your desire is to marry them and then leave it to them to deal with what people say. It's not your problem. It's your wives' problem because they have to face the consequences.

Zaryab felt a reality he couldn't tolerate. He wanted Mehmal to face it. He understood Anaya would be the second wife by choice, but Mehmal didn't want that. And now, you, a pathetic man, want her to accept Anaya's time-sharing and jealousy, and now people make fun of and pity her. Why? Because you are the husband, and she's the wife. She should be the one to sacrifice and show patience. Zaryab felt pathetic. His inner voice asked him again.

We men marry and leave women to face the world, and you were doing the same. If someone says anything to Anaya, you will tell her it would happen. You know the consequences.

What about Mehmal? You will tell her to let them say what they want. Why should she care? Husbands have a simple reason for avoiding the issue: to ignore it and take it lightly in front of their wives.

Did you want that life for Mehmal? Why? What are you, Zaryab? What do you think of yourself? Are you an American national like Ahmed, or are you in any way better than Suleman?

Zaryab felt the heat inside. He was sitting on a bench, pained by his aunt's words. He felt something more than guilt.

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