Belong Together

Big Decisions

© All copyrights belong to StarsAndMoon1447 on Wattpad

*

WARNING: Acid attacks are a growing concern, more often targeted at women. The disturbing attitude towards women is not religious, or even cultural based, but the actual responsibility first and foremost is the twisted mentality of society, and secondly in many ways upbringing. Unfortunately, boys are often raised with that 'boys will be boys' mentality (I don't mean everyone raises them this way, but it's still too high an amount), and this easy forgiveness when it comes to their mistakes lead to life-altering issues for innocent women. Society will start to improve, even if in a small amount, when all boys are raised to respect females. Umair is the best example of this disturbing mentality.

*

Fariha

"If you had any involvement in this..." I pointed at Saad in warning, before walking out of my house with Zafar, ready to head to the hospital to see Madiha.

I'd called my husband home during the middle of his shift, because it was beginning to look clear to me that Saad was going to be in some legal trouble. He had been right there with Umair when Madiha had been attacked by my ex-husband. Madiha hadn't seen who had attacked her, but she knew that both were present. And Umair had ran off, leaving Saad there with his wife.

If I was a policewoman, I would have immediately suspected Saad in the matter, given the circumstances. 

"Where's Shezan?" Zafar asked about our baby grandson, who was barely two. 

"With his Nana Jaan and Nano." I was in tears as he drove us to see our daughter-in-law. I felt like a culprit of Madiha. I felt like my upbringing had failed so badly that she had become collateral damage to it. "How am I going to face her, Zafar?" I burst into tears. "He's been a constant disappointment to me. You have regularly faced complains from fathers and families of girls when he was in college, and then he left me incapable of facing my own big brother when he send disgusting messages to our Iman, and now this... this is the limit, Zafar." 

He nodded, but didn't say anything.

"Don't help him if he gets in legal trouble. Whether he directly hurt Madiha or not, he is responsible for this." I said, sealing off my heart temporarily in order to make tough decisions. 

"If he didn't throw acid at her, he can't face the charges for it, Fari."

"Then let him fight his own case!" My voice rose. "Uski maujodgi main yeh sab hua tha, Zafar! Main to kabhi soch bhi nahin sakti ke aapki maujodgi main mujhe koi nuksaan pohnchane ka soch bhi sake, aur aisa hi hona chahiye. Aur yahaan, uske hote huay uski biwi ke saat itna behanak waqaiya hogaya!"

*"This all happened in his presence, Zafar! I cannot even imagine anyone even thinking of harming me in your presence, and that's how it should be. And here, such a horrifying incident happened with his wife in his presence!" 

"You really want me to leave him on his own?" He asked.

I nodded. "He needs to face the consequences of his action. I won't be the mother who defends her son regardless of his behaviour. Aik ladki ki zindagi kharab karke woh bilkul na sochay ke Maa ko dhaal banakay uske peechay chup jayega."

*"After ruining a girl's life, he shouldn't ever expect to use his mother as shield to hide behind her." 

"Sochlo. Kyunke agar yeh saabit ho gaya ke usne khud phainka ta, to main apni puri takat laga doon ga usko jail ki salakhon ke peechay pohanchanay ki." He briefly glanced at me. "Hamari beti nahin, iska matlab yeh nahin ke main kisi aur ki beti ke saath zulm bardaasht karoonga."