𝐒𝐔𝐊𝐎𝐎𝐍 - rewritten | ✓

TEN

"Maine hamara walima organize kiya hai. Mere saare dost hogein. School aur college ke," Zayan told her a week after their marriage and Maham smiled.
(I have organized our reception. All of my friends will be there. Of school and college.)

"Tumhare koi college ya school ke dost hain jinko invite bhejon?" He asked. Her smile slowly dropped and she looked away from him, shaking her head.
(Are there any school or college friends of yours that I should send an invite to?)

He noticed the mood drop and leaned closer, "mazak nahi ura raha," he reassured.
(I am not making fun.)

"Janti hoon," she smiled a bit, nodding.
(I know,)

He smiled and kissed her cheek before he received a call and left to answer. Maham watched as he left the room and her face completely fell. The whole house has been ignoring her. They always did but now she had an answer as to why. Even Aaima would occasionally talk to her but ever since Maham "stole" -- her mother-in-law's words -- Aaima has been ignoring them both too.

But what really made her mood drop was the mention of a college friend. She slowly laid down on the bed as if falling into a flashback.

She did have a friend in the first year of her college. Ayesha. She was a good friend, pushing Maham into opportunities and she was confident and would always tell Maham to have fun as well. She was sexually harassed by Ayesha's brother.

She went to Ayesha's house one time after college, to meet her parents because Ayesha told her how she had told her parents about Maham. Ayesha never informed Maham that she had a brother but she didn't mind when she found out.

It was not a big deal.

Or was it not?

He wouldn't stop looking at her. His name was Abdul. Whenever she was greeting or talking to his mother or being in Ayesha's room, laughing. He would stare and it made her uncomfortable. Ayesha left her room to bring something to eat for Maham.

Maham was busy observing Ayehsa's room which was an embodiment of how a girl's room would be. And that is when Abdul entered, shutting the door behind him. Maham stood up, immediately and backed away.

"Aa- aap kya kar rahe hain? Darwaza kholein," she said, her voice stuttering and she already started feeling scared.
(Wha- what are you doing? Open the door.)

Abdul smirked at her before positioning his phone on the desk and walking closer. Maham backed away but her back hit the wall, and she froze. No voice came out. No pushing. She went into shock and she couldn't move.

Not even when his hands moved to her waist. Or her stomach. Or her chest. Or her legs.

Ayesha walked into the room and started yelling when they saw her. Tears were streaming down Maham's face and Abdul immediately started blaming Maham and how she came onto him.

Ayesha looked as if she didn't believe him and yet still she kicked Maham out.

After that in college, they both would ignore each other as much as possible. Maham did not have the strength to fight and Ayesha was afraid that Maham would speak up about how her brother is a pervert.

Maham blinked out of the flashback, breathing harshly. She never told anyone about that. Because she knew no one in the house would be on her side. Whenever she heard rape cases on the television, Shahnaz always blamed the victims.

Saying it's the girls' fault and how they betrayed their religion by "letting" men touch them. The words drove Maham to believe as if she was to blame. She became closer to her deen begging and crying for forgiveness, believing it was her fault.

But it wasn't. It is never and will never be the victim's fault.

━━━━━━━

The day of the Walima came. Surprisingly, his family attended. Only because the media would be present and they didn't want any rumors spreading.

Zayan's female friend took her to the parlor to get her ready. She was there mostly whenever Zayan sent Maham for the bridal dress shopping. Maham didn't buy anything. She had decided to wear her mother's Walima dress.

The friend picked her up and took her to the banquet. She helped Maham out of the car before taking her outside. It was Maham's first time attending a wedding. She had never been to one and now she was going to her own wedding.

Wedding with the person she would've never thought of.

Maham stepped inside, her eyes glinting as she looked around the wedding banquet before her eyes stopped on her husband's. He looked at her as if he was the luckiest man alive. With hearts in his eyes and a smile on his face.

Maham could feel her eyes tear up. She looked around in childish hopes that her parents would be here at her special day but all she received was hateful glares. Thankfully, her face was hidden with a dupatta, even if it was see-through.

She walked towards him, alone and he took a step down the steps and reached his hand forward. She grabbed it, the flashing of cameras starting. They had claimed each other as their won now.

No turning back.

Relatives and Zayan's friends came to take pictures with the two. Shahnaz stepped up on the stage and Zayan stood up. During this period of the week, Shahnaz had kept her normal behavior with Zayan. She couldn't stay mad at her son. They hugged, photographers taking pictures.

Maham tensed up as Shahnaz walked towards her and sat down beside her.

"MashaAllah, bohut pyaari lag rahi ho," Shahnaz said and Maham stared as if she didn't believe it, "Sach keh rahi hoon. Glow kar rahi ho,"
(You love beautiful. I am serious. You are glowing.)

Surprised, Maham still smiled. It felt nice to be complimented by someone. Especially from someone who was supposed to be a second figure. Zayan smiled when he saw Maham smile and then he left as his friends called him over. The photographers moved away as well, taking pictures around.

"Bohut khushi mil rahi hai na?" Shahnaz asked making Maham look at her, her smile falling. Shahnaz played with Maham's dupatta.
(You are receiving so much happiness, right?)

Shahnaz rested her hand on Maham's head as if giving a blessing and then moved her towards her bun, "Bohut bari ghalti kardi, Maham, mere bete ko jaal mai phasa kar aur meri Aaima ko rula kar," She said and gripped Maham's bun tightly making hair pins dig into her scalp and Maham winced.

"Awaaz band. Ghar mai toh tum mere hi rahogi, Maham. Aur Zayan hamesha nahi hoga tumhe bachane ke liye," Shahnaz said, smiling sweetly.
(Stop the voice. You will be staying at my house, after all, Maham. And Zayan wouldn't always be present to save you.)

Shahnaz removed her hand as tears welled up in Maham's eyes. Shahnaz smiled one last time before standing up and walking away. Zayan walked to them after talking and laughing with his friend. When he noticed the tears in her eyes, he asked:

"Kya howa?"
(What is wrong?)

Maham didn't want to spoil his mood by telling him what his mother did. So she shook her head and lied:

"Ammi abbu ki yaad aarahi hai,"
(I miss mom and dad.)

Technically, it was not a lie. She was missing them. She always did but she was missing them awfully today.