Rabt

5

Rukhsar

She could not believe herself as she said the three words she never thought she would ever say.

"Qabool hai"
"Qabool hai"
"Qabool hai"

She signed where she was supposed to.

They had decided on a very simple nikkah and a rukhsati.

The simplicity of this nikkah was the exact opposite of what her first wedding had been.

Everything felt unreal with this one.

While she had been giddy in her first wedding , there was just dread in her second one.

Her brother stood up as she finished signing the papers.

Neelum had refused to be apart of this nikkah.

She had stated that she could not stand to see her brother unhappy ,and she had made her disapproval of this whole event very clear.

Ibrahim had respected her decision , as he had respected his sister and mothers, it was so complicated that she felt a huge weight settle on her shoulders.

Once she was left alone in her room, there was a knock,

"Aajayein?" She said ,
Saima stepped in, her hair was in a bun, she looked so gaunt, she gave Rukhsar a brittle smile , one that Rukhsar hardly felt she could return.

"Nikkah mubarak ho" she said softly but the pain was clear.

Rukhsar didn't know how to respond.
"Neelum bhabi naraz hai , bhai bhi koi khaas khush nahi hai iss faislay se , par unho ne kuch mujhe kaha nahi hai," she said ,
"I don't even know if I did the right thing" she confessed ,
"Aur aap mujhe mubarak kaisay de rahi hai, aap ko taqleef nahi horahi?" She asked in pain,
She saw the flash of pain in Saimas eyes,

"Taqleef bohaut chota lafz hai" Saima confessed ,
Her honesty was just so refreshing, Rukhsar closed her eyes and nodded .

"Rukhsar , mere liye jo tum kar rahi ho-" Rukhsar cut her off,

"Mein sirf aap k liye nahi kar rahi, shayad issiliye mere mein kisi ko face karnay ki himmat nahi hai" she blurted out,

"Mein selfish bhi hokar yeh kr rahi hun." She said as tears burned in her eyes.

Saima took her hand in both of her cold and frail ones .
"I want to have my on children , I want to be rid of this bechari divorcee ka label," she said , her breathing became fast as she spoke,
"I feel like an opportunist, k aap ne oppertunity di or meine foran le li ," she said ,
"Rukhsar-"

"I feel like the villain in this" she said softly as tears spilled down.

"Rukhsar, please don't feel like that" Saima said ,
"I truly feel that Allah put you in our path, agar uss din meine Allah se dua mangi aur ussi din aap mere raastay mein aayi," she said
"Its fate, nothing else." Saima said as she hugged her .
Rukhsar stayed in her hug for a while , till there was another knock on the door ,
"Aapi?" It was her youngest sister, Humna
"Ammi keh rahi hai aap loug aajayein khaana ka waqt hogya hai" she said .

Rukhsar wiped away her tears ,
"Give me a few minutes" she asked and her sister nodded .

"Saima I'm terrified" she confessed once the door closed .
Saima shook her head,
"Don't be, I've got your back" she promised .

It was such a weird relationship the two shared , there was a strange comradrie that they had, Rukhsar smiled at her and the headed towards the dining room.

_________________________

Qasim

He had taken his leave right after the nikkah.