Captive

Chapter-9

After Walid's leaving Rubab was shattered completely. She didn't cry. She was silent like she had lost her voice. Her family members wanted to talk to Walid and his family but Rubab stopped them. She realized that he never loved her.

Her wounds opened up worsening her situation when she joined her workplace.  From students to her colleagues, everyone would just whisper behind her. Some would pity her, some would mock her and some would blame her for her situation. She couldn't tolerate those different stares and whispers. She resigned from her job and returned home. Now, she spent her days in her room in loneliness.

The only question that always roamed inside her mind was Why?

Just like every other day, Rubab was in her room. She was sitting on the floor near her bed. Whenever Walid's words rang inside her mind, they would paralyze her leaving a bleak, despairing, desperate, and deadened state of her. She feels her life is bloodless, pulseless, and yet present enough to allow a suffocating horror and pain.

Hearing footsteps approaching her room Rubab wiped away her tears. She knew that she wasn't the only person suffering. Her family was going through the same pain. She wishes she had the power to end her family members' sufferings. In front of them, she tries to act normal like she is overcoming the trauma but only she knows what is happening inside her.

" Rubab... Rubab..... It's me. Ayesha," Rubab heard her friend Ayesha's voice.

Opening the door Rubab was a bit stunned to see her friends. Ayesha, Ruhi and Tania. They were her university friends. Their sudden visit startled her.

Rubab blinked her eyes. Her hands were holding the doorframe tightly. She would have hugged her friends if it was another time but she wasn't in the state to meet others let alone hug them.

" Ain't we allowed to come inside?" Tania asked having a small smile.

Rubab forced a smile on her face. Moving away she gave her friends enough access to enter. They settled themselves on the bed while Rubab sat in front of them. For a few seconds, there was an awkward silence among them. Rubab's friends were hesitating to talk to her. What if they say something offensive? They did not want to upset her.

" How is your health, Rubi? How are you feeling?" Ayesha broke the silence.

Rubab just nodded her head. A dry smile formed at the corner of her lips. She wasn't in the situation to talk.

" We want to show you something," Ayesha said taking out her phone from her bag. Rubab curled her brows in confusion.

Playing a video Ayesha handed the phone to Rubab. Giving Ayesha a confused look she took the phone. The next second her eyes almost bulged out of her sockets. 

" Last night politician of the ruling party Mr Waheed Hattab's son Walid Hattab was arrested by the police," A reporter said.

This news had been circulating on every social media platform. Since Rubab deactivated all of her social media accounts she had no idea what was happening. She looked at Ayesha with wide eyes. Her mouth was still open.

" Karma is a bitch, Rubab. He rejected you because someone abducted you. His reputation is now six feet under the ground. I will see who will marry him now," Tania squinted.

Ayesha sniggered accompanying Tania. But, Ruhi did not react. She was silently hearing them. Ayesha and Tania's eyes reflected pity for Rubab but there was nothing in Ruhi's eyes. She was untroubled by Rubab's situation.

Rubab questioned," But, what did he do?" Her voice was full of confusion. Walid was a mere engineer. Why will the police arrest him? What did he do?

" He is accused of murdering his cousin. I don't know the whole story. That's what I know," Ayesha answered making Rubab speechless.