Mujhe Pyaar Hua Tha

Ch. 5: Malibu Beach

Alizey's P.O.V.

My swollen eyes stared blankly out the window as the voices I heard over the course of the last three days blared in my head.

"Uss tarah ki nafarman beti ki koi zaroorat nahin hai mujhe! Jo karna chahti hai, karne do. Keh dena ussey ke zindagi bhar mera shakal nahin dekhegi woh. Main samajh loonga ke meri sirf do betiyaan hai," Papa yelled.
(I do not need such a disobedient daughter! Let her do whatever she wants. Tell her that she won't see my face for the rest of her life. I will consider that I only have two daughters.)

"Baap-beti ki beech main hi kyun hamesha phas jaati hoon?!" Mama cried.
(Why do I always get stuck between father and daughter?)

"Tumhara tarbiyat ki wajah se hai yeh sab! Khud ko koso ke tumne aisi beti paida ki hai jo waldein ko izzat hi nahin karti hai."
(This is all because of your upbringing! Curse yourself for giving birth to such a daughter that doesn't respect her parents)

"Alizey, I'm tired of hearing Papa yell," Jia Api complained, "I think you should agree. Tahir's financially stable and I'm sure he'll fall in love with you. It's not like you have a boyfriend or someone who is interested in you."

"Ehsaan faramoshi, beimaani, yeh sab toh uske ragon mein daurta hai. Umeed bhi kaise kar liya ke woh meri baat maanegi. Keh dena ussey, Afreen, ke samjhe uska baap mar gaya hai. Aanewale kal mein agar kisi cheez ki zaroorat ho, toh woh mere paas hi na aaye."
(Ungratefulness, betrayal, all these run through her veins. How did I even hope that she would obey me? Tell her, Afreen, to consider that her father is dead. If she ever needs anything in the future, she shouldn't come to me.)

"Maybe it won't be so bad, Alizey," Amaira Api tried to reason, "Perhaps its meant to be."

"Itne azaadi dene ke wajah se yeh sab ho raha hai. Bohat chhoot di gaye hai, hai na tumhe?!" the way I hid behind Mama flashed in my head as he lifted his hand. I'd expected something else, but he pointed his finger at me, glaring at me over my mother's shoulder, "Kachre mein jaa ke raho ya sarkon pe phiro, apne manmaani karo, jo bhi marzi karo, mujhe koi farak nahin padta! Koi sahara nahin milega mujhse. You're going to be on your own. You'll live in this house like a guest and will be treated like one from now on. Samajh lena main tumhare liye marr gaya hoon aur main soch loonga ke tum bhi marr gayi ho."
(It's because of giving her so much freedom. You've been shown too much leniency, isn't it? Go live in the trash or roam the streets, do want you want, do whatever you choose, I don't care! You won't receive any support from me... Consider me dead and I'll also consider that you've died.)

There was a knock on my door before it cracked open, "You're not going to eat anything, beta?"

"Bhook nahin hai, Mama," I murmured. My voice was hoarse from crying all night.
(I'm not hungry)

"Kuch pack kar deti hoon. Office mein jaa ke khaana."
(I'll pack something for you. Eat it at the office.)

"Aap taqleef na karein."
(Don't take the trouble.)

She came over to me and cupped my cheeks, tears filling her eyes, "Mujhe tumhe aise halaat mein dekha nahin ja raha."
(I can't bear seeing you in this condition.)

My eyes immediately began flooding.

"Maaf kardena mujhe, Lizu. Main kuch nahin kar saki. Bebaas hoon main, meri bachchi. Bohat koshish ki thi maine, lekin nakaam hui."
(Forgive me, Lizu. I wasn't able to do anything. I am helpless, my child. I tried a lot, but I was unsuccessful.)

"Aap ka koi qasoor nahin hai. Aur ab kuch nahin so sakta. Jo hona tha, woh ho gaya," the glint of my engagement ring caught our eyes as I lowered her hands from my face slowly.
(It's not your fault. Nothing can happen now. Whatever was to happen, it already happened.)