Selfish LOVE

Part 1

Mehak was trying hard not to break down inside the car. The world outside was a blur, gilded with golden lights. She was alone in the car and the kind driver, courtesy of her fiancé, had offered to take her to the doctor. Clearly, he was new on the job or else he would not have made such a suicidal offer.

She felt like there was a band around her chest, and it was getting tighter by the second, like there wasn't enough air around her. She fisted her hands and closed her eyes. Her heart was sinking inside her chest. The poor driver kept glancing back at her, renewing his offer of doctor, food and medicine. She tried to force an appearance of calmness and declined. The car kept moving smoothly.

She had decided to accept his proposal. Or rather has given in, she could not risk more humiliation. Her parents were afraid. She was terrified, and devastated. This Nikaah felt more like a death sentence.

The driver looked back again, his eyes moving back and forth, his fingers tightly holding the steering wheel, "Madam, we would reach there in few minutes" he was trying to reassure her. Mehak breathed through her nose, she had decided that she would go through with this marriage. She would look happy and normal, this would not break her, her family would not be humiliated anymore. She had even told some of her friends and invited them to the wedding venue. Surely they were there by now, no doubt curious about her sudden nuptials.

Shamsher had arranged everything for the ceremony. The jewellery, the wedding joda, even the preparations at her home. Strangely he had not insisted on taking her anywhere. She was grateful for that. He had sent the car for her to get ready at the salon. During the two hours she was forced to sit silently, she had decided that no matter what happened, she would endure it with grace. She won't let her family be dishonoured, she would protect her Baba and her family. At least the marriage would stop the gossip. She would make sure that they would live with dignity, that was the condition for the marriage. The protection for her family.

The car jerked suddenly and the almost skidded off the road, the driver in his distraction and concern for Mehak had missed a signal and almost collided with a van. The van driver and a crowd of people descended on him, shouting abuses, pushing him. The cacophony of voices rose in the quiet evening air. Mehak was jarred from her musings, people started crowding him, there was violence in the air.
Her phone rang, Baba was calling her, "Yes Baba?"

"Beta, where are you?" Her Baba sounded worried. Mehak took a deep breath "Nothing to worry about Baba, we are stuck near a signal,"

"What happened?" He could probably sense her nerves, or was that her imagination.

"Nothing Baba, just " Just then, a single voice rose over the clamour "Get the girl."
"Mehak? Who is that? Where are you beta?" His voice was shaking and urgent.

The keys were inside, Mehak swiftly locked the car, "Baba don't worry.."
"But Mehak.." "Mehak, where are you?"
The strong velvety voice of Shamsher was unmistakable.

"If Baba is nearby, walk away."
"Shahmeer, take care of uncle.." she could hear her father protesting in the background "You can speak freely now"
"There has been an accident..." she quickly explained everything,
"I am on my way, stay inside the car, don't come out."
"Alright."