Wishpered Promises Of LoVE

The sketch

After a few days,
    "Phew, finally it's done,"Fayza smiled brightly…looking at the painting she just made. It was a beautiful portrayal of her Api. She sketched the portrait from one of her many beautiful memories with Zohra. In that picture, Zohra was squatting down on the floor in front of 4 to 5 years old Fayza…who had a cute pout on her face. Zohra was smiling magnificently looking towards her younger sister…her eyes were glimmering in joy…totally conveying that she was having a lot of fun by teasing the baby girl.
     Fayza could not help but admire her Api…she indeed was beautiful both inside-out. Zohra was such a person whom you could never stop yourself from loving. No matter how her Api and Bhaijaan tried to always console her regarding their parents…but Fayza realized the fact very well that their parents certainly didn't love Zohra or her. Maybe both of them were not good enough for their Ammi-Abbu…but little did the innocent girl know that in actuality it was their parents, who never deserved them.
     If not for her Api and Bhaijaan, Fayza might not have been alive as well…and she could feel it at times. From the maids she heard so many past stories as to how her Api and Bhaijaan fought with their Ammi-Abbu..only for her. But Zohra, she was no less than a mother for Fayza. At such a young age, when she could barely take care of herself…at that time, she took all the responsibilities of Fayza. From loving her till looking after her each and everything…Zohra was always there for her baby sister.
    In fact, without Zeeshan's acknowledgement, Zohra even got beaten up quite a few times as well…and the reason was only Fayza. She always took all the blame upon her shoulders whenever Fayza used to cause any trouble.
    She could never forget the horrific incident when Fayza had accidentally spilled ink on one of the gowns of the Sultana. Actually both Zohra and Fayza were called at the chamber of the Queen as their whole family was invited into some function….and apparently neither Zehnab nor Abu Tariq wanted Zohra or Fayza to accompany them. But Zeeshan was the adamant boy, who had announced not going to any kind of place where his sister's are not welcomed. So, Queen Zehnab wanted Zohra to make Zeeshan understand that they should proceed without the two girl's…the whole Oman knew the crown prince never disagrees in what his sister's want from him. When they had reached the chamber of their mother, Zehnab. She was not present there…there on the center table a beautiful pot of blue colored ink was kept which caught Fayza's attention. She took the ink pot and started looking at the artistic designs of the pot when accidentally the pot fell down her hands…causing all the ink to smear on the gown placed just a few inches away from there.
    Everyone present in that room, was flabbergasted with the turn of events…but it didn't take two minutes for anyone's stupified state to turn into fear…extreme fear. Zohra, Fayza along with all the maids were well aware about Zehnab Sultana…the perfectionist lady. At that very moment, the announcement of the arrival of the Queen was made outside the room…making every soul stand on guard. The next moment, Zohra took off her clean off white scarf before covering Fayza's stained clothes. She, herself took the stained veil, covering her head. Fayza at first didn't understand what Zohra was trying to do…but the moment she took away the ink pot from Fayza's hand…she didn't need to be told anything, anymore.
    "Api, but…"
  "Fay, you would not utter a single word…and if you do, I would never talk with you again,"these were the words Zohra told her…Fayza was about to argue more when Zehnab entered the room. The moment her eyes landed on her precious gown and the ink pot on Zohra's hand, she fumed in anger. A tight slap landed upon her cheeks…making her fall down on the floor.
   Gasps after gasps escaped people's lips…Fayza's eyes brimmed with tears,"Apiiii,"a low yell escaped her lips…she took a step forward to run towards Zohra who was still whimpering in pain, but before she could do so…a maid grabbed her hand, pulling her from behind,"Please, Sayyida…don't say or do anything now. It would only increase the torture more,"the maid pleaded to the restless Fayza.
   "Ahh!"Zohra once again grunted in pain, when her mother grabbed ahold of her hair in a tight grip,"How dare you ruin my dress, you lowlife? It was specifically ordered from Istanbul…do you even know the price of the embroidery designs of that gown? And you just damaged it?" Tears escaped Zohra's eyes…more than the physical pain, the pain that Zehnab's words were inflicting upon her was more agonizing. That was Zohra's reality! Even a dress was way more precious than she…a human being with blood and flesh. Life had indeed made a fool out of her…every single time.
    "Sometimes I really feel like killing both you and your ominous good for nothing sister of yours,"Zohra and Fayza's ears rang with the venomous words, directed at them. That was the first time Fayza looked at her mother…in disbelief and in disgust as well. And that was the day as well when Fayza realized how much of an unwanted person she and her Api were for their namesake parents.
   "Enough, tell me whatever you have to say to me…don't drag Fayza in between. I was the one making the mistake, so I must be the one to get the punishment…"hearing such a statement from Zohra, everyone except Zehnab closed their eyes….the consequences, Zohra would have to pay for showing such an audacity was not unknown to anybody. "Api, Noooo…I….ummmm…."The maid immediately covered Fayza's mouth with both of her hands…not letting her complete her sentence. It would be a disaster if Fayza opened her mouth now.
   "Just take her out of my sight,"Zehnab yelled at the maid, not wanting to see Fayza in there…at all. Zohra let out a sigh of relief when Fayza was not given the chance to finish her talks. She could see the crying child being carried away forcefully. Though Fayza's tears hurt her, yet it was for the best of her Fay only.
    And that day, when Zohra came back to her chamber…there was a huge red mark on her right hand. Her skin was scalded with the hot water badly. How cruel someone could be to hurt her own child like that! Fayza cried a river looking at the condition of her sister who had to go through so much only to save her. As a result, Zohra still bore the burnt of her mother's barbaric attributes. Since then, Fayza always tried to be in her best behavior.
    "Sayyida, older Sayyida has come back from her fencing classes,"a maid informed Fayza, intervening in the past which was swirling up in her mind once again. "Okay, thank you, aunt Ruksat,"in return Fayza expressed her gratitude towards her. Taking her painted sketch in her hands, Fayza started running towards the chamber of her Api….she was sure that Zohra was going to love the painting.
—------
  In the hall room,
Fayza once again giggled imagining the reactions of Zohra…"Ahh,"before she stumbled with something very hard….as she was already running so unable to control her own pace, she lost her balance. With quite a loud thud her body bashed with the vase that was kept at one of the sides, causing the vase to fall down on the floor while breaking into uncountable pieces.
    Fayza's hand fell over the broken fragments of ceramics that were scattered on the floor. She hissed in extreme pain…her eyes filled with tears not being able to bear it. In no minute, her hands started bleeding…badly. "Can you not see where you are going?''A boy almost the same age as Zohra, spoke up rudely. "I…I'm sorry, Zafar Bhai. I…I was…''Fayza immediately apologized to the boy named Zafar. Zafar was her cousin, a complete spoiled brat of her paternal aunt.
     "Where were you going in such a hurry, huh? Don't you know girls' should not roam out of their chambers like this?"Zafar said, looking down upon not only at Fayza, but at all the girls as well. His statement ignited a fire…a fire of anger inside Fayza. 
    "Girls are not objects for others to treat them like tissue papers, Fay. Each and every girl has the right to live her life like a Queen…doesn't matter whether she has the title or not! Hence, never let anyone walk upon you or your feelings ever. If needed, hold your sword high in order to protect yourself, and you will always find your Api standing beside you,"Zohra's words rang in Fayza's head.
   "No matter what happens, Baby…never let anyone hurt you or your self respect. Protecting your dignity should always be your first and foremost priority. And if someone tries to harm it, don't take a step back in breaking his or her neck…your Bhaijaan will handle the rest,"She motivated herself with the words Zeeshan had told her once.
    "Girls should be treated like the crowns…not like the doormats, my sweet little sister-in-law. So, it's your responsibility to make sure that people treat you with the grace you deserve, not the imprudence they are filled with,"Shahriar's encouraging words only made her steps stronger.
     "Why, Zafar Bhai? Are you scared that if girls start roaming out of their chambers then the reign of people like you would end soon?"Fayza's savage reply directly hit the so-called male ego of Zafar who gave her a murderous glare. "YOU? You are speaking quite a lot nowadays! I will make sure that uncle and aunty take your class very well so that you forget speaking at all,"Zafar said, gnashing his teeth in anger.
   "Okay, go on. After all, people like you know to only complain when you cannot do anything by yourself. I spoke to you like that and it hurt your ego? Then why do you always speak with me like that? If you don't have the guts to hear any insult as a reply…then don't disrespect others in the first place,"she kept her point firm and stout. There was no hint of fear in her voice…anymore.
   For a moment, Zafar's eyes widened along with his mouth hung open…he was at loss for words. The girl who used to get scared even at the mention of his name…was talking back to him today…that too in such a manner? "You are flying too high, Fayza…you are flying too high! But don't forget that ants fly too high just before they get killed without any mercy,"Zafar threatened Fayza, with an evil smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
    "We shall see that,"Fayza didn't want to drag the matter further…it was useless anyway, talking with that egoistic man. She stood up slowly from her place, trying to limp towards the sketch paper that had fallen a few feet away from her.
   But Zafar was quick enough to gauge her steps as he walked faster than her before grabbing the drawing from the floor. "What is this?"He opened the fold of the paper…as his eyes glimmered in joy looking at the sketch…while a prominent sinister smile made its way to his lips. "Give it back to me…that's mine,"Fayza became restless the moment Zafar got ahold of her picture. She knew him too well…he was another form of viciousness.
    Zafar smirked evilly,"Now that I got it…so it belongs to me,"with that saying, Zafar tore the paper into two…making Fayza scream in anguish,"Nooooo,"she fell down on her knees to pick up the scattered pieces of her drawing.
    It took her two whole months to finish the whole work of the sketch…but it didn't even take two seconds for Zafar to destroy it completely. Zafar laughed crudely…seeing the agonized little girl who was shedding her tears over just a mere drawing. Yeah, it was just only a sketch for Zafar. After all, how would an emotionless person ever understand the meaning of someone's emotions?
     Satisfied with the miserable condition of Fayza when Zafar turned around to go towards his way,"Where are you feeling now, you cowardly bastard?"Fayza roared at him. Indeed she was a very ill tempered girl…and trust me, her anger was way more dangerous than the lava of an erupting volcano. So what if she were still a kid? But she had the temperament of a 60 year old.
   "Wh…what did you just call me?"Zafar halted in his tracks…as his brain stopped functioning for a moment as well. Did he hear it right? Did she literally curse him like that? Questions kept on raising in his mind. "Why? Didn't you hear me well, you chicken hearted asshole?"Fayza stood up from her place, she was still unfazed…seething in enormous rage. She wanted to twitch his head off of his neck so badly right now! If only she could do so.
    "You little bitch! How dare you?"He raised his right hand in the air, wanting nothing but to imprint his five fingers on her face. So that the next time, she would think twice even before getting such thoughts once again! Fayza still was looking him in the eyes. Not even bothering to look elsewhere.
    In the midst of all these other hands held the raised hand of Zafar in a tight grip,"Don't you dare to do that, Zafar. Otherwise it would never end well. Hope you know how promising I could be,"Zohra came in front, being the savior of Fayza. Jerking the hand of Zafar, she hid Fayza behind her while her eyes were still fixed on him who was gritting his own teeth,"You…are going to regret this too badly, Zohra…all of you,"Zafar left the place after threatening them, standing at their palace that guy was warning them! How weird! Yet, it was how he was preferred to…always…just because he was a boy.
    "Fay, I.."Zohra started speaking…but Fayza didn't let her. Before she could say anything Fayza ran towards her own room. Today her innocent heart was broken…brutally.