Captive

Chapter-45

Dawood was lying on the floor unconscious. He was bleeding from his nose and mouth. The corner of his lips were busted open. Red and purple marks were visible all over his body as if he was beaten brutally.

Well, Dawood was arrested by the police and the in charge officer was none other than Rubab's father Selim.

Rubab told her father that Dawood and she were friends. They didn’t have any relationship between them. Dawood mistook her friendly affection and started harrassing her. She lied to her father. Even if she said the truth, her father would have beaten him to death because in his eyes Dawood would never be worthy of Rubab.

After suffering in the jail for a week Dawood was finally released. He was granted bail by the court because of his mother's efforts. Now, he was on the hospital bed with broken bones.

" I warned you about her," Dawood's mother said. The anger in her voice didn’t go unnoticed by him.

Dawood didn’t say anything. He continued looking outside with dead eyes. He was numb from inside. Rubab's betrayal killed the Dawood people used to know.

Since the day he got consciousness he didn’t utter a single word as if he had lost his voice. He didn’t cry or said anything. Except for breathing he didn’t do anything. His mother forced him to eat otherwise he wouldn’t have eaten too.

The incident happened right on the road was recorded by someone and uploaded to social media platforms. Most of the people took Rubab's side because of her brothers. They tried their best to present Dawood as a molester. There were only a few posts supporting Dawood. The people who used to know him was in disbelief. They couldn’t believe someone like Dawood could molest a girl that too Rubab whom he admired always.

Maybe people would have supported Dawood, if he clarified his stance. If only he could present evidence that indeed Rubab cheated on him then the situation might have favoured him a bit. But, he remained silent or we can say he couldn't overcome the heartache.

" I can't change whatever happened. For God's sake, forget that girl and move on," Dawood's mother suggested. " Like a fool just don't go back to her. Her father almost crippled you but if he spots you again then he will kill you," Dawood's mother broke into tears.

Dawood watched his mother shed tears. He clenched the bed sheet tightly to control his tears. This time, he wasn’t angry on Rubab. He was angry on himself. He felt like a failure. He failed his mother for a girl who never cared about him. At this point, he called himself a weak failed man. He was disgusted of himself.

" When will we return home?" Dawood finally broke his silence.

Dawood's mother let out a smile of irony. " Home!"  She wiped away her tears.
" Rubab's mother spread gossips in the whole neighbourhood that you used to disturb her daughter. So, the whole neighbourhood gave me an ultimatum of 24 hours to leave their neighbourhood. They are scared of you. What if you molest or try to rape other girls!" she said looking down.

The last sentence stabbed right into Dawood's chest. He didn’t ask anything to his mother. Resting his head on the bedrest he looked upwards. He continued staring at the ceiling as if it was the most interesting place to see. In just a few days of interval he became a criminal, a sex offender from a righteous and humble man. Dawood closed his eyes only to see Rubab spewing those nonsense words. When he opened his eyes he watched his mother shed silent tears. His mother was insulted because of his foolish actions.

" Forgive me if you can," Dawood said lowering his eyes.

His mother answered," I will forgive you if you promise me that you will move on."