Chapter 6

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Her hair was tied up by a small bow, as she swung her legs. Her hair flew in the air, veiling around her, and a serene smile spread on her face as she glanced at the little kids playing by the pond. The little girls ran free, as they splashed water at each other. Looking at them from afar, at their innocent smiles, Seher's heart warmed. Their joy was infectious, Seher wanted to join them, and she wanted to run carefree. Like a little girl, free of all rules, as a kid, she was never allowed to leave the mansion.

Her eyes would linger on the swings, on the slides wondering what use they were of adults if kids weren't allowed. But then she discovered little boys were allowed, and maybe from that she harboured jealousy towards them, even though they were not to be blamed. Kids were pure-hearted, they could never harbour ill thoughts for everyone.

Her eyes widened as she saw a little kid suddenly falling into the pond. Her instincts kicked in and from her position, Seher jumped into the pond. She had wished to jump down a long time ago, she swum closer to the drowning girl and held her by one hand going to the coast, there she saw several men. They had come to rescue her, she laid the kid in her lap, softly rubbing her stomach to help her get rid of the water she had swallowed. The child coughed and gasped for air, gradually recovering. Seher's heart raced, but relief washed over her as the child's cries turned into relieved sobs.

The onlookers, including the men who had come to help, expressed their gratitude for Seher's quick action. She smiled and reassured the little girl, making sure she was safe and sound. As she sat there, her smile mirrored the innocence she had longed for as a child, finally experiencing the freedom and happiness she had missed out on.

She glanced at the large mansion and the stair she previously sat on. It felt as if she was looking into a prison, a cage. She could breathe here, she could laugh, her hair was wet including her clothes. But Seher felt worthy, knowing that she had made a difference in that little girl's life. It was a powerful moment for her, a moment of liberation from the confines of her past. As the sun glistened on the water's surface, she felt a newfound sense of worth and purpose.

This was a defining moment for Seher, one she wouldn't let slip away. She knew that if she gave up, her story would fade into obscurity, and that was something she couldn't accept. The verses of Shakespeare's sonnet echoed in her mind, pushing her forward with even greater resolve.

She longed to be more than just a forgotten name in the annals of history.

Seher wanted to make a difference, to be immortalized not in marble or gilded monuments, but in the hearts and memories of those she touched. Her only wish was to be remembered with respect and admiration, to be a symbol of freedom, resilience, and the indomitable human spirit. This was her moment to shine bright in the pages of history.

Seher knew that her path was not going to be easy. To change the minds of the men in the village and fight against the tyranny, she needed a clever approach. Her heart was in the right place, and her determination was unwavering, but she had to gather all the information she could.

One key element in her strategy was to find a way to win over Saad's heart, a man who appeared heartless. She understood that people, even those who seem unyielding, often have their vulnerabilities and weaknesses. To understand Saad and gain an advantage in this challenging game, she needed to delve into his history, discover his past, and uncover the hidden layers of his personality.

Her quest was to identify a single flaw or a crack in his armour that she could accept or nurture. Anything that could help her connect with him on a personal level. Seher recognized that her husband was a complex man, one who spoke only demeaning words. To truly win him over, she needed to comprehend his story, his motivations, and what had shaped him into the person he had become.

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Seher's father owned more than half of the village, she was the daughter of a powerful man. Had she been a man, Saad would have gotten a tough competition on his position. To his luck, he had not only won the land but the woman as well. She was ordinary, all talk no work, sometimes he wondered how could that clever man's daughter be so weak.

Jahangir Shaikh was truly a king, he had the power and the aura to match it. But now his next line would be Saad's son, which means he would lose his reign, and the Nawab would get richer and more powerful.

He remembered the first time he met her, she shed tears but didn't back off, trying to hold his sister in her last moments. Her hazel eyes glared at him as she cursed him, this was the first time someone had dared to do so. But he didn't pay heed to it until he saw her again in Jahangir's house.

She loved to challenge him, he realised. At this very moment she stood at the doorstep ger clothes drenched, but her head held high. He could see her clothes revealing her lean body, and it angered him. She had once again broken the rule, he looked outside and decided on her punishment.

"Seher, you can't enter inside. Go out and kneel in the rain".

Saad watched from the terrace as Seher knelt in the rain, her clothes becoming increasingly transparent, revealing her soaked form. The tension between them was palpable, and he couldn't tear his eyes away.

With his voice as stern as steel, he said, "Seher, this is your punishment."

She met his gaze, her lips quivering slightly, but there was a blissful smile in her eyes. "That's not a punishment," she whispered, her voice filled with an unspoken desire. Without another word, she walked out into the rain, embracing the cold water cascading over her.

For an hour, she knelt there, the rain drenching her, making her shiver, but she never once begged him. Their eyes met repeatedly, and she maintained unwavering eye contact, her defiance visible in the downpour. Meanwhile, Saad lit a cigarette and smoked, his grey eyes never leaving hers.

Her eyes were captivating, a language of their own, and he couldn't help but be drawn to them. In the midst of the rain, with their silent exchange, he found himself falling for those beautiful eyes, realizing that they held a power he couldn't resist. The water burnt her eyes, they turned red, but Seher didn't backed down. He was a monster, he could afford to punish her to death, but he couldn't kill her. She might be physically weak, but her ego was large enough for the entire universe, she wouldn't bow down. Even if it meant dying, she would die bravely on her own terms.

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