Cold Bones

THREE : Big Bad Wolf

(Songs for the chapter- Start a War by Klergy,Castle by Halsey and Big Bad Wolf by Roses & Revolutions)
...

The night wrapped Meerab in shadows as she sprinted through the maze of corridors, heart pounding, footsteps echoing like a desperate symphony. Each gasp of breath tasted of fear.
She was heaving heavily, no longer caring if her sobs were audible.She was there,almost there,
approaching the end of the passage, a glimmer of hope illuminated her weary eyes – the giant door offering her the solace she urgently needed,she smiled.

As her trembling fingers reached for the latch, cold realization swept over her like a shroud: the gate, her last refuge, stood defiantly locked,the sound of the alarm defeating her pursuits.Panic clawed at her, the cruel irony of near-freedom mocking her desperate attempt to elude the approaching threat. The harsh metallic clang of boots against the pavement echoed as the guards closed in on her.She was a goddamn fool to presume her escape would be so easy.This is hell and she, a captive of the inescapable loop of catastrophe.

"Meerab Bibi go inside." She recognised Khalid's familiar face amongst the army of men confining her, "You cannot leave,we have Khan Saab's order." She wished her father would kill her instead of the slow poisoning he was set on.The weight of Meerab's cruel fate bore down upon her.Her trembling knees could no longer hold her together, she fell to the cold hard ground,pleading"Let me go,please,I can't-I can't-please stop this."

In the midst of her tearful vulnerability, a sudden slap from her father jolted her,pain shooting through her veins, provoking a loud groan from her throat.Her hands caressed her own cheek,a confirmation of the hit,processing how he had crossed all lines of empathy.She looked upto find him scowling at her with disgust.Joining her palms together,she shamelessly begged, "Baba stop this madness,please.A marriage is not what I want right now,you said you'll let me pursue law if I return,you promised me!I'm tired of this constant suffering.Why are you doing this to me?I'm your daughter!"

Her father scoffed,his voice disdainful as ever, "You think I have time for this nonsense?I am not answerable to you.Get a hold of yourself and get back inside,you have done enough.I won't tolerate any more of your foolishness!"

"Why are you not getting it?I can't do this,please.Baba those people are the reason ma isn't here today.Murtasim tried to kill you for god sake,you want to wed your only daughter to a murderer?Is that how much you despise me?"

"Not a word more!You are the reason your mother isn't here anymore.She is dead because of you!You are equally responsible for it if not more,what should I do about it then?!You are a disgrace,it should have been you that day.She gave up her life for someone so useless like you, it's a pity that you exist."Anwar Khan's wrath had transcended the bindings of human decency,his words pierced Meerab's heart like icy tendrils, leaving her numb to the bone.In all these years of pushing her away and avoiding her presence he had at least restrained himself from uttering his regrets and accusations so brutally and bluntly.The burden of his words muted Meerab,she could not speak further for she was ashamed,humiliated, guilt gushing up her spine.

She remained clung to the earth beneath her until her father jerked up her arms in a swift motion, pulling her to her feet.She did not resist,instead stood like a voiceless entity .He continued holding her with a painfully tight grip, "I'll wait for you inside for exactly five minutes.You will walk in,agree to the wedding and greet your uncle with respect.If you fail to show up, I will not think twice before disowning you.There's no place for a child like you in my life.I'll see then,what you do without my wealth.I hope you remember your future is in my hands,I'll take you out of law school and leave you without a home if I want to.Probably that is what you deserve."