My husband hates me

Chapter 17

You have to read the June 1969 love 1971 chapter for this one. There are no time skips, just the pov is from different months for Saahil and Seher.

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June 1970:

As Saahil woke up in the dungeon, he couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu. The musty air filled his lungs, but there was something different this time - sunlight. He looked around and realized that this dungeon was different. It had a small window, allowing a sliver of sunlight to filter through, bringing a semblance of warmth to the cold stone walls.

Feeling the sunlight on his face, Saahil chuckled to himself, "Back in the dungeon... but at least there's fresh air." He inspected his surroundings, noting that his wounds had been treated and the food provided was surprisingly good. The small bathroom in the corner was a welcomed sight.

But amidst his newfound comfort, his thoughts wandered to Malika. He wondered where she was, if she was safe. He couldn't shake off the worry for that woman who had risked everything to help him. Despite their brief encounter, she had managed to touch something deep within him. She had called him her brother, and in that moment, Saahil felt a sense of belonging he hadn't experienced before.

"I need to protect her," he murmured to himself, the realization dawning upon him. She had become his sister, his family. And just like he had served his country with unwavering dedication, he now felt a renewed sense of purpose - to safeguard Malika, his newfound sister.

As he waited for his next move, Saahil resolved to find a way out of this dungeon, not just for himself, but for Malika as well. He couldn't let her face the same fate as him, trapped in this dark and suffocating place. With determination burning in his heart, Saahil began to plan his escape, knowing that he had to reunite with Malika and ensure her safety, no matter the cost.

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April 1971:

"Meri beti... (My daughter)" Jahangir Shaikh greeted her with a smile on his face, she nodded her head at him in acknowledgement. There were lines on his face, dark circles under his eyes as he placed his hand over her head affectionately in greeting. She saw guilt in his eyes, a layer of distress of his face as he stood there.

He wanted to say something, he opened his mouth and closed. He was hesitant. Unsure about his words, unable to speak them aloud to his daughter.

"What happened father?" She asked finally, she hated how he had forced her to marry that man, she remembered the slap on her mehendi day but he was her father. She couldn't hate him. It was hard to hate him, his brown guilty eyes and wrinkled face was different from the steely ones she met before. He looked like a broken man. A man who had lost everything.

He sighed and his hand softly patted her head, as he shook his head, "Kuch nahi andar ja teri Ammi rah dekh rahi teri kab se" (Nothing, go inside, your mother has been waiting for you.)

"Theek hai Abbu". (Okay, Father).

She started walking inside and he stood there in the shade of the peepal tree looking at his daughter, with his tired eyes.

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Like old times her mother massaged her head with coconut oil, as she closed her eyes, all her headache and pain dissolving away in her mother's presence.

"Maa... ek baat puchni thi" (Mother... I wanted to ask something)

"Haan bolna" (Yes, go ahead).

"Gao mai kuch hua hai kya?" (Has something happened in the village)

Her mother shook her head, "nahi, kyun? (No, why?)" She stopped her hands, Seher sensed uneasiness in her tone.

"Baba kaafi pareishan lag rahey they isliye(Father seemed quite worried, that's why)", Seher turned around and held her mother's hand who smiled at her, "Tu kyu fikar kar rahi? Jaanti hai na apne baap ko, apni pareishani kabhi nahi batate (Don't worry about your father! You know how your father is, he never shares his worries with anyone).