EHSAAN

Husband (1)

"Anya, get up. Your husband is waiting outside.” Sakeena announced as soon as she entered the room. Sakeena spoke up again upon seeing the tears on the young girl's cheek, “You're not the first girl getting married and definitely aren't the last one, stop with the tears. We didn't force you into this marriage, you agreed willingly.”

“Sakeena, le kar aa bhi jao isse. Barey sahab aur Hazem sahab baahir intezaar kar rahe hai.” Anya heard her uncle's voice, her heart stilled in its place. She didn't know how to feel, so she agreed to this. There is no way out of this.

[Sakeena, bring her out already. Master and the young master, Hazem, are waiting.]

Hazem Gilani.

The man she has been wed to, a man known for his strict demeanor and even stricter rules and policies which he had established in the area.

A man who was eleven years her senior.

Sakeena grabbed the girl's hand and pulled her up from her seat, Anya winced at the pain which didn't sit well with her aunt. “Nakhrey na dikhao. Humne toh itna acha rishta dhoondha tha there liye, par tumne do ansu baha ke Barey sahab ke saamne ani hi game chala li.” Sakeena tightened her grip on her hand in anger as she spoke.

[Don't start throwing tantrums now. We found such a good proposal for you but your cunning self, dropped two tears in front of the Master and started playing your own games.]

Anya frowned at her words, what game?

Her emotions took over when Zafar Gilani, or Barey Sahab as relatives call him, asked her if she was happy with this marriage.

How could she possibly hold back her tears when she was being forced into marrying a widower with kids who were closer to her age than the man himself?

That was enough for Zafar Gilani to cancel the marriage, but due to constant provocative questions from her aunt, Zafar Gilani offered his son's proposal to her uncle and they agreed.

Anya had always been a burden for them, and she was made well aware of this on countless occasions. Whether it was when her cousins were going to school and getting an education, while she was cooking and cleaning at home.

Or when she asked her aunt to buy her new clothing because her clothes were too old and had some tears, but her aunt did not have enough money. However, she did have enough money when her daughter asked for a new dress for her after-school function.

“Abaya?” Anya stuttered, she couldn't leave the house adorned. It was something she did not feel comfortable doing. Maybe because she didn't like leaving the house and when she did, she was fully covered.

Sakeena rolled her eyes at her, “They've parked the car inside the house, you don't need it.”Anya nodded, still feeling discomfort on the thought of not wearing an abaya or hijab in front of a man
Though the man was her husband now, it was all too sudden for her.

“Come out already, I'm taking Anya's bag” her Uncle entered in a rush and grabbed the suitcase.

Sakeena frowned seeing the suitcase and nudged Anya, “Madam Sahiba, isme kya daal hai? Meri bachi ki cheezein toh nhi chori ki?” Anya shook her head repeatedly at the accusation, making Sakeena roll her eyes at her.

[Miss Ma’am, What did you put inside that suitcase? Did you sneak my daughter's things into that?]

Sakeena helped, or more like dragged, the girl outside until they were a few steps away from the car. Anya felt her legs numb in fear, and her heart was running marathons. She wouldn't have guessed yesterday that today she would be married to not just any man, but Hazem Gilani.