Unwanted Relations

Chapter 2

Noor knocked the door, she heard her aunt's voice from inside and opened the door going inside. " Asalam alaikum." Noor greeted her with a smiled. When her eyes fell on Noor, she also couldn't stop herself from smiling. " Walikum Asalam. How are you dear?"
" I'm good. Tell me about yourself. Did you take your medicine?" Noor sat on the bed beside her, she remembered about the medicine, there was concern in her voice. " yes yes. I have taken my medicine and I'm good." Hajra assured her. Noor nods, she felt happiness, in her aunt's voice, that was unusual. But she didn't asked the reason. " Noor?" She called her. Noor looked up. " yes?"
" Do you trust me Noor? Will you listen to me?" She asked. There was an uncertainty in her way. Noor was confused for a second. She nodded. " of course. I trust you more than myself. I will do anything you ask for." She assured her, there was determination in her. She didn't know what was coming for her, if she did she would have never said this. Her aunt looked at her, she could see her naivety. " can you marry Umer?" She asked. Noor was silent, she couldn't understand what was just said. She couldn't even process it. " marry?" Noor asked in confusion.
" yes. Marry Umer." Hajra confirmed.
" but-I...how can I marry him? He is older than me." She questioned. The most sensible question she could ask was this.
" I know he is older than you. But he is also mature. He is my son. Noor, you know I have very little time. A year? I don't know. And I surely cannot leave you without any support...My sister, your mother asked me to take care of you. I couldn't meet my sister in her last moments but I don't want to leave her daughter without anyone to look for her in mine."

She told Noor, there was regret in her eyes. Noor looked at her aunt. " Please don't say this. Nothing is going to happen to you. I pray for you." Noor put her hand on Hajra's hand. She was saddened by the sudden topic. Hajra smiled. " Noor. I know you pray for me. I pray for you too that you live a happy life. But I'm also worried about you. What will you do without me? You know how these people treat you, I cannot see you like this. Please Noor consider my request." Hajra's smile faded. She was looking at Noor with concern, her voice was now of like pleading. " and what if he is also like them? Didn't he grew up here? With all these people?" Noor asked. It was a genuine question, a question which even hajra was surprised at. " no. He is not like them. My son is different. He did grew up here, with all these people, but I can assure you, he will never do anything to hurt you. He will take care of you." Hajra assured her once again. Her voice was firm, as if nothing can change. Noor was silenced again. The words were making sense. But how can she change her whole life? She didn't knew Umer. She didn't even remember his face. She was 15 year old but still mature enough to know what marriage is. Hajra looked at her expression. " Noor dear. I will not force you for anything. But I only want what is best for you." Hajra said again. Assuring her. Noor was in a dilemma. She couldn't choose. Her aunt never thought bad of her, she gave her a roof over her head and did everything in her will to protect her. How can she forget all those things. Her shoulders suddenly got heavy from the burden. She looked up. She saw her aunt. " Okay. I will marry him if that what you want." Noor said firmly. She said with a slight smile. Hajra smiled and hugged her. She was her niece, her daughter.

                                     *....*....*
He was sitting there like a statue, he didn't know what people were saying to him, what was happening around him and why was it happening. He didn't replied any of the questions of anyone, nor did he said anything. He was sitting there and that was enough. He didn't even know of the person he was just married to. Of the girl who just became his wife without his will. The torment was he didn't cared about her. He was hating himself more than anyone today. He who despised child marriages, or age gaps, he who hated those people who marry girls at such young age, he who criticised those people who supported these things was the one who got married to a 15 year old. The insults he did of those people who do such injustice was now laughing at him. His own words were making faces in front of him. He was feeling disgusted of himself for destroying a girl's life. And at that moment Umer Yazdaan realised how much value he had of himself in his own eyes.

                                         *...*...*

Although the marriage was only mismatched in Umer and Noor's eyes, for everyone else it was normal. Umer didn't told his Father and grandmother that it was his mother's request. He told everyone that he wants to marry Noor. Because his Family would never accept Hajra's request especially here. The one who was against this the most was Umer's grandmother, she hated Noor, she didn't saw her more than a mere servant and it was shocking for everyone that Umer wants to marry, that too to Noor, who was younger than him and everyone knows Umer's modern mindset. The truth was, no one was happy at this marriage, not even Umer's Father and elder brother. No one. Because the girl was Noor. But of course Umer had to marry her, he didn't cared about anyone. He had promised his mother and now it was time to fulfil it. For the villagers it was just another wedding in the house of their village's ruler.

                                        *...*...*
She was tired now, from sitting in the same position. Her back was hurting now. The heavy jewels and dress was too much to carry for her. She didn't even lifted the veil from her face. The red bridal dress was making her look more beautiful but her inner nervousness was something she couldn't handle. She was in a new place, in a new environment. She peek through her veil, it was a huge room, the furniture was looking expensive, there were white under curtains on the windows and on top of them dark green curtains, it was looking beautiful. The room was anything she has ever seen before. It was 5 times bigger than her previous room. She looked around, she was impressed but still missed the home-like-feeling of her previous room. She didn't know what should she do, too scared to touch anything, she was sitting on the bed, waiting for someone she didn't know, why was she waiting? She also had no idea about this. It has been 3 hours now. Suddenly the door opened. Noor nervously look down on her hands, her face was covered from the veil. She heard the sound of foot steps coming inside and then the sound of door closing. She stayed quiet, her palms were sweaty now. She couldn't see who was he? Umer? She thought. She stayed still thinking he will say something but he didn't. He didn't stopped to look at her, he didn't even glance at her. He went straight to his dressing room. Noor was confused now. After a few minutes he came back and his irritation reached its peak when he saw her staying in the same position. " god give me some patience." He muttered. He went towards her, standing at a distance. Before he could call her name, another thing came in his mind. He didn't remember her name. " remove this thing from your face." He said. Noor heard his voice, she slowly removed the veil and she felt like she just got to breathe freely. Her gaze fell on him and she couldn't remove her eyes. He was the most handsome man she ever saw, he had dark brown eyes and his eye lashes were long. She was looking at his feature and she suddenly found herself lost in him. She didn't ever get a chance to see him so close. She was impressed by his eyes. His hair was on his forehead, slightly wet, he might have taken a shower.
" It is late now. Go and change." Umer said again, this time softened. Noor was pulled out of her thoughts, she was embarrassed now. She looked down again and get up from the bed. She wanted to remove all the jewellery as soon as possible. She went towards the dressing room. And closed the door behind her.
Umer sits down on the bed. He was tired. He didn't know how will all these turn out. He was tense. He looked at the closed door of dressing room. He remembered her face, her expression. She looked more mature than the last time he saw her and he couldn't deny she was beautiful but for him, she wasn't his wife. She was his responsibility and only a responsibility. Nothing more.