Shiddhat

Chapter 1 : Rayan's Return

He put on his headphones and played a song from his phone's playlist, then kept the phone aside and closed his eyes and started thinking about yesterday's incident when he got a call from his father Shamir Shah. He had asked him to return to India immediately by the next flight, without giving any reason. He was a little worried. Engrossed in his thoughts like this, he fell asleep.

The flight had landed in Lucknow, he came out of the airport, just then a man came to him, who looked like a driver from the uniform, he saluted him and took the luggage from the boy and came and kept it in the car, then the boy sat in the car and the driver drove the car forward.

The car stopped in front of a luxurious house. That house looked like a mansion like the mansion of the Nawabs of Lucknow.

The boy got out of the car and without wasting any time went inside the house where Shamir Shah was sitting on the sofa and Shamir Shah's wife Zainab was sitting on the chair next to him, whose eyes were reflecting worry. As soon as the boy came, her eyes fell on him and she got up anxiously and went and hugged him.

"Assalaam waalaikum ammi"

"Walaikum assalaam my child, my heart is at peace after seeing you Ryan" She separated from him and Ryan met Shamir and then all three of them sat on the same sofa.

"Did you not miss us at all Ryan, you did not come to meet us even once in these two years", Zainab said to him in a complaining tone. She was angry with him for his behavior but a mother's love cannot stay angry with her child for long.

"No Ammi, I used to remember you all the time there", there was truth in her eyes.

"Well, now that you have come back, your mother will be at peace, otherwise she was worried about you", Shamir said.

Papa, what happened? Is there any problem? You told me to return immediately."

"You are tired from a long journey, go and take some rest, freshen up and then we will talk", Shamir had postponed it for now.

"Yes son, go to your room, I will send you something to eat", Zainab told him, then he agreed to both of them and stood up and went towards his room with his bag hanging on his shoulder. The rest of his luggage was kept in the room by the servant. Zainab asked the servant to give him breakfast in the room.

His room was on the first floor, the stairs of which went through the hall. When he was climbing the stairs, many visions passed in front of his eyes, many voices echoed in his ears.

"Stop Ryan, you cannot leave her alone like this"

"How can you be so stupid"

"You will have to do this Nikaah whether you want it or not"

"Brother, please stop "

" I can't do all this "

" She is attached to your name for life "

He reached his room surrounded by strange confusions. He slowly turned the door handle and went inside. He looked around the room. After seeing his room after two years, many memories were refreshed. He kept his bag on a chair in the room. Then he took a deep breath and went to freshen up. After resting for a while, he came downstairs. By then, it was dinner time.

Zainab was present in the dining area, arranging dinner utensils. The servant was also helping her.

"Ammi, where is Rabia?"

"She has gone straight from college to her friend's home. She will be back in a while."

"Oh."

"Sit down son. Today, everything has been prepared as per your choice. What happened? Do you need anything?", he said the last thing after seeing Ryan looking around the house.

"No, I was just like that.. where is Papa?", he pulled a chair and sat down.

"Look, your Papa has also come."

Then the three sat together and had dinner. After dinner, Shamir asked Ryan to come to the study and left. After dinner, Ryan talked to one of his friends on the phone and headed towards the study room.

"Can I come in? " she asked knocking the door

" Come in, you don't need to take permission", Shamir said smiling

" Come and sit" He sat on the chair

" I know you must have been disturbed by my calling you so much but the situation is such that what can we do", he kept the book in his hand on the table and then took out his glasses and kept them in his pocket. His tone was quite serious. Ryan also became serious

" Two years ago when you left like this, many questions were raised, we tried our best to cover it up", Shamir was saying by then Zainab also came and sat there

He was sitting with his eyes down as if he had committed a big crime.

" You went to UK for higher studies and we told everyone here what is the truth"

"Now your studies are complete and we want you to make the right decision. We are not forcing you now. We have made a mistake and regretted it. We cannot repeat it again." There was regret and remorse in his tone. His words bent Ryan's head even further. He felt a burden on his shoulders."

"Now the decision is in your hands, do you want to continue this relationship or get a divorce", Shamir said this in a harsh tone.

On hearing about divorce, Ryan whose head was bowed down and who was unable to make eye contact with him, started looking at him helplessly.