Ishq-e-Junoon

7. Ikhtiyaar

-Ab khushi de ke aazma le khuda,
Inn ghamon se toh main nahi marta

☾

Wahaj's voice trembled with a mix of frustration and disbelief as it echoed through the grand living room, shattering the tense silence that had settled like a storm ready to break.

"Ammi, aapko kya ho gaya hain? Jab Aina chachi ne bilkul saaf inkaar kar diya hain iss rishte ke liye, toh aap kyun phir se is faisle ko un par thop rahi hain?" His tone was firm yet pleading, eyes searching his mother's hardened face for a shred of reason.

[Mother, what has gotten into you? When Aina Chachi has clearly and outright refused this proposal, why are you once again imposing this decision on her?]

Wahida, infuriated by her son's defiance, shot him a glare sharp enough to cut through glass.

"Tum chup raho Wahaj! Tumhe kya pata maa-betiyan kitni chalak hain. Dekh rahe hain Zaakir sahab, kaise humara apna beta humare samne in aurton ka saath de raha hai. Bilkul unhone pattiyan padhayi hain tumhe!"Her words dripped with venom, her lips curling in disdain.

[Keep quiet, Wahaj! What do you know about how cunning that mother and daughters are? Do you see this, Zaakir sahab? How our own son is siding with those women right in front of us. They've completely brainwashed you!]

Wahaj's heart clenched, but he refused to back down.

"Ammi, bas kar dein! Koi pattiyan nahi padhayi gayi hain. Aina chachi hain hamari aur wo is waqt hospital mein hain aur aap unki beti ka zabardasti nikkah karane chali hain!"

[Mother, please stop! No one has brainwashed me. Aina chachi is our family, and right now she is in the hospital, yet you're forcing her daughter's nikkah!]

Wahida let out a mocking snort.
"Shukr manayein wo, ki main uski beti ka nikkah apne bhatije ke saath kar rahi hoon. Warna uss ladki ko toh koi izzat dene wala bhi nahi milta."

[They should be grateful that I am arranging her daughter's marriage with my nephew. Otherwise, no one would even offer that girl any respect.]

But Wahaj couldn't hold back his disgust anymore. His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, "Ammi, mujhe ye baat kehni nahi chahiye thi, lekin aap bhi jaanti hain Ansar par sexual assault ka case tha. Aur uska record ladkiyon ke saath pehle se hi kharab hain. Aap janti hain wo kahan aur kaise logon ke beech rehta hain."

[Mother, I shouldn't have to say this, but you know very well that Ansar has a sexual assault case against him. His history with women is already tainted. You're aware of the kind of places and the company he keeps.]

Zaakir, who had been silently observing the rising tension, finally spoke, his voice like a thunderclap.

"Bas! Bohot ho gaya. Wahaj, tum iss mamle mein apna dimaag mat lagao. Faisla ho chuka hai. Izzah aur Ansar ka nikkah hoga." His tone left no room for argument, his authority absolute.

[Enough! This has gone on long enough. Wahaj, don't you interfere in this matter. The decision has been made. Izzah and Ansar will be married.]

Wahaj couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Magar Baba, wo sahi aadmi nahi hain!" His voice wavered, desperation creeping in.

[But Baba, he isn't the right man.]

Zaakir's cold eyes met his son's pleading gaze. "Mard apni marzi ka maalik hota hain, Wahaj. Jo chaahe wo kar sakta hain. Mujhe poori umeed hai ke nikkah ke baad Ansar badal jayega."

[A man is the master of his own will, Wahaj. He can do whatever he pleases. I am hoping that Ansar will change after the nikkah.]

Wahaj wanted to scream, wanted to shake his father into seeing reason, but Zaakir raised a hand, silencing him.