PEER E KAMIL

Untitled Part 49

Hasan made all the arrangements very smoothly. Salar gave him some
funds and three witnesses were arranged for while he himself was the
fourth witness. The nikah registrar had some apprehensions that something
was amiss about this whole affair, but apart from a handsome fee he was
also given a clear warning, and he quietly obliged.
It was late afternoon when Hasan came over with the registrar and the
witnesses. They all went into Salar's room and the nikah papers were filled
out. Salar had already informed Imama and at the appointed time the nikah
contract was read out over the telephone. Salar sent the nikah forms over
to Imama through the maidservant. As soon as she received the papers,  Imama signed them swiftly and sent them back to Salar. The maid broughtthem back to him but the mystery was killing her—who were these people
in Salar's room? What were they doing? What were these papers that
Imama had signed?
She had a suspicion that Salar and Imama were getting married, but she
could not control her curiosity. Handing the papers to Salar, she put on an
air of innocence and asked ̳Salar Saab, what are these papers?'
̳How do they concern you? Mind your own business,' he told her off
sharply. ̳And understand this very clearly that you are not to talk about this
to anyone. You'd better keep your mouth shut—it's best that you do so,' he
warned her sternly.
̳Why should I go about talking, sir? I was just asking you. You can rest
assured Salar Sahib, I won't breathe a word to anybody.' She was petrified.
As it was, Salar had an abrupt and terse manner and she was scared to
approach him. He gestured imperiously for her to leave. He did not worry
about the maid telling everyone what was going on—even if she did, so
what?
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̳Please meet Jalal once again...please,' Imama was pleading to Salar
over the phone.
Salar was irritated by her request. ̳Imama, he does not want to marry
you—he's said this so many times. Why can't you understand that there's
no point in talking to him again? He said his parents wanted him to get
engaged...'
̳He's lying,' Imama intervened, ̳just so that I shouldn't contact him again.
His parents can't fix him up so soon.'
̳Well then, if he doesn't want to marry you; doesn't want you to contact
him, then why are you wasting yourself on him?'
̳Because it is my fate to be wasted.' She was crying.
̳What does that mean?'
̳It doesn't mean anything...you won't understand. Just go and tell him to
help me. He holds Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) in such high esteem, tell
him to marry me for the Prophet's (PBUH) sake.' She broke into sobs.
Salar was unmoved by her tears. ̳What logic is this? Will he marry you
for saying this?' But Imama did not reply, she was weeping uncontrollably.
Exasperated, Salar said ̳Either cry or talk to me.'
Imama hung up. Salar called back at once but she did not receive the
call. After about twenty minutes, Imama called again.
̳I'll talk to you if you promise not to cry again...otherwise hang up,' he  said when he heard her voice.Instead of replying, Imama asked, ̳Then you'll go to Lahore?' Salar was
amazed by her determination—she was tough and she stuck to her stand.
̳All right, if you say so,' he conceded. ̳Have you told your family about
the nikah?'
̳No, not yet.' She had regained her composure.
̳When will you tell them?'
̳I don't know. When will you go to Lahore?'
̳Soon enough. I have some work here or I could have left immediately.'
This time Salar was lying: he had no work as such and he did not intend to
go to Lahore either.
̳What do you plan to do once the bailiff helps you leave your house? I
mean, where will you go, since Jalal may not be willing to help you?' he
tried to distract her attention.
̳I'm not assuming any such thing—he will help me,' Imama asserted.
Jalal shrugged.
̳You're not ready to make any assumptions otherwise I'd have told you
that things won't turn out the way you want them to. What will you do then?
You'll again need your parents' help so it's better for you to stay put—don't
get into the court and bailiff tangle because ultimately you'll come back
here.'
̳I'll never come back, under no circumstances.'
̳That's being emotional,' he observed.
̳You can't understand these things.' Imama repeated her pet phrase.
Salar was cheesed off. ̳Do what you please,' he said and hung up.
about 6 months ago