The Fallen Widow

Chapter 15: Preperations and Plots

The muezzin pleaded to the villagers calling them for dawn prayers echoing far and wide in Jahanpur. Cracks off sunlight broke the night away. Preparations for the wedding of the century began.

Like soldiers, extra maids were called into the haveli to begin the cleaning and preparing of the mansions, gardens and the food. Maliakah and Fiza were the head of organising of the grand wedding calling in designers, tailors to prepare hand stitched suits. Huge vessels of pots were ordered, firewood to prepare feasts for the guests. There was so much to do but Shahgul was absent from the preparations.
The morning after her conversation with Jamila left her to a sleepless night. She marched in her room, rubbing her hands together with anxiety. The argument in the back of SUV replayed in her head.
"You have gone mad! Muzzamil sold his grandaughter! He doesn't care about her! What makes you think he will be your ally to remove the widow?"
Jamila didn't buy the plan.
"He hates his brother and use any moment to kill him."
"Things have changed, don't you see. Muzzamil does not have any heirs. His land, his wealth will be flushed down the river. If Emaan does not marry my son, whoever she marries will have equal share in the land. These lands will leave our clan!"
Jamila shook her head. "That won't happen. The land always stays in the family. The women into a family-"
"But a Choudhrani who has no brothers takes her inheritance with her."
Jamila took a silent moment to reflect. She was right, what was Muzzamil thinking when he sold her to some holy travellers?
"He won't see eye to eye with Dilawar-Baksh." Jamila thought about the second step of the plan. "He won't sit in the same room as his rival."
Shahgul grabbed the petite woman's shoudlers. "You must convince him. Speak to old woman Reshma. She has a way of convincing the stubborn goat." Her fingers dug into her shoulders with desperation.
"You must convince them. This is our final chance to save Jahanpur."
Shahgul had to make Jamila see sense. She was ready to say anything to convince her; her only one aim, to get rid of Hoorayn for good. Shah Nawaz was too powerful now. She had to fight back with fire.
Shahgul was suprised with Emaan's response of the wedding. It didn't upset or affect her.
"He has a right to get married. Choudhary Shah Nawaz has a right to have four wives." She put her faith in being a second wife and would wait her turn.
"You don't know my son." Shahgul responded with frustration in her tone. "Stupid girl" She mumbled under her breath.

****

Further in Jahanpur, news travelled by foot of Shah Nawaz's wedding by the villager crier; Mushtaq Ali. He was an officer of a haveli and his duty was to make public pronouncements as required. He was a large man, built like a bear, dressed in tradtional black salwar kameez with a white and black shawl wrapped around his forehead to protect his head from the sun.

Due to the villagers unable to read and write, newspapers didn't exist and the panchayat was absolved. This was the only way to inform the villagers of the news.
"Oh people of Jahanpur!" His voice loud and booming. "Villagers old, young, frail and the healthy come together for news. "

Behind him was his dohl beater. The skinny man carried tradtional dohl and beat it in a short but fast beat alerting people to gather at the fields for news. Women switched off the cooker and wiped the sweat from the forehead and rushed out veiling their mouth and noses carrying their latest child perched on their hip. Gates were left open, people flowed out into the alleys and fields for the news, heart beats, worried faces greeted the village crier.
"Oh people of Jahanpur! Choudhary Shah Nawaz Qureshi, the king of Jahanpur has formally announced to all the residents of Jahanpur that he is to wed."

A cheer filled the crowd. Wedding meant celebration. Celebration meant a free meal. The eyes dilated wide and people whispered in excitment.
"There will be ten days of celebration."
The voices of the crowd grew louder.
"On the ninth day of the nikah food will be served to every, man, woman and child in Jahanpur."
The crowd burst into cheers.
"Meat, Chicken, halwa and other delights will be served and every one will be invited."
"Alhamdulillah!" Cheered a strong male voice.
"Every house is required to be decorated, cleaned and join in the celebration in their own villages. A bag of wheat will be delivered to each household as a wedding gift."
Another wave of cheer, this time it followed with a clap. A bag of what and free meal. This was a blessed marriage.
"Choudhary Shah Nawaz Qureshi, king of Jahanpur will wed Hoorayn Ghalib, daughter of Nouman Ghalib. Every villager will see the skies lit up with fireworks on the day of the Nikah. "