~PLACID~

CHAPTER 11

Duha stood flabbergasted as the old lady eyed her scornfully.

"Why don't you speak? I guess you must have come to take sugar.", the lady ranted.

Asad frowned which the lady did not miss.

"Now even you have chosen to follow your brother. I don't speak a word and the colour of your face changkes. What wrong did I say? She seems to have come from our neighborhood for sugar, salt or pepper. People never shy away from asking for these things", the old lady continued ignorantly.

Arfia came to save the situation.

"Ammi she is not our neighbor. She stays with us", Arfia told in few words.

"What? How? Why?", Zeenat couldn't figure out Arfia's simple words.

A stranger in their house was a tough fact for her to digest.

"Do you think our house is some lodge or hotel? You are inviting people to stay here for no apparent reason", Zeenat continued.

Farhan looked at Arfia knowingly. His previous warnings were ignored by his darling wife. Now everything, right from the broken roof of the house seem to be falling on Arfia's head. Farhan was helpless when it was his mother. No one could gold her hand when it was debates, discussions and opinions. She overruled all.

Arfia narrated Duha's story to Zeenat.

"You told me how and where you found her. But do you know why is she in this state? Where is her husband? Where is her family? You gave a refuge to a pregnant lady without knowing anything about her. Added to all the miseries, she is a Hindu. Should I now elaborate on the communal upheaval happening everywhere? These brainless leaders had no work. It's okay if you have issues with other's beliefs but that can be private. Now you see the results of spewing venom. The public is at stake. I guess in no time there will be riots in the state. And you weren't satisfied with the problems of your life, you added another feather in your hat.", Zeenat blabbered.

"Ammi she isn't a feather. She is a woman", Asad intervened.

"Yeah. A woman. As if I can't see. Idiot!!! You better shut up", Zeenat lost her cool.

Duha's eyes brimmed with tears. Unknowingly she had become a mole in their lives. Unknowingly she was the potential reason of disrupt and communal disgrace: words that she was tired of.

"You didn't tell. Where is your husband?", Zeenat stressed on the last word.

Duha stood mum staring in the air. Her vision became blur. Her limbs wobbled. Her knees weak and head was heavy. Her forehead was covered with sweat droplets. Her eyes were weak to stay open. She lost her touch with the world around and fell down.

All she could hear was his voice.

"Duha!! Duha!!!"

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"Duha!!!!Duha!!!Duha!!!", he continued.

He screamed incessantly while his hands struggled to get freed from the tight clutches of the monsters.

"Leave her. Fight with me. Leave her.", he shouted

She struggled equally as a pair of hands held her. Tears flowed from her eyes. She wanted to scream. She opened her mouth but her voice ditched her. Her attempts to call for help were futile.

It was her birthday. Luckily a fun fair had been organised in the vicinity by the local people. Rakesh found themselves lucky as things fell in place without many efforts. It had been 3 months they were married without anyone's consent. Their grand escape was the only talk of the town. They had reached some 500 kilometers away from their abode at Haasilgarh.

The day was special and the evening was magical. The fair was a crowded affair with colours, lights, laughter and smiles. Once an open space was now the bearer of different giant wheels, swings and stalls. The fair was a proof of exuberance. The joy was contagious. Duha and Rakesh had the time of their lives. Probably they had enjoyed like this when they were kids and restrictions did not exist. 

Duha and Rakesh went on an ice gola stall. The ice and coloured syrups were tempting.

As the vendor was busy making golas for them, Duha felt something ominous. The feeling was complex. It felt as if a monster lurked behind them. She turned around to the merriness of the fair.

Rakesh snapped his fingers in front of her to break her trance.

With the ice gola in hand they walked to the adjoining lane. Sipping on the cold and sweet piece of ice they paved their way to the main road.

The main road was unusually empty especially when it was fun fair time. Duha was haunted with the same baneful feeling. She turned around to seek that vanished in thin air.
The ice gola fell down from her hand as she was figuring out the delusional world.

"What are you looking at?", Rakesh brought her back to senses.

She nodded in fear. Her eyes were wet. He looked at her in amazement.

"Why are you scared?", he caressed her cheek.

She pointed her finger at the road and the footpaths.

"I know they are empty. Look at the time. It's almost 9'o clock. They have arranged the parking at the backside of the ground. The traffic is on that side. I brought you here so that we aren't caught in the unnecessary rush", Rakesh explained.

They continued walking silently.

Bright headlights followed them as their path was illuminated suddenly. They both turned their necks to find a Jeep following them.

The driver recklessly drove it and blocked their way.

Before they could understand what was happening the goons held both of them captive.

Rakesh struggled and fought for Duha. He managed to punch five of them.

Other five pulled Duha with them.

"Duha!!Duha!!!Duha!!!", he screamed.

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"Duha!! Duha!!", The chanting continued.

He slapped her face, sprinkled water on her eyes. She let out a deep breath slightly opening her eyes.

Arfia gave sugar cubes to her.

"You should have told me prior", Zeenat slapped her forehead.

"What?", Farhan raised his eyebrows.

"That her name is Duha", Zeenat laughed.

"What's funny?", Asad asked.

"Are you alright?", He turned to Duha who lowered her gaze in affirmation.

"It's not funny. It's common sense. I was stupid to have lectured on everything. But she looks like a Hindu.", Zeenat said.

"She is....", Farhan tried cutting her.

"Duha!! And Duha is a Muslim name", Zeenat smiled.

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Hidden by names
Masked by faces
Souls never knew
What covered them