Wrath

Chapter 1

The night was dark and the wind howled outside. It had been raining the whole day and with just a brief interval before, it had started again and showed no signs of stopping. The shutter rattled against the windows and the cold air drafted into the room, splattering raindrops inside the room.

The girl approached the window and stood in front of it, enjoying the cold water splatter her face. She closed her eyes and ran a hand through her long dark hair. The wind made her nightgown float about her and sent shivers up her body.

Smiling, she opened her eyes and eyed the scene outside. Lightning struck. A mere second of violet zigzags across the sky. It was both mesmerizing and intimidating, which made it all the more magnificent. Thunder boomed and the lights flickered.

This was how she liked the weather best. Dark and loud. Stepping back, she turned off all the lights in her room and went to bed.

It was a long time and she heard the thunder ring out many times before she drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, the girl woke to the sounds of birds chirping outside her window. Cracking open an eye, she saw two sparrows perched upon the window-sill. Rubbing her eyes, she got up and out of bed. A knock on the door interrupted her mid-stride.

'Yes?'

The door opened and a timid-looking girl peeked out.

'Please ma'am,' she squeaked out. 'Master has called you in his study. He says it's important.'

With this, the girl fled, her curls flying.

Now what could father possibly call me for so early in the morning? She mused.

With this thought she went into the bathroom to freshen up.

*

Standing in front of the big oak door to her father's study, she just felt a slight shiver of apprehension. Her relationship with her father wasn't exactly good. While they didn't get at each other's throats, they didn't see eye to eye either.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked twice on the door.

'Enter.' A deep voice boomed out.

Opening the door and confidently striding inside, she stopped in front of his desk.

Mustafa Khan stood in front of a large and worn oak bookcase. His tall frame towered over her and he looked at her from over his spectacles.

"Mirha, sit down.'

Sitting down at the wicker arm-chair, she looked at him expectantly. He lumbered over to her and sat across from her. Sitting down, he sighed and fell back heavily.

'Why he's an old man,' Mirha thought to herself.

Mustafa Khan was one of the most successful business men in the city. He had always enjoyed robust health. Tall, enjoying excellent health even in his sixties, he had been imposing. but now Mirha saw that he was a pale drawn look to him. His cheekbones were more prominent than ever and even his moustache, his pride, had a wilted look to it.

She became aware that she was staring at him and glanced down at the floor.

'You must be wondering why I called you so early in the morning,' he started.

Looking up, Mirha gave him a questioning glance. Curiously, she nodded her head.

'It just so happens,' he resumed. 'that your cousins from Austria are visiting. My brother, Qasim, has finally decided to come back to his own land, rather than staying over there anymore.' He finished the last part with distaste.

It was no question that Mustafa Khan was disapproving of his younger brother living in a foreign land. His patriotism was perhaps the only thing that Mirha had in common with him. He might have retired but the army officer in him was still very much present. He had a falling out with his brother when he joined the army and his little brother preferred to go abroad, travelling to many places when he finally stopped at Austria where he had been living the past 20 years.

Mirha cocked her head to the side, waiting. Her uncle's impending arrival she was already aware of as he had announced it last week. Surely her father hadn't called her only to remind her of this?

Heaving a sigh, her father stood up and walked over to the window. He looked out for a few moments before turning back to her. Keeping a careful gaze on her, he started to speak.

'Mirha, I know we've had our differences but you know I always want the best for you. You might think of it as unreasonable but it's true. I push you harder because I want you to strive for greatness. Whatever restrictions I may have imposed on you were for your own benefit and every decision that I took, no matter how unlikely it seemed at that time, was only to benefit you in the long run.'

Mirha stared at him. This was the longest speech she had ever heard him make. With a pang of uneasiness, she began to vaguely get an idea what he was getting at.

'Ever since Qasim went away, our relations have been tense as ever. But he's coming back and we want to make up for lost time as well as make our bond stronger than ever.'

NO.

He took a deep breath and continued:

'Which is why Qasim asked for your hand for his eldest son and I accepted. The ceremony will be held a few days after he arrives –,' he paused mid- sentence as Mirha stood up, pale and agitated.

'You... you..,' she couldn't even finish her sentence.

'Mirha, listen...,' he started.

But at that moment, she turned and ran out of the study, breathing heavily.

Mustafa sat down in his chair and after a moment put his head in his hands.

                                                                           *

So this is a new story I'm working on. It's part of the 'Sin' series. Yes, as you must have figured out, it's on the seven deadly sins. First one up is 'Wrath'. The rest will be updated weekly. Hope you all enjoy.

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