Serenity

Ghayra

At first when the Mongolian man had asked her to marry him, Shaista was ecstatic but now worry gnawed at her. It seemed impossible that it would ever take place, but she would go to extreme lengths to ensure she would get what she wanted. Something she had seen the Danaii girl do, except Shaista couldn't demand she had to plan and plot and use a whole lot of deception to achieve her purpose.
For that very reason she found herself standing nervously before Sakina one morning

'I want to ask you for a favour'

Sakina raised an eyebrow 'I don't owe you any kindness to grant you a favour'

Shaista twisted her dress between her fingers,
'Please' desperation had driven her to beg

The girl threw her a look full of disgust
'Don't beg! This is the very reason you can't be Pukhtun it has noting to do with appearance, you just don't have our morals'

Shaista began to weep and clutched Sakina's hands
'What's wrong with you?!'

'I'm sorry but this is my chance at happiness'

'How ungrateful you are, your brother and his tribe gave you shelter and took you in without making you feel an outcast. Is that not happiness? Is this how you repay your father?'

She wiped at her eyes and for a moment Sakina felt pity for her
'Who is he?'

'He is called Batuhan' Shaista pronounced with pride

Sakina recoiled 'What an ugly name. Which Pukhtun would name his son that?'

'He isn't Pukhtun'

'What is he then?' The tone was suspicious

'He is from Mongolia'

'And tell me Shaista how you managed to communicate with a Mongolian?'

Her face flushed 'I--'

Sakina waved it away with annoyance 'Whatever I'll speak to Zalmai about it'

Relieved Shaista walked away as fast as she could

*****

'I have someone in mind for your sister'

He looked up curious 'who is he?'

'He is called Batuhan'

Zalmai's face transformed, his featured contorted menacingly, he spoke with barely controlled rage
'And how do you know Batuhan?'

Sakina did not like the accusation in his tone
'I don't know him,'

'Then how do you know his name?'

'Your sister told me'

The clay bowl in his hand smashed to the floor as he stalked across the room to face her.
'How dare you suggest that my sister has connections with a man?!'

'Maybe you can ask her that yourself'

'Enough!' He snarled ' my sister is innocent and pure she would never taint my honor by intending marriage to that filthy man'

She compressed her own anger
'So you are suggesting that I have no honor? You know very well what my trib--'

'--I don't care what your so called tribe does, you Danaii think you are so superior to every other tribe,you think no one has ghayra like you, you think no one has morals like you do,-' his voice was mocking '--but its alright to accuse someone else, to proclaim they have no honor. All your ghayra is a show! You think I don't know how your precious tribe prefer to stand back and keep their hands clean and let others fight their wars?!'
Zalmai was livid '--This isn't your Danaii Khayl where you can do and say what you want. If you speak another word regarding my sister's honor there will be consequences and I don't care what your uncle does, at least I would die in honor'

Her pride was not wounded, she had too much of it and was far too much convinced of her tribe's glory to let any of his words affect her. That is what set Sakina apart from other women, she didn't have the emotions they had. After all she had been brought up by a man, not just any man but Sardaar Zaraar Danaii Khayl.

Her words were calm as she spoke
'I don't need my tribe and my uncle to fight my wars for me when I can do so myself. If you ever accuse me of being dishonorable again I will leave you and this marriage Zalmai Jalalzai. And don't think for one moment that there is something that would hold me back, I didn't want this marriage and I certainly did not want you'

He watched her transform into the cold, indifferent bride she had been and regretted his words.