Heart buried treasures

Chapter Forty Three: Passion And Trauma

'We carry wounds that are not noticed but they are accompanying us everywhere even in the smile' -Maya Ahmed

Sometimes its fair to wish you have the power to make your wish come true. Maybe through a magic wand or just a snap of your finger. Those were Hanan's exact thoughts as she made her way back into the room in just a towel.

She had forgotten her hair dryer yet again and had to come out for it. She huffed in annoyance. Faaiz wasn't home so she has the room to herself. She went back in and did the normal routine and came back.

She was blow drying her hair in just a towel when the door opened. Her back was to the door. She gasped when she realized who it was.

"Thought you said you'd be back late"

"Apparently, I had to rush things and come home a bit earlier. It was beginning to seem like I missed my wife warmth" He said his gaze raking over her body and her breath hitched.

She tried using the towel to cover the exposed part of her body but it was to no avail and a bit too late as he jerked her hand away. He ran his hand through it as she shut her eyes tight "What - what are all these scars?"

And he finally looked up and met her gaze. She felt throat patched. "Who did this to you??" He growled and clenched his fist "You were abused? Heck, Yes" He shut his eyes momentarily "Care to explain? And I believe now is the right time" He gave a non wavering gaze and she sighed.

"Atleast let me dress up" She whispered and he nodded clenching his jaws tight.

She sat beside him "It all started when I was Four." He turned his gaze sharply to her and she gulped "I never could comprehend it till I was 10. He would always yell at us -me and my mom."

"What?"

She sighed and nodded 'yes'. Shutting her eyes tightly, she continued "He would always get angry at the silliest thing and would hit us for an absolute unreasonable reason. And so it continued"

And she narrated all her ordeal to him. How he never wanted her to go to school. How he would flare up at the slightest fault. Why she never had a phone. All this while, Faaiz listened trying real hard to keep his calm.

"And then the day before the proposal.." She narrated the incident that happened that night and he lifted her dress up gazing at it. He wanted to go insane. How could a father do this to his very own?!

He stared at all the scars and clenched his fist tight. "What led to this?" He pointed to one of it.

She sighed "It was a time I defied his order and bought a cellphone"

"And he did this!!"

She swallowed pass the lump in her throat. "You know, there was a time I wished I was never born. I mean, I felt so helpless and I just couldn't help but feel I wasn't born"

"Oh sweetheart" He embraced her rather tightly.

"I never really had friends. No one wants to be friend with me. Everyone made jest of me" She then smiled sadly "Thank God for Neemah in my life"

"The same talkative Neemah?" She couldn't help but chuckle very lightly at that and nodded.

"Yeah, her. She proved to be more than a friend. She really stood by me and stood up for me too. Her words of encouragement kept me going"

"Remind me again not to scowl the next time she's here" She smiled at that.

"I was called all sorts of names and worse even, a slut!" his eyes narrowed "There was a time I had to just ditch class and school all together, the torment was too much" And she told him her college experience.