My fingers shook like leaves in the breeze as I raised them, my heartbeat quick. Haiders strong hand was firm and steady as he took mine and slipped the ring onto my finger.
A white ring with small Diamonds.
A holy Bond which was meant to be cherish...
A deadly silence had had fallen in the vast gigantic sitting room. The man who had been listening, to the older woman had been numbed by her request. It was the first time Haider Ali Shah was lost and was not even able to form a correct sentence. His cold green eyes were full of unspoken questions.
"Haider Beta why have you gone mute on my request?" The older woman who was clad in a Banarsi Sari, looked worriedly at her nephew.
"Khala," said the men in his loudest and roughest tone he could muster in front of her. Standing up from the black leather couch, he clenched his fists so tightly that he broke the skin on his palms.
Placing a cigarette in the corner of his mouth, his long fingers then searched the pockets of his brown leather jacket and finally emerged with a match. He exhaled the smoke clearing some of the fog in his mind.
The older woman gazed up at her nephew, the disapproval was clear in her eyes. She had made a promise to her Baji and she would do everything to fulfill it.
"Beta please think about it for, its only in my best interest to see you happy Haider, I dont want you to spend the rest of your life alone."
Haiders jaw tightened and his eyes flashed a warning to his Khala. He never had a desire to take a wife and have a family of his own.
"Haider she is well mannered and beautiful and I have already asked her parents for her hand, they approved and want to have the nikkah as soon as possible, beta I know its hard for you but want you do this small thing for you dear Ammi."
Haider turned around and gazed outside, the window was reflecting his face and he blinked he was a monster just like him.
"I brought her picture," the older woman gently grasped his shoulder and showed him the picture of the golden haired beauty.
He stared at the picture and faced his Khalas warm eyes.
"Fine."
-------------------------------------------------
Mehndi
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ballay ballay ni dor punjaban di, ho ballay ballay ni dor punjaban di.
Traditional Wedding songs were sung as the girls sat around the dholki, some girls were performing the latest Bollywood dance.
It was the day of Zaras Rasm-e-Henna, a small event was being held at her house. The living room was turned into a stage. The living room was decorated with green and pink curtains and sweet smelling daisies.
Zara sat on the sofa, her figure was adorned in a light yellow lehnga and pink blouse with golden embroidery a golden dupatta was draped over head. Her hands were adorned by Henna designs. Everybody was laughing and enjoying the event, everyone except the bride to be.
Zara looked down and closed her eyes, her mother wouldnt even speak with her and her dear father had hugged her after he came back from the hospital, he knew his daughter well enough and said that he would never believe the lies that were being told around, about his daughter having a secret lover.
But when the older woman turned up in front of their house with her nephews proposal, everything went downhill she hadnt lied on that day in the hospital.
Her mother had approved and said, that Zara had became an burden to their family and no one wanted to marry woman who had no values. Her father had argued with her mother, that Zara could never be a burden.
Zara had ran to her father and told him that she had no problem with the proposal and she would be happy to marry the person. Her father and brother had tried to talk her out of it but she was stubborn and was willingly ready to sacrifice her happiness for her family. As soon as Zara had accepted the proposal the preparations had started for her wedding and today was her Mehndi day and she hadnt even seen the groom to be.
She just knew his name Haider Ali Shah.
Her train of thoughts were interrupted by her cousins voice.
"You look beautiful Zara."
She gave her cousin a polite smile and stood up from the sofa, it was too much her, she just wanted to cry in her room. She pushed through the crowd of girls, she passed her brother who gave her a gentle smile and her dear father who patted her head and kissed her forehead.
Zara closed her door and went to the balcony, moonlight slid in through the crack between the curtains and the golden haired beauty was glowing in its shine, tears spilled through her closed eyes.
"Ya Khuda please let my parents be happy and give me strength to clear my famlies honor."
Zara stared at her reflection, her cousins kept teasing her for a smile but her face was blank. They adjusted her necklace and drapped the heavy dupatta on her head. She was wearing a long heavy silver gown with embroidery, a pearl choker had been fastened on her swan like neck and the makeup was done to perfection, her long golden hair had been pulled back and her cheeks were held a natural rosy tint.
The girls gathered the young bride and went downstairs, Zaras mother glanced at her daughter and quickly looked away as tears were filling her eyes.
"Meri pyari beti, kitni khoobsurat hain mashallah khush raho beta." Her father gathered her in his warm embrace.
"Abbu let me also hug my little sister, choti know that you are leaving us who will cook my favourite food." Said Zaras brother as he hugged her, Zara looked up and gave him a tearful smile.
"Inshallah, eventually my future bhabi will take her place, what do you say bhai know it will be your turn." Joked Zara as she kissed her brothers cheek.
It was a beautiful breezy day as, seating arrangements had been done just a few feet away from the grand wedding stage. It was an outdoor Nikkah at their farmhouse. Flowers adorned the whole place and laterns were hanging, brightning the day with their glow.
The center stage had been split in two sections by a net and lace fabric but the net material allowed sight of the opposite side, through it was slightly hazy. The bride would sit with her family on the left side, while the grooms family would sit on the other side. Through the slightly hazy view, Zara could see a tall figure of a man, his face was faced away from her view.
Just then the Maulvi started the khutbah.
To keep her sanity Zara looked at her hands and played with her bangles. Her mind was blocking the thoughts of this moment, since she woke up this morning. And before she could even dwell deeper in ber thoughts, they were broken by the Maulvis voice.
The Maulvi spoke the final words, "Do you Zara Noor Khan daughter of Tariq Khan and Rabia Khan, accept Haider Ali Shah, son of Faraz Qureshi and Fatima Shah as your husband with a Haq Mehr of twenty Lacs?" The Maulvi repeated again, I closed my eyes and whispered the words.
"Qabool hain"
"Qabool hain"
"Qabool hain"
The Maulvi went to the other side to ask him the same thing. Her cousins and her father hugged her from each side, their tears of joy falling with her tears of sadness.
And on the count of three, the veil fell free from where it had been attached. Zara looked up and it felt as if the ground was slipping from her feet as cold green eyes stared back at her.
It was final she was Haider Ali Shahs wife until the bitter end, wife to a cruel monster.
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