The Love I Gave You Once

Chapter 4: Shah Residence

The driver slowed down as we reached the Shah family residence, the black gate opened. 

before the driver could enter through the gate I screamed so loud.

"Let me out of this car!!!" I yelled as I tried to pull on the locked door but it would not open.

I felt as though I was being taken to a prison, where I would have to live out the rest of my life. I started to cry with the frustration as the driver went through the gate.

"please, I am begging you." I whispered and cried.

"Mirza can you shut her up, I am having a headache." Yasmine said as she put her hands on the sides of her head.

I started to cry even louder and that's when I felt a slap on the side of my face, it happened so fast that I didn't have time to react. 

The pain started off as a numb feeling and than I felt the sting throughout the side of my face.

"How could you??" I whispered holding the side of my face.

"I did and I will again if you don't stop this foolishness, You belong to my family now and you will act properly. Understood?" He said with a tone of authority. 

He pulled out his handkerchief and handed it to me, "You are a women of the Shah household now. The issues I have with your Father are between me and him, you will not come between us. You will respect each person in my household including my wife, Yasmine. Do I make myself clear Shehrbano?" He said looking straight into my eyes.

"Yes." I whispered as I closed my eyes and imagined myself on an Island faraway from my troubles, sadness, and worries. I envied the birds and butterflies, they could fly away wherever, free to be their own and feel the warmth of existence.

He pulled my hand and dragged me out of the car.

"Mirza! Let go of my hand!" I screamed.

Instead of letting go he held onto it tighter and dragged me up the long winding staircase, I saw the servants and helpers look at me with pity and shock.

He opened a door at the end of the hall and pushed me into it and locked the door behind us.

I fell to the floor when he pushed me. I was laying on a black wooden floor, the wall and furniture was all white. There was a beautiful vintage white vanity and king sized bed in the room, and on the other side was a white door leading to the balcony. 

"This will be your room" He said as he stepped on my hand.

I screamed so loud.

Than he pulled me up and pushed me onto the bed.

"Today, you will remember never to disrespect me again." He said as he kissed my neck and bit me hard.

"Stop Mirza...please." I said whimpering but he did not listen as he took the last thing that belonged to just me. The only honor I had left he took it without words of love or happiness.

I was so shocked that I blanked out and woke up the next morning completely naked in my bed with bruises all over my body. I don't know why but the tears started to run again. I cried for myself, for the love I never received, for the husband I never got, for the family that I never wanted, and for the realization that I would not be able to make a happy family with Mirza, I would not be able to give my children the same normalcy I craved my whole life.

I heard a knock on my door but I froze, scared he would be back for round two.

Whoever it was started to pound the door.

"Come in." I said grabbing my robe on the side of the chair.

"Goodmorning Bano Jaan!" Yasmine said smiling.

"I brought something special for you." She said as she handed my a pregnancy test.

"No." I said, as I figured out why Mirza did what he did and Yasmine's happy voice.

"I will not give you any children." I screamed taking the pregnancy test and running to the bathroom.

I prayed that it was negative, as I took the test and looked at the sign it was negative.

Thank god, I smiled from within that I was not going to bring a life into this miserable place.

"Did you take it?" Yasmine said, coming into the bathroom.

I smiled at her and said "Yes and tell Mirza that he really knows how to make me feel so special." I said with wink, trying to make her jealous.

She screamed and grabbed me by my hair and but my head under the running water in the tub.

"STOP!" I screamed but she would not listen.

"Yasmine! What are you doing?!" I heard Mirza say right as I fainted and blanked out.