Ghungru

The Proposal

It was early in the morning, Shehnuba arrived and called Shana's mother, "Bhabijaan! Bhabijaan! Are you at home?"

Saira answered from the inner room,"Yes! Just a minute..." Saira hurried out and with a big smile welcomed her,"Begum you are here! Please come in and sit!"

Shehnuba after making herself comfortable on the chair asked Saira to call her husband too... soon Zala also came in and Shehnuba proposed them a shoking proposal.

She said,"Zala bhaijaan, your Abbu has helped our family when we were in real trouble... and now I also want to help you all..." She looked straight at them and continued,"I can help you a bit financially but that money will hardly last for a week or two... So..."

"So...?"

"So the imperial court is recruiting some young talented ladies... and if Shana beti also go to serve the princes... then no one in your family ever need to work again..."

"Are you insane?! How can I let my daughter go there and do such things?!!"

"But Bhaijaan try to consider..."

"What consider?! I said no... means NO!!"

But from the back a voice said,"I'll go Abbu... I'm fine with this..." Zala looking straight at his daughter's face said,"You are too much innocent, you can never imagine what they will do with you... so its better you don't utter a word."

"Abbu I know what they can do and what not... So please let me go... please!!"

"No dear... its not a good place for you... go inside now"

"But Abbu!! Please I'm fine with this! Then what is your problem?!"

"I said it already... don't you love your family, then why are you disobeying us?"

"I love you all that's why I'm going... so don't stop me..."

"Ye Allah what is this girl babbling out?!..." Then Shana was again going to say something but her mother slapped her loud on her untouched cheeks...

Saira said,"You naive girl! Can't you see that we are doing this for your own sake?! Go to your room just now and don't come out until we call you out!!! Now go in!"

But Shana was also stubborn,"I don't care what happens to me... At the moment we need food not my safety!!"

At this Zala screamed,"Your self respect will be gone forever! No good family will accept you! And then also if you don't care then atleast think about our respect!!"

Shana was so shocked... but then also with a shaky voice she said,"... Then how about after you get the money you break all the relationships with me..."

"O dear! We love you so much... don't stress yourself and let us handle this situation... don't worry bout it..."

After a bit of silence Shana said,"But... I want to go... I'm fed up of living this kind of life!! I want wealth that can satisfy my needs... so I'm leaving this shabby hut of yours..."

"What did you say?! You! I can't remember raising such an ungrateful girl!"

"How can you remember... weren't you busy doing labour for some mere money... that can hardly quench my hunger!!"

"Shana!!!" Screamed her mother

"What Shana?... huh... Shehnuba chachi... lets go to the court we are getting ourselves late among these poor people!"

Zala couldn't utter a single word... he sat there clenching his chest and whispered slowly,"Take her out of my vision... She is no more my little Shana..."

And then Shana came out with Shehnuba to the court...

To be continued...