STAR CROSSED

6.

'You should at least wear some bangles' Zeenat, the women I remembered from Maaz's uncle house came the next day and said she will stay here to look after me. She seemed nice, so I didn't lash out on her. After all, everyone was doing what they were told. The great controller Maaz was deciding for every one of us and how we should live under his shadow. Before Zeenat arrived, when I opened the door, I saw Maaz sitting right across the door. He probably thought I would run away, that's why he stayed here all night. As I was staring at him, his eyes suddenly opened and he looked disturbed to see me. I returned the feeling.

'You seem...better' He got up, staring at me.

'If you call being able to breathe better than yes, I am better' I responded. My arms and forehead was still hurting, but at least I could walk.

He shook his head and walked away, but stopped when he saw me standing still.

'You want a special invitation' He turned to me.

'I need nothing from you' I said bitterly. I hated this man. I hated how he first put me in a position where I had to run for my life and then saved me from a more dangerous situation later. Thinking about what would have happened if he hadn't come on time left me so scared. This world was full of bad people. Why was it like this?

'Eman' Zeenat's voice brought me back to reality as I glanced at her from the kitchen table.

'How can you live in a place like this?' I looked at her, wondering what made her stay with this family for so long.

'They gave me money to take care of my children when my husband left me, I owe it to them... my whole life' She answered as she placed a warm glass of milk and few slices of bread with butter.

'Am I expected to just accept this?' I stared at the food that came from my enemy. Zeenat didn't answer that question.

'Zeenat' A monstrous voice called out from outside.

'In the kitchen' Zeenat answered and Maaz walked inside, his eyes stopping at me.

'You need something?' She asked him, and I looked away.

'Here are the medicines, make sure she eats them' He commanded and passed down the bag to Zeenat and explained what medicine to take at what time.

'Have this one with your food' Zeenat took out a pill from a packet and handed it over to me.

'I don't need this' I said to her, declining to take the pill, but she kept insisting and I kept refusing.

'Zeenat' Maaz watched us for a while before he finally spoke and told her to leave the kitchen, taking the pill in his hand and putting it on the plate in front of me.

'Okay, I will say this once so pay attention' He leaned closer and placed his arm on back of my chair. I shifted away from his touch.

'Look at me' He snapped his finger in front of me, challenging me to look him in the eyes, I slowly moved my attention to him.

'I am not here to babysit you or take care of you...this whole thing can only go down two ways, one you listen to me and we have no trouble or second you resist and make me do things I don't want to do' He threatened me.

'How about I give you two options?' I glared at him as I reached for the pill.

'I am not your wife, you have no right to keep me here and most importantly I will not listen to you. I hate you and that's the only thing I have to tell you so stop doing this. I was about to get raped last night because you put me that that position where I had to run away...I want to get away from you. I don't want to live with someone who pulls out a gun like a toy and treat people like his personal servants' I noticed his eyes twitching when I let out those words.

'Eat your medicine' He inched closer, not backing down. I threw the pill on the floor, and his eyes crawled with rage.

'Two then' His jaw clenched and in a blink of an eye he grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me up from the chair, holding me tight in his grip as I tried to push him away.

'Let me go' I started hitting him as hard as I could. He used his free hand to take another pill out of the packet and forcefully pushed it in my mouth. I tried to spit it out, but before I could do that, he covered my mouth with his hand.

'We can do this all day' His attitude made me want to hit him. He waited until I shook my head, hating myself that I gave in, but I didn't want him near me. He kept holding me as he reached for the glass of milk and brought it near my mouth. I took the medicine, and he finally released me.

'I despise you' I shouted as I tried to hold back tears.

'No problem with me' He reacted before heading out the kitchen. I sat down again, letting the tears dry on my cheeks. It was too much. I took a deep breath and blew out slowly.

'Are you okay?' Zeenat returned to the kitchen a while later with a sign of concern on her face.

I gave her a sad smile. That was all I had left.

'How about you go and take a hot shower, I have set your clothes in the drawer and other things I thought you might need. Go to your room and rest' She placed her hand on my shoulder.

'My pain is not going to be wasted, he will suffer too' Wiping the tears away, I looked at her.

'Your pain has made you blind that's why you don't see his' She replied. Obviously she took his side and supported him, so I said nothing to her. My body was in pain, and a hot shower was exactly what I needed. I went to my room and opened the drawer and saw some new set of clothes and other feminine items along with fresh linens, blankets and towels. I grabbed a towel and a brown and white cotton dress before heading to the washroom.

I locked the door behind me as I entered the bathroom and took off my bandages before turning on the shower which at first stayed cool but slowly turned into a suitable warm temperature which relaxed the sprints and jolts in my body. I stayed still in the warm running water and closed my eyes to find a temporary escape that wasn't as ugly as the reality I was living in. Then the door banged, and I jumped with the sudden pounding sound.

'Eman' It was Maaz's voice coming from outside the door.

'What?' I yelled, turning off the shower. I didn't hear a reply. I grabbed my towel and dried my body before tying my hair in the towel for air dry. I wore my clothes, which fitted me okay. I opened the door, and caught Maaz's eyes that were glued to the door.

'What?' I gawked at him.

'Am I not even allowed to use the washroom without your permission?' I asked him.

'I am heading out, tell Zeenat if you need anything' He said instead.

'Is she okay...' He was about to say something but was interrupted by Zeenat's voice coming from outside the room.

'I came to check on you but you didn't answer... I thought you fainted or something so I called Maaz' She walked towards me and checked my wounds.

'I am okay' I nodded, pulling back.

'This dress fitted you nicely' She commented with a smile.

'I am going to my room' I muttered as I walked past him by the doorframe. I sat down on the bed and closed my eyes. I laid down on the bed and waited for the time to pass. I started counting seconds one by one under my breath and felt my body giving in. After so many days or running, bruising and fighting, it demanded a time out.

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