Tangled Threads Of My Heart:Taqdeer Ke Dhaagon Mein

I stood there trembling facing Ghazi Sahab
The gun didn't waver It gleamed under the light ... steady ... cold
Behind me ... Niharika ... Siya ... Laila
All waiting for my answer
"Say yes jaan"
No smile this time ... only a command
My lips parted
I wanted to scream ... to run ... to vanish
But his dark haunted eyes held me still

"Kya muh dikhayenge logon ko ab"
Papa's voice ripped through the house like thunder
He slammed the table ... vase crashed ... marbles scattered ... Maa screamed
"Ek Pandit pariwar ki beti hoke itni giri hui harkatein" he roared
Maa grabbed my arm sobbing "Yeh tune kya kar diya"
Then came the slap ... hard ... the kind that hits your soul
"Mujhe tujhe paida hi nahi karna chahiye tha" she cried
Chacha's voice cut in like a blade
"Ghar ki izzat mitti mein mila di"
Chachi hissed "Ashlil harkatein ... sab ke saamne tamasha"

Walls echoed with curses ... shouts ... glass breaking
I could taste the fear ... the shame ... the air too thick to breathe
"Bas karo" I screamed ... my voice drowned under fists hitting flesh
Papa's rage ... my uncles' shouting ... and him ... standing there ... blood dripping ... not fighting back
"Chhod do usse please" I cried ... struggling
He looked at me ... eyes soft ... almost apologetic
"If I hit them ... you'll hate me"
"I already hate you for not leaving" I shouted
"If you love me ... even a little ... as much as a single grain of sand ... then LEAVE"
He didn't move Another blow landed
"Please ... I love you damn it ... go before they kill you"
For a second everything stopped ... only our eyes locked
He smiled faintly "You'll be safe if I stay"

He clenched his jaw ... eyes burning
"I hate you ... more than I ever thought I could"
I laughed through my tears "Good ... then we finally agree on something"