Shab-e-Hijr

but before she can speak her grandfather roared in anger so does everyone else.

"How dare you point fingers at our daughter?". Her grandfather said angrily and the power emitting from his voice even scared her

"Get out of our house right now. We don't want anyone who does not have manners in our house". Her father said as he blazes in anger

She hides behind her father protective shield tears falling down her face. She has never faced betrayal before and to have betrayal from her long time friend was hard to digest.

"I will leave not before she speaks. Didn't you told me that you liked him?". Aliya said rudely

She peeks but then her father calls her out to stand in front of everyone.

"I-It wasn't like-". She started

"Don't lie. Tell everyone the truth". Aliya said glaring at her making her shrink

She watches everyone holding their head high knowing she wasn't the one wrong and how anticipating her words which will break them.

"I did". She said lowly hearing them gasps as she didn't look at anyone

"See". Aliya said clapping her hands in victory, "And you called her innocent".

More tears flow down her face as she didn't meet anyone eyes. She has never let them down.

"Tell me it's a lie". Her father insisted holding her hand shaking her

Her grandfather pushes her father hand away hugging her to himself.

"She had done nothing wrong". Her grandfather said and she hugs him more tightly

"She is the reason we were fighting. I cannot stay in this house if she is here". Aliya said

"Then don't. You can leave". Her grandfather said firm

"B-But-". Aliya started

"I will marry her". Omar said making everyone eyes widen, "I will take her to my house so my sister can live here happily".

She shakes her head looking at her grandfather, "N-No, I don't-".

"She will marry you". Her father stated without any other word exchange

After the whole overdue without her speaking a word, she locked herself in her room away from everyone. She sobs hugging herself wishing her mother was with her today to support her.

Everyone left her in a second.

No one supported her.

Even her own father dealt with her like she was some unworthy nonvalubale piece he was exchanging.

No one asked her.

She decided she doesn't want or need to speak to anyone. If no one listened the first time who will give the guarantee that anyone will hear her second time.

Her engagement will be along with Aliya's.

Not that she cares but her innocent heart hurts so bad thinking that the family she had loved so much just left her. No one came after her when she ran away from there.

Their eyes held accusation and shame.

Why?.

What has she done so wrong?.

She never even spoke to Huzaifa after she found her feelings and she would leave from anywhere he was even in a family gathering.

How was she wrong?.

She never thought her one liking will cost her her family, relationship and even her own marriage. Like every other girl, she had dreams for her wedding. Such as, she will have her outing and invite her friends and cousin at her home to spend the last days, her every function will be filled with nothing but happiness. She will go with the female and buy the best clothes. She will wear a beautiful dress and her smile will be that a person who loved held.

She zoned out.

The next morning her engagement clothes were given to her in her room to prepare herself. With the help of her parlour lady, she was ready in the next few hours.

Not even once anyone came to her room until the maid was sent to call her for engagement.

She walks down holding her tears which still flow down and once she was down she found her driver smiling at her pitiful breaking her heart even in more pieces.

Was she a sinner?.

Even Lord forgive sinner should she beg for apology?.

"Beta". She heard her grandfather soft voice

She turns around to find him standing there with tears in his own eyes and she has never seen him ever crying in his life running to him she hugs him tightly crying in his arms.

"I swear Dada I didn't do anything wrong. Please please forgive me". She cried

"I know, meri bachi. I know". Her grandfather said crying harder patting her back, "It's just when someone's belief is hurt they just stop thinking about things".

"I will apologise please stop this marriage. I don't want to marry him". She pleaded

"I am sorry, Bache". Her grandfather said leaving her more broken

She pulls away from his hold watching him breaking down but she turns around to her driver asking him to take her to the venue, alone. She cries her way through the car.

"Beti". Her driver said gently, "You are very good child I don't know what happened but you have to fight for yourself before it's too late".

"No one taught me how to fight". She cried

The cars come to halt and she looks at the building for a moment walking down she enters inside the hall finding her family member who immediately looked away. Her heart clenched as she starts to take steps alone that once she thought everyone will fight over to take her to her groom but none of them came. As she takes a step someone held her hand holding it tightly she turns to find her grandfather pleading eyes as she shakes her head removing her hand walking the path with whispering around halting in the front of the stage.

She waited for a second then realising no one was there to lift her so she lifted herself on the stage briefly looking at her so-called groom standing beside him. He spoke neither she said a word as their rings were exchanged with zero sound from around however when Aliya exchange even her so-called husband cheers.

She starts to shrink back sitting down as she was told not paying any attention to anyone neither anyone came to meet her either. Her family went to Aliya side and she feels tears brimming her eyes when she feels someone hand on her head. Her heartbeat anticipating that her father might have come to her to give his blessing but as she raises her head she found her grandfather looking down at her with a sad smile.

She bites her lips stopping her whimper as her grandfather then went away after a while.

"You shouldn't have done things that were inappropriate before then you wouldn't have faced such humiliation". She heard the first words from her so-called husband, "Even I have to sacrifice myself adding such shame to my name but I will do anything for my sister so better behave yourself".

Her heartbreaks.

Why doesn't she have a brother?. Where are her cousins who used to call themselves as her brother?. She raises her eyes to find just one person who looks at her pain like they used to know about her pain before her and used to spend hours with her just to take her mind off it. When they used to feel her pain more than herself.

There was no one.

In the next month, she just went to hospital spend her full time there without talking to anyone else but Hira who was mad at her for not doing something. Hira wanted to speak but Amina gave her a promise to not do it. She didn't want to have her insulted because of her.

"They went for marriage suit shopping?". Hira asked sitting beside her who was weeping alone on the rooftop of the hospital

She nodded meekly, "All my Chachi (aunties) and cousins went to bring her the best dress".

"What about you?". Hira asked holding herself from crying

She shakes her head, "T-They don't talk to me or tell me anything".

Hira hugs her something she wanted from her family and she cries in her hold.

"I didn't do anything, I promise, Hira". She cried harder

"I know. I know". Hira said hugging her tightly

The marriage day:

She used to think that the hustle and bustle will never end in her room when she was to get married. That she will spend her best time that day she was supposed to marry and she might actually cry a lot too.

Like a normal bride.

No, she was all alone in her room and she wasn't sent to any parlour but a lady was sent to her to have her ready in her room. Her dress was not a usual bridal dress just somewhere near it. There wasn't any jewellery besides she used Hira's earning and a few rings on her fingers. That was all.

(Exclude the jewellery in the picture)

Her hands had fake henna on it which was done by her parlour lady after getting her ready for the wedding. While Aliya had all her functions in the halls when she was told to stay at home alone.

She looks at herself in the mirror and she wasn't anywhere near a bride.

It was just an ordinary broken girl with broken dreams.

She sighs.

She doesn't think she can cry anymore so she heads downstairs hearing the people running around leaving and she stands at the end of the stairs looking at the house that once was her comfort and warmth disappearing from her eyes.

She gulped going towards the door alone sitting inside her car.

"Beta, you look beautiful". Her driver said softly, "May Allah bless your journey".

She didn't speak the whole ride and steps out of her car standing outside the hall gate watching Aliya's father looking at her lovingly helping her with her heavy dress and hair.

She watches how heavy and beautiful her dress was like an actual bride with amazing jewellery. Her makeup was heavier than hers. That smile she has on her face was nowhere to her quivering lips.

She watches her hand holding her father's hand tightly as it's her turn to enter inside and they walk the path while everyone looks at her in awe and clapping when she reached the stage.

Her father kissed her forehead as Huzaifa comes near the stage to help her by holding her hands gracefully smiling fondly at her helping her on stage.

"You are the second bride or is she coming?". A woman asked

She looks at her gulping her tears, "I-I am".

"Oh". The woman said disappointed looking at her from head to toe, "Walk".

It was a command with no gentleness.

She nodded meekly walking down a little faster with complete silence and with a little difficulty she climbed the stage with the help of the cameraman who came to her aid when she struggles for the hundredth time.

She smiles merely at him walking to stand beside her so-called husband. She had already said the three words when the Qazi came with her grandfather in the morning to her room to ask her.

She didn't feel a thing then.

"I don't know why they have her married on the same day. She is ruining my day". Aliya said angrily

She shrinks back hiding beside her so-called husband body but he moved away leaving her alone on the stage. She sits on the couch not sure what she was supposed to do next.

For the next hour or so she just looks at the ground when she feels someone standing in front of her. She looks to find her so-called husband looking at her blankly.

"You don't look pretty". He said after a while slicing her heart, "Instead you don't even look anywhere near a bride".

She clenched her hands as tears filled her eyes but she removes her eyes from him not wanting him to see.

"Amina". She heard someone call

She turns to look at Hira and she immediately hugs her.

"I am sorry I am late, yaara". Hira said smiling lightly hugging her back, "Sir sent a file to look at so I left late".

"It's good you are here. Please don't leave me". She begged

Hira purse her lips tightly not wanting to cry pulling back making her sit back, "I am not leaving anywhere".

She nodded smiling a little to find some comfort.

Then she looks back down at her dress and back at Hira, "D-Do I look u-ugly?".

Hira gasped, "What?. Do you have any idea how beautiful you look in this dress? I don't think any other bride would have rocked it. You look absolutely gorgeous, yaar. Who said that?".

"O-Omar". She whispers biting her lips

"He is a douche. Trust me if I was a man I would have died right after looking at you or better I would have taken you away to hide your somewhere". Hira said chuckling making her smile a little, "Come on. Let's be happy for your Ammi".

"I miss her so much". She said looking down

"She loves you so that is enough. We don't need anyone else. Look I am here and I love you the most". Hira said brushing her some unruly hair

"Thank you". She said softly

The time went by and it was time to leave she holds Hira hands tightly looking around hoping someone will come to meet her but her so-called husband held her hand tightly dragging her towards their car that she didn't even have a chance to say bye to Hira.

He pushed her in forcefully shutting the door loudly scaring her as her heart starts to beat rapidly. She looks at Aliya's father holding her kissing her forehead and everyone around her consoling her as her room zoomed out.

She looks outside the window until the car screech and comes to halt making her fly forward since she was in the front seat. She waited for him to open the door but he just walked away so with her shaking hands she opened the door walking inside following him.

He turns around glaring at her making her steps back immediately, "Let's be clear. I married you because of my sister and I will not do any of my duties. I don't ever want you going back to your house, talk to anyone- as if anyone will talk to you and no contact at all. If my sister comes home which she will after reception make sure she never ever see your face especially Huzaifa. When he comes to stay with her I want you gone I don't care where but I want you gone. Am I clear?".

She nodded meekly looking at her hands.

He walked away and she follows behind him entering inside his room.

"Unfortunately we have to share the room". He said walking into the bathroom

She stands there looking around and she haven't realised until now that none of her family will be sending her bags here. She forgot to tell her driver and now she had nothing to wear. She sits on the bed trying to come up with the solution and his sharp words from earlier breaking her heart over and over.

This was not what she wanted.

She feels someone holding her wrist tightly making her scream as she looks at her so-called husband, "How dare you to sit on the bed".

"I-I-". She started as tears fell down her cheeks

He pushes her on the floor, "Don't even think about coming near here".

Her heart breaks more.