Amal

Everything had seemed to stop with time.My vision blurring as salty tears filled my eyes.Although my words had died down yet they seemed to echo across the room again and again.

My eyes remained on the man's as time seemed to pass in slow seconds.His jaw ticked and anger flashed through his face.His charcoal eyes bored holes into me.I clasped my hands together and gulped.Narrowing his eyes at me, he tilted his head to the side.

A loud gasp ripped from my mouth as he marched towards me.Pressing my back against the cold wall behind me, I tried to dissolve my self against the bricks.It felt as if something had possessed the man as he moved like a man on mission.

Tears freely flowed down my face as I thought for a way to escape.His tall figure stopped three feet away from me making me gulped down my throat.His manly cologne invaded around me, wafting past my nostrils, making me take slow shaky breaths.

He was invading all of my space.

His eyes reflected anger and another emotion, I couldn't decipher.I casted my eyes downwards, digging my nails in my palm.

Ya ALLAH !!

His voice was hard as he said out,

"Itsn't that stomach a little too flat for a baby, sweetheart."I gasped.

My eyes snapped to his, pulling my black dupatta down properly.A smirk covered his lips as he rose a perfect eyebrow my way.

I shuddered involuntarily, horrified that he knew I was lying.I breathed heavily knowing that the anger hadn't faded away.Stuffing his hands in his pocket he took a step back shaking his head.

Glancing down at the floor, I turned my face away from him.Silently crying.

"I'll come after a week and take you with me as my wife."I looked up at him sadly.He had masked away everything from his face as he stared at me emotionless now.

Those being the last words he stormed put of the room like a storm, leaving a havoc behind him.I slid down on the floor, crying.Cupping my mouth, I tried to stop the bubbling noises in my mouth that protested to be set free.

Pain seared through my body, my mind mocking me of marriage.Hadn't I had enough from my first experience that Aunty wanted me to settle down again.

The man already made fear to creep deep in my bones then how could I live with him.Even if I marry him, Jalal Khan would still hunt me down and kill me.He would take my life for re-marrying.

I sobbed out loud, not able to contain the pain that tightened my chest.Standing up on my shaky legs I made my way to the closed bedroom door, I locked it.Aunty would already know that I'd be crying so she'll give me time and not interrupt till I let her in.Pushing my way to the bed, I get under the covers.

Burying my face in the pillow, I cried.

I cried the next day.

And I cried the next day.

After my two days of crying, aunty pulled me out of the room and made me eat food.Respecting her request, I take a few bites before I got up to pray.

Late in the afternoon, I sat besides the window staring at the flower pot I had kept a few days ago.Lined against the window sill, it absorbed the sunlight.A newly bloomed flower had taken the place of the once withered one making me frown.

Biting at my lower lip, I thought.Although the rose had died but still a new one bloomed.My hope had died down seeing that rose but now a spark shined within my being.

I wanted to resist the spark.I didn't want to accept what I knew was true.I wanted to resist the feeling of a new hope blooming.

You have a life before you.Your life does not ends here.

Aunty had said these words many time.Always encouraging me to seek a new future.A new hope.But I feared to live all the nightmares again.I feared.

The white petals bundled in a bud looked fresh but what future they hold.

They will bloom.

Make people smile.

Grow more.

And then..

They will die.

They will wither down.

They would be no longer alive.

And I feared the same future for me.

Running a hand through the bedsheet I sat on it.Leaning against the headboard, I closed my eyes.Suddenly the door opened and a smiling Aunty Shahana scrambled in with a phone in her hand.

"Its for you."She said handing the device to me before walking away and closing the door.Inhaling a deep breath, I pressed the device to my ears knowing very well who was on the other line.

"Assalam O Alaikum."I greeted.

"Walaikum Assalam."A very chirpy Marwa greeted.

I smiled knowing that atleast she was happy.

"How are you and the kids?How is Fahad bhai?"I asked.

"They all are fine Amal.Saman asks alot about you.Akbar also misses you-"She paused sighing dramatically.

"You know how much I miss you with the amount of hiccups you get."I laughed lightly hearing her care free laughter fill my ears but my heart clenched at the sudden thought of the tears she had shedded living a life of misery.

"I miss you all too."I managed to say with the amount of thoughts running through my mind.

"Saman misses you especially while going to her school.She asks me every morning that, will appa do her braids."I smiled missing my cute baby alot.

"Tell me more, how does-"

"There is nothing to tell more about myself and my house.Its time to talk about you now."She said getting all serious, giving me a clear hint as to where the conversation was leading.

I sighed, switching the phone to my other ear.My head touched the soft pillow as I pulled the covers,

"Aunty has already told you everything."I stated.

"Well she has, and I think that it is really a good chance."

I remained silent.

"Amal-"

"I won't give you a long lecture as you are mature enough to decide for yourself.Aunty has thoroughly told me about Arsalan Khan and I am happy to know that he intends to marry you after knowing you are divorced.Your society doesnot accepts this easily but that man he is ready to marry you."

I kept listening.

"I know you might fear, you might not want to take a chance.But dear, just trust ALLAH.If this wasn't meant to be then our Lord wouldn't have send him.If it wasn't meant to be then Amal, right now you would still be grieving in your pain and not thinking of someone you are going to marry."

By now all thoughts had numbed and only Marwa's voice filled my mind.

"Remember,"She sighed.

"Its not always late to think that you can be happy too."

Giving me and Aunty Shahana love and wishes, the line went dead.But her words kept repeating in my head.

Switching the lamp off, I shifted into a comfortable position on the bed.

Marwa had informed me a day ago before leaving Jalal Khan's mansion with her children and signed divorce papers on Jalal's desk.She wanted separation and that was final.Marwa and Fahad were sweethearts in college but then Jalal Khan came in Marwa's picture and married her forcefully.Marwa and Fahad loved each other a lot, not being able to bear the pain of Marwa's wedding, Fahad flew to Finland for his job.Marwa survived Jalal's torture and pain but when Saman was born she had hope that she will change her husband.

No good happened and she lost hope but she only got stronger.She dared to do everything against Jalal Khan.She argued with him and fought with him but always remained the weaker one from outside.As Saman grew and Akbar was born on my wedding day she lost it.She knew that day, that her children meant to her more than anything and she won't let Jalal destroy their lives.

Sometime before she divorced Jalal, she got in contact with Fahad who was in Pakistan.The good man assured him that he'll take care of her and will treat her children as her own.And the long lost sweethearts decided to unite.I was happy for Marwa.Happy that she got a chance to escape.

Marwa insisted that I tag along with her but I refused knowing Jalal Khan well and Aunty Shahana was also here so it was a total no from my side.

One early morning, after praying fajr she left with Fahad to Karachi.Completing her iddat at her parents house, she remarried Fahad.And then they flew to Finland.And now they live happily ever after.

Fahad remained true to his words.Saman and Akbar had found a father who would always cherish them and love them, the two traits Jalal Khan would never be able to give them.

Although a new hell awaited me when Marwa left but I still endured it, because it was worth it.

***