Chapter-2 Her Struggles

Zuby's POV

Looking at my parent's photograph I wonder every morning why was I not with them on that dreadful night? Why did they let me for sleepover at my friend's place? It would have been so good if I had also died with them in that accident. My life would not have been like it is now, but then I regret having such thoughts. I am sure that my Almighty's plans are the best. There is definitely a reason why I survived; it could be anything which I did not understand till now. But I guess it is faith in my Lord that I am surviving with these people and bravely facing their tortures. Yes I stay with my paternal uncle and his family since my parents passed away, or should I say they live in my house with me and behave as if they are doing me the biggest favor of my life by letting me stay in my own house. In the beginning after my parents demise my uncle convinced me that I should let him and his family stay with me as I cannot be left alone. It was with the passage of time that I realized their actual motive, my parents were well settled and my father had many commercial properties which he had given for rent. And my mum had her own boutique; all in all we were a financially sound family. My uncle and his family were good with me in the beginning or I guess it was all just a show, but after few months they started to emotionally and physically torture me. I was beaten up and threatened not to tell anyone about anything, though I am thankful that they let me finish my studies and now I have been working in my mum's boutique since the last three years. The boutique was shut down after my mother's death but I started it again after completing my degree in fashion designing. I quietly took in all the torture for a few reasons, one because I had hope that one day I will be pulled out of all this and two that I have no one else or nowhere else to go. May be I am a coward but that's how I am. I don't like being treated like this but I just can't speak up. Though one thing about myself that I love is that I don't mope over my fate all the time. I stay happy as much as I can, everybody knows me as happy go lucky girl. I don't want to see pity in people's eyes so I always have this 100 watt smile plastered on my face. There are just two people who actually know how lonely and broken I am from within, my two best friends Sagarika and Sagar. They are fraternal twins and we know each other since grade 3. We have been together since then and Sagarika and I also completed our fashion designing degree together. Sagar decided to study Law so he joined the law college. They have always been there for me in fact I am grateful to my uncle that he never stops me from socializing. Well the reason behind it is only that he does not want to spoil his reputation; people think he and his family are the best care taker in the whole wide world. I don't care to be honest; to be treated nicely is a dream which I have stopped dreaming of now.

Any way I better get ready now as it is already time for the Morning Prayer and then afterwards I will go for a walk. I love my morning routine and the fact that nobody stops me. Every day after the Fajir (Morning) prayer I go for a walk in a nearby park and come back after almost an hour, I get a bath and get ready to leave for my boutique around 8 in the morning. I am actually an early riser and love to start early. The only good thing in this house now is that I am not burdened with household work, mainly because my aunt thinks that I might put them all in some sort of danger. Well I really don't understand that woman. Sometimes I feel why do they actually have to torture me, I can write everything on their name after all they are my only family. Urgghh! Why am I stuck with all these thoughts early morning I must hurry up?

Third Person POV

After performing her Morning Prayer Zuby changed into a comfy track pant, t-shirt and covered her head with her head scarf. She wore her joggers and left the house for the park. She walked for around 45 minutes then bought some rusks from the General Merchant shop nearby and fed her lot of stray dogs cum pets. Zuby was an animal lover and would feed or help any animal she saw, cats and dogs being her favorite. Once she reached home her aunt was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. As Zuby walked towards her room she was stopped by her aunt…

"Come down early for breakfast, I and your uncle have something important to talk to you about."

Zuby nodded her head in agreement and was about to leave when her aunt gripped her arm painfully and screamed at her…

"How many times do I need to tell you that you must answer me properly? Don't you dare try to avoid me and act smart."

Poor Zuby was in tears because her aunt's grip was getting more and more painful with every passing second but she quickly spoke to avoid further increase in the pain….

"I am really sorry Aunt Sara I will be down within next 15 minutes."

Hearing that her aunt left her arm and pushed her towards the stairs saying…."that's better".

Walking back to her room Zuby again thought about the same thing, she could never understand the reason for her uncle and his family's rude behavior towards herself. She was so young when her parents passed away, she could have been easily brainwashed and they could have taken control over her belongings. But some people are born evil and so they can never be good, that was the only reason Zuby could make out.

Zuby's POV

I entered my room and locked the door; I just sat there and started crying. My arm was paining a lot and Aunt Sara's nail marks were really gruesome. I hate myself for being such a coward; I could have easily pulled my arm from her grip and walk out from there. But I guess the way they tortured me during the first year after my parent's death still has an impact on me. I better hurry up now and go down in 15 minutes, I wonder which new bomb they want to explode on my head now.

I quickly grab my blue jeans and white knee length top with blue embroidery and wear it after having a quick bath. I wore a matching blue head scarf and my white flat sandals; I even have an appointment with a contractor today in the afternoon. I want to have a bigger boutique and also bought a plot on a very good location. And this contractor I am going to meet is supposed to be the best in our city, well Sagar told me this. He will be accompanying me to the contractor's office as it is a little far from my boutique and also because I am not very comfortable around new guys. His name is Ayaan and I just hope he is the best because this idea of new boutique is very dear to me. Ah! It's almost 15 minutes and thank god I am ready, I just grab my mobile and purse and go down for breakfast.

My uncle and aunt were already at the dining table and I quietly sat at my place, picking up a plate and filling it with the omelet and toast I started eating. I was almost done when my uncle picked up a file which I now noticed was kept beside his plate and passed it to me. I took the file carefully worried to even look at what's inside. Then my uncle spoke…

"Open it and go through the profiles of these boys…we have shortlisted them from many proposals that had come for you."

I was totally confused about what was he talking about, my sub conscious was saying something which I did not want to agree with so finally I asked him…

"What sort of proposals are these Uncle Jawwad?"

"Of course marriage proposals….you should be thankful that we are letting you decide and pick one boy out of these. I want an answer by tonight…Am I clear?"

I did not want to marry yet, I had my dream to fulfill and for that I need to speak up for myself. I gathered all the courage I could and stood up from my place and walked near my uncle and aunt then said….

"I don't want to marry right now, please understand. I am ready to transfer all my property at your name but please Uncle Jawwad don't make me marry now."

That said and the very next second my aunt used the knife with which she was cutting an apple to put a cut at my arm. I screamed in pain and also saw the blood ooze from my arm as my sleeve was also cut. Then my aunt held the same spot on my arm which she had cut and growled…

"You think we need your charity, you want to show us that you still have a say over things. Listen for the last time, the property is anyhow ours but we don't want society to raise fingers on us. You choose one boy out of them and we will marry you off within 6 months. End of discussion and we need your answer by tonight."

I stood there sobbing and when she left my arm I ran to my room with the file in my hand. I took off my top and cleaned my wound with an antiseptic then put bandage over it. I took out a pink knee length top with full sleeves and quickly wore that. I just want to run out of this house right now, I can't even breathe here right now. I went down picking up the file in my hand and grabbed my car keys along with my mobile and purse which was already down then settled in my Honda City. I took a deep breath before starting the engine and quickly drove towards my boutique. I decided to sit with Sagarika and Sagar over lunch and then go through the file and decide what to do next. I reached my boutique in half an hour and my employees were already there. I kept my things on my table and checked with the progress of our orders. Being at my boutique automatically relaxed my mind and I immediately got carried away with work. Around 12 noon I called up Sagar and he told me that I should be ready as he will reach in the next 5 minutes. I told Neetu and Shifa to look after the boutique while I am gone, they are my trusted employees. Neetu is almost of my age while Shifa is in her mid-thirties. I picked the plot papers and settled in my car, by then Sagar had arrived so he just parked his car and hopped into my car.

"You know it I don't like sitting in the passenger seat beside you and Sagarika but still you girls are so stubborn." Sagar complained as usual and I gave him a smile and said…

"And you know we are stubborn even then each time you whine like a kid"

Sagar smiled at me and finally said….

"Ok now start before we get late, by the way I confirmed our appointment and I am assured that Mr. Ayaan will be present. Because sometimes he meets the clients in a second meeting, I am glad that I know Abdul who works there and that's why we are getting this opportunity."

"Well whatever it is this guy better be the best as you assured me"

"Don't you worry Zuby I am sure this meeting will be a turning point in your life. Mind me, a good turning point."

The drive to the contractor Mr. Ayaan's office was almost an hour from my boutique so I told Sagar about everything that happened today morning at home, except the cut my aunt gave me. Sagar got really mad and again told me that I should file a case against them but I denied as always. He was disappointed with me once again and called up Sagarika asking her to meet us at my boutique around 3 pm and that he will tell her the exact time once our meeting is over. The rest of the drive was about my new boutique as Sagar knew that I don't like to keep discussing things that made me sad and I am glad he helped me take my mind off those things. Well right now I only hope that this meeting ends up good, let's see what does the city's best contractor can offer me.