Chapter-38 Reasons

Zuby's POV

The last few days have been emotionally very exhausting for me. Ayaan and especially mom are very concerned about my health. I am trying my best to stay calm but today I was really restless since I woke up. What I didn't know was that by the end of the day I will be relieved from all the burdens and sorrows I have been carrying with myself since my parents' fatal accident.

My uncle and aunt have just walked out of our living room and I have not felt so good in years. Forgiving them for all that they did to me for years and asking Almighty to forgive my parents' sins really does feel good. I don't remember my parents much; I mean I don't know what kind of people they were with others. They were just ordinary people as far as I can remember and definitely not saints. It is quite possible that some of their actions in the past might have hurt someone, now those actions were intentional or unintentional is something only they could have told or the All Knower Almighty Allah knows. I am no one to judge them or anyone else for that matter. What I came to know today first hit me like a hard slap across my face. Something which shook me to the core, my heart dropped and I had a sinking feeling. I am pretty sure if Ayaan was not with me at that time I might have had a breakdown. I remember Ayaan saying in the morning...

"You don't have to do this Jaan. I can still tell them that you don't want to talk to them. We will settle everything the other way, and you don't have to get involved in any more mess." I knew he was just looking out for me and so I assured him that this is something I am sure that I want to do. I have never got an answer to why my uncle and aunt were so cruel to me. Actually I never had enough courage to ask them all this while looking straight into their eyes. But now my situation is different, I have a loving and supportive husband who has my back. Plus I have an equally supportive family, I can finally look into their eyes and question them the reason behind their behavior.

Mom, dad and Ayaan all were with me when Uncle Jawwad and Aunt Sara came to our home. Ashfaq was in police custody since the attacker man had confessed Ashfaq being the one to plan the attack. He also paid the guy, I still can't believe how low that good for nothing cousin of mine can stoop. Anyhow Ayaan was in no mood to go easy on Ashfaq, and Sagar helped him in that. In fact they were also pushing me to press charges against my uncle and aunt for all those years of torture. It was then I decided that I want to meet them once and ask them why they did all that to me.

They reached here around 5 in the evening but asked to talk to me alone. Mom and dad agreed but Ayaan made it very clear to them that he will not leave me alone with them in the same room as he does not trust them. I was really glad he stood there for me; anyway I was not letting him leave but listening him say all that made me love him more. I really wonder at times what I did to deserve Ayaan as my husband, or I guess he is the reward Allah Almighty has given me for my patience throughout my time without my parents. As soon as mom and dad left I looked up to see my aunt giving me a disgusted look and my uncle had the same cold look as always. Ayaan sat beside me and held my hand, he was quietly telling me that I don't need to be afraid and that he was here with me.

We had a conversation of almost two hours. After absorbing everything in I finally said something which shocked both my uncle and aunt...

"Today I forgive you both with all my heart for all the injustices, pain and sorrows you have caused me in all those past years till today. I no longer hold any grudge against you people." There was complete silence in the room once I said that, Jawwad uncle and Sara Aunty looked at me wide eyes, I smiled at them and continued...

"I will talk to my friend and get the papers ready. I don't need any other property other than my boutique. My husband has enough for both of us. I want to name all the other property whichever is under my name to both of you. Once the formalities are done we will contact you. Thank you for coming and please try to forgive my parents. They are long gone; Allah Almighty adores those who forgive. Please think about my request." With that they walked out and once they were gone I hugged Ayaan with all my might. His hold on me was firm while he kissed my head. I mumbled into in his chest...

"Did I do the right thing Yaanu?"

"Absolutely. It takes a lot of courage to forgive someone and I am so proud of you. Right now I am feeling that I may be physically stronger than you but as a person you are way stronger than me. I am proud to be your husband." I pulled out of Ayaan's embrace when mom and dad entered the room. Mom was worried but when Ayaan told them about my decision she hugged me and told me that my decision is absolutely correct. After a while she ushered me to my room asking me to take some rest. I obliged to her and went to my room. I lay on my bed when Ayaan entered our room after almost half an hour...

"Zuby, I was thinking about the surprise that I had planned the other day."

"Oh yes! It slipped out of my mind in all this chaos. I am so sorry Yaanu."

"Don't be sorry love, I was thinking if you are not too tired then we can go out for dinner and then I can give you the surprise."

"I am not very tired actually but I want to have dinner at home please. Can't you give me the surprise directly?"

"Of course I can. Ok then let's have dinner early and then I will take you."

"That will be great" Ayaan left the room and I just played my conversation with my uncle and aunt in my mind once again.

Third Person POV

There was silence in the room, Jawwad and Sara sat across Ayaan and Zuby. Zuby didn't instantly make eye contact with her uncle and aunt. Ayaan was aware of her feelings and wanted to tell her that he is here for her and she does not need to be scared of anyone. He held her hand firmly and gave it a squeeze. Zuby looked up at him and he gave her an assuring smile. That simple gesture gave Zuby some courage and she finally looked in the direction of her uncle and aunt. She didn't utter a word for another few seconds; Sara was getting restless with every passing second after all she knew that right now her son is at the mercy of Zuby and Ayaan. This was the only reason she agreed to talk to Zuby, Jawwad on the other hand was just curious to know the reason behind this meeting. Somewhere deep down he was aware that his son had crossed a limit. Sara finally broke the silence...

"We are not here for you to stare at us. Just spill already why did you call us?" Zuby took a deep breath and knew it was now or never...

"I want to know what I have done to deserve your hatred. Why have both of you always been so cruel towards me? You people were my only family after mom and dad. Then why..." her words were a mere whisper by the end. Sara huffed and looked at her husband who had a blank expression. Then Jawwad spoke...

"You really want to know? I am sure you will not believe us." Zuby immediately replied...

"Please tell me whatever it is. I just want an answer now." Jawwad nodded his head and told her something Zuby had never expected to hear.

Today Zuby came to know that her parents were actually cousins before marriage. She knew that Jawwad was her father's real brother but what else she didn't know was that Sara was also their cousin. Jawwad told Zuby that she has paid for the humiliation her parents had caused him and Sara years back. Zuby still didn't quite understand then Sara jumps in and tells the whole story which started long before Zuby was even born. Every word that came out of Sara's mouth was dripping with venom...

"Our elders had fixed our marriages. Jawwad's parents wanted both their sons to get married at the same time. Your father's marriage was fixed with me and Jawwad's with your mother. We were all cousins and knew each other since childhood. What I and Jawwad didn't know was that your parents were in love with each other even before the marriages were fixed. They were cowards and did not confront any elders, or ask them to let them get married. Instead they played along, played with my and Jawwad's feelings and fooled our elders. Your father never once told me that he is in love with your mother in fact the whole time since our marriage was fixed he pretended to be really happy. I was always attracted towards him and was on cloud nine thinking that he also likes me. And your mother played the same game with Jawwad; she never let him know that she is not interested in him. We could have let go our liking towards your parents if they would have been truthful.

What they did was something no one had ever imagined. On the day of the marriage, just an hour before the nikah ceremony both of them ran away leaving a letter behind. They said they have always been in love with each other and can't marry someone else. Jawwad and I were left to face all the humiliation, we felt betrayed and on the last moment our elders asked us to marry each other.

You can't even imagine what it felt like; it was like we were trash which had to be put in place. We were just married off so that the arrangements don't go waste. So that all the guests who have come all the way don't get disappointed. All this just because your parents were cowards. I would have forgiven them if they didn't lead us in the wrong direction. Making us believe that they were happy about getting married to us, giving us false hopes.

Years passed and finally we came to know about their accident. That was the time when we finally got our chance to take revenge. You were their unfortunate daughter and yes I have no regret about whatever I have done to you. You had to pay for your parents' sins. You had to pay for all the pain, sorrow and humiliation they caused us."

Nobody said anything once Sara stopped talking. Once again the room was filled with silence. Zuby was trying to process all this new information. Her parents were no more alive to defend themselves. But now that she thought over everything she remembers how at time her mother used to tell her never to lie or betray anyone's feelings. She remembers her father telling her the same and also encouraging her to ask for forgiveness if she ever makes any such mistake. They used to tell her that there are things they regret doing and will tell Zuby about those things once she grows up enough to understand everything. Now that Zuby heard her uncle and aunt's side of the story she wonders if this was what her parents wanted to tell her about. Were they regretting their actions? Did they think about asking for forgiveness?

All these questions were going to be left unanswered because her parents are long gone. But Zuby knew exactly what she has to do. She knows that Allah Almighty loves the act of forgiveness and she decides to forgive Sara and Jawwad for all the injustice they did to her. She also knows that good deeds of the child are added up in her parents' deeds. She has trust in her Creator that her act of forgiveness might get forgiveness for her parents on the Day of Judgment. And so she closes her eyes and says what her heart feels is correct. She forgives Sara and Jawwad for everything they have done throughout these years. The feeling of relief washes over Zuby and she knows that from now onwards she will start afresh without any sorrows or grudges from the past.