Hurt

Ujala's POV

Life is not a burden. It's a building of phase. A phase that grows higher and higher. A plant can not grow without water. And so a human can't grow without love. Physical pain makes you suffer. But emotional pain kills you. One can't love God if he can't love his creation. What's the purpose of living in this dark world without the love of God? The pain which we all undergo is nothing compared to those who get burned in front of their children. Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S) is the most tested prophet of God. Still he never lost hope. Then how could we?

•••

"Maria, I left school before off." I answered back to Maria who was on call.

"Maria currently I'm on the bridge, do you want me to get hit by a car?"

"Thank you so much my hands are aching already, these bags I've been carrying from the grocery store"

Saying this she cut the call, I removed my head from my shoulder as my phone was pressed in between. Fetching the phone from my shoulder with my hand that was carrying the bags I tugged it into my jacket pocket.

I was on my to home, walking on the bridge sideways. It looked it was about to rain so I took hurried paces on the empty bridge. The bridge was empty no one was there, to my left I could see the river flowing beneath me and its soothing sound coaxed me.

It was my dream from the beginning to start a new life in northern Pakistan. The only difference is, I didn't think I'll be here like this. I wanted to be here with my parents not alone but one has to give up in front of fate.

Suddenly my eyes landed on an old man who walked limping crossing the road across the bridge. He wasn't having any sort of thing to support him nor any cane. He was wearing a clean Shalwar Kameez in off white color and had a tazbee in his hand along with the topee.

To my horror, I gave attention to the car on its way to the bridge behind me and in a blink of an eye, an SUV with the speed of an airplane sped past me straight in the direction of the old man.

Throwing down the bags that were in my hand I dashed to rescue him as the old man was few steps ahead of me. In the meantime, the car driver got some sense and pulled the break. The car swirls with a screeching noise of its wheels. The minute I finally reached the old man, the bumper of the car hit the Oldman's knee making him fell on his knees groaning in pain.

I held his shoulder after I knelt beside him. "Chacha, chacha, ap thek to hain na? Sorry mujhe maaf kardain main apko pakr ny hy wali thi par nh bacha saki. (Uncle, uncle, are you okay? Sorry, please forgive me, I was about to get to you but couldn't)"

His heads bobbed up and he stared at when he said in his mature old voice, "Aahh bachy thek ha fikar na karo zada zor sy nahi lagi khair ha (Aaah child it's okay don't get tensed it's not that bad)"

"Nahi chacha ap thek nahi lag rahy. Ap rukain is shaks ko to main dekh ky ati hun(No uncle you're not looking fine. You wait First I'll deal with that person.)" I was about to stand up when chacha grabbed my hand and I again fell back on my former stance.

"Beta choro yah log aesy hy hoty hain ham ghareeb logon ka to yah hy hal hota ha bas (leve it child, rich people always tend to treat us like this)"

His remarks hurt me so bad that I made up my mind to teach that man some etiquettes. I stood up without caring about chacha's protest to leave it and strode to the lavish car in front of me with rage burning inside of me. I menacingly banged on the tinted window of the driver's seat. "Bhar aao (get out)"

No response

"Zaleel insan get the hell out from there!."I roared as I hit my fist on the window.

No comeback

"buzdilon ki tarha chup ky betho. Mard ky bachy ho to face kro!(don't hide like a coward. If you are son of a Man then face me!)" I bobbed my head ferociously.

And in seconds the car door flung opened and a man in his late or mid twenties hoped off from the car. I backed away a little to give him space. He was wearing a grey high neck and full sleeves knitted shirt with a pair of black trousers. His eyes were covered with black glasses and on top of it his brows were scrunched up in resentment while his dark lips twisted in a pout.

"Who the hell do you think of yourself? Huh? Don't you have any manners?" I barked.

No response. He just kept looking at me. And now the frown on his forehead shooed away.

"Kash tum jesy ameer log apny in paison sy insaniyat bhi khareed sakty. Besharam. Galeez. Ghatiya insan. (Wished that rich people like you could also buy humanity from that money. Shameful. Disgusting. Worthless human)"

Silence...

"Ankhain hain yah button? Ek Zaeef shaks ko thok ky usko bachany ky liye bhi nahi aye or apni galti ka azala tak Nahi karrahy. Itni Dur sy insan ko dekh jata ha ky samny banda ha bhi yah nahi. Par nahi tum to andhy ho na (Do you have eyes or buttons? After hitting that old man you didn't even come to rescue him nor you tried to make up for your mistake. From that far anyone could see a man walking and hit the break or slow down the speed on time. But no ! You are blind right?)" I pointed my finger at him as I yelled.

"Kesy marad ho tum. Thori si apny ma baap ki izaat karli hoti to aesy na nikalty shayd (what type of man you are. If you had given an ounce of respect to your parents the maybe you won't come out like this)" I shook my head squinting my eyes in disbelief but my body trembled when his roaring boomed in my ear.

"KHAMOSH! (SHUT UP)!" he shouted rising his palm indicating me to shut my mouth. "Apni zaban ko lagam do warna halak sy alag kardu ga (Control your tongue or else I'll pull it out from your throat)" he threatened deadpanned and for the first time hearing his malicious tone I was frightened but kept holding the facade of bravery on.

"Karo Alag. Karo. (Pull it out. Pull it)" I dared him straightening my shoulders taking a step towards him in confidence. "Kiya hoya? Nahi ha himmat? (What happened? Don't you have guts?)" I sarcastically smirked heating the rage of the already outrageous man in front of me.

"Larki mera dimagh khrab na karo (girl don't mess with my mind)" he warned pointing his finger on me.

That's when my eyes dropped on the bottle of alcohol behind him in the passenger seat.

"Jab tum jesy log haram ky peechy dorny lag jaty hain na to wapis palat kar unko sirf apni parchai hy nazar ati ha baaki ham jesy ghareeb pairon ky neechy rond diye jaty hain. (When people like you indulge in sinful activities turning back they only see themselves and poor people like us get crushed by you.)" I said with a disgusting look bobbing my head up.

"Ohh! To tum sharab ki baat karrahi ho? Wah larki wahh! Ek second ruko ab tum bas. (Ohh! You're talking about that bottle of wine! Wow girl wow! Now you just wait a minute.)" he chuckled to himself pointing at the bottles. After completing his sentence he turned around leaving me dumbfounded and started to shuffle things in his car. A few seconds later he turned up with a fresh bottle of wine.

I gulped as clog formed in my throat, thinking about what he was trying to do. He opened the bottle from his mouth and took bulging gulps from it until it was half. I was stunned to see someone so effortlessly drinking that drink whose smell is making me feel disgusted

He smirked wiping his mouth and I stood there giving him a disgusted glare. He took a step towards me and brought the bottle forward to my mouth. My whole body froze as I got the hint what he was about to do but still the poker face was looming over my face.

I glanced at the bottle and then his smirking face with a frown on my forehead whilst my instincts were telling me to run away from there.

"What is th...hmmppff" as I was about to complete my question he impelled the bottle into my mouth. I shook my head to get out of his hold but he clutched my hijab from the back and hold it firmly. I didn't put it down my throat so the drink seeped out from my mouth soaking my clothes. The taste was so hideous that I doubted if anyone drinks it by their own will.

This is haram Ya Allah I can not drink it!

I clutched onto his shoulder and my other hand unknowingly slammed onto his face and his face dropped onto his side vanishing the smirk of his face. His hold loosened a little and I took it as my clue to push him.

His back collided with his car while I took numerous steps back. "Tum Pagal ho? Yeah kia badtameezi thi? (Are you crazy? What the hell was that?)" I was breathing hard as  I stared at the man before me dumbstruck.

He was angry. Not angry but furious. He scowled at me as if I had crushed his ego. My body flinched unknowingly and I cursed myself for that. My confidence was wiped out by his aura. My stare couldn't keep up with his grimace and so travelled to the dark blue SUV behind him. This state wasn't gone unnoticed by him and his scowl turn into a sinister stare. An evil one-sided smirk pulled upon his lips.

"hahaha," he laughed out loud as if mocking my fate. "What happened? Churiya dar gai? (Finch is scared now?)" his voice was husky trying his best to crush my emotions.

He brought his fingers in contact with my cheeks and traveled them to my lashes. I hissed under his rough touch and shoved his hand away scrunching my brows.

Tears were at the bay of flowing but I held them. The tears were not because of the humiliation but they were because I couldn't spat my anger out at him. I don't know why. I was miserable. Scared. Scared of what? That man? I hate myself for being scared by that man.

"Yah pehli mulaqat thi hamari ab agaye jab milo to khayal sy milna kahin aesa sa na ho yah buddha bhi mar jaye or tum bhi. (This was our first meetup. Next time when we'll meet, be careful otherwise nor this old man will be able to survive nor you)" his ominous threat and the eerie simper all reminded me of one single person.

The person who took everything away from me. The person who is my worst nightmare. The person because of whom I can't go to my home. The person who killed my parents. The parents who made me hopeless.

"Or han yaad rakhna. Is thappar ko main nahi bhool sakta. Kisi ky anadr itna dum nahi hoya ajj tak ky Waleed Farukh ky upar koi hath uthaye. Chalta hun (And Yes remember, I will never forget this slap. No one have the guts to slap Waleed Farukh. I'm going)"

The reality hit me when I saw the man was not there anymore and his car was brought back to life. The car started to move, eyes were fit on the driving car until it was nowhere in my sight.

Waqt ky hathon bary bary badshaon ko bhi ghulam banna para to tum kiya cheez ho. (Many kings became a slave in the hands of destiny then who do you think you are)

Shaking my thoughts my eyes landed on the old man who was lying unconscious on the road. I gasped seeing him and scurried to him. Kneeling, I placed his head on my lap and started to wake his unconscious body.

Pulling my phone out I called the cab and in a few minutes, it came. The cab driver helped me to get him in and then took us to the hospital.

•••

"Beti tum jao main yahn sy chala jaun ga. (Child, you go I can be myself from here)" he said as he rang the doorbell of the massive cottage. I was stunned for a second that this old man lives in such a pretty house but he told me he's a worker here he looks after the house so he lives there. 

"Nahi Nahi chacha yah mera farz ha mujhe pura karny dain. Pata nahi mujhe kitny arsy sy kisi buzurg ny duain nahi dain. (No no uncle it was my duty let me fulfill it. I didn't get blessings from any elder for a long.)" I gave him the greatest of my smile and he reciprocated it patting my head.

The house in front of me was so enormous that if I'd work for my whole life I still can't buy this type of house. The walls were painted wood brown and the shades were chocolaty brown.

(A.N: This is the cottage I imagined now it's up to you guys what do you want it to look like. hehe ; ) )

I rang the doorbell again and the door pulled open revealing a guard. The old man Chacha whose name is Shareef greeted him and so did I.

Shareef Uncle directed me to the servant quarter and I took him there with a secure hand around his waist. He had his leg fractured so he went unconscious because of severe agony so I bought him a cane to help him walk.

As we reached his quarter it was small  as compared to the cottage but hell it was nothing less then a five star hotel room at the back of the cottage, he opened it with keys and I sat him on the bed. After that, I bid him farewell warning him to relax and not move a muscle I'll check on him later, I walked out from the quarter closing the door behind me.

The odor of alcohol from my shirt was so bitter that I wanted to puke. As I reached the main gate my eyes caught the sight of the car that was parked in front of me. The car looked familiar but my mind couldn't recall where did I see it.

I walked to doors crossing the courtyard when suddenly I heard a voice from behind. "Who are you?" it was a masculine and heavy voice.

Turning around I met with the face I was now a days most familiar with. The same brown orbs. The same bossy look. The same frown. His aura still the same demanding respect.

Mr. Umer Shahdab Shah!

Ya Allah, you just freed me from that monkey now not that gorilla! Ugh...

His same authoritative tone sent shivers in my body. "You? What are you doing here" he walked down the small stairs and landed on the grass with slippers in his foot and a mug in his hand. He was wearing a plain black t-shirt with black trousers and a black muffler draped around his neck.

"I...I came to Shareef chacha" I stuttered as he stopped a few steps before me. I don't know why seeing him right now I was lost for words. I was startled by the fact how did I clash with him after already dealing with that maniac.

He looked at me with his mouth twisted in a grimace. "What Chacha has to do anything with you?"

"When h..." I was cut off by him in an instant.

"Or you are with other intentions? By the looks of your, it doesn't look like you are sober"

"What do you mean?" I asked him not knowing where he was going until his eyes scrutinized my scarf that was reeking of Alcohol.

"You drank Alcohol and came to my house God knows who the hell give you my address." he stated

"Excuse me, Sir? I'm not drunk" I protested yet keeping my composure that I was on the brim of losing. Tidbit of appalled I was because he was the boss and in seconds he could terminate me if he wanted.

"Oh tell this to yourself! I'm not the man you can play your games easily do you understand. I meet thousands of girls like you every single day. And I know what do you always want from a man!" he knitted his brows.

That was it. His words threw oil on the already flaming stove. I lost my calm now. I pulled my lips in a thin line as I defended myself, "Who do you think you are? Huh? The most handsome man in the world? Huh? Khuda ka khauf karain yah kiya ghatiya batain karrahain hain ap? (Fear God what shitty thing are you saying?)"

"Oh, it means that you are trying to say a stranger strolling in my garden without my permission and I don't have a say in this?"

"You do have a say in that but you can not just put your assumptions on me like that"

"Assumptions gai tail lyny. Ek mamooli si mulazim mera mukably karrahi ha? Mery ghar main khari ho tum samjh aai woh bhi sharab ki boo main, tum kiya samjhti ho meri jaga koi or normal insan tumhy is tarha dekh ky bara shareef samjhy ga? Pagal nahi ha woh. (Spit the oil on The assumptions. An ordinary employee wanna compete with me? You are standing in my home, understand? And a normal person in my place won't think honorable of you! He's not an idiot.)"

His words shook my senses. I was flabbergasted by what he meant by this. Did I do something wrong? "What do you mean? Kindly clearly say it."

"Don't act naive Ms. Ujala. You know what I'm saying. I think I have already demonstrated my words but if you still want to play with your tactics then it's okay."

"Ap kehna kiya chahty hain? Ap pehly asal baat sun lain phir judgments karaye ga apni (What do you wanna say? First let me tell you the real matter then put your judgments on.)" I sighed as I tried to calm myself.

"I don't wanna listen to the truth. I don't give a damn about your intentions either it's good or bad. But note it in your head from next time I don't wanna to see you here." he overstated his last line so that I'll understand it. "And yeah one more thing. Chacha is not a family member that you can come with him to anyone's house. It's my house! Understood! You are here on my premises without my permission. Chacha is nobody to let anybody enter without my permission."

I felt humiliated once again. But this humiliation was far worse than earlier this day. This time it was my honour and my character at stake. I wanted to cry so bad. So bad. My life was playing games with me. He was my boss. How would I face him daily? I couldn't not lose this Job. I didn't know where I'd go. His eyes would see me every day nothing else but a characterless women. And I won't be able to breathe under the shadow of his gazes who think of me low.

"Understood?" he asked again

I lifted my head that I didn't notice when I bent down and my glassy orifices took a look at his eyes. I never knew my eyes started to wet up. I was senseless. His face was all furious. His gazes were stern which intimidated me.

"Sorry, Sir Umer. This won't happen aga..in. Naiki Gunnah kesy banti ha aj pata chala.Or ek free ki advice ly lain jaty jaty itna takkabbur mar dalta ha to behtr yah ky apna rawaiya change karain. Chacha ka khayal rakhiye ga. Fiamanullah.(how good turns into bad? Today I got the answer. Take care of chacha. )." my voice stammered and giving him a last glance with a slight broken smile I turned on my heels and strode to the main gate. Wiping the lone tear that fell from my eye I smiled at the guard who opened the door for me Baffled and stepped out from this suffocating place.

I made a mental note to never and ever step into this house again.

~~~

Omg! How do you find it going till now? ; )