Bounded to him

The sun beamed through the half-curtained windows spreading its rays directly on her angelic face. Her eyes opened with soft sunlight caressing her eyelids. She stretched her arms groggily and rubbed her eyes whilst yawning. It was a bright sunny day. A small smile crept on her lips as she felt the warmth of the sun. She sat up and as soon as she placed her body weight on her butt she winced with pain. And with that, all the memories of last night came running into her mind screwing up her fresh morning. She shrugged off all the negative thoughts as she didn't want to start her fresh morning by thinking negatively. She was about to stand up when her door knocked and she immediately got up before unlocking the door and saw her grandmother standing there.

She gave a motherly smile to Zahra and she let her in the room. She sat on the bed and Zahra next to her. Zahra slightly winced with pain as soon as she sat on the bed. Her grandmother gave a kiss on her forehead causing her to smile.

"Meray Mujtaba ki Chanda." she lovingly looked towards her.

(My Mujtaba's moon)

Her heart was extremely sensitive to the topic of her father. Its been only four days since her death and whenever even his name is said in front of her, Zahra felt like crying. Her throat gets clogged blurring her vision with tears.

"Kesi ho beti?" she asked.

(How are you daughter)

Zahra knew she was asking about her emotional state. She was asking about her feelings and mental health, not her physical state. And that's when her tears rolled down her eyes. She wanted to share her feelings with someone.

"Mein theek nahin hu," she cried out. Her voice was broken. The past events of the previous days were making her more emotional and weak. She didn't even get out of the trauma of her father's death when she had to leave her house, leave Daniyal, and then Irtaza's forced marriage. She was scared of him. All her emotions were bottled up and she hugged her grandmother tightly as if she will save her from Irtaza and big sobs began to shook her whole form.

(I am not fine)

Her grandmother hugged her back and also cried her heart out. The news of her son's death was making her cry after every second. She remembered that day clear as water when her son left the haveli and how much she insisted her husband call him back but he didn't pay any heed to her pleadings. His ego got bigger than his love for his son.

Both of them hugged each other tightly and mourned heartily in each other's embrace. Tears kept flowing down of there eyes like a nonstop river and their bodies shook with sobs. They both remembered the sweet moments they spent with Mujtaba causing more tears to flow down.

After crying their hearts out they pulled apart and she wiped the tears of Zahra before laying her head on her lap. She softly threaded her fingers in her honey blonde locks and caressed her silky hair with deep affection. Zahra felt comfortable with her. She felt like a motherly figure to her. She was already so fond of her grandmother. She liked her.

"There is nothing to worry about beti Irtaza and we are all here with you. I got a good news after so many years. I really wanted to see my Irtaza getting married. And he is marrying you is a cherry on top. I am so happy and contented that it couldn't be described in words. Meri chanda soon you are going to be Irtaza's wife so you should begin to look after his needs from now onwards." She began to explain.

"Whenever he comes to haveli be with him. He will cherish you and love you with all his heart I guarantee you. Fulfilling his every need will now be your duty meri chanda. You both will be moving to his mansion after rukhsati and there you will be alone with him that is why I'm saying to start to look after his requirements from today so when you move to his mansion, there will be no problems for you. A good and dutiful wife is the one who looks after the needs of her husband. So you will be taking care of his needs from today onwards. I am saying all of this for your good. If anything bothers you or if you need anything you can come straight to me or Irtaza. And whenever you are sad or depressed you can come to me anytime. You are my Mujtaba's only daughter and I can't see you in pain." She continued to caress her hair. Her voice was sweet and melodious.

Zahra was gobsmacked after listening to what her grandmother just said. Her eyes were wide open. For her, she was nice if you cut that Irtaza's part from her long speech. Furthermore, the news that she was going to be alone with him after rukhsati was making her heartbeat wild. But she got over this thought by thinking that soon Daniyal and she will find a way to get out of his clutches.

"Come on now go freshen up and we both will be leaving for breakfast then. I'm waiting for you here." She said. Zahra got up and went straight to the bathroom, took a shower, and changed her clothes before brushing her teeth.

She took one last glance at her reflection in the mirror. The lily-colored kurta was accentuating her white milky skin. A light pink chiffon dupatta was tucked at her neck. Her wet honey blonde locks were untied, some sticking to her forehead. Her pink lips were dry. She took the chapstick and applied it to her lips making them glossy. Her eyes then matched with her big doe-like brown eyes.

They were beautiful.

She was captivated by the beauty of her mesmerizing brownish eyes. Her sclera was pristine. Her brown eyeballs rounded with a black ring. The pupil of her eyes pitch black floating in the middle of her light brown iris.

She was lost in her own eyes. Her own eyes were telling her a story. Her mind flashed back.

Flashback

She was humming a sweet tone in her melodious voice as she continued to make coffee for her. Once again, her father has to go out of the city for some work and her mother's night shift was going to end at 4 am. So her parents dropped her at her aunt's place.

Her aunt and uncle were also out of the city and there were only four people in the house, she, Daniyal, Shoaib, and their sister Nayab.

Nayab made a bet between Daniyal and her which Daniyal won and now she has to make him a coffee. She was extremely unprofessional at cooking whether it be only making a coffee moreover, no one was allowed to help her and she had to make a perfect coffee.

Her humming stopped when she felt that someone entered the kitchen. She turned around and saw Shoaib enter the kitchen.

He leaned against the kitchen island as he begin to look at her.

"Ah, Shoaib Bhai do you know how much more I have to beat this mixture?" She asked pointing towards the pitch-black mixture of coffee indicating that she added a lot of coffee.

He gave her a good two minutes perusal after listening to what she said. She was confused.

"Bhaii Kia dekh rahay hein ap?" She asked again unaware of his evil intentions.

(Brother, what are you looking at?)

"Oh sorry sorry nothing. Let me help you with the coffee." He said breaking her intense stare in her.

He abruptly held her hand which was on the beater and leaned against her back that his front touched her back and placed his other hand on the kitchen shelf, caging her between the shelf and him.

She was baffled.

"Shoaib bhai Yeh ap kia kar rahay hain?" She asked, confused, and tried to push him away but he pressed him more into her.

(Shoaib bhai what are you doing)

"Tumhari madad Kar rha hum," he said nuzzling into her neck.

"Please go away. Koi daikh lei ga. What are you doing?" she whispered trying her best to push him away.

(Someone will see)

"No one will see" he smelled her sweet fragrance digging his mouth into her neck.

She tried to free her hand which was under his hand on the beater but he tightly gripped her soft hands turning the beater off.

"You are beautiful" he huskily whispered and placed his other hand on her stomach pressing her body into him.

"Muj sei dur ho jayein warna mein cheekhain marun gi" she threatened continuously trying to get away from him but his strong hold on her was not letting her go. Her hands clutched onto his as she tried to free his grip on her.

(Get away from me else I will scream)

She was completely confused over his indecent actions but now she only wanted to be away from him. He was like a brother to her. His actions were making her fearful and confused.

He laughed after listening to her small and sweet threat.

"Come on. Scream and gather people. Do you think people will believe you?" he asserted confidently.

"Bhai please chorain muje. Mje janay dain." She cried out, squirming and pushing him away

(Bhai please leave me. Let me go)

"It's all your fault. If you were not so beautiful then I would never have been attracted to you. And if you want to scream then scream aloud at the end people will only believe me that you caged me in your charms. In the end, you will be a sinner in front of people's eyes who allure men to herself. In this way, you will be making your parents lose their respect in front of the people. People will then only see them as the parents of a girl who attracts men in her beauty." He blackmailed her and in a swift motion turned her around. Before he could smash his lips against hers she gathered all the force inside her and pushed him so hard that he fell back and ran away but his words kept lingering in her mind.

'Is it my fault?' She thought.

Her eyes were glassy which were already telling the story of tyranny done to her.

That was the day those brown orbs got the skill of telling a story to this insensitive world where a girl could not voice out the oppression done to her due to the parochial attitudes of this society. Her lips were zipped only with the thought of

Log Kia kahein gey

(What will people say)

She wiped away the lone tear that escaped from her eye.

Flashback ends

Her crystal brown eyes were staring her back from the mirror as they were filled with a flood of tears. A knock on the door broke her reverie and she instantly washed her face again to drink in her tears.

"Zahra daughter?" Her grandmother called out anxiously.

"I'm sorry. I'm coming" she said hurriedly and dried her hair quickly before brushing them and then went out of the bathroom, her grandmother already waiting for her whilst sitting on the bed.

"Let's go" she stood up. Zahra gave her a small smile.

Both of them went straight to the dining room while talking about several things. Zahra was upset about what her dadi said to her a while ago but she can not disappoint her. According to her, she does not know about the reality of Irtaza and she already is so heart-wrenched over the news of her son's death and by spilling out the whole truth about his grandson and denying to what she said will pain her heart more. She can do everything but she cannot see anyone crying because of her.

They reached the dining room. Some people were present there already while some were joining. Asma aunty was helping the maids to serve the dishes on the table. Zahra noticed only Dua, Haya, Saif, Haseeb and Alizey are there. Her grandfather along with her mother, her uncles, Irtaza and Abbas were not there. She sighed in relief. Both of them sat down on their chairs. Her grandma on the head of the table and she next chair to the head of the table. Dua and Haya sat down with her as they begin to chit-chat.

"What had Irtaza Bhai said to you last night?" Dua whispered excitedly.

"Haan tell us!" Haya added.

"What?" She asked in total disbelief.

"Oouufff Zahra don't be shy. We saw him entering your room last night." Haya said.

"Come on tell us what happened?" Dua asked.

Zara's eyes confusedly kept on moving from Haya's face to Dua's face. She was shocked but she clearly can not spill what he had done to her last night.

"Nothing happened we just talked." She said looking away.

"Duaaaa she is blushing. She is dropping something out." Gaya slurred.

"Did you guys kiss?" Dua asked nearing a bit towards her so no one can hear them.

Haya dramatically place a hand over her mouth and her eyes widened with excitement.

"Zahra come on. I promise we won't tell anyone" Haya said.

"Nothing happened. We 'only' talked." Zahra tried to shrug it off and stressed the word 'only'

"Haya I am telling you they both definitely kissed and she is not telling this to us"

"Zara, meri Jaan, I assure you we won't tell anything to anyone." Haya tried to assure her.

"Please say that you guys kissed. Please say that you guys kissed." Dua whispered it like a mantra.

"Come on tell us." Haya encouraged her. A big smile crept on her face due to excitement.

They were forcing her to spill out the truth. She resolved that she won't tell anyone what happened with her last night but these both were breaking her determination.

"OK fine. I now know how much we matter to you." Dua said and stood up to leave.

"Yes, yes we...kissed." Zahra blurted out in a low voice.

Dua turned around and looked at haya who was already looking at her. Both of them looked at each other and in the next second, they both jumped and squealed with joy.

"Zahra we want-"

"Assalam Alaikum Irtaza hai," haya greeted purposely cutting off Dua so he won't listen.

Zara's eyes widened. Fear again bubbled inside her filled with doubts. She did not have the audacity to turn around and look at him. She was bothered by the fact that what if he had listened that she disclosed their kiss to them.

'I will make you wear a collar'

His threat ringed in her ears and her eyes instantly moved towards her ring finger and she sighed in relief when the ring was there.

"Wslam." He nodded and sat on his chair opposite to Zahra's.

She stealthily looked toward him and the very next second she was left in awe. As usual, he was looking more than handsome. His black hair was combed properly. His thick lashes shadowed his cheeks as he continued to reply to his mails on his phone. His perfect jawline was accentuated by his black stubble. He licked his lower lips and took it between his teeth showing he is completely invested in whatever he is doing.

"Zahra yeh lou pani piyo. Hume pta hai key Irtaza Bhai bohat pyara hein." haya acclaimed mischievously and forwarded a glass of water to her.

(Zahra here you go drink water. We all know Irtaza Bhai is so handsome)

Zahra's face turned all red and Irtaza who was busy on his phone looked up and saw the flushed face of his wife, already knowing about her stare at him. He internally smirked but did not give any reaction and then moved his head back into his phone again.

While Zahra was gobsmacked and kept on looking at them both. Before she could say anything dua and haya burst out laughing.

"ok ok we are sorry"

Then their little chit-chat beginned and soon the dining room was filled with all the family members. Everybody was busy in their discussions. And as soon as their grandfather joined them all, everyone was about to begin to eat when their grandmother interrupted them all.

"Kia hua dadi?" Haseeb asked.

(what happened grandma?)

"Zahra beta go sit next to Irtaza," she ordered her.

"Now your place is only next to him. Ok, beta?" she further stated in her motherly accent.

Her eyes widened. She looked at him and he was looking unbothered to whatever was happening around her. Then her eyes moved to the empty chair next to him. She fisted her cold hands.

"Beta shabash utho aur Irtaza k sath ja k betho" her voice sweet and motherly.

(Daughter come on and go sit next to Irtaza)

She slowly stood up and made her way next to his chair. His mere presence at the dining table made her trepidatious and now her grandma is forcing her to sit next to him but what could she do when all the family had there eyes on her. She was already tired and worried about what her future will be saved in for her.

Slowly dragging the chair she sat next to him at the table. She felt like these people are tying her with him. She already was feeling like he had the strings of her fate in his hands and she cannot do anything without his permission.

And how true was she!

Everyone then begin to eat but her appetite was already lost. Who can eat so comfortably when a monster is sitting next to you.

He suddenly placed his hand on her thigh making her jump.

Her throat went dry.

His fingers softly grazed her inner thigh. His hand caressed her leg making her heartbeat irregular. She tried to push his hand away by moving her leg but his grip tightened on her leg. The pressure of his hold increased causing red finger marks on her slender leg.

She saw his jaw clenching and unclenching. Anger was evident in his eyes but he maintained a calm posture outside. A few minutes later his grip on her leg was so tight that she lowly begin to whimper with pain but didn't dare to move his hand away. She was even afraid to touch his calloused hand again. Her hand shivered with pain and fear as she took the glass of water and gulped it down.

Seeing her paled face, he retreated his hand back making her sigh in relief. She was afraid of him was an understatement.

Soon the breakfast was over. The date for nikkah and rukhsati was decided exactly one week after the 40th of Mujtaba. Their grandma ordered everyone to start the wedding preparations. While Zahra on the other hand was looking like a scared pigeon. Only some weeks were left for the rukhsati and she had not made any way to get out of all this mess. She seriously now had to work with Daniyal to get out of the hands of Irtaza.

How will I get rid of him? What if Daniyal and I fail to run from him? There is too much to do! How will I get a divorce from him?! How will I get out of this cursed haveli? And how will I tell mama about this all? Ya Allah help me, please! I don't want to live with him. I am so scared of him. I cannot even breathe properly when he is around me. My brain gets numb, my legs begin to shiver, my voice gets small, and my heart beats wildly. I don't know what will happen but please Ya Allah help me.

Irtaza got up from his chair to leave for his office, breaking the chain of her thoughts. She whimpered instinctively but no one heard her small whimper. She internally thanked God that he is leaving and yet again it was short-lived.

"Zahra beta go and see off Irtaza to the door," her grandma told her.

She fisted her hands with anger and helplessness but took a deep breath to calm her anger down. She cannot make a scene in front of the whole family. Standing up, she followed him to the underground garage. His bulky and muscular back facing her. She was scared and she didn't know why.

When they both were alone in the garage, he turned around and faced her. She was looking down while following him, lost in her thoughts unaware he is facing her, and then she crashed into his eight-packed chest causing her to hiss. He immediately caged her small petite frame into his arms.

She slowly looked upwards and saw his grey eyes staring directly into her.

Grey to Brown

"Samnay daikh k chala Karo," he said softly.

(Look up while walking)

"Acha?" He rose her chin with his other hand.

(OK?)

"Jee" she whispered looking away from his dark grey mesmerizing eyes.

(Yes)

"Good" he pulled back from her and stood to his full height dipping his hands into his pockets.

"What were you saying to dua and haya?" He questioned making her heart run a mile a minute.

"Kuch bhi nahi. Kuch bhi tou nahi" her voice getting small

(Nothing. Nothing at all)

"Hmmm. Kuch bhi nahi" He mused

Bending his head a little bit he pecked on her soft pink lips. His perfect white teeth biting on her pink plump ones. And then he moved back, moving his face into her neck, nuzzling and smelling it. His stubble tingled her white milky neck.

"Tell them about this as well" he whispered into her ears. A hidden threat clear in his words.

Her heart dropped.

Her eyes widened. He caught her lie again.

He pulled back from her and stood to his full height, dipping his hands again into his navy blue pants, and pockets.

"I am sliding it this time but next time I won't bear anything coming out from this pretty little mouth of yours." He moved his thumb on her lower lip.

"And yes" he again dipped his hand into his pockets.

"Never lie to me" he warned while tucking a stray strand of her honey blonde locks behind her ear.

"I hate liars. And I don't think you would like to know what I do to those who lie to me." He told her and opened up the driver's seat of his car, and got the car out of the garage.

She looked at the headlights of the retreating car and her wild heartbeat controlled when it was confirmed to her, that he will not be getting back.

Not anytime soon.

Unaware to both of them it was not the last time she was going to lie to him. Many lies and betrayals were yet to come.