Chapter 11: First Mistake

"But I want to talk in relation to this proposal. If you can give me two minutes of your time." Saying this he opened the front door of the passenger seat.

A light bulb shone in her mind. This was a good opportunity. She will inform him about her nikah and finish this matter immediately. The stick will not break and this six feet snake will also get away from her way.*

"Ok, but there are relatives here...."

"Don't worry, I will take the car on the backside, sit down." Very reluctantly she sat down. This was the first time in her life when she sat with an unrelated man like this. If abba got to know about this, his open mindedness would evaporate immediately. She had the freedom to wear anything, no compulsion on observing the hijab but befriending boys without any restraint...abba had never permitted such a thing. When she sat Waleed immediately sped his car away.

" Whatever you have to talk about, quickly say it, then I also have to talk about something. She had her head down and was clutching her fingers.. She was feeling very uneasy.

" You talk first." Waleed had parked his car in a dark alley behind the marriage hall.

" Ok. I had to say something." She continued to speak with her head down. " I don't know if abba has informed you about it but I think it is important for you to know. I was married to my phuphu's son in childhood. They live in Turkey. Because of some grudges between the families, my abba is a agitated and now he wants me to get a divorce but I dont want that."

She did not lift her head. She assumed that Waleed was silent because he was too shocked.

" I am faithful to my husband, Mr Waleed! I have thought only about him and mentally I feel bound only to him. I cannot think of getting married to anyone else. "

He was silent. Haya kept looking at her fingers and kept talking.

" Please refuse this proposal. I am someone else's wife. There cannot be another nikah, please! I am requesting you."

She raised her head. He was silently deeply staring at her. This wasn't the face of the man who had driven the car earlier...he looked like a different person.

"Then....then what have you though?" She stammered. There was something in Waleed's eyes that told her that she had made a grave mistake. Alarm of danger started ringing loudly in her.

"About what?" His voice was deep which made her move towards the door. She sub consciously grabbed the handle of the door.

"About refusing this proposal."

"There is an entire life to talk about these things Haya! Now lets take advantage of the moments that are present now."

He suddenly bent towards her. Haya screamed. Waleed tried reaching out for her neck with both his hands, but she forcefully pulled the handle and pushed open the door. The door swung open. She pushed away Waleed with her other hand and tried running outside. Her dupatta came in Waleed's hands. She ran outside but Waleed pulled away her dupatta. The dupatta made a friction with her neck and was in Waleed's hands now. She kept running without looking behind. She heard Waleed opening his door and cursing at her in some English slang. She increased the speed of her running.

The alleys were quiet. Who knows where he got her. It was Sunday and the shutters of the shops were closed. Without looking in any direction she turned into an alley. He was running behind her. She kept running in the alley...but what was this? It was dead end!

She suddenly turned. The sound of running was coming nearer.

She turned towards the wall and started searching frantically...maybe there was a magical door...maybe the stories of Harry potter were true..but....

"Why are you running?" He asked cheerfully. She got scared and turned.

Waleed was walking towards her. He had a smile of victory on his face. She tiredly stuck to the wall. Her dupatta was not with her and her hands were completely exposed and now that bruise on her neck...she frantically covered herself with her arms.

"Please let me go." She pleaded with a heavy voice. This was her first mistake...and for the first time itself she received such a huge punishment!

"How can I let you go? Its not like I can have you later." He was now a few feet away from her. The street lamp was shining behind him.

" Please, I am not that kind of a girl."

" Then what type are you? You took a lift but you are against marrying me. Is that the reason you were behaving rudely with me back in the car?" He stood directly in front of her.

"Please..." she was slowly shaking.. she did not have anymore strength to fight Waleed.

"Ssshhhh!!!" He smiled and moved forward. Haya shut her eyes tightly. Her head started spinning.

(According to a proverb in Urdu 'Sanp bhi marjaye aur lathi bhi na toote' is used to get rid of a problem without causing much attention)