"Ongoing English novel 'Dasht-e-Ulfat Episode 13: Shehzad's Dark Secrets Unveiled - Shocking Betrayal and Family Drama'"
Dasht-e-ulfat
Written
by.
Shazain Zainab
Ep
# 13
There was only half an hour left until
midnight when Shehzad’s voice echoed in the silence of the car.
“Come on, get up, let’s go,” Shehzad said,
looking at Nawaz, who was about to open a bottle of alcohol. Nawaz turned to
look at him.
“Where to?” he asked, raising an eyebrow and
looking at Shehzad with a questioning expression.
“Your surprise,” Shehzad replied with a wink,
while Nawaz had already brought the bottle to his mouth.
“Okay.” With that, Nawaz opened the door on
his side and got out. Shehzad followed him out.
“By the way, what’s this surprise for?” Nawaz
asked as they walked together.
“I just felt like giving you a surprise. It’s
a birthday celebration and a gift,” Shehzad said, a mischievous smile on his
face as he moved ahead.
In five minutes, they stood in front of a
house. Shehzad stepped forward, and Nawaz followed him closely behind.
************
“Jaza, dear, put the balloons here too,”
Khadija Begum called out to Jaza. She was at their place at this time because
of Sawera’s birthday, while Sawera was in her room getting ready, unaware that
her dear aunt was in her house.
“Aunt, why are you doing this? I can do it
all,” Jaza said, taking the balloon from Khadija Begum’s hand, while Annam
Begum was setting the table in front of her.
“Where are your father and uncle?” Annam
Begum asked as she adjusted the tablecloth.
“I spoke to them; they’ll be here soon,” Jaza
said as she stepped away when she heard footsteps approaching.
“I think Dad might have arrived,” she said,
turning around, but her words got stuck in her throat. When Annam Begum and
Khadija Begum lifted their heads at her silence, Khadija Begum was shocked to
see the two standing in front of her, while Annam Begum looked at them with
confusion.
“What happened, ladies? Didn’t you like our
arrival?” Shehzad said with his mischievous smile, while Nawaz stood behind him
with his shirt collar open.
“What are you doing here, Shehzad? And what
is he doing with you?” Khadija Begum stepped forward and asked, throwing a
piercing glance at Nawaz standing behind.
“What happened was, Aunt, Shehzad wanted to
give me a surprise, so he brought me here,” Nawaz said, stepping slightly
ahead, while Khadija Begum’s gaze turned to Shehzad. Jaza was trying to
understand the implication of Nawaz’s words, while Annam Begum silently watched
the whole scene unfold.
“What nonsense is Shehzad talking?” Khadija
Begum said, grabbing Shehzad by the arm and turning him toward her, speaking
angrily.
“He’s right,” Shehzad said, locking eyes with
his mother defiantly.
“Now I understand why Sawera is so
beautiful... because her mother and sister are very beautiful. And you never
mentioned this,” Nawaz said, looking at Annam Begum and Jaza with mischief, causing
anger to flush their faces as they fully understood the meaning behind his
words. However, there was both anger and hatred in Jaza’s eyes.
Before Jaza could say anything, Khadija Begum
raised her hand and left a mark on Nawaz's face.
“When your own mother and sister are not
around, you should respect the mothers, sisters, and daughters of others. But
who would teach shame and decency to someone like you?” Khadija Begum said,
enunciating each word carefully.
“Mum, control your words. I don’t want to be
rude to you, so it’s better if you don’t interfere,” Shehzad said in a subdued
voice to his mother.
“Take your worthless friend and get out of
here,” Khadija Begum said, looking at him sternly.
“Well, we’re not leaving,” Shehzad said
shamelessly, while Nawaz grinned with malice, unfazed by Khadija Begum’s slap.
“Shehzad, get out of my house right now
before I call Shahid,” Annam Begum said angrily, glaring at Shehzad.
“Just give us your daughters, and we’ll
leave,” Shehzad said, stepping closer and standing in front of Annam Begum,
while her hand lifted instinctively in response to his words, leaving a slap
mark on his face.
“How dare you raise your hand on me?” Shehzad
shouted, standing tall in front of Annam Begum.
“Keep your voice down, Shehzad.” Jaza stood
in front of him, not tolerating anyone speaking to her mother in a raised
voice.
Meanwhile, Sawera, who had been sitting in
front of the mirror putting on gloves, was startled by the sudden loud noise.
“What was that noise?” Sawera said, getting up and heading towards the door.
On the other side, Khadija Begum pulled
Shehzad back by the arm when he raised his voice again.
“Shehzad, get out of here right now,” Khadija
Begum said angrily, pointing toward the door.
“If I don’t want to leave, what will you do?”
Shehzad shouted defiantly as Annam Begum began dialing a number on her phone.
Shehzad quickly stepped forward and snatched the phone from her hand, throwing
it to the ground. Jaza rushed forward and slapped him across the face.
“How pathetic and degraded you are, Shehzad.
You have no shame for your mother or your aunt. Get out of here right now, or
else it won’t end well,” Jaza said, gripping his collar and glaring at him.
“Hahahahaha... today won’t end well for all
of you,” Shehzad said, gripping her hair tightly, pulling her head back, and
leering at her with wicked intent.
“Ahhh!” A gasp escaped Jaza’s lips as
Shehzad’s grip on her hair was tight.
Khadija Begum and Annam Begum rushed forward,
trying to pull Jaza away, but Shehzad shoved them aside with one hand. At that
moment, Jaza stomped her foot on his foot and tried to pull away when Shehzad
grabbed her hair again.
“You’re so proud of your purity, aren’t you?
Today, just watch how I disgrace you and your sister,” Shehzad said,
enunciating each word carefully. A tear fell from Jaza’s eye as a sharp wave of
pain surged through her head.
Annam and Khadija Begum’s hearts sank at
Shehzad’s words. Struggling, Annam Begum picked up a stick from the table and
swung it at Shehzad’s arm. Just as she pulled it back, Nawaz stepped forward,
grabbed her hand, and slapped her hard across the face, causing her to fall
down immediately.
“Mama...” Jaza cried out in anguish as she
looked at her mother.
Khadija Begum helped her up, standing in
front of Shehzad now.
“Shehzad, for the sake of God, have mercy on
the girls. They’re just like your sisters. Just leave here,” Khadija Begum
pleaded, crying.
“Sisters... Hahahahahaha... who would
consider such beautiful girls as sisters? Besides, I told you to talk about
Jaza; you didn’t. So just sit back and watch what happens. Your niece is very
pious and pure, isn’t she? Just wait and see what I do to your two nieces,” he
said, leering at Jaza’s face while Nawaz lounged on the sofa with his legs
crossed.
“Shahzad...” Sawera, who had been standing on
the stairs and witnessing everything, looked at Shehzad in shock. She still couldn’t
believe that this was the same person she had fallen in love with.
Dressed in a white long frock with her hair
down, she looked extremely beautiful but was unaware that her beauty was about
to be preyed upon by beasts. Nawaz was stunned by her appearance; in these two
years, she had become excessively beautiful.
“Sawera, go to your room,” Jaza said, looking
back at Sawera, who had turned to see her well-prepared form, speaking in an
instant. Meanwhile, Nawaz shifted his gaze from Sawera and quickly controlled
Khadija Begum, who was trying to move forward to hit Shehzad.
“How long will you save your sister?” Shehzad
said, lowering his face toward Jaza as she turned away.
Annam Begum immediately moved forward and
tried to slap Shehzad, but he caught her hand in mid-air and pushed her away.
He then shoved Jaza towards Nawaz, who had already tied up Khadija Begum and
was now holding Jaza in check.
"You are causing a lot of
trouble..." Shehzad stood in front of Annam Begum, who was on the ground.
Just then, Sawera ran to Shehzad, grabbed his arm, and turned him towards her.
"What are you doing?" she cried,
tears streaming down her face.
"Why, baby, didn't you like her?"
Shehzad attempted to touch her face, but she pulled away.
"Sawera, go to your room..." Jaza
sobbed, trying desperately to free herself.
Sawera quickly turned to lift her mother when
Shehzad grabbed her arm and flung her aside. She fell near a table, hitting her
forehead against its edge. Blood oozed from her forehead, and a wave of pain
surged through her head, causing it to spin.
Annam Begum was trying to get up, but a wave
of pain coursed through her arms and legs.
"Aunt, please hand over your daughters
gracefully. I assure you, they will be treated with love," Shehzad said as
he sat down in front of Annam Begum.
"Don't even mention my daughters' names,
Shehzad!" Annam Begum glared at him in anger.
Shehzad smiled, leaned down, and took a
handful of Annam Begum's hair, saying, "Life is precious, isn't it?"
He emphasized each word while pressing the gun he held under Annam Begum's
chin.
"Shehzad, don't lay a hand on my
daughters..." A tear fell from Annam Begum's eye. She never thought the
one she considered a son would turn out to be the enemy of their family's
honor.
"I didn't like your answer..."
Shehzad said, running the gun's barrel across her face.
"Please, Shehzad, let my family go. Your
enmity is with me," Jaza cried. On one side was her aunt, whom she had
tied up; on the other side was her mother, who was under the gun's threat; and
beside her was her sister, whose honor he had now targeted. Khadija Begum
looked at him with tearful eyes, her son, the part of her existence, while
Sawera lay crumpled on the floor. Blood was trickling from her forehead, and
the pain was so intense that even in consciousness, she felt utterly dazed.
"I told you I would take revenge for
every slap you gave me, so be ready today..." Shehzad said, looking at her
when Annam Begum struck him on the back with a vase.
In anger, Shehzad turned towards Annam Begum,
bent down, and grabbed her by her hair.
"You can't move much, can you?" he
said, biting off each word, and loaded his gun.
"Shehzad, no..." Jaza gasped, while
Khadija Begum shook her head in denial.
"By God, let them go..." Jaza
screamed.
And in the next moment, the sound of a
gunshot echoed throughout the lounge.
"Mama..." Jaza's scream echoed
alongside the gunfire. Sawera, who was barely holding herself together,
suddenly regained her senses at the sound of the gunshot and Jaza's scream.
"Mama..." Jaza cried out loudly,
desperately trying to free herself from Nawaz's grip. Tears flowed down her
face as she struggled, while Sawera stood in shock, witnessing the scene. Her
mother's blood-soaked body, Shehzad holding the gun, the sound of Jaza's sobs,
and her aunt, whose hands, feet, and mouth were bound... Sawera could hardly
believe that this was the same person who had been like the breath of life
within her.
"Mama..." Sawera screamed, and at
that moment, Shehzad looked at her, a smile flickering across his face.
She propped herself up against the table and
rushed towards Annam Begum, whose body was drenched in blood and whose breaths
had stopped. Before she could reach her mother, Shehzad seized her arm.
As soon as Shehzad grabbed her arm, Sawera
slapped him hard across the face with her other hand and grabbed him by the
collar. Shehzad looked at her in astonishment, wondering where this delicate
girl had found such strength.
"How could you do this, Shehzad?"
she said, gripping his collar tightly, tears flowing from her eyes.
"I've already done it..." he
replied, looking into her eyes.
"If you love me, how could you do this
to me?" Sawera shouted.
"Love? Hahaha... love and you? Oh, come
on, Sawera. I fall in love like this every half an hour..." Shehzad said,
laughing, while Sawera looked at him with disbelief. Her eyes were filled with
shock. On the other side, Khadija Begum felt as if molten metal had been poured
into her ears. She couldn't believe that her son would deceive her niece with a
false promise of love.
"So what was all that? I have loved you
endlessly, Shehzad. How can you say this?" Sawera felt her voice breaking.
"That was just bait to lure you in.
Innocent fish like you can only be caught with love's bait, right?"
Shehzad said, grabbing her arm, while each of his words gnawed at Sawera.
"Let me go..." she suddenly
screamed.
"I didn't grab you to let you go, baby
girl. After all, I have loved you for two years. That must come with a price,
right?" Shehzad said as he moved closer to her.
"Shehzad, stay away from me..."
Jaza suddenly shouted.
"Oh, no one else is going to get close
to her... and then, who knows who else will go next..." Shehzad said
cryptically, gesturing towards Nawaz.
"No... no! Let me go!" Realizing
the implication of Shehzad's words, Sawera struggled to free herself, but his
grip was too strong.
In the next moment, Shehzad shoved Sawera
towards Nawaz, and Nawaz pushed Jaza towards Shehzad, while Khadija Begum was
desperately trying to free her hands and feet. Tears streamed from her eyes as
she realized her son was capable of such treachery.
"You asked for one night... you can keep
her for as many nights as you want," Shehzad's words were unclear to
Sawera. Her heart felt shattered into countless pieces.
She was flailing like a fish in Nawaz's hands
and, in an instant, freed herself from his grip. In the next moment, she had
Shehzad’s collar in her hands.
"You are a deceiver. I loved you, how
could you do this to me? Didn’t you feel any shame, Shehzad? Everyone told me
you weren’t right; I didn’t believe them. I trusted you, and what did you do
with my trust? Just for a moment, just for a moment, think of my love, Shehzad.
Why are you doing this? Just say it’s all a joke, that it’s a dream..."
Sawera cried, holding his collar tightly. But the cruel Shehzad was unaffected
by even a single tear from her eyes. He pushed Sawera away just as Nawaz
grabbed her arms.
Today, Sawera realized that the love of a
petty man is nothing but a loss. She had been swept away by his love, and today
this man stood before her, transformed into a beast. How had she not seen his
vile nature? How was he preparing to ensnare her in the web of love and destroy
her without her even knowing?
Khadija Begum watched the entire scene
through her flowing tears. She silently prayed for her own death because she
could not bear to live with this pain.
***************
They were driving the car, and the anxiety in
their hearts was beyond measure. They kept checking the time on the clock
repeatedly. Why did the way home seem so long today? There were just five
minutes left until midnight, and they were still some distance from home.
“Oh Allah, why isn’t this restlessness
easing?” Shahid Sahib said, placing his hand over his heart. Then, as a thought
crossed his mind, he took out his phone.
After glancing at the road ahead, he dialed
the house number, but there was no response on the other end. After thinking
for a moment, he dialed Annam Begum's number, but it was also coming up as
unavailable. His anxiety continued to grow.
This time, he dialed Jaza's number. The call
was going through, but no one was picking up. Now, he was genuinely feeling
very anxious.
“Oh Allah, please let everything be alright,”
he prayed silently as he drove.
Their car was now on the road leading home.
But as the way home got closer, the fear and anxiety in his heart only
intensified.
************
“Leave me!” her voice echoed throughout the
lounge. Meanwhile, Sawera was desperately trying to free herself from Nawaz's
grip. Tears streamed down her face, and the kohl around her eyes had smudged
completely. As she struggled to break free, her delicate wrists had turned red,
but Nawaz’s grip was too strong for her to escape.
Suddenly, Jaza elbowed Shehzad in the face,
pushing him away. Taken by surprise, Shehzad couldn’t hold on, and his grip on
Jaza loosened. Meanwhile, Nawaz’s attention was diverted to Shehzad, allowing
Sawera to bite his arm. Due to the pain, Nawaz's grip loosened, and Sawera
seized the opportunity to flee from him.
Jaza quickly escaped Shehzad’s reach and ran
towards Khadija Begum, starting to untie the ribbon that bound her hands. She
had loosened it considerably when Shehzad grabbed her hair and yanked her back.
He stood her up and slapped her hard across her fair cheek.
“What does this disgraceful woman think of
herself?” Shehzad shouted, using vulgar language as he pulled Jaza's hair
tightly.
On the other side, seeing Sawera running up
the stairs, Nawaz lunged towards her and caught her in the middle of the steps.
Sawera’s delicate frame was entirely in his grasp, while Khadija Begum was
trying to free her hands, which were now loosened.
“Shehzad...” a manly voice resonated
throughout the lounge as Shehzad pulled Jaza by her hair, turning her towards
the door. Nawaz was holding Sawera on the stairs, and Khadija Begum looked at
the door with teary eyes.
Shahid Sahib stood with horror in his eyes,
aiming his gun at Shehzad. For a moment, Shehzad felt fear at the sight of the
blood in Shahid Sahib’s eyes, but he quickly composed himself because Shahid
Sahib’s life was in his hands.
“Lower the gun, Uncle,” Shehzad said,
pointing the gun at Jaza’s head.
“Shahid Sahib, let my daughters go!” Shahid
Sahib pleaded, his eyes filled with rage. He had no idea Shehzad would stoop so
low.
“Uncle, lower the gun, or your daughter will
die,” Shehzad threatened, the gun's muzzle grazing Jaza's face.
“Baba, let me die, just save Phupo and
Sawera. He… he killed Mama!” Jaza cried out, her voice breaking, and her last
words struck Shahid Sahib like lightning. He scanned the room in despair. Annam
Begum was nowhere to be found. When his gaze fell to one side of the table, he
saw Annam Begum’s lifeless body, drenched in blood. A tear rolled down his
cheek. His beloved wife was no longer in this world.
“Lower the gun, Uncle, or you will lose your
daughters and your sister,” Shehzad said with a sinister smile.
“I’m telling you for the last time, let my
daughters go, and my sister too!” Shahid Sahib tightened his grip on the gun.
He couldn’t bear the thought of losing Jaza, Sawera, and Khadija Begum. He had
already lost his beloved wife.
“You won’t lower the gun?” With that, Shehzad
aimed at Sawera’s leg, who was writhing in Nawaz's grip, and in the next
moment, the sound of the gunshot echoed in the lounge, accompanied by Sawera's
scream. At the same time, Shahid Sahib fired, but Shehzad ducked just in time,
causing the bullet to miss its mark and hit the wall.
“Well, well, Uncle, now lower the gun. This
time, it’s not just any random shot.” This time, Shehzad aimed at Khadija
Begum.
“I’ll lower the gun if you let my daughters
go,” Shahid Sahib felt that Shehzad’s intentions were far from innocent, so he
decided to lower the gun, unaware that this decision would seal his fate.
As soon as Shahid Sahib pointed the gun
downward, Shehzad quickly redirected it towards Shahid Sahib and, in an
instant, pulled the trigger. The bullet pierced through Shahid Sahib’s chest,
blood gushing out, and he fell to the ground. Khadija Begum watched in horror
as her brother collapsed. Sawera stood frozen in place, as if her life had been
drained from her, or as if her existence had turned to ice. Jaza… Jaza
collapsed to the ground beside Shahid Sahib. Her eyes were vacant, her voice
lost, and her body refused to stand. She stared, motionless, at Shahid Sahib’s
fallen form, focusing on the spot where blood continued to flow. Her courage
had failed her.
Khadija Begum desperately tried to free her
hands and succeeded. They were now free. She quickly bent down, freed her feet,
and then her mouth.
“Shahid… my Shahid…” Khadija Begum sobbed as
she rose from her spot and rushed towards Shahid Sahib. Just then, another
gunshot rang out, and she fell to the ground with a scream. The bullet had
struck her leg.
The sound of the gunshot snapped Sawera and
Jaza back to reality. Khadija Begum dragged herself towards Shahid Sahib when
Shehzad began to drag Jaza by her hair towards Khadija Begum, who was
desperately trying to free herself, screaming, but her voice had no effect on
Shehzad. He pulled Jaza closer to him and then tossed her towards Khadija
Begum.
Jaza landed beside Khadija Begum, who
immediately enveloped her in her arms. As Shehzad approached, he was
relentless.
“Let them go!” Sawera’s voice was filled with
anguish as she pleaded for mercy, but Shehzad was deaf to her cries.
Stepping forward, he separated Jaza from
Khadija Begum, gripping her hair tightly and turning her face towards Khadija
Begum.
“This was the dear niece of yours that I
asked for, and you denied me,” Shehzad said, holding Jaza’s hair firmly as he
presented her face to Khadija Begum, who could only watch helplessly as Jaza
stifled her sobs.
“Shehzad…” Khadija Begum tried to speak.
“Shut up! Silence!” Shehzad interrupted,
glaring at Khadija Begum with fury.
“This niece of yours doesn’t deserve someone
like me. I’ll bring her to a place where no one would accept her,” Shehzad
said, emphasizing each word.
“For God’s sake, let these girls go,” Khadija
Begum pleaded, her hands clasped together.
“Let me see their beauty first,” Shehzad
replied shamelessly, staring into his mother’s eyes. He was so consumed by rage
and a desire for revenge that he didn’t even see his own mother. Khadija Begum
gazed at him through her tears, realizing that this was the son for whom she
had endured a man like Akram her entire life.
He continued to drag Jaza when a scream
escaped her lips. Khadija Begum, dragging her own body, moved a bit closer and
grasped Shahid Sahib’s gun, aiming it at Shehzad. Nawaz noticed the gun in
Khadija Begum’s hand, and before he could say anything, she fired. The bullet
struck Shehzad’s arm. He immediately turned around, still dragging Jaza with
him while Sawera remained sobbing in Nawaz’s grip, her strength waning.
“You’ve made a grave mistake,” Shehzad said,
leaning closer to Khadija Begum.
“Please, Shehzad, let Phupo go,” Jaza cried,
her hands clasped in desperation. She had lost her parents and witnessed their
deaths right before her eyes. She could not bear to see her aunt in such a condition;
she did not want to lose her.
“Absolutely not,” Shehzad said with a smile.
“Fear God, Shehzad, she’s your mother!”
Hearing this, Jaza's heart sank as she realized the gravity of the situation
while Khadija Begum watched her son’s feral side.
Shehzad reloaded his gun.
“Kill me, Shehzad. Just do it today. Maybe it
was written in my destiny to die at the hands of my son. I regret that I
endured a beast like Akram just to keep you near me. You’ve proven today,
Shehzad, that you only inherited my womb but the blood in your veins is
Akram’s. You’ve destroyed my entire family, Shehzad…” Khadija Begum said
through her tears, looking at her cruel son, who stood shamelessly, gun in
hand, unmoved by her words.
“I won’t forgive you, Shehzad. On the Day of
Judgment, you will answer for my blood. I won’t forgive you today, nor on that
day. Your father wounded my heart, but you… you’ve wounded my very soul,
Shehzad. You’ve ruined your mother’s home. Here I am, do with me as you wish,
but remember… I pray you and your father meet a painful end. You will answer
for each and every crime in this world as well as on the Day of Justice,”
Khadija Begum spoke through her tears.
“For God’s sake, have mercy. Don’t harm
Phupo; she’s your mother!” Jaza begged, tears streaming down her face.
“For God’s sake, let Phupo go!” Sawera’s
voice joined in Jaza’s pleas.
"I will never forgive you." Khadija
Begum's words were still on her lips when Shahzad pulled the trigger. The
bullet pierced through Khadija Begum's chest.
“Phupo...” Jaza and Sawera's screams echoed
once again in the lounge.
Jaza rushed over to Khadija Begum, whose
breaths were becoming shallow.
“Phupo …” she said, gently patting Khadija
Begum's face.
“G... go... run away... m... my b... baby...”
Khadija Begum said this and fell silent forever. Carrying the grief of her
brother and sister-in-law's deaths in her heart, witnessing her son's brutal
form and the wounds of his cruelty, she became silent for a lifetime with her
blood on his hands. And in leaving, she took her paradise away from that
unfortunate son.
****************
The room was filled with cigarette smoke. He
was lounging on the sofa, leaning his head back against the cushions. The
cigarette, pinched between the first two fingers of his right hand, was still
smoldering. He was staring at the ceiling, his disheveled hair and messy
appearance contrasting with the moisture in his brown eyes; he looked nothing
like the mischievous Rehan Agga people used to complain about. How the past few
months had changed him, making him serious.
"Why won’t you listen, Sawera? That
person isn’t good," he said, his voice trembling. His heart was restless,
finding no peace. Sitting up straight, he stubbed the cigarette out in the
ashtray and buried his face in his hands.
Tears streamed from his eyes, and Sawera's
smiling face kept flashing before him. For two years, he had secretly loved
her, hiding his feelings even from himself, fearing that his own ill gaze might
fall upon her. Despite knowing she was ensnared in the love of a beast, he
still cherished her name.
Since meeting her that morning, he had locked
himself in his room, yet his heart found no moment of peace. Restlessness grew
with each passing second, compounded by a dream that had terrified him. For
some unknown reason, he suddenly felt a strong desire to see her. Yielding to
his heart's wish, he got up, grabbed the keys to his car, and left his house in
the middle of the night, solely for the sight of his beloved, oblivious to the
calamity that had already unfolded.
*************
“Let me go, for God’s sake! Have mercy... Let
me go... Jaza, help me... Save me!” Sawera’s screams echoed throughout the
house as she struck her delicate hands against Nawaz’s, who was dragging her
up. At her cries, Jaza felt a surge of desperation.
“Shahzad, tell him to let my sister go,
please! Your enmity is with me, not with her. Take your revenge on me, but for
God’s sake, leave my sister alone!” Jaza cried, clasping her hands together in
front of Shahzad. The man she never wanted to see again had brought her to this
point, where she was pleading before such a petty man to save her sister’s
honor, a man who had destroyed her life in moments.
“Let her go?” Shahzad asked, looking into
Jaza's eyes.
“Please...” Jaza pleaded, tears streaming
down her face.
“Remember the slap you gave me in the
restaurant? Remember the slap you gave me at home? If you had given yourself to
me then, we wouldn’t be in this situation now. I warned you before; if I don’t
beat you every moment, then tell me how it feels to face my revenge,” Shahzad
said, gripping her hair tightly. The sharpness of his words and the pain
surging through her head overwhelmed Jaza, and tears fell from her eyes.
“For God’s sake, Shahzad…” she sobbed, never
having imagined that she would be this helpless in her life.
“I have no mercy on you,” Shahzad said as he
tightened his grip on her hair, dragging her upstairs. Jaza struggled to free
herself, elbowing him in the stomach, but he retaliated with a slap to her
face, so hard that blood began to seep from her lips, making her feel like her
jaw was dislocated.
This time, Shahzad’s grip was so strong that
she couldn’t even move.
The scene unfolded as Nawaz dragged Sawera
forward while Shahzad pulled Jaza behind him.
“Let me go!” Sawera bit Nawaz’s hand, but he
stubbornly continued to drag her along.
The cries of the two sisters echoed
throughout the house, but their three protectors were fast asleep, indifferent
to their tears. Meanwhile, these two beasts showed no mercy, leaving them utterly
helpless.
Nawaz moved forward and fully opened the
half-closed door to a room. This was Sawera’s room. He flung Sawera inside and
followed her in just as Shahzad brought Jaza in as well.
When Nawaz looked at him questioningly,
Shahzad replied, “I want to beat her every moment. She talks of mercy; I want
her to see what mercy looks like.” Saying this, Shahzad threw Jaza onto the
nearby sofa and began to tie her hands and feet. When Jaza kicked him with her
feet, Shahzad glared at her in anger and moved back toward her.
Meanwhile, Sawera tried to rise and reach her
dressing table, but Nawaz restrained her once more.
Shahzad slapped Jaza six times in quick
succession. The strikes left her momentarily stunned, her head spinning. Her
father had never raised a hand against her; today, Shahzad’s slaps inflicted
great pain on her. Who would believe he was her cousin?
Shahzad had tied her hands and feet, and
Jaza, with tearful eyes, witnessed the scene unfolding in front of her, where
Nawaz was struggling to subdue Sawera.
Sawera pushed Nawaz away with great
difficulty and moved forward when Shahzad stepped in front of her.
“Where are you going, madam?” Shahzad said
with a wicked smile, while tears streamed down Jaza's face.
“Shahzad, you loved me... You said you couldn’t
bear anyone looking at me. How can you do this to me today?” Sawera cried.
“Listen to me... I never loved you; it was
all a façade. I did everything to make sure you ended up with Nawaz. Now shut
up and fulfill all his desires, or we know how to force you,” Shahzad's words
felt like the ground was pulled from under Sawera’s feet.
Sawera raised her hand to strike Shahzad, but
he caught it in mid-air.
“Fulfill all his desires politely, and I
promise to let you and your sister go,” Shahzad said with a smile. For the
first time in her life, Sawera found his smile, his words, and his voice
repulsive. Doubt clouded her eyes as she kept praying in her heart that this
was just a dream, but it was all too real.
“Everything I heard about you was true. You
are a murderer, a bad man, a dark pit…” Sawera felt her voice echo from the
abyss.
“Yes, I am... absolutely I am.” With that,
Shahzad pushed her toward Nawaz. Jaza felt each of Sawera’s tears pierce her
heart like needles.
“Shahzad, let my sister go!” Jaza’s sobbing
voice echoed in the room.
“I’m telling you, don’t touch me! Let me go!”
Sawera struggled to free herself from Nawaz as he threw her onto the bed.
He began to unbutton his shirt while Sawera,
mustering her courage, managed to lift herself. Just when she thought she could
escape, Nawaz slapped her hard on her delicate cheek, sending her back onto the
bed.
“Please let her go!” Jaza's voice echoed in
the room.
Nawaz had completely subdued Sawera, who
thrashed like a fish out of water in his grip.
“Please let me go! Don’t come near me!”
Sawera cried as Nawaz tore part of her dress.
“Please, let her go! She’s innocent! Leave my
sister alone!” Jaza cried, while Sawera’s screams filled the room.
Nawaz was completely on top of Sawera, while
Jaza continued to plead, saying only one thing: let Sawera go, but neither of
the two beasts seemed to be affected by her cries.
The sounds of Sawera crying were rising in
the room, and at the same time, Jaza's eyes were filling with tears. Slowly,
Sawera's cries turned into screams; the intensity of her sobbing had increased,
and this innocent child's innocence had become the focus of a beast.
"Please, let her go," Jaza shouted
with great intensity. She had closed her eyes, unable to bear the humiliation
of her sister. This was when Shehzad had once again grabbed her hair in his
fist.
"Open your eyes. If you close them, your
sister won't be safe," Shehzad said angrily, chewing each word as he
spoke.
Shehzad kept a firm grip on her hair.
Whenever she tried to close her eyes, he would give her head a sharp jerk.
In the entire room, the sounds of Jaza crying
and Sawera's sobs and screams echoed.
Nawaz had already taken his time with this
innocent girl. Sawera lay on the bed in a broken state, her eyes vacant, devoid
of tears and sparkle. Her clothes were scattered everywhere. Seeing Sawera's
condition, Jaza fell completely silent.
"She was so beautiful," Nawaz said
with wicked delight.
"You tell me, do you want her?"
Shehzad asked with a smile as he looked at Jaza.
"Now she's of no use to me; I only
needed her for one night. It's done, my desire is fulfilled. Now what do I do
with her?" Nawaz said, looking at Sawera's disheveled state.
Shehzad stood up.
"Don't do anything to her, Shehzad. Just
give me my sister back," Jaza cried out as she saw Shehzad move towards
Sawera.
Shehzad paid no attention to her voice and
continued forward.
"How are you, baby girl?" Shehzad
said with a smile, looking at Sawera's pitiful state.
Sawera looked at Shehzad with desolate eyes.
This was the person she had wanted. What a cruel reality this man was. He had
used her in the name of love, and she had foolishly thought it was love.
When Shehzad picked up the broken bottle of
perfume nearby...
"I'm sorry, Sawera. Oh, and happy
birthday. But now you have to die... you are of no use to me," Shehzad
said, leaning over Sawera while looking at the bottle's shards.
"Shehzad, I'm telling you, give me my
sister back. Please, don't do anything to her. Please, let Sawera go,"
Jaza was crying out.
Suddenly, Shehzad thrust that broken bottle
into Sawera's abdomen and turned to look at Jaza.
Jaza went completely still, and in that
moment, she truly lost hope. Her entire family had been destroyed in just a few
moments. If she had looked a little earlier, she would have had everything, and
now if she looked, Jaza Shahid Alf had nothing. Everything had been taken from
her.
Tears flowed from Sawera's eyes. Her love had
been responsible for her humiliation. That love had destroyed her entire
family. This pain was worse than the agony of blood and wounds coming from her
abdomen.
Leaving her in that state, Shehzad moved
towards Jaza, grabbing her arm and pulling her up. Nawaz had already taken her
legs. Jaza was staring in shock at the blood pouring from Sawera's abdomen. And
Sawera's fading eyes had seen her sister's tear-streaked face, which bore only
torment. Shehzad dragged Jaza out of the room in this manner.
"Let me go! My Sawera is inside!"
As soon as she stepped out of the room, she screamed. Shehzad began to drag her
outside.
Jaza struggled to free herself from his
strong grip and ran back inside towards Sawera.
"Sawera... my love..." Jaza cried,
placing her hand on her sister's abdomen from where blood was seeping out.
"You... were... okay..." Sawera
stammered through tears. She tried to reach out to Jaza.
Just then, Shehzad grabbed Jaza by her hair
and arm, yanking her back and dragging her out of the room. Blood was smeared
on his hands from Sawera.
"Let me go! Let go!" Jaza was
screaming; who cared about her screams? Her dupatta was not around her neck;
blood was trickling from her lips. There were marks of slaps on her face, her
hands and arms were injured, and her hair was all disheveled. The darkness of
cruelty had been inscribed on her beautiful face. The one whose face had never
been devoid of laughter was repeatedly crushed by fate in just a few moments of
a single night. Her smile had been ripped away, and the long side of the night
still remained.
Shehzad dragged her into the lounge, where
Annam Begum's body lay on one side, Khadija Begum's on another, and Shahid
Sahib's on yet another. Jaza's screams momentarily halted, but her tears did
not stop. Above, Sawera was near death, close to her last breaths. Below were
those who had freed themselves from their breaths. Her tears showed no signs of
stopping.
She was once again thrashing in Shehzad's
grip. She dashed towards Shahid Sahib's body, but Shehzad restrained her again.
He dragged the struggling girl outside the house.
The surroundings were completely silent. The
night was desolate and quiet. Nawaz had started the car. Shehzad had pressed on
Jaza's specific vein, knocking her unconscious. She went limp in his arms. He
carried her towards the car and laid her down on the back seat, then sat in the
front seat next to Nawaz.
Just as he sat down, he noticed Rehan's car
coming from behind.
*****************
Rehan had witnessed this scene from a
distance. Before he could get closer, Nawaz and Shehzad had already driven away
in the car.
As soon as Rehan stopped in front of the
house, he sensed that something was wrong. He immediately got out of the car
and rushed inside because Shehzad had taken someone from the back seat and
brought them through the main door.
With a pounding heart, Rehan moved forward.
But as soon as he stepped inside, it felt as though the sky had fallen on him.
In front of him lay Shahid Sahib's lifeless
body on the ground, with Khadija Begum's body on one side and Annam Begum's on
the other.
He checked each one’s pulse in turn, but they
were all lifeless.
He raised his gaze to the stairs in front of
him. A door to one of the rooms was open, and against his will, his heart
pounded badly.
He immediately ran upstairs. As he entered
the room, he fell to the ground upon seeing the figure lying on the bed and the
state it was in. He looked at the figure with wide eyes.
She was wearing a white frock, just like the
one he had seen in his dream, but the frock was torn in many places, screaming
her story of suffering. The frock had now turned red with blood. Gathering his
courage, he stood up. It was unbearable for him to lift his gaze from her
condition. He wrapped Sawera’s body in a blanket. He wanted to check her pulse
but didn’t have the strength to do so. With tears streaming down, he took her
wrist. Her pulse was faint.
He tapped Sawera’s face. He rushed to the
bathroom, brought some water, and splashed it on her face. Sawera tried to open
her eyes; there was perhaps a glimmer of life left in her, but how long that
would last, who could know?
"Sawera, open your eyes," Rehan
said, crying. Sawera opened her eyes. Rehan, seeing this, smiled through his
pain.
"I... told... you... not... to...
punish... yourself... but... my... fate... had... already... written... my...
punishment..." Sawera managed to say in a faint voice, a wounded smile on
her face, as she began to close her eyes again.
In the next moment, Rehan scooped her up in his
arms and ran outside with her.
He placed her in the back seat of his car and
drove off, simultaneously calling his dad.
As soon as the call connected, Rehan
immediately said, "Where are you, Dad?" he spoke in a tearful voice.
Sawera's condition had drained his courage; it felt as if someone had placed a
hand over his heart.
"I’m at the hospital. What happened? Is
everything okay?" Agga Sahib said, worried, noting Rehan's wet and
restless tone.
"Stay there... don’t go home."
Saying this, he ended the call. On the other end, Agga Afridi Sahib became
increasingly worried.
*************
He was driving the car when suddenly his
phone rang. M-Z looked at the number and immediately picked up the call.
"Hello, Sir," he said as he
answered.
"M-Z, where are you?" Khan asked,
ignoring his greeting.
"I'm currently outside Lahore. Is
everything okay?" M-Z could clearly sense the worry in Khan's voice, which
made him anxious as well.
"When will you be back?" Khan asked
next.
"It will take me some time. You tell me,
is everything alright? You sound worried," M-Z replied, concerned because
he could easily detect Khan's anxiety.
"Just make sure to come back quickly.
Your presence is essential here in Lahore. I don't know why, but I have a bad
feeling. Alpha also seems very worried. Just try to come back soon," Khan
said while looking at a picture hanging on the wall.
"What are you worried about?" M-Z
asked, pulling the car to the side.
"I don't know why, but it feels like
something bad is going to happen. Just try to return quickly and take care of
yourself. I'm ending the call now." With that, Khan hung up, leaving M-Z
staring at the phone screen, troubled.
He anxiously stared at the phone screen,
leaning back against the seat. Then, he started the car and began to drive, as
he was nearing the outskirts of Lahore.
**********
Rehan entered the hospital, holding the
delicate body completely wrapped in a blanket. Seeing him arrive, Agga Sahib
immediately moved towards him.
"Rehan, who is this...?" As soon as
he lifted the blanket from her face, he stepped back in shock. In the next
moment, he took Sawera's body from him and placed it on a stretcher.
Rehan moved forward with him. "I won’t
let anything happen to you," he said, looking at the body lying on the
stretcher.
"Rehan, stay outside," Agga Sahib
stopped his son from coming in.
"Dad, she..." Rehan tried to say
something.
"May Allah protect her... and take care
of your mother," Agga Sahib said, then went into the emergency ward where
Sawera had just been taken.
Rehan sat down on a chair, eyes wide open.
"Oh Allah... don’t let anything happen
to her," he prayed with folded hands, tears streaming down his face.
He got up and was about to go for ablution
when his phone rang. He looked at the screen and saw "Mum Calling"
displayed. He answered the call.
"Rehan, where are you?" Aziza's
voice echoed from the other side.
He remained silent until Aziza spoke again,
"Rehan, I’m talking to you. Where are you?"
"I'm at the hospital..." was all he
could manage to say; he didn’t have the strength to say anything more.
"What are you doing there? Is everything
okay?" Aziza’s voice filled with concern.
"Nothing is okay, Mum, nothing at
all," a tear escaped from his eye.
"What’s going on? Tell me!" Aziza
urged anxiously.
As Rehan shared what had happened, there was
a sound of something falling from the other side, and then the call was
disconnected. With tears flowing, Rehan sat down on the floor.
He sat silently for a long time, tears
streaming down his face. Then he got up and went to perform ablution.
After completing his ablution, he stood on
his prayer mat. In the next moment, he fell to the mat, sobbing uncontrollably.
He neither made an intention nor performed a single rak'ah; he just fell into
prostration, crying.
"Oh Allah, my heart... my love," he
was saying through tears. His voice carried such anguish that everyone nearby
turned their attention to him. But he kept on crying, like a small child.
"Allah, she is so innocent... why is
this happening to her? Why has her innocence been crushed?" Rehan Agha,
who always faced every challenge and pain with a smile, was now broken and
weeping. He had even hidden his love from himself. His love had been humiliated.
The girl whose heart beat within him... someone had struck at his heartbeat.
His love was unrequited, yet it was his love. Sawera's injured smile kept
flashing before his eyes. Her condition... he was crying uncontrollably, like a
child.
************
They had just arrived home and settled in
when Ayesha Begum was bringing tea for them. Suddenly, Ibrahim Sahib's phone
rang.
He immediately answered the call.
"Speak, Aziza," Ibrahim Sahib said
as he took a cup of tea from Ayesha Begum.
Whatever Aziza said on the other side made
him drop the cup from his hand and his phone. He became completely motionless.
Ayesha Begum turned to look at Ibrahim Sahib
when the cup fell, and seeing the expression on his face, she became worried
and approached him.
"Ibrahim, what happened?" She shook
his arm, but he did not respond. Ayesha Begum immediately held the phone to her
ear. On the other side, Aziza's crying voice and words collided with her ears.
She immediately looked at Ibrahim Sahib, disconnected the call, and urged him
to speak again.
Ibrahim Sahib said nothing; tears were
flowing from his eyes.
"My friend, my brother... Ayesha, I am
all alone now..." Ibrahim Sahib's choked voice struck Ayesha Begum's ears.
She looked at her husband with tear-filled eyes. She knew very well who Shahid
Sahib was to Ibrahim Sahib.
In the next moment, he got up and started to
head outside when Ayesha followed him.
"Ibrahim, I will go with you,"
Ayesha said, crying.
Ibrahim said nothing and nodded, taking his
place in the driver's seat, while Ayesha Begum settled into the passenger seat.
He took out his phone, opened a group chat,
and sent a text while driving the car.
***************
They had arrived at Shahid Sahib’s house,
where Aziza, Sikandar, and Farooq were already present. Sikandar and Farooq's
faces and eyes bore witness that they had been crying a lot. Aziza's sobs were
still echoing in the air. Ibrahim Sahib stood at the threshold of the house.
For a moment, a scene flashed through his
mind... when they had come to Shahid’s house after their wedding, Shahid Sahib
had opened his arms from a distance for his friend. And now he stood at the
same threshold, but today the one welcoming him with open arms lay with his
eyes closed.
“Khann...” As soon as Aziza saw Ibrahim
Sahib, she got up.
“Khann, Alpha isn’t waking up... He is still
joking. Tell him not to wake up,” Aziza cried as Ayesha Begum embraced her.
Ibrahim Sahib looked at the scene before him with tear-filled eyes, while
Sikandar and Farooq bowed their heads and cried.
“Aziza, be patient,” Ayesha Begum spoke with
great courage because the scene before them was no less than a calamity.
“Ayesha, my brother... his family... his
daughter...” Aziza’s heart was about to shatter. She couldn't find the words to
express herself.
Ayesha hugged her again.
••••••••••
He was still crying. There was no decrease in
his tears, nor in his prayers... when Agga Sahib came and stood behind him. He
had come looking for him. He placed a hand on his shoulder.
Rehan looked up. Seeing Agga Sahib, he stood
up.
“How is Sawera?” he immediately asked his
father, hope shining in his eyes.
Agga Sahib couldn't say anything. He didn’t
have the courage to speak because a single word could shatter his son's hope...
but they couldn’t change destiny.
“Please tell me, how is she?” Rehan asked his
father again.
“Rehan, gather yourself,” he placed his hand
on Rehan's shoulder.
“I will manage, Dad. Just tell me she is
fine,” Rehan spoke again.
“She has gone forever after enduring this
injustice...” Agga Sahib said with great effort.
“Lies... you are lying... I brought her here;
she was breathing... how could she leave... I am here... how could she go?”
Rehan lost control.
“Rehan, this is what Allah willed...” Agga
Sahib tried to calm him.
“But what about me... what about my heart...
what about my love...” Rehan cried.
“Rehan, you will meet her in the hereafter,
son. No love goes in vain...” Agga Sahib tried to console him.
“It's all lies... I need Sawera... she was
breathing when I brought her here...” Rehan spoke uncontrollably.
“She was taking her last breaths, Rehan...
she had lost hope of living...” Agga Sahib grabbed his arm and shook him, but
Rehan fell silent.
“She was a delicate soul, how much cruelty
could she endure... she has died. Those beasts have ravaged her innocence,”
Agga Sahib said, looking into his eyes because if he didn’t tell him now, it
would become difficult to handle him.
Tears flowed from Rehan’s eyes as he looked
at his hands... the hands he had always raised in prayer to ask for her... the
hands that had brought her here today... the hands that had just begged for her
life... but she was nowhere in the lines of his hands... Loving her, wanting
her completely, his unrequited love was his destiny, but for Rehan Agha, there
was no place for Sawera, her love, or Sawera.
How painful unrequited love is... someone
should ask Rehan Agha today. He had reserved his confession of love for the day
she would enter his house as his beloved. But he didn’t even know that the girl
he adored would leave this world without hearing his declaration of love. She
would turn away from life, leaving him with this unrequited love for a
lifetime.
Rehan continued to sit in silence, tears
streaming down his face, looking at his empty hands.
**************
He had just arrived in Lahore. As soon as he
came, he had called Khan...
the call was ringing, but no one picked up. Now he called Sikandar... it rang for a while, and
the call was answered on the third ring.
“Where are you?” As soon as Sikandar
picked up the phone, he said, “M-Z.”
“Come to Alpha’s
house, M-Z...” Sikandar’s heavy voice echoed
through the phone.
“Sikandar, are you
okay?” M-Z found Sikandar’s voice a bit strange.
“Just come to Alpha’s
place...” Sikandar
said this and hung up, not having the courage to tell M-Z the whole truth.
M-Z immediately set
off towards Alpha’s
house. He drove through traffic and soon arrived in front of Alpha’s home.
In front of their house, cars of Khan,
Aziza, Sikandar, Farooq, and Amell were parked. As he stepped out
of his car and headed inside, an ambulance came from behind. He quickly stepped
aside. As soon as the ambulance door opened, Rehan, looking like a figure of sorrow, stepped out of
the ambulance. Along with him was Agga
Sahib. As the stretcher was brought out of the ambulance, M-Z quickly moved forward. Without
delaying for even a minute, he lifted the white sheet covering the body. As
soon as the sheet was removed, M-Z
took two steps back, unable to believe what he had just seen. He ran inside,
almost stumbling.
Upon seeing the scene inside, M-Z
froze. In front of him lay the bodies of Alpha,
Khadija Begum, Annam Begum, and now the body of Sawera had also been brought in. Aziza Begum was crying uncontrollably.
Ibrahim Khan Sahib
stood silently in one place, tears in his eyes, but there was also a fire of
vengeance burning in those eyes.
He took a step forward. For the first time in his life, M-Z found it difficult to move.
“How did this all happen???” a tear escaped his eye, but he controlled himself
and stood before Ibrahim Khan
to ask.
“I don’t know how this all happened...” M-Z
replied. “All I know is that whoever did this deserves a painful end...” Ibrahim Sahib spoke with blood in
his eyes.
“Don’t worry; whoever did this will beg for death...” At that moment, M-Z’s blue eyes were filled with
fury.
“Where is Jaza? All
four bodies were in front of him, and Aziza
remembered Jaza.
“They have taken him away...” Before Ibrahim
Sahib could say anything, Rehan spoke, while M-Z immediately stepped in front of him.
“Who is he, Rehan? Who
is involved in all this?” M-Z
asked, his eyes filled with dread.
“Shehzad Akram, Nawaz Usman...” Rehan said and fell silent.
Meanwhile, everyone else present seemed to lose their voice.
“Shehzad did this...” Aziza tried to say something.
“Yes, Mom, he is the one who did it all...” Rehan spoke, struggling to maintain control.
“M-Z, find Jaza... right now...” Ibrahim Sahib issued another
command, while M-Z
immediately rushed out.
He didn’t want to stand there any longer... his patience was wearing thin. His
ideal had died today; his killer had escaped... and he couldn’t save him. It
was pure agony in M-Z’s
eyes. A tear escaped from his eye, which he ruthlessly wiped away as he exited Shahid Sahib’s house.
**********
As soon as she opened her eyes, she found
herself in a dark room. There was no window and no bright light, just a small
zero-volt light glowing. For a few moments, she sat there, thinking about where
she was. As the scenes from a little while ago flashed before her eyes, she
trembled. She immediately stood up and headed toward the door. There was
neither a lock nor a handle to open the door from the inside, so she started
banging on it loudly.
“Is anyone there? Get me out of here! Is anyone listening to me?” she cried.
In a disheveled state, blood crusted near her lips, her hair in disarray, her
swollen honey-colored eyes filled with tears. Her dupatta was missing, having
fallen somewhere. The girl who was once pampered was now being led through the
burning coals of life.
Shehzad, who was outside seeing Nawaz off, turned around upon
hearing the sounds coming from the basement.
“Okay, I’ll leave; you take care of her. She needs help,” Nawaz said to Shehzad, smirking wickedly.
“Don’t worry; go ahead, I’ll handle her,” Shehzad replied with a smile. They were both in Shehzad’s personal house, which he
had built for partying and enjoying nights with friends. This house was stocked
with all kinds of necessities... everything bore witness to its own price. This
lavish house stood as a testament to all his dark deeds.
Nawaz had left. Shehzad
had a bandage wrapped around the wound on his body. He walked toward the
basement.
On the other side, there was silence; maybe she had screamed herself hoarse.
Shehzad unlocked the
door with his fingerprint and stepped inside. Leaving the door ajar, he stood
right in front of Jaza,
who was sitting against the wall, her face streaked with tears.
“So how did you like my answer, Jaza?”
Shehzad said
triumphantly, holding her face in his hands.
“I will kill you, Shehzad,”
Jaza said fiercely,
like a wounded lioness in front of him.
“I will kill you slowly, Jaza,”
Shehzad said, grabbing
her hair in his fist and forcing her to stand up.
“Let me go,” Jaza
said, enduring the pain.
“I will let you go, but first let me quench my thirst,” Shehzad said, looking at her
brazenly.
“Stay away from me, Shehzad...”
Jaza tried to push him
away. When Shehzad
leaned closer to her face,
Jaza pushed him away,
but Shehzad grabbed
her shirt from one side. Jaza
was struggling to free herself when Shehzad
tore one of her sleeves and the collar of her shirt. Jaza, filled with grief and anger,
looked at Shehzad. He
pushed her against the wall and leaned over her again.
Before he could do anything, Jaza grabbed a nearby clay glass and
struck it firmly on his head, shattering it. Shehzad couldn’t withstand the blow and immediately
fell backward.
This time, Jaza picked
up a metal stool lying nearby and threw it at Shehzad’s legs before running away. Perhaps luck was on
her side, as Shehzad
had forgotten to close the door.
As soon as she exited that room, she saw the stairs leading up. She ran up the
stairs and entered the lounge. The TV lounge was completely empty and silent,
so she took advantage of this and ran outside.
On the other side, Shehzad was trying to get up,
feeling pain from the injury to his head and the stool falling on his legs.
Meanwhile, Jaza rushed
toward the main gate, holding onto her torn collar. There, an elderly man was
on guard.
The man straightened up as he saw her.
“Uncle, please, please let me go...” Jaza
folded her hands in front of him. Looking at her condition, the guard felt pity
for her.
“Uncle, please open the door... I need to get out of here...” Jaza pleaded again, crying. The
elderly guard quickly stood up and opened the door.
As Jaza started to
move outside, the man called after her,
“Wait... stop...” the guard said, moving forward.
“Here, take this money... and go from this side. If you go a little further,
there will be a bus stop. Get away from here, save yourself from that beast. I
don’t have a shawl; otherwise, I would have given you that too. Save your
honor, dear.” The guard handed her some money and placed his hand on her head.
Jaza looked at this
man... she didn’t know what relation he was to her, but still, he cared for her
honor and was helping her. And then there was Shehzad, her cousin, who had killed her family right in
front of her eyes and dishonored her sister. She ran away from there, crying.
She was running blindly on the stony road...
not knowing where this unknown path would lead her. As she was running, she
stumbled and fell when her foot hit something. Her arms scraped against the
road, injuring them. Both her knees were also scraped, and blood was oozing
from her feet. A wave of pain surged through her body. Crying, she gathered her
courage and got up to run again.
She kept running until she collided with a
black car coming from the opposite direction, falling face down on the road and
losing consciousness. Meanwhile, a man in a black leather jacket stepped out of
the car and walked toward Jaza.
************
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