4

When Noor's parents got married, they shifted from their home town to another town, for some business purposes.

After a year Noor was born and every one was happy, every one congratulated them and sweets, clothes and foods were distributed among the poors.

They lived happily there in their own house, at certain times their family would come to live with them, to spend some time with them.

Those days when Noor was only 1,

Their family did a small engagement and from then it was decided that Noor is going to be the bride of Arman. Everyone was happy.

From the start Noor was told that she is to be married to Arman, it was settled in her mind. And the fact that she never said anything was that she was an obedient child and even if she wanted to say, she knew she couldn't because in her khandaan it was obligatory for elders to fix their children's marriage when they're only kids.

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

It all started when she was 6 and he was 14, all family gathered in Haider's house, everyone was enjoying, talks and laughter's everywhere.

➖➖➖

Arman was sitting on the steps of the vast lawn with Haris,

both were playing with some cards when suddenly a jug full of water fell and water splashed everywhere and some landed on Arman who got drenched a little by the side.

Noor who was playing with Hira and Armeen suddenly remembered that she has to water her favorite plant went and came with a jug full of water and started walking towards the lawn.

While walking her foot slipped and all the water splashed everywhere and some landed on Arman, when she managed to not fall and break her bones got startled when Arman started shouting on her,

'andhi ho gayi ho kya, Nazar nahi aata? Saare mere kapre geele kerdiye pagal na ho to'

(Are you blind? Can't you see? You ruined all my clothes stupid)

Noor when listened to Arman's tone, started weeping because no one talked to her that way before, but when Arman saw that she started crying, he without any reason became more angry and again said,

'ab ro q rahi ho, Maine esa bhi Kiya keh diya Jo itne magar Mach k ansu nikal k ro rahi ho, saare kapre Jo geele kerdiye us ka Kiya?, pehle Pani giraya phir khud ese rone lag gai, hunh'

(Now why are you crying, I didn't even say much that you're crying like an animal. What about the clothes you destroyed by spilling all the water. And then you're crying like a baby)

He made a face. And Noor who could not help but reply, spoke.

'Maine ghalti se giraya tha, or wese bhi itna nahi gira jitna aap mjhe daant rahe hain'.

(I spilled it by mistake. And its not that much spilled like you're describing)

Arman who got more angry as no one spoke back to him like this, grabbed her small arm tightly and said,

' bohat hi badtameez ho, or wese bhi kapre mere geele hue ha-'.

(You're ill mannered. And first of all, my clothes got ruined)

Arman was cut off by Haris who was watching the whole show silently but could not help when Arman grabbed that small kid, so he started pulling him back so that he can leave that little girl,

' Yar choro na bachi hai, jaane do,'

(She's a girl, let it go)

Haris spoke to Arman and then turned to Noor and said

'tum jao yahan se or sab bachon k sath jaa ker khelo'

(You go from here and play with everyone)

Noor who was weeping silently nodded and ran back in the house. Not before mumbling,

'khud honge badtameez'

(You yourself must be ill mannered)

And no one even knew about that encounter or clash more precisely, except Haris.

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

From that day onwards Noor kept her distance from that badtameez,

Well she started feeling uncomfortable and also she started despising him when she was told certain things about Arman, his favorite dish, his favorite color, favorite drinks, his dislikes and likes, she started feeling as if she was being bound to him, her parents would tell her about Arman, it looked as if everyone loved him and only him.

No one cared about her feelings,

they took her silence as shyness but she knew what it was, it was in respect for her parents and elders, it was far from shyness.

When someone would tell how obedient, caring, loving, understanding, and selfless he was, she would get disgusted because she knew who he actually was and how it was only a fake facade in front of elders,

and that was something, like,

A fuel to her already burning hatred towards him.

Baray Aye tameezdar.

_________

Fifteen years after Noor was born, they were blessed with a baby boy again, they named him after call for prayer, Azaan.

Everyone was happy beyond horizon, Noor and her parents felt contented.

They celebrated their happiness in their own house. The aqeeqah was grand, their extended family was also invited. Everyone was joyous, but that happiness didn't last long.

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