Chapter No 2

“Mummy, we want to take her now,” said the woman who came with Imran. She was sitting in the room on the bed of her grandmother. She was distressed.

“I know you want to take her, but she is safe now, and she is your mandate here, my child,” said Mehtaab.

Saliha sobs.

“Hey, don’t cry, no one is going to hurt you now,” said Imran. “I can still see her in you,” he said in a whisper.

The woman who came with him put her hand on his shoulder. He turned and secretly wiped his tears.

“Imran, stay for a while,” said Mehtaab.

“I will come back, Mummy, and next time I will take my daughter-in-law with me,” he said.

She looked around and the boy with him was not there. She had not seen him since the wedding ritual.

She took a deep breath.

"Why don't you come with us? What is here for you now?" asked the woman.

“Eliza, I hope you are happy with it,” asked Mehtaab. "I can't come, let me live here with the memory of my Maria. What happened, I was responsible for that as well, and it will kill me till the end. I lost my daughter, and I am a reason as well," she wiped her tears.

“Mummy, don't say it. It was Maria's fate. What is done is done. Now we have to take good care of our Saliha. And this is not the way to ask such questions of your daughter. Of course, I am happy. You remember you once said that I am a daughter to you? I have not met my mother. She died when I was a child, but you were always like a mother to me,” Eliza, said sadly.

Mehtaab smiles.

“Roman is your son, you have a lot of dreams about your son’s marriage,” said Mehtaab sadly.

“Yeah, I had a vision of my daughter-in-law, and trust me, I got even brighter than the one I thought,” she said, smiling while looking at Saliha. Saliha was completely unaware of upcoming hurdles. She had no idea what marriage was. She was just dragged into it.

"I oppose underage marriage. I always promote women's education, but circumstances made me do it," Imran said sadly.

"She will turn 15 in 3 months," said Mehtaab.

**********

2 years later

“No phone call from Imran?” asked Mahjabeen, Mehtaab’s relative.

“I got a call from Imran last evening,

He said he got posted to Quetta,” said Mehtaab.

Saliha was making tea in the kitchen, she was hearing everything and her heart was beating strangely on Roman's name.

She talked with Eliza weekly, but she never heard of him nor did Eliza say a word.

“How is Roman? When will they be visiting here?” Mahjabeen asked.

“You know Imran is a general in rank in the army, and it is not easy for him to make time,” said Mehtaab.

“What Roman does?” Mahjabeen was in a mood to dig it all out.

“They say he is studying medicine,” said Mehtaab.

This time Mahjabeen did not say a word. Rukhsana was cutting vegetables with nasty expressions; she did not like this conversation.

“Mummy, I heard, your son-in-law or grandson is bronze,” she said, annoyed.

“Rukhasana, for a moment you should fear God,” said Mehtaab.

Jealousy was dancing inside Rukhsana's eyes. .

Just then the door knocked. Saliha got out of the kitchen and opened the door.

It was a delivery man.

“There is some luggage for Mehtaab,” said the parcel boy.

“Who sent it?” asked Mehtaab.

“It is for some Saliha Gardezi,” he said.

“Oh, it must be a dress for Saliha for Eid,” said Mehtaab. Rukhsana got up in curiosity. Eid is a Muslim festival, and they always celebrate it and every year Saliha gets gifts from Eliza.

She signed the paper and took the luggage inside. Rukhsana was watching everything in jealousy.

“Whoa, mama look, this is amazing, I want to keep these,” said Sana while holding a pair of shoes.

“Why not, why not, you can have these? Saliha’s in-laws are so rich, they can send more,” said Rukhsana, sugar-coated.

“Yes, you can take these Sana, they look beautiful on you,” said Saliha, humble.

“Who asked you? I know, I look beautiful in all the dresses and shoes,” said Sana, annoyed.

Mehtaab opened her mouth to say something but Saliha stopped her.

She took off her shoes and went inside the room. Mehtaab took a deep breath.

Rukhsana went into the kitchen with a victory expression.

“What happened? Why are you so upset?” she asked.

“How many times have I told you not to share your things,” said Mehtaab.

Saliha smiled and walked inside the room.

*********

Two years later,

She was coughing hysterically; Saliha was looking at her horribly. She went to the kitchen and brought her a glass of water. She helped her get up.

“Here, take this grandma,” she said, worried. Mehtaab was looking so weak.

“Listen, listen to me, I, I don’t have much time. Call your uncle, you have to go to your home now, you are now 18,” said Mehtaab.

“Grandma, what are you talking about? I will not leave you,” she said, sadly.

“You have to leave one day my dear, it is not safe for you to live here,” said Grandma.

“Okay, I will call him, you should sleep now,” she said. Mehtaab coughed again.

She has been sick for a few weeks. She tried to tell Junaid, but he did not pay attention. She turned off the room’s light and went towards her bed. She was sharing a room with her Grandma as Mehtaab did not trust anyone with her.

She opened her book again, she was preparing for the intermediate exams.

Just then a photo fell from her diary. She bends down to lift it. A boy was smiling at her in the photo.

A smile appeared on my lips. His beautiful light brown hair was falling on his forehead. His small lips were appealing.

She felt her heart rushing fast.

She has not talked to him once since they got married. He did not even visit her.

Every time Eliza and Imran visit her without him. She always waited for him, but he did not come.

She took a deep breath.

She always wondered how he looked now. This photo was four years old, and she got it from his luggage which he left there in a rush that day when they got married.

***********

She got up early in the morning in the hope of making tea for Mehtaab. She went into the kitchen and after a while, she came into the room with a cup of tea.

“Grandma, wake up, I brought you tea,” she said, and placed the tea on the table. Mehtaab has not replied. She called her again and placed her books in the bag but this time she did not answer either.

She turned towards Mehtaab’s bed and called her again, but she did not wake up.

“Grandma?” she asked, worried. Mehtaab was lying lifeless. In a matter of moments, she realized what had happened. She screamed and fell unconscious.

*********