Dark onyx eyes stared in oblivion. Infront of him was a vast garden as he sat on the bench, observing the flowers bloomed. Life has changed for him. But the flowers still bloomed the same way as a decade ago. The azaleas and roses were fresh. As fresh as the memories in the back of his mind. That killed him each second. Every moment of his life. Playing with his mind like the eyes of a beautiful women toying with a drunk man's heart. He was sitting in the same garden where it all began. The fire of revenge, love, agony and death erupted from this very place which now looked calm but was the cause of multiple deaths and murderer of not just body but souls, generating lifeless bodies, humans walking yet without their essence-soul. It was ironic. These soft petals, these beautiful flowers could do so much damage. There was a famous saying which was whispered about this place that for a lovers two unite first at this garden would be a bad omen to their love story. He never for once pai
"Nerve-wracking? Is everything alright?" Roshanay asked, concerned. "Yes. Yes. But you know...well.... he wants to meet me,""He?""He.... Remember?.... he....Ibtesham," Alizeh tried reminding her. "Oh him," Roshanay formed an O after realizing, "when?""Well in a week or two. He is coming back from London to Pakistan. He just informed me and I thought of sharing the news with you,""Be cautious, Alizeh. Rather I will suggest you to tell Moosa about him because if he will come to know on his own, it won't end up in your favour,""He is coming to Pakistan for this reason only,""For what reason?""Paving this relationship to our marriage,"Roshanay nodded and after a moment of silence, she spoke, "how did you two meet?""Well, his family lives in London. He often comes to Pakistan to deal the business wing here. One day, he came as an audience at our university for a play in which I performed. And then he approached me. I straight up denied but slowly with his persistence, I have to
Moosa entered the room and first thing, his eyes fell on her sleeping form. Her long hair sprawled on the pillow as her face was turned to the window of the room which opened to the balcony. He retrieved his car keys, phone and wallet and placed these items on the table before taking off his coat and throwing it on the sofa. He went to the washroom and took a shower and within minutes was out of the restroom in fresh pair of a grey T-shirt and a black trouser. He headed towards the bed where she slept. As soon as he got near her, he instinctively neared to inhale her scent. She smelled of fresh flowers and it made him inhale more of her fragrance, enriching his nostrils. This tiny movement around her seemed to disturb her slumber as her eyes got opened and she turned towards him. "Moosa?" she whispered, before looking at the clock. It was 11:30. Did not he tell her that he was going to be late? "Was someone missing me?" he asked, humorously making a smile appear on her lips. "M
It was evening when her eyes had striked open. One look at the clock made her realize she slept for six hours straight. She was shocked to say the least and later she figured it out, her coping mechanism overcame her. Whenever she felt this entire sense of anxiety enveloping her heart, clawing its paws deep in the pit of her heart, she always slept. Slept as if there would be no tomorrow. Because if she won't, her overthinking would tenfold her anxiety. And she was aware of that. So sometimes she took the help of sleeping pills or other times, the sleep would naturally come to her. She felt her stomach groaning out of hunger so she got up and as she passed through her bed, her eyes fell on the mirror. Showing her reflection. She caught the sight of her lips. They were red. A little bit swollen with dried blood where Moosa had bit her. As she recalled those moments in the back of her mind, her heart began to beat out of rhythm. Skipping beats. All you have is two days Roshanay...M
Sitting beside Moosa in the backseat of the car, she tried maintaining as much distance as she could between them. Moosa had decided to drive the car himself to the destination but when she realized that they both would be alone and Moosa could kiss her in the same way as he did in the morning, she produced this slight whispery protest that didn't go unheard infront of Moosa and he agreed to let the drive take the wheel and they both were now in the backseat.The city lights were glimmering as she passed through big buildings. It made her wondered, how much progress man has made. If she looked half a decade back from now, things weren't so advanced and progressed as of today but still she was able to detect something in common. And that was patriarchy. Humans have made so many changes to this world yet still their mentality was still struck in those traditional norms that subjected women in many ways, exposing her to hostility of built-in perspectives. A woman was suppose to act in a
Her body quivered with cold. Lips turned white and shivered. She had covered herself with a worn out shawl that was stitched with patches at different areas. Her hair were untied-open and tangled, as if not brushed for days. She hid behind her mother, trying to save herself from the cold. Sitting on a corner of the street, she kept on observing with her half opened eyes, people strolling and having not even half of the worries she had. They paid no heed to her and her mother's despicable conditions. All they did was walk freely. As if a few months earlier massive bomb blast in their city had no affect in their lives. But here that blast changed her life in all sorts of way, bringing her out from the shield of four walls, protection of a roof to living under open sky. Sky. She once adored looking upto.But now this same sight of sky rose up a sense of terror and hopelessness in her.All she prayed for was to somehow remove this sight of sky and replace it with a roof so atleast the
That was the first time she met her Hayder. Yet to this date she was clueless, who used to pluck those roses before she could see them fully grown because she knew it wasn't Hayder who did that.But who...Nur peeked through the torn out area and observed all the poor and under privileged in the similar condition as them. Tired. Dying out of cold. And hungry. When she saw a couple walking and placing some pennies in their begging hands that brought a sense of happiness among them. Even many times, the same has happened with her and her mother. People giving them alms-pennies, and food and then walking away. But whenever someone did that, Nur would leave her mother's warmth and get to the individual who threw them alms before returning them their money. She wasn't a beggar. Her mother wasn't a beggar either. All her life, her mother fed her from her hard earned money. The circumstances in which her life has pushed them to didn't matter to Nur. She would never compromise on thi
Her mother had a little saving in her saving account that helped them to have some food but wasn't enough for them to rent a home. Often, her father fought with her mother to give him the saved money so he could buy beer for himself but since that money was the only source of providing them one time food a day, her mother didn't give in to his father's insults and beatings. Her father had been telling them about his struggle of finding a job in the town but they both knew that he was lying about finding a work. Because in the end of the day, he would steal, pick-pocket and from that money brought himself wine. That's all he did. And now it had began worrying Nur, since her mother's saved money was also concluding. Her mother also tried for looking for some work as a maid at people's home. But again whenever they investigated her past, and the charges against her, they didn't let her in their homes. Her mother couldn't even now look for a job at a hospital as a nurse since her license
Roshanay's eyes opened and the first thing she saw was the dark sky. Immediately, the parchness of her throat hit her, fueled by the intense thirst and she sat up, looking around for water. And her eyes fell on the jug and glass on the table. She immediately poured herself a glass and chugged it down the throat. But only one glass was not enough to satiate her and she gulped two more. She instantly felt the coldness of water spreading in her dry throttle, bring her peace. It was then she realized where she was. At Moosa's office.And fear was quick to grasp her heart. She quickly sat up, pushing the comforter. Her heart beating hard and fast in her chest. She looked around the room to confirm that he wasn't there. The struck breath partially released upon not finding him there. She thought of leaving the room but that cautious part of her brain told her otherwise. She thought she wasn't suppose to leave until he permits so she waited patiently for him to come and grant her permiss
Roshanay stopped dead in her tracks, her back straightening. Her heart began to shiver with fear. Agonizing fear. Her body began to tremble with dread.The marks on her back began to throb as she remembered the belt treatment that was given to her by him.She heard the door closing but she didn't turn back to look at him. Her heart palpitating in her chest.Dread creeping up her nerves. Knots in her stomach tightening painfully.She heard him getting closer and closer as her nostrills got enriched with his scent. And after a few moments, her vision filled with his sight as he sat on the sofa, the table infront of which, she was cleaning.Roshanay was on her knees, her hand holding the cleaning clothe of the table. She didn't dare looking up at him. Not even for a second.Her hands began to shake as soon as she felt someone was looking at them.She was visibly shaking."Alright. I'll talk to you later," with that being said, he cut the call.And then she knew, she was now center of his
Horror etched on Roshanay's face as she turned towards the crowd who stood at the door. Next, she climbed up the bed and reached for the door so she could run away. She didn't round the bed to reach the other side since Moosa was standing there in the center. "One step out of this room, Roshanay, and you'll see a fate worst than this dead man," Moosa said, without looking back at her. This ceased her movements immediately and she stopped. She saw everyone leave. Every maid. Every servant. Not even one stopped to help her and she stood helplessly near the frame of the door. Farah left as well. But when his mother was about to leave, Roshanay held her dupatta, glancing at her with pleading eyes. "Please... save me...s-s-s-ave m-m-me... I am...am innocent," she was hiccupping but in a low voice. Her eyes full of tears. "Mother, you're still here?" Moosa turned towards them, "please close the door once you leave," he said and Afsheen passed a sympathetic glance to her before leaving
Roshanay was in her room when a maid entered to serve her the dinner when she asked the maid, "what is this noise outside?" "This doesn't concern you," the maid's response was dry. The servants have begun to treat her differently after the truth of her past was revealed. And she knew it was Farah who spread her. She now practically controlled the house. All the servants and maid bowed to her. "Tell me or I will complain to Moosa," At this, the maid laughed. "Madam don't try to act like a respectable women. Or don't act as if you are the wife of the owner of this house. Also, Sir Moosa is getting engaged with Ms. Farah. That is why the noise," The ground slipped beneath her feet. "What?" She whispered to herself as the maid left. Grabbing her dupatta, she stood up and stepped out. Though, the door wasn't allowed to be locked after her claustrophobic episode but he forbade her from going out of the room. She went towards the lounge where the noise came from and was surprised to se
The next morning, Afsheen woke up and found Farah sleeping beside her. Farah has shifted to her room after Alizeh's kidnap to mentally and emotionally support her. Afsheen really appreciated Farah's efforts towards her. A smile came on her lips as she caressed Farah's hair. All her efforts in the previous days proved Afsheen that how much Farah loved her. And all Afsheen wanted was to equally love her back. The day after Roshanay's truth was revealed to them, Farah has told Afsheen about the love she had always carried for Moosa and then placed her request infront of Afsheen- helping her in marrying Moosa and in the divorce of Moosa and Roshanay. Afsheen had told her that it was Moosa's decision to take but then Farah countered arguement of Roshanay being manipulative and would pull Moosa back again in her charms and there were chances he might end up forgiving her. Slowly, without even realizing, Afsheen began to dance on Farah's tunes. Farah has completely manipulated her. Sh
His eyes struggled to open but with great difficulty, he atlast opened them. A wave of headache was quick to course through his head, making him close his eyes again. He croaked slightly, trying to sit up but he felt someone's hand around his chest. This made him open his eyes and he tried to get back to his senses. He was shirtless. Only in his boxers.Farah's clothes were lying on the floor and she was lying beside him. Sleeping.She was wearing his shirt. Only. Her legs bare were entwined with his.His eyes fell on the bottles of wine lying on the floor. All empty.Then he saw trails of hickeys on Farah's neck. Her scent on him.And he was shocked to the core.He tried to recall but his mind was blank. Rather it was smarting with pain making him unable to recall anything."Farah! Wake up!" he jolted her shoulder and she immediately woke up with a jerk."Moosa? What happened?" she asked, sitting up.Their position was too intimate."What happened last night, Farah?" Moosa sat up, r
Roshanay quickly stepped back to the room where she just entered from. And before he could do anything, she closed the door and locked the room. After she has fainted that day, Moosa didn't keep the door of her room locked but strictly forbade her from stepping out. She had almost died that day since the room where she was kept was out of electricity for about a week. And because of the heat and the utter darkness that consumed the room, day and night, she began to have hallucinations. And that evening, those hallucinations got intense and she felt as if she was seeing things. Once she got to know that the door of her room was not locked now, she had decided to began her hunt and search for the room where her mother was. She was so desperate to meet her mother. She just wanted a big warm bear hug from her now. Because only her presence could eliminate all her worries. She was just doing now and since it was 2 in the morning, she expected everyone to be asleep but she was surprised t
A week elapsed. A lot changed for Moosa.But nothing changed for Roshanay.While Farah reveled in her success. Farah came to know about the truth related to Roshanay's past, the day that security guard harassed Roshanay in the kitchen. She was standing out of the kitchen when she heard him threaten Roshanay. Farah was aware, if she would go straight up to Moosa and confess, he might not believe her or Roshanay could come up with another lie which will put her in a difficult position infront of Moosa. So she waited. Waited for the right time to strike. And the right time came when she got to know about Malik bringing Roshanay's mother back to Moosa. She devised the plan. Carefully. Waiting for the right moment to strike. She wanted Moosa to listen the word from the tongue of his dear wife's mother. And that's what exactly happened. After Alizeh's kidnap, her aunt had become so emotionally dependent on her. And she used this emotional dependency to exploit her. Her aunt was smitte
It was 4 in the morning when Roshanay's eyes fluttered opened. Her eyes connected with the ceiling. A dimly lit bulb was turned on and she realized she was not in her room.An instant pain bubbled up from her lips. She rubbed her tongue on her lips. They were dry and cracky with a metallic taste. She sat up on her bed to observe her surroundings. She had seen this room before since she stayed here when she first came in this mansion. Her gaze went to Moosa who was offering his prayers. She waited for him to be done with his prayer so she could request him again to allow her to meet her mother. He can punish her, brutally punish her for all she cared now. All she wanted in this moment to somehow hear these words, 'you can meet your mother' from his lips.Her eyes were aching with the need of witnessing her mother's face. Hear her voice. Touch her hands. Feel her warmth.Roshanay had thought her mother had died. When she was told about the news of her return, it felt as if someone ha