"Mama, how many times have I told you not to do this. I will see everything but no. You have never listened to me." Star said angrily to Arfa. She grabbed her by the shoulders and removed her from the front of the sink.
"So will you tell me what to do and what not to do?" Arfa was happy in her heart that her daughter cares so much for her but did not show the happiness and started showing resentment.
"Yes. And who will tell? The people of the neighborhood?" she said with a sigh and arfa laughed.
"Don't laugh and go get your medicine," she said and started washing the dishes.
"you are not less than a blessing to me." She smiled softly. Star was strict but she was very softhearted to her parents.
Meanwhile, they listen to the sound of the gate opening.
"It seems, Baba has arrived." Star came out of the kitchen wiping her hands with a handkerchief, and walked out of the lounge to the porch where Mr. Imran was getting out of the car. She moved towards them.
"Hello, Baba." She approached him and smiled enthusiastically.
"How is my son?" Imran used to call Star his son and loved her very much. That's why, Star had a lot of confidence. A father's love is a great support for a daughter. If the father is with her, the daughter can do even the most difficult things.
"A1. And how was your day?" The two of them were now walking together and moving inwards.
"Fine." He owned a market plaza. His business was doing very well.
"you freshen up. I'll serve the meal after a while," she said and moved on.
"Peace be upon you." Arfa greeted Mr.Imran and gave him a glass of water.
"Peace be upon you."He sat down on the sofa and started drinking water.
"What happened? Do you look upset?" Arfa looked at his face in anxiety.
"No. Don't worry."
"Then?"
"Waheed had called." Waheed was a friend of Mr.Imran and his wife Maria was also a cousin of arfa.
"What was he saying?" She asked curiously.
"Asfar is coming to karachi."
"Well, Maria didn't say anything about it." She was surprised.
"All of a sudden, he decided to come to Karachi. His business has been set up there. So Waheed was saying that he should get married now. He is about to turn 28."
"But our daughter is only twenty two years old now. And her education is not over yet." Arfa spoke anxiously. Star was in last year of graduation. The exams were coming close.
"Do not worry. We will do it after her examination" He comforted arfa.
"Ok. As you wish,I will talk with star about it," Arfa said, nodding her head.
...…..
"Every time I see you, you make my heart skip a beat.
Since the day we got together, I have felt so complete."
She didn't like this poetry that was sent to her by Asfar. He was her future husband. They were engaged from childhood. But Star took no effect from this relationship. She was a proudy, rude and unromantic girl. She never cares about Asfar. She accepted this relationship because of her parents, otherwise she had no interest in Asfar. She was a practical girl and did not believe in love. Her parents wanted her to marry Asfar, so she made her heart subject to their wishes. Anyway, she had to marry someone.
While Asfar loved her very much. He could not meet her but talked to her on the phone. He often expressed his love for her but star did not say anything in reply. She sometimes didn't even pick up his call. Then Asfar would text her as he did now. His call came shortly after the message. Pausing for a moment, Star picked up the call.
"Where were you? Why weren't you picking up my call?" He asked.
"I had an important task," she said casually.
"More important than me?"
" Yes,"she said proudly.
"You are so straightforward," he complained. Star did not answer.
"Well, sometimes I feel like you're not happy with this relationship. Is that so?" He couldn't understand the reason of her rude behavior.
"No. I'm happy with my parent's wishes."
"And your will?"
"what they want, that's what I want."
"Don't you have any heartfelt attachment to me?" she was silent for a moment at this question and felt her heart, but she didn't understand anything special. She probably didn't understand the words of love.
"Ummm … I don't know,"
"Ok, leave it," Asfar said, taking a deep breath.
"Leaved." She countered and Asfar laughed.
"Let me tell you something," he said after an instant.
"What?"
"I'm coming back tomorrow," he communicated, to which Star did not express any happiness.
"Why?"
"What do you mean? Why??? I'm coming to get married. And I'll make you my bride and take you with me."
" I think Mama is calling me. I'm hanging up. Goodbye." She hung up. Asfar removed the phone from his ear and looked at the screen.
...…
Imran Malik and Sikandar Malik were two brothers. Sikandar was younger and Imran was two years older. Their parents had passed away some time ago. They lived with their families in two beautiful houses built together. The Star house and The Moon house.
Mr. Imran's wife's name was Arfa. She was his cousin. While Sikandar Malik was married to a uni fellow, Tania. They were both in the same department so they could not escape the impact of love.
Twenty two years ago today, Mr.Imran and arfa gave birth to a lovely baby girl named Sitara Imran. But her grandmother called her by the nickname Star, which has become her name ever since.
Two years after Star's birth, Mr. Sikandar had twins. The girl was named Haniya Sikandar while the boy was named Balaj Sikandar. Balaj was given the nickname of Moon while Haniya was given the nickname of Hani. They were both naughty but looked so innocent. They were always fighting with each other. Neither Tania could control them nor their father. Only Star controlled them. She had beaten both of them many times in their childhood so they were very scared of her. And Mr. Sikandar had also given her authorization that she can do whatever she wants to improve them both. While Tania did not like that the Star commands her children. Despite Star's harsh behavior, Haniya and Moon loved her dearly. Moon was a little more attached to her. He used to share everything with her. He never disobeyed her orders. At times, he even became Stubborn. At that time, he was smiling like a small child and seemed very sweet. And Star couldn't deny to his wish then. In a sense, she was his guardian. Even at school, she saved him from every difficulty. The child who hassled with Moon would be beaten by her and sometimes she would even fight with the teachers who beat Moon as punishment.
Even she did all his homework. It was really difficult to handle such a small child but she did everything for him. Tania was also surprised at this. She did not want to take care of the children, so she deliberately gave that job to Star, and then later when the children got out of her control, she realized her mistake, but now she could not do anything.
At first, only Moon's mind was under Star's control. Now, slowly, his heart was also going under Star's spell. He could not understand his condition and could not get rid of it. He was sinking into the swamp of love. If Star had not been in front of him, he would have imagined her. He would close his eyes and see Star's face first. A strange feeling surrounded him all the time. This has been happening to him ever since Star took him away from her. In childhood, she was very close to him, but as Moon grew, Star moved away from him. And by the time she was over fifteen, she had become a complete stranger. Moon didn't understand the reason at first but gradually he realized that he was a boy. That's why Star set the boundary between herself and him. Star was right, but Moon felt bad about it. He was accustomed to her love. He remembered the childhood moments he spent in Star's company. He wished that he could go back in time. But that was impossible.
...….
He was lying in a big sized bed of a beautiful white full-furnished room. His red cheeks were looking so innocent. The sound of his heavy breathing was echoing in the room. The atmosphere in the room was very calm but there was someone coming to ruin that peace.
Haniya, holding a small pot in her hand, slowly opened the door and entered the room, staring at moon like a hunter.
"Oh, baby. Are you sleeping? Don't worry I'll wake you up." She approached him, put her hand in the pot and took out something. It was an ice cube which she placed on the back of Moon's neck. When Moon felt the coldness of ice, He got up and started screaming. Haniya was now standing a little away from him and laughing. When Moon realized what Haniya had done to him, the graph of his anger became high.
"Black witch. Wait a minute. I won't spare you today." He jumped out of bed and ran after her. Haniya hurried out of the room.
"Where are you running now, coward?" He had just come out of the room in a rage when he was suddenly bumped by a delicate body. It was as if a flower had hit him. And the fragrance of this flower had spread around him. Under the influence of this magic, his heartbeat stopped. He looked at Star in front of him for a while.
Star had come here to meet her uncle. When she came out of the lounge door and entered the corridor, she had hit to Moon. Her nose collided with the chest of Moon.
Due to pain, she closed her eyes, and when she stepped back and looked in front, anger appeared in her eyes. Moon came to his senses when he saw her getting angry.
"S …. Star ….. Look .... It's not my fault ..." He stammered and started to retreat. Star took a deep breath and tried to calm down but it was unsuccessful.
"Are you blind?" Star twisted his ear and slapped him. Moon hid his face with both arms.
"Face me. Let me take your eyes out. You never use these. What's the use then?" Star punched him in the stomach.
"Ah." He began to ease the pain in his stomach when a slap fell on his beautiful cheek. His face turned to the other side. Tania was heartbroken to see this scene.
"What are you doing, Star?" She shouted. Star left Moon and looked at Aunt who was looking at her with anger and hatred.
"You're not ashamed to beat the little ones," she said and got close to her. Star was not in the mood to talk to her, so she pursed her lips and left quietly.
"Wait, you can't go like that. You have to tell me why you hit Moon?"
"Ask your son." She chewed and walked away.
"I will tell her parents everything. That is too much." Tania spoke from behind.
"Mama! Don't say anything to Star. It was my fault." Moon said, looking down and Tania looked at him in surprise.
...