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Irteza's POV
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I managed to excuse myself some time after the nikah, i made an excuse to go to washroom and came in my room
I was pacing around my room with large steps, my breathing was heavy, i was rubbing my chest to calm myself
"Breathe in, breathe out" i was chanting
What have I done? I got married to Anabelle, oh God, i was feeling disgusted with my fate
Ten minutes before nikah
I went to mummy to talk but she is busy in getting that Anabelle ready, doesn't she know no matter how much you decorate a blobfish, it's still the ugliest
My phone was continuously ringing, it was haya who was calling me non stop, i got irritated and switched off my phone
"Aaaaahhhh" i groaned in frustration, there was knock on the door
"What?" I barked, the door opened revealing papa, i immediately got up in respect
"Can I talk to you for ten minutes?" He asked
"Ofcourse papa" i nodded
I had no clue what he would say to me, so i just looked at him with so much confusion in my head
I was hell shocked when he hugged me, i was totally numb, i didn't know how to react
"You have no idea how happy you have made me, my heart has swelled with the joy you have brought on me" he patted my back and pulled away
"I always used to think that you are very bad at making decisions, but you have proved me wrong by making the biggest decision of your life so perfectly" he said lovingly
Is this a dream? Is papa really appreciating me? I was feeling so happy from inside that i wanted to dance in joy
"I have seen you with many girls" he chuckled, oops my head hung low in shame
"Even though I have never told you, but i always used to worry that God knows what kind of a girl you will marry, but you have surprised me by choosing Aleeza for you"
Oh so this is about it
"Honestly beta i always wanted Aleeza to become my daughter in law, but seeing the way you two showed hatred towards each other, i thought my dream would never turn true" he looked down as if thinking something
"When i found from Lubna about you and Aleeza, I was very confused at first, but later on i heard how you were promising her to protect her for life, i saw a responsible man in you that day"
Responsible man? Is he still talking about me? For years i have yearned to hear these words from papa, and now it is finally happening
I couldn't control myself, i hugged him tightly, i grabbed this opportunity to have my fill of father's love which i have craved for years
"I am proud of you son" he said and i swear i could feel my eyes watering, finally i have got what I have wanted for so long
"You mean it papa?" I asked
"Ofcourse" he said, i pulled back
"Bhaijaan, qazi sahab has come" chachu came and said
"Ok you go, I'm coming" papa said, chachu nodded and left
"I will go now, you also come" he said, then he chuckled softly and rubbed his hand on my back as if showing the excitement, "it's time for you to get married"
Papa's words were echoing in my ears, he was happy because of me, he said he was proud of me, he called me a responsible man
It took me just a minute to make my final decision, if papa wants it, then i will marry Aleeza.
After what the things he have said to me just now, if he ask me to marry a gorilla, i would marry it, come to think of it gorilla is still a better choice than Anabelle, but for you papa i will do it
I got up from my bed and stood infront of a mirror
"Do it for papa, Irteza" i told my reflection, i sighed deeply then I went outside my room
*****
I have earned words of appreciation from papa, but at what cost, I am tied with Aleeza for life now, what will I do now, how will I live my life now?
Someone barged in my room, i turned and found Hamza, he walked in speed towards me and grabbed my collar
"You traitor, you lied to me, you said you would say no at the time of nikah, but you betrayed me, how dare you do that?" He screamed
"I was helpless" i said
"Helpless, my foot Irteza, you have backstabbed me, and I'm gonna make you pay for it, you wait and watch" he left my collar with so much force that i stumbled
"Listen bro..." I was saying but he cut me
"Don't you dare call me that. You. Are. Not. My. Brother. Anymore" he said in anger
"I'm sorry yaar, don't be so angry with me"
"Sorry? You are sorry? I can't believe it, you have decieved me and you think sorry is enough"
"I'm telling you, i had full intentions of not going ahead with the nikah, but something happened and i had to change my mind"
"How can you be so casual about it? You are talking as if you were planning to eat pasta but now you changed your mind to have pizza. It was a marriage decision"
"I know. And trust me I am freaking out right now, i realise now what just happened. Anabelle is my wife now, just the thought is sickening, and it happened in real" i said and he grabbed my jaw in anger
"Don't call her that, i will break your mouth. Only nikah happened, she will never be yours, i will not let that happen" he threatened me and left
As if i am dying to make her mine, to hell with her..
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Aleeza's POV
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Nikah was done, Irteza and i were still sitting next to each other, everyone was coming and blessing us, i was feeling so empty from inside
It was time to have dinner, just the sight of the food was making me sick, i couldn't eat, i made an excuse of being too tired and left for my room
I locked the door once i was in the room, i sat on the edge of the bed
Why dadi why? Why you made me do this? What did I do?
All my life i have lived as dadi wanted, i didn't make friends, i never used to talk with boys, only focused on my studies, when my classmates were partying i was at home studying
I don't regret any of that because I did everything to make dadi happy, but see where it has gotten me to
Even after spending my life the way she wanted me to, she was still embarrassed because of me
I stopped crying and wiped my tears, i got up and stood infront of a mirror, i looked at my reflection, the person staring back at me through the mirror did not look like me, it felt it was somebody else, suddenly i realised it is somebody else, someone's wife
I screamed in frustration and removed the dupatta from my head, i took off my jewellery harshly and threw it, i rubbed my lips roughly to remove the lipstick
Tears started flowing again, i fell on the ground on my knees, i was sobbing now
It's so unfair, it is unfair for both Irteza and me, we both can't stand each other, and now we are tied for life
I cried my eyes out, my heart was restless, i needed peace, i got myself together and went to bathroom, I prepared myself for namaz
As i sat on the prayer mat, my heart already felt light, the more I was praying, the more I was finding peace
I extended my hands in prayer, i asked Allah to give peace to my heart, whatever had to happen has happened, now give me courage to face situation, make things easy for me.
After i finished my prayers, i laid in my bed, event happened today played in my head, my eyes became moist
There was a knock on the door, but i didn't answer, i didn't want to see anyone right now
"Aleeza, it's me" it was hamza's voice, i still did not open the door, after few minutes of knocking, he left
I just wanted to dig a hole and spend the rest of my life there.
I looked at the time, it was quite late now, nobody will come here now, when I was sure, i got up and unlocked the door
I cried myself to sleep..
****
"Bhabhiii, bhabhii,.." i heard a voice when i was deep in sleep, i tried ignoring it, but it was coming very close, i reluctantly opened my eyes
"Good morning bhabhi" zara was standing there, i frowned in confusion, why the hell she is calling me bhabhi? Suddenly activities of yesterday came to my mind like a slap on my face, i got up with jerk
"Hey are you ok?" She showed concern looking at my disoriented state, i nodded
"You should come for breakfast" she said
"You go, i will come" i said
"No, mom told me to bring you"
"Let me freshen up, then I will come, you go" i said
"Ok bhabhi" she got up
"What is this bhabhi bhabhi you are chanting?" I said with irritation
"Well you are my bhabhi now" she shrugged
"Just call me by my name"
"No" she stood stubbornly, i just rolled my eyes
"Come fast, everyone is waiting for you" she said, and i looked at her
Everyone? Irteza also? How will I face him now?
"Irteza is also there?" I asked, she smirked
"Ohho Irteza? No more Tarzan?"
"Zara just tell me"
"Ok ok, he has left for office" she said with a sad face but i sighed in relief, thank god he has gone
"I'll be there in five minutes" i said and went to washroom
I quickly got ready, i was running down the stairs, at the last stair I bumped into someone
"Oh sorry" i said, i looked up, it was Irteza, my eyes widened seeing him. what the hell is he doing here? Zara said he left for office
We both were just standing awkwardly. He was also not saying anything, it was for the first time in our lives that we had nothing to say
"Aankho ki gustakhiya maaf ho" Arfa sang, we both looked at her, "sorry guys, i spoilt your moment, but are you guys going to say anything or just keep staring at each other?" She teased us
I tried walking past Irteza, but Arfa grabbed my hand and pushed me to him, he held me, our eyes met but we both were quite, i could see awkwardness in his eyes also, i quickly straightened making him release me, i was about to walk off when Arfa spoke
"Mera bhai file ka bahana kar ke tum se baat karne ghar wapas aaye, aur tum yunhi jaa rahi ho (my Bhai has made an excuse to get a file just to talk to you, and you are not even talking to him?)" She giggled
"Kiddo" he scolded her
"What?" She asked innocently, i left from there immediately, i could hear them bickering but i didn't stop
I sat on the dining table, phuppo, chaachi, zara and badi mummy was already there
"Assalamualaikum" i said
"Walekumassalam" i heard everyone
"What will you have for breakfast? Badi mummy asked
Honestly I didn't feel like eating anything
"I'm not really hungry, I'll just have a cup of coffee" i replied
"Why beta? You did not even eat anything at night" phuppo said
Even after my protest, i was served a full fledged breakfast, i gave up and began eating quietly
"Where is Irteza? Zara, go tell him to come and have coffee with us" badi mummy said, i choked on my food
No zara please don't call him
"You ok?" Phuppo rubbed my back, i nodded
"Bhai has gone back to office" zara returned with Arfa, I sighed in relief, thank god he has gone
"This is very unfair" Arfa stomped her foot and settled on the chair
"What is unfair?" Chaachi asked
"A marriage has just taken place in a house and look it is still looking so lifeless" she whined
"No functions were done" zara added
"I agree with them, there should be some. celebration" chaachi said
"Ofcourse we will have all the functions, we are just waiting for Saif to come" phuppo said
"Don't you guys worry, all the functions would be grand, from haldi to reception" badi mummy said
"When?" Arfa asked
"Saif is coming next week, then we'll decide" badi mummy said
Arfa and Zara laughed loudly, dadi and chhoti dadi also came, i felt a pinch in my heart looking at dadi
"Why so much shouting?" Chhoti dadi asked
Zara informed her about what was just discussed, she also looked very happy
All of them were now discussing about the functions, dresses and other things, they all looked so happy
"I am going to my room, i have to get ready, I'm already late for the hospital" I asked
"Yes beta sure" Chaachi said
i got up and turned to leave
I turned around and looked at everyone, they all looked so happy, a smile made its way on my lips looking at them, even dadi was participating in the conversation, but i could see her glaring at me from corner of her eyes, ignoring her i proceeded to my destination
I opened the door of my room and i startled when i saw Hamza sitting there already
"You scared me" i said, he got up and wrapped his arms around me
"I'm sorry, so sorry Aleeza, i let this happen" he said, his concern teared my eyes, i hugged him back
"It's not your fault, you don't need to say sorry" i said
"Ofcourse it is, i was supposed to protect you, but i failed" i broke the hug and pulled back
"No, it is not your duty to protect me"
"Irteza lied to me, he said he would say no at the time of nikah, but he did not stand by his words, he is to be blamed"
"No, Irteza was helpless like me, things were not in his control, he couldn't get out of the situation, like i couldn't"
"Why are you taking his side?" He frowned
"It's not about taking side, Irteza and i were in the same situation"
"I couldn't stop the nikah, but i will stop all other functions, i will make Irteza leave you, i will not let you be in his life" he said, even though I was never interested in being in irteza's life, but still hamza's words hurt me
"You will not do any such things"
"But Aleeza....."
"It was in our destiny, it was bound to happen, now i just have to learn to live with it, it was in my fate"
"Fate can be changed"
"Please Hamza, everyone is so happy, i have witnessed their excitement about the wedding"
"Are you happy?" He asked
"Just promise, you will not do anything" i extended my hand infront of him, he sighed and put his hand on mine
"Ok" he said
"I'm sorry" he kept on chanting, i gave him a small smile
"Stop saying it, and now go i have to get ready" i lightly pushed him, he chuckled and left
I was leaving in hurry, my doctor's coat and stethoscope were in my hand and i was taking large steps making sure i haven't forgotten anything
"Aleeza" i heard dadi, i stopped
"Yes" i asked trying to control my emotions
"Where are you going?"
"Hospital, where else would I go?" I shrugged
"You will not go to the hospital till all the functions end" she said, Aleeza looked at her with wide eyes
"You are joking, right?" Aleeza said, dadi shook her head
"Please don't do this now, what have I do...." Her words were left unsaid, when she heard someone else
"Aleeza, you are still here?" Both dadi and granddaughter looked at the owner of the voice, it was Dr. Hasan
"I was thinking of not letting her go to hospital today" dadi said
"Why khala?" He asked
"It would be better if she stays at home, till functions finish"
"Why? It's not really required, don't you know how passionate she is about her work. She can take a break when functions start, but not now" he said, dadi sighed
"Ok, but let her not go today atleast, how would it look when a day old bride goes for work?" dadi glared at me, my heart sank in defeat
"Exactly how it looked when a day old bridegroom went to work" he said looking at dadi, a smile made its way on my lips when he said that, honestly i wanted to applause
"Let's go beta" he said, i took the opportunity and immediately left leaving dadi furious
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