Scene 1: The Dark Room
The room was cloaked in darkness, suffocating and silent except for the sound of soft, gut-wrenching sobs that echoed from the far corner. Shagufta sat huddled, her knees pulled close to her chest, as if trying to protect herself from the world. Her cries intensified, turning into a broken wail that seemed to tear through her soul. But just as suddenly as they had started, the cries stopped, leaving only silence.
The flickering light from the hallway outside seeped into the room as if mirroring her internal chaos-a fragile, faltering heartbeat. It was as though her world, like the dim light, was on the verge of collapse.
Suddenly, a loud knock on the door shattered the silence. "Open the door, Shagufta, or I'll break it down!" Jawad's voice was full of fury, shaking the very foundation of the house.
Shagufta's tear-filled eyes showed no fear, only deep, unbearable pain. Each second stretched on, her suffering tightening around her like a noose. Another knock came, even louder this time, making her flinch. It echoed in her mind, her heart beating in sync with the sound of his fist slamming against the wood.
Scene 2: The Confrontation
Behind the door, her brother, Jawad, stood consumed by a rage that was barely contained. His fists clenched, ready to lash out, and his breath heavy with anger. Their parents sat just a few feet away, concern etched into their faces, but they remained silent, watching the scene unfold.
Slowly, Shagufta got to her feet, her body trembling as she approached the door. She could feel his anger, burning even through the thick barrier between them. With a deep breath, she turned the knob, her hands shaking.
As the door creaked open, the first thing she saw was his eyes cold, filled with fury. Without warning, Jawad's hand struck her face with a hard slap. The sharp sound echoed in the confined space of the small room, and Shagufta stumbled backward, the sting of the blow radiating across her cheek.
Her voice was barely a whisper, thick with tears. "He likes me too... not just me."
But her words hung in the air, drowned out by the tension that filled the room.
Scene 3: The Turning Point
Later, in the quiet of her room, Shagufta sat alone, her mind swirling with thoughts. The pain from her brother's
anger had not fully settled, but her tears had stopped. There was something else now a quiet realization that had begun to take root deep inside her.
She had been abandoned, left alone to face her struggles, but in that loneliness, something stronger started to emerge. She realized that her pain, her suffering, was not the end of her story.
She whispered to herself, "Loneliness is part of me now, but I can't let it consume me. I have to keep going."
The thought gave her the strength to wipe away her tears, to pick herself up. This was not the end it was the beginning of a new chapter in her life.