"One minute, please....Hessah your phone. You have forgotten it." Amirah wasn't there when Rukh sati occurred since she was trying to locate Hessah's phone after getting lost while taking pictures with it. So, when she discovered it, she rushed to deliver it to her, breaking crowd with her shoulder. However, she glanced at each person individually after recognizing the unpleasant atmosphere in the setting.
Aiden on hearing Amirah's voice turned around to look and was shocked to see the woman he had fantasized of marrying speaking to his current bride.
"Dad, I told you about this girl." He said pointing his finger to Amirah.
Amirah, who was unable to fully understand the surroundings, was taken aback by his comment.
Hessah, who had been attempting to comprehend the true issue and his words, suddenly closed her eyes in grief. A few drops of tears fell from her eyes.
.........
Should we go back a few days to the time of these people's graduation ceremony in order to comprehend this?
Right now, the place was buzzing, and despite the fact that the entrance gate was terribly big, the crowd was making it appear little. All of them were dazzling in identically colored yet distinctively designed clothing.
She had on a stunning long sea green overcoat-style abaya with sleeves embroidered with the same color stone motif. She wore a matching scarf that nicely covered her hair and face. Her only beautiful dark black deep eyes were shown. Amirah was wearing a full-length, sea-green maxi dress with a face covering and scarf.
"Ami, what are you doing?" Hessah asked this question in a disciplining way after noticing that Amirah had removed her niqab to reveal her face and boldened her lipstick.
"You are aware, aren't you? I dislike hiding my face completely. Though, I don't mind wearing a hijab." Amirah speak in a pleading tone.
"Avoid wearing it from the beginning if you don't like it. Why hide it for a brief period?" Hessah answered. It was evident from the tone that she was not at all pleased with Amirah's behavior.
"Common Hessah, the reason I do this is to avoid calling too much focus on myself from Abbu. He also believes I am already decent. Besides, I only reveal my face, not my entire hijab." Amirah replied.
"Your reasons for occasionally wearing the hijab are the issue, not the fact that you don't wear it properly. You are doing this because of your father, not because of Allah. For what reason do we humans delegate all of our power to another human? Ami.... Our God, who formed us, reared us, gave us hands and feet, breathed for us, and gave us a body, has the first claim over us before ours. Instead of his creature, why don't we ever try to please him? For the love of Allah, you should only wear it when you truly like it." With love, she helped her understand. She willingly covered her face with a proper hijab, but her only reason was to please her God.
"Okay got it Madame, can we enter now." Amirah said on her long lecture, while moving her hand at the entrance guest and bowing a little, just as a servant do in front of her Malika. On her light response Hessah could not do anything just shook her head in a disappointment and took a deep sigh.
Aiden, who was approaching to this direction with Professor Zaviyar, turned to face that voice. He discovered a girl smiling and bowing slightly while pointing to the entrance gate with her palms. She had stunning green eyes, a pale skin tone with a hint of redness, and tender, fully formed lips that were accentuated by lipstick. Her beauty was truly breathtaking. He stopped there because there must have been something different about it, even though he had seen many attractive women in his twenty-five years of life.
"Who is she?" Lost in his own thoughts, he asked.
"Who?" Professor Zaviyar halted and searched all around for the person he was referring to.
"The girl who just walked in holding a purse made of white silver stones." He inquired after observing the significant handbag in Amirah's hand.
In response, Professor Zaviyar turned to face the entrance gate and saw, but this time it was Hessah Aliyan holding the identical purse which she just had been forced to hold by Amirah who went to meet up with some of her friends. She went there as well, following her.
And here was the catastrophe that was not meant to occur, or else this was the destiny that was meant to occur.
"Oh...she. She is Hessah Aliyan, a brilliant student. Each semester, she received a distinction in any of her subjects. An extremely self-assured and courageous girl. She persisted in pursuing her master's degree despite her family's disapproval of her additional education. She was a well-known author also. Although she had to keep this aspect of herself hidden from her family, she also established her own institute to help underprivileged kids. Her excellent efforts are carried out by us professors." With a heavy sigh, he said, "Many professors and students' favorites." Professor Zaviyar gave him access to her entire biodata. Sometimes he forgot she wasn't his daughter because he was so proud of her.
"Really, that surprising." He replied, and it was clear from his expression that he felt pleased to hear such qualities of the person who had drawn attention to her.
"But hold on, why are you interested in this girl?" When Professor Zaviyar realized, he raised this question out of the blue while grinning mischievously. Because of his numerous assistance and outstanding accomplishments in his research, Professor Zaviyar became close to and adored him. For this reason, they occasionally converse informally, forgetting sight of their own relation.
He was about to say something, but he was interrupted by a call. After taking the call, he informed Professor Zaviyar that he had to go somewhere in case of an emergency and would likely return at his moment.
........
"What nonsense this is. Mr. Hamid, is this some kind of joke for your son?" In a loud and impolite manner, Taya Jaan inquired.
Hamid Sahab, who didn't grasp anything himself, was abruptly anxious by the entire situation. "Azlan Sahab, I believe there is a misunderstanding here."
"What misunderstanding? Your son is expressing his want to marry my daughter Amirah after you initially requested for Hessah's hand."
Aiden believed he had misheard. How could she be Amirah? She was Hessah Aliyan, a Hessah. First, he saw the woman he had hoped to marry, standing motionless and unconscious, occasionally staring at him and other times at his father. Then he saw the real Hessah Aliyan, whom fate had unwittingly bound with him. Throughout the entire situation, he had forgotten her, whom he wronged unintentionally. He failed to understand. Who, he or fate had truly wronged? A short while ago, he was furious about what had happened to him, but she was the true victim of this circumstance. It was somehow possible to repair what occurred to him. But what can he do to make up for what happened to her? When Aiden looked in her eyes, there was something, something that caused him to turn away in embarrassment as soon as he met her gaze.
"This is ridiculous; the groom isn't even sure which woman he wants to marry."
"What do you think is going to happen, now?"
"As can be expected, a divorce is now likely."
"It's clear that men who like someone else cannot put up with someone else."
"Well for sure, there's no denying that Amirah is more attractive than Hessah."
These voices were those of several relatives who were debating the choices that would be made for her. And so, without knowing her preferences, a decision had to be made for her once more. Why should they had to make decisions for hers, those who had caused her pain? Why would they decide about what would going to happen to her? No, not this time. She would not allow anyone to direct her what to do this time. She wasn't even at fault, but all of these people had wronged her, so why should she get punished? No, she will make her own decisions this time and everyone would have to accept whatever she did.
However, she required some time.....yes a few moments to come to terms with everything that had happened to her. She was stepping back, staring at her Abbu, when she turned around and returned inside.
Bari, who seemed to be filled with anger the whole time, spontaneously stepped forward and grabbed Aiden by the collar. "How dare you do this to my sister? My sister has fallen victim to your carelessness. You're a mature, fully grown man, and you don't even try to find out more about the person you like, what does she do and who she is actually? You can marry someone just based on only one glimpse."
Never in his life had Aiden put up with such a tone. His hands would have shattered before he could reach for his collar if someone else had been in his shoes at that precise moment. His brain veins were spitting on his forehead, and fire was consuming his entire body. But Bari and his hands were still there for one reason: because he realized that he had erred and that someone had suffered because of his negligence. With a jerk, he dropped his collar and stared with bloodshot red eyes into his. And without alerting anyone, he got into the car and drove off. Perhaps he also needed some time to consider those things as well.
Everyone saw her return to the outside after an hour or two. She was coming directly to him, to Hamid Sahab, who was telling everyone something with trepidation.
"I need a conversation with your son." she said it without emotion.
"Amm? He ha...d went somewhere, actua....lly" Her question caught him off guard, and he was helplessly shocked. Right now, he couldn't tell from her face how she was feeling.
"Give his number, please"
The eyes of all the people present there, were fixed on her. Amirah was not able to understand whether she should be feeling fear for her situation or should she be worried about her now. Taayi Jaan herself was worried about the whole incident, her daughter was also caught up in it. The proposal for Hessah had come within the four walls, and yet her husband had made a big issue and thrown tantrums. So then, for Amirah, it was said in front of the whole crowd, so what would have happened to her now?
"What are you trying to do? And who permit you to act on your own?" Taya Jaan spoke.
"I permit her, and I want her to make her own decisions at this point."
Hessah who had opened her mouth in an attempt to respond to Taya Jaan in a direct and severe manner when her brother Bari, as always, defended her. Then, without a second look at anyone else, she drove off with a car after giving her brother a grateful look. And since she knew that her brother was now handling everything, she didn't care what chaos may occur behind her.
While driving, she sent a message to Aiden's father-provided number, "It's me Hessah Aliyan. Since I was the subject of your whole conversation the entire time, I'm sure you are now completely aware of me. Meet me at the highway nearby. I hope you need a conversation with me as well." After typing that message, she tossed her phone to the back seat. She was back in her zone and now she had become the same Hessah Aliyan, who knew how to uphold herself and fight for her reputation.
.......
He, who was on the highway at that moment, looking handsome in traditional black shalwar kameez with beige shawl around his neck, leaning his hands with expensive watch on them, on the highway railing. He was aware of when and where it was wronged. What he couldn't think of, though, was a way to make this better? Although he acknowledged that he had a very haughty and rude personality, he had never in his life hurt anyone. Despite being aware that many girls voluntarily want to be with him, he never showed appreciation for their desire and played with their emotions. But why had fate unintentionally turned him into the source of someone else's suffering?
"Bip bip" His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his phone message. He looked at his phone after taking it out of his pocket. If he hadn't seen the name Hessah Aliyan mentioned in the message, he wouldn't have read the message from an unknown number.
He was taken aback at first, but then he recalled what Professor Zaviyar had said about her: "An extremely self-assured and courageous girl." He smirked sadly and shook his head and began attempting to get ready to meet her.
It was about two o'clock at night, and the darkness pervaded the entire space, making it difficult for anybody to see far away. There was eerie quiet and a chill in the air that could send shivers down anyone's spine.
"Chirr" hearing the sound of halting car's tire, he turned around and watched her exit her car, her bridal dupatta softly balancing on her head.
They were both in their wedding dresses, standing next to their car, facing each other, alone on the highway. Her hair was blowing in the breeze, and her minimal diamond jewelry and beige embroidered lehnga gown were so sparkling and brilliant that they seemed to be shining far from the road and were the sole light source in the pitch-black area. The term that best describes their relationship would be tension. The face of one was held high devoid of feeling, while the other had a remorseful look, having no idea how to mend the thing he had broken. He looked into her eyes, apologizing and hoping she would know how to make this better.
" I need your permission to take advantage of you, Mr. Aiden", It was the first time, he was watching her speak, but what he heard, was not what he had assumed she had spoken. He hadn't been bracing himself to be questioned about it. What emotion was in her eyes? Anger, no, despair, no—it was the emotion a queen has when she gives an order, knowing that it will be accepted and that the individual will comply. He knew he had to do it; he had no choice but to be used. Did he have the option to refuse? No, he didn't.
"What should I do for you?" He said, "I'm ready," in a tone that showed his acceptance of his current fate."
"Until I want to, Mr. Aiden, you'll not divorce me." That was her initial wish, which caused him to glance at her, but she added more without showing any emotion. "Whether you want to or not, you will accept me and apologize to me in front of all those people among which you have defamed me." After that, she carried on without pausing. "In public, you will accept me as your wife, but between us, we shall remain strangers. And you will provide me with complete financial and other support for my continued studies." She paused, gazed into his deep chanting hazel brown eyes, and went on, "And as for you, you are free to do anything." It's up to you if you want to marry Amirah if she agreed or someone else. However, not until I desire a divorce."
He, who was listening intently to her while gazing into her eyes, laughed and shook his head at this exchange. Initially she was allowing him to do as he pleased, simultaneously grabbed the chance to push him to the edge. But whatever it was, Aiden knew he had to accept it now, anyhow.
And thus, their lives started. Will they always be in parallel lines or will they ever cross paths again? Or will they begin their new life in a different way? Will they continue to remain strangers, or will their relationships develop further? Will they be able to find peace with one each other?