𝐃𝐢𝐥-𝐞-𝐙𝐚𝐚𝐫 (revamped) | ✓

five

When I came back home from my 6th---- exam, I was again met by unwelcome guests.

Nawaz Uncle and his grandson, Shehryar. When I entered the room I saw everyone talking to Nawaz uncle and Falak and Shehryar talking and laughing with each other.

"Aslam o Alaykum" I said and everyone turned to look at me.

"Arey. Jannat itni bari hogai ho tum" Nawaz uncle said and I chuckled.

Why does everyone say that? Obviously ab insaan hoon bari toh hongi na.

He gave me a blessing and I also talked with Shehryar.

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Two weeks later.

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I was at Maham's to study together for our third last exam. After hours of studying, I called Zaroon to pick me.

"Did you see how Falak and Shehryar were being like?" I asked after he picked me up.

"Aesa na ho keh kal dadi jaan aake bolain keh Falak aur Shehryar ki shaadi horahi hai." Zaroon said and I laughed, my hands on his shoulders.
(What if grandmother comes tomorrow and says that Falak and Shehryar are getting married?)

"Wese bhi is ghar mai sab ko cousin marriages se pata mahi kya attachment hain." He said, shaking his head.
(Because I don't know what attatchment this house has with cousin marriages.)

When we walked inside the house, we heard some yelling coming from inside the house. We gave each other a look and walked inside.

"Bi jaan. Ab bas hogaya, mai nahi karongi meri beti ka rishta inke logon ke saath" my mom yelled.
(Mom, it's enough, I won't give them my daughter)

What the hell is going on?

"Kya horaha hai?" We asked, looking at Shehryar and Falak who were watching the drama unfold.
(What's happening?)

"Tumhari ammi" Falak pointed at me "aur tumhari ammi" she pointed at Zaroon "ki larai hogai hai."
(Your mom and your mom got into an argument)

"Kis baat par?" I asked her and she shrugged.
(On which topic?)

"Bas ammi, ab yeh mamla yaha pe hi khatam howa. Ham log apne waqeel se keh ke divorce papers inko bhej dein ge." mom said.
(Enough mom, this moment is finished here. We will ask our lawyer to send divorce papers)

I felt as if someone shot me in the heart.

Divorve? Divorce from Zaroon?

I should've been happy. I should've yelled in happiness but yet I couldn't. I was a human with emotions and divorce wasn't a small thing. It was huge and it was disliked by Allah.

My mom grabbed my hand and dragged me towards my parents room ignoring my questions and I glanced back, my eyes meeting Zaroon who's mom was pushing him to his parents room.

"Aap log bhi wese bohut ajeeb hain! Pehle marzi ke bagair nikkah kiya aur ab bagair pooche divorce ki baat kardi? Ab log ko ham dono khilone lagte hain kya? Jab chaha saath kardiya aur jab chaha door?" I asked my parents.
(You people are very weird! First you got us married without our liking and now without asking you talked about divorve? Are we both toys to you all? Whenever you pleased you put us together and whenever you pleased you tore us apart)

"Ghalti hogai thi nikkah kara ke! Lekin ab akal aagai hai. Ya toh woh divorce dega ya ham khula. Ab yeh rishta nahi rahega." My dad said.
(It was a mistake doing nikkah. But now we have brain. Either he will give you divorce or we'll give khula. This relationship won't stay long.)

"Mai apni zindagi aur mazeed barbaad nahi hone dongi. Yeh divorce nahi hoga." I said and stood up from the chair.
(I won't let my life get ruined any further. This divorce won't happen.)

I was about to walk away but my mom grabbed my wrist, forcing me to sit down again.

"Divorce toh beta hoga. Ham karwaein gein. Aese logon ko apni beti nahi de sakte ham. Aur agar tum is baat ka dar keh tumse koi shaadi mahi karegi toh pareshaan mat ho. Ham larka dhoonde gein." My mom said.
(Divorce will happen, child. We will make it happen. We can't give our daughter to people like them. And if you are scared that no one will marry you then don't worry. We will find a man for you.)

"Issi baat ka toh dar hai." I muttered.
(That's what I am scared of.)

"Kya?" My dad asked.
(What?)

"Kuch nahi." I shook my head and left the room.
(Nothing.)

I felt as if my life wasn't my life. It was my parents life. From the beginning, my parents have made decisions for me. It was for the best I guess as I was too young to pick schools or college for myself.

But nikkah? This was something that deserved my opinion. Something that deserved my approval. We both were under blackmail.

"Tum dono ke dada aesa chahte hain. Dekh rahe ho na unki tabiyat? Na karo ge toh pata nahi kya asar hoga."
(Your grandfather's want this. You see his health? If you say we don't know what effect will be on his health.)

Okay, fine, I'm over it. It's been two years since I was written to Zaroo. He has moved on and so I have.

But divorve? I felt helpless. I felt like a puppet following my parents words. Saying what they want me to say. Doing what they want me to do.