Author's POV

Wedding preparations started with full force. Hameed and Shamim were happy that their son was finally getting his happiness. They thought Saim truly loved Reema and this decision would make him happy.

Aina's mother was hurt but she kept her mouth shut, while her father and Affan thought it was her karma.

Reema was on cloud nine. She and Shamim went shopping that same day. Her injured arm didn’t bother her.

In all this, only Zaid was silent. Since the day everything started happening, he was still trying to process it. He couldn’t believe Aina could do all this. He could believe she loved him and maybe took that drastic step, but after that? No! He knew Aina. She couldn’t do all this. She couldn’t harm anyone. She couldn’t taint her husband’s reputation in front of the world. But he stayed silent, because he didn’t have the power to say anything.

Saim didn’t go back home after the announcement. He didn’t know why he said that. Why did he take that decision? Maybe because the pride in Aina’s eyes didn’t sit well with him after everything she had done. He wanted to see hurt in her eyes, but when he saw her pride shatter in seconds after his announcement, he didn’t like how it felt. It was late at night, and he was sitting in the car. He couldn’t find the courage to go back and face her. He didn’t know what he would do when she came in front of his eyes. His mother was continuously calling him. He sighed and started the car towards his home.

Aina locked herself in the room. Her mother came two times to check on her. Aina opened the door and assured her mother that she wouldn’t do anything wrong, she just needed some time alone. Her mother went away with tear-filled eyes.

Aina was only waiting for Saim to come back so she could make him understand. She knew he said those words only because of anger. He would not marry Reema.

She walked back and forth in her room, fidgeting with her fingers. Sweat was on her forehead. She blew air from her mouth to calm herself down, assuring herself again and again that Saim would never marry someone else. Saim would never leave her.

She wiped her forehead with her dupatta. Her face turned red in fear. She licked her lips every other second as they grew dry.

Saim entered the room and found her pacing restlessly. Aina turned to the door. He was standing there, looking at her. She sighed before running into his arms. She pressed her face against his chest as peace ran through her. His scent calmed her nervous heart. His arms stayed at his sides. He didn’t expect her to hug him. He expected her to throw tantrums.

"Main... bohot bohot pyar karti hoon aapse. Pyar to ek chota lafz hai Saim... mera ishq hai aap. Aur mai jaanti hoon aap bhi mujhse mohabbat karte hain." (I… love you very, very much. Love is too small a word, Saim… you are my true passion. And I know you love me too.) She mumbled against his chest. His heart skipped a beat, but then…

"Who knows how many women he destroyed... how many rapes he committed…"

"She told me you raped her, and when everyone found out you had to marry her to save your reputation in the family." — Reema’s words.

"He tried to force me…" — Fouziya’s words.

"I am really sorry! Aina ma’am forced me to do all this. She offered me a handsome amount for this."

Saim gripped her arms tightly and pushed her away.

"Maine… tumse… kabhi… mohabbat… nahi… ki." (I… never… loved… you.) He growled. "Aur na hi kabhi karunga. Main tumse nafrat karta hoon. Sirf nafrat." (And I never will. I hate you. Only hate.)

Aina stared into his eyes. His words were true — she could see it in them. His grip tightened on her arms.

"What you gave me, I can never forget. You broke me. My trust. My reputation, Aina." His eyes turned red.

He leaned in close, his voice a whisper laced with venom.

"You want to feel what I feel? I’ll give you more than that..."

"Okay, I accept everything, but what you’re doing is not right!" She held his face desperately. "Saim, don’t do this, I will die!" He jerked her hands away.

"It’s your karma. You loved me, right? You tricked me into this marriage… I didn’t do anything wrong. Neither do I love you nor did I want to marry you, but still I suffered because of you. So now it’s your time to pay back." A sinister smile appeared on his lips. "Jab koi muh mein gaya niwala halaq se khinch kar nikalta hai to kaisa lagta hai, tumhe mai bataunga." (When someone snatches food from your mouth just as you’re about to swallow it, I’ll show you how it feels.) He whispered venomously, then turned to go.

"Saim…" she called his name helplessly in a low voice. "Mai mar jaungi." (I will die.) He heard her whisper, but didn’t stop. He went into the bathroom.

She slowly sat on the floor. The last bit of hope she had was snatched away.

"Kya meri galti itni badi thi?" (Was my mistake really this big?) She asked, looking up with tear-filled eyes.

After a few minutes, he walked out of the bathroom. Just as he was about to leave the room, he realized Reema was in guest room and decided to stay. He went to bed and covered himself with the comforter.

Both of them were awake. Saim wanted to erase the memories of everything bad happening in their lives, but he knew he couldn’t. He tossed and turned, wondering if what he was doing was right or wrong. But then, what Aina did with him was also wrong. Why should she have everything she wanted? She deserved what was happening to her. It was her karma. And anyway, he liked Reema. He should be happy he was finally getting married to his choice. This marriage would be his choice, not a forced one.

Trying to convince himself again and again that he liked Reema, and that Aina deserved everything happening to her, he finally drifted to sleep.

*************

He woke up with sunlight falling on his face. He saw the empty place beside him. Slowly, he sat up on the bed, rubbing his face. His eyes roamed around the room, and they widened when he saw Aina still in the same spot, but now lying on the floor in a foetal position.

He sighed, got down from the bed, and went to the bathroom, shutting the door forcefully.

“Saim,” Aina woke up and looked around.

She heard the shower running. She stood up and sat on the bed. After a few minutes, someone knocked on the door.

She opened it and saw her mother-in-law, a frown creasing her forehead.

“Is Saim here?” she asked. Aina didn’t reply, her eyes fixed instead on the sherwani in a plastic-covered hanger in Shamim’s hand. Shamim pushed her aside and placed the sherwani on the bed.

Saim walked out of the bathroom after finishing his morning routine. His mother came forward and held his face, planting a kiss on his forehead.

“Today my son will get what he always wanted. I am happy that you’re marrying the girl of your choice,” she said, glancing at Aina with hatred in her eyes. “Try this sherwani. Reema and I bought it—she chose it for you.” She smiled as she handed him the sherwani.

He took it, his gaze unknowingly falling on Aina, who stood frozen in her place. “Guests will start arriving around 6. We’ve called the qazi for 7, so be ready on time,” she instructed, as though his wife wasn’t even there, as if he wasn’t about to marry again in front of her.

She turned to leave but stopped in front of Aina. “I hope you won’t create any drama this time. Even if you have something to say, don’t bother—Saim will marry Reema today no matter what.” With that, she left the room.

Aina looked up at Saim, who placed the sherwani on the bed as his phone rang. He stepped out into the balcony to attend the call. A few minutes later, he came back into the room—and his eyes widened in shock.

Aina was sitting on the bed, cutting the sherwani into pieces.

“What the hell!?” he shouted. Aina looked at him, her face burning with anger.

“I will not let you marry!” she screamed.

Saim glared at her. “Do you think by doing this you can stop me?” he asked, furious at her actions.

Her shoulders slumped in defeat, and she dropped the scissors.

He shook his head and was about to leave the room when she held his hand. Climbing down from the bed, she fell to her knees. Grasping both his hands, she touched them to her eyes—a gesture of respect and love.

“Maaf kardein mujhe Saim. Mat karein,. (Forgive me Saim. Don’t do this) I won’t survive. I’ll do whatever you say, please don’t marry her,” she pleaded, her eyes searching his. He was still stunned by her act. “You are my Ishq, my everything. I have only loved you. I never let another man enter even my thoughts—so how can you let another woman enter into your life?” Her voice cracked as tears streamed down her face. “Please don’t do this, Saim. Have mercy on me.”

Saim’s eyes turned red with emotion. “And did you have mercy on me? When everyone was calling me a rapist, did you tell them the truth? No. Instead, you tried to prove me guilty again. Maybe I could have forgiven your first mistake, but what you did after our marriage—I can never forgive you for that.”

“Maine nahi kiya! (I didn’t do it!)” she cried helplessly. “I made only one mistake, nothing else.”

“Leave my hand, Aina.” He tried to pull away, but she gripped him tightly, as though letting go meant losing him forever.

“Please, Saim. I’ll do whatever you ask. I’ll live as your servant if I have to—just don’t marry again.”

“Hath chhodo, Aina. (Let go of my hand, Aina),” he said sternly.

“No! Mai mar jaungi, Saim. (No! I will die, Saim.)”

“Toh mar jao! (Then go die!)” He tore his hand free and stormed out of the room.

Aina sat there for a few minutes before picking up the scissors again. Her eyes, bloodshot with rage, burned with determination. She marched out of the room without looking around.

She found Reema in the living room with Shamim, choosing mehndi designs as two girls sat beside them.

Aina snatched the design book and ripped it in half. “Go away from here!” she screamed at the girls, who fled in fear.

“And you!” she shouted at Reema. “Leave before I kill you! Before you marry my husband, I’ll kill you first!” She raised the scissors threateningly.

“Aina! Stop it!” everyone shouted in panic. Reema backed away, terrified. But when Saim came running behind her, Reema decided to twist the situation to make him divorce Aina.

“I will not leave. I am not afraid of death. I love Saim, and if he wants me in his life, then I will—”

Before she could finish, Aina raised her hand to stab her. Saim rushed forward, wrapping his arms around Aina’s waist to stop her.

“Stop this nonsense!” he roared and slapped her hard. She collapsed to the floor, the scissors piercing her hand. Blood began to flow. She stared at it blankly.

“Aina!” her mother rushed forward, holding her arm. Saim’s heart clenched at the sight of her bleeding hand, but he masked his concern. “Beta, what are you doing? Please stop this. You know you can’t change anything.” Her mother wiped the tears from Aina’s face, brushing her hair back gently.

“Lock this mental daughter of yours somewhere. I can’t believe she’s the same girl we once loved,” Shamim spat with hatred.

Aina’s mother wept silently, lifting her up.

Aina turned to her father and ran to him. “Baba, please stop Saim. Look at the cruelty he’s about to do to your daughter. Please stop him!” she begged, clutching his hands. But he pulled away, looked away.

“It was always decided that Saim would marry the girl he chose. You came between them. Now step aside and let them marry peacefully.”

She stared at her father in disbelief. This was the same man who once couldn’t bear to see her in pain.

Shattered, she turned to her brother—her best friend, her last hope.

“Bhai! Please stop Saim. I’m your sister, aren’t I? Please…” She tried to hold his hand, but he stepped back.

“It’s your karma,” he said, also looking away.

How could her family turn their backs on the child they once loved so deeply? She looked around desperately. Saim’s parents ignored her. Zaid’s eyes were filled with pity, but he looked down helplessly. Her father and brother avoided her gaze, while her mother stood there crying silently.

One mistake from a daughter, and suddenly her own family turns their back on her. But if it were a son, the same mistake would be brushed aside—‘he’s just a boy, immature, he’ll learn.’ Forgiveness comes easily for him, but for a girl it becomes impossible. The so-called dignity of a family is always placed on the fragile shoulders of their daughters. If she dares to marry the man she loves, she is branded shameless. But if a boy chooses to marry the girl he loves—even if it means stealing her away from her family—no one questions him. The blame always falls on the woman, never on the man.

Wiping her tears, finally, she turned to Saim, who was watching her closely.

“Talaq de mujhe. (Divorce me),” Aina didn’t even know how the words slipped from her mouth, but they did. Saim stiffened. Reema’s face lit with joy. She had expected Saim to divorce Aina himself, but instead, it was Aina—the last

person she thought—who asked for it.

“Talaq de mujhe, abhi isi waqt! (Divorce me, right now!)” Her voice was firm, stripped of all emotion.

********