12 Chapter 8: You Can’t control my life
I am learning to find hope
in the smallest and most unexpected places
like the whispers through the forest
and the velvet evening sky
and the way your love is bringing back
all the parts of my soul I thought I had lost.
Noor's POV
The car came to a halt in front of a big familiar mansion. It was all yellow and golden, a huge amount of guards were guarding the mansion, it's very strange, the number of guards was too much.
What type of work does he do that he needs this much protection?
This is the mansion where I spent my childhood before my Dada's (grandfather) death. I remember playing around the garden with my Dad and mom. I've too many memories here and the good thing is every memory is good except the death of Dada...
Well, life is temporary everyone has to leave this world one day... But his death was horrible... Everyone says he did suicide... Even thou mom says that too... But why would he? He had everything love, family, wealth, and most importantly he was so religious...
Well, Allah knows the reason why he did suicide...
I remember mom told me the day he died. 'Everything was normal, Dada was so happy because an important contract was to be signed that day related to his business. He left the house and never came back... After two days police found his body and car down the cliff. After investigation police said he could have survived because the cliff wasn't that high but he couldn't make it because of the cold climate around that area. But still, this thought comes my mind every time that what he was doing there? When I asked mom why he was there she says it's a suicide attempt...'
My father hopped off the car and walk towards the passenger door, he came to my side and opened the door. I took a step out and examine the mansion once again. Nothing is changed, it's still the same as it was the last time I saw. I wonder why Dad didn't renovate the house. Well, it doesn't need renovation but still.
A woman came out from the mansion, looks like she's a maid, she was wearing a white t-shirt with a logo of Dad's company and an apron. She was almost running, paused in front of Dad, after a few seconds Dad whispered something to her and she nodded.
She then motioned towards me, I clutched my jacket tighter and brought my purse to the chest. I don't know why I was being agitated a little. I'm a strong woman... Noor! Be strong.
She's on my face, I gave my worse expression to her, I thought she's like my dad as she is working under him.
"Umm! Hello mam, how are you?" she said to me.
I replied to her after five seconds "Umm, hi, I'm not good" with all honesty I spoke.
"Sorry mam, I hope that I could help you" she had a sorry look on her face, maybe she's a nice person.
I patched my lips in an understanding way.
"Mam follow me I'll show you your room"
"Wait what? My room?"
"yes mam"
"No, it must be some sort of miss-understanding I'm not going to live here!!!"
"I'm sorry mam but sir ordered me to show you your room"
"I'm not going to be in any sort of room" I whispered yelled. I was in a huge dilemma, what the actual fack?????? I don't wanna live here, I don't wanna live with him, I ran away from Pakistan to New York just because of him... No... I don't want to fail myh all efforts, he has no right over me... Yes, Islamically he has the right but he doesn't have any right on my freedom...
He would beat me, that is harram in Islam... He...he would do everything to me to take his revenge...
Mom is not even here with me to protect me, I never talked to her since that day, I even don't know if she's okay or not...
He literally wants me to do something otherwise he won't have given a damn about me!
I mentally rolled my eyes...
***
It's been three hours since I'm here, in my childhood room.
The room's furniture is changed a lot. Everything's luxurious and mature. The walls were painted light yellow and the furniture is brown. The dim yellow lights enhancing the beauty of walls and furniture... Well, I like this sort of setup...
The closet was full of every sort of clothes, jewelry, hijabs, and footwear. I changed into a loose t-shirt and a pajama. After that, I offered Isha prayer and Qada prayer of Asr and Maghreb. After 30 mins I went to the bookshelf where I saw the Quran before praying. I loosen my scarf and just put it on my head, I grabbed the Quran and sat on my bed with it. I read a few random verses of the Quran and at last, I recited Surah Mulk... From the past few days, I wasn't reciting the Surah Mulk already. I'm habitual of reciting this Surah 'cause mom told me once, the one who recites this surah Allah will protect him or her from the torment of the grave...
After thirty minutes of reading the Quran, I put it back on the shelf.
I heard a knock on my door, I went to open it and saw the maid...
She asked me to follow her downstairs to the study as my Dad is calling me. I refused to follow her as I already know where is the study.
***
I walked into the study after I heard him inviting me in...
I wanted so bad to run away from here but I can't. I folded my arms, pretending to be strong from outside. Dad was sitting on a chair behind the desk, wearing his white Kameez Shalwar and glasses. He dropped the pen, looked at me, and broke the silence "So, you are here now... It was actually better if you hadn't run away from there 'cause you know it's not difficult for me to find out where you live..."
I spat nothing I just stared at him.
"Well Noor, I'm not going to wait for your decision actually so I've decided something for you"
I dropped my hands to my sides and opened my mouth, "what have you decided?"
He stood up and took steps towards me. He stopped in front of me and folded his arms... "Well I'll not beat around the bush here I'll be straight forward...I wanna make a deal with a person, he's just so successful and one of the top 1000billionaires of the world, and in return, he demanded a corroboration..."
"What THE HELL!!! You are no one to decide my future, YOU ARE NO ONE!! I've my rights Islamically and according to New York's Law, you can not control me at this age... I'll go to court and ask for my rights there from you..." I pinned my index finger on his chest, tears were streaming down my face.
And next, I felt great pain on my cheeks, the voice was loud and clear... He slapped me... I hold my right cheek, my face turned to my left...
