Chapter3

#Chapter3

Mahnoor's POV:

/"Bhai! I am ready./" I shouted standing near the main entrance. I skipped college today to go to Kanwal’s house. I wanted to be with her for the remaining time we have.

/"You're going to Mehmood's house?/" Papa asked while eating his breakfast.

/"Yes, Kanwal needs me and/" I paused, /"who knows, maybe Ahad won't let us meet again./" The thought of not seeing her made me sad and angry at the same time.

/"Ahad? Did we teach you to call your elders like that?/" Ami scolded.

/"For God's sake Ami why are you guys behaving like before? He is not the Ahad Bhai my friend engaged to, he is a criminal, a killer./" I almost shouted though it was unintentional.

Why don’t they get my point...?

/"Lower your voice, Mano. You're talking to your parents./" Bhai said politely, putting a hand on my head. It was his gesture of indicating that I had stepped out of line and must apologize now. We were only five years apart, but for me, he was like my second father. Well I love papa too and he was a great father but Bhai's always one step ahead of him.

/"Sorry Ami, sorry Papa./" I apologized.

/"It's fine./" Papa said quickly, receiving an incredulous look from Ami.

See what I meant when I said papa is a great father. He always takes my side. I smiled at them.

/"Okay Ami, Papa, we are leaving./" I said, turning to leave.

/"Allah Hafiz./" I heard Bhai saying, already out of the house and I ran behind him shouting ''Allah Hafiz''.

~*~

And the day came, the day which I was wishing for never to come. Kanwal didn’t mutter a single word since she dressed, as a bride and I kept staring at her worriedly. Ahad chose everything very carefully from her attire to the make-up artist. It sure did magic on her, the red and purple dress suited her well and after the makeup, she looked stunning.

Everything about her seemed perfect, except for her eyes. Those orbs held fear and sadness. I had so desperately tried to take her mind off things, but who was I kidding. She was dressed as Ahad's bride.

Ami came early and brought me a formal dress to wear. I had this urge to throw the dress away, but I didn't, I couldn't. If I lose my calm now, let's just say that things won't go right, not forgetting the lectures I would get later and besides it wouldn't change anything. Therefore, I remain silent and changed my dress but didn't bother to put on any sort of accessories.

Going back to Kanwal’s room I tried, once again to cheer her up but the result was like before... nothing. I was told by her Khala to give her some alone time and so I did, though I couldn’t grasp the reason for it.

I literally start stomping all over the house, thinking it might help me to keep my mouth shut. I was never the type of person who bottled up their feelings inside. If I have something to say, I will say it. But right now my mind kept reminding me that silence is a virtue. A wise thing to do, for Kanwal's sake. She was already devastated and I did not want to make her already messed up life more miserable by voicing out my thoughts.

Even after joining the Black Eagles, I was ready to give Ahad the benefit of doubt, there was always an ounce of faith that things might be different from what we perceived. But to be honest I am scared for her future now. Especially after Kanwal told me that Ahad knew that she didn’t want to marry him. Yet he was still forcing it on her.

/"Mahnoor?/" I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard someone calling me.

/"Han? yes. What is it Ami?/" I replied quickly.

/"Qazi Sahab is here for Nikah, inform Kanwal./" She looked to be in a hurry, but I had questions and I needed answers.

/"Nikah? Ami they are here?/" I grabbed her arm, not wanting to let her go until she answered me.

/"Yes, were you sleeping the whole time?/" She frowned.

Oh!

I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't notice anything. Ignoring her question, I continued, /"Ami who else came with Ahad, his family?/"

She sighed before answering me, /"His family had cut all their ties with him remember? But there are few men with him. I guess they are from his team too./"

/"Oh!/" I didn't say anything else and I didn't feel a bit sorry for him, at all.

/"And listen, don't come outside. You and Alina are the only girls here. There are no other females except me and Kanwal’s mother and Khala, so both of you should stay here./"

/"WHAT?/" I almost shouted and Ami hit on my arm to make me quiet, /"I cannot meet her after Nikah?/" I whispered the last part.

She sighed, /"I will call you when they will leave, okay? Now go and inform Kanwal./"

I told Kanwal about Nikah, for a moment I felt her soul leave her body and she looked like a dolled up corpse. Soon Qazi Sahab came in and streams of tears start dripping from her eyes. At the time when she signed her faith, I stood behind her in silence, watching her trembling hands. However, after Nikah, she didn't cry, not even a single tear. She was taken out, while Alina and I sat in her room in complete silence.

At the time of leaving, both of us went to say our goodbyes. She hugged me tightly, muttering 'I love you' before she let me go, giving me a kiss on my cheek. I looked at Ahad, who was standing near the driver seat. As soon as our eyes met he gave me a victorious smile and waved at me. His action caught the attention of every person standing there. Startled, I rushed inside the house and ended up bumping into someone. Nervous and now embarrassed I looked up and found a tall man staring at me. I mumbled a 'sorry' and ran upstairs like the world was on fire.

Before I could reach Kanwal's room Alina grabbed my hand and dragged me to the roof. We both stood there and watched her saying farewell to her parents. She sat in the car before Ahad as he was talking to the same tall man I had bumped into. Later, that man gave a brotherly hug to Ahad and walked away.

He must be one of his friends...

/"Alina?/" I looked over at Alina, who was staring at Ahad’s vehicle with teary eyes.

/"Hm?/" She replied like I had woken her up.

/"Who was the man talking to Ahad just now?/" I questioned.

She looked at the place where he was standing and replied, /"Moosa./"

/"Moosa? Moosa Khan? The leader?/" My eyes widened at the realization.

Did I bump into Moosa Khan?

No way!

Was that man Moosa Khan?

Could this day be any worse?

Unintentionally my gaze shifted to him and found him already looking in our direction.

Oh crap!

I quickly took several steps back to disappear from view and pulled Aline too.

I am so dead...

___________________________________

*Allah Hafiz: May God be your Guardian/Protector

* Khala: Maternal aunt