Chapter 23

Maha approached the pakora vendor uncle and greeted him warmly. "Hello, uncle, how are you?"

"I am good, beta. And you? It's been a while since I saw you. Is everything alright?" Uncle inquired.

Uncle, sensing that something was troubling Maha, asked, "What's bothering you, beta? It seems like something significant has happened."

Maha sighed deeply, her eyes reflecting a tumultuous journey. "Uncle, nothing was right. I went through a life-changing ordeal. My father and husband were searching for me, and they were about to take me forcefully. But thank God, Allah sent Aban into my life. He turned out to be an angel, protecting and saving me."

"Oh, I see, beta. Is Aban the young man you met in the park?" Uncle asked, recalling their previous conversation.

"Yes, uncle, the same one. He has now filed for my divorce, and I am proceeding with it," Maha replied.

Uncle was curious about her future plans. "What will you do after the divorce, beta? Are you thinking of marrying Aban?"

Maha was taken aback by this question. "No, uncle, I have no intention of marrying anyone."

Uncle continued, "Why not, beta? Aban seems like a good man. He's caring and sincere. What's the issue?"

Maha hesitated before answering, "Uncle, the problem isn't with Aban. It's with me. I can't commit to marriage again. I've been through a terrible experience before, and I can't trust anyone easily. It's difficult, nearly impossible for me to take that step again."

Uncle empathized with her. "I understand your concerns, beta, but don't let one bad experience generalize your opinion of everyone. Not everyone is the same. In this world, there are good and bad people, and everything exists in a delicate balance. If one piece of the puzzle doesn't fit, it doesn't mean the entire puzzle is flawed. You can't fragment Allah's blessings because sometimes they knock on your door. If you break them into pieces and discard them, you might long for them later."

Maha sighed, "I appreciate your words, uncle, but it's hard for me to trust again so quickly."

Uncle advised, "No one is telling you to rush, beta. Take your time. If you have doubts, try to resolve them. Test Aban with your own methods. If he proves himself, it's a beautiful thing. If not, then let it be."

Maha nodded, deep in thought. Uncle's wisdom was like a ray of light in her darkened world. Capturing the essence of his advice: that one bad experience should not taint our perception of all future possibilities and that Allah's blessings, no matter how small, should be cherished, not fragmented.

Maha decided to meet Aban and told him, "Aban, let's go somewhere far away from here, perhaps to Skardu. We can explore and enjoy ourselves."

Aban was taken aback by her proposal. "Are you sure you want to go with me? Are you sure about this?"

Maha reassured him, "Yes, Aban, it's a simple date. We're going on a date."

Aban, still somewhat surprised, said, "Well, I'm happy, but I can't believe it."

Maha smiled, "Believe it, Aban. But before you get too excited, I need to make sure you truly care for me."

Aban looked puzzled, "What do you mean, Maha?"

Maha explained, "I want to test your love, Aban. I need to know if you're willing to go the extra mile for me, even when things get tough."

Aban, determined to prove his love, replied, "Maha, I'll do whatever it takes to show you how much I care."

As they embarked on their journey, Maha began to test Aban's love in various ways.

In a secluded room of a hotel in Skardu, Maha and Aban found themselves locked in a somber dinner. Maha, with a heavy heart, uttered, "Aban, you've always wondered why I am the way I am and why I left everything behind to come here. Allow me to reveal the truth about my life."

She continued, "My marriage was a product of love. The day I first laid eyes on my husband, it was as though I had found the love I had longed for, perhaps more than I had ever loved myself. He, too, loved me deeply, and we had admired each other since our childhood. Despite the challenges, we chose to wed, much to my father's dismay. Those initial months of marriage were blissful, akin to an ideal couple. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world, every morning greeted with newfound joy."

"But gradually, the winds shifted, and the clouds of change started to gather. My happiness began to slip away, and it reached a point where we couldn't stand the sight of each other. He hurt me, tortured me in every conceivable way, both physically and mentally. Let me show you something."

Maha undressed herself, prompting Aban to quickly close his eyes. "Maha, what are you doing? Please put your clothes back on."

"No, Aban, look at me now. Do you see these scars on my body? These are cigarette burns that he inflicted upon me. And these marks on my breasts, do you see them? They are the result of his cruelty. These marks on my back are from his nails."

Aban covered Maha with a blanket, and she wept in front of him like a child. "Maha, please stop, these are painful memories of the past. What he did is unforgivable. Stop crying."

"Aban, understand this, I can never love you the way you deserve to be loved. First and foremost, I can't trust in love anymore. Secondly, I can never love again because of the wounds I carry. These wounds are the bitter reminders of a love gone horribly wrong."

"Maha, listen to me. I've never asked you to love me. Just don't stop me, because I will continue to love you. And I promise, I will never force anything upon you. I won't even touch you without your consent. You can do whatever you want in your life, and I will never hold you back."

"Aban, I will never marry you. I despise the institution of marriage. Can you live with me without getting married?"Maha said without seeing towards Aban

"Maha, are you comfortable with it? I already told you that I won't force anything upon you." Aban replied.

In this intimate hotel room in Skardu, Maha bared her soul to Aban, sharing the painful story of her life.