She felt the power to move her fingers, but the hands seemed very heavy to move, like they were fastened with rock. Head was aching, her eyes were not able to lift the weight of the lids. After struggling with herself she finally half-opened her eyes, but everything was blurry, after a few moments her eyes settled down, only to discover herself in a dark room. Somehow she managed to lift her hand to rub her heavy eyes. For a good two minutes, she was in a dilemma because her brain was still at rest, she was unable to understand where she was and how she arrived there. Suddenly, a flash of memories rushes in her head, "Allah'' She gasped after placing her hand on her mouth when came off the mist-like situation of her mind and remembered Waasiq's midnight Visit. 

"Where am I?" Murmuring that she looked here and there, but other than darkness didn't find anything. Tears gathered in her eyes and heart began to fall with all the terrible thoughts surrounding her senses.

However, somehow she manages to stand up, attempting to find out some way to escape. Soon the door of the room was opened by a tall figure allowing Bright light to intrude in that dark room. Unknowingly she covered her eyes with her forearm and looked away in order to protect her eyes from those rays of light which seemed very harsh to her eyes.

"Uth gayi tum?” Hareem's breath was hitched, that voice was so powerful to provide her chills. Gulping her saliva, she took back steps but fell backwards.

(You wake up?)

"Ghabrao nahi" 

(Don't worry)

She crept back but soon the space for her movement was finished as her back touched the wall. She was paralyzed with fear, Wrapping arms around herself she sobbed when Waasiq took steps towards her.

"Jane dijiye muhje " She muttered when Waasiq kneeled in front of her 

(Let me go)

"Daro nahi, main tumhe kuch nahi karunga" wiping her tears with the back of his finger he assured Hareem, but how could the poor girl trust her kidnapper?

(Don't be scared, I won't do anything wrong with you)

"Door rahiye mujhse… hath mat lagaiye mujhe" She sobbed and rub her cheek with the back of her palm like she was trying to wipe off the touch.

(Stay away from me, don't touch me)

"Shadi karogi mujhse?" Waasiq asked politely, but Hareem was numb 

(Will you marry me?)

"A..aap mere sath aisa kyu kar rahe hain? Kya bigada hai mene aap ka?" She muttered and a tear rolled out of her eye.

(Why are you doing this with me?)

"Achhi lagi ho tum mujhe… isliye Shadi karna chakra hu" 

(I liked you, that's why wanna marry you)

"Jaane dijiye mujhe" Hareem whimpered while joining her hands. "Chhod jidiye mujhe" She sobbed 

(Lemme go,) (please leave me)

"Mujhse Shadi kro, aur sukun ki Zindagi guzaro, Agar mene tumhe jaane diya to tumhari shadi mere baap se hogi, jaha tum puri Zindagi ek jahannum me guzarogi… tum jaanti nhi ho bohot kamina aadmi hai mera baap." 

(Marry me and live a peaceful life, but if I will let you go then, be ready to marry my father and live in hell. You don't even have any idea how Rascal my father is ) 

"Mujhe kisi se shadi Nahi Karni, bas mujhe yaha se jaane dijiye" This time Hareem gathered all her courage to shout at Waasiq, but she wasn't so loud to make Waasiq afraid of her. 

(I don't wanna marry anyone just lemme go)

"Shadi kar lo mujhse, wada kar raha hu tum hamesha khush rahogi." Waasiq tries to assure her with his convincing words and a charming smile but Hareem glares at him. She didn't know by herself from where she got the strength to glare Waasiq 

(Marry me, I'll keep you happy)

"I don't wanna marry you" 

"Mujhe 'naa' sun'ne ki aadat nahi hai '' Taking out his gun he loads that and places it right on Hareem's forehead making her gasp very loudly. Her eyes were ready to pop out, her next breath hid inside her chest and refused to dare to come out. The already frightened heart felt more frightened after watching that gun, whole body shivered and tears slipped through the corner of her eyes. 

(I don't like to listen No)

"Tayyar rehna 10 minat me hamara nikkah hai'' Sayings that Waasiq stood up leaving Hareem in tears.

(Be prepared for nikkah, it's after ten minutes)

Life is a mysterious journey, no one knows what is waiting on the very next turn. This time Hareem was the part if this mysterious journey. she was preparing herself to marry Chodhri Mateen, but her destiny brought her to a point where she was becoming the forced bride of his son.

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"Main aakhri baar puch rha hu, kya aapko Chodhri Waasiq Mateen batoor shohor qubul hai?" The priest asked again

(I'm asking last time, Do you accept Chodhri Waasiq Mateen as your husband or not?)

Hareem stayed silent because she wasn't ready to accept him as husband but Waasiq pulled out his gun and placed that on the coffee table. That was a clear yet silent warning for Hareem to accept the nikkah proposal.

"Qubul hai" she sobbed but repeated twice

(I accept)

'I hate this man' Hareem said in heart but unfortunately she couldn't say a single word in front of Waasiq, due to fear.

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" Hareem… Oo Hareem… kaha mar gayi? Aaj nashta banane ka irada nahi hai kya?" The whole Niyazi home echoed with that roar of the First Lady of the family. 

(Hareem where are you? Don't you have to make breakfast today?)

It was unusual in Niyazi home that Hareem slept for late hours, she was bound to wake up before sunrise no matter what.  For years the poor girl was living at the mercy of those merciless people. 

"Hareem" Another loud call but Hareem didn't answer which was indigestible for everyone. "Today I won't leave her alive" Mumbling with rage the eldest daughter in law of the Niyazi family Begin to take steps towards Hareem's room but stopped by Jameela Begum.

"Kal us ki Shadi hai, kam se kam Ek din to use sukun se sone do… woh Abhi bachhi hi hai, itna to zulm mat kro us par" Jameela Begum made her disappointment register in front of her sister-in-law who jerks her head.

(Tomorrow is her wedding, at least let her take a rest for today only. She is still very young, do some mercy on her)

"Jitne Bade Ghar ki malkin wo Kal banne wali hai uske baad use koi kaam Karne ki zarurat nahi hogi… Kam Se Kam Aaj to Kuch kaam kar le. Kaamchor kahi ki'' 

( she is going to become the owner of a very big home, she won't have to do any work from tomorrow. At least let her do work today only, otherwise, also she is work-shy)

The cruel lady shouted with rage whilst passing by Jameela Begum, she was ready to beat Hareem for taking more rest than usual, but after opening the door of the room she got a surprise when found it empty. 

"Where is this girl?" Mumbling that she again shouted, "Hareem where are you?" But how could Hareem answer when she wasn't present at home.

After a search for Hareem everywhere, the Niyazi Family was shocked. In the end, they conclude that Hareem had run away from home to save herself from that forced marriage. 

"Ab kya hoga? Kya jawab denge Chodhri ko?" Younger Niyazi Brother asked his wife and elder brother, they all were anxious as well as scared of the results.

(What now? How will we Face Chodhri?)

"Ye bhi apni maa ki tarah nikli, kitni shareef banti thi, lekin andar se kitni khatarnaak nikli" 

(like the mother like the daughter! Such a cunning girl she is, just like her mother)

"It's not the time for discussing her mother, think wisely about what we have to do now? Chodhri Mateen will kill us, first of all, his would-be wife flew away, moreover, we spent the whole money… how will we return the money?" Younger Nizami brother put his opinion in front of others, making them anxious. 

"Put this blame on Hareem, inform Chodhri Mateen that Hareem has run away after taking all the money as well as the jewellery he sent for her. Tell him to search for Hareem by himself with the help of his sources" Elder Daughter-in-law of Niyazi Family recommended, on which all the other members nodded. 

"By the way, she has left all the jewellery and gifts here only. Can I take them?" Younger daughter-in-law of the family asked with a pleading look and her husband laughed at her demand. 

"Take whatever you like from those gifts and jewellery. Parenthetically, Hareem has proved profitable for us, fifty lakhs cash along with a good lot of expensive gifts and jewellery are more than her worth" The evil man laughed without knowing that Jameela Begum was standing outside the room listening to everything.

"Sharam nahi aayi tum logo ko Us masoom ka sooda karte hue? Wo meri good me sar rakh kar roti thi ki use us aadmi se shadi nahi karni, achha hi hua wo bhaag Gayi… warna Shadi ke naam par to tumne use beech hi diya tha" Stepping inside the room Jameela Begum shouted on her brothers and their wives but got a glare in reply.

(Shame on you, you made a deal for her? That innocent girl uses to sob in my lap that she didn't want to do this marriage, it's better that she has run away, otherwise, you've almost sold her… )

"Jameela, stop your nonsense and get lost from here. This is the result of your soft behaviour that she gets the courage to flee. And I don't wanna listen to a single word in the favour of that girl. We hadn't done anything wrong, we were marrying her off not selling her" Jameela Begum smirked bitterly after listening to that from her brother.

"If that wasn't wrong then marry off your daughter with Chodhri Mateen instead of Hareem… it's a good deal, you'll…." Jameela Begum was shouting in reply but stepped in between when his brother raised his hand in the air to slap her.

"Tumhari Himmat kese Hui meri beti ke baare me itni ghatiya baat sochne ki?" 

(How dare you even think this about my daughter?)

"Apni aulad ke liye itna bura lag raha hai bhai? Wo masoom ladki bhi kisi ki aulad hai" 

(You're hurt just to listen to this for your daughter… she is also someone's daughter ) 

"Kisi ki najayaz aulad… Meri beti ko us se milane ki sochna bhi mat… Na jaane kiska gunnah hai woh ladki... Aur Aaj usne Saabit kar hi diya ki ganda khoon ganda hi rehta hai… bhag gayi ghar se muh kala kar ke apni maa ki tarah" He shouted; rage running in his whole frame and eyes were reflecting that with the red color, but somehow he stopped himself to slap his sister.

(Someone's illegitimate daughter… so don't you dare to compare her with my daughter. God knows whose sin is she? And she proved that she belongs to a dirty breed. Like the mother like the daughter)

"She is the daughter of this home and this family! She is Your niece… your younger brother was raping her mother for a long time but when I caught him red-handed he left the village the very next day. He destroyed Aamna's life but she still saved your reputation by hiding his name and taking all the blame on herself. And yes you proved that you belong to a dirty breed, your younger brother destroyed Aamna's life and you were going to do the same with Hareem by selling her…. Shame in you... I was silent for all eighteen years just to save the dignity of this family but not anymore" Jameela Begum left the room after shouting and other family members were shocked to know the reality.

<><><><><><><><>

Sorrow and sadness are a part of life, just as much as love and happiness. But for Hareem love and happiness was skipping. 

Were all the problems not enough that she was kidnapped by the man who was supposed to become her Stepson after a few hours, not only kidnapped but now he forcefully marries her.

Resting her head with the wall of that empty room, Hareem shut her eyes, "Allah… why with me? Why you are not giving me a single day of happiness?" Hugging her Knees she sobbed. "I haven't done anything wrong to anyone so why do I always face all the problems? You give everything to everyone but why you never shower your blessings on me?" She complains to Almighty   

It has been two hours since Waasiq left her alone after their nikkah, and since those two hours, she has been crying and cursing herself. She tried her best to escape but Waasiq had locked her in that room, the poor girl didn't even know where she was at that time. 

"Allah… why do you never listen to me? Why?" She was crying when a disturbance on the door made her jump on her place. Waasiq stepped into the room holding a tray of food in his hand.

"Tum phir se rone lagi?" Saying this in his deep voice Waasiq sat down on the floor, just in front of Hareem. She sobbed and grabbed the corner of her dupatta in fear while trying to creep behind but she was already at the last corner of the room, so there was no space for her

(You again started crying?)

"Daro Nahi, main Kuch Nhi karunga" Placing the tray of food between them he tried to assure her but Her fear didn't leave her. 

(Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything wrong with you )

Lifting his hand towards her he was going to wipe her tears but she gasped loudly with terror in her eyes. "D..dur rahiye mujhse…" Waasiq lift his both hands in the air just for a moment, as he surrendered in front of Hareem and slowly nodded his head 

(Don't touch me…)

"Theek hai, dur ho Gaya… chalo ab khana khaa lo. Tumne subah se kuch bhi nhi khaya hai'' he said politely but Hareem was still crying. Now her tears were at rest but hiccups were still there to make breathing difficult for her 

(Okay! I'm not touching you. Now have lunch, you're empty since morning)

"Come on… have this" he gestured towards the food but she glared at him with silent sobs then looked away.

"Haven't you listen, have this" This time Waasiq's voice was furious which terrified Hareem but the girl shows her courageous side by replying. "Mujhe nahi khana" 

(I don't wanna eat)

Waasiq glared at her, which sent chills down her spine, and fresh tears appeared in her eyes. He broke a piece of roti and folded it with curry to make a perfect sized morsel then lifted it for Hareem, but she didn't open her mouth. "Muh kholo" (Open your mouth) he ordered and Hareem looked away

 "Nahi khana" she muttered fixing her eyes on the wall when she felt a cold metallic touch on her temple which made her heart skipped two beats as that was the gun that Waasiq placed on her temple. She suddenly looked at him and cried out even more.

(I won't eat)

"Open your mouth" This time it was impossible for her to refuse. Tears were rolling down from her eyes and she opened her mouth. Waasiq placed down the gun before giving the morsel in her mouth. After two three morsels, she again refused to eat more as she wasn't feeling to eat anymore but Waasiq pick his gun again, Hareem sobbed and hurriedly open her mouth to another morsel, she didn't realise that for the first time in her life someone was feeding her with his hands otherwise no one had ever cared about her, if she has eat something or not. 

"Main tumhe darana nahi chahta, aur na hi rulana chahta hu. Mera Yaqeen karo, main tumhe hamesha khush rakhunga, Jo chahogi wo dunga, tumahara hamesha dhyan rakhunga, jab tak main zinda hu tumhara baal bhi baaka nahi hone dunga" Holding softness in his voice and the gun in his hand he expressed his true intentions but Hareem's attention was fixed on the gun, she was scared. Her ears didn't listen to a single word spoken by Waasiq as terror was taking her in its embrace.

(Neither I wanna frighten you nor wanna make you cry... Believe me, I'll always take your care, I'll always provide you whatever you want, I'll protect you till my last breath)

"Main tumhe kuch nhi karunga, Chalo ab rona band karo" Waasiq said while cleaning the tears from her left cheek with his thumb, but before he could wipe the other cheek Hareem moved backwards though she had no place to move backwards but her gesture was enough to portray her intentions.

(I won't harm you, now stop crying)

"Dur rahiye mujhse…" 

(Stay away from  me )

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Insaan bhi kitna nadaan hai, dost aur dushman ka farq samajhne me kitna waqt barbaad kar deta hai.

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