Wrong Suffered At Hands (Chapter Eleven)

11.

 

Afiyah, who attempted to appear pleased among everyone, thought the wedding night was rather cozy and nice, even her interactions with her cousins became into gossip about her appearance and attire. But obstinate she would respond with a smile, and while she tried not to pay attention to them, she would end up crying in the corner.

After dinner, she ambled up to the stairs. She unzipped her luggage as she entered the dimly lit room; there she placed her cell phone in the little pocket within the corner's collection of cosmetics. She fetched the phone and fiddled with the buttons. Because Kainat hadn't contacted her afterwards, which she assumed the reason behind, she considered giving up the phone because Kainat's mother may have confiscated hers. Afiyah thought about it, she considered the possibility that Hassan would text her in the future. After all, she was still holding onto him.

She pushed the phone inside the purse when she overheard voices outside. She rose to her feet with unsteady legs and peered out the window to see figures in the distance climbing the stairs. She ducked behind the wall as she heard the two of them whisper something and then stumble into the vacant kitchen while giggling faintly.

When the pair disappeared, she attempted to descend the steps. She left the room with her heart in her throat and a weird sensation running through her, she intending to go down the stairs until her ear caught a name.

The voice came as a hush, but it was loud enough to be heard, so she was certain it was a girl calling Khizar. She crept to the kitchen, slowly and steadily and stood close to the wall out of pure curiosity. The voices became perceptible as she tiptoed nearer to the kitchen.

She couldn't identify the girl who was giggling quietly as she spoke in between spasms of laughter.

When Afiyah attempted to peer, her heart sank to her knees. She was too startled by what she witnessed to really believe it. She could make out the back of a girl and Khizar, who was actually exploiting the girl, by her own will.

Although it appeared like Khizar was kissing his fiancé, but the way his hands hovered all over her body made Afiyah want to throw up. She stood there and observes them up until Khizar shoved the girl against the wall.

Afiyah clutched her mouth in an effort to calm her quivering frame. She hurried down the stairs as she heard the girl made a low sound-a moan. With the sounds still echoing in her brain, she was compelled to flee from that point.

After seeing all of it, she wished she had kicked the bucket immediately.

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Afiyah's life took an enormous turn, veering in a direction she had never intended. Afiyah had watched them coming down stairs one after another, first Khizar and then his fiancé after an estimate of ten seconds aperture. Even though she wanted to blurt and inform someone—possibly Talal—what actually unfolded, she was in a condition of tranquilly. She then recalls Sameer stating, “You should've been silent. Since we don't have a mother to testify on our behalf and papa is the only parent with a fine amount of obligations as a burden on his chest."

 

You should’ve been silent.

 

She kept silence.

 

Afiyah checked her cell phone while remaining in the same room as the previous night. She lingered there aimlessly with her eyes riveted to the devise. Whereupon she heard someone clear their throat behind her, even before she whirled around, the blood had been drained from her face, and as soon as she did, a surge of rage erupted inside her.

Khizar was leaning against the door frame, his lips curved into a smirk.

“Only if I knew you have a cell phone, I would’ve asked for your number early.”

Afiyah became aware of the phone in her palm at that instant. She winced and dredged the phone into the bag. She was visibly trembling when she attempted to stroll pass him.

She got caught, she suspected.

“Listen here.” She was spun around to face him as Khizar grabbed her arm and said, "At the very least, lend me your phone number. We'll remain in touch."

 "It has nothing to do with you."  Afiyah wrenched her hand free from his hold, "And besides, don’t you have your fiancé’s number? Stay in touch with her not me.”

"What's with that attitude of yours?” He laughed, his slender frame quivering with the laugh, “Why be so rude?"

"I'm ashamed of you." She snapped, “Don’t you feel squick when you try to commit atrocious actions against your blood kin?" she raged, “Towards someone you ought to act like a brother and protect from the world?"

 "Then, I would give my life to be your brother. You are far too gorgeous to be my sister. Come on, we aren't done with the thing we have in between us." he mocked, his voice blended with something she couldn't make out, "You treated me poorly the last time, and I won't leave until I exact retribution."

Her back brushed up against the wall as he drew closer. She expressed concern as she realized there was nothing behind her except a brick wall, one she couldn't even scale to escape from.

"Do not touch me or I'll tell everything to everyone." she commanded.

"Will you now, huh?"  From her cheek to her jaw, Khizar stroked his bony fingers over her face before saying, "I won't allow you, and furthermore, everyone is asleep."

His hand snuck down to her chest, he grinned as he pressed her breast as if it was no sin, as if it was a brilliant thing that you can do to anyone whenever you desire.

"Its enough." she slaps his hand away, cringing. "This is enough." she quavered in terror.

Her throat was tight as she spoke in a weak tone as she experienced internal revulsion. She attempted to flee but he shoved her against the roughness of the wall once more, “I said we aren’t done.” His hand worked there again, this time the squeeze was arduous.

As Khizar drew closer to Afiyah, she gritted her teeth. Weak and vulnerable, she grabbed his wrist and pleaded, "Please. Please be sympathetic, and I'll remain silent in front of everyone."

"Let me demonstrate for you." He reached into his pocket for his phone. Afiyah was on the edge of crying as she ignored Khizar and focused only on finding a way out for herself.

“I’ll snap some photos of you.”

"No...”  She whimpered in despair. When she attempted to grasp the phone from his hand, the flash had already hit her eyes. She threw her hands up in defense as the quick bursts of brightness made her eyesight go white and prevented her from seeing clearly.

"Quit it!" Khizar was shoved by her, which caused him to lose his equilibrium.

While refusing to comment, he chuckled and said, "If somebody hears us, I will absolutely do unpleasant things to you. What do you know? If I want to, I can rape you. Nobody will be able to find out that you were a maiden then. I have complete power over you, but I won't. I can't be that horrible, can I?"

Afiyah attempted to blink as her vision became foggy. She trembled against the wall in uncertainty.

“I beg you, Khizar.”

"Stop pleading with me in a penurious manner; I won't comply. However, if you inform anybody about anything, I will take action. "He indicated the contour of his self-phone by pointing at the bulge in his pocket.

"Don't add more filth to the stain that is already dirty since you are already soiled." He approached her and entwined his fingers with hers before pushing her arms up above her head. As she closed her eyes, beads of anguish began to drop from her eyes.

He moved in closer to her, and she felt his breath smear her cheek. Then, she sensed his lips brush against her mouth and he kissed her. She kept her mouth shut and watched him do what he pleased while grimacing. As she allowed him to kiss her, the hills and heavens smashed over her.

When Afiyah refused to move her lips and tears began to fall to her cheeks, he even groaned in anguish.

 

Everything is dark. There is no sight that she can perceive. She attempts to squint as her head spins in paranoia and fear. Although it's too dark to see anything, she tried to make sense of the scenario; the absence of sound had terrified her. Gradually and steadily, the amber is sweeping over the sky, the light begins to emerge. She struggles to open her eyes and flutter her lashes. She detects the vibration of a device in her ear initially. Then she senses something tickling her mouth—it’s a collection of sharp facial scruff.

She flinched when she noticed Khizar, who was still in haze by the encounter. She whipped her mouth while attempting to breathe, she pushes him away.

“Is this your phone?” He inquired jestingly. He approached her bag and pointedly fiddled with it before grabbing her phone.

"Someone is calling from an unknown number.” he says while waving the phone to her, “Let me answer it,"

"Don't. No!" Despite her cries, khizar had already answered the phone.

'Who's this?” he enquires to the caller, "Oh, Afiyah? In front of me, she is standing. Who are you to speak to her, though?

Afiyah gulped, who? Kainat?

"We are busy together." he said with a snicker as he eyed her, his eyes traveling from her head to toe, "She tastes like heaven on earth; I can assure you of that. I might leave before she come pleading for me since she is waiting for me in bed.”

“Who is it? End the call.” She tried to stop him.

“She is with me right now. Alone.” He chortled through his nose and ended the call.

"Who was that? Why did you spew such gibberish" At him, she yelled. "How dare you!” She sprang forward and repeatedly punched him in the chest, “What exactly is your problem?"

"Stay silent. Or I could email your friend here your pictures."

The air lodged in her lungs, and she became still.

"Behave, or I'll take action." He gave her a wink before tossing her the phone, which she seized in her hands.

She then observed him leave the room. While crying into her arms, she snatched her hair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She was standing there in front of the mirror, appearing hazy after having just had a shower. She peered at her reflection in the mirror, first at her eyes, going down at her nose, and then her lips. With trembling hands, she reached for her lips. Brushing the pads of her fingers over the roughness of her lips, she noticed that they were bruised from all the scrubbing she had done in the previous two days. She couldn’t help but wince each moment her finger caressed over the raw bruises.

She cringes, her face twisting as she let out a wail. She was at her wits' end. She can’t live like this at all anymore.

That day when they came back home from the marriage ceremony, Sameer had informed her about a man her father wishes her to marry.

He knelt down next to her as she slept under the heavy covers, "Will you marry a person who is mature and realistic? Said Sameer, "Will you marry the man I and Papa Jan chose for you?"

She kept silent, attempting to make out a term.

"He holds a large job at a big department and is an agent. He's wealthy and, for the most part, a kind and attractive person. He's the type of husband material that every woman hopes to find. Once you see him, you'll fall in love with him; he's tall and handsome."

"I can't…" She lost her voice.

"There is no alternative. And we'll pick him for you if you let us make the decision. He's a good, mature man."  Sameer praised him, going into great detail about the man who would become her husband.

"I'm not sure."

"Go at your own pace. We shall wait."

And there in the bathroom, Afiyah stared at her reflection, loathing her existence as she recalled all that had occurred throughout the marriage ceremony. How Khizar made every effort to pretend as though she were only a marionette and that no one could speak for her. She acknowledged her responsibility and decided she shouldn't have been there in the first place.