Thank you everyone for all the love and support you've given me for both stories. Watching a few WaFa vids re-ignited my spark and love for them making me want to write them again, I still wanted to but you know...DeD is ending soon so it's left me feeling a bit sad. But these fics and your continuous VMs reignite my spark so yay!!
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3. The Safest Place to Hide
"Farah, tum please Zohra bhabhi aur Tajjamul bhai ke saath ghar jao," (Farah, you please go home with Zohra sister-in-law and Tajjamul brother) Ruhi choked out from where they were both sitting with Wali pacing back and forth in the waiting room.
"N-nahi Mama, main inke saath nahi jaaoongi, yeh mujhe Moeez ke paas le jayein ge, main nahin jaoongi," (N-no, Mama, I will not go with them, they will take me to Moeez, I won't go) Farah protested and Ruhi winced, while Wali stopped, glancing over at Farah in concern.
"Tayee-Ammi, ek dafa Bare Baba ut jayein, phir unko dekhke main aur Farah ghar chale jayein ge...aghar Farah ko mere saath jane mein darr na lage to," (Aunty, once Uncle regains consciousness, after we check up on him, then Farah and I can go home...if Farah doesn't feel scared going with me) Wali offered Ruhi, trying to be friendly even if his Tayee-Ammi had been anything but to him and his family.
Tears fell down Ruhi's cheeks and she seemed too shaken by everything to say or do much. "F-Farah se poochlo." (A-ask F-Farah)
Wali looked at Farah who gave a small, timid nod. She wasn't talking much to anyone and that was worrying. He couldn't even imagine what she was feeling, any 18-year-old going through something like this was tough to handle. Zarminay was only 16 and if she ever went through something like that, he'd kill the person who even tried. He wasn't normally one to be violent but for his loved ones, he could go to any length. He hoped Bare Baba was okay.
Luckily, he seemed to be fine and they all went to see him inside. Ruhi grasped Behroz's hand crying.
"Behroz," Ruhi said, unable to really say more than his name and Behroz squeezed her hand.
"Main teekh hoon Ruhi," (I am fine Ruhi) Behroz assured her. "Please...tum Farah ko Wali ke saath jane do, woh wahaan bilkul mehfooz ho gi." (Please...you let Farah go with Wali, she will be completely safe there)
Ruhi managed a weak smile and nod. "Theek hai, aghar meri Farah wahan mehfooz toh mujhe koi aitraaz nahi hai." (Alright, if my Farah is safe there then I have no issues there)
"Baba," Farah timidly stepped forward. "I'm sorry...meri waja se aap beemaar ho gaye." (I'm sorry...because of me, you got sick)
"Are nahi beta," (Gosh no daughter) Behroz used his other hand to touch her head. "Tumhari waje se kuch nahi hua. Isme tumhara koi kusoor nahi hai, bas...tumhare aankhoon mein aansoon nahi dekhe jaate." (Nothing has happened because of you. You have no fault in this...just...I can't see tears in your eyes)
A few tears fell down Farah's cheek as she leaned in close to her father and Behroz simply smiled before looking at Wali.
"Wali beta, meri laadli ki hifaazat karna," (Wali son, keep my precious daughter safe) Behroz said gently.
Wali smiled, bowing his head. "Ji Bare Baba, aapki ab tabiyat kaisi hai?" (Of course, Uncle, how are you feeling now?)
Farah tilted her head, watching Wali and Behroz talk. She didn't know Wali at all, they had barely even spoken to one another more than a few minutes, but the fact that he had come all the way just to help Behroz save her from Moeez...she didn't know what to think. It was scary. That Moeez the person who she had trusted the most besides her own parents had kidnapped her, beaten her up and...she didn't even want to think about the kiss. Sweat seemed to develop on her forehead which she quickly wiped away.
"Farah kya hua?" (Farah what happened?) Wali's voice snapped out of her thoughts and Farah was glad about that. She looked to see Wali besides her and her parents were talking.
"Kuch nahin...bas baut uljan mein hoon, kya hum yahan se chal sakte hain?" (Nothing...just really uneasy, can we please go from here?) Farah felt nauseous, like she would throw up. Moeez had kissed her and tried to touch her in a really uncomfortable way...a way that she really didn't know how to explain...but she couldn't exactly tell anyone that, what if Wali touched her in the same way? Could she really trust him? If her best childhood friend, her cousin, who she trusted with her entire life could stab her in the back like this, then she didn't even know Wali. Why would he not...? Because Baba would never choose someone bad for her right? Wali was Baba's choice, not Moeez. The thought was somehow comforting...
"Farah? Chalein?" (Farah? Shall we?) Wali said gently causing Farah to blink again. He seemed to be waiting patiently for her.
"K-kahan?" (W-where?) Farah said, feeling as if her head was spinning because all this was way too much to handle.
"Bare Baba keh rahein hain hum tumhare ghar se kuch kapre leke phir haveli chalein," (Uncle was saying that on the way, we pick up some of your clothes from home than head to haveli) Wali said to her and Farah nodded.
"Theek hai," (Okay) Farah agreed, before going to hug her Mama and allowing Baba to hug her. She had to admit Wali's behaviour was so different from anything she had thought. He seemed to understand she was scared, allowing her to sit in the back of the car as they drove back to the haveli. He also kept asking her if she wanted to stop somewhere and eat. It was a sweet gesture but everytime her thoughts went back to the kiss and everything really, she felt like she really couldn't stomach anything. In fact, even being in the same car as her "husband" disgusted her, she had kissed another man. Married women did not kiss men who weren't their husband, that much she already knew. If Wali ever found out about that, he'd want to divorce her no matter what their parents wanted.
Once they arrived in the haveli, Farah slowly followed after Wali since Agha Jaan, Arjumand and Zarminay were all at the entrance waiting for them.
"Farah, beta shukhar hai ke tum theek ho," (Farah, daughter thank god you're alright) Agha Jaan said reaching out for her but she shied back a little behind Wali. It was odd, Agha Jaan had been nothing but nice to her, but considering how nice Moeez had always been to her...trusting anyone seemed tough right now.
"Woh Agha Jaan, Farah is waqt mardoon se thodi dari vi hai," (Actually Agha Jaan, Farah is a bit scared of men right now) Wali explained gently.
Agha Jaan seemed to relax and looked to Arjumand who nodded, stepping forward and placing her hands on Farah's shoulders.
"Farah, tum ab bilkul mehfooz ho, tumhe darne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai," (Farah, you are completely safe, you don't need to be scared at all) Arjumand said, trying to sound reassuring. What she didn't expect however was Farah completely breaking down to tears. Maternal instinct pulsated inside Arjumand and she pulled the young girl into a hug. After all, Farah looked a lot like Zarminay did when she was upset.
"Chachi..." (Aunty...) Farah sobbed into Arjumand's chest.
Arjumand rubbed Farah's back. "Wali, kya hua isko, yeh toh..." (Wali, what happened to her, she is...)
Wali looked visibly upset. "Baad mein baat karein ge Ammi, abhi aap Farah ko apne saath kamre mein lejayein." (We'll take later, Mum, for now take Farah into your room with you)
Arjumand nodded, her heart clenching at how broken Farah seemed. She may not be happy with Behroz and Ruhi but seeing their daughter like this, her daughter-in-law like this broke her heart for some reason that she couldn't explain. Maybe because to her, she was still just a child who had no fault of what her parents did. Gently, she guided Farah to her bedroom, helping her get in the bed.
"Tum thoda rest karlo Farah," (Take some rest Farah) Arjumand said gently. "Tumne kuch khaya peeya hai ya Wali tumhe aise hi le aya yahan?" (Have you eaten anything or drunk any water or has Wali just brought you like this?)
Farah wiped away her tears. "Nahi, aisi koi baat nahi, mujhe bhook nahi lag rahi hai. Main thoda sau jaoon phir utke dekhloon gi." (No, it's nothing like that, I'm just not hungry. I'll sleep a bit then wake up and see if I'm hungry.)
Arjumand smiled a bit. "Theek hai, beti, jaisi tumhari marzi." (Okay, daughter, as you wish)
Farah watched Arjumand leave before curling into the blanket, closing her eyes. She was safe in this haveli. For now, this was the safest place to hide from Moeez.
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