All night long, he applied cold compresses to her forehead. The man who had servants for every command, who had never bent down to pick up a fallen object, spent the entire night on his knees by the bedside, tending to Hooreen.
Around noon, Hooreen finally opened her eyes. She managed to sit up with difficulty; she had become very weak due to the fever. Seeing her wake up, Kayan immediately touched her forehead to check the fever and spoke anxiously:
"Hoor... are you okay? How is your health now? Thank God the fever broke."
To his questions, Hooreen simply looked at him with empty eyes, causing him to lower his head. Hooreen shifted her gaze. She sat staring blankly at the wall. Kayan gathered courage to address her again, but there was no response from Hooreen. Nothing mattered to her anymore.
Seeing Hooreen constantly staring at the wall vacantly, he began to feel angry.
"I am talking to you, Hoor...!"
Saying this, he grabbed her by both arms angrily, pulled her close, and said:
"I admit it was my mistake, but you forced me to make this mistake. With the same bravery and boldness with which you committed your mistake—telling a third person our secrets and telling everyone that you feel disgust toward me—accept this punishment with that same bravery and boldness. I told you before that if you said such things again, you would be responsible for the outcome. The existence you felt disgust for... You are now entirely a part of that existence."
At his words, Hooreen looked up at Kayan. In her eyes, along with moisture, there was something that made Kayan's heart sink. He became restless. Hooreen didn't let a single tear fall from her eyes, which made Kayan feel remorse. He left her and went outside.
She was sitting with her eyes closed, leaning against the headboard, when she suddenly felt a gentle, affectionate hand on her head—a hand that felt very familiar. She opened her eyes instantly, saying "Mama...!" and sure enough, Haleema Begum was standing before her.
Kayan's restlessness and remorse were increasing. His conscience was lashing him with whips of guilt. He had called Haleema Begum. After asking about her well-being, he said:
"Auntie! Can you come to Islamabad right now...? Waleed is outside your house, please come."
She spoke in surprise:
"What happened, son...? So suddenly...? And Hooreen's Papa isn't home either; he has gone to Rawalpindi for work, so how can I come...?"
Kayan spoke in a remorseful tone, trying to maintain control:
"Auntie! There is no time to think right now. Nothing is right here. Please come, Hoor needs you."
He hung up, leaving Haleema Begum worried. She immediately took her shawl and came out, where Waleed was already waiting for her.
After a long journey, she finally arrived back in Islamabad. This was the city that had once taken everything from her, and today she was back, unaware that this city had now stripped her daughter of her peace, tranquility, and love.
Kayan was sitting on the sofa in the hall when she rushed toward him anxiously:
"What happened to Hoor...? Where is she...?"
Kayan stood up and spoke with his head lowered in shame:
"I ruined everything."
"What are you saying, son...?"
She looked at him in confusion. Kayan told her everything, from Samara's talk up until now, and finally said:
"I misused my rights... I didn't want to do this... but I don't know how all this...!"
His words made the ground slip from beneath Haleema Begum's feet. She sat down on the sofa as if collapsing. Strange scenes began to flash before her... someone's screams... someone's laughter... a sigh from a heart... it was striking her ears repeatedly. She sat like that for a long time. Then, rising with an emotionless tone, she asked Kayan for Hooreen's room and went to her. Seeing her, the same thoughts began to circulate in her mind again, which she shook off as she stepped forward.
Seeing her, the dam of Hooreen's patience broke, and she began to sob uncontrollably. Kayan, standing at the door, couldn't bear her crying and left.
"Mama... he... Kaya... n... has... w-ith... m-e...!"
"Quiet now, my child. I know what happened to you... but he is your husband."
She spoke while trying to comfort her. At her words, Hooreen asked in surprise:
"You... know... that... Kaya... n...!"
"Yes, I know that he is your husband. You told your Papa but not me, yet I knew everything anyway."
"Mama, if... you... knew... then why... did you keep... me... in the dark...?"
She spoke in a shocked tone.
"Well, you also kept us in the dark by not telling us that the owner of your school is none other than Kayan, with whom you share a strong bond."
At this, she lowered her head. Her mother's point was valid, as Hooreen hadn't told them anything herself. She would tell Mr. Ilyas everything, but not her mother. Seeing her silent and shedding tears, she spoke again:
"Whatever happened, forget it and start a new life with Kayan."
"Mama, do you even know what Kayan did to me...? Kayan took away my pride, my honor—everything—and you say I should forget it all...?"
She was in a state of shock, so her mother tried to explain, speaking a bit rudely:
"Hooreen, don't say the wrong thing. He is your husband... he has all the rights over you. He merely used that right. If he had done all this that night instead of marrying you, your honor and pride would have been taken. Have you thought if he hadn't married you... and done all this... then...? But no, Hooreen, he made you his honor, and he loves you immensely. He just made this mistake, forget it all."
She said these things with a heavy heart. She didn't want Hooreen's home to be ruined for any reason. She knew Kayan was also at fault, but she didn't want to repeat the past.
"How easily you said I should forget it all...! And this was a mistake, Mama...? You cannot understand what I am going through...! You say he loves me immensely—what kind of love is this, Mama, that has destroyed everything for me...? What was my fault? Why did all this happen to me...? How can the person who cannot see a tear in my eyes give me a wound for a lifetime...? Why did Kayan do this to me...? Why, Mama...?"
"Because your father did the same to me. What your father did has come before you, do you understand?"
She erupted in anger. Hooreen looked at her mother in disbelief and, shaking her head, spoke with full confidence:
"No... my Papa could never do that. He is very good... he couldn't do that to anyone...! How can you say such a disgusting thing about your husband...?"
She spoke while holding her mother's shoulders. Haleema Begum brushed her hands away and said:
"I am not talking about my husband; I am talking about your father."
"Mama... what... are you... saying...???"
Hooreen Mother's Past
"Noor! The boss is calling you to the office."
She was sitting at the computer doing some paperwork when Nadia told her. She stood up, hiding the expression of distaste on her face. She was constantly wary of her boss's gaze because Noor felt his eyes piercing through her body. Ever since Afsha Begum had kicked her out of the house, she lived with her elderly grandmother. With the rising inflation, their survival was becoming impossible, so Noor insisted on getting a job. Her maternal cousin, who was also her fiancé, had forbidden her from working, saying he was capable of bearing all their expenses, but Noor did not want to accept any favors from him yet. Before her stubbornness, Ilyas eventually gave in. She had found this good job with great difficulty, but she was deeply afraid of her boss's bold stares. But not anymore; she had decided that today was her last day here.
She composed herself outside the office and, keeping her anger in check, knocked on the door. Upon receiving permission, she went inside and spoke with her head lowered. "Yes, Sir, did you call me?"
Amin looked at her from head to toe with eyes full of lust and spoke in a honeyed tone. "I have been calling you for a long time, but you simply don't come."
"Sir...?" She spoke in confusion at his words.
"You submitted your resignation starting tomorrow. If you leave, what will happen to me? I mean, to my company."
"Sir, I don't want to do this job anymore."
"Can I know the reason for this...?"
"Sir, my Nikah is next week. My in-laws don't like me working, and I don't need it anymore." She spoke confidently. Seeing the spark in her eyes and tone, several frowns appeared on his forehead, but he kept his composure and spoke.
"How long have you been working here...?"
"Sir, three years..." Her eyes were still lowered. He spoke in a stern voice.
"Then you should be well aware of the company policy that one must inform a month before leaving. I do not give you permission to leave the job."
At his words, she smiled sarcastically, looked into his eyes, and said: "Sir, today is the last day of my contract, so I do not require anyone's permission to leave the job."
Her sarcastic manner hit him like a blow, but he controlled himself and spoke. "Okay Noor, fine. Today is your last day, so all this file work must be finished today."
"But Sir, how...? How can fifteen days' worth of work be done in one day...?" She was on the verge of tears, but he spoke authoritatively.
"That is your problem. Do it however you like."
She stomped out and started working at her desk. It was almost closing time, but her work wasn't finished yet. She was engrossed in her work when her phone rang. She saw "Ilyas Calling" on the screen. A captivating smile appeared on her lips, which Amin also noticed.
She received the call and said: "So, you finally remembered me...?"
"Remember? You reside in my heart and mind, Noor..." He spoke in a loving tone that made her blush.
"Enough, enough... tell me, why did you call...?"
"I wanted to say come home early. I and Mother are waiting for you; we have to go to the market for wedding shopping." She became sad at his words and spoke gloomily.
"Sir has given me a lot of work today, so I will be late."
"Then we will go tomorrow. Anyway, today is the last day of your job, so finish the work."
After talking about miscellaneous things, she ended the call. Meanwhile, the smile, brightness, and glow on her face set Amin on fire. The colors of love spreading across her face filled Amin with a lava of anger and jealousy because she had smiled for someone else. Amin had had his eye on her for a long time, but she was different from the rest. There was a soft corner for her in Amin's heart, which is why he hadn't done anything to her until now, otherwise, he was quite infamous for such things.
While working, she lost track of time. It was ten o'clock at night. She was getting repeated calls from home. She answered the call and, with the phone to her ear, walked toward Amin's cabin, saying: "Yes, my work is finished, I'm coming. This file is very important, so I'm just going to leave it in Sir's cabin and head out. There's no one in the office, you come to pick me up..."
As she stepped into the office while talking, she was surprised to see that Amin was still sitting there. His gaze made her feel a shiver down her spine. She lowered her hand with the phone, and due to the low battery, the mobile phone switched off. Without placing the file on the table, she stepped backward toward the door, but it was locked. Alarm bells started ringing in her head. Her sixth sense was making her feel that something was very wrong. She looked helplessly at Amin, who was leaning back in his chair, smiling meaningfully at her.
Controlling her fear and thoughts, she said: "Sir, this door isn't opening... please open it."
"It won't open until I wish it to. And for now, my wish is something else." Wearing a vile smile on his face, he spoke meaningfully.
"What are you saying, Sir...? Open the door...!"
Saying this, she made a futile attempt to open the door, but to no avail. He laughed loudly at her action. The sound of his laughter felt like it was piercing her ears. She put her hands over her ears. Meanwhile, Amin moved toward her, grabbed her by the arm, took her into his grip, and, muzzling her mouth with one hand, said: "In my presence, your eyes never even look up, and yet you talk to someone else with such smiles...?"
"What are you saying... Sir... let me go please...!" She spoke in a pleading tone, trying to remove his hand from her mouth.
"Do I look crazy to you, that I would let such a beautiful prey go once it's in my hands...? And let someone else touch you before me...? You want to get married, right? Go ahead, but first, listen to me... You will be happy with this, and so will I. Just for a little while, consider me your husband and make my night as beautiful as yourself...!"
Saying this, he touched Noor's cheeks. Noor jerked his hand away, slapped him, and said: "I am not shameless like you! Keep your filthy hands away from me... and let me go, it's for your own good... if my brother finds out, he will erase your very existence from this world...!"
Her slap made him even more furious. He rained slaps down on Noor. "You bitch...! You raise your hand on me...? And you're threatening me...? I will take all this arrogance out of you today...!"
Saying this, he tore the shirt from Noor's shoulders and left a deep mark on her shoulder with a paper cutter. As she screamed in pain, he spoke with brutality. "This mark will remind you of me all the time; it will never let you forget any of this. I will leave you in such a state that you won't be able to show your face to anyone, not even yourself."
"N-no... no... for God's sake... don't do this...!"
Her pleas and entreaties went in vain, and Amin tore apart not only her honor but her soul as well.
After the call ended, Ilyas repeatedly dialed Noor's number, but it remained switched off. Panic began to set in, so he took his bike and left to pick her up. Upon reaching her office, he found it locked and deserted. He was about to leave when he spotted Amin, who was walking toward his car, humming and twirling his keys. Ilyas approached him and asked about Noor anxiously.
"Excuse me, Sir...! Do you know Noor? She works in this office."
"Yes, I know her. But what is your relationship to her...?"
Amin asked in an investigative tone while composing himself. Ilyas replied:
"I am her fiancé, Ilyas."
Upon hearing the introduction, Amin looked him up and down; Ilyas was truly a handsome man. Amin extended his hand and said:
"Oh, so you are Noor's fiancé...? I am Amin Laghari. Your fiancée is inside—well, I'm off. I hope we meet again."
Saying this, he left. Ilyas, puzzled by his manner, went inside, but the office was desolate. He was about to turn back when he heard the sound of sobbing. It was Noor's voice. He ran toward the sound, and upon seeing her, he froze as if buried under tons of earth. Noor lay semi-conscious and naked on the floor. Her clothes were torn, and the blood on her shoulder had clotted. Regaining his senses, Ilyas covered her with a nearby shawl and lifted her.
"Noor... Noor... open your eyes... Noor, Noor...!"
But she remained unconscious. Ilyas rushed her to the hospital and called her grandmother from there. They all reached the hospital. Her ravaged state told the story of the catastrophe she had endured, and the doctors confirmed it. Noor's grandmother could not bear the shock; she suffered a fatal heart attack on the spot. When Noor regained consciousness, hearing this news broke her completely. On the other hand, Ilyas's family refused to proceed with the marriage.
Noor did not want to let Amin off easily. She filed a police report, but how could anyone touch such a wealthy man? In court, all evidence and witnesses turned against her; even the doctors and their reports were changed through bribery. He walked free and stood before Noor, saying:
"You middle-class people can't harm me. Though I must admit, you are quite a captivating thing; I haven't had my fill yet...!"
Hearing this, Ilyas lunged at him and punched him in the face. The police restrained him as he shouted in rage:
"I won't leave you alive, you despicable human...!"
Amin looked at Ilyas with a mocking smile and addressed Noor:
"Look how your lover talks about killing even after all this. But after what I did to you, forget this lover—no one will marry you. If you want the safety of your so-called fiancé, stay away from me and end this matter here. You can do nothing against my power."
"You're right, it is better for me to end this matter here. But Amin Laghari, my God will punish you for what you've done. He is watching everything. His rod is silent; just be ready for His strike."
"Hahahaha...! When you couldn't do anything to me, you try to scare me with useless talk...? The rope is burnt, but the twist remains...!"
He mocked her.
"Laugh as much as you want... you have no sister or mother to understand the honor of a woman. Because of you, I lost my grandmother... she couldn't bear her child's pain and left me forever. How would you understand the pain of a child...? But a time will come when you will go through this agony. I pray to God, Amin, that He never grants you children, and even if He does, may it be a daughter who pays the penance for your sins. Mark my words, Amin Laghari... you are very proud of your power, but you will see that on that day, this power and wealth will be of no use. You will writhe and cry, but there will be no one to listen to you."
After the call ended, Ilyas repeatedly dialed Noor's number, but it remained switched off. Panic began to set in, so he took his bike and left to pick her up. Upon reaching her office, he found it locked and deserted. He was about to leave when he spotted Amin, who was walking toward his car, humming and twirling his keys. Ilyas approached him and asked about Noor anxiously.
"Excuse me, Sir...! Do you know Noor? She works in this office."
"Yes, I know her. But what is your relationship to her...?"
Amin asked in an investigative tone while composing himself. Ilyas replied:
"I am her fiancé, Ilyas."
Upon hearing the introduction, Amin looked him up and down; Ilyas was truly a handsome man. Amin extended his hand and said:
"Oh, so you are Noor's fiancé...? I am Amin Laghari. Your fiancée is inside—well, I'm off. I hope we meet again."
Saying this, he left. Ilyas, puzzled by his manner, went inside, but the office was desolate. He was about to turn back when he heard the sound of sobbing. It was Noor's voice. He ran toward the sound, and upon seeing her, he froze as if buried under tons of earth. Noor lay semi-conscious and naked on the floor. Her clothes were torn, and the blood on her shoulder had clotted. Regaining his senses, Ilyas covered her with a nearby shawl and lifted her.
"Noor... Noor... open your eyes... Noor, Noor...!"
But she remained unconscious. Ilyas rushed her to the hospital and called her grandmother from there. They all reached the hospital. Her ravaged state told the story of the catastrophe she had endured, and the doctors confirmed it. Noor's grandmother could not bear the shock; she suffered a fatal heart attack on the spot. When Noor regained consciousness, hearing this news broke her completely. On the other hand, Ilyas's family refused to proceed with the marriage.
Noor did not want to let Amin off easily. She filed a police report, but how could anyone touch such a wealthy man? In court, all evidence and witnesses turned against her; even the doctors and their reports were changed through bribery. He walked free and stood before Noor, saying:
"You middle-class people can't harm me. Though I must admit, you are quite a captivating thing; I haven't had my fill yet...!"
Hearing this, Ilyas lunged at him and punched him in the face. The police restrained him as he shouted in rage:
"I won't leave you alive, you despicable human...!"
Amin looked at Ilyas with a mocking smile and addressed Noor:
"Look how your lover talks about killing even after all this. But after what I did to you, forget this lover—no one will marry you. If you want the safety of your so-called fiancé, stay away from me and end this matter here. You can do nothing against my power."
"You're right, it is better for me to end this matter here. But Amin Laghari, my God will punish you for what you've done. He is watching everything. His rod is silent; just be ready for His strike."
"Hahahaha...! When you couldn't do anything to me, you try to scare me with useless talk...? The rope is burnt, but the twist remains...!"
He mocked her.
"Laugh as much as you want... you have no sister or mother to understand the honor of a woman. Because of you, I lost my grandmother... she couldn't bear her child's pain and left me forever. How would you understand the pain of a child...? But a time will come when you will go through this agony. I pray to God, Amin, that He never grants you children, and even if He does, may it be a daughter who pays the penance for your sins. Mark my words, Amin Laghari... you are very proud of your power, but you will see that on that day, this power and wealth will be of no use. You will writhe and cry, but there will be no one to listen to you." ( Hooreen Mother's Past Ended )
Present
"Hoor... he scarred me...he ruined me..... he left me with nothing. At that time, no one was with me except Ilyas. Everyone blamed me... made various allegations. I was certain that if my brother were with me, none of this would have happened. I yearned for my brother. I wanted to contact him and tell him everything, but I was bound by the oath I gave to Elder Mama... that's why I didn't speak to him or tell him anything. Even after all that, Ilyas expressed his desire to marry me many times, but I refused every time.
I didn't consider myself worthy of him. I didn't want a scarred girl like me to enter the life of such a good and great man. I hated myself; I was repulsed by my own existence. In that state, I found out that a new life was growing inside me—the blood of that beast. I tried to end my life, but Ilyas saved me. He gave me a new life and gave me his name. He married me despite my countless refusals. But the sensation of your existence lit a fire of hatred inside me. Burning in that fire of anger and hate, a cry escaped my heart. Do you know what I used to pray to God after every prayer...?
I prayed that God give me a daughter... and that the same should happen to her that her father did to me...! That she should go through the same agony I went through...! At that time, to me, you were only the blood of the man who trampled my womanhood into the dust and destroyed my honor... That is why for nine months, I kept praying this prayer and hated you until you came into this world. But when I took your tiny being into my arms for the first time, I realized you are my daughter.
I was afraid of what your place would be in this house when Ilyas and I had our own children... Do you know? He sensed my fear and worry and said that we would have no children other than Hooreen, nor did he need any. For him, you are everything—a piece of his heart... But then I became afraid of my own answered prayers. I wept and prayed fervently that my cry shouldn't affect you, that all my curses should be nullified... that nothing wrong should happen to you. But fate... has brought you to this turn today. You and Ilyas are my reasons for living.
I love you very much, but seeing you reminded me of the injustice done to me. That's why I stayed away from you, fearing my dark shadow might fall on you. You were simultaneously the cause of my joy and my pain. When you returned home in that state from Sehresh's Valima, seeing you like that, I saw a reflection of myself in you. My motherhood lashed me, saying:
'Look, Noor, what you wanted has happened, your prayers were answered'... I was dying bit by bit seeing you like that, Hooreen, and that is why I was afraid to send you anywhere. But thank God, He honored my motherhood. Hearing of your Nikah gave my heart some peace, but I still had regrets and many fears. But when I found out from Brother that it was none other than his son Kayan, meeting him cleared all my doubts.
Do you know, Hooreen? Before meeting you after the Nikah, Kayan met your Papa. He told him everything and made him realize the love he has for you in his heart. Your Papa told him to stay away from you. He did, Hooreen... he stayed away until your Papa agreed. He had bought the school long ago, but he came before you with our consent because he clearly said he wanted to take his Hoor away, but this time he didn't want to cause her any pain.
He wanted to take her with the consent of her parents and her own will... He even knows the truth of your existence—that you are not Mr. Ilyas's biological daughter. Even after that, his love did not diminish. We were thinking of your Ruksati after your return from the trip, but perhaps fate intended for it to happen like this. Hoor, you haven't gone through the agony I went through.
Kayan is your husband; he has done nothing wrong, he just used his right, even if your consent wasn't involved. Even after that, you are so broken; think for a moment what I must have been going through all these years...! Look at this mark—it is still on my body today, torturing me every moment. Even today, seeing it makes me a victim of that agony all over again. All those scenes start revolving before my eyes. Even today, I wake up in the middle of the night and cry, but even in that state, Ilyas handles me; he doesn't let my existence break or scatter... just as Kayan doesn't let you scatter.
In Kayan, I see a reflection of your Papa; just as he fought everyone for me, Kayan stood by you at every turn. Hooreen, you are very lucky that Kayan is in your life. He loves you immensely; his love is a passion that will keep you away from every cold and hot wind of the world and give you so much love that you will forget your every grief. To win your love, he stayed away from you for so long. You are his wife; he could have taken you by force even without our consent, but he did no such thing.
To convince your parents, he kept coming to them every day until their decision was in his favor. He sought your love, but you did wrong by talking about him with Amna and Samara. Whatever was between you two was your private matter... If you hadn't done that, none of this would have happened, and you wouldn't have been punished for your father's sins in this way. Now forget whatever happened and start a new life here with Kayan...!"