ISHQ ZAAT

۷

تکلف

𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐟: 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬
noun: an etiquette requiring
social deportment.
           
بتا کر نام ہم کو زندگی کا
گلے میں طوق پہنایا گیا ہے۔

- 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗸𝗮𝗿 𝗻𝗮𝗮𝗺 𝗵𝘂𝗺 𝗸𝗼 𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗴𝗶 𝗸𝗮
𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗾 𝗽𝗲𝗵𝗻𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗶.

• • •

THE GIRL STEPPED INTO THE PITCH BLACK NIGHT, LEAVING BEHIND THE BEAUTIFULLY LIT HAVELI. Her heart thundered in her chest, traitorous tears ran down her face as she picked up the pace.

With her face hidden completely with the chadar, no guard could recognise her. Her walk was that of urgency, putting as much distance as possible between her and the place that'd felt like a prison all her life.

The alleys outside were filthy, with wet concrete floors glistening under a raw, monochrome sky that was above her, heavy and oppressive, as if it were clawing at her very existence.

Everything seemed so unknown to her.

She remembered how speedily their cars used to run along these streets. She never used to get time to become aware of her surroundings. Perhaps the most free time she ever got was inside the walls of her college.

They were never allowed to visit their friends' houses, and the friends themselves never intruded into their affairs. Pushing back the painful thoughts, she continued moving, letting her legs carry her wherever they chose to take her.

Anabiya almost chocked on her breath when she saw a dark silhouette of Batoor Khan at the corner under the street light. It's too dark here. He can't recognise me, calm down.

Batoor Khan stood just a short distance away from her, flanked by two men, and the sight alone was enough to send a surge of fear through Anabiya.

She kept on walking monotonously whilst feeling chills surround her entire body. Batoor Khan lift his gaze from one of his friend and took in appearance of a girl walking ahead with her back towards them. He started whistling lowly.

Batoor Khan started walking behind her with his friends. Anabiya could feel his gaze drilling holes behind her head.

His friends were singing some cheap songs and the sound was piercing through her ears.

Her palms started becoming sweaty. The hand she was using to hold her chadar cover her face suddenly started feeling clammy. Things were becoming unbearable for her.

It only took her a single "Aye larki" of Batoor Khan for Anabiya to dismantle completely

She tripped down over a small brick in the way. God, could she be more clumsier?. The scratch made her release an ouch that suddenly alerted Batoor Khan.

"Anabiya?"

He called out as if asking her. That was the last straw, Anabiya started running and seeing her run was enough to answer his question so he confusedly and quickly started following her.