Humsafar (short stories)

Atish e Ishq

Burhan returned to haveli at night and couldn't stop smiling listening to the prayers of people about his married life and lots of children. But as soon as he looked toward the faces of his family his happiness ended seeing the hateful look on their faces. He was getting very hurt by their attitude but could do nothing as he being the Sardar didn't have any prove

He went to his room after dinner. Seeing the room empty he frowned. He checked the washroom and wardrobe but couldn't find her. Burhan sighed and went towards her room. He opened the door angrily and barged inside folding his hands on his chest

"Don't you have manners? One should knock before entering"
Heyam who was hiding in the blanket sat up and said angrily

"Stop it Heyam. Okay? I am not used to this tone. I am suffering too. I would never allow you you talk to me like this. I am your husband, not your servant"
He screamed closing the door behind him

"Husband? Huh? Who told you that?"
Heyam stood up on the bed and looked into his eyes as he was standing in front of her

"You told me by accepting me in front of everyone. Now I don't need your acceptance anymore. If you didn't want it then you should have denied it at that time only. It's not like I forced you. I don't know now why suddenly you're behaving so rudely towards me"
He yelled holding her arms tightly

"Leave me okay? I don't accept you, my husband"
She said suppressing each word and trying to free herself

"Heyam what happened? I left you normal"
Burhan left and asked controlling his anger

"I don't have to explain"
She sat on the bed controlling her tears. She didn't want to cry anymore

"You have to. It's my order"
Burhan announced sitting on the bed beside her

"No, I don't"
Heyam said confidently although she was getting intimidated by him

"Heyam please I am not used to these things and you never behaved like this to me before too. You know how wives respect their husbands here but you're screaming although you know that Dada Jaan's room is just beside yours. You're insulting me. Don't. Please don't make me angry I am already going through a lot. I will say or do something I don't want to so please tell me what happened. I don't wanna scare you. Did somebody say something?"
He asked cupping her face in his hands

"Raima came with Phupho. Phupho called me characterless and that You married me because I was pregnant and You saved my character. She said"
Heyam was looking down at the bed sheet and drawing patterns on it. She was a confident girl but she was always very shy even thinking about her husband

Burhan sighed closing his eyes and fisting his hands which were not hidden by Heyam. Her heart started beating fast. He closed his eyes and asked her dominantly
"She said what Heyam"

"She said that"
Heyam couldn't complete

"Heyam I wanna know"
Burhan said gritting his teeth

"That I should prove myself vir virgin if not"
Heyam muttered barely audible closing her eyes and started sobbing

Burhan was too shocked to react. He felt Heyam holding his hand softly and he felt her tears on his hand
"Burhan I am not pregnant. I swear to Allah I am not. She was calling the midwife. I denied but she was not listening then Dado came and ordered her to stop as they didn't want to embarrass themselves by proving the sin I did in front of everyone"

Burhan got up furiously but Heyam tried to stop him by holding his hands. When she couldn't she hugged him from behind requesting
"No no no. Please don't. Don't make me face more things. I am done. I can't bear anything more. I am innocent. I know that. You know that. I don't wanna give any justification to them. For Allah's sake, you would not request or try to prove our innocence till they ask or we have enough proof. I love my dignity. For me, everything is my dignity. I am very important to myself. If I am happy then the world around me is happy if I am sad then the world around me is sad. If I am not hurting people by loving myself then it's completely fine for me. I would never beg in front of people who had character assassinated me. I don't give a damn about what they think. Even if it hurts me I wouldn't show it, Han. I would not allow you to beg or force them to trust. Allah knows me and that's more than enough"
She said adamantly wiping her tears. She calls Khan as Han since childhood. She knows it's Khan but subconsciously calls it Han