Waiting for mom
I have very fond memories with Saima. She was my dear friend and her house was a few steps away from ours. That is why the meeting was easy. We used to call his mother Aunt Shireen. They were really sweet talkers. She used to love me like a daughter, I also treated her as a mother because my mother had died when I was a child. I used to find the sweetness of Mamata in their love. That’s when I got attached to this family.
Saima was a good girl. Everyone loved him – his father’s job was in a nearby village. They used to go around the city sometimes. There was only one college in our town. It was actually a boys’ college, later girls were also allowed to enter, because our town was small and a separate college for girls had not yet been built here. Saima was in first year and was very smart in studies. It was with great difficulty that she was allowed to enroll in a boys’ college, otherwise the village would favor their girls’ higher education.
Everyone envied her, her peers called her lucky because she herself sat at home yearning to go to college after matriculation, including her own elder sister Samreen, who only managed matriculation, was not allowed to study further, was engaged and was going to get married soon. Samreen was very beautiful, then there was a mortal relationship and now a few days later marriage. Preparations were going on in full swing, Saima was also busy with her sister’s wedding.
After two days, she came to our house to give the marriage card. Aunt Shireen had come along. They said that we have come to get you. My stepmother was, she was asked. Let us take Bushra because she will help in the marriage work. Amy did not refuse. So I went to his house after two days leave. Sometimes a small thing becomes the cause of a big tragedy and life turns upside down. Many guests had come that day because the procession was coming in the evening, we were all busy with work. There was no time to scratch the head. The next day, the procession came at the appointed time and we girls reached the terrace to see the procession, I also went to see the procession.
A boy who came in the procession caught his eye. He was a handsome young man and his name was Badr Munir, Saima’s cousin. He was ahead. My eyes kept going up to him. He also realized this and now his eyes started looking for me from time to time. It often happens in marriages that someone’s picture is suddenly formed on the blank paper of your heart, when you came home, your heart was full of strange feelings. Muneer’s face kept moving in his eyes, he kept thinking of her. I used to think, Oh, I wish I could see him one more time, so that I could pay my respects. God heard the prayer. When she came to college, she was seen. He used to study in the same college but I never paid attention to him. Suddenly, my heart forgot to beat when I saw it.
He had seen me and was coming towards me. You here he asked … I am in first year and you? I read the interviews here, but I have never seen it, it is just a coincidence, even if you have seen it, you must not have paid attention. Let’s go now, I won’t forget these words came out of his mouth without help, then these words came out of my lips without help. never. After that day we both started seeing each other every day. When there was a free period, Munir and I would eat and drink together in the canteen and talk. With the passage of time, our friendship matured.
How time flies. It is not known. I reached third year and he reached fourth year. Our separation was less than a year away as these days were to begin as soon as Munir left college. Before the season of separation came, we had to take some steps to become one, but for this the consent of the family was necessary. My mother was also a stepmother. Informing the family of the choice was like getting an ax kicked in the foot. It would have been that mother and father would have stopped me from going to college. I would have missed out on graduation – that’s when I took the plunge. In order not to give and take, however, I had a strong desire that Munir be my life partner, he also had the same desire, but he even used to say that if I could not marry you, then be sure that I will eat something and die, because I cannot bear the shock of your separation at all.
After coming from college, she used to call him first to change her clothes and have food. Even at night we used to talk on the phone for hours, our hearts were not filled with talking. In those days, while my Thar Dyer papers were being published. A relative of Abu’s came from the village, saw me and liked me for his son and talked about the relationship. Abu agreed and also gave the engagement date. When I came to know about this, the ground came out from under my feet.
I was very worried. Didn’t even have breakfast and started looking for Munir as soon as she came to college to inform about her problem. She barely studied for two periods, the third period was empty. It was also empty so we came to the canteen. As soon as he saw my face, the first question he asked was, what is the matter with Bushra, why are you sad? The words were not coming out of my mouth. It was difficult to tell that the engagement is going to take place next month. Dad has fixed the relationship. You do something, he was also worried. He said, “If you say, I will send my parents to your house, they will come to ask for a relationship, no matter what, I will convince them.” I’m sure they will come back in vain, Abu will not agree. The relative he has spoken to is also his childhood friend, so dad will not agree. If my mother had been strong,
she would probably have realized my feelings and asked Abu, but she will not support me either. Then you tell me what will happen next and what do you think? She asked if you accept your parents’ choice then I will leave your life forever, I will never come in your way again. I will die, but it is not acceptable to be the bride of anyone other than you. I said with certainty as I cried. Then there is only one way that we can go to a big city and have a court marriage and you say goodbye to the house. Well, I will support you when you say I will leave home and go out with you but it has to be done soon because I want to be yours before the engagement ceremony and I don’t want to wear someone else’s name ring on my finger. Think carefully because I will take you whenever you say. My problem with leaving home is not as serious as yours.
I have thought that it is better to live a happy life with you than to live with someone. It is my right because my breath my body my life is my own. So why should I give my soul to someone else? Just for the pleasure of others… He was not convinced so I convinced him and then we made a court marriage program. The day and time were fixed. He said that at two o’clock in the night I will wait for you – I will come to the street behind your house. When it was ten o’clock at night, I was very worried. I was thinking that when all the family members go to sleep, I should change my clothes and keep a few essentials and a few pairs of clothes in my bag. By twelve o’clock, everyone was asleep. Then I showered and changed my clothes.
Dry the hair then prepare the bag, do all the work very slowly so as not to knock or open anyone’s eyes. Five minutes before the scheduled time, I left the house after picking up the bag. The latch of the door was not even installed so as not to knock. The back door of the house which opened towards the rear was left open. A few steps ahead, Munir was standing against the wall of an empty house. Seeing him, I got excited and he also came towards me quickly as soon as he saw me. Took my bag in hand and after a short walk we reached the corner of the street, where he parked the car, thankfully no one saw and we safely left the neighborhood and came to the main road, now we were heading towards Lahore. After traveling through the night, we reached Lahore around 10 am. We were getting tired so Munir parked the car at a hotel and we rented a room in the hotel to get some rest. Munir had submitted his identity card.
We got a rented room in a hotel. We were tired and a bit scared and found a peaceful atmosphere here. He fell asleep as soon as he lay down on the bed, he sleeps unconsciously until two o’clock. Had a bath in the afternoon and ordered food. When Munir went to bed after eating, I asked if he had come from home. Now tell me what to do next. Let me think for a while about what to do. Marriage should be arranged first so that our relationship remains valid. I am thinking the same, a friend of mine is a lawyer here in Lahore High Court. I will go to him and talk to him, then I will come and take you to the court and the marriage will take place.
He will probably also arrange the witnesses, but before that we have to think about the accommodation, where will we go after the marriage. You can’t stay in this hotel for the rest of your life, you can stay for a week at most. Need to find a house to rent, 4th year papers to be handed in now. All these problems will be solved but when the parents will know that we have come out, what will happen to them…. I haven’t even told my family, surely they will be arrested by the police, they will have to face difficulties. We were discussing these things and were getting worried that we did not think anything like this when we left the house and now we were thinking these things. At that time, love was blindfolded, social facts and difficulties did not come to mind and these real monsters were standing in front of them.
Muneer said I will go to Asif’s lawyer and talk about the court marriage, see what time he gives, then I will take you, you should lock the hotel room from inside, don’t open the door even if I come. I will tell the manager and come in two to four hours, don’t worry. After doing this he left and I started waiting for him. The TV was placed in the living room, turned it on and entertained. Munir returned in the evening. Told that Asif has been found. Tomorrow the papers will be typed and the witnesses will be arranged, then I will take you as my statement will also be recorded in the court. The next day he left early in the morning and then Munir did not return from morning to evening, I was getting scared. She looked at the clock again and again, but time seemed to have stopped. Turned on the TV and heard a horrifying news that a suicide blast had taken place near the High Court building. Many policemen and passers-by were killed and many injured, Kaleja was shocked to hear this news as Muneer had also gone there.
Evening turned into night. He didn’t come. God knows how she spent the night. The bridge did not catch an eye. She kept praying for Munir’s well-being and safety throughout the night. Didn’t even eat dinner. Bere knocked on the door once, but I opened it and did not answer, so he returned. When morning came and Munir did not come, I understood that something had happened. The manager called in the afternoon. I nervously picked up the receiver. He said that Munir was seriously injured. His legs were blown off in the suicide blast. He did not regain consciousness in the hospital, he died and the hospital staff called after finding our hotel card in his pocket. You give the address of their family. I wrote down Munir’s father’s number and told the manager not to tell him mine because we had sneaked out from the family and he had gone to court to meet a lawyer friend for a court marriage – unfortunately tragedy struck.
I was crying while saying this. Then the manager said, “Don’t worry, consider me as your brother and I will arrange to deliver wherever you want, but the goods are yours.” We cannot take it with us, we have to hand it over to Munir Sahib’s heirs. I said ok, I will think about it in a while and tell you. I didn’t trust the Major, of course he wanted to hand me over to the police. He is just consoling me then I acted cleverly in my knowledge. Called Bere and gave two thousand rupees and said that you are my brother. Somehow get me out of here, but this kind of manager doesn’t know. Bere said, not two thousand, if I give five thousand, then I will get you out of here in such a way that no one will know, otherwise the police will reach here right now, this is a difficult task. My job may be in jeopardy. I was very nervous at that time. I was afraid of the family that I did not think anything, I was afraid of the police from above that the manager must have taken some action that I would be caught after a few moments. Although it was an accidental tragedy for Munir to die in the bomb blast, it would have been a crime for me to run away from home with him. So I gave five thousand to Barre and he showed me another way out of the hotel. No one saw me when I came out of the first staircase. There was a taxi standing there, Bere gestured me to sit in it and said that it will take you to my house, go there and sit comfortably and I will finish my duty and come back, then I will take you where you want. I had let Munir’s luggage stay in the hotel. Only took my bag with my clothes cash and some jewelry.
The taxi driver dropped me off at the door of Bere’s house, maybe he knew him. Bere’s name was Iftikhar and he was not a good man. The men who stayed at the hotel were a means of providing them with the wrong kind of entertainment, so it was also connected to this market. Iftikhar came at night. There were no women in his house and he lived alone. As soon as he came, he called a woman. After a while that woman came and they both discussed for some time in another room then said Bushra Bibi this is my aunt, she lives nearby you go to her house because I live here alone so it is not proper for you to stay here. They will deliver you here tomorrow. If you want, leave your belongings or take them with you. Aunt said, let their belongings stay here. Tomorrow, I will go to Mangwal, it is getting dark now and we both women will go in a taxi. It is not right to carry belongings. These bags may contain jewelery etc. or any valuables. I was half-dead with the shock of Munir’s death – Aunty’s compassionate words from upstairs and repeated hugs saying don’t cry my baby don’t cry. Think of me as a mother. It will be as you say. Have faith. I will deliver you to your home by tomorrow.
This naughty lady handed over my luggage to Iftikhar and took me in a taxi to a place called Bazar Hasan. I forgot the grief of Munir’s death, I was seeing the death of my honor in front of me, how bad was it to die by coming to this place, I wish I would have been killed in the bomb blast with Munir. I was trembling. Hands and feet were swollen. People came to the woman’s room. My eyes started to burst with surprise that among them was my cousin Mansab Khan along with a police officer. Seeing the post, I did not know whether to cry or laugh. I plucked up the courage to remove the veil and ran towards her and went to her and started crying. She was also surprised to see me. The route was lost in the position and these people have brought me here by deception, for the sake of God, take me away from here. When did you bring it? Just a moment ago, I replied. Well, don’t worry, he said something to his police officer friend and he took the owner of the upstairs room in his arms. I saw the woman was scared. He tied his hands and then said to the mansab, “Surely take him away because I have not given him the money yet, the real culprit is Bera Iftikhar of the hotel, he also has the equipment, he was the one who brought it to sell.” Mansab was my stepmother’s nephew. He brought me along and told his friend the policeman that this is my aunt’s daughter, so the matter should not come out, otherwise the family will be disgraced. Accidentally fell into the hands of these poor people. Thank goodness we got here on time. Anyway, I will take him home in the morning. You can ask Iftikhar to recover his bag, which contains his identity card, jewelery and cash. I spent that night with Mansab. Although my heart was full of sorrow for Munir, but I did not let it appear on the post that I am sad for Munir and I am crying for him.
The sin Munir did not commit with me because he wanted to meet a legitimate relationship after marriage, so that God would be pleased with us, but death did not give him respite. Allah saved him from sin. He was a true person but he didn’t have the courage to control himself in his position, so he saved me from becoming a scum of this market, but he couldn’t control his emotions. The next day the official brought me home and explained to my parents that don’t say anything to him, forgive him for what he did wrong and be thankful that his honor was saved from being auctioned in this market. It was the grace of Allah that my going there became the reason for the protection of your honor and perhaps the death of Munir was also written in the same way that he left the world in a terrible accident. However, this fact was already known to everyone that I ran away with Munir but death had taken her away so no one could spoil anything. On explaining the position, Ami Abu became silent. Although they were very angry with me and did not even talk, but did not act by beating them because it was infamous, then Mansab assured Abu that do not worry, I will marry your daughter.
Now let no one abuse him or taunt him for running away from home. Mansab used to call me every other third day and inquire about my well-being. Sometimes I used to call that he was the only one in my dark life. One day his phone didn’t come and I didn’t call either, so the next day he called and said, “Why didn’t you call Bushraat last night?” I kept waiting. There were guests coming so I didn’t think it was appropriate to call. I pretended. You know that the night I don’t talk to you, that night the black rain doesn’t pass and you don’t understand, I understand, but it’s forced. Well I’m coming to your town, just don’t hide to see you. Saying that it is good to come in front, I hung up the phone. My heart started to panic – of course Mansab had fallen in love with me but I knew that he was engaged to his maternal uncle’s daughter Asiya and to marry me he would have to rebel against this relationship which my mother did not approve of. Even if Mansab came home, we would not talk in front of mother because mother would not like her nephew to meet me, but on the phone he said that he is only coming to meet you. He was coming here to visit his family, then he had to meet me but could not talk at the house, so he came here and called, “Then you come to Farah’s house.” Farah was his uncle’s daughter and his house was near. I told Amy that Farah was ill, should I go to ask, they would not say. The evening is about to happen. What time is this time your father will be angry to go to Farah? My sister favored. Amy will leave the double brother. Not at all. Nowadays, the time to send a young girl is not what people are already doing. In the meantime, his younger brother came from Farah’s house that Farah was taking Baji to the hospital. I go there myself. That same time she went to Farah’s house. It was late to leave the house, actually sent Farah’s brother. Amy was not at home. Now we could talk, then he said humanity. You please your mother because you know that my mother will not make anyone other than Asiya, she is stubborn. It is impossible for your aunt to be my mother, you know that you can please them. Try and look at them. Well tell me if we are not happy with our marriage, will you make me a court? Listening to this, what are you saying? Once before, I have passed this path and have forgotten the path. If you did not find it, destruction was my destiny but this time it would not happen, I am with you. You will talk to yourself and my family, I will not say anything to anyone … Try, he said, “It is a matter of destiny but what is wrong with trying.” It is impossible if you please my father, then it may be possible. The position went home and talked to his mother.
His mother told my mother Amy started to get angry at me at that time. Did you grow up for them? Now what your grandmother was saying was ashamed to hear me, so why didn’t she die, she ran with one, now she has become friends with the other. The position is my blood. Will he lick spit? On whom did you even put the strings? My brother’s daughter is going to put a robbery on the right of Asia. You have taken us, we are ruined. The next day, the Khala came to say my son is saying that he will not marry anyone except Bashari. Will give life How stupid is your girl that my son is taking a name with his mouth. I started crying Amy, Amy did not listen to them, his son came to me. I didn’t go to his son. Closing the nonsense, the boys do not marry girls who have fled the house. He also married you and he will leave a few days later. It is our blood, I know it well. Amy told me so much that I started to cry tears. Finally locked in the room. Then the phone rang. There was a phone call. He said that straight fingers will not come out, our elders are not obedient. I will not marry any price, and if you have handed over your rape to me, it is better to marry me too. How do I believe, I said- I said- just like Munir had gone to get married- Can’t I cross the door of the house while I have not made your past an issue. Have you taken back home Isn’t my love still credible? Dare and get out of the house, we will go to Karachi and make the court merger. So he kept provoking me and remembering my mother’s words, then thinking, I said, “I tell you to tell you.” He told the time and the place and said, “I will come to take it. This is the only way to get rid of Asiya. In my heart, there was a fire of revenge against the stepmother because they had been very harassed and cried, very dirty dirty abuses.” There was no stone unturned in dishonor and humiliation. At night I went out, though the conscience kept reproach all day, thinking that I was doing what I was doing. When the car stopped at the Karachi station, I looked around my position. Within two hours, his path stood on the platform kept walking around. Two young men had been watching me for a long time. Come near me and blindly said, “I will go with us.” When the sweat was sweaty, they started laughing that the man did not come for the whom he had fled. It seems that the other said, “Hahaha with us, their laughter started chasing me.” It was evening and people were looking at me with strange eyes. It was too late, I thought maybe he wouldn’t come anymore.
The habit of the times is to deceive. Yet the heart was saying. No, that’s not so. Now I was thinking that if the position did not come, I would have to go back, but with what mouth would I face the family, especially what would I show to my father who had forgiven me for the first mistake? However, their honor was auctioned. It was just thinking that there was a step in the back. Fearful, I saw my breath stopped, but along with Abu, Abu saw Abu. Now Abu and the position were ahead and I was following them like a dead body, finally we came to a hotel. Abu and office left me there. To manage the marriage. The next day, I had a marriage to Abu himself and handed me back home and returned home. They did not tell Amy what had happened. He knew that Amy would not only cause a riot but would ask Abu at the age that I had decorated his sister -in -law Sartaj on his head. After several days, one day the door. I opened my brother standing in front of me pushed me. I was falling. The position took over. The brother was running that I would not leave you alive, I would take your body. The position wanted to stop it.
Want to explain but he did not stop. Then Mansab told my brother that he and my bonds were with your father’s consent and showed the picture, in which I was married and the position was being married and Abu was also present in the picture. The brother’s anger stopped. The position said. All this happened with your father’s plan, because if your mother did not believe in any way, he had to do so- the brother returned quietly but never came to my door again. Abu died shortly after the incident. Amy has learned the real reality. I wait for them night and day but they don’t come. Maybe they swore not to see my case
