Freedom Part 2

 

Freedom Short Story

Dad? "

"What is the issue Izzah"

Mr. Shafeeq was busy doing his accounting work. 

"My college friends are arranging a get -together in one of my friend's houses. May I go there on Sunday? "

Hope was in Izzah's voice. 

"No Izzah! It is not safe. Going to some stranger's house and staying there for hours. I will not allow it."

"But my friends will be there. You can give me a pick and drop. I will be just in the house."

"Still, I'm not satisfied. So, forget about this plan."

Angry tears welled up in her eyes and she stomped away. 

"Don't do this, don't go there! At least,try to trust us. We are no more kids now! Facing the world can make us strong."

Random angry thoughts were coming in her mind, which she shook away as there was no use of them.

………………………….

"Izzah? "

Izaah turned around and saw Arham standing beside her. 

"Assalam o Alaikum! "

"Walaikum Assalam, How are you?

Arham asked. 

They both were standing in Lahore library. 

"I was looking for some novels to read."

At her words, Arham saw two books in her hand. One was "Raja Gidh" by Bano Qudsia and other one was "Forty rules of love" by Elif Shafak. 

"You have a diverse taste in literature. Classical books of Urdu and English, amazing! " 

Smile came on Izzah's lips. 

"I love to read literature, because I belief that these books have only the power to transfer us into the imaginary world, where happy endings and pure freedom is present."

Arham saw a hint of sadness in her eyes. 

"So, you think pure freedom is only in literature or in an imaginary world? "

"Do you disagree with this point? "

Arham remained quiet at her words, agreeing with her.

She moved away with a bitter smile on her face. Arham came there for some business books, but after having this conversation, he also took one novel from the rack.

He came out of the library and saw her standing on the threshold of the library with a mobile attached to her ear.

"Ok Dad, I will be waiting for you in the library"

Arham heard it and came near her. 

"Is there any problem? "

"My Dad's bike got punctured and he had to pick me from here. So now, I have to wait for him."

"I can drop you, if you want."

He saw reluctance on her face, so he dialled her father's number and asked his permission. After insisting, he agreed. 

"Let me drop you." He again said at which she nodded her head.

"Do you always remain quiet? " He asked while driving.

"Nope! I can speak. But, at this moment, there is nothing to speak."

"How are your studies going?"

"Pretty fine!"

"What type of novels do you love?"

"Classical, historical, spiritual type"

After it, silence again hung into the car. 

"That day, your paper went fine? "

"Alhamdulillah! "

"For the first time, I have borrowed a novel to read. Maybe, it is because I was impressed by your pure freedom theory. I thought, why not I also taste this pure freedom."

Bitter smile comes on Izzah's lip. 

"You are a male, and I think males have the freedom in society. It is just females who are bound."

"It is just an illusion. Otherwise, males also do not have the freedom. They are also bound in different traditional things."

There was a bitterness in his tone at which Izzah glanced at him with wide eyes.

……………………

There was hustle and bustle in Shafeeq's house, because some people were coming for the marriage proposal of Izzah. Different dishes were cooking in the kitchen, and happiness was on each face. 

In her room, Izzah was getting ready. Her light pink dress and light make up was making her descent and attractive. She was looking at her reflection in the mirror, and was trying to gather her jumbled up state. 

"A new chapter of my life is going to start. An unknown person will ask for my proposal and after it, will become the most important person of my life. I will enter into his life with a lot of uncertainties and fears of the unknown. Different types of restrictions will be there, which I have to bear. Marriage is really a gambling."

With the thought of marriage, a person's image came in her inner eyes, and with it different memories flooded. 

"Do you always remain quiet?"

"It's okay"

"I can't guess your destination. You have to tell me."

Sad smile came on her face. It was not that she started loving him, but he seemed different and decent. His eyes were expressive and Izzah had felt the emotions those orbs had for her. But alas! It couldn't happen, which she dreamed of. Just because of these unnecessary restrictions.

…………………..

"What happened Mrs. Saleem? I was so shocked when I heard about your heart attack."

Mrs. Salar entered into the hospital room and said it to her neighbour and friend, Mrs. Saleem. 

"I think you know about it."

"No! I don't know anything. Maid told me about your heart attack, so I hurriedly came to hospital."

"Hina, my son! " 

After these words, Mrs. Saleem started weeping and Hina, Mrs. Salar, became seriously worried. 

"What happened to Saad? "

"My son… he left the house. He was not happy at his marriage proposal, so he left us. I have lost my son. You know about his dour personality, he will never come back. My family shattered Hina!"

With it, Mrs. Saleem started weeping. 

"Why was he not happy? You are his parents, and have every right to make decisions about his life."

Anger flooded in Mrs. Salar's blood. 

Mrs. Saleem shook her head while weeping. 

"No Hina, I have realized that today's generation needs freedom more than previous generations. Today's generation is the modern generation, they have their own point of views about things. Today's parents should care about the balance between the things. Parents have the right to make decisions for their children, but they should also give importance to their point of view. They should take them seriously. JToday's world is fast, and we have to run to make pace with it. We have to come out of our ego."

Mrs. Saleem said while weeping.

At her words, Arham's words rang in her ears.

…………………..

"Today's visit to the hospital has given me much wisdom about Arham's issue. Parents and children, both are doing wrong in this modern century. Parents should let them fly in the world's sky, should let them make their decisions, but should always keep an eye on them without letting them know. So that, whenever they will stumble, parents will always be there to hold them. But when parents become overprotective or traditional, children should be patient with them, because parents are doing it out of love. Getting aggressive or repulsive will just hurt their parents, which is also a sin."

Hina's train of thoughts halted when Mr Salar entered the room. After getting settled and changing into a comfy night dress, Hina said. 

"I think we should consider Arham's wish"

"Which wish? "

"Umm… I think we should ask Izzah's proposal for him. She is a nice girl and can be a positive addition in our family. " Reluctance and fear was in her tone.

Mr. Akram's eyes widened at his wife's words. 

"Are you in your senses? There is a major difference between our social classes. She will never be able to adjust here, in fact people will laugh at us."

"Stop thinking about people, Salar! If our son becomes repulsive towards us, how will we live? What else will remain in our life? At that time, these people for which you are sacrificing your son's happiness, will laugh or criticize you! What else will we then have? "

"Nothing of this sort will happen! And let me tell you, Izzah's proposal has come, and Shafeeq is considering it. They only marry in their caste, and we are not their caste."

Mr. Akram said with anger and laid down to sleep. Clouds of anxiety filled Hina's eyes. 

………………..

After some days, Mr. Salar took his family to Shafeeq's house, to congratulate him on his daughter's proposal. 

Arham was sitting there with a hint of sadness in his eyes, but he was composed. 

"MashaAllah, the family is so decent. Arslan (Izzah's fiance) has its own textile business in Gujranwala. They are fairly rich and educated people, and the most important is they are my best friend's family."

Hina was listening to Durdana's conversation and was staring at her son's lost state. 

"Have you completed the background check of the boy? " 

"There is no need for it. I have full trust in my friend."

Hina was going to say something when Izzah entered the room with a trolley. 

She started serving everyone with a small smile. When she came to serve Arham, their eyes clashed. They both saw sadness in each other's eyes and felt helplessness. Hina noticed this counter and anxiety filled her. 

Izzah quickly averted her gaze and left the room. 

…………………….

"Arham, promise me you will never leave me!" 

Hina was sitting in Arham's bedroom and was saying to him. 

"Mom, why are you saying this? " he became shocked.

"Just promise me! "

Anxiety tears were gathering in her eyes. 

"I promise, Mom. Whatever will be the circumstances, I will never leave your side."

Arham bounded his arms around her shoulders. Hina felt relieved at her son's assurance. 

But now, guilt was killing her. She wanted to do something for her son. 

…………………………..

Izzah was staring at her bridal reflection and tried to smile. Peach colour bridal dress, black curly hair on one shoulder, bridal makeup was making her mesmerizing. Her Nikkah was going to start in just a few minutes. Her cousins were sitting near her in the bridal room and was teasing her. She was trying to enjoy these all things, was trying to accept it, but some force was stopping it. 

"This thing is just best for you. Arslan is a nice guy, Izzah. Everything in life doesn't happen according to your wishes."

She was chanting this in her mind, but still her heart was refusing it. That heart was missing a pair of sad and beautiful eyes. 

Same was the case of Arham. He was also sitting in the marriage hall and was staring at each and every arrangement with hollow eyes. 

Though they both never conversed in a romantic or friendly way, never either of them confessed about his feelings, but still their hearts knew the secret of each other. The seeds of love just randomly came in their hearts and kept on growing without their knowledge. 

And now, they have grown into a forbidden tree.

…………………..

Hina was getting extremely worried for her son. She could see his lost state, but was utterly helpless. 

Mr. Salar knew his son's condition, but was ignoring it because his social class was more important for him. 

Durdana and Shafeeq were looking at different arrangements of event, when one of their guests came near them. 

"Mr. Sahil, how are you doing? "

"Alhamdulillah Mr. Shafeeq! I'm looking for your soon to be son-in-law. Where is he?"

"He is there"

Mr. Shafeeq took that guest to Arsalan. 

"Arslan! "

He turned around at the shout of his name, and found Mr. Shafeeq and one other person with him. His smile dropped at seeing Sahil, and same was the case with Sahil. Mr. Shafeeq was introducing both of them with enthusiasm. 

"Uncle, are you going to marry your daughter with this man? He is already married!"

Sahil's accusation halted everything for Shafeeq. He gazed at Sahil with disbelief. Some other relatives, who were near them, heard it and came near those three people. 

……………..

Arham and his parents heard the commotion and curiously came near that place. To their utter shock, they find out that the groom had a secret wife, and his friend told his secret to everyone. 

"I swear Durdana, I seriously don't know about his marriage. That girl will be a witch who had spelled my innocent son."

Arham was listening to that typical and uneducated woman's cursing, with bitterness and hatred. 

Mr and Mrs. Shafeeq's shoulders slouched and pain was evident on their face.

 Hina saw their emotional pain and then glanced at her son's hollow expressions, and at that moment she took the decision. 

……………………

"Is it possible? "

Durdana asked Hina with a hope. Shafeeq was also staring at Hina with defeated expressions. 

"Yes, my Arham is already agreed. And it is also my wish."

"And Salar? " Shafeeq asked with a cracked voice. 

"Don't worry about him. I will take care of him." Hina assured them. 

Durdana looked at Hina with the tears of gratitude. Otherwise, this situation was devastating for her daughter's life. They blindly trusted their kinship, which caused humiliation and pain to them. 

Shafeeq was gazing at everything with hollow eyes. He realized that blindly following man-made traditions of society was going to destroy his daughter's life. 

"These man-made traditions are there to ease our lives, not to make them difficult."

This realization caused tears in Mr. Shafeeq's eyes. 

…………………..

"Are you in your senses?" Mr. Salar asked harshly. 

"Salar, I have announced this marriage. Now, for the sake of our respect, support this marriage and remain calm here, otherwise people will get harsh on us."

Hina knew the weakness of her husband, so she used it in her favour.

"How can you do it? " Mr. Salar asked defeatedly. 

"I'm a mother, and for me, my son's happiness is a priority." 

Hina turned around toward her son. 

 Mr. Salar remained quiet throughout the event, but fury remained on his face. 

………………………..

Izzah was confused with the change of events, or more precisely of the groom. She never imagined that her parents could go against their traditions. When she got the news in the bridal room that Arslan was already married, she thought that her parents would still marry her with him. But, to her utter shock, they refused to do it. And now, they were accepting a person outside of their kinship. And the person was who she had feelings for. Tears of gratitude came in her eyes and a genuine smile adored her lips. 

At last, the bride of the night smiled!

On the other hand, the unexpected groom of that night also had happiness and smiles on his face. 

……………………….

"I do"

Izzah repeated those beautiful words three times which bound her fate with Arham. Room filled with congratulations and Durdana was receiving all those with a small smile. Some people were also criticizing them or giving harsh remarks, which she was ignoring.

Arham also repeated those words three times and stood to take congratulations from others. Males were coming, hugging him and congratulating him. He stepped toward his furious father and tried to hug him. But, he refused it. Arham felt ache in his heart, but seeing his mother's consoling expressions, he composed himself. 

…………………..  

Arham was sitting on the stage when he saw his bride coming toward him. Peach coloured outfit, lowered gaze, small smile on face; Arham's heartbeat stopped at seeing his mesmerizing bride. 

On the other hand, Izzah's heartbeat was running with the speed of ferrari with every step. 

On coming near the stage, her cousins started hooting. She saw Arham's extended hand and placed hers into it. Their hands were sealed together, just as their fates were now. 

They both stood in between the stage for pictures. Standing very near to each other, different songs in the background, cousins' teasing remarks; all was making them nervous. 

……………………

"As this marriage was unexpected, so unfortunately the room is not decorated."

Hina and Izzah were standing in the room, when Hina said this with an apologetic smile.

"It's okay, Auntie." Izzah said in a meek voice.

At that moment, Arham came into the room and Hina left it after saying her goodbyes. 

Awkward silence hung into the room. They didn't know what to say or how to say. 

"Please be comfortable."

Arham said, and quickly went into the washroom. He also wanted some time to understand his situation, so shower was the best place to ponder over the previous situation and also the new one. 

Izzah sat on the edge of the bed and freed her feet from heels. 

She eyed the whole room with nervousness. 

Thirty minutes passed but still Arham was in the washroom, and this thing started to irritate Izzah. 

"Does this person like to spend time in a washroom?" 

After thirty-five minutes, Arham came out of the washroom, clad in his night suit.

Izzah quickly composed her expressions and straightened herself. 

"Umm.. Your gift is due on me. I will give it to you as soon as possible."

He said while sitting near her. 

She nodded her head. 

Again silence hung in the room. 

They both glanced at each other in the same second, and then quickly averted their gaze. 

"Never knew this situation could be so awkward."

Arham thought with helplessness. 

"Uff.. If he has nothing to say, then excuse me, I have to change."

She was getting irritated with the situation. 

They again glanced at each other, and saw each other's expressions, ones was of helplessness and others were of irritation. 

Fit of giggles erupted from their lips at their condition and situation. 

"So sorry, this is really an unexpected situation for me. I never thought that the girl whom I started to love could become a part of my life."

Her eyes widened at his confession. 

"Izzah, I started to like you. Don't know when and where or why, but I do have feelings for you. I wanted to make that girl a part of my life, who had told me about pure freedom."

Izzah glanced his face when he was speaking. 

"You know why I was not able to send my proposal for you? "

She shook her head. 

"Because of the unnecessary social and traditional boundaries. You can imagine my condition at that time. In those days, I wanted to free myself from these suffocating boundaries and just wanted to fly freely in the sky."

"Some restrictions do benefit us, but some really suffocate us. I can understand your situation."

For the first time, she spoke. 

"If you can understand it, you can also understand my father's fury. He is not happy with our marriage, and the reason you can understand."

Fear settled in her heart while listening to this. But, she decided to brace herself for her future, as society and relatives would try to make her life a hell. 

"I want to take a promise from you."

Arham became alarmed at her words and asked her to tell him. 

"Promise me, you will never put unnecessary boundaries on our children. You will give them that amount of freedom which they deserved. You will never follow the traditional thinking of people."

Smile came on Arham's lips.

"Promise! "

Satisfaction and a smile came on Izzah's face. 

……………………..

"Mom! I want freedom! "

Anaya said this while crossing her hands on her chest, and anger was on her face. 

Izzah stared at her six year old daughter with anger. 

"Anaya, stop these tantrums and focus on your test."

"Mom, I want freedom from these tests, these studies, this school. Due to them, I can't play freely, can't watch cartoons all the time. You all should give respect to my wishes"

She winched. 

"My dear daughter, pure freedom is just an imaginary thing. In reality, we all are bound in some ways."

"But, the previous night I heard your and Papa's conversation. You were saying to him that you both will never put unnecessary boundaries on me and on my soon-to-come sibling. So, let me tell you, forcing a child in studies is also an unnecessary thing."

Anaya, in her chanting, didn't feel her mother coming near her with angry expressions. 

"You were eavesdropping at our conversation!"

 

Anaya zipped up her mouth and quickly opened her books. It was a way to escape from her mother's wrath. Izzah kept on standing near her. She peeked from her book and saw anger on her mother's face, so started reading the book. 

"Mom, please explain this question to me."

Anaya said with a poker face. 

"Next time if I found you eavesdropping on our conversation, there will be no candies for you."

Anaya gasped at this. 

" A tyrant mother! "

Izzah gave an angry glare to her and she averted her full attention to the book. 

Smile broke on Izzah's face. 

………….

Read the first part of this short story here

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