Chapter 4

Chapter 3 (English)

Once settled at home Khaani threw herself into Sarim's election campaign. She spent her days at the party office interacting with the party workers, going over their campaign iterinary with Ahmed, Sarim's friend and unofficial campaign manager and going through voters opinions and polls on social media. After one such hectic day, Khaani threw herself on the bed talking to her mother on the phone. "How is Sarim’s campaign going, Khaani?". Khaani yawned and replied, "Hectic. I am not even getting the time to sit. Sarim and Dad’s schedule is worse than mine. Press meetings, party meetings, social gatherings…the things you have to do to gain voter support.". Sonya replied,"I, for one, am glad that you are there to support your brother.". "Thank God, I am there.", Khaani replied earnestly.Her serious tone puzzled Sonya. "Why did you say that?.",she asked concerned. Khaani realised there was no point in hiding the truth from her mother. "Mom", Khaani said,"Sarim loves it here, Dad and Nayeema aunty are extremely supportive...but not everyone is happy with him joining politics here.". "Are you talking about your Daadi?",Sonya asked. Khaani shook her head and replied, "No, taayi-ammi and taaya-abbu.I think they feel that Sarim joining the party somehow jeopardises Abul’s standing in the party. On one occasion, Taayi-ammi called Abul the party’s future. Sarim is the eldest among us, so shouldn’t Sarim be the next party chief?". Sonya remained silent. If she had her way, Sarim would've not been a part of the party at all. He would have been safe in New York with her.Sonya asked,"So how Sarim and Baba react to this?" Khaani rolled her eyes, "Dad was completely silent. And you know Sarim...there is not a shy bone in his body. He thinks everybody is just like him: straightforward and good-natured.". "That’s why I wanted you to be there for your brother",Sonya said,"Sarim is too naïve. He does not know how dirty politics can be. Please keep an eye on him.". "Of course mom-",Khaani stopped at her tracks. She looked towards the door. She had the odd sensation of being watched. Quickly but quietly, she hurried to the door and opened it. Nobody was there....save for a freshly distinguished cigarette butt on the floor.

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Khaani came down to find Sarim at the dining table. Khaani smiled and said,"ThankGod! You are finally having some home-cooked food. Otherwise I was worried with all these dinners and gatherings you will be down with food-poisoning."."I said the same thing", a voice said. Khaani hadn't noticed first.Sarim wasn't sitting alone at the table. Sitting opposite the head of the table was Abul, their cousin. Standing behind her chair, Khaani gave Abul a bright smile. "How are you, Abul?", She asked pleasantly. He gave her an equally bright smile and said,"Allah ka shukr..sorry I didn’t get a chance to properly talk to you earlier...I was in Karachi filing my nomination.” Khaaninodded and said," Sarim mentioned it...umm Sarim when are we going to Sibifor filing your nomination?”. Sarim replied, "Day after tomorrow, I will pick you from Khala’s place”.
"Great.",Khaani replied. "So...Khaani",Abul said teasingly,"I heard you have devoted yourself to Sarim’s campaign...I amalso contesting…why don’t you help me too?.". Khaani gave a saccharine sweet smile and replied,"Why would you need my help Abul... alhamdulillah you have Daadi’s support. Consider your seat won...it’s Sarim who has to do all the hard work now.". Abul frowned at her words. Sarim gave her a sharp look which Khaani ignored. Before Abul could respond to her snide remark, they were joined by other members of the family.
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Khaani generously applied the red gloss on her lips. She wore a shimmery black cocktail dress from Balenciaga. The dress was secured by two thin shimmery straps on either sides of her shoulder and ended right above her knees,flaunting her toned arms and legs. Khaani inspected her appearance. If this was Khan Mansion I would have been disowned by now, she smirked and thought. ThankGod, she wasn't at the Khan Mansion. She was at Anji's - her maternal cousin's house. Sonya's younger sister's husband was a retired UK ambassador. Eight months ago, the couple had returned to Pakistan with their only daughter Anjum or Anji as she was known to her close ones. Anji was a second year BBA student at the Islamabad University and one of Khaani's closest friends. Like Khaani,her liberal lifestyle had suffered a major culture shock in Islamabad. And tonight was one of those rare nights when both of them can step out of their stuffy jodas and let their hair down.

"I can't believe we are going clubbing!", Anji said excitedly. She was standing next to Khaani, her head tilted to her right as she straightened her hair. "Same",Khaani,"I still can’t get it. How did you convince Khala and Khalu to leave you all alone and go to Karachi?". Anji giggled and replied, “They needed to go urgently and I told them I can’t come my exams are starting. In such short notice they could only find you to stay the night with me.". "And your exams?", Khaani asked seriously. Anji just winked at her. Both girls threw their head back in laughter.

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Khaani and Anjum entered the club, 'Rendezvous', glancing around appreciatively. With the music and ambience, the club exuded, the girls might as well be in a high-end club in New York or London. "Nice place yaar!", Khaani yelled amidst the blasting music, looking around appreciatively. "Isn’t it?!",Anjum yelled back," My class fellow ne told me about this. It is the most happening party scene in the city right now!". The girls danced for sometime before heading to the bar. As they waited for their drinks, Anjum gave Khaani a once over. "By the way, K", she said, “You look hot!".Khaani raised her glass and yelled, “You too, sister!".
"But I am a bit disappointed..I was looking forward to seeing you in the top! It was my birthday gift and you didn’t even wear it and show me once and you left it in New York.", Anjum grumbled, taking a swig of her drink.Khaani shook her head,"Let it go yaar!", her careless voice belying her frantic heartbeats as she tried to fight away a memory of large hands forcefully grabbing her shoulders...and a red top burnt to a crisp....

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It was two a.m in the morning and Khaani had decided she had enough of partying for one night. Sarim will pick her up tomorrow morning to go to Balochistan and file his nomination papers, she did not need a hangover. As Anjum shut the door of the passenger seat, Khaani was about to start the car when she saw that someone had parked their car right behind hers, blocking her path. Khaani rolled her eyes at Anjum, "Some people have no manners at all. I’ll be right back.". Khaani got out of her car. To her surprise, she found an old man with a couple of guards standing near the other car. "Excuse me",Khaani approached the man politely, "Can you please park your car elsewhere, I need to take my car out". The man answered, "The keys are with Chhote Mir.". "Where is your Chhote Mir?” Khaani asked impatiently. The man pointed to Khaani's left. She turned and saw a tall figure, standing at some distance from them, talking on his phone. Khaani gave an annoyed sigh. She went towards the man and gently tapped on his shoulder, who jerked it away raising a finger in warning. Undeterred, Khaani prodded him again. "Can’t you see I am on a call!", Mir Hadi snapped angrily without turning around. "Can you please move your car I need to take mine out! Seriously!!! I haven’t come across anyone this ill-mannered!", Khaani yelled back with equal anger. Hadi turned around to see the offending stranger who dared call him 'ill-mannered '. It was a woman and a beautiful one at that. He took off his shades to have a better look at her. He smirked as he gave her an appreciative glance. Watching him checking her out from head to toe, made Khaani even angrier. Without a word, Hadi cut off his call. He gave Khaani a flirtatious smile,"I am sorry darling…didn’t see you there.".Khaani stepped forward. Glaring at him, she commanded in a no-nonsense tone"First of all: I am not your darling. Secondly, you need to move your carI need to take mine out.". Hadi smiled and nodded, "Sure... but whats the hurry? We just met...", He said suggestively.  "What do you mean?!", Khaani snapped, her temper getting the better of her. Clicking her fingers, she said, "Mind your language, this is my last warning. Or else I will teach you a lesson a Roadside Romeo like you will never forget.".The old man intervened, "Please mind your language. Do you even know who he is? He is our Defence Minister Mir Shah’s son Mir Hadi.". Hadi, who had expected the girl to cower and apologise for her insolence was not prepared for what came next. "Oh!", Khaani scoffed,"Oh! No wonder, he’s so ill-mannered and arrogant. Must be a family disease.". Hadi's smile disappeared. No one had dared talk about his family like that. Who the hell was this girl? "What did you say?",he snarled. All his good humour gone. He was shaking with anger now. "Didn’t you hear? I called you and your entire family ill-mannered and arrogant!", Khaani replied evenly. "Chhote Mir..", the old man tried to come in between but Hadi signalled him tostay out of it. He was going to teach this girl a lesson she will never forget.Hadi took out his gun and pointed at her. For a split second Khaani froze and then ran towards her car. Watching her run, Hadi gave a maniacal laughter and taunted, "What happened madam? Where did you disappear with that attitude of yours?". He saw her get in her car. With his gun still raised, he slowly moved forward,"Normally I don’t shoot pretty women.. magar tumne sher ke munh mein haath dal diya hai...so now you have to pay.". Hadi stopped in his tracks when he saw Khaani get out of her car, pointing her gun at him. Seeing the gun, this time the guards tried to intervene but Hadi stopped them again, motioning them to stay out of his fight. With the gun in hand, Khaani walked towards him. She stopped when she directly facing him Khaani taunted,"See…even your guards don’t trust you that’s why they are trying to save you from me” Taking the safety catch off his gun, Hadi replied evenly,"You stupid girl, do you have any idea what are you even doing?"Arre",Khaani sparred, "Sher ke munh mein haath daal rahi hu. Where I come from there’s an old saying: Jab ek khaani sher ke munh mein haath toh uska dil nochkar bahar phenk deti hai! I am telling you for the last time: move your car and let me go!”. Hadi chuckled and taunted, "And that’s where you have shown me your weakness. Let Mir Hadi teach you a lesson you will never forget. The lesson is: If you have the guts to carry a gun then make sure you have the guts to pull the trigger.". Saying this, Hadi pulled the trigger, shooting at the ground near Khaani's right, aiming to scare her. With a scream, Khaani ducked towards her left. Hadi laughed at her attempt to save herself. "Looks like you are all bark and no bite!", he mocked her.

Moments later, a bullet pierced his shoulder. Khaani had finally taken his lesson to heart. "Chhote Mir!!!", the old man yelled as he and the guards ran towards Hadi, who had toppled backward and fallen on the floor. The guards rounded around him, checking if Hadi was alright. "Mithal", Hadi addressed the old man, "That girl..(pointing his finger)..don’t let her go."."Go! Bring that girl here!", Mithal ordered the guards. The guards ran towards Khaani's car but the girl had disappeared into thin air.

Precap: What if Dad finds out the truth? Khaani dreaded covering her face with her hands, What if he forces me to marry my attempted rapist?