~Her Voice~ Chapter 6: Tears of a broken heart Pg 13||24th March - Page 6

Chapter 4 : Chance

Children are meant to be seen not heard

~ Geet Siddiqui

"I am not happy with this" Salma informed firmly staring at her husband as he sat on the chair besides the fire.

"Do you think I am happy, Salma?" Qazi Irfan glanced over at her. "Hum aur kya kar sakte hain, Begum? Zindagi bhar Geet ko nahi rak sakte" he reminded. "Duniya wale baatein banake hume mar dete".

"I'd gladly accept death instead of sending Geet away to a stranger" Salma cried. "When... when he sees Geet for who she is, he's going to throw her out" she sobbed. "What are you going to do then?"

"I trust Maan won't do such a thing" he answered. "It's getting late, its best we go to bed. Geet is getting married tomorrow" he stood and retreated in the direction of their bedroom.

Geet scowled as her mother scrubbed her body clean in the bath, she was a little confused because Friday was bath day and the rest of the days were shower days. So why was her mother bathing her today? Geet didn't like it.

Salma grabbed the towel pulling out of the bath, as she wrapped it around Geet, her eyes drew down to her daughter's small bump. Geet shifted uncomfortably trying to pull away from her mother's arms but failed when Salma tightened her grip in warning.

"Stay still! Shubhratan get her clothes" Salma called out grabbing a second towel and started rubbing her hair dry unaware of her daughter wincing with each drag of the towel.

"Dry her hair and dress her" Salma said taking Geet into the bedroom.

Geet sighed and eyed the pretty dress on her bed, her eyes twinkled she grabbed the dress and smiled widely.

"Choti bibi, Qazi Saab has brought this for you" Shubhratan said.

Geet's smile grew wider and she twirled excitedly. She brushed her palms across her pretty new dress and pressed her cheek against the material pouting when the crystals poked her soft cheeks.

"Choti bibi, sit down" Shubhratan pointed to the chair. Geet sat happily hugging her dress to her chest. She hadn't received a new dress for ages now.

"Have you seen our Maan today, Melinda?" Imran questioned Maan's housemaid.

Melinda smiled, "Yes, Maan sir is looking quite dapper today" she nodded and brushed her palms across Maan's shoulder. "I wish you loads of happiness, sir. I cannot wait to see another woman in this house" she winked.

"Thanks, Mel" Maan answered offering a gentle smile. "Are you sure you don't want to come with us?"

"My hips only work so much, sir. I shall be here to greet you and madam" Melinda answered.

Maan nodded and looked at Imran who gave him a thumbs up and together they walked out of the house and into the car driving to Qazi Irfan's house.

Geet tilted her head curiously as Shubhratan grabbed the golden dupatta and draped it over her hair, her small eyes widened when she saw Shubhratan pick out a few pins. She jumped pushing Shubhratan and ran out the door, her dupatta falling onto the ground.

"Choti bibi" Shubhratan called out grabbing the dupatta and ran behind.

Geet peeked over her shoulder scowling when she saw Shubhratan running after her, she hoped the woman would have given up because she was a fast runner having ran wildly for so many years in the surrounding fields.

Bump

Geet's chest collided with a solid body and she stumbled back almost about to fall as her feet caught the hem of her long dress, she tensed bracing herself for falling when an arm caught her waist stopping her.

Geet's eyes opened, widened then she opened her mouth when suddenly Salma appeared grabbing her daughter away from Maan and clamping her palm on Geet's mouth and shot a warning look. The exchange had confused Imran and Maan.

Geet's eyes didn't focus on her mother's usual scowl as they were drawn to the stranger who'd caught her, she stepped back inhaling sharply, her heart pounding heavily.

He was only a few feet away today, but at least she was surrounded by everyone.

Maan wondered how they were going to go ahead with this Nikah when her eyes were believing he was Aahil. He had trimmed his beard neatly today and allowed it to grow thicker over the last couple of days to give a sort of different look in the hopes that Geet would differentiate. Aahil was usually clean shaved whilst he had a neatly trimmed beard.

"Hi Geet" he said breaking the silence that fell upon them as they stood in the hallway.

Geet squinted. Maan managed a small polite smile, though forceful however he hoped she didn't seem to think so. Geet stared blankly instead. She didn't seem to be filled with furious fear as last night or the other days. He hoped she noticed the small differences of him and his brother and assumed him to be someone else.

Salma frowned shaking her head then turned to Geet, she wanted to shake her daughter. Instead she yelled out for Shubhratan.

"I'm here, I'm here" Shubhratan answered and gestured to the dupatta. "She didn't let me put it on" she said stepping in front of Geet.

Geet shoved Shubhratan noting the pins in her hand again.

"Geet" Salma gripped her wrist tightly shooting her a warning look.

Geet pouted, she attempted to open her lips again only to be dragged from the hallway and into the spare room with Shubhratan following.

"What the hell..." Imran murmured. "Yaar, why are they forcing the dupatta on her? She doesn't understand, pyar se bhi toh..." he paused seeing Qazi Irfan approaching them.

"You're here" Qazi Irfan smiled greeting Maan with a welcoming hug and took him into the lounge where the Imam was waiting.

Geet squeezed her eyes closed, she attempted to kick and worm herself out of her mother's grasps but was halted with a sharp smack to the back of her head.

She chewed on her lower lip anticipating the pokes of the pins but was surprised when the scarf was fixed without injury. She stood from the chair moving to the mirror and done a 360 degree turn.

"Now, come on" Salma held her wrist opening the door.

Geet pressed her feet down shaking her head, she didn't want to go in front of that stranger.

"Geet, what are you doing?" Salma huffed exasperated, she frowned when Geet gripped the door and refused to budge.

"Geet, leave it" Salma attempted releasing her fingers deathly grip on the door.

Shubhratan tickled Geet's sides and her fingers loosened, she then helped Salma pull Geet out in the hallway and in the direction of the lounge.

"Yeh aap kya kar rahe hai?" Maan spoke up seeing Geet being dragged into the room. He noticed how she dug her feet into the ground and attempted to pull her wrist from her mother's hand.

"Salma, haat chodho" Irfan stated firmly approaching his wife.

She released Geet's hand and instantly Geet burrowed herself in her father's arms pressing her face against his chest. She pulled back bringing her wrists up for inspection then pointed to her mother pouting her lips at her father.

Irfan sighed and looked disapprovingly at his wife, "Mujhe keh deti Salma. Look you've hurt her" he pointed to the redness on her wrists. Irfan turned to his daughter cradling her face in his large hands, he pressed a kiss to her forehead then brought both her hands up pressing a kiss to the back of them making Geet smile.

"Do you like your new dress?" Irfan knew exactly how to soothe his daughter and calm her.

Geet looked down at her dress and twirled grinning only to halt when she noticed the stranger across the room. She shrunk backwards and looked at her father.

"Look at me, Geet" Irfan was confused by her reaction and attempted to distract her. "Oh look there's something stuck" he said brushing his finger behind her ear then pulled back showing his hand. Geet grinned taking the lollipop which magically appeared.

She excitedly took the lolly unwrapping it swiftly and stuck it in her mouth.

Irfan brought her to his side and kept her close as he slowly moved her forward, Geet was preoccupied with her lollipop to really notice anything else.

"Maan..." Irfan spoke staring sadly at Maan. Geet eyed her father's mouth and looked straight ahead at Maan, her eyes looking confused for a moment and she tilted her head staring at the stranger she avoided. She slowly smiled, for a fleeting second Maan thought he'd seen her almost looking relieved when she looked at him this time. It was quickly replaced with a blank stare and she returned her focus to her lollipop.

"You've seen a side to her right now, are you sure you still want to go ahead?" Irfan asked drawing his attention. "Are you sure you want to go ahead with this chance?"