THE DIFFERENT SHADES OF WHITE- A LOVE

S "SYMPHONIES IN WHITE". I HAV

nearby Masjid. It was Fajr time now; only a few moments before sunrise. Watching the sun

d run accident. I was living in Karachi. My father was a very successful businessman. Though he could only open a small factory in the beginning, but in the previous days, his business expanded. Altho

infamous landlords of Punjab or

nd old famil

. These customs were very ancient, which is one of the root causes why my father al

in. but I don't completely trust them. The

ited some of the lands, but after his death, I guess that that right of inheritance goes to me, but after my father's death, I didn't inherit a single dime. All the mon

relatives will usurp it all. What will I do if that happens. I'll need that money to continue my studi

these people. If Abu didn't, then I will not either. This

s sleep last night. But I had to use sedatives for that matter. After the funeral, which was held in the village and I shifted here, I couldn't g

te......., the merci

***

Nama'az refreshes the soul. My sloppiness during the past weak caused me to miss all my prayers. I feel guilty. I ha

lease grant my family a place in heaven and forgive them for their sins....." I had realized that my eyes had welled up. "Please oh my Lord, my Rabb, please forgive me. I don't know anything but I have this feeling that maybe you

. She was around twenty seven and already a mother of three children. She was the only person who I'm familiar with in this alien like environment. She lives in Karachi with her husband who is a very wealthy industria

looking refreshed. I can see that you have made the decision of moving forward instead of dwelling in the past." She commended bluntly. I tried to smile. "Do I have much of a choice

alf heartedly. I am a very extroverted person,

t is ready and everyone is waiting for you at the table. So if you feel l

hange and be down in a few moments, Zainab Baji." I informed and headed to the dressing room. I changed into a plain Shalwar Kurta suit. Of course in this place, I can't wear my normal atti

sending out forms for university soon. I'm sure that if I became a financial burden to my grandfather or uncles, then they will never let me join any univer

d the family pictures and portraits were held within exquisite and intricate designed wooden frames. They seemed like Victorian. For people who live according to old customs, they have good taste. Everything looked so expensive. Huge jeeps and expensive cars were lined outside. Now that I think

as there. My four uncles and their famili

were left empty. Maybe they would come later. The table was pretty long, like a rec

f the atmospheric pressure increased on me. Maybe it was because I was bear headed. All the females had their heads covered. I quickly draped the dupatta a

n families to rely upon. But me, I'm all alone. I have no one to rely on except for myself and ALLAH. I have to become stronger and hold my head high.

on from anyone. I ran my eyes over the faces of all the people pr

ne of my uncles. He caught me looking at them and his expression became somewhat stern

ouse end up cursed. Such is the fate of some." I couldn't tell if he spoke directly or indirectly, but his words stabbed me. I clenched my fists hard to control my anger. If I was my normal self and under my parents protection, I co

r I get the opportunity, but I guess that for now, n

ould not begin until the elders of the house arr

dparents enter the room and settled on their seats and everyone did the same. There was utter silence in the room in the presenc

y-four hours. "Bismillah, " I breathed and began. Breakfast finished longer than I expected. Not until the elders left the room, no one was allowed to leave. When everyone left, Zainab Baji invited me to her estate, she wanted to show me the fields, th

e air was so fresh and clean. It relieved my nerves and untied the knots in my stomach. The sun was blazing and the heat swept

t be careful about the way that you act around here. The men around here do not respect a woman who does not cover her head. And keep your

me I saw pure wheat. Everything here was a first for me. Thankfully, t

I would have loved it if Abu had had good relations with the relatives; otherwise I could also call

untry. Alas, my parents have been returned to the very soil which God created them. Someday, e

look?" she questioned when I came near. It was only because I was thinking about depressing things. I sh

****

e was only thirty kilometers away from Jhelum town. By the time I got back, it was already ten o cl

atest developments. He affirmed in the positive and took me to the main hall. Grandfather and two of my uncles were there. Grandfather was sitting on an elegant looking charpai, in a

me at the door. When we were alon

was scowling at me. I could sense a menacing aura around him. His facial exp

a jaan initiated. I obeyed. I sat on a nearby chair. Worry and nervousness was beginning to creep through me. Maybe he had wanted to talk to me about my inheritance. Just that fact was enough to ease

your father had made, from today onwards I will take care of it. However, the house that is in Karachi was is in your name, so here are the property docum

tone, though I had understood everything. So he was telling me that all of

ight of inheritance." He said. So in other words, I have been stripped of the only right that could buy me future

right now and rebel.' I t

retaliate. " I have my rights. It's my father's life long, H

N!" He s

am the head of this house. Only I have the right." He claimed proudly. "You are one insolent bra

d my teeth and fists. How dare he insult my

get half of the inheritance." I gulped. I had put all of my strength into tha

fold. "And furthermore, you are forbidden to deprive an orphan from her ri

ou will silently obey." He stressed on his words with shear force. It felt like a ten ton weight was dropped on me th

; these arrogant and hot headed people. He won't even follow the Islamic

Tears were gushing involuntarily. I lowered my face to

haking voice. Grandfather stood up and treaded a

clearly and very precisely. But to me, it felt as if a

nd his facial expressions showed his resolved. My mouth

ork City. Just like you, Shehzad is the first born and only son on the second son. We have made many business propositions with them, however, this time, they requested a marriage contract. It seems that the

der to get rid of me, they are going to send me away to strangers in some foreig

e tied to a marital bond with a complete stranger." I said in a stron

a family custom of arranged political marriages. The girls are wedded off when the

e experienced, I am clearly not a member of this family." I shot back. I can't a

e blood from one of the most prestigious families of this country; you should feel h

toward him. I looked him in t

e in my voice. For a fraction of a second, he loo

ted back with a lot of courage. But before I knew it, the palm of his hand hit my cheek and I fell to the floor. When I looked at him, he was fuming, ragi

llion. You have the same stubbornness as your damned father." He shouted and then began to cough. Using th

or court, I own the courts and how can you go to one? I would have you killed before you could even think about leaving this place. I have high security here, so you can get rid of any ideas of escape from your mind. Just bec

to give me your reply. Now leave my

im. I hate this place. I need to get away from here. I will not let these people control my fate and future. Only God has the

e; the shade of hatre

***

y making me marry some stranger from another country? How easily he wants to deprive me of my freedom, the only factor on which I w

e, then I will never be able to move forward. So this was t

ur eyes out?" Zainab Baji inquired; I realiz

e that badly that he will marry me off to any stranger he comes across." I wept

e up to Dada Jaan, if he had wanted he could have wedded you off with some illiterate but he was considerate enough to have you marry some

id I ever do to them that they so carefully planned to destroy my life?" I cried and the tears kept on dripping

veryone so mean here? Baji......, you know right, please tell me." I pleaded. There was so much m

n I will tell you everything." She handed a glass of water from the bedside table to me and I was completely dehydrated. I

ut Dada Jaan was against it. But your father was defiant and he left the family for the cities, where he worked hard to support himself. That was the first time that anybody had ignored the customs, which is a code of life for us. Instead of taking care of the lands and the family business, your father continued his studies and eventually started his own business. After that, he went to England for his professional degree. That had showed a g

ple resent me so much?" I sniffed. I just wanted

family elders against you and your mother. They think that an educated woman is hard to control and is, thus, Man's natural enemy. That's why, my advice to you Khadija, is that you sh

which is your worst option, or they will send you off to some village orphanage, and you can forget about ever returning to Karachi. So the only thing that is best

ife of hardships or a life of comforts, but you will have to s

......if I really am a burden then they sho

ries is running through your veins and the family doesn't deny this fact either. You are very lucky be

r...., " I wince

ll learn this principle soon enough." She said decisively. It only invited more tears in my eyes. "But I'm only seventeen, thi

is not much; after all, I was married off at the age of sixteen. A woman's role in life is to be married and take care of her husband and her dignity lie

id carefully." She ins

ally have no other place to go. My maternal grandparents had passed away a few years ago, so

ve it any consideration. Of course, I had left it in their hands. We had an agreement that if I came to like someone on my own, and if he is wo

marriage was miles away from my perception. But even then, not until I could form a bond with that person, I could never

ou have chosen as your soul mate. At least that's what I thought. And I have no such objections regarding that mat

nment. To me, Pakistan is my home. I could never abandon it. I always wanted to serve my country. No matter

made my resolve. Besides, if I don't agree to this, then there is n

GIVE ME

ting to resemble Edmond's. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without trial. Well-I feel t

***

ng anymore. If this was my fate, if this was wh

nd comply with their wishes. I leave my fate in God's hands. I have no ulterior motives. I'm too weak to have them. I di

This is Shehzad." Grandfather showed a picture of him from the laptop, but I didn't bother to l

and very well off. So you should not have any objections. Since he was born and raised there, he is an American citizen and after you migrate there, you will also be granted citizenship, in due time, " he explained. I didn't want to acquire

y cannot personally come here, but it will be valid enough. They have asked nothing for your dowry. They want this to be done in complete simplicity and I too am in concordanc

politely as I could, pushing aside my resentment an

led de

need my passport, so...., " I gulped. His old wrinkled face became hard but today, his eyes were somewhat, less hard. My request was very simp

I'll present such an argument to him that he wo

there for three days and will be in Zainab's custody. You can mail us your passport as s

oom, I turned on my cell phone which I had left off since the funeral. As expected, all of the people in my phone book had called me. Over sixty-eight

...I'M GETTING MARR

***

relatively heavy, but not to my taste, it was solid gold. If only it had some stones to adorn it. Otherwise it looked this hideous set looked like the shackles that are about to bind me to an unaltered fate. And this simple dress, s

One of my elder male cousins was trying to adjust a laptop with the TV. After I was seated, I could

according to my beautiful wedding dress, the air would be dense with the fragrance of roses. There would be a lot of guests. My best friends would help me

nergy was beginning to fade away. I was beginning to feel anemic. I couldn't sleep all night and

everyone was settled, my grandmother and Zainab Baji sat beside me. On the screen, appeared an old man and I could swear that at first glance, he looked like Steve jobs to be. He w

he want an eastern Pakistani bride. He must have his full share of beautiful N

My head was low and soon to be veiled. Zainab baji lifted my chin to show my face, but I was completely zoning out

me people began to settle down; I didn't even try to look for the man who was going to be my husband from now on. My face got covered with the embroidered dupatta a

uraish." The old man started, in Urdu

spectful and soft tone. It really surprised me. So in front of

paper. This will decide my fate and the bond that I am about to ma

Only the Haq Mehr was stipulated, which was decided to be three million Rupe

imes if I accepted this marriage. At first, the words could

s. And with that, my signatures wer

I just hope that everything will be fine from now on. When the supplication ended, everyone began to congratulate each other. A garland of flowers was hung around my n

hear any complaints. This I vow to you all." Mr. Atish promised, wholeheartedly. His words were comforting, and I was almost begi

rned to my room, my vision became b

elp me, someone

***

F URDU

who gives the call f

sque in ur

fore dawn/ th

ief/ feudal lord of a

az; p

suppli

ific for el

and shirt/ national g

i; man

d; long

weet confection with w

la; chickp

in the na

mint/betel leaf f

legal/l

risprudence

ression/

; mar

; marriage

i; pr

ehr;

ment and

to your

an