MAQAAM - Chapter 2: Chapter 2

"Mashallah!" The lady beamed at her, cupping her face, and blowing protective verses all around her.
Inara looked down, keeping her gaze lower and taking in all the compliments thrown her way.
"Look at this henna, her husband will be loving her so much." A friend of her mother gushed and she clutched into her chickankari frock. The voluptuous fabric with multiple layers of pastel green hugged her frame like a second skin.
Her bangs covered her flaming cheeks from all the attention thrown her way. They had escaped the updo her make-up artist took hours to fix with the broad border dupatta that shielded her from all prying eyes. There were hundreds of women in her henna and ubtan ceremony. Tomorrow was the Nikah and she would not be shocked if the number would triple.
Her father, Farish Khan was a renowned politician. While her mother, Jamila Khan was a doctor and her elder brother was joining her father in the next election. They were one of the most influential families in all of Shahpur. A small town from Hyderabad.
It was called the princess of Eastern Ghats and her father had made efforts to turn this place into an economically wealthy locality in his 15 years of power.
"Where is Iram?" Her aunt frowned looking for her younger sister, not so much younger if 11 months were counted.
They were getting married together like all the things they had together. Same class, same school, same college, and now wedding. Same day but luckily to different people.
Inara chuckled at the absurd thought.
"Iram said she was feeling itchy because of Ubtan." She informed them. "She must be in her room. I will go wash up and bring her down."
Her suggestion was quickly met with agreement from their mother who asked her younger cousin to help us climb the stairs.
She definitely needed help with these stairs and her dress. This farmhouse had steeper steps and it left her breathless by the time she completed a round trip during their holidays.
"Aapi." Dania, her 19-year-old cousin grinned at her attention, "Will my Dulha bhais will not come to see yours and Iram aapi's mehendi?"
Inara shrugged wordlessly. She had no contact with Ashfaq, her fiancé of 3 months for the past 5 days. He was her father's colleague's son who had spent his days of glory in Politics and now has retired after his son got a job in a reputed MNC.
They had moved out of the town towards Hyderabad and had returned only after 2 years here to ask for her hand in marriage.
Being the eldest daughter, she had left the decision in her parents' hands. Although, she was ready to say Yes to the proposal hearing they lived in Hyderabad but decided to maintain subtlety in doing so. She had her job in Hyderabad city and wanted the right push to latch onto it. She truly wanted to move out of this town and work in the mainstream capital, she had a master's in business marketing and it could be put to an efficient use only when she was dreaming big.
The plus point, Ashfaq Qadri was a decent man.
She had met only once and later talked on the phone a handful of times but she knew he was good. Good for her was a question she had to find answers to.
"...I was so excited. I thought I would take a good bribe before I let them have a look at my two beautiful sisters. Don't know about Rahil bhai, but Ashfaq bhai would have given me loads of cash."
"Dani." Inara glared at her. "Don't talk about him like this. He is your Dulha Bhai."
"But Aapi..."
"Nothing. He is Iram's to-be husband. You give him nothing if not respect." Her words were final. "You can stop following me now. I will manage."
Inara took quick steps forward to avoid looking at the big pout Dania would be carrying around the function.
Rahil Sohail.
He was a man who not the whole of her family consented to.
But her father had a liking towards him that he was ready to wed his other daughter to him.
None dared to speak against Farish Khan's words, so be it.
Iram Khan, the youngest and most pampered child of this household, was being wed to a man who had no constant source of income but an infant start-up he kept giving his all.
He was a simple man with a simpler choice and lack of interest in marriage much to Iram's chagrin.
He was doing it for his mother and he had made it a little more than clear to her sister in their very meeting. Yet Farish Khan was adamant and hell-bent on making him his son-in-law.
Reaching the room, she pushed the door open and rushed inside the bathroom. Rinsing the thick Ubtan paste from her hands and face which took quite some time than she had expected, she dried the water quickly to not ruin her dress.
Taking two calming breaths, she decided to check on her sister who must have left for downstairs until now.
"Iram..." She decided to call her name but the door swung open before she could touch it.
Her eyes froze so as her blood in her veins at the scene infront of her.
"Aapi?" Iram's startled squeak made her recoil back in disgust as Inara averted her eyes away from her sight.
She may have not known a lot of things but she knew one, that Ashfaq Qadir should not be kissing her sister.
Not a day before their Nikah.
"I...Inara, I can explain." Ashfaq stuttered making her stare at him with a scoff.
"Explaining you would." She didn't recognize her tone. It must be something that portrayed humiliation, disgust, and betrayal in one. "But to our parents."
"No, don't. Look, it is not..." He tried taking a step towards her but stopped at her raised palm, or it could be the glare she shot towards them.
"Save it, Mr. Qadri." She turned on her heels at once unbothered by her sister who looked nowhere guilty. Iram wasn't one to accept her mistakes and regret them, for she believed she was never wrong.
Maybe she wasn't.
It was Inara who got the wrong one handed over to her.
Without wasting another minute, she stormed outside the garden where her father stood talking to the man who was wronged and had no idea.
She stopped behind Rahil and didn't wait for them to acknowledge her.
"Baba." She cut the discussion in the middle. "You can stop the preparations."
"What do you mean?" Her father frowned and she watched Rahil take his own time facing her.
It could be anything that moment, her words, her face, or her voice that made the man raise a brow with inquisition.
"Why not ask your younger daughter?" She glanced behind her shoulder to watch Iram and Ashfaq stopping on the lawn, a few steps behind and panting.
"What is Inara saying, Iram?" He asked his daughter who shriveled like a leaf in autumn winds.
"She may not answer." Inara snorted acidly. "She must have lost her tongue while kissing her no-more Dulha Bhai."
"Inara." Her father snapped at her shrewd comments but she stood with a steeled spine, watching Rahil look with indifference at her sister and him.
"I will never marry that man." She declared and decided to storm off.
"Wait." Farish Khan thundered, his eyes oscillating between her and her sister. "I want you all in my office within 10 minutes. Your parents too, Rahil, and you, Qadri. Call them. It will be discussed with all."
Inara stood at the corner with her arms wrapped around herself watching the three families gather in her father's temporary office that he had used for the past 1 week where he looked over his personal and professional commitments together.
Rahil stood at the other corner holding his mother who watched the scene with tear-laden eyes. Qadri stood with hunched shoulders and her brother held their mother who sobbed silently.
Her father and senior Mr. Qadri glared at Iram and Ashfaq who stood like criminals in the court of law, the only difference was there was no severe punishment in tow for their no-less-than adultery.
"I am so ashamed of you, Ashfaq." His father shook his head in disgust. "What were you thinking?"
"Nothing I presume," Inara mumbled to herself but somehow, someone in the crowd had heard her. Her eyes met Rahil's; his grey-blue eyes burned holes in her head.
"I am...am sorry, Abba." Ashfaq lamented. "I like Iram, I thought it was her you wanted me to marry. After we came, I got to know that it was Inara you chose. I am sorry, Inara."
"Sure, I buy this." She shot back sarcastically. "Did I and Iram start looking similar in just 2 years? I didn't realize, Mamma. Did you notice?"
"Inara, my child. I know you have been wronged." His mother tried cajoling her.
"Don't worry about me, Aunty. Iram will be your daughter-in-law if there will be a wedding tomorrow. Not me. I will never marry a man who could stoop this low." She declared glaring at her sister. She removed the ring and the bangles Qadri gifted her in shagun.
"Inara, stop." Her mother tried "You are disrespecting them."
As if he hasn't disrespected her enough.
"They will be yours if you decide to take him." She dumped them in Iram's hand with a tight smile. "Happy married life, Sister."
"Inara..." Her father tried stopping her, tried being the special word.
He failed as she unlocked the door.
She was no longer getting married to him.
There will be no Ashfaq Qadri in her life, not anymore.
"I will have one." Iram's mocking words stopped her at the threshold. "I always wanted to marry a man who deserved me. And, Ashfaq does."
"Stop talking, Iram." Her brother menaced and she felt a shiver run down her spine. Aqmar Khan was no talker, he said what he meant. The words were no less than actions themselves.
"Why, Bhai?" Iram demanded. "I was never asked who I wanted to marry. One day, Baba announced my alliance with him and I was expected to follow. Why should I follow? Inara was asked if she wanted to marry, not me. If you didn't speak when I was wronged, you should not speak now."
"You are out of your mind." Their mother scoffed in disappointment. "You were with your sister's to-be-husband in a room. He is your non-mehram."
"He won't be tomorrow." She shrugged offhandedly. "We will be married tomorrow. Then he will be my husband."
"I don't want you as my daughter-in-law." Ashfaq's mother lamented. "Ashfaq, you will not marry her. If you do, you will not have a mother anymore."
"What are you saying, Amma? I...I like her."
"No, Ruksana." Her husband stood blocking her disturbing vision. "The one at fault is our son, he needs to pay for his sins. Let him marry Iram. We cannot destroy a girl's life; our only son has done enough."
"But what about my Inara?" Jamila asked the group. Stepping out of her son's hold, she pulled Inara into her arms and blinked the onslaught of tears at her daughter's lack of fortune.
"I will not marry him." She repeated holding any emotions back. She will not break infront of this man who disrespected her.
"Mr. Khan." Rahil's mother spoke, she had stood silent watching the drama unfold. "You promised your daughter to my son."
All eyes stopped at the woman who held Farish's eyes. Not quivering or stumbling around her words.
"I remember, Mrs. Sohail." It was the first time Inara saw his father look near to defeat. His hunched shoulders didn't sit well with her.
"I want you to keep your promise." She commanded attention and she got what she deserved.
"And he will," Inara announced for her father.
"Inara..."
"There will be two marriages tomorrow as originally planned." She ignored her mother's stare and blinked in assurance at her father who stood stoic. "Only if I can speak to Rahil sahab for a few minutes."
She watched him and commanded eye contact with the man for the first time after the anomaly of events.
Rahil was the first to avert his eyes and address her father. "With your permission, Uncle."
He didn't wait for his words but walked towards her jutting his chin towards the door.
"After you, Ms. Khan."
Inara spun on her heels and walked out of the door she had previously unlocked to escape. If she had escaped then, she wouldn't have fallen into another trap.
She led him to the back terrace on the same floor, away from a third eye as most of the guests were out on the lawn having their lunch.
A shiver passed her spine, if she agreed to this insanity, she would be his wife by tomorrow at this same time.
"I want you to say no to marrying me." She didn't give him a chance to speak or gather his thoughts. She knew he wouldn't argue with her, he never spoke more than a few words at hand.
"I don't see a reason why." Rahil pointed to her with a gaze that made her palms clammy.
"You didn't want to marry before." She reminded him.
"Yes, not to Iram." He accepted twisting his lips to the left with a raise. "But it is not her anymore."
"You didn't want to marry at all."
"Yes, but that was before too." He leaned against the railings, stretching his legs and her gaze jumped to them.
He was dressed in a white chickankari kurta, sleeves rolled up to his elbow and she gulped seeing those hairy arms and jean-clad legs crossed at the ankle. He was 9 years older than Iram and 8 from her. In his early thirties, the man was rippled with muscles.
"I don't want to marry." She tried one last time.
"Not marry me or anyone?" He cocked a brow.
Her eyes clutched shut in aggravation. "Anyone."
"Then it is settled." He concluded something she wasn't aware of.
"What is?" Her voice came out snappy.
"You can marry me but not marry at all." He shrugged as if he didn't leave her confused to the last of her brain cells.
"Kindly bother to explain." She gritted.
"You will marry me for show and I will let you live the way you want. I will not interfere in your life like you won't in mine. A win-win for both of us." He continued staring at the flower pots. "I was against marriage with your sister because I knew she expected something out of me..."
"And I don't?" She earned a glare for cutting him off.
"No." He chipped as if irritated after explaining to her. "You are not her, Inara."
Her insides froze at the flow of her name from him. How easily was he using her name when minutes before he was hung up on addressing her as Ms. Khan?
"Don't worry your brain." He continued glancing at her torturing her lower lip. "Go prepare to marry me and I will handle the circus inside. You don't have to face them again."
"I can tell them myself." She raised her chin defiantly.
"You can, but you will not." He declared straightening up. He took a step closer to her and stopped at two feet from her. "If you are going to be my wife, I will make sure you are never disrespected again."
He was offering to give her respect?
Isn't that what she wanted from her husband?
"If you insist." She nodded keeping her emotions in check and turned to leave.
"Inara." He stopped her. "Cover his name from your henna. I don't want him anywhere on what belongs to me."
She glanced at her left palm where his name was written much to her chagrin. She looked behind at him with the urge to break through his composed façade. "I don't belong to you."
"Yet." He commented and brushed past her, glancing behind her one last time before he left her alone to prepare her mind for marriage.
Her marriage with Rahil Sohail.
She entered her room and threw her shawl away, followed by the flower bangles that made her look like before, not anymore. Throwing all the other flower jewelry pieces, she was made to wear by Mrs. Qadri not long before.
Searching through her room, she looked for henna cone her cousins were silly enough to forget somewhere.
She snorted to herself finding one and settled with crossed legs on her bed, ready to overwrite that unwanted name with something she wanted this time.
"Inara."
Her hand halted mid-air halfway regrouping the design and changing it.
"Ji, Amma." She answered without looking up. She knew why her mother was here. She was worried for her; well, she wasn't alone. Inara was worried for herself too.
Why in the world she was not breaking into tears or punching that man in his face was beyond her.
She would have left him to die and let her father and brother handle the mess, that is what has been always preached in Khan's household.
Her father taught her how to do her worst when she was hurt and leave rest for him. He got her back, always.
"Talk to me, child. Tell me anything you are thinking." Her mother sat near her patting her head. "You don't have to marry Rahil. Your father will handle them. Even though he said Iram would not get married to Ashfaq, we will send the guests back. There is no need to proceed with the preparations."
"Can you send those bags to Iram?" She pointed towards the bags filled with gifts for Qadri's to-be daughter-in-law. "And also, the wedding dress. I want nothing from them in this room."
"My Baccha, you are scaring me."
"Why am I scaring you, Amma?" She cupped her mother's face. "Look at me and see, I am fine. And see this, I have erased his name from my hands. I am no longer Ashfaq Qadri's bride. I am ready to marry Rahil."
"But it wasn't supposed to be." Her mother shook her head as if she spoke insanity. "You can say no. You should say no."
"I won't." She repeated stubbornly. "Rahil is a good man. I can see myself getting married to him."
"Inara, Baccha..."
"I want to, Amma." She stated with finality her mother's face lost any fight she brought in with her. "He respects me. I believe he will keep respecting me. I did not love Ashfaq, I agreed with Baba and you know he likes Rahil more than him. He promised and I can fulfill his promise. I will marry him."
A knock resonated in her room.
"Come in."
Her mother was quick to rationalize her face and blink any emotions she showed her minutes back, perks of marrying a politician.
"I meant to talk to you for a minute, Inara." Rahil's mother stood at her threshold and smiled with a gentleness that Inara wanted from her family at the moment.
"Sure, Aunty." She nodded and watched her mother ready to give them some privacy.
"You can stay, Jamila." She stopped her from leaving. "It is only right if you hear me along with your daughter."
"Please sit." She offered and the ladies sat on her bed while she moved her vanity chair towards them and sat down.
"I cannot understand what you must be feeling now, Inara. Neither I will pretend I do. I married Rahil's father for love and I wish the same for every girl. I wanted Rahil to marry for love too, but see, destiny plots its way in mysterious ways." She took her palm and squeezed her hand. "I may not understand your feelings but I will support you. You can backout any moment and I won't hold your father's promise up. I may have said that amidst the tension because I failed to grab the change but it was wrong to you. If you do not want to..."
"I want to." She stated.
His mother smiled brightly. "Then you should call me Ammi as Rahil does. Now, that you have agreed, I want to tell you a few things I believe you should know before you step into his life."
Inara heard her words and let them seep into her, she knew Rahil wasn't a man who was open like a book, he was a rollercoaster ride inside the caves. There was no way one could expect things and enjoy seeing them happen.
It will never go as per one's expectations. You gotta be ready to face the dips and hikes of unknown paths until it is the end of the tunnel and the ride comes to an end.
"I do not wish you to wear what I brought for Iram. First, it was on her name and second, it wouldn't fit you." Afreen concluded. "Therefore, I have asked Rahil to bring in the saree bought for his wife before this alliance was fixed. Rahil was supposed to gift it to his bride as a gift for their wedding but see, you are getting it before. It was something he bought from his first earnings, rather than forced by me."
Inara giggled imagining his face being forced to do what he didn't want to.
"I know you will be the right choice for him." Afreen grinned. "I will get the blouse fixed for you. I hope you don't mind wearing a saree for your Nikah. It is last minute or else I would have got you clothes of your choice."
"I don't mind, Ammi," Inara spoke and glanced at her mother who looked better, more approving of this marriage now.
"Good." She patted her head lovingly. "Now, I will leave you alone and get prepared to welcome you into our family. I can't wait to bring you home, Inara. I mean it."