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Noor

"Wh-what" I say , startled by uncle's sudden order . how could he just order me to marry someone. Why ?

"You heard it right , don't make me repeat myself " he replied in a stern voice . leaving no space for argument.

I step back . not being able to take the coldness of uncle towards me . thousands of questions rise up in my head . why ? How could he do this ?

"Why ? Why are you doing this uncle " I say trying to hold back my tears .

"What why , you are my niece , if you have even a bit of respect for me , then you will do as I say ." he replied .

" I will not do this . I will not marry a man , I don't know anything about . " I say trying to bring some confidence in my voice .

On the inside my heart is shattering listening to uncle's harsh words . but on the outside I am trying to stand firm .

"You don't have even a bit of respect left for me . right ? ." he asked with a chuckle .

"Uncle , I respect you but-" I said but he cut me in between .

" you respect me right then you will do this , and rahi baat Milne ki , toh tumhare unse milna hum arrange kr denge ". He said standing up with the help of his stick and slowly going towards his bed .

Uncle has grown very old and weak . he always used to have problems with his heart but he used to ignore them and hide them to work hard . he was very keen on making his company on of the biggest companies in India . my heart aches seeing him like this .

I know uncle won't listen to what I say . and I don't want to cause him more headache so with one last look at him , I turn around and head towards the guest room .

√√√√√
In the Evening,

My headache is getting worst . after Farida ji served me dinner in my room . I took a medicine and lay down in the bed .

Its been 2 hours since I took the medicine and my headache is still very bad .
there are constant voices in my head yelling at each other . there are thousands of questions asking why ? Why us this happening to me ?

Uncle used to love me like his own daughter but after that night everything changed. Everything was burned into ashes .
I can't even tell uncle the truth , his heart won't be able to take it . he won't be able to survive it .

I have to supress it all in heart and do this for my uncle . I don't know how I will survive in a marriage with a man whom I don't even know . but I will do this , if it makes my uncle happy in his last days.

The thought of him dying still brings shivers into my body .

Jaise aaj tak saare raaz chupate aaye hain apne Dil main ,
Ussi tarah aage bhi chupate rahenge .

No one knows , no one will ever.

With this last thought I close my eyes , praying I don't get any nightmares tonight.

√√√√√

It's been three days since I have came here and uncle dropped that bomb .

I have been surviving , its hard to breathe whenever I see that aunt's photo glaring at me . it feels like she is choking me . but I handle it somehow.