Chapter 1:The Proposal

In the hall where everyone gathered after the game , Yahya made a request. Yahya had been a center of attraction since the day he came here in the Ardul-Rasheeq for the cultural festival. He was the finest of the soul anyone had ever seen and Roshanara had noticed it well enough. But she rarely even cared. But Roshanara do felt good at times when she thought about him. Nonetheless , she was least bothered. 

Yahya used to be with Faizan whenever he goes for a walk in the Ardul-Rasheeq. In the game of Farashat , the performance he showed was praised by all . Roshanara was the team leader for the opposite. She was known for the fair game till that moment before Yahya took it over. She was keeping on thinking about this game until she was jolted hearing the statement made by Yahya.

He said, in a calm and composed manner, with extreme politeness, with a sweetest, yet commanding voice to Roshanaras father Mihran that - " Would you marry off your daughter Roshanara to me?".

Faizan had a smile on his face hearing Yahya's request. He felt relieved because he was in a doubt that Yahya would never ask this.

Mihran, upon hearing this was so surprised and shocked. Azhaar , Roshnara's Ammi was also shocked. Mihran didn't reply. Instead Mihran looked at Roshnara. Roshanara didn't utter anything. she stood numb. Her eyes welled up. Azhaar didn't know what to say. while the rest of the crowd began speculating and murmuring.

And Roshanara now clearly know what they are speaking. She had hated this always. The stories about her life were told many a times by others than Roshanara herself. She was known for rejecting almost all proposals came her way. She had reasons which nobody understood, not even her ammi and abbu and for the same reason she was labelled arrogant. Though she was good at quite a number of things in her life.

But a point came in her life where nothing else mattered. But what mattered was her marriage only and she kept on rejecting the matches and ammi and abbu became a laughing stock. 

Mihran was done answering. Azhaar was done crying. 

This was the talk of the crowd. Roshanara knew it. 

A flash of thoughts passed through her mind. Mihran came near her. His eyes were pleading. Roshanara understood what it conveyed. Still Mihran asked, " Babygirl Roshanara, would you want me to arrange a meeting with Yahya?So that you two can talk?" 

Roshanara kept silence. Azhaar was running out of patience. Azhaar told : "Roshanara , this is not done. You have to decide something now. Either you marry him or else remain unmarried till the end of your life. I wish I never give you birth. You are making it difficult for both me and abbu to live in this world."

From a distance Yahya was looking at them. Faizan, his best friend was anxious, soo anxious about the outcome. Yahya noted the pearls in Roshanara's eyes. And he again grabbed the attention of the crowd. He said, "I am not going to talk to Roshanara before our Nikah". Mihran felt as if his world just stopped. Because he knows, Roshan won't allow this to happen. Azhaar immediately went near Yahya and said that , " It cannot happen Yahya. Its her life. She needs to talk to you". 

For which Yahya replied - I am here in this Ardul-Rasheeq for days. She by this time might have heard many things about me. Even I came to know about her from here only. And from what all things have I heard , I have decided to marry her and why can't she too decide the same way?!

The crowd cheered for that statement. Because in that crowd there where the age old people who were the torch bearers of the old customs and traditions and for them Yahya's statement made sense. 

While Roshanara's world was crumbling down. She obviously, was irked by his that statement. Suddenly her impression about him changed. Yet, She stood silent. She had a string of thoughts flowing through her head. She thought of running away, but her legs weren't moving. She thought of speaking her view to the world, but her tongue was tangled. Her throat dried up, Her world was spinning. Yh Allah.. this is it? This is the end? Is this what for, I have fought all these years..??

Before she could process anything , Yahya said to Mihran that -" I would be happy enough , if you conduct the Nikah now itself. The party and celebrations can be a late affair. Make this halal for me and Roshanara first." He said.

Mihran's eyes welled up. He said sorry to Roshanara with his eyes and proceed for Nikah. Her Silence was translated as "Qubool" by the crowd all by themselves, Azhaar wept silently. Roshanara was unsure whether it was the tears of happiness or sadness.

In the crowd were the two who cried for Roshanara. It was Amaal and Hafiza. Her two best friends who were so proud of Rosharana for what she was. They raised their hands to the sky and said :"Yh Allah... make this easy for her, for she had been enduring for long"!!!

~~~ to be continued