Apple of your eyes- Part 14

Mohi- ud-deen and Anish Khan were discussing their so called plan in soft voices. “ Ok! Isn’t my profit margin too small? Sir, what will I get out of this arrangement?” Mohi-ud-deen whispered. Anish smirked and said in cold voice,” Well! Don’t underestimate the  output of this deal. I will marry your niece and in return you will get a part of my wealth.”

Mohi-ud-deen was astonished at the offer. He knew Anish Khan had many wives and was too old to get one. But the revenue he would get out of this alliance was going to double the money he was getting now. He thought about the power , status and numerous projects he would get if he would marry his beloved niece to Anish.

Would his family accept this marriage proposal? Why not? They had no choice in front of him. He was the head of the family. He made all the decisions. “ What is there to think so much? You have wealth that could fulfill your family’s necessities for decades. And I heard that you wanted to leave this petty activities and try something big. I would like to advise you that even to do big things in life, you need money. And I can be your source to all activities you dreamt of.”, Anish said, tempting Mohi-ud-deen to do unspeakable… sacrifice his beloved niece to the devil.

As expected, Mohi-ud-deen sold his niece for the greed of power. “ I accept your offer!”, he said with smile and shook Anish’s hand. Mohi-ud-deen bid Anish with promises and hopes of bright prospect of future ahead of him. After few minutes, he was all alone in blue room, planning to share this news to the family. He was aware of the hidden revolt that would take place behind him. But he knew how to bring down the voices against him.

Aafreen was helping her sister with her homework. This had become a routine. After household chores, she would help her sister with homework for an hour. This hour was blissful for her. The books … the abdunace of knowledge in them gave her peace for sometime. As she was indulging herself into the moments of peace, the presence of her uncle at her home disrupted her moments of peace.

She couldn’t meet her eyes with her uncle. She simply left the room and hid herself.  Her uncle was discussing something serious with her parents. What was it now? What did she do again? Did he get to know about her meeting the jawan ?  She saw her father coming towards her and bought her to her uncle. Her eyes were still bent. Her uncle lifted her face with both his hands and said, “ You are the apple of my eye. I know you will not say no. There is a man who wants to marry you. He will keep you happy…”. Her ears became deaf to his words after she heard the word ‘ marry’. Her life came to standstill.

( To be continued)