It had sounded so much better in her mind. 

The reality was harsh. Not that Edah was unaware of it, she even knew that Haaris hated being married to her. Even so, when he left her all alone at the airport, she couldn’t help but look for him. 

It was starting to get dark. She was standing at the exit. She remembered that he’d collected the luggage, didn’t spare a look at her, left her to collect her own and scurried to the exit. Edah had tried to match his frantic pace but he just disappeared from her sight. 

“Ya Allah!” She shuddered out a sob in her henna coated palms, her nervous eyes scanning the area. She had never been to Bhopal. 

Never alone. 

As much as she was happy to be away from Haaris, she was scared to her bones for being all alone in the big city. The first thought was to go back home but she didn’t have money. 

She turned around and slammed into a person, “I'm so sorry!” She choked, backing up. Tears blurring her view, she was about to make a hasty retreat when a hand looped her arm, pulling her back. 

“What….” She gasped outrageously. 

“So he left you here, huh? I knew that bastard would do that.” A rough voice gritted animatedly and she raised her lashes to look at a familiar face. Seeing him, she broke into tears and hugged him tightly. “Shahab! I… I…”

“Shh… bas!” He wrapped his arms around her, soothing a hand down her back. “I’m here now. Relax. I will not let anything happen to you.”

Edah sobbed harder, disregarding that she had begun to catch the attention of people. She didn’t care. Not at all. It was her safe place. Shahab was with her and he would manage everything for her. If only he had been there then, she would not be….

“Everything is finished.” She sobbed harder, “Everything is finished. Mamu jaan… he… I can’t do this, Shahab. It’s not… It’s not my fault. I can’t…”

“I know it’s not your fault. I will never ever blame you for that.” Shahab took her face in his harsh palms and looked into her eyes, regret filling his brown eyes. “It will never be your fault. I am sorry. I am really sorry, Edah. Forgive me.”

Seeing a different emotion swirling in his eyes, Edah grew conscious and let distance crawl between them. Shahab gladly allowed her to move back and watched quietly as she wiped her face, “he left me here.” 

“I know.” 

Edah furrowed her eyebrows, “What are you doing here, by the way?” 

Shahab shrugged, looking away. “I… I actually came with you guys. Had an intuition that… that bastard would do something like that.” 

The anger was back of his face and he caught hold of her wrist. “Let’s go. I’ll talk to Baba. You don't have to waste your life with…”

“No, Shahab, wait!” Edah resisted his hold when he began walking back to the terminal. “Do you… do you know… where he lives?”

Shahab gave her an incredulous look, scowling. “Are you for real?” 

Edah evaded eyes, mumbling. “I need to… go to his house.”

“After so much?” Shahab’s patience was hanging by a thread. He held her shoulders and shook her slightly, “Oh, come to your senses, Edah. Our family acted stupid, and what you’re doing right now is just an extension of that stupidity. You seriously want to live with that man? Huh?”

“Shahab, leave. Please. You’re hurting me!” She mumbled, trying to squirm away. Shahab left her with a click of his tongue and shook his head, “You are hurting yourself more, Edah. You have no idea what you’re doing. That man… that harami…” he trailed off, frustrated and ran a hand through his hair. “He left you here. All alone. What more do you need to understand that he doesn’t want you? He will never stand for you.”

Edah looked into Shahab’s eyes and he was stunned to find his answers. She knew it. She knew she was all alone in his battle. And, yet she had decided to fight. Noticing him not moving back, she sighed in defeat. “I will call myself a cab then. Do you know his address at least?” 

“Edah!” Shahab spoke her name on a pained exhale and closed his eyes. He pulled her close and rested his hands on both her shoulders, “Don’t do this. Please. I’ll save you. Trust me. I will do something. I promise. Please don’t go there. Please. Please.” He whispered and put his head against hers. 

Edah’s breath stuck in her throat. She had no idea why but she felt… wrong. She squirmed and Shahab pulled back from her, his deep brown eyes pinning her with such intensity that her head reeled. 

It wasn’t the Shahab she knew; the one who played legos with her, the one who helped her in homework, the one who took her to the bazaar and the one who was forbidden because he was engaged. 

She didn’t see her cousin in Shahab any longer, instead he was a man with intentions. Intentions that scared her being and the consequences it could bring made her shiver. And, when he spoke his next words, all her doubts were confirmed. 

“Marry me, Edah.” He pulled his lips in a rueful smile, “I know it’s late, and awkward but marry me. I promise you I'll convince everyone. Baba. Amma. Phupho. Chacha Jaan. All of them. I’ll make Hiba understand. She will leave me happily and then…”

“Shahab, have you lost it?” Edah had no idea that she could sound so harsh. In a flash, she pushed him away and glared at him with disgust. “How can you even think of it? You’re engaged. And I’ve always seen you like my elder brother. How can you even…. Chiiiiii!” 

They both stood in silence. She didn’t look at him. How did her life change so much? God must be kidding! The love of her life broke off their engagement. Shahab wanted to marry her and she was the wife of her own rapist. All too much for her to comprehend. 

Feeling her head getting heavier, she made a small request. “Please go away from here. And never come back for me.” She turned her back to him, “not even when you hear me dying!”