voice and she yelps moving back to look at the elder woman looking curiously at her and her cheeks flare with embarrassment.

"Ji, mai un k sath ayi huin". She said pointing to Ahad who was still talking about something (yes, I am with him)

"Maine pocha hai tum kon ho?". The woman asked again (I asked who are you)

"He is my husband". She replied looking at the floor unsure

"Who are you?". The woman insisted again and she frowns so the woman spoke again, "I don't want your introduction and that should not be by someone else name. I wanted to know who you are not who you are with or who you are married to. Tumhari pehchan tum se hai kisi aur se nahi". (You identity is from you not from others)

She looks at the floor uncertainty filling in her naive mind of the thought of saying about her identity because the questions that will follow are not what she would want to answer.

"I am Zeenat". She said softly in a hushed tone so even the woman can't hear

"And I am-". The woman started when Ahad hugged the woman tightly grinning at her

"Chachi, kaisi hain ap?". Ahad asked sweetly (aunt, how are you) and that's the most sweet she had ever seen him

The way he smiles softly at his aunt and the warm glow in his eyes.

"I am good. You never told me you got married". His aunt said twisting his ear, "Did you force her or something?".

Though her words were supposed to be a joke she didn't know the truth.

"Kuch isi tarha ka". Ahad said kissing her cheeks lovingly, "I have work. So excuse me". (Something like that)

She follows behind him when he signals her walking outside of the restaurant and he immediately grabs her hand pushing her against the wall leaning closer to her.

"What did I say in the car?". He asked pressing on her wrist that were against the wall

She cries in pain that shoot through her wrist, "I-I don't know".

"I asked you to cover this shit on your face then why is that I can still see it?". He asked pushing a finger on the bruise on her face

She cries, "It was hot so the makeup must-have washed away because of the sweat".

He pushes her harder in the wall, "I don't care what it was when I say you cover it, it means you cover it. Do I make myself clear?".

"Ji". She said and he let her hand go as she holds her wrist pressing on it to ease the pain (ok)

"Now take your ugly face away from me". He said and she runs back inside placing her scarf on her hand properly

She stops in front of the mother and son (Zain) who were already waiting for her.

"I don't understand why you insist on working in the restaurant after a day of your wedding?. I mean I don't mind just I wish you spend some time adjusting before you continue to work". Zain's mother said

She frowns at her words not understanding what she meant by that but then she remembers Ahad words and he must have made that lie.

"I-I just- there are many workers in the home so there is nothing for me to do there so I thought of working somewhere outside. He said it's best if I work within a family for protection". She lied as her heart clenched on her own lie

She hates lying.

Yet she has to do it.

Sins after sins.

Lying never stops at one it was a series of chain that once started will continue for a long time.

Zain's mother huffed, "Ok. But you will take it easy and not do everything around her. Let this stupid do the work instead of before he becomes lazy".

"Ammi, I am not stupid or lazy". Zain whine

She hides her smile when his mother slaps his hand, "I didn't ask you. Now, give her a tour and I will explain everything. I have to bring the grocery from the neighbour".

"Yes, Ma'am". Zain said saluting her and his mother shakes her head at her son childish behaviour before walking outside

Zain looks at her and the atmosphere thickens with silence.

"I am sorry about what Ahad had done. I will never support his plans and idea. Please, if he crosses his limits you don't have any need to hold back". Zain said gently

She looks at him wide eyes and he could tell her eyes were the beautiful honey-brown that were shining in the sunlight that was entering the restaurant.

"Did he not tell you who I am?". She asked in a whisper

"That doesn't matter. I know that killing someone is no excuse and is punishable but I think you have spent most of your life in a place that is not a place many will even think of spending their time in so don't speak about yourself that way". He said smiling lightly

"B-But-". She started

"You need to know that woman no matter what or how they are I am taught to respect them. Revenge or not is no excuse to abuse them verbally or physically because the one to punish is only our Lord and human who takes that in their hands are sinners. Now, I will explain the working around here. Today, we are opening late because we needed to do some deep cleaning and our grocery was coming in late". He said as he starts to take her to the kitchen showing her and explaining everything

She came to know that besides her there are two chefs in the kitchen and two waiters who work through the day. She will be in charge to assist all of them and the one who needs them.

"I know you are not here on your own so if you don't wish to work here, then don't. You can stay in my office in the back and I will not tell Ahad anything". He said as they step in the office and he looks through the files of his accounts

"I would like to work to pay off your kindness". She said softly as her sweet voice carries the honestly that pulls on his heartstrings

He gulped knowing the cost of this revenge will be high.

"Then, I guess we have to decide your pay". He said not turning around because his eyes would be stuck on her face which is disrespectful

"Um, but he said that I will have here for free!?". She voiced out her confusion

He turned around abruptly and she watches the anger in his eyes as he takes a step and she raises her hand to shield from the hit that was coming but instead the silence follows. She moves her hand looking at his shocked face making her embarrassed as her cheeks flare.

"I-I am sorry". She said looking down tapping her feet

"Sorry?. Why are you sorry?. I am sorry I didn't mean to scare you. I am so sorry". He apologised, "And please know that I will never hit you that would be low of me and hitting a beautiful creation of Lord is prohibited by our Lord. I would never raise my hand on you".

She nodded meekly.

"Also he is not the boss here in fact he is not the boss of anyone or anything, not even you. You are his wife which means his equal, not his servant or anything. Please, acknowledge that". He said in a deeper tone to emphasize on his words, "Now that is understood I will pay you the same as my other employees. I won't tell him about the salary and I would say that you don't tell him either because he will probably be mad at you. So, there are a few dresses that you have to wear here you can see if there is your size or just tell me and I will order one for you. Ok?".

She nodded looking through the size to find her size as she walks to the bathroom. She thanks her Lord that they were full sleeves or it would be hard for her to hide her skin. She takes the makeup hiding the marks around her body and she watches the where he had held her hand there were some bruises forming there.

She went outside when his mother and the other employees enter and she was introduced before everyone went to work. She started to work trying her best not to annoy anyone because it will only result bad for her. Throughout the time she managed to work better than she thought and exactly at 7 the driver came to take her back.

She looks outside of the window to the tree passing by and the moment the rain starts to pour her heart seems to bleed along. The whole ride she wonders about things but she prayed for better things.

Once she was home she changes into new clothes and after a quick shower, she was back in the kitchen to cook for her husband.

"You should wear good clothes to impress your husband". One of the woman workers said

She looks at herself and she did try to look good. She went back to change into a little more glamorous clothes walking downstairs blushing a little when her worker praising her.

"Now, you need to know that men are usually hot-headed and you need to be patient and pray that he changed". The worker explained

She nodded naively.

"Also, it's ok if he hit you he will eventually stop someday but at least he is providing for all your needs so even if he hit you sometimes shouldn't be a problem. You should believe in your Lord because He likes a woman who listens to their husband". The worker added

She nodded understanding.

That night she waited for him until 1 AM when the door finally opens her heartbeat rapidly against her chest as she waits for his attention on her. The worker had hyped her enough to be nervous and crave for his attention. She had seen him only a few times but he was a handsome creation which only made her more nervous.

He walks inside the room until his eyes landed on her narrowing in process, "What in the world are you wearing?. Are you going to a party?".

Her heartbreaks.

She shakes her head looking at the floor.

"Then go and change. God, why do I have to bear this?". He said angrily throwing his bag away

She rushes inside the room changing into a different pair of clothes removing her makeup and coming back down serving him food.

"Listen to me very carefully. You are not my wife and I will never ever give you that right". He said holding her wrist tightly, "Don't ever think about seducing me because looking at your hideous face only anger me to kill you".

She gulped visibly trying to break free from him but he pushed her to the ground and a scream ripped through her.

"Stay far away from me". He said walking away leaving a broken mess behind (her)

Has death has no mercy for her?.

When is it coming?.

Because she has been thinking about lately.

These past two months the routine remains the same,

She was awake before morning prayer, she prays, cook which her husband always throw away, hit her, take her to work, she works, come back home waiting for him while working and cleaning, serve him, be abused (verbally and physically) and please him every night.

Her patience was thin. Very thin.

"Are you ok?". She heard Zain voice that made her shriek and the bowl she was cleaning falling down on her feet

The blood starts to pour out instantly making a small pool around her and she heard him gasped looking at her.

"Ammi". Zain yelled agitated, "Please, come here now".

His mother walks inside and she looked shocked more than Zain as she looks at her feet. She slaps Zain back, "Place a cloth at her feet to stop the bleeding and bring a chair and kit so I can help the poor child".

Zain immediately places a towel over the gash rushing to do as his mother instructed. She sits on the chair not even feeling anything besides being numb to pain. It's not that her husband bruises are not on her and not hurting her already. She had turned off the capacity to feel that pain.

"Meri bachi, himaat rakho yeh abhi sahi ho jaye ga". His mother said warmly (my daughter, be strong this will be ok in a moment)

"Yeh toh sahi ho jaye ga per kia zindagi ki di howay zakham sahi ho sakte hain". (I know this will be ok but will the wounds from the world be?)

"Muskil toh hai bohat k duniya k diyay dukh bhar jayein. Shayeed us dukh k sath rahna seekhna hota hai insaan ko kyun k duniya k dukh kabhi khatam nahi ho sakte. Yeh kahi nahi kaha gaya tha k is duniya mai dukh khatam ho jayein gay". His mother said wisely as she tenders to her wound,"Haan per yeh zaror ho sakta hai k hum apni zindagi mai kuch is tarha ki cheezein karna shoro ho jayein k dukh k liye time na ho ya phir kisi is tarha k shaks ko apna saathi bana lein jo hamare dukh sukh ko samjhe ".

(It is hard that the wounds from the world heal. Maybe we have to learn to live with that wound because a person cannot stay in this world without having to face pain. We weren't told that this world will ever stop giving us pain) (or we can start doing somethings in our lives that we don't have time to let our wound bleed. We can also have a companion who understands our pain and share it)

"Aur agar phir bhi dukh kum na ho?". (And even if the wound stays)

"Toh jaha se dukh mil raha hai us jaga ko chor do, chahay woh koi mulk kyun na ho. Kisi dosre mulk jao aur waha zindagi guzaro". (Then leave the place which is giving you pain even if it's the country, leave it. Leave the country and go live in a different country and build your life again)

She nodded biting her lips as she tries to hold in her tears.

"Apni zindagi kabhi kisi shaks k liye zaya na karna aur us shaks k liye toh bilkul nahi jis nae pehle tumhari qadar na ki ho. Yeh yaad rakhna k piyaar karnay wale toh bohat ho gay aur izhar bhi shayeed kar dein per izaat dayne wale bohat kum ho gay aur woh saache aashiq ho gay. Izaat k bagair mohabbat zayada waqt nahi guzarti".

(Don't ever waste your life for a person and especially for a person who wouldn't value you. Remember that you will find many who will claim to love you and maybe even express it but there will be few who will respect you and those are the true lover. Without respect in relationship, the love doesn't last too long)

She nodded meekly as she sits there with her face in her hands. His mother left her and Zain who had heard everything stood outside comprehending what he had to do. He had obviously seen her breaking down every day and those bruises she tries to hide away.

He walks inside and she raises her broken eyes towards him, "P-Please don't tell him. He will be very angry. P-Please, I will work harder and I won't lag off".

"Calm down, Zeenat". He said in his honey-rich voice and her mind stopped it's negative thoughts at once, "I will not tell him anything only if you process to rest for a day or two in my office".

"But, if he found out-". She started scared

"He won't find anything. I promise". He said walking away but he turned around one last time, "If you ever need help or to speak to anyone please know that I will be here. Always".

With that, he left her alone.

She walks outside after a while and the restaurant was closing as the worker already left. She heard the bell of the front door and she turned around to find her two friends from prison.

"Hadiya". She said excitedly hugging her then move to the other one hugging her tightly, "Imaan. I missed you two. How did you know?".

"We just asked around and used few people to find out". Imaan said smiling

"You came out?. when?". She asked as she doesn't remember when they were supposed to be out

"Yes. We were discharged around two weeks ago I think". Hadiya said

"I am so happy that you are free". She said grinning at them

"These are your friends?". She heard his mother voice

She blushes embarrassed that she forgot about Zain and his mother who was looking at her with a soft smile.

"Yes". She said in a low tone

"It's so nice to meet someone who knows her. She never talks about herself much". His mother said moving towards them

"We have so many stories of hers". Imaan said excitedly

"No, please". She whines looking at Imaan

Zain smiles looking at her because he believes that she is an amazing woman however the fact that she was being pressed down had taken away her shine. It was refreshing to find her smiling like that he hopes he can see a few more of them and if possible he could protect them. But, he knows he has no right.

The door opens again and this time his long time friend walks inside and a smiling gaze Zain's lips.

"What is she doing here?". His friend asked looking at Zeenat who cowered back hiding behind his mother back

He frowns knowing his friend is the one who worked on her case and placed her behind bar, "Look. I know you were the one in charge of her case but don't speak to her like that".

"What are you doing here?". Hadiya asked looking at his friend shocked

She frowns moving away from his mother back looking at Hadiya who looks like she knows his friend.

"How do you know him?". She asked Hadiya

She regretted asking.

She watches the guilt in her eyes before she could have spoken.

"Please tell me it's a lie". She pleaded as her heart clenched, "Tell me it's a lie and I will believe it".

Zain watch her taking a step back and worry clench his guts.

"She knows him". Imaan said looking at her friend broken eyes

"How?". She asked in a whisper because the sound of her heartbreaking was louder

"Because he offered both of us". The words that broke her completely