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𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓭𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓲𝓮𝓼 𝓬𝓸𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓭

𝓘𝓼 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓫𝓾𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓵𝓪𝓿𝓪 𝓹𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓸𝓷 𝓬𝓸𝓵𝓭 𝓲𝓬𝓮

"It's high time, you should get married again. You cannot waste your whole life just because of your past,"

The voice boomed in the posh bedroom where Benish sat in the middle of the bed, resting her head in her knees. She had closed her eyes to calm herself from the nightmare she just faced.

"I-i-i c-cann-ot j-jus-t forg-get h-him and m-move on," She took in shaky breathe. Her voice barely audible to her step mother. Benish opened her eyes and looked at the front wall with emotions of pain, nervousness, hurt and betrayal ran through her veins. A tear of agony slipped from her red eyes. She was shivering.

"Ammi! Look at her she is shivering."

Emaad, her step brother surmised as he started to walk towards Benish faster and sat beside her on the bed. He rubbed the either sides of her shoulders and spoke in a slow voice,

"Benish, please don't be scared of her. You don't need to feel pressurized by us. Take your time. We are with you. Calm down and think about your future when you are ready for it."

"When she'll start thinking about her future when she is actually ready for it, no groom will turn up for her!"

Stomping her feet, Lubna left the red posh bedroom with decorations of wedding. It was Faina's wedding. The younger daughter of Wahid Azhar and Lubna Azhar. Nusrat Azhar is the first wife of Wahid Azhar and Lubna is the second.

Benish is Nusrat's only child whereas Emaad and Faina are Lubna's children. Wahid had married Nusrat because he loved her but he married Lubna because his mother forced him to marry his cousin. Benish was loved by both her parents but she never got the love she wanted from her grandmother.

For others life of Benish visualised like a bed of roses. But in reality there where visible roses with thorns scattered everywhere. Only she could feel the thorns, it itched her, broke her and crumbled her in a corner. It's been a year since she was divorced. Her ex-husband Naef had put a scar in her life. Even though he was gone a year ago now, she still couldn't get over him.

His taunts, his abuses, his way of harshness with her broke her completely leaving her like a dried leaf. She could only close her eyes due to her sudden panic attacks.

There are many days she gets nightmare about him. Only Wahid, Nusrat and Emaad were on her side. They supported her in getting a divorce from her abusive husband Naef.

"Benish, Look at me." Nusrat lifted her chin up. Silent tears ran through her cheeks. Nusrat's heart broke when she witnessed her young daughter suffering from such immense pain.

Nusrat began, "You don't need to be scared of anyone. Take your time. Your parents are alive. They won't let you marry any other person. We had already committed a mistake of marrying you off with Naef. Please calm down Benish."

Saying so, Nusrat left the room. She couldn't see her breaking down soo much. Leaving her alone with Emaad. He sat beside her.

"Ben, please don't feel pressurized because of them. We all are here for you. When you'll be ready for marriage please inform me. I know it must be hard for you to move on after Naef. But there is a positive side in remarrying too. You had suffered a lot in the past but moving on in this beautiful bond of marriage will lead you to happiness, joy and peace."

Benish wiped her tears and looked up at Emaad before speaking,

"That's what they said before my marriage with Naef. They said I'd be experiencing happiness, joy and peace just like you did. But what actually happened is in front of you. I am trying Emaad. I am trying not to be burden for everyone. But my fears throw me in a fit of a dark room where I only see Naef in every other men. I can't forget those dark hazel eyes which looked at me with disgust. The way I broke before him never meant anything to him. He never had kindness which would have made me happy. Whenever I look at him, I never felt the amount of joy I was supposed to feel when seeing my husband. Our relationship never had love which would have led me to have peace."

She broke down and hiccuped. Hiding her face in between her knees again. It was hard for Emaad to see her sister soo broke. He couldn't handle her but if he broke infront of her then her insecurities will never be leaving. He mustered up the courage and opposed,

"Ben you know how I am right? We have grown up together. Do you by chance think that I can be someone like Naef to my spouse?"

She looked at him directly when he spoke. Shaking her head in denial, she began,

"No chance! I can never imagine someone as kind as you like Naef."

His eyes softened and he spoke after lifting her chin up,

"I'll find someone who will be as kind as I am to you Ben. Trust me with this Ben, you'll not regret marrying the one I chose. I never liked Naef in the first place but because of Baba I had no choice but to surrender you to him. I will not let you marry someone like him now. There are more people who will love you Ben. You deserve love. Now smile, I will find a groom who will be up for our expectations."

A small smile played in her lips making her feel grateful to have a step brother like Emaad. He was considerate, kind and caring one would ever ask for. She kept her palms in the back of his hands and surmised,

"Trust me with this, your spouse will be lucky to be with you Emaad."

He stroked her hair, chuckling at her sudden claim.

"Let's get ready for Faina's Nikkah!"

• ° • ° • ° • ° •

The bride sat in the chair infront of the mirror. Faina wasn't ready for the marriage still she has to marry. She hasn't gotten ready yet. She was still sitting in her salwar kameez. Silent tears made their way down her cheeks. Her mother rushed inside the room.

"Faina! You haven't wore the dress yet. Your cousins and I are waiting outside to make you ready for the day sweetie. What are you doing?"

Lubna rushed and dragged her daughter towards the closet. Not noticing her tears. She instructed,

"Now quickly wear the dres-"

Lubna stopped talking when she noticed her daughter breaking in hiccups. She hesitantly asked,

"What happened Faina?"

Faina managed to utter between her cries,

"Ammi! I don't want to marry and I am just 23."

Lubna shook her head and spoke,

"No Faina. It happens. Usually girls as fragile as you are have a nervous breakdown before the marriage take place. I had one too. Don't worry, everything will be alright. Just calm down. Okay?"

"No Ammi! There's more than that. I guess Emaad Bhaiya wouldn't have informed you that Aynan is a divorcee. He was divorced 6 months ago. He is marrying again because he is the CEO of their industries and according to the rules. The CEO must be married within a year of his post. Emaad Bhaiya and Baba know about it but they are still marrying me off with a divorcee. Can you imagine what must be the reason behind his divorce? He would have been a abusive husband like Naef to Benish."

Lubna gasped in shock, she didn't knew that Aynan is a divorcee. She stammered,

"N-no way I'll let you marry a Divorcee! Wait-t, L-let me think about something."

She paced around the room, biting her nails. Nothing was coming in Lubna's mind to save her daughter. The sound of knocking the door disturbed Lubna as she closed her eyes in pure irritation. An idea crossed her mind and she quickly walked towards the closet and took the necessity things of Faina.

"What are you doing Ammi?"

Lubna didn't find it important to answer. She didn't stop her work and got all the necessity things for Faina.

"Bring your Backpack Faina! Quick!"

Faina passed a huge backpack towards Lubna and stood beside her trembling. Lubna started putting all the things inside her backpack and passed it to her.

"Let's go."

She opened the window and said,

"Jump from here. Don't worry it's only garden. You are not living upstairs. Switch off your mobile and go to Tahoora's home. I'll inform her. Do not try to call me. I'll contact you from Tahoora's phone. Okay?"

She nodded in affirmation.

"Now go!"

Faina got out with difficulty. She cried all the way sneaking out from her own marriage. Holding her backpack tightly, she bid goodbye to Lubna.

"Come on. Go Faina." Her voice only audible for Faina.

She sighed before opening the door of the bedroom and looked at Wahid who stood there, worry written all over his face.

"W-Wahid."

"Lubna, Where is Faina? It's time. The groom's family are asking. Tell Faina to hurry up."

"A-Actually, Wahid Faina isn't inside."

Lubna's voice croaked but she still managed to clearly say the truth.

"What?! What do you mean she isn't there? Where is she?!"

Wahid came inside only to find the room empty with the things of a bride scattered everywhere. He held his head and sat on the bed.

"What will I say now? She b-br-roke m-my t-trust and what a-about m-my reputation."

Emaad and Nusrat walked inside Faina's purple coloured bedroom.

"Where is Faina Ammi? They are calling her."

Benish walked inside behind Nusrat and Emaad. She was looking enchanting in a light grey colour heavy suit with a tea pink stole. Her makeup was minimal with coral lip colour painted on her lips. She looked like a princess. Her fair complexed skin gave her a unique feature.

"Baba? Why are you sitting like that?"

Emaad asked.

"Faina ran away," Wahid said with no emotions. The Azhar family gasped. Emaad began,

"What?! What nonsense is this? Faina must be around. Who told that she ran away. There is no proof."

Lubna faked her cries and sat in the bed beside Wahid.

"I checked everywhere but she isn't found anywhere."

She was acting without any flaw. No one could comprehend that she made her daughter run away from her own wedding.

"What do we do now?!"

Nusrat frustratingly said.

"Let's make Benish marry Aynan," Lubna declared.

"What? No way! She isn't ready for marriage yet." Wahid opposed glaring at Lubna. But nothing stopped Lubna.

"It's about our reputation. Ibrahim family is one of the richest families of the country. Do you think we will easily tell them that Faina ran away and they'll let it go?"

According to the situation, what Lubna said really did made sense. Their name, business, reputation everything will be crunched in a corner like a crumbled paper. Benish who saw her father and family shivering in fear of their reputation, slowly surmised.

"Baba, I-I am ready to g-get m-married f-for the sake of our reputation."

Emaad looked at her shocked,

"Ben! You don't need punish yourself because of Faina."

"No Emaad. I am not. I have already given a lot of scars to our family. I can't anymore. It's my responsibility to stand up in the time when everyone actually need me."

She sighed and continued,

"I am ready to g-get m-married with Aynan."

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I hope everyone liked the first chapter of Broken Souls.

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