Chapter: 13
Written by: Ishrat Zahid
"Some silences are so profound that they trample over the boundaries of words." Sitting in the cold corridor of the hospital, Shanze felt as if time had come to a standstill. On one side, her father was fighting a battle between life and death, and on the other, the very foundations of her home had been shaken. Arsalan's slap was not just a physical blow; it was the first crack in the glass palace of her pride, blurring everything she once held.
When Hamza asked her about Arsalan again, Shanze had no layers of lies left to hide behind. How long could she turn her gaze away from the truth? Meanwhile, Arsalan sat outside the marriage counselor's room, staring at his own trembling hands. Could professional advice mend a shattered trust, or was Arifa's web of conspiracies about to weave a new trap?
When Arsalan and Farhan entered, Shahina Baji welcomed them warmly. Farhan introduced Arsalan and explained the reason for their visit. Shahina wanted to hear everything from Arsalan himself, and she quickly grasped the gravity of the situation. She remarked, "Arsalan Mian! The bond between husband and wife is the first relationship created by the Almighty; all other relationships followed. Woman was created to be a companion to man, to complete his faith, and to stand by him through joy and sorrow. Why do men fail to understand that when a girl enters into a nikah, she leaves everything behind to build a home with him? Sharia has placed the responsibility of her maintenance and well-being on her husband. According to tradition, he must provide for her, treat her with kindness, grant her the protection of a home, and give her the trust she needs to adjust."
Looking deeply into Arsalan's eyes, Shahina Baji continued, "Sharia has not burdened the wife with the sole responsibility of serving the mother-in-law or sisters-in-law; it is the man's duty to care for his parents and siblings. Here, a girl is often forced into the service of the entire in-law family. The mother-in-law will speak, and the sister-in-law will comment—have they brought home a wife or a maid? Her mental state is decimated, and her only task is to keep the in-laws happy. The couple is never given the chance to understand one another, which is why divorce rates have skyrocketed." She warned him sternly, "Arsalan! The door to return is still open. You should never have raised your hand; such an act does not befit a man. Those who wrap their wives in a veil of honor must respect them in front of everyone, not humiliate them. In our society, mothers have forgotten how to raise their sons correctly. Sons are often blackmailed into divorce. My sincere advice is to apologize to Shanze and provide her with a separate home—it is her right. Daughters do not come to your house to be beaten; they come to make your courtyard bloom because they are like flowers."
Just as Arsalan reached his car, he received a call from his neighbor, Mr. Aqeel. "Arsalan, son! Some people are at your shop, and Adeel is showing them around. He mentioned that you've made a deal?" The ground slipped from beneath Arsalan's feet. He rushed there with Farhan and the police, catching Adeel red-handed. Under police custody, Adeel confessed everything: "Arsalan Bhai! By God, this is all Arifa's conspiracy. I wasn't even interested. Arifa was the one after me; she would call and invite me over. You can check my phone records. She gave me these documents so the shop could be transferred to her name. She even wants ownership of your house. She lured me with the promise that if I helped get Shanze out, she would give me half the shop." Arsalan's heart sank as he realized he had been nurturing a snake in his sleeve.
He reached home in a state of shock to find Arifa asleep while Shama Begum lay unconscious on the floor. Outside the hospital ICU, the doctor informed him, "Mr. Arsalan, your mother's condition is critical. High blood pressure and sugar have caused a stroke on her right side; the next twenty-four hours are crucial." As Arsalan sat down in tears, Farhan consoled him, "Have courage, Arsalan! She will get better. But regret isn't ended by crying alone. I've found out that Shanze Bhabhi's father also suffered an attack and has just been discharged. You must take the first step. Go, apologize to them, and save your home. Arsalan resolved, "You're right, Farhan. I will go to Shanze's house tomorrow and face her."
On the other hand, Jamila Begum was trying to convince her son, Mohsin, regarding Maria's proposal. Mohsin said bluntly, "Don't play any games with me, Mother! I am not Arsalan Mamoo. I know you will go there and say things that will make them refuse the proposal themselves so that I remain under your control." Jamila Begum was stunned, but she quickly masked her face with a deceptive smile, thinking that once the proposal broke, Mohsin would eventually settle down.
(To be continued...) What will happen at the next turn? To find out, stay tuned for the next Chapter of my novel 'Mera Hisaar,' which will be published tomorrow.
Copyright & Disclaimer
Copyright © 2026 by Ishrat Zahid. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.