"I'll send her to Lyallpur," Governor Fazaluddin replied to his wife. "To the same women's madrassah you studied from. They have recently added a course about literature. She has interest in it. I hope the experience will be beneficial."
"I doubt she'll be interested in studying, Baba. She never has been good at it," Zukhruf replied with a shrug.
"And have you ever been good at studies?" Saiqah Begum inquired with a sarcastic smile.
"Do not compare me to that harpy, Amma!" Zukhruf protested, nearing into the crook over father's arm.
The Governor gave a short smile. "Of course not, my beloved. That is not what your mother meant." Zukhruf scoffed, turning her face away. The Governor drove his arm around her before continuing, "I agree. She is definitely not an excellent student. But at least being there will keep her away from Kamyaar."
"They are already provinces away. Famina here and he in the Capital yet they still find a way to meet. I doubt changing cities will do much," replied Saiqah Begum solemnly.
The Governor's face was solemn. "There isn't much else we can do." Saiqah Begum sighed. He let out an exasperated breath. "The Deen can really test us sometimes."
Zukhruf raised her brows in surprise. Her father was the most religious man she knew. It was a shock to hear him say something of the sort. "Had I not been a Muslim, i could have just gotten the two married and it would have been over for good. I wouldn't have hard to deal with either of them anymore. But as a Muslim, as someone appointed over my daughter as her wali, I have no option but to prevent her from marrying someone who is not good for her."
Zukhruf looked at her father sadly. Famina had really hurt him today. She never could have imagined her father saying something of the sort.
He sighed. "Anyways, the Lord does not burden one beyond what it can bear. If He has placed me in this situation, I am sure He will help me through it. All I want is to not have to see her again," the Governor sighed. "Not anytime soon. May the Lord sort it out well."
"Ameen," replied the mother and daughter in unison.
Zukhruf squeezed his hand, giving him a reassuring smile. He smiled back. For now, it seemed like everything would work out well... hopefully.
Zukhruf giggled flipping the page over, her cheeks apoearing even fuller as she did. She had just gotten her hands on the weekly issue of the Mir Fatir's Journal of Humorous Stories and now strolled through the gardens reading it in a black dress.
It was a calm night. The moon shone above her, and owls hooted in the distance. The cool night breeze swayed the flyaways in her black silky hair and made her bangs brush against her eyebrows. It had been four days since Kamyaar had broken into their home. There had been no sign of him after that which was good.
From where she was strolling, she was right beneath her father's balcony and could actually see a glimpse of him working on his desk inside.
By now, she has seen him working on his desk from there more than a thousand times as her late night strolls were quite common. She enjoyed reading and would often stroll while doing so.
As she reached the other end if the garden, she began walking back. From the periphery of her eye, she saw her father get up from the desk. It seemed as he was going to walk up to the balcony. Just then, a figure appeared behind him.
Zukhruf turned around just in time to see that person drive a cylindrical object through her father's body. "Baba!" She screamed, dropping the book. Before she knew it, her feet were carrying her out of the garden and into the hall. She dashed up the stairs and through the corridors panting frantically. Within less than two minutes, she was in front of the doors to her father's study.
Just then, she heard the sound of something piercing through flesh followed by a cry of pain. "BABA!" She roared, pulling and pushing at the handles for dear life. "Open it! Open it!"
Just then, she heard footsteps behind her before two tough hands held her shoulders.
"What's wrong?" Shakeel questioned, holding his sister by the shoulders and turning her towards him.
"Baba! Baba!" She repeated in horror.
"Baba? What happened to him?" Shakeel questioned. Behind him, Deena exchanged a confused glance with Sania, who had arrived hearing the commotion. Just then, they heard the sound of metal clashing against itself followed by the sound of something being knocked over.
"There's someone inside! Someone stabbed him!" She screamed, freeing herself from her brother's grasp and turning around to hold the resume pulling at the handles of the door.
"What?" Raheel spoke as he walked towards them from behind, looking at Shakeel who looked back in shock.
"Break the door! Brother, break the door please!" Zukhruf screamed, desperately tugging at the handles.
The brothers didn't have time to think. Sania stepped forward, pulling Zukhruf away so that Raheel and Shakeel could attempt to open it. The sounds of metal clashing, stuff being knocked over and heavy breathing mixed with grunts continued.
"At three," Shakeel told Raheel who nodded promptly. "One. Two. Three!" They both threw themselves against the doors. There was the sound of a crack but it didn't open.
"Open it! Open it, Brother! Open it!" Zukhruf screamed at them, her face red was exasperation. The two attempted it again. And again. And again. She could hear the scuffle inside slowing down. Her father was slowing down because of his injuries. "Open it please!" Zukhruf screamed.
Just then they heard a gurgling sound from within, the sound of someone drowning. Zukhruf gasped. It was the sound of someone's throat filling up with blood, someone drowning in their own blood.
Raheel and Shakeel's eyes widened and they looked at one another in horror before going back to their desperate attempt at opening the door.
And then there was a thud.