With a heavy heart and a glimmer of hope, Miraal agreed to accompany Zubiya to the graveyard the next day. It was her final attempt to seek solace, closure, or perhaps even salvation from the clutches of her oppressive family. As they walked through the quiet streets, the weight of the world seemed to press down upon Miraal's shoulders. The morning sun barely peeked through the somber clouds, as if mourning alongside her.

Reaching the graveyard, Miraal's steps slowed, her heart pounding in anticipation. She scanned the area, searching for any sign of Abraar Khan. But as the minutes stretched into hours, hope began to dwindle, replaced by a deep sense of disappointment. Abraar was nowhere to be found, and the realization brought tears to her eyes.

She made her way to her father's grave, the place that held her only source of comfort and love in this world. Kneeling down, Miraal traced her fingers along the engraved letters of her father's name, as if trying to connect with him beyond the confines of this mortal realm. Tears cascaded down her face as she poured her heart out, her voice a whisper among the tombstones.

"Baba, aapne mujhe aise logon ke paas kyun chod diya jinhe meri takleef ka koi khayal nahi? Jo meri zindagi tabha karne chahte hai... (Oh, Baba, why did you leave me in the hands of those who care not for my well-being? Why did you place your trust in people who seek only to destroy me?)" Her cries echoed through the stillness, her words a lament for all the pain and betrayal she had endured.

Unbeknownst to Miraal, Abraar had arrived at the graveyard, drawn by the sound of her weeping. His eyes fell upon the broken figure hunched before her father's grave, her tears glistening in the dim light. There was a raw vulnerability in her sorrow that struck a chord within him, awakening a sense of compassion.

He approached her cautiously, his footsteps barely making a sound on the soft ground. As he neared, he caught a glimpse of her face, her beauty shining through the veil of despair. Enchanted by her ethereal presence, he couldn't tear his eyes away. Something stirred within him, an inexplicable connection that transcended their circumstances.

Abraar's gaze shifted to Bakhtu, his trusted driver, who stood a few steps behind him. Sensing his master's curiosity, Bakhtu nodded and whispered, "Miraal Bibi, marhum Haroon Qureshi ki beti hai. Unke abba ka inteqaal takreeban bees din pehle hua hai (She is Miraal, Haroon Qureshi's daughter. Her father passed away recently)."

Abraar could understand her sorrow, his father had left the world not so long ago. His compassion urged him to take action, to offer some respite from the torment that had consumed her life. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a wad of cash, and handed it to Bakhtu. "Ye raqm unke ghar bhijwa dena. Unko kehna Khan ki taraf se hai, aur dhyaan rakhna ke ye sahi haath m jaye" (Take this to her house. Let them know it's from me, and ensure it reaches her safely)."

Bakhtu nodded, accepting the money, and swiftly made his way to fulfill his master's request. Meanwhile, Abraar approached Miraal cautiously, his presence a gentle presence in her grief-stricken world.

"Miraal," he softly called out her name, his voice filled with an empathy that resonated in her soul. She turned her tear-stained face toward him, he saw a scar at the corner of her lip.

"Ji?" she uttered, her voice a mere whisper.

He knelt beside her, his eyes searching hers. "Aapke walid ki faut par afsos hai. Unke baarey m maine kai baar suna hai, kaafi nek insaan they. Maafi chahunga aapko akele rotey huey dekh kar khud par se kaabu kho diya aur aapse baat karne par majbur hogya. Kisiko akele rotey hue nahi dekh paata mai (I'm sorry for your loss, Miraal. Your father was a good man. I... I couldn't help but overhear your cries, and I felt compelled to come to you. No one should have to suffer alone)."

Miraal's emotions swirled within her, a whirlpool of disbelief, gratitude, and lingering skepticism. But in that moment, she allowed herself to believe that there might still be goodness in this world, that a sliver of light could penetrate the darkness that had consumed her.

As they sat together, their shared pain forming an unspoken bond, Miraal found solace in Abraar's presence. The wounds in her heart were far from healed, but she dared to hope that perhaps she could forge a path towards her own freedom and happiness.

***

As Bakhtu delivered the money to Miraal's house, Rukhsana's anger reached new heights. She had caught wind of Miraal's visit to the graveyard and now, seeing the money, her suspicions were confirmed. Fury radiated from her as she confronted Miraal, her face twisted with rage.

"Khan se milne gayi thi? (Did you go to meet Khan?)" Rukhsana's voice lashed out, her tone dripping with venom.

Miraal straightened her posture, a newfound resolve flickering in her eyes. "Haan, mere mangetar hai woh. Aur dekhiye, aap logon ka jhoot pakda gaya (Yes, he is my fiancé. And behold, your lies have been exposed)," Miraal replied, her voice steady despite the fear simmering within her.

"Kal subha hi qaazi sahab ko bulakar Zoheb se tumhara nikkah karwa deti hu (I will call the qazi tomorrow itself for yours and Zoheb's nikkah) ", Rukhana announced, Miraal laughed without humour.

"Kaisa nikkah, kon haan bolega? (What marriage? Who would say yes?)" Miraal spat out standing up facing her with equal anger in her eyes.

Rukhsana's rage knew no bounds. She launched herself at Miraal, her hands striking out with force, leaving no part of her body untouched. Each blow was fueled by a toxic mix of anger, jealousy, and a thirst for control.

But Miraal, empowered by the glimmer of hope she had found with the bundle of money, refused to cower. With every blow, she silently reminded herself that she was no longer defined by the pain inflicted upon her. She endured the physical assault, her body becoming a canvas of bruises, yet her spirit remained unbroken.

In the midst of the chaos, Zubiya observed the scene with a mixture of horror and determination. She couldn't bear to see her suffer any longer. Gathering her courage, she stepped forward, intervening between Rukhsana and Miraal, shielding her from further harm.

"Khuda ke liye, jaaney de chachi usse", Zubiya begged shielding Miraal's body with her own, " Mai Miraal ko samjhaungi aap aur na maarey usse warna log sawal karenge kal( For Allah's sake don't beat her so much, I will convince her please don't beat her so much or else people will ask questions.)

Rukhsana's fury blazed through her eyes as she glared at Zubiya, her anger seemingly endless. "Tum dono khud ko kya samajhti ho?" she spat out, her voice dripping with disdain. (What do you two girls think of yourself?)

Zubiya stood her ground, her voice trembling but determined. "Chachi, hum khudko kuch nahi samajhte. Is tarah kisi insaan ko maarna nahi chaiye.(Chachi, we don't consider ourselves as anything but human. And no human deserves to be treated like this)

Miraal, her body battered and bruised, found the strength to speak up. "Chachi, aap mujhe jitna bhi peet le, mai nahi manungi. Mere paas ab mera apna sahara hai, Abraar. Woh mere saath khade hain, aaj jo zaroorat ke paise bheje hai usse saaf zahir hota hai. Unko apna waada yaad hai (Chachi, no matter how much you beat me, I won't give in. I have my own support now, Abraar. He is standing by my side, and it's clear from the money he sent today that he remembers his promise)"

Rukhsana's face contorted with a mixture of anger and disbelief. She couldn't comprehend how Miraal could still defy her after everything she had endured. Her voice was laced with a venomous threat as she spoke, "Abraar Khan tumhara sahara banega? Dekhte hai kitna din tikte ho. (Abraar Khan will be your supporter? Let's see how long he prevails)"

With those words, Rukhsana stormed out of the room, leaving Miraal. The air hung heavy with tension and uncertainty. As Rukhsana entered her room her son held her hand and started pleading.

"Maa, mujhe nahi karni ye shaadi. Jaaney de usse (Mother, I don't want this marriage)," he pleaded, his voice quivering with both fear and determination.

"Beta, Raees Zaadi hai woh, uske Baba ki laakhon ki jaayedad hai. Usko haath se jaane nahi de sakte (She is a millionaire, with her father's wealth in the millions. We cannot let her slip through our fingers)," Rukhsana retorted, her voice laced with a cold calculation.

"Maa, pyaar se bhi toh samjha sakti thi bichari ko kitna maara hai aapne (Mother, we can try to understand her with love, see how much you have hurt her)," Zoheb said, his heart aching for Miraal's pain.

"Ab tu apni Maa ko samjhayega kaise bartau karte (Now you will teach your mother how to behave)?" Rukhsana scoffed, her voice dripping with scorn.

"Nahi, Ammi, insaan hai woh, humdardi hoti hai usse (No, mother, she is a human being, she deserves empathy)," Zoheb responded.

"Zubiya se nahi hui?(You never showed your empathy for Zubiya?)" Rukhsana mused, suppressing a smile. Zubiya had been through far worst forms of torture. Zoheb shook his head, but at that moment he realised he should have stood up for Zubiya as well.

"Bachpan se maarti hai aap usse, aadi hogya tha. Magar Miraal ko toh bade naazon se Bade Abbu ne pala tha, usko aise kabhi nahi dekha maine (I have seen Zubiya being abused since childhood and got used to it. But Miraal had been pampered by her father, I have never seen her this broken before)", he replied his voice laced with guilt

"Dekha jayega, hum sab dargah jaarahey aaj, Miraal ko ghar pe chodkar. Tu pehra dena kahi bhaag na jaaye (Let it be, everyone except Miraal is going to the dargah. Keep an eye on her)", Rukhsana dismissed him, and arranged the dupatta on her head.

Zoheb walked through the dimly lit corridors, his steps heavy with anticipation. He reached Miraal's room and gently pushed the door open. The sight that greeted him shattered his heart into a thousand pieces. There she was, huddled in the corner, her delicate frame trembling with sorrow. Tears streamed down her bruised face, her eyes red and swollen.

Unable to bear the pain any longer, Zoheb sank to his knees before her, his own tears cascading down his cheeks. He reached out, his trembling hand hovering near her face, as if unsure whether to touch her or not. His gaze traced the dark marks marring her skin, each bruise a painful reminder to the cruelty she had endured.

"Maa ne galat kiya tumhare saath (Mother did wrong to you)," he choked out, his voice filled with regret and remorse. "Miraal mujhe maaf kardo, mai kuch nahi kar paya tumhare liye (Forgive me, Miraal. I couldn't do anything for you)."

Miraal remained silent, her tears falling onto her trembling hands. Her voice cracked with a mixture of pain and defiance, her words ringing with raw emotion. "Khuda jab tumhari Ammi se hisab lega, mere upar jo zulm kiye hai unhone, tab bhi tum kuch nahi bol paogey. Kamzor ho tum, tum jaise kamzor mard se mai hargiz shaadi nahi karungi (When God takes account of the injustice your mother has done to me, even then you won't be able to say anything. You are weak, and I will never marry a weak man like you)."

Her words pierced Zoheb's heart like daggers. He felt the weight of his own inadequacy crushing him. How could he have let this happen to Miraal? The pain of his own powerlessness overwhelmed him, and he sank to the floor, his sobs echoing through the room.

In the midst of the anguish, Miraal's voice rose above the storm of emotions, her determination shining through the tears. "Har thappad ka jawab dena hoga unko, har mar ki qimat deni hogi unko (She must pay for every slap, she must pay the price for every blow)."

Zoheb's tear-filled eyes locked onto Miraal's, his voice filled with a mixture of remorse and determination. "Mai kuch badal nahi sakta, magar tumhe ye mauka de sakta hu (I can't change everything, but I can give you this chance)," he whispered. With trembling hands, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring.

As he placed the ring in her open palm, it's value transformed before her eyes, becoming a symbol of liberation, a key to unlock Miraal's freedom from the chains that bound her. Miraal held the ring tightly, her tears now mixed with gratitude and hope.

Zoheb's eyes reflecting a deep sense of remorse. "Jao, Miraal. Khan ke paas jao, jaha jaana hai tumhe jao. Tumse ab koi zabardasti nahi karega nikkah ke liye. Apni khaala ke ghar jao" (Go, Miraal. Find your own path, away from these shackles)."

***

I have seen orphans being mistreated, beaten and most of the times their relatives are the ones who steal away their wealth. We stay quiet, sometimes out of norm, sometimes out of fear.