Sheikh & Rubina

Izza Malik
Jul 21, 2017 · 5 min read

Sheikh

The sky was a sheet of deep blue, with a dusting of white clouds all over, and a gentle drizzle pouring down. In the village of Khotri, such was a rare occurrence. Usually, the sun was harsh, and the air very still. But today was a different day, a beautiful day, and perhaps the most important day in Sheikh’s life.

Sheikh donned a crisp white shalwar kameez, the best that hung in his closet. His hair was immaculately gelled back, and his mustache was neatly trimmed. It only seemed important to dress his best for today, the important day. Sheikh was a shy person by nature, but today, he let his shyness rinse away, and confidently, walked out of the house.

Sardar Jee’s house was only a few minutes away on foot, but the journey felt longer than it did otherwise. When this seemingly long journey halted, and Sardar Jee’s house stood right before him, Sheikh could feel his confidence draining away. But he told himself, he had nothing to worry about. Today at last, he would return home, only bearing good news.

With his courage anew, Sheikh rang the bell. Only a while later, he found himself seated in the large living room, with Sardar Jee and his wife sitting across from him. An awkward silence persisted for a while, and then Sardar Jee began talking. He talked about everything – the weather, his farms, his cattle, hardships and life. It took him quite a while before he asked, “so, what brings you here, Sheikh?”

Sheikh had expected better – he had expected him to know what brought him to this seemingly prestigious house. But probably Sardar Jee wanted to hear it from him, and so Sardar Jee heard it from him. “I came to ask for your daughter’s hand, Sardar Jee”, Sheikh’s voice was tremulous, not quite how he had expected it to be.

Sardar Jee met the news with a mirthless laugh. Sheikh was dumbfounded. Anxiety clenched in the pit of his stomach, and he sat there, groping for words, but all that he said was “what?” In a nervous murmur.

But Sardar Jee had words, and his words sounded rather rehearsed as if he’d been practicing how to reject Sheikh for days now. “Sheikh, I’ve already promised to marry my daughter to Waleed Khan’s son, Rehman Khan. A noble and a respected family, his is. But even if it hadn’t been for his proposal, you were the last person I’d wed my daughter to.”

A sense of despair washed over Sheikh. He felt betrayed, and the feeling stung. His loved one had lied to him. She told him she had convinced her father, but Sardar Jee’s words narrated another story altogether. He hated her in that moment. He knew his forgiveness was the last thing she’d need, but even if she came asking for it, she won’t have it from him. Sheikh was angry, embarrassed and greatly hurt. But he had better sense than to voice out his thoughts. And without another word, he left Sardar Jee’s house.

Rubina

Hours elapsed, and Sheikh still didn’t open the door. Rubina knocked, and shouted, and knocked again, yet the door remained closed to her. At the end she plopped herself down outside his house, and cried. Cried until the beautiful blue sky, turned into a pitch black field. Cried until her tears dried up and she could cry no more. An uneasy darkness unfurled in her life, as it did in the sky. And even though she did not want to return home, she knew she couldn’t stay the night outside Sheikh’s house. She had to return. And so she did.

Days had passed, and still there was no word from Sheikh. Rubina grew increasingly restive. She wanted to go again to Sheikh’s house, but Sardar Jee had forbidden her from leaving the house. Rubina tried defying Sardar Jee’s bidding a couple of times, but the servants were more loyal to him than they were to her.

Rubina gave up any attempts of leaving the house, but she called Sheikh everyday. He never answered her calls, but Rubina was too stubborn to give up. She finally did stop, but only after she learned of Sheikh’s marriage.

Rubina’s mother broke the very spiteful news to her. She came to her room, sat herself down on her bed, took her hand in both of hers and softly intoned, “Rubina, I haven’t come bearing very good news. It will break your heart. But you must know. Sheikh got married last week. Now you must listen to Sardar Jee and accept Rehman Khan’s proposal.” Rubina’s world came crashing down on her. Despondency engulfed her. “How could you, Sheikh? How could you”, she sobbed.

Sardar Jee had always been distrustful of Sheikh. As he had been of every other person with a lower status than his own. But Rubina knew Sheikh better than Sardar Jee. He had promised to love her till his last breath. But it was a lie. Probably all that he ever said to her was a lie.

But she didn’t like Sardar Jee any better than Sheikh. He too had lied to her and broke his promise, just like Sheikh. She didn’t know who she hated more. Her father or her lover.

Not long after, Rubina accepted Rehman Khan’s proposal. It took a lot of convincing, and Sardar Jee even made her promise that she won’t turn back on her word. Rubina agreed, however reluctantly that may have been. Sardar Jee was specially happy to wed his daughter into an affluent family. Only he didn’t know that status and wealth didn’t appeal to his daughter even by half as much as him.

Rubina’s wedding day arrived soon after. All the preparations were made to the best that they could be. Sardar Jee had spent generously on his daughter’s wedding. It was out of love for his daughter, or to make a show of his wealth – it was hard to tell. But from the smallest of things to the biggest, everything was immaculately done.

A little before the start of the wedding function, Sardar Jee went to Rubina’s room. But to his surprise, she wasn’t there. He called for her, but heard no answer. He moved around in her room, seized by a cold grip of panic. Only a while later, he found a small note, lying on her bedside table, half hidden under a book. His hands trembled as he held it.

“Look for me all you want Sardar Jee. You won’t find me. You broke your promise. And now I broke mine.” Sardar Jee was incredulous and in shock. In a nervous whisper, he thought aloud, “How could you, Rubina? How could you?”

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Izza Malik

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Student | blogger | feminist | budding human rights activist | Website: escapingspace.wordpress.com | Twitter: izzamalikk | Instagram: escapingspace