Mehrunuisa:

A love story from Lahore

By Zeenat Mahal

Chapter II

In his study, Jamal stared into the darkness thinking what a fool Mehru had made of him. He’d practically asked to be her sacrificial lamb. If only Ami Begum knew how like her, Mehru really was…and if she knew, how like the grandmother she hated, she actually was…But he couldn’t bear to think of her. He never wanted to see her again. He never wanted to set eyes on that beautiful, heartless woman he’d fallen so blindly in love with.

What the hell was he going to do? He felt desolate. Gutted. Every breath was painful. How could she have done this to him? He’d done her no harm, and she’d so completely destroyed him. Heartless, cruel, vicious woman.

Ajoo Baba and Mallo Apa would likely show up soon. He was not going to let anyone know about what an idiot he’d been. Not under any circumstances, was Ami Begum ever going to find out that he’d broken his word, his code, all that he’d held dear for years, over a girl who’d proved to be everything that Ami Begum had said she was.

Jamal had disbelieved every word. He had so badly wanted to in fact, that he’d completely fooled himself, or rather let her fool him.

And now he must live with it.

He closed his eyes. For a few hours he’d believed himself to be the luckiest man on earth. For a few hours, he’d believed he had everything he could ever have dreamed of…while for weeks he’d been falling in love with a treacherous, vindictive little harlot, with a face that belied her lying heart.

She had no qualms about destroying lives or breaking hearts and trust. Did she hold nothing sacred? How calmly she’d lied to him, looked at him with those sad eyes, hinted at having feelings for him, encouraged him to believe in a dream she knew she was going to shatter when her end was achieved.

He paced the room as the anger resurfaced hot and dark. She’d waited for him to make a complete ass of himself, and then told him like it was something funny, as if she was just sharing a trick she’d played and they’d be laughing about it soon. Did she expect him to laugh with her as she broke his heart?

Promiscuous

No doubt, she was promiscuous too. Ami Begum had said she was a bad woman like her mother. She definitely must be one. She’d proved it. If she could’ve fooled someone like him…and he recalled with embarrassment the way his blood heated and his heart raced at the sight of her, and that night in the library, he’d had to exercise supreme control because she brought out this primitive need in him to possess and claim, what havoc she might have wreaked on other men, the ones less tempered than him.

It was a good thing he’d be busy with his lawsuits for the next few days. He’d get time to cool down a bit and most of all he wouldn’t have to lay eyes on this despicable Circe.

How easy it was to turn love to hate…and this hate he felt, it was so dark, so deep that she’d ceased to exist for him the moment she uttered the truth. She was nothing more than a liability now. Nothing more than a symbol of the biggest miscalculation of his life, a mistake…

That’s what Ami Begum had called her too. How ironic. She was a mistake all around. With that thought, Jamal dismissed his wife from his mind and his life, with a clear and precise weighing of the evidence against her. She was going to get no quarter from him.

For two days, Mehru waited for Jamal to show up at a less ungodly hour so she could talk to him but it seemed that he had completely forgotten her existence. By day three, she’d had enough. The depression that she’d succumbed to had now dissolved into anger. She had no clothes and no money. She was at the end of her tether.

Gossip

That night she waited in his study. He’d been locking himself in and sleeping there so as not to give the servants cause to gossip. As if they didn’t know! At nearly one in the morning she heard his car and gathered her frayed nerves for the encounter.

He walked into the room but he didn’t see her at once. He took off his black lawyer’s jacket and tie and turned, his hand on one cuff link as he tried to undo it and his eyes fell on her. His face turned to granite.

‘Get out,’ he growled.
‘Gladly. Give me some money and I’ll be out of here.’

‘I don’t want to have to look at you, or speak with you. If there’s anything you want to say to me, write it down and send it in through the maid. This room is barred to you. If I ever see you here again, I will physically throw you out. Now. Leave.’

He turned his back to her. Mehru was trembling for some reason and her breath had hitched.

‘I…I don’t even have any clothes….I don’t…’

‘I’ll tell Mallo Apa and Bibi to bring your stuff. And when she comes—when anyone comes—you will act like the happy bride you’ll never be. If you so much as hint at what transpired since that most unfortunate night, I promise you, I’ll make you sorry you ever laid on me.’

He turned towards her again, and said in a deadly low voice, ‘I’ll put you under lock and key. Got that?’

She stared at him, open mouthed. He turned his back to her again.
‘You can’t do that…’

‘Can’t I? You’re my wife. I can do anything I please with you. Don’t you know according to British Law, I own you?’

‘Ha! But according to Islamic law, you don’t and I have rights and …’
Islamic Law

‘But we don’t follow Islamic Law do we? We follow the British Law. You are mine. I could establish ownership if the concept is difficult for you to understand?’

His voice was low, menacing. Mehru’s lips trembled. What did he mean? Was he going to hit her? Was he going to imprison her? Or was he….

Sure she was going to bawl like a baby, she rushed out of the room and upstairs. How could she have ever thought that he was harmless? He was a tyrant just like her grandmother. That’s why Ami Begum loved him so much. She’d made him in her own image.

She’d realised it too late. She’d already enmeshed herself into another web and she had to get herself out of it. She had to be clever and resourceful and take her chance with Mallo Chachi and Bibi, when they came with her clothes. She had to make her escape then.

Jamal sank in his chair.

His heart was thudding, his blood pounding in his ears. Slowly he took his tie off. Angel face.

That’s what he’d thought when he’d first seen her. She still reminded him of one. Even now. Even now that he knew what a little witch she was. Beautiful and treacherous.

He rested his head back in the chair, looking up at the ceiling.

He had to make sure he stayed away from her. There was only one way to do that and it might not even make such a scandal if he was careful.

Anticipation

The next morning Mehru woke up early in anticipation of her great escape. Soon a carriage drove in, bearing Ajoo Chacha, Mallo Chachi and Bibi. She flew out to them, trying hard not to cry.

Mallo Chachi exclaimed, ‘Oh my dear! Everything’s just fine.’
Bibi came beaming and hugged her.

‘The old dame has taken to her bed,’ she whispered in her ear but Mehru felt regret, instead of joy, and that made her feel worse.

‘I’m so happy to see you all!’

She couldn’t help it, tears spilled out.

‘Ami Begum may still angry but she’ll come around don’t worry. We can’t stay too long but we’ll have tea with you. If you want to change first we’ll wait.’

‘Oh will you? Thank you so much. I’ll be back soon.’

She took a good twenty minutes before she came back but she felt much better, more like her old self and less like a helpless victim. Tea came as soon as she joined them and Bibi poured.

‘Mallo Chachi…I have a confession…’
Bibi jumped in with a laugh.

‘Oh my dear little dove, don’t be so silly. To love is divine and we understand it.’

She said it smiling but her eyes were steel. Mehru looked at her forlorn and divided. Bibi came and sat down beside her.

‘I am here now. I will stay here with you.’

‘I didn’t really mean any of this to happen. You have to help me. Jamal seems to misunderstand…’

Mehru whispered and Bibi chanced a frantic glance at the others. They hadn’t heard thank fully.

Soothing tones

‘Shh, all in good time. I’m here now.’

Mallo Chachi began in soothing tones, ‘Mehru…look, Jamal told us you were upset. These things happen, my love.

Husbands can’t be around all the time to keep you company, they have to work…and I’m sorry you two had a fight so soon, and I know Jamal should give you more time. I’ll talk to him. But you’re a wife now and you have to keep that in mind. You have responsibilities. ’

‘What?’ Confused and completely riled Mehru stared at them, her mouth hanging open in shock.

‘It’s okay, Mehru, Jamal told us. You don’t have to pretend. He said you were…angry.’

Mallo Chachi made it sound like she was mad.
‘I don’t think you understand...’

Ajoo Chacha said gravely, ‘Mehru, you’re his responsibility now. Your husband’s consent is supreme. Bibi’s here to help you.’

Mallo Chachi added in a false high voice, ‘And we’ll come again I promise. As soon as we can.’

Quickly, Mallo Chachi hugged her and kissed her on her forehead, making ready to go.

‘Bibi, we have to go with them,’ Mehru hissed.
Bibi shook her head and glared.

‘He’s a monster. He threatened to lock me up after he found out I’d just used him and –‘

‘What?’ Bibi hissed. ‘Don’t tell me you were foolish enough to tell him?’

‘I had to or he would’ve thought—‘
Bibi closed her eyes in despair.
‘Have I taught you nothing little dove?’
Mallo Chachi and Ajoo Chacha were almost at the coach.

‘Bibi, this is our last chance, if that man comes home we’re prisoners. Do something!’

Mallo Chachi looked back with a last smile.
‘Wait!’ Mehru ran ahead in desperation.

‘You have to take us with you. Jamal is not who you think he is, I am not who you think I am and I can’t stay here. Take me with you.’

Utter silence greeted her words.
Glossary of terms:
Chacha: paternal uncle
Chachi: wife of paternal uncle