Chapter 4. Ominous Feelings

Zahra's POV

We are heading towards my grandfather's haveli, and I am so afraid to face him.

Why would he accept us when we were the sole reason for his son leaving him?

In just two days, my life turned upside down.

I lost my father.

And then I lost the roof over my head.

I lost my only home.

The home where I created a lot of beautiful memories with my father.

With that, I lost my mother's smile.

I lost all the joyous memories we created together.

Ah! What blissful days those were. Even though I didn't get much attention from my father due to his busy schedule, I still had him by my side. How much I wished I could die along with him.

But I had to be strong for my mother. No matter how broken I felt inside, I wouldn't let my mother see me fall weak.

She already had enough. I know how much my mother and father loved each other, and after his death, she was broken. But she has kept herself together, only for me.

My parents suffered a lot of depression and anxiety, and it's all because of that Asim.

When those goons left our house that day, my mother ordered me to pack all of the essentials, and we would be leaving for my grandfather's haveli (mansion). My maternal aunt and I were all left bewildered. We knew about the circumstances in which my parents were married, but Mama was dead set on going there. My aunt convinced her to stay at her place, but Mama knew my aunt's husband wouldn't permit Mama and me to stay. So my mom decided to come here.

We had a little money, and after packing all our stuff, we went to the train station, said our goodbyes to everyone, and set off on our journey. This voyage was the most sorrowful and depressing ever since I learned about the actual reason behind my father's death.

Asim was one of my father's colleagues, and at first, he appeared to be a friend. In those days, Baba was trying hard to earn money so he could construct a house for us. Yet, he got into a debt of 1 million, which he asked from Asim. Baba trusted him; he gave the impression of being a very pious man and a good person, but it was all a facade.

Asim made my father sign some documents in which it was claimed that my father had taken a debt of 20 million from a man called Yawar. After making him sign those documents, he gave us 1 million took the rest of 19 million, and ran away.

My father didn't realize it until that day when some goons were sent to our house, demanding their money back. It was a huge amount of 20 million. They were the mafia's men, and they threatened us not to go to the police, or else they'd kill me. Baba didn't want to take any chances with my life, so he did what they said. All the documents had my father's name, his hands were tied.

They continuously pressured my father. He was completely bound. He worked hard like a maniac day and night only to pay back the money which he didn't even get. He kept telling them how Asim made him sign the documents, but they never believed him; instead, they threatened him.

That snake, Asim, framed my papa, and he was depressed and anxious to the level that it caused the heart attack. I was enraged and helpless, tears streaked down my eyes because I couldn't help my father. That Asim was a devil, may Allah curse him. I couldn't believe my ears when my mother told me the whole story.

I have been torn apart after listening to all of this. I was shocked, but what I felt the most was rage and infuriation. I couldn't help my father in any way. This guilt was clutching my heart. I do not know what my father has been through, and that's all because of that Asim.

Oh Allah, does this inhumanity exist in this world? Is this the actual face of the world? Unsympathetic, insensitive, and merciless?

There is no will left inside me to live anymore, but I have to do it for my mother because now she is the one all I have.

I am being strong for her, and she is being strong for me. However, we have to survive. We desperately need a roof over our heads, and this haveli is the last option to be our shelter.

The haveli was huge, posh, and gigantic. Its exterior was so breathtakingly beautiful; I wondered what its interior would be like. I felt out of place because our house was nothing compared to it. It was so small and not so beautiful, but still, I loved my home.

We were getting closer to the large metal gates, and a weird feeling inside was creeping over me. My subconscious kept telling me something bad was going to happen to me, but I had no idea about it.

We stood right in front of the gates. Many security guards were on duty. All of them had handguns resting on their holsters on their waists, and snipers as well hanging on their shoulders. They all were bulky men, with well-built bodies and bulging muscles.

There was a small office cabin near the gates, where a man was seated. On noticing us, he opened the window of that cabin and asked us,

"Why are you here, Madam?"

"Ask Mr. Haider Shabbir that Ammara Mujtaba is here," my mom replied, asking for my uncle.

He instantly called someone, and after the call ended, he nodded his head to us and signaled the guards at the gate to let us in.

"You may go in."

"Thank you."

With that, the large doors opened, the metal clanking against each other.

And we entered inside.

Little did I know it was going to be a pit of hell for me.

Little did I know these gates were my prison bars.

Little did I know I was going to be caged here.

Forever!