Star-crossed

Her curious eyes scanned the dark sky and rested on a pattern.

'There it is. I remember spotting this question mark as a child. Every time I would look up, my eyes would stop at this pattern. I don't know why.'

Fayed, already drowsy, rubbed his eyes to follow her finger.

'I see.'

'Do you know what it is? Does it have a meaning?'

He perched on the warm sand and leaned over their luggage.

'They are mere patterns in the sky. Constellations. I don't know their names.'

Nusrat heard her husband attentively. 'Constellations have names?'

'Yes. There are many such patterns. And they do have a meaning.'

She stared back at them, curiously. Fayed smiled at her interest in the stars. He patted on her shoulder.

'Begum, you should sleep now. We still have a few miles to cover tomorrow.'

She looked around to study their surroundings. There was this shed where they were resting and the vast desert that was shining under the moonlight. No living being was in sight.

'There is no one here. You can lie down beside me and cover yourself with the shawl.'

Nusrat crawled up to Fayed, who had set up a little bed for them. The warmth of the sand underneath was comforting. She caressed her swollen belly and said a silent prayer.

'Fayed, be cautious. We are in the middle of nowhere.'

'I'll keep an eye, don't worry. Sleep well, dear.'

Nusrat covered herself from toe to head and within a few minutes, she was dreaming about her unborn child.

She sensed danger in her sleep.

The next thing she remembers is being dragged away from their shed in full daylight. Fayed was being beaten up by a group of men and she was forced into a jeep.

'No! Don't do this. Leave him. Leave us alone. Have some mercy. Fear our God!'

Nusrat wailed.

Fayed was staring at her helplessly and trying hard to defend. But every time he tried to stand on his feet, a man would smack him down on knees. His sorrowful eyes seemed to beg for forgiveness. 'Nusrat! Help yourself! Stay safe!'

He mumbled.

The sight of his wife being kidnapped must have been unsettling. He would close his eyes whenever her tormentor touched her or pushed her.

But Nusrat kept resisting with all her strength. She also cursed the night they decided to rest in this deserted place. Her tears were overflowing.

Just then, a heavily built man approached Fayed and right in front of Nusrat's eyes, fired two bullets into his head. Poor Fayed fell on the sand like a feather.

'Fayed! No! How could you?!'

She roared and struggled to loosen her wrists from the grasp of her kidnaper.

'My Fayed! No...No...come back to me.'

Nusrat threw her legs and shook her body to free herself. The kidnaper tightened his grip even more. She shrieked and cried for her husband.

The men left Fayed's body at the shed and robbed him of every last penny. The sight of Fayed's frail body was unpleasant and agonizing.

The driver started the jeep and all the men climbed into, pushing Nusrat at the back. She still had her eyes fixed on her husband and every second she whispered his name as if he would listen and stand up.

She begged the God to end their misery.

A man pulled her towards him and covered her face with a black scarf.

'No! Why are you doing this to us? Why? Who are you? Please don't leave him to die. Please. I beg for mercy.'

They laughed.

'He's already dead, Begum. And we are taking you with us.'

Nusrat's body shivered at the thought of being kidnapped by a group of men. She hugged her belly and whimpered.

The men laughed even more.

'Don't do this, Please. Leave me alone. I beg you.'

A blow came down really hard on her head and Nusrat collapsed on the backseat.

She woke up at a strange place. Her eyes were burning and her legs were hurting. It was a well-lit room and Nusrat could see herself in the mirror on the side wall.

Her tired hands caressed the belly and the sight of Fayed's body came back in flashes.

'No! Fayed! Fayed!'

Nusrat got down from the bed and dragged her swollen feet towards the door.

'Fayed! Where are you?'

The door did not open and she recalled being kidnapped by some men.

'Fayed! Come back. Save me from these monsters!'

She cried.

After enough knocking and banging on the door, Nusrat reached out to the only window in the room. It opened with a light push. Her eyes shined.

'Please someone help me get back to my husband! Help!'

She shouted but her voice fell on deaf ears.

No one looked up at her. Two women rushed back into the building and men continued with their work.

Nusrat felt a sharp pain in her abdomen and she trembled. But her thirst to escape, kept her on her feet.

'Help! Please someone open the door and let me go to my husband!'

The door opened with a loud noise. Startled, Nusrat carefully covered herself with her cloak; still gasping for breath.

'Nusrat Begum'

A woman called in a friendly manner and looked at her in shock.

'Oh! God save us. Look at you, you look miserable. There is nothing to worry about, Begum. You're safe now.'

Nusrat was in no state to make sense of her words. She just mumbled, 'I want to go back to him.'

The old woman walked closer to her and Nusrat stepped back towards the bed.

'I heard about your husband. We all are sorry. No one could help him. But think about your child. It's safe.'

Nusrat tightened the cloak around her belly and murmured roughly, 'Don't you dare come forward and touch him.'

The two women who Nusrat had seen entering the building, came running towards the old woman and stopped at her wave.

'Begum, you are now our guest. Feel at home. These two will attend to you till we find a safe place for you.'

Nusrat, now terribly weak, leaned against the bed. Her fear and pain was overpowering her senses. It was hard to understand the old woman. Still she tried to make sense of her words.

'Where am I? Who are you?'

The old woman took two steps in her direction. Nusrat was carefully watching her. The horrific events had made her over cautious and sensitive.

Their eyes met and rested there for a little longer.

'I'm Begum Jahan and my husband, Wazir-e- Sheikh is the head of this village, Mehsoolgarh. Those men who killed your Shauhar, and kidnapped you belong to our village. My husband received this ill-fated news and sent his men to fetch them. You were found in an unconscious state and brought here. It's been three days.'

Nusrat took time to fathom. Is she really safe? Has she been rescued? But she won't be able to see Fayed again. Where will she go now? What about the child?

A number of thoughts crossed her mind. But she didn't move her eyes from the old woman; who was staring back at her with pity.

She looked like a powerful woman yet there was something motherly about her. Something welcoming and soft.

'Is this all true? Am I safe now?'

The old woman nodded.

'Did they find my husband?'

The women exchanged awkward glances.

'Not yet.'

Nusrat straightened up her back and shouted, 'Why not?'

'Those men have disclosed his location. But it's time consuming. The desert is vast, you know.'

'But you just said, your husband is the head. If he can save me, why not my husband?'

The old woman gestured one of the women and whispered something into her ear. In a matter of seconds, the two attendants left and the old woman walked closer to Nusrat and held her by her arms.

'Nusrat, I understand your state of mind. I request you to stay calm and think about your child. If you panic or act insensibly, it will affect him.'

Her soft voice was like an ointment on her wounds. Nusrat felt her strong hands on her arms. She had an urge to rest her heavy head on her shoulder and cry her heart out. Yet she only kept her gaze fixed on her face.

'Our men will find him. And then you can bid him farewell with respect. Until then, I want you to remain calm. You are not alone. I'm here. Alright, my child?'

Nusrat couldn't believe she was trusting a strange woman. But she had no other option. She wanted her child to stay safe.

And something about this old woman had struck the empathetic side of her. She wanted to believe her and wait for Fayed's mortal remains.

'Alright...'

'You can call me whatever you like. But they call me Amma. Now, sit down and relax your feet. Your lunch will be served here. And our family physician will also visit in the afternoon. If you need anything else, inform your attendants.'

The old woman kissed Nusrat's forehead and turned to leave.

Nusrat sat back on the bed and for hours kept wondering how her life will turn out from here and why Fayed wasn't as fortunate as her.

The uncertainity of the future was overwhelming. She covered her head and closed her eyes in prayer.

The next day, she was escorted to the main hall in the massive bungalow. She was sure about meeting Begum Jahan and her husband but in her heart she was praying for Fayed's return.

'Nusrat Begum, are you feeling better today?'

The old woman asked.

Nusrat was busy observing others in the hall; her eyes found Wazir-e-Sheikh and two young men standing beside him. She bit her lips when she realised after that incident, strange men scared her. She looked to the left side of the old woman and found another woman in black robe.

Nusrat gulped. 'Yes. Thank you, Amma.'

'We have found your husband. We are organising his funeral. We thought you would like to pay your last respects.'

Dumbfounded, Nusrat knelt down and began to cry while gently hugging her belly. Begum Jahan guided her towards a room where Fayed's body was kept. Nusrat quietly followed; continuously sobbing.

She did not know what to do with this grief. Last few days have been a shock and she still was far from accepting the reality.

Events unfolded in a snap of a finger. Nusrat found herself standing in the room and staring at the lifeless body of her beloved.

She felt a tightness in her chest that would explode any minute. She walked closer and knelt to touch him one last time.

Tears flooded her weary eyes and she sobbed as much as she needed. She pulled out a gold chain that had a locket; and placed it on Fayed's chest, while saying a prayer.

'Keep an eye on our child. Be with us. Until we meet again, Fayed.'

She caressed his wounds a little; then rushed out and didn't look back.

. . .

Walking along the ocean at sunset was one of many things, Fawad loved to do with his mother. The lively four year old was the most cheerful boy, Nusrat had ever seen. She was fortunate to watch him grow every single day. She kept wishing for his happiness to double each year.

It was her strong belief that Fayed's endless blessings have kept them safe and will do so in the future.

'Fawad, look up. Do you see those group of stars? The question mark?'

Little boy rubbed his eyes and followed his mother's fingers; 'Yes. They are beautiful and shiny!'

Nusrat smiled.

'Yes indeed. They are constellations. When I was your age, I would sit and stare at them.'

'They don't age? Like you?'

She laughed.

'No, son. They will always be the same. Do check on them when you grow up. Okay?'

'Okay.'

Fawad giggled.

The mother and son stood on the warm sand, hand-in-hand watching the stars.

Before leaving, Nusrat pointed out a bright star, 'And...there is your father.'