Chapter 10: The Shattered Shield
When Shanzae finished the kitchen chores, she was utterly exhausted. She sat on a nearby chair to drink some water when suddenly she heard Jamila's voice asking where she was. In response, Shama Begum's flat voice echoed, saying Shanzae must be lying in her room, asleep. When Jamila entered the kitchen and saw Shanzae lost in thought, she shook her violently with a loud shout.
"Are you deaf or just acting? You look innocent, but you're not," Jamila hissed. "Amma said you sleep all the time. We didn't bring you here as a bride to rest in your room. Your father's servants don't work here. You should have brought two servants with you because Amma is very angry. Get in line, or remember, I will send you back the same way I brought you into this house."
Shanzae looked Jamila straight in the eyes and replied, "Yes, Amma already told me that I should serve everyone, or I would be thrown out like Nosheen. But first, why don't you all decide whose house this actually is? Amma says it's hers, you say you rule here, and Arifa claims it's her reign. First, reach a consensus on whose orders I am supposed to follow, then come and lecture me." Without waiting for a reaction, Shanzae walked toward her room.
Jamila, stunned by this blunt response, chased after her, threw open the bedroom door, and screamed, "Don't fly too high, lady! I'll cut that long tongue of yours. Let Arslan come; I'll tell him how you dared to talk back to me." Shanzae remained silent and went into the washroom to freshen up, desperately seeking a moment of peace after a long day of work.
Jamila wanted to say more, but stopped when she heard Afzal's voice. She whispered to her mother, "Amma, don't say anything to Shanzae in front of Afzal. Keep your voice down; I don't want a scene in front of him." When she asked about Arifa, Shama Begum replied that she hadn't left her room. Jamila muttered angrily about everyone being given too much leeway.
When Afzal entered, Shama Begum's face immediately lit up with a smile. Afzal greeted her and bowed his head; she patted him lovingly and blessed him. As they sat in the lounge, Shama Begum complained that he visited rarely, to which Afzal cited work pressure. When he asked about Arslan and Arifa, Shama Begum lied again, claiming Arifa had been in the kitchen since morning cooking for them. Afzal was surprised as he remembered Arifa had no interest in cooking, but Shama Begum ignored the sarcasm with a smile, knowing exactly how to keep her son-in-law under her thumb.
Meanwhile, Jamila went to Arifa's room under the pretext of drinking water and found her busy on the phone with Adeel. Jamila scolded her, telling her to fix her appearance because their mother had told Afzal that she cooked the entire meal. Arifa laughed carelessly, "I don't even know how to cook, but let's see what that 'Queen' has prepared in the kitchen."
When Shanzae came to the kitchen, Arifa threatened her, "Don't you dare tell anyone you cooked this. If you want to live in this house in peace, stay like my maid and keep your mouth shut." Shanzae glanced at her and silently began cutting the salad. At the dinner table, when Mohsin praised the food, Jamila immediately credited Arifa. The children were surprised, but Jamila silenced them with a glare. Arslan, knowing well that Arifa hadn't even stepped into the kitchen, was shocked by the lie and choked on his food, yet remained silent.
Late at night, after the guests left, Shanzae returned to her room after washing the dishes to find Arslan already asleep. It pained her that since their marriage, Arslan had never spent quality time with her or cared for her emotions. She checked her phone and found several missed calls and a tearful voice message from Jannat Bibi. The message revealed that after Shama Begum's call, Hammad Sahib's condition had suddenly worsened, and he was now in the hospital.
The news shattered Shanzae. Feeling suffocated, she headed to the kitchen for water. There, she overheard Arifa and Adeel whispering. Adeel was bragging about tricking Arslan by giving him fake shop documents while keeping the originals. Arifa laughed at his cunning, and together they plotted to kick Shanzae out of the house, just as they had done to Nosheen.
Stunned by the revelation, Shanzae received another message. At that moment, Arifa and Adeel stepped out and cornered her. Arifa began shouting, "What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" The noise woke Arslan. Arifa quickly changed her tone, saying to Arslan, "That's exactly what I'm asking her!" Adeel seized the opportunity to tell a vile lie: "Arslan Bhai, actually, Shanzae called me here. Ask her yourself why she summoned me."
Losing his temper, Arslan grabbed Shanzae's arm and slapped her, calling her characterless. Shanzae tried to explain that she didn't even have Adeel's number and just came for water, but Arslan refused to listen. He dragged her into the room, threw her onto the bed, and hurled insults at her.
Shanzae's patience finally broke. She stood up and said firmly, "Enough, Arslan! Not another word. I remained silent for my father's sake, but you have no right to attack my dignity. Your sister is lying." Arslan threatened her, "Don't say a word against my mother or sister. Leave my house before morning!"
Amidst the chaos, Shama Begum slept soundly, valuing her sleep more than her children's sins. Weeping, Shanzae called Jannat Bibi and asked for a driver. She packed her essentials and waited outside. Watching her leave, Arslan grew restless, lighting cigarette after cigarette, but his anger and suspicion gave him no peace.
In the car, Shanzae cried uncontrollably. The driver tried to comfort her, saying her father was out of danger, but Shanzae's heart bled for the man who was supposed to be her protector but had instead become her accuser. Was Arslan her shield, or was he among those who wanted to destroy her?
What will happen next? Will Arslan realize his mistake? Stay tuned for the next episode of 'Mera Hisar', publishing tomorrow night on my blog!
To be continued....
Written by: Ishrat Zahid
Disclaimer & Copyrights
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2026 Ishrat Zahid. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.