Mera Hisaar: The Trial of Silence (Chapter 11)
Written by: Ishrat Zahid
Shanze's tears showed no signs of stopping. Through the car window, the lights flashing past felt blurred and joyless, mirroring the state of her own life. The driver tried to console her, saying her father's condition had improved, but the deep wound inflicted by Arsalan's slap and his baseless accusations could not be healed in any hospital. As she reached the hospital, the peculiar clinical smell and the heavy silence of the corridors weighed even more on her nerves. Standing outside the ICU, Jannat Bibi clung to her as soon as she saw her. "Thank God you're here, daughter; your father has been calling out for you." Shanze wiped her tears with trembling hands, wore a forced smile, and entered the room.
When Hammad Sahib saw his daughter with half-open eyes, a momentary spark of life returned to his withered face. "My daughter... are you alright?" His voice was weak, but the concern was as deep as ever. Shanze took his hand, hiding the tremors in her heart, and said, "I am perfectly fine, Papa! You just rest. I will stay with you for a few days now. Once we go home, we will talk about everything." She told the biggest lie of her life just to keep her ailing father's heart from breaking. Meanwhile, doctors and nurses entered; after reviewing the reports, the doctor informed them that Hammad Sahib's condition was now stable, but he must be kept away from mental stress and requires complete rest. The doctor instructed them to return for a check-up in a week, and for now, he was being shifted to a general ward.
As Shanze stepped out of the room, she felt her nerves giving way. The day's exhaustion, Arsalan's behavior, and the haunting sounds of the machines attached to her father's body were enough to break her. Today, she felt the absence of her mother intensely. In the corridor, Jannat Bibi was reciting her beads, her eyes moist. Shanze fell into her arms and sobbed uncontrollably. "Jannat Bibi! Will Papa be okay? I missed Mama so much today. If she were here, I would have hidden in her embrace. Is married life nothing but a series of trials?" Jannat Bibi pulled her back and, looking at her dejected face, said, "My child! What have you done to yourself? I knew from the very first day that you weren't happy there. But what could I do? It wasn't my place to speak before the elder Begum Sahiba, and Hammad Mian remained silent out of respect. That house was never worthy of you, Shanze! You were raised with such love in these very hands. After your mother's passing, Hammad Sahib has completely broken down. He feels a great injustice has been done. The royal attire and sophisticated manners of Arsalan's family were merely a facade, and that one phone call from your mother-in-law did the rest." Shanze asked desperately, "Jannat Bibi! What did she say that hurt Papa so much? For God's sake, do not hide anything from me. Jannat Bibi let out a long sigh. "I don't know everything. I only know that the phone fell from Hammad Mian's hand, and he began speaking deliriously: 'I have lost, Fauzia! I have lost. I didn't make the right decision; I have sent my daughter into hell with my own hands. What will happen now? How will my darling live there? Humans do not live there...' He fainted right after saying that. Shanzey looked out the window where the black night had spread its wings. She felt as though both she and her father had already lost.
In contrast to the suffocating atmosphere of Jameela's house, Imran's home was filled with lights and loud music. Mohsin, disgusted by his mother's double standards, met Imran's cousin, Maria, there. Maria's parents were prominent carpet traders and highly educated. In Maria's boldness and honesty, Mohsin found the peace he had always craved. Their mental compatibility quickly turned friendship into love. Mohsin proposed to Maria that very evening, but with one condition: they would not live in his mother's house after marriage.
Late at night, when Mohsin returned home, Jameela was sitting in the lounge like a predator waiting for him. "So, the young master has arrived?" Jameela asked in a sharp tone. "Do you know how long your father has been asking for you? You should have at least cared for your mother's honor..." Mohsin interrupted Jameela for the first time, leaving her stunned. "Enough, Mother! Stop this talk of honor and upbringing. If you interfere in my matters after today, I will tell Father the whole truth you hide from him. All your conspiracies and the money you secretly send to Nani every month. That is Father's hard-earned money, not a charity for you to distribute." Jameela's face turned pale as Mohsin stomped toward his room.
For Arsalan, this night was nothing short of a torment. He paced the roof, lighting one cigarette after another, but the fire in his heart would not cool down. Restless, he went downstairs, but the sound of laughter coming from Arifa's room made him stop in his tracks. "I am a mastermind! Whatever I tell Arsalan, he believes. He is a fool of the highest order, taking everything I say as truth," Arifa was laughing while talking to Adeel on the phone. Arsalan's heart sank. In a rage, he burst into Arifa's room and snatched the phone from her hand. "Why did you do all this? What was your enmity with Shanze?" Arsalan roared. Arifa replied brazenly, "I did nothing. You are the fool who believes everything. Now that she's gone, what should I do?" Arsalan's anger was crossing all limits of self-control. "You have murdered my trust, Arifa! And I won't spare that Adeel; I will deal with both of you!" Arifa dismissively waved him away and lay back on the bed. Arsalan returned to his room and collapsed onto the bed. Every object in the room reminded him of Shanze's innocence. He remembered her tearful eyes as she pleaded her innocence while he slapped her. Unknowingly, love for Shanze was sinking deep into his heart. "Oh God! What have I done?" He clutched his head with both hands. His temples were throbbing with intense pain. With trembling hands, he took a sleeping pill from the bedside drawer and lay down. He knew that without it, he wouldn't sleep tonight. And besides, whether there was happiness in his life anymore or not—who cared?
Shanze's heart was screaming that enough was enough, but will she be able to decide a new course for her life, or will the irony of fate leave her helpless again?
What will happen at the next turn? Will Arsalan realize his mistake? To find out, stay connected with the next episode of my novel 'Mera Hisaar,' which will be published tomorrow night on my blog!
Legal Warning & Copyrights
Disclaimer: This story is entirely a work of fiction. All characters, names, and events are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.
All Rights Reserved © 2026 Ishrat Zahid. 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. Legal action will be taken against any unauthorized use.