For the first few days after marriage, Mehreen thought her life had changed.
But she soon realized—
This world was different.
Rashed had a big family.
He had a wife.
He had a young son.
And he had respect in society.
In the midst of all this, Mehreen had a secret truth.
Rashed had rented her a small house in a corner of the city.
That house was very ordinary.
A small room.
A kitchen.
A window.
It was through that window that Mehreen saw the world.
Rashed came two or three days a week.
The rest of the time, she lived with her first family.
At first, Mehreen told herself—
"This is temporary."
But time passed.
Nothing changed.
One day, the two of them went to the market.
Mehrin was very happy.
Because it was the first time she had gone out with Rashed.
Suddenly a man came and said to Rashed—
"Hey Rashed brother! How are you?"
Rashed smiled.
"I'm fine."
The man looked at Mehreen.
"Who is this girl?"
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Mehreen felt like time had stopped.
Then Rashed said—
"Oh… familiar."
This one word stabbed into Mehreen's chest like a knife.
Familiar.
Not a wife.
Not a partner.
Just an acquaintance.
After returning home that day, Mehreen was silent for a long time.
Rashed asked—
"What happened?"
Mehreen slowly said—
"Why did you call me familiar?"
Rashed said annoyed—
"You know why. If you tell me now, it will be a problem."
Mehreen didn't say anything else.
But from that day on, a strange emptiness was born inside her.