Chapter 28 - As good as dead

'I don't accept it. This is not happening. It's a misunderstanding! Yes!.... It is a joke! Ruhan will not betray me like this. We will soon get married.'

Samia Shikdar tried to calm her heart by chanting these words again and again.

She just could not believe that Ruhan would betray her like this.

Or, it should be said that she didn't dare to believe. Because if her parents got whiff of this news, the consequence would be catastrophic.

The Shikdar family is considered as a conservative family. They tend to restrict the freedom of their children and look down on premarital relationship between male and female.

Of course when it came to boys, the rules were rather lax. As long as they didn't bring their filth at home and did not lose face of the family, the elders turn blind eye to their faults.

But when it came to girls, the rules could not be more strict. They had to remain pure and without any black mark in their history. It there was even any rumour about a girl in the family, she would be married off as soon as possible regardless of her age.

Samia had seen the fate of her paternal cousin with her own eyes. She was a talented and really exceptional person who was destined to shine in life. But she made just one mistake... she went on a date with her classmate and was spotted by their family friend. These aunties were always eager to find fault with other's daughter and were very fond of gossiping, not to mention their jealous nature. Soon the news of the cousin's dating spread in their circle. The rumour evolved from dating a guy to eloping with a guy. The final version was- she was pregnant and some aunty's good friend's sister in law saw her in an abortion clinic etc etc.

When her parents knew about this, they were so furious that they beat her up and starved her for 2 days. Then she was released only to be married to a distant cousin who lived in Khulna.

Her husband's family naturally knew about the scandal and was reluctant to accept a girl with a bad reputation. If it weren't for the benefits promised by the girl's parents, they would definitely not agree. But they repeatedly gave out the condition that she could no longer continue her studies and had to be a fulltime housewife.

Samia's cousin naturally couldn't accept it. She cried and begged again and again for mercy.. She even agreed to go through tests to prove her innocence. But her parents turned a deaf ear to her objections. She was married off that day, without wedding dress, without any celebration.

Thus, a potential asset to the country was nipped in the bud by her own parents in the name of honour and culture.

Samia was also ambitious and a proud person. She always looked down on housewives. She refused to acknowledge their contribution and hardwork to the family. She had always considered them as freeloader. So naturally she could never accept the same fate as her cousin.

No matter what... She had to convince Ruhan to take her responsibility. Otherwise she would be ruined.

For the first time in life she prayed to Allah for mercy. She prayed that everything was just a misunderstanding. That Ruhan really loved her.

But some prayers are not destined to be fulfilled.

When Samia reached the reunion party, it had almost come to an end. Only the unmarried friends remained there.

Samia spotted Ruhan in a corner..being intimate with the girl she saw on facebook.

"Dear, you hava no idea for how long I have set my eyes on you. You were my first crush. Why did you suddenly leave the school without telling me?" Ruhan said pitifully.

"Sorry, my father transferred suddenly" the girl replied shyly.

Ruhan's other friend, Rahat, whose character was as lose as Ruhan, started to pave way for his friend, "You have no idea that you are the reason Ruhan became like this. He went into various relationship just to forget you. We were really worried for him. Now that you are finally here, we can rest assured that he will overcome his emptiness. "

The other friends also agreed with him.

Seeing this farce, Samia felt chill run through her spine.

It seemed like apart from that girl, every classmate could see through the act. Some looked at the girl like a pervert and some with pity.

It seemed everyone was busy with there own conversation but Samia could clearly see that actually, everyone was eavesdropping on Ruhan and his friends' conversation.

"Poor girl," a girl muttered, "looks like she will be soon eaten by Ruhan."

"You are right," other girl replied, "Ruhan targeted her when she was still in school. It wad good luck that she suddenly transferred. Otherwise.... "

"Why did she even come back?" the previous girl said with regret. She then sighed, "It's a pity. Who told her to be beautiful and poor? If she had belonged to our class may be Ruhan wouldn't touch her. But now...she is just a fat pig waiting to be slaughtered. "

"Fortunately our parents are capable enough to save us from wolves like Ruhan...otherwise I don't dare to think what would happen. It my father wasn't an inside man, he could never know what kind of son Ahmed uncle raised. Without his warnings, I would have definitely fallen for him." another girl said.

Samia didn't have the courage to listen anymore. She had lost all her rationality. She frantically rushed towards Ruhan to demand answer...to take him home.

No matter what..she had to make Ruhan take her responsibility. Otherwise, she is as good as dead.