Emaan gasped. "Oh my..."
Laia shrieked as they heard her and sprang apart. "Never heard of knocking?
"It's an open space, you harpy!" Emaan snapped.
Yahmir's eyes met Qurbat's, whose face had turned to speak. Qurbat! I... listen to me...
"Oh my GOD, is this what I think it is?" Spoke Emaan, he hand shooting up to cover her mouth.
Qurbat blinked slowly. "Yahmir, what were you doing?"
Yahmir stepped forward, reaching out his hands to hold Qurbat by the shoulders. Qurbat, I... I want to tell you something but you need to calm down first, alright? Come, sit down..."
She stepped back. "What were you doing?"
Yahmir swallowed. "Qurbat..."
"He is having an affair with Laia, Qurbat," Huma responded coldly from behind her.
Qurbat turned slightly to look back at Huma. "You knew?"
Huma hesitated for a moment, then spoke, "I... I well I was suspicious and I didn't' want to speak without proof."
Yahmir was visibly offended by Huma's description of what was happening. "Qurbat, we are not having an affair. it's just, we... we have gotten close in the past year..."
"Close?" Qurbat interrupted, raising her eyebrows. Her eyes were empty.
Yahmir swallowed, "Yes... I... we like each other and..."
Huma glanced at Qurbat. There was no anger on her face, just... coldness. "For how long have you been betraying me?" She questioned.
"Qurbat, I didn't betray you," Yahmir groaned, frowning. "There was never anything to begin with. The match was arranged by our parents..."
Laia placed a hand on his shoulder, appearing from behind him. "Don't argue with her. Just let her be."
Qurbat's eyes widened with rage. It was the first time since the revelation that she had shown any expressions. "How dare you speak you wench!" She reached out her arm to grab Laia but Yahmir held her hand. Laia shrieked, inching away from them.
"Enough Qurbat!" Yahmir yelled in her face. "What is wrong with you? Why are you always attacking her? What has she ever done to deserve this? She is your little sister! Would it kill you to treat her kindly?" Ah yes. Yahmir had always believed Qurbat had treated Laia coldly, always insisting that they be closer. It all made sense now.
Qurbat glared at him, prying her wrist free. "What has she done? She has been sneaking around with my fiance! She stole..."
"She didn't steal anyone, Qurbat!" Yahmir yelled back desperately. "I love her! I want to be with her! For Lord's sake, we were eight when we got engaged. It isn't that deep!"
"It isn't that deep? We are getting married in a week!"
Emaan shook her head in disgust, looking at Huma from the corner of eye who was equally disgusted.
Hearing that, his anger subsided a bit and he looked visibly embarrassed. "I know... I... I should have ended things already. But... but this is good too right? We aren't married yet and..." Before he could finish, Qurbat reached forward her hands, grabbing the collars of his navy blue tunic coat.
Laia lunged forward. Not daring to touch Qurbat, she held on to Yahmir instead. "Have you went mad? Let go of him!"
"You son of a thousand whores," Qurbat hissed through clenched teeth. "I'll destroy you. I'll make sure you can't even hide in your grave!"
Yahmir looked back in surprise. "Qurbat..."
"Yahmir, don't argue with her!" Laia cried out, shaking him. "There's nothing she can do about this anyways! Just talk to father, I am sure he'll allow us to..."
Qurbat's eyes shot to the side to look at Laia who paused as their eyes met. Instantaneously, she freed her right hand in an attempt to grab Laia again. "Stop speaking you shameless..."
"What is this ruckus?" A voice behind them called out. Everybody turned in it's direction. And there she was, Qurbat's mother.
"Mother..." Laia squealed, her face morphing into an innocent expression.
Emaan stepped forward, attempting to explain. "Madam, we were walking to Qurbat's room and..."
"I wasn't asking you," Bakhtawar Begum snapped. Emaan went quite, exchanging a glance with Huma.
Qurbat swallowed down before shutting her eyes and answering, "I caught Laia and Yahmir together. He has betraying me this whole time." Laia rolled her eyes and Yahmir let out a breath of exasperation.
Bakhtawar Begum raised her brows, looking over at Yahmir and Laia. Then, she spoke, "Yahmir, come to the main hall."
The lack of anger in her mother's voice shocked Qurbat. She blinked in confusion. "What..."
"Now," Bakhtawar Begum interrupted firmly before turning away and leaving.
"Is what I have heard true?" The Councillor's voice echoes in the empty hall as he looked between his daughters and Yahmir. He was a plump man dressed in red formal garments, the hair on his head almost non existent. He was sitting on the sofa at the head of the hall, and beside him stood Bakhtawar Begum looking visibly annoyed.
"I... I do not know what you have heard, Councillor Raees," Yahmir replied slowly, looking at the ground.
The Councillor exhaled before speaking, "Do you like Laia?"
Yahmir looked up before nodding. "I... I do, Councillor. I cannot deny that. I wish to marry her."
Qurbat shut her eyes. She had never felt this humiliated in her life. Behind them, she could feel Laia beaming.
"Is that so?" Councillor Raees tipped up his chin. "And will you still be paying the amount of mehr we agreed upon?"
Qurbat's eyes shot open as sh stared at her father. "What..."
"Yes!" Yahmir replied enthusiastically. "Yes, I will sir. Not a dime less."
The Councillor raised his brow before exchanging a glance with his wife. She nodded. "Very well then," he spoke. "Luckily, all the preparations have already been made. The only things that need to be fixed are to get Qurbat's garments fitted for Laia."
Qurbat's jaw dropped and her eyes spread open so wide it felt like they would fall out of their sockets.
"Thank you, Councillor," Yahmir replied proudly as he let out a sigh of relief. "I promise I will keep your daughter very happy!"
Laia stepped forward, passing by Qurbat. "Thank you Baba, thank you for choosing my happiness! It means a lot," she exclaimed, reaching out to grab her mother's hands. Bakhtawar Begum smiled at her, giving her a reassuring look.
"I... I don't understand," Qurbat began. "Did you just... did you just approve their marriage..."