2
The meeting hall was tense. Zaviyar said on the chair, beside him the panch members and in front of him more than 50 men. A frightened man knelt on the floor beside his daughter. Across from them stood an older creditor, smug and shameless.
"Sahab," the creditor said, bowing at zaviyar. "This man owes me money. He promised that if he could not repay, his daughter would marry my son.", Zaviyar's expression remained unreadable.
"And?"
The creditor grinned as he thought Zaviyar was listening to him.
"My son is already married. And this man cannot repay since he is a slave working in my fields.
I have lost my wife, and live alone as my son and daughter in law have moved to the city to work and send money.
", The Man said, joining his hands in front of Zaviyar, " So, instead of money I want his daughter to marry me instead.
", the man finsihed, head still bowed but the sinister smile was evident on his face.
The young girl shuddered as she saw the old man eyeing her up and down.
She held her dupatta closer, praying in her mind that Safiya would be here.
She had heard that the young Khanum was very helpful and always stood up for women.
She wanted to come to Safiya but then being from the outskirts of Azamgarh, it was impossible.
"Please, sir... show mercy-", The girl suddenly stepped forward. The girl's father glared at her, " Step back... you cannot speak in front of Sir, unless you're being spoken to. "
" Let her speak... ", Zaviyar said, his eyes not leaving the people in front of him.
" S-sir, I-i don't want to mar-ry this man. I do-do not accept this marriage , a-and nikah without my consent i-is vo-void. ", Zaviyar didn't say anything just stared at her.
Because right now, seeing this little girl cry in front of him. he realised how Safiya must have felt when she got to know that her marriage was fixed with someone without her consent.
A marriage without the girl's consent is void... The words echoed in his head.
" Please, give me work instead. I will spend my life repaying every coin but do not force me to marry him.
", Zaviyar watched as the man around,rolled their eyes, some only snickered at her reasoning.
He wondered when had they stopped so low as a society that they were not even following the teachings of their own religion and then preached to be the flag bearers of islam.
One of the elders scoffed.
"Silence, girl. Women obey the decisions of men.
Even the sir's wife does the same. Women don't get to have a say.
We provide for you and you must listen to us.
Sir is very considerate towards his wife, had it been me i would have dragged her across the village by her hair for even stepping out of the house wearing those tight fitted cloth-", The sentence had barely ended before Zaviyar moved.
The crack of his fist echoed through the hall.
The elder collapsed, gasping. His mouth turned bloody, as blood slowly appeared before dropping his mouth.
The man sat up, screaming as he watched a tooth or two fall.
Zaviyar's voice was low enough to freeze every spine in the room.
"You dare speak about my wife or any woman like that.", The elder wheezed.
"M-my lord-", The elder began, but Zaviyar cut him off. "Not another word about my wife."
" Drag him across the whole village by his beard.... ", Zaviyar ordered as the man was dragged away. Zaviyar turned to the girl. And then, for the first time, his expression softened. The change was so subtle, yet so startling, that the girl stared. His voice gentled.
"Look at me.", She obeyed hesitantly. "Do not be afraid.", Her lips trembled.
"What do you want?", She hesitated, sort of scared after seeing his outburst. But she realised he wasn't bad, after all he protected his wife's dignity unlike she had seen any man do.
"To start my own stitching shop, so that I can pay off dad's debt.", the girl mumbled the only thing she knew how to do. Something shifted in his gaze. A rare warmth as he nodded.
" Will you be able to? ", The girl nodded. A faint smile touched his mouth. "Good."
He looked at his men. "Waqas. Take her to the NGO. Enroll her in school today.", Tears filled her eyes.
" No need to work now. Study first, and later when you grow up then you can work. "
"T-thank you, sir-", His expression sharpened again. "Not sir.", She blinked, confused thinking she had offended him.
He said quietly, "brother."
The hall stared in stunned silence. Then Zaviyar turned to everyone, his voice carrying across the room like thunder.
"From this day onward, no woman in Azamgarh will be traded for debt.", his words were loud and concrete, "No daughter will be sold. No girl will be forced into marriage to settle a man's debt. Sell your own body if you so desire. " His gaze swept over them, merciless.
"If payment is owed, it will be paid in money, land, cattle or harvest.", Then his eyes darkened. "But if I ever hear of another girl being bartered like livestock...", His voice dropped. And somehow became even more terrifying.
"I will bury the man responsible myself.", The creditor collapsed to his knees.
"Mercy, show some mercy sir-", Zaviyar looked at him with complete indifference.
"Take him to the hospital.", He tossed a bundle of cash at his feet. Then he added coldly, "And make sure Safiya never hears of this.", Without another glance, he walked away.
The entire hall remained bowed until the sound of his footsteps disappeared..No one dared lift their eyes before then.
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