Warning ⚠️ : mention of bloodshed

Inayat POV

Covering myself properly in the hijab, I sneaked out of the haveli with Armaan Bhai jaan. We walked out from the back door, so that nobody could catch us.

This wasn't the first time when both of us were running away like this, we used to do this in Lucknow also, because I was never allowed to leave the mansion at any condition.

We both settled in the car, and Bhai jaan began driving to khusro bagh. It was a popular heritage site located in Prayagraj. I could not stop myself from gazing at the rush, that we witnessed near the main gate of the monument.

"Dhyan rahe Inu, koi dekhe na tumhe!"

"Be careful Inu, no one should see you!"

Bhai jaan warned me, not quite harshly, but every time someone asked me to hide myself, I felt offended. Armaan Bhai jaan is very polite, sensible and soft-spoken person, still his words hurt me at this moment.

"Inayat, you know we all say it because we want you to be safe."

He cooed me, unlocking the door of the car.

"I understand, Bhai jaan."

I muttered, without any zeal in my voice.

"Now come out. Let's explore this place."

I got down of the car, and covered my eyes with a translucent naqab. My eyes were the centre of attraction for everyone I had met till now, because they were unique - amber green orbs.

This beauty was somehow becoming a curse for me, because I was kept hidden because of it. I couldn't even gawk at the real colours out there because of this cover over my eyes. Dear Allah, why didn't you give me normal eyes?

Armaan Bhai jaan kept cheering me, and we explored the place like curious little kids. I could finally remove the cloth from my eyes, when we reached a less crowded place, that is when I discerned how beautiful this city is.

"Let's get back, Inayat. Abbu will get to know about us."

Bhai jaan asserted, and I nodded. Getting back into the car, we drove to home.

"Where is Kashish, Inayat?"

Bhai jaan enquired, making me gulp with fear. Kashish is my pistol - a black coloured beautiful pistol, with my name embedded on it, near the handle, in Urdu.

I couldn't tell Bhai jaan where it was, because even I didn't know about that. I had sneaked out to rescue Ashraf a few months ago, where I had grappled with the youngest Thakur, and my gun had fallen there.

"Inu?"

I came out of those weird memories, and gave a fake smile to Bhai jaan.

"It's in the cupboard, Bhai jaan!"

I answered, receiving a nod from him.

"Carry it with you. You need it."

He instructed, and I hummed.

We finally arrived at haveli, where Bhai jaan helped me getting inside without coming into anyone's notice. The haveli was embellished graciously for Atif and Asif's birthday, a wide smile adorned my face anticipating the upcoming celebrations.

Changing quickly into a lighter pair, I rushed downstairs to help my mothers in the chores. The servants were already busy in the preparations. I kissed my 12-years-old twin brothers, and blessed them with lifetime happiness.

Abbu had departed to Lucknow under some work, but we knew that he would return by the evening, during the celebrations.

Aryan Bhai jaan's absence was devouring my Ammi from inside, as if she could sense something wrong coming tonight.

The day passed by, and the guests arrived at our haveli. Only Abbu and Aryan Bhai jaan were missing, and I wanted my to see my complete family together, desperately.

A huge cake was placed on the table, and my little brothers seemed quite happy with the theme of decoration.

The haveli was embellished so magnificently that nobody could take their eyes off. Well, that was my idea, and now I was appearing as the busiest person on earth, running here and there to finish up the leftover arrangements.

"Ab bas Aryan Bhai jaan ke ane ka intezar hai phir celebration shuru kar denge."

"Now I'm waiting only for Aryan Bhai jaan, and we may begin the celebrations as he arrives."

I cheered, my grin was enough to lighten up everyone's mood. Though Ammi's mood was off since morning, my efforts didn't stop to cheer her mood up.

In the absence of Abbu and Aryan Bhai jaan, Armaan Bhai jaan was handling the responsibilities very carefully.

Everyone of us was being jovial, when our attention shifted to the main entrance from where Aryan Bhai jaan was entering, but his condition wasn't saying anything good. He seemed to be running from someone.

"Inayat tum andar jao."

"Inayat, you go inside."

Armaan Bhai jaan instructed me, since I wasn't covering her head at this moment. Maybe he was anticipating something destructive coming behind him.

"Abbu yaha nahi hai Bhai jaan. Hume rukne do na."

"Abbu is not present here in Bhai jaan. Please let me stay."

I implored Armaan Bhai jaan, and luckily, he agreed to it.

"Just in case some outsider arrives, cover your head instantly. I don't want any bastards to see my sister."

Armaan Bhai jaan commanded, his voice turned masculine and intimidating instantly. I agreed with him. I didn't even want any enemy to steal a glance of my unmatchable beauty. I can't trust those men

"Bhai jaan, what's wrong? What the hell did you do?"

Armaan Bhai jaan enquired Aryan Bhai jaan, rushing towards him.

"STAY AWAY! Don't let him know that I'm here."

Aryan Bhai jaan yelped, pushing him aside.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?"

Armaan Bhai jaan bawled back at him, perhaps because he knew how low Aryan Bhai jaan can stoop when it comes to hating Hindus. Though I also hated them to the core, but my Ammi and my religion had never taught me futile violence, so I preferred staying away from them as long as possible, otherwise I have my Kashish. Uh oh! Not anymore though.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO, ARYAN ALI KHAN?"

Armaan Bhai jaan bellowed, making me flinch.

"I did what my religion teaches me. I killed a kafir before he could be born."

Aryan Bhai jaan answered, and I could feel that Armaan Bhai jaan was pissed off at these words. He roared at him

"Holy Quran states: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (avoiding its concentration on a person's body, or a certain part of it) and to be mindful of their chastity; in this they will be more considerate for their own well-being and purity, and surely God is fully.

Men shall take full care of women with the bounties Allah has bestowed on them, and what they may spend out of their possession; as Allah has eschewed each with certain qualities in relation to the other. And the righteous women are the truly devout ones, who guard the intimacy which Allah has ordained to be guarded.

Allah created human beings and endowed them with mind to think before making any decision, to reflect on nature (the world around them) so as to believe in the Creator, to acquire and store knowledge, and to solve problems among others; secondly, human actions are a reflection of their inner world."

My eyes were tearful, deciphering how low my brother had fallen, to prove his unworthy useless supremacy. My mother had already broken into audible sobs, crouching on the ground. I kneeled beside her, and tried to console her.

"Aap jaiso ki wajah se pura Islam, hum sare musalmaan badnaam hai. Agar apne sach me Quran Sharif padhi hoti na to aisa sochne se pehle bhi apki rooh kampti Aryan Ali Khan. Tumhe to Khan bulate bhi sharmindagi mehsoos ho Rahi hai Hume. Sach bole to tum jaise ka koi mazhab nahi hai."

"People like you have maligned the meaning of Islam and Muslims altogether. If you were actually well versed with the Holy Quran, you could never have performed such a heinous act, Aryan Ali Khan. You know what, you don't even deserve to be called 'Khan'. In reality, people like you don't belong to any religion."

Armaan Bhai jaan bawled at him, quitening everyone. Aryan Bhai jaan kept flaring, but he couldn't speak anything against Armaan Bhai jaan.

"Kitni hi ladkiyon se najayaz sambandh banaye tumne, unke sath zabardasti ki, sharab pi aur ye sab haraam hai..aur Aaj to sari hade paar karke ek masoom ladki ki kokh ujaad di, aur phir ake daleel dete ho ki ye sab tumhe mazhab sikha Raha hai. Ek aayat batao Hume to tumhare is ghinaune kaam ko jaayaz bata de."

"You fucked uncountable women without their will, practically raped them. You consumed alcohol, and all this is forbidden in Islam.... but today you transcended the limits by murdering an unborn baby, and then you state that you do it for religion. Quote one verse from the Holy Quran that justifies your sins."

Armaan Bhai jaan roared, and all gazes got anchored at him. He was frustrated and broken at this moment. I knew exactly why he so pissed off, because Aryan Bhai jaan was justifying his acts under the name of Islam.

"Aaj agar Balraj Singh Thakur inteqaam ke liye hamare darwaze tak aya to khuda kasam, hum apko nahi bachayenge....kyuki hum sacche musalman hai!"

"If Balraj Singh Thakur arrives here tonight to avenge what you did to his wife, then I swear to God that I won't save you from him.... because I'm a real Muslim."

Armaan Bhai jaan growled, and before he could leave the place, Balraj Singh Thakur was standing at our doorstep, flaring angrily, his eyes had turned red, and he was carrying a rifle in his hand.

It seemed as if Armaan Bhai jaan was exactly aware of whatever Aryan Bhai jaan had done, but I still didn't know it, but it was certainly related to a woman - a Hindu woman to be precise.

I ran behind Armaan Bhai jaan, and clutched my fist on the backside of his kurta. Armaan Bhai jaan did not budge to argue with Balraj Singh Thakur.

Aryan Bhai jaan tried to run away, but Balraj held his collar, and without any prior notice, began thrashing him mercilessly.

"HOW THE BLOODY FUCK DID YOU DARE TO TOUCH MY WIFE?"

He growled, and Aryan Bhai jaan turned pale all of a sudden.

"WHAT WRONG DID MY UNBORN BABY DO TO YOU?"

Balraj bawled again, and his eyes turned lachrymose impromptu. His voice shook a little, and this is when I deciphered what my brother had actually done. Did he kill an unborn baby? Why Bhai jaan, why?

He tried to straighten up, but Balraj placed his foot at his penis, making him shriek in pain. Balraj rotated his foot a little, and Aryan Bhai jaan squirmed under him.

"Anhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Aryan Bhai jaan winced in pain, and Balraj held his nape. He straightened him up, and began blootering him severely. He spat on Aryan Bhai jaan too. His gestures angered me severely.

Within a few moments, Aryan Bhai jaan was covered in blood. Armaan Bhai jaan ordered Chhoti Ammi to take away Atif and Asif to their room, and she did so. He asked me to leave too, but I refused to do so.

Aryan Bhai jaan is her favourite brother, and my soul was blazing, witnessing his gruesome murder right before my eyes.

I lowered my gaze as Balraj kept tormenting my brother. He broke his teeth, blinded him with his thumb. Chhoti ammi started puking. My ammi was almost fainted by now.

"BHAIYAA!"

Everyone's gaze fell on Chote Thakur, who had arrived just now. He ran to his brother, and held his arm.

"Bhaiya! Please bhaiya! This would burn thousands of homes. Many girls will get kidnapped and raped, just because of this foolishness. Please don't kill him like that. We'll arrange something later on, but please let's go right now."

He must be referring to the communal riots, that would be triggered once Balraj slaughters Bhai jaan like this. The esurient politicians wait for such a moment so that they can provoke innocent people to mass murder the other communities under the name of their respective religions.

But Balraj jerked him off, and thrashed Bhai jaan for the one last time, before targetting his dick, and shooting him right there.

Blood spurted out of that region, and the women standing there, shrieked grievously, witnessing such a horrendous scene before them.

That is when Abbu arrived at the Haveli. His eyes widened with shock, gazing at the blood smeared body of his eldest son. Ammi had already bursted into silent sobs, and I was sitting beside her, calming her down.

Abbu strode to the dead body of his son, and cupping his cheeks, he glared at Balraj, and muttered in a low, yet extremely dangerous voice.

"Dekh lenge hum tumhe Balraj Singh Thakur. Iska inteqaam chaar guna karke lenge."

"I'll see you Balraj Singh Thakur. You will have to pay four times of it."

Balraj smirked, while his younger brother seemed tensed, that is when our gazes met. It felt as if the youngest Thakur was ogling me for too long. I wasn't even covered, so I preferred looking away, but his eyes had already done something to me.

My heart began pounding inside my chest, but the moment I looked at my brother's dead body, I felt infuriated.

I will definitely kill this Balraj Singh Thakur someday!

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

This is how it begins!

With war, blood and tension

But how will it end?

Keep reading their journey!

💜 Love you all 💜