I will be more frequent in updates now.
And, yes this book will be free.
Also, can I get a lot of comments and in-line comments too?

Fiza was sitting in between two women from the last two hours in the back of a car. What she knew was none of the people in the car was her husband. The driver was someone her in-laws had booked the car from. And, the person sitting in the front was named Asif. He had introduced himself as her husband's brother-in-law.

"Parveen? I have to say your brother is so lucky. This is the third time he is marrying. But still got an eighteen-year-old bride?" The words came from the woman sitting to her right but pierced Fiza's heart. Fiza remained still all the while biting her lip. She closed her eyes and let the tears burn her cheeks. She wonders if she was such a huge burden. Her face was hidden under a red silky veil.

"I told you I didn't know she was this young. Asif said she is a divorced woman." Parveen replied making her husband Asif look at his back to explain. "My friend works in her brother's office. He had told them about Kamran wanting a wife. His brother said they wanted to marry off their divorced sister soon because at any time her mother will die. She wanted to see her daughter settled."

"Yea, but didn't you ask for the girl's age? How will she ever manage with Kamran? What if she ran away?" The woman at the right asked but Parveen huffed. "When they said divorced and childless I expected a woman in her twenties or thirties. I thought she should have gotten a divorce because she is barren. Have you seen girls getting divorced at eighteen? Who knows what she did?" Parveen said the last words rather lowly but everyone in the car heard it anyway.

Silence ruled the car afterwards while Asif coughed a little before starting. "Ask your brother to send more for this month. If she is going to live with us for a time. He has to send the budget for her."

"You don't worry about it. I will make the whole list. And, you?..." Parveen called for Fiza's attention. "...look, we aren't unfair. Whatever will be spent on you is in front of your eyes. I am going to add the rent for this car too, ok?" When Fiza didn't respond Rubina asked, "Is she deaf or mute?"

"Fiza? Say something?" Parveen shook Fiza's arm who was quick to nod. "I am...I am listening." Fiza's voice came but was followed by a few whimpers. "Look at her now. Is she still going to cry over leaving her family? You should be happy that you have gotten married. Or who marries a divorced girl? Also, listen to me carefully. My brother got a bad temper. You can't cry in front of him."

"And, you think you are helping her. Leave the innocent girl." Asif cut her off.

"Look at me, Asif! If she is going to live at my place she will have to follow my rules. What if she ran away? Once I send her to Kamran only then I can sleep in peace. And, I better not find you standing anywhere close to her. Do you hear me?"

"Shut up, Parveen. Look at us. We have company right now." Asif told his wife.

Their car was stopped in a village house. Everyone was groaning in pain for sitting for so long. Parveen took her to a room and told her. "My kids sleep in this room. Until your Visa isn't arranged you will live here with my kids."

"Visa?" Fiza asked.

"Didn't your family tell you? Kamran doesn't live here. He lives in the US. He left India twenty-seven years ago. He didn't even come to his parent's funeral. I wonder why I am still in contact with him. Let alone finding a bride for him..." Parveen started leaving all the while talking to herself quite audibly. "...I don't know why he wanted a bride from India this time. He should have gotten married to some white woman again."

Parveen left her in a very small room where two small beds had a girl and a boy aged around seven or eight. Fiza sat beside her suitcase and wonders what she was to do. She wonders if her siblings even knew that they were marrying her off to someone who lives in the US. She looked around the small room that was surely not painted for ages now.

Of course, her siblings were going to mention it thousand times if they had a slight idea of her new husband living in the US. It seems they didn't care about anything at all. They had married her to the first proposal that came. She knew none of her sisters could spend a single moment in this room. She wonders why her siblings did this. She gets her sisters didn't want anyone in their in-laws to know about her divorce. But was marrying her to just anyone the only solution?

Fiza knew her sister's in-laws well. And, they were people with agriculture and commercial lands. If they ever get to meet Parveen or her husband Asif. Fiza knew her sisters will prefer to not have any contact at all with her than to share any ties with such a poor household.

Leaning to the wall behind she recalled the day when her father died. She could recall people telling her how unfortunate it was for her. But today Fiza was living what they meant. Because she could still recall Saba's wedding. She was too young at that time and her father didn't let her on her feet for once. And, how her father was telling her he will never marry her off because she was the dearest to him kept ringing in her ears. Her father was the only man on the earth she wasn't a burden for.

Fiza couldn't help but broke into uncontrollable hiccups. She tried her best to keep her voice low but couldn't stop grieving the loss. It was as if she was thrown from the skies to the earth.

In the morning Parveen came to wake her up. "Didn't you sleep the whole night? You could have shared the bed with Pinky?"

"Pinky!" Parveen shouted before telling Fiza. "Today isn't the day for you to be the bride. In this house, you will have to work. This beautiful ensemble can't save you from the chores here. Once you are with Kamran. Show him such tactics, ok? Stand up now!" Parveen yelled at the end and Fiza stood up at once without getting the time to process what she said.

"I...I..."

"You have your clothes packed, right?" Parveen asked in horror and Fiza nodded, "Yes,"

Fiza hurriedly opened her bag while Parveen shouted for her kids all the while looking at her bag. And, what she found was one beautiful dress after another.

"Wait! Don't you have something usual?" Parveen asked and Fiza gulped.

"No," Fiza knew no one brings the old dresses after the wedding. And, her sister has done the same for her. They didn't pack her old and used ones.

"Look, Fiza. I will give you something so you can work in the kitchen. Also, Kamran doesn't have many sisters. He only has me. And, you know the tradition where you are supposed to give me the dress I like. Don't you!" Fiza nodded her head slowly, "yes,"

"How many did you take from your sisters-in-law when they came to your place?"

Fiza recalled how she got two each time. There was a time she used to be the favourite sister of her brothers. But it was all when her father was still alive. "Two," Fiza mumbled.

"Woah and you are three sisters. I will get six dresses from your bag, ok? And, you can't stop me." Fiza nodded a little before Parveen told her. "I will send you something,...Pinky!" Parveen shouted for her daughter again.

Fiza spent her whole day cleaning and dusting the home. Parveen kept a close eye on her. And, didn't let her sit for a moment. She even made her look at the store room and told her. "Tomorrow I want you to clean everything here. Get them out. Clean all the furniture and put things back in their place. And, clear all the sheets too. You get me," Fiza looked at Parveen for a moment who was quick to ask. "You won't?" Parveen asked while Fiza only shook her head. "I will do it."

The next day Fiza got into the store room to clean the stuff. She found a few pictures but didn't pay much attention to them. "Fiza! Get me a glass of water. Look Rubina is here." Rubina was the woman who had accompanied Fiza here when she was in the car.

"Look at you, Parveen. You have gotten her on the chores very soon. These days she should be treated well and..."

"Don't talk this nonsense to me I tell you. Which sister brings a divorced girl for her brother? I did. I am going to get rewards in the afterlife for this one."

"Don't be dramatic. You know she wasn't sent off with her husband. She is still a virgin."

"Yea, but can she say she isn't divorced? No..." Fiza was listening to all of it while she stood waiting for Rubina to finish her glass of water.

Rubina held Fiza's head and complimented her. "Mashallah, what beautiful hands. If I had seen this girl. I would have accepted her for my son."

"A divorced girl?" Parveen asked,

"She is still a virgin. And, look at her. She is without a tongue. I wonder what she ever did to end up with a man like Kamran." Fiza could recall the same talk from their car last time. And, how Parveen didn't objectify Fiza feared what they exactly meant.

It was in the evening when Fiza was working in the kitchen but felt a presence behind her back. She gasped a little looking at Asif who was quick to tell her. "I was here to ask for a cup of tea. Can I get it?"

"I will make,..." Fiza told him but he refused to budge before leaning toward her and getting a glass for him. "Can't ask you for everything, right?" Asif said while leaving and Fiza could feel the trouble looming in the air.

Fiza walked out with a cup of tea and Parveen was quick to point out. "Who said you can drink tea? Do you know how expensive..."

"I asked her to make tea for me," Asif said all the while looking at Fiza. Fiza returned at once and but not before Parveen told her. "Bring one for me if there is any left."

For some reason, Fiza knew she had to avoid Asif at all costs. She felt filthy whenever he looked at her. She wasn't used to anyone's stares let alone a man trying to make contact with her at any chance he can get.

Parveen asked Fiza to tuition her kids in Maths and English. Her kids used to go to a tuition centre before but now it became Fiza's task too. Parveen wanted to save on two months' tuition. Kamran never sent a letter to her. Sometimes Fiza wonders if her husband was even literate.

Parveen's kids were not soft-spoken either. They would yell at the slightest discomfort and ask Fiza for any work. Fiza didn't complain. In fact, whenever she get a moment to herself she couldn't help but wonder what went wrong with Abhan. She still had his letters and knew no one can read them here even if they get a hand on them. Sometimes she wonders if she should call her mother to tell her how they treat her here. Saba and Anaya had done it all the time. But she knew how much her mother would worry for her. So, she changed her mind.

Fiza wonders why her family didn't even visit her once. Did they realize too that her in-laws were too poor or indecent to host them?

There was no news from Kamran. She had never seen Parveen receiving a call or a letter from Kamran. But one day she did receive a money order from the postman. There was a letter too but both were named for Parveen and Fiza didn't open it.

Parveen was quick to tell her to get ready for the visa application. She wanted her to go with Asif but Fiza dreaded being alone with him. "I...I can call my brother. They will take me..."

"Why? Why can't you go with Asif? And, listen to me, girl. Do you really think your brother will come? They haven't called or sent any letters."

"They...they have sent me letters." Fiza lied. She wanted to avoid leaving with Asif that too on his bicycle. She knew it was a long route from here.

"What kind of girl she is? Look!" Parveen tried to negotiate. She wanted to save money.

"My family never allows me to leave with a man. I am not used to this." Fiza said in finality. And, didn't seem to waver.

Parveen had noticed how the girl never misses her prayers. She was indeed into this.

"Only hearts and intentions should be clean. My husband won't eat you..." But seeing Fiza won't budge she had to call for someone to arrange a car for her. Fiza knew her husband will be paying for it but didn't know if he will approve of her resistance.

Fiza's visa was approved in the next three weeks. It was only a week before her flight when she couldn't help but write a letter to her mother. She told her how she was travelling to the US. Though recalling the last time she had little hope for her family to show up. They did show up two days before her flight. Salma had a lot of gifts for Parveen and her family but was stunned looking at their home. They hardly have a place for them to sit.

"I knew you have a nice fate, Fiza. I mean I did get to know the guy doesn't live in India. But the US? What a great opportunity?" Salma appreciated before looking at Parveen.

"What does your brother do in the US?" Salma asked Parveen who rolled her eyes before huffing out. "And, now you are asking? Why? You will take Fiza with you if..."

"I will make tea..." Fiza tried to neutralize but Parveen was quick to cut off. "Who serves tea in such hot weather? Get them a glass of water." Fiza nodded before she left and Ahmed followed his Aunt to notice she was sitting on the floor in the kitchen. The kitchen was too small for them to stand.

"How did you live here?" Ahmed asked but Fiza only smiled.

"What are you doing here? Go, sit outside. It gets too hot here at this time of the day. And, how's your studies going?"

"I don't think Mommy will drink water in this glass. Is this cracked? Can I break it?" Ahmed got the glass and threw it on the floor only for Parveen to shout. "What did you break now?"

"They don't do this in this house," Fiza told Ahmed who got scared.

"I am sorry," Fiza told Parveen at once who told her. "I will get six glasses on the list too. You get me?"

Fiza was quick to nod her head. Parveen left the kitchen and Ahmed held Fiza's hand. "Granny worries a lot about you. But Dad doesn't let her call you. He says we should let you lonely so you know you have to survive no matter what." Fiza got her heart squeezed at the mention of her mother and was quick to ask Ahmed. "Please, don't tell my mom any of this. And, ask your parents to do the same when you are getting back. Ok?"

"You are right. There is no point in getting her worried. Also, she is very happy listening that you are going to the US. She is very hopeful for your life."

Fiza got her eyes teary but walked out to serve water to her brother. Jabran had his face red with anger. He was humiliated seeing in what kind of household his sister was standing. "Have patience. You will be fine." These were the only words that left his brother's mouth when Fiza walked to see them off while Salma was quick to add. "You are being served right for doing whatever you did to Abhan." Only the ring of his name was enough to drown Fiza in the flood of memories. She only talked to him through the letters but she believed each word of those letters.

She ran to the kid's room while Parveen shouted from behind. "Who will do the work? I can't handle her tantrums. I wonder how I am going to pass these two days."

Parveen made her clean every corner of the house once again. Fiza hardly got a minute to get ready and left in very simple clothes. Parveen had taken all of her heavy dresses stating no one wears such in that county. She also kept all the gifts Salma and Jabran came to visit with. And, what Fiza had was a long list stating every penny they had to spend on her.

"Don't lose that list. And, pass him to Kamran, ok?" Parveen told her when she came to drop her off at the airport. Fiza was given a picture of her husband who was around twenty in the picture.

Parveen hasn't told her anything about Kamran but his mentions only told Fiza that she had to find the courage whatever was coming her way. The plane was about to take off when she wonders how her cat must be doing without her. Or when will she be able to look at her land again? 

She looked at the picture of her husband again and sighed. He looked like a normal handsome boy in the picture. From the talks of Rubina, Fiza had gathered that he had been married twice before but both girls were foreigners. He didn't have any children. And, he had a very bad temper and would get into fights with everyone when he was living here. Fiza looked at the picture again where a twenty-year-old boy was standing. And, she knew it was taken when he was still in India. And, with him going to the US for twenty-seven years. She couldn't help but wonder if her brothers knew that the man they were marrying her to was this old.

She couldn't help but wonder if Abhan knew what kind of hell she will be thrown into after he will part ways with her. She didn't ask him to come into her life. And, she wonders what more tests await her patience.

The next chapter will start from where she lands and meets Kamran. Also, don't keep high hopes for this man. He is just going to be a piece of shit. But then everyone is going to be this. until she doesn't stand up for herself or gets a backbone. 

I don't know if it is your cup of tea. But I will be more frequent in writing on Wattpad now. 

Down is the note I left for my booknet readers today. If by any chance you have missed it. Here, it is...I wasn't allowed to mention Wattpad and Inkitt. But those platforms were Wattpad and Inkitt.

Hello dear readers,

I don't know if you are aware or not. But my new upcoming books won't be coming on Booknet now.

I will be removing all the free and paid books. And, the contracts for my paid books will be coming to an end by the end of May which means that Part 2 for the Shattered that I have planned will not be released on Booknet too.

I haven't decided which platform I will choose next to showcase my books now. So, all of my paid completed books that are ten in number now...will not be available to read anywhere until I don't find a home for them. All of you who have bought these ten books or some of these...will have access to these books in your library even when I have terminated the contract with booknet. So, you can still keep the booknet app on your phone and have access to these books you have paid for already if you want to read them again.

I hope I find a new place for my paid books soon. But as of now, I will enjoy writing for free again. Like the old times in 2019 and 2020. And, I guess on the same platforms I used to previously. Most of you already know about those two platforms.

If you are my new reader and don't know where I will be writing my free books. Please follow me on my Instagram and Facebook pages to learn about those platforms. Also, to know where my ongoing free story Fiza is. This one will be kept free until the very end. Yes, it is already ongoing. And, I might update today too.

Also, there is a chance that I will keep writing for free for some time. You know to feel connected to my readers once again. Like I used to in 2019 and 2020.

Saying goodbye to booknet is so hard for me right now. It had been a home for more than three years now. And, it has given me a lot. To be honest, parting ways with Booknet? I never saw it coming. This is also the reason that I can't see myself selling my work somewhere again. For now, I will be writing my new works for free. This is the plan for now I guess.

Please do not come to me telling me my work is worth paying for. Because hearing this hurts me. Just know I can't sell my work anywhere now. I hope I find a place where I can sell. But there is nothing like Booknet for real.

Also, my Facebook and Instagram pages might be filled with Spanish quotations and things like these. I am not a Spanish speaker and have hired a translator to do so for me. So, don't get weirded out seeing my Instagram and Facebook and drop me a message to know anything about where I am writing.

One more thing, if you are not on social media like Instagram and Facebook. Just write Shattered by Ashleh Queen on Google or Curse of the Dragon by Ashleh Queen and or use any book of mine to reach me. You will be directed to my work at other places. But still, I will encourage you to check out my Instagram and Facebook.

Instagram page: theashlehqueen

Facebook page: Ashleh Queen

Twitter: Ashleh Q