The Wedding Trap

                                                                            Fiction

It was a scorching July afternoon, and a passenger bus sped along the highway. The passengers were doing all they could to protect themselves from the blistering heat and dry winds. Suddenly, the driver hit the brakes. The bus came to a jarring halt. Startled by the sudden stop, some passengers jumped in their seats while others shouted angrily at the driver.

Without responding, the driver reversed the bus and stopped a few meters back. Passengers peeked out of the windows. A young woman and an old man stood by the roadside.

The two boarded the bus. The girl, around twenty-two, was crying, while the middle-aged man tried to comfort her. As soon as they took their seats, the bus fell silent. All eyes turned toward them.

The girl continued to sob uncontrollably while the man whispered consoling words. Whispers began to circulate among the passengers.

“What happened? Who are they? Why is the girl crying?”

While passengers speculated, the conductor came and asked for the fare. The old man paid for both himself and the girl. The conductor moved on, and the man resumed his efforts to calm the girl.

Finally, one curious passenger gathered the courage to ask, “Uncle, what’s the matter? (pointing toward the girl) Why is she crying? What happened to her?”

The old man replied, “She’s my granddaughter. Her husband has refused to accept her, and she’s been divorced before the wedding rituals could even be completed. We’ve been driven out of our village.”

He continued, “We’re from Hyderabad. She and the boy loved each other, but due to the groom’s family's attitude, she became heartbroken.”

Before he could finish, the girl suddenly spoke up.

“I don’t want to live anymore! The man who once swore to live and die with me has abandoned me. What’s left for me now? There’s no point in living!”

Saying this, she stood up and rushed toward the bus door, but several passengers grabbed her and forced her to sit down. Her impulsive gesture left everyone shocked and confused.

Some women vacated their seats and gathered around the girl, trying to soothe her. Male passengers brought the old man to sit with them and offered him words of comfort.

The driver and conductor remained indifferent, eyes fixed ahead, their only concern being the road and their schedule.

Soon, the driver noticed someone flagging the bus down. He looked at the conductor, slowed the vehicle, and pulled over.

A bearded man, about fifty years old, boarded with a small bundle in hand. He found a seat and listened to the murmurs around him, piecing together what had happened. He too consoled the old man and said, “Matches are made in heaven. When one door closes, another opens. There must be some hidden good in this.”

The old man, voice trembling, replied, “I don’t know how much longer I’ll live. Who will take care of my granddaughter when I’m gone? Where do I go? What do I do?”

Tears welled in his eyes.

The bearded man comforted him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry. God always opens a path.”

Now all the passengers were discussing the girl and the old man with concern and empathy. Only the driver and conductor remained detached.

The bus halted again, and a young man wearing a traditional shalwar kameez climbed aboard. Finding no seat, he stood in the aisle.

As the bus moved again, the focus remained on the grieving girl and her grandfather. The old man, overwhelmed with emotion, fainted. The bearded man splashed water on his face and revived him.

Startled by the fainting episode, some passengers requested the driver to stop the bus. Once the old man regained consciousness, the journey resumed. The bearded man, visibly moved, stood and said:

“Is there no one on this bus who will step forward and marry this girl, and relieve this old man of his burden so he can spend his remaining days in peace? It is a noble act, one that will be rewarded on the Day of Judgment.”

He continued, “Islam encourages marrying orphaned and helpless girls. Is there no man here willing to become her life companion?”

A deep silence fell. It was as if everyone had turned to stone. Gradually, whispers returned. Those who had shown sympathy moments ago now began to question the girl's character.

As murmurs grew louder, the young man who had boarded last spoke up.

“I’m willing to marry her—if she and her grandfather agree.”

All eyes turned toward him.

“Who are you?” asked the bearded man.

“My name is Fazal. I’m from Hyderabad. I’m unmarried and have a government job. Hearing her story broke my heart. My conscience told me to marry her.”

Faces in the bus now showed a mix of surprise and joy.

The bearded man asked, “Should we accept this offer?”

Before anyone could reply, Fazal added, “I have no family. I’ll go wherever you ask. I will never betray her. I’ll keep her happy for life.”

His words comforted everyone.

The bearded man addressed the old man and the girl.

“What do you say? He seems sincere. If you agree, I’ll perform the nikah right here.”

The old man wiped his tears with his turban.

“Ask my granddaughter. If she agrees, I have no objection.”

The bearded man turned to the girl. “Daughter, do you want to spend your life with this young man?”

She quietly responded, “Whatever my grandfather decides, I accept.”

The old man said, “I approve.”

The bearded man announced he was a cleric and would perform the marriage. The bride and groom were seated together, and a few passengers joined as witnesses.

After the nikah, the couple accepted each other as husband and wife. All the passengers congratulated them. Then the bearded man pulled out a box of sweets from his bundle and handed it to the groom.

“Distribute this among the guests to celebrate your wedding!”

The groom stopped the bus and went around feeding sweets to each passenger with his own hands. Everyone congratulated him.

He even offered sweets to the driver and conductor.

Moments after eating, everyone in the bus fell unconscious.

The sweets had been drugged. Only the bride, groom, the bearded man, and the old man had abstained.

Once everyone had passed out, the bride looted the women’s jewelry and belongings, while the groom, the bearded man, and the old man stripped the male passengers of their cash and valuables and fled the scene.

Two hours later, a police patrol arrived and revived the unconscious passengers—but by then, the newlywed couple, the old man, and the bearded cleric had vanished into the distance.