I
Payal was both furious and fearful about what had just transpired. One day in April 1988, a few weeks after Nida's first birthday, Haqnawaz had walked straight into her bedroom in the middle of the day, his intentions clear. This was a rather unexpected development. It is not that he had not tried to take her before, he had made multiple attempts prior to her departing for the US nearly six years ago. But all of those had occurred when her husband was away in Malaysia. This time around not only was Shahawaz in Pakistan, he was in Faisalabad just a couple of hours away and was expected back the next day. More than her own safety, Payal was concerned with the well-being of her infant daughter, Nida, who was sleeping in a cot near the bed.
"How dare enter our room without permission?" she barked at Haqnawaz.
"Bibi, this is my haveli (mansion), I come and go wherever I please, I also take whatever I like," he shot back.
"Really, since when did you become the master of this house?"
"Oh that was managed while you were gone, it is good to have friends in the government and the municipality," he let her know.
Haqnawaz had indeed inherited most of his father's property by hook or crook, cheating his sisters almost totally, but not initially taking any of Shahnawaz's share. Since it appeared that Shahnawaz was well set with the Malaysian connection and would not make an undue fuss, he felt okay to swallow up the familial house.
"But your mother will not stand for this," Payal challenged him.
"Oh she will, after all she is not so stupid as not to understand how her husband met his death so quickly just before he changed the will, if she challenges me I can do as well without both parents as I am doing now without one!" Haqnawaz had indeed arranged for his father's murder and would not balk at removing another paternal obstacle.
"But why then all the show of welcoming us back at the house as if nothing has changed?"
"Do you think I would expect you to come visit me voluntarily if I had kicked Shahnawaz out the same way as our sisters were tossed from here? That would not get me what I want. It was all for you, Payal, I needed you to be nearby."
II
"It's too hot in Pakistan for a pregnant young lady," Sam Chen had announced at dinner. Payal and Shahnawaz had arrived in Malaysia from the US, on their way to Pakistan, "you will stay here till it cools in Pakistan, as Shahnawaz is going to be very busy." Payal had only just found out that she was in the family way. There were no outward signs yet of the impending arrival and she was lucky not to be suffering from morning sickness.
Sam had been overly generous the last time she had been to his place, showering her with affection and gifting her with a necklace and accessories. She was surprised pleasantly, however, when a short Chinese white dress with orange floral patterns was received for her prior to the dinner party. A beautiful set of jade jewellery accompanied the dress as did a set of killer orange heels and skimpy but classy lingerie. The dress barely extended below her panties and showed off almost all of her legs. It did cover her breasts, but left her shoulders bare. Shahnawaz was a little uncomfortable in the limousine on the way to Sam's place, as Payal's dress constantly hiked up to show her panties. While he liked the look she was carrying off with ease, he was correctly possessive since she was the mother to be of his child. But there was no way to turn down the gifts from Sam. Sam had no such discomfort, appreciating her by giving a kiss on the lips and twirling her to get an all-around look.
"I have arranged for you to stay at our holiday home in the Cameron Highlands, which is a gorgeous place" Sam advised her, "my son, Clarence, lives there and a full set of attendants is on hand. You will have the guest annex to yourself and should have plenty of privacy." There was no question of refusal, Sam occupied the same respected position in Shahnawaz's, and thus Payal's, heart that his own father had. And avoiding Pakistan in the middle of summer and the monsoon season did not sound bad.
At that moment a 30-ish young man entered the lounge and was introduced as Sam's son, Clarence. Compared to other members of the family that Payal had met on the earlier visit and now, Clarence was both better sized and better looking. Sam proudly introduced him as the head of the Chen hotels division and a graduate of Yale University. Payal was visibly impressed by the manner in which Clarence presented himself, took her hand and kissed it, and joined the conversation. She did turn red, when after kissing her hand, he asked Shahnawaz if he had an available sister-in-law for him to marry! Apparently Shahnawaz and Clarence were looking to increase investments in Pakistan through a new group of hotels and recreation facilities there. Payal was relieved as that meant that Shahnawaz would visit the Cameron Highlands often. Clarence appeared genuine about being their host there and she was sure that all would be well.
Shortly afterwards, Sam asked his daughters to join the group and on their arrival, they began to help pair people up to dance prior to dinner. Sam's youngest, a petite 18 year old, took a hold of Shahnawaz and Clarence asked Payal to join him.
"Do you like the dress?" he asked her as they held each other.
"It's a little short, but quite nice," she replied.
"I had heard a great deal from my family about your looks and Shahnawaz was kind enough to share some pictures of your last trip to Malaysia with me," he explained, "so I personally picked out this dress since I was keen on really getting to see those shapely legs in person!"
"You can certainly see almost all of them, I hope you are not disappointed," she replied, now understanding why the gift had been sent, but also wondering which pictures of hers had been shared, hopefully not the ones of her in a bikini or topless that Shahnawaz had taken on their honeymoon.
"Not at all," Clarence responded, "and I so do look forward to seeing more of you."
"There is one thing though," she continued, "I am pregnant and wearing such heels in my condition is not really advisable."
Clarence paled and apologized that he had not known about her pregnancy.