An Unusual Bond

It is often said that only brave people make life-changing decisions, and Tariq was one of them. Elders say that marriages are made in the heavens; I had heard this many times, but when curiosity turned into reality, my eyes were truly opened. We are all subject to divine will—every particle in the universe moves by God’s command.

This incident took place in our village. In a nearby neighborhood, my friend Tariq’s wedding was being celebrated, and I was invited. The mehndi ceremony was full of joy—drums were beaten, people danced enthusiastically, and to heighten the excitement, occasional celebratory gunfire echoed in the air. Relatives and friends attended in large numbers. Around 2 a.m., the festivities came to an end. I returned home.

Tariq belonged to a wealthy landowning family. They owned large tracts of land, lived in a grand house, and had servants and every comfort of life. Along with wealth, Tariq was handsome and charming. Many girls admired him, both in the village and at college. Yet he was not immoral—he was cheerful, friendly, compassionate, and always ready to help anyone in need.

The next morning, my friend Noman woke me with shocking news: Tariq was missing. The entire village had searched, but there was no trace of him. The wedding procession was about to depart, cars and buses were honking, the band had arrived—but Tariq’s sudden disappearance shattered everyone’s happiness. The joyful home turned into a place of mourning.

By noon, the village elders decided to prepare Tariq’s younger brother, Arshad, for the wedding, hoping to save face on both sides. Meanwhile, the bride’s family had already learned the truth. They sent a message forbidding Tariq’s family from coming and instead summoned Junaid—Tariq’s cousin—to arrive immediately with a few elders, assuring him that all arrangements were in place

For Junaid, it felt like fate had smiled upon him. Though he was Tariq’s cousin, he was not considered his equal in wealth or status. That was why Saima’s family had preferred Tariq over him, despite the fact that Junaid and Saima had loved each other since childhood. Saima was Junaid’s uncle’s daughter, yet wealth outweighed blood relations. In families where money dominates, relationships lose their sanctity. Land and wealth have caused brothers to kill brothers and sons to turn against fathers.

That day, two separated hearts were reunited, and Junaid married Saima. Years have passed since then, but even today, whenever I hear wedding music in our village, Tariq’s story comes to mind.

Two years later, Tariq returned from Dubai. People tried to question him about his disappearance, but he avoided the truth. One evening, I met him in the fields where our lands bordered. I invited him to sit and asked why he had ruined his own wedding and brought embarrassment to his family.

Tariq replied calmly, “Brother Haider, it was better to burn briefly than to burn for a lifetime. I could not live as a prisoner of my conscience. If I had married Saima against her will, she would have been my wife in society’s eyes—but what would I do with a living corpse? Marriage requires consent of both heart and tongue. I knew Saima and Junaid loved each other, and their pure bond was being weighed against my wealth. I refused to be the reason two loving hearts bled.”

He continued, “People talked for a few days, but that did not matter. If my decision united two souls, I am content. Marriages are truly made in heaven. Junaid and Saima are happy, and God has blessed them with children. Surely, the Creator has someone destined for me as well.”