The Promise That Shattered My Life

A Promise That Shattered My Life

BY:Khan

Every morning at seven, I arrived at the agency, ready to dive into the day’s work. One morning, around ten, the postman handed me a letter. As I opened it, I found myself reading the words of a woman who had written:

“Assalamu Alaikum, son. I am a reader of your magazine. I’ve heard that you write about people’s pains and struggles. I too wish to share mine—so that perhaps others read, understand, and maybe, my sorrow becomes lighter.”

The very next day, she sent me her full story. What follows is her account—raw, painful, and unforgettable.


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A Childhood of Neglect

From as far back as I remember, my home was never peaceful. My parents rarely got along, and the greatest tragedy of our household was the preference for sons over daughters. Girls were treated like a burden, as though we were born only to tolerate neglect.

This discrimination shook me deeply. My brothers were given importance, while I was invisible. I often wondered why our home wasn’t like others—why daughters couldn’t receive the same love as sons. Many nights, I cried myself to sleep, thinking, If only I had been born somewhere else.

My mother, however, had one dream: that her children should study. She herself was denied education, and her in-laws constantly mocked her for being uneducated. Out of her insecurity, she pushed us toward books.

Yet, how could a child flourish in a house full of tension? Though I was intelligent and hardworking, when it came to exams, I froze. My heart pounded, my hands shook, and the paper remained blank. Finally, my father realized I needed extra help.


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The Arrival of a Tutor

Enter Buland Bakht, a young man who had just graduated and was searching for a job. To support himself, he gave tuition lessons to students—including my brothers. One day, my father asked him to also teach me.

I needed more than a tutor—I needed kindness, care, and understanding. Buland Bakht became all of that. His gentle encouragement awakened my interest in studies, and slowly, he became the center of my world.

What started as respect turned into affection, and soon, we crossed the threshold of love. He promised me that once he secured a job, he would speak to my parents and marry me. His words were my lifeline, and I believed him with all my heart.


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The Promise of Marriage

My father admired him greatly. “He is like the son I never had,” he often said. With such praise, I was convinced that our path to marriage would be smooth.

When Buland hesitated to approach my parents, I gathered courage and shared my feelings through my sister. To my surprise, my mother responded positively. “If this is true, then let him bring his parents to formally ask for your hand.”

Buland looked uneasy when confronted, but eventually, his mother visited our home. To everyone’s surprise, she liked me instantly, and soon, our engagement was announced. My heart soared—I felt my dreams coming true.


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The First Betrayal

But fate had other plans. Just days before the wedding, my brother spotted Buland at the railway station buying a ticket to Murree. When questioned, he casually replied, “I’m traveling with a friend.” My family laughed it off as a joke.

That evening, when my mother went to his home, his parents looked worried. They explained that he had been offered a new job and had to leave immediately. “The wedding date will need to be postponed,” they said.

Imagine our humiliation. Invitations had already been sent, relatives had started arriving, and suddenly, we had to call it all off. My parents faced endless embarrassment. Still, we waited patiently for him to return.


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The Shocking Truth

Weeks turned into months. Each time, he gave excuses. Finally, another date was fixed. Guests gathered once more, preparations were made, and my bridal dress lay ready. But the night before the ceremony, devastating news arrived:

Buland had returned—with a wife.

As it turned out, while tutoring me, he had also been teaching the daughter of a wealthy businessman. He had lured her with the same promises. When her family discovered his upcoming wedding, she threatened to take her life unless he married her. Pressured and frightened, he chose her wealth and influence over his promise to me.

My dreams collapsed in an instant.


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A Life Forever Changed

That day marked the death of my innocence. My wedding canopy was never raised, and the yellow of my bridal henna turned into the yellow of mourning. Years passed, my hair turned white, but the scars remain as fresh as ever.

Since then, I never married. Weddings now terrify me. The laughter, the music, the rituals—everything feels like a cruel reminder of betrayal.

My sisters went on to live happy, stable lives. But I, being more sensitive, broke under the weight of deception. I often reflect: if my parents had given me love and attention, perhaps I wouldn’t have fallen so easily for the false affection of a stranger.


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Lessons Learned

Parents often forget that not all children are the same. Some are strong; others, fragile. A tender heart needs extra care, or else it shatters. In my case, neglect at home made me vulnerable to the first person who showed me kindness.

Buland Bakht—was he a coward, a fool, or a deceiver? I will never know. But what I do know is that his betrayal destroyed my chance at a normal life.

Today, I wish to tell every parent: your love and harmony at home is the greatest gift you can give your children. If denied, they may seek it elsewhere—and sometimes, that search ends in tragedy.