By: Syed Majid Gilani
In a world where truth is often trampled, Sameer’s life was turned upside down by a relentless campaign of harassment and manipulation orchestrated by his partner, Mehnaz. Her ultimate goal was to secure a divorce and a hefty alimony, but with a twisted plan: to manipulate Sameer into initiating the divorce.
Behind the façade of a happy family, a toxic environment festered. Sameer, a God-fearing, humble and honest officer, suffered in silence. His simplicity, clean-heartedness, and honesty had become his downfall in his marriage to Mehnaz, whose narcissistic personality had created a living hell. Behind closed doors, Sameer wept and wiped away his tears, hiding his pain from the world. Mehnaz would taunt him, criticize him, and manipulate the children into turning against him.
She would often humiliate Sameer in front of his relatives and of course, their children, making him feel worthless and insignificant. Mehnaz tightened the noose, declaring an open war on Sameer. She no longer bothered seeking permission or consent before doing anything or going anywhere, a fundamental aspect of a trusting married life. Instead, she began making outrageous demands for huge sums of money, knowing Sameer earned a handsome salary and had adequate savings, but ignoring the fact, that he was drowning in loans and debts, which he had incurred for the renovation of his ancestral property. Sameer had a great emotional attachment to his ancestral home, where his fathers’ and grandparents’ memories, coupled with his own sweet and sour childhood memories, resonated. Actually, Sameer wanted to preserve the same for his dear children, hardly thinking that his wife was having contrary designs and plans.
As Mehnaz’s plans unfolded, Sameer’s world began to crumble. The first step she took was to feed lies and concocted tales to their children, just to cultivate and harness hatred among them for their loving father. The children, under Mehnaz’s influence, turned against Sameer. They would ignore his calls, dismiss his messages, and even refuse to meet him. Sameer felt like he was losing everything that mattered to him, although temporarily. He was left alone, with no one to turn to, no one to confide in.
For years, Mehnaz surreptitiously compiled a dossier on Sameer, meticulously copying his phone contacts and closely monitoring his interactions with friends, colleagues, neighbors and acquaintances. Her clandestine efforts were a precursor to a campaign of manipulation and harassment, designed to exploit Sameer. Despite being subjected to torture, incitement, denial, and constant provocation, Sameer remained calm and composed. Mehnaz’s strategy was to push him to the brink, hoping he would lash out and give her the divorce she wanted. But Sameer refused to take the bait.
As the days turned into nights, Sameer’s tears fell like rain with his heart heavy with sorrow. He felt like a prisoner in his own home, trapped in a loveless marriage, with no escape from the torment. But Mehnaz had other plans. She decided to break their home without giving a second thought to the children’s future, and Sameer’s love for her. With a calculating smile, she executed her nefarious plans, feeling a twisted sense of joy in destroying the life they had built together.
Actually, Sameer thought he had found his soulmate in Mehnaz, but he discovered a self-centered and manipulative narcissist in her. She consistently belittled him, making him feel insignificant and eroding his self-worth. Conversations revolved around her accomplishments, needs, and desires, with any disagreement or non-compliance triggering her rage. Despite his efforts to please her, Mehnaz was never satisfied, leaving Sameer feeling trapped and walking on eggshells to avoid her wrath. Her fragile ego and superiority complex made her incapable of empathy or understanding. But one day, Sameer found the strength to break free from Mehnaz’s toxic grasp. He set boundaries, refusing to engage in her games, and rediscovered his passion for writing. He reconnected with friends and family, slowly rebuilding his shattered confidence. However, Mehnaz couldn’t accept Sameer’s newfound independence. She unleashed her fury and manipulation, desperate to pull him back into her web. Yet, Sameer stood firm, knowing he deserved a life free from narcissistic abuse.
When Mehnaz created a scene, hoping to manufacture evidence of violence, her lies didn’t work as planned. Undeterred, she reached out to the police, courts, and various forums, spinning a web of fabricated stories and lies. She even approached Sameer’s colleagues, friends, relatives, and acquaintances hoping to infuriate him into a divorce. But Sameer remained resolute, refusing to give in to her tactics. The battle of wills continued, with Sameer determined to withstand the onslaught and protect his rights.
As Sameer reflects on the darkest chapters of his life, he realizes that his quest for love and connection was mercilessly manipulated and distorted. Every day brought a fresh wave of torment: relentless arguments, crushing criticisms, and a relationship twisted beyond recognition. Mehnaz, the person he trusted most, turned against him, and his own flesh and blood were brainwashed and turned against him. As the truth began to unravel, Sameer realized with horror that he was betrayed in the most heinous way imaginable. Yet, he finds the strength to break free from this toxic web of lies and manipulation. His heart-wrenching true story is a testament to the resilience of the human heart and the power of truth to overcome even the darkest of evils.
Her motive throughout the long years was to oppose Sameer in every manner driven by a deep-seated hatred for him. Whatever Sameer earned, he spent on his children and Mehnaz, and tried to keep everything available for his family, even beyond his means and reach. But there was a huge difference, since Mehnaz had a lot of hatred for Sameer. All Sameer’s genuine efforts, love, and hard work were met with disapproval. Mehnaz’s desire and aim were to be the head and controlling authority in Sameer’s family, which he resisted. Her behavior with Sameer was such that no other person could have tolerated, but Sameer believed he was chosen by Allah to bear all the disrespect and arrogance.
Sameer, having full faith in the mercy of Allah, watched all the hostile events and the whole scenario, solely eyeing on Almighty’s justice, and believes that a day will come soon when the truth will be manifested. The closed room, full of dullness, stood as a silent witness to Sameer’s suffering for all these long years. It saw the silent sobs and sighs, the trickle of thick tears from Sameer’s eyes, and the mental and emotional torture, atrocities, coupled with severe denial inflicted by Mehnaz upon him. The room held a thousand heart-wrenching tales, each one a testament to the anguish and pain that Sameer endured behind closed doors. His love for Mehnaz, for which she later proved worthless, prevented him from dissolving the sacred institution of marriage. In the end, Sameer’s story became a haunting reminder that behind closed doors, the truth is often hidden, and the suffering is often silenced. But his resilience and refusal to give in serve as a beacon of hope for those trapped in similar situations, a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is always a way forward.
(Syed Majid Gilani is a Government Officer and a writer who reflects on human emotions, family bonds, moral values, and heartfelt experiences drawn from the rich tapestry of real life. He can be reached at [email protected])