Ayat

I looked at Dad talking to Arham, who was happily agreeing with whatever Dad said. They were talking about the date of our marriage.

Though I don't want to marry him, I am still marrying him. Just because of my step-mother. I never hated her, loved her like she was my own mother and also expected for her to do the same since Dad married her.

At first, she actually loved me. But when she realised, Dad loved me more than my step-sibling, she started staying away from me and it made my heart ache for love and care from her.

I am marrying Arham, expecting only one thing from her- love. Maybe that it isn't in my fate. And just that thought makes me want to cry.

Arham looked at me, his eyes looking at me as if I was his food.

"Dad." I call out to Dad.

"Yes, Ayat." Dad says, all of his attention towards me now as I am his lovely daughter.

"I am having a headache. I will take some rest." I say, and get up from the pale green couch.

"Yeah, take some rest. The date of marriage is three days from today. You get it?" He says, with a smile that I have never seen on his face. He's jubilant. And I was happy just because he was happy. 

"Yes, Dad." I say, turning my face away from him, trying to hold back the tears that were on the brink of falling from my eyes.

I walked up the stairs, and was walking towards my room when I see my step-mother approaching me.

"I want you to know that any of your tantrums won't work this time, just marry Arham and get out of this house, so I can breathe freely. Because of you, Kinza gets less love from Humain, I want Kinza to be happy, even if that means you out of this house." She says, with warn in her voice.

"Ok, mom." I mumble. My head bowed down. I stare at the floor while the tears still wait to fall.

"Don't call me mom." She says sternly and walks away.

I open the door of my room, enter it and lock the door. The tears start flowing on my cheeks uncontrollably.

I sit on the floor, my back leaning against the door. I cover my mouth with my palm to silence my sobs. My head drops to my knees as I sob. My hair falls on my face, I raise my head and look at the balcony from which sunlight is falling into my room.

I get up from the floor, walk towards the balcony with my trembling legs, close the balcony's door, draw the curtains and I again, sit on the floor against my bed frame.

Was there any solution?

Was I supposed to be like this?

Is love not in my fate?

Am I going to live like this forever without any love?

I sigh loudly. I don't want to ask me questions anymore. Because Allah is there to take care of me and he always chooses the best.

The sound of Azaan reaches my ears. I reply to the Azaan. And soon as it is complete, I get up from the floor and disappear in the bathroom to make wudu and offer the Zohar prayer.

When I am finally done praying, I keep sitting on the prayer mat (Muslims pray namaz on a rectangular cloth). I raise my hands on the level of my chest to make dua. I first, read a durood and start saying, "Oh, Allah, you are the greatest and the most merciful. Please show some mercy on me. Save me from the marriage. I really don't want to marry Arham. Please save me."

I again read a durood and when I am done, I fold the prayer mat and wait for the day I am supposed to get married. I take a deep breath and decide to lay down but then, there's a knock on the door pulling me out of my reverie.

I unlock the door and twist the knob, fearing that some animal will jump on me. And to my dismay, it was Arham.

He entered the room with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Hello, fianceé." He mutters, eyeing me from head to toe.

"What do you want, Arham?" I ask, wrapping my arms around my chest protectively.

"Wear the ring." He throws it my way. I catch it and glare at him.

I grab his collar and pin him to the now-closed door.

"Listen you little rat, I am not your mistress or something. I am your fianceé. So you better treat me like one. My father has taught me how to respect people and how to break their jaws when they disrespect you. So you better know that I can poke your eyes out if you looked at me one more time, the wrong way." I threaten, glaring right into his eyes.

He cowers and looks at me as if I have gone mad. He pushes me away and I do move away. Don't wanna beat the shit out of him before the marriage, now do I? I definitely will take revenge for what he did to me during my high school years.

He throws a fearful glance my way and scurries away. Huh, Coward. I scoff and keep the ring on the dressing table and decide to take a nap.

I hope everything goes well.