The Night was quite, like the eerie stillness that follows a storm. Smoked curled lazily from the cigarette between Zayaan's finger as he leaned against the railing of balcony.
Beside him, Eric leaned back against the railing as he studied Zayaan's profile– too indifferent for someone who went through a pivotal moment of his life.
Earlier when he received Zayaan's call, he had been ready to pull his leg, a rare occurrence but the news he received was the last thing he expected– Zayaan summoning him to serve as a witness for his accidental marriage.
In the ten years Eric had known him, Zayaan had made his stance on marriage clear to everyone in their circle. Though he won't call him a saint but the only constant in Zayaan's life was Olivia, his childhood friend but even with her in the picture, he'd never wavered from his decision, no matter how obvious Olivia made her intentions. Marriage was a boundary he swore to never cross and now he'd not only crossed it but through an chaotic mess he never saw coming.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips,"What are your plans?"
"Attend your wedding"
Eric stared at him intently,"That you'd but that's not what I'm asking"
"I don't know and i don't want to talk about it now." Zayaan took a slow drag from his cigarette, his eyes fixed on the dark sky.
Eric wanted to press further but one look at Zayaan's closed off expression made him hold back. His gaze flicked to the dim room.
Pushing off the railing, Eric straightened, "Fine. We'll talk after my wedding. But if you need anything, let me know"
'Do you consent to your marriage with Zayaan Sarfaraz, son of Sarfaraz Qureshi' the priest voiced echoed followed by a loud gunshot.
Aleezay's eyes flew open and she jolted upright on the sofa, her chest heaved as if she'd just ran a mile.
Sunrays slipped in through the gaps of curtains, casting shadows across the room. Her frantic gaze swept around the room and fell on the empty bed, then the luggage beside it.
Last night felt like a bizarre nightmare and no matter how many times she tried to wake up from it but what awaits her was the harsh reality. All those dreams she'd weaved, even with open eyes, they slipped through her grasp like sand, infront of her eyes.
Grandpa, a sob tore from Aleezay's lips as the image of his retreating back came to her mind. He didn't glanced back, not even once, no matter how many times she called out to him. They left her behind, alone in a room with a complete stranger.
A knock on the door snapped Aleezay out of her thoughts. She hastily wiped her tears with the back of her hand and strained her ears to hear any sound from the bathroom but received only silence. He must have gone out.
As Aleezay pushed herself up, her gaze fell on her crumpled bridal dress that seems to had been through a storm, reminding her of the reality once again.
Adjusting the dupatta over her head, she opened the door. A thousand emotions flickered through– relief, hope, shame when she found Shayra before her but they all died down the moment her eyes fell on luggage beside Zasna, the househelper.
"Aa..aunt, please come in"
Shayra stepped inside with an unreadable expression while her gaze swept around the room.
"How are you doing?" Shayra asked as she lowered herself onto the sofa. "What should i even ask you? You know how your uncles are. If there was someone you wanted to be with, you could've told me atleast-"
"No, Aunt, trust me please" Aleezay intervened as her fingers rushed to grip Shayra's arm, "I don't have anyone, i never did except for Faizan. It was all a misunderstanding, please believe me"
"No need to cry over spilled tea," Shayra said as she pulled her arm free from Aleezay's grasp. "What difference does it make whether I believe you or not? What's done is done."
"The only thing you can do now is not drag us through any more mud. Settle into your married life and be grateful for it." A bitter smile touched her lips, "Thanks to Faizan, at least we were spared further humiliation. He was considerate enough to choose Amina for marriage and kept our family's honor intact."
"But aunt-" the words trembled on her lips before they dissolved into sobs.
"If you've brought in all the luggage, go get the car ready. I'll be down in a minute," Shayra called over her shoulder as Zasna knelt beside the luggages, arranging them into a neat row.
"Okay, madam,"
As they were left alone, Shayra turned to Aleezay, whose sobs echoed in the room. With a sigh, Shayra reached out and swept her hand over Aleezay's head that made her stop crying as she lifted her eyes and met Shayra's.
Shayra's lips curved into a smile,"Trust me, Aleezay. You really do have an exceptional fate written for you."
Aleezay blinked with tears in her eyes as she tried to make sense of the words.
Shayra's gaze drifted over the room before she stood up and took slow, deliberate steps forward. "As an orphan, what did you ever lack?" she asked, "You were always the first thought in your grandpa and uncles' minds. Wherever they went, whatever they bought — they always thought of you first."
She turned around and faced a bewildered Aleezay, "And trust me," Shayra continued, her smile widening, "I was really happy for you."
"But then you had to go and take the man i was considering for my daughter, Amina. You shouldn't have done that, but alas, you were never content, were you?"
Aleezay opened her mouth but could only gape at her aunt.
Shayra let out a bitter laugh, "Then again look at you, I'd planned to marry you off to Ashad, the electrican who couldn't keep his eyes off of you every time he came around, but that bastard's own mistake of getting wrong keycard, you ended up with a foreigner instead."
"Final boarding call for Flight 123 to Boston. Passengers, please report to Gate 17 immediately."
Hearing the announcement, Zayaan pushed to his feet. With a last glance around the bustling terminal as he adjusted his travel bag against his shoulder, he strode toward Gate 17.