She hesitated because that was the first time they were seeing each other, as a married couple. She gathered up the courage she knew she didn't have and ambled into the living room. Her body didn't know how to react, it just shut down. She froze to a point where she was hardly breathing. She stared at the gorgeous man standing before her.

He was handsome from the depth of his eyes to the gentle expression of his voice. He had the kind of face that stopped you in your tracks. She hadn't notice she was drooling over him until Aunty Umaymah interrupted her flock of thoughts. "C'mon, move closer. You can continue with the staring contest later, but the photographer wants to take pictures now." Aunty umaymah teased them as she helped Hidayah with her long dress. "Aunty umaymah I'm not..." She flashed Hidayah a dead glare which made her to swallow the rest of her sentence. Nose flaring, she stood beside him before the camera man started doing his job.

Is this guy really smiling, she thought to herself. She couldn't help but take a glimpse at him to clear her doubts. He was actually grinning from ear to ear, after how he has sabotaged her life. The audacity that hypocrite has after what he's putting her through. How can he look so happy when he knew that they both don't want that? Or he's smiling because he had plotted every every evil scheme to torture her life. All because of him, her mother wasn't talking to her. Her only aunt that listens to her now was on his side. Her boyfriend wasn't picking any of her calls, all thanks to him.

He slides one arm around her waist. For so many unanswered reasons, she had felt his touch a thousand times in her dreams and now she couldn't stand its reality. The warmth from his arm creeped into her consciousness and she wanted to pull her body away. "What do you think you're doing?" She looked up at him as he draws her even closer. "Where was your mind when the photographer was giving instructions? Now smile and look at the camera." He whispered back and looked at the photographer.

Her eyes fell on ummah that just came in together with her siblings and few of her relatives from both her mother's side and her father's side. She took in a deep breath and smiled at the camera, at least for the sake of her mother.

Ummah sends a smile to her way which made Hidayah to be relieved. The minute he was done taking pictures of them, she freed herself and rushed to her mother. As ummah's arms spread wide, welcoming her in, Hidayah immediately entered them. Ummah reaches and cup her cheeks. "Have you seen how beautiful you look today? Masha Allah." Her cheeks turned red as they heated up. That was the first time she smiled genuinely since she woke up on that dreadful day.

After the photo session, Hidayah went back to her room. She opened the door and met the last person she expected to attend her wedding. "Yasmeen? You came..." She wraps her friend in a hug. "Of course I'll come even though you didn't invite me." She broke the hug before smacking Hidayah on the shoulder. "Ummah could mommy and told her about the wedding, there was no way I was going to miss your big day. I wish you a hearty congratulations on this pleasant occasion. All this while I really thought you were serious about Adam."

"Oh please, save me the crap." Hidayah walked passed her and collapsed on the bed. "Wha- what do you mean?" Yasmeen asked, baffled. Hidayah gave a single glance before she took her phone from the side drawer, and started dialling Adam's number. She called and texted him several times but he never picked or responded to any of her texts.

She sent more texts, apologizing and continued calling him till he finally picked up her call. She scrambled up and headed into her bathroom when her sisters came into the room. She couldn't hold the heartbreak any longer, she fell to the floor in a disheveled heap as her grief poured out in a flood of uncontrollable tears. "What happened? Why are you crying? Did he do anything to hurt you? Do you mind if call the police on him?" His mind was engulfed with negative thoughts.

"No, Adam no... this is entirely different... my life is totally ruined cause of him.... I don't... I don't even know how to tell you this. I... I got married to him today..."

"Hidayah? Are you in there? Come out now, it's time to wear your second outfit. You'll be taken to your new home in some hours." Aunty Umaymah knocked on the bathroom door. With Aunty Umaymah's words he heard, Adam ended the call. Tears escaped her eyes followed by her fist meeting the wall. Mustering all her courage, she got to her feet and sauntered out of the bathroom.

"Hidayah... what happened now? Why are you crying?" She shook her head robustly. "I can't... I can't do this... I just can't..." Aunty umaymah heaved a deep sigh. They were back to square one. "Problems are opportunities in disguise. They test your worthiness for the ultimate success, my dear. Don't let anything ruin your beautiful day, Hidayah. Now come change your outfit and put on the biggest smile you have. We have more guests that want to see our beautiful bride." She pulled her hand to where she kept the dress which was almost better than the one she had on.

Later in the evening before the conveyance. She was left alone together with her older sister, Safiyah and her aunt. "What's this, Ya Safiyah? Aphrodisiacs?" She looked at the pills with a disdain look. "I'm not taking this! What will I use them for? I will never let him have his way with me. Wallahi I won't let him have his way with me. After ruining my life now I'm going to his house all prepared for him? There's no way I'm taking any of these pills."

Safiyah tried to suppress her giggling, but ended up bursting into laughter. Hidayah threw her a grief look, the tears threatening to start flowing. Aunty umaymah smacked Safiyah of the back. "Safiyah, stop it or I'll send you out of this room right now." Aunty umaymah couldn't help but chuckle. Her chuckle was light, and laced with a hum of amusement at the matter. "C'mon my baby, the story will definitely change...." Hidayah wailed in disagreement. "Aunty umaymah, I'm dead serious... he'll never have his way with me.... Never..." In spite of everything, she was still persuaded to take the pills.

"Now listen to me carefully, I know he might be tough to handle... maybe because you guys are not in good terms with each other. It will be difficult but I trust you can change him. And you have to watch your voice tone, Hidayah, I don't like how you're always tasing your voice especially when it comes to Ahmad. Learn how to control your anger and there is nothing wrong in saying 'sorry' first even when it's not your fault, just bring a listening ear. Because, if there are things that you want to change in him or him in you, the most important thing is having a smooth dialogue and be able to exchange ideas smoothly. Remember, this relationship is intended to be an everlasting relationship. Wining a heart and relationship is more important than winning an argument."

The whole time Aunty umaymah was talking, Hidayah turned her head away, not paying attention to whatever it is she was saying. She was busy thinking of many ways to get a divorce instead. There was no way she was really going to stay with him as her husband. Adam is the only one she wants and she believed it was not late for her dreams to come to reality.

An hour later, after Isha prayer, Hidayah was finally conveyed to her new home. After short period of time everyone left including her friend just like ummah instructed- no one was spending the night.

She laid there on her bed, like a caged animal. Paralysed by the tragic feeling of her new life. She heaved a sigh, feeling the headache settling in all because she has spent the whole day crying. she closed her eyes and gazed into a field of nothingness.

She dragged herself away from the thoughts and scooped her phone that was on the side drawer. Unlocking her phone, she begin texting Adam, apologizing about what happened. She heard when the door opened and closed, she knew it was him. She never looked up till he was standing inches away from her. She took a glimpse at him and went back to chatting with Adam.

"Get up, we have to pray now." She glared at him and hissed, feeling the courage to do whatever it will take him to get infuriated and divorce her. "Don't think because your stupid plan to marry me worked out means I'll live with you as a wife. And don't even dare expect any wife duties from me because I'm not going to do anything. Since you insisted in marrying me, then you'll do all the house chores and cooking."

"That's not what I asked you. I said get up, we have to pray now." He repeated what he said earlier. "Hidayah, I'm talking to you." Deep within him, he was furious but his voice was as calm as the midnight breeze. He always knew how to maintain his voice tone. She audibly heard him but made believe like he wasn't there. She was so engrossed with apologizing to Adam when he snatched the phone away and briefly read the conversation between her and Adam.

A boiling fury swelled inside of him. "How can you be chatting with this stupid man when you know you're my wife now?"

"So what? Divorce me if you can't handle it. You met me together with him and there is no way you'd separate me from the love of my life; the man I want to get married to." The words flew from her mouth that she never thought she'd even think, let alone say it out loud.

He slammed the phone onto the hard floor so hard that it smashed almost into pieces. He brought out the sim card and broke it into two.

She let out a loud shriek, her heart caught as she gaped at her smashed phone. "What is wrong with you... you idiot... who do you think you are to do that to my phone..." He grabbed her wrists firmly when she started hitting his chest. "If you think you still have the audacity to say whatever you want here, don't forget this is not home. This is my house! You're under my roof, my command! Now go into the bathroom, perform ablution and meet me in the living room. I give you five minutes." He left her standing there, fuming.

Salamu Alaikum my dear readers,
Hope you're all doing great! Like I announced before, this book is only on wattpad for preview. The complete book will be available on OkadaBooks tonight In sha Allah. And for my international readers, if you're unable to purchase via OkadaBooks, worry not. It will also be on Selar.
But I'll keep updating here till we reach chapter 10.
Thank you 💕🥰