Abhijays Pov

Before she could say anything further, a sudden knock on the door startled us both.

"Come in" I insisted, hoping it wasn't anyone from my family. They were the last people I wanted to meet at that hour.

The door flung open.

"Oh...Alice..." I murmured, trying not to express my relief. I turned my posture completely towards the door, pausing for her to speak up.

"Sorry to disturb you, but these suitcases belong to ma'am." Nodding, I got hold of the handles of all the suitcases from her, one by one and placed them on the bedside. It must've taken her a lot of time to pull so many here, how much can a person bring, really?

Alice gave an abrupt bow and left the place.

"I'll unpack them, please show me my closet" Her tone was formal and I was trying my best to get used to it, even though I didn't need to. I was missing the cheerful, immature girl who wouldn't stop yapping about her day. But I know, she is hidden because of me.

I nodded again, taking the suitcases gradually towards her closet.

I pushed open the closet door and a small gasp reached my ear.

I peeked at her face, her eyes expressed amazement, and a curve of displeasure played on her lips.

"Isn't this area too big? I mean, I don't need this much space, really."

Why was she like this? If she is getting more than she needs, isn't it normal human behaviour to just accept it?

But then again, she can't be termed as a normal human.

I just shrugged.

"Trust me, you need it." I tried to assure her, knowing how much my mother cared about my image in front of the stupid media.

"I don't." Came her reply within seconds, always ready to argue with me.

I scoffed.

"You've to accept this change of lifestyle Suha...na. It is what it is." I reasoned. She needed to change her way of thinking and living; she is a part of my family now, and as much as it looks good from the outside, it's terribly suffocating to be under the eyes of the country. Privacy isn't even a word in our dictionary.

"Give me some time" " she complained, her brows drawn together.

"I will, Mom won't," I said with a low tone, stating facts.

She said nothing further and took a throaty breath.

Strolling towards the bed, she settled herself on the left side, lifting her legs to rest them on the bed. She laid her head on the backrest and closed her eyes.

Such a casual way to ignore.

"That's my side" I felt competitive, I've never changed sides.

"Mine now" She kept her eyes closed and her voice authoritative.

I couldn't argue more. She lays the rules, like always.

"At least change your clothes," I suggested, she was seemingly uncomfortable with laying on the bed in that outfit.

No response at all.

I settled beside her, her body remained rigid, her eyes still closed.

Slept already?

"Comfortable?" I asked, trying to break the silence.

No response again.

"You're still wearing those clothes," I mentioned, hoping to lighten the mood.

"Just leave me alone." Her voice was icy and full of frustration. Jeez.

I knew better than to push. I knew what was bothering her; she just wasn't ready to discuss it.

"Fine," I said, turning away, my back to hers.

The distance between us felt like a chasm.

"You’ll sleep beside me?" she muttered, throwing the blanket over her shoulder, further emphasizing the divide.

I let out a slow breath, feeling the weight of her displeasure.

"It's my bed too," She nodded, her eyes still closed as she rested her head on the soft pillow.

We laid there, side by side, yet miles apart.

The silence hung heavy, a palpable reminder of our unspoken problems.

For now, the only sound was our synchronized breathing, a contrast to the turmoil brewing within.

She was never this unbothered about anyone.

I remember once in college when she didn't talk to me for days after I beat up a guy who was eve-teasing her. She has always been like this; she never likes seeing anyone in pain and providing pain to someone. Never. It wasn't in her nature, even if she was hurt. But right now, she was being different. She was more than hurt, and I wasn't able to understand her exact feelings.

In the whirlwind of my thoughts, I slowly drifted to sleep for a silent dreamless night.

Suhana's POV

No one understood how I felt, nor did anyone even try to. My mother denied my feelings, my father never asked about them and I've never been used to thinking about them. But in the back of my mind, I wanted stuff to change.

I always asked God what he saw in me, and he decided to overburden me with the worst-case scenarios someone could ever think of. I mean, I never thought that the person I decided to trust so much, despite my heart not letting me get attached to many, would betray me in the worst possible way. He was always more of a protective comfort shield for me, and marrying him would've been the worst decision if I had taken it. It wouldn't have ever been 'us' in the relationship. Rather, it would have only been him putting in the effort and me feeling guilty about not feeling anything for him. But then again, would he even be putting in effort?

A tear dropped on my pillow as I sniffed softly, trying to control the overwhelming feeling of something I couldn't even understand.

I felt hurt. I felt betrayed, mainly because I didn't expect him to lie to me this way. I felt stuck, with people I don't even know and don't even like. But I somehow felt used to the feeling, and that realisation was a lot to take in as well.

I was lying on an unknown bed, not getting the comfort of my father's hand caressing my hair, his soft voice telling me how much he loved me.

I was prepared for this because I knew I was getting married, but it wasn't as easy as it seemed.

As a girl, I knew a day like this would come. I'll have to leave the embrace of my father and go hand in hand with an unknown man. A man I wouldn't even know the actual identity of because that's how our culture works. I wasn't ever okay with it, especially after seeing girls in my college dating boys like it wasn't a very big deal. I felt different because all the guy friends I made were more like brothers to me. I'd accepted the fact that one day I'd be married off to be the slave of someone's house and satisfy the insatiable desires of a man who might just know lust and no love.

I felt a bit relieved that wasn't the case here, and I wouldn't prefer it either, but even my heart was too much to carry for me in this situation.

Another tear trickled down my right cheek and soon, I helplessly sobbed softly, trying not to wake up Jay. I needed my father so badly at this moment, only his arms could aid my feelings right now.

Suddenly, I felt my hair being pulled from the back. I bit my tongue wondering if I woke up Jay. That's the last thing that needed to happen. I couldn't have a conversation with him past midnight, about something I don't even know how to explain.

I hastily swiped away my tears and tilted my head back to see what was going on.

His right hand was carelessly lying on my hair, and he was sleeping in a rather weird posture. Though his body was turned to the right, his left hand was curled to his chest while he probably moved the other over my hair in sleep.

I took a deep sigh and quietly turned my posture to face him, now lying on my left side. I got hold of my hair and pulled it from under his heavy hand.

He took a shaky breath and slowly turned his body to the other side, making me gulp with anticipation. I just hoped he wasn't awake. He wasn't.

Suddenly, I felt something sharp poke the skin of my hand. I realised it was the ornament that hung from my kurti, frustration and a bit of laziness boiling inside me.

I stood up from the bed and got hold of my mobile. I started the flashlight and tiptoed towards the place where the suitcases were kept. I took the big yellow one and laid it on the ground, trying to make no noise. I unzilped it and took out a light blue kurti. It was completely plain without any embroidery work on it. I hurried to the washroom and came a few minutes later feeling much more comfortable. My eyes were already drooping and so, I strolled directly to the bed.

After confirming he was asleep, I closed my eyes and drifted off to slumber as well, another day awaiting adventures.

~~~
OKAYY- ik this is kind of a short chapter and I've not updated for so many days but life is a mess ✨️✨️

Also, updates will be more slow as I've my exams from tomorrow. I'll have my pre-boards from 12th December and pre-board 2 from mid-January and then the main examination in February so I won't be free till the middle of March 🤷‍♀️

I'm very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause ♡

~Esha