|Breakfast|

"Good morning, I am Sheza Kha-

"Sheza Saad Junaid Khan,"   ( I am feeling butterflies in my stomach, uwu)

The dark, feminine aura that surrounded Sheza's mother-in-law was palpable. It exuded an air of mystery and authority, casting a chilling and oppressive atmosphere in the kitchen. Her presence felt like an impending storm, with an unsettling coldness that sent shivers down Sheza's spine.

The calm, stoic expression on her face masked a hidden intensity, and her charcoal eyes held an unspoken threat that seemed to pierce through the very soul.

"Assalaamu 'Aleykum," her eyes momentarily diverted to the hoodie's paws and toes.

Her fingers traced the intricate patterns of the fabric, a subtle sign of distraction, perhaps. She circled the black glossy tile beneath her, lost in thought, a habit she couldn't help but fall into.

The quiet sound of her fingernails lightly brushing against the hoodie's surface was the only break in the silence.

"Hmm, "In the midst of that tense atmosphere, Sheza's mother-in-law broke her gaze, she let out the word and gestured the maids to go out from there and said a cold bone-chilling tone.

"Do not forget who you are; keep that in the small brain of yours, am I clear?"

Sheza's frequent nods were filled with a tangible sense of dread. Her anxiety was evident in the way her movements seemed almost mechanical as if she was trying to navigate a delicate and perilous situation, then she asked.

"What do I have to make for breakfast?"

"What do you usually make for breakfast at your house?" As she sipped her coffee, her intense gaze fixed firmly on Sheza, she finally spoke, her voice cutting through the silence like a sharp blade.

"I usually make Indian-style breakfast," she said, Maira, aka Mrs Junaid, nodded.

"Make what is 'your' favourite," cold smirk on her face, Sheza's mother-in-law placed her coffee mug on the table and gracefully rose from her seat. Her departure only added to the enigmatic atmosphere, leaving Sheza with a sense of unease and a multitude of unanswered questions. As she walked away, her departing figure seemed to embody an aura of mystery and power, leaving Sheza in the wake of her imposing presence.

Sheza stood there dumbfounded and began to make all her favourite dishes with less spice because, you know, Indians are known for their indigent and spiciness, and white people can't handle the spice that much (*smirk*).

Sheza's favourite food had been missing from her life for years. The memory of its taste and the longing for that familiar flavour must have been a constant ache, a reminder of the passage of time and the sacrifices she had made. The absence of something so cherished added another layer of melancholy to her already complex situation.

She gracefully missioned her work, with the copping of vegetables, flying aroma of oil and crackling of utensils heard in the kitchen.

[8:30 AM]

Maira entered the dining room and noticed Sheza meticulously arranging the dishes on the table. With precision, she placed the glasses, forks, knives, and spoons, creating an organized and inviting dining setup.

"So, you are done?" she appealed to her.

Sheza met Maira's gaze and offered a cute yet firm nod, silently expressing her appreciation for her understanding or assistance in setting the table, then Maira said in her cold voice.

"Go and see if he wants some help or not,"

Sheza looked at her in confusion and thought, why would he need my help?

Then she compiled her order and went upstairs with Wahaj following her from behind. She reached in front of the bedroom and softly knocked on the door, she stood there waiting for his response, but nothing came.

Wahaj was already standing a meter away from her, so she decided to go inside; she twisted the knob and peeked her head inside and saw no one; she frowned cutely and headed inside and saw him coming out from the closet, fixing his cuffs of the shirt sleeves.

Saad looked at her with a smirk and said a deep voice.

"Come here, darling,"

Sheza walked up to him and stood before him, her hands at her sides. With her big, Bambi-like eyes, she looked up at him, silently conveying her emotions and vulnerability through her gaze. Bending down to her eye level, he whispered in an intense, deep voice,

"Make my tie, darling."

Her body trembled with fear and dread as she slowly turned her gaze towards the bed. Her eyes locked onto the tie lying beside his coat, and she felt a chill run down her spine.

With a deep breath, she summoned the courage to approach the bed and carefully pick up the tie. She walked towards him, her heart racing, and stood in front of him, studying his face with a mix of apprehension and uncertainty.

There was a noticeable height difference between Sheza and Saad, making the simple task of putting on the tie quite challenging for her. Sheza's petite frame contrasted with Saad's taller stature. Her attempt to tiptoe and still falling short of reaching the tie showcased the humorous nature of the situation.

She pouted and gazed at him with her big, expressive eyes, her cuteness at that moment was undeniable. Her struggle and adorable expression added a touch of endearment to the situation.

"Shorty," he imitated her making her eyes widen and said.

"W-what did you say," she looked at him in disbelief.

Saad found it difficult to hold back a lively chuckle that was bubbling up inside him, eager to escape. The comical situation with Sheza and the tie had struck a chord, and he struggled to suppress his amusement.

"I said, you are short, little pigeon," he teased.

"Hey!! I am not short; it is just you are so tall and overgrown!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah, yeah," he rolled his eyes.

"Excuse me! I am 5'4.5, and it is not short; what is your height?" Sheza, with her hands on her waist in a sassy posture, squinting her bambi eyes cutely and glaring at him. Her petite stature and the slight tilt of her head

She doesn't like when someone makes fun of her height.

"I am 6'1," he phrased proudly.

Sheza pouted angrily and stood in front of him straight and measured her height, and her head reached to his chest and shoulders under his armpit.

"See, You reached till my chest, darling," he chuckled darkly and bent till her level, with his hand in the pants pocket.

Her cheeks turned red in embarrassment, and she quickly wrapped the tie around his neck and made the knot.

He stood straight when she was done; Sheza walked toward the bed and picked up the coat in her small hands and went toward him, and made him wear the coat.

With him fully prepared, they began their descent downstairs, with Wahaj following closely behind.
Soon, they reached the dining area and saw Maira and her father-in-law already sitting there, busy with their own business.

Saad cleared his throat, and they both looked at him. He sat on the chair, and she stood between him and her father-in-law, and she immediately greeted him.

"Assalaamu 'Aleykum," Junaid's cold, dark gaze bore into her, sending a shiver down her spine,  the entire family seemed intimidating to her. The atmosphere was filled with an unsettling aura, making her feel like an outsider in their world.

He nodded and then she asked.

"Um, s-should I serve the b-breakfast," Sheza glanced at the three of them and noticed Maira's gaze fixed on her. Maira's nod might have been a silent gesture of acceptance.

Sheza quickly served the meal and positioned herself beside Saad. The eerie silence that enveloped them all was oppressive, causing a growing sense of terror within her. It was a silence that spoke louder than words, laden with unspoken tensions and emotions, making the atmosphere almost suffocating for the girl standing between the Mafias.

[9:00 AM]

Everyone was done with their breakfast and we were wiping their faces with tissue. Sheza was standing awkwardly, not knowing what to say or do.

"What's your name," Finally, Junaid broke the silence with his words, and the timbre of his deep, foggy tone carried an unmistakable threat. Sheza visibly quivered under his menacing words, feeling the intensity more acutely.

"It's S-sheza, Sir," Sheza shuddered uncontrollably, her entire being trembling under the intense scrutiny of the entire family. Their collective gaze seemed to bore into her, and it felt as though the weight of their judgment and expectations was crushing her small, fragile frame. She felt incredibly vulnerable at that time.

Junaid fatalistically chuckled and looked at her while tilting his head maniacal, making her terrified and then said in a deep hideous voice.

"Sir, I thought you were our daughter-in-law, hmm"

In response to the intensity of the situation and Junaid's menacing tone, Sheza nodded in a frightened manner, a gesture of her fear and submission.

"Then, why 'sir'?" he knocked as he turned his gaze towards his wife, who was savouring her morning coffee with a serene yet dark expression on her face. He took a moment to observe her before turning to her and asking a question.

"What does she call you? Mai,"

"Nothing," Maira simply shrugged and continued with her work. She didn't seem too bothered by it, and there was a nonchalance in her demeanour.

"And you my dear son, what did she call you," With a wicked and menacing grin that made him appear almost like a psycho, Junaid questioned his son, intensifying the fear that had already gripped Sheza. The situation was becoming increasingly unsettling and challenging for her to endure.

Saad's fingers moved swiftly across the phone's screen, seemingly unaffected by his father's words. His tone was flat and uninterested as he spoke up, trying to put an end to his father's attempts to scare his little wife, who was trying to snuggle in his embrace by moving little-little toward him, of course, he noticed the tiny actions of her.

"Father, stop scaring her," he said, his gaze still fixed on the phone's display.

Junaid's dangerous gaze bore into her, his gaze tangible as he examined her from head to toe. He smirked at her trembling figure

"Looks like my son got a very fragile girl as his spouse," he lifted his hand in her direction, she recoiled in terror, her eyes squeezed shut in anticipation of the blow she feared was coming. Her heart raced with fear, and she held her breath, waiting for the impact that never arrived.

Contrastingly, Junaid's demeanour suddenly softened as he gently patted her head, which must have been a welcome relief for her.
"So religious daughter-in-law we got here, huh,"

His tone was now soft and deep, and his actions and words were laden with complexity, leaving Sheza even more bewildered in this moment of emotional whiplash.

-------------------•---------•---------•---------------•------•
Vote and comment🌸