Noor's pov

I was so scared of how his parents would react. But they are so nice to me. They were nothing like what I expected.

No screaming, no yelling. They accept us, and that filled me with more guilt.

I'm deceiving them. I will hate myself for that.

I'm sitting on a big, king-sized bed in Veer's room. His mother left me here.

She said before leaving, "I never wanted to welcome my daughter-in-law like this, but what's done is done and can't be changed. Noor, this is your room and your house now." She said and caressed my head, "Your family might be angry now, but they will never be for long. Everyone knows how much your brother loves you. He will forgive you."

"And I hurt him in the worst possible way." I replied and broke down, crying.

She hugged me and said, "Shushhh. Don't cry. Sometimes love forces us to do many unspeakable things, but time will heal everything. Just have faith in Allah." She wiped my tears, and I nodded. She kissed my forehead lovingly and said, "Take some rest." She said that and left.

Now I'm sitting here dumbfounded. I have no idea what to do with my life anymore. What'm I doing? I have no idea.

Why is it so hard? Why isn't it happy like those cheesy fairytales? Why do I have to cause so much pain to Bhaijan?

Thinking of all this, tears started flowing from my eyes when the door opened and Veer came inside.

I quickly wipe my eyes.

"Why are you crying now? Did Maa say anything?" He asks, and I shake my head in no. "Good. By the way, my mama will never say anything to you. She is the most kindhearted person I know in my life. She will accept you like her own daughter." He said this and headed towards the other door in the room.

"But this is wrong. Everything is wrong. We are betraying her....."

"Don't Noor." He cut me off instantly: "Don't you ever dare say this word. We are legally married. You are my legit wife. Just keep this in mind and go along with it. No one ever knows about whatever we have agreed on. Got it." He said it sternly, and I nodded.

He stormed out of the room, leaving me alone in his huge room. The wedding day is supposed to be the happiest day of a girl's life, but mine is the worst day of my life ever. I lost my everything.

I don't know how long I have been thinking and cursing myself when there is a knock on the door.

Drying my teary face, I opened it. It's Veer's mother.

"Disturb too, nhi kiya na? (Hope I didn't disturb you?)" She asks, and I shake my head in no. "Good. Then let's go downstairs. A designer is on her way........"

"Why?" I ask, cutting her off.

"Well, Pratap and I planned a reception for you two. So you must need a dress for that."

"There is no need for that."

"Shush! You two married secretly. At least I have that much right to introduce my bahu (daughter-in-law) to everyone and to your family. Me and Pratap will go to talk to your brother." She said that and dragged me downstairs.

But the moment I stepped down, news on TV took my last breath of hope.

"I Shahzaib Alam shah. Here, I want to inform everyone that I'm cutting all ties and relations with Noor Veer Singh Randhawa."

Hearing his words, I collapsed, completely broken. I'm feeling like someone stabbed me in the heart. I'm not able to breathe. There is nothing to live for or hold on to. Tears are falling nonstop from my eyes, like Niagara Falls.

"Noor!!!." His mother held me. "PRATAP SHUT THIS DAMN TV." She yelled at her husband.

"Noor bache." He ran toward me.

All I could do was cry. I'm crying over my fate.

"What happen?" Veer asks, coming inside the hall.

His mother stood up and took long steps towards him. Before he could register anything, his mother slapped him.

Thadak.

I gasped. Even his father is shocked.

The blow was so hard that Veer's face turned to the other side.

"WHAT HAPPEN? HUH?" She shakes him badly, holding his shoulders, and Veer is dumbfounded. What just happened?
"You should have told us. But nhi shabzade ko Har waqt apni chlani hai. Dekh teri vjha se iss ldki ne apna sab kuch gwa diya or tu puch rha hai kya hua. (But no prince always does what pleases him. Look, because of you, this girl lost everything, and you are asking what happened.)" She said while tuening on the TV. "Veer love is important, but not at this cost." She yelled at him.

"Ira, stop it." His father went to them and held her.

"Pratap, are you still taking his side?" She ask.

"No, I'm not taking anyone's side, but look at that girl, Ira." He said that, and Veer stormed out of the house.

"Noor bache, get up," she says. "Stop crying, or you will make yourself sick." She said it lovingly and hugged me.

"Bhaijan..." I sobbed.

"Noor, don't cry, bache." His father patted my head. "Me and Ira will go and talk to Shahzaib."

"No please. Don't uncle." I denied it instantly. "Bhaijan is so angry. He will do something impulsive. Please don't go. I'm begging you. It's not the time. Please." I pleaded.

"OK. Fine. We won't go." His mother consoled me. "Let's go upstairs." She said, Make me stand on my feet. "Pratap cancels the reception. I don't want my bahu to become a hot topic for gossip." She said this before taking me upstairs.

"Noor, go and freshen up. Wash your face and stop crying." She said, leaving me in the washroom.

I looked at my reflection. Tear stains are imprinted. The eyes are red and swollen. Hands trembling.

"I'm sorry, Bhaijan, Ammi. I'm so sorry." I whispered, washed my face with trembling hands, and came out.

Ira Aunty is already waiting for me with a towel in her hand. She gave it to me, and I dried my face.

"Come, let's eat something." She said this, dragging me towards the couch.

"No, I'm not hungry."

"Shush... I'm not listening to anything. Come sit." She made me sit on the couch.

"Nhi Aunty, please..."

"Aunty?" She cut me off. "Aunty? No Aunty. Now I'm your mother as well, just like I'm Veer's. Call me Maa,Ammi, mom, mummy ya fir Sasu Maa (or  mother-in-law)." She said, smiling, "Choice is yours," and I returned her a half smile. "Anything will be fine." She assured me and put a bite in my mouth. Defeatedly, I eat.

After feeding me a whole plate full of food, she left me to take some rest.

And I don't know when sleep consumed me while sitting on that couch.