Inaya sat beside Zain her head hung low her face pale as if drained of all life. Her gaze remained fixed on her lap refusing to meet anyone’s eyes. She looked fragile broken even and Malik’s heart ached at the sight of her.

How much pain could one person bear? He couldn’t understand how she endured it. Every moment he watched her suffer a piece of his own soul shattered. He clenched his fists desperately trying to hold himself together.

At that moment, an uncontrollable urge surged within him to take her away far from this suffocating reality. He wanted to pull her into his arms shield her from the pain and promise her that she was his just as he was hers.

But he couldn’t. Not now. The guests were leaving and the ceremony had come to an end. Only Zain’s parents and Malik remained in the room.

Inaya was unable to bear the suffocating atmosphere suddenly she rose from the couch and slipped out of the living room unnoticed.

No one paid attention, too engrossed in their conversations. No one, except Malik. His sharp gaze followed her as she disappeared into the garden.

He didn’t think twice before following her. He found her standing under the open sky her face tilted upwards as she stared at the stars.

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears but she wasn’t crying. The sight tore at his heart. He walked closer his steps cautious his emotions a storm raging within.

Without a word, he wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her into the safety of his embrace.

She froze for a moment, feeling the warmth of his chest against her back and the strength of his hands around her shoulders. Slowly, she turned her head her teary eyes meeting his.

"I’m here, Inaya" he whispered, his voice low and trembling. "If you want we can leave. We’ll go far away from all of this from everyone."

Her voice cracked as she responded, "I… I can’t run away like this, Malik. But I can’t live without you either." Her sobs broke the fragile silence, her pain echoing through the quiet night.

"I know" he whispered, his voice heavy with emotion. "But we have no other choice. I can’t see you like this anymore. Watching you with someone else is killing me, Inaya. My heart… it’s tearing apart."

"What should I do, Malik? I don’t know what to do." Her voice quivered with desperation as she looked up at him. "I just know that I can’t live my life with anyone else. I want to be with you. Only you."

"We’ll make it work, Inaya" he said, cupping her face in his hands. "We’ll run away. We’ll live the life we dreamed of together. Our house, our children… I’ll take care of you like a queen. I’ll give you all the happiness in the world. Please, Inaya. I can’t live without you."

Her heart twisted at his words, but her resolve crumbled as the weight of reality bore down on her. "I can’t, Malik. I can’t abandon my father like this. He raised me with so much love, gave me everything I ever needed. How can I betray him now? If you were in my place, would you do it?" Her voice broke, her pain evident in every word.

His forehead rested against hers as a tear slid down his cheek. "I’ll die without you Inaya" he whispered his voice thick with anguish.

Before she could respond, a loud, angry voice broke through the intimacy of their moment.

"So, these vulgar things are happening in my house now?" Rashid, her father, stood a few feet away, his voice filled with outrage.

Inaya and Malik parted abruptly, their faces pale with shock and fear.

"I didn’t expect this from you, Inaya" Rashid said as he strode toward them, his fury palpable.

"Uncle, please" Malik began, his voice desperate, "just give me one chance. I’ll prove to you how much I love her. I’ll make her happy, I swear."

"Get out of my house" Rashid roared, his words cutting through the night like a blade. "And you, Inaya, go to your room. Now!"

"Uncle, please listen-" Malik tried to plead, but Rashid silenced him with a glare.

"Leave her hand!" Rashid barked, his anger rising. "You’re tarnishing my daughter’s name with your filthy schemes. And for what? She’s getting married the day after tomorrow... Don't make her dirty. I don't even know what you both have done."

Inaya’s breath hitched, her heart shattering at her father’s words. How could he speak of her like this?

"Uncle, I haven’t done anything wrong" Malik said, his voice steady but laced with pain. "This is love. Please, just let me prove it. I’ll give her everything every happiness she deserves."

"That’s enough!" Rashid shouted, jerking Inaya’s hand out of Malik’s grasp. He raised his hand to strike her, but Malik caught his wrist mid-air, his eyes blazing with defiance.

"Don’t" Malik said firmly, his voice low but resolute.

Rashid’s fury erupted and he slapped Malik across the face with such force that it echoed in the silent garden. Inaya gasped tears streaming down her face as she looked at Malik.

Despite the sting of the slap Malik’s eyes remained soft as he gazed at her, a small reassuring smile playing on his lips.

Without another word, Malik turned and walked away, his figure disappearing into the night. Inaya’s knees buckled and she ran to her room her sobs muffled by the pillow she clutched tightly to her chest.

That night was an endless abyss of pain for both of them. Malik paced his room his mind racing to find a solution. Inaya lay in bed staring at the ceiling as her tears soaked the pillow beneath her.

When morning came, she mustered the strength to confront her father again her resolve unwavering. But the day only brought more heartbreak. Rashid refused to listen, his words cruel and final.

Inaya’s pleas fell on deaf ears, her father’s indifference crushing her spirit. As the evening approached, her hope dwindled, replaced by a hollow ache that consumed her. She returned to her room, the weight of her father’s rejection heavy on her heart.

She had fought for her love with every ounce of strength she had, but now she felt utterly defeated. As she curled up on her bed her thoughts drifted to Malik. Would he fight for her, too? Would he find a way to save them?

The night stretched on, cold and unforgiving, as the stars bore witness to their pain.

Morning came like a cold reminder of her helplessness, and as Inaya woke up her body felt heavy her movements sluggish  like a patient trying to recover from a grievous wound.

Her heart weighed down by despair she glanced at the clock and forced herself to sit up. She didn’t have the luxury of staying in bed and letting time slip away she had to try one last time.

Dragging herself to the bathroom she turned on the shower letting the cold water cascade over her. It did little to wash away the turmoil in her chest.

Her trembling hands clutched at the sink as she stared at her reflection in the mirror her pale face and puffy eyes staring back at her. She had to fight again no matter how exhausted she felt.

Once dressed, she left her room and made her way to her father’s quarters her fingers fidgeting nervously as she approached his door.

Fear gripped her chest what if he refused to listen again? What if he dismissed her the way he had the night before?

She took a deep breath and stepped inside her eyes scanning the room for him. But it was empty. Her father wasn’t there. Disappointed, she turned to leave when the maid informed her that he had gone out for marriage preparations.

Her heart sank further, but she nodded silently returning to her room. The hours that followed were torturous. She paced the floor her thoughts racing, her tears flowing freely whenever Malik’s face flashed before her eyes.

Her chest tightened painfully at the thought of never seeing him again, of being tied to someone else while her heart belonged to him.

When the evening arrived, her father’s voice echoed in the house and without wasting a moment, she ran to his room. Knocking hesitantly she entered and found him seated on the edge of the bed. His face was calm but his demeanor was cold and distant.

Inaya hesitated for a moment before lowering herself to the floor. She sat by his feet, her trembling hands resting on his knees. Looking up at him, her tear-streaked face held an expression of pure anguish.

"Please Dad" she began, her voice soft but desperate. "Please… I’ll never ask you for anything else. I promise, this will be the last thing I ever ask of you."

Her father’s expression didn’t change as he said firmly, "If you want to talk about this, leave."

Inaya shook her head, refusing to give up. "Please, please, Dad… I’ll die if I have to live without him. I can’t be happy without Malik. I love him so much… more than myself. Please, try to understand." Her voice cracked as tears streamed down her face.

"Inaya" he said sternly, standing up from the bed. "Your marriage is tomorrow. Think about yourself. Stop this nonsense and focus on your future."

"How can I think about myself when my soul is connected to him?" she cried, rising to her feet and following him across the room.

"Inaya, I don’t want to scold you" he said, his patience wearing thin. "But after what you’ve done, I don’t even want to see your face."

His words pierced her like a dagger. Her shoulders slumped as a sob escaped her lips. "Please… You’re my father. You’ve given me everything I’ve ever asked for. Just this one thing, Dad. Please… please." Her voice broke as she pleaded, her heart shattering into pieces.

"INAYA!" he bellowed, his voice shaking the walls. "GET OUT OF MY ROOM! AND DON’T SHOW ME YOUR FACE UNTIL YOUR MARRIAGE."

The force of his words made her flinch, but she didn’t move. She dropped to her knees, clutching at his legs like a child begging for comfort. Her cries were heart-wrenching, filled with despair.

"Don’t do this to me" she pleaded, her voice barely a whisper. "I can’t live without him, Dad. I’ll die… I swear I’ll die."

Her father remained unmoved, his face hard as stone. "Then die" he said coldly, his hands clasped behind his back as he refused to look at her.

The world around her seemed to crumble. Her father the man who had always been her protector, her guide was now the one inflicting the most pain. She stared up at him, disbelief and heartbreak etched across her face.

"Just meet him, Daddy" she begged, her voice hoarse from crying. "You’ll see how wonderful he is. You’ll like him, I promise. Just talk to him. Please, Daddy… please." Her grip on his legs tightened as though she could physically hold onto his love.

He sighed deeply, his gaze fixed on the wall ahead. "You have to marry Zain" he said firmly. "It’s my final decision. Your marriage is tomorrow. Don’t create any more scenes."

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she shook her head. "Please… please, Daddy. I’ll do anything. Just don’t make me marry someone else. I love him so-"

"Enough!" he interrupted, his eyes blazing with anger. "My decisions are final. If you can’t respect them, then don’t consider yourself my daughter."

His words were a death sentence to her spirit. He turned and walked out of the room, leaving her kneeling on the floor, her body trembling with sobs.

She couldn’t move, couldn’t think. Her mind replayed his words over and over each one cutting deeper than the last. Slowly, she dragged herself to her room her legs weak her chest aching.

Once inside, she collapsed onto her bed clutching her pillow tightly. The sobs that racked her body were silent but devastating. She felt as though the world had turned its back on her leaving her alone to drown in her pain.

Her tears soaked the pillow as the night crept in bringing with it an unbearable silence. She stared at the ceiling, her thoughts consumed by Malik.

She didn’t know what the future held but one thing was clear- life without him was not a life she wanted to live.

---

𝑽𝒐𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕. 
𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉💖