Two weeks into this marriage everything froze like the snow of the Atlanta. I reclaimed myself but sleeping alone on the leather bed wasn't a part of it.
I prayed, I pleaded, I spoke.
Enough was said and done.
The canopy of Sabr that protected me eventually returned.

After all when you have hours and hours to look out of a dark room,the sight of light seems brighter outside. I wanted to go outside.

I remember the Cruel Man's words, his conditions. His eyes, his breath, everything. Mr Elahim and his Eagle hand stick.

I curtailed my movements, I seldom saw anybody, nonetheless if anybody else was concerned.

The walls of Dar-Al-Maqamah became the same for me, the same they were a year back when I first came.

Dull, unappreciated, calloused.

My breakfast, my lunch,my dinner all was bought to the room. It was the courtesy to serve Lady Elahim.

Al-Souffian seldom came to me. It was when I would leave for water or for walk ,would he rest in his abode. For those moments, I would sit in the hallway or window till he would come out.

I knew the elder three work from home in the Library but these days they were avoiding the library.

I took a deep breath.

'I do' Al-Souffian's voice circles inside me.

He did not took a moment to agree into this relationship. How weird is this, that here the sons don't even blink their eyes before doing as said by their father, on the other are my brothers, who never took a responsibility.

I trudged myself in the garden, to live again was harder.

I saw Al-Wildan and Al-Shizad, they stared me. I stared them back.

Distance.

I took my tea and sat in the opposite chair.

They got engrossed in their paper and books.

Al-Wais after some hours joined but took no notice of me.

When he sat there and had me breaking my breaths in his existence. I left.

I met Al-Hassan on my way but he passed me like a ghost.

I pushed the door of Al-Souffian's room with all my anger.

He was inside.

He looked at me and cross smiled.

"Can you see me? " I asked in rage!

He did not answer. Removing his grey over coat and his leather hand gloves he rather cared less.

"Al-Souffian! " I crumpled.

"Lady! Ladyship, what? " his voice higher than mine.

"I am sorry" I said in the weak realization.

I sat and my head falls down in my hands. Why? What is happening?

"Al-Souffian... Where did you sleep? " I asked.

"Such an early bird, Ladyship " he taunted.

"I apologize "

"With brother"

I entangled myself.

"Al-Souffian, do you want to make this marriage work? "

I was sacred for his reply. He could be my only saviour.

"That is a Noble Idea. Do you want to make this work? " he asked.

I lightened.

"yes... "

He gripped my arm and slightly dragged me to the mirror.

In the borderless mirror my reflection with his, something in me shrunk. The repulsions of waves in my stomach. I sighed.

"I am the mirror, I will only reflect what comes in my way. If you would give me Love, I would reflect back Love. If you give me Hate, I would reflect back Hate. Now are giving me the neutral colors and I am the reflection of you"

My body shook to his words.

Indeed it was true.

"Al-Souffian, for the love of my Lord, I accept you as my husband. Do you accept me as your wife? "

"For the Love of Lord, my father, mine;I accept you as the Love of my life" he whispered in my ear.

I trembled under him. He is so tall and gallant. I am so small and cowardly.

I sighed. He walked out.

I was in a frenzy what if he claims me.
I could not ignore the physical aspect of the married life and it worried me.

If he touched me? What shall I do?

What he wants me?

With the triggers in my head I could not allow him.

I ventured out to ease.

I made the dinner. When I sat at the table with all of them present, it felt like we were going back. To the first day. To uneasiness and discomfort.

"The Ladyship has cooked the dinner" the servant informs Mr Elahim.

"Oh splendid! I cannot await my daughter in law's delicacies! " he exclaims.

He makes me angry, the jungle fire, the storm wind, the tearing Earth angry.

We finished our dinner, I was leaving when Al-Souffian caught my hand.

"Father hasn't asked anyone to leave yet" he whispered in my ear.

I sat hotly.

"So tomorrow Al-Souffian would leave for the City with her Ladyship. I have made all the arrangements. I hope you spend a good life. Dismiss" he announced.

It was his condition that I would leave with the man I marry forever.

But poor Al-Souffian is bearing the shock. He knows nothing.

When Mr Elahim leaves and my father goes to his room he bursts.

"Leave for the City? I suppose it would be for a week or so? Right brother? " he asks Al-Wais.

"I'm afraid it's for a longer time"he answered.

Two weeks two days, two weeks two days..... I heard his voice again.

"But I have never been to a City. I cannot live there, I... I do not know... I... I" Al-Souffian was pitiable.

"You will survive. Like everyone else will" Al-Wais speaks sadly.

"Lady Falaq-Naaz knows the City well" Al-Hassan said.

But Al-Souffian looked deeply disturbed.

I could tell the others saw the order coming. Al-Wildan was sad as well but composed.

Al-Souffian went to his room..

I stood outside knocking.

"Al-Souffian? "

He did not open.

"Al-Souffian? "

He did not open.

After a few moments he opened the door and raged.

"Leave me Alone! " he exclaimed in annoyance.

I walked away.

How will I live with Al-Souffian, nor do I understand him. Neither is he the kind of person who understands others.

In the garden I saw Al-Hassan sitting and Miss Rosalind leaving and waving him a goodbye.

I sat beside Al-Hassan when he vanished from the  gates.

"Are you still mad at me? " I asked in my broken voice.

"what? " the same 'wot'.

"I mean are you still angry at me? "
I cleared.

"I hope you have a good life Lady Elahim  but I cannot understand if I would want you to be happy... But again I would not want you to be sad" he spoke as I smiled at his words and shook my head.

"I saw with Miss Rosalind the other day, fleeing suspiciously from the back door;what were two doing in your room? "

"Is that the reason you did not choose me? " he asked.

"To be honest, it had slipped my mind. I was remembered it when I saw Miss Rosalind again. This was not the reason Al-Hassan, I had already told you"

"I wish this was the reason " he said and rose from his chair.

"Al-Hassan, please.... I am leaving tomorrow. God knows what would happen! "

"I am trying Ladyship but I cannot forgive you! Everytime my heart says Falaq-Naaz my mind reminds it Lady Falaq-Naaz....Lady Al-Souffian.... How can I not hate his name with you when I wanted this to me! "

"Leave! " I pushed the chair in anger.

Why is he doing this!  It is over! Everything is over!

When did he start to love me so much?
He is here putting out all of his heart to me and then there is Al-Wais, coward! I've never hated him but now I do!  I do!

I slept with my grandma cursing me out loud.
I woke up and found her still stuck on the mindless behavior.

I went outside.

When I came across the library I saw Al-Hassan and Al-Wais discussing me.

"but Falaq-Naaz is involved " Al-Hassan spoke.

"I know. Father haven't said anything in regards to the topic"Al-Wais's incandescent inconvenience.

"but somebody has to tell her Brother, we can't trust her alone"

I tapped the door.

"can anybody be brave enough to face me, what is it?  No what else!" I demanded an answer.

"Falaq-Naaz? " Mr Elahim's voice struck me like a cord. "The breakfast awaits "

We all gathered and ate. Al-Souffian did not join.

I sat at the Gazebo.

Soon after a Car was parked. Are we leaving so early?

Uncountable feelings ran through me. A lump choked my throat. I wanted to cry. I wanted to weep. I wanted die but I desperately lived.

I loved Dar-Al-Maqamah but I dejected it.

I saw all the faces.

My father whom I love so much that he does not understand, he subtly put his hands forward for me and I caught it immediately. My grandma was worried that I would spoil everything again. Fateh, my lovely Fateh; he wasn't glad I married Al-Souffian, he was mad at me. He loves Al-Hassan and so he twitched his little mouth, I kissed him.

Everything has changed. I could not accept the sight, my tears rolled out.

Al-Wildan came forward and embraced me. I cried in his arms.
Like A bride leaving her home.

Al-Shizad too joined the embrace.

I looked at Al-Hassan, was he so brittle to not forgive ever?

"Please forgive me" I pleaded my last words to him.

"I cannot" he said firmly.

I looked at Al-Wais, he wouldn't look at me.

He is to never look at you.

I sat and Al-Souffian grunted to the driver, something that my ability of hearing has lost.

I curled a foxglove into my purse and waved Dar-Al-Maqamah a Goodbye.