17- Nightmare

By each step Isra took towards the altar, her heart began to burst from her chest by uncontrollable agony inducing betrayal in her heart, woven to the aversion for Emraz which made her take Rayan's hand eternally knowing this is going to destroy both of their lives. I can't believe, of all people, him... They reached the altar and Rayan offered her his hand to take support but she didn't and got up herself. Curling his hands and moving away as she stood after wiping the tear present on her cheek, sniffing to not sob her heartache out in the form of tears. They both looked away and the priest cleared his throat and began to say, "Do you, Rayan Ahmed, take Isra Bukhari as your lawfully wedded wife?" "I do." His unflinching voice came, staring intensely at Isra who was looking down while biting her lips, holding the bouquet close to her chest, trying to control her racing heartbeats. "Do you, Isra Bukhari, Take Rayan Ahmed as your lawfully wedded husband?" Her heart clenched when he asked. With a final tear, she whispered with crushed dreams and heavy heart of pain and agony, "I do." "I pronounce you as the husband and the wife. Congratulations on your new start. May God bless you both with endless happiness. " He smiled, making a prayer for the new couple for their new start but they know it's going to be anything but beautiful. Isra kept looking down, her lips were quivering. She wanted to run away before her posture broke and everyone saw the raze building in her heart. Sighing they both turned to the crowd, where at a normal wedding people cheered, everyone was whispering and were flabbergasted at those who were unaffected by the whole ordeal. Isra looked away and gave the flowers to her brother who looked at her compassionately, feeling bad for his sister. They walked without holding hands and she said, looking away, "Cancel the reception ceremony. I want to go home." He stopped and turned to her, asking, "Are you sure?" Looking back at him, she asked in a dead tone, "What do you mean?" "My home is yours now." He told her the painful reality which drowned her in anguish, averting her gaze from his, she didn't know what to say now. "Do you still want to go?" He asked in a whisper, moving closer to her face so someone might not hear. "Do you think I have another option?" She retorted in a displeased tone. Closing her eyes, she breathed out, holding her dress, "I don't have enough strength to face anyone, just take me home... please." He nodded, "I see. Okay." He told his family about canceling the reception as they are going back home. Things were already messy and they didn't want to hurt Isra so they tentatively agreed to it. They went home, things were lively there, everyone was awaiting the bride but the blur of their moment, crumbled everything. Without exchanging much words walked to his room which is now going to be considered as 'their' room. The thought alone gave Isra immense shudders but upholding her facade, she looked away and walked inside with heart on the verge of leaping out from her chest by pain and broken dreams. I can't believe this... After all this time. She walked inside, hugging her side, trying to suppress the tears which were going to lead her toward a breakdown. Rayan noticed the vexation on her face and tried to assure her, he was about to touch her shoulder to turn her to him and give her the consolation which was going to have no effect. "Isra-'' The moment his hand made contact with her skin, she gasped, yanking his hand away. "Don't touch me!" She snarled. "Isra..." He called her, moving back, looking at her in pity. She looked down, relaxing her shoulder and the dupatta set on her stumbled falling down as tears pricked in her eyes. Suffering crystal on her face causing her to break into million pieces. Emraz broke her from inside. She began to cry, allowing her tears, ripping the jewelry and dupatta which served as shackles in her suffocated form, throwing it all on the bed. Please don't look at me like this. He thought painfully. Rayan only watched her crushing by the deception given to her right in the end, leaving her with nothing but misery. Weary at her own self, she continued, throwing things, emitting thunder sobs. "Isra, listen..." Rayan tried to come closer and help her but she moved back, gesturing with her hand to stop. "Don't... Don't come near me." She whispered, crying, allowing the tears to reach her darken core, sinking her in ravage. "Isra, Please...calm down.." He whispered, pitying her shattered form. The heaviness of her chest with imperfect relation which once became her eternal prayer, took her faith away on love and trust. He stole everything away from her. "How do you expect me to calm down what happened?! Everything is destroyed! Your Brother left me at the very end! How do you expect me to react after what happened huh?!" She yelled at him. Moving back, running her hand in her hair, still wailing. The porcelain doll one dies to espy when turned into a puppet of woe, was beyond their comprehension. Looking away, Rayan took a step back, telling her softly. "You... chose this." "I know! Because I cared about my Father's respect, your Brother shattered! He is a heart patient, do you have any idea how much it could affect his life?! I am sorry but I am not an insensitive bastard like him to disregard others for his own happiness!" She shouted. Pacing around and then sat down, covering her face, sobbing booming-ly, "How could he do this!? Was everything... a lie? Those words, those promises, those talks... If he planned to leave me in your hands then why did he initiate this bond in the first place?" She asked herself. They weren't. He thought.