18- Thank You

The next day when Rayan woke up, he saw Isra sleeping on the couch, her eyes were slightly puffy, it was visible she cried. He got out and stared at her face from afar, still trying to cope with the things, his heart warmed up, grateful of the fate which showed him this day. Well, among this chaos, you are mine at least. With a faint smile he got up and went to the bathroom. He freshened up and went to have breakfast, "Is Isra Api okay?" Hoorain asked. "She is not." He replied, "Rayan. I know this marriage happened suddenly but son please try to fulfill your obligations and give her time and affection." "I know, Papa. Don't worry." He smiled faintly. "And yeah, Hoorain, could please make Isra eat something when she wakes up?" Rayan asked. "Sure, Bhai." He smiled and after breakfast, went to get ready to leave for work. He entered the room and took a shower and walked out, wearing his white office shirt and trousers and saw Isra woke up. "Morning." He passed her a faint smile but the look of apprehension and distress on her face was very telling. "Rayan.." She called him, "Hmm?" "Can you drop me home?" She asked nervously. "Sure." He smiled. She smiled back feebly and got ready. "Did you have breakfast?" He asked when they walked out. She nodded, not looking at him. They sat in the car and left. He dropped her at home, "There you go..." "Aren't you... Going to come?" She asked timidly, tensing up to even go to her home on the very first day of her marriage. "No." He shook his hand. "I see." "I'll pick you up in a week. Bye." He said. She was about to leave but stopped and called him, "Rayan..." His heart thumped loudly but he only motioned her to continue, "Hmm?" "Thanks for understanding." She smiled faintly before leaving. "Bye." He said. "Bye." She left and Rayan couldn't help but to let out the insane smirk his heart was unable to control, surging the uncontrollable passion building in his heart but absolutely elated at the point where she became his, knowing his heart couldn't find support from the cruelty. Too vague. Isra went home, Aima hugged her and kissed her head, "Isra, My Love, are you okay?" "Yeah..." She smiled, pulling away. Her eyes told she was not, her tone lacking emotions told her was not but she said she was. "Did that Bastard's whereabouts-" She was about to ask but Isra cut her off, "Mama, please don't talk about him." "But, my love..." "Please... I just don't want his jinx." She said in a low depressed tone, pulling away and going inside. Zain was about to leave for his work but stopped and turned his attention to Isra, "You okay, Isra?" "Yeah... Somehow." She mumbled. "I am sure Rayan would take great care of you." He smiled, patting her head. "I know..." "Take care. Bye." He said, waving and leaving for work. "You too, bye." She waved back and went to her Father. "Papa..." "Ah, Isra. My love. I was so worried about you, Rayan didn't hurt you, did he?" He asked hastily, hugging her close to him. "Papa... You guys have known him for years, do you still don't trust him?" Amid everyone, he would never hurt 'me' I know that much. She asked, tilting her head in confusion. "It's not that. I am just tensed about you. How are you going to adjust?" He said worriedly, cupping her face. "I'll be fine." She reassured him, putting her hand over his as he kissed her forehead, "We'll pray." "I am going to stay for a few days." She told them, taking a seat, "Yeah, you should and think about your decision once again." Amir said, sitting beside her. "What is left to think, Papa?" She asked. "I don't want you to take any step emotionally, this your whole life we are talking about, think carefully." He explained to her once again but Isra only sighed, rubbing her temples, "Papa... I have already told you, no one would treat me better than Rayan." "Why are you so confident without even knowing?" He asked, not understanding why she was taking his side. Isra closed her eyes, remembering the countless moments he stood by her sides and said with an invisible smile, "I just know." At the Ahmed Household the whole family gathered and Rehman furiously yelled, "Does anyone have any idea where Emraz is?!" He shouted and everyone remained quiet, looking down while he continued, "How could he vanish just like this without talking to us?!" "Everything was going fine. Why did he do this at the very end?" Hoor said sadly. "I am sure he must have a reason, Mama..." Hoorain tried to defend Emraz but being the youngest, her words didn't matter. "Shut up, you know nothing. I can't believe Emraz turned out to be a betrayer like his mother-" Hania was about to taunt about his origin but Rehman who swore to never distinguish him between his biological children no matter what, was repulsed when Hania began to mock him because of his one mistake. "Hania!" He called her angrily, startling everyone, "You have mentioned it now but if any of you spoke about his legitimacy once again, I won't forgive you. He is my son, understand?!" He shouted. A tear pricked in Hania's eyes, she looked down and whispered, "Yes.... I am sorry.. I just.." "We will see when he will return." He said, looking away, "Where is Isra?" "I have dropped her at her home, it would be better if she stays there for some time." Rayan said. "Hmm.. You are right. We will make a proper apology and if Emraz returns, tell him to not show his face to anyone." He enunciated and left with his wife. When the kids were left alone Hoor spoke up, "I can't believe he did this." "Me too.." Hoorain hummed. "Do you have any idea what happened? You were at home." Hoor said. Rayan shrugged. "I don't." What else was he supposed to say? He was lost in his own depression. "How are you going to spend your life with Isra Api now?" Hoorain asked. "We will manage." "If you say so..." "I hope things work for you." Hoor smiled. They won't. He thought and smiled back, "Me too." ~*~ "We truly apologize for what happened, Amir." Rehman said. After a week, they went to Isra's place to take the bride home and initiate a new start. "Humph, as if we can change it." Amir scoffed. "Please, all of us and Rayan, we all wholeheartedly accept Isra please do the same. We have to do it if we want to work this out." Rehman said, trying to make him understand in a low yet convincing tone. "I know but how can I neglect the fact that my daughter feels nothing for your son!?" He shouted, slamming his hands down, almost growling. His statement shot a needle in Rayan's heart but he didn't show. "Papa..." Isra gasped feebly, pulling his sleeves to cool him down. He gazed at Isra who shook her head in denial to not speak about it further. Grumpily sitting back, he spoke up., "If Emraz comes, tell him to meet me alone once." Shocking everyone by his words, Isra called him, "Papa-" "I didn't doubt your decision, Did I? I just want to ask him why he does this." He said nonchalantly but his brow curled into a grimace, not even trying to show fake hospitality. "We're truly sorry." Rehman said, lowering his head, ashamed. "What can we do?... We have to move forward and give it a chance." He shrugged, knowing there's nothing he could do because when his daughter accepted it why would he become a hindrance then? "Thank you so much." Rehman's face lit up in jollity, relieved that finally he was given a chance to keep up the pride of his name and finally fulfill the duties formed in the first place but not with Emraz rather Rayan. He grinned, constantly showing gratitude to Amir as his gaze softened by their desperation to forge this relationship. "We all are here to bring our daughter-in-law home with all rituals." He said proudly, smiling. "Then Uncle, please let it be us alone, no one else." Zain interrupted, knowing how other's presence and rumors would make his sister uncomfortable. "I understand," Rehman agreed and took her home, finally after sorting the messy matters to an extent. After dinner the couple went to their room, since Isra is going to live with him for as long as she could, she began to set her clothes in the closet. Rayan entered, espying her from afar with a faint smile, putting his hand over his chest to feel the accelerated heartbeats accumulated around the fervent flickering obliviously in his eyes, ignorant to her. She couldn't see the magic surrounding him. Isra stopped and looked at him, arching a brow at him but soon shrugged him off and continued to do her work. He walked behind her, leaning on the wall, "Isra." "Yeah?" She asked, without looking at him. "I know you are sensitive about your clothes so I didn't let anyone touch them..." He said hesitantly, wanting to show the gift he bought for her but felt nervous to do so. "Thanks." Her reply came casually. "Um... Listen." She called her after a silence again. "Hmm...?" "It's for you... Uh, for you.. You know, as a first gift." He hesitantly showed, knowing she likes it but still felt timid. She stopped and turned to him, a stoic expression crept upon her face which made his heart skip a beat, "Since I have done nothing, You didn't have to do either." She sighed, putting her hand on her waist, not taking it from him. "At least one of us has to initiate things..." He smiled faintly, offering her the box. "And what if I can't? Wouldn't you get tired?" She asked, amused, He only smiled, "Why don't we try?" Her amusement faltered by his unwavering resoluteness. "Rayan." Stealing a glance, Isra told him the bitter reality, "I don't think I am ready to.. Even try..." His heart hurt right in her hands, engraving a beautiful injury adhered to his breaths. "It's okay." You never was anyways, Isra smiled at his consideration for the position they were stuck in and said sweetly before turning again. "Thank you."