24- Hardest Thing

On the weekend, they were going to meet Isra's parents. She was going home for the first time after marriage so she wanted to look pretty but couldn't help it when her heart was not interested in anything. Wearing her usual long frock with matching tights and wedges she walked out with an unaffected expression, coming to the lounge where Rayan smiled a little at her but she showed no emotions, asking coldly, "What?" Contemplating her form with a faint smile he said, "Nothing... just flats suits more than wedges." And as expected, Isra always disregarded his advice so she sighed and said, "Let's go." He nodded as they left. They went to Bukhari Household where everyone awaited their new couple who forged an unexpected bond and now the only choice they had was to comply with the vows taken without will or honesty. Isra entered as a smile adorned her face. Delighted, she greeted her family sweetly, hugging everyone. "Ah, Isra. How are you, my love?" Aima asked, kissing her forehead, "I am fine. How are you guys?" Isra only smiled, indulging in the moment calling it a reprieve from the virulent turns of events. "Now we have seen you, we are great." Aima said, their faces glowed after seeing Isra. "Hello," Rayan also greeted everyone. "Hey." After meeting they all settled down, talking and spending a nice time together, Isra went with her Father to the Garden. They were walking merrily but Isra had some tension which she needed to take out, "Did you... meet him, Papa?" She asked. "Hmm..." "What did you talk about?" She asked, stopping and turning to him, intrigued to know what happened because she could never forgive him. "We can't change what's happening so it would be better if we accept fate and move on." He advised, making her gasp, "How can you forgive him so easily?" "Who says about forgiving? I am just telling you to move on and start your life." He shrugged, telling her softly, trying to convince her. "It might be a few months but I can't be jejune, that man outside known as my husband is my ex fiancé's brother. It is not possible for me to forget things easily." She burst exasperatedly, her lips began to quiver. "It was your commitment." Amir told her the bitter truth. That's what I regret. "I know. That's why, just give me some time to wrap my mind around things." To her unnerving condition, Amir sighed and nodded, walking with her as a silence came for a while, "Isra... can I ask you something?" Amir began to say, "What is it?" "Did something happen between you and Emraz..?" Isra made a wry face, not believing his words, her posture was about to break, "Papa-" But, before she could speak anything, Rayan came, "Isra." "Huh?" Breaking her rhythm of fury, she felt quite startled and turned to him, "Lunch is ready..." He trailed off, wondering what happened to her. "I see. We are coming." Amir said, patting her back as they both went back. They were having Lunch silently but Amir spoke up, "Rayan." "Yes?" "After hearing Isra and Zain about your gallantry, I have great expectations you will take great care of my daughter unlike your brother." He told him sternly. Rayan was taken aback, not believing Isra actually praised him because to him, Isra had cut all her emotional contacts with him long ago. Isra...? "I can assure you of it." Rayan smiled. "hmm.." After Lunch they stayed for a while longer and left. On their way home, Rayan couldn't help but to smile to himself, thinking She actually praised him or did anything like this. He was exhilarated. "Isra.." "Hmm?" "Thank you, for unknowingly praising me." He said sincerely, turning to look at her with a wide smile. "I just spoke the truth." She muttered, looking out of the window without any emotion. "Does it mean anything to you?" "What If I say it doesn't?" She mocked, smirking emptily to which he grinned, "It means a lot to me. Thank you." "Hmph." "Do you want to have dinner outside?" He offered. "No. Just take me home." "If you say so." He shrugged as they went home after meeting Isra's parents. ~*~ Later at work, Isra was working as Rayan came and asked, "How's the anniversary preparation going?" "Great, Sir." She smiled, motioning Jasmine to go and get her something. "I see. Tomorrow I want you to show me the final idea, okay?" "Yes, Sir." She nodded, turning to him. "I'll go and check up on things, you continue your work." "Okay." He was about to leave but stopped and turned to her, "Um.. If you don't mind, would you like to have lunch with me?" Removing her hairs from behind, Isra nodded, "Sure." "Thanks." After working, Isra was a bit late as usual and saw Rayan was waiting for her. She walked and apologized for being late but he only replied, "Thanks for having Lunch with me." "It's not a big deal." "It is, to me." They sat down to have dinner, it was the first time they were seen together as a couple at work but ignoring everything, Rayan only wallowed in her company right near his heart, smiling at her. Unwillingly, he began to say and deeply hoped it wouldn't ruin her mood, "Uh Isra.. You know about the anniversary.." "What about it?" She asked, eating. "You haven't received the guest list yet?" Knowing his whole family- including Emraz is going to come there. "I did." She sighed, putting her knife down. "So.. You know my family." "Rayan. I cannot steal you from your family, just don't expect anything from me." She told him with a straight face and a short-lived flame burned in his heart but was crushed immediately, "I see." Putting her fork and knife down, Isra leaned back, closing her arms at her chest, laughing a little scornfully, "What a worthless bond-" Her words were the extent he could bear as a jeer, "Isra. You have said it today but don't call it this ever again." He told her assertively. Her amusement faltered, asking, "Does this bind.. Mean that much to you?" "It's my world now, Isra." He said sincerely, staring intensely at her. She looked at him for a few seconds, her heart skipped a beat as if a locked room had been opened and not wanting to explore it, she got up, leaving hurriedly, "I.. Had to leave." Rayan grit his teeth after she left, he saw her leave, the heartbreak building inside him for once wanting to know answers to the painful truth away from him. Of the agony engraved to his core and the more he tried to detangle, the more he pushed himself in the abyss. Furiously getting up he walked to her, knowing she always went to the rooftop when tensed. She was looking out, hugging her sides with a tear in the corner of her eyes. He walked up to her and grabbed her arms, turning her to him, pressing her against the wall slightly and removing his hand, putting it on the wall, startling her by his action but without caring, his hissed, "Why do you do this to me?" "W-What are you talking about?" She asked hesitantly. "You love it, don't you?" He snarled, closing distance between them. "R-Rayan.." She looked away with her face turning scarlet by the proximity. "You love tormenting me, don't you? Is my pain pleasurable to you that you always use me as a punching bag to take out your inner abomination, huh?" He growled, losing his patience but the fury didn't last long after noticing her startle. His rage vanished when he nuzzled his face closer, closing his eyes, whispering sadly, breathlessly, "Isra.... Please..." Her eyes teared up hearing this tone, but biting her lips, she looked away. Holding her dress, shivering by the vicinity he treasures and avoids, "I beg you... please..." His voice went lower, softer and broken. "Wha.. What happened-" "Why do you push me away?" He finally asked, looking up at her intently, linking his eyes with her glistening with in-depth emotions of anguish. "R-Rayan.. Leave me.." She said, trying to push him away by pressing his chest but instead his loud painful heartbeats knocked on her palm. Did I... break you that much...? She thought as a tear rolled down her cheek. "Why such distance with me before and now...?" He asked, on the verge of crying, putting his other hand on the wall as well, she was utterly imprisoned in his arms and closeness. Looking back at him, her reply came, "Before...? Before because I hated everything which brings me close to you." It wasn't a new thing. He knew it. She hated it. He loved it. "And why now..? What have I ever done to deserve such agony? It was a long time ago, why do you keep punishing me?" He asked, moving down as his breath lingered over her ears, making her shiver and clutching his shirt tightly, "I left your path long ago then why are you doing this to me?" He asked, a few tears fell on her neck, his lips were quivering, he could cry anytime. "You know." She mumbled, breaking his heart into limitless pieces. "You promised to forget it-" Gulping hard, she pulled apart, not wanting to melt into his suffering more, "Well, I couldn't. Now, move out of my way." She was about to leave but he held her wrist for the final time, "Meaning you will never give me a chance for something which happened years ago?" She stopped when he let go of her and turned to him, shaking her head in denial as a final tear rolled down their cheek simultaneously, taking the last piece of his soul with her heavy steps. She wanted to but giving him a chance to arouse a memorable relationship was the hardest thing.