17.2- Nightmare

Rayan could feel his heart cracking by seeing her in this condition but knows he can't do anything to relieve this pain. The scar left on her heart by him was cryptical. "Papa was willing to take all the disgrace upon him just to save me but do you have any idea what will happen to me? This toxic society would find faults in me! They will think I was wrong." She hissed, tears ruining her makeup and graceful form, the once fragrance of endearment converted into a deadly odor. "What else were we supposed to do? He just vanished, we had to do this..." He told her tenderly. Coming closer and giving her the tissue box while sitting on the farthest corner of the couch, looking at his hands devoid yet emanating compassion for her to find her this devastation. Her condition made his heart hurt, looking down, he couldn't help but ask sadly, "Do.. you regret marrying me..?" He was afraid of the answer but needed it. Her cries halted for a second, looking at him for a few seconds with a sting in her heart and then whispered. "No, it's not that Rayan..." She told him. Turning to look at him, swallowing hard and continuing in a croaked voice, "I am furious at your Brother for doing this.. I.. I.. Don't love you. Are you fine with it? Will you even want to spend your life with someone who doesn't love you?" She asked. Unaware whose name is written on his heart for longer he could remember. Trying to grasp the flicker of inscrutable emotions on his face, her blurry eyes looked at him, waiting for an answer. Letting out an empty smile, he looked up at her, "We can at least try. I will try my best, I will try to keep you happy." "I don't want to!" She snapped, clutching her lehenga firmly, losing her breath by the unaccountable hurting. His eyes widened in anguish for a second but then he narrowed his eyes, whispering, "Why...?" "Because every time I see your face it will remind me of this mournful day." She mumbled, looking down, losing her mind, falling into the dark abyss by each passing second. Was marrying me so destructive in your perspective? He thought sorrowfully and looked away, "I see..." "Why did he do this?! If he planned on running away then why did he play with my emotions?!" She burst again, releasing cries of chaos, covering her face again, at her presentation of hopelessness, Rayan only looked away, realizing his presence in only hurting her, "You should get changed." He told her and left her alone to cry her heart out by the position they were in. At night, Isra's heart turns void after constant wailing and cries which capture her heart in the domain of grief by his ruse. She was sitting on the ground, hugging her sides, changing into her normal clothes, glaring at the Henna on her hands. Soon Hoorain knocked and entered, sadly looking at the devastated form of Isra. "Isra Api..." She called her, coming closer. "Leave me alone, Hoorain." Isra said, closing her eyes but then Hoor's voice also came. "Isra..." "Hoor..." She looked at her, turning her face and asked in a broken tone, "Why?" "I am sorry. I am so sorry..." She bent on her knees, holding her hands. "Was it all a lie?" She asked, her voice lacking emotions but the pain in it was clear. "I don't know..." She shook her head, just held her hands, trying to ease her. "Thank you so much, Isra..." Hania said "I wish we could do something for you." "I just want to be alone..." Isra mumbled, pulling her hand away. The girls exchanged glances and decided it would be better if they left her. "Take care..." Hoorain said, Isra hummed, hiding her face once again. Later Isra was utterly terrified when the darkness fell upon the sky, enhancing her heart rate by each passing second. She held the hem of her shirt being alone in the room- his room at night, trembling. Almost gasping when Rayan entered who arched a brow at her but came closer, "Isra..." "Don't..." She said sternly, getting up, moving away from him. "What happened...?" Her panicked form cooled down for a second, she shook her head and sat on the couch. "No. Nothing..." "You should eat something..." "I am not hungry..." "Isra, you haven't eaten anything. You should eat something... please." he said gently. "I don't want to leave." She reasoned, hugging her sides. "I will bring something here." He smiled faintly and left to get something. "There you go." He said, putting the tray on the table. He sat on the bed, looking at her, "Aren't you eating?" She asked, taking a bite. "I have eaten." He lied with a faint smile. "Rayan..." His heart skipped a beat when she called him, "Hmm?" "Do you hate me?.. For entering your life as a liability?" She asked hesitantly. "Isra." His voice came out solid, staring intently at her, countless things to tell her but knew it's not the time. "You were never a liability to me." He told her, sharing his sincere intentions, his true feelings for her but she was not ready to accept it. "But, I entered your life without your will."She said nervously and this left a funny feeling in his mind but suppressing it, he instead smiled softly. "Everything happens for a reason." He got up and told her before going to the bathroom. "You eat up and sleep. Don't worry, I'll sleep on the couch." "No, it's okay. I can sleep on the couch." She said, shaking her head. He just said "Good Night." and left. After he left, Isra could feel the affliction of her mind, telling her this was just the beginning of her nightmare...