Your Imperfections

Chapter 8

A/N: Keep in mind that hand holding and stuff between them begins after they get married, because that is right, and touching before marriage is not allowed.

It’s the day of my marriage. The day I won’t be a single lady anymore. The day someone else would own me.

“If you continue to sweat like this, I doubt he’d want to even hug you, let alone do other stuff,” Maria, the traitor, mocked me as she grinned at me through the reflection.

Not to be narcissistic or anything, but I really liked how she turned me into a decent, elegant bride in two hours. I had successfully convinced my family that I was not gonna wear red clothes, so the dress Adian’s Mom sent me as a present is a pastel colour, hugging me in all the right places, with its end touching the ground in a graceful manner. My lips, however, are painted blood red, and honestly I really like it. There are hardly any occasions when I wear noticeable make-up. For the rest of my face, it is barely there, and I love my best friend for that since she knows exactly how I wanted to dress up for my Nikah

“You think marriage is just about that other stuff.”

She rearranged the dupatta on my head, and gave me a slight smack on the back. I hissed a little fake ow.

“Isn’t that why you are getting married at such a young age?”

“I AM EIGHTEEEEN!”

She immediately covers my mouth with her palm. “Dear Lord! Stop yelling! Your family would think I am murdering you.” Her eyes warned me a silent warning, a warning I always took for granted.

Is it just me, or did I actually see water glistening in her eyes?

“Maria?” I said softly.

She turned back, hiding her face from view. “Don’t. I am fine. No crying remember?”

Oh poor little girl!

“Hey, come here,” I called out, turning in my seat and spreading my arms for her, although her back was towards me. “Don’t keep a bride waiting, you fool.”

My heart almost froze when I saw the tears rolling out of her eyes. Her lips trembled, as she tried holding back a sob. When she hugged me, I felt the walls I had built around me crumbling to pieces, leaving me vulnerable, leaving me there naked for the world to see what a coward I was. Just then, I started crying too.

And the crying wasn’t some normal two girls crying. It wasn’t just a tear or two falling out. Rather, the right shoulder of mine on which Maria’s head was currently resting, was soaked with her tears.

“I will miss you so much once you are gone,” she mumbles, sniffing.

I place a hand on her head and inhale the sweet scent of her perfume that always reminds me of home. “I will miss you more than you can actually imagine.”

Is this how Bella felt when she walked down the aisle towards her Edward? Is this how her heart felt like it was gonna just explode out of her chest? Did her heart also just want to jump out of its chest and run a mile? Or do a happy dance?

I am officially married. I signed the papers, I was married and I was just so nervous—and now Maria is helping me downstairs to where my whole family and some of my close relatives are sitting.

Where Adian is sitting. And I have to—

Oh God.

I have to sit very close to him! Like literally very close!

“Aaleyah! Oh my Gosh! Look how he is staring at you!”

I wasn’t looking up, but now I did.

Our eyes met, and it was quite intense. I could finally see a man without caring about anything, without caring if it is right or wrong. This man standing in front of me is my husband. My man. A man if I wanted to touch right now, I could without feeling the fear.

Why isn’t he reaching me?

“She is all yours now, Mr. Adian,” Maria chirps, giving my arm a little squeeze. Planting a kiss on the side of my head, she pats my back and skips down the stairs.

Leaving both us alone.

He is just staring at me, his lips parted, his hands limp at his sides. Must I say, he is very attractive now that I have freely taken in his appearance.

“You look . . . nice.”

At least I had the courage to compliment him.

My husband.

I am smiling now, because he is my husband. It feels so nice to imagine something like that.

He blinks, rubbing his eyes. For a second I thought he might say something, but he does something that has my heart smashing harder across my ribcage. Closing the distance between us, he stands on a step lower to the one I am standing, and brings his hand up to my face. He pulls the dupatta a little to the front, never breaking our eye contact.

“There. Perfect. I don’t have to worry about all your cousins staring at you.”

I try to mask my amusement. “Mhmm? And what about all the girls out there? How would I protect you from their filthy gazes?”

He smirks, and I feel like the real Adian is back. “Don’t worry, wifey. They aren’t the ones who are going to be in my bedroom tonight.”

Uh. . .okay

I nervous chuckle, not daring to meet his eyes. “Aren’t you just so blunt?”

A hand. He offers me his hand. Such a simple thing to do, but why does my heart literally skip unnecessary beats?

“Oh why not? You are my wife, and I can do and say whatever I want to.”

I nod, and take his hand in mine, ignoring the stupid butterflies in my stomach.

 We walk down together, hand in hand towards the sea of people flooding the garden outside. As the door opens, a burst of light explodes my vision, and my eyes squint against it.

“What—“

“Spot light, just for the two of us,” Adian laughs at my horrified expression.

I remember telling him one time that I seriously hate grabbing attention. Of course I knew I would be the centre of attention today as it is my wedding, but a literal spot light on us was the last thing I had expected. And not just that, the rest of the lights had gone off meaning I couldn’t see anything other than the fear—

He might be here

He might be here

He might be here

“Aaleyah? Hey, you alright?” I felt Adian tighten his grip on my hand.

Was I swaying?

“Aaleyah, can you hear me?” His voice was muffled now, sounding somewhere far off in distance. Far, far away from me.

It didn’t take long for my legs to give up, for my knees to buckle. I felt like the ground would swallow me whole, but two strong arms wrapped around my waist, preventing me from falling straight on my face.

“Hey, baby, baby please say something.” My eyes were closed, but my brain was working and I felt the tension seeping into me.

I was having a panic attack.

How was I going to reply to him when I couldn’t even feel my tongue? When I couldn’t even open my eyes or smile to reassure him I was literally alright? This was the worst of attacks I’ve had in a very long time.

“NO! NOBODY DARE TOUCH HER!”

That was the last thing I heard my husband yell, before I was sucked out of consciousness.