My Unexpected Marriage

Chapter 2: My First Night In His House

The car ride to Zayan's house was the most silent ride of Inaya's life.

She sat in the back seat, her heavy red lehenga spread all around her. The driver was driving, Zayan was sitting in the front passenger seat. He was on a call, his voice low and angry, talking to someone about handling the previous groom's family. He didn't look back at Inaya even once.

Zayan's mother sat beside Inaya. She was a kind woman with a soft face. She held Inaya's cold, trembling hand in her warm hands.

"Don't worry, beta. We are almost home," she whispered.

Home. That word sounded so strange to Inaya. Just two hours ago, her home was her father's small house in Multan. Now, home was a place she had never seen before.

After twenty minutes, the car stopped in front of a huge white house. It was not a house, it was like a palace. Big iron gates, guards standing outside, and lights everywhere. This was Zayan Ahmed's house. The house everyone in the city talked about.

The guards opened the gate. The car went inside.

Inaya's heart started beating very fast. She wanted to run away, but where would she go? Her own barat had left her.

The car stopped. Zayan got out first. He opened the door for his mother, and then, after a second of hesitation, he opened the door for Inaya.

Inaya got out slowly. Her legs were shaking because of the heavy lehenga.

"Come, beta," his mother said and took her hand and led her inside.

Inside, the house was very quiet. No wedding music, no relatives, no noise. Just soft, warm lights and expensive furniture. It was beautiful, but it was cold. It didn't feel like a house where a wedding had just happened.

"This is your room," Zayan's mother said, opening a big wooden door on the first floor.

Inaya walked in. It was a huge master bedroom. A king-size bed was in the center, with red rose petals scattered on it. Someone had tried to decorate it quickly for a wedding night, but it looked empty. There were two big windows with white curtains, a big cupboard, and a bathroom.

"Beta, I know you must be very tired and uncomfortable in this lehenga. I have kept a simple pink cotton suit in the bathroom for you. It's new. Please go and change. You will feel better," his mother said lovingly.

Inaya nodded, tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Mama."

His mother smiled, "Mama. Yes, call me Mama. You go and change, I will bring something for you to eat. You haven't eaten anything since morning."

She left the room and closed the door.

For the first time in the last 12 hours, Inaya was completely alone. The silence of the room hit her. She finally broke down. She sat on the floor, her back against the bed, and cried silently. She didn't want anyone to hear her. Her mehndi was getting wet with her tears.

She cried for her father, who was so helpless. She cried for her mother. And she cried for herself. What would happen to her now?

After about 15 minutes, she wiped her tears. She had to be strong. She stood up and went to the big, beautiful bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her kajal was smudged, her lipstick was faded. She looked tired and scared.

She removed her heavy jewelry, one by one. The necklace, the earrings, the tikka. Then she removed the heavy red lehenga. The moment she removed it, she felt like she could finally breathe. She wore the simple, soft pink suit that Zayan's mother had kept. It was light and comfortable.

She washed her face and came out of the bathroom.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door.

"Inaya beta? Are you okay? It's me, Mama," Zayan's mother said from outside.

"Yes, Mama, come in," Inaya said.

His mother came in with a tray. There was a glass of warm milk, some biscuits, and a sandwich.

"Eat something, beta. You need energy," she said, keeping the tray on the table.

Inaya sat on the edge of the bed and drank the warm milk. It was sweet and comforting.

His mother sat beside her. "Zayan is a good boy, Inaya. I know this marriage happened suddenly, but he is not like other rich boys. He respects women. He did this only because he respects your father. Your father taught his younger brother for free when we had nothing."

Then she stood up. "You rest now. Zayan will not sleep in this room tonight. He will sleep in his office, which is the room next to this one. You can lock this door from inside. No one will disturb you. I am in the room opposite to yours. If you need anything, just call me."

"Thank you so much, Mama," Inaya whispered.

Just then, Zayan appeared at the door. He had changed too. He was now wearing a simple white kurta pajama. He looked less like a businessman and more like a normal young man. He stood outside the door, he didn't enter.

"Mama, is she okay?" he asked his mother.

"Yes, beta, she is better now," his mother said.

Zayan looked at Inaya for a second. She was looking so small and innocent in the big room.

"Inaya," he said softly, "this room is yours from today. My mother is right, I will sleep in the next room. You can lock the door. This is your space. I will never enter without your permission. If you need water, food, anything, just knock on the wall. I will be awake."

He paused and then added, "And please don't be scared of me. I know I am a stranger right now, but I promise I will never force you for anything. Take your time."

Inaya just nodded. She couldn't speak.

"Good night, Inaya," he said.

"Good night," she whispered back.

He then quietly left and closed the door softly.

His mother also said, "Lock the door, beta, and sleep," and left.

Inaya stood up and locked the door from inside. Click. That click sound gave her a little sense of safety.

She looked at the big bed decorated with roses. She was too scared to sleep in the middle. So she took one pillow and a blanket and lay down on the far corner of the bed.

She thought about her father, her mother, and about Zayan - the stranger who had become her husband to save her family's honor. She didn't know if this marriage was right or wrong, but for the first time that whole day, she felt a little safe.

Outside the room, Zayan told his tall guard in a firm, low voice, "No one will go near this room tonight. No one will disturb her. Let her sleep peacefully. Tomorrow is a new day."

And inside the room, Inaya finally closed her eyes, still in her simple pink suit, with her dark mehndi on her hands.

The day was very long and painful, but the night, for the first time, was peaceful.