My Unexpected Marriage

chapter 5: My First Day In The Khan Family

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Inaya woke up at 6 AM. She was not in her father's small house anymore. She was in a mansion, in a king-size bed, alone.

Zayan had already left for office. On the pillow, there was a small note and a card.

The note said: "Good morning, Inaya. Buy something nice for yourself today if you want. I will be home for lunch at 12 PM. - Z.K."

Inaya folded the note. She missed her father's small house, where the door was always open and the morning had the sound of chai.

She took her old clothes and wanted to see the house. She tried to open the main door.

Two guards were standing there respectfully. "Good morning, Madam. Sir said to tell you, if you want to go out, please tell us, we will arrange the car for you. The market is far."

"Oh, okay," Inaya said softly. "I just wanted some fresh air."

"Of course, Madam," one guard said politely. "The garden is this side, it has fresh air. Sir said you like plants."

Inaya understood. Zayan had not made the house a jail, he had made it secure because the Khan family house was always in the news.

She went back to the room. Her phone was still broken from yesterday. She had no one to call. She sat on the floor near the window, in the same dress, eyes red.

At 12 PM, Zayan came home for lunch. He saw her sitting on the floor.

He did not shout. He sat next to her on the floor, which shocked her. The man who wore 2-lakh suits was sitting on the floor with her.

"You didn't eat?" he asked gently.

"I was not feeling hungry," Inaya said.

He called the maid respectfully, "Please bring food here, we will eat here."

The maid brought biryani. Zayan placed the plate between them.

"Will you eat a little? You didn't eat in the morning," he said. "If you like, you can eat yourself, I just want to make sure you ate."

Inaya looked at his eyes. They were not cold now, they were worried.

With hesitant hands, she ate. It was the first time in this big house someone was eating with her on the floor, like at her father's house.

Zayan smiled, for the second time in his life. "Thank you for eating. I was worried."

Inaya thought, maybe her cousin who everyone called strict, also had a kind heart.

That evening, Zayan took her to the mall in his car. He did not force her. He said, "Inaya, if you want, we can buy some new dresses. You are Mrs. Zayan Khan now, but you can choose whatever you like. Your choice."

He showed her 20 dresses, all expensive brands, but he said, "From tomorrow you can wear whatever you feel comfortable in. These are just options, not a rule. You are still Inaya."

Inaya looked at the dresses, but she didn't smile. She kept looking at the window, wanting to see the outside world, the normal life.

Zayan noticed her eyes. He did not take her to a 5-star hotel for dinner. He stopped the car near a small chai dhaba.

"Come," he said softly, "let's have chai here if you are comfortable."

They sat on small plastic chairs. People were looking at them, because Zayan was in a formal suit, sitting at a 20-rupees chai dhaba.

"Why here?" Inaya asked, surprised.

"Because when you were 10 years old, you once said you love dhaba chai more than 5-star coffee. You said, 'Zayan bhai, one day you will bring me here.' I remembered," Zayan said.

Inaya's eyes filled with tears. He remembered a 10-year-old talk from 8 years ago. No one had ever remembered her small talks.

She drank the chai, and for the first time after marriage, she smiled a little. A real, small smile.

Zayan saw her smile and his heart felt light. He did not hold her hand without asking. He just said respectfully, "See, I can try to be a good husband if you let me. I remember your small wishes. I know I am not good at showing love slowly, I get worried and possessive sometimes, but I am learning. And I only care for you."

Inaya did not feel scared. She felt heard.

At night, back in the mansion, Zayan again left a note on the pillow, but this time a different note.

It said: "Today you smiled for 2 seconds at the dhaba. Those 2 seconds were the best 2 seconds of my life. Sleep well, Mrs. Khan. Good night."

Inaya read the note and for the first time, she did not tear it. She kept it under her pillow.

And for the first time in the Khan mansion, she slept peacefully.

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At night, her mind kept repeating Zayan's words. Two seconds. Only two seconds of smile, but for him it was everything. For the first time, Inaya felt that this big mansion was not a jail. The guards, the silence, the big house - everything felt a little less scary. She touched the note under her pillow. It was small, but it had something her father's house had. Care. And for the first time in many days, she was not feeling alone. She was feeling seen

The next morning, the sunlight felt different. It was not just light from the window, it was hope. Inaya opened her eyes and the note was still there. She did not know what the future would bring in this big house, but for the first time she was not afraid of it. Because someone remembered her 10-year-old words. Someone waited for her 2-second smile. And that someone was her husband.

She closed her eyes again, holding the small note tightly, and whispered thank you to the night for giving her a new beginning.Outside, the city lights were glowing. Inside the big mansion, a small girl finally felt safe. The note was still under her pillow, and her heart was finally at peace.