The next day arrived soon, hens began to make weird noises from the backyard. And birds chirped happily. A scenario that is tough to witness in populated cities these days. Sun was to rise in a few minutes.

Haya lazily woke up to the sight of her husband Abrar Shah offering his morning prayer with so much dedication, which was rather very surprising. For a second she was confused about her surroundings and the happenings of the last few days flashed in front of her eyes, reminding her of how her life has been changed drastically.

She continued to gaze at her husband. The word felt so alien to her. Abrar looked like a completely different person while praying compared to how rude he was yesterday. It was as though he was double-faced.

Ignoring him, Haya then looked at the wall clock and sighed softly as she still got time for offering her prayer as well. She made her way to the bathroom and did her ablution, when she came back Abrar was nowhere to be seen. Not like she cared. But his prayer mat was still there on the sofa beside, so she decided to steal it for some time and laid it in the same place where he prayed some time ago.

Haya Ali's life has always been unpredictable. She knows what loss really means, for she lost both her parents in a car crash when she was just eleven years old. She knows how selfish the world can be, for she has an uncle and aunt, who took her in only because her parents were filthy rich and all their money was in her name. She knows what it feels to be like an unwanted person, for she was that very unwanted girl for over a decade now.

But that never stopped Haya from smiling or being kind to others. She bounced back stronger every single time.

As she finished offering her salah, Haya opened her hands for making dua. She prayed for the strength and support of her lord, for she's about to venture on a new journey as a wife and daughter in law, from today on. How much ever forced this marriage was, she truly valued it. She valued the whole concept of nikkah and believed in its power.

At the same moment, Abrar walked back into his room and was dumbstruck for a while.
He even forgot for what purpose he came back to the room. His eyes were still not able to erase the sight of how peaceful and calm she looked while she prayed with her eyes closed and hands raised up making duas. Damn, she was beautiful.

Haya gave him a funny look, as she folded the prayer mat and placed it in its previous place.

"You want something from me?" She finally asked him, as she observed him gazing at her for longer than a minute.

Abrar who was taken aback was thinking of the excuses he could give, but as soon as he realized the state of condition his bedroom was in, he came back to his angry self, "you did not clear this mess."

"Oh, I was exhausted yesterday. I'll do it now." Haya surprisingly was in a cool mood now. Morning prayers did that magic.

"Do it now. I hate my room like this." Abrar stated as he opened his dresser and took out a cool shade. Her eyes lingered on his shades and then she frowned.

"Stop bossing me around. I'm not your servant but your wife. You ought to respect me." Haya snapped at him as she began to pick the gift wrappers. There were so many.

"I'm cleaning this only because I've caused the mess. Not because you're telling me to." Haya mumbled a little frustratingly as she put on the spreadsheet neatly back on the bed.

"Yeah, whatever. Clean it fast." Abrar answered back distractedly as he wore his shades and was about to leave but stopped when something else struck his mind.

"And don't get out of this room looking like that. Come down only when you're dressed nicely as a girl." Abrar glanced at her pyjamas and loose T-shirt disgustingly as he muttered those words.

"I know how to conduct myself, Abrar Shah. Stop trying to become my teacher." Haya snapped, being slightly offended. There was nothing wrong with her dress. Gone was her calm mood.

He gave her a pointed look and left the room without another word. Haya frowned at his disappearing figure and goes back to clear the mess that she has created. Her annoyance drifted off somewhere as she had something else to concentrate on.

It took her an hour to clear the entire mess. She has also arranged her clothes into his closet which surprisingly had enough space for her. She also set the dressing table with her stuff and smiled proudly when she was done.

A tired sigh left her mouth as she sat on the bed, observing the room once again. This place was so far away from her so-called home. But it felt very welcoming despite her husband's rude behaviour. She could understand him because he was very much forced into marrying her, so Haya didn't really blame him.

And this new room wasn't too bad after all, she liked it. Liked the sudden changes. Maybe this was for the best. Haya wished hopefully.

•••

The Shah family members were all silently eating their breakfast when Haya came downstairs. She spent the next four hours sleeping in the bedroom and came out only when the servant has called her for breakfast. Looking at her everyone passed her a small smile, which kind of cheered her up because she was starting to feel out of the place as soon as she stepped into the dining room.

"Haya beta, why are you standing there? Come and sit beside Abrar." bi Jaan was the first one to break the silence as she noticed Haya standing there awkwardly.

Haya beamed at her as she pulled the empty chair beside Abrar and sat silently.

Abrar who saw her in salwar kameez sighed in relief. He did not wish to see his wife coming in front of his family, wearing what she wore yesterday night. He simply did not.

"Don't feel shy from eating, beta. Eat all you want." it was her mother in law, Sarah, who grinned at her lovingly.

Haya nodded her head with a small smile as she served herself bread toast and eggs. She also observed that the family members were all silent at the dining table. So, she too ate her food silently. From the corner of her eyes, she noted that Abrar ate aloo paratha. Not that she cares, but it was just an observation.

Haya also observed the nasty look which Bano Chachi was passing to her, she wondered what did she to do to that lady that she was looking at her with so much bitterness. There must be some reason and Haya wanted to find it out soon. Not that it was any of her business, maybe it was. She's just a curious person in general.

"Bi Jaan, I'm going to the town for two days. There are some important works to be done." Abrar announced as he completed eating his breakfast. He always informs her of anything and everything before he does it.

"But Abrar beta, you got married yesterday only. Stop with your work for a week or two. Spend some time with my Haya." bi Jaan smiled at her daughter in law, as she said those words.

Haya smiled back at her as she watched everything.

"But the work?" Abrar frowned slightly but stopped when he saw the look on bi jaan's face. She always makes things happen her way somehow or the other.

His father and chachu nodded at him, knowing it was waste of time making their mother change her mind. Which made him want to groan in frustration, for he wanted this space from her so badly.

Haya also did not fail to notice the anger in Bano chachi's eyes as bi Jaan and Sarah smiled at her lovingly every once in a while. And now it started making sense to her.

Looked like apart from her and Abrar there's also one more unhappy person in their marriage. Why was she unhappy? Haya had no idea.

Bano chachi's daughter seemed harmless though. She was quiet throughout like the rest of them, and Haya went back to eating knowing the family doesn't do much talking at the table.

As expected, the rest of the breakfast went in silence. With Haya trying to adjust herself to the new people, who are now her family for the rest of her life.

Funny how life changes unpredictably in no time.

•••

Abrar who came into his bedroom to get some rest, gasped in shock as he saw his wife, draping a saree standing in front of the long mirror in their room. Haya flinched in surprise as she turned her back to him. He too turned back as quick as he could.

"Are you crazy? Why did you not lock the door?" He shrieked at her angrily.

"I thought I did," Haya replied nervously. Her cheeks turned red in mortification. Both of their backs were facing each other. None of them dared to eye the other one. They were too embarrassed to do so.

"What if someone else came in?" Abrar yelled again, Haya's ears turned red in humiliation.

"Well, they did not come. So, stop exaggerating."

"Damn... Why did I agree to marry?" Abrar mumbled under his breath angrily. She was everything he didn't want in a wife.

"Did you see anything which you're not supposed to see?" Haya asked him, a little nervously as she mentally scolded herself for not closing up the room. She really thought she did.

"I-I did not." Abrar stuttered as he tried to erase the image of her standing in just a blouse and skirt from his eyes.

"Abrar... Why do you sound unsure?" Haya frowned. But Abrar ignored her as he walked towards the closet without looking at her.

"Can you call Meruza for me?" Haya pleaded with him softly, as she scowled at the Saree.

"Why?" he asked her dumbly.

"I need her help." Haya sounded so desperate that it made him pause, "why bother to tie a saree when you don't know how to?" he asked her mockingly.

"Because bi Jaan gave this to me with so much love and asked me to wear so. I don't disrespect elders." Haya snapped at him, frustratingly.

Abrar was slightly taken aback by her behaviour as he walked out of the room and went to call his cousin, Meruza for help. He can't believe someone was so daring to snap at him. And he just left her like that.

He was still trying to erase that image of her standing in just a blouse and skirt from his eyes. Which is why he left at the first chance he got. But damn, his wife is so full of attitude and his dislike towards her has only increased. If anything.

But she was so beautiful. Not that he cares.

•••

Meruza was a lovely eighteen years old girl, who was the daughter of Bano and Jubair. (Abrar's Chachi and chachu) Although she was nothing like her mother.

"It's done." She smiled at Haya fondly.

"You look lovely, Masha Allah! How did that Abrar get so lucky?" Meruza laughed a little while smiling at Haya's final look.

Haya chuckled at that line, as she wore a matching jhumka, "never thought I'd marry someone like him either." She muttered while staring at herself in the mirror.

"Then why did you?" Meruza interrogated her a little too curiously. The marriage happened so shortly that, nobody had time to talk even. The Shah family simply trusted their bi Jaan and knew Haya was the one for Abrar.

Before Haya could reply to her, a servant walked in.

"Begam Sahiba, your family has come to meet you." Haya slightly cringed at the mention of her so-called family. But nodded at the lady asking her to leave.

"Well, let's go then?" Haya turned to Meruza who noticed her changed behaviour but said nothing to her.

"You go and catch up with them, I'll be coming later." Smiling politely at her, Meruza left the room but Haya was deeply lost in her thoughts to even notice that.

If there was one thing that Haya truly hated, then it was her so-called family and she knew this is going to be the last time she'd see them, for they promised not to bother her once they get her house in their name.

Haya just wanted to get over it already.

•••

Glossary:

Salah= to offer prayer.

Dua= to seek something from the Almighty.

Begham Sahiba= grace, honour etc. Basically, a respectful way of addressing the mistresses of the house.

Jhumka= an earring with a pendant ornament.

Chachi= father's younger brother's wife.