Laila was sitting in front of the mirror and brushing her hair with a soft smile, She finally got some peace in her life even though she's stormed with the duties assigned by her in-law's since there's a wedding and it's aftermath going on. The same applied to Parth, not giving him a moment to torment her soul and in fleeting moments, he's unable to unleash due to his family being constantly around and Laila's presence in plenty of situation. Laila felt well rested and free at last even though her shoulder still heavy from the heaps on work unloaded on her.

Laila continued to brush her hair, The room was quiet as a stark contrast to the constant hustle and bustle outside. The aftermath had been chaotic, leaving everyone drained but for Laila, this chaos had been a blessing in disguise. She finally had a moment to herself, a fleeting moment from the torment that had defined her life since her marriage. She looked at her reflection in the mirror, The woman staring back at her seemed different. For the first time in weeks, she felt like she could breathe without the weight of fear crushing her and Parth's actions scarring her both mentally and physically

Her thoughts wandered as she brushed softly, allowing herself to savour the moment of calmness. She thought about the moments when she managed to laugh with Prachi and Pulkit or the brief smiles exchanged with Vanya during the preparations. These small interactions felt like lifelines, giving her the small hopes of happiness and leaves her wondering how did Parth turn like this when his mother is Vanya and Siblings being Pulkit and Prachi, They seemed to give out kindness and joy while he gave her tears.  

Peace is often the prelude to a storm.

The door creaked open, pulling Laila from her thoughts. She hadn't noticed that Parth was observing her by the door and the creak occurred when he opened further with his eyes showcasing fury. Her heart sank as she saw Parth step into the room. His face was an unreadable mask but his eyes betrayed his emotions. Laila's hands instinctively tightened around the comb, her fleeting moment of peace shattering like glass. Parth was observing the smile and relaxation from earlier changing into fear. Laila's heart raced with her momentary sense of calm evaporating into the air like smoke. She knew this look. 

She knew what came next and she knew she wouldn't like it. "What's this?" Parth asked with his tone deceptively calm, she was wise enough to see the sarcastic façade. Laila forced herself to meet his gaze even though her body trembled slightly, "I-I was just untangling my hair". "Getting ready?" said Parth with his tone filled with mockery. "You seem awfully relaxed for someone with so many duties to fulfil" continued Parth. "I've done everything that was assigned to me" Laila said softly thinking before speaking, hoping her words wouldn't provoke him further. "I was just taking a moment".

Parth's lips curled into a cold humourless smile, "A moment, you say? How luxurious" His voice dripping with sarcasm as he took another step toward her. "Do you think you're here to relax, Laila? To enjoy yourself while I deal with everything and my family suffer?" said Parth and Laila's eyes widened. Before she could respond, his hand shot out and gripping her hair tightly. Laila gasped due to the sudden pain, forcing her tears to well up instantly. He yanked her head back and forced her to look at him while his eyes burned with fury.

"Do you think you can sit here smiling and carelessly brush your hair, pretending everything is fine?" Parth growled with his grip tightening. "Did you forget who you are and why you're here?" asked Parth looking straight into her eyes and intimidating her. "P-Parth, please," Laila whispered, her voice trembling, "I didn't mean-".  "Didn't mean?" he cut her off with his voice rising. "You didn't mean to act like you're above it all? To forget your place?" He asked her hysterically. Laila winced as her scalp pained as he pulled her closer, her body instinctively leaning back to lessen the strain. 

Her free hand gripped the edge of the table while her knuckles turned white. She forced herself to breathe through the pain and to stay calm even as her body shook in fear. "I wasn't trying to- I was just-" she tried to explain but Parth's cruel laugh silenced her, She knew that there was nothing she could offer that could help her situation. "You were just?" he mocked while leaning down so his face was mere inches from hers. "You were just taking advantage of a moment, weren't you? Thinking I wouldn't notice?". 

Laila's tears spilled over but she refused to sob aloud and give him the satisfaction. "I wasn't- taking advantage," she said as steadily as she could. Parth's eyes narrowed and yanked her hair harder, forcing a sharp cry from her lips. The sound seemed to satisfy him with his smile turning cruel. "You don't get moments, Laila" he said, "You don't get peace, You don't get to sit here pretending to be something you're not". He released her hair suddenly and  the force of it causing her to stumble forward, she clutched the table for support. Her scalp throbbed, she blinked rapidly attempting to clear the tears clouding her vision.

Parth stepped back but his presence looming over her like a storm cloud. "You will stay in your place" he said coldly and continued, "And you will not forget it again". Laila didn't respond  but nodded silently, her hands gripping the edge of the table in an attempt to steady herself. "Words Laila, words" reminded Parth and Laila took a deep breath, "Ye-Yes". "Good" said Parth and turned, Laila was relieved that he was finally leaving. But He wasn't ready to back off without a scar, a fleeting pain was nothing to him. Laila found herself frozen in a moment.

Sound of the knife cutting her hair carelessly echoed in the room, Laila's eyes widened and her body frozen to even react. Parth had taken the nearby Knife and sliced her hair strands, Her hair stood in different lengths around her neck length, Long strands of her hair decorated the carpeted the floor, joined by the tears from her eyes. He let the knife fall on the ground and left the room. Laila's hands trembling as she reached up to touch what remained of her once long and cherished hair. Her fingertips brushed against the uneven, jagged strands that framed her face, each one a reminder of Parth's cruelty. 

She couldn't bring herself to even look at the mirror as the thought of facing the reality was too overwhelming. Her knees buckled and she sank to the floor as her eyes fixated on the dark, silky strands scattered around her. Tears spilled freely down her cheeks, each one carrying the weight of her heartbreak. Her Grandmother used to say, "Hair is the beauty and Pride of a woman, It should be long, healthy and thick" but now hers were shredded to pieces. Laila reached out, hesitating for a moment before picking up a few strands. 

She cradled them in her hands as if trying to hold onto what she had lost. The emptiness inside her deepened, the silence of the room amplifying her pain. Her shoulders heaved as the sobs she'd been holding back finally escaped. The sound of her heart wrenching pain filled the room, raw and uncontainable. Laila clutched her knees to her chest, rocking slightly as the pain of another torment by Parth consumed her.  Summoning all her courage, Laila slowly rose to her feet while her legs unsteady beneath her. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and forced herself to stand up. 

She forced herself to step toward the reflection that awaited her. When she finally looked, a soft gasp escaped her lips. The woman staring back at her was unrecognizable. Her hair was now a chaotic mess of uneven lengths,  Her tear-streaked face bore the evidence of her heartbreak, her eyes swollen and red. She reached out to touch the mirror, her fingertips brushing against her reflection. "This isn't over" she whispered to herself and took a scissors to damage control, when presentable she hurried to  hairstylist for the professional damage control.

Laila forced a strained smile onto her face, She could feel Vanya's curious gaze on her and  the cold presence of Parth beside her. Her throat felt dry and she swallowed hard before responding, her trying her best to not waver. "Oh yes, Mom" Laila began, her eyes darting nervously between Vanya and Parth. "I just- thought it was time for a change, You know- something fresh and different, I've always had long hair and I thought- why not try something new?" said Laila, Her words sounded hollow even to her own ears, and she could feel the weight of Parth's gaze pressing down on her.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she dared to glance at him. He stood there silently with his expression neutral but there was a subtle twitch at the corner of his mouth and a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Really?" Vanya asked in confusion,  "It's just so sudden, You loved your long hair so much, I remember you saying it made you feel like yourself, Are you sure you're happy with this?" asked Vanya concerned. Laila could feel the sting of tears threatening to fall but she forced them back, knowing  that she couldn't afford to falter. 

The memory of Parth's hands gripping her hair tightly, the sound of the knife slicing through her long strands, flashed through her mind like a cruel nightmare. She shuddered involuntarily but quickly masked it with a shaky laugh, She truly has evolved to survive. This didn't go unnoticed by Parth, He was proud of his effect. "Yes," she said with her voice peppy, "I think I just needed a change  And it's- freeing- in a way, I'm still getting used to it but I think it suits me" said  Laila also trying to calm herself down.

Parth picked up his glass of water, sipping it slowly while his eyes never leaving her. His silence was deafening and a constant reminder of what he was capable of and what all he could inflict on her. Laila knew it was meant for her, a warning to keep her story straight and not let anything slip. "Well, if you're happy, that's all that matters and in the end hair will grow back" Vanya said with a warm smile. "But if you ever need advice on styling shorter hair, let me know, I went through a phase myself though I eventually grew it back" said Vanya with a smile but Internally shuddered by the memories going through her mind but kept up her poise.

"Thank you, Mom" Laila replied. The conversation shifted but Laila barely registered the words. Her mind was consumed by the torment she had endured and the fear of what Parth might do if she slipped up. Her body was present at the table but her spirit felt trapped in the shadow of his. He haunted her soul but she couldn't show any of it, she had to keep up the façade for her own safety at the moment.

Her eyes darted to Prihan, who stood a few feet away with his posture relaxed but his face an unreadable mask. They hadn't exchanged more than a few words since the ceremony and every interaction still lingered in his coldness. She wondered if he noticed the tightness in her smile or the effort it took to hold herself together. Then she saw him. Shamsher Sazal, her father, walked through the entrance with his characteristic commanding presence. His sharp gray suit fit perfectly with authority and his expression was firm. He was accompanied by a his Wife, Romaisa's mother Kavya Shamsher Sazal. The room quieted momentarily as guests turned to acknowledge his arrival.

"Papa" Romaisa whispered under her breath as her heart tightened as he approached her. "Romaisa" Shamsher said with a rare smile as he reached her,  "How are you my daughter? How's the reception? How's the family treating you?" He asker seriously. Romaisa's lips quivered for a moment but without showing that, she forced a wider smile. The weight of her father's expectations burdened, Admitting anything other than perfection could have consequences far beyond herself which would be catastrophic.  She felt the heat of Prihan's gaze on her, his silent scrutiny sharper than words.

"Everything is wonderful Papa" Romaisa replied with her voice steady despite the turmoil within. "The Manvik's have been so kind and welcoming, They've made sure I feel like a part of the family already". "Rishi Manvik and Vanya Rishi Manvik?" asked Shamsher, "Absolutely" said Romaisa with a smile. Shamsher gave a satisfied nod. "Good, good, That's what I expected, this alliance is a significant one and I trust you're doing your part as their daughter-in-law". "Of course, Papa" she said softly. Her hands clasped tightly in front of her, the weight of her lie pressing down on her chest. 

She could feel Prihan's eyes boring into her, his unspoken anger filling the space between them. She could see that this incident has left some fuel on his anger, something that involved her dad has definitely occurred in the background. Shamsher's gaze shifted to Prihan, who stepped forward and gave a polite nod. "Mr. Sazal" Prihan said in a measured tone with his jaw visibly tightening, "It's good to see you here, we've been waiting for your presence". The handshake was firm yet a silent battle between the two men. Shamsher's smile was calculated, "I trust you're taking good care of my daughter"

"Of course," Prihan said returning a calculated smile.  His hand fell back to his side and his gaze shifted briefly to Romaisa. Shamsher seemed pleased with the exchange, "That's what I like to hear, This partnership isn't just about business also it's about trust, I'm glad to see you both are starting things on the right path". Romaisa forced another smile with her voice rising in agreement, "Yes Papa, We're doing well". As her father turned to speak to another guest, Romaisa exhaled shakily and her hands dropping to her sides. She felt another presence beside her.

 He leaned in slightly with his voice low and sharp. "Really? 'Everything is wonderful'?" he muttered, "That's what you're going with?". Romaisa froze for a moment with the smile still plastered on her face as she turned her head slightly toward him. "What else was I supposed to say?" she whispered back with her feelings evident of her tone but not on her face, "You think I could stand there and tell him-". "Tell him the truth?" Prihan cut her off with his tone biting. A guest came by which cut their conversation short. 

After the function, Romaisa returned to the room and changed her clothes. She looked at her reflection in the mirror, "I will make sure that everything is wonderful" said Romaisa and straightened her clothes.

Author's note
A long update and Laila Parth is back. Next chapter is going to get crazy with Prihan and get your chappals ready.
Shoutout to shivixwrites for the hair idea, I'm struggling with hair loss and I know how much it hurts.
Happy New Year.

I plan to finish this book this year and also write the second Part(yup there's a second part)

Hit that star so I'll update soon by that I mean next week maybe, also I need to motivation because next chapter is going to get ahm-ahm.