Even after all those rituals, there was no end to this show. She was tired of sitting like this. Her heart was beating crazily because of this acting of a happy bride. There was so much scare present in her that she was getting pale. There were so many people in Haider's family as he mentioned earlier and now those girl cousins were sitting around her, making funny and teasing remarks that she had no interest in hearing

Right now her mind was getting blank due to so much tension. Even she couldn't eat anything properly due to the same anxiety. How long would she be able to put up with this drama? What had she done with herself? She lost her family and is now got surrounded by strangers. She didn't know with which thinking that guy married her and he wanted her to appear rude to his family. Perhaps he thought of her as some characterless girl who was fleeing from her house to meet a man.

At that time, she wished she should have died with her father. This world had no place for her. What about her mother who trusted her so much and she left her like this? So much was going on inside her head that she couldn't mask the apprehension away from her face.

"Haider Bhai's choice is indeed very nice. Aqia's Aunt was getting worried for no reason. Right Aini?" This was some of the cousins of Haider who chirped and whispered this to her sister.

Ishmal had no hope of even looking at it. There was a blackness in front of her vision and her throat was dry.

"C...can I get the water?" She whispered in a low voice.

Hiba heard this and quickly poured her a glass of water while Aqia narrowed her eyes seeing her pale face and shivering lips. What was wrong with her?

Ishmal quickly attached the glass with her lips and gulped down the water greedily. It felt like she had been thirsty for ages. The drops of cold water did give relief to her dysfunctional senses a bit but right now, she just wanted isolation. This crowd and noises were making her numb and frightened.

                _____________________

After a while for which she was grateful, Ishmal got freed from all those annoying girls and she was led by Haider's sisters in his room. She took a deep breath when she found some privacy. As she entered inside, her exhausted eyes roamed around.

This room was even bigger than the house she had been living in for twenty-four years of her life. The walls were painted light blue and there were sky-blue curtains on big windows. The furniture was white. The bed was decorated with red and white fresh roses and their fragrance despite lifting her mood, made her more nauseated.

Unaiza had helped her sit on the bed. Now she was diligently spreading her maroon lehngha around her beautifully.

"Bhabi, do you need anything?" Unaiza asked.

The panic was rolling on her again. Ishmal was never used to of being the center of attention for so many people. She never wanted so many eyes on herself. It always made her nervous. All her life, she found refuge by mingling herself and remaining far behind everyone so that no one could look at her. She was naturally a very introverted and timid girl.

Ishmal nodded. "Unaiza, do you have a painkiller?"

Unaiza gritted her brows in confusion. "Painkiller? Why Bhabi? Are you okay?"

"Yes," she quickly said. Her breath was getting disheveled. "It's just that my head is hurting. Nothing series"

Unaiza caught the sight of the beads of sweat on her forehead. She grabbed her hands. "Bhabi are you fine?"

Ishmal licked her lips. "I am fine. Just bring me a painkiller."

Unaiza jerked her head quickly. "I'll bring it right away."

A few minutes later, Unaiza was again in front of her giving her a pill. She filled a glass of water for her. Ishmal hurriedly unwrapped it and placed it in her mouth. She ravenously drank water after it and rubbed her palm over her chest.

Unaiza placed a hand over her shoulder.  "Feeling well now, Bhabi? Should I get Haider Bhai?"

Her eyes widened in horror. If he would get to know what she was doing, he would perhaps kill her. He many times asked her to pull this show in the best way. His dark black eyes came into her memory and it made her shudder.

"No, I am okay now, Unaiza. Thanks for this. It's just that I got a bit tired," she tried to make her understand.

Unaiza smiled. "Don't mention it, Bhabi. You should rest now. If you need anything, let me know."

"Okay," she murmured and Unaiza left after that.

But she didn't know what the pill contained in it so she started getting drowsy. Without caring for any embellishment on her, she closed her eyes and leaned against the headrest. Soon Ishmal slept soundly, giving her tired body and racing mind a rest.

                 ____________________

After getting freed from another useless ritual of rasta runway where Haider had given his cousins and sisters whatever money came into his hold in one go, he walked into his room. He was hella exhausted right now. So much had happened in these few days. He who never wanted to get married got tied in a false knot. How dramatically that girl came across him. And now he was so annoyed by this constant exhibit of being a happily married guy.

He pushed the door aside while his cousins were still saying so-called bugging remarks. He closed the door behind him and this ended their laughing as well. Suddenly a silence prevailed at which he was thankful. The room was dusk by a faint light and the scent of roses quickly invaded his nostrils, making him to twist his mouth in annoyance. He hated that smell and those flowers. Nisha loved them and he many times gave her those as a gift of his love for her. But the way she disrespected his feelings caused him to loathe those innocuous flowers as well.

He stepped ahead and fumbled with the buttons of his sherwani. Jerking it away, he threw it on the sofa. His hand was on his wristwatch when his gaze caught the attention of that girl sleeping on his bed. She was still in her bridal dress. Her cheeks like the last time had tear marks on them. So much innocence was excruciating from her face that it simmered him.

He had always imagined Nisha at this place. His room, his bed, and in his life. After her betrayal, he started disliking the women altogether. Now seeing someone else here, caused a fire to ignite in his whole body.

He sauntered towards her direction and stood at her head. Glaring at her peacefully sleeping face, he gritted his teeth angrily. She always reminded him of her. The same innocence and purity which was a forte of Nisha was present here. But what horrible heart and personality was hidden behind it that she maintained an affair with that rich cousin of hers under his nose, making a fool out of himself. Even then, she was never sorry. How cunning she was that now the same look on Ishmal compelled him to feel the same resentment for her. And those tears were always deceiving.

"Get up," he ordered sternly but Ishmal didn't move a bit.

"Wake up!" This time he was loud and with that, he pushed the pillow on which her head was placed.

Ishmal's eyelids scrunched and then she shifted her head before opening his eyes. Seeing Haider just at a little distance away from her, she jerked and sat up. Her heart started beating in her chest. She quickly hugged her heavy dupatta around her chest. Tears filled in her big brown eyes.

"Leave my bed. I have to sleep," he told her.

Ishmal stood up without a sound. Haider scowled at her.

"Next time, don't ever come near my bed. Understand?" he announced harshly. After that, he grabbed the pillow that was under her and tossed it towards her.

As Ishmal wasn't ready for it, the pillow touched her knees before it fell to the ground. The wetness made her vision blurry. So much embarrassment that her cheeks burned due to its effect.

She didn't know what he was thinking of her as. That she was just any random girl or something which was on a sale and he brought it whom he could treat as he liked. 

The scent of roses was driving him insane. He felt like ruining this whole world. He ambled towards Ishmal who unknowingly took a few steps behind.

"I am going to grab a shower. When I will be back, all these flowers should be removed from here. I want this room in its original state," he instructed her and went inside the washroom.

Minutes later, Ishmal got hear the sound of his shower. But with this water, the tears from her eyes lost all constraints and fell on her cheeks. What was the life she was living since the start? What was the difference between this life and the previous one? There, her stepfather humiliated her, and here this guy who was her husband now.

She wiped the tears from her cheeks and headed again towards the bed where he had forbidden her to go. But at the same time, he ordered her to get all those decorations away. She was quivering when she peeled away every bit of flower from the bed. Putting it in the dustbin, her eyes locked on the pillow on the floor. Leaning down, she picked it up. She looked here and there for a refuge for herself. The sofa on the far left seemed one.

Ishmal took heavy steps towards it. The headache was back again which was temporarily relieved by that painkiller. Haider had come back after taking a shower. He was rubbing his wet hair with a towel while his eyes did a small survey of his room. When those damned roses and that two-faced girl wasn't seen in his notice, he slumped on his bed.

Tiredness was so much present and on top of that, his mind was so occupied by resentment that he didn't look at it anywhere. Especially that girl who reminded him of her. The same personas that drove him on the verge of losing himself. He didn't even know Ishmal that well and yet her having similar traits as Nisha made him get angry at him.

For now, she could go to hell from her side because that is what he wanted for all of them.

Ishmal's breath hitched when she found him back again that he would again scold her for something. But thankfully he didn't even look at her. She walked into the washroom and changed her dress. Opening her suitcase, she took out a random yellow dress and got dressed in it.

As she was standing in front of the mirror, she looked at her reflection. Mildly wiped-out makeup, teary eyes, and horrified expressions. Suddenly it made her remember the times when her stepfather tried to harass her. Her state wasn't any different than now. Then it reverted to her mother who listened to her complaint against her husband without arousing any suspicion at him. Perhaps she should have lingered there for her sake. At least in this way, she wouldn't have been homeless like this. She was missing her family.

Coming back, she found Haider sleeping soundly. His proud and attractive features made her heart to tremble. He even intimidated her in sleep as well.

Walking over to the small sofa, she lay down on it. But now sleep was out of her eyes. That guy had practically snatched it away. The headache was increasing with each second and tears were constantly wetting her cheeks and pillow.

Maybe that was her fate for forever. Because those kids who lost their father had to suffer like this.

                _____________________

AssalamoAlaikum/ Hi guys!

How are you?

Here's a new chapter for you.

I hope you like it.

What are your thoughts on what Haider is acting with Ishmal? Do you think he is doing wrong?

If you like this chapter, don't forget to vote and comment.

Btw if you are curious about how Nisha betrayed Haidee, you can read His Ignorant Lover if you haven't already. It's complete and you don't have to wait for updates.

Till next one, Allah Hafiz/ Bye. ❤❤❤❤