"I won't marry." I announced and the room fell silent. No one had asked my opinion in particular. Everyone was sitting in the lounge, including my parents and siblings, as they discussed my marriage prospects with different guys. I watched everyone's gaze turn up towards me, who was sitting at the far-end couch of the room.

At last Dad spoke, as he turned an icy gaze towards me. I felt my heart stop for a moment there, before it started throbbing.

"If you think that you have a say in this regard, then you are highly mistaken." He said, before looking away.

"No one besides her, has ever misbehaved in this manner. Every time she just has to disobey us. Do you enjoy bringing us humiliation that much? Ungrateful brat. Get out of my sight!" He shouted the last part while looking at me.

My vision had turned blurry because of the tears and  my heart thumped so loudly in my ears that it was becoming difficult for me to breathe. In my mind I had decided, that I will retort to threats of running away or outright refuse during nikah, when they asked my approval. But in the end, all my faux courage dissipated in thin air, as I scrambled to my feet and sprinted for the door.

I woke up with a start, at the sound of his phone ringing. By the time I sat up on the bed, he was leaving through the door. Wrapping my arms around my knees, I pulled them upto my chest and hid my face in them, as I took a few sharp breaths to calm myself. But like a broken dam; all the memories of last night came crashing through. A surge of embarrassment soared through me and my face felt heated all the way upto the tips of my earlobes. I looked up at the at sound of the door opening and through the minimal light streaming in through the curtains, saw him walking back in. Carefully; so as to not make any sound but then he saw me staring at him and stopped in his place.

"Sorry, the call woke you up." he said softly and then moved towards the table, on the other side of the room and grabbed some documents. Turning to me, he found me still watching him. Maybe, he thought I was still half asleep, since he came to my bed side and began slowly.

"You should go back to sleep. There is still few hours till we leave. I have some stuff to take care of. Will be back in a while." He turned to leave but I grabbed his hand, ever so softly. This stopped him and he twisted to look at me. His gaze drifted between me and my hand grasping his hand. Ever so slightly he returned my hold and took a seat beside me on the bed.

"What is it?" his voice, a soft brush of air against my ears, as he took his free hand to push some loose strands of hair behind my ear. Even though it was only a slight graze of his touch on my face, I felt goosebumps rising on my skin. I must still be half asleep because I drank in his touch while it lasted and felt wanting at its loss, when he pulled back.

"Don't—" I croaked out in a hoarse voice and his brows rose slightly in concern.

"Take me with you—please." The last word was a plea. His mouth opened and closed for a moment before he finally got able to speak.

"Zaira—I am coming back for—-" before he could complete, I cut him off with a shake of head.

"I'll need 15 minutes only. Can you please get the bags in car by then?" I must've looked like a madman, because he watched me like I was sleep talking.

"Zaira—" he started again, but I cut him off by clutching at the front of his shirt.

"Please..?" I whispered looking down at my hand and then up at him. I realised that my eyes had started to water then. He silently watched me for a moment, with concern filled gaze. Finally, he exhaled a sigh and softly pulled away my hand but didn't let go.

"Alright." He said finally, gazing into my eyes. I nodded him a thanks and then left to get ready. I wanted to leave because I didn't want to see my parents before leaving and they weren't up at this time. By the time they get up, I would've left.

I stalked back into the room, to find it empty of all our luggage. Just then he came back and grabbed his briefcase, the last of our belongings.

"Your parents aren't up, is that okay?" He asked shutting the briefcase close. I nodded at him and grabbed my handbag.

"I have to stop by somewhere. You will have to wait for a while. Okay?" He inquired again and my response was still the same.

"Okay. Let's go." he said finally and I gave the room one final look, as if saying goodbye to the only place which was more my home than anyone or any portion of this house. Yet, when I walked out of that room, I couldn't suppress the immense grief that I felt as I glanced at the now shut door of my parents. Walking out the gate of this house one last time, I weeped for all the hurt and pain that I had suffered at the hands of this place and it's inhabitants. I hadn't shed a single tear at the time of rukhsati, even when my Dad and Mom hugged me through tears. Yet, now, I cried as if my heart was getting brutally ripped into a million pieces. I gave the house one final look as I stood watching the now closed gates.

The ride in car was silent, safe for the noise from the minimal traffic, owing to the fact that it was weekend. I didn't ask him where he was going. It was enough for me that I was finally away from that place. Running away doesn't solve anything but sometimes, leaving behind something that is a constant source of misery to you isn't optional but vital.

Less than half an hour had passed when the driver stopped the car. I watched the board outside the gate which read "Saeeda-Huzaifa Foundation" and forgot to breathe. I turned to him slowly whose face remained placid; devoid of any emotions. The gate opened to let us in and he turned down the window as the guard shook his hand gleefully. I gaped at him wide-eyed, coming into contact with one shock after another. The situation was accelerated when he got out of the car. Few people started coming out of the small house like buildings, which were numerous and spread all around the compound. In the middle of this, a building bigger than all others stood. My eyes wandered, in a frenzy, around everything and everyone approaching him.

When my eyes landed on him, I forgot how to breathe. He laughed as he shook hands with the kids and hugged them. He had even picked up 2 little kids in his either arms. It was an air of familiarity around them and the kids stood around him in a circle. I could hear their chatter from inside the car and if I was surprised by their excitement, then the fact that he was conversing with them in matching excitement and in URDU was enough to give me a cardiac arrest. I would've went into shock due to sheer embarrassment if I hadn't witnessed the next scene. Some 9-10 year old kid was trying to enter the circle; excitedly dragging his wheel chair. While watching him, I realised he was having trouble calling Rayyan's name, but that didn't hamper his efforts or happiness one bit. That's when I saw Rayyan turning to him. He let down the two kids in his arms and turned his gaze in that kid's direction; all the while, not moving an inch from his place. Suddenly, all the kids made an opening for his path. Rayyan silently waited for the kid to reach to him with a faint smile on his face. The kid was sweating from all that pulling but his smile had only got bigger and brighter. When he finally reached him, Rayyan dropped down on his knees to his eye level. I saw them exchange some words but couldn't hear anything even with the window down. Rayyan roused the kids' hair, giving him a cheeky grin. I saw tears flooding in the kids' eyes and in one swift motion he wrapped his arms around Rayyan.

My heart stopped at this sight. I could see him hiding his face in Rayyan's neck and crying, when Rayyan picked him up in his arms, saying something in his ear while patting his back lightly.

I sat in my place, too stunned to say or think anything. I was feeling more than one emotions at this moment and I couldn't put a name on any single of them. Just then I was pulled out of my trance with a knock on my window. It was Rayyan, who was asking me if I was okay to step out for a bit. I nodded in a trance and then he introduced me to everyone there as his wife. I had never felt more embarrassed in my life before today on being introduced with that title.

Everyone watched me silently with a mixture of timid excitement and amazement. I smiled at the sight of them and even before he could say anything, I walked to one cute little girl around 4-5 years old. She had her hair in pigtails and was holding onto a pink rabbit. On asking her name, she told me it's Rabia in a quiet and squeaky voice and then another kid came upto me saying she doesn't speak properly yet.

"And what's your name?" I asked with a small smile.

"Muhammed Muiz." He answered proudly and as I asked him a few questions other kids came along too. One by one. Cautious but curious at the same time. I asked as many kids names as I could, including the one on wheelchair. His name was Rashid and he was going to become a scientist.

——————

The ride to airport was silent. My thoughts were overflowing with everything just happened. I had so many questions. So many! But even so, I didn't know where to start. Did you start this orphanage on your parents name? What about your maternal family? Do they know about this? Since when have you been doing this? Most importantly, how do you know URDU?! And did you hear my parents yesterday?? Do you hate them now..?

"Are you tired?" I was suddenly pulled out of my thoughts at his sudden remark. We hadn't stayed long after that. The orphanage authorities wanted to treat Rayyan and his Mrs to congratulate for their wedding, but they had to postpone it until next time. However, Rayyan had made arrangements for a banquet tonight for them, before leaving.

I could never understand this person sitting next to me. I thought, staring at him, who was again busy on his macbook after calling me out.

Just, who are you Rayyan?

"Rayyan?" I loved saying his name. I could do this the whole day and not get enough of it. I found his name really pretty.

"Hm?" He returned, without looking up. I silently watched him, engrossed in my thoughts. Trying to solve this puzzle, called Rayyan. He must've thought that I wanted him to look at me because he suddenly turned to me with an apology.

"Yeah, sorry, what?" I didn't know what I wanted to say. So, I silently watched him. His deep green eyes, shadowed by thick lashes. His eyes were very pretty. He was very pretty.

Suddenly he placed his palm against my forehead. I moved back a little, startled, but he didn't pull away; instead, peered into my face, thoughtfully.

"As I thought, you do have a fever. You were slightly feverish yesterday too. Must be because of all these back to back events." He was saying, while I silently watched him. And then we were at the airport.

Sitting beside him on the business class seat, he made me take the window seat and then asked the stewardess for a paracetamol. Followed by a blanket, instructions to turn up the temperature and no unnecessary disturbance.

I think it must be the fever because I felt really tired. Couldn't protest even when I wanted to. Forgot about Mom Dad as well. Instead, when I woke up, I was sleeping with my head on his lap.

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