(Roohi POV)

Everything felt… heavy.

The laughter had faded.
The music had quieted.

And now—

Only emotions remained.

I stood near the entrance, my vision blurred with unshed tears, my fingers clutching my dupatta tightly.

This was it.

Rukhsati.

But before anyone could call me forward—

Voices rose behind me.

Low. Heavy.

“Mr. Khan…”

Abu’s voice.

I turned slightly, my heart tightening as I saw him standing in front of Zayan’s father.

His posture—usually so strong—

Now… slightly lowered.

“I… apologize.”

The words felt unreal.

“For what my daughter has done,” he continued, his voice controlled but strained.
“This should have never happened.”

Silence followed.

Thick. Uncomfortable.

Mr. Khan watched him for a moment—calm, unreadable.

Then finally, he spoke.

“What’s done is done.”

His tone wasn’t angry.

But it wasn’t warm either.

“This marriage has taken place. That is what matters now.”

Abu nodded slowly.

But I could see it—

The weight of humiliation.

The burden of something he couldn’t fix.

Nearby, Ammi stood with Mrs. Khan.

Tears streamed down Ammi’s face as she tried to speak—

“I never imagined… she would…”

Her voice broke completely.

Mrs. Khan gently held her hands.

“It’s alright,” she said softly.

Her voice was calm.

Kind.

Unexpectedly kind.

“Sometimes children make choices we cannot control.”

Ammi shook her head, crying harder.
“But Roohi… she didn’t deserve this…”

My breath caught.

Mrs. Khan glanced at me briefly—her gaze softer now.

Then back at Ammi.

“She is your daughter,” she said gently.
“And now… she is ours too.”

Something inside me shifted.

Just slightly.

Not comfort.

But… something close to it.

“Roohi…”

Ammi’s voice called me again.

I stepped forward slowly.

Every step heavier than the last.

And then—

She pulled me into her arms.

This time…

I couldn’t hold it in.

Tears fell freely as I clung to her.

“Ammi…”

“I don’t want to go…”

Her grip tightened instantly.

“I know, beta… I know…”

Her voice trembled.

“But you have to…”

Have to.

Those words again.

I pulled back slightly, my tears not stopping.

“I’m scared…”

She cupped my face, her hands shaking.

“Allah tumhara hifazat kare…”

I nodded weakly.

Abu stepped forward then, placing his hand on my head.

“Be strong.”

Just two words.

But they carried everything.

Hania rushed in next, hugging me tightly.

“I’m literally one call away, okay? One call,” she whispered, trying to sound strong.

I smiled through my tears.
“Okay…”

The car waited outside.

Decorated. Beautiful.

Like nothing had gone wrong.

I took one last look at everyone.

Ammi crying.
Abu silent.
Hania wiping her tears.

And for a second…

I wished time would stop.

But it didn’t.

I sat inside the car slowly, my hands still trembling.

The door closed.

And just like that—

I was no longer a part of that house

As the car started moving, I looked back.

They were still standing there.

Getting smaller.

Further away.

Gone.

A tear slipped down again as I turned my face forward.

And beside me—

Sat the man I had just married.

Silent.

Distant.

A stranger.

My husband.

The car moved forward.

Slowly.

Steadily.

And with every passing second…

My world felt like it was being left behind.

I kept my gaze fixed on the window, watching the blurred lights pass by.

Golden. Distant.

Unreachable.

No one spoke.

The silence inside the car was heavy.

Not peaceful.

Not comfortable.

Just… suffocating.

I could feel his presence beside me.

Close.

Too close.

Zayan Khan.

My husband.

The word still felt unfamiliar in my mind.

Strange.

Wrong.

My fingers tightened slightly in my lap, the bangles clinking softly in the silence.

The sound echoed louder than it should have.

I wondered if he noticed.

I wondered if he cared.

I didn’t look at him.

I couldn’t.

Because I already knew what I would see.

That same cold expression.
That same distance.

But even then…

I could feel his gaze.

On me.

Sharp. Observing.

"You cry a lot." (Broo tumse shadi k baad rona hi haina)

His voice broke the silence.

Calm. Low.

I froze.

Of all the things he could have said…

That’s what he chose.

I slowly wiped my tears with the edge of my dupatta, my voice coming out soft.

“I just left my home…”

A pause.

“That’s normal.”

Silence again.

I didn’t know if that was supposed to comfort me.

Or dismiss me.

Maybe both.

The car continued moving, the city lights fading further behind us.

I took a small breath, gathering what little courage I had left.

“You could have refused.”

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

For a second—

There was no response.

Then—

“You could have too.”

My breath caught.

I turned slightly, just enough to look at him.

His gaze met mine instantly.

Steady.

Unapologetic.

“I didn’t have a choice,” I whispered.

Something flickered in his eyes.

Quick. Almost unnoticeable.

“Everyone has a choice.”

His voice remained calm.

Controlled.

I shook my head slightly.

“No… not everyone.”

Silence fell again.

But this time…

It felt different.

he again spoke "if I refuse how will i get my revenge hmm?" he say he voice calm a chill ran down my spine "R-Revange...? what kind of revenge?" “She embarrassed my family,” he continued, his tone controlled, almost emotionless.
“She thought she could walk away… without facing anything.”

My fingers tightened in my lap.

“And now?” I whispered.

His gaze lingered on me for a second.

Too long.

Too heavy.

“Now,” he said quietly,
“someone will have to live with that decision.”

A chill ran down my spine.

“Me?”

The word barely left my lips.

He didn’t answer immediately.

But he didn’t need to.

I already knew.

My throat tightened.

“This isn’t fair…”

His expression didn’t change.

“Neither was what she did.”

Tears filled my eyes again.

“I didn’t do anything…”

My voice broke.

For a brief second—

Something flickered in his eyes.

Gone just as quickly.

“I know.”

The words surprised me.

But they didn’t comfort me.

Because his next words…

Destroyed whatever hope I had left.

“But that doesn’t change anything.”

Silence.

My chest felt tight again.

Hard to breathe.

“So what happens now?” I asked quietly.

He leaned back slightly, his gaze shifting away.

“You live your life.”

A pause.

“And I live mine.”

My heart sank.

“No expectations.”

Another pause.

“No questions.”

His voice turned colder.

“And no place in it… beyond what this marriage demands.”

The words settled heavily between us.

Final.

I looked away slowly, my vision blurring again.

So this was it.

Not a marriage.

Not a partnership.

Just…

A punishment.

And I was the one paying for it.

The car continued moving through the dark roads—

Carrying me toward a life…

Where I was never meant to belong.

𝓣𝓗𝓐𝓝𝓚 𝓨𝓞𝓤 🖤✨

Hey Guyz! I hope you guys like the chapter follow me on insta too I'd laibaqueen4929 and if you guyz wondring my real name is not laiba thats what my brother call me as my nickname my real name starts from 'A'.... By by love you😁💋