"Undress" Khizr ordered Asim, who was confused . Amal stared at the man in horror of what awaited her. Khizr smirked when he saw the horror in her eyes before continuing, "Did you not hear me already? Take your shirt off!"
"No, please!"Amal managed to shout, pulling her knees to her chest and hiding her face inbetween when she saw the guy unbutton his shirt, making Khizr laugh. Asim stopped when he heard her screech, not understanding what Khizr was trying to do.
"Stop, please. I'll do whatever you say without complaining, please."She whispered as she felt heaviness in head and in no time darkness covered her vision.
—
Amal was still half asleep when she heard voices around her, however she was unable to process them because of her condition. She tried opening her eyes. but failed recklessly. It was hard for her to lift her head because of the heaviness she was feeling because of her excessive cries. All the begging and shouting led to her feeling dryness in her throat.
After a few minutes, she managed to move her head a little though her vision was still a little blurry. The two women noticed her movement, her slightest movement caused one to leave the room and the other to saunter towards her. The women helped Amal sit up, forwarding the glass of water near her mouth to drink.
"Take these, it will help." The woman emptied out two paracetamols on her palm, she smiled and spoke in the softest voice as she stood next to the bed. She looked like she was in her late fifties, she radiated a motherly energy which made Amal subconsciously trust her and feel at peace.
"My name is Armeen, but everyone calls me ammi meena so don't don't hesitate to call me that if you want, bacha."The woman smiled as she sat on the bed beside Amal's feet.
"Ammi meena?" Amal questioned, not understanding where that came from? Is she Khizr's mom?
"Well, you see. I've been working for the Ayad
family for years, some of the males of my family work under Khizr as they grew up in this house.My grandson used to call me 'Ammi meena' and now, all these men and women who work under Khizr call me 'Ammi meena' because that guy befriends anyone and anything." Amal smiled a little as Armeena narrated her story. She couldn't help but wonder how this woman seemed so normal whilst working under the devil himself.
"You must have met him already. If you ever see someone break something or do something ridiculously weird, that's my grandson." Armeena spoke, smiling as the picture of her grandson flashed in her mind.
Amal left like an outcast, she wanted to leave.She did not want to live here, especially as the wife of Khizr. Just the thought of that marriage increased her heartbeat in fear and tears welled up in her eyes.
The door opened revealing Khizr followed by the woman who was previously in the room but rushed out when they saw Amal's movement.
'So she went to inform him' Amal thought in her head.
"Get out, both of you" Khizr ordered staring at Amal, who lowered her gaze as soon as her gaze met his. Armeena gave a tight smile to Amal as a reassurance before heading out after the other woman.
"If you fucking dare pull this fainting drama infront of others after I marry you, you better fucking not complain about the consequences." Khizr warned as he walked to her.
"When I talk, I expect you to look at me." Khizr gripped her jaw to make her face him, making her whine a little in pain.Amal was shocked when she felt his touch on her skin, she wasn't wearing her niqab!
Khizr got annoyed the moment he saw tears in her eyes again, he's had enough of tears already.
'Does this bitch never get tired of crying?"
However, he took these tears as a sign of victory and as a sign that he was doing well on his path of vengeance. He smirked before continuing,"Cry more, your tears give me relief that no drug can ever give me. I'd love to see you ruined on the ground, crying and begging for mercy tonight."
Amal didn't know what to do anymore, she hated her own tears.she hated her being. It was ridiculous how much she is starting to hate herself in a just a span of a few hours of meeting him.
She could try not to cry, but she would fail miserably like all those times when she held her tears but they managed to escape every time whenever someone was unjust to her.
Khizr was about to say something but got interrupted by a call, he left her jaw and made his way out.
—
Dina, the girl who left to inform Khizr, was doing Amal's makeup. After talking to her, Amal realized how sweet she actually is.Though Amal could not understand the concept of getting dolled up for Khizr, when all he is going to do was humiliate her. However, apparently this was an order.Amal had been doing breathing exercises to not cry as much because she does not want to give him that sense of victory over her.
"This is just about done, after this I'll lead you to my room to pray and get some work done myself?" Sarah described the plan and Amal nodded.
Amal wore a typical red bridal lehenga with detailed embroidery and styles with all sorts of beads and gems that compliment each other.This whole situation was uncomfortable, she was used to wearing niqab and not wearing it now was uncomfortable. It made her feel out of place, what if there were non mahrams there.
"Since you wear niqab, it would be easier to draw this veil on your face for now.He's probably going to take you to his private residence after nikkah, so I'll give you a Shawl to cover yourself then" Dina said, finishing up her makeup.
"Private residence?" Amal questioned.
'Isn't this his private residence? Or is this the house he was directing me to serve in?' Amal thought.
"Uhm, yeah.This is where he has been living for the past 10 years or so because of his work but his family's residence is in the other house. If you get married, he'll probably take you there too."Dina explained with a smile, before continuing,"You look beautiful, Allahumma barik!"
Amal gave her a tight lipped smiled after responding with an 'wa iyyak', had someone given this compliment, if the situation was normal, then she would've started blushing excessively but as for now she didn't know how to react.
"Let's get going, I'll get someone to do your hair and veil after you pray."Dina started walking out with Amal following her, she entered a room at the end of the corridor. Dina turned the lights on and turned around," It's Isha time for now, read comfortably. I'll get all the other work done and then I'll come when you're ready. The hijabs and abayas are in the closet, so be free to choose whichever you want.”
—
It had been half an hour since their nikkah and Amal was still sitting in the room where their nikkah took place, Khizr left the room just after the nikkah was signed and two of his men followed him, Amal recognised Fardeen who was one of the witnesses.Armeena and Dina have kept her company throughout this whole event.
Amal felt numb, not understanding what was happening with her life.There was too much going on in her head, she was scared for her future, she didn’t know how long he was going to keep her.
‘He should leave her at some point ,right? After he marries someone he likes and moves on? Maybe he’ll leave me after he completes his revenge?’ her mind was occupied by many thoughts and question.She couldn’t help but wonder what his revenge was about?
Why does he hate her father and vice versa?
She knew his father hid secrets from them, it was a no brainer.It was most usual subject of the disagreements between her parents, always leading to her mom being abused until someone came to her rescue.
‘That’s my future too,right? They’re both the same.’Amal knew his abuses that she faced a few hours ago were glimpses of what the marriage brought for her in near future.
“Amal,where are you lost?” Armeena asked, concerned about the new bride.
“I think she’s lost in Khizr bhai’s thoughts” Dina teased, bumping her shoulder to Amal’s.
Amal’s train of thoughts broke when she heard the laughter of Armeena followed by Dina.The two women , especially Dina , have been teasing her like she was a normal bride.Amal was left shocked when she became the victims of their teasing, it felt like they were mocking her.However, she realised that these women were clueless about the state of the wedding.Amal observed that these women thought that this was a love marriage, where they both love eachother but her father disagreed so Khizr abducted her to get married with her consent.Amal didn’t know if she should laugh or cry at this ridiculous story.
“I should probably go get you a shawl now, They’ll be coming any second.” Dina spoke as she got up her seat, Armeena nodded whilst Amal just sat there staring at the floor.Just as she was about to leave, the door opened earning Amal’s attention. Khizr, Fardeen and another man, who Amal didn’t recognise, entered the room.Amal started feeling uncomfortable as she wasn't wearing her niqab and there were two non mahrams present. Eventhough, both of them had their gaze stuck to the ground
“Ammi, Apa was calling you outside.” Fardeen said, making Armeena leave the room in no time after flashing a smile at Amal.
“Get up” Amal got up from the sofa as soon as she heard his authoritative voice, she didn’t want to be tortured by him in front of these people again. Khizr smirked seeing her obedience, he couldn’t wait to see more of it in the near future.Dina was confused seeing the behaviour of Khizr, what was happening?
Amal
Khizr looked at the man next to him, who took the sign and held Dina's wrist as he dragged her out. "Hayyan, what are you doing!" Amal heard her shout as she was dragged out. Amal was watching the sight with wide eyes, she was feeling guilty for putting Dina in trouble.
"Should I prepare the car?" Fardeen asked as he looked at his friend dragging his wife out.
"Why?" Khizr questioned, eyes stuck at Amal whose eyes were lowered to the ground as she kept making duas for her own safety.
"Aren't you going to take her to the Haveli?" Fardeen questioned as he moved his gaze from the door to Khizr.
"That house is for my family, not captives."Khizr spoke in a dangerous tone. Amal looked up after hearing his statement and regretted the moment her eyes met his dark brown eyes, his sharp gaze showcasing the wrath she was about to face.
"Fardeen, leave and tell others including Hayyan to not disturb me tonight."
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