QAIS

Chapter 13: To Hurt or Be Hurt

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She felt the ground under her slip as she stumbled back in disbelief. Ruhi steadied her, looking at her heartbroken cousin with saddened eyes. Only she was aware of the turmoil that was ruining the hazeleyed's heart. After Zaviyar's confession Layla felt like someone had taken her to cloud nine only to drop her from that high.

Standing there as the men of her family sat. Sealing her future. Shattering her dreams.

They had fixed her marriage to Ali.

"I-I..." Layla was speechless, disbelieving eyes unable to raise from the ground. Ruhi beside her could hear her rising heartbeat, and see the trembling of her tears that brimmed against her lowered lashes.

"There is no better suitor for our Layla than our very own Ali." Her father said and Layla could hear the happiness in his voice. She could feel the happiness of everyone.

And it stung her like a thousand bugs. She wanted to shake her head. She wanted to scream and tell them they were wrong. There was a better suitor. There was!

That he had the softest of brown hair, and the kindest of smiles and the most loving of hearts. That he was hers and she was his. That they had promised themselves to each other. But she knew proclaiming this was like inviting death upon herself.

"I.. I can't." Yet she still bid her everything on him.

Silence fell as everyone looked at her. Ruhi felt panic rush through her. Was she even aware of the consequences of her words?!

Ruhi could see the red streaks of anger seeping into her father's eyes. A girl wasn't allowed to speak in matters of her marriage, and refusal was not even an option. Especially to an order of Mujtaba. And if God forbid Layla so much as even utter the mention of another boy, even if her own father pitied her, Mujtaba would surely slaughter her.

As everyone's confusion delayed the storm, Ruhi clasped her hand tight, digging her nails into her skin to stop her.

It was Layla's mother that quickly spoke up, "She's just shy. She just can't believe it. A boy as good as Ali, anyone would be overwhelmed." She appeased.

Layla shook her head in negative, tears filling her eyes. Trying desperately to save her world from falling apart. Her heart raged painfully, trying to silence her. Even if it was being broken into two, it had to save her.

Ruhi grasped her forearm and pulled her senseless form out of there before anyone could see the truth falling with her tears.

Closing the door of their room behind them she turned to Layla only to falter at the world crashing in those hazel orbs.

Pressing back against the closed doors the tears finally fell, unable to hold on any longer. Her chest heaved with ragged breaths but the suffocating feeling lodged there kept on tightening. Ruhi rushed to her as she slipped down, her tears turning into cries and silent wails.

Just a few hours ago she felt like the happiest person alive. Her love had confessed. She hadn't even cherished it before it was being snatched away from her. How could it all go so wrong? How can this happen to her?

And Ruhi with tears of her own clasped a hand over her mouth as the girl cried and wailed. So not a sound of her broken heart could be heard outside.