QAIS

Chapter 16: Breathe or Betray

The entire house was decorated with beautiful lightening. It was Mujtaba's only son's wedding. He who preached of moderation, who refused to give the girls even a penny in his lifetime, spent so lavishly for his boy. In that old street Mujtaba Khan's house shone like a bejeweled ornament, so arrogant and pompous as if competing with the moon. The moon watched wryly, wondering how long would that arrogance last?

Layla couldn't care less about anything however. Her life had been invaded by dark clouds that kept raining and raining. No amount of color could wash away the stygian shadows that had crept over her once lively heart.

"Layla, come here, tell me which one of these you like?" Her mother called her to choose between the jewelry she had spread around.

Ignoring the repugnant sight of the gold, Layla looked at her mother's aged face with love as if she was looking at it for the last time.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow was the day she was getting married. The day she was going to run away. It felt like her mind was swarmed with a nest of bees. She could no longer make sense of right and wrong.

Her mother was surprised when the daughter sat at her feet and grasped both of her old, wrinkled hands wordlessly.

"Whats wrong, dear? Are you hurt somewhere?" She asked in concern.

As she placed her weary head in her lap, it was like it canceled away all her worries and conflicts. Layla felt her tired heart finally be able to breathe for a moment.

Her mother carded her fingers through her raven hair, seemingly understanding her tension. "I was scared when I met your father as well. It was hard to adjust first, but time heals everything. You'll be happy with Ali don't worry."

Layla wanted to tell her she was wrong. That some losses have no healing. And love was like a septic wound that only turned worse with time. Zaviyar had become a huge part of her heart, and if she were to lose it, it would only leave an aching void behind that will only get bigger and bigger with time, until it consumed her whole and left her a shell of a person.

But for that one moment she didn't want to think about anything. Not about Zaviyar, not about Ali. She wanted to breathe without hurting. She wanted to pretend everything was alright. It was just her mother's warm hands and her for eternity. No worry could reach her there.

"I love you mother. I love you so much." She whispered, holding back the tears in her eyes despite how much it pained to do so.

Her mother's expression faltered in concern like an instinct pricking her. But she forced herself to remain optimistic, because no mother ever wants to accept that their child is hurting. They're unable to bear it, and so it's easier to stay in denial. Nonetheless, tears stung in her own eyes. The piece of her heart that she had raised and cherished, that she had spent every second of the latter half of her life thinking and caring about, would no longer be solely hers from tomorrow. Her child wouldn't be called her child anymore, but rather someone's wife.

"Don't you worry, we'll still be together won't we?" Arfa spoke light-heartedly, struggling to keep her voice from breaking, "It'll all be just the same."

Layla wanted to cry. It won't be the same.

Ever again.

♛

Two Bomb blasts reported in the Capital of the Northern Province, following the political unrest caused by the sudden assassination and conviction of the respective Council Members. A total of 6 casualties have been reported, with further information still pending. Governor Mir Jahan has immediately left the Capital to return back. The public has taken to roads in riots against the absence and incompetency of the Governor in such a crucial time."