Forced Vows | Age gap | fictional characters |

Chapter 10: Fractured Bonds

Chapter 10: Fractured Bonds

As Leyla and Emmad returned home from their respective busy days, the tension between them hung thick in the air. They both retreated to their separate corners of the house, each absorbed in their own world.

Leyla sat on the bed with her laptop, her mind still reeling from the morning's confrontation with Emmad's bhabi. She was trying to focus on her work, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the argument. She couldn't understand why Emmad insisted on controlling her decisions, even when it came to something as simple as attending a family wedding.

Emmad, on the other hand, sat on the sofa with his laptop, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of Farhaad's upcoming wedding. He had been looking forward to it, eager to show Leyla off to his extended family. But her refusal to attend had left him feeling frustrated and angry. He couldn't understand why she was being so stubborn, so unwilling to compromise.

"Hey, Leyla," Emmad called out, breaking the uneasy silence.

Leyla looked up from her laptop, her expression guarded. "What?"

Emmad took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice calm. "I wanted to talk to you about Farhaad's wedding. I know you don't want to go, but I really think it's important that we go together."

Leyla's eyes widened in surprise. "What wedding?" she asked, confusion evident in her voice.

Emmad hesitated, realizing that he hadn't told Leyla about the wedding earlier. "Farhaad's wedding. It's this weekend. I thought we could go together."

Leyla's expression hardened, her defenses rising. "I'm not interested in attending any wedding, Emmad. Especially not after what happened this morning."

Emmad's patience wore thin. "This is not a request, Leyla. It's an order. We're going to that wedding, whether you like it or not."

Leyla's eyes welled up with tears, hurt by his harsh tone. "Fine," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Do whatever you want."

Emmad's heart sank as Leyla fled the room, her tears falling freely now. He knew he had gone too far, but his pride prevented him from apologizing. Instead, he stormed out of the room, leaving Leyla alone with her pain.

The next day, as they prepared for the wedding, the tension between them was palpable. Leyla avoided Emmad's gaze, her heart heavy with resentment. Emmad, for his part, couldn't help but be in awe of her beauty, even in the midst of their turmoil.

"I'm sorry, Leyla," Emmad said softly, his voice filled with remorse as he reached out to touch her hand.

Leyla pulled away, her eyes filled with hurt. "You can't just order me around, Emmad. I have a life of my own, and I won't let you dictate it."

Emmad sighed, feeling the weight of his words. "I know, Leyla. I just want us to be a team."

But Leyla remained silent, her resolve unyielding. As they left for the wedding, Leyla opened the backseat door, a silent reminder of the growing divide between them.

Emmad's heart sank further, realizing that their marriage might never be the partnership he had hoped for.

At the wedding, Emmad's taunts about marrying a young girl echoed in Leyla's ears, stinging with every word. She sought solace in conversation with Emmad's cousin Amna, but a slip of the tongue revealed her secret visit to the hospital, betraying her to Emmad's family.

Emmad's bhabi, incensed by Leyla's defiance, confronted her angrily, dragging her out of the hall and slapping her in a fit of rage.

"Leyla, how dare you embarrass our family like this?" Bhabi's voice was sharp with anger as she gripped Leyla's arm tightly.

Leyla's eyes flashed with defiance. "I won't apologize for who I am, for the choices I make."

Emmad's bhabi's grip tightened, her fury palpable. "You are a disgrace, Leyla. I won't let you bring shame to this family."

But Leyla stood her ground, her spirit unbroken. "I won't be silenced, I won't be controlled."

As Emmad's bhabi stormed back into the hall, Leyla was left alone, her heart heavy with sorrow and anger.

She wandered outside, seeking solace in the cool night air. Rawalpindi was unfamiliar to her, but she kept walking, her mind lost in a whirlwind of emotions.

Meanwhile, inside the hall, Emmad searched frantically for Leyla, his worry growing with each passing minute. When he learned the truth from his bhabi, his worry turned to fury, and he rushed to find Leyla, determined to bring her back home safely.

"Where is she?" Emmad's voice was sharp with urgency as he confronted his bhabi.

"She left," his bhabi replied, her expression grim. "I'm sorry, Emmad. I didn't mean for this to happen."

Emmad's heart sank as he realized the extent of his mistake. Leyla was alone, lost in a city she didn't know.

With no other choice, Emmad rushed outside, his heart pounding with fear and regret. He searched frantically, calling out Leyla's name into the darkness.

Finally, he spotted her, a solitary figure in the distance. Relief flooded through him as he ran towards her, his steps quickening with each stride.

"Leyla!" Emmad's voice was filled with concern as he reached her, his heart breaking at the sight of her tear-stained face.

Leyla looked up, her eyes brimming with emotion. "I'm not going home, Emmad. I can't."

Emmad's heart sank, but he refused to give up. "Please, Leyla. Let me take you home. We can talk about this."

But Leyla pushed him away, her anger still simmering beneath the surface. "I'm not your puppet, Emmad. I won't go home just because you say so."

Emmad's heart broke at her words, but he knew he had no choice. Gently, he lifted her onto his shoulders, her protests ringing in his ears as he carried her to the car.

Driving home in silence, his heart heavy with regret, Emmad could only offer one simple apology.

"You left me no choice, meri jaan."