ishq lost & found

13; Help

The long event finally came to a close, filled with sentimental and tear filled farewells, Saad led his wife to their car, helping her with her dress. After helping her in, he hopped into the drivers seat, giving her another moment to say goodbye as he couldn't imagine what she must be feeling like, seeing all her loved ones say goodbye with tears in their eyes.

The car started, the quiet hum of the engine masked by the cheers of the guests who couldn't sense the couples discomfort. Ranya stared out the window as the space between her and her past seemed to grow, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of her dupatta. The streets were illuminated by the warm glow of the streetlights, casting shadows across her face. She stole a glance at Saad who sat rigidly beside her, one hand glued to the wheel and eyes fixated ahead, his expression unreadable as ever.

The silence in the car was thick, almost tangible. Saad's mind raced with thoughts he couldn't voice. He glanced at Ranya from the corner of his eye, taking in her delicate profile. The realization that she was now his wife, bound to him by more than just words, weighed heavily on him. His guilt over taking Salman's place gnawed at him, and he struggled to reconcile his duty with his hidden feelings for Ranya.

Ranya shifted slightly, feeling the weight of Saad's stoicism pressing down on her. She had hoped that the intimacy of the wedding ceremony might have bridged the gap between them, but the drive felt lonelier than ever. The memories of their past conversations, their shared dreams, seemed like a distant echo. She longed to ask him how he truly felt, to break through the barrier of his calm exterior, but the fear of his indifference kept her silent.

The cityscape blurred outside the window, a stark contrast to the stillness within the car. Saad clenched his hands in his lap, wishing he could find the words to reassure Ranya, to tell her that his heart was as conflicted as hers. He wanted to explain the turmoil inside him, the sense of moral wrongness that shadowed his joy at being with her. But every time he opened his mouth, the words died in his throat.

The car turned down a quieter street, the noise of the city fading into the background. Ranya's heart pounded as they neared their new home, a place that was supposed to be filled with hope and new beginnings. She glanced at Saad again, willing him to say something, anything that might bridge the silence between them.

Saad felt her eyes on him and finally turned to meet her gaze. For a brief moment, their eyes locked, and he saw the same mixture of hope and fear that mirrored his own feelings. He wanted to reach out, to touch her hand, to tell her that he cared deeply, but the weight of his own doubts held him back. Instead, he offered a small, tentative smile, hoping it would convey at least a fraction of what he couldn't say.

Ranya returned the smile, though it was tinged with uncertainty. The car rolled to a stop in front of their home. Saad stepped out first, heading towards the passengers side to help Ranya out, their hands briefly touching, sending a jolt of electricity through both of them.

Saad opened the door to their home and stepped aside to let Ranya enter first. The house was quiet and tastefully decorated, with soft lighting casting a warm glow on the walls. Ranya took in her new surrounding, her heart heavy with a mix of anticipation and unease. 

Saad cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "My room is just over there, this one is yours." he said, pointing at the door across the hall. "If you need anything, let me know." 

Ranya nodded, her voice caught in her throat. "Thank you," she managed to whisper, giving Saad a tight lipped smile before turning towards her room, the soft rustle of her dress the only sound in the stillness of the house. 

Turning to his own room, he closed the door softly behind him, a knot of conflicting emotions tightening in his chest. He wanted to say more, but his moral compass held him back. 

Inside her room, Ranya looked around, feeling the weight of the day settle on her shoulders. She walked to the mirror and began to remove her jewelry, the delicate pieces feeling heavier than usual. Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for the zipper at the back of her dress, but she couldn't quite reach it.

She struggled for a few moments, her frustration growing with each passing second. Finally, she let out a small, exasperated sigh. Embarrassment washed over her as she realized she would have to ask Saad for help. Gathering her courage, she left her room and walked down the hall to his door.

Standing outside his door, she hesitated for a moment before gently knocking. "Saad?" she called softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Inside, Saad was in the middle of unbuttoning his sherwani when he heard her voice. He opened the door, his expression concerned. "Ranya, is everything alright?"

She bit her lip, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. "I... I can't reach the zipper on my dress," she admitted, looking down at her hands. "Could you please help me?"

Saad's eyes widened, the most reactive she had seen him all night, but he nodded. "Of course," he said quietly, stepping aside to let her into his room. 

Ranya turned her back to him, her heart racing as she lifted her hair to expose the zipper. Saad stepped closer, his fingers brushing against her back as he gently grasped the zipper. He carefully pulled it down, the intimacy of the moment not lost on either of them.

"There," he said softly, his voice tinged with an emotion he couldn't quite hide. "Anything else?" 

Ranya turned to face him, her cheeks rosy from the embarrassing situation she found herself in, her eyes meeting his as she looked up at him through her lashes. "No. Thank you, Saad." She said, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. 

He curtly nodded, "Of course," he replied, surprised he didn't stutter due to their proximity.

Closing the door behind her, Ranya made her way back to her room, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of something towards him other than anger. When they first reunited, the day of her engagement, getting a moment alone with him seemed to have unleashed much of the resentment she had pent up against him, but she just couldn't be as short with him today as she had hoped. She had planned to keep her distance, to remain unguarded, but she found it difficult today. The tenderness of the moments they shared had softened her resolve.

Saad felt similarly, disappointed in himself for his actions. He wasn't supposed to feel this way. He shouldn't feel any ounce of happiness for marrying who would have been his brothers wife. But seeing her today, getting to look into her eyes, and realizing that she was now his wife was overwhelming, he was too weak he thought. But, she was always his kryptonite. 

As he pulled out his laptop, hoping to get ahead on some work, he couldn't focus. He couldn't shake the memory of her soft voice asking for his help, the feel of her delicate skin beneath his fingers. It was too much, and yet it was everything he had secretly longed for. He stared off into his screen, the words he should be highlighting jumbling together, his mind swirling with conflicting thoughts and unspoken desires. 

This was going to be much harder than either of them thought.