The Khan's Chosen Bride

Caught in the act

Shehnaaz woke up to an uneasy calm. The sun's rays filtered through the curtains, but their warmth did little to ease the cold fear gripping her heart. The events of last night clung to her like a dark shadow, refusing to let her go. The threatening message had planted a seed of dread that now bloomed into full-blown paranoia.

She pulled the duvet tighter around herself, as if it could shield her from the world outside. Siddharth had left early, his absence both a relief and a reminder of the control he held over her life. On the bedside table, a note in his neat handwriting awaited her.

"Dinner tonight at 8. Wear something nice. - S."

The words were simple, but to Shehnaaz, it felt more like an order than a request. Her fingers trembled as she set the note down. This wasn't love; it was control, and it suffocated her.

As she sipped her morning chai, her phone buzzed, sending a jolt of anxiety through her. She hesitantly reached for it, hoping it was just a routine notification. But her heart sank when she saw the message.

"Red still suits you. Blood looks even better."

A cold shiver ran down her spine. Her fingers shook as she fumbled to delete the message, but the damage was already done. Her mind spiraled with questions-who was sending these messages? And why?

She thought of calling Zaira, her closest confidante, but quickly shook off the idea. Nahin, Zaira ko ismein nahi uljha sakti... aur agar yeh baat Siddharth tak pahunch gayi toh? Shehnaaz bit her lip, forcing herself to push the thought away.

As the hours passed, her anxiety grew. Every shadow felt threatening, every sound unnerving. She was a prisoner in her own home, with invisible walls closing in on her.

By the time Siddharth came home that evening, Shehnaaz was a bundle of nerves. She lay curled up on the couch in a delicate pink salwar, eyes closed, trying to calm her racing thoughts.

Siddharth's gaze softened as he took in her fragile state. For a moment, he seemed torn between tenderness and possession. His eyes flicked to the guards nearby, and his tone turned sharp.

"Turn around and leave. I don't want anyone else seeing her like this," he ordered. The guards immediately complied, expressionless as they left.

Siddharth sat beside her, gently stroking her face. Shehnaaz stirred, her eyes fluttering open to find his familiar presence. Before she could fully wake up, he pulled her into his arms, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

Shehnaaz's frustration bubbled up. "Siddharth, chhodiye. Yeh sab kyun kar rahe hain? Humein nikalna chahiye."

He smiled softly against her skin, his arms tightening around her. "Tumhe dekhte hi meri thakaan chali jaati hai. Hamesha chahta hoon tumhare saath waqt bitaun."

Shehnaaz sighed, rolling her eyes as she tried to push him away. "Aapko hamesha apni marzi chalani hoti hai."

Siddharth chuckled, his tone playful but firm. "Tum ab tak yeh samjhi nahi? Tum meri marzi ho, Shehnaaz."

Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly averted her gaze. "Kya yeh zaroori hai?" she muttered, trying to deflect.

Siddharth finally let her go, though he kept her close. "Chalo, ready ho jao. Dinner ka time ho raha hai."

At the restaurant, Siddharth guided her in, his grip firm but not forceful. He showed her off like a prized possession, his gaze never leaving her. As they settled at the table, Siddharth's attempts at conversation were met with distracted responses. Shehnaaz's mind was still consumed by the messages, her heart heavy with dread.

And then, her phone buzzed again. She froze, her breath catching in her throat. Siddharth noticed immediately, his eyes narrowing as he watched her tense up. Without a word, he snatched the phone from her hand and read the message. His face darkened.

"Yeh sab kya hai, Shehnaaz?" His voice was low and dangerous. "Kisne bheja yeh message?"

Shehnaaz's heart pounded in her chest. Her mind raced for an answer, but the fear lodged in her throat made it hard to speak.

"Mujhe nahi pata," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Kal raat se yeh messages aa rahe hain. Main dar gayi thi... isliye tumhe nahi bataya."

Siddharth's grip on the phone tightened as he slammed it down on the table, the cutlery clattering with the impact. His eyes were blazing, anger mixing with the sting of betrayal.

"Tumne mujhe nahi bataya?" His voice was sharp, each word cutting into her. "Tumhare zindagi mein jo bhi hota hai, mujhe sab kuch jaanne ka haq hai. Tumne yeh sab chhupake kya sabit karna chahti ho?"

Shehnaaz recoiled, tears welling up in her eyes. She hadn't meant to keep secrets, she had been terrified and confused, unsure of what to do. But Siddharth's fury left no room for explanations.

His voice was cold, but there was a finality to it. "Kal subah tumhari ruksati hogi. Main aur intezaar nahi kar sakta."

Her heart dropped. "Kal?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "Itni jaldi kyun, Siddharth? Main tayyar nahi hoon..."

Siddharth leaned in closer, his words chillingly calm. "Tum meri ho, Shehnaaz. Tumhari tayyari ya marzi ka koi matlab nahi hai. Kal se tum mere ghar ki ho jaogi."

Shehnaaz's breath hitched, the weight of his words pressing down on her. There was no escape, no reprieve. The walls of her life were closing in, tighter and tighter.

She tried to protest, but Siddharth cut her off. "Main sab kuch dekh loonga. Tum bas kal tayyar rehna."

With that, Siddharth stood up, his decision final. He paid the bill and walked out, guiding Shehnaaz to the car in silence. She felt as though her legs were moving on their own, her mind numb with fear. The drive back to his home was tense, neither of them speaking, the weight of the looming morning heavy in the air.

As they arrived, Siddharth immediately went to discuss arrangements with his father, leaving Shehnaaz alone in her room. Her world was unraveling, and she had no one to turn to. She felt the tears welling up in her eyes as her phone buzzed again.

Zaira.

Without thinking, Shehnaaz picked up the phone, her voice cracking as soon as she heard Zaira's familiar voice.

"Shehnaaz, kya hua? Tum thik ho?" Zaira's concern was immediate.

Shehnaaz broke down, her sobs uncontrollable. "Zaira, main sab kuch kho rahi hoon... Siddharth kal ruksati karne waale hain... aur yeh messages, mujhe nahi pata yeh sab kaise sambhalungi..."

Zaira's voice softened, filled with concern. "Shehnaaz, bas ro mat. Tum strong ho. Hum kuch sochenge, kuch na kuch karenge."

But Shehnaaz's tears wouldn't stop. She felt trapped, suffocated by the weight of the decisions being made for her. As Zaira's comforting words flowed through the phone, they did little to soothe the ache in her chest. She was terrified, and with every passing moment, the walls seemed to close in further.

Tomorrow, she thought. Tomorrow everything would change, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Hey everyone, sorry for the very late updates , truth to be said I haven't even gotten the time to open this app and I even forgot about this story as I was completely busy with my college and exams . Idk when I can update next , but I'll try to update it quickly.
Vote and comment please.