From Pain to Paradise

CHAPTER 4

As they sat down at a table in the cafeteria, Hannah took a bite of her sandwich and began to tell Saman about the previous night's dinner at Shehryar's house, her expression turning sour.

"Hey, guess what? I went to Shehryar's house for dinner last night and it was a disaster," Hannah said, her voice laced with frustration.

Saman's eyes widened with concern. "What happened? Tell me everything!"

Hannah leaned in, a hurt look on her face. "Well, his family is really nice, but Shehryar... ugh, he's another story. He made this snide comment about my career choices, and it really rubbed me the wrong way."

Saman's expression turned sympathetic. "Oh no, what did he say?"

Hannah's voice trembled slightly. "He said I was wasting my time pursuing a degree in literature, and that I should focus on something more 'practical'. Like, what even is that?"

Saman's eyes flashed with anger. "That's so rude! I'm so sorry, Hannah. You don't deserve that kind of treatment."

Hannah sighed, feeling a mix of emotions. "I know, right? I tried to brush it off, but it really got to me. And to make matters worse, my family just sat there, not saying anything. It was like they were condoning his behavior or something."

Saman put a supportive hand on Hannah's arm. "You don't have to deal with people like that, Hannah. You deserve so much better."

After confiding in Saman, Hannah felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She was grateful for her friend's listening ear and supportive words.

Saman suggested they take a walk outside to clear their minds, and Hannah agreed. As they strolled across campus, Hannah felt the fresh air and sunshine help to improve her mood.

"I'm so glad I told you about what happened," Hannah said, feeling a sense of relief. "I was feeling really down about it, but talking to you made me realize that I shouldn't let Shehryar's opinion get to me."

Saman nodded in agreement. "Exactly! You know your worth and your passions. Don't let anyone else define your path."

"Yeah, you are right." Hannah said, feeling satisfied.

__________

Shehryar's parents sat at the dinner table, concerned expressions on their faces. "Shehryar, beta, we need to talk to you about Hannah," his mother said, her voice gentle but firm.

"As you know that Hannah is going to be your wife soon," his father added. "You must treat her with respect and kindness."

Shehryar snorted, rolling his eyes. "I know how to handle my relationships, Dad. I don't need your advice."

His mother placed a hand on his arm. "Shehryar, listen to us. Hannah is a wonderful girl, and she deserves to be treated with love and care. You can't just..."

Shehryar cut her off, his voice cold. "I won't change who I am just to make Hannah happy. She needs to learn to tolerate my behavior. I'm not going to give her some kind of princess treatment just because she will be my wife."

His father frowned, disappointment etched on his face. "Shehryar, that's not the right attitude. Marriage is about compromise and understanding."

But Shehryar just shook his head, his expression unyielding. "No, I'm not going to change. Hannah will just have to deal with it."

The room fell silent, with Shehryar's
parents exchanging worried glances. They knew their son's behavior was a concern, and they feared for Hannah's happiness in the marriage.