Tales Of The Heart

(16)

Eira was standing outside Inaya's bedchamber, softly knocking on the door, her voice carrying a mix of concern and sorrow.

"Miss, please open the door and let me in", she pleaded, but was met with nothing but silence. Inside, Inaya was drowning in her anxiety. She had made it clear that she wanted to be left alone, needing time to process the overwhelming emotions caused by her conversation with Royal Consort Ambia.

The discussion with Ambia had shaken Inaya to her core. The Consort's words had planted seeds of doubt and fear in her heart, making her question everything about her relationship with Shahzaib.

Inaya's thoughts were slipping into a dark place, where the love and trust she held for Shahzaib are now clouded by anxiety and insecurity. The idea of being abandoned, of becoming a forgotten consort in a corner of the palace, terrified her. She would rather leave the palace than share Shahzaib with another woman, only to be discarded.

As Inaya immersed herself in the tormenting thoughts, Shahzaib arrived at her quarters, his heart heavy with concern. He had heard of her distress and was desperate to comfort her but he knows he must respect her personal space.

He knocked at the door, only to earn silence.
"Open the door", he instructed Eira softly, aware that he couldn't simply barge into a maiden's room, no matter how deeply he loved her. They were still unmarried and certain boundaries must be respected.

Eira hesitated, knowing how fragile Inaya's state was, but before she could speak, a muffled voice came from behind the door.
"I wish to be left alone, Eira. Can I not have a moment for myself now?", Inaya's voice was tinged with frustration and exhaustion.

Eira turns her gaze to Shahzaib, who was standing there with an expression that was difficult to read, but his eyes showing the turmoil within him.

Shahzaib stepped closer to the door and knocked ever so softly.
"Inaya", he called out, his voice was like a feather's touch, contrasting the storm raging inside him. When there was no response, he sighed deeply.
"It is me and I am coming inside", he warnned, giving her a moment to prepare herself before he openned the door.

He gestured for Eira to accompany him as a chaperone, ensuring that Inaya's dignity was secured. He stayed rooted at the threshold of the closed door, his eyes lowered out of respect, not wanting to intrude her privacy and to give her enough time to be presentable.

Eira stood by the corner as Shahzaib finally lifted his gaze and what he saw, broke his heart. Inaya was sitting on the couch, her knees drawn up to her chest, her head buried in them. She looked so small, so fragile, like a wounded bird hiding from the world.

Her vulnerability was clear and Shahzaib felt a wave of guilt and sorrow wash over him. He knelt before her, the distance between them both physically and emotionally unbearable for him.

"Inaya", he murmured softly, his voice laced with pain. She stiffened at the sound of his voice but didn’t look up.
"Please, you are breaking my heart", he whispered, his voice almost pleading. He longed to reach out and hold her, to wrap her in his arms and protect her from the pain, but he knew, he couldn't. Not yet.

Finally, Inaya lifed her head, and Shahzaib's heart clenched at the sight of her tear-stained cheeks, red swollen eyes, and pink nose. She looked utterly miserable and it teared him apart to know that he was the cause of her pain.

The promises he made to her, the happiness he vowed to bring her, seemed like cruel jokes in front of her suffering. How could he face her father, the man who trusted him with his beloved daughter, when he had failed to protect her from this anguish?

"Talk to me, please", Shahzaib urged, his voice soft, expression full of regret. He needed to know what had hurt her so deeply, so that he could try to make it right.