Gereksiz İntikam

20

Taniya's pov

I wake up feeling a heavy weight on my chest.

Rubbing my eyes to see clearly, I see him sleeping on my chest. I can feel the harshness of his beard in my skin with cloth on .

I take a deep breath. He is really heavy. To be honest, if I had married him under normal circumstances, I would surely adore his beauty and enjoy his touch—all those cute couple things. But I don’t feel any of it. His touch doesn’t give me butterflies; instead, I somehow endure it.

Yesterday, when I went for a walk with him, I really felt happy and safe.

But feeling safe and enjoying his touch are two different things.

I’m a little bit relieved now that Bhabhi is better; she will definitely demand to free Bhai.

I try to remove his head from my chest, but in response, he snuggles more into my swollen skin  , rubbing his cheek on my globe his mouth is a an inch away from my nipples, and cages my waist in a tight grip.

I sigh in irritation because it’s getting late for my Tahajjud prayer.

With a little struggle, I free myself from him and rush to the bathroom.

After doing my wudu, I pray. These days, I don’t even feel the sukoon I used to feel; it’s like I’m doing something wrong. My face is looking dull day by day, and the noor on my face is gone.

Did I unknowingly commit a sin? Not getting any answers, I pray for Bhai’s well-being and get up.

Folding my prayer mat, I start reciting Surah Taubah. I feel like the weight of my sin is snatching away my inner peace.

But what sin did I commit? Maybe it was falling in love with a na-mahram and talking to him all night without telling my Bhai and Baba Jaan.

I wipe my tears. Yes, I think it’s because I fell for Navruz and talked to him even after knowing it’s haram. I chose to listen to my nafs rather than my imaan. I deserve all of this.

It’s not like I was a child and he manipulated me with chocolates. No, it was my choice to be with him because he showed me the dream of freedom that I never had with my brother.

I know they are protective towards me, but still, I am human. I also want to live my life without a threat to it. I wipe my tears, but with each word I recite, I cry more and more because I know the meaning.

It’s Fajr time when I stop reciting. After praying my namaz, I head to the kitchen to make breakfast.

I don’t know why Baba Jaan didn’t come with us. He’s not fine—only Allah knows how he is because his medicine is here.

After completing my breakfast, I clean the house.

It’s my habit to do household chores, even though we have maids in my house in Afghanistan. But as you know, I’m not allowed to roam outside.

And sometimes I get bored watching Bollywood films, so I help them out.

After cleaning the house, I take a quick bath. It’s already 9:30 when I step out of the bathroom.

I prefer to wear a black Afghani shalwar kameez with red embroidery on the sleeves, neck, and border of the dupatta.

I go downstairs to have breakfast. Shoaib is still sleeping, so I choose not to disturb him.

After eating my breakfast, I’m cleaning the dishes when his voice halts my hand.

“Biwi, we are going to White Castle to meet your brother,” he says while buttoning his cuff.