Over again

Chapter XXIII

Aaliya was awakened by conversation. She heard the laughter but couldn't find out where it comes from. Slowly she opened her eyes and found herself in the dark. From the nearby window that was nailed up came the sun's rays. But it wasn't enough for her to see what was in the room. She tried to move but couldn't. Aaliya realized that her hands and feets are tied. She was sitting on a chair. She felt the metallic taste of blood in her mouth. With tongue she crossed over her lips which were dry. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw someone lie in a corner across from her.
Body was curled up in the fetal position, hands tied on the back. She tried to speak but couldn't.
"Aaliya?"-she heard him calling her. She was so happy to hear the sound of his voice.
"Are you all right, Aaliya? Please say something."-he pleaded.
At that moment the door opened. The room entered the man who was carrying two plates of food and two bottles of water.
"Oh, lovebirds, you woke up?! I'm so glad to see you. Come on, get up and eat while the Sir comes. He wouldn't want to see you in this state."
The room was still dark and Aaliya couldn't see how Zain looks like. She was afraid she would see him in a bad condition and won't be able to help him.
A man came up to the switch and turned the light on. Zain and Aaliya closed the eyes and slowly opened it until they got used to the light. They looked at each other and then saw what they looked like. Aaliya had a lot of blood on her face and hands. As the car was crushed the glass fell on her and so her hands clip. Her upper lip was split. Her white wedding dress soaked with blood. Zain had cuts on his face and neck. And his white shirt was covered with blood. They wanted to stand up and hug each other but they couldn't move.
Zain glanced at the man who stood between them. His eyes welled up with anger.
"How dare you?!! How can you do that to a woman?! How dare you raise a hand to my wife?! Only to free myself!! I'll beat you to a pulp!!!"
"Hey! Don't make noise! Who are you to raise your voice at me, ha?!"- a man approached and hit him. "I don't want to hear you talk anymore, is that clear?"
Aaliya has tried to move from the chair but she was bound to it and it was impossible to move.
"Leave him alone!"-she shouted. "Who gave you the right to punch him?! Get away from him, you bastard!"
The man turned to her and approached her. He grabbed her hair and pulled her head backward.
"And who are you to talk to me like that? Just because you're a woman doesn't mean I won't boasts a hand on you. You should stay in that bloody land from which you came. Then you would never be able to get in this mess."
He let her hair and stepped away from her. "Eat! A long day is waiting for you."
Then he invited into the room two male. He ordered them to feed Zain and Aaliya.
Zain and Aaliya didn't objected. In silence they ate and exchanged glances. They wondered what awaits them today? How long they were detained in that house? If anyone is looking for them? Has anyone noticed they were gone?
And then they faced the reality. Of course no one was looking for them. Everyone thought that they went on their honeymoon.
Zain looked at Aaliya and faintly smiled. He saw an unknown fear in her eyes. Never he had seen her frightened.
"Everything will be fine. We'll get out of here and everything will be fine. I promise you."
"I know. As long as I'm with you, I'm safe."
Time passed and they were only sometimes spoke a few words of encouragement to each other. It seemed like an eternity to wait. They didn't even know what they were waiting for. They just sat there.
And then they heard the sound of a car. The door opened and then closed. They heard heavy steps slowly approached the door of the room. They couldn't figure out how many people are moving down the hall. The door burst open and there stood a man whom Zain and Aaliya knew very well. First he looked at Zain and then at Aaliya. He smiled at her.
"My favorite bhanji. Look at what beauty she has grown. How long I haven't seen you? Oh, yes. Twelve years. Indeed a beautiful young woman. I said young woman because you just got married. And married to whom?"-then he turned to Zain. "My younger, dearest son. Zain Usmaan Abdullah."
Zain with fear looked at Aaliya who confused watched at Usmaan. As if something wasn't clear to her. As if she was wondering what this man was talking about. Then the confusion on her face slowly abandoned and replaced them first understanding what he says and then betrayal and disappointment.
Aaliya looked down to the ground and then looked up at Zain. He saw the mixed emotions in her eyes. Love, pain, hatred, betrayal.
She watched either the man who had promised that he would never betray her, and he did it in the worst possible way. She felt as if she betrayed her sister.
She married the son of her greatest enemy.