Aryan's Lethal Obsession

Adah

Why do I always end up with him whenever I'm in danger?

If, by any miracle, the ground would swallow me whole, it would have been an act of kindness by nature. How did I end up in the arms of the man I was trying to run away from? And chased by the animal that I'm most frightened of.

When Aryan left, I don't know for how long I stayed on the ground and cried. Cried for my sisters, whose future I have tainted with my recklessness. My brother, who got hurt while trying to protect me. My mother, who looked like someone had sucked her soul out, and lastly, my father. Fahad's family asking for dowry looked trivial to watching his daughter forcefully married to an armed stranger. How will he take the blow?

I have to see my father. I have to make sure he is alright. I know I don't deserve to be in his presence after what I had done, but my soul would rip apart worrying about their conditions.

"Crying won't give you answers, but a calm mind will."

I was startled and raised my head to find the same elderly woman I had seen on that fateful night.

Since when was she watching me?

She didn't say anything further or try to console me. She stared at me for a few minutes.

"Baba will be back soon."

I took a heavy breath at her words and blinked once, noticing her walking to the door. She was at the threshold when she turned around and said, "And if you feel like eating before leaving, dinner is on the table."

Leaving?

I don't know what she meant, but my instincts perked at her enunciation. I staggered when a bout of dizziness hit me, but I shook my head and prepared myself to escape. I don't know why I was surprised to find the door unlocked, but I didn't give it another thought and ran through the empty corridor.

When a familiar staircase came into view, I beamed in relief; however, it was short-lived when a bark froze me in the place. My head snapped in the direction only for me to gape at two giant dogs panting in the distance. From the look of their stances, I didn't need to use my brain to know they were about to attack me.

My phobia of dogs was one thing, but the size of those dogs scared me shitless. I couldn't even muster up the sense to scream, but fortunately, my legs made a move on their own accord. Without giving in to my fear, I grabbed my bridal gown and descended the stair as quickly as my legs to take.

The barking turned incessant with random growls from the beast. I regretted not changing the heavy dress or removing the bangles rattling just like the inside of me. When the growl sounded near the right side, I glanced back in terror and saw the beast snapping its teeth.

I looked ahead, and when a familiar tall figure appeared, I rushed to him with my newfound energy. I jumped on him and hid my face. I couldn't hear what he said amidst the loud pounding of my heart. I would have remained glued to him forever if not for something slimy touching my foot, making me wrap my legs around his hard muscle in fear and disgust. When I heard another bark, I shrieked into his neck, ready to beg him to take me away from the giant-sized dogs.

But what he said made my stomach drop. "You were running away."

No, No..No. He caught me red-handed, and it hadn't been more than a few hours since he warned me.

I was about to push away when I felt another muzzle sniffing me. Instead of losing the hold, I pressed myself into him, losing count of reasons why I was crying—my phobia of the dogs, Aryan catching me red-handed, the numerous scenarios of dogs' ripping me on his command, what will be added to my punishment list, helplessness, failure of doing one task—I clung to him shame ripping my soul. Still, my body was acting on its own accord.