Silent Hearts: A Marriage of Arrangements

2

~Author's POV~

The first month of Zara and Asfandyar's marriage passed in a series of quiet, uneventful days. Well, quiet for Asfandyar. For Zara, it was a strange mix of trying to get used to living in the same house as someone who was, for all intents and purposes, a stranger. A cold, distant stranger. But she had her books to keep her company, and, as always, they were her comfort in times of uncertainty.

Zara, a book lover to her core, often retreated to the small library in the house, a cozy room with floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with novels of all genres. It became her safe haven, where she could escape the awkwardness of her new life. She spent hours curled up in the armchair with a book in hand, losing herself in stories of romance, adventure, and mystery, while Asfandyar went about his usual routine of work and silence.

Despite his aloofness, Zara couldn't help but notice small, humorous moments that slipped into their otherwise monotonous existence. Like the time she accidentally spilled tea on his impeccably pressed shirt.

It had been a particularly quiet evening, and Zara had been lost in the world of her book while absentmindedly holding her cup of tea. She hadn't even noticed Asfandyar enter the room until he passed by her, and her elbow-of course-decided to knock the cup straight onto his pristine white shirt.

She gasped, jumping up in horror. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry!"

Asfandyar froze, his face expressionless as he looked down at the growing stain. He didn't say anything, but the arch of his eyebrow spoke volumes.

Zara, mortified, grabbed the first thing she could find - which, unfortunately, was another book - and started patting at the stain. Asfandyar raised his hands slightly in a half-hearted attempt to stop her.

"Zara, you're using-"

"I know, I know!" she interrupted, tossing the book aside in panic and running to get a towel. When she returned, she found him standing awkwardly in the same spot, his shirt still stained, his face a perfect picture of restrained patience.

"I'll fix it," she said, frantically dabbing at the stain.

He simply sighed. "It's just tea, Zara." 

suddenly he get hold  of her wrists sending shiver down her spine and stopped her                    "zara it's just a tea it's ok , i'll just take this off"  saying this he started to take his shirt off making her eyes wide and cheeks turn red , noticing her reaction he tosses his shirt aside and takes slow steps towards her making her step back.

"you were fixing this right" he said as her back hit the wall caging her between him and the wall.  

Zara's heart raced as Asfandyar stepped closer, the warm scent of his cologne enveloping her. She could feel the heat radiating from his skin, and it sent shivers down her spine. His gaze, intense and searching, held hers captive.

"You know," he said, his voice low and teasing, "this wasn't exactly how I imagined our evening together." His lips curled into a playful smirk, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. "I thought we were just going to have tea and discuss your book."Zara swallowed hard, struggling to find her voice. "I—I didn't mean to—"