Veils of Destiny: A Union Unseen

Chapter 3: First Encounter

AOA peoples here the second chapter. Hope you enjoy 😊

Haram sat before the mirror, her hands resting in her lap after completing her Zuhar prayer. Today was the day. The day that would decide her future, her fate. Yesterday, she had been informed that she would meet Aryan—the man who could change everything for her—so they could both give their final answers.

As she began to prepare herself for the meeting, her heart raced with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. She wanted to look perfect today. She wanted him to choose her. Deep down, there was a desire—a desperate yearning—to escape the confines of her current life. The house she lived in felt more like a cage than a home, and the family she had met yesterday, Aryan's family, seemed to hold the key to unlocking the love she had always dreamed of.

Although their encounter had been brief, the warmth and kindness they had shown her filled the emptiness in her heart. For the first time in her life, she felt seen, cherished. It didn't matter to her how long that love would last—days, weeks, months. All she wanted was to feel important, to be loved, if only for a short while.

But as those thoughts swirled in her mind, a darker fear began to creep in. What if that love was fleeting? What if, in time, they grew tired of her, just like everyone else? Her grip tightened on her kurta, her chest constricting as anxiety clawed at her. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and willed the storm inside her to calm.

When she finally opened her eyes and looked at herself in the mirror, she saw the reflection of a young woman trying to hold herself together.

She had chosen a simple yet elegant white kurta with a matching white shalwar, and a dupatta adorned with delicate, colorful floral embroidery. The dupatta was neatly draped—one end on her shoulder, the other gracefully covering her head. She added a pair of golden earrings and lightly tinted her cheeks with blush, finishing her look with a touch of gloss on her lips.

As Haram studied her reflection, a small smile finally appeared. She did look beautiful, more than she had hoped.

"Please, Allah, make this work..." she whispered, her voice barely audible as she uttered her prayer.

Steeling herself, she left her room, only to find her family gathered outside. As soon as her uncle, Chachu, saw her, he stood up, his face expressionless.

"Don't mess this up. We can't afford to lose this alliance," he muttered sharply before heading out, Ahmad trailing behind him to the office.

Haram flinched at his words but stayed silent.

"I told you to put on proper makeup!" Sadia, her Chachi, scolded, her eyes scanning Haram disapprovingly. "That man won't even look at you with that plain face. Why didn't you ask Huda for help?"

Without waiting for an answer, Sadia grabbed Haram's wrist and began dragging her upstairs. But before they could go far, Huda, Haram's sister-in-law, intervened.

"Maa, she'll be late if we don't leave now. You know how much Aryan hates waiting," Huda said, her voice gentle yet firm.

Sadia hesitated, her gaze darting between the clock and Haram, before finally releasing her grip. "Fine," she sighed, looking at Huda. "Just make sure she looks presentable in the car."

Huda smiled reassuringly and put her hand on Haram's shoulder, whispering softly as they headed out the door, "Don't worry about her. You're beautiful as you are."

The words, though kind, barely touched Haram's heart. She had heard too many criticisms to be soothed by such simple reassurances.

As they drove to the café where the meeting was set, Haram sat quietly, lost in her thoughts, while Huda chatted in an effort to ease the tension.