LOVE WITHOUT DESTINY

part 16

As soon as Amal sat down opposite side the groom, Qazi Sahab began reciting the Nikkah.
Her heart pounded against her chest, and her fingers trembled as they gripped the edge of her dupatta.

The silence of the room above was troubling her even more.
Qazi Sahab continued delivering the sermon, and with each passing moment, Amal's heart grew heavier.

She was listening to the sermon, but her thoughts were wandering far and wide.
She suddenly snapped out of her thoughts when Qazi Sahab addressed her directly.

"Amal bint-e-Imran," Qazi Sahab's solemn voice filled the room.

"Do you accept Zain Khan bin Arzel Khan as your lawful husband?"

The moment those words reached Amal's ears, she froze.
Her eyes widened in shock.
She couldn’t process what she had just heard and began questioning herself, asking, "Did I really hear that?"
Her mind reeled with confusion.

"No, this can't be possible... Zain..." she whispered to herself, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Her voice broke through the silence.
"No... no, this can't be happening!"

Her breath hitched, and she shot up from her seat, her dupatta slipping slightly from her shoulder.
Her eyes darted between Qazi Sahab and the figure in front of her.

Without waiting for anyone’s reaction, Amal ran out of the room.
Her feet carried her as fast as they could to her temporary refuge—her bedroom.

She slammed the door shut behind her, locked it, and grabbed her phone with trembling hands.

"Sam," she whispered, her voice choking on her tears.

She dialed his number, her fingers fumbling in desperation.
The phone rang, but there was no answer.

She tried again.
And again.

"Please, Sam, pick up! Where are you? What’s happening?!" she cried out, tears streaming down her face.

Her knees buckled, and she sank onto the floor.
The silence on the other end was deafening, each unanswered ring a dagger through her heart.

Her thoughts spiraled.
She whispered to herself, "Why isn’t he answering? What’s going on? Sam, please... please answer me!"

She pressed the phone against her forehead, trying to steady her breathing.

But the panic refused to subside.
Her mind raced, and she realized there was only one other person she could call.

With trembling fingers, she dialed Asma’s number.

On the second ring, Asma answered, her voice groggy with sleep.
"Amal? What’s wrong? It’s so late."

Amal opened her mouth to speak, her lips quivering.
But before she could say a word, the door to her room creaked open.

She turned, her eyes widening in terror.
Zain stood in the doorway, his silhouette sharp against the dim light from the hallway.

Amal froze, and her phone slipped from her hand onto the bed, the call still active.

Zain’s dark, piercing eyes locked onto hers.
Without saying a word, he stepped inside and closed the door behind him with a soft but deliberate click.

Her heart raced as she instinctively took a step back.

Zain’s voice was calm, but his presence radiated danger.
"You thought you could escape this, Amal?"

He took another step forward, his gaze fixed on her.
"Did you really think running to this room would save you?"

Amal’s eyes darted to the bed where her phone lay, still connected to Asma.
She prayed silently that Asma could hear everything.