Second Chance

Chapter 3 - Rameesha

Warning before you start reading this chapter, there is reference to some triggering things so I would read in discretion. Also, I dedicated this chapter to UnresolvedFate for making the new cover. Thank you!F

Enjoy reading.

Chapter 3

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

Other than the few distant voices of the family member Rameesha became part of a few hours ago, the sound of the clock, and her heart beating against her chest, she couldn't hear anything else.

The open window was letting in the hot air in the room and the ceiling fan circulated the heat. The hot room and heavy red and gold embroidered wedding gown suffocated Rameesha, and the thoughts that bounced around in her head made her dizzy.

Rameesha had accepted her fate of getting arrange married since before she even properly understood the concept of marriage. The day had come where she was finally married and she felt like she wasn't prepared for a lifelong commitment.

Whenever someone asked Rameesha about her future plans marriage was never part of it. But, in the back of her mind, she knew that marriage was part of her family's culture and her religion that she couldn't get out of. On one hand, she always believed in being independent and wished to take care of her parents when she was capable to. On the other hand, she grew up hearing that a girl is only a temporary guest to the family she is born in, it is her parents' duty to marry her off and get her settled in her own 'family'.

She hated that. She hated it whenever her mom said, "when you go to your own house..." In those moments, she felt like a stranger in her own home and to her own family.

There she was, standing in the room of her new house, but she felt like it would take a long time before she could consider it as her own home. Maybe even longer to consider the family outside her new room as her family. But more than all that, Rameesha feared whether or not she would be able to adjust with her husband.

She hoped that her parents would find someone who was raised and lived most of their life in America. That way she could have some compatibility and understanding with the person. But that didn't happen. Instead, she got married to someone who lived and was raised in Pakistan. The only thing that helped her a little was the fact that the people she's closest to her came to Pakistan to help her get through her wedding.

A sudden noise startled Rameesha and she stopped mid-pacing. She scrambled to sit in the center of the bed that was decorated with rose petals and strings of light pink flowers hanging above each corner of the bed. The skirt of her dress spread around her as she tried to smooth out the creases.

The realization that Faisal was about to come into their room caused all of her thoughts to halt and her mind went blank. Commitment was something she had doubts about, but intimacy was something she knew for sure she wasn't ready for. Faisal was the first guy she ever talked to as more than friends and that was only after their parents arranged their marriage. Even after knowing each other for almost three months, she still wasn't comfortable enough to open up to him completely.

The door opened and Faisal stumbled into the room. He closed the door and locked it before he staggered towards the bed. Rameesha smelled alcohol on him when he sat down next to her; the stench of alcohol mixed with the sweet scent of roses. She scrunched her nose in disgust and her heart fell in her stomach.

"You are you so beautiful," he slurred and stroked her cheek. She felt herself shudder under his touch as she moved her head back a little.

"F-Faisal," she stuttered his name. Rameesha hoped that she would be able to talk to him, but from his glazed eyes and noncommittal hum, she could tell that he wouldn't even be able to have a simple conversation with her.