Out Of Wreckage?

Chapter Twelve

Marriage is one big responsibility and commitment.
Especially in an arranged marriage, where everything starts from the beginning.
It takes two to get it run in a journey.

The man beside me, the man who I knew nothing of except for his name is my husband.

I didn't know who he is?
how he is? Nothing.

He's strange for sure and he doesn't smiles a lot. Not even when we're being congratulated at every minute by hundreds of guests present here.

Well, I shouldn't blame him. He might be different than I had thought but it's not that bad. Everybody is different and I'm no one to judge him.

You're his wife.

My subconscious snapped at me.
Yes, now I am and I've already come to the terms.

My eyes were cast down as people continued to wish me. Since it was not a grand ceremony for which I was extremely thankful at the moment, we both were escorted to the car early.
It was a tearful moment to say goodbye to my family, my home and my father.

Chacha held the holy Quran above my head.

Even though I was going to see them tomorrow for waleema, my heart was breaking to depart from them.

I sat in the car with my husband. My faced caked with makeup and dried tears.

As the car sped off, I saw my family waving to me. I waved back before they disappeared from my sight.

Aslam was quiet. He didn't say a word of comfort. I kept staring at my henna designs which weren't dark at all.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw him. He sat there as if there was no one in the car except him.

I didn't know what was with him but now when he's my husband, I'm willing to work this out.
To understand him, know him and live with him.

I yawned with my mind all occupied and didn't realize when did I doze off.

I woke up from my short nap. I was still in the car but alone.
I peeped out of the window. The street was dark, I had no clue where was I.
Aslam was nowhere to be seen. Even his driver was missing.

I didn't know what to do. I just got out of the car to see a huge two storey house.

I had two options at the moment.
Either wait for my husband in an empty car in the middle of the night or get inside the house

I chose the second alternative. The first one was too scary.

With slow strides, I was at the door.

I slowly knocked twice but there wasn't any response. I twisted the door knob and to my surprise, the door was unlocked.

As I trudged in, closing the door behind, It was a very huge house, bigger than I had ever seen.
It was horrific for me. I slowly made my way to the stairs.

"Is somebody there? Aslam?" My voice was wobbly.

I ascended the stairs to find my husband soundly sleeping on the bed.

I was shocked. He could have woken me up but instead he left me in the car alone.

How insensitive of him?
I was very mad at him but equally tired. My bags were already in the room.

I removed a cotton nightgown from one of my bags and quickly changed in another room.

When I came back, he was awake and staring at me.

"Where were you?" He asked me.

I was astounded but still answered.

"I was in the other room. Changing." I replied.