perfect imperfection

a new life

CHAPTER 1

"My dear you're a married now, your husband and his family comes first okay. you're no longer a child you need stop acting immature your father and I have given you so much freedom do pay us back well by being good to your in-laws do what your mother in law says and obey your husband and never talk back at them . I love you" these were the last words my mother said to me before bidding me farewell to my husband's place

I thought about these words while sitting on a large bed enough to fit 5 people in a large room filled with all forms of luxurious ornaments.

 I could see my reflection in the larger than necessary mirror in the corner of the room, I didn't look myself, the person in this mirror is all glammed up waiting for a husband and ready to start her life but is it.

 My father didn't get me a husband he got himself a wealth insurance unlike other Arab men my father wished for girls instead of boys so that he could enjoy large bride prices paid to women when married it was not a question that I had to give my father the 70 000 dirham I got as my dowry.

My father traded his self-respect for greed. Was my fate the same as my 3 older sisters who suffered due to my fathers' greed. My eldest sister Summaya died after her husband beat her to death then my second eldest sister Hamdi was married off to the same man who killed my sister. and finally Maryam was married to a guy older than our father who lives in Dubai we have not heard a single news about her since she left home. And I the last of the four sisters Hala was now married to the crown prince of Al kiams. I am 17 years old which by western standards is too young to be married but I still feel lucky because all my sisters where married of at an earlier age plus I got an education only due to the fact that my father was told it increases the chances of getting a filthy rich suitor.

The door opened bringing me back to reality. I hadn't even looked at my husband during the whole ceremony so I don't know how he looks but since his here it must be him. I raised my gaze to have a sight at him. He was tall, lean and had hazel colored eyes they were magnificent his brown hair was long enough to brush over his shoulder now I see why the girls envied me but despite the good looks i know his mentality is ugly if he thinks women are anyway lesser than men.

Finally the silence is broken by him. "salam-u-alaikum'' he said in an unexpected husky voice. I replied "walaikum-u-salam" sounding smaller than usual.

"My name is Muhammad bin Saeed. Feel free to ask Aisha my sister or my mother Raqiba for anything you may need ..... Do feel at home"

I just nodded in reply feeling no need to introduce myself though I did review a sample intro in my head My name is Hala bint Asim ohh sorry Mrs Mohammad .my mom says the whole nodding thing I do is rude but it's a habit I can't get over. I just feel like if I was to open my mouth to reply a gush of questions would escape like why didn't he feel the need to ask if I was okay with this marriage so nodding is my comfort space

"Go wash up it's almost prayer time. Aisha will soon be here to take you downstairs for prayers"

I managed to say "okay" this time around. I got up trying to carry my very heavy dress when I almost tripped over the bed if a hand didn't catch me in time. Obviously the hand that caught me is attached to Mohammad. I froze maybe that's why he released me too suddenly.

"Be careful, clumsiness is not welcomed'' he said before going out of the room.

I released a sigh the minute he went out I didn't realize how tense I was. So the thing is in this huge bedroom there are 4 doors one I know is the exit door but which is the bathroom door. The first door I tried was locked a bit strange I thought. The second was a dress room his clothes, suits and shoes where on the left while my packed suit cases where on the right so I got the lightest abaya possible am so tired of wearing heavy garments and the last door must be the toilet I got in freshened up and got out