Chapter Seven

Finally, the big day, had come. Layla was very frightened but for some reason, her heart craved seeing Mika'il

She had made an attempt to tell Mika'il's mother about his behaviour, but it was all in vain.

Anytime she tried to talk, her voice box would fail her. She didn't understand why. Was fate playing games with her?

She had to admit, she looked very beautiful,dressed as a bride. But she was a forced bride. She was being forced to marry such a sadist.

She wished for nothing but the worst for him. After a year, she would no longer see and know him.

Her mother came into the room with teary eyes.

"What's wrong Ummi?" She asked.

"My little baby is getting married" she responded.

She sighed and said,

"This isn't a real marriage mom and I'm not even in s-..." She was cut short by Memuna's voice.

"The groom's here!"

Layla's heart started pounding like never before. She decided to be brave , but her bravery had turned out to be cowardice.

She said a silent prayer in her head.

'يا الله، من فضلك أعطني القوة'

'Yaa Allah, please grant me strength'.

Her mother and her aunts and the groom's mother walked her slowly downstairs to the wedding grounds.

Layla was surprised to see how the mansion, had changed overnight.

There were wedding decorations, all over the house. Many people were present, including those extrovert cousins of Munaiya.

There was wedding songs, being sung all over. She locked eyes with Mika'il. He looked handsome as ever. He was looking like a god sent from the heavens.

He looked at her with wowed eyes. She unconsciously blushed, but soon remembered that she was being forced into this.

She changed her expression quickly, but Mika'il's reaction remained the same.

She was walked to his side, as he took her hand softly.

She felt tingles run through her body, but she ignored them and never looked him in the eye.

They both sat before the Imam as the wedding ceremony begun. After a long line of Quranic recital by the Imam, and the couple, the certification of the wedding came to a start

هل يا ميخيل بون عبد العزيز، خذ اليك ليلى بنت حياة، مثل زوجة مثبتة قانونا؟

Do you Mikail Bun Abd Azeez, take thee Layla Bint Hayat, as thy lawfully wedded wife?

أنا افعل'

I do

والقيام ليلى بنت حياة خذ ميكيل كعكة' الشيخ عبد العزيز كما هو مثلك زوج مطوي؟'

'And do thee Layla Bint Hayat take Mikail Bun Sheikh Abd Azeez as, thy lawfully wedded husband?'

With a tear drop from her eye, she answered painfully

أنا افعل'

'I do'

Another tear drop escaped her eye, when she said that. She wasn't happy with what was going on.

She wished that, she died and couldn't witness this day.

She felt a hand on hers. It was Mikail's. She pulled her hand away from him gently, so as not to attract unnecessary attention to herself.

She never looked at him, but she heard him sigh. She was the only unhappy person on her false wedding day.

After everything, the bride had to go and change into her reception gown.

The dress was very lovely. Her mother and aunts and the groom's aunts helped her into her gown. She looked very beautiful in the gown.

She didn't want to go for the reception. She was scared to go.

After dressing up, she was walked to the reception centre that was in one of the mansion's vast halls.

Every eye turned on her, when she walked in. She didn't spare anyone a glance. She saw Mikail once again. He was looking as stunning as always. This man was the definition of perfection.

He walked to her and held his hand out with a genuine smile on his face. She took it in a frightened manner. She never smiled back.

He ushered her to the bride and groom's high table.

She sat down without looking at him, but with tears in her eyes. She was praying that her Lord saved her.

"Hey?" She heard him call softly.

She didn't mind him.

"I know you can hear me. And I want you to know that I'm nervous too " he said.

She still didn't react to him.

He sighed and patted her on the hand softly.

She remained as still as ever. Her eyes locked with someone's eyes.

He stood there, with his new wife staring at her. She dropped a tear of heartbreak.

Mikail saw her tear and followed the direction of where she gazed at.

It was her father. He was there, with his new wife. He was smiling weakly at her.

Layla robotically got up and walked feebly to him, with Mika'il behind her.

This scene attracted the attention of the guests. She walked to her father and looked at him locking hands with his new wife.

She smiled with tears flowing down her eyes and held unto his cheek softly and said

"I-I'm s-sorry, I wasn't t-the b-best d-daughter t-to y-you father?"

He had tears in his eyes too. She looked at the new woman and said

"Keep my father happy okay?"

She turned back to her father and said

"I-I'll k-keep m-mom h-happy too okay?" As more tears flowed from her eyes.

She begun feeling light headed. The effect of her ailment had taken over her.

She staggered backwards and fell into the arms of her forced groom.

"Don't leave me Layla!" She heard him say.

All the guests rushed to them, as Munaiya and her brother shooed the paparazzi away.

Maryam, Layla's mother had red teary eyes as she held her little baby girl Layla in her arms.

"Why did you ever come back?!" She spat at her former husband Bilal.

He sighed and backed away as he left the Mansion.

Layla had a panic attack and had to be rushed to the hospital.

Mika'il was distressed. He didn't want to lose her. Not now, Not ever!.

He has to act fast. She was suffering from depression and a lung failure.

He was fearful for her life. She had hone through a great deal in life and he didn't want to lose her, not ever.

If she was going to die, he was going to die with her. He had lost her in the past before, when he left her, but he wasn't going to risk this next time.

He was going to stick with her till casket.

Through thick and thin, they were both going to stay together and were both going to get the best life, they could think of.

This is an oath he had taken before his Lord Allah, whom he hadn't spoken to, for close to 13 years.

He would fight against all the hells in the world for Layla's sake, because he loved her and would do everything to stay with her till eternity.

'Today, is a day, that remains indelible in my mind. The day I made you mine. I'll make sure to keep it that way, till casket❤'