a reluctant bride

"Sweet chocolate, in a few hours, you will be Mrs. Baris, and he will stop hiding you here. Go prepare yourself; I will personally make an appointment for you at 3 pm. Don't worry, my chocolate, everything will be done within one hour, and the rest will be taken care of by the lawyer. After the honeymoon, I will throw a big party for you," Mr. Coj explained, his face lit up with excitement. "There will be no party, Grandpa," Baris interjected with a serious expression. Mr. Coj ignored him, turning to me, "Yes, dear, a big party. A beautiful chocolate like you cannot get married in secret without the world witnessing."

I managed a smile, concealing the turmoil within. "I should start preparing now; please excuse me," I said, standing up. "Sure, sure, dear. You are the bride; it is your day," Mr. Coj responded.

Baris added, "A stylist will be here at 12 noon; she will prepare you for the wedding." He stood up, pulling back the chair to make way for me. Seizing the moment, I grabbed his hand and pulled him closer. I don't know where I found the courage, but it was my only chance. He willingly complied, and I attempted to stand on my tiptoes to reach his ears. Whispering, I pleaded, "Can I please have a word with you in private?" He looked at me sternly, saying, "No! You need to rest; the groom is not allowed to see the bride-to-be until the wedding." And with that, I was dismissed.

Was he avoiding me because he knew what I wanted to say? A wave of terrible sadness engulfed me, tears streaming down my cheeks as I hastened my steps to my room. In the quiet solitude, I allowed myself to imagine how I always envisioned my wedding. Everything I had dreamt of was now within arm's reach, yet the circumstances felt like a cruel distortion of my desires.Was he avoiding me because he knew what I wanted to say? A wave of terrible sadness engulfed me, tears streaming down my cheeks as I hastened my steps to my room. In the quiet solitude, I allowed myself to imagine how I always envisioned my wedding. Everything I had dreamt of was now within arm's reach, yet the circumstances felt like a cruel distortion of my desires.

I had the names of the bridegrooms, the dress I was to wear on the pre-wedding and the wedding cake. I knew the cake I wanted; I had plans for the pre-wedding and post-wedding. I had everything planned except the groom. After my painful experience with Peter, I had given up on everything, only to find myself now on the verge of marrying a stranger in a trance land with trance customs. I didn't even understand this man; he was horrible and sweet at the same time – a pure definition of the devil.

I cried so hard that my eyes were painful, my nose was blocked, and my face was swollen. I looked at myself in the mirror, unable to believe I was this disheveled. Hoping against hope, I wished Baris would come to my room, allowing me the chance to beg him not to go through with this madness, but he never appeared.

Determined to ease my emotional turmoil, I decided to take a shower. Filling up the bathtub, I slid in slowly. As the hot water caressed my skin, a sense of peace enveloped me. Slowly, I surrendered to the soothing embrace of the water, allowing myself to float, and eventually, I drifted into a restless sleep within the comforting confines of the tub.