ALINA'S POV: ❤ω❤

The days that followed were a blur of excitement and anxiety. My engagement to Ahsan was a whirlwind, and as the wedding date drew closer, I found myself caught between the thrill of starting a new life and the dread of leaving everything familiar behind.

I spent hours in my room, staring at the ring on my finger, its shimmer a constant reminder of the change ahead. Ahsan’s family came over frequently, discussing the wedding arrangements, and I felt like a fragile doll on display, admired and scrutinized. My mother was elated, her laughter filling the house, but I could sense the tension in my father’s silence whenever the topic of my future came up.

One evening, while helping my mother prepare sweets for the engagement ceremony, I dared to voice my concerns. “Ami, what if I’m not ready for this? What about my studies?”

She paused, the smile fading from her face. “Alina, this is our tradition. We must honor it. Your education will always be there, but this opportunity—this marriage—is a blessing. Ahsan is a good man.”

But what if I don’t want to marry yet? The thought lingered unspoken in my mind. Instead, I pushed it aside, focusing on the tasks at hand. I couldn’t let my doubts ruin this moment for my mother, who seemed so happy.

As I was mixing the ingredients, my phone buzzed with a message from Ayesha. “Alina! Please come to the café tomorrow. I need to see you!”

Curiosity piqued, I agreed, wanting to escape the confines of my home, if only for a moment. The next day, I donned a simple dress and made my way to the café, the familiar aroma of coffee and pastries wrapping around me like a comforting blanket.

Ayesha was already there, her eyes wide with excitement. “I have something to tell you!” she exclaimed, grabbing my hands. “I’ve decided to study abroad! I got accepted into a university in London!”

“Wow, that’s amazing!” I replied, genuinely thrilled for her. But beneath my excitement, I felt a tinge of envy. “When are you leaving?”

“In two months. Right after my exams,” she said, her smile fading slightly. “And I’m worried about you. Are you really okay with all this? The marriage, leaving college?”

I hesitated, the weight of my reality crashing down on me. “I don’t know, Ayesha. Some days I feel excited, and others... I just feel lost.”

She squeezed my hand, her expression softening. “Alina, you deserve to be happy. Don’t let anyone force you into something you don’t want. You can always change your mind.”

Her words struck a chord, igniting a flicker of rebellion within me. Could I change my mind? Was it too late?

As we spoke, my phone buzzed again. It was a message from my father: “We need to talk about the wedding arrangements.”

I sighed, the heaviness of my responsibilities settling on my shoulders. “I have to go,” I told Ayesha, who nodded understandingly.

“Don’t forget what I said,” she urged as I stood to leave.

I walked home with a mix of emotions swirling inside me. The laughter of my family echoed in my mind, but the thought of my own desires seemed to drown it out.

As I entered the house, I was greeted by my father’s stern gaze. “Alina, we need to finalize the guest list. This is your big day, and it has to be perfect.”

I nodded, forcing a smile, but inside, a storm was brewing. What if I didn’t want it to be perfect? What if I wanted to be the one in control of my life, instead of being swept away by tradition?

That night, as I lay in bed, I made a decision. I wouldn’t let fear dictate my choices anymore. I would talk to my father about my studies and my dreams. I needed to reclaim a part of myself before stepping into a new life.

But the question lingered in my mind: Would he understand? Would he accept my wishes, or would I be just another pawn in the game of tradition?

The wedding was only a week away, and time was running out.

As I drifted into a restless sleep, I knew I had to find the courage to speak up, even if it meant facing the unknown.

The next morning, as the sun peeked through my window, I steeled myself. I would talk to my father today, no matter the cost.

But little did I know, a new challenge awaited me, one that would test my resolve and redefine my understanding of family, freedom, and love.

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. “Alina, can you come here for a moment?”

It was my mother’s voice, tinged with urgency. My heart raced as I wondered what news awaited me, but I knew one thing for sure—my life was about to change in ways I could never have imagined.

And so, with my heart pounding in my chest, I stepped out of my room, ready to face whatever came next. As I walk in the living room, my mother was sitting next to aunt Sadia. "Look, Sadia sister brought you your walima dress and jewelry." I look over at their excitement and the dress that is already made for me. I have no choice than to accept my fate. I didn’t raise my voice at the table when abu asked me, then I have no right to talk now as well. I thanked aunt Sadia and went back in my room. I told myself that Ahsan is a good person and I should be happy to have a person like him.