Noor

12

Late night Noor was sleeping on bed peacefully when she felt someone splash water on her

Noor woke with a starl her heart hammering in her chest. She sat up, her disoriented mind trying to make sense of her surroundings.

Her eyes adjusted to the dark, and she saw a figure standing in front of her, holding an empty pitcher in their hands.

"Who..." she managed, her voice hoarse with sleep.

The figure moved closer, the light from the oil lamps illuminating their face.

Noor gasped as she realized who it was...Tajdar??

Tajdaar stood in front of Noor, his expression cold and stern his eyes Were dull as she can feel alcohol smell The pitcher he was holding was clutched in his hand tightly, his knuckles white. Water dripped from the edge of the pitcher, running down his wrist.

Noor looked up at him, the fear she had felt earlier rising in her chest. His gaze was intense, unwavering, boring into hers as if to see into her very soul.

"Get up from my bed and get lost"

Noor flinched at the harsh tone, her heart thudding in her chest. She stared back at him, her eyes wide, her mind struggling to fully process what was happening.

"Wh-what?" she stuttered, her voice betraying her fear.

Tajdaar leaned closer, his eyes still fixed on hers, his expression still cold.

"You heard me," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Get up and leave. This is my bed, not yours."

Noor felt a shiver run down her spine. His words sounded harsh, almost brutal, and they sent a wave of anxiety through her.

She swallowed hard, her hands twisting the bedsheet in her lap.

"W..what's wrong why are you behaving like this???"

Tajdaar let out a cold, humorless laugh.

"Isn't it obvious?" he said sarcastically. "I'm behaving like this because I don't want you here. I didn't want to marry you. I don't want you in my bed, I don't want you in my life. I never wanted you."

Noor felt as if something had struck her in the chest. His words stung, each one like a slap in the face. The coldness in his voice, the hostility in his eyes...it was as if he despised her.

She swallowed back her tears, trying to hold onto some dignity.

"I...I never asked to be married to you either," she said, her voice quavering.

"Then you should have refused," Tajdaar retorted, his eyes still fixed on hers. "You could have said no, you could have said you didn't want me...you...could have done it"

"But you didn't," he continued, his tone growing fiercer. "You just went along with it, like a obedient daughter."

Noor couldn't deny the truth in his words. She had gone along with the marriage. She had not refused, had not protested, had not even tried to fight against it.

But the reality was much more complex than he made it sound.

"You don't understand," she said shakily. "I couldn't...I had no choice..."

"Everyone has a choice," Tajdaar said, his voice sharp. "You chose this, don't blame anyone else. You're here, in my bed, married to me...because you didn't have the courage to say no. Face the reality."

Noor felt a wave of shame wash over her. He was right, she had chosen this, had accepted this fate. But it didn't make his attitude any easier to bear.