. She said nodding to herself as she looked around everyone around him

It was just one test that he scored more than her she already knows that it won't be good for her once the news reaches her house.

She shuddered.

"Why do you look pale?". He asked smirking as he looked down at her, "Just because I score more you are this mad".

She didn't speak.

"Come on, you always score more you can at least congratulate me". He said

But she holds her bag walking away from the class towards the tree she usually sits under when she is free. She doesn't like speaking to male and female don't talk to her because she has the attention of the guy they wanted.

Adil, was a woman dream how he achieved that was out of her mind but one her first day they both were new and somehow ended being in a fight which resulted further in people comparing them in every task they do.

Sophia, was a common girl with rich parents like Adil's but her life was a little more complicated as she shares a different kind of relationship with her family. They were competitive and no just a little bit a lot she had to fight to survive. Guess, money doesn't buy you everything.

She sighs.

She looked at the shining sky, "You are always shining so bright alone there. Why didn't you take me?. We could have shone brighter together".

She blinked her eyes tightening her fist not wanting to allow her tears to fall down.

"I heard you scored low on the test and came second". She heard her sister, Mariah said

She didn't speak.

"Dad will be happy to hear that. See you home, sister". She added walking away to her friends

She sighs.

"Well, that was what I was talking about. I should have gone with you that night". She mumbles holding her bag and walking to her next class with a heavy heart

Adil watched her walking away after talking to her sister who always told him and others how arrogant Sophia was and how she had made Mariah's life in general real hard that she wanted to commit suicide. The thought of someone causing someone life hard enough for them to consider suicide is what made him distance himself from her.

He remembers their first fight it was mostly him trying to speak to her while she denied talking to any male population at all and him insisting had caused the fight. He knew he was wrong he never talks to woman either but he really wanted to speak to her and she rejected him. He turned around walking away to his own class.

"What did I hear about you scoring lower than Mustafa's son?". Her father said as she placed the tea in front of him

She didn't speak.

Then, a slap reached her face as she falls on the ground hard and some tears leaving her eyes as the pain that come with the slap.

"I am sorry it won't happen again". She begged as he slapped her again

It was a routine she went through either she did something wrong or not.

"Go, prepare yourself he will be here in some time". Her father- Hamid yelled walking away

"Finally, she will be out of our house". She heard her stepmother - Fatima say

She was unwanted.

"I cannot wait". Mariah said

She walked or limped towards her storeroom she was given after her mother died to prepare herself. She looked in the small mirror to the marks her father had given her hiding them with makeup and then at the chest where her limbs hurt.

She walked back out cooking the food for the guest that was coming over. She wasn't sure what her stepmother and sister meant but she was sure it will be worse.

She heard some men voices coming from the lounge and she holds the tray with juices as she was called. She walked inside to find a man about 50 years sitting with her father and talking.

She hands him the glass and he holds her hand which she pulled back forcefully not liking his touch.

"She is the one?". The man buffed voice asked

"Yes, she is the one". Her father said

Her heartbeat started rising.

"I want to speak to her alone". The older man said

She was asked to take him to the garden as she walked outside the man held her hand tightly in his pulling her closer to himself and her heart stopped.

"You will be wife one way or another and when you are my wife you will treat me as your God and surrender in front of me each day and night". The man said smirking at her pale face

"No, I will not marry you". She said pulling away and running inside

She looked at her father scared and in need of protection, "Baba (father), I don't know that man is saying he will marry me and some bad words. Please, save me".

Which resulted in a slap by her father and then she realised her father was involved in this.

"You will marry him in two days". Were the last words she heard before she fainted

The next day, she was back in university but her mind remained on the scenes from last night. She couldn't even grasp the situation she knows once she was married to a man who was not only older but someone she never think of marrying her life will be over.

She couldn't sit in the class so before the teacher could start the lecture she walked out even when the teacher called her which she doesn't usually do but she just can't sit while her life was going out of her hands.

He watched her running outside of the class and he looked at her retrieving self confused. As he had been noticing from morning when she stepped inside that her face was a little weird and her eyes were red, bad red. He wanted to ask her but he knows he couldn't. But something in him was pushing him to go to her so he too walked outside not caring that he will be punished.

He followed her as she walked towards the top of university and her run was disoriented like she was hurt and couldn't walk. He saw her standing near the end of the wall leaning forward. But, his heart clenches when he heard her crying. Her cries were a knife to his heart and he couldn't even hold her to comfort her as his heart wanted.

"Why? Why didn't you take me away too?". He heard her yelled as she cries looking at the sky, "They will ruin me more. He will ruin me, Ammi (mother), please save me. Please. I don't want to live anymore, please".

His heart stopped.

He couldn't even stop to think of her words all he could make was her killing herself. He saw her standing on the top of the wall and before he could make much sense his feet ran towards her and before she could fall down he pulled her back causing them to lose balance and fall on the ground.

He heard her scream in pain and her face was much clearer now without any makeup as what he saw had him horrified. Her face was covered with bruises and some were too fresh.

He saw her closing her eyes and panicked, "No, no, please, don't close your eyes. Stay with me".

"Please, save me from him". She mumbles falling into darkness

He looked around knowing she needed medical help but if he called an ambulance it will take time and she will be a talk of the whole university and if he holds her it will be wrong and she will be subjected to name-calling. So he covered her face with his jacket asking his friends help to take her out without being noticed.

He placed her on the back seat and took the front seat but his friend reminded him that hospital will complicate things so now he had to take her to his home. He drives and asked his mother to call a doctor which she was worried but he assured he will explain later.

He walked inside this time he had to hold her like before because he had no option and he saw his family looking at him worried. He explained a little placing her in the room first and allowing the doctor to attend her.

"Isn't she Hamid's daughter?". His father asked his wife

"I think so. It's been years since we last saw her so I am not sure. When we go to visit he always says she isn't home". His mother- Nazia said

"I don't know why she tried to kill herself. She always appears so strong and she said 'please save me from him' before she fainted. She has a lot of bruises on her face too". Adil said brushing his hair angrily

"Some time you have no other option than being strong, beta (son) and being strong doesn't mean that you can take everything in life something in life can break you". His mother said patting his shoulder to comfort him

"But Ammi (mother), her sister said she makes her life really hard and she had been doing so much. Maybe she is guilty". Adil said confusing himself too

"Maybe you should watch people from your own eyes instead of others. She doesn't look like someone who will ruin someone else life". His mother said upset

The doctor walked out looking worried as he looked at the people in front of him.

"The girl is barely living. She was beaten to death and the wound is fresh which means she was hit yesterday or a few hours ago. She wasn't treated for it and some wounds are old they weren't treated either. She hadn't been fed in two days and by her health, she wasn't fed much through her years. She is malnutrition and her health is too weak". The doctor explained

Adil and his family stayed shocked and quiet as the doctor hands them the medicine and asked to take proper care of her.

"There is something very wrong happening". His father said

"Yes, they are lying, Mustafa". His mother said, "The poor girl is about to die and they don't care?".

Adil remained quiet as her sister words and the doctor words come back at him. He wasn't sure what he should believe in and what he shouldn't but the doctor couldn't be wrong.

"Her sister lied too". Adil whispered

"You blamed her on lies, Adil. What is wrong with you?. I never brought you up this way". His mother accused

"Ammi (mother), what will we do now?". His brother-Atif said

She opened her eyes and without even realising or thinking where she was her eyes landed on the clock which showed the university closed an hour ago. She sprinted from the bed opening the door as she ran the stairs towards the door.

"Sophia". She heard his voice which stopped her steps

She turned around looking at the family she wasn't familiar with beside Adil.

"W-Where am I?". She asked scared

Adil took a step forward and she stepped back immediately. Adil stopped taking steps as he looked at her shaking form.

"I need to leave now. He will kill me". She said scared as she turned around running outside

Before Adil could reach her she ran into a taxi and asked him to drive her home. The taxi stopped in front of her house and she knows she will be hit as soon as she entered. But, she entered inside looking around and didn't find anyone.

She sighs.

She walked towards her room as she cleaned herself and then the whole house cooking the meal for the night when she heard the laughter coming from the door which was her family.

"Today was fun". She heard her stepmother say

"Yes, it was". Her father says

They sat in the lounge talking about their outing and she walked inside asking them about food when they heard the bell ringing. She walked timidly towards the door opening it and her eyes widen looking at her would-be future husband with a creepy smile.

She quickly walked away as the man joined her father and they talked just as she placed the food on the table she heard the door ring again. She walked towards the door opening it again and her heart stopped.

"Adil?". She mumbles scared