I shouldn't have believed in love when I have seen it only being destructive.

That thought occurs but a little too late.

Hawaa waits for her runaway husband dressed for him in the room while everyone tries to find him.

Ali.

That is his name.

"Jee, Imaan Khala he ran away". She said on her call to update her

She heard her crying, "Beta, how can he?".

She shrugged, "I don't care. I want everyone to leave so I can finally rest".

"No, I have someone who can marry you". Imaan said

"I don't want to marry someone random or anyone at all". She said

"Just listen to me". Imaan ordered

That was how she was married to her cousin- Hamood

She didn't say much because in her family her Khala has helped her the most in her life. She has a place in her life which she should have given to her own mother but didn't.

"I can't believe she made me do this". Hamood said when they enter his apartment

She rolls her eyes at his mental breakdown.

She skips a minor detail back then- She and Hamood are not close to being a friend even after being cousin, no, they are enemies.

She sits with her disturbingly heavy clothes looking at her phone browsing through the apps waiting for his rant to end.

"I never should have agreed to this". He shouted watching her not paying any attention

"Are you done?". She asked placing her phone down

"Yes". He said sitting on the couch

"Good. What's the sleeping arrangement?". She asked

He makes a weird face, "You will sleep in my room?".

He didn't mean to say that as a question but he was busy wondering if she was stupid enough to ask him that.

"Thanks, Genius. Don't you have a spare room I can take?". She asked huffing

"No. Even if I had one you are still sleeping in my room. I don't want my family or house worker to think that we have issue". He said angrily

"Fine". She agreed

She moves to get her bag from the side to find her changing clothes asking him for his room so she can change.

Soon she changes into her new pair of clothes making her sigh in relief when she was out of that dress because it was choking her in some ways.

She sits on the bed looking at her Henna filled hands and his name written in there.

She chuckles dryly.

"At least you have some emotions one would like to look at a bride who was left at her own wedding". Hamood said leaning on the door

"All I am thinking is how much bleach will it take to remove this". She lied

"Probably a lot". He said moving to his bed

"I have to find that first thing in the morning". She said angrily laying down on the bed closing her eyes

He turns to find her already sleeping shaking his head at the thought of marrying her of all people.

******

The next morning she prepares herself for the day which is her going to her university with Hamood who unfortunately is in the same university.

Hamood is her other Khala's son who is not in the country and she is not the same as Imaan.

Not sure why.

She enters inside adjusting her glasses walking inside without Hamood. Just as she enters the whispers starts and the locks from people making her shrink a little.

They know.

That was clear from the words especially when she was labelled as a bride whose groom ran away.

She walks quickly to her first class sitting in her favourite corner not wanting to be anyone favourite topic anymore.

Hawaa was a nerd.

Her face was always stuck in her book like her life depend on it. Her round glasses on her face hiding her face perfectly. Her oversize hoodie covering her body and the dark shades she always wears of them stopping any source of sunshine vibes around her.

All dark, all her.

She never takes off her glasses now that he thinks she was wearing glasses even in her own wedding.

She is crazy.

He has heard people remark about her when he enters inside.

He sighs.

Even if she sits in the corner there is no way she won't have people looking and talking about just like right now.

"So, you are telling me that you are now married?". His friend- Israr said shocked

He nodded.

"Woah! Not sure if I should congratulate or not". He said but then smirk, "It's going to be so much fun though since you both hate each other".

"Hate is a strong word, Israr". He reminded

"Then you don't hate her? Do you dislike her?". Israr preyed

He didn't speak.

Thankfully the teachers enter shutting all the muttering that was giving him a headache starting the class.

Just pass this day already.

Those were both their thoughts after half of the day passed.

"Did you see that?".

"She is with him".

"They are holding hands".

She shakes her head not paying attention to the gossips standing in line to get her food.

He walks faster when he heard Israr words towards the cafeteria.

"Hawaa". She heard

She turns around to find her two years younger sister. Actually, stepsister, only their mother is the same.

Not their father.

She wouldn't have paid attention to her as usual beside her was her would-be husband who ran away yesterday.

She frowns.

"Meet my husband". Her sister said happily clinging to her

That's when her breathing stopped.

She heard gasps going around but she couldn't do anything so she did the only thing she can.

"Why?". She asked Ali

Ali shrugged, "What why?. Isn't it clear you are too boring and stupid to be my wife? You are ugly to spend my whole life with bearing that face. You wear weird clothes and you are-".

Before he can finish his sentence someone holds her wrist pulling her behind him.

Hamood.

"That's my wife you are talking about". He said angrily causing even more gasp to go around, "And I would mind my tongue unless you want me to beat you to death".

She remains numb.

Too numb.

She was entering into a marriage thinking he loved her only to find out that he never looked at her as his wife.

"Hamood, how can you marry her?". Her sister said shocked, "You hate her".

"I did say she is wife didn't I?. I don't want to hear a word against her". Hamood said dragging her away from the cafeteria

Once they were out he let go of her hand turning around to find her face emotionless.

"Are you ok?". He asked concerned

She frowns looking at him and shrugged, "Peachy".

She moves past him walking towards the bathroom not wanting to see for a moment. She stands in front of the mirror watching herself than at her hands that still has his name rubbing them vigorously making her skin cut and bleed.

After what seems like hours she walks outside and only to have her bump into someone.

She sighs.

"Hawaa". She heard him say

She looks at Hamood, "What are you doing here?".

She hides her hand in her hoodie pockets.

"Waiting for you. Show me your hand". He asked noticing her doing that

She chuckles nervously, "There is nothing to see. Let's go to our class".

Before she can take a step he takes her hand out by force making his eyes widen when he finds them bleeding.

"Hawaa". He said shocked, "What did you do?. We need to go to nurse-".

"No, we don't". She said shaking her head trying to take her hand away, "We are already late for class we need to go".

He looks at her angrily but knowing she is stubborn he hold her hand using his handkerchief tying it around her hand carefully.

They walk inside their classes after a lecture about being late with people looking at them.

She takes her corner and he didn't even wait before sitting beside her.

If this how it's going to so be it.

He is not leaving alone especially with her hand condition he is pretty sure he got a good idea of her emotions. He looks at her hand on the table while she tries to write the note down wincing.

He sighs.

He holds her hand taking her notes from her writing for her instead.

She sighs.

She looks at the teacher blankly not really paying attention to anything. Even if her stepsister and her relationship is not the best she never thought she would go that far.

She sighs.

She looks at her hand where the white cloth was filled with red marks now.

She can only imagine what worse going to happen.

Does her mother know?.

She hardly cares about her stepfather who had only separated her from everything possible.

She heard her phone vibrating taking it out she found her mother message making her shrink in the comfort of her hoodie.

"Come to dinner tonight we have something important".

It wasn't a normal dinner.

She knows.

It a family dinner meaning every single soul is going to be there and probably more drama.

He looks at her hiding into her hoodie and he also receives a message from Sumiaya about the drama that is coming up.

Can't they just let them be for today?.

The amount of drama from yesterday and today is already enough.

******

She sits on the couch after getting into her favourite hoodie and tying her hair in a bun looking at her wound.

She needs to bandage it.

She opens the kit taking the alcohol out on cotton ready to apply but before she can she closes her eyes slowly taking her hand to her wound.

She is a scary cat when it comes to these medical things.

"If it isn't the scary cat". She heard him chuckle

She groans still her eyes closed.

"Shut up". She said gritting her teeth

"You shouldn't have done that if you cannot bear the circumstances that come after". He said snatching the cotton from her hand

She opens her eyes glaring at him, "I can take care of myself as I have been for years".

"I would like to know then how you possibly took care of yourself". He said looking in her eyes, "Now listen to me very carefully".

She looks in his brown orbs finding them a little more fascinating than she should actually. She finds his eyes being a darker shade of brown for some reasons she has never focused on it before.

"This will hurt. But you won't feel it". He said even softer

Her eyes focus on his lips which seems to be moving but she can't hear anything with the amount of proximity she is with him at the moment. Her heartbeat, however, is the only thing she can hear loud and clear. His cologne seems to wrap around her in a comforting manner dulling her senses.

"Done". He said grinning moving back

She blinks confused when he pointed to her hand and she finds it in a new bandage.

She almost wants to facepalm herself but she did it mentally.

"We should go now". She said standing

He holds her hand gently, "No thank you?".

She rolls her eyes, "No. Can we go now?".

He shakes his head, "Ungrateful brat".

"Thanks for the compliment". She said shrugging walking ahead of him

"I cannot believe I married you of all people". He said frustrated

"Still surprised at your amazing luck?. No need to be you have me in your life now". She said walking out of the door

"Surprised?. Luck?. Was that a joke?". He asked opening his car

"No, you are". She said sitting inside

"I don't want to talk to you anymore". He said angrily

"Thank God. That's the best thing you ever said to me". She said

He groaned.

******

She enters inside her villa hearing the loud sounds knowing every single person is waiting inside. Hamood holds her hand as they walk inside and she didn't stop him.

"Ah, you are here". Her mother said as she sees her

"Unfortunately". She mumbles

"What did you say?". Her mother asked angrily

"It's nice to see you again". She said rolling her eyes

"She will never have manners". Her stepfather said

"Your daughter has lots of them that's why". She replied feeling Hamood holding her hand a little tighter

"Beta". She heard her Imaan Khala say hugging her

She hugs her back, "How are you, Khala?".

Imaan pulls back smiling at her, "I am good. How is everything for you?".

"Been better". She replied shrugging

"Ammi". Her sister yelled catching everyone attention

She winces feeling Hamood holding her hand again. She turns to find her with her husband walking inside and her mother hugging her.

"How are you?. I missed you so much". Her mother said smiling

"I am good". Her sister replied

"So are we going to start the show or just keep going with this?". Hawaa asked bored

Her mother turns to her glaring, "What is there to talk?".

"I don't know you called me here". She said, "I guess your daughter own an explanation to be standing with a man who was supposed to be my husband yesterday".

"There is no explanation. He told you he rejected you and never wanted to marry you and everyone can see why". Her sister said stepping closer, "You are an absolutely horrible person, daughter and a sister. You have no shame, sharp tongue and no sense of society".

She nodded, "True. I couldn't put it any other way. So you are trying to say because I had fault this was the best way and you sacrifice yourself because of me?".

"Obviously. I saved him from you and because he cannot marry someone as obnoxious as you I had to marry him. You should just forget him and move on". Her sister said angrily

She nodded again chuckling, "You have never said anything so right in your life. Now, where is he?". She turns her head a little to find Ali standing on a little distance and she takes long stride standing in front of him slapping him hard making everyone gasp, "You are right. I should forget a jerk like him because he never deserved me and move on. I will move on now".

"How dare-". Ali started taking a step forward

But Hamood stands in front of her pushing Ali back. She peaks from behind Hamood smirking at Ali, "Why?. Did I hurt your fragile ego?. What can a low man like you possibly do?".

Even when those words were harsh she was hurt. Hurt beyond words. She never trusted love and when she did this was what it came to.

"Enough". Her stepfather yelled angrily

She turns to find him fuming, "I don't ever want this woman to enter and meet us again".

"Say it clearer". She said smirking

"I am saying I disown you as our family member". Her stepfather declared

"Finally". She said relieved, "Since I am no longer your family it means all the restrictions are gone, right?".

"What?". Her stepfather asked

She steps forward, "I am asking if you can still keep me away from my Abbu?".

"What are you talking about?. You have only one father who is standing in front of you". Her mother yelled angrily

"No, I don't. He is not my father". She said

"What is the meaning of this?. You didn't even pay enough attention to her to know if she was in contact with him?". Her stepfather said angrily

"He is my father and you took him away from me". She replied angrily the smirks, "So, you can't hold me back then?".