Neha's POV:
"What? Marry you? In your dreams!" I shouted.
He smirked and said, "I can't guarantee your cousins will be safe," then pulled out his phone and started dialing a number. My heart nearly exploded with fear—who was he calling? This bastard!
He spoke into the phone, "Kill them."
It felt like the whole world stopped. I screamed, "NO! No, I... I'll marry you! Just don't hurt them. Put the damn phone down!" Tears streamed down my face.
He looked satisfied and said, "That's more like it," before telling the person on the phone, "Don't touch them," and hung up. After that, he opened the door and called his sister.
His sister walked in and said to him, "You can go now. I'll handle things from here." She handed me a dress—a beautiful red maxi with golden embroidery—and jewelry made of pure gold. But to me, they felt like chains meant to imprison me.
I pleaded with her, "Laiba, do you really have to do this? I considered you my sister. Please help me; I don't want to marry your brother." But she didn't respond, just handed me the dress.
Realizing she won't listen, I changed into the dress, put on the jewelry, and let Laiba do my makeup and hair. She put a red shawl over my head. When I looked in the mirror, I saw someone who looked like a lifeless doll, not a bride. Laiba said, "Let's go."
We went outside, where Edward's entire family, except for his brother, was gathered, along with a Molvi Sahib.
(I want to mention that as a Muslim, in our country, marriages are conducted by a Molvi who recites the Nikah, after which we sign the Nikah certificate, similar to a marriage certificate, and than we go to hall where all the people are waiting for bride and groom)
I sat down beside Edward, who was wearing a suit. Laiba covered my face with the shawl. I felt helpless, trapped by this damn family.
The Molvi Sahib asked me first, "Do you take Edward as your husband?"
I stayed silent; I didn't want this. Edward leaned in and whispered, "Your cousins are still in my hands." Tears flowed freely as I whispered the words that would change my life forever, "I do." He asked two more times, and both times I repeated, "I do."
Then he asked Edward if he took me as his wife. Edward confidently said, "I do," after asking two more times. We were handed our Nikkah certificate to sign. My hands trembled, feeling completely drained of strength, but Edward grabbed my hand and whispered, "Don't you want to save your cousins?" Shaking, I signed the document, and so did he. The Molvi Sahib then declared us husband and wife.
Everyone around us prayed for our relationship to be blessed and happy. After the prayers, the Molvi Sahib got up to leave, and the family bid him goodbye.
Edward's mother then said, "Come on, let's go to the marriage hall."
What marriage hall? I didn't want to go anywhere.
She came towards me and demanded, "Give me your house keys."
Confused, I asked why.
"Don't you want your belongings?" she said dismissively.
I sighed, realizing I had no choice, and handed over the keys. We all got up and headed downstairs, where a BMW was parked in front of the building. Edward took my hand and helped me into the car. I didn't resist; I knew he wouldn't listen anyway.
After a half-hour drive, we arrived at a marriage hall. Edward got out, opened the door for me, and took my hand, dragging me inside. As we entered, I saw my colleagues from the bank. Now I understood why they had been acting so strangely. I didn't say anything and let Edward pull me towards the stage, where a photographer began taking our pictures.
I sat down on the couch in the middle of the stage. My colleagues came up to give me gifts. After some time, when no one was around, I angrily whispered to Edward, "You son of a bitch, did you tell them about marriage?"
He smirked and said, "Yes, and I told them to keep it a secret."
I was fuming, my ears burning with anger. But then I saw something that made me want to explode—I saw my uncles, aunts, and younger cousins. Damn it, why didn't I think they might join hands too?
I asked Edward, "Why are they here?"
He simply replied, "Because they're your family."
My first aunt came up to me, and I stood up. She hugged me, but I pulled away and asked in a low voice, "Did you all lie to me?"
She nodded. I said, "This is the last time I'm speaking to any of you. From now on, I have no relationship with you, and I hope I never see you again."
Now, what will happen to me?