It was very early in the morning, and Maya was working with her mother to restyle the roof of their hut. Her mother sat on the rooftop, applying a clay-like paste made of soil and water to strengthen the surface. Meanwhile, Maya focused on applying the same paste to the walls and floor of the hut.
It had been three days since the great conflict between the friends, and it would be a lie to say that things had been peaceful since then. Nia has also not come to visit her. Her brother had been home for the past few days, and to make matters worse, her father had returned last night. With both of them at home, it had become increasingly difficult for her to find a moment of peace.
The last few days had been spent preparing food for her brother and father, tending to household chores, and spending time in the workshop. The workshop had become her only escape, the one place where she and Nia might meet. But even that was uncertain—there were days when Nia wouldn't show up.
"Maya!" Her father's voice bellowed from inside the house.
Maya dropped the soil she was working with, quickly washed her hands in the water nearby, and headed inside to see what he wanted now. It was always something—fetching water, finding his lost shirt, or some other trivial task that he could have easily managed himself. He never remembered to take care of his own needs, always relying on her for these small household chores. Something like this, again.
But when she entered the veranda, her father was sitting at the head of the seating area—a place that was unmistakably his, the seat of the breadwinner of the family. Her brother, Joga, sat to his right, looking as if he belonged there too. Across from her brother, another man sat, unfamiliar.
The man had jet-black hair, his physique undeniably muscular, and his features were strikingly attractive—almost unnervingly so. Maya stopped briefly as his piercing gaze landed on her, making her cheeks flush with sudden shyness. There was something about the way he sat there, confident and at ease, as if he belonged in that space. Looking at him, she realized he was the most handsome man she had ever seen in her life—which, admittedly, wasn't much, but it was enough to leave her momentarily breathless.
Something inside her stirred as she looked at him. It was an unfamiliar pull as if he was silently calling her to him, drawing her in with an invisible thread. Suddenly, an urge surged through her—a need to go to him, to touch him, to feel those full lips of his against her own. The thought jolted her, shocking her to the core. What am I thinking? She quickly looked away, her heart pounding, her face burning with embarrassment.
Whereas, on the other hand, Damien's gaze remained fixed on Maya, a knowing glint in his eyes as if he could read every thought running through her mind.
Her father motioned for her to sit in the area before them as if preparing her for a formal interrogation. The air around Maya grew heavy, and though she sat down, she could feel Damien's eyes on her. For some reason, it made her restless, a nervous energy bubbling inside her.
Her father finally broke the silence. "I have fixed your marriage," he said, his voice firm. He motioned toward Damien, sitting opposite her. "His name is Damien. You're going to marry him in five days. He's a businessman in the city, wealthy, and a man of good character."
Maya's heart skipped a beat. Her father's words hit her like a bombshell.
"What?" The word echoed in Maya's mind, but she couldn't fully comprehend it. Her mind went numb. She knew, deep down, that she had to get married—that her father would arrange it as soon as possible. After all, what was the purpose of her life but to marry and bear children for a man? Yet, the reality of it, the suddenness of the announcement, left her in shock. Five days. It felt too soon, too fast.
She opened her mouth to say something—anything—to refuse, to make him understand that she wasn't ready, but no words came out. It was as if her body was rooted to the spot, paralyzed by the weight of the situation.
Her gaze moved to her brother. She didn't expect much from him, but a part of her had hoped he would take her side. He would speak up, and say something to their father about her being too young. But when she looked at him, he was just as compliant as their father. He nodded and said, "Damien is a good man, Maya. You'll be happy with him."
Her heart sank.
Maybe "her future husband" could sense the dread on her face. He spoke, his tone softer than she had expected, "I don't have any hurry to get married. We should get to know each other before taking such a big step. There's no rush in these things. If you need more time, more days to yourself before you're ready for marriage, it's fine with me."
Strangely, she felt a wave of relief wash over her just from hearing his words. It was as if his voice alone had the power to calm her racing thoughts. It felt odd—he was a stranger, someone she barely knew. So why would she feel such relief from him? Why was his presence, his words, so comforting? She quickly reminded herself that it was nothing to be trusted. He was just like her father and brother, sitting there, calmly making decisions about her life without a single thought for what she wanted. They were all the same, imposing their wills on her without even considering her feelings.
"Why do you want to marry me? You could have any other girl. Why me?", She blurted out the question without thinking, her voice steady but sharp. The words hung in the air, heavy with defiance. She knew she shouldn't have said that—not in front of her father, not when questioning his decisions would only get her into trouble. But at that moment, she didn't care anymore. She couldn't let anyone else dictate the course of her life. Not her father, not Damien—no one. Her life, her choices. It was the only thing that mattered now.
Her father's voice thundered a sharp command to shut her down. "Enough!" he snapped, his eyes burning with anger. Maya flinched, her heart racing, but Damien's gaze never wavered. He shot a sharp, incredulous look at her father as if to say, How dare you speak to her that way?
Then, breaking his gaze, Damien looked directly into Maya's eyes and spoke slowly, deliberately.
"I want to marry you because I like you."
Without a second thought, Maya bolted out of the room, her heart pounding. But just before she reached the door, she overheard her father's voice, tinged with an unfamiliar meekness.
"I'm sorry, Damien. I will teach her how to be a good wife," her father said, his tone almost apologetic.
Maya froze, knowing well enough what was her father's way of teaching, But it was Damien's response that truly made her blood run cold.
"Touch her," he warned, his voice low and dangerous, "and I will kill you."
turned around just in time to see her brother punch Damien in the jaw, as if unable to control his anger. He couldn't stand how Damien was speaking to their father. But what shocked her even more was when her father slapped her brother, scolding him for hitting Damien. "How dare you hit him? He's your brother-in-law!"
It was a shocking moment for Maya. Her father, the proud head of the village, who was always in control, was bowing to Damien. She realized at that moment that Damien was someone with power far beyond her own father's.
He was looking at her, his fists clenched as if he was holding back from retaliating against her brother. There was a cold intensity in his eyes, yet they seemed to say something unspoken—a promise to protect her no matter what. The emotions in his eyes were unsettling, yet oddly comforting, as if he was offering her some form of security amidst the chaos. The mixture of both feelings stirred inside her, leaving her even more confused and unsettled than before.