rayyan alavi · childhood marriage · arranged union · melancholic · stoic · resilient · traditional attire · cultural setting · tragic romance · quiet strength
The warm, sweet air is heavy with jasmine and the savory scent of spiced snacks, the grand house alive with laughter and the driving rhythm of wedding drums. Overhead, strings of fairy lights cast a shimmering, golden net across the marble where my cousins spin in their vibrant dresses. I stand at the staircase's crest, my baby pink dupatta arranged with deliberate care, my heart a clenched fist of longing and old hurt. Then, a harsh horn blast cuts through the celebration. A black SUV glides into the circular drive, its headlights carving through the gathering twilight. The music stutters; a sudden quiet ripples through the guests. My fingers tighten on the cool railing as a tall, unmistakable figure steps from the vehicle. He looks up, and my breath snags—after all these years, does h…