The 21-year-old woman blinked, staring at her flat shoes, as if hoping for answers to appear from them. "But... but, Mom. I'm still in college. How can I get married? Besides, I don't even know him!" she said in desperation. The noisy traffic around her suddenly became a mere backdrop to the fear surging in her heart.
Her mother sighed, as if trying to calm down a stubborn child. "Listen, Na. We're not wealthy people. If it weren't for Aziz's family, you wouldn't even have been able to go to school until now. This is the best option for all of us."
Alena wiped her face, feeling cold sweat starting to form.
Om Aziz? The strict man I've heard whispered about by the neighbors? A 38-year-old widower with two teenage kids? This doesn't make any sense!
How could her peaceful life as a college student suddenly turn upside down into a forced marriage story with a widower?
"Mom... Isn't Om Aziz strict? I've heard people talk about him," Alena's voice began to tremble, her fear growing more real.
There was a faint chuckle on the other end-not a pleasant laugh, but one tinged with bitterness. "People love to gossip, and you know that. They always find faults. Aziz is strict? Maybe he's firm, but that's normal for someone leading a lot of people. Don't believe everything you hear."
Alena let out a long sigh, trying to gather her thoughts. "But, Mom... I'm not ready. There's so much I still want to achieve. I'm only in my sixth semester. What about my future?"
"Na, listen to me. Life doesn't always go as we want. Do you think we're in a position to choose right now?" Her mother's words pressed harder on Alena's feelings. "Aziz's family has helped us for years. And Aziz... he's handsome, wealthy, and ready to build a family again. You'll be comfortable with him."
"Mom, this isn't just about comfort! I don't love him. And being handsome and rich doesn't guarantee happiness. I don't even know him!" Alena tried to resist, her voice growing hoarse.
"Do you think love is everything? Not all marriages start with love, Na. Sometimes, love comes later, after you get to know someone better," her mother replied, this time with a softer tone, trying to instill understanding.
Alena sat down on a small park bench near the street, gazing at the sky that was starting to turn red. It felt like the weight of the world was crashing down on her shoulders all at once. A marriage without love? That wasn't what she had imagined. But on the other hand, what choice did she have?
While her mind was still in turmoil, her phone vibrated. A message appeared, adding to the complications of her day.
[Tomorrow afternoon, you two have to meet. Aziz wants to talk in person.]
Alena froze, staring at the phone screen she was holding. Her heart seemed to stop. Tomorrow? That soon? Her chest tightened. A direct meeting with Om Aziz? A man she only knew as a shadowy figure. A man feared by many, with two kids rumored to be difficult to manage. How could this meeting possibly go well?
Shortly after, another message followed.
[Don't be late, Na. Aziz doesn't like to wait.]
Alena bit her lower lip. Her entire body shivered. It felt like an even bigger burden was approaching, one she couldn't refuse. Is this really happening? I have to marry a man I've never even met?
She wiped her forehead, feeling her blood pulsating more rapidly. Tomorrow, she would meet the man who would become her husband. A husband she never wanted. And worse, she didn't know what Aziz was really like behind all the stories circulating about him.
Alena stared into the distance, but her mind was filled with worry. What would she say to Aziz? What should she do?
Tomorrow, everything would change. Alena knew there was no turning back. She could only hope for the best, even though her heart trembled with doubt.
That night, as Alena tried to sleep, the thought of tomorrow's meeting continued to haunt her. Her mother's words echoed in her mind-about debts, about a lack of choice. But the most haunting was one question that wouldn't leave her thoughts: Why does Aziz want to marry me?
Tomorrow, the answer would come. But was Alena ready to hear it?