The Bride Who Was Never Meant To Stay”

They both sat in silence in the garden.

No glances exchanged, no words spoken — yet, they could feel each other's pain.

Where Raayan had already noticed the sorrow in Lyra's swollen eyes,

Lyra too had sensed the cracks beneath his emotionless, quiet face.

He had given her seven days to gather herself…

But it felt like, in these seven days, Lyra might end up healing Raayan too —

pulling him out from the darkness he had buried himself in.

"You can stay here peacefully.

If you need anything, ask the staff.

And if anyone says something to you, let me know.

For now, I'm leaving for the office,"

he said casually and walked away without waiting for her response.

A soft smile appeared on Lyra's face.

She turned to watch him leave, then sat upright again.

But suddenly, a memory flickered through her mind, and her eyes welled up again.

---

Flashback...

Ever since their marriage, Lyra had tried to be the perfect wife.

She cared for even the smallest details in John's routine —

what time he left, what time he returned, what he liked.

But John... never really saw her.

He never told her where he was going.

He never offered her comfort.

One day, shortly after their wedding, a maid in John's house misbehaved with Lyra.

When she complained to John, he didn't scold the maid.

Instead, he lashed out at Lyra:

> "I work all day under stress,

and when I come home, I have to listen to you cry?

What's the big deal if she said something?

You're still alive, aren't you?

Stop making an issue out of every little thing, Lyra."

That day, Lyra decided it was better to say nothing at all.

The entire house staff treated her with disrespect,

but she neither spoke back to them — nor complained to John.

---

Flashback Ends...

And today…

Raayan — a complete stranger — was telling her to come directly to him if anything troubled her.

They had no relationship between them, yet they both understood each other.

After spending a little more time in the garden, Lyra returned to her room.

She had been wearing the same clothes since yesterday —

but she had nothing else to wear either.

And asking Raayan felt shameful... humiliating.

This man had already given her a roof, a place to feel safe.

How could she ask for anything more?

But staying in the same clothes also wasn't an option.

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, there was a knock at the door.

Lyra opened it to find two women standing outside —

holding shopping bags in their hands.

She looked at them with confusion and asked, "Do you need something?"

One of the staff members, with her eyes lowered, replied politely,

"These are essentials for you, ma'am.

Please let us know if you need anything else."

"Who sent this?" Lyra asked, still unsure.

"Sir did," the staff member answered.

> "Raayan…"

Lyra repeated his name in her mind and stepped aside.

The two staff members entered and placed the bags on the bed before quietly leaving.

Once they were gone, Lyra shut the door and walked toward the bed.

She opened the bags —

and inside were clothes in her size, in her style, and clearly chosen for her comfort.

Sneakers and other necessities were included too.

Unconsciously, a small smile crept onto her face.

She placed the clothes and other items in the wardrobe and went to freshen up.

When she came out wearing a knee-length floral dress,

she looked like a doll —

but her swollen eyes still screamed the truth of her pain.

She spent the whole day sitting by the window,

her mind wandering through her past and everything that had happened till now.

But among all the memories —

she couldn't recall a single one…

where she had smiled from her heart.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

She opened it — a maid was standing there.

> "Ma'am, please come for dinner,"

the maid said respectfully.

> "Raayan?"

Lyra asked suddenly.

> "He'll be late," the maid replied.

> "Alright, I'll be there in a moment,"

Lyra said in a soft tone, and the maid left.

A few moments later, Lyra followed.

At breakfast, Raayan had been sitting across from her.

But now, she sat alone at the dining table.

She didn't know why,

but she missed him.

She wanted him to sit there with her — to eat with her.

But why was she even thinking like that?

The very thought confused her.

She ate just a little… and quietly returned to her room.

---

Lyra's POV:

> For the first time… someone I barely know,

spoke to me with concern — before I even got hurt.

In John's house, I was invisible —

a piece of furniture only acknowledged when needed.

No one heard me there…

But here — someone is understanding me even without words.

Those clothes, that comfort…

He sent it all without me asking.

As if I wasn't just a guest,

but a person with a place, a presence, an identity.

I don't know what this is…

Is it just kindness?

Or is there something else behind this silence?

And I'm scared...

Scared that if I begin to see a home in this silence,

I might lose everything all over again.

But the truth is —

I can't stop myself.

There's pain in his eyes...

The same kind as mine.

And maybe…

Pain is the language we both speak.

---

NEXT MORNING...

The next morning, the mansion felt just as peaceful —

but this time, it carried a stillness that lingered longer.

As if the morning sun was gently trying to speak to a hidden part inside her.

Lyra opened her eyes.

The first thing she noticed — was the unfamiliar bedsheet beneath her.

The room's temperature was perfectly set…

yet it still didn't feel like her space.

After staring at the ceiling for a while, she finally got up

and stood by the window — her eyes automatically finding the same spot

where Raayan had stood yesterday.

She pulled herself away from those thoughts and went to freshen up.

Later, she changed into a white long-sleeve sweatshirt and joggers —

comfortable, clean, and neutral.

As she stepped out of her room and reached the dining area,

she saw that the table was still empty.

But there — right beside her seat —

was a note.

> "You don't have to pretend to be okay. Just take the day slowly."

She picked it up and checked — there was no name.

No one around at that moment either.

Chef? Staff?

No... they wouldn't take time to write such a note.

Raayan?

But that wasn't his style.

He never used gentle words like that.

Then who?

Lyra's mind started spiraling.

She quietly folded the note and slipped it into her pocket,

then walked into the kitchen to make herself some coffee.

> "Ma'am, would you like anything?"

the chef asked politely.

> "No, thank you,"

Lyra replied casually.

> "Has Raayan come home?"

she asked while the chef looked over the lunch menu.

> "Sir will return around lunchtime,"

he replied, and Lyra nodded quietly —

taking her coffee to the garden.

Her mind still lingered on that mysterious note…

unaware that someone's eyes were silently watching her from afar.

---

After finishing her coffee, Lyra returned to her room.

There was nothing specific to do —

but she didn't want to sit idle either.

> "Today, I'll ask Raayan about work,"

she told herself.

---

Afternoon arrived.

Lyra stepped out again —

and this time, she found Raayan already seated at the dining table.

Seeing him...

she felt something soft and unfamiliar inside her.

As if Raayan was her comfort zone. Her safety.

> "Good afternoon,"

she said casually, pulling out a chair.

> "Afternoon,"

Raayan replied without looking up, still checking something on his phone.

> "You're quite punctual…"

he said, finally glancing up from his screen.

> "Sticking to a routine might be the best thing for now,"

Lyra responded, just as casually.

> "But sometimes," Raayan said blankly,

"following a routine too tightly…

can hollow a person out from the inside."

> "What do you mean?"

Lyra asked, confused.

> "I'll explain that some other time.

Right now, there's something important I need to say,"

he replied seriously.

> "What is it?"

Lyra asked, tension flickering in her voice.

> "There are a few rules you'll have to follow while staying here…"

Raayan's tone remained serious.

> "Rules? What kind of rules?"

Lyra asked again.

***

"What kind of rules will Raayan lay down… and can Lyra truly follow them — or will she end up breaking more than just the rules?"

---