Asifa woke to find the afternoon sun streaming into the room. As she moved, a dull ache resonated through her body. Glancing at her arms, she saw faint, telltale marks, small bruises and scratches in various places. đ
Hasan really has no self-control, she thought to herself, observing the evidence with a strange, unsettling calm. The thought was not one of anger or fear, but of quiet resignation. She then wondered where he was. He must have gone to work, she concluded, using the assumption to soothe her own mind before heading for a shower.
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Hasan was driving towards Anisa's residence, his eyes on the traffic but his mind navigating a labyrinth of calculated thoughts. The wedding date was set, his plan was on track, and every action was now a deliberate step towards his ultimate goal.đ
Anisa, in the passenger seat, was in a lighter mood, content with the successful completion of their professional assignment. The familiar, expensive scent of Hasan's cologne filled the car, a smell she associated with his polished, attentive presence.
After a few hours, they reached her place. Hasan played his part flawlessly,helping with her bags, offering a chaste, affectionate goodbye kiss, and promising to return soon. He was the picture of a devoted fiancé.
Once inside her own space, Anisa, weary from the journey, took a quick shower and slipped into bed, intending to catch up on some much-needed sleep. The surface of her world seemed perfectly in order. đż