I was having enough of all this! I couldn't blame my parents more for having me as an only heir and throwing me into hell. I was working harder than any opulent family's heir, though I don't feel I belong here. I am supposed to make my father believe that I am the one. I don't want to be the one.

It's already night now, and I am expected to be up at 4 am for my routine to start. I needed a break from all this. But how? I tried dozing off, and I couldn't when so much was already on my mind. A few minutes later, I was soundly sleeping. I had weird dreams which woke me up at 3:00. I had only an hour to sleep and relax.

Tired and stressed, I gave up and walked into my bathroom and did my morning ritual, including my prayer. I was wearing a navy blue co-ord set and my hair was neatly tied in a half ponytail. I sat to study for my upcoming exams and look into other knowledge that was imposed by my parents so that I don't lack anything.

It was already eight in the morning, and my head was aching like hell.

Within a few minutes, we all gathered in the dining room. There, my father sat on the head chair and my mother beside me.

“Good morning, Roohi!” I heard my father's endearment in his rough voice. I smiled at him and wished him back.

“Good morning, Abbu, Ammi!” I greeted and turned my gaze to the plate. I rubbed my forehead, trying to ease my pain.

“Are you fine, Raya?” I heard my mother's concerned voice. I looked at her worried expression.

“Oh, I am all okay. Headache, Mumma.” I said and tried smiling at her to calm her down.

“Let's meet a doctor, my girl.” Father said worriedly.

“Ya Allah! I am not that serious.” I said while chuckling in the middle.

However, now our morning topic was all about my headache, but I knew where this would end.

“Can't she rest for a while, Amar?” Mother questioned my father, and she met with a pair of cold blue-green eyes.

I gulped down my water as I knew this petty thing could turn into a war, so I got into the picture immediately.

“No! I am doing fine, Mumma!” I said and squeezed my mother's hand affectionately.

She exhaled the air of exhaustion and gave up while nodding at me.

After our breakfast, my father and I stepped out for the business meeting where I learned how business works in a practical format. When I am not in college studying, I am here with his officials; if not here, then I am attending my etiquette class or else in cooking school, and it goes on.

We sat in the board room, and the meeting commenced exactly as per the time, and I heard and noted everything that was necessary for me to remember, and we clocked out at 11 am sharp. It was time for my etiquette class, so I informed my father about my leave.

“Go safe, my girl!” He said and shut the car door for me, and I simply nodded at him with a smile.

That's it. The car rode me to my class, and I spent an hour there. Meanwhile, I got a message from my friend Zara.

“What's up, girl?” Her message always puts life into my lifeless body. As soon as the class ended, I dialed her number and blurted out about my day to her. She was the only one I had in my life.

“I am truly fed up, you know. I wish to breathe free.” I said while looking outside the window of my car.

“Had I been at your place, I probably would have been a rebel and denied all the norms set by your parents!” She said in her dramatic tone, and that made me laugh at her.

“Shut up, Zara!” I said through my laughter.

“Fine, don't forget about our extra class today. I am going to pick you up.” She said as if she was reminding me, but I don't remember anything as such.

“What?” I questioned her, perplexed.

“Yes, don't tell me you forgot about it.” She said on the other line.

“I did, I believe. Fine, just pick me up.” I said, and after exchanging a few more words, we disconnected the call.

Throughout my journey to the cooking class, I felt nauseated, and I couldn't hold on to it and asked the driver to drive me home.

As soon as I reached home, I was treated with cold showers of scolding by my mother. Currently, I was on my bed, and my mother was right beside me on the sofa chair.

“Don't you understand you need to take care of your health?” She glared at me, and I couldn't look at her.

“Your father would nearly kill me when he comes to know you didn't attend your cooking class for some silly reasons like this.” She sounded harsh, and my eyes blurred at her words when I tried looking at her.

Her face turned soft as soon as she gazed into my eyes.

“Don't I have the liberty to even rest as I please, Ammi?” I ended up asking the most absurd question as per my Ammi, as she gave me a questioning look.

I broke eye contact as I looked to my other side. After a few minutes of heated confabulation, my mother left and I wept for hours.

My eyes were swollen by the time it was 2 pm. My phone rang, and I looked at the caller ID. It was Zara.

I picked the call and broke into tears.

“What's wrong, Raya?” She kept asking while I sobbed constantly.

After a few minutes of talking to her, I felt normal, and I got myself into a new long floral frock and my hair ribboned into a half ponytail. Pearl earrings and my neckline had my name engraved on it.

I descended the staircase and stepped out of the Al-Qahtani villa, and I saw Zara waiting for me in the driver's seat. I quietly sat in the passenger seat beside her.

Within a few minutes, we stood in front of a party house.

“Where are we?” I asked her, and she winked at me mischievously.