Prologue
Third person's POV.
Somewhere in the mountains of Afghanistan...
In a land where family honour was valued more than life, where old rivalries lasted for generations, and where daughters were expected to obey without question...
Gulbahar ran.
The huge gates of Gulshan-e-Surkh Haveli, the home of the powerful Karmal clan, stood behind her like the gates of a prison.
Her deep red Afghan bridal dress flowed around her as she ran across the stone courtyard. Gold embroidery shimmered under the moonlight, while the heavy jewellery around her neck, wrists, and forehead made every step harder. Her long, embroidered veil slipped from her head, trailing behind her in the dust.
Behind the thick stone walls, the sound of the sehnai filled the air. Women sang joyful wedding songs while men fired their rifles into the sky to celebrate the wedding. Tonight, Gulbahar, the daughter of Malik Raheem Khan of the Karmal clan, was supposed to become a bride.
Not to the man she loved.
But to the man her family had chosen.
A marriage arranged to protect the honour of the clan.
But tonight, she chose freedom. For the first in history, she was the first to choose freedom for herself.
A small gate near the servants' quarters opened toward the Karmal bazaar. It was the only way out of the heavily guarded estate. Holding her breath, Gulbahar hurried through the narrow paths between the servants' rooms and the cattle sheds.
For a moment, he thought she had escaped. Then someone shouted.
"Stop. Who's there?"
Her feet took pace. Her feet caged in comfortably joggers, helping her to run fast.
"Stop." The guards shouted again.
Fear rushed through her body, but she didn't stop running. She reached the quiet bazaar. Lanterns still hung outside the closed shops, and the smell of chai and spices remained in the cool night air. The main gate was only a few steps away. Freedom was right there.
Then she saw them. Four armed guards stood at the exit. More guards were running toward her from behind.
Her heart dropped.
Looking around desperately, she noticed a huge line of expensive vehicles parked under a tin shelter. She knew those were the guest's vehicles invited in her wedding. She tried the first door.
Locked.
The second.
Locked.
Tears filled her eyes.
She couldn't go back. Then her hand touched the handle of a black Mercedes-AMG G63. She pulled.
Click. It opened.
Without thinking twice, Gulbahar quickly climbed inside and hid on the floor behind the front seats. She wrapped her veil around herself and held her breath. Outside, the guards searched every corner. Boots pounded against the ground.
"Where did she go?" They talked, looking around, trying to find the suspect.
But no one was there. Only silence outside. But inside the vehicle, everything was silent. A few seconds later, the driver's door opened. A tall man got in and started the engine without knowing he wasn't alone.
"Who's he?" She thought, hiding well in the car.
"I'm free now." She heard his voice and fear crept in her.
Was she going to be trap in another cage after escaping from one? She thought at that second.
That man was completely unaware that the runaway bride was hidden inside his car. The engine started. He drove through the gates with a simple nod to the guards. No one stopped him. No one searched his vehicle.And just like that, the bride disappeared into the night, hidden inside a stranger's car.
A/N:: Hi lovely readers.
Welcome to my first story on inkitt. Hope you're going to enjoy this. I need tour support and love readers. Do like and comment and share my story. Will soon update the next chapter.
With love,
Your Author.
