Unable to handle the anger, he stormed out of her room, leaving a terrified Asmaira behind. No one knew what had happened between the father and the daughter or what they had spoken. The moment he left her room, disappointment was marring his face, while regret was evident on hers. Yet neither of them talks on the same topic further.
On the other side of the city, Amaan parched on his couch, for once not intoxicated in his regular intake of alcohol. He was in his penthouse, anticipating his mother's call. It never happened that he strategized something, and it failed to execute. By throwing the ball in his opponent's court, he smartly dodges the guilt of breaking his promise and, at the same time, getting out of the mess of marriage.
He didn't feel like sipping his scotch when he felt light-headed, already thinking of the victory on his way. This should prevent his family from talking him out of getting married and would stop pestering him to move on. He could already anticipate what would happen at Asmaira's house when they received his proposal. How her immediate reply of 'No' would make it all easier for him.
He mentally prepared to feign ignorance of any knowledge of him already knowing that wench's answer, lest making his mother skeptical about his move. He never wanted to hurt his mother, nor could he fulfill the promise he made in the heat of the moment.
His chain of thoughts broke when his phone rang. A known smirk appeared on his face seeing his mother's name flashing on his phone. He didn't want to look like he was anticipating her call and made a deliberate attempt to answer the call after four more rings. Even before he could hear his mother, he was already celebrating his victory inwardly when he got the shock of his life.
"What?"
"Asmaira accepted your proposal. They want to keep the marriage simple and want to do it at the earliest."
Amaan lost his mother after she said Asmaira accepted. he jerked forward and clutched the phone tighter than usual and asked, "I think I misheard you, Ma. What did you say?"
Feriha repeated, "Asmaira accepted your proposal."
This time she let it sink in his mind and waited. His heavy breathing from the other side of the phone was something she was already expecting.
"she is okay to be my second wife even though this is her first?" he was finding it difficult to hold on to his anger. He didn't want to burst out in front of his mother out of love and respect for her.
"Yes," came his mother's calm reply.
How? What? Why? His mind was immediately plagued with lots of questions. How could his calculation go wrong?
Still, in denial, he assumed his mother was playing some sort of trick with him just to make him accept moving on in his life.
"Are you sure?" he could not help but ask out loud.
Feriya couldn't help but smile at his obvious astonishment. she smiled at how her son thought he could fool her and get away with it. What Amaan didn't know was that she had already anticipated all his moves, and it was him who took her bait and not the other way around.
The moment he put across the condition, she knew this would be the outcome, yet she pretended to be passive, fearing her son would see right through her move.
"Absolutely. Come home to discuss the date and other details," with that, she disconnected the call.
With the phone still placed over his ear, he could hear the tone of call disconnection; however, he was far too lost in denial. He stayed in that same posture for a long time, staring blankly at a distance.
"Asmaira accepted your proposal."
His mother's words were playing in a loop in his mind.
"Why?" he murmured to himself, stunned at the revelation.
Didn’t Raina tell Asmaira hated him to the core? Then why did she agree to marry me? They have known of each other's existence but never met before. From what Raina has spoken on numerous occasions for Asmaira, nemesis means Amaan. Although they hadn't met, much less talked, Amaan was the bane of her existence.
Is that why she agrees to marry me? to get back at him? for some sort of revenge? As soon as the thought hit him, he threw the phone on the opposite wall with all his pent-up fury and heaved like a wounded beast. His nostril flared, and the level of anger he felt was un-measurable. After all, that she did, will she have the audacity to even face him must less seek vengeance?
For Amaan, his hatred for Asmaira runs deeper than the pacific ocean. And he was never the one to judge people without first getting to know them. He was a businessman through and through, and he was vigilant in observing people rather than jumping to conclusions. However, when it comes to Asmaira, he had already conjured her image—a negative image.
For him, people like her are always at the mercy of others and never take a stand for themselves. Hiding behind people when the difficult time comes, instead of paving their own way, and always a burden for people who care about them. From what he had heard of her, he already imagined her to be a timid, naive, introverted, good-for-nothing woman who had always been the spoiled brat of the family.
How can he forget how much Raina suffered because of her innocent pretense.
She dares to dream of taking Raina's place!
How can he let lose to such a conniving vixen? How can he let her take Raina's place not even in his life but in his house?
"No!" He roared, rising from the couch.
To hell with promise when the person to whom he promised was no longer with him. He wasn't up for any mind games with his mother when a lot was at stake for him. There was no way on earth he would make that sly woman his wife.
Grabbing his car keys, he marched out of his penthouse and took an elevator. Jumping into his Ferrari, he drove like a madman all the way to his mansion. Time was ticking, and he didn't have much time to play around.
With the tires screeching on the driveway, he steps out with his Ferrari still on ignition. As soon as he stepped inside, the environment felt gloomy, but that was the least of his concern. Instead of looking around or asking the staff, he strides towards Feriya's room in a determined gait.
His steps abruptly halted in his track when he saw a familiar face stepping out of her room, followed by Maya, his mother's staff.
"Dr. Sheperd, it's a surprise seeing you here. Is everything alright?" Amaan asked, glancing between the doctor and Maya.
"you prepared the food as per my instruction," he gestured for her to move ahead and face Amaan, "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
His heart pounded rapidly, and a bead of sweat shone over his creased forehead. A feeling of deja vu shattered him from inside. he didn't want to go there and let the past haunt him. the haunting flashes from the past were also one of the reasons why he started drinking. He wanted them to leave him alone.
"Mrs. Hashmi fainted. I don't know what happened, but I had advised her on my last check-up. Stress and anxiety are not good for her," Dr. Sheperd said.
Amaan started taking heavy breaths, afraid of what he was about to hear.
"Maya called me, and if I haven't come on time, I'm afraid we will be having this conversation in the hospital."
"I...I don't understand. why Ma was alone and why s-she fainted?"
"she is diabetic and is a patient with hypertension. Please make sure she is not put under any stress or anxiety. Her BP shot up, but I gave given her the medication. After proper rest, she will be fine."
Amaan probed further, "And?"
"Lately, she complained of sleeplessness, and I suggested her pills, but I'm taking her off it. Overdose of any medication, I wouldn't recommend it to any of my patients. Till last month she didn't have difficulty sleeping. Im guessing something is bothering her, and as her family, I suggest you not to let her overthink."
"I understand," he gulped, closing his eyes.
He had already lost a loved one, and he could not handle the same pain of losing again. He knew he would lose his mind if something like that happened again. The anger, which was their previous, all disappeared after listening to the doctor's review.
After the doctor left, Amaan sat beside his mother, holding her hand, scared that if he left her hand, she would leave him. Kissing her hand, he placed it over his face and whispered, "Ma. If that's what you want, I will marry her."
A lone tear escaped him before he placed his head beside his mother. "Please don't leave me."
What he failed to notice was Feriya's orbs flitting behind her closed lids and her little finger twitching at his heart-wrecking plea. Recollecting he hadn't showered and in his haste for the succession of his plan, he didn't even change his clothes.
Making sure Maya was with Feriha, he quickly went to his room to shower and change. The moment he was on the way, Feriha opened her eyes. Her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
"Mam, Sir, looked distressed," Maya said.
"I know. But for his happiness, I can stoop to any level. My stubborn son would rather destroy his life than get married. But he doesn't know how stubborn I could become."
"Will forcing him into the marriage save his life?" Maya couldn't understand her employer.
"It's not only his life at stake, Maya."
"No, please...... I didn't do anything. I swear I didn't know." Asmaira was crying in her sleep, mumbling unconsciously."Please......"Still clad in her wedding dress, she was cowering in her nightmare."Don't leave me. I am sorry, " she kept crying, holding herself together while lying on the floor.With her messy scattered around here, she was shivering with her eyes closed. One look at her, and anybody can guess she was in pain even in her deep slumbers. Her face was covered with beads of sweat mixed with her tears. Not a day had passed when she didn't have nightmares since she heard that news—the news which turned her world upside down. The news, which caused an invisible hole in her heart that never let her be at peace, the restlessness never left her since that day, and no matter how much she tried, she could never fill that hole. Never in her life has she been so helpless, and to make it worse, her savior was also not there with her."Raina!" She screamed, jolting up from he
Was she calling to taunt her for her lateness, or was she warning her of the rules? She had seen the Hashmi family at her wedding, and from the look of it, she was sure nobody was fond of her.Maya, by now, was sure the woman running before her would never be comfortable in the mansion or Hashmi’s lifestyle. Even if her humble background was ignored, her lack of confidence and edgy demeanor was so unlike Amaan’s first wife, who was the epitome of elegance and confidence. The woman before her was the complete opposite of what Amaan liked.No wonder he was against the marriage, Maya thought to herself, forcing a smile.“Ma’am wants to welcome you formally to the family. She insisted no one was to disturb y
"She had high expectations from you; I hope you won't disappoint both of us."Feriha’s words from earlier were ringing in Asmaira’s mind. She randomly strolled on the lawn aimlessly, not specifically moving anywhere. She needed her moment; she needed her time to settle. She was scared that she would let them down. She never left her family for a day, and here she was, living in new surroundings. She felt out of place.On cue, her mind flashed to Hania and Ishaal’s designer wears. Even Feriha’s simple yet classy attire gave away their elegance. She looked down at her modest dress and couldn’t help comparing. She noticed that she looked odd while sitting with them. Although they don't make her feel inferior nor look down upon her, her self-consciousness couldn’t let her miss the difference between her and them. M
Asmaira’s head went even lower at being humiliated in front of everyone, including the staff; however, Amaan found her action as her reluctance."I said get off that chair," grabbing her forearm, he yelled at her, not noticing the change in the surrounding. That was where his Raina used to sit, and she has tainted it.Asmaira yelped but obliged. With no other option, she obediently rose and waited for a further outburst from her husband. He was still holding her by her arm and was about to say something when he was interrupted by a bang sound. Both were immersed in their emotions, Amaan in his fury and Asmaira in her shock, failing to notice the rise in Salar's temper."Enough!" he roared while slamming his palm on the table, unable to hold his anger any longer.
Asmaira was grateful to Feriha for letting her have dinner in her room and then bringing her back to Amaan’s room. Her respect for her mother-in-law increased tenfold when she sat with her and advised Amaan to work on his behavior. However, there were limitations to which she could help Asmaira. Recollecting Amaan’s warning, she decided to continue to sleep outside the room to avoid crossing Amaan’s path. Staying in the same room was out of the question, and she couldn’t sleep on the couch, knowing he could and would kill her in her sleep. She walked out to the adjacent space to his room. The vast space surrounded by the glass railing could be her temporary habitant. Looking at the metallic garden swing with a leg rest in one corner, she knew who planned that sit-out interior. She heaved a sigh, grateful for the sliding door separating the room and the balcony. The blinders over the door gave her the necessary privacy from the tyrant prowling on the other side. “Must be Raina’s idea
“If he is hungry, he will join us,” Feriha replied a sliver of disappointment in her tone. Last night Amaan said he would work on the marriage. Though she wasn’t expecting a miracle from him, he could have made an effort to be part of breakfast at least. She was a woman who gave importance to family values hence her insistence that family should eat together. “I was wondering if I could prepare his breakfast before he leaves for office.”To Feriha, it looked like Asmaira was proactive in molding herself into the role of a wife, whereas the fact was far from the truth. Her only intent was to know Amaan’s routine to plan her time with Kabir. Since the devil has warned her to stay away from Kabir specifically, she can’t risk it. Not when Kabir hadn’t opened up to her yet.Feriha let out a sad smile. If only she knows what is going on inside Amaan’s head. “While I won’t stop you from doing that but get accustomed to living here first. And as for him leaving for office,” she faced Sal
“Amaan, aren’t you having breakfast?”Amaan’s step came to a pause at his mother’s question. The moment he descended the stairs, the sight of Asmaira sitting in Raina’s place threatened his resolution. He had to rein his simmering anger before turning around to answer his mother.“I’m afraid I would be sluggish on my first day,” he lied. His clenched fist inside his slack pocket was evidence of his struggle to remain composed.Like earlier times, reacting in front of his parents would only give more opportunity to the subject of his rage.Asmaira.The moment he cast a veiled glare at her, she shuddered and dropped her fork on the plate.“Asmaira?” Feriha placed a hand on her shoulder in question.Feriha’s concern only startled Asmiara, who forced a smile and grabbed her fork again. Even though she lost her appetite seeing the devil husband of hers standing at the doorway, looking too calm for his personality. “I will make your favorite coffee.” Hania offered.She couldn’t hide her ha
“Why didn’t you call me when you were going through so much?” “I don’t know, Mehwish. I honestly don’t know what was happening to me back then. I thought I could handle it. I thought that girl would reject the marriage, and I didn’t have to break Ma’s heart. I just…” he trailed off, rubbing his face with his palms.“Amaan, you have always been kind and caring out of all. You didn’t want to disrespect Ma, and I can bet you didn’t want our parents to worry about you anymore. But how can you trust a strange woman or underestimate her?” Mehwish feigned concern.Granted, she loved Amaan dearly, but his mindset always irked her. While she wanted him to have the best of the world, he chose not to discriminate against people based on their benefits. When she wanted him to have a beautiful and sophisticated wife, he fell for a commoner. He even raised his voice at her to defend Raina when she advised him not to marry her.From then onwards, she decided never to interfere in his life again and