"Hey! Aren't you done yet? Are you a bride or something?" I exclaimed annoyed, looking up from my phone.

"Almost done!" Sohaib called in from the dressing room for the nth time. In exasperation, I slumped back on the bed.

"It must've taken you less time to get here from Islamabad than getting ready. You were supposed to be ready 10 minutes ago. That's it. I am leaving if you're not out in—" Before I could complete my sentence he appeared in the room.

"Damn Hadeed! Do you have to be so obsessive?! Whatever are you going to do after marriage? Your wife will be fed up—" he continued while fixing his tie in the full length mirror.

"That's why you shouldn't have wasted time before—" I continued unfaltered, getting up and buttoning my blazer.

"That aside! Have you met her?" Sohaib exclaimed excited turning to me. I knew who he was talking about.

"No. And I would prefer to keep it that way." My voice was free of sensitivity but I could feel a frown deepening between my eyebrows, while picking wallet and keys from the table.

"Aww man! I don't think it's possible though. She is the bride's sister after all. And after coming here all this way, you should—" Sohaib wouldn't have stopped if he didn't notice my sharp gaze, eyeing him, warily.

"We came here for Salman. That's all." Even without meaning to, my voice took over an icy edge. Sohaib gaped at me speechless for a moment, before averting his gaze. I walked past him towards the door.

"But your parents didn't." I heard his voice behind me. My hand froze over the door knob momentarily before I pulled it open.

We made way towards the elevator, just before it closed but someone held it open.

"Thank—" I began to thank him but my voice got caught in my throat on her sight. Her face was turned away from me towards the bride, so she hadn't seen me, yet.

"Assalamualaikum." I heard Sohaib say to them and I followed his lead after coming in. Haniya and Hunain returned the greeting but she was too immersed in her conversation to notice us.

"Well your plans to avoid her are getting foiled already." I heard Sohaib remark after getting out of the elevator.

"But I have never seen you this bothered by any girl. What do you have against her?" I listened to his words without being able to come up with a reply. I wanted to deny his words but it was true that she got on my nerves. Even more so after Mom Dad told me about their plans to send them a proposal.

"She is proper pretty though—" I looked up at his words but found his gaze trailing behind me. Without meaning to my eyes followed his gaze. I found the person in question and for the briefest of moment our eyes met, before she turned away.

Anger.

The only emotion that I could pinpoint underneath heap of all the unknown emotions that I felt thanks to her. I could feel the muscles in my neck had tightened, suddenly.

'Like hell, I'll marry her.' Was my last thought before entering the hall.

--------------------------

Somehow throughout the wedding my eyes seemed to have found its way to her. She kept rushing from one end to another, making sure that everything was kept in order.

"So?" I was pulled out of my train of thoughts by Sohaib's voice.

"So what?" I replied distracted, before taking a gulp of my drink.

"Are you going to refuse this time too?" I turned to him taken aback.

"Of course.Why would you even need to ask something so obvious?" I looked away with a frown.

"What happened between you two, anyways? I am curious as to why a quiet and pretty girl like Hoorain has caught your attention?" I found myself thinking back to the first time I saw her. If . Instead of replying to his question, I changed the topic.

"Let's go see Salman." I said instead.

---------------------

"Hadeed!" I was talking on phone with Muneeb about a case, when I heard Dad call me over. I noticed that he was standing with the hosts of the event. Immediately, the dots connected in my mind but I can't afford to do my will right now. Best play along.

"Sorry. I'll call you back." I cut him off and ended the call. I started walking towards where Mom and Dad were standing with the bride's parents. I greeted them bowing my head respectfully. After getting introduced by Mom & Dad, Uncle began asking me about my job when Auntie called her over. I barely managed to keep my emotions in check, when she came to stand in front of me.

"You should come too, Hadeed." I was about to reply to Uncle, when I caught the look of revulsion on her face. I could only do so much to keep my mouth shut at that moment. Thankfully, my phone rang and I excused myself.

Whatever Mom and Dad are planning, I am going to put a stop to it.

—————————————

"But what's the issue? What do you dislike about the proposal?" Mom asked from across the dinning table. Instead of replying, I directed my focus on chewing my toast.

"She is well educated, pretty and from an eminent family. Do you think she is short on suitors? If we don't strike, while the iron is still hot; we might lose a chance to—" Before Mom could continue, I pushed back my chair and got up.

"Mom, I am getting late for work—" I returned briskly and had got as far as few steps, when Dad called out. Out of habit, my feet halted on it's own.

"Hadeed. If you can't come up with anything better, then best shut up and go through with what we have got." Dad interjected in a clipped tone, making me gulp down the lump stuck in my throat. I turned over my shoulder to glance at him, whose gaze remained fixated to his breakfast plate, as he continued to cut into his omelette, unfazed.

"We have a meeting with them tonight. I need you to be present. Am I clear?" Finally he looked up at me, but I could do nothing except watch him blankly in response.

And without another word. I left.

———————————

"Assalamualaikum sahab! Should I get dinner ready?" I walked in, handing Jamil my beret and briefcase.

"Dinner? What time—?" Before I could check the time on watch, I had realised it was way past the meeting time.

"9:20–sahab!" I stopped in the middle of hallway; my gaze fixated on the wrist watch. Surprisingly, I haven't received a single call from them, yet. That's new.

"Sahab...dinner?" I was pulled out of my thoughts on Jamil's call.

"Ah. Yes. I'll come down after freshening up." After my instructions, he scurried away, leaving me with a million thoughts to process.

Slumping on the bed, I wondered, how long before I get caught. I might escape going to that house but only for so long. I didn't think, it was going to workout so easily this time. They seemed pretty serious about this one.

Exhaling a deep sigh, I covered my face with my hands.

God. I am so tired.

————————————

The quiet only lasted one night. I was summoned back home with threats to take away my job, if I didn't show up soon. Unlike, the previous attempts, this time I decided to change my tactics. It was going fine for a few days, until I got a call from my supervisor.

"I was just talking on phone with your Dad. He was worried about you. Why don't you go pay him a visit?" It took a great deal of effort to not snap at my supervisor. I knew what this meant. Dad was trying to show me that he had contacts with my higher authorities. It wouldn't take him any effort at all to get rid of my position. The message was sent. Dad knew this way the only way to push me to get his way. But this time around, I wasn't going to back down this easily.

After work, I drove to my parents house. There was so much that I wished to relay, but the frustration ragging inside me was numbing my senses.

Upon inquiry, the Maid informed me that my Dad was lounging in the library. I softly knocked and waited to be let in. After being permitted to do so, I found him sitting comfortably on the couch, going through a book in his hand.

"You finally decide to show up?" He barely looked up as he said this; whereas I continued to silently stand my ground.

"I don't want to be part of your elaborate schemes, Dad." I managed to convey my thoughts through clenched teeth.

"Why are you over reacting? It's only marriage. You will do it someday, anyways." He remarked calmly, without diverting his attention from the book in his hands.

"Just marriage? It's my life, Dad!" Before I could say anymore, he slammed the book shut and twisted in his seat to regard me with an impassive gaze. My breathing became ragged from trying to restrain my rage, as I stood in front of him with hands clutched into tight fists by my sides. Yet, his expression remained inscrutable, as always.

"You think you can take that tone with me?" He eyed me icily, finally putting away his book.

"My decision remains unchanged." I returned slowly; while he watched me blankly, before exhaling an exhausted sigh. As if my mere presence was taking a toll on him.

"I don't have the inclination or need to discuss something inconsequential with you. If you had the brains for it then I wouldn't have had any need to have this pointless discussion with you—" He paused to regard me with his cold, stern gaze which met my defiant glare.

"I am not backing down this time, Dad." The words leaving my mouth were tainted with droplets of overwhelming broken emotions surging inside my existence. I caught a hint of glimmer in his eyes as he regarded me blankly, before getting up and making his way across the room towards me. He stood in front of me, watching me with a bored look in his eyes, only to look away to press a hand to my shoulder.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, son. That is your best interest." He remarked coldly before pulling away his hand and turning his back on me. I watched his retreating back with a feeling of intense gloom.

"I won't." I felt a lump strangling the breath in me as these words left my mouth. However, I didn't stay to watch his response, nor did I have the strength to.

———————————-

I walked into the police headquarters with Safeer my PA on my heel. He was briefing me about my plans for today when the noise coming from a corner made me stop in my tracks.

"What do you mean, let it go?! Do you think I don't have connections—! Shame on you—" She kept shouting at the Officer who became attentive on my sight and saluted right away.

"Assalamualaikum sir!" I looked from Sub-inspector Ilyas to her, who was watching me pale and shocked. Nodding to Ilyas, I continued making way towards my Cabin.

"What's going out there?" I asked Safeer, on taking my seat.

"Sir, a traffic accident case. The lady is being unreasonable—" before he could continue, I cut him off.

"Call them in." I returned blankly, going through the documents on the table.

"Yes, sir?" On his inquiry, I looked up and watched his face. Immediately he nodded in understanding.

"Yes sir!" After his departure, I had resumed to my duties and only looked up after someone came in knocking.

Only for a moment, my gaze locked with hers. She looked flustered and by now I had decided on my next move.

'I'll make sure to get what I want. No matter what means, I have to choose this time.'

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