"Don't you feel this dress is somewhat dull?" Mama asked, holding up a baby pink dress. I watched her quietly for a moment.

"I think it's fine." Returning with a smile, I hoped this would be enough to placate my Mother; but I was obviously pushing it.

"I think this darker one is better! No?" Without having anything left to say, I turned away with a long sigh; letting my mother be. I don't understand what's the need for all these formalities! I mean, it's not like they are seeing me for the first time. Why create so much fuss?

"I think this is fine. Rahima! Take baji's clothes for ironing—" She screamed from her place. I didn't lift my eyes from my phone. Anything that I say, will have a negative impact. So, for now, I have decided to lay low. Until, they leave; that is. It's not that I don't want to give him a chance. But, I don't feel right. From the few times, that I have met him in the past, it felt like he didn't like me very much. Now, if that's his way of expressing his emotions, then it could be understandable. Otherwise, there is no other valid explanation for his cold behaviour.

"Hoor! You are still sitting here! Go, get ready." Mama exclaimed horrified on finding me relaxing on my bed.

"Mama, there is more than an hour—"I tried saying, but she wasn't having it.

"Now—hurry up!!" She ordered before leaving me to my own devices. I watched the now closed door with a feeling of impending doom before exhaling a loud groan into my bed.

'I hate this!'

————————————

"So, now what? They came today with the mindset to finalise it—" Papa began, after they had left. I didn't bother contributing my opinion. Not like it was asked.

"I think, we should finalise it too, after another meeting with Hadeed present. He couldn't come today after all, due to work." Mama interjected. I wanted to scream out loud and protest but externally I was calmly scrolling through my phone.

"Yeah. We should pay them a visit, this time, before finalising. Okay, Hoor?" Papa suddenly brought me into the conversation without any prior warning. I looked up from my phone, shocked at this sudden turn of events.

"We'll see." I murmured in a small voice.

"What do you mean? Don't you like the proposal?" He began, as if I had said the most unimaginably impossible thing. Before I could get a word in, Mama broke in.

"What does she know—" she was starting, when I let out a long sigh, wondering when would it be okay for me to leave. I can't follow this conversation any more.

"I mean—it's too soon to say for sure. But sure, we'll see how it works out?" I tried to present a satisfactory explanation, but obviously it was thrown out of the window, without any consideration. So, I sat in my place listening to the list of his attributes and the family's prominence in the society, once again. The same thing that I have been hearing since the past 2 weeks and will probably continue to hear, until something is finalised about this proposal. However, sitting there I could only think about one thing.

'He didn't come.'

————————————

Exhaling a tortured sigh for the millionth time, I watched Ayeza squabbling with the inspector.

"How dare you tell me to quiet down! Hah! You are afraid that someone will see through your corrupt acts?!" Ayeza continued to scream on top of her lungs. I felt bad for the poor officer, who was making vain attempts to calm her down. Did we really have to get into an accident today? I might as well skip work now. It's already been 3 hours past my clock in time. And seeing how Ayeza is being so resolute about getting even with the officer who let the offender run off without following the proper protocol; I doubt we'll be able to leave any time soon.

"Okay Madam. I get your point. We'll take proper care next time, so this doesn't happen. So can you please let it go—" he tried to convince her again. By now, I was visibly groaning.

"Ayeza—come on. Let it go already, please." I tried once again.

"What—Hoor!! No! It's because we let things like these slide that our country is in such a sorry state—! Because of corrupt officers like him—And what do you mean, let it go?! Do you think I don't have connections—! Shame on you—" she was still saying when I caught the look of surprise on the Inspector's face, who got up with a salute, quickly. I followed his gaze and forgot to breathe.

He was standing there, staring at us, irritated. His gaze found mine and the breath that was constrained moments ago, was suddenly released. Only for a moment, his gaze lingered on my face and then he abruptly turned away. I was still standing in a daze, when I felt Ayeza had started again, but my mind couldn't decipher her words. His grey eyes were imprinted on my mind—and I didn't expect to see him in a Police uniform. He really was captivating. It was hard for anybody—even me, who couldn't give a damn about him, to turn away without feeling anything.

"—asking for you—" huh? I was brutally pulled out of my daydream at someone's voice.

"Now see, what happens to you—" Ayeza threatened the poor Inspector before walking away. I watched her leave dumbfounded before she turned to pull me alongside her.

"What are you doing—! Let's go!" Before I could protest, I was dragged to his office. Even outside his office, I contemplated whether to go in or not—but it was too late.

He was working on something, when we came in. His eyes wandered to my face momentarily before settling on Ayeza.

"Assalamualaikum. ASP Hadeed at your service. Please take a seat." Getting up from his seat, he greeted with a professional smile. It seemed fake, but atleast he was polite with Ayeza. For me, he had only cold death stares to offer.

"How may I help you, Miss—?" His voice was smooth and leathery. It made me want to punch him in the face and pull Ayeza from in front of him. The whole time, his eyes remained glued to Ayeza; as if she was the only one in the room. As if, I had ceased to exist.

After dealing with her complaints and promising to take strict actions against the Officer at fault and the offender, he was Ayeza's hero. Her whole attitude from before was replaced with doe-eyed look and honey coated words. She was a damsel in distress and the man sitting in front of her was her knight in shining armor.

I was watching this whole scenario unfold, with distaste, when he suddenly turned the conversation to me.

"—I have something to discuss with your friend here. Is it alright for you to wait for a few minutes." He continued, without so much as looking in my direction while I watched him dumbfounded.

"Hoor? Why—she didn't do anything. I was—" Ayeza began to interject but he cut her off with that cold smile.

"It won't take long." I don't get how people can miss the coldness of his eyes. Am I the one, imagining things—? Before the thought could complete, Ayeza had got up and left, followed soon by the other man in the room, who came to call us, earlier. Possibly his assistant?

I was lost in my thoughts, when I heard him exhale a sigh and recline in his chair comfortably. Gone was the polite mask from before and replacing it was the icy, bloodless devil. I watched him at a loss of words, when he turned to me with an apathetic gaze.

"I'll save us both the formalities and come directly to the point." He began abruptly. I was taken aback but didn't comment, letting him continue.

"I am not interested in this marriage."He stated it simply, as if he was talking about his choice of menu for lunch. I gaped at him stupefied before being able to find my own voice.

"Excuse me?"

He gave me a long hard look. His grey eyes appeared shallow usually but at this moment they seemed so dark and deep. I didn't look away even though every cell in my body urged me to. Maybe, I had misheard him. Yet, he didn't say anything for the longest while.

"You heard me." His eyes held enough coldness to freeze the room but his voice held contempt. I could feel shivers run down my spine.

"So? Your answer?" I blinked at him, too stunned to make a sound. My mouth dropped open at his words.

"About?" I asked instead, in attempts to appear composed and mask my inner thoughts. My fingers were busy assaulting the edges of my nails while he stared at me silently. Like a predator sizing up it's prey before devouring it.

"I don't know what my parents might've said—"He paused, giving me an opportunity to butt in, which I didn't take. I wanted to hear the end of his story.

"—but it will be in your own interest to remember my words." He paused to gauge my reaction. I could feel the heat emanating from my cheeks. I felt anger. The only thing I wanted was to smack him across that cocky face of his.

"This proposal has nothing to do with me. The rest, you can figure out yourself." He ended coldly, turning away to pick the phone on his desk. Randomly, the thought about my first memory of him popped up in my mind. I felt that he was a jerk, even then, but couldn't estimate that it could be to this extent. Just when he began to speak into the phone, I quietly got up from my seat. Shifting across the table, I gently pulled the phone away away from his hand and placed it back on the stand. He gaped at me in disbelief.

"Did you stop me for this crap?" My voice was trembling but to cover it I pushed back on the chair and sat cross legged. I watched the frown between his eyes deepen. His neck muscle tightened from clenching his teeth too hard.

"If that is the case Mr. Hadeed Rehman, then do you not possess the guts to say all this in front of your or my parents? Is that why you thought that it will be easily done and over with if you were to approach me directly?" I hoped that the coldness in my eyes could match his. But maybe that would be asking for too much. His eyes held pure hatred for me.

"Miss Hoorain Safdar. Correct me if I am wrong, but it is you whom I am intended to marry. And just for your information, my parents are well aware of this....What? Are you afraid to make your own decision? Or, are you simply incapable to do so?" he remarked icily. My face flushed bright red upon his comment. I knew that right now, my brows would be tightly knit in a scowl.

"I am neither afraid nor incapable to make my own decision! But I do feel, that YOU Mr. Hadeed Rehman are nothing but a coward! Who couldn't manage to stand up for himself in front of his very own parents!" I growled at his face and stood up to leave. But not before I caught the look of shock mixed with rage on his face. I had turned away to leave when I heard him getting up and coming to my side. Suddenly grabbing my hand, he pulled me back roughly.

"You talk so big, huh? Like you know it all? You have no idea who you're messing with Hoorain." His eyes were bloodshot as he pulled me closer to himself. I trembled with intent to murder on finding his fingers tightly wound around my hand.

"LET! GO! OF! ME!" I seethed with all the hatred boiling in me for the past few minutes. His eyes burned with resentment. For me? Himself? I don't know, but I knew then that the tears that I was trying so hard to hide, were now streaming down my cheeks. The look on his face immediately changed to one of surprise as I felt his hold loosen.

Immediately, I snatched my wrist from his grip and walked out of the accursed place.

I never want to see him again! EVER!

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