"DAMMIT!" I cursed, slamming my hand on the table, before walking around it to call for Safeer.

"Yes sir—"Even before he could finish, I was yelling orders at him.

"Get Ilyas here." He stood watching my face for a moment.

"Now!" I screamed at him before he scrambled to his feet. Grinding my teeth in fury, I clutched at the chair's top. My thoughts going back to the events from the past few minutes. This was what I wanted, yet.

My thoughts were intruded by the sound of knock on the door. I turned towards the sound and watched a cowering Ilyas standing in the door.

————————————

For the next 3-4 days, things were unexpectedly quiet. It seemed like the silence before the storm. Was it possible that the message wasn't conveyed. Had it not reached Dad's ears yet? It's only a matter of time, before he finds out. I might have got out of this scrap but only until he comes up with something else. Guess all that's left is to wait for his wrath.

"Jamil—! Jamil!" It was early in the day when I came back from my morning jog. I walked into the lounge and was greeted by the unexpected sight of my father.

My feet faltered in its steps, as I watched him twist in his seat to get a look at me. The lines on his face hardened at my sight. His lips drew into a thin line as he uncrossed his legs.

"Welcome. Thank you for finally gracing us with your presence." He remarked crassly. His  bitter gaze boring holes into me.

"Dad." The words left my mouth without prior warning.

"Now do you plan to take a seat, or is that asking for too much, as well?" There was no mistaking the anger in his voice. I looked away from his accusing gaze and stood in my place for a moment, before giving in. He regarded me with visible disdain, while I avoided meeting his eyes.

"After that cheap stunt you pulled—" He began in a bitter tone. I didn't look up from my hands interlocked in front of me but felt the muscles in my neck tightening.

"I have managed to convince them for an engagement for now." He continued unfazed but I didn't let him go on.

"The cheap stunt I pulled, was to get saved from this very fate." I remarked through clenched teeth, without meeting his eyes. For a fleeting second, he didn't have anything to say in return.

"Whatever you say, it isn't going to change my mind—" I remarked blankly and stood up to leave, when his words made me stop in my tracks.

"—Hadeed. I am asking it as your Dad—" His voice was low, almost pleading. I couldn't help but wait to hear the end of it.

"I need your help, son." The last sentence made me turn back to him. His eyes were still as resolute as ever, but there was no mistaking the hint of exhaustion. I didn't say anything, giving him a chance to explain himself.

"The shares I had invested in my new company had crashed. If I don't bring in new investment, then I will lose everything to the shareholders and board of directors—Even my company—" He continued solemnly, with his head down, not meeting my eyes. I felt something stir in me. I had never seen this man, I called Dad—so weak and frail in my life.

"So, you want me to marry her—for her father's investment?" I wouldn't believe it until I heard it from his very mouth.

"That's the only way he'll agree to help me out—" Dad couldn't continue because, I had turned away with a huff.

"Dad—This is not just your son's life—but the life of another innocent person is also at stake! Why can't you understand this?!" I couldn't believe my ears that my Dad was actually thinking of using someone as a scapegoat to achieve his goals. His face hardened, as he got up to stand in front of me. I knew he wanted to hit me for my insolence, but something made him hold his composure.

"—Look Hadeed. Son—" He began, putting a hand on my shoulder but I couldn't help but avert my gaze with a huff. Not feeling discouraged by my response, he continued.

"It's not what you think—I only need his support until I can figure something out—Just a few months—" I brushed away his hand.

"Can you even hear yourself, Dad? This isn't a joke! A person's life—" I couldn't go on, when he cut me off.

"This will be the last thing, I ask of you. I give you my word—" I was hating myself for making him say all this. But what he was asking was just incomprehensible. I thought, while turning to leave with an exasperated shake of head.

"They know—I have told them this already. That whether the engagement holds or not is up to you and Hoorain—if either of you want to break it, then we won't come in between your decision." He called out after my back. Despite myself, I felt my feet halting.

"You can confirm yourself, if I am speaking the truth. But just give this a chance—" He said finally, before walking past me and leaving through the door.

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

I stepped into the house and the feeling of something wrong is about to happen, intensified.

After greeting her parents, I took a seat along with Mom and Dad. I was trying to think of the reason as to which she had agreed to this facade, when my thoughts were cut short by her appearance.

She descended down the stairs looking remarkably beautiful in a white dress. I would've stood up but was rendered paralysed when her eyes met mine. A moment of surprise caused her eyes to widen but immediately, she looked away with an expression that was no doubt a scowl.

After greeting Mom and Dad, she walked past me without so much as a Salam. I was already feeling exhausted by this whole charade, while they engaged in pointless chatter and formalities. However, unintentionally my eyes followed each and every move of her.

I didn't believe for a moment that she could quietly agree to this absurdity. Especially after her last reaction. While I was having these thoughts, she had come up to me with a cup of tea. I eyed her warily and just when I extended my hand to take the cup from her hand, I caught a smirk on her face.

The next moment the hot tea was all over me.

"Oh! I am so sorry! How careless of me—!" She exclaimed in a way that could maybe fool my parents but I wasn't stupid enough to actually think she was apologetic at all.

She ran around to get me some tissues to wipe my shirt. Meanwhile, Uncle and Auntie had stood up in panic too.

"Its okay—I am fine." I returned blankly with a feeling of growing irritation but didn't expect to catch an apologetic look on her face. The real one.

It must be an illusion.

"Oh dear—it will get stained. Please let me wash this for you."Auntie turned to me worried whilst she stood on the side with hands folded behind her looking grim and annoyed.

'That look of guilt was definitely my imagination.'

"It's alright, Auntie. I'll take care of it. If you can tell me the way to the washroom?" I asked her but got a reply from somewhere else.

"Please. I'll lead you to it. I am really sorry." She remarked in monotone as if reading the lines from a script.

"Are you, really?" I whispered only for her ears to hear and saw her expression harden as she glared at me through narrowed eyes.

"Yes Hoor beta, show Hadeed to the washroom." Her Dad added quickly to get rid of the embarrassment, which her enthusiasm to show me to the washroom must've brought. She lowered her head and gave a slight nod before walking ahead of me and then out of the lounge.

She stopped in front of a door which I gathered to be the washroom and then suddenly turned to face me. All sorts of fake propriety wiped off of her face except, seething anger.

"YOU! How dare you show your face here, after all that!" She cried through clenched teeth while her face held all but disgust for me. I watched her face blankly for a moment, finally glad to see her true colours out in the open. All that putting up a show was tiring me out.

I arched a brow and shot her a smirk before responding.

"Are you still in possession of your senses or have lost all of them after spilling tea—" I remarked lazily, tilting my head at her but she broke in raising a finger to my face.

"You better watch it— Don't forget this is my house, you're standing in—" She growled in anger and I gave her a wide smile, knowing that was the exact thing that would rile her up.

"If your memory hasn't failed you yet, I can remind you—I am standing in your house, because you asked me to, obviously?" I continued unfazed but got cut off. Again.

"Don't try to act smart with me, Mr Hadeed—I don't care what or why you decided to show your face here after all that crap you pulled—but it's time for you to wrap this show up that you're playing—" She added with so much hatred burning in her eyes, that I had to take a step back and think this situation through.

The only reason I had come here today was to ask her personally if she was being forced into this, or something. I never intended to help Dad out with this anyways.

Yet, right now, after seeing her here like this; I was starting to rethink my decision.

"I don't get it? Wasn't it you who said that you weren't afraid or incapable to make your own decision? What happened? You couldn't manage to stand up for yourself in front of your very own parents?" I said all this with a sneer and watched blood rush to her face as she gaped at me open mouthed, unable to get out a word from that feisty little mouth of hers.

"What? Cat got your tongue?" I asked with a smirk looking down at her face and noticed her eyes glaze over.

"I have never hit a guy before—" She began slowly emphasising her words, without taking her eyes off of me for a single moment. I scoffed at her and her tiny fist clenched to her side.

"Is that a threat? Are you threatening me, right now?" I inquired with a slow forming smirk and noticed the muscles in her neck tightening.

And then she suddenly inched closer. I almost stepped back reflexively but managed to hold my ground, preparing myself for her fist to clash with my face. In the end I decided the best course would be to catch it, instead of getting beat up by her.

"I WILL NEVER EVER MARRY YOU! Got it?!" Her voice was low but her words were clearly punctuated with the message she wished to convey. My gaze locked with her fiery eyes before dropping to her flushed cheeks which were radiating heat and weirdly gave me an itch to caress it.

But obviously, I didn't come here to die today, so I did nothing of the sort.

"Is that right?" My voice took on a lazy tone, as I peered into her eyes disinterested.

"Then don't." I remarked with a shrug and watched the shock lit up in her eyes.

"The ball's in your court now. Do whatever you can." I ended with a smile and then brushed past her into the washroom.

I locked the door after me and a moment later, I could hear the sound of her heels clicking away. With a long sigh, I dropped my head in my hands.

'Hadeed. You jerk.'

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