Misha's POV:

I spit out my drink at my father's suggestion. His words echoed in my head.

You should go out to eat with Farrukh. You guys have never really bonded properly over the years.

'That's because I chose not too!' I was tempted to reply but one look at abbu's stern face stopped me. Everyone was looking at me expectantly except Farrukh. He had a sinister look on his face. There was a smirk playing on his lips and I really wanted to strangle him right now. Why did he look so proud right now? He had been silent ever since that time I hung up the phone but it was creeping me out. I had a doubt that he had definitely heard me. What was he playing at?

I had realized that I had gone completely silent. I felt mother nudge me under the dining table so I snapped out of it and smiled nervously as I thought of an excuse. I was surprised at how my parents were okay with sending me out with Farrukh but then again the jerk had a perfect image infront of the elders. He was a kind, decent and good nephew in everyone's image. I scoffed internally at how different he was from this in reality.

"Abbu, I have a lot of assignments due in the coming weeks since the finals week is approaching so I don't know if I can make time for this..." I tried to sound as polite as I could. Abbu looked at me thoughtfully while I saw Tayi ammi's smile twitch. Was her facade finally coming off? I carefully glanced in Farrukh's direction and he smirked widely as he made eye contact with me. Why was he grinning? I narrowed my eyes slightly. His smirk disappeared almost immediately as he turned to look at abbu.

"That's okay, Chachu, I can wait until she is done with her exams. I have a friend in Misha's university. Your exams end this Friday right?" I almost whispered shit out loud. He smiled at me but his eyes were glimmering with something else. It was victory. I returned his smile as I replied.

"Yes but I have applied for an internship at a designer's boutique so I might not be free after Friday either." I refuse to give up this easily.

"No problem, the results of the internship haven't come out right? We can meet after Friday. I am sure you can spare a few hours for me right?" He looked at me innocently and all eyes fell on me again. Damn it. This manipulative prick. I felt my smile fall slowly but I couldn't show this man my weakness. An idea suddenly popped in my head as I smirked making Farrukh frown.

"Of course I can. Infact, so can Rida and Isha. All of us should meet each other since we haven't bonded in a while as Abbu said." I offered and Farrukh's smile disappeared completely. His charcoal black eyes got darker as an ominous air spread in the air. I felt a chill run down my spine but it disappeared almost instantly as he glanced in my direction.

"Sure." I grimaced. How did he agree so easily? "That is if they can make it." I heard him reply barely above a whisper. I blinked at him. What did he mean by that? Was I the only one who heard it? Nobody else seemed to notice.

"Well, that's wonderful." My Tayi ammi clapped her hands happily while I held back my desire to walk out. I hated this feeling of defeat but there was something I hated even more. How am I going to tell Ibraheem about this? He is going to lose his shit.

And then I got an idea. That should work.

....

Friday came way too soon. I sighed as I stepped out of the examination hall after giving my exam. I was glad the exam went well despite the stress that was building up with each day. It was 3 p.m. right now, Farrukh was going to come to my house at 5 p.m. to pick me up. I had two hours. 

I wasn't talking to Ibraheem properly since that day because I had to study for my exams and because I felt like I would give myself away if I did. I didn't want him to worry. He had told me he was taking care of some political matters back in Karachi. Something about resolving a dispute among the people regarding inflation. 

I was pretty sure if I told him, he would fly to Lahore the next day. I wanted him to focus on it completely while I handled this issue on my own. Farrukh hi hai na, bachpan se dekhti arahi hun isko. (It's only Farrukh after all, I have been with him since childhood.) I will handle him myself.

Right then, time to put my plan into action. I dialed Rubab's number. I had told her the entire story with Farrukh so she was willing to take part in the plan with me. Rubab picked up on the second call.

"The plan is on, right?" I whispered as if I was afraid someone might hear me.

"Yes. How did the exam go?" I heard Rubab ask in an amused tone.

"Pretty good. I wish Zoya was here too. We would have handled this perfectly but this works too. Thank you, Rubab. I owe you one." I truly was grateful. I wanted to evade this crisis as much as I could. I don't know why I was so against the idea of going out to eat with Farrukh. I just felt like I didn't want to betray Ibraheem. It would feel like I am doing something wrong. Not to mention I was repulsed by Farrukh myself.

"Don't worry, that is what sisters are for. You should tell Ibraheem though." Rubab was right. I should tell him. I will send him a text after this call.

"He will worry unnecessarily. He told me the dispute was important for his political career, I really don't want to bother him with my problems. But I will call him for sure once it's all over. Plus it's Farrukh. I can handle one guy. He is a cousin I have known since I was in diapers. What's the worst that can happen?" I laughed.

"Yeah, I still can't believe he is Salman's friend. The world sure is small. Anyway, I am on my way now right now. I will be there in a bit okay? Twenty minutes max."

"Alright, call me when you get here." Rubab said an okay as she hung up. I then opened Ibraheem's inbox. I contemplated my message for a bit but then decided to settle for one message.

I miss you, my love. I have something I have to tell you. Call me tonight? – Me.

Ibraheem didn't reply immediately so I figured he was probably busy, dealing with things. I inhaled the fresh spring air. Everything was under control. Life was good. Time to move to the next step. Once the text was sent, I carefully swiped my phone and called Farrukh. I really didn't want to even talk to him but I had no choice. It was the only way. Farrukh picked up on the first ring.

"Hello?" For some reason, I could feel his smirk when he said this word and it made me even more determined to make this work.

"I can't meet you today." I replied smoothly.

"Oh? Why is that so?" He didn't seem convinced. There was amusement in his tone. He won't be happy for long.

"My friend had an accident so I need to visit her urgently." I answered carefully. I couldn't let my anticipation give me away.

"Oh really? Is she okay?" He still sounded amused. Did he even have a heart? Such an inconsiderate jerk.

"No. That is why I am going to her right now. I hope you understand Farrukh bhai." I tried to stop the grin from exploding on my face but it was difficult.

"That's alright. Some other time then." His voice was monotonous now. HA! Serves him right.

"Okay. Allah hafiz." I hung up quickly as I fist bumped into the air.

"Hell yeah!" I screamed happily. I had no idea it was this easy. Now I just needed to go to Rubab's place and call my parents from there and let them know that Rubab had injured herself in some way so I can't meet Farrukh. "Finally got rid of that jerk." I stated proudly to myself as I started to walk towards the exit gate where I was expecting Rubab while humming happily.

"For someone whose friend is injured, you sure look happy." I stopped dead in my tracks as I slowly turned around to see the face behind that dreaded voice I knew all too well.

Ibraheem's POV:

I read my woman's message and smiled. She was so cute. But what did she want to talk to me about? I hope she was alright. She had been very distant lately but I figured it was because of her exams.

I miss you so much too. Sure babe. Everything alright on your side? – Me I typed as I wiped the blood drops from my face. The man under my left feet groaned in pain. He tried to get up but I kept him down by pressing my feet into his abdomen even more. I hadn't told Misha the real story behind the matter I was taking care of. True, inflation was a problem but there was something more. The opposition party was trying to catch me off guard and incapacitate me so they could take my place as the substitute politician.

This was their third attempt already. They were really going for it huh? Abbu told me to stay at home until we dealt with them for good but I had to listen to the problems of the people as well. Being an MPA wasn't easy damn. Plus I missed my wife.

"That was the last one?" Kamran asked me as he dropped his cricket bat on the floor. Kamran was in messy state of mind too. Ever since Zoya went missing, he had been trying to track her down but it was pointless up till now. He had sent people everywhere to look for her. I had told him multiple times that Misha didn't really know where Zoya was but he wasn't buying it. He was slowly losing his mind and there was nothing I could do about it but watch. All I could do was distract him with my matters. It was hard to read him even more but I knew he was up to something.

"Maybe we should just shoot the substitute bitch? That ought to put a stop to all this." Fahad suggested as he tucked his gun into the waist band of his pants and dusted himself as he got up from the ground. He was inspecting a knocked out man. "You know, send him to the hospital before he can send you?"

"That sounds like a good plan." Kamran nodded and both of them looked at me for an answer.

"We can do that but we need a proper plan. We can't send people like he does. He has no strategy or technique. Let's do it in one go. Without it tracing back to us." I suggested. It wasn't the first time an opposition party had wanted to bring us down. Abbu had a lot of enemies too but this one was just really persistent. I kicked the man under me until I heard a crack in his jaw. He was totally out of it too now.

It was about time I got serious. You don't mess with Ibraheem Khan Narejo.

"Hello? How odd of you to call me." I heard Fahad say. He was grinning from ear to ear. I looked at him and rolled my eyes. What girl had called him now? The grin disappeared almost immediately as he looked right at me. Why was he looking at me like that? "What? Rubab, can you say that again? Slow down. Yeah, Ibraheem is around. But what-Alright I will hand it to him."

Fahad looked at me with a fully confused expression as he handed me his phone and told me it was Rubab. I put it to my ear and before I could say anything, the next words Rubab said sent chills down my spine.

"Ibraheem! Misha has disappeared!" 

Author's POV:

Hello and Asalam o Alaikum lovelies!

Crazy Ibraheem is rejoining the chat. Who missed him? Shit is about to go down.  

What do you think is going to happen next?