In the last chapter: Soha and her potential fiancé meet at Haider mansion. They are left alone to talk.

Grandma's pov. (Surprise!!) :

Some people may think what I did was rude and heartless. My own son even asked if this was necessary when he got to know that I did something like that. He was very upset with my decision. But as a son, he never tried to defy my authority as the eldest of the family.

I needed to think one step ahead of everyone. I had always been that way. I wanted nothing but the best for my granddaughter. So I did what I thought was the best thing to do.

I just never liked people who are conceited and think of themselves as the same level as us.

I knew that Mrs. Haq's grandson had a thing for her since her sixteenth birthday. But I tossed the thought aside until Mrs. Haq came up with the proposal. I had no reason to refuse as he had become a successful businessman in such a short period of time and which was amazing in my opinion.

Now I just needed to make this plan work and get them married before my Soha realized her feelings towards that pathetic excuse of a guy. He didn't even try to convince me once when I told him to leave her alone. I needed him to realise that he was no match for our family. People may think I was being snobby and acting like a  stuck up rich old hag. But I was not going to give my grand daughter to someone who would not fight for his love.

It wasn't like I never considered him being a potential husband for my granddaughter. But everything about that bloke seemed annoyingly pathetic.

I went to the guesthouse the night before he left. I knew what was going on between them. They had to be stupid if they thought nobody noticed their interactions, the way they looked at each other, find any excuses to touch each other even if it was for a moment, and the way their eyes searched for each other when one of them was out of view.

I thought if it was only about that bloke's pathetic career that had to be dealt with, then I wouldn't have to worry. As Soha's husband, he'd get at least 1.5 percentage of the Haider properties. But it turned out it was something irredeemable.

*** Flashback***

I walked into the guesthouse calmly knowing that it'd be a mess if Soha got to know what I'd been up to. Although she was my granddaughter, sometimes I couldn't help but feel helpless in front of her wreath.

I was thinking of calling his name when the other guy who came just yesterday, entered the living room. He must have been surprised to see me at the guest house but didn't let it show on his face.

"I'm here to meet Rahat." I found myself saying.

"Oh, I'll go and tell hi-"

"No." I cut him off before he could finish the sentence. "I'll go there myself."

I turned around and walked to the other side of the hall, presuming that door would be his bedroom.

I knocked on the door and waited for it to be opened. Unlike that boy, this bloke couldn't hide his astonishment. Well, my visit to the guesthouse was unexpected.

"Dadima!" He opened the door wide enough for me to enter. "What a surprise!"

I didn't like him calling me grandma but decided to let it slide and start making small talks. I wasn't one to beat around the bush. But this was something that needed patience.

" I heard you're leaving tomorrow?"

" Uh, yes."

"I assume you enjoyed staying with us."

"Yes, very much." He smiled but his eyes were telling me some other stories. His eyes looked miserable.

"I think I'll miss this place and the people here. Everyone's so friendly and generous."

"People in general or you're talking about a certain person?" I looked at him with a straight face.

He tried to decipher where I was taking this conversation to. But he didn't know that I'd only let him know what I wanted him to know.

"Uhm," he scratched the back of his head. "I don't know what you're trying to say."

"Boy, you know very well what I'm talking about, so let's not waste each other's time." I was done making small talks. It was time I confront him and confirm what I already knew.

"I, along with every other living beings in Haider mansion know that you have feelings for my granddaughter. Although she might not be aware as she's too busy sulking and being insecure."

" I-I" He gulped audibly.

"Are you thinking of confessing your love before you go back?"

"Yes." This time he answered without any hesitation.

"I don't think that's possible."

***************************************

Soha's POV:

Many years had passed and now I was feeling embarrassed about what I did to Tahsan. The day he refused my help to take him to the hospital, I started noticing him everywhere, calling him four eyes because he had glasses. What an irony it was! Now I needed glasses as I had miopia.

They say karma is a bi*ch! Indeed.

Anyway, unlike me, he was extremely introvert and never liked the attention. But instead of replying verbally, he'd shown through academic results making me more irritated. I remembered his sly smile watching me fussing over being in the second position every time.

"I'm really sorry for being brat and calling you four eyes." I genuinely apologized.

"Well you were decent enough to apologize after I saved you from miss. Sheena's wrath."

"Yeah, I was such a good human being."

"So much for being humble."

He nudged me with his shoulder.

I didn't have close friendship with him but he was a good fellow. I had a huge friends circle at that time and he was just there who I only talked to once in a blue moon.

He went abroad after tenth grade and we never met once since then. I went through the turmoil during my eleventh and twelfth grade thus forgetting him altogether. But talking with him, brought a sense of comfort and familiarity.

"I. . . I wanted to. . ."

His voice cracked while he looked intently at me.

Why is he being nervous?

"Dude, what happened?" I stared at him curiously.

"I want to tell you something."

"I wanna tell you something"

We both said at the same time. I didn't know what he had to say. But I needed to get it off of my chest. I wanted to let him know what I've been through these last few weeks, how my world had changed for the better or worse, I had no idea.

My dreams shattered just when I started thinking I could get a happy ending. I wanted to be brave once again and let my guard down, trust him, love him, cling on to him. He left. Just like that.

Maybe he didn't feel what I felt when we were together. All those touches, kisses meant nothing to him. It was only me who fell in love. It was only me who still had lingering feelings and it might be there until death.

". .ha. . . . Soha," Tahsan grabbed my hand.

"Yeah?"

"You zoned out." He left my hand sat on the couch nearby. " You wanted to say something."

"Uh yes." I took a sharp breath and shut my eyes. As I opened my eyes, I saw him waiting patiently for me. This was gonna end up into a real mess but I shouldn't have let it come this far in the first place.

"Icantmarryyou."

***************************** **

A/n: I'm alive!!!!!

This pandemic turned many of ours lives upside down. I'm still unharmed physically alhamdulillah. But it hurts to see people losing their near and dear ones. Every time I started writing, I remembered people dying and my mind went blank. It took me a month to write these 1200 words down.

I wanted to stop writing ff and also thought of deleting it. But then again, I know a handful of you are still waiting and loving this book. So, I came back.

I hope to finish the book before July ends, If I don't die that is. May Allah help us, keep us safe and forgive us for all the sins that we did knowingly or unknowingly.
Ameen.

Love.