𝙼𝚞𝚜𝚔𝚞𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝙷𝚞𝚢𝚎 𝙲𝚑𝚎𝚑𝚛𝚎

𝙲𝚑𝚑𝚞𝚙𝚊𝚢𝚎 𝙷𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚁𝚊𝚊𝚣 𝙶𝚎𝚑𝚛𝚎

Raza bend over, placing the mug next to a photo frame of an hour-shaped plus size girl in a tee and belted trouser, leaning against Asim while they looked dreamily at each other. Often, it seemed to her like Raza wanted to comment on her previous self, but he restrained.

Good for him.

From close, Manal caught the glimmer of his silver chain. He had pulled the zip of his sweater till his collarbone. 

xxx

"Do I look like your driver?"

He shook his head, scratching his clean-shaved jawline.

"Idiot," Manal muttered, seating properly. In his sleep, Raza fumbled with his seat belt. She gritted her teeth, watching his hands. 

xxx

Raza shivered; "Boss, this place seems to be so eerie. What if it is haunted now?"

Manal rolled her eyes. Just then, there was a loud squeak, and Raza jumped to the wall.

"Ah, rat? Rat..."

Manal sprung from her chair and looked around at the floor where he had pointed. With him, saying "there—there—no—there—rat—a big one."

She lifted her heels, careful not to stamp on it. Rosa hurried to Manal, pulling her from behind the table. Raza felt something pass by his feet, and he flinched. Mindlessly, he grabbed the first and nearest person, Rosa.

"Oh, Raza. It is okay. There are everywhere but—my team is working on it." Rosa gently stroked his sinewy forearm clasped around her.

Manal huffed, eyeing the hold and glared at him; "Why are you squealing like a girl?"

"Boss." He gasped, moving away from Rosa, - "These pests are carriers of Rabies. And you know—"

"Shut-up." 

xxx

Quickly, she ducked back under and winced as her head hit the table.

"You didn't let me take the chutney."

Manal rolled her eyes, massaging the top of her head.  

.....

A loud burp interrupted her. She frowned, cringing.

"Sorry, Boss." 

xxx

"I was just born—when my mother passed away--

Raza licked his trembling lips and looked up at her.

"From childbirth complications."

Manal recoiled in her place, noticing his brown moist eyes.

"I never knew her. My dad raised me. In the clumsy way, but the best he could do. He didn't remarry — his brother evilly schemed and took his property as well. Now we aren't financially well-off. Else I wouldn't be someone's assistant. I would be a CEO or a billionaire, too." His expressions hardened in the passing.

Manal shrugged, trying to be unaffected, - "Why are you telling me this?"

He sighed, ruffling his wet strands, - "You and others taunt me to be chamcha, and what not. But this job—this is my necessity. This is my survival. That is why I can't afford to lose this. I try my best to keep you and sir happy."

Manal sighed, - "Okay. But you are still annoying." She leaned against the tea trunk.

Raza smiled, watching her sleeping figure. 

xxx

In a metallic gold flimsy bikini, her skin radiated complementing her skin tone. Her perfect hour-shaped glass in this made her look extremely sexy.

Raza fished out his new phone from the back pocket and hurriedly focused on her; zooming.

"That Asim is one lucky bas—man." He smiled, clicking a few pictures.

....

Raza was in panic mode overdrive. Struggling, he got her to the shore. Before help arrived, he attempted to revive her with CPR; without hesitation, he started chest compressions. The emergency help arrived and took over. He prayed profusely, blaming himself for this mess.

Water gurgled out from her mouth, and Manal gasped. Raza blinked at her as she began to cough.
"Boss, Boss." He kneeled next to her, pushing behind her hair. His fingers brushed over a tiny scar at the side of her head, near her hairline.

The history

"Who are you?" A woman in her strong American accent screamed at her from the balcony. Manal flinched, dropping her books. Swiftly, she bend gathering her book and looked up.

"Um, Aunty. I brought--" Before she could say anything more, the beautiful blonde woman with dazzling green eyes, threw a stone at her. She winced, holding her forehead. Feeling warm liquid in her hand. Manal gasped, noticing blood. The pain was excruciating.

"Get lost, B**ch. I won't let you steal my son, like that wretched woman stole my husband."

Manal blinked, a blood droplet fell on her eyelids. As her head spun, she felt like her head was splitting into two; she saw a blurry vision of a young man running towards her. Her eyes closed, and her body loosened. Just as she fell, a strong pair of arms grabbed her.

xxx

The freezing weather was barely a problem for him. In just a lounge pant, he stood tall, shirtless, on the balcony. Casually vaping, he stared ahead at the city's night view. There was stillness, with a cold wave forcing everyone to be indoors.

His phone vibrated. Taking a puff, he smirked, picking up the call.

"Hi, Zayan sir."

.....

"Arey, that Ch—landlord Prem. His name is Prem, but he is no less than a dictator. After I finished my gym and walk, I returned to the flat and there Prem was checking our belongings. Some idiot was smoking. It is Vinay, I am sure. Prem, our landlord, is very particular about no smoking, no drinking, and girls." 

It was him. 

"You find someone for me. You are experienced, wise and know how to analyse people." He said humbly.

Farisha chuckled, - "I would love to. But no one from my circle would marry their daughter to you. I will talk to Hana's father; he will find someone from your financial status."

Raza's smile faintly dropped, but he spoke lightly, - "I am not in a hurry, Phoupijaan. My elderly father needs me more."

Farisha nodded, - "Then, we will have to wait for him to get better or—"

"Baji?" Sohail worriedly interrupted. 

.......

"Don't mind, huh, Brother? But you have Rani Beti syndrome."

Sohail flinched his head back slightly.

"Aur nahi toh kya." She twisted her lips, - "Like women have—Raja Beta syndrome. They project their emotional insecurities on their sons."

Raza's smile instantly dropped. He glanced away.

"Like their emotionally absent husband lets them down and they expect their sons to take that emotional space."

Raza cleared his throat and excused himself. Asim called him, but he ignored and rushed out of the mansion. 

He was the Raja beta for Priscilla ;)

Manal gracefully climbed down the stairs, adjusting the velvet pallu of her deep purple saree over her bare arms. She tugged on the delicate diamond choker and flickered her diamond drop earrings. 

On the spot, Raza admired her. Her make-up was on point, done by her. But his gaze lingered on her pulp heart-shaped lips. The shade of deep red on them could never be wrong. It made her lips and face more sexy. Manal looked up and her smoky eyes met his dazed one. She held the railing of the stairs with one hand, holding the edge of the velvet pallu.

Raza gulped softly, not able to look away. The side-parted sleek bun framed her oval face. Manal lowered her eyes; when she looked up, a slow smile appeared on her face. Raza continued to stare lovingly at her, his eyes fixated on her radiating face; eyes and lips. Manal gave her hand. Slowly, he raised his hand. Instead of placing her hand in his, she held someone right behind her. Raza tilted his head. Asim took Manal's hand, and she walked past him. Her shoulder brushed against his arm.

Someone's feelings are subconsciously changing ;)

Before he spoke, someone's soft fingers wrapped around his forearm.

Raza froze. Another hand slid over his arm. His throat dried up as a satin cloth blindfolded him.

Manal frowned, realizing Asim's frame appeared taller. She wrapped her arms around his hips and pressed her body against him. Raza shivered.

"B--Bo--Boss."

Manal's eyes sprang open. She jumped apart, turning him around, and gasped loudly.

"Can I open my eyes?"

"No." Manal squeaked.

"Why are you here?"

"You texted me."

"What?"

Raza stood aimlessly. His ears followed the clicking sound of her high heels. Manal gasped loudly again.

"F**k."

"Boss." He moved his arms.

"Don't you dare open your eyes." She warned him, then held his arm and dragged him.

"Get out." 

xxx

"Your parents don't love you. Your father doesn't care and your mother was over-dependent on you. And—and—you deserve to be unloved. I was a fool to give you love. You should be grateful to me." She challenged him. Zayan raged, attempting to free himself, and the boys found it difficult to restrain him. Asim pulled on Manal's hands to take with him, suggesting she stop talking.

"I swear, if I get my hands on you, I will rip your head off." Zayan dared in a booming voice. Manal spat on the ground and walked away with Asim and the other girl, calming her down.

xxx

His eyes turned moist, remembering his mother. Priscilla was a sweet and kind woman, but she was naïve. Zayan slammed his hand hard on the wash-bin and winced. Turning around, he wore his knitted top wrapped a muffler, covering his face and dug his palms into his lounge pants, then left his apartment.

Manal's gaze flickered to a bruise on the side of his fist, under his pinky finger, - "What happened to your hand?"

Raza chuckled, - "Long story, Boss. When I was jogging, some street dogs got behind me."

Manal raised her eyebrows, "Did you bore them with your talks? Then, they should have bitten your ass."

"Don't say like that—Boss." He caressed his bruise.

Manal made a face, "I don't need help, especially from him. Uncle, no offence, but your son is a bully. He hurt my fri—"

"Manal." Sohail interrupted sharply, "He is a twenty-three-year-old man, Abhi; there is a surge of wild testosterone among boys and men. Stuff happens. Now, those unfortunate guys who can't match, they play victim." He said with a straight face. Manal gaped at her father. Suleiman shook his head, his lips drooping under his moustache.

Sohail had always been siding with Zayan,

"Have you—have you kissed before?" Manal stammered. He chuckled against her lips. His stare hypnotized her. Manal's breathing got hitched in her throat and her chest felt heavy.

"No. but I saw in movies." Zayan cupped her face with one hand, while resting the other next to her head.

Manal smiled nervously, - "In those American movies?" She licked her lips.

.....

Manal gripped the tiny green square pendent of his silver chain and parted her lips.

They kissed clumsily at first, but got the hang of it soon.

xxx

Raza fumbled with the kiss. His tongue accidentally touched hers, and he retracted. Manal grabbed his head, pressing against him, and deepened their kiss. He gave in, letting her take the lead.

"So, this is how a kiss feels."

"How?" she breathed.

Keeping their eyes closed and forehead together, they gently moved to the song.

"So tranquil, so fervent, so rewarding, so passionate, so intense." 

Jhooth! phir se bad kissing ka acting kar raha hai

Raza paced outside their resort, checking his watch and fiddling with his tiny pendant. Hearing her footsteps, he flipped it back and adjusted the delicate silver chain. 

The History of it:

Zayan could pick himself back and move on. But he kept his mother's last sign, a thin silver chain with a tiny green pendant. Now in separatable from him. She had gifted it on his fifteen birthday; he hadn't removed it since.

xxx

Manal rolled her lips, blinking, and flickered her tears with the back of his hand. Paint smeared on her chin. Raza hesitated, noticing she was just in her bra and jeans. He looked at the portrait of an unknown man. His sharp jaw matted with short beard, eyebrows furrowed. She got the worry-lines, the skin texture and details of his facial hair accurately. The captivating part was the man's green eyes. Sharp eyes with a deep, haunting look.

"What do you want?" Manal mumbled. Raza looked away, then turned around.

"No—nothi—I will come later." He stammered, then dashed out of the cabin. 

What would he have thought upon seeing his portrait?

xxx

Her gaze fell on contacts' box next to the bed. For a moment, she wondered why he needed lens when he already wore glasses. She was distracted when Raza walked in with two cups of coffee. Perhaps it belonged to Raghav.

It was his 

"Raza. Have you seen a woman in love?" She asked after a brief silence. Manal lowered her cup, eyeing him. Taken aback by the question, he thought for a moment.

"How would you know? Not even a woman's shadow has touched you." She raised her eyebrow. Raza shifted, adjusting the frame of his glasses.

Manal blinked, not moving her gaze from him, - "They are the biggest losers. World's dumbest creatures. They are a--" She licked her lips, - "a joke." Her eyes turned moist. Raza looked sympathetically at her.

"Boss, whoever said that to you is a joke himself. Women in love are the most nurturing, most compassionate beings in the world. They pamper their guy, give them all they have, multiplying the love they get in return."

Manal scoffed, looking away, - "For those men to step all over it."

Raza stretched his hand and placed his cup on the table, - "Boss, Don't think about him."

Manal smirked, - "I needn't think about him. He is roasting in hell."

They looked at each other. Silence around them. 

He was making Manal's popat

TakingcSohail's name, they easily got two one BHK on the same floor. Sohail Emeer hadcalready spoken with the owner, and personally saw that all of Raza'sformalities were done.

Now we know why? Sohail, please focus on your daughter...

"You. Your skin tone is really different, a type of fair—like some angrez."

He paused for a second. Manal placed her hand next to his. Her olive skin in contrast to his fair tone, except for brown hairs on his forearm.

Raza chuckled nervously, - "You like it."

Manal kept a deadpan face, - "I hate it."

xxx

"Big Boss--I want to marry your daughter. I really love her. I will protect, care, and love her all my life."

The paper-weight slipped from Sohail's hands, he gaped; flabbergasted.

.....

"You are the best, Asim. And I am glad Dad preponed our wedding."

And this was how Manal treated him...

Nine months before, Priscilla had passed away. Devastated, he sold that house and brought a new one. Manal was by his side, as his moral and emotional support. Though he had gone no contact with her for almost a month. Panicking, Manal contacted Sohail, who coaxed Zayan to talk to his daughter and also him, if he needed anything.

But he...

"It is not your fault that you thought I loved you. Everyone who knows me knows I am an excellent actor. I can mould into any cast effortlessly. Like, chameleon."

"Chameleon. That toh you are,"- Manal thought menacingly.

Excited for future chapters? Now, Manal knows—how is she going to handle him? 

My Lovelies, I need to write more chapters, and so I will be going back to update once on the weekend. Once a bulk of chapters is ready, I can post multiple chapters. 

Thank you for your patience and love. Please comment, lots, lots, lots, and lots. And, don't forget to vote ;)