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Zeyad and Mariam were talking, getting to know each other.
Mariam found out that he owned his own company 'Z Industrials'. It dealt with a lot of things; from publishing to outsourcing and even invested in real estate and construction.

He'd started it when he was 24 with the help of his father who apparently owned his own company, and he was actually 30 now.

'He certainly doesn't look like it' thought Mariam.

They talked and asked each other about their likes and dislikes and started liking each other instantly. Zeyad asked her about her hobbies and stuff and vice versa when there was a knock on the door, even though it was open.

There stood was Khadija. She had a tray of tea in her hands.

"Come in, Khadija," Mariam said as she stood up to take the tray from her.
While giving the tray, Khadija said something in her ear that confused her.

'Take good care of our special guest.'

What did she mean now?

'Why was everyone in this household suddenly acting so strange?' she wondered. Nevertheless, she set the tray on the table and filled a cup for Zeyad.

"Would like some sugar?"

"Plain is fine. Thank you," he answered.

'No sugar? Hmm.' Mariam thought as she passed the cup along with its saucer to him and their fingers touched a little. Mariam blushed a little due to the weird feeling that ran through her arm and looked up at him through her eyelashes.

She saw that he too was a little embarrassed. His ears slightly tinged pink.

Mariam made her own cup and sat back on her seat.

"You didn't take any sugar. Are you diabetic?" She suddenly asked surprising them both.

She realized that she'd just blurted that out without thinking and blushed again.

Zeyad started laughing. He couldn't believe she had just asked that. It wasn't a very weird thing to ask, but it was unexpected and random, he couldn't help but laugh. 'She is adorable' he thought.

He looked at her and she'd hid her face behind her hands.  "I'm sorry for laughing. Your question caught me off guard. And no, I'm not diabetic. Alhamdulillah".

"Alhamdulillah," Mariam said relieved. 'Why am I relieved, though?' she wondered again. All these weird feelings seemed to confuse her even further.

"I just like my tea and coffee plain," Zeyad explained, taking a sip from the cup.

"Oh." she laughed nervously. Still a little embarrassed. "I like mine sweet."

"I can see that," He said pointing to her cup, where she put two spoons full of sugar and she felt her cheeks heat up yet again.

"Don't be embarrassed please," He pleaded. "I didn't mean to point you out. I'm just a very observant person."
He explained.

And as she spoke further, Zeyad couldn't help but admire her. She was so naïve and sweet. As innocent as a new bud.

The call for prayer went off and Mariam excused herself to go and offer her prayers. Zeyad was even more impressed. He'd always wanted his wife to be a practicing Muslim like himself. Sara was one too. He tried hard not to compare Mariam to her, but no matter how much he tried, he always ended up comparing every girl he met with her.

But before Mariam, no one came even close and he'd only just met her today.

After Mariam left the study, he too went downstairs looking for the others. He asked Mr. Waseem to escort him to the nearest mosque where they could pray. The three men went outside and came back half an hour later.

***

Mariam was in her room, folding her praying mat when Khadija barged in telling her that Zeyad had gone out for praying too. Mariam smiled at that.
Rehan wasn't very particular about his prayers and that did not settle well with her. Even though she kept nagging him, he wasn't very keen.

She went back downstairs to join others when her mother, along with Mrs. Ali walked out of her own room.
"Where are the others?" Mariam asked.

"They're downstairs back from the mosque. We just finished our prayers. Did you do yours?" Her mother asked sternly and Mariam nodded her head.
"Good." Tanzeem was very strict with her daughters when it came to religion and practicing it.

"Your daughter is such a lovely young lady. So, obedient." Fatima commented, patting Mariam on her shoulder.

Marian then excused herself to go check on in the kitchen when Fatima whispered to Tanzeem, "We'll be so lucky to have her. I'm sure Zahaan would love her."

Mariam hesitated in her steps. Had she heard her right? Zahaan? Zeyad's son. What was going on?

There was something fishy going on around here and being unable to understand it made her anxious.
Frustrated too. Everyone around her was acting as if trying to hint at something. But what?

There were so many questions unanswered. She was so engrossed in her own mind, that she didn't see the figure coming upstairs and slammed right into a muscular shoulder, losing her balance. She was twisted at a weird angle and was about to fall down the stairs when the person caught hold of her arm and hauled her towards their chest, securely.

Mariam sighed in relief at being saved but flushed when she saw Zeyad holding her close, a concerned look on his angelic face.

"Are you okay?" He enquired looking at her for any sign of hurt or discomfort.

"Y-yes, I-I'm fine. Thank you." She muttered a little breathless from the recent commotion.

"Are you sure?" Zeyad insisted. She didn't look fine to him. He blamed himself for walking right into her. He should've been more careful while walking up the stairs rather than engrossed in his phone yet again instructing his secretary.

Zeyad slowly let go of her and bent down to pick up his now broken phone.

"I'm fine, really. But I broke your phone, I'm sorry." She sniffled. She didn't want to cry, she did not even know why she was crying in the first place. But the day's events were too much for her and she couldn't stop the tears from streaming down her face.

Zeyad stilled at her reaction and reached for the handkerchief in his pocket, offering it to her.
"It's really not your fault. I should've seen where I was going. Pardon me."

"But your cell phone. . . ."

"I'll buy another one. Believe me, I can afford it." He smiled reassuringly at her and Mariam took the offered handkerchief and thanked him, grateful for it.

"Mariam," They both heard a third voice speak. She turned to see who it was at the source of the said voice and froze.

Rehan.

Had he seen what just happened? From the look on his face, she realized that he had. He looked angry. But the look in his eyes betrayed his anger. They looked. . . .sad. Why was he sad?

She excused herself from Zeyad and walked down to him.

"Rehan, what are you doing here?"
She asked cautiously.

Rehan was the overprotective type and possessive of what was his. And she was his. 'Not any more' He heard a voice speak inside his head and his heart sank.
"I came to speak to you. It's important." He said.

"Okay. Let's go sit in the living room, then." Mariam suggested.

"No. It's private. Let's go to your room." He said and started climbing the stairs without waiting for her. As they reached the landing of the second floor, Rehan stopped in front of Zeyad glaring at him. Zeyad held his ground and glared back, not liking the younger man's attitude.

They both stood there, glaring at each other for what seemed like a torturous few seconds before Rehan stormed off to the next floor.

"That- that's Rehan," Mariam told Zeyad hesitantly.

"My-"

"Your fiancé" He cut her off. "I know."

"How?" She asked dumbfounded.
"That's not important. I think you should go. He's waiting." He said and left.

Mariam wanted to say more. Ask more. But she followed Rehan instead.

He was pacing near her bed when she got into her room. "Rehan, what is all this? What's going on?" She asked truly lost and somewhat annoyed. Somebody better start talking before she lost her mind.

"I-I," Rehan hesitated. He didn't know how to answer her questions and clear her doubts. He himself didn't understand why this was happening. All he knew was that it had to happen.

"You know, I love you. Don't you?" He asked instead and Mariam nodded her head. "And you know that I'll never do anything to hurt you or make you sad?" She nodded again.

"You have to believe me when I say, I had nothing to do with all of this."

"Rehan, you're scaring me. Tell me what is it?"

"I-we-" He stopped and ran a hand through his already disheveled hair, "Those people out there. . . .they're here for your marriage" he spoke.

"Our marriage," Mariam said correcting him.

"No! You don't understand!" he said his voice a little louder than before running a hand down his face. "They are here for your marriage to their son. That man out there, he's here to marry you." He said finally dropping the bomb.

"Wh-what??" Mariam didn't understand.

"You and I, we're not getting married anymore, Mariam. We won't ever be together." He kept talking but Mariam wasn't listening anymore. All she could think of was the sound of her heart beating faster than usual and breaking at the same time. She felt hurt. Betrayed.

Rehan moved towards her cupping her cheeks "I'm sorry, Mari. I really am." With that said he kissed her forehead and walked out the door slamming it after him.

Mariam stood there shocked. This couldn't be happening. This can't happen.

No

No

No

Suddenly the air inside her room felt stuffy, Mariam couldn't breathe. Her palms were sweaty, her legs feeling like jelly and she could feel the panic rising. She couldn't stand anymore and was about to fall to the floor with a thud when her bedroom door opened and Khadija rushed towards her, grabbing her by the shoulders as they both slid to the floor and Mariam's eyes rolling to the back of her head.

"Aapa!!"

"Aapa, open your eyes Aapa." Khadija tapped her cheeks frantically.

"Somebody help!" She yelled, "Aapa please wake up".

"Khadija? What happened?" Tanzeem came rushing towards both of them.
She stopped in her tracks as her eyes landed on the unconscious figure of her daughter.

"Mariam!" She exclaimed too.

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