AREESHA'S POV:

Alex told me that today, uncle Javed is going to meet Maaz, in his office to discuss something important and I am just praying that he just don't mess anything up now, or else I will be stuck here forever, I know I sound mean but what can I do? I have to get myself and Adil get out of this miserable house, away from my step dad and I will do anything to get away, but meanwhile I am in the dinning room cleaning the shelves and all the antique utensils, I was busy in my work and engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't listen the voice of uncle's car, when he enter the house he called out my name loudly making me drop few dishes from my hands but luckily I got hem before they could touch the ground and broken into little pieces like my life is right now, besides that I don't want to be beat up on my engagement day.

"Engagement day" every girl's big day but for me it's just a normal day, I don't have any kind of excitement or any happiness for this day, I just feel the same, lonely and alone in this world, I missed my parents so much today, they have so many dreams for for me but today I will be engaged to man who is going to marry me for his benefits, I am just another deal for him, why can't anyone ever teat me like a human? I have feelings also... but here everyone thinks for themselves no one cares for anyone else, how they might hurt others badly, I don't want to be like them, my parents never taught me to be like that person, but now I guess to survive, I have to learn it, I have to learn how to use others for my benefits, but the reality is that I don't want to be like them, I hate to hurt others, so I have to be me, I don't want to change my self, if I hate those people so why to be like them, why not to teach them that there is another way get what you want without using and hurting others. I know Allah SWT will guide me, In Sha Allah...

"Areesha!" I heard uncle's voice again, I quickly got up from my place and rushed to him, he was sitting on a sofa with a brown envelop in his hands, "Sit," he ordered as he saw me,standing near the door, I slowly walked towards him and sit down in front of him on a chair, he handed me the papers and a pen, "Sign these documents so I will send them back to Maaz," he said, "Why do I have to sign them?" I asked, " just sign them Areesha, don't ask me anything," he said irritated, "No,I won't sign anything until you tell me what it is about," I said, he glared at me, "just sign them Areesha!" he shouted this time, "No!" I said stubbornly, "Just give me few minutes to read them," I said but he grabbed me roughly from my fore arm and jerked me up, "Sign them or else you wont ever see Adil again in your life," he threaten and increased his grip on my arm, making me whince in pain, "Just let me read it once," I pleaded not wanted to sign any official document before having a look at them, uncle sighed, "I have mentioned some points for your benefits in this contract and Maaz has asked to get your signs on them before proceeding further, so just sign them, they are totally in your favour and Maaz agreed to revised the contract and add theses points on it, he just want your consent, that's it" he told me after releasing me, "But still I want to have a look," I stated again, "You are just like your stubborn mother," he said annoyed by me.

He took those papers from the table and handed me a pen, "sign them Areesha without uttering another word, you know me well, what I can do to you and to your little brother, so don't tempt me to do those thing to you," he warn me, and I knew exactly what he was saying about, I can bear anything but he will hurt Adil again and he is just too small to bear that pain again, I can't let this happen to him again, I pulled the cap of the pen and signed those papers having few glimpse of the lines, I was about to sign on the last paper when uncle got a call from Maaz,

"Yes, Mr. Jaferi, I will be there in thirty minutes, you don't have to wait long, my lawyer has completed all the paperwork and he will be arriving at your office in a while, yes, yes, I know that, I will be there soon," uncle was busy talking and I got the time to read all the papers and I was a bit shocked while reading them, they were indeed in my favor and for my security after the marriage, but in everything uncle got his own share as well, so I guess I can work with that, uncle turned around after cancelling the call and I signed the last paper quickly and gave those documents to him "Get me a coffee," he ordered, I nodded and left from there.

I went to the dining room after giving uncle, his coffee and started putting back the cleaned dishes in the showcase, I heard a loud voice of uncle yelling at Adil, I quickly got up and was about to go there when Adil came to me, tears running down on his chubby cheeks and he wrapped his little arms around my legs and started crying, I picked him up and cleaned his tears, "Hey... what happened? Adil please don't cry, tell me what happened?" I asked, he looked me with tear filled eyes, when I saw a red print of finger on his left cheek, "I wanted to show you my new drawing Api, but when I was coming to you I didn't saw papa coming out of the room, I bumped into him and he spilled his coffee on his clothes, he got mad and slapped me, I said sorry to him but he still slapped me Api," he said in between hiccups."Hey.. It's okay, just don't try to come in front of him and I have told you not to run around in the house, you could have called me, I would have come to you buddy, just be careful next time, okay?" I said and caressed his cheeks.

"You want some help Api?" he asked, "No, I am almost done, do you want to eat anything? I asked, "How about some chocolates? I haven't eaten any for some time Api, can you bring them for me?" he asked, "Sure buddy, tomorrow I will go for grocery shopping, so I will bring some for you," I replied. "Okay, so I will have to wait till tomorrow for chocolates," he said sadly, "hey.. Don't be sad, why don't you bring that drawing you wanted to show me and I will make some grilled chicken sandwiches for you," I said, "With cheese?" he asked, "Yup! With double slices!" I answered he beamed happily and got off from my lap and walked out of the dining room, I cleaned the table and locked the showcase and took the cleaning equipment's and sprays back to the kitchen and put them back into the cabinet, I pulled out the chicken and other ingredients I needed to make sandwiches and lay them out on the kitchen counter and started marinating the chicken and cutting the vegetables. I needed to talk to Maaz for letting me keep Adil with me after the marriage, I can't let him stay here with uncle, but how I am going to convince him?

I was busy preparing the sandwiches and fries that I didn't know how much time passed and Adil didn't come back to me, I was thinking to go and check on him when he came happily running to me with a big bag full of different kinds of chocolates, "Api! Api! Look what I got!" he said excitedly and show me the bag he was carrying, "Where did you get these?" I asked, "Maaz Bhai gave it to me," he replied and took out a galaxy bar from the bag and peeled the wrapper, "What?" I asked confused, "Oh Api, you don't know a thing! Maaz Bhai is here with papa, they are sitting in the lounge, when they arrive, I was in the garden, making another drawing for you, Maaz Bhai came to me and I showed him my drawing, he said he liked it and gave me this bag," Adil told me, "Oh. Okay, come on then, don't eat all of these right now, I have made sandwiches for you, so first eat them," I said taking the bag of chocolates from him, "Api... it's not fair!" he protested and pouted so adorably, I laughed and kissed his cheek, "Come on," I said and settled him down on the stool and placed a plate in front of him, he was about to take a bite when there was a knock we both looked up and saw Maaz, standing in the doorway, watching both of us, "can I join in?" he asked, entering the kitchen, "Oh yes, have a seat, I am sure you will like my Api's grilled chicken sandwiches," Adil said cheerfully and pulled another stool for Maaz, he looked at me and sat down next to Adil, I gave him my sandwiches as I had no idea that he will appear from nowhere, I passed a glass full of orange juice to Adil and asked Maaz if he wanted something else, he denied and started talking to Adil while eating MY sandwich, "Nani ma asked me to pick you up from your house, she is waiting for you, so go get ready, I will drop you off to her, I have to go somewhere important, so be quick," Maaz said, I nodded and left.

After changing and tying my hairs into a braid, I placed my dupatta on my head and left my room, Adil and Maaz were still sitting in the kitchen and Adil was showing his collection of story books to Maaz, when I enter the kitchen, Maaz stood up from his place and whispered something to Adil making him smile and came to me, "You ready?" he asked "Yeah just let me get few things for Adil," I said, he frowned, "Why?" he asked, "I am taking him with me," I answered, "He is not coming with us," he said, "Than I am not going anywhere," I retorted back, he glared at me, " You are coming with me and he is staying here," he said, "there is no one in the house, how can I leave him here all alone?" I asked, "Alex was here a minute ago, he can look after him, why do you have to take him everywhere with you, let him live his life, don't try to keep him to yourself," he said,

"I will be fine Api, Alex is upstairs in his room, so don't worry for me, I will be fine," Adil said jumping from the stool and came to me, "See you in the evening Api," he said and left the kitchen, leaving me surprised, "See.. He is fine. Come on let's go," he said and walked out, I sighed audibly and leave the house behind him, his driver opened the back door for me and I got in, Maaz was sitting next to  me with his laptop on his lap and was working on it, driver got into the driving seat and started driving and I leaned back on the seat and watched the view outside the tinted glass window, thinking the way to convince this Mr. Rudy to allow me to keep Adil with me, but I have no clue how to convince him, it is really hard for me to talk to him, after the long quiet and boring ride we finally arrived at his mansion, his driver opened the door for me and led me to the front door where a woman wearing a maid's dress was standing there with a slight smile on her lips, she greeted me and took me inside the mansion, which was decorated so beautifully with fresh flowers and lights, the huge chandelier was so gorgeous that I couldn't take my eyes off from it, I was so amazed to look at my surroundings, the maid took me upstairs into a room where the racks of beautiful clothes were lined up along the wall, in the middle was a round table on which many jewelry boxes were and on my left were racks of gorgeous sandals different footwear in different colors, on my right was a huge dressing table and it was full of different types of cosmetics products, I was speechless at that moment, the door opened and Maaz's grandmother came through with Alizeh who was looking stunning as always.

"Assalam O Alikum," I said as they both came in, "Walikum as Salam dear, how are you?" Nani ma said coming closer to me and kissed my forehead, "I am fine Alhamdulillah," I answered and Alizeh hugged me, "It's nice to meet you again Areesha," she said and I just smiled, "Okay, no time to waste Alizeh, it's already 3:00pm and we have to do many things, you take care of Areesha and I will go downstairs and look at the arrangements and I have to call Maaz, he hasn't returned yet, this boy just can't leave his work for a mere second," Nani ma said and left the room, "Did you had lunch?" Alizeh asked going through the racks of clothes to find a suitable dress for tonight but all those dresses were so beautiful, it was really hard to choose from them,

"No, but I am fine I had a heavy breakfast so I don't need to eat anything for lunch," I said as I recall Maaz eating MY sandwich, "You are kidding me right?" she asked, I stayed silent, "Look at your self Areesha, you are really slim, you should take care of yourself," she said and picked up an intercom and order to bring food for me, "you didn't have to do that Alizeh, I don't want to eat anything," I said but to be honest I was starving right now as I have skipped my breakfast today, " yes I had to do that, and thank me later that I haven't told Nani ma about it or else she would have feed you by her own hands," she said and took out a zipped bag of a wonderful dress, it was royal blue in color and beautiful stone work was done with black and silver stones along with the fine silver embroidery on the borders, all in all it was absolutely gorgeous, Alizeh took it out from the bag and laid it out in front of me, the fabric was so soft and silky under my fingers.

"This would look good on you Areesha, I can't wait to see Maaz's reaction when he will see you in this dress, you know blue is his favorite color, this color always fascinates him," Alizeh told me, there was a knock on the door and a maid came in carrying a tray full of food and keep it on the side table and left, "Come on Areesha, have something before I get you ready for tonight," Alizeh said and I stood up from my place the aroma of that food was so heavenly that I couldn't resist and took a mouthful of delicious rice and moaned in delight, it was really delicious, I quickly finish my meal.

Alizeh came back to the room and handed me a gown, " go take a shower and after that I will start my work on you," she said, "But I had a shower in morning," I told her, "oh okay then come sit, I will start with your hairs first, Masha Allah they are so long and thick, they will take time," she said and called her helpers to come in and started working on me, one was applying nail paint on my nails, second was skillfully styling my hairs and Alizeh was applying makeup on my face, I was pleased that I had offered my prayers before coming here but how I am going to offer my Asar prayer, after two hours my hairs and makeup was completed.

I was wearing that beautiful blue dress with this diamond necklace and earrings, my hairs were set into a loose curls and they were trailing down my shoulders and my heavy dupatta was set on my head and shoulders so perfectly, all in all I was looking different, "Masha Allah my daughter is looking so pretty," Nani ma said coming into the room, she was wearing light purple saree with a black border shawl draped over her shoulders, she was looking so elegant and graceful as always, "Jazak Allah Nani ma, you look beautiful yourself," I said holding her soft hands in mine, she smiled and kissed my forehead, "I brought you something my child," she told me and gave me a black velvet box, I hesitated to take it from her but she insisted and handed it to me, I opened it and was so stunned to look at that magnificent bracelet, "I.. I can't take this Nani ma, it's too expensive," I said, but she laughed, "You are so innocent my child, this bracelet belongs to my daughter, Maaz's mother, when she got engaged I gave this to her and after her I kept it safe for my Maaz's bride and today I am giving it to you, consider it from your late mother in law," she said and after hearing that I couldn't utter another word, I just took it from her and vowed to myself to take care of it, Nani ma took it out from the box and secured it around my wrist, now you look complete and so beautiful, may Allah keep you both safe away from any harm, Ameen," she said and smile, "Okay I will go down stairs and call you when everything will be ready ok, make your self comfortable here, I will be right back," she said and left again, before I could ask her about the prayer mat.

I wanted to offer my prayers but there was no prayer mat in this room, so I decided to go out and look for it, there must be atleast one in this big house, I opened the door of the room right next to the one I was staying, it was dark in there, I switched the lights on and it was an exquisite bedroom, but there was no praying mat, I closed the door and walked to the another door, but all these rooms didn't have a single prayer mat, I lazily opened the door of the last room in the corner and it was some kind of closet or something like that, there were male clothes everywhere, the expensive neutral shade suits hanged neatly along the wide wall and rows and rows of shoes were linned up and there was a huge glass case full of different watches, ties and cufflinks.

May be I am in wrong place, I should go back before someone come and find me standing in his walk in closet, but when I tried to open the door, it was locked and now I was trapped in this place and had no idea where to go, I took a deep breath to calm my self and walked further into the closet and saw his collection of his luxurious outfits, I walking carefully when I saw another door few feet away from me, I quickly went there and turned the knob of the door and peeked through it but gasped and I am sure I missed a heart beat as I saw Maaz, standing in the middle of his room, only wearing his pants, his wet hairs were glistering in the light, his muscles flexed as he move confidently, I shut my eyes and closed the door, leaned my back against the wall, thinking a way out before he could see me here, I heard his voice coming closer as he was talking to someone on his phone, he opened the doors and I quickly hide my self behind his clothes, they were too many so I easily hide my self from him, he went further into the closet still talking on his phone.

I took that time in my favor and quickly exited his closet and move towards the door without looking around but as I was about to open the door of his room I heard him calling me name, "Areesha," I was still on my spot at that time and was praying that he just let me go, but he was still on his phone talking," Yeah, man I know I have to know about Areesha, I just can't let her out of my mind," I heard him and when I saw a glimpse of him emerging out of his closet I ran out of his room, "Who is there?" I heard him shout but I didn't stop running and when I reached to my room I quickly got inside and locked it and sat down on a chair and took deep breaths to calm my self, that was really close!

"Where were you?" I jumped from my seat as I heard Alizeh coming out of the washroom, all dressed up in a white and black lace gown, "I.. I ..was.." I stuttered, as I have no idea what to say to her, "Come on its time, we have to leave," she said but I asked her to give me a praying mat as I wanted to offer my prayer, she opened the side drawer and pulled out the mat and handed over to me, and I mentally slapped myself, it was in the drawer and I didn't look into it before leaving the room and went all Sherlock Holmes to find it in other rooms!

"Here take this and come downstairs when you are done," she said and gave me a big shawl and left, I sighed and offered my prayers and after completing my dua, I stood up and place the mat back into the drawer, I took a deep breath before opening the door and peeked through it, there was no one so I opened the door wide and was about to take a step out of the room when Maaz suddenly came in front of me and put his large hand on my mouth before I could scream and pushed me inside the room and locked it, I was looking at him with wide eyes, with no idea what he was going to do... or why he was here for....

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Until next time

Allah Hafiz,

Iraj

Date: 30-4-17