MAAZ'S POV:

"You can thank me later," I said and sit straight on my seat and started to drive, but when I changed the gear, pain erupted in my leg that I just couldn't bear, I hissed and cursed that as*hole,

"Does it pain so much?" she asked, I looked at her,

"No, I am just enjoying the pain, what do you think I am feeling right now?" I answered the stupid question, what does she think I am a man of steel??

Of course I am feeling pain, if I am not groaning aloud or crying like a girl doesn't mean I am not feeling the pain, I am a human too, I have emotions, I am not like the people think of me, the ruthless and cold man, she rolled her eyes and stayed silent only for a few minutes,

"How is Mahrosh?" she asked,

"She is fine, Ehteshaam will take care of all the matters from now on," I said, she tilted her head and flinched as she felt pain in her wounded neck, "Careful," I said, instantly caressing her neck gently, she slapped my hand away from her, I looked at her with a raised eyebrow,

"I am sorry," she said, after a long pause, I shook my head, keeping eyes on the road,

"Why are you apologizing?" I asked,

"Just because of me, you got hurt today," she said, making me smile, I looked at her, she was looking at my lips, and at that moment I had an urge to kiss her soft plump lips,

Wait! What the hell I am thinking??

She is the daughter of Javed! The man who murdered my little brother!

My brother!

How can I forget this! I have to take my revenge from him...

But these strange feelings and the pull I am feeling for her are making me forget my task, why!

Why??

I wish she was not his daughter, she must have been someone else's daughter, not the daughter of my enemy..

I thought, staring at her lips, but shook my head when I met her questioning eyes, I focused on my driving,

I think, I should call Zoya tonight or I shall call Zara for some change or some other girls I had been with, it's been too long I have met them, may be spending some time and night will make me forget about this woman sitting beside me making me go all crazy for her,

I heard a cough and looked back to her gorgeous hazel brown eyes, she was still looking at me, that's when I remembered she said something to me earlier,

"It wasn't your fault, I have been surprised if nothing would have happened tonight and we peacefully returned to our homes, you know you just attract troubles to you like a magnet, you just can't stay from getting yourself in trouble," I said, she just stayed silent,

"Can I ask you something?" she asked after a few minutes,

"What is it?" I asked,

"Who was that guy who kidnapped me?" she asked,

"The man who will be killed with my bare hands if he ever tried to even look at you," I said, as I felt my anger rising by the mere thought of that bloody bastard touching what's mine! Yes, she is mine! Areesha is only mine! I will do whatever I want to her, but if anyone else, even try to touch her, I will make their life miserable as hell, I tighten my grip on the steering wheel as I recall tonight's event when they were taking her away from me in front of my eyes and Ehteshaam was holding me so that I won't attack them in my full rage,

"Hey! Calm down," she said, patting my shoulder, I looked at her and sighed audibly, why does this thing always happens to me? When I hear her soft voice, I feel my anger subsiding, why her touch makes me calm?

"You don't know how I felt when those bastards hold you in front of me like that, I just wanted to rip their heads off," I said, holding her hands in mine,

"Why?" she asked, I stayed silent

"Why do you want to do that to them, they were just trying to escape and were using me as a bait, what more could have happened? They could have just simply kill me, why that was a big deal for you?" she asked, I hit he breaks and covered her mouth with my hand,

"Don't you dare say that again, you got that!" I warned her, I don't know why, but I felt a sting in my heart when I heard her say that,

She nodded in response and I remove my hand from her mouth and started to drive, increasing the speed to its limit, trying to control the fast heart rate which was increased by thinking of her death, damn! Why I am feeling like this for her?

"You didn't answer my question," she asked, after a long pause,

I remained silent, concentrating on driving and trying to think of a suitable answer for her, "You are my fiancé," I answered after a few minutes,

"Fiance or just a business deal?" she asked, being sarcastic,

"Yeah, a deal, which I can't lose, because this deal is one of the most important deal of my life, I can't lose it at any cost, if I lose this deal, I will lose everything in my life," I said, and increase the speed, gripping the steering wheel tighter,

"Thank you," she said, still keeping her eyes closed, lying back on the seat,

"You don't have to thank me Areesha, I would have done anything to save you," I replied, feeling a bit weird, why she is thanking me saving her, I would have done anything to save her, even if it has cost me my life, I just can't imagine it, she just can't die!

But why she has to be so formal with me?

Why our relationship is so formal? Is it because I never let her come close to me, or I never tried to listen to her? Sometimes I really wanted to tell her everything but in another minute I have to turn myself cold and stone, I do not want to tell her anything, she is the daughter of Javed! Damn!

What the hell she is doing to me!

"Why?" she asked, looking at me, I was lost of words because I did not have the reason, why? I am having these feelings for her. Why?

I don't have any answer for this either,

"Sometimes there are no words to explain why Areesha, something happens in life, that you just don't think about it, we just act, not bothering to think before doing it," I replied, keeping my eyes on the road.

"Does this include your decision to marry me?" she asked, again, I was silent for a few minutes,

What the hell!

Why she is asking me these questions and why I am getting nervous answering them.

"No," I replied shortly, she opens her mouth to say something but I raised my finger,

"No more talking," I said

"But..."

"Just shut it!" I said and she rolled her eyes,

The rest of the drive went through quietly, I parked my car in front of her house, she gathered her dress and was about to get down when I unlocked the door on her side, she glanced back at me but I looked away from her, she shook her head and opened the door,

"Be careful," I said as she opened the door, she looked back at me, but I didn't glance back at her, I was feeling her eyes on me, "I am sorry, I ruined this dress," she said turning back, I shrugged my shoulders,

"Not a big deal," I said, again, trying to focus on the empty road, it was getting difficult for me to keep myself away from her, why she is not going inside, I swear if she is not out of my sight in another five minutes I will lose my control, just go inside Areesha!

Before I will do something that, I will regret later,

"You sure, you can drive, I think you should first see a doctor, you need stitches," she said, looking at my injured leg, I shook my head, "I am fine," I said and locked the door,

"If you don't want to see a doctor, it's okay, you can come inside, I can take care of your wound, I had some training back in the college, I did some medical courses," she told me, gripping the side of the car, I shifted my gaze to her, Damn!

What's she doing to me, I stared at her, she was standing under the light of the street lamp, looking so pure, innocent and beautiful, looking back at me with worry and concern in her hazel brown eyes, I can't do this! I can't keep myself away from her.

"You know how to stitch?" I asked, she nodded, I sighed audibly and got down from the car, she grinned, I picked up my cell phone from the dashboard and stand in front of her, watching her hair flow as the wind blows, she tucked them back and smiled,

She slowly took steps towards the main door and press the doorbell, I stand besides her, keeping my eyes on her, "Oh my! What happened to you my princess? Who did this to you? Are you okay? Why are you standing come, sit, you are so pale," Javed said, holding her and took her inside,

What the hell!

Did he just grab her roughly right in front of me? How dare he touch her! She is injured and wounded, I felt my anger rising up again just watching his hands on her shoulders, I was about to go inside and yank his filthy hands off her when I heard her calling me, I closed my eyes for a few seconds trying to control my anger, she again called me, I looked at her, she was sitting on the couch, watching me with concern and some fear in her eyes, I sighed and stepped inside, she got up from the couch, but she was about to fell when I gathered her in my arms and tightly hold her in my embrace, inhaling her sweet scent which was relaxing my tensed muscles, it soothe me, made me feel relaxed, I inhaled deeply and ran my fingers through her long soft hairs, I lifted my face and looked at her tightly closed eyes,

"Are you okay?" I asked,

She nodded and rested her face on my shoulder, I gently caress her back and stroked her hairs, feeling something I don't want to, but I just couldn't resist it, I want her to be with me all my life, I closed my eyes and feel her fragile body against mine, it was so comforting to feel her in my embrace, it was something else, that I just can't explain it to myself either, the only thing I know is that, I really like it, I don't want to let her go, ever! I heard her saying something,

"What? "I asked, lifting her head from my shoulder

"Nothing," she replied, looking at the ground, I lifted her chin from my index finger and made her look at me, "Why are you crying? "I asked, wiping tears from her cheeks, "Nothing, I just recalled the earlier event tonight, I don't know what would have happened if..."

"Sh...." I said, placing my finger on her lips, silencing her,

"You are safe now, no one is going to hurt you," I said, cupping her face with my hands, she leaned into my touch and closed her eyes, I had an urge to kiss her, I was staring at her lips, I came closer and gently kissed her forehead, trying my best to control myself,

"Hey! It's my house Jaferi and that's my daughter you are holding, just keep your hands off her, you can make your romance after the marriage, I don't like this sort of things, keep your hands off her!" Javed said entering the living room, I tilted my head slightly, being irritated by his interruption,

"I can do whatever I want to do with my fiance, who are you to order me!" I said pulling Areesha closer to me,

Alex came as she was about to say something, telling her about Adil, but when she tried to leave I tighten my hold on her, I just don't want to let her go by my side, I was staring at Javed, who was smiling mischievously typing something on his cell phone, I narrowed my eyes at him, definitely he is planning something, some crazy things going into his head,

"Maaz, come, I will stitch your wound, I have my kit upstairs," Areesha said, I shifted my gaze to her and then again looked back at Javed,

"But you are hurt my sweetheart, you should not stress yourself with Adil, he is fine, you should go and take some rest," Javed said,

"Dad! Let them go, look, Maaz is bleeding," Alex said, Areesha quickly hold my hand and pulled me with her towards the stairs, before I could give him a piece of my mind, his presence was always so much difficult for me to bear, I just wanted to strangle him and take away his life with my bare hands, but no, that would be so easy for him, I will let him suffer in every possible way, he will beg for his death in front of me.

I really do hate him, but surprisingly I don't feel this hatred for his daughter, it's totally opposite, I feel relaxed and calm when I am with Areesha, it's like being with her make me forget some of my worries and pain, she is the only one who makes me feel this way, it's strange her father is the man I hate most, and she is the woman, who soothe me, take my pain away for some time, the pain her father caused me, but she is the one who takes that pain away.

"I am sorry, sometimes he is just....."

"You don't have to say anything, I know him very well," I said and took a seat next to her bed, I looked at the ceiling which was decorated with fairy lights, looking beautiful, reminding me of Ma'am Maheen, I clearly remembered her room, she was fond of lights, her room was always decorated with different colors of fairy lights and today watching them hanging exactly same like that, reminded me of her.

"I can bet, you don't know him more than I do," she said, opening the drawer and pulled out the kit and laid out all the things on the side table. I shook my head,

"Can you please lift your pants?" she asked, I bend down and folded my pants and took a deep breath as the pain was getting unbearable for me, she kneeled beside me and examine it, but rather than cleaning the wound, she pokes my thigh with her finger,

"What are you doing?" I asked, she instantly looked up at me,

She didn't reply, just gave a sweet smile and after cleaning the wound, she picked up a needle and looked at me,

"I am sorry, I don't have stitching gun neither skin glue, it's going to hurt a little," she warned,

I groaned inwards, trying to be strong but the thing is that I was afraid of needles since my childhood, whenever I had to see it, I feel something, I remember when my mother used to take my little brother for vaccinations, I always accompany her and when doctor inject needle into my little brother's leg, I used to hissed in pain and cry louder than my little brother, and after that I kick doctor, making my little brother cry in front of me and my mom had to stop me for hitting doctor and nurses.

"Go ahead," I said, gripping the bed sheet in my hands, she took a long breath before lowering the needle and started to stitch the wound,

Oh My God! It was hurting as hell, I felt like my whole leg was on fire, I flinched but didn't let her know how much this hurt, I just gripped the handle of the chair, trying to bear the pain and praying for this miserable time to pass on, I tightly shut my eyes and cursed that As*hole who stabbed the freaking knife on my leg, after some time I opened my eyes and saw a painting hanging over the wall in front of me, I was totally mesmerized, even I forget the unbearable pain I was feeling few seconds ago, that painting was exactly the same I saw in Ma'am Maheen's house, she had a very large collection of different paintings, she herself was a very outstanding painter, even she taught me how to paint, I remember the uniqueness of her painting style, she like to experiment with different shades of colors, the angles of her strokes were a bit different from other painters, and now watching this painting here, reminded me of her and I was wondering, how did Areesha got this painting, does she know Ma'am Maheen?

"I am sorry!" she said, as she continued her task, after wrapping bandage around my leg, she looked up to me,

"Maaz," she called me, but I didn't answer, just keep watching the painting,

"Maaz!" she said again and this time I looked at her, "Where did you get this painting?" I asked,

"I made it," she told me, looking at the painting hanging on the wall, I was very stunned, how in the hell she can paint just like that. May be she is lying to me, no way she can paint just like Ma'am Maheen,

"You made it?" I asked,

"Yeah, my mother loved to paint, she taught me," she told me, I knew it! She is lying! Javed married a woman, when he was in England and divorced her before coming back here, to his father, so, how her mother could teach her to paint exactly like Ma'am Maheen. Is this a coincidence or she is lying to me, I glanced at her, but the innocence and purity in her eyes said everything, why I am thinking like that?

It can be a coincidence, she is talented and god gifted, why I was thinking of her like that? Or maybe I should get some information on her mother, I really don't know anything about Javed's wife, my investigators didn't get anything when he came back here, he disappeared for a little while and when he came back, he owned a company and had a luxurious life, and I just can't get the information on him, it was easy for me to get him when he was in England but when he came back here, it was like a mystery for me to solve, there is definetly something I should know about him, when he got disappeared for last three years, I have to know what he did? How he got the company and how he got that amount of money after getting pennyless in England.

"You are so talented, it's really a master piece, you should pursue it, I can help you with it," I said, after snapping out of my thoughts, she shook her head,

"No, thank you, I don't paint anymore after my mother's death," she said in a low tone, there was a long silence between us, I got up from my spot when there was a knock on the door,

"Areesha! My child! Doctor is here," Javed said, entering the room with a doctor, she looked at me with a sly smile,

"Hello, Mr. Jaferi," she greeted me, not taking her eyes off me, "I am just feeling tired, I don't want to see any doctor, I am fine, thank you, please just leave, I am feeling really exhausted, I don't want any company right now," Areesha said, standing in front of me, blocking the doctor's view who was shamelessly staring at me and flashing her eyelashes, I smiled looking at her, standing so protectively in front of me and giving that doctor a hard stare, like if she dare to move, she will strangle her,

Ahhh.... Such a nice view! My kitten is growing up! Feeling jealous when anyone see me like this, I wonder how she will react when she will see me with Zoya, or Zara or maybe with Zehrish, I thought as I started to recall the girls I have been with,

"But.." Javed tried to say something..

"She said, she doesn't want to see a doctor, so why don't you guys just leave,"I said, holding her hands in mine,

Javed watched us both, "Okay, you listened to her Mr. Jafferi, she needs rest, so why don't you..."
"I dare you to finish your sentence," I threatened Javed grabbing him from his collar,

How dare he try to order me! ME!

He had a nerve to say that to me, in my fury I was about to punch him hard across his face when Areesha placed her hand on my shoulder, I release him with a jerk and turned around, she had her eyes closed, I cupped her cheek and caress her soft skin with my thumb,

"It's really getting late, so why don't we all just leave and get some rest, dad! Can you please come with me? I have to discuss something really important with you," Alex said, standing outside the room, Javed left the room with that doctor,

"You okay?" I asked, she opens her eyes and looked up to me, "I am fine, thank you," she said and turned around.

"You should take rest now, it's been a long day, and thank you for stitching my wound," I said, watching her back, she looked exhausted and tired, she nodded and took off her heels, and stand near the window, not saying anything,

"Good night," I said and leaned closer to her, but she took a step back, keeping the distance between us, I was a bit surprised for a Sec, I turned on my heels and left in another minute.

I climbed down the stairs and with long strides reached my car, I got in and glanced back at her window, for the last time, and drove away.

When I reached my mansion, I parked my car in front of the main gate and tossed the keys to my driver who was standing on my right, I opened the door and looked around me, my mansion was dark and all quiet, just like me, the loneliness I feel inside me, the darkness I have inside me was also in my home, I sighed and lay down on the leather couch,

I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Nani ma's number, she did not pick it up for the first time, but I tried again, this time she received the call,

"Maaz, what is it, my child? Are you okay?" she asked in her sleepy voice, I hated myself for waking her up at this time, but I wanted to hear her voice, I just wanted to hear some other sound around me in this quiet atmosphere, "I am fine, Nani ma, I just wanted to hear your voice, I miss you, when are you coming back?" I asked,

"Is there something happened to you Maaz?" she asked ignoring my question,

"No, why did you ask?"

"I am sure something is bothering you, I am coming," she said,

"No, I am totally fine Nani ma don't get worried for me, I was just missing you here, I wanted to spend some time with you, but it's okay, you should take some rest, I am sorry to wake you up at this hour, promise me you will come back tomorrow" I said,

"Okay, my child, I will come back tomorrow, and Maaz, don't harm yourself, if you want to say something, please tell me, I will try to help you out, but don't hurt yourself my child," she said,

" No, Nani ma, I am fine, there is nothing bothering me, I was just missing your company, I wanted to spend some time with you, but it's totally fine, I will send my driver to pick you up at 1:00 pm, be ready, we will have lunch together, I have to show you something," I told her,

"Okay, beta, as you wish, Allah SWT blesses you," she said,

"Allah Hafiz," I said, "Allah Hafiz, sweet dreams my child," she said and cut the call, I sighed, looking at her picture on my screen, I gently caressed her pic with my finger, the one and only family I had left in this whole world. I tossed my phone on the table and laid my head on the cushion, after a few moments I stood up from my place and took off my jacket and unbuttoned my shirt and throw them on the side table and walked down to the basement, I took a right and unlocked the door of my gym which was equipped with different exercising machines and on the left were my weight lifting equipment's, I shut the door and picked up my boxing gloves and started to punch the punching bag with all my force, I just wanted to take out my anger and frustration, but it was not helping me out, I wanted more pain, more pain to get myself calm.

Ignoring the pain in my leg, I tied 400 lbs. planks around my waist and started to do pull ups, after doing 35 I got down from there and untied the weight around my waist, I was breathing hard, but I didn't stop I laid down on the bench and started to lift some weights trying to ignore the pain in my chest, after lifting some more weights I put them aside and laid back on the bench, panting hard, I closed my eyes and lowered my head on my hand.

After few seconds, I looked around me and saw a leather whip on the table, I picked it up and stared at it, "do I have to do this?" I asked myself, looking myself through the mirror wall, I closed my eyes and count for three and whipped myself with a force that peeled open my skin, I didn't stop, I whipped myself again and again, till I was exhausted and my whole back was bleeding, I just wanted this misery to end, I want to enjoy my life, to forget the horrible past, those memories which haunt me till now, but it is not that simple, just in one night I had lost everything, everything I cared the most, all my love ones are now gone, left me here all alone, I don't want to be alone anymore, I want someone in my life, to take care of me! To love me, to take this loneliness away from me. I do not want this anymore.

I stood up from my place and slowly walked up to the dining room and proceeded to the mini bar at the right corner and poured ice over my aching back, I groaned aloud at the pain, but this time, I enjoyed it, I was enjoying this pain, I looked around me, it was still dark and quiet.

"Why! Why do I deserve this!" I shouted, my voice echoed around the whole room,

I stood up and move to my bedroom upstairs, stumbling on the chair, I steadied myself and walked down the hall and climb up the stairs, when I entered my room, lights, enlightened the whole room automatically, I snapped my fingers and the lights were out, I switch on the side lamp and open my drawer and took out some pills and gulp them down with a sip of water and lay on my stomach, feeling the cool breeze hitting my aching back.

"I hope you are happy now, watching me suffering for the last nine years," I mumbled as I imagined his cruel face and gave myself into the darkness.

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Until next time,

Allah Hafiz

Iraj

Date: 23-7-17