After the nikkah, he again came into the room where she was present. Slightly knocking it, Haider entered inside without waiting for any reply from her. Ishmal was sitting on the bed. For the first time in all this night, he first time looked at her for more an a second. She had light brown eyes and a wheatish skin tone having attractive features. She looked fine to Haider but that not was what he cared for. He just needed this girl to pose as a loving wife for him in front of everyone. She was wearing the same black shawl that he brought for her on their way home on her head.

On his sight, Ishmal straightened her back. His intimidating eyes and stern walk always made her gulp and it happened now as well. She couldn't believe what happened to her life over a night. She became a fake wife of someone.

Haider's eyes caught the attention of the untouched shopping bag of meals on the far side of the bed. "I told you to eat."

"I didn't want to," she simply replied.

A few lines appeared on his forehead and he stepped closer to her. Tugging his hands in his pants pocket, he gave her a grim look. "I said it and what I said should get abided no matter what."

He put extra stress on said. Ishmal fisted her fingers. He was talking as though she was one of the culprits whom he was inquiring. Perhaps that was what she meant to him.

"I wasn't hungry," she lied.

One side of Haider's lip curled up. "You have to eat. You need to look fresh and happy for my family to buy that lie that we got married in normal circumstances."

So it was also just for his own sake. No wonder she shouldn't kept any wish regarding him. Haider then picked up his phone and asked someone to come. She got startled and hugged her shawl more tightly around herself.

After a while, a woman in her fifties came inside. Her eyes flickered from Haider to Ishmal.

"Take this meal and quickly bring it back after heating it," he ordered.

"Yes Sir," the woman mumbled respectfully and grabbed the shopping bag before leaving.

"Eat first then we'll talk," he instructed her and then stood near the window, making his back against her. He soon pulled out a cigarette and lighter. As he was whiffing it, Ishmal made a distasteful face. She touched the base of her nose to abate the intense odor.

So this guy smokes as well?

But who was she to worry about it? She wasn't going to live with him forever.

After a while, the maid came back with the heated meal. Ishmal gave him a hesitant look who was already glancing at her. Blowing the smoke from his lips, he gestured with his head for her to go ahead.

Even though, this all situation had practically made her stomach gutted to even feel the hunger. However, now the nice smell of the meal had made it again shine. As she was eating, Haider completed his one cigarette.

Ishmal went to the bathroom to wash her hands. As she came into the room, she again found Haider who was already in wait for her. He had a paper in his hand.

"Sit," he ordered.

This guy only knew how to give orders. Maybe his job applied to his personal life as well. Ishmal did what he asked for anyway. He himself sat opposite her, a distance of a few meters was definitely present between them. He pulled the paper in front. Ishmal regarded it with a raised brow.

"That's a written proof of what we concurred on. A contract you can say. It basically has the same conditions which we talked about earlier. You have to sign on it," he did to the point conversation and then placed the ballpoint on the paper.

Ishmal held the paper in her hands. There were a few conditions as he mentioned. First was that this marriage was just for the sake of show and there was no reality to it. They will remain married for a time of four or five months. In this while, it would be Haider's responsibility to give her protection, shelter, food, a place to live, clothes, and respect. The marriage would be fake and no one could demand anything other than superficial duties from the other. For Ishmal, it would be sheltered and for Haider, it would be acting like a happy marriage in front of his parents from her.

It was all that they discussed a while ago. But the last condition made her still. It was the commitment of naming Haider's flat in her name and giving her a cash of a few million after their divorce.

"What is this?" Ishmal asked.

Haider who was already looking at her understood what she meant. "That's my way of paying gratitude. Besides, you perhaps need shelter and after our marriage is over, you again need it so yes, that's for you. Also, a small payment from my side for marrying me."

Ishmal's eyes widened in disgust. "So are you saying that you have brought me with your money?"

Haider shrugged his shoulders. "I am a person who thinks straight. I don't like twisting things. Yes, if you want to think like that then you can, from my side. Moreover, I don't keep anyone's favor and it's a blatant no when it comes to women."

"Before labeling anyone's price, that person should know that it's his value which you never told me," Ishmal murmured in disbelief.

Haider became stunned for a moment at her statement but soon maintained a stern expression.

"Without money, nothing is possible. And who doesn't like money?" He stated. 

Ishmal nodded slightly. "You are right; money is what everyone needs."

He gave her a simmering smile while the fact that all these women were gold diggers got intense in his brain.

She squared her shoulders. "But I don't have money. I asked for protection from you, not any wealth or property. And I am still on this stance. Other than this, I have no problem with your contract."

She held the pen and cut the last statement before jotting her signature at the bottom.

Ishmal didn't know what would she do after those four months. Her situation would never change in such a short time. She would remain in the same place where she was before. But that money she could never take.

Haider scrutinized her in surprise but he didn't show. "Fine then. As you wish.  So as per our plan, you are my friend's sister who had left for abroad while urging me to marry you because he liked my proposal for you. Don't talk too much with my family. You can only resort to yes or no and I will do the rest."

He checked the time on his wristwatch. "For now, I am leaving. Our proper wedding will happen in a few days when my parents will come here. Till then, you are safe here. Ask the maids; they will prepare the meals for you."

Ishmal didn't say anything in the reply and after that, he really left. But when he reached the door, he stopped and turned around.

"By the way, what was your name?" He questioned.

Ishmal's cheeks reddened due to humiliation. She got married to this guy who didn't even remember her name. "Ishmal."

He nodded and then left for real.

She dropped her head in between her palms. What was happening?

                ______________________

The next morning, she woke up to the sound of birds chirping. Ishmal slowly opened her eyes. For a lot of the night, she couldn't sleep. Either it was due to the effect of the new place or because of what happened. She sat up and stretched her arms. Lazily finger-combing her hair, she curled it in a bun and got out of bed. She stepped into the washroom to get freshened up.

When she came back, she found a maid waiting for you.

"Dulhan G, the breakfast is ready. Should I bring it here or will you have it in the dining?" She asked respectfully.

Hearing the word bride from her mouth, Ishmal got to realize that their nikkah wasn't hidden from them. But they were quiet of course because of Haider.

"I'll come in the dining," she answered.

Spreading the shawl around her head, she headed downstairs. Yesterday she couldn't see the house due to emotional turmoil, however now she acknowledged how big it was. Even though Haider didn't live here, still he managed to maintain its cleanliness and integrity by hiring many workers.

The dining area was huge. Even her whole house would be smaller in front of it. A smirk came across her lips. From where she belonged and to where she came. But it was all temporary and a drama. Nothing was true. Sometimes she thought that she was seeing a dream and then someone would wake her up and she would find herself sleeping near her painting board. But it was the reality.

So many items were arranged decently on the table. Many things were those which she was seeing for the first time. Bread, cake, brown bread, buns, boiled, fried and omelets eggs, cornflakes, jam, butter, donuts, parathas, and many others that she didn't know.

Ishmal held a bread and started applying bread on it. She was still halfway through the breakfast when an occupied Haider entered. After him, a young guy was holding so many shopping bags. He looked at her subtly for a moment. Ishmal stopped eating.

"Razia!" He called loudly.

Minutes later, the same maid who served her breakfast came.

"Take these bags and drop them in the room which she is using." He nodded his head towards Ishmal.

"Yes sir," the maid said. "Should I prepare the breakfast for you?"

He shook his head. "No, I already had it."

After the maid was gone, he observed the silently sitting Ishmal again, who was now just moving her fingers around the slice of bread. He sat on the chair next to her.

"Did you complete your breakfast?" He inquired.

Ishmal lifted her head at this. He was so keen on making her eat something so that she wouldn't appear terrified like this in front of his parents. She nodded.

He continued. "In the afternoon today, my mother and little sister are coming to meet you. I know you didn't have any clothes with you so I shopped a few for you. Choose one and wear that in front of them. Just get ready and remember again that you are my class fellow. friend Shahid's sister. You used to live in Islamabad and I like you for marriage so I asked for your hand in marriage from him. But he had to leave for abroad on emergency and he didn't want to leave you here alone like this so he asked me to do nikkah with you."

"Just don't get free with them at all and reply to them briefly whatever they ask. I will rather ask you to not speak too much at all. If you are portrayed as a rude snob in front of them, it will be easier to manipulate them against you and let you go," he finished and then took a deep breath.

So that next time I would get away from the curse of the creation from whom you belong altogether.

He said the last line in his heart.

"Okay." That was all Ishmal could say. He only ordered and wanted her to hear it without saying anything in return.

Haider looked at her plain face. "Do get ready nicely. My family shouldn't get a bit suspicious of anything. Don't appear horrified like this in front of them. Act normal."

He again said whatever he had to say and became lost from her eyes. While two tears fell from Ishmal's eyes and fell onto the plate. How would she cope up with all this? In impulse and fear, she had taken such a big step. What her mother would be suffering? She would be searching for her and getting so worried.

But nothing could be undone now.

             _________________________

AssalamoAlaikum/ Hi everyone!

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A new chapter for you.

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