AITRAAZ TOU NEHI THA ISHQ KE NESHE MEI BHATAKNE SE
   BASS DARR THA TOU
UNKE AANKHO MEI KHATAKNE

♡

Naaz fixed her baby pink Chiffon dupatta for the tenth time. Her magenta bangles jingled as her nervous hands fiddled with its corner, her mind full of thoughts about the upcoming decision. It will probably change her life forever.

And yet, no one had asked for my opinion.

Naaz shook her head to shoo away such useless thoughts. Her grandfather was an experienced man who loved her. Of course, he would find the perfect groom for her. The opinions of her measly twenty-two year old self shouldn't factor into it.

Nanajaan knows what is best for me.

"Dilnaaz, beta, andar ayeh." After her deceased mother, only her grandfather called her by her whole name. It felt nice. Like her mother was still here. Sometimes, when she closes her eyes, she could hear her mother call for her.

"My sweetheart, my Dilnaaz."

Entering her grandfather's office might be intimidating to her cousins but it felt like coming home to her. The somber-looking room was filled with even more sad-looking folders and scary-looking books. It was where she used to spend most of her days when she had arrived in the Haweli at the age of seven.

This office used to hide the little Dilnaaz away from the terrifyingly large Haweli and its unknown residents. She still remembers how the scary nightmares could never touch her when she was in her grandfather's embrace, dozing away at the beat of his rhythmic heartbeat. It was in this very office that she was granted a new life and it will be in this office where her life changes forever.

Her grandfather was seated in one of the sofas, in front of the huge stained glass window. The two of them would always drink ginger tea on rainy days, sitting in front of it as they talked about anything and everything.

"Khade kyu hai aap, meri jaan, idhar ayeh, Nanajaan ke paas aake beithe!" He had one of his rare smiles etched onto his aged face today. Her grandfather was always an epitome of grace and dignity to Naaz, never faltering, never bowing.

Naaz smiled too as she went and sat on the floor next to him, her head resting on his bent knee. "Lijiye aagayi aapki sabse khaas nawasi!" Her grandfather let out an amused chuckle at her words.

"Khaas? Are you accusing Malik Salauddin of partiality? That too between my own grandchildren?" Naaz laughed as he playfully narrowed his eyes, glaring accusingly at her.

"I am! I am! I am!" She moved her face three times to give the authentic ITV feel.

"Aapke saare raaz aab khul chuke hei Malik Shahab! Aab aapkou low TRP se koi nehi bacha sakta!" She made the classic dhum tana na sound effect and wiped away the fake tears.

Her grandfather's whole body shook as he tried to contain his laughter at her antics. She placed her head back on his knee. With one of his wrinkled hands, he caressed her messy hair. "What happened to your hair, beta?"

"Gharmei langoor paalke rakkhe hein apne, Nanajaan, woh bhi aise langoor jinke haath kaabhi koi angoor nehi ayegi!" She huffed and tried to comb her hair with her fingers. But it was in vain, her hair was already in knots. It will take her a lifetime to fix the mess.

I Hope that Zunair goes bald just before his wedding!

"Aisi baath hei kya?" Her grandfather's words were, as always, indulgent with her dramatic inactions. "Laagta hei gharme animal control bulana parega." Naaz giggled at that. She was so going to rub this on Zunair's face.

"Nanajaan, apne mujhe yaha pe kyu bulaya hei?" Even after trying with all her might, Naaz was not made for suspense. For the life of her, she couldn't be patient enough for anything ever in her life. "Mene aapne ninja skills se Sherry bhai ke berang zindagi mei raang bharne ki koshish ki iss liye?"

It better not be that. She had no wish to see Shehryar's grumpy face at the moment.

"Nehi, beta. Uske liye nehi bulaya hei. Magar humai ummeed hei ki aap Shehryar se maafi maang lengi." His hand was still on her head. "Shehryar ek bohot hi accha ladka hei, aapki ajki ghalti ke baad bhi unhone kuch nehi kaha." 

That's because he only talks when you're not there, Nanajaan!

"Hum ne aapko iss liye bulaya hai kyuki aapke liye humare zehen mei ek ladka hei. Humei baas unse baat karni hogi."

She sighed. That was expected. But her heart still sank at the thought of spending a whole lifetime with this unknown man.

"Ladka bohot accha hei. Padalikkha hei. Khandaani hei. Business bhi sambhalta hei." His voice was firm, surer than he had ever sounded. "Aapke liye perfect rahega. Zindagi mei kaabhi aapko iss faisle se afsos nehi hoga."

There it was.

Afsos.

Regret.

He was sure it was a decision she wouldn't regret. Just like she hadn't regretted those lime Barbie shoes when everyone in her class was wearing them the next day. Just like she wouldn't regret studying Economics when she gets a good job. Just like she wouldn't regret marrying the man of her grandfather's choice.

Her grandfather's choices never made her regret. He always knew what was best for her.

"Ji. Jeisa aapko saahi laage, Nanajaan."

♡

Nanajaan said the boy was perfect for me, so what was there to worry about?

Naaz kept consoling herself as she descended the stairs, the book in her hand long forgotten, her mind coming up with thousands of scenarios where she will not like her would-be husband.

What if he didn't like the color pink?

What if his favorite color was something monotonous like black or white?

What if he was rude and sarcastic?

What if he thinks literature was a waste of time?

What if he prefers bitter coffee over tea?

What if he-

Her musings were rudely interrupted by a sudden collision with something hard. She lost her balance and fell on her behind rather ungracefully. The Marvel staircase was not the least bit sympathetic towards her bum.

Damn, it stings!

"I am sure the cloud that your brain resides in, is beautiful but it would be rather helpful to us if it visited you on Earth from time to time." There it was, the familiar rich voice full of sarcasm.

So the brick wall that was the cause of her near-fatal accident was none other than Mr. I-have-no-life.

She looked up to see him standing there in a, guess what? inky black suit with a cup of black coffee in his hands and his usual scowl perfectly in place.

"Black? Really bringing out the spring colors, aren't we?"

"Yes, Black." He looked down at her with the usual amount of disdain. "Not all of us wish to blind people with dresses from Barbie's basement."

This guy surely makes up for his lack of personality with all the audacity he seemed to have!

My wardrobe may be a tad bit colorful but at least it wasn't a funeral collection like you!

She looked up at him and glared to convey her more than welcoming feelings towards him. He, on the other hand, looked unbothered.

Naaz would rather die than admit it to anyone but Shehryar, if you ignore the terrible personality and the permanent murderous glare, was one of the most dashing men she had ever seen. With his chiseled jaw, slightly wavy hair, and gorgeous eyes, he could easily star in a hit tv drama or a movie.

But unfortunately, when God was distributing personality to go with a good face, he was busy monitoring current market trends. and organizing files by color scheme.

Which explains why he wasn't even offering a helping hand to her!

The infuriating man was just standing there, waiting for her to move out of his way. "Oh no! Thanks, Sherry bhai but I definitely do not need your help!"

Her words caused his right eyebrow to shoot up. "You are most welcome. I was not planning to offer any." His words came out in an infuriatingly nonchalant tone as he took a calm sip of his bitter coffee.

She huffed in annoyance as she gathered herself and got up holding the wooden banister. Oh yeah, she most definitely hurt her ankles. They stung a bit when she straightened herself.

Today just wasn't my day.

"Jane Eyre?" Shehryar's voice surprised her. She looked to see him holding her book.

So he can't bend down to help her but he can pick up the book?

"Oh my! I didn't know you could read!" She exclaimed in awe. "Next you will tell me you can write too!"

If looks could kill, Naaz would have been on the autopsy table by now.

"You would know a lot of things if you actually read your textbooks and not this rubbish." He shoved the book in her hand and moved- more like stomped- up the stairs toward her grandfather's office.

And he would have a fun personality and a life if he tried to read some books!

Naaz felt bad for the innocent girl who was cursed to marry this Frankenstein's Monster. The poor lady was probably out somewhere, reading a book, unaware of the horrors of her future.

Oh well, who cares?! 

As long as it isn't me.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

So how was this chapter? Did you like the dynamic between Shehryar and Naaz? 

I warned you beforehand, these two would definitely fist fight if given the chance. 

I personally like fist fights, I would  most probably loose badly with my noodle arms, unless my opponent is an early pubescent gamer boy with mommy issues but I feel like it will be an educational experience.

Or I can just use the power of love to win like in the climax of every single Bollywood movie with Salman Khan in it, but then again, no one loves me....so...

Anyways, tell me how you felt in the comments and vote if you liked the chapter.