Check out golden. I am so excited for that story.

Here's the chapter :)) hope you like it. Make sure to vote and comment, tell me what you think.

I didn't want to write it but I had to haha. Make me happy now lol.

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Aaina x Zaydaan.

In the early hours of the morning, Zaydaan Ziagil had motioned to his wife, a little gesture asking her to start a conversation. He would take it towards an argument itself.

Aaina had simply shaken her head, still not believing how absurd everything truly was. She was just glad that Zaydaan had the upper hand of things right now.

"Zaydaan, you are coming to my fundraiser, right?" She questioned, taking out her dress for the day and smiling at her husband who was on the bed, relaxed.

"No, I'm not. I'm busy, Aaina." He replied in a grim tone. His wife let out a sigh.

"I am busy as well but I'm still going to be there when the Russian president arrives. Why do you have to say no to everything I say?" She argued, Zaydaan stood up nodding at her.

He was telling her that she was doing okay so far, she had been so nervous since last night, telling him repeatedly that she would screw it up. She didn't know how to fake. Zaydaan had told her to believe in herself a little more.

"Because you are being absurd. I am a Prime Minister, I have work to do." He shot back at her, seeing her poke her tongue out at him.

She was the mother of a a child, first lady of a country, married to the man who took things seriously, yet here she was, in her pajamas, hair messed up and tongue poking out of her mouth as a joke.

"You always do this. You always have time for your work but not for me." She said next, Zaydaan Ziagil stood up and walked towards the wardrobe himself, taking out a suit.

"I just took you to Murree." He stated, knowing that it would sound shady if they didn't mention murree at all.

"Yes. And you didn't even sleep by my side. You argued with me over there and called me an idiot." Aaina lied, Zaydaan raised an eye, impressed.

"Because you are. I'm not coming, how hard is that to understand?" His voice got hard and firm, he wanted to build his anger, well..fake anger. Sudden anger wouldn't look so realistic.

"Fine. Don't come. I won't be by your side when the President arrives as well." Aaina grumbled, her voice was low but audible to the listening device placed right behind their LED screen.

"You will be there. That is final." Zaydaan concluded, playing with her hair as she leaned into his touch.

"Ten years and you still make my decisions for me." Aaina said back, making him roll his eyes.

That was clearly not true but the look in Aaina's eyes was enough to tell him that she agreed with a part of it. He raised an eye at her, reminding her of Saaniya and all those plans she had made without informing him. What decisions had he made for her?

"Which means you're used to it. Now don't get on my nerves, Aaina." The Prime Minister spoke out loud and clear.

"Sometimes, you sound really heartless to me."

She said quietly, standing right beside the screen. Zaydaan Ziagil couldn't help but smirk proudly at his wife.

Their first argument, fake argument hadn't been so bad.

---

When her mother had called her up and apologised for her actions during the day, she had been shell shocked.

She had to calm herself down in her own foundation, repeatedly telling herself that it wasn't real, her mother was not actually being motherly, it was just a plan.

She knew it was fake, she knew it was just Awan feeding her with words that she had to say but regardless, Aaina had to accept her mother's apology.

Awan was playing a game, thinking he had the upper hand but her husband was moving all the pawns, forward and backward, trying to remain on the top.

She wanted to not lie to her mother, she didn't want to deceive the woman after all that she had done but Aaina couldn't help it. Her own mother had known about Awan's entire plan, she knew everything and she chose to stand by his side. How could Aaina not lie to this woman then?

How could Aaina not support her husband who had given her all the love, all the care, all the affection that he possibly could. Meanwhile, her mother had been a complicated person in her life, loving her whenever it was convenient for her.

So Aaina played along, telling her mother that she just wanted to be able to get along with her.

Aaina was already sat on the dining table, shocked at her mother actually being there for dinner. She hardly ever ate with them, she hated the entire Ziagil clan after all.

Still, Aaina gave her mother a gentle smile.

"Mama, I'm glad you joined us for dinner." She told the woman, squeezing her hand.

She knew Zaydaan had to come home early tonight, he had told her that he would. They had to act out another argument, guest starring the Ziagil family. Ahad had initially joked about his acting dreams finally coming to reality but seeing the seriousness of the situation, he had promised that he would do his very best.

Since no other place in the house was bugged, Aaina knew that her mother would try something else. Awan wanted to hear every detail of what went on in that house and he didn't trust her mother completely.

Her doubts had turned right when she peeked at her mother, using her cell phone and then putting it away. She had either switched on the recording button or she had dialled Awan.

"Actually, I think I'll leave." She heard her mother say as the entire family entered at almost the same time. She knew her mother wouldn't really leave, she was just acting.

What had their lives come to?

Idrees and Safina Ziagil came from the left side, Ahad and Noora from the right side. Zaydaan had entered the dining hall straight from outside, he hadn't even changed his clothes yet.

"Mama, please. Don't leave. Zaydaan won't say anything." Aaina whispered to her mother, making the woman stay.

On the inside, she wanted to roll her eyes. Zaydaan greeted everyone with a Salam, deliberately ignoring his own wife.

"You're back early." Aaina mentioned, making him look at her.

All he wanted to do was give his wife a soft smile and tell her how tired he was, how he needed a cup of tea right now and how he just wanted to sleep. Instead, he made a blank face at her, knowing that Aaina's mother was not just watching but also had her phone on the table.

His eyes stared at the phone on the dining table, and then at his wife.

"Does that bother you?" He questioned sharply, Aaina shook her head.

"No. It doesn't." She mumbled as the food got served.

Aaina ate her food in silence, stealing glances at her husband who had his head lowered as he ate as well.

"So how long are you planning to stay here?" She heard her mother in law question her mother.

"I wanted to leave but Aaina told me that I should stay." She heard the woman reply.

"I did. I want her to stay with me for a while. We cleared the air between us, mama." She told Safina Ziagil, who already knew the entire story.

The woman nodded, smiling. Zaydaan stared at Aaina, knowing that they needed to put on a show.

"Aaina, water." He ordered. His tone as sharp as a knife.

Sana, who was stood right behind the dining table, came forward. She held the jug, ready to give water to the Prime Minister.

"Did I ask you to pour it?" Sana gulped, putting the glass back on the table.

The first lady stood up.

"It's okay, Sana. I'll pour it." She said out loud and poured water into a glass, placing it in front of her husband.

Ahad, who was known for speaking up for Aaina looked at her brother.

"Bhai, what's going on?" He questioned innocently, as if he hadn't suggested this dinner drama.

Aaina let out a bitter chuckle, shrugging at her brother in law.

"Nothing, it's just Zaydaan being Zaydaan." She answered instead of her husband, who was still eating his food.

"Are we still on for Tuesday?" Ahad further asked, making Aaina nod.

They had no plans for Tuesday.

"I think so. I mean, it would be nice, right?"

"Yes. My new chameli misses me." Ahad replied.

"You coming, Noora?" Noora shook her head, grumbling at them.

"I hate horses." She said in distaste, Ahad clicked his tongue.

"Arey leave her, we'll ride horses, have some pizza, sit around and whine about our miserable lives." He was being normal Ahad, except that he was not. He was acting.

Idrees Ziagil, who was also sat on the dining table spoke up next.

"Ahad. Do you think it is a good idea to take Aaina out, knowing what has been going on lately?"

He questioned his son, taking a glance at Aaina's mother, she was observing everything with a tight mouth, one hand on her phone as she didn't want anyone to even touch it.

"Baba, Zaydaan bhai himself said that going out and showing people we have nothing to hide would be good for us." Ahad replied but his father ignored his explanation, looking at his son.

"Zaydaan? Media interviews is one thing but this?!" He exclaimed.

"I think you're over reacting, Uncle." Aaina said next, knowing that it was her husband's turn to snap.

"And I think that you're being stupid, Aaina." Zaydaan snapped at her, dropping his fork back on the plate, it fell with a loud clink.

"Don't call me that." Aaina murmured.

"I will. What are you going to do? You think of all these stupid things and expect me to be okay with it." He stated, frowning at her in anger. Fake anger.

"Zaydaan, but I -" He interrupted her with a gesture of his hand.

"Grow up, Aaina. It's about time, don't you think? When will you stop disappointing me?"

Aaina stood up, seeing the slightly parted lips of her mother and the shocked expression on her face.

She was angry at Zaydaan for insulting her daughter like that. But what kind of love was this? How could she feel bad for Aaina and yet be hell bent on destroying her life?

"I think I just lost my appetite." Aaina mumbled, she leaned down putting her hand on her mother's shoulder.

"Goodnight, mama." She whispered against her ear, taking a look at her phone.

It was on call.

Awan had heard everything.

---

As she reached her bedroom, she let out a huge sigh and laid down on the bed. Her stomach growled, reminding her of the tasty chicken tikka that was on the menu tonight. She had only eaten one tikka before the whole drama started to happen and she had to leave.

She hoped that these fake arguments would end soon. She hated not being able to talk to Zaydaan in their own bedroom and it had only been one day.

She felt her phone vibrate on the side table as she turned around and picked it up.

Zaydaan ❤️

You need to eat something. I don't want you starving for the sake of drama.

She smiled, reading his text. She took out a packet of biscuits from the side drawer and opened it, eating one immediately.

I hate that all we have been doing is arguing since the morning.

She typed out. His response came back instantly.

Zaydaan ❤️

We'll figure it out. You are doing so well.

She read his text, telling him that all she wanted to do right now was go back to that stone house in murree and block everything out. Zaydaan replied with a promise that they would go back there soon.

She felt like she was a teenager, secretly talking to her boyfriend. They exchanged back and forth texts for a while, her heart felt more at ease.

He talked about how they needed to have another argument late at night, she agreed with him, saying that she'd rest now and then be mentally ready for another one.

Atleast something good is coming out of all this.

She sent him another text.

Zaydaan❤️

What?

Aaina chuckled, typing out her response.

You're finally replying to my texts.

Zaydaan read her message, smiled and then, he did not reply.

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🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

As the night progressed, Aaina sat on the bed, knowing that she had to poke Zaydaan on the Ahad matter yet again.

She asked him what was wrong in going out with Ahad, while her hands held a bowl of ice cream and he was a holding a book in his.

Zaydaan was wearing his spectacles, sat on the couch with an autobiography in his hand. It was by some political leader, the good, the bad and the downright dirty.

Zaydaan smirked, looking up from the book at his wife.

"You are not going anywhere with Ahad. Understand?" He said in a crude tone.

"Excuse me?" She put another spoon of ice cream in her mouth, an amused expression on her face.

Zaydaan put the book on the table and stood up.

"I did not speak farsi. You are not going to the farm with him." He stated.

Aaina stood up and walked towards him as well, her hands reaching out to touch his chest. She unbuttoned his first button and placed a small kiss on his skin.

"God, Zaydaan. Why do you have to be so difficult?" She took a step back but her husband was quite turned on at the sight of his actor wife.

"Because you don't fucking listen to me, Aaina!" He exclaimed, his hand reaching out to open the first few buttons of her night shirt.

"I always listen to you. This is the reason why you think I'm weak. Why you boss me around all the time." She argued, raising her voice.

Zaydaan turned her around, a hand gripping her waist tight as the other one pushed her hair away, his lips near her ear.

"Do not raise your voice at me." He warned out loud, placing a very soft kiss on the outline of her hair.

"Or what?" She smugly asked.

"Stop it."

It was like they had a script and they were going on and on with it.

Zaydaan was shocked at Aaina especially. Maybe living with him for so many years had rubbed in on her.

"Wait a second, you're not doubting me, are you? About that stupid article?" She further argued.

Zaydaan knew that straight up doubting her would even make Awan doubt this entire thing.

"No. I'm not." He denied.

"Your eyes have been so different ever since you read that stupid article." Aaina said, Zaydaan opened the rest of her buttons.

"I don't want you near my brother." He stated.

"Don't doubt me, Zaydaan." She said in a pleading voice.

"Don't give me a reason to doubt you."

His tone did not consist of any vulnerability.

Aaina turned back, winking at her husband.

"I trusted you even after you were ready to marry Minal and toss me aside! And you are telling me to not give you a reason to doubt me?"

He had told her to add a realistic element. Had he not? This was her being realistic.

"How can you even say that? That was different." His tone reeked of disgust even though a smile was ready to form on his face at any give moment.

He motioned Aaina to go on.

"Yes, it was. What you had with Minal was reality and I let it go. I should not have." She pointed out, continuing.

"Is this why you were so happy when she came to you? You were happy that her husband had left her?"

Zaydaan let out a groan.

"You are getting on my nerves. You and your family have been nothing but pain in my fucking ass." He actually yelled, even Aaina flinched for a moment before realising that this wasn't even an actual argument.

"My family? Are you serious? My father is the reason you even had enough money to run an election campaign." Aaina shot back, almost enjoying this at the moment.

"And I took his daughter in return. That money went away but you never did." She inhaled a deep breath.

They were not serious but God damn, that one stung alot.

"That is the cruelest thing you have ever said to me. I fought with my own mother for you! And you say this?!" Her voice turned shaky as she dealt with the impact of his words.

Zaydaan pulled at her arm, holding her against him.

"I am not in the mood for any more argument. Go to sleep before I do something that I regret." He said, ready to put an end to this for tonight.

"These threats, I -" He interrupted her.

"Shut up, Aaina. Go to sleep."

He buttoned up her shirt with his own hands, knowing that tonight wasn't going to turn out the way he wanted it to be.

But it was okay.

Because they were okay.

------

When the morning arrived and she got dressed for work, her mother knocked on her bedroom twice before entering.

Her mother was freshly showered, her scent spreading all around the room. Aaina could smell her, she actually could.

Her scent reminded Aaina of when she was a child, her mother would embrace her in her arms and rub her back, making sure her little girl felt settled in.

Where did that mother go? How did things change so easily?

"Aaina, can we talk?" Her mother asked, smiling at her daughter.

Aaina nodded, sitting on the bed and gesturing towards the couch.

"Yes, mama. Come, sit."

Her mother sat on the bed, instead of the couch. She put a hand on her daughter's cheek and Aaina wanted to melt.

She felt her eyes burn but she held it all in and just gave her mother a smile.

"I know that I already apologised for the way I acted before but I want you to know that my intentions were only to protect you." She clarified. Aaina knew it was just so fake.

"I know that." Aaina mumbled.

"I am your mother. I just want the best for you, I want you to live a happy life." She told Aaina, seeing the way her eyes turned red.

"That is all I ever wanted to hear from you." Aaina admitted in return, taking a deep breath.

She could be honest towards her mother, she just couldn't be stupid.

"After your father's death, I just became so obsessed with my revenge that I could not even differente between right or wrong. I will even apologise to Zaydaan if you want me to." She said out loud. Aaina wanted to grasp at each and every word and believe it.

She wanted to believe everything but she knew her mother was only trying to get on her good side.

Aaina bit her lip, shaking her head.

"No, mama. Zaydaan is not very forgiving. I don't want you to get hurt." She replied, seeing the way her mother's eyes eased up.

Clearly she had also listened to their argument last night.

"I didn't like the way he talked to you at the dining table, in front of everyone."

"I'm used to it." She replied without any hesitancy. She wasn't used to it.

She was used to his protective stance in front of everyone. Except that one day when Saaniya had been the cause of her misery.

"He does that?" Her mother asked, shocked. Well, fake shocked.

"When I met Saaniya behind his back, he yelled at me in front of the entire family. You weren't there, you were in your room. He was so cruel to me." She whispered, her mother let a frown slip.

"But you say he's a good man." She shot back.

"He can be. He is. Maybe it is just the pressure getting to him." Aaina insisted, confused herself.

She wanted to know what more her mother had to say, so she gave her more and more space.

"Maybe. Or maybe he is just like that. He reminds me of your father at times. Imran was exactly like this, hot and cold. I spent my entire life pleasing him and yet he just, cheated on me. He didn't care that I loved him, he just liked that I gave him power. "

Zaydaan is not like my father. Yes, he is unpredictable, hot and cold. But he loves me, he loves me to the point where I can put my life in his hands and be sure that he would do everything to save me. He is the only person who has made me feel loved, happy, content. He is not like my father. I please him because I love him and I know that he tries his best to take care of me in just the very same way.

"Don't give a man that much power over you. Some men, men like Zaydaan are just that. They crave power more than they crave love." Her mother further added.

"But Zaydaan loves me. He does." Aaina insisted, hearing a soft chuckle from her mother.

"Safina and I used to be friends, you know. Because of Imran and Idrees. I know the Ziagil men. Safina Ziagil spent her whole life pleasing one man and she still does not look happy."

Idrees Ziagil used to be cunning, he used to treat Safina Ziagil like a Queen in front of the world but his temper always came in between when they were alone. There was a time when they truly loved one another, then their daughter, their first born died and that love, it somehow vanished. But now, Aaina knew that her mother in law was finally feeling happy with her father in law. There were no more secrets between them, no more planning. Her mother was wrong.

"Do you think I'm happy, mama? Do I look happy?" She questioned her mother instead.

Slow steps, Zaydaan had said. Agreeing with her on everything and not putting up any fight would only lead to doubts.

"You used to look happy to me. From far away. Now, you don't." Her mother answered.

Then you don't know me at all. Yes, I'm stressed, yes there is alot going on in my life. But I am happy. I am with the love of my life, with my beautiful daughter. I am happy.

"I just had an argument with Zaydaan earlier. That's why." Aaina murmured a lame excuse.

Her mother shrugged. She was smart as well, she was not forcing her daughter over anything, she was manipulating her instead, playing with her head.

Why did the world of politics not give a fuck about family?

"Okay. If he makes you happy, then it is fine. But just think about it, can you spend your whole life overlooking your own happiness and pleasing him? Are you not worth more?" She softly whispered, Aaina took another deep sigh.

"I don't know what I am worth."

I know what I am worth. I am worth love, attention, care, protection and happiness. I am worth living this life with the person that I love. With my family.

"I'm sure there are people than can show you your worth." Her mother replied.

"I love Zaydaan." Aaina insisted, playing her mother's game.

Her mother stood up, squeezing her daughter's shoulders.

"Okay. Just know that your mother is here to support you, in whatever way you want. You can share your problems with me."

I wish you were a true mother. I wish I could come and talk to you about my problems. But you are not.

"I'm not the vengeful wife anymore, I'm the mother of Aaina Imran."

Aaina almost flinched at the last name. She was not Aaina Imran. Aaina imran was a weak girl who had succumbed to her parents' wishes, not thinking about her own happiness, about being independent, about anything.

"Aaina Zaydaan." Aaina corrected her anyway.

Another soft smile graced her mother's face.

"Okay sweetie, whatever you say." She murmured, kissing her daughter's head and leaving the room.

Aaina simply sat on the bed, letting the tears fall out.

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Heyoooo. How was it?