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@AainaZaydaan : thankful to everyone who could be a part of the Aaina Zaydaan foundation annual fundraiser. Your help is helping the future of Pakistan.

Aaina x Zaydaan.

The first lady entered the large hall with Alexander by her side. Dressed in a sky blue chiffon dress, she looked just as radiant as ever. Even though, she had spent the past few days fighting with her husband, well..fake fighting, working over the fundraiser preparations and making sure that everything went as planned.

The foundation held an annual fundraiser in Pakistan and invited all the famous personalities to draw public attention. Celebrities, politicians and humanitarians..all were invited. Other than that they would also keep around a hundred tickets that could be bought by the general public. Even though she make sure to collect charities all year round, this specific day was what kept the foundation going..

As each year passed, she became more and more passionate about her work. She like the appreciation and gratitude that came with it, and there was nothing better then prayers of the people who she had helped through the foundation.

As she entered, she noticed her team scrambling around the hall, placing cards with names of each guest, a few of them were working on the projector and the presentation, meanwhile the security team was doing the last patrolling.

"You're here early," She heard the foundation manager say, greeting her with a side hug.

Aaina just shrugged, walking around the hall.

"It is my fundraiser after all." She mumbled. If anything went wrong, it would be on her shoulders.

She did not want that.

As Aaina looked around the very same hall, her heart suddenly felt heavy. Every year, her husband would be by her side, supporting her, sitting in the front, giving an amazing speech, telling the entire crowd that Aaina was so passionate about the foundation, how hard she worked for it, how proud he was of her.

And now, he was just not going to attend because of the stupid drama that they had to play along to.

Alexander stood by her side, face stoic as he noticed her solemness.

"I'll be in the back, make sure to greet all the guests very nicely. I don't want any one scowling." She said to the manager. Ayesha nodded, smiling at her.

"Don't worry, Aaina. We will all be on our best behaviour."

She walked towards the sitting area, finding the cards that were placed in front.

She exchanged a few of them around, making sure Ahad and Noora were at the front with her, she put her mother's card alongside her mother in law's.

"Okay. You know the drill, yes? The President's wife will be at my side, CM Punjab will come with his wife, you have to take care of the protocol. Yes?"

The man nodded, taking out an entire stack of paper.

"We have all the details with us." He pointed, the first lady nodded, walking towards the stage.

She went up the stage, checking the presentation on her own. She felt Alexander behind her yet again. Couldn't he wait near the stage?

"Are you going to follow me around all day?" She asked him, chuckling at the way he just followed her.

It was hilarious to her for some reason.

"It is my job." He clarified, trailing behind the first lady as she got off the stage.

"Well, okay." She murmured, distracted. She walked backstage, seeing the board with her name on it. She was just about to enter the room when her phone started to vibrate.

She smiled, seeing who it was. She felt Alexander open the door for her, expecting her to walk inside after she had.

Aaina looked at him, pointing at her phone.

"Can I take this one in private? It's important." She said to him.

The man did not look convinced but nodded anyway and closed the door once she had entered. He stood right outside.

Finally, when she was alone..she sat on the sofa with a huge sigh and picked the call.

Before she could even hear him say a Salam, she went on to greet him.

"Hello? I missed you today. You could have atleast woken me up." She complained, not even asking him how she was.

She felt so frustrated at the fact that he couldn't come. She heard the man let out a small laugh, hearing the urgency in her voice had made him amused.

"My dear wife, we are being listened to every single moment in our bedroom. And you're not exactly quiet in the morning." Zaydaan replied, pointing at Hamza to leave the room just as soon as he entered.

He heard her gasp over the phone.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I'm not the one who wakes up and asks for a morning quickie." He teased her, knowing that she needed some lightness in her life right now, she didn't need to feel upset because he was not there.

"I do not do that." She denied.

She often did that, though. Not in the way Zaydaan wanted but she deliberately did something that would make them go there.

"And you're also very affectionate in the morning. I didn't want them to hear the sound of you eating my face off." Zaydaan teased her further.

Now that was true. Aaina loved kissing him. She remembered how he hardly kissed her at the start of their marriage. The best part was the happy sounds she made, the smacking kisses on his cheeks and lips and forehead, she would put her lipstick all over his face because of the endless kisses and Zaydaan would just groan, annoyed.

"God, what is it with all these accusations today?" Aaina whined, putting her legs up on the table as she talked to her husband.

"How are you?" She heard him ask.

"I'm okay. I just wish you would have woken me up before I left." She complained.

He clicked his tongue.

"You were so warm and sleepy in the morning, your mouth was quite literally pressed against my neck. It was very hard to actually leave the bed, leave you." He said out loud, Aaina felt her heart warm at the confession.

"I knew I had to leave early though. I did not want to have another fake argument with you on an important day like this. I knew you were very worried about the fundraiser." He admitted.

"So I kissed you on your forehead, covered you up with the blanket and left."

God, she loved him so damn much.

"I wish you were here, Zaydaan." She said, voice soft and filled with gratitude.

"It is still going to go great. You have worked hard on this." He tried to instill some confidence into her.

"I hope so."

"Your mother is going to be there." Zaydaan stated, continuing.

"Yes. And you might catch a glimpse of Awan today." Her eyes widened.

What the hell?

"What?" She asked, shocked. How did he know that?

"It's just a feeling." Zaydaan murmured. Aaina knew it wasn't. He knew Awan, maybe he knew something else that he was not telling her.

"Call me if there is anything." He told her, it was said like an instruction.

Aaina gulped. She did not want to face Awan, not today.

"Zaydaan-"

"Good luck." He interrupted, she could hear the shuffling behind him, she understood that he was back to his work.

Aaina shook her head, nor ready to hang up but it was the only option she had.

"Thank you. I love you." She said to him, Zaydaan only hummed, hanging up the phone.

"Mhmm."

"Ugh."

She threw her head back on the sofa, her heart a little less heavy but the fear of seeing Awan settled in, anyway.

She hoped that she wouldn't face him. She didn't want to.

--

Aaina stared at the audience, feeling the claps slowed down and she smiled. The flashes of cameras, the sharp lights and her. Everyone stared at her, waiting for her to speak up.

"Hello and a very warm welcome to everyone. I am so grateful that all of you could come and attend this event. As you know, it has been years since the annual fundraiser for Aaina Zaydaan Foundation takes place at this very place. Every year, you people come out and support this fund, helping women and children get a better future." She said out, pressing enter on the laptop as the projector screen turned blue and the first lady started to give a presentation.

"Please have a look at this presentation to understand how last year's funds helped the people at the foundation and even beyond it."

"Fifty percent of the Aaina Zaydaan foundation is funded by the government. We are very grateful to the Prime Minister Zaydaan Ziagil for being an integral part of this foundation." She thanked her husband.

The last time she had thanked him, he was sat right in front of her, smiling down at his beautiful wife, a proud look on his face.

"Last year, we raised two million dollars only through the help of foreign diplomats. That is a whole lot of money." She spoke through the microphone.

"One out of those two million dollars helped build schools in interior sindh and suburbs of Islamabad. About Five thousand children can now go to school and study without the fear of fees or poverty." She explained passionately.

"Remaining one million dollars were used in the development of the Aaina Zaydaan Foundation even further as we established eight more branches all around the country."

"With the help of people of Pakistan, through their online help, we raised seven crore ruppees. The money was used for the children of Thar. Every month, ten thousand ruppees are given to each family in Thar so they can feed and support their children, suffering from malnourishment and other diseases. "

She felt the audience clap and at the same time, she inhaled a deep breath. She turned towards the screen, moving to the next slide.

"From this fundraiser only, Pakistani citizens were able to raise forty crore ruppees last year. The foundation still has eight crore ruppees remaining from that fund only where as more than half of the money has been used to build two transgender schools, a food drive for punjab and an old age home for men."

"When the base of this foundation was laid, it was just a simple place for women to find a safe haven in. Today, it is helping women and children from the entire country, they can shape their future here and contribute to Pakistan."

"We hope that through this year's funds, we can further expand our branches, projects and alot more." The first lady ended the presentation with another one of her smiles.

"Thank you for your support and we are still counting on it. Please enjoy the evening."

After that, Aaina walked back downstairs and the official fundraiser started.

She missed Zaydaan even more.

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🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Aaina air kissed the old woman's cheeks who in return had squeezed the first Lady's hands with affection.

"Thank you for coming, Mrs Khan. Its always a pleasure to have you here." She thanked the frail woman, seeing the kind smile on her face.

"Oh no, the pleasure is all mine. I am so glad you didn't cancel anything, I mean, you have been going through a hard time." She said in a tone that was not tauntative in any way. Infact, it felt like the woman was genuinely worried about Aaina.

Aaina glanced at Ahad, who was busy in a conversation with his wife and a famous businessman whose name she always forgot.

Aaina feigned a smile. She had so many people come up to her today, clicking their tongues and showing fake sympathies for what she had been going through with the rumours lately.

"Ah, I've seen worse. Besides, all you need is your family's support." She replied, her eyes glanced at her mother who was not really doing anything.

Aaina gestured her to come here, her mother walked towards her instantly.

"Have you met my mother? Mama, this is Mrs Khan. She always is very generous when it comes to supporting charities." Both the women embraced each other.

"It's very nice to meet you."

Mrs Khan still stayed squeezing Aaina's hands tenderly.

"And why is the Prime Minister not here?" She asked. Ugh, don't remind me.

"He has well, Prime Minister duties." Aaina joked, hugging the woman once again.

"I will see you soon." She whispered into her ear, mumbling a goodnight and sending her off.

Her mother stood by her side, holding her shoulder.

"You see off every guest?" She heard her enquire, Aaina nodded.

"They're not normal people. They're very imporant." She replied, smiling at her team who was suddenly gathering around her.

They all seemed so tired and literally done with the day. They had arrived early in the morning and it was almost night.

"The event went great. Thank you for working so hard. I'm very proud of you all." She said to her team, seeing the relief in their eyes.

She knew it was time for them to leave and all she wanted to do was go home to her baby and her husband.

"Okay, go home now. Sleep and take an off tomorrow." She bid her team off, turning around..only to find Alexander standing beside her.

"Are we ready to leave ma'am?" He questioned, Aaina nodded.

"Yes. I just need to get some things from the back room." Alexander started to walk with her, Aaina clicked her tongue.

She felt like he was a shadow, always following her.

"Just wait here, I'll go grab my stuff." She told him, he looked torn.

"Ma'am -"

"Alexander, its fine." She insisted, the man let out a sigh but nodded anyway.

"Okay. I am waiting right here, please be careful." She chuckled at that.

"At this point, you're more paranoid than Sami bhai." She joked, Alexander only sighed, letting the first lady out of his sight for the first time that day.

Aaina entered the room, smiling to herself as she thought about how incredible the day had been. They had raised an amazing amount of money and everything had been just so perfect.

She hummed to herself, picking up her bag. The moment she picked it up, her footsteps came to a halt and she had to control herself as a small squeal left her mouth.

"Who allowed you to enter my room?" She asked the man who had his back turned towards Aaina.

What the hell?

"I have my connections." She heard the man reply and turn around.

Her blood ran cold at the sight of him.

"Awan." Zaydaan was right. He knew that Awan would come and here he was.

"Hello, Aaina."

----

With his creepy evil crazy eyes and that constant smirk on his face that showed nothing but satan in his heart, Awan Chaudhry looked like a man with a plan.

Aaina had not met this man personally, she had seen him, heard about him, cursed him, hated him but she had never met him.

And she did not want to meet him either.

Yet here he was, staring at the first lady in a way that made her feel uncomfortable.

"What do you want? Why are you here?" She asked, trying to sound like he did not scare her.

He did. The man had sent assassins to kill her husband a few years ago, she did not feel safe at all with him.

"I am here to talk to you." He replied, as if it was so obvious.

Aaina shook her head.

"My security team is waiting right outside. You need to leave or I'll make you." She warned, Awan only let out a chuckle and made himself comfortable on the sofa, sitting down as confidence oozed from all over him.

"Your mother is far more trusting than you." He stated, Aaina rolled her eyes.

"Well, you didn't try to get my mother killed." She sharply said.

She knew that he would not hurt her, Zaydaan had told her that he would come to talk to her one day and she had to be prepared but right now, all she wanted to do was get away from this cruel man.

"I didn't try to get you killed. Whatever I did, I did it because of Zaydaan Ziagil. You had nothing to do with it." He said it like it made a difference.

It didn't.

"I am his wife." She pointed out. Awan raised an eye at her.

"Stop putting on a show for the world, Aaina. We all know the reality, we all know how he charms you in front of the world, in front of the family but when you both are alone, he treats you like nothing."

That is what we made you see. That is what we wanted you to hear and understand. The reality is something else and you are too stupid to understand it. You think I am a naive dumb girl who is the puppet of her husband. That is not true.

"You don't know anything." She said instead, trying to calm down her racing heart.

"But I do. I also know that the only reason he stayed with you and did not marry Minal because the people started to love you." He was trying to manipulate her or he was trying to get her to atleast think over things.

He did not marry Minal because he fell in love with me, because I was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. You are mistaken, Awan Chaudhry.

"People got fascinated with the idea of a young girl married to a Prime Minister. You were beautiful and smart and he realised that you were the key to make him more human in front of everyone." He tried further, her rude tone did not change the smirk on his face and his casual confident attitude.

He sat there like he belonged there.

"Please leave." Awan only shook his head and stood up.

"You gave him a daughter but you do realise that he wants a son, right? He needs a son."

Zaydaan could have ten more daughters and never complain about not having a son. Unlike you, he is not an asshole.

"He's not the person you think he is." Aaina stated, trying to calm down the fear mixed with the anger that penetrated inside of her.

"He will never want for his brother to take over his politics. Sooner or later, he will demand a son from you."

Demand? She wanted to laugh in his face.

"This is not the eighteenth century. I'm not interested in talking to you." She tried yet again, she wanted to hear him out, she did.

But his mere closeness and proximity made her gag. She didn't want to even look at the man. He disgusted her.

"If Minal gets divorced and comes to him, do you really think you'll be the only woman in his life? He might not marry her but he will keep her."

It was like this man was trying everything. She wanted to gag. Her days of being insecure over Minal were long gone.

"You trying to turn me against my husband will never work." She assured him.

Awan shook his head.

"I am not trying to do that. I am simply here to tell you one thing." He replied, Aaina waited for him to speak but a knock on the door startled her.

"Ma'am-Aaina, are you okay in there?" Alexander's voice called her out, she wanted to tell him that their arch enemy was right inside but she was curious about what he had to say.

She wanted to milk all the information he could possibly give to her.

"Uh yes, Alex. I'm just on call, can you wait?" She yelled out.

"Ofcourse."

Aaina narrowed her eyes at Awan.

"Tell me." She mumbled, crossing her arms against her chest.

"I am taking Zaydaan Ziagil to court on the basis of money laundering. There is no way he can prove where his farm house and his property worth millions came from. He will be stripped off the Prime Minister's status. He will be jailed." He told her.

Aaina frowned. Another case? That was his master plan? And why was he telling her this? It screamed shady.

"Haven't you lost enough cases already?" Aaina asked instead, Awan nodded.

"I fought on the basis of lies. This time, I'm fighting on the basis of truth." He told her.

What a dumb fuck.

"Ahad Ziagil will be named the Prime Minister, he is the vice chairman of the party after all. And then a year later, when the elections are held, I will be the Prime Minister."

He had an entire future planned out and even though she hoped his plan would fail, she could not help but worry.

"You're dreaming." She uttered, ready to leave. She had enough of this.

"I'm not. Your father promised me your hand in marriage years ago, even after you were married. He wanted us to get married because he trusted me, he believed in me. This is why your mother talks to me like I am her son."

His voice suddenly turned soft, his eyes displayed emotions. He was a politician, ofcourse he was a good actor.

"I just want you to know, Aaina. When the day comes, I will offer you my hand in marriage. Leave Zaydaan and come to me, I will make you my first lady."

She wanted to barf, she wanted to gag. She wanted to throw up at the thought of it. What the fuck was wrong with this man?

Why did they think that women were pawns in their political games? Awan wanted to marry Minal to get back at Zaydaan, he wanted to marry Aaina to get back at Zaydaan, Saaniya wanted to ruin their characters just because of her hatred for Zaydaan.

It was pathetic.

Her beautiful man was hated by so many people and she feared for his life every single day.

"You won't win, Awan." Aaina told him, eyes throwing daggers at him.

"You can tell Zaydaan Ziagil that you met me, what I told you. I really don't care. I just wanted to talk to you." He admitted, continuing.

"I wanted to see if you were just as beautiful in person as you seem to be in real life."

She felt so fucking disgusted.

"Leave, Awan. I have nothing to say to you. You and your sister and everyone else, you can all go to hell." She yelled at him, done with his bullshit.

Awan Chaudhry just smiled at her.

"Loyalty is good, Aaina. But self preservation? That comes first." He whispered to her, Aaina pointed at the door.

"Get out."

He gladly did.

Suddenly, she felt so mentally exhausted, so drained that she couldn't help but throw up.

Awan's disgusting words had simply made her empty her insides out. He was an evil man and she knew, he would never let Zaydaan live in peace.

Zaydaan Ziagil deserved some peace in his life but his enemies would never let him have that.

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Thoughts?