*sighs*

Corona virus has finally effected my country enough to have a close down of mostly everything across the country. The damage it is causing is immense and scary at the same time. I hope we all get out of this sooner than later.

Stay safe, take precautions and pray,

From your dear author

******

Maria twirls around in her lehenga lovingly how it comes around her every time she turns. The people around are well aware of her action they step back in order not to come in her way.

Her lips were in a big shinning smile one have ever seen as she plays with her dress that was until she bumps into someone making her go off balance falling down.

She hisses holding her elbow that hit the floor hard. She looks at the man standing in front of her making her stand back on her feet.

"You have two eyes use them". Sameer snapped

She was taken back by his sudden burst. He pushes past her and she rolls her eye mumbling, "You have two too".

He turns back sharply standing again in front of her, "What did you just say?".

She smiles too sweetly at him, "Oh, nothing. I just told myself that only I have two eyes that I should use next time".

He can hear the sarcasm in her words that makes him more irritated, "You should also learn how to speak to people".

She grins at him, "Yeah only me for that one too".

Her smiles increasingly pissing him off.

"Sameer". He heard the voice he was running from

She looks at him glaring her one last before he runs away. She shrugged holding her dress ready to twirl when a woman holds her hand stopping her.

She looks at the woman standing in front of her glaring at her. She was wearing a rather not dress appropriate clothes. She has seen the bride since that's her friend but the woman standing in front of her is kind of outshine the bride too.

"What was he talking to you about?". The woman asked sharply

She shrugged smiling, "Oh, just how good of a person I am and how amazing I can be".

She finds that her words only further agitated the woman who looks ready to slap her if needed, "Stay away from him. I know gold diggers woman like you leeches around him but he is mine".

"Is he a Jeweller or a dog?. Because I am confused by your words". She asked curiously

The woman seethes in anger walking away glaring at her once. She shakes her head starting to turn around again but her eyes turn around to the direction he went to but she looks away continuing her turns until she reaches the bride room.

"I am here". She announced entering inside with a big smile at her friend finally getting married

She didn't miss the look bride's mother give her which is close to disliking a person but she ignores it because it's her friend's day.

"You look so beautiful". She gushed looking at her

Her friend smiles genuinely, "You have said that thousands time already, Maria".

She holds her hand looking at her with admiration, "I can say it thousands time more".

"Leave her hand". Aunt (bride mother) interrupted pushing her hand away

Her heart clenches but she wore a smile for her friend.

"Ready for your big day?". She asked her not wanting her to be sad today

She saw the hint of sadness while she just nodded at her. She sends her a reassuring smile.

"I want you to walk with me". Her friend said again

"You have other girls to walk with". Aunt said coming to stand in front of her daughter pushing her back in the process, "We should go now".

She exits the door quietly and just as she did she twirl again as she walks outside in the garden where the wedding was being held. It was a morning wedding and she has never seen one before.

"Can you imagine her being here with that smile?. She has no shame". Sameer heard as he sees the bride entering

Even when people focus should only be bride they seem to be interested in someone even more. Sameer frowns looking at who exactly is taking this much attention to finding the same rude girl from before standing in front of row smiling at the bride who smiles back at her.

"She has no shame at all. If it was me I would have stayed hidden my whole life". He heard them gossiping

"I know right. I mean it's not something that can be overlooked and forgotten. She should have her head down and behave herself or better never show her face to anyone instead of what she is doing around". He heard the other speak

He remembers her bouncing around before when he bumped into her.

Why is she doing anything is their problem?.

The thought occurs and he immediately diverts his eyes from the woman not wanting to have any drama.

The wedding went in swing.

Maria looks around happily at the birds flying over the wedding feeling fascinated by the beautiful creature.

"Beta (daughter)". She heard his voice

She looks down smiling at her friend father who was looking at her cautiously.

"Jee, uncle, you need my help?". She asked sweetly

"Everyone is talking". He said anxiously, "I need your help at the back with the food".

She nodded grinning at him naively making him sighs as he directed her towards the back away from the wedding as he wanted.

Sameer heard.

Even when he didn't wanted to he couldn't ignore so much bad mouthing around which is making him angry. He has no idea why everyone feels the need to point fingers and put their nose in other people lives.

He sighs.

If he stays here one more minute he can easily lose his mind so he moves out to the back to blow his cigarette to calm him down but stop when he finds the same bright dress bouncing around.

He throws his cigarette away walking a little distance to have a clear view since it was the place where the food was being prepared. It was filled with smoke and men.

Especially men.

What in the world is she doing between them?.

His eyes narrow as he finds her going around each of the chefs preparing food helping them not even caring one bit that the heat is ruining her hair in the process. He finds her using her dirty hand on her face leaving a black mark on her cheek.

She rushes when someone calls her that was when he finds her name.

Maria. Nice name.

He shakes her head and his eyes widen when he finds the man running with a pot filled with oil towards her direction. Before he can open his mouth to warn her he bumps into her throwing all the oil on her beautiful dress.

She gasps looking down at her clothes that were now a mess.

He finds her lips quiver as she looks at the man who did it.

"I am so sorry". The man who threw oil said guilty

"Oh, it's ok. It was a mistake. We all do them. Please carry on". She replied smiling waving him off

"Beta (daughter), you can go. It's not a place for you". The manager who is an old man said smiling at her

"But-". She protested because uncle had asked her to stay here until the end

The manager didn't listen to her making her leave as he turns to the man who threw the oil holding his hand dragging him.

Sameer watches as he stands just a few feet away from them and the manager looks angry.

"Why?". He asked the man

"The bride father said to do it. He paid me money to throw the oil on her". The man confessed

Sameer eyes widen at the knowledge and he feels the need to tell her so he follows her inside where she went to probably clean herself.

He finds her speaking to the bride who looking like pleading to her, "Please, stay until I leave. I will leave in just a few minutes".

He looks at her in dilemma choosing between leaving and staying when she slowly nodded her head with a smile at her friend. The bride immediately takes off leaving her behind. She looks down at her dress which is dirty and she saved so much money to buy it for her friend big day.

He watches her closing her eyes like she is remembering something then a smile spread across her lips as she opens her eyes walking outside. He immediately follows after her and like he expected everyone was talking about how horrible she looks. He clenches his hand not liking this one bit and was glad when the bride leaving was announced.

She watches the bride greeting everyone while Maria tries to move past the people who block her way and he didn't miss how they push her back. He watches the bride almost at the end of leaving hoping at least the one who stopped her would turn to find her but she didn't and walks further away from his sight.

His eyes narrow when there were only a few people standing in the garden now and one particularly holding Maria hand glaring at her.

"Don't you have some shame?". The older woman yelled at her making her flinch a little at the attack

He watches her still smile, "I am sorry, Daadi (grandmother)-".

"Don't call me that, you dirty child". The older woman said pushing her back making her fall down stumbling as disgust was evident of the older woman face, "That black mark on your face should be all across your face every day".

His heart clench.

He cannot even begin to imagine how those sharp words must have left Maria. Even though they weren't directed to him he felt it pass through his heart, mind and soul.

Maria smiles at the woman standing on her feet as she watches her stomping away. She turns around trying to clear the mark that she was referring to before but she has no idea if she manages to do that.

He walks towards her when he finds the unusual reaction from her standing in front of her watching her clean the wrong cheek.

"It's the other one". He directed her

For the first time, he stood frozen the moment her eyes meet hers. They were a beautiful shade of brown. Or maybe they just appear beautiful to him. They weren't any rare eyes but why does it make him feel like this.

"Oh, the jeweller, no, wait, the dog?". She said confused at her own words cleaning the cheek he said then smile at him, "Thank you".

His eyes widen as she smiles at him making him step one step back at the impact of this woman.

"Y-You are welcome". He stuttered

Dammit. He wasn't the one who stutters he was the confident one. What is wrong with him?.

She grins, "I am Maria".

"Shouldn't you be asking my name too?". He asked raising his eyebrows

"Oh, I know already, Sameera". She said rolling a strand of her hair on her finger

"It's Sameer". He hisses

She nodded smiling, "Yes, Sameera".

He gritted his teeth, "You are so irritating".

She bows down dramatically, "Oh, thank you so much for the compliment, great master".

He presses his lips together not to smile at her antics.

"You are welcome, my slave". He said laughing when he finds her face scrunch up

"I am not your slave". She said stubbornly

He tilts his head poking his right side cheek with his tongue from the inside, "The minute you called me master you turn to my slave".

"Don't be like this, Sameera". She said smiling

He smiles back, "I can be how I want, slave. Think I need to teach you some manners to speak to your master".

"Oh, my, please be easy on me". She said dramatically, "I have just started this and I have no idea how this works".

He couldn't help but laugh aloud at her words.

Zuhair- his friend- stood a little away from them watching them intently. He was back to call Sameer to leave from the wedding when he finds their exchange rather interesting almost making him laugh too. But the moment he heard his friend full-on laughing after so many years that was the moment he decided he needs to step up.

Sameer looks at her playing with her hair again looking at something very keenly and he wanted to divert her attention back to him.

"Hi". She heard someone say making her break her concentration from the butterfly she finds almost making her stomp her feet

She turns to find a man standing there with a friendly smile.

She smiles, "Can I help you?".

Zuhair chuckle, "No, I am his friend. I am Zuhair and you?".

"I am Maria". She said enthusiastically

"That's a beautiful name for a beautiful lady". Zuhair commented

Sameer clenches his fist at his words knowing he is using his charm on her. But when he finds the tiniest blush on her face making Zuhair chuckle more he thought he would punch him.

"Zuhair, you need something?". He asked trying to cover his rude tone

Maria looks at Zuhair waiting for his answer to Sameer.

"No, I wanted to know this lady here". Zuhair said grinning at her, "Tell me about yourself".

She nodded grinning at Zuhair making Sameer mad in the process, "I am 21 years old and.... what do I say?".

She slaps her forehead not knowing how to introduce herself making Sameer smile at her while Zuhair chuckle making Sameer turn to him again glaring at him.

"You can tell me your full name?. Occupation? Education?". Zuhair suggested wanting to make it easy for her

"Oh". She said lowly, "Ummm...I am Maria Siddiqui. I live with my.... ah... my aunt?. I don't study anything but I like to read book and I want to be a doctor. Do you know how amazing they are?. They always running around to help people and they help them to take their pain away and the confidence they have. Isn't it amazing?".

She blushes when she finds both of them smiling at her ranting," Sorry. You didn't ask that".

Zuhair shakes his head, "No, it's fine. Why aren't you studying then?".

"I am saving money for it". She said proudly, "I spend some of them on this dress though".

She said looking sadly at her ruined dress she spends money on.

"It's fine. You can save again". Sameer said not liking that look on her face

Immediately like a light bulb on she grin at him making his heart do a strange flip.

"I can, right?". She asked him and he nodded eagerly and she smiles even wide, "Of course. I can do it. I know I can. It will be so fun when I become a doctor maybe I will check you one day-". She covers her mouth as her eyes widen like she said something very bad," I didn't mean that I want you to be sick, really?. I just meant that I-I, I shouldn't make excuses. I am sorry I shouldn't have said that. I hope you live a long healthy life".

He can see how genuine her words were from the way her eyes portrait them so clearly to him.

"What are you still doing here?". She heard aunt (bride mother) snapped

She turns around smiling at her, "Did she leave?".

"I don't want to see your disgusting face just leave already. I don't even want your curse and bad deed reflecting on my daughter future. Because of you, everyone was already pointing finger. Don't you have some decency?. She is your friend and this is how you are repaying her?".

She bites her lips smiling at her, "I will leave now. Stay happy, aunt".

With that, she moves around walking outside.

He was about to speak to the woman who had just spoken to her in that tone but Zuhair holds his hand holding him back shaking his head.

******
After a week from that wedding, he stands in front of his large window looking outside to the weather getting colder each day.

It wasn't easy living in London in such weather.

His lips turn upwards remembering how she talks to him that day. Her replies to his remarks were quite amusing. Even when he should be angry he cannot help but give her credit for not getting scared of his tone especially at that time when he was extremely angry because of his ex.

He heard his secretary knocking walking inside with her body already shaking with his cold demeanour he shakes his head as he finds himself thinking how Maria didn't hesitate to speak to him so warmly.

"What is it?". He asked coldly watching her wince at his tone

"Sir, you have a meeting". She said scared

He nodded.

Without words, she left him and he was like that. He was made hard by word and he never wanted to be different. He loves that people are scared of him.

Why isn't she then?.

He groaned because he cannot seem to take his mind off her. His hand itch to call his personal investigator to get her information but he had stopped himself so many times already.

Dammit.

He shakes his head yet again in the useless attempt to not thinking about her as he pushes his shoulder back lifting his head high walking out of the office towards the meeting room.

He watches how everyone scramble as he takes steps and their voice quieten down immediately scared of him.

What did she think of him when he walks in front of her?. How come she didn't get scared like them?.

There he goes thinking about her again.

His shoulder again sagged he tries to gain his composure back with so many eyes on him.

He feels his secretary trying to get his attention and he turns to her confused.

"Sir, everyone is waiting for you". She said nervously

He frowns turning to find he was already in the meeting room unconsciously and had been standing there fighting with himself within.

He shakes his head feeling everyone looking at him confused.

He takes his seat when his secretary speaks, "Sir, that's not your place".

He frowns looking at her like he was stupid to not sit on his seat. He knows his seat is the middle chair but when he blinks he was sitting at his secretary chair which was at the side.

Dammit.

He bites the inside of his cheeks not wanting to be laughing stock he walks to his chair asking them to start.

Where is his mind exactly?.

It's been a week already and he can't seem to have a grip on himself.

"Sir". He heard his secretary say

He looks at her because she has been increasingly pissing him off by blocking his thoughts again and again.

"Yes". He said gritting his teeth

"Your phone is ringing for a while". She replied shaking in fear

He frowns looking at his phone and sure enough, he had three miss calls already.

His phone wasn't on silent which he always does before the meeting. He looks at Zuhair's calls and then it rings again this time from his father.

He immediately answers walking outside, "Jee, Abbu?".

"Beta (son), are you ok?". His father asked concerned

"Jee, I am good, why?". He asked confused

"Because you seem weird these past few days and Zuhair said you aren't answering his calls". His father replied concerned

He groans, "Abbu, I am fine. I will come home early today".

With his call ended he decided to end this godforsaken meeting walking to his office.

"Ah, my hidden friend". Zuhair said entering inside

"What do you want?". He said groaning not interested 

"Nothing". Zuhair said as he sits on the couch, "Just remember that girl from the wedding?".

That has his attention, "What about her?".

Zuhair smirks inwardly, "I found about her. Maria Akhtar- 21 years old living with her adopted mother in a middle-class family. She works two part-time jobs usually stays out of house saving to be a doctor. She is well known for her kindness and people seem to go on and on on how beautiful, generous, amazing and loving she is".

"She said she lives with her aunt?". He said confused ignoring his words about her being beautiful and all and the pinch he felt on it

"She calls her aunt I am not yet sure why". Zuhair said then he smiles widely which have Sameer uncomfortable, "I am going to send my proposal to her after two days".

That's when the hell broke.