Author pov

"You think I can't protect what's mine?"

Deep voice of Sidharth reached Zain's ear and shiver ran down his spine. He looked somewhere for second to avoid looking in his eyes. He knows his brother will never harm him despite anything but zain fears him most. More than their father

"That's not what I meant bhai, others will say it like this. I know you are not doing anything because you want tareen to suffer and beg you to handle sheikh but...this might draw attention to Shehnaaz."

"Sheikh will know."

"I'm aware that's why I'm here right now trying to fucking show I care about my fiancé, isn't this enough? And don't take her name in here" Sidharth's voice dropped dangerously low. Him being here at tareen's house would be confirming to his enemies that he cares about his fiancé or else stoned heard him wouldn't even care if she's dead. Instead he would be pleased to see tears in eyes of her pathetic father, but more of he's doing this for Shehnaaz, because if they know he does not care about his fiancé's protection than there is someone else he cares about

"My bad." Zain nodded

They were currently in Bayium his private island. He was going to keep maham here for few days until he settle things with sheikh. He's not doing this for them, he's doing this for his lover back at home. Sidharth glanced at old man beside his daughter holding her hand securely, his face was filled with concern and fear seeing his daughter's shaky state. She was safe now nor she have any injuries. Maham was attacked on her home from some social event, she came out without any scratch because car was bullet proof

Tareen lifts his gaze to meet young man's. He sighed heavily he is terrified when he thinks about his daughter's future. This man won't protect her from his own enemies, tareen had idea this will be happening when he offered marriage despite what tareen has done to his love one. But he doesn't want his daughter to pay for his sins

"What kind of man are you if you can't protect your own fiancé!" Mrs tareen lashes out at him

"Kind of man you shouldn't speak to in that tone." His dark eyes clashed with hers

She does fear chaudhary but mother inside her is stronger and right now it's about her daughter. She was already against this marriage knowing it's nothing but sacrifice, who doesn't know vile nature of chaudhary? He doesn't love but make people suffer even his love would suffocate one he loves. His love will be nothing but curse on woman he loves. Loving him would mean loving satin, but she also know she should lower her tone because they aren't only around his man but on his island where even if he burry them alive none would know

"Tell your enemies to stop attacking my daughter."

Sidharth laughed, she's one funny woman so he will ignore her tone just this once. Tareen and wife looked at him in disbelief at laughing in situation so serious

"I won't tell them off what will you do?" He asked with smug smirk

Amaira balled her fist and looked at him with fierce eyes, his brow relaxed and expressions flick for second before he scoffed looking away. He sits down on sofa like king he was with legs spread. He pulled out packet of cigarette and offered Amaira with smirk just to get her more angry. She kept her glares on him and folds her arms looking at her husband and daughter

"Aww is saasu-maa angry." He was enjoying their angry and depressed faces he thrives on it, his words following with deep chuckle. Amiara's blood started to boil

"I have heard about your mistress." Amaira spoke. Rumours were circulating about chaudhary having mistress, in their world mistresses mean nothing but they don't know how crazy he is for her. How far he's willing to go for her they don't know

"Which one?" He smirked

"Amaira."

Her husband's stern voice encoded in large room reaching them. He doesn't wanna mess this all up by crossing him again, this time it's his daughter's life at stake. Sidharth smirked at amaira in manner that says listen to your husband and shut up amaira rolled her eyes before turning to look at her daughter who touched her mother's arm and tell her that she's fine and drop this topic

Zain stood there watch scene played out. He was genuine concerned for maham's safety and he doesn't even know why? Maybe because he was bonding with her? They stood opposite sides of room and still their eyes met, she gave him small smile which he didn't return just looked down she's fiancé of his brother and he shouldn't feel any kind of feelings towards her. He kept on reminding himself same thing over and over again but he doesn't know that yet that this forbidden feelings pull is quite strong

"Tumhe us din se daar lagna chahiye jab tumhari khudki barbadi hogi." Amaira wasn't calmed. She doesn't want to, he's the reason her daughter is under attack and now he doesn't wanna do anything about it because he likes them being miserable. He is sick man

"Barbadi karega kon? Tum." He smiled playfully with dark gleam in his eyes it was interesting to watch them crumble, maham squeezed hand of her mother to send her signal

"This is most you have acted in your whole career." Sidharth exhale smoke in air while mocking her with smirk on his lips. He doesn't think she cares this much about daughter whom they have sacrificed to live peacefully later "But still need some improvement with that tone."

—

Sidharth laid in bed with arm underneath head. Other hand hanging by bed, holding cigarette. He stared at ceiling while bringing cigarette to his mouth he's missing her, he wants to see her and touch her but he can't leave for few days. He has to keep up act of showing care for his fiancé, being there for her. Zain was right about attention being drawn to Shehnaaz If he runs to her every-time he misses her

Alone in the quiet of his room, his thoughts were filled with hers. Every corner of the space seemed to echo with the memory of her presence, the faint imprint of her laughter etched into the walls. He longed to feel her warmth beside him, to hear the sound of her voice whispering his name in the darkness he wants to hear her voice desperately now. With a heavy heart, he reached for the phone and opened photo of hers

He traced the edges of a photo in screen, his fingers lingering over the image of her smile, a smile that is the light of his world. The ache of her absence gnawed at his insides. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to sink into the depths of his longing. He recalled the way her laughter had danced like music in the air, the way her touch had ignited a fire within him that burned brighter than the sun. She kissed him back, he remembers and will always cherish it even if she changes her mind

He dialled her number and waited. She picked up in 2nd ring, her soft voice send sensation rushing through his whole body

"Asalam-o-alaikum."

"Walaikumsalam." He replied after containing himself. He sit up on bed before trashing his cigarette in ashtray on nightstand "What were you doing?" He knows already, she is still at her school and currently break was going on

"Mein school hoon abhi break-time chal raha hai." She told him. He hummed "Ap yahan kab ayoge wapis?" His heart stoped beating for a second. She was asking him when he will come back. She was, he needs second to wrap that around his head

"Yaad arahi hai meri, Shehnaaz." His voice wasn't teasing but intense as he waits for her reply with only sound of his heart beating in room. Silence fell between them "I'll come back in few days." He replied instead of her waiting for her answer and laid back on bed

"Okay."

"Abhi ajao tum kaho toh" He teased. She blushed on other side hearing him and he has idea about her cheeks turning red

"I-is she fine."

"Yes."

"Ap uske liye rukoge wahan?" He was silent for moment. He knows she will be upset by his answer and he can't tell her truth or he can? He doesn't know if he's ready to involve her in his family drama-revenge yet

"I have to." He answered her question

"Break khatam hogayi hai I have to go back."

She didn't wait for him to say anything and ended call making him frown is she angry? He looked at screen of his phone with clenched jaw and dialled her number again. She wasn't picking up his call now. Frustration simmered beneath the surface as he stared at his phone, each unanswered call a sharp pang of disappointment

He get off bed and paced the room, his footsteps echoing in the empty space as he struggled to contain the rising tide of anger within him. He hates when people ignore him How could she ignore him like this? Didn't she understand how much he needed her and she's just getting upset over this? She herself asked him to go that night

With trembling hands, he dialed her number once more, his breath laced with barely contained fury as the call was unanswered again fucking great, he slammed his phone down with a resounding thud, the sound reverberating through the room like a thunderclap. How dare she treat him like this?With each unanswered call, his anger grew. Nobody ignores him. He walked out of his room, into halls of his mansion

Tareen in living room looked at him now who's so eager to die he thought as young man was furious again over something. His anger has only mean that someone will die. Tareen thought to ignore him and focus on cup of tea for now

"Give me your phone." He demanded from Zain who nodded and pulled out his phone from suit's inner pocket and handover to his brother. He called her and she picked up that made him even more mad

"Mujhe apse baat nahi krni mat karen mujhe calls!" She already knows it's him

"Watch your mouth."

"Kya karenge huh? Mardenge mere ghar walo ko? Marde! Sabko marde mujhe bhi marde!" She screams in phone. She's done with his threats and blackmailing. She feels cheap the way he treats her, he shower her with love one day and next day he's choosing his fiancé over her. Yes she did tell him go but not for that long. If he wants to make her mistress she will show him how one acts

"Agar isi tarha behave krti rahogi toh I'll make your wish of dying true."

"You think i can't kill myself just because you have locked balcony door? I have knife in my kitchen and sea in front of apartment!" Now who's blackmailing whom

"Shehnaaz." His voice held warning. He clenched his fist in unknown fear now that he's away he's suddenly afraid of her doing something stupid

"Kya!" She's really acting like spoiled brat right now. He takes deep breath. He will handle her in his way once he sees her so right now needs to be one calmed

"Meri jaan we were doing fine-"

"Wapis ayen." Her demand has his eyes narrowed. She really wants him back there? But he fears that will draw attention from maham to her, there must be his enemies keeping tracks on his travels and visits

"I can't-"

"Soch len." Is she blackmailing him. He laughed in disbelief at her tone, that must be effect of him on her

"Tum soch leti, be ready for what I'm gonna do to you once I get back." His voice dropped low and he ended