Adnaan knocked on the door, Fayra was sitting with many girls including Zinia, Zunera, Bisma and some of her other cousins.

"May I get a few minutes with my princess?" He looked at Fayra, all the girls started to vacate their places but Adnaan gestured all of them to stay there. Fayra understood the meaning of this gesture. Lifting the golden gown, which she received yesterday only from Arsh's family, she walked delicately. Her curly hair was tied in a high bun and a few strands falling on her face. Bright eye makeup and light lipstick were making her even more attractive.

Adnaan held Fayra's hand in the same way he held for the first time, and they both walked towards the lawn. There was a pinching silence between them. A silence Adnaan never witnessed before. His chatterbox was not gossiping from yesterday.

"Naraz ho?" It was a simple question but there was no answer. In reality Fayra wasn't angry with her father. She was guilty after lying in front of those who love and trust her blindly.

(Angry with me?)

"Nope." She shook her head without looking at Adnaan and just walked ahead with him. Setting his specs he sighed and stopped near the tree in the lawn. Fayra was surprised to see the swing hanging from a tall branch.

Fayra remembered the day she fell from this very swing, she still felt scared of swings, but today Adnaan held her hand and gestured her to be on it. She shook her head but her father's assuring look convinced her for this work.

Fayra held the ropes tightly, a little scream out her lips when she felt a push from behind, her feet detached from the ground.

"Sorry, I should not scold you so hard." Said a guilt ridden father and Fayra looked behind. Slowly the fear left her and she believed that the rope of swing won't break again. "Lekin kya karu beta, Insaan qeemti chezon ko taale me band karke rakhna chahta hai... Aur mere paas tumse qeemti kuch bhi nhi hai is duniya me." Fayra noticed the voice turning heavy at the end, she looked behind, her father was still pushing the swing in the same way he used to do in her childhood. Her eyes filled with tears after seeing wetness in the eyes of her protector.

(But I'm helpless dear, people want to keep valuable things locked away... and I have nothing more valuable than you in this world.)

"Papa..." Kicking the ground she stopped the swing and walked towards this man.

"I'm sorry beta... I shouldn't hurt you but..." He left the sentence in between because he had nothing to say in front of his daughter but he knew the reality. Almost 18 years ago, he buried a part of himself in the same grave in which he left his son, Fawaz, and the remaining Adnaan was not as brave as the older one. Now he was a timid father who was scared to lose his one and only daughter.

"You didn't..." Fayra held his both hands and kissed them gently one by one. "you never hurt me. It was all my fault. I shouldn't go without your permission."

Adnaan pressed his lips on the temple of his daughter. "Next time just inform us before going anywhere. The other day, I died a thousand times with the thought of you going away from me." He removed his specs and wiped his tears but Fayra's eyes filled with water one more time.

"And you are ready to marry me off? How will you live after that?"

"Your happiness matters most. Arsh will keep you happy. That's most satisfying thing for me."  Adnaan smiled and for the first time Fayra didn't feel shy, otherwise she runs away from that place very next moment. She didn't even smile because the man she met the day before yesterday was not her dream man, he was far away from the beautiful image of her imaginary Mr Perfect.

"Aur agar Arsh utne achhe nhi nikle jitne wo dikhte hain to?" Adnaan was shocked to hear this question. He didn't dare to imagine such tormenting situations.

(And what if Arsh won't come out as nice as he appears?)

"Why are you saying this?"

"Umm... Nothing, just a thought..."

"Think positive. Arsh is even better than your imagination." Adnaan smiled and Fayra tried to match the expressions of her father but couldn't.

<><><><>

"Anzu, Tu pagal ho gya hai kya?"

(Anzu, are you mad?)

"Yeah... Influence of the company. Right?" He shrugged with a smile and got a glare from Maizah.

"You already allowed Danish to go to UAE without even my concern? He is not only your son..."

"Mene bohot soch samajh ke ye decision liya hai.)

(I've made this decision after thinking a lot.)

"Achha... Tere paas sochne samajhne ke liye dimaag hai?" Maizah yelled and Anzala smiled.

(Oh really? So you have a brain to make decisions?)

"Tu sirf khoon piti hai chudail, isliye main anaemic ho gya hu, dimaag pura hai mere paas."

(You only sucks my blood, Witch, that's why I have become anaemic, I still have a full brain)

"Tera infected khoon to agar matchar bhi pi le wo bhi mar jaye..." Before Maizah could complete the sentence her husband smiled and…

(Even a mosquito dies if it sucks your infected blood...)

"Lekin tu phir bhi zinda hai. Kitni khatarnak aurat hai yaar... "

(But you're still alive. How dangerous this woman is...)

"Stop this nonsense. I know you're doing all these things to divert the topic. I want to know the reason behind this decision?" This time Maizah's anger changed Anzala's expressions. He understood his banter won't help much in this matter. Maizah was attached to her son more than anyone else. She loved Bisma but she crazily adored Danish from the day she got him. Her first child was always special to her.

Anzala sighed and held Maizah's hand. "I don't want to repeat history."

"What do you mean?" She pulled her hands away from his grip.

"I don't know if I'm wrong or not... but I feel that Adnaan and Sara wanted to tie Fayra and Danish in a knot..." Anzala shared his feelings for the first time and Maizah widened her eyes. She couldn't believe it.

"Anzu tu pagal hai?" Instead of replying to his wife, Anzala decided to continue.

(Are you mad?)

"Do you remember our struggle? We weren't ready to accept this marriage which was imposed on us by our elders. I don't want the same thing to happen with Danish and Fayra. I don't want their closeness to be misunderstood by anyone. They are just cousins. That's why I want Danish to go away until Fayra's marriage."

"Anzu, that's pathetic. No one is misunderstanding them... We know how close they both are. They can't live without each other just like once we were... in the... childhood..." Till the end of the sentence Maizah understood the meaning of Anzala's explanation but she became emotional too.

"Don't let my son go... I can't live without seeing him every day. They are only good friends and best cousins."

"We were also good friends and best cousins."

"But we're different... We're not like our parents who didn't trust their children..."

"But the society is still the same. Moreover... I would never have any problem with their match if they want it but I don't want them to get hitched by any kind of pressure. Please Mazi, Danish is my son too. I also love him but... Sometimes we need to take bitter medicine to tackle some issues."

"Anzu, I'm feeling like there is no problem, but you're creating one then forcing me to have that bitter dose." And she was gone after picking her dupatta from the bed.

<><><><>

Fayra's silence and dull face were triggering Arsh's family. She was not blushing like the previous meetings when she was continuously smiling and trying to seize a few glimpses of Arsh.

"Why aren't you attending my calls?" Leaning towards her, Arsh whispered in her ear. They were sitting on the king sofa which was set in the middle of the hall of Rizwi Mansion. Many friends and family members were present there to witness the auspicious occasion.

"My mobile screen is broken, it's not working properly." It was a mix of a half truth and half lie. It was true that her mobile screen was broken but in reality she didn't want to talk to Arsh after that incident. That's why she didn't receive the call.

"You could tell me..." He whispered and Fayra didn't look up. Her eyes were fixed on her hands.

"I guess it's the perfect time to exchange the rings." Someone in Arsh's family said and soon Fayra noticed herself slipping a ring in Arsh's finger.

Cheering and clapping echoed in the background, Fayra looked at the man who was looking charming sitting beside him. "Love you Darling. Looking amazing in this dress." He whispered and Fayra shifted a bit away.

Arsh's smile was not decreasing. Holding Fayra's hand he slipped a delicate gold ring in her ring finger. "Kab tak naraz rahengi aap humse? Ho gyi galti ab to maaf kar dijiye..." Without leaving her hand he whispered and Fayra looked in his eyes. These were the same eyes which were her dream.

(How long will you remain angry with me? I have made a mistake, please forgive me now...)

"Smoking nhi kari hai us din se aaj tak." He whispered again and Fayra was surprised.

(I haven't smoked from that time to now.)

"Sach mein?" Fayra asked in the same whisper but their conversation was stopped in between by relatives and friends who were there to bless them with gulab jamun which Fayra didn't like a single bit.

(Really?)

After some half an hour long torture she was taken to her room by Bisma and Zinia, where she threw herself on the bed because she was tired now. The supergirl of the family was tired of having sweets.

A knock on the door and a man walked in with a plate of momo. "Danish Bhai, you're the best bhai in the world." Fayra pounced on the plate as if her life depends on it.

"I already knew you don't like Gulab Jamun, but who the hell decided to bring Gulab Jamun? I politely requested your mother-in-law to bring kaju katli or Chocolate Barfi." Looking towards Fayra he asked and picked one momo for himself.

"Danish Bhai mujhe to samajh hi nhi aata ye khushi ke moqe par mithayi hi kyu khilayi jati hai? Pizza, burger, ya Pani puri nhi khila sakte log? Arey french fries hi khila do ketchup ke sath..." Fayra also picked a momo and dipped it in chatni.

(Danish Bhai, I don't understand why people feed sweets on happy occasions? Can't we normalise feeding Pizza, burger or pani puri? If not all these things then at least Normalise French fries.)

"Wah Fayra wah... Zindagi mein pehli baar koi achhi baat kahi hai." Danish praised her but at the same time insulted her and she huffed.

(Wow Fayra, great... that's the first time you said something appreciable.)

"Chale jaiye yaha se warna mujhse bura koi nhi hoga."

(Go away from here or else no one will be worse off than me.)

"Usme to koi shak nhi hai..." Danish chirped and picked one more momo from the plate. Regardless of their parents instructions they were sitting with each other having momo from the same plate and talking like every day.

(No doubt, you're.)

"Kya hua kheriyat? Itne khush kyu dikh rhe hain aap? Maha ko propose kar diya aur usne accept kar liya kya?" Fayra asked mischievously and Danish's brows furrowed.

(What happened? Why do you look so happy? Did you propose to Maha and did she accept?)

"Theek hai, ye hi maan lo, lekin tum kyu itni khush ho?"

(Okay, conclude anything. But why are you happy?)

"Arsh ne mujhe sorry bola hai..." Fayra was smiling but Danish's expressions changed. His smile converted into anger within a few moments.

(Arsh apologised.)

"Usne sorry bol diya aur tum maan gyi? Pagal wagal ho kya?"

(He said sorry and you accepted it? Are you crazy or what?)

"Offooo Danish Bhai... Kya ho gya, Arsh ko gussa aa gya tha, unhone maafi mang li na... Bas mere liye kaafi hai." Fayra picked one momo and passed it to Danish after dipping it in chatni. He had it but huffed.

(Oh come on Danish bhai, Arsh was angry, he apologized na... that's enough for me.)

"Fayra wo tumhe ek anjaan jagah chhood aaya aur tum keh rhi ho use gussa aa gya tha?  Ye kesa gussa hai? Mujhe to us par itna gussa aa rha hai ki main uska muh tood deta, sirf tumhare requests ki wajah se chup ho gya warna ghar aate hi sabse pehle ye baat chamu ko batata..." The man who rarely got angry suddenly showed his rage and Fayra's face again turned pale.

(Fayra, he left you in an unknown place and you are saying that he was angry? What kind of anger is this? I am so angry with him that I would have broken his face, I kept quiet only because of your requests, otherwise I would have told this to Chamu first as soon as I got home...)

"Nhi Danish Bhai, please aesa kuch mat kriyega... Please." He felt helpless in front of Fayra's requests one more time.

(No Danish bhai, please don't do anything like this... please.")

"Fayra I'm keeping my promise, you have to keep yours..." Fayra was silent for a few minutes then nodded

"Okay. Promise. I won't go to meet Arsh alone."

"Good girl." He picked another momo from the plate, Fayra forwarded her hand to pick the last momo from the plate when Danish pounced on it like a hungry lion.

"Danish Bhaiiiiiii... Jangli hain aap."

(You're uncivilised.)

"Thanks" and he ran out of the room.

"Aapki engagement par aapko karele ki kheer khilaungi."

(I'll serve you bitter gourd on your engagement.)

"Us se pehle tum is ghar se Jaa chuki hogi..." And he was already gone. Fayra huffed and jerked her head.

(Before that you will have left this house...)

"I won't leave him even after going away from this world and he is thinking I'll leave him after going away from this home? Lol ...." She rolled her eyes and picked the mobile from the bed.

"What??" She exclaimed after reading the message which was sent by Arsh some five minutes ago bit she never noticed it.

"Oh no... Oh no... Oh no..." She looked here and there. Touching up her light makeup she ran upstairs while holding the gown. She wanted to wear Momina's dress in the engagement but after receiving this gown she decided to wear that dress on her wedding day.

Huffing and puffing she stopped on the top most stair leading to the terrace, she could hear someone talking. She knew whose voice was that. A shy smile played a beautiful dance on her lips and she stepped on the terrace.

Arsh was attending a call but he smiled at Fayra who felt nervous again. She came to the terrace after getting a text from Arsh but now she was unable to gather courage to stand in front of him.

'Talk to you later... Take care.' Arsh removed the mobile from his ear and smiled.

"Aakhir aap aa hi gayi?"

(So finally you arrived.)

"Ab bhi naraz hain aap humse?" He stepped towards her. When saw Arsh just a step away from herself Fayra's nervousness increased. She wanted to say something but couldn't. Her hands clutched her dress, gaze cast down and heart pondered faster.

(Are you still angry with me?)

"Aap itna hi chup rehti hain ya sirf hamare samne..." This time Fayra didn't let him complete.

(Do you remain quiet for so long or just in front of me...)

"Aapne sach mein smoking quit kar di?" That was the only thing Fayra wanted to know and she was surprised by his reply.

(Have you really quit smoking?)

"Aapke liye duniya chhod sakte hain smoking kya cheez hai?"

(I can leave the world for you, it was just smoking?)

"Really?" She looked in his eyes and smiled shyly while his hands approached towards her.

"Why don't you trust me, darling." He asked after holding her hands and Fayra shivered.

"Arsh..." She tried to pull her hands away from his grip but couldn't. "Umm... I..." She forcefully took her hands away from his hands. "I don't feel comfortable this way."

"Why so?" Arsh's expressions changed one more time. His smile lost somewhere, Fayra felt nervous to witness anger in those eyes where she wanted to make a beautiful world for herself.

"It's not... feels correct." She muttered and Arsh look a step ahead. He didn't realise he was stepping on the bottom flair of Fayra's gown.

"For how long will it last, Fayra?" She could smell the peppermint gum he was chewing.

He wasn't her prince charming.

He wasn't the man she thought about.

He was not the man who flirted with her over chats.

"I'm not secretly dating you, we're officially engaged. I'm serious about you, Fayra." His voice came out with a higher pitch which scared this girl whose father apologised just a few hours ago to shout at her for the first time in life.

Her eyes filled with tears.

"Please... Is tarha roo ke na dikhao. Ladkiyo ke paas aansu se bada koi hathiyar nhi hota." Fayra was unable to understand the last half of the sentence as if was only in mumbling.

(Please... don't display your tears like this. Girls have no bigger weapons than tears.)

He turned and walked towards the railing of terrace. Fayra was only seeing him drawing out something from his pocket. She gasped loudly and walked ahead.

"Ye kya kar rahe hain aap Arsh?" Seeing him holding a cigarette in between his lips she was surprised. "Aapne to kaha tha aapne smoking quit kar di?"

(What are you doing Arsh?)

(But you told me that you quit smoking?)

"Tum meri chhoti si khwahish puri nhi kar sakti lekin chahti ho ki main tumhari sari baatein manu?" Crossing the threshold of etiquette, he had made the journey from AAP to TUM in a single moment.

(You can't fulfill my small wish but you want me to agree to everything you say?)

He lit the cigarette right in front of Fayra who shook her head. "Please Arsh... Don't harm yourself... Smoking is not good for health..." Fayra was trying her best to change the mind of this man but couldn't because he was all set with his choice and wants.

"Rehne do... Health meri hai... Tum pareshan na ho... Aaj ke baad main tumhe bother nhi karunga. Wese bhi main hu hi kya tumhare liye? Abhi sirf engagement hi to huyi hai na..." Fayra blinked blankly... She did not know what she did wrong but she was at fault, it was clear from Arsh's behaviour.

(Let it be... it is my health... don't worry... I will not bother you from today onwards. Do whatever you want, who am I for you? Just a fiance... Not a big deal.)

"Arsh aap naraz to na ho please, I'm sorry if I hurt you... Please aap mujhe gussa na ho... At least aaj to bilkul nhi... Today is our big day. Please." The emotional fool placed her hand on his arm who didn't even see towards him.

(Arsh, please don't get angry, I'm sorry if I'm hurting you... please don't get angry at me... at least not today... today is a big day. Please.)

"No no... It is my fault that I fell in love with you. I shouldn't fall for you Fayra because you don't have feelings for me.  You don't trust me, you don't love me, I'm a useless article of your life"

"Aesa to na kahiye Arsh... I love you." She cried. She had nothing to serve him as a proof of love other than these precious pearls rolling out of her eyes, unfortunately it was ordinary drops of water for him.

(Don't think so, Arsh I love you.)

"No Fayra, you don't!" He easily rejected her feelings.

"I do Arsh... I do. I love you." The just 20, who was still emotionally living in her mid-teens, confessed her love without knowing the difference between love, attraction and infatuation.

"I'm sorry but I can't trust you Fayra..." And he looked away ignoring all her tears. enjoying puffing on the cigarette.

He was gazing at the full moon hanging in the dark sky and she was gazing at her moon whom she considered a full moon but she was noticing an eclipse.

Gathering all her courage she stepped ahead and soon Arsh felt a head resting against his back. He took a deep breath and let it go. A smirk captured his lips.

"I love you Arsh... I really do. Please trust me." She cried but he smiled. He puffed on ciggerate again and held her arm.

"Aap aese rooti huyi achhi nhi lagti Fayra, I'm sorry mujhe gussa aa gya tha lekin aapki baatein bhi to gussa dilane wali hoti hain."

(It doesn't look good when you cry like this, Fayra. I'm sorry, I got angry, but your deeds make me angry.)

"I'm sorry Arsh..." She cried more for a love she never wanted to lose.

"Okay, I forgive you... Now stop crying." He himself didn't know that it would be so easy to manipulate this girl. He pulled Fayra in a hug and this time she didn't protest.

"You know what Fayra... I love you like no one can do." He cupped her face and she looked up. This man was her prince charming, her perfect imagination.

"You're beautiful... I find an ocean in your eyes." He whispered near her face. Fayra tried to pull herself away but couldn't because this time she didn't want to upset Arsh.

<><><><>

"Hello... Hello..." He almost yelled but couldn't hear the voice from the other side. He looked here there, commotion everywhere.

"Danish, what's happening? Guests are waiting for dinner." Said Adnaan in a panicked voice and Danish looked at his mobile phone.

"Chamu, I'm already calling the caterer." Danish was also panicked. He had the responsibility of checking everything but he was busy in buying Momo for Fayra and forgot to notice that the food was ready but dinnerware had not arrived yet.

"Do everything fast, and if it's taking more time then ask the ladies to arrange plates and cutleries from the home only..." Adnaan ordered and walked to the other side to attend a guest.

Danish dialled the number one more time and again, commotion disturbed him, taking long steps as he walked upstairs. "Hello..." This time the voice was clear and he walked towards ahead.

<><><>

Before anything happened a loud roar echoed in the background "FAYRA."

Fayra and Arsh looked at the invader standing on the doorway of the terrace holding his mobile.

"Dimag kharab ho gya hai tumhara?" Gritting his teeth he walked towards the couple and pulled away the girl from the grip of her fiance.

(Are you out of your senses?)

"Agar itni hi jaldi hai in sab chezo ki to barat le ke aao, shadi karo aur le jao ise, hamare ghar ki izzat se is tarha khelne ki zarurat nhi hai." Danish yelled at Arsh and dragged Fayra away with himself to her room. He didn't even notice his fingers were digging in the flesh of her arm, hurting her.

(If you are in such a hurry about all this then bring the wedding procession, get married and take her away, there is no need to play with the honour of our family like this.)

"Dil to chah rha hai tumhare muh par ek thappad maaru..." Pushing her roughly towards the bed he suppressed his voice, he did not want to create a scene by attracting guests towards his voice otherwise he was yelling at Fayra..

(Right now I just want to slap you on the face.)

"Danish bhai..."

"Shut up! Don't you dare to say anything. I'm going to tell your parents everything."

"Nhi Danish Bhai, aapko meri qasam hai kisi ko kuch nhi bataiyega."

(No Danish bhai, you will not tell anything to anyone, you promised me.)

"Fayra tu pagal ho gyi hai, mujhe ye ladka kuch theek nhi lag rha." Before Danish's yell could scare Fayra as hell another call attacked both of them.

(Fayra, you have gone mad. I don't like this boy at all.")

"Danish~"

"Coming dad..." He yelled and walked out of the room

"What were you doing in Fayra's room?"

"Nothing, she needed something."

"Have you talked to the caterer?"

"Yes I did, don't worry. All the arrangements are under control." And he walked away with long steps. Anzala was surprised to see this much anger in his son. He knew Danish could not get angry just because of catering services there was something else for sure but what he didn't know.

<><><>

Author's Note:

Hey everyone. I hope you'll continue reading this book.

and don't forget to leave comments in feedback section. You can also follow us on Instagram for the upcoming contests and giveaways.