Embracing Love [✓]

ⁿⁱⁿᵉ ✓

She was without a word
Forgetting to even faintly smile
With cold eyes.

The wind endlessly blew,
As she stood there
Having no place to lean and breathe.
She was grown numb to even the painful memories
But then he held his hand out to her.

And underneath the dazzling sunshine
She was born again
As a beautiful flower.

■■■

"Nice house!"
Imraan commented looking around the house whereas Ayana looked at him semi furiously and semi confusedly.

Feeling her eyes on him, Imraan looked at her.
"What?"

They were sent upstairs to talk alone for a while by the elders.

"Can you please explain to me why you are here?"
At last, Ayana spoke.

"For the alliance."
Dumbly, Imraan replied.
"Don't you know?"

"Of course, I know. What I mean is-"
Ayana uttered in frustration.
"-why does it have to be you? This is my last chance and you..."
Ayana stopped.

She promised herself that no matter what happens she'd agree to marry the guy. But now seeing Imraan in front of her, she wasn't sure whether she really should agree or not.

"Did you know that the girl whom you are coming to see is me?"
Ayana asked, thinking Imraan was as clueless as her.

"Yes."

"What? Then why did you come?"

"Because my mother forced me."

"Huh? You came all the way here just because your mother forced you?"
With a disbelieving look, Ayana looked at Imraan.

"Not really. At first, I thought about ditching today's meeting but then I thought about the alliance calmly and realized that it isn't a bad idea."
Imraan shrugged.
"I mean this alliance is beneficial for me. My company."

"For the company? Is this alliance a business deal for you or what?"
Weirdly Ayana looked at Imraan who truthfully nodded. If he got married in Malik's family, not only he'll be able to shut those investors' mouths but also he'll be able to get the deals back that he lost.

"Moreover, it's also beneficial for you."
Imraan added.

"Beneficial for me? Seriously? You might not know it, Mr. Quraish, but I'm a doctor not a business maniac like you who thinks of an alliance as a business deal."
Sarcastically Ayana spoke, making Imraan give her a boring look.

"You told that guy,"
Indicating Zaid, Imraan spoke ignoring Ayana's sarcastic remark.
"...that you'd marry someone better both in looks and status than him, didn't you?"

Shockingly, Ayana looked at Imraan.
'How did he know that?'

"Don't you think I'm much better than him? I mean not only my... our business has pretty much flourished but also our company is one of the topmost companies in the country. And about looks,"
Shyly Imraan looked down.
"Obviously, I'm better in fact, Alhamdulillah, the best in looks than him."

"How did you..."
Narrowing her eyes, Ayana asked, ignoring Imraan's last remark.
"Don't tell me you were stalking me?"

"What? Of course not. Why will I stalk you?"
Imraan made an 'eww' face.
"I, coincidentally, happen to be there."
Noticing Ayana's doubtful eyes, he added.
"If you don't believe me then ask Fawad."