"Are you stupid or just simply stupid?"
●○●
The whole Quraish Villa was decorated with long strings of yellow and orange marigolds. There were colorful drapes along the walls, to embellish the railings in the stairways. The whole residence was captivated by the wedding vibes.
The fitting flowers Not only created a very dazzling ambiance but also added freshness to the atmosphere. Flower strings were wrapped along the staircase railings to add charm to the welcome area.
A traditional divan, which was decorated with colorful fabrics in silk with a couple of satin cushions, was set in the middle of the hall room.
The whole Villa was filled with guests. The loud music of the Henna ceremony could be heard from the neighborhood. Some were dancing, some applying henna on their hands. Children's laughter was heard. There was a constant smile on everyone's face. After all, it was the henna ceremony of Azeen Quraish, the only daughter of Quraish Villa.
"Aunty, where's the bride-to-be? I need to congratulate her."
Neema, Azeen's college friend asked.
"Zee must have gone inside her room. You sit here. I'll go and bring her."
Sherebano Quraish, Azeen's paternal aunt (Chachi) , said and then went to check on her.
●○●
A girl in yellow Sharara was pacing to and fro in her room. Her hands were painted with heavy henna. She was looking anxious. Every minute she was checking her mobile.
Sherebano knocked on the door.
"Zee! Everyone is waiting for you, dear."
"Coming, Chachi! Just 5 minutes."
Azeen yelled from inside.
"Come quickly. I'm going downstairs."
"Okay."
She didn't have any other option nor had any time to think.
Taking out the black burqa from the cupboard, she quickly put on her beautiful dress. Then grabbing her phone, she quickly text someone.
I'm sorry.
I know you told me to wait.
But I think it's better if I leave.
By the time you see the message, I must have left the house.
I should have told you but I couldn't muster up the courage to say it.
Don't blame yourself.
You deserve someone better.
Way more better than me.
Sending the message she took out the bag that she packed last night and then jumped out the window.
'I'm sorry, baba. But you left me no other option.'
●○●
Fawad was supposed to go to his sister's (Reeha's) house but at the last moment something came up in the office which is why he couldn't go there with his parents.
It was almost 8 pm. He was too tired to drive. Thinking to rest for a while, he parked the car on the side of a bridge and got down.
Looking down he watched the sea silently. This place was so soothing. Whenever he's sad or tired he would come here to get some fresh air. And the sounds of sea waves make the place more peaceful.
Closing his eyes he was busy feeling the soothing sound of sea waves when someone bumped into him. Abruptly opening his eyes he saw a small figure standing in front of him. The lady was wearing a burqa and was shaking like a leaf. Only her enchanting eyes were visible.
"Please! Please help me! They... they are try... trying to kidnap me."
The women said panting.
Last time when Fawad helped a woman in danger, he was almost labeled as a murderer. Now seeing the women in front of him pleading helplessly, the whole thing was like a déjà vu.
He was thinking of ignoring her until she spoke again.
"Please! Please save me!"
Tears were flowing through her eyes.
Unable to resist her oddly familiar pleading eyes, at last, he gave up.
"Hop in the car."
Opening the passenger door, he ordered.
Seeing 2 men coming towards them more precisely towards the lady he hurriedly started the car and drove away.
●○●
"Ma'am, where will I drop-"
"Azeen."
"Huh?"
Fawad looked at his left only to see Azeen sitting by his side. Face unveiled.
"My name is Azeen."
'Beautiful!!'
Fawad thought. Then muttering 'Astaghfirullah' he quickly looked away.
"Oh. Um... I'm F-Fawad."
"I know."
Azeen whispered.
"Sorry?"
"Nothing."
"Btw were you going to attend any wedding?"
Fawad asked, looking sideways. Azeen's face had make-up indicating she was attending a party or wedding.
"Not anyone's. It's my Mehendi today."
"Today? Then you are going there alone?"
"No."
Azeen shook her head.
"I ran away."
Fawad immediately pulled the brake making Azeen's head hit on the dashboard.
"Ouch! What a terrible driver you are!"
Azeen remarked.
"You ran away from your wedding?"
Fawad asked, horrified.
"Why are you so shocked? Is it your first time hearing someone run away from home?"
Azeen said nonchalantly.
"No. But it's my first time giving a lift to someone who ran away from her home. More precisely, from her wedding."
"It's mehendi!"
Azeen corrected him.
"Same thing! Get down. I'm not giving a lift to a runaway. Please get down!"
Fawad unlocked the passenger door.
"No. Don't do this to me. Those goons are after me. What if... What if I ran into them and this time they got successful in kidnapping me?"
Azeen played the 'pity card'.
"That's... That's none of my business. And, what if I kidnap you?"
"You won't."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I just know."
"Look, I don't want to get involved in any type of mess. Already there's a lot of problems in my life and I don't want to add more. So please get down."
Fawad tried to make her understand.
"Ok. Fine. But at least don't leave me here. In the middle of the road. You can drop me somewhere safe like in my friend's house."
Azeen suggested.
"I swear I won't disturb you anymore."
Thinking for a few seconds Fawad agreed,
"Okay. Tell me the address."
"Go straight. I'll tell you the direction."
Nodding at her, he restarted the car.
●○●
"Are you sure that we're going in the right direction?"
Fawad asked, looking here and there.
"Yup. Keep on going straight. Now left. Stop! Park the car now."
"Here?"
Parking the car beside a small stall, Fawad asked.
"Your friend stays here?"
"Nope. But before going further let's eat something from here. I'm hungry."
"What? You think this is a bus which will stop at places for your refreshments?! Just give me the address and I'll drop you off at your friend's house."
"But-but I'm hungry. I didn't even have my breakfast."
Azeen said trying to act all pitiful.
"Fine!"
Thinking for a while, at last Fawad nodded.
Getting down from the car both went towards the stall.
Sitting on the chair, Azeen ordered two plates of Pani puri for herself.
Seeing her dumping the food in her mouth, Fawad looked at her weirdly.
Feeling his gaze, Azeen looked up at him.
"Would you like to taste some?"
"No. Thanks. I'm fine."
Seeing her talking with a mouth full of food, Fawad gave her a disapproving look but stayed quiet.
"How much?"
Once Azeen was done eating, she asked the small boy who was cleaning the table.
"5 dollars."
The boy replied.
Nodding, Azeen looked at Fawad, who was looking at the other side. Feeling her gaze, he looked at Azeen only to see her already looking at him.
"What?"
"The goons... they took my purse."
Azeen said nervously.
Shaking his head, Fawad said while taking out his wallet,
"You better give it back."
Then giving the money to the boy, they sat in the car.
"Tell me the direction."
Fawad spoke while starting the car.
"Direction? What direction?"
Azeen asked confusedly.
"Your friend's house."
"Oh. Yeah. Right. My friend's house. Um... turn right. Now keep on going straight."
Azeen spoke reluctantly.
A few minutes later they stopped before a dead end.
"I guess we were supposed to take the left turn."
Azeen nervously chuckled looking at Fawad.
"You... you know the address right?"
Fawad asked, already dreading the answer.
Azeen looked away.
"Ya Allah! You don't know the address right? You lied. Do you even have a friend or you also lied about it?"
"No. I'm telling the truth. My friend used to live somewhere here. I even visited her once but..."
"But?"
"It was 2 years ago."
"2 years? You didn't come here for 2 years?"
Fawad asked, mortified.
"Did you even call her before coming here?"
"I-I lost her number."
Azeen replied in a small tone.
"You don't have your friend's number neither you know where she lives and without any backup plan you eloped from your wedding to stay with that friend?"
"I-"
"Are you now joking with me?!"
Slapping his hand on the steering wheel, Fawad yelled, making Azeen flinch.
"Get out! Get out of my car this instant!"
"No. Please I-"
"Just shut up. You know what actually everything is my fault. I shouldn't have helped you in the first place."
"I-I don't h-have any money with m-me."
Fearing Fawad's anger, Azeen stammered.
"That's none of my business! I don't care whether you have money or not. Just get out of the car."
"At least drop m-me in an ATM booth. I'll transact some m-money from there."
"I bet you are lying again."
"No. I swear I'm not lying. I can even tell you my bank account. If you want I can even write the password for it."
Azeen was now almost in tears.
"Are you stupid or just simply stupid?"
Fawad asked ridiculously.
"Why will you give your account number to an unknown person? Allah!"
Calming himself a bit, Fawad said,
"I'll drop you on a booth but after that, I'm on my way and you on yours, okay?"
Immediately Azeen nodded.
"Okay."
●○●
Once Fawad stopped the car by the booth Azeen looked at him.
"Thank you. I-"
She was rudely cut off by none other than Fawad.
"Just go quickly."
Nodding Azeen stepped down from the car and went inside the booth.
Seeing her going inside the booth, Fawad sighed in relief. He was about to start the car when the engine died.
"Now what is wrong with you?"
Fawad again tried to start the car but instead of starting it started to make weird noises.
Removing the seat belt, he got down from the car and then opened the bonnet. As soon as the bonnet opened, black smoke began to erupt.
"Come on. Don't die here. Wake up! You can't do this to me. You were not supposed to die today."
Fawad told the car as if it was a person.
"Gosh! Why is the day so unlucky? Ouch!"
Fawad kicked the car in frustration and then yelped in pain.
Just then his mobile rang. It was his mother.
Before he could say anything, Shaina Begum started saying.
"Where are you Fawad? Are you still in the office? How can you be so workaholic? Reeha had been eagerly waiting for you and you didn't even think of calling your sister to check up on her. "
"Mumma, I'm sorry. Something came up in the office so I had to work overtime. Then I had to deal with a problem,"
Fawad said irritatingly, thinking about Azeen.
"And now my car broke down."
"What? Your car broke down? Where are you? Should I send your father there?"
His mother's worried voice came from the other side.
"Mumma, relax. Calm down. No need to send Papa. I am not a child who'll get lost. I'll reach home safe and sound. I might be a bit late so don't wait for me. And about Ree... don't worry I'll apologize to her."
"But-"
"Mumma, I need to go and Look for a mechanic. So talk to you later. And tell Ree that I'm sorry for breaking the promise. Allah Hafiz."
The moment he cut the call, a cold metal was pressed on his head.
"Don't move. The moment you move, I'll shoot you."
Someone said from behind, making his eyes go wide.
"Who-"
Before he could say anything, that person hit his head with the back of the gun.
The last thing Fawad remembered before losing his consciousness was Azeen running towards him calling his name.
●○●
Hey guys! 👋
The first chapter is done!!!
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