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Ayesha's pov
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I was combing my hair getting ready to leave for work. I looked at myself in the mirror and applied a face cream. I put some kajal and lip balm
"Aren't you getting late for work today?" Reem asked getting in the room
"No I don't have to go to office today. I'm going to some location for inspection" I spoke
"You? for inspection? When did this happen?" She asked in disbelief
"Can you believe it? Not just inspection I have other things to do also. It feels like Mr. Khan has suddenly changed. Yesterday he gave me such interesting work that I was busy all day. I think he has finally realised that just having me there and not utilizing my abilities is waste of time for him and for me also"
"Well it is hard to believe but I'm happy he finally opened his eyes"
"Me too"
"So now you have no issues with him"
"I never had any issue with him. As long as he's behaving himself, I'm fine with him. He is the one who started a fight between us. And obviously I'm not going to take any s*** from him. Not now. Not ever"
"If he continues being like this, he will soon give you your degree. Then you will go back to Chandigarh?" I heard the sadness in her voice.
"Let's not talk about it baby, one thing is for sure I'm not leaving you alone. Maybe I'll take you with me" I joked, she chuckled
My phone pinged, before I could take it, Reem picked it up and read the message
"What is happening between you and Sufiyan?" Reem asked dropping next to me
"Nothing. Why? Is it his message? What is he saying?" I tried taking the phone from her hand, but she put it behind her back.
"Let me see" I said
"Are you getting restless to see his message?" She asked, I sighed
"Fine. I don't want to see it." I continued getting ready.
"He's just saying he had fun last night" she spoke
"Ok" I nodded
"Are you hiding anything from me?" She asked, I narrowed my eyes at her
"What? Are you out of your mind? How can you even think like that?" I asked she just shrugged
"We went to pick up your car then we had dinner and then he drove back to his place and I came back here. That's it"
"Do you like him?" She asked
"He's a good guy, we can be good friends"
"Ok"
"If you are done with your interrogation can we leave now? I am getting late" I asked, she gasped dramatically and then smacked my arm
"Interrogation. Huh!" I laughed
"Let's go now" she said
We both came down, had breakfast and then left for our destinations.
I checked the location he sent me and put it on the map, I pushed the accelerator while putting the gear on 4th, the car started running.
I reached the destination in twenty five minutes. I was also sent the picture of the building. I stood outside it.
I saw a few people coming outside.
"Is it the one where Khan Architectures' work is going on?" I asked
"Yes ma'am" one of them spoke
"Ok thanks." I turned to go inside
"Where are you going ma'am?" Someone asked
"I'm here for the inspection" I replied
"The building is in a bad condition. It is not advisable to be here. We're all going" I was told
"Oh really!"
"Yes please go from here"
I took out my phone and called Mr Khan to let him know about what was the people saying, but he didn't answer.
What should I do? He has given me some important work and if I leave without completing it, he will think that I'm just lazy and then he will scold me and say I'm unworthy. I can't let him win. I will just quickly complete my work and leave
I looked around the building, it didn't look so bad to me, I can at least take the measurements. I returned to the people.
"You can leave from here, I will also go as soon as I'm done taking the measurements" I said
"You should leave with us"
"It's fine" I insisted. Everyone left, only I stayed back.
It was a beautiful house, but the building was very old. We were given the project to design it and rebuild it
I took out my sketch book, my measuring tape, and other stuff from my bag. It was a two storey building I was quickly done taking the measurements of the whole house only one room was left.
I was on the top floor, I held the doorknob and pulled it, but the door was stuck, I tried harder to open it, it still didn't budge. I took my bag off my shoulder, and kept the things I was holding on a table in the corner. Then i applied my whole body weight to open the door and thankfully it opened. I sighed in relief, I quickly went inside.
The room was different it still had some paintings and other wall decorations, one of the paintings caught my eyes, someone made a beautiful art of the galaxy, I got lost in it, suddenly a loud thud scared me, I ran to exit the room, but the door could only open slightly, I peaked outside and saw some rocks stopping the door from opening, I looked up and saw a part of ceiling fallen, I gasped in horror
"Is somebody there? Help" I shouted
I tried pushing the door with all of my strength, I felt something falling on me I looked up and saw cement from the ceiling, suddenly a large piece fell, I moved back just in the nick of time, but I tripped and fell, my ankle pained so badly, I screamed in pain.
Oh god! why didn't I listen to those men! I should call someone for help. I searched for my phone, but then i realised I left my phone outside.
Allah please have mercy on me. I don't want to die I'm too young.
I looked around the room to find any exit. There was a window, I tried opening it, but it didn't open, I didn't want to put too much pressure on it.
I just sat losing all the hopes of being saved. Tears pooled in my eyes.
******
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Izhaan's pov
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Ever since I had a chat with maa, my mind is not at peace, it's happening too fast, too soon, I don't feel ready. I try very hard with Reem, but her repulsion makes me see darkness in our future.
I have grown up watching my grandparents and my parents living like a loving couple. I also dreamed to be like them and I expect love out of my marriage.
I don't love Reem, but I definitely have something soft in my heart for her even though she had given me all the reasons to hate her
I don't expect us to fall in love instantly. We have our whole lives for that, for now I just want a little understanding, a little respect for each other.
I am willing to try that, but when I look at her it looks like an impossible task for me, she doesn't even talk properly with me. Maybe I will have to treat her like she deserves to be treated, Maybe she will soften then.
I had a day off so I decided to utilize it. With a plan in my head, I took out my phone and dialled her number
"Hello" she answered
"Good morning" I spoke
"You have called to wish me morning?" She asked showing annoyance
Why does she always have to make it so hard for me?
" Where are you?" I asked
"Oh so you have called to check on me, just for your information, I am in the university taking my lecture. You want me to video call you if you don't believe me?"
"No, nothing like that, I'm not checking on you. I called you for something else"
"What?"
" Can you meet me today? I will tell you then"
" You have to tell me now so that I can decide if I want to meet you or not?" She said, I rolled my eyes
"Ugh! Fine as you know Hayat's birthday is coming. I want to buy a gift for her and I need your advice for it. So can you go shopping with me?"
"Are you serious? You seriously think I would come for shopping with you? No, not interested"
I knew she would say that, that's why I was already prepared.
"I said the same thing to dadi but she insisted that you should come with me, the only reason I asked you is because dadi told me to do it otherwise I would have never asked you. You have made it easy for me now I will just go and tell her that you're not interested" I played my trump card. She was quiet for a few seconds
"Okay bye then" I said
"No wait. What time do we have to go?" She asked, I smirked
"At whatever time you're getting free"
"Okay I'll message you" she said and hung up
Yesss I punched in the air. Happily, I turned around but was surprised to find dadi standing there
"When did I tell you to take Reem for shopping?" She smirked
"Sorry for lying" I smiled sheepishly, she laughed
"I'm just happy to see that you are trying. She is a girl with a golden heart, I'm very much sure that you will take care of her. she's not just going to be your wife, but mine and your dada's responsibility also. We promised her grandparents to love her as our own" Dadi got emotional
"I know. I promise you, I will never let you down. I will try my best to keep her happy"
"God bless you beta" she patted my cheek lovingly. I left from there to get ready.
It was around 1:00 p.m. when I got Reem's call, I left immediately. She returned home from the university so I just had to go and pick her up.
On my way to her I got a call from someone to threaten me to leave the case, I laughed and hung up the call. Being a criminal lawyer is not easy. I get to deal with crazy ass people
I messaged her when I reached her house. Soon she walked outside. She sat in my car and strapped herself in the seatbelt. I began driving. After a little while of driving I tried to start a conversation.
"How was the university today?" I asked
"I'm working on my attendance izhaan, no need to remind me constantly" she snapped at me.
"I wasn't asking about your attendance" I defended myself, she stayed quiet, I sighed and focused on road.
Why is she always so rude to me? Why can't she ever talk normally with me?
"Where are we going?" She asked
"You'll see" I said. She didn't ask anything else, just sat quietly.
She took out her phone and called someone, from my peripheral vision I saw her calling Ayesha, then she tsked and put her phone back.
We reached the mall, we parked the car and walked
" Do you want to eat anything?" I asked
"Let's just get done with it" she sighed
" What do you suggest we should get?"
"Let's get her a dress first" she said and walked in the clothing store
She was looking for dresses. I was just blindly following her. My eyes were locked on her, it was cute, how she took out a dress, put in front of her and watched in the mirror, then she shook her head in disapproval and put it back.
After a long while she finally picked two dresses. She came to me and handed me one dress. I looked at her
"Is that one for you?" I asked pointing at the one she was holding
"No, this is also for Hayat. I will give it to her"
"Why?" I frowned
"I will also give her something for her birthday, right?" She said, I narrowed my eyes at her and took the dress from her hand and walked to the billing counter, before she could protest I made the payment.
After dress shopping we went to get a bag, same thing happened there, when she insisted of paying, I took it from her hand and made the payment, then we got shoes, then make up, then some perfumes.
I was carrying all the bag, she insisted of sharing the load but I refused, I was starting to enjoy the day. Just normal shopping with her become so much fun.
I was walking next to her suddenly she ran into the apple store, I followed her, she took an iPad, this time also i beat her for the payment.
She was staring at me with angry eyes, she looked so adorable, a smile broke on my face.
We were now in the lift
"Anything else ma'am?" I asked
"You are very greedy Izhaan, I agreed to help you in buying a present because dadi wanted to, but it was not correct that you stole all of my presents"
"Huh? I stole? What do you mean?"
" Even after helping you with your present, whatever I selected to give her, you bought it. You have a mountain of presents to give her now and I still have nothing. I will have to come later now"
"Why would you have to come later?"
" How thick your skull is? Why are you not understanding that I'm saying I have to buy a present for Hayat, since you bought these all from your side" she explained
" Wait what? you thought I am buying all these to give her from me only" I asked, she shrugged
" No you silly girl. It's not just from me. It is from us, you and me"
" There is no us, you stick to your presents. I will buy something for her later" I held her arm lightly and pulled her to me
"Get used to it, you and I are us. Whatever I was buying today was never from just me. It was from both of us, and it is just a beginning, from now till death whatever I have is yours. There is always you, in me" I said, she stared with wide eyes at me, she looked surprised
Even I was surprised, I didn't know where it was coming from.
The elevator opened and she ran outside, I exited the lift, there was a giant clock there, it showed 5 o'clock. So much time passed, I didn't even realise.
I was walking towards Reem when my phone rang, it was a call from Athar, I answered
"Hello" i said, I was engulfed by fear after hearing his panicked voice
I talked to him, then turned around, Reem was standing there, she overheard my conversation with him.
****
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Athar's POV
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"Damn it" I yelled and threw the pen away.
I was sitting in my office trying to concentrate on my work but a certain brown haired girl was not letting me focus
I sent her away so that I can stop thinking about her but my idiot mind was taking me back to her again and again
The moment I entered the office today. My eyes went to her cubicle, the empty space felt like a punch on my chest.
Why should I care if she went on a date? Why should I care if she is seeing another guy? Why should I care about her at all? She is no one for me. She is nothing for me.
I should not care at all. I wish she would go away from me, somewhere so far that I could never see her face again
I didn't answer my phone purposely when she called me. I don't want to hear her voice. What the hell is happening with me? Why is she bothering me so much?
To distract myself I decided to just stay focused, I picked up a random file and began reading it, thankfully an hour passed and I didn't think of her.
She should have returned to office by now? Why is she not here? Is she with that guy again? No no no
"Focus Athar focus" I chanted. I picked up another file and engrossed myself in it, two hours passed
I picked up another file, it was the same project's file to which Ayesha has gone, I put it back and picked another one. I began reading it, my eyes went back to that file again.
I picked up and opened the file, I was reading the column "condition of the building" my eyes widened and I sat straight.
Oh shit! It said that the building is in a crusty condition and can collapse any time.
I hope you are not there Ayesha. Please tell me you are not there.
I took out my phone and called her. It was ringing, but she didn't answer. I called again, but still no answer.
My heartbeat started racing. No no no no, you can't be in there Ayesha. Oh god please no.
I stood up from my chair and ran to Rose
"How many workers are there in the Mishra building?" I asked
"It has been evacuated this morning, the building can collapse anytime"
Let's just hope she is not in there. I will go there to make sure, she is not there
"Send me the phone number of any worker" I ordered Rose and left from there. I quickly came to my car and begin driving.
I was continuously trying to reach her, but she wasn't answering her phone. What should I do now? Should I call Reem? No no. If Ayesha isn't with her she will start panicking
Oh yes, I can call Hayat. I quickly took out my phone and called her
"Hi Bhai" she chirped
"I need you to do something for me"
" Is everything okay?" She asked getting serious
" I will explain everything later. For now, Please call Ayesha and find out where she is"
"You are scaring me. Please tell me everything is fine"
"Hayat! do what I said" I shouted
"Okay okay I'm calling her now" she hung up.
My phone pinged Rose sent me the number of the worker, I quickly dialed it
"Hello sir" he answered, I wondered how'd he know my number, but that is not important right now
"Is there anyone in the Mishra building right now?" I asked straight to the point
"No sir, everyone left in the morning. The building is empty now" he replied
I sighed in relief. Thank God, she isn't there.
"Ok . Thank you" I was about to hang up when he spoke again
"Sir, a girl came into the building this morning, We told her about the condition of the building, we insisted her to leave the building immediately but she said that she just needed a few minutes to complete her work then she will leave"
That must be Ayesha
"So did she leave?"
"I don't know sir. When I left she was still there"
"How can you leave her alone, you idiot?" I shouted
"Sir I ummm aa" he stuttered
"I swear if anything happens to this girl, I will not leave any of you"
Hayat was calling so I cut his call and answered hers
"Yes hayat?" I spoke
"Ayesha is not answering her phone"
"Oh god! Call Reem. Maybe she is with her"
"No bhabhi has gone out with izhaan bhai. Would you please tell me what's going on"
" I'll talk to you later" I said and hung up
Why did I have to send her? I should have read about the building first before sending her. I just prayed for her safety.
I wish she would go away from me, somewhere so far that I could never see her face again. My own words rang in my ear.
I reached the site. I quickly spotted Ayesha's car. Fear started eating me, her car is here. that means she's also here. I turned to look at the building, my heart sank. I ran towards it and entered. It was dark inside. Blame it on winter day and a bad lightning
"Ayeshaaaaa" I shouted, no response
I was searching for her everywhere while calling her name as loudly as I can. There was a broken ceiling on many parts of the building
"Ayesha where are you?" I screamed
With huge difficulty I managed to reach the second floor in search of her. I saw a lot of rock everyrhere
"Ayeshaa" I called again. I am getting hopeless now, where is she?
Ya Allah help me
"Mr khaaaan" I heard her scream, I felt happy instantly
"Ayesha, where are you?" I looked everywhere
"I'm here" she spoke, i followed her voice, she was in the room, I saw her through the ajar door, I tried opening the door but it was stuck, when I tried harder she started shouted.
"Mr. Khan no, the more pressure you put on it, it will fall more quickly"
"I have to bring you out"
"I don't know how to get out from here"
"Is there any other escape in there?"
"There's a window but it doesn't open"
"Is it glass?"
"Yes"
"Just be calm. I'm coming for you" I said and ran down.
I got outside the building and looked around for something to reach on the second floor. A rusty broken pipe was there, If I try climbing it, I could risk getting hurt but there is no other option right now.
Without thinking about anything else I started climbing it. There were some nails poking out from the pipe which were pricking me. It hurt but I didn't care.
"Mr Khan where are you?" I could hear her shouting.
I somehow managed to reach outside the room she was in, I could faintly see her through the window, it was dark. I tried opening the window's door but it didn't move
"Be careful, I'm very scared" she spoke
"Don't be, I'm here with you now"
She was standing on the other end of the window, when I tried harder to open it a little more of the ceiling fell with a loud noise, Ayesha screamed. when I peaked inside, Ayesha was on the floor unconscious
I panicked and punched on the glass window, it cracked a little, my hand hurt like hell but I kept on punching till the glass was completely broken. My hands were bleeding. I managed to open the window and jump inside, I ran to her
"Ayesha, Ayeshaaa" I was shaking her, but she didn't wake up
The ground moved like there was an earthquake, I need to get her out from here as quickly as possible, but how will I do it.
I threw her unconscious body on my shoulder and went towards the window. I looked down to find a way of getting down.
Luck was definitely on my side because I saw a few people gathered down to help us.
With the help of them I managed to bring her down.
"Sir are you ok?" Someone from the crowd asked
"I need to take her to the hospital" I carried her to my car. The worker who left in the morning returned to check if anyone was there because of my call
I quickly called Izhaan and told him about the incident, I told him that I was taking her to the hospital.
I looked back at her, There was no head injury but to be sure I needed to get her checked.
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