CHAPTER 22:
AREESHA'S POV:
As I was about to step out of the room, Maaz came in front of me and covered my mouth with his large hand and pushed me back into the room and locked the door behind him, I was trying to scream but he tighten his grip on my face making me squirm in pain, I tried to wriggle free from his animalistic grip but he caught me from my waist and slammed my back to the wall behind me, I yelp in pain and stared into his gray eyes which were looking at me darkly, "I know it was you!" he said, coming closer to me, I just kept staring at him with no idea what he was talking about, I knitted my eyebrows in confusion and held his wrist with my hand trying to remove his hand from my face, he let go of me but caged me in by placing both of is hands by my side on the wall, "What are you talking about?" I asked as I touched my cheeks which were terribly hurting right now, "What you are trying to do in the last moments Areesha?" he asked me with anger lacing through his voice, "Will you please elaborate it, I have no idea what you are trying to say," I asked him honestly having no clue abut our conversation, "Trying to change the contract and adding points for your own benefits? Giving half of your wealth which you will inherit after our marriage to your father? I am telling you this Areehsa, after our marriage you will not use single penny of my earned money on your family, I don't care about anything, but my money is not for charity, being my wife you will get half of my legacy along with the other benefits, but if you tried to use it for your family, I am telling you Areesha, you will regret it, you don't know what I am capable of, so try not to offend me or you will face the my wrath," he said harshly.
I just stared at him, not believing what he just said, at this moment I wanted to cry so hard, Uncle tricked me! he got my signatures on the wrong documents and misused it, I clearly remembered that nothing was mentioned in them what Maaz told me just now,but how I can be a fool, I shouldn't have signed anything.
"Are you listening to me!" he shouted and I flinched from his loud tone, "I didn't know anything about this Maaz, I had no idea about it," I mumbled, "You think I am a fool? Your signatures are there on the documents and you are saying you don't know anything about it, your father told me specifically that you agreed on these conditions and wanted to revise the contract of marriage," he told, "No, it's not like that Maaz, he didn't show me the real documents and I don't want any conditions in this marriage, nor I want your money but I need a favor for something, I swear I didn't know anything about this," I said, trying to hold back these traitor tears, Maaz gave me a look, enough for me to understand that he don't believe me, he stared me for a long time making me feel uneasy under his gaze,
"What favor you want from me?" he asked in his deep voice, I glanced at his face, which was totally expressionless, "I want to keep Adil with me after our marriage," I said, "No," he said instantly, "Please Maaz, let me keep him, he.." I pleaded but he cut me in, "I said NO!" he roared loudly and stormed out of the room leaving me behind in this room to compose myself. I tried to fight back the tears which pooled in my eyes, but I wasn't crying this time, it's enough! Every man in my life is taking advantage of me, but this time I won't let them use me, it's enough now. I gathered up my dress and smooth the lines with my hands to remove the wrinkles and adjusted the dupatta on the head and wipe away the smudge lipstick from my lips and quickly applied the nude color gloss and left the room with an idea which Maaz gave me, just wait and watch Mr. Jaferi! And as far as the matter with my uncle, I will deal with him later, let him do what he desires right now, one day my time will come and that day I will prove myself and will gain my identity back.
I stepped out of the room being careful this time and for extra caution I took a small vase in my hands for my safety, i walked down the stairs where I found the same maid who escorted me to the room earlier, standing with her head bowed down, "Assalam O Alikum," I greeted her, she looked at me surprised, "Walikum as Salam Ma'am," she replied, "Can you please tell me where Nani ma is?" I asked her, she nodded and started walking towards the large doors on her left, I quietly followed her and stepped into a huge living room, Nani ma was sitting on a brown leather sofa with Alizeh, they both were discussing something, when they saw me Alizeh stood up and glanced at me, "What happened to you?" she asked, "Nothing," I replied as I view myself in the mirror hanging on my side wall, "Why did you changed your lipstick? If you didn't like it, you could have told me," she said picking up her clutch, "Oh, no Alizeh it's not like that, i mistakenly smudge it and afterwards I couldn't find that same color in the room, so I put on my gloss, which I had in my bag," I replied feeling embarrassed, "Oh come on then, I will apply your lipstick again when we will reach there, come along, we are getting late," she said and helped Nani ma to walk down the hall to the main doors. I trailed behind them slowly as this dress was a bit heavy for me to carry and these high heels were killing me to walk properly, this was the first time in years that I wore them, usually I prefer to wear pumps and sandals but these six inch high heels were definitely not easy to wear and walk.
"Hurry up Areesha! Or Maaz is going to be so mad if we get late, he must be there by now he is very punctual man beside that don't make your fiancé to wait long for you," Alizeh said with a wink, "Oh, she deserves it, let him wait for his beautiful bride," Nani ma said holding my hand in her soft ones and in response I just smiled at her. We all got into the car and the driver started to drive towards the hotel, where today my fate will be waiting for me. I took a deep breath and watch the view outside the window.
We reached hotel after forty minutes' drive as there was a traffic on our way here, driver parked the car in front of the main door of the Hotel where red carpet was laid along with the beautiful decorations on both sides of the aisle, there were so many reporters standing there trying to take the pictures of the guests and some were trying to talk to them, when our car stopped at the front, all of them rushed towards us, but security guards keep them back in the line, first Nani ma got out of the car and greeted all the people here after her Alizeh slip out of the car and wave to the reporters who were asking questions to them, they both answered the questions confidently and I just laid back in the car and watched them through the tinted windows, I kept a hand on my fastly beating heart as all of this was so overwhelming for me, Alizeh turned around helped me to get down from the car, " Alizeh, I don't feel good," I told her as I got down from the car and everyone's attention was focused on me, "Don't be scared Areesha,just smile ," Alizeh whispered.
We all started walking to the door escorted by the security guards, as we entered the giant ball room, I gasped looking At the extravagant decorations and interior of the room, it was looking so beautiful and exquisite, I looked around in search for Adil and spotted him sitting alone on a chair near the stage, as he saw me he jumped up from the chair and ran towards me, "Api! You are looking so beautiful, I have been waiting for you, and look I got you this," he said and gave me single red rose, it was so fresh, I ran my fingers softly on the petals and inhaled the heavenly scent of this beautiful rose, "Do you like it Api?" Adil asked, I nodded and kissed his chubby cheeks, "someone is looking handsome today!" I teased him and adjusted his bow tie, he was looking so cute and gorgeous, in this black tux, he never wear this kind of formal dress but today he looked so cute in them,
"Oh yes Api! I know right! Maaz Bhai is looking so handsome today and look! You both are wearing the same color!" he said excitedly, I looked at him confused, "What?" I asked, "I was saying that you are looking so handsome, why does Maaz came into your mind?" I asked him, "Oh so silly of me, I thought you were complimenting Maaz Bhai, look! He is watching you," he said and pointed towards the group of men where Maaz was standing in between and was looking at me, Adil was truly right! Maaz was looking different today, he was wearing his usual designer suit, but this royal blue color absolutely suits him, he was looking so strikingly handsome in that blue suit with a silver brooch, his black hairs were styled so neatly, his strong and broad shoulders were more emphasized in this suit, his strong jaw line was more prominent, his gray intimidating eyes were staring at me, I quickly shifted my gaze and looked down at Adil, he smiled. "Told you! He was looking good today!" he said, laughing, "Come on, let's go," I said ignoring his comment.
As I was walking with Adil, Nani ma came to me, introducing me to some ladies, after introduction and chatting, they excused us and walked away, "Nani ma, this is my younger brother, Adil," I introduced him to her, "Oh my! What a beautiful young man he is!" She exclaimed and kissed Adil's cheeks, he blushed making me laugh, after telling me about some rituals, Nani ma left me with Adil, few women came and congratulated me, Alizeh introduced me to her friends and her colleagues , they all were very nice, I was feeling so relax today, I don't know how but right now I was not nervous as I was before in the morning, I was with Alizeh when I saw Aliyaan entering the ball room, he was wearing a white suit and looking good, I waved at him when he saw me, he walked to me and congratulated, we both talked for few minutes,I asked him what happened that night when Maaz's guards took him away, he told me that they took him to the hospital as he needed the medical attention at that time and afterwards Maaz thanked him for saving me that night and offered him a job in one of his company.
"You are so lucky Areesha!" he said, "But I wish your parents were here to see you today, they both would have been so happy right?" he asked, but I stayed silent, I didn't have any words to answer him, yes! I missed my parents terribly today, but I was trying to divert my attention from that thought, now as he mentioned them I was again trying hard to control myself, "I am sorry Yaar," he said as I was silent for a long time, "No, its okay Aliyaan," I replied, and turned around towards the stage where Nani ma was calling Maaz to come upon the stage, he walked towards her and kissed her cheek before standing near her and folded his arms on his chest, watching me, I saw his expressions changed as he saw me standing with Aliyaan, he clenched his fist as he still stare at me, Nani ma called Uncle Javed to come to the stage and after him, she called me, Alizeh came forwards and helped me to climb the stairs of the stage, I thanked her and stand beside Nani ma, who handed a small black velvet box to Maaz and get down from the stage with Uncle, leaving me alone with Maaz on the stage, I searched for Adil and saw him standing near Uncle, Adil was just looking at me, he wasn't smiling, he looked sad at that time, that's when I noticed uncle was holding his hand in his so tightly, I shifted my gaze at Maaz who gave me a questioning look, I sighed and lowered my gaze, it was time!
Maaz took out the ring from the box and extended his hand to take mine but I pushed my hands at my back, he looked at me surprised by my action, "I want to say something, before you slip this ring in my finger," I said in low tone, he raised his eyebrow at me, "It is not the right time Areesha!" he said, "No, it is the right time, if you didn't agree on this I will not wear this ring," I said trying to be confident in front of him, he glared at me, "What is it?" he asked angrily this time, "I want you to give me permission to keep Adil with me after this marriage," I said, he huffed with annoyance, "Not again!" he hissed, "Yes or No?" I asked, He glanced back at his grandmother who was now looking worriedly at us, "Look Nani ma is getting worried, it is not the right time to discuss this," he said, "No, it is the right time! just tell me yes or no?" I asked him again and was feeling so bad to make Nani ma worried, I will appologise to her afterwards, everyone was looking at us and at this moment the lights were all turned out and a single flash light was on both of us, I looked back at Maaz and raised my eyebrow this time at him, "Okay fine, he can stay with us," he said through gritted teeth, "You promise?" I asked, "Yes, you have my word!" he replied and I extended my hands to him which he hold and slip that gorgeous diamond ring on my finger, everyone cheered at that time and congratulates us, the lights were turned on and I saw Adil still standing with uncle, but this time I was satisfied that I will be able to take him out of there, he will be away from uncle and I will be able to give him proper lifestyle, I smiled looking at him and he returned it with his own smile.
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Until next time
Allah Hafiz.
Iraj
Date: 5-5-17