Meets

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CHAPTER THREE

MEETS

♡

She opened her house's door with a bang and entered. She desperately called her mother, "mom," no response, "mumma," again no response.

She tensed up; her breaths are heavy; she starts researching for her. After some minutes, she spots her in the dining area; she is sitting there quietly and lost somewhere.

She felt relief seeing her. She went near her, asking calmly, "What happened, mom? Why you asked me to come home urgently?" Her breath is still heavy. She looked around. She isn't able to see her mother's face clearly because of dim lights. Her mother never let light like this in the evening.

When she was a few feet away, she saw her mother's face and eyes clearly; they're not like before; they're colorless and emotionless now. She got worried looking at her; she waited for her, but her mother didn't answer her.

She comes into her personal space and kneels down before her, placing both her hands on her mother's hands, and softly asks, "What happened, mom?"

Her mother looked into her eyes and took a beat of minutes before answering, "Your father came here today." Her body numb hearing her father's name.

She breathed and gulped hard before asking, "He came here? When? why? Now what he wants?"

Eight years!

Eight freaking long years

In these years, he never came to see us or meet us. Not once as a responsibility of family, of us, of a man, but suddenly he came today. Why? Why did he come?

Eight years she craves for father's love,

her father's love!

She sleeps at night in hope that he'll come tomorrow to meet her, then she'll hug him tightly while complaining, Why did he not come to meet her? but that tomorrow never comes in her life. Her heart ached, hurting and broken with craving for his love, her father's love.

She slept with try-in her eyes at the end of the day. Slowly her tears disappear and hatred appears in its place, and her hatred increases more when...

She zoons out by her mother's voice; Aayesha looks in her eyes; they're moist while saying, "He came here and told me that he fixed your marriage."

She flabbergasted and eyes widen by her words; she forgets blinking eyes, and her hand slips away from her mother's. She looked at her and asked, "What?"

Her mother nods in response. She asked further, "But why, mom? Why does he suddenly want to marry me? Why?" She voice came out shakily.

She answered her, "I don't know." She paused and added, "He just came and told me that he fixed your marriage, and they're coming tomorrow to see you and left."

She immediately stood on her feet, her eyes filled with fury and rage, and she angrily, loudly said, "No, mom. No. I can't marry. Call dad and say no to him, and tell him to call the family wherever he fixed my weeding; tell them we're not ready, which is why we're canceling it," she finished, turning her heels to leave quickly.

She can't handle it now. How dare he fix her marriage? He doesn't think to ask her once? No, he didn't.

How can she marry someone and spoil his life when her life is on the edge of a knife? She herself doesn't know when her last breath is going to be, but it's soon.

Her mother's words stop her from taking another step. "He said that you signed a contract with him that whoever he finds for you, you'll marry with him without any argument or anything."

Her mother looks at her back while coming near her; she adds, "And if you're not ready, then he'll do something that makes you ready but with regrets. He'll do things that hurt you badly."

She shut her eyes tightly, more rage and fire pump in her body. Who can he do that? And she knows he'll hurt mom because only it's hurt her badly; he is going to use it against her again...

No. God!

Is he really her husband? Or her father? How can he think and do things like hurting his family? Yes, she signed a contract with him that she'll marry whoever he finds for her five years ago in exchange; he'll never hurt and separate her from her mother.

And he agreed with her because of his benefit; she gave him her open approval to marry anyone. So, he'll use her to extend his business by marrying her with his business partner's son.

He always does that.

He always used everyone according to his needs. Emotion, relation, or family doesn't matter to him.

Her mother took a deep breath while coming close, tears flowing continuously. Aayesha stood there, closing her eyes without saying anything, but her eyes jerked open when she released her mother to come into her personal space.

She immediately left from there because she had no power to see her mother's eyes and say or do anything. She stood there and looked at her daughter helplessly. She can't do anything for her because of that; more tears flowed from her eyes.

♡..............♡

She entered her room and locked it. She pressed her back against the door and sat there, taking a deep breath to calm herself. "No, Aayesh,no. You're strong, you know, na." She soothes herself, but it's not helping her today.

She lost control of herself; tears slowly started coming. She said in a broken voice, "I can't marry, mom. I couldn't when I was standing at the edge of death. I cannot tell dad, and now I haven't the strength to tell you."

She circled her hands around her knees, pressed her legs into her chest, placed her face between the gaps, and said again, "I don't want to marry someone and ruin his life without his fault. Why are you doing this with me? What's my fault? Why are you giving me new-new reasons to cry every day? Aren't you happy when I decided to die with cancer?" Her crying sound filled the room.

♡

When she was at university, her doctor, Mrs. Jyoti, messaged her to meet with her to discuss her treatment and her condition; she agreed to meet her.

After all her lectures finished, she went to the hospital. She was standing outside and staring at herself in the reflection of the glass gate of the hospital; she was not looking like before-happy, fresh, and carefree.

She's thinking about her life, and she starts it with her father; he's hurt her multiple times and never given his love to her or supported her; he did nothing, which every father does.

Second, she thinks about her mother, who suffered so much just because of her, and she can't do anything for her.

And her heart broke because of her crush and now this cancer.

Everything is messed up in her life.

There's no single reason in her life that gives her hopes to live, but there's multiple reasons in her life to die. And the important reason is her mother; if she dies, then the reason for her mother's suffering will also die; her mother could easily give her father divorce, and she doesn't need more to suffer; with her death, she can do something for her.

Now she has a reason-not to live but to die.

She thought broken when her phone rang, and she saw the caller's ID, "Mom." She picked up the call, and her mother told her to come home immediately and hung up the call without listening to her.

She looked back at the hospital last time before leaving with the decision that she'd not treat her cause...

She had a strong reason to die, and now no one could change it.

Her eyes are burning and her heart is aching with pain while thinking about all of the events, but there's nothing she can do for herself. She thinks more and more, doesn't release when sleep consumes her, and she is asleep on the cold floor.

♡..............♡

At morning, 9:13 a.m.

She eyes flutter little, hearing someone's voice like her father; she heard his voice after so many years. So, she thought that maybe she's dreaming, but her doubt got cleared when he called her name loudly, "AAYESHA!"

She woke up with a jerk, and her heartbeat runs like a rollercoaster. A chilled wave spread in her body when she felt a cold floor beneath her, and last night it came in front of her eyes. She immediately stood up after hearing him calling her again. Why is he here? Why is he calling her? Is mom okay?

She fixed her hair and dress and ran downstairs. She saw her dad sitting on the sofa, her mother standing beside him; blood rushed in her ears.

She took a deep breath, rubbed her hands, and stood in front of him. She asked, "What--," but he cut her off. "I think your mother already told you that today a family is coming to see you for marriage." Her throat tightened, and no word came out. Without saying anything, she just nodded.

He further adds, "They'll come in the afternoon, okay. If you've got any problem, tell me, and if not, be ready on time." She wants to say so many things; she wants to deny this marriage, but she looks at her mom, and her heart aches and no words come out, and again she nods.

He dad warned them, "Don't dare to you and mother to create any drama or anything. If both of you did, then I'll forget that I'm someone to you."

She thought in her mind, "You already forget; now what do you want to forget?"

He father asked them, "Am I clearer?" Both nodded their heads and said "yes."

♡..............♡

It's past 3 p.m., and still they haven't come. She was sitting in front of the mirror, looking at herself, and wishing that they didn't come today, tomorrow, or ever.

She was lost in her thoughts when her mother came there and softly asked, "Are you ready?" She looked at her mom-thrown mirror and nodded.

Her mom's eyes moistened at her pale face, and she said in a cranky voice, "If you don't want to marry, then don't do that, my princess. I'll handle everything."

She smiled and looked at her mother, but her smile didn't reach her eyes; she said, "Mom, I'm ready, okay. Don't worry about me." And thought in mind, "Why mom? Why have you always thought about me? Think about yourself also."

She stands and turns towards her and holds her hands; she adds, "Mom, you know also that one day I need to be married. and I trust dad that he wouldn't find a man who is not perfect for me."

She really trusts her dad? No, never in her life, she lied, so her mother felt a little relaxed by her words.

Suddenly her mom hugged her tightly and started crying; she rubbed her mother back to calm her.

They're standing like that sometime before her dad called her mom, saying that they're coming in 5 minutes, and her mother left to welcome them. Again, she became alone like she was.

She heard the doorbell, and her heart tightened with sound. She placed her on her chest and rubbed it in to try to erase the unease, but it didn't help.

On the other hand,

Her dad opened the door with a smile. He saw a lady and a man; they greet each other, both men's hug. Her mother welcomes them, "Come inside, Maya, Arun." They come inside and all settle in the living room. Her mother came there with snacks and tea.

Her father said, "I hope Maya, you both didn't find any problem to come here," to which the other man (Arun Khurana) shakes his head and replies, "No. No. We didn't find any convenient to find your house, and don't be so formal, or do you forget we're friends?" Both men's laughs and ladies smiles.

Her father answered him, "I didn't forget but know I need to give you respect because now we're not just friends. We're going to be family," the other man shakes his head in agreement.

They're talking when her father asks them, "Where are you're son, Maya?" Maya answers, "He must be coming. Let's me call him."

She was about to call when they all heard doorbell chimes. The lady, Maya, said with a smile, "I think he came." Other women said to her, "Let me open the door for him." She stood and left from there.

She opened the door and saw the back of a man; he was talking on the phone while cracking his neck. He was wearing a dark blue pant and jacket with a white shirt without a tie. He turned after hearing the sound of the door opening. His eyes meet with her mother; they both look at each other and feel something connected and familiar.

They broke their eye contact with the voice of other women. He looked her behind, and her mother turned to look. Maya said, "You come, Wahan, good. And where is Vedh?" he shortly said, "I don't know."

She narrowed her eyes and said, "What do you mean? You both are coming here together, na?" He again shortly said, "Yes, we're," she asked him, "so then?"

He said in his deep voice, "When we're coming here, he told me that he came by himself and already told you." She shook her head and said, "No, he didn't. Why didn't you call me then?" She questioned him a little louder. Other women, looking at them weirdly.

He was irritated by her non-stop questions and her tone; he clenched his jaw and firmly said, "It's not my problem, Mrs. . Khurana. He's yours, son, so ask yourself to him." He takes one step close to her at last word. Maya was scared and felt embarrassed; she averted her gaze from him to her mother.

Tension built in their surroundings; no one said anything. The advocate moment was broken by the voice of her father, "What happened, Shreya? Why you all aren't coming?" Her mother responded, "Nothing; we're coming."

Maya cleared her throat and said politely, "Shreya, you go with him. I'll be coming in a few minutes." The other lady nodded and said, looking at him, "Come with me, son." He hummed and followed her.

Maya immediately called Vedh, but he didn't pick up. She again tries; the ring is going, but he again doesn't pick up. She frustratedly said, "Where are you, Vedh?" Don't do that. Don't spoil things."

Wahan entered the living room with her mother; he roamed his eyes around his. A big and spacious room with gray-white walls and a black floor and light fixed according to its. His left, a window to see a great view of outside. He turned his head right side and saw some photos hanging in the center of the wall and a large book shelf placed in the corner of it; all types of books are present there, but his corner lips turned up with amusement when he saw some dark romance books down.

He said under breath, "Hmm... dark romance!"

His whole attention diverts towards the voice coming from the center of the room. Two men are sitting there; one is Maya husband, Arun, and the other her father, maybe, he thought.

Her father said, ""Where are your son and my son-in-law, Arun?" The other man opened his mouth to answer, but interpreted by a voice, "Your son-in-law is here, Ritesh."

Wahan and her mother looked behind and saw Maya standing at the door. She came beside him and held his forearm and looked at him with a sweet smile. Everyone looks at them.

Whan coldly looks at her; he doesn't like when someone touches him without his permission. He was about to shout when her father stood and said with a smile, "Oh, really, welcome, son-in-law." She made him walk forward with her. Both men smiled and looked at him.

He clenched his jaw, jerk her hand, and wipe at the area where she touched him. He looked at her with fury and coldly said, "Who dares you to touch me, and what's this? You told me that-" But Maya cut him off by saying, "We'll talk about it later." He gritted his teeth and said, "No, I need to talk about it right now."

Her mother was shocked by his reaction and voice. She looked at her husband and got more shocked. He wasn't surprised by his behavior because her father knew who he was, and that's why he wanted to marry his daughter with him at any cost. Maybe he didn't show, but he was also scared, but for her daughter, is he'll treat her well? Is he making her safe?

Both khuranas felt embarrassed by his behavior. Maya agrees to talk with him because she knows that if he says now, it means now. She told others, "You guys carry on. We come in a few minutes," all nodded their heads, and they left from there.

They come in the lawn; he doesn't ask anything; he just waits for her to say first, but she hasn't said anything; she just roams her eyes here and there. He was irritated by her silence; he shouted at her and demanded, "SAY!"

She flinched and terrifiedly explained, "I called Vedh, but he didn't pickup my calls. I don't know if he will come or not, and we can't lose this marriage proposal. It's very important for our business."

He corrected her, "Your business." She nodded and continued, "Yes, my business. You agree to marry any girl I suggest you. So I don't think it matters to you who and whom you're going to marry; what matters is that the girl you marry is chosen by me, and I can choose anyone for you. You just need to marry her."

He took deadly steps towards her and said in a stern voice, "Yes, I agree to marry your choice girl, but that doesn't mean that I'll marry anyone who doesn't match my standard, and don't forget, Mrs. . Khurana, what I told you that day."

She is trying to manipulate him, but she doesn't know that he is the biggest manipulator in this game.

She gulped, looking into his red eyes. He reminds her, "That I'll marry her after seeing her and their going to my condition, a lot of my conditions. Do you remember?" He asked her in last.

She nodded and said, "Yes, I remember, and I'm sure you'll agree to marry her." He chuckled at her confidence and said, "Let's see, Mrs. Khurana."

The silence in the living room is broken when both of them return. Everyone attention went to them, and Arun desperately asked Maya, "What happened, Maya? Is everything okay?"

Wahan looked at him with confusion. Why is he so desperate? Is this marriage so important for them? If then he needed to do something, he deviantly smirked by his thoughts.

She came beside him and sweetly said, "Yes, Arun, everything is okay." Arun looks at wahan to confirm it, and he also nods, and he feels relief.

Shreya, her mother, averts her gaze from Maya and Arun to her husband, who is already looking at her; he gestures with his eyes to her, saying, "Tell him to sit."She was going to deny, but he looked at her with angry eyes. She doesn't say anything because she knows she can't do anything.

She looks at Wahan, who's still standing in his place and roaming his eyes around. She hesitantly said, "Come, sit." Her voice shakily came out, and he noticed it. He hummed while looking at her. She gestured a place on the sofa; he moved and sat where she gestured.

When they settle comfortably. Arun asked, "So, Ritesh, where is our daughter-in-law? Don't you want us to meet her?" The other man chuckled and said, "No. Why I'll do that. Let me call her." He looked at her wife and said, "Shreya, go and call Aayesha to come down." She nodded and went to call her.

Wahan followed her with his eyes until she disappeared. He continuously stares stairs; her mother comes; he looks her behind, but she isn't coming with her. Where's she?

His maybe father-in-law asked his question to his wife, "Where's she, Shreya?" She answered him with a smile, "She's coming." And sit beside him. They start talking again.

Again, he turns his gaze to the stairs. He was staring at the middle of the stairs when suddenly his heart raced and blood was pounding in his ears just by looking at her feet. He moves his eyes up slowly, and the first word that comes to mind is "what the fu--," but his mind doesn't let him complete his last word by saying, "We don't speak bad words when seeing a goddess, so control yourself."

He agreed and said in his mind, "Yes, she's a goddess, but I didn't use the word for her. I used for situation. You know, we met at the park that night, and she isn't going out of my mind."

His subconscious mind replied, "Yes, so? You met her before too."

He agreed again and said, "Yes, but that night I told her I'd meet her soon, and we really met again. But not like soon, but like soon-to-be husband and wife," his mind resorts. "So you accept she's going to be your wife?" he stammers. "Ye-- means n- no, yeah"

His green eyes, examining her carefully. She wore a blue anarkali suit and carried it with a plain dupatta, straight black hair that isn't dry fully, minimum makeup, and just earrings in the name of accessories. She didn't even paint her nails, wow! No rings, no bracelet, nothing, so simple yet you precious.

She looks everywhere but him, and he doesn't look anywhere but her. His green magnetic eyes stick on her, only her. She came to stand beside her mother, who gestured with her eyes to take the blessings of his family, which was unnecessary for him. She took the blessing of both Mr. and Mrs. Khurana; they gave her their blessings.

She again went beside her mother, his eyes still stuck to her. His badi maa said with amusement, "Ritesh, your daughter is so beautiful, or maybe say like an angle." He doesn't know why, but he also nodded his head with his maybe father-in-law.

Her dad said, "Yes, she is my diamond, my daughter." He narrowed his eyes when everyone smiled except her, but why?

Her mother said, "Aayesha, go make tea for Wahan." Her mother paused and asked others, "You guys want to drink tea again," to which Maya replied, "Why not Shreya? How can we miss the golden opportunity of drinking tea made by our daughter-in-law's hands?"

Everyone laughed and smiled, except him, who gave her dead glaze. Her mother looked at her and softly said, "Aayesha, daughter, go and make tea for everyone." Aayesha shortly replied to her, "Yes, Mumma," and finally he heard her angelic voice. He licked his button lips, and automatically his lip twisted up, but still she doesn't look at him once.

After a few minutes, she came with a tray; she served tea to everyone, and now it's our Wahan's turn. She came in front of him but didn't look at him once; she sat on her toes to make tea; she poured liquid into a cup when she was about to ask him how much sugar he liked; Maya told her, "Beta, one spoon. He didn't like too much sugar. If you don't add sugar, still he drinks it." And chuckles in the end.

Did he tell you to say? He glazed her deadly, but he again diverted his mind on his mission. *mission-stuch her dupatta in his watch.* He grabbed the edge of her dupatta and tried to touch it, but it's not happening.

Don't say anything, him; he didn't plan it. His mind said him to this.

He said in mind, "What the--" His mind warned, "Bro!" He irritatally said, "OKAY! Why is it not stuc--" His mind cut him off. "What are you doing?" He annoyingly replied, "Didn't I just plan our mission with you also?"

Okay, he half planned but still not full.

His mind apologized, "I'm sorry, I forgot," he resorts him, "sometimes I think, are you really my mind, na?" but his mind urgently warned him, "BRO, BRO, SHE'S TURNING."

He immediately withdrew his hand from the dupatta and composed himself. She forwards the tea cup to him, saying in her angelic voice, "Yours." He smirked and whispered, "Yes, just mine," and finally she looks up and meets her brown eyes with green forest.

A blossom leaves fall on him.

They're eyes locked, fingers slightly touching each other under the tea plate. Everyone is busy in their conversation, and they're busy in theirs. Then he noticed her red, swallowed eyes, and his eyes darkened. She had hidden her swallow eyes with conceler, yet he can see it.

She looks into his eyes; they're just like her nightman. Is he the same person? Or just a coincidence? But this type of eye color is rare. If he is the same person. She lost herself in her thoughts.

But his mind elsewhere, he asked her in deep sinful voice, "Who did this?" She frowned and was confused by his words; she came to her senses. She leaves the tea plate and stands up, moves towards her mom, and sits beside her. She didn't look up once after that, but his eyes were still fixed on her.

His mission doesn't success.

Suddenly Maya said, "Ritesh, if you don't mind then, can we let these two talk alone for a while so they can understand each other?" Her breath hitched; blood raced in her ear. Her dad first hesitated but agreed with her.

Don't think his badi maa is "so intelligent." He messaged her to do that, and she can't defy him because she needs him to help her.

Her father said to her, "Go, Aayesha, take him to your room." Wahan saw she got more nervous, her hands started trembling badly, and she made a fist to control herself.

He calmly said, "It's okay. We can talk on the lawn; it's more comfortable for us." and end it, look at her. She slightly looks up, till his shoulder, then again looks down.

He sees her every movement. Her father agreed with him, "Hmm... Aayesha, take him to the lawn." She nodded while standing and softly said, "Come with me." He hummed and was about to go with her.

The phone rang, and he shut his eyes and greeted his teeth to control himself. He took out his phone and pickup and coldly said, "What?" But he went silent and seriously listened to the other side person; after a few minutes he hung up. Everyone looks at him, excluding her. He met his eyes with her and said in his cold and sinful voice, "I'll talk to you later." He left from there, but not before looking at her last time from the door.

He didn't explain anything to anyone because they're not important except her. He wants to tell her, but for that she needs to earn her trust.

She watched his back till it didn't disappear from her sight. Her head turned towards his badi maa voice. "I'm sorry for his sudden leave; maybe something important needs him; otherwise, he never left. Sorry, daughter," she said, looking at Aayesha's apology. They'll talk for an hour, then they also leave.

After they left, Arun went to her daughter and directly asked her, "Do you like him? Do you think he's perfect for you? Is he--" but her mother interpreted by saying angrily, "Stop Ritesh. She just met him; let her think about him and don't try to force my daughter."

Her father snapped his head in towards her and said with the same tone, "She is my daughter also. Don't forget it," her mother laughed and said, "You released; you have a daughter now. Where you're when she needs you," her father didn't say a beat of a second.

He opened his mouth to say, "You--" but stopped when their daughter shouted at them, their heads snapped towards her, "Enough, please enough. I endured both of you enough; now I can't do this anymore. And dad, I'll tell you my decision myself within two days. Until then, don't come here and try to talk with us."

Ritesh took his steps towards her, but Aayesha back away. He stopped seeing this; his heart hurt by her action. Her daughter was scared of him because of him. He gave her every reason to hate him and be scared of him.

He softly said, "Listen, I'm not-," but their conversation was held by his phone ring. He pulled out his phone and saw the caller. I'd 'maya.' Why is she calling him?

He picked up but not said anything, only listened, and before hanging, he said, "Okay." He looked at his wife and said coldly, "Don't prepare her dinner tonight." Her mother frowned, and a question was written on her face: "Why?" He looked at Aayesha and further said, "Because she's going to meet Wahan tonight."

Her mother tried to protest, "But-" he cut her off, angrily saying, "Didn't you understand what I said? She is going to meet him," but her mother again tried to protest, but this time Aayesha stopped her by saying, "Okay," and left from there without saying further.

He shouted from her behind, "8:30 pm, and I'll send you the meeting address." She listened to him but either didn't reply or stop.

♡..............♡

She was walking on an empty road, not too empty. She doesn't know in which time God created her and her life situation, but she knows the one thing-time is worse than the worst.

She's walking mindlessly until she hears a footstep-not just a footstep but footsteps. Someone is following her. Her? But why?

She tried to look at her back with my side eyes and not give any hint to them. Her walking speed is accelerating. Now she regrets not taking her car with her because she doesn't know why maybe she's not in the mood to drive; she is just too stupid for creatures of this world.

And why is she walking instant to take a cab and bus? It's not like she doesn't book a cab; she did, but while she's 10 minutes away from the meeting spot where he decided to meet with her, then suddenly the cab stops because of some issues, and it isn't repaired after so many tries of cab driving. So she pays the cab driver and decides to go there by walk because it's not too far.

She heard steps more clearly than before; this time she turned her head, and her widening with shock-not two or three men are following her.

Their five men's.

Five fvcking men.

They're coded exactly the same outfits-black pants, white shirts, and black coats. They'll look well built, man. Without second thought, she starts counting.

1...

2...

3...

And ran as fast as she could. She looks back. Oh my God, they all are chasing her. Now she can't stop; she already messed life up more messed.

O God, the location is still too far to reach. She looked back again, they're still following her. She doesn't know what she did with them that they're chasing her like that. Her mind went blank, and she didn't realize that when she took the wrong path. Fvck.

But she can't stop, and her mind blows up when she finds two ways. Which way does she go? Which side is correct? She looks at her right first; after four-five steps, it's blocked.

Fvck!

Then she looks to her left and spots a car that is standing there. What can she do now? She doesn't have too much time. She heard their steps almost near her. Without thinking, she runs in the direction of the car, opens the door of back sit, lucky they're unlocked, and sits inside.

She bent and pressed her face between her laps to hide herself from them. Her heart is pounding badly in her chest, but they are more pounded when she hears his cold-and-sinful voice, "What happened to you?" Blood raced her ears; shut her eyes tightly.

O God, why didn't he ask her what she's doing here? Who gave you permission to sit? How dare you come inside? Stand his question, they're more easy.

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