My sleep was disturbed when I heard the door open with a loud thud. As I opened my eyes, I saw Ayesha walking straight in and sitting on the couch like a statue.

Wait, what? Ayesha is here? I instantly got up from my bed, looked at her, and a smile appeared on my face seeing her.

"Ayesha! Finally, you're here!" I exclaimed excitedly, throwing the bedsheets aside and running towards her. But I stopped in my tracks when I saw her condition.

She was sitting straight, covering her left ear as if she had just received a shock.

"Are you okay, Ayesha?" I kneeled in front of her and asked softly.

"I'm not," came her straightforward response. Then she looked at me, and from her expression, I knew something was wrong.

"What happened?" I asked with concern.

"I had my first kiss, Aleena," she replied, slow but direct.

I immediately got up and sat next to her, trying to process what she had just said.

"So, when's the wedding?" I blurted out.

"Aleena!" she gave me a sharp look.

"Okay, fine, we'll talk about that later. First, tell me-where, when-oh, never mind that. With whom?" I asked, now even more curious.

"D..." she paused, and I waited.

"It's..." she paused again, and I waited again.

"Actually, it's..." she paused once more, and I tried to be patient, even though I'm not patient by nature.

"It's him..." Now she was testing my patience.

"Will you just tell me who 'him' is, Ayesha?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"Dr. Zaid!" came her immediate response, and her whole face turned red.

"What?" I shouted in excitement. "Are you serious? So, Dr. Zaid is finally my brother-in-law now?" I was literally on cloud nine.

"Now tell me, when did you have your first kiss?" I asked, blushing as I spoke.

"Today," Ayesha said, her gaze down. Our doctor is shy, I thought.

"Where?" I couldn't help but ask, smiling.

"At your doorstep," she said, still staring at her lap.

I stood up and looked at the ceiling to control my blushing cheeks. I had no idea why I was blushing when she was the one who had her first kiss.

"Just tell me, how did it feel, Ayesha?" I sat down again, even more curious.

Ayesha looked at me sternly while I stared back with a happy face, waiting for her answer.

"He kissed me on my earlobe," she said.

For a few seconds, there was complete silence in the room.

"Earlobe?" I asked, looking completely done with the situation.

"Yes," she nodded.

"So, you're telling me that your very first kiss with Dr. Zaid was on your earlobe, today, at my doorstep?" All my happiness paused for a moment.

"Yes," she nodded again.

"What do you mean by 'yes,' Ayesha? A man kissed you on your earlobe," I asked her.

"I know, right? I shouldn't have let him, but my heart stopped when he did that. My stomach felt like someone was boxing inside, and my cheeks were burning just from feeling his touch on my earlobe, Aleena," she explained, describing her state. And I was on cloud nine knowing that Zaid was going to be my brother-in-law-my very handsome brother-in-law, to be exact.

"So, when's the engagement?" I asked the most important question.

"Are you in your senses, Aleena?" she asked sternly, but I was used to it by now.

"Yes, of course, I am," I said proudly.

"Do you really think I would marry Dr. Zaid?" she asked, taunting me, as she stood up.

"Why not? If he has the audacity to kiss you on your EARLOBE," I emphasized, not taking any chances with her. "And instead of punching him, you blush just from his touch on your EARLOBE," I corrected again. "So, what does it even mean, Ayesha?" I asked, more like reminding her of what she feels for him.

"What does it mean?" she asked, confused.

"Simple. That you love him!" I said casually.

"I hate him to the core of my heart," she said and walked to the washroom.

"But he loves you!" I shouted, and she closed the door with a loud thud.

___🖤___

"Are you really going to give up on yourself, Aleena?" Ayesha asked as we walked towards the dining table, ready for brunch.

"Maybe," I replied dryly, taking a seat.

"I don't understand why you're doing this to yourself when you can just say No," Ayesha said, frustration clearly visible on her face.

"Isn't it strange, Ayesha? Even after having so much power in my hands, I feel helpless in front of my parents," I explained my situation to her.

"Talk to them. They love you so much, Aleena. How could they not listen to you? It's your life, after all," she said firmly, and I smiled at her response.

"My life is not just my life, Ayesha. There are so many lives connected to mine. I can't break their happiness just to live my own life," I said, smiling.

"Don't do this to yourself, Aleena. You said that fake mafia guy would help you run away, so what about that?" Ayesha asked with concern, but her words reminded me of him-his words, his hatred towards me.

"I thought about it, but right now, it's like being caught between a rock and a hard place. If I turn back, he's there to destroy me, and if I stay here, my parents are already destroying me. So what's the point of running when it would only take a few minutes or hours for Dad to find me, Ayesha? And I really don't want to break his heart." A tear slipped from my eye, and I felt utterly helpless.

"You do have a choice, Aleena. I don't understand why you're not choosing it," Ayesha said as she took a slice of bread.

"I don't know about my choices, but you have one, Ayesha. One of the best men is beside you, and I don't understand why you're not choosing him," I asked her in return as I got up from my chair.

She ignored my question and started eating.

Before I could say anything else to her, Ammi started coming towards us, holding a tray of coffees.

"So good to see you here, Ayesha! But what about Jasmine? Where is she?" Ammi asked as she placed the tray on the dining table.

"Your Jasmine is here, aunty," we heard her voice, and within seconds, she embraced Ammi from behind.

"I was literally waiting for you to come," Ammi exclaimed with happiness, hugging her tightly.

These two!!! Are obsessed with each other.

"I missed you too, aunty," Jasmine said with genuine joy.

"Well, just a reminder for you, Jasmine, we're here too. I hope you haven't forgotten about us?" I taunted.

"They're just jealous of us, aunty," she said, narrowing her eyes.

"As if we are," Ayesha replied with a straight face.

"Sit here, I'll bring coffee for you," Ammi said to Jasmine, then headed to the kitchen while Jasmine came over to me, pulling me into a bone-crushing hug.

"I can't breathe!" I shouted.

"I'm so happy for you, Aleena!" Jasmine said, tightening the embrace even more.

"So much that you're going to kill me, Jasmine?" I yelled at her.

"Ah, you're dangerous," I said once she finally let me go. Then she walked over to Ayesha, who was busy drinking her coffee and ignoring Jasmine.

"I'm sorry," Jasmine said with a cute pout.

"I gave you over 20 missed calls! Can you imagine how worried I was about you, Jasmine? But no, you don't care about us," Ayesha said sternly and got up to leave.

"Ayesha, I admit it, please forgive me this once," Jasmine pleaded with her, and even I felt my heart melt at her cuteness.

"Ayesha, forgive her," I requested as well.

"She'll do it again, Aleena, and I can't keep handling her clumsiness," Ayesha was determined not to forgive her today.

"I won't do it again," Jasmine promised.

"No, just go to that profile guy you're so obsessed with, Jasmine," Ayesha snapped while glaring at her.

"Actually, he has a name," Jasmine said shyly.

"Oh, great, you found out his name?" Ayesha asked with curiosity.

"Yes," Jasmine replied, looking even shyer now.

"What's his name? Spill it!" My curiosity got the better of me.

"Rehan Qureshi," she said, a slight blush forming on her cheeks, making her look even cuter. Now even Ayesha smiled, admiring Jasmine's cuteness.

"You!" Ayesha said and hugged her. "Finally!" The truce was made. Jasmine never fails to use her charms against Ayesha, I thought, smiling as I watched them.

"So, we have two couples here: Jasmine and Rehan, Ayesha and Zaid," I exclaimed happily.

Jasmine blushed at my statement, but Ayesha shot me a death glare.

"And what about your fiance? What's his name?" Ayesha asked, narrowing her eyes.

"What's my fiance's name?" I asked myself, confused.

"You don't know his name, Aleena?" Ayesha almost yelled.

"I don't know his name?" I muttered, cursing myself.

"Ammi told me, but I don't remember," I said, still trying to recall the name.

"Absolutely great," Ayesha clapped sarcastically.

"One knows everything, and the other doesn't even know her own fiance's name?" Ayesha never missed a chance to taunt me.

"And one works with him-no, stays with him for more than 15 hours a day but still won't admit that she freaking loves him," I taunted her back.

"I... I'm going to rest," Ayesha tried to escape the situation and headed to her room.

"Have your breakfast, then get some rest, Jasmine," I said, then followed Ayesha.

___🖤___

It was around 8 o'clock, and we were getting ready for my forced engagement. I looked at myself in the mirror, wearing a white saree for the first time in my life. I'm absolutely not used to this, but I must say, the Indian culture hits differently.

I feel good, I feel uncomfortable, but above all, I feel satisfied with how I look. The saree, the jewelry-everything is perfect, except my fate.

To my left was Ayesha, doing her makeup while wearing a dark red saree. The cherry on top was her red lipstick, which highlighted her whole look.

But I'm worried about Dr. Zaid. I'm sure he'll come. I remember Ayesha telling me he is my fiance's relative or something.

What if Dr. Zaid faints? What if he has a heart attack? What if he stops breathing after seeing Ayesha in this look? Because I myself can't take my eyes off this incredibly beautiful creature, so what will her doctor do?

"Don't blush, Aleena," I reminded myself, knowing how lucky she is to have Dr. Zaid with her, yet her stubbornness is still coming between them.

To my right stood Jasmine, applying her mascara, wearing a black saree that made her look absolutely stunning. Her curves were on another level.

"I hope you meet your... umm, I forgot his name!" I said nervously.

"My Rehan!" Jasmine said, glaring at me.

"Yes, yes, I hope you find your Rehan today," I said, hopeful.

"He lives in the USA, Aleena," Jasmine said with utter frustration and disappointment.

"What if God sends him here, just for you?" I teased her.

"Then I'll be the luckiest woman in the world," Jasmine said excitedly.

"Ahh, I'm jealous!" I said, throwing my hands up to the ceiling.

"I'm starting to feel jealous too," we heard Ayesha's voice.

"You don't have the right to be jealous, Ayesha, when you have everything," we both taunted her.

"Whatever," Ayesha said and continued her makeup.

As I finished putting on my jewelry, I closed my eyes to take a deep breath, only to have my breath catch in my throat when his face appeared before my eyes.

Mr. Mafia, why won't you leave my thoughts? Even though you hate me, why do I still see you whenever I close my eyes?

If only you didn't hate me, if only you weren't that dealer, if only we hadn't met on that flight.

I would be happy right now. Why did you even come into my life if all you wanted was to destroy me?

"Aleena, are you ready?" Ammi asked as she entered the room and walked toward us.

"Yes, Ammi, I am," I tried to smile.

"All three of my daughters look beautiful today," Ammi said, kissing each of our foreheads one by one. Then she came toward me and placed her hand on my head.

"We only want your happiness, Aleena. Trust us, he is the best for you," Ammi reassured me. I nodded, even though I wasn't convinced.

"Let's go, then," Ammi said. The three of us grabbed our purses, put on our heels, and prepared to head to the hotel and finally meet my fiance, whose name I still didn't know.

Exactly one hour later, we arrived at the Grand Hotel of India. The hotel was beautifully decorated with a white theme, perfectly matching my look. Luxury radiated from every corner.

Taking slow steps while managing my saree, we walked into the hall. As we entered, two couples approached us.

"Finally, I have the chance to meet you, Aleena," the woman said as she kissed my forehead.

"I am Asad's mother," she introduced herself.

I just smiled in response, still unaware of who this Asad person was.

"We are your in-laws, dear," she continued before I could curse the name Asad in my thoughts.

So, Mr. Asad is my fiance! Great! I thought to myself.

"Hey Aleena, meet your fiance, Asad Riaz," came Idris's voice from behind, and my fiance came into view.

My mind stopped working, my heart literally stopped beating, and it felt difficult even to breathe. In seconds, I found myself losing consciousness. My vision went dark almost instantly.



It took me only a second to rush over to her and catch her before she hit the ground. My heart nearly stopped when I saw her about to fall.

"What happened to her?" I asked Aleena's mother.

"Did she skip her medication?" her mother asked two other women who were looking at Aleena with concern.

"She was fine the whole day, aunty, so we didn't think it was necessary," replied the woman in the red outfit, who had started checking Aleena's pulse while Aleena's head still rested against my chest.

"Can you tell me exactly what happened to her?" I asked with urgency but tried to keep my voice calm, not wanting to raise it at them.

"She has low blood pressure," her mother replied, visibly worried.

"Bring a glass of water and something sweet for her!" I shouted at the waiters.

I lifted Aleena into my arms and carried her over to one of the couches, laying her down gently.

One of the waiters brought a glass of water. I sprinkled some on her face, and after a few minutes, she began to slowly open her eyes. I took a handkerchief from my pocket and started wiping the water droplets from her face.

"Are you alright?" I asked softly. She just nodded in response.

"Eat something sweet," I said, feeding her a piece of cake. Aleena ate it without even looking at me.

Suddenly, realization hit me- that I was in a crowded room, feeding her with my own hands. I quickly set the plate down beside her and stood up, moving over to Idris Bhai.

"So much care even before the engagement, Asad?" Idris Bhai commented. He can never be serious, even in serious situations.

I ignored him and looked at Aleena, who seemed uncomfortable under the gaze of the entire crowd.

"Tell her mother to take her to one of the rooms," I whispered to Idris Bhai.

He nodded, then went over to her mother and whispered in her ear.

After a couple of minutes, Aleena stood up. Without looking at me-completely ignoring me-she walked away with her mother, followed by the two other women.

As she passed by me, her gaze lowered, I found myself getting lost in her fragrance. How could someone smell this good, to the point that I loose my freaking mind?

After they left, I saw Dad approaching me with a man beside him. I recognized the man but couldn't recall his name. As I tried to remember, Dad introduced me.

"Asad, this is Aleena's father," Dad said.

Aleena's father shook my hand and gave me a slight embrace.

"Nice to meet you, Uncle," I said with a slight smile.

"Nice to meet you too, Asad. I hope you don't mind knowing that Aleena has low blood pressure," Uncle said with a tone full of hope and helplessness.

"I don't have any problem with that, Uncle," I replied, with a slight smile.

And I didn't know why I smiled or reassured him because I knew I was going to destroy his daughter to the point where she'd suffer from more than just low blood pressure.

"Thank you, dear," Uncle said with a smile before turning to talk to my dad.

And I stood there, waiting for her return.

I was still waiting for them when I sensed two people beside me. As I turned around, I was greeted by two heavy men hugging me tightly.

"Congratulations on your forced engagement!" Zaid exclaimed, his tone more teasing than congratulatory.

"So you managed to show up for your friend's engagement ceremony?" I taunted both of them.

"I came this morning but got caught up with some work," Zaid said as he broke the hug.

"And what about you, Rehan?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him since he hadn't picked up any calls and only texted us whenever we tried to reach him.

Without answering my question, Rehan took out his phone and started typing something.

"I got stuck with work too," he showed us his note.

"Why aren't you talking?" I asked, confused.

"He broke a tooth and can't talk because of the pain," Zaid answered before Rehan could type anything more.

"How? Which enemy had the guts to punch him?" I was shocked to hear that someone had dared to punch this lawyer.

"Not an enemy. It was a crazy, clumsy, short yet dangerous woman who punched me," Rehan showed us another text.

"A woman?" we both said in unison, on the verge of laughing.

"A mere woman had the audacity to punch you, Rehan? She actually punched a mafia?" Zaid was barely holding back his laughter as he teased him, while Rehan shot us both death glares.

"She'll pay for this," Rehan showed another text.

"First, find her," I said, trying to hold back a laugh.

"I will," he typed again.

"We'll see about that," Zaid said and stood up, only to lose his balance.

I caught him. I didn't understand what was happening to everyone here or why I am constantly saving people.

"Zaid, are you okay?" I asked.

"No," he replied, and then I followed his gaze, only to lose myself as well.

Aleena was walking toward us.

And I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her outfit was completely different from the one she wore on the flight, but it was incredibly beautiful. She looked like an angel in that white dress. But what is it called?

"Asad, get a grip. Don't let her beauty steal your heart," I reassured myself and tried to look somewhere else, but the entire hotel and the people in it faded in comparison to her.

She was the most beautiful one here.

Trying my best, I looked over at Zaid, who was still gazing in Aleena's direction. I felt like punching him at the moment if he was staring at my Aleena. I carefully followed his gaze and saw that he was actually staring, without blinking, at the woman walking beside Aleena on her right.

Then I looked at Rehan to see if he was also looking at Aleena. I would punch him too if he was. But when I followed his gaze, I saw him glaring at the woman on Aleena's left, also without blinking.

All three women had their gazes lowered.

But my focus was solely on Aleena. My eyes were betraying me. Even so, I didn't feel anything in my heart; it felt as if it wasn't beating while looking at her.

Then our eyes met, and I quickly closed mine, not ready to face another attack. I couldn't look at her, but these betrayer eyes of mine had no mercy on me; they opened and stared at her again.

Her face was expressionless, yet she looked the most beautiful.

"Stop it, Asad!" I scolded my stupid mind for thinking this way about her.

We were standing on the stage when she came and stood beside me, with the other two women behind her. Then all six of us exchanged glances.

I couldn't take my eyes off her.

Zaid was staring at the woman in the red outfit, and I could practically hear his heartbeat going crazy as he looked at her.

Rehan clenched his jaw and fists while glaring at the woman in the black outfit.

And I had no clue what was going on.

"You!" Rehan showed his text to us and then to the woman in black, giving her death glares.

"You!" she read it calmly.

"You crazy woman," he showed another text to us to clarify, then to her.

"Are you referring to me?" she asked, looking innocently.

"I'll not leave you, dangerous woman," he showed another text.

"I don't even want you to leave me!" she said boldly.

And we all stood there, watching the silent battle between these two crazy people.

Rehan stomped his foot and walked away, and the woman in black also excused herself and left.

Now only the four of us remained. Aleena's gaze was still down, while Zaid was still staring at the other woman.

"Can we talk, Ms. Hayat?" Zaid asked, and the woman nodded with a straight face and walked away.

Zaid went down, extended his hand to her, and she took it, stepping down and walking out of our sight.

I moved closer to Aleena, who seemed to be so in love with the floor that she couldn't take her eyes off it.

"You look incredibly beautiful today. Just make sure no man stares at you, or I'll have to punish them, and you'll be the reason," I leaned down a bit and whispered near her ear.

"Who are you to even say this?" she asked sternly, and I felt relieved to see the fire in her eyes again.

"Your future husband," I whispered again.

She immediately looked at me, and I smirked as she gave me death glares.

"And one more thing," I spoke before she could respond,

"You smell incredibly good. Don't change your perfume, because I'm used to it now," I whispered again and stood up straight, satisfied that I had the audacity to silence her.

___🖤___

🌟 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌟

Thank you so much for your patience and for coming back to read this chapter. I know the wait has been long, and I truly appreciate your dedication and support. Let's make things more exciting and easier for both of us!

Here's the deal:If we hit a target of 𝟭𝟵𝟵 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟵𝟵 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.

And here's another surprise,you don't have to wait longer this time, as the next chapter will be posted right in few hours, till then share your thoughts, which line captivated you, and which character took your heart!

I'll be waiting for your reactions🌟

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𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗔𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 :



𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 :



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