Samara has to give me some explanations for her selfish behavior. She is the main culprit behind all this. She spoiled my image in Hobsons' mind when she could easily bring me out of this mayhem. After meeting with Samara, I'll try to talk to Ashar and make him see the full picture. I can't just stay here silently without trying to clear my name and prove my innocence.
Ashar has to know that I'm also not interested in this marriage and will do anything to set myself free from this accidental marriage. I stand in front of Samara's room and knock the door twice. When I hear her faint voice, I open the door and go inside.
"So, you're finally here." Samara utters. She in the same room where she asked me to wear her wedding dress. It all started from this room. If I wouldn't have came here on the wedding day, this family wouldn't have dragged me here again as a fraud.
I cross my arms on my chest, "Yes. Now can you explain why are you doing this to me? I helped
I slowly open my eyes and move them around. The crystal wall lights, geometrical wooden ceiling and the light cooling of the air conditioner remind me the events of the last night. Sitting up, I relax my loose hair through my fingers. Last night I drifted to sleep on the floor, just beside the large bed because I wasn't comfortable sleeping on that soft bed.I let out a loud groan as I feel my muscles contract and the backache. It is probably due to the air conditioner or the cold floor. When my meeting ended with Samara, I came back to this room and laid on the floor. Within few minutes, sleep took over me.Samara told me about her emergency last night and to say that I was shocked could be an understatement. I was out of words. There was a guy named William who was after her since eleven months. He claimed that he loved Samara and wanted to marry her. However, Samara couldn't reciprocate the same feelings to him. She clearly told him that. At first, she t
Samara said she refused William's proposal because she was getting married with the love of her life. But that guy didn't give up. He even visited her office several times. On the wedding day, William sent her few pictures to threaten her. Actually those were the visual evidence of their hang outs and intimate moments. He said he was about to send those pictures to Ashar's cell phone because he couldn't see his love getting married to some other man. Samara got scared and planned to meet him in person as she thought this could be the only way to talk some sense into him. She tried to get in touch with Ashar to convince him to delay the wedding for an hour or two so she could fix that problem, but when she couldn't get a hold of him she started thinking of some other way. She said if Ashar would've seen those pictures, he would've gone crazy with anger and called off the wedding immediately. She cared for Hobsons and Ashar, therefore, she couldn't just give up and let
If Ashar is unable to forgive his life-long friend then there is no way he's going to consider my apologies who is a stranger for him. But avoiding me is not going to settle this problem. Ashar has to confront me if he want himself out of this marriage. After washing thoroughly all the pieces of chicken I put them aside and begin preparing batter for the fried chicken. I'm preparing lunch. "What are you cooking today?" Melanie appears beside me. She's one of the young housekeepers who worked at the mansion. She's young, but three years older than me. Melanie is the old worker of Hobsons, but she was on a break so I didn't see her before. She came from a small town. Her parents couldn't afford to send her to college so after completing her high school she started working as a housekeeper here. Since the pay here was good, she didn't bother herself to find another job. "Fried chicken." I reply while stirring the batter. She watches t
There is one question, one confusion thats keeps pestering me, not leaving my brains alone, no matter how much I try to ignore it, to act chill like Samara.Am I married or not?My anxiety made me do some research about it online. I typed some keywords related to my situation and read some articles about Christian weddings and beliefs. Online source was the safe source. I didn't have to disclose to anyone what had happened to me.I found online confirmation too that Ashar and Samara's marriage is null and void. They are not married. For my own doubtful marital status, I couldn't find the exact answer, but they did support my argument. They said woman and man must be present physically while proclaiming their marriage vows. And they should say their correct, full names during all their declarations. It is the religious and legal requirement both.It brings me back to my point. From Ashar's behalf he said correct names. I didn't use any names, but
Later in evening, Melanie informs me that there is an important guest sitting in the living room with Ashar and his father. She asks me to prepare few snacks immediately. I did made some sandwiches and cookies. Melanie enters into kitchen, "Sanaya, you're the best. I'm so exhausted with all the work. Thank you for being here." I smile and hand over the tray, filled with snacks I prepared. She pushes it back to me, "You go and put that in the living room. I'll come with their drinks." She moves towards the cold storage and takes out the cold drinks from there. "No." I blurt out, "I can't do this." "Why? Please help me or Matt will go crazy." "But-" She huffs and scurries to me. "Go, Sanaya. You're wasting time." She shoves me forward and yells, "I'll be following you." Ugh. Matt and Ashar both will go mad if they see me there. I can't tell Melanie about this. I already had a fretful encounter with Ashar today and it's enough for
Head down, phone in my hands. I'm looking through unread text messages in my inbox. There are some unnecessary texts from the places where I had left my resume. I delete them. I also have few missed calls from Ryan, Carol and foster home. I leave all of them a quick text that I'm kinda busy with my job so I can't contact them. Afterwards I return my phone to Aaron. The ringing of the kitchen's intercom catches my attention. I look around and wait for someone to answer it. Few minutes pass, but no one comes and it doesn't stop ringing. So I just shrug my shoulders, go over and pick it up, "Yes?" "Where were you, Melanie?" Ashar hollers, makes me move the receiver slightly away from my ear, "I've been trying the intercom since few minutes. Just what you all are doing? Playing around?" "But, I'm not-" "Bring coffee with my migraine medicine in the study." "Liste-" He doesn't let me finish and hangs up the intercom. What
Next morning, after preparing breakfast for the family, I lay on my bed thinking about my yesterday's encounter with Ashar. My reaction definitely surprised him. But he should think before speaking. His words were hurtful and unforgiving. In future, if he'll do anything like yesterday, I'm not going to swallow it without returning the contempt to him."Look at those pictures." Melanie comes to me and brings her phone in front of my face. My eyes widen. It's a picture of the wedding day when I was standing outside the Church with Samara's father. I freeze, she continues showing all other pictures and most of them are mine."Don't they look good together? I really wonder why Samara hid her face." She asks to herself. My mouth goes dry as again whole wedding event spirals through my brain. That day was the most unfortunate day of my life.Thankfully, my face was not visible in any of the images Melanie showss that means no one can recognize me.I sit up on m
I and Melanie are in our room after nightfall. Melanie is ironing some of her clothes while I'm folding up mine and putting them back in my small wardrobe.I think I'm in need of good clothes because all of my clothes now look frayed, even the colors are fading. I'm planning to ask Matt's permission to go for shopping or else soon I'll have nothing good to wear."What's your plan for the weekend?" Melanie inquires."No plans." I reply while putting the pile of my clothes inside the wardrobe.She stops ironing and gives me a disbelieving look, "Seriously Sanaya, I've been observing you. You seem weird. I've never seen you going out of this mansion. Are you introvert or what?"I hate lying to her when she is so nice, so helpful to me. Rubbing my temple, I sit on my bed, "I don't have many friends and few of them already left for college to different cities, so I don't talk to them much."She turns off the iron, drags a wooden chair and sits in
Sighing in exasperation, I allow Zoya to do what her daddy has said. I stand on my feet and sit on the bed. Curiosity is bubbling up in me. I want to know what both of them are doing secretly. I'll be mad at Ashar if he has changed his plan of coming here. I mean, I have prepared dinner for him, even got ready for him and he's not coming here. It has been a week since I last saw him and seems like he didn't miss me. He didn't even sound excited on call while talking to me and here I'm being so eager to see him, hear him. I sit on my bed for like ten minutes all alone and try to think of Ashar's reasons when finally my doorbell rings. Maybe Zoya is back. I'm going to get all the details from her. I pull opened the door and become startled when I witness Ashar instead of Zoya. My mind forgets all complains and anger in a swift and I feel myself lose into a trance. In blue slim fit jeans, white striped shirt and a black jacket on it, he's looking dropped
Mutually Ashar and I have decided to arrange a small wedding at the Church and invite only few people like his family and my friends. We have to get married properly this time in order to get rid of all the confusions. Ashar have also asked the lawyer to renew our marriage papers also. After that he will publicly disclose our marriage.The wedding date right now is indecisive. We have planned to discuss on it after he'll be back from his business trip. He said the trip is important so he has to go, but he has promised me he'll be back in a week this time.In his absence I get a chance to spend some time with his family, even went for a baby shopping with Estella. She's so excited about her first baby that she has planned to buy all the stuff for the new-born on her own. She invited me to go with her. Katherine and Matt also gave me a warm welcome after that party and told me stories of Zoya and how they took care of her altogether.I'm surprised but above
I turn straight and slowly open my eyes. Looking here and there, I acknowledge the different environment around me. Soon everything comes back to my mind and I rise to sitting position. I notice a quilt covering me and I'm still on Ashar's sofa. "How long did I sleep?" I ask to myself, settling my hair through my fingers. "Three hours." Ashar enters into the room, looks at me, crossing his arms on his chest. "Uh?" I react in bewilderment. He has changed his clothes from tux to checkered loose trouser and crew neckline, maroon, plain tee shirt. His hair are ruffled and some of the locks are falling over on his forehead. "You've been sleeping here since three hours." "What?" I widen my eyes and immediately stand up, getting rid of the quilt. My legs are now much better, "You should've woken me up. I only thought to get a quick nap until you'll be free. Where's Zoya?" He laughs, walking towards me, "Don't worry. She's with Mom." H
Times changes, so does people, so does our situations. They realize they were wrong as they become more mature with time. A bad person doesn't always remain bad. We should appreciate him if he musters courage to apologize and repent for his mistakes with a thought that you're not a saint either.That's what I've learnt from my experience. I've decided to let go of every bad memory of my past life and start over; give myself another chance and also to Ashar. Besides, Ashar have already compensated for his mistakes by looking after my daughter all alone, by living as my husband for more than three years."What exactly you were thinking? Why did you turn off your phone?" I breath out.Ashar draws his brows together as he frowns at me. His hands are still hiding in his pockets. He's in plain formal wear, looking clean cut and fresh. His hair are perfectly combed towards his side. My stomach twists. Just a look of him takes away all of my worries and glistens my eyes
After five hours long flight, I land to my home city. Zoya is bored and haggard due to the long journey, but she's not complaining. She knows we are going to see her father.I don't know whether my decision is right or not of coming here and leaving everything behind. I started a new life in another state, but I left it with a thought that I want to stay away from Ashar and his family, but now I don't have to.Even if I and Ashar won't work out, still I don't have to leave this place. I want to live in New York. Through my contacts, I have already managed to find a place for myself and Zoya so I have decided to first go there, put our baggage there and change our clothes into comfortable ones and then I'll go to his house; Hobsons' Mansion.I jump inside the subway with Zoya and get settled on the vacant chair.I snake my arms around Zoya's shoulder. She scoots closer and put her head on my chest, "Sleep for a while, Sweetheart. You look tired."Sh
I thought a lot. I took two whole days to decide what I should do next; whether I should go after him and apologize or just leave the things the way they are right now.I'm scared and too ashamed to face him after ruthlessly pushing him out of my life. I know his whereabouts, his office, his home address, but still unable to muster audacity to apologize to him.I'm afraid of his anger, his rejection that he won't forgive me and tell me that he wants to stick to his decision. However I tried calling him, but his phone was switched off and that thing demotivated me.Zoya kept on pestering me with her questions like; where's daddy, when are you going to take me to him and why he's not taking my calls. I'm tired of making excuses to her and I guess she now smells a rat."Are you sure with your decision?" Carol whispers a question in my ear.I give her a side glance, nodding my head, "Yes. I'll leave after the wedding."She's about to say somethi
I was doing painting with Zoya when I heard the doorbell. I get out of the bed and instruct her, "You stay here. I'll be back."I took a half day from work, thought of spending some time with my daughter. I have to spend more time with her in order to hide the truth about Ashar. I don't know for how long I could conceal it from her that her daddy is not going to talk to him.I open the door. My eyes widen to its full length when I see that woman who had turned my life upside down, standing on my doorway.Samara steps inside my house, "Hi, Sanaya. Long time no see." She looks around, "Your place is nice and warm.""How dare you." I mutter.Anger begins pulsing through me to the extent that I feel I'm going to burst into flames any minute."Nah. That's not how you welcome a guest to your house." She shakes her head, giving me a warm smile."You're not a welcomed guest." I snap aloud."How have you been? It's been ages." She ignor
I further open the door to get a full view of the scene. Samara steps forward to him. Ashar understands her gesture so he opens his arms. They both hug each other."I wanted to surprise you and see your reaction." She smiles against his shoulder.Blood drains from my face. My head starts spinning to the level that I start seeing two of them.Both of them are so lost in each other that they don't even notice my presence when I enter in Ashar's office.They are still close, still together. The woman who started everything, who ruined my whole life is looking so happy in his arms. Was she in contact with him the whole time Ashar was with me? Was Ashar fooling me or what? That thought trembles my heart in fear."I'm glad to see you." Ashar pats her back.They both pull back and smile to each other.Samara's hands remain on Ashar's chest, "Why are you looking so pale? Don't you eat properly or you're working too much?"Ashar c
The fact that bothers me the most is that Ashar all by himself raised Zoya for three years. This is the biggest surprise for me so far. It shows his persistence towards his goal that he keeps on repeating to me that he wants to unite his family.After knowing all of his reasons, I'm still failed to move on or start over because the fears inside control me.Every time I think of calling him or thinking to talk about our marriage, the flashbacks of his vicious behavior begins crossing in my head and stops me to take a further step.I'm sitting on my office desk and staring at my computer screen. These days I can't much concentrate on my work.I minimize the document opened on my computer and go to a search engine. I think of searching about Matt Hobsons. If he had a serious illness then it was certain news media would've talked about it. I would get more information about him and get an idea how Ashar would've went through that time.I was right. As