Nikhat"Nikhat Shahrin?" The man on the opposite side speaks."Yes. It's Nikhat Shahrin", I mumble confusingly. It's an unknown number and I don't even know the man's voice. I'm seated at my desk when I get the call, definitely I'm trying to end the conversation as soon as possible. "It's Inspector Ian. I had a query to confirm if you have time for it"Inspector? Why would a police officer call me and what kind of query?"Query?" I exclaim."Yeah. We have gotten an application to make a restriction warrant on your ex-husband, Hasan Malik. Are you willing to approve it?" He asks, leaving me hell confused."Restriction warrant?" I stammer as my eyes drift in the direction of Irtaza's cabin. He just blinks at me. He did this? I press my lips into a casual smile towards him and get back to the call."Yes. I agree", I say."Thanks for the confirmation", the inspector cuts the call.When I put the phone down and look up, Irtaza is already gone."What restriction order?" Mia asks from th
Kaif"Ya Allah", Zoya hits her head and groans, bringing me out of the shocking muse. "Now, you have started hallucinating about her or what, Kaif?" I mumble, blinking a couple of times and figuring out if whatever I saw was true. It shouldn't be a hallucination. I have never had such a misunderstanding in the last six months. "You need a therapist", she gasps."No", I clamour. "I mean. I'm not hallucinating, Zoya. I saw her in that car"Zoya pauses staring at me as if she doesn't even trust me."Come on. Trust me, yaar. I'm serious. How can I be mistaken to know her?" I exclaim. "And I never had such a hallucination back in Mumbai. Ever. How can I suddenly have a hallucination over here?""Because you're literally hoping she's here", Zoya lets out a deep sigh. "Don't be the cheap version of Romeo. If you actually wanna do something, then find her out. There's no point of thinking about her all the damn time. You're not even trying to find her, not even trying to forget her. All you
Zoya"Why can't you just give all the work to Khyati?" I shrug on the call, rolling over the bed. "Only if she could, I'll definitely give it to her, right?" Abrar laughs from another end as if he's literally enjoying the shit out of it."What khi khi—", I groan, mimicking him. "You're at such a peace, Mr Zafar. Are you?""When did I say I'm at peace?" He asks, confused."Because you don't miss me", I say aloud. "Oh really? You just left this morning and I'm still in the office which is completely natural for me not to miss you so soon. At least, let me get back home""You're still not gonna miss me""Why do you think so?""You would come if you—""Zoya, you didn't insist me to come. You were fine when I said I wouldn't be coming. Now, you're lashing out", he says."Because I didn't know I'm gonna miss you, right?" Frustrated, I scoff. I hear him chuckling."Why don't you just go and drown yourself somewhere?" I say out of irritation."Then you are gonna miss me more and scare my d
NikhatLast night was enough stressful for me. After having a glimpse of Kaif my entire system stopped functioning. I couldn't do a single thing properly. I didn't even have my dinner. The entire night I kept rolling over the bed, frustrated and thoughtful. "Are you alright, Nick?" Mia asks as we get dressed up for the office. I come out of my muse and look back at her from the balcony."Yeah. I'm good. What happened?"She scans me from head to toe and clears her throat. "I can see you didn't have dinner last night. You skipped breakfast too. What's wrong with you?"I groan. "Nothing. I'm fine", forcing a smile, I leave the cup of tea aside and drift my eyes to the alley again.I still can't get over the visuals. Even though I wasn't hoping to face him ever again, the last glimpse of him makes me want to see him again. I don't know why this is happening to me. I clearly had no feelings for him when I was leaving that city. Then why does it stings now? Why does his presence affect me
IrtazaIs that Zoya? My eyes open wide at her as she walks up the stairs, looking straight at me. She looks stunned as hell and I wonder what she's doing here in Bangalore. This isn't gonna be fun or easy meeting. I and Zoya had always been perfect rivals. We could not stand each other no matter what. However, in the end, I was the culprit. It makes me a bit hesitant to face her. Nonetheless, I'm thankful to her for passing me a casual smile as she reaches me."Hey, what a pleasant surprise!" She beams and I'm shocked at her warm attitude toward me."Are you Zoya?" I ask confusingly."As far as I know, I haven't done plastic surgery", she laughs. I join her laughing my heart out."Zoya!""Irtaza!" She mimics me. "You have changed so much", I roll my eyes in shock. She looks and behaves completely like a different woman.The Zoya I knew would never pass me a positive vibe check even after I apologised."If you can change, why can't I?" She chuckles. "I left the past behind. A long ago
NikhatI freeze in the same position as a statue as Kaif's eyes straight come to me. He gets on his feet, peering deep into my eyes. I don't know how to react. My voice sticks inside my throat, my legs freeze there. I can't move, I can't speak. "Long time", before I can figure out anything, he pulls on a big smile and surprisingly it makes me smile wider.The smile isn't forced, it's hell genuine and so is his one."Yeah", my voice is low and I can't even utter something because of smiling. "Long— long time"My chest swells with an unusual joy which I never thought I would feel. From the last night, I had been hiding from him and I thought I would have nothing to react to. But I can't believe how genuinely happy I am to see him. We don't speak anything.Only smile at each other.Stare at each other from a distance.Why does it feel so good? "Nick!" Mia bangs inside the room, dragging me out of my thoughts as our eye contact breaks. "Hey, didn't you guys start it yet?" She panics an
Irtaza"Mr Kaiser, it'll be fine", Nikhat slides her hand out of my grip, hesitating as I come back to reality. I immediately pull my hand back. I wonder why I lose control over myself in such situations. I just hope she doesn't get me wrong for all the things that have been happening in the last few days."Please be careful", I scoff at her and she shakes her head, keeping her gaze away. I don't know for how long I'm gonna hide my feelings from her. I badly wanna confess it and propose to her for marriage but it seems to be next to impossible if she never shows a bit of interest In me."Hey guys", Zoya shows up and looks down at Nikhat. "What happened? Are you alright?""Yeah. I'm fine", she smiles."I'm getting shocks over shocks", Zoya laughs. "I didn't know you'll be here in Irtaza's company"Nikhat passes a nervous smile and I don't know why she looks a bit nervous in front of Zoya. Maybe, she doesn't wanna encounter her former boss. That's awkward for any employee."Anyway, I
KaifShe holds my arm softly when the flashes of Irtaza holding her crash into my sanity. I feel an unusual burn and gulp down. However, I realise she had hurt her hand. "How's your arm?" She freezes for a second and mumbles."It's fine. How do you know?""The accident yesterday. I was in the cab. I saw you holding your arm that moment. And today you hissed so loudly", I tell her.She looks utterly shocked as if it's because of our repeated encounter unknowingly. "Oh! I'm fine", her lips twitch into a smile. "Now get up and call Zoya. Ask her where she's having her lunch. Join her"I don't know why I can't argue with her. She's so damn irresistible. Shaking my head, I take out my phone and dial Zoya's number. It rings.At the same moment, Nikhat's phone rings and she picks up."Yes, Mr Kaiser"My heart chills again as I keep gawking at her."Yeah. I'm coming. Stay in the coffee shop"Coffee!They may be close enough to hang out. Otherwise, Nikhat isn't fond of hanging out with anyon
Nikhat"He's the photocopy of Abrar", Mrs. Ali says, holding the newborn. After eight months of our marriage, Zoya delivered a cute baby boy. He's a premature baby, indeed but still out of all danger by the grace of God. "Just pray that he gets the same tactics as me. I can't handle two short-tempered creatures", Abrar laughs."Wait! You just wait. Let me get a bit healthier", Zoya shoots him a glare. "You can scream only. What else can you do?" Abrar rolls his eyes."You—"And they continue.I take the newborn in my arms, giggling at him lovingly."First and foremost rule, Mrs. Wife", Kaif whispers near me. "No future planning after this"He's always so scared!"I know right? Stop worrying!" I scowl at him. So many things changed over time but he didn't. At first, he was scared to love someone and get married. Now, he's scared of having a baby. I don't mind it though. It's just a matter of time. I'm happy the way I am.I was promoted to the company with my salary getting doubled.
Nikhat"Are you hungry already?" Kaif asks from behind.I drift my eyes outside and look at him from near the window with a smile. He is munching a subway burger with a tight-lipped smile on his face. "Wouldn't it be better if you had gotten something for me instead of just asking?" I shrug, jumping behind and sitting at the edge of the window."Hey, careful", his eyes widen. "You're gonna fall""I'm used to it", I giggle. "This is not the first time I'm sitting at your window"He chuckles, walking toward me. "Yeah, but definitely you never hoped onto it wearing a lehenga", he scoffs as I stare down at him. He stops just an inch away from me and spirals his left arm around my waist. I shudder with the abrupt contact and lack of distance between us. My heart starts thudding against my chest and my body vibrates when he tightens his grip around me. It's been a year since we were engaged but never before has he touched me this way. I didn't want him to. But if he wanted, I wouldn't ev
Author's POVRuzina goes completely shocked but it doesn't take her much time to understand what is exactly happening. "How wouldn't I come, Mrs Ruzina?" Irtaza chuckles. "After all, the alliance maker should be there?" Zoya presses her lips tightly so she doesn't burst into laughter by watching Ruzina's stunned face. On the other hand, Nikhat gets confused with Irtaza's words."Alliance maker?" She exclaims."We can discuss that later", Zoya jumps into the conversation. "Let the guests in, Nikhat""I'm sorry", she smiles and makes a way for them to get in. As others follow Ridwan and Nikhat inside, Ruzina keeps standing there and gazing at Irtaza."You look stunned, Mrs Ruzina", Zoya rolls her eyes. "Ah, well, let me introduce myself. Zoya Zafar, Irtaza's business partner and your would-be son-in-law's friend"Ruzina curls up her face and doesn't even smile at any of them. Zoya crosses her arms and takes a step toward her, raising her eyebrows."What did you think Mrs Ruzina? Onl
NikhatI have been waiting for the evening the entire day and finally, the moment arrived. Kaif has indeed replied to me with a message which said, "it's fine"The text didn't sound genuine to me at all. Especially when he sent only two words in the reply to my entire paragraph. Couldn't he realise the urgency in that message? I don't know if I'm overthinking. He's not bound to send me a paragraph just because I did. "Nikhat, shall we leave?" Mia asks. "No. I have some work left", I lie. I don't have any pending work. Besides, Irtaza already told us that he doesn't need the whole team today. I should have left. "I thought you were done", Mia roll her eyes."No. I—" I stammer. "I'm yet to complete a few""Okay, then. Goodnight", grabbing her stuff, Mia walks towards the exit. I get back to my desk and look for some work to do. "Nikhat!" Irtaza's voice hits my ear as I look up, finding him walking out of his cabin which is straight in front of me. "You didn't leave yet"I don't kn
NikhatI don't know how to react to this crap. I can only see how hard Irtaza is trying to pass a smile. I know that wasn't expected. And why did he even need to come here just because Ruzina called him? He could have turned her down. He has plenty of work to do. I force a smile and walk toward them. "That was not necessary. Was it?" I mumble, glaring at Ruzina. How can she still smile like that?"I just thought to—" Ruzina strives to say as I walk up to her."Thought to what?" "This is so embarrassing. Why did you do this? He's my boss", I exclaim, whispering near her face.I can't say if she deliberately did that. Why would she anyway?"But he said—" she mutters. "That's called courtesy which he said. And we'll not do that. That's our courtesy", I shoot her a glare. Ruzina frowns at me as if she still can't digest that I'm arguing with her. As I should. I should have done that a long time ago. And now she literally crossed the limits by embarrassing me. What will Irtaza think a
"Okay. What about that?" I ask."Irtaza came there to meet them. They spend an afternoon together", he says and his reactions harden."Okay, so?" I ask even though I have already sensed what it meant. This is something different from any boss and employee relationship. I'm not judging though and I'm not even sure if there's another reason. I bet Kaif also doesn't know the exact reason. He's just assuming. "So? Zoya, can't you understand what that means", he scoffs at me. "That means Nikhat is having a lot of guests. What else?" I roll my eyes. "Stop it, yaar. You—``''why can't you see what I'm seeing?" He yells out of nowhere. "Because I'm not as intelligent as you. Explain to me", I scowl at him. "You can't get, Zoya? Really? Don't you know what it means? In this society, when a guy meets a girl's parents? That guy who likes her. They literally had a meeting, a conversation. Don't you know what it seriously means?" He speaks out of frustration."So!" I mumble.."So!""Yeah. So,
KaifI walk faster. As fast as I could. Through the dark alley. My head literally stops working when I put the pieces of the puzzle of that incident. I don't know why I'm getting so pissed and irritated. He just came to meet.He just came to meet. I kept ranting this to myself until I reached the resort. I feel my breathing getting ten times faster than before. I can hear my groans as I grab the grills of the gate and fum heavily. My body has heated up and I'm unable to calm down anyway. Everything was going so fine. So damn fine. Until she talked about Irtaza being there. I lost it and I didn't want to show how pissed I was, nor could I behave normally. I'm already hiding enough and this will go beyond. Anticipation builds me rapidly, no matter how much I try to console myself. "Sir, I need to close the gate", the security guard says. I glare at him for no reason and storm into the resort, walking as fast as I can.I reach my room and twist the knob. Opening it a bit, I slam the
Nikhat"Nikhat!" He whispers my name but I don't look up. I feel him holding my hand tightly and I hold the edge of the bench. Then I sense him decreasing the gap between us. He uncovers my face, lifting my hair from my cheek and tucking them behind my ear. I can feel him staring at me which makes me blush harder. "Look at me", he leans down to my ear and whispers. I squirm with his warm breath fanning my skin. As I don't respond to his words, he lifts his hand to me and slides two of his fingers across my jaw, slowly nudging my face towards him. I finally look up at him. Our eyes meet. He smiles, peering at me as if he's scanning each detail of my face. I had never been so comfortable with anyone's gaze the way I'm with him. It seems to be pure and peaceful. Most importantly, I love it. He locks his hand with mine and gets closer to my face. Enough closer which forces me to drop my gaze in shyness. "Why do you always steal your gaze from me?" He whispers. "I want you to look
NikhatIt's been a while since I've sat here in the dark alley with Kaif. It's so strange that I have never explored this alley in the last six months but today I did. With him. I'm also a bit concerned about Ruzina and Abbu being in the lodge. They might be wondering where I have been. I'm sure Ruzina is gonna make a fuss about it to abbu as she has always been doing about me. I remember those days when I couldn't be a single minute late to return from school and Ruzina used to complain to abbu, saying I had been disappearing for hours. I can't forget those dreadful days and somewhere I used to believe Ruzina is acting like all the typical mothers as she had made me believe all mothers are like that. I used to think she was strict and wanted the best for me. As I grew up, I realised it wasn't a normal thing. But then, it was too late. Abbu wouldn't believe me if I said anything against her. He used to think I had gone reckless. I never complained for years. Then why at that moment