Surprise

"Are you sure about this, Asmaira? Is this your final decision?" Asmaira's father, Ehsan, asked.

They were seated in her room. With her head down and habitual licking of her lips, she looked skeptical, unsure of her decision. Ehsan was sure his daughter, who had never taken a step without consulting him or his wife, wouldn’t be able to make a decision and would, as usual, ask him to decide. However, he was in for a surprise when Asmaira replied with one word, "Yes."

Unable to handle the anger, he stormed out of her room, leaving a terrified Asmaira behind. No one knew what had happened between the father and the daughter or what they had spoken. The moment he left her room, disappointment was marring his face, while regret was evident on hers. Yet neither of them talks on the same topic further.

On the other side of the city, Amaan parched on his couch, for once not intoxicated in his regular intake of alcohol. He was in his penthouse, anticipating his mother's call. It never happened that he strategized something, and it failed to execute. By throwing the ball in his opponent's court, he smartly dodges the guilt of breaking his promise and, at the same time, getting out of the mess of marriage.

He didn't feel like sipping his scotch when he felt light-headed, already thinking of the victory on his way. This should prevent his family from talking him out of getting married and would stop pestering him to move on. He could already anticipate what would happen at Asmaira's house when they received his proposal. How her immediate reply of 'No' would make it all easier for him. 

He mentally prepared to feign ignorance of any knowledge of him already knowing that wench's answer, lest making his mother skeptical about his move. He never wanted to hurt his mother, nor could he fulfill the promise he made in the heat of the moment. 

His chain of thoughts broke when his phone rang. A known smirk appeared on his face seeing his mother's name flashing on his phone. He didn't want to look like he was anticipating her call and made a deliberate attempt to answer the call after four more rings. Even before he could hear his mother, he was already celebrating his victory inwardly when he got the shock of his life.

"What?"

"Asmaira accepted your proposal. They want to keep the marriage simple and want to do it at the earliest."

Amaan lost his mother after she said Asmaira accepted. he jerked forward and clutched the phone tighter than usual and asked, "I think I misheard you, Ma. What did you say?"

Feriha repeated, "Asmaira accepted your proposal."

This time she let it sink in his mind and waited. His heavy breathing from the other side of the phone was something she was already expecting. 

"she is okay to be my second wife even though this is her first?" he was finding it difficult to hold on to his anger. He didn't want to burst out in front of his mother out of love and respect for her.

"Yes," came his mother's calm reply.

How? What? Why? His mind was immediately plagued with lots of questions. How could his calculation go wrong?

Still, in denial, he assumed his mother was playing some sort of trick with him just to make him accept moving on in his life.

"Are you sure?" he could not help but ask out loud.

Feriya couldn't help but smile at his obvious astonishment. she smiled at how her son thought he could fool her and get away with it. What Amaan didn't know was that she had already anticipated all his moves, and it was him who took her bait and not the other way around. 

The moment he put across the condition, she knew this would be the outcome, yet she pretended to be passive, fearing her son would see right through her move.

"Absolutely. Come home to discuss the date and other details," with that, she disconnected the call.

With the phone still placed over his ear, he could hear the tone of call disconnection; however, he was far too lost in denial. He stayed in that same posture for a long time, staring blankly at a distance.

"Asmaira accepted your proposal."

His mother's words were playing in a loop in his mind. 

"Why?" he murmured to himself, stunned at the revelation. 

Didn’t Raina tell Asmaira hated him to the core? Then why did she agree to marry me? They have known of each other's existence but never met before. From what Raina has spoken on numerous occasions for Asmaira, nemesis means Amaan. Although they hadn't met, much less talked, Amaan was the bane of her existence. 

Is that why she agrees to marry me? to get back at him? for some sort of revenge? As soon as the thought hit him, he threw the phone on the opposite wall with all his pent-up fury and heaved like a wounded beast. His nostril flared, and the level of anger he felt was un-measurable. After all, that she did, will she have the audacity to even face him must less seek vengeance? 

For Amaan, his hatred for Asmaira runs deeper than the pacific ocean. And he was never the one to judge people without first getting to know them. He was a businessman through and through, and he was vigilant in observing people rather than jumping to conclusions. However, when it comes to Asmaira, he had already conjured her image—a negative image. 

For him, people like her are always at the mercy of others and never take a stand for themselves. Hiding behind people when the difficult time comes, instead of paving their own way, and always a burden for people who care about them. From what he had heard of her, he already imagined her to be a timid, naive, introverted, good-for-nothing woman who had always been the spoiled brat of the family. 

How can he forget how much Raina suffered because of her innocent pretense. 

She dares to dream of taking Raina's place!

How can he let lose to such a conniving vixen? How can he let her take Raina's place not even in his life but in his house? 

"No!" He roared, rising from the couch.

To hell with promise when the person to whom he promised was no longer with him. He wasn't up for any mind games with his mother when a lot was at stake for him. There was no way on earth he would make that sly woman his wife. 

Grabbing his car keys, he marched out of his penthouse and took an elevator. Jumping into his Ferrari, he drove like a madman all the way to his mansion. Time was ticking, and he didn't have much time to play around. 

With the tires screeching on the driveway, he steps out with his Ferrari still on ignition. As soon as he stepped inside, the environment felt gloomy, but that was the least of his concern. Instead of looking around or asking the staff, he strides towards Feriya's room in a determined gait.

His steps abruptly halted in his track when he saw a familiar face stepping out of her room, followed by Maya, his mother's staff.

"Dr. Sheperd, it's a surprise seeing you here. Is everything alright?" Amaan asked, glancing between the doctor and Maya.

"you prepared the food as per my instruction," he gestured for her to move ahead and face Amaan, "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

His heart pounded rapidly, and a bead of sweat shone over his creased forehead. A feeling of deja vu shattered him from inside. he didn't want to go there and let the past haunt him. the haunting flashes from the past were also one of the reasons why he started drinking. He wanted them to leave him alone.

"Mrs. Hashmi fainted. I don't know what happened, but I had advised her on my last check-up. Stress and anxiety are not good for her," Dr. Sheperd said.

Amaan started taking heavy breaths, afraid of what he was about to hear. 

"Maya called me, and if I haven't come on time, I'm afraid we will be having this conversation in the hospital."

"I...I don't understand. why Ma was alone and why s-she fainted?"

"she is diabetic and is a patient with hypertension. Please make sure she is not put under any stress or anxiety. Her BP shot up, but I gave given her the medication. After proper rest, she will be fine."

Amaan probed further, "And?"

"Lately, she complained of sleeplessness, and I suggested her pills, but I'm taking her off it. Overdose of any medication, I wouldn't recommend it to any of my patients. Till last month she didn't have difficulty sleeping. Im guessing something is bothering her, and as her family, I suggest you not to let her overthink."

"I understand," he gulped, closing his eyes.

He had already lost a loved one, and he could not handle the same pain of losing again. He knew he would lose his mind if something like that happened again. The anger, which was their previous, all disappeared after listening to the doctor's review. 

After the doctor left, Amaan sat beside his mother, holding her hand, scared that if he left her hand, she would leave him. Kissing her hand, he placed it over his face and whispered, "Ma. If that's what you want, I will marry her."

A lone tear escaped him before he placed his head beside his mother. "Please don't leave me."

What he failed to notice was Feriya's orbs flitting behind her closed lids and her little finger twitching at his heart-wrecking plea. Recollecting he hadn't showered and in his haste for the succession of his plan, he didn't even change his clothes. 

Making sure Maya was with Feriha, he quickly went to his room to shower and change. The moment he was on the way, Feriha opened her eyes. Her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

"Mam, Sir, looked distressed," Maya said. 

"I know. But for his happiness, I can stoop to any level. My stubborn son would rather destroy his life than get married. But he doesn't know how stubborn I could become."

"Will forcing him into the marriage save his life?" Maya couldn't understand her employer.

"It's not only his life at stake, Maya."