Chapter 02

HEER

"Princess, you didn't tell me that any of your friends sent you a bouquet too?" Dad asks out of nowhere. I was busy driving the new car when suddenly he asked the question. 

"Mm, dad actually, I too don't know. I just think of him as Emir." I reply to him honestly. 

He nods, "And?" 

"And…" I trail off, taking a U-turn, "Yes, but in the morning when he told me that he was going to surprise me, I understood that the bouquet did not come from Emir's side. Maybe I can have another friend who wants to make me feel special." I then drive silently. Dad doesn't ask me anymore so I can focus on the road. 

After some minutes of driving, we reached home. We both get down the car and walk into the house. 

My father goes to handle the party related work and I go shopping with my friend Sonia as per his orders. I'm excited and so is she. 

We both reach the shopping mall. Soniya runs inside as soon as she comes out of the car. I go after her after glancing at my bodyguards. Even here my father did not leave me alone. I huff and roll my eyes at them. They know but don't react to anything. Even if they react, I cannot see anything because of their dark glasses. 

Coming inside, Sonia sees many clothes. My bodyguards hovering around us didn't bother her in the slightest but I couldn't concentrate on my shopping. I know this. I know why I am feeling uneasy again. Because I feel the same sight around me again. Somebody is staring at me. 

I think so because I have been having this feeling for many years. For many years, I feel that someone is keeping an eye on my every activity every moment. 

I look around but find nobody. I run my eyes around the hall but nothing suspicious comes to my sight. Is it my overthinking once again? 

I sigh and come back to the clothes once again. A boy is carrying a dummy and Sonia's eyes fall on the clothes of that dummy. She stops him and asks him to take the dress out for her. She wants to check it. 

"Do you like it?" She asks me. 

"Yeah, it's..." I trail off, touching the fabric, "It's nice."

She grins at me and rushes into the changing room. I glance at the closed door before looking for other dresses. 

There are a lot of dresses but I am not able to pay attention to anyone. He's looking at me and I don't know why. I can't be wrong in this sense because I have been feeling this for a long time. I don't know what the person wants! 

To distract my mind, I start looking at the dresses. Very nice and the fabric is soft too. My fingers slip through that muslin cloth and I can't help but chuckle. I remember that Sonia does not like such fabrics. She always makes annoyed faces whenever such clothes come into touch with her skin. I am surprised she does not like such soft clothes. 

But every person has his own preference. 

My eyes were fixed on the cloth and my fingers were touching the fabric that suddenly a hand grabs my hand. My eyes widen and I gasp. 

The hand is veiny and some hair is visible on the back of it. I see that the thumb of that hand caresses my skin, making me gulp yet I'm like a statue. My widened eyes move up but find no one. I frown and immediately look at the other side of that stainless steel cloth hanger but find nothing. 

My frown deepens when I find nobody. I look around and my eyes fall on Peter. His brows bend suspiciously and I just shake my head, not wanting him to inquire about the things right here and right now. But I'm sure I saw a hand and…

"Hey sweetie, how am I looking?" I hear Soniya's voice and turn around. My worries leave me for a second and let my eyes roam around the dress she is wearing. 

"Gorgeous," I murmur, looking at her face again. 

"Thank you!" She exclaims. I nod and look around again. I know that I am not wrong and I know that this person is somewhere around me. 

"What happened, Heer? What are you searching for with those hooded eyes?" She chuckles behind me. I turn and just shake my head, "No, nothing." 

She gives me a nod. I again check around me and I think I'm a fool who's staring at everyone like a stupid. I huff and suddenly Soniya grabs my shoulder. 

"Look, check this one…" she tells me, showing me a dress which is shorter than any knee length. It's shining and eye-catching. It's damn alluring and will perfectly suit my body. I nod and take the dress with me in the changing room. 

I come into the large changing room. It's really large and comfortable too but I don't know why, here too, I'm feeling someone else's presence with me. 

I gulp down my lump and close my eyes. Nothing is here with you, you're just overthinking! I try to calm myself and look into the mirror. I notice my reflection. I'm scared once again. 

I walk closer to the mirror and touch my face's reflection. The color of my face is blown up. It is clear that I am uneasy once again. I take a deep breath and turn around. 

Knowing that I am alone here, I am panicking unnecessarily. I nod at myself in understanding and stretch the peach curtains. I take off my jacket and then my top. The air around me touches my skin and makes me shiver suddenly. I take the dress and glance at it for once. Ever since I have come here, I do not feel like taking off my clothes at all. Don't know why the thought of having someone's eyes fixed on me is tormenting my mind and heart. It's really horrible. I close my eyes once again, hoping to calm down my heart but all of a sudden the air around me stops and now my suspicion increases that there is someone else in this room other than me. Apart from the darkness in front of my eyes, a pair of eyes comes which shakes my soul. I quickly open my eyes and take a deep breath. That moment of a few seconds proved to be so terrifying for me that my breath got stuck. 

I start to take deep breaths and instead of changing clothes, I quickly come running outside wearing my top and hanging the jacket and that dress on my forearm. 

As soon as I come out, I go to Sonia. Seeing me in such a condition, she gets nervous and asks what happened to me. I just shake my head, "N-nothing, Soniya." 

She holds my arms, "Hey, tell me! What happened that made you seem so scared?" in a low voice. She doesn't want my bodyguards to take actions here between the crowd. 

"S-Soniya… There was someone..someone in the changing room!" I tell her, my voice is low. She frowns, "Who?" 

"I-I don't know! You know that I have been feeling for a long time that there is someone who keeps watching me. Everytime!" 

Now she sighs. She looks at me and holds my hand. She makes me sit on the couch and then sit next to me. I keep watching her confusingly. 

"Once again!" She huffs. I frown, "I-I'm not lying, Soniya you know!" 

"Oh c'mon Heer! I always believe you. But it is probably your fear that never wants to end. I know you will not lie but try to understand one thing carefully!" I listen to her. She takes a deep breath before telling me, "You told me that from the age of seventeen, you feel the stare of a stranger on yourself moment by moment. Four years have passed since this time, but in these four years have you received any threatening letter, sms, call, anything?" She looks into my eyes and says, "No! I know you didn't! So why did he wait so much for these four years? If a madman had followed you, he would have shown his color within a year, but till now nothing like this has happened." 

She pats my cheek where I'm completely lost in her explanation. She's right. 

"Do you know the reason? You just get scared quickly. You think about a small thing all day long. Then that little thing turns into a big worry and the result is this pale face of yours." 

I agree with Soniya at this point. It has eased my anxiety but not ended it. It is not that I doubt my own friend but I do not doubt myself either. I am sure that I am not a mental patient. The examples she gave me are not wrong but fully support her point. 

A fear is such a thing that can make anyone weak.

I nod at her. 

She gives me her cheeky grin and asks about checking the other dress. I shake my head quickly. 

"Are you still?" She frowns. 

"No no, Sonia! Actually I like this dress. I want to buy this only." I tell her honestly. Even though I haven't checked it, I saw how perfectly created it was. Its color is beautiful and bright too. If I wear simple clothes in a big hall with flaring, then it might not even look good. The fitting of the clothes is also very good according to me. I know my size. 

"That's good!" She tells me and takes the dress from my hands. "Let's leave then?" She asks. I nod and get up. 

｡｡｡

Grabbing the bags, we both walk to my car when suddenly I hear a familiar voice calling my name. I look around and find Emir. 

He's standing two cars away from me. His car is standing next to him and he's smiling at me. 

"Emir!" I go to him. Soniya follows me. 

"How are you doing?" He asks me, pulling me for a hug. "Good," I tell him, wrapping my arms around his waist and feeling his warmth. 

"That's nice," he smiles and looks behind, "Hey Soniya! How are you?" He asks her. She nods, "Great. What about you, chocolate boy?" She chuckles and so he does, "Fine…" his answer comes with, "I'd like to spend some time with my Heer. Would you mind if I go out with her?" 

"Yeah sure, but I didn't take my car." Soniya tells him. He nods, "Don't worry, the bodyguards will see." Soniya narrows her eyes, scrunching up her nose. We both chuckle. 

"Take my car!" I tell her. Her smile comes back.

"Yeah, that's good. But it's new. I don't think Soniya would be able to handle new features," once again he chuckles after annoying Soniya. 

"Nah, she will," I hand her the key and call Peter. He's the most friendly with me. 

"I will reach home with Emir. Tell this to Dad, although I will tell him too, but you can explain to him that I do not want any bodyguard around me with Emir." I tell him. He nods, "But this can be dangerous!" 

I pout, "Please Peter!" I request him and that's it. He sighs in defeat and gives me a nod, "But as soon as there is something harmful, you must inform me." I nod at him and sat in Emir's car. He takes a seat next to me and starts driving. 

"Even to this day, Yusuf Uncle did not leave you alone!" He asks and chuckles after driving for a few minutes. 

"Yeah. And wouldn't even leave for a while if you don't come." I complain, chuckling with him. "He's so caring..." he suddenly stops chuckling and looks at me. I nod with a smile. He's not wrong. 

"Well you tell me Emir, where will you take me now?" I ask him. He looks at me from the corner of his eye. I wait for his answer, looking at his handsome face. 

"Mm, I actually don't know. I just wanted to spend some time with you," he tells me. I smile, "Let's go to a coffee shop then?" 

"That's nice," he smiles and starts to drive there.