Chapter 3

  Kaif's POV,

Tears blinded my eyes as I heard Mom's voice after years.

"Mom.....I....is that really you? How are you?...I...I mean Assalamualaikum!"

I chuckled at my stupidity as I didn't even know what to say or how to speak.

"Walaikum assalam." She said monotonously.

"Mom.... I missed you soo much. I was dying to hear your voice. Mom..... I....."

"Do you want to see your Mom?"

I pinched myself. Was I dreaming? Did she really say that?

"Sorry?"

"I said, do you want to see your Mom?" She repeated and YES it was real.

"YES....OH YES MOM." I said feeling as if I was floating in the clouds and wiped my tears.

"If you do, you have to do something."

"Anything.... anything mom. Your son will do anything and everything for you." I said.

"Shut up! For you I might be your mother but for me your not my son. For me your just the heir to this Alam group of companies, this empire that my husband built and I'm trying to save it. As the heir it's time for you to take over it and for that you need to be here."

My heart sank. Ofcourse, even after 6 years now, she still hates me the same.

"Yes.... Mrs Alam." I managed to say feeling like a dagger pierced through my heart.

"Hm....you can come back home to India and even call me your mother for a while but .....on one condition." She said.

My eyes lit up. Going back home to her? Calling her Mom again.....what else can I ask for?!

"Anything..... I'll do anything!" I said without thinking and wasting a moment.

"Marriage. You'll have to marry the girl I chose for you."

My eyes widened and the phone almost fell from my hands.

"M.... marriage....me?"

"Why? You don't want to come home? You don't even want to try to earn my forgiveness?" She said angrily.

"I.... I.... I do. I do want that but.... Mom.....how can I....m...marry someone. I... I mean who'll marry me?"

"You can leave that to me. Just agree to this condition and you can take the very next flight you want and come back home. If not, then you can forget about ever seeing me and your father again and you'll be dead to us. The choice is yours." She said and hung up.

I sat down on the sofa to process what just happened.

For 6 years now I've been running away from women. I hate them from the core of my heart.

I looked down at my hands that were still shaking.

How can I marry a woman if I can't even bare to see one? They disgust me. Marrying and living under the same roof with one, I might as well die before it happens. But, then, if I do agree, I get to see Mom again. I get to go back home.....my home and be with my family.... Mom and dad. I get them back.

But can I really be able to pay such a hefty price by torturing my soul for the sake of my family?

Naila's POV,

The door bell rang and my sister Ayesha went to open it.

"Assalamualaikum." I heard a woman's voice as I looked up from reading the Quran as I sat in the living room.

"Walaikum assalam. Um....may I ask who you are?" Ayesha said meekly at the unfamiliar woman. She seemed very rich and of high status by the way she was dressed and her body language. Behind her was a man who was in a driver's uniform, like the one's we see in movies and TV, with some gift-wrapped boxes in his hands.

"Are your parents home?" She smiled sweetly at Ayesha.

"Yes... they are...."

"Who is it Ayesha?" Mumma came out from the kitchen wiping her hands on her dupatta.

"Assalamualaikum. I'm Rubina Alam. I came here to see you for a bit. If you're not busy that is.."

"Oh....uh...not at all. Please come in and have a seat." Mumma said confused.

The woman walked in and I closed the Quran touching it to my eyes and kissing it as I got up to go inside. I don't show myself when guest come. Mumma and daddy don't like it. People start asking them strange question and they hate it. So I stay invisible.

"That young lady must be Naila, your oldest daughter. Am I right?"

I stopped in my steps as the woman asked about me. My eyes widened in shock. How does she know?

"Uh.... I'm sorry, we didn't recognise you." Mumma changed the subject.

"Oh, you really didn't recognise me." She laughed. "Ofcourse, my husband comes more on TV than me. You must know him, Shabir Alam, Director of Alam group of companies." She said.

We all gasped. Shabir Alam's wife? Alam group of companies? That's where Daddy works. What was she doing in our little home?

"Ya Allah....we are so sorry, we didn't knew madam." Mumma said smiling.

"Don't worry Mrs Aziz. It's ok. I'm sorry to come here like this unannounced too."

"Oh, your welcome anytime please. My husband talks a lot about your husband, the director. He always has words of praises as Mashallah, how he is soo generous, kind and thoughtful of his employees."

"Thankyou."

"Oh, look at this. I didn't even offer you anything. Will you like some tea, coffee or cold sharbat Madam?"

"No need for the formalities. Just a glass of water is ok." She said and Mumma asked Ayesha to bring it.

"Actually, I brought something for you all. I thought coming empty handed for the first time won't look good. Here...."

She turned to her driver who was standing humbly behind her with the boxes. He bent down to give her the boxes one by one.

"This one's for you Mrs Aziz."

She said handing Mumma a box.

"You shouldn't have." Mumma said nervously taking the box.

"And this one's for you Ayesha right?"

She nodded and looked at Mumma before accepting.

"This is for your husband, I'll give it to you as he must be at work now."

She took the final box which seemed a lot bigger than the rest.

"And this one's for you Naila?" She came towards me smiling widely.

"M...me?" I said meekly and looked at Mumma who was equally surprised.

"Ah, so you do speak." She joked.

"Take it already. My hands hurt."

"Y...yes, sorry." I stammered and keeping the Quran aside took the box from her hand. It sure was a bit heavy.

"Can you open it now." She patted my head over the duppatta wrapped on.

I looked around at everyone. This woman, her behaviour seemed soo different. She was soo sweet to me, her motherly affection felt soo warm and suspicious at the same time and her eyes were always on me as if observing my every move. It felt soo intimidating.

I sat down on my knees near the coffee table keeping the box on it as I meekly teared open the wrapping paper. I lifted the lid and gasped with wide eyes at the bright red and gold fabric inside. It looked like it costed lakhs of rupees.

"It's a wedding dress." She said smiling and we all gapped at her shocked.

She turned to Mumma.

"Mrs. Aziz, I would like to ask your older daughter's hand in marriage for my son Kaif Alam." She said.

"What?" Mumma almost lost her balance and I got up to run to her but Ayesha held her.

"Marriage? That too with your son?"

"Yes" she looked at me and carased my face again.

"Your daughter will make a wonderful bride for my son."

My heart stopped for a while. What is she talking about? Me...and marriage?

"But...you.....we....how can it be possible? Madam....you are such rich and high class people. My husband works as a sales manager in your company. How can this girl...." Mumma said.

"Money.... status none of that matters. And This Girl your daughter, I think she's made for my son." She said confidentiality.

"I know it's a huge decision so please take your time to think about about it. Talk with your husband and I hope you're answer is yes. I'll take your leave now." She gave me one last glance but this time her face seemed a bit sad with a hint of regret maybe, then she left leaving us all frozen in our shock.

Mumma glared at me and then went in hastily dragging Ayesha in with her. I just stood there motionless gapping at the red dress on the table.

I got a marriage proposal.

'Even after 10 or even 20 years no one will come to even spit at a girl like you. No good family would like to make a whore like you thier daughter in law and even our Ayesha's life is ruined because of you. You'll forever dance on our heads and we have to see your rotten face every day till we die.'

That's what Mumma and daddy told me. But today .....how? Ya Allah, is this some kind of test?

Being married, spending the rest of my life with a man.... won't he just use me for my body. Tsk, everyone's the same. I'm a whore, so he'll treat me like one too. My dream of ever having true love shattered 4 years ago. What can I expect? Atleast it will be better than being an eyesore to my family.

###

Daddy came home in the evening and Mumma told him everything. I stood outside thier bedroom door to listen.

"How can they come for Naila? They know about her situation then why that girl?" Mumma said.

"Her hand for thier son? Tsk, 6 years ago, thier son was said to have raped Madam's friend. But they covered it up with thier money and connections and sent him to America. No one has seen him ever since. I heard rumours in the office that he's coming back and will take over the company in his father's place. I even heard that he'll be marrying to cover his reputation. But for that they choose our daughter? Just why?" Daddy said.

"Ya Allah! A rapist! W...with.....Naila? Oh Ji, please do something and avoid this. No matter what she did, she's still our daughter. How can we get her married to a r... rapist?! What will people say that we sold our daughter to get rid of her." Mumma sounded anxious.

It made me smile a little. My parents still love me. Alhumdulillah.

"How can I? What if I lose my job? No one is going to marry her anyway, and even our Ayesha's future is in danger."

"So you're ready to hand our daughter to such a man. He'll ruin her life."

"Do you think I want that? But it's better if she goes away. Atleast we'll be able to lift our heads in the society again." Daddy said.

I covered my mouth tight to stop the sob from escaping and ran to my room. I locked the door and sank on the bed crying my heart out.

Why does it had to turn out like that? That man's a rapist?! I'll have to marry a rapist! Why? Just why did my life turned out like this? My parents want to get rid of me and this is thier only chance. But for that I'll have to pay such a huge price.

###

Mrs. Alam came home again after a week to hear our decision.

"I've heard the rumours about your daughter and I know you know about my son's past too. But it was all in the past. Please don't judge his future by that. He's a changed man and the world needs to know that. But if we don't give him a chance how could we know? He needs to start fresh so that the company won't go to ruins. My husband worked day and night spending his blood and sweat for this company. Imagine how many thousands of people might lose thier jobs if the company closes down. He's our only hope and for him to survive, your daughter is our only hope.

Please Mr and Mrs Aziz. Not as your boss but as a mother I beg you...." She said with tears.

"But how can we possibly hand our daughter to someone like your son?"

Daddy said.

"She'll be very happy. She'll have anything and everything she can ask for. She'll live like a queen. I promise you. I'm a woman and a parent too, I understand how you feel.

Also, I assure you, when the time comes, I'll get your second daughter married in the most respected and rich family to the most handsome and well man. She'll be happy too."

"I'm sorry Madam...we can't...."

"I'll do it! I'll marry your son." I said coming out. Everyone gapped at me shocked. Mrs Alam smiled.

"Naila!" Mumma said angrily.

"Mumma, daddy, think about it. No one will marry me knowing my reputation and if I marry Mr Kaif, it will solve all our problems. You won't have to lose your job, you can lift your heads and walk around with pride and even our Ayesha will be happy in the future and can marry into a good family. What's in there to lose?"

I said making sure my voice didn't betray my courage. My nails digged in my palms as I fisted my hand to stop my tears.

"Will you really marry thier son knowing that...."

"I will!" I said sternly cutting them off.

Kaif's POV,

Mom called me again exactly after a week and my answer was ready.

"I'll do it Mom. I'll.....marry the girl you want."

If I get my family back, I'll do anything.... even if it means selling my soul.