Chapter-4

Author's p.o.v

[" I beg you, don't kill him," A young girl who's age wouldn't be more than 18 pleaded in front of a man who is in his late 20s. The man isn't bothered by the girl's pleading. He is looking angry and clenching his jaw tightly. He is holding the girl by her hairs.

Some men who are looking like some kind of rowdy are beating a young man who's age wouldn't be more than 25. The young man is almost on the verge of death.

" Leave............her," the injured man said with his faint voice which fueled up the angry man's anger more.

The angry man ordered those people who were beating the young man," Crush his every single bone. I will make a powder of his bone and then make tea out of it. Then, I will feed it to his bitch."

Hearing his psychotic words, the girl lost all the colours from her face. She felt like her soul has already left her body.

" Please, don't be so cruel. He will die. Let him go and you can do whatever you want to do with me," The girl again pleaded joining her hands.

The man said to the girl with a creepy smile on his face," I am going to cut every limb of his in front of your eyes. After that, I will deal with you."

" He is innocent. Everything was my fault. I am guilty. Not him. Please, spare him," The girl begged for that injured man's life.

A back slap landed on her face and she fell to the ground. She screamed loudly when that angry man pressed her beautiful face on the ground with his one leg.

" Besharam aurat(shameless woman)! Teri itni himmat ki apni shawhar ki samne dusri mard ki liye rowti hey( How dare you to cry for another man in front of your husband!)," The angry man said pressing his shoe on her face.

The girl is just thrashing her hands and feet to free herself. Tears are the only companion of her in front of this merciless man. She is pushing his leg but he isn't moving an inch.

" Tujhe to ham itni battar mouwt denge ki Tu soch vi nehi sakti( I will give you so worst death which you can't even imagine)," the angry man said to the girl kicking her body like an animal.]

Zayed's trail of thoughts is cut when he heard a knock at his office cabin's door. He said with his deep voice," Come in."

Then, a man entered who's age wouldn't be more than 35. He is none other than Zayed's PA Ghalib.

" What have you found?" Zayed asked with his expressionless face.

Ghalib lowered his head to show respect and started saying," Her full name is Erina Siddiqui. She is a student and will be graduating after 6 months."

" What about her family?" Zayed asked curiously. He is very eager to know about Erina. After seeing her he couldn't concentrate on anything. Until he gets her for himself, he will not feel any peace.

Ghalib replied," Her father's name is Akram Siddiqui and he is working as a pion in one of our branch offices."

Hearing this, a smirk formed on Zayed's lips. He uttered smirking," That's good news. Now, it will be easy to convince her father."

After that, Ghalib informed more," Her mother works as a cook in a restaurant and her two sisters are also students."

" Seems like a lower-class family," Zayed said trailing his fingers on his beard.

Ghalib didn't say anything further when Zayed asked seriously," And what about Erina's relationship status? Does she have any boyfriend?"

" No sir. I have talked with the neighbours. They told me that she is a very modest girl. I also talked with her lady friends in the college and everybody praised her. Nobody said anything about her boyfriend because she doesn't have one. She isn't involved with any man," Ghalib said in one go and a satisfied smile formed on Zayed's lips.

Zayed is happy that there is no one in Erina's life. He will be the only man in her life. He will be the only man whom she will love forever.

" You have done a nice job. Indeed you are Fatima khala's son," Zayed praised Ghalib and he just smiled a little.

Zayed was going to ask something when Ghalib informed Zayed," Sir, I have heard from the neighbours that Akram Siddiqui is very abusive to his family. He doesn't care that much about his wife and daughters. He is addicted to alcohol and he always beats his family members for money."

Ghalib was expecting a reaction from Zayed and he got one. But, Zayed's reaction just made Ghalib dumbfounded. He looked at Zayed with his wide eyes.

" That's better for me," Zayed said laughing playing with the paperweight which was on his table.

Ghalib is still looking at Zayed without blinking his eyes when Zayed ordered," Bring that Akram Siddiqui in my office. I want to make a deal with him."

" Yes, Sir," Ghalib obliged and left the cabin leaving behind a laughing Zayed.

After some hour

" May I come in Sir?" Akram asked opening Zayed's office room's door a little.

Akram is very worried thinking that he might have done something wrong. When he came to know that Zayed Bin Qureshi wants to meet him, he was completely shocked. He wasn't understanding why a rich man like Zayed wants to meet a pion like him. He thought that he might have done something wrong that's why Zayed wants to meet him.

" Come in, Mr Siddiqui," Zayed said still looking at the laptop screen.

Akram entered silently and first greeted Zayed. His forehead is slightly sweating because of nervousness.

Then, he asked politely," Sir, you wanted to meet me? What's the matter?"

" Have a sit first," Zayed said looking at Akram.

Akram asked confusingly," Me?". He is thinking that he isn't worthy enough to sit in front of Zayed in a luxurious chair.

" Are you seeing someone else here? Zayed annoyingly replied fixing his gaze on Akram's sweaty face.

Akram didn't say anything further and sat in front of Zayed lowering his head.

" Listen to me, Mr Akram. I will come to the point directly as I don't like to beat around the bushes. I want to marry your elder daughter," Zayed said in one go leaning a little to his chair.

Hearing Zayed, Akram is now looking at Zayed with his shocked expression. His eyes are now round as potato and his mouth is in O shape.

" I didn't get you, Sir," Akram replied blinking his eyes repeatedly.

Zayed hummed and said," Well, I want to marry your elder daughter Erina Siddiqui. In return, you can ask me anything like a luxurious house, car, land or a huge amount of money."

Zayed said the last part putting pressure a little to lure Akram. He knows that a greedy person like Akram will not hesitate to sell his daughter. He is sure that Akram will agree with him anyhow.

On the other hand, Akram was shocked by hearing Zayed. He never thought that a rich man like Zayed will offer him something like that. He is obviously a greedy person and couldn't resist the offer of Zayed. He didn't bother to ask why he wants to marry Erina. He didn't bother to ask how Zayed knows about Erina.

" Finally, that useless shit will come to some use of mine," Akram thought mentally remembering Erina.

Zayed is watching Akram carefully who is in deep thought. He is sure that Akram is battling inside his mind thinking about what he would ask from Zayed in return of Erina.

" So, Have you decided?" Zayed asked Akram coughing a little to catch his attention.

Akram looked at Zayed and demanded," 1 crore. I will marry her off to you if you give me 1 crore."

" 50 lakhs. I will give you 50 lakhs," Zayed replied with his deep voice.

" Then, I will not give my daughter to you," Akram said and stood up from his seat.

Akram and Zayed are bargaining like they are buying and selling any commodities. They have forgotten that Erina is a human being. Akram has forgotten that he should ask for his daughter's approval first.

A father is selling his daughter like a commodity. It's really heartbreaking for a normal human being.

" So, you are denying my offer!" Zayed asked amusingly but the threat is clearly audible in his voice.

His dark eyes are showing rage and his jaw is clenched.

Looking at Zayed's face Akram gulped down his saliva and decided to not mess up with Zayed. He knows a little bit about Zayed. If someone disrespects Zayed then the person sees hell very soon.

" I agree with you. 50 lakh is fine," Akram said with a nervous smile.

Then, Zayed threw a card towards Akram's direction saying," It's my card. Contact me after talking with your daughter. I will fix the marriage date very soon."

Akram caught the card and said ok looking at the card. Then, he left the office in a happy mood thinking about the money.

Erina's p.o.v

" Women are not objects. They have self-respect, dignity and the right of expressing their opinion," I heard Mr Zayed Bin Qureshi saying at an event of the International woman's Day.

Well, Eshal and Eshita are watching TV when I heard all this from the dining room. I was preparing potatoes for evening snacks. They are watching news channels where Zayed Bin Qureshi's speech was broadcasting.

I think he respects women so much. Otherwise, he wouldn't be giving speech like that. I heard many times that he is an idol for the young generation.

Hearing his speech, I remembered that day when I first met him. He told me to keep his sunglass with me and surprisingly I have kept it with me. I don't know why I kept it. I will return it to him if I meet him again. I haven't told anything to Amaan anything about this. He will not like it if he comes to know that I have kept another man's sunglass with me.

But, I still remember Mr Qureshi's words," We will meet again."

I am still thinking about Mr Qureshi when the doorbell rang.

Eshal ran towards her room turning off the TV and Eshita ran towards the door to open it.

I know who has come. It's obviously my father. But, I think he has returned earlier today.

I heard the door opening sound and footsteps indicating my father has just entered.

" Erina, ek glass thanda pani le kar aow(Erina, bring a glass of cold water)," I heard him ordering me.

Without wasting any time, I took out the water bottle from the freezer and poured a glass of cold water. I covered my head with my dupatta and forwarded my leg to go to the living room.

I reached the living room and found that my father is sitting on the couch crossing his legs. He is looking exhausted.

" Abbu, Water," I said lowering my head and forwarded the glass.

He took the glass from my hand giving a glare to me. I heard him chugging the water in one go.

I am looking at my feet fidgeting my fingers. I am waiting to take back the glass from him.

" I have something important to talk with you," I heard him saying with his irritated voice. He gave the glass in my hand aggressively and I took it without uttering any word.

Then, I looked at him and said politely," Ji, Abbu, boliye(tell me)."

" I have fixed your marriage," He said without any emotion and the glass fell on the floor from my hand.

Note- So, what's your opinion about this chapter? What do you think about Zayed's thinking?🤔

Aren't you feeling bad for Erina? 😔

Any words about Zayed and Erina's father?😒

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