Chapter 20

Rameen

"Mia"

I heard someone call me, I turned and looked behind. This was the last person I wanted to see in this world.

He came beside me in a few long strides, I ignored him and kept walking.

"Mia, please can we talk", He said walking beside me.

"It's Mrs. Waleed Kamaal for you", I snapped and kept walking.

I had come for a meeting with the client and just had left their office and was on way to hire a cab. When I heard him call, seriously out of all people it had to be Imaad.

"Seriously Mia, we have known each other since childhood and we were", He was saying but I interrupted him.

"It's enough Mr. Imaad Hassan, I don't want anything to do with you, and please stop following me", I halted and snarled at him.

He stood in front of me, looking ashamed with his head bowed down.

"If you will please, let me explain", He said.

"I don't think there is any need of an explanation", I said and was turning when he grabbed my arm.

I looked at him furiously and tried to remove my arm from his grip, but he held it tightly.

"Leave my hand Imaad", I said through clenched teeth.

"Not unless you hear me out", He insisted.

I didn't want to create a scene in public, the photographs from the reception were all over the internet and tabloid if someone were to recognize me with a man holding my hand it would create a new controversy.

"Just leave my arm, and I will listen to what you have to say", I said trying to suppress my anger.

Imaad loosened his grip on my arm and retracted his hand, he pointed towards a coffee shop, I silently followed him, he walked to a corner table and seated himself, he asked me if I would like to have something, I declined and he ordered a coffee for himself.

" You have ten minutes, better start talking", I said looking at my wristwatch.

I don't know what I was doing, sitting with this man and why did I even agree to listen to him.

I had freaked out when he held my arm in broad daylight in the middle of a street, lately, I have been getting a lot of attention from the paparazzi, being a wife of the billionaire doesn't come easy. Waleed had tried to assign me with a guard cum driver but I had declined his offer.

Waleed used to pick and drop me to work and mostly I would go with Daniyal or Kabir to meetings. But today it happened that they both were busy and I had come to the meeting in a cab.

"Mia, I am sorry for what I did to you, but believe me, I am not able to forgive myself.

Our business had incurred huge losses in the last six months, we tried hard to control the damage but we lost a significant amount and were behind on the payment of the loans. I tried hard to get some money from money launderers but it happened that we even lost that amount.

We didn't have any option other than to ask your share of the business and then sell it to give back the money to the launderers", He said.

I was looking at him astonished, I couldn't believe what he was saying. Were they really bankrupt?

" If you really had financial problems you could have asked for help from Dad, he would have done everything in his power to help you", I said.

"You think they would have let us get married if they knew I was bankrupt", Imaad said furiously.

" I'm sorry, but there is no use digging old graves, I have listened to what you had to say, and that's it. Don't try to contact me again, I am happily married and I don't want to jeopardize my relationship with my husband because of you", I said standing from the chair.

"But Mia, we loved each other", He said trying to stop me from going.

" No, you loved me. I only love my husband", I stalled and left the coffee shop.

What the hell did I just say? I love my husband? Do I love Waleed? Ohhh my God what was happening to me? Was I falling for him?

I hired a cab and gave the address of our house, I texted Waleed that I was going home and he didn't have to pick me.

I didn't want to face Waleed right now, I was struggling internally, one part of me was telling me that I had fallen in love with Waleed, while the other was saying that I was just exaggerating things and I just have told Imaad that I loved my husband in the flow of the events and there was nothing significant about it.

I reached home, changed, and freshen up, I just wanted to forget what Imaad had told me, the fact was that he and his family were not worth it. He was trying to put the weight of his sins on my family saying if they had told the truth my parents would have called off the wedding instead of helping them, son of a bitch.

And on top of that, he had the nerve to tell me that we loved each other, I was fuming while pacing the terrace of our bedroom.

I came back inside after nearly two hours, Waleed was still not back, I started wondering why he was taking so long.

I tried calling him, but he didn't answer my call, it was getting late and still, he did not return.

I called him again and again, but his cell was switched off, all kinds of negative thoughts started crossing my mind, what if he was in an accident?

I didn't eat dinner and instead was calling every contact in the hope at least someone might tell me that he was with them, but unfortunately, no one knew where he was. His secretary told me he had gotten a call from someone and had left in haste.

My family was out of town, they had gone to attend a wedding, only Dada was at home, I thought of calling Dada but he would only get worried.

It was midnight and still, he didn't return home, I had started to panic by now, he always used to call or text me if he was going to be late.

I was really worried about him, and I was scared if anything happened to him. I was feeling guilty for keeping him waiting so long.

I was missing him, his smiles his concern for me, the way he flirted with me, and most of all I missed his touch. I wanted to be in his arms, kissing him and making love with him.

I realized how much I have got habituated to him, I hadn't realized when he was around and now when he was not there I was missing him and was wanting to be with him.

I prayed for his safe return to Allah, and I promised that I won't deny him his rights anymore. I just wanted him back safe and sound. Thousands of terrifying thoughts were crossing my mind.

I paced in the living room, and when my legs started hurting I sat on a sofa, my eyes were fixed on the clock it was two in the morning. It felt like I sat there for eternity dreading and scared.

And when I lost all hope of his returning I heard his car stop on the porch, I ran out to the main door and opened it, he was getting out of the car, when he saw me he stood still, his eyes studying my face, I had been crying and I was sure I looked like a complete mess right now.

Before Waleed could take a step I ran towards him and buried my face in his chest, inhaling the musky scent of his body mixed with the smell of his perfume and cologne.

He wrapped his hands around me and pressed me closer to him.

"Where have you been? I thought I lost you? I said between sobs.

I couldn't describe how relieved I was, to see him alright standing with his arms around me. At that moment I realized that I had fallen for him.

" I am okay, baby. I am absolutely fine", He replied rubbing his fingers in my hair.

"Why didn't you receive my call?" I complained.

"Let's go inside then I will tell you", He picked me in his arms and carried me to the bedroom.

He placed me on the bed carefully, then removed his jacket and loosened his tie, I was watching every moment of his, before today I had taken him for granted but not now, I want to cherish every moment I spend with him.

He opened his shirt buttons and tossed them aside as he went to the bathroom, he came out after a few minutes, towel around his waist and water glistening on his naked body I watched him mesmerized as he disappeared into the closet.

He walked out after some time wearing a tee and sweats, he came to the bed and sat opposite to me, and looked at me.

" Now tell me, why were you afraid?", He asked.

"You didn't return home last night, I was so worried for you", I said.

He took my hands into his and started massaging my knuckles. A jolt of excitement ran through my body by his touch.

" I was in the hospital, with your grandfather, his blood pressure shot up, I was wrapping up the last meeting when he called me last night.

I was really busy and that's why I didn't get the time to call you, and when your Dada called I left the office and took him to the hospital. His condition was not good, doctors told me a little more delay might have caused his life.

He had told me not to tell anyone that he was in the hospital except Umair, as you know your family is out of town attending a wedding", He stopped and looked at me.

"Why didn't you tell me? Is he okay now", I asked worriedly.

My Dada was unwell and hospitalized and no one told me, I was worried about Dada and whether he was alright or not?

" He is stable and out of danger now, that's why I came home, Umair arrived an hour ago and he is with him", He replied.

"I want to go to the hospital", I said trying to get up.

Waleed pulled my arm and made me sit on the bed again.

" You need to sleep now, I will take you to the hospital in the morning after breakfast", He said.

"Waleed, I have to go, I want to be with Dada", I tried removing his hand from my arm.

" Mia", His voice had a command and an authority.

I was quiet, he never raised his voice on me before, I knew he was right.

"Dada is sleeping due to effects of the drugs and will only wake up in the morning, there is no use of going there now, take rest we will go after breakfast okay?", He said.

I just nodded in agreement, he slipped on the bed beside me under the sheets and pulled me to him, I didn't protest at his attempt.

" I missed you so much, I don't know what you have done to me", He whispered as he snuggled me into his arms and placed his face on the crook of my neck.

I was too exhausted to think of anything else, and I fell asleep instantly.

We visited Dada after breakfast, Waleed left me at the hospital and went to his office. Dada looked like he had aged ten years overnight. His face had lost color and he looked weak.

I stayed in the hospital, with him, Umair was there with me. He was discharged after two days, we took him to our home, I had asked Daani for one week leave.

The week passed very fast with Dada and Umair around, he had returned from the wedding lying to my family, and some internal exams had come up.

Waleed was very nice with Dada and Umair, he gave them company every evening after he returned from work. I was really glad that he just didn't love me but also cared about the people attached to me.

My feelings for him had gone a transformation in the last week, I was glad that I had finally realized how much I wanted him and loved him. He was a true gentleman and the way he cared about Dada showed it.

Dada went back home when my family returned from the wedding, though Waleed and I insisted he stay with us, he said he was missing home and will come and stay with us again. Dad and Chachu were mad at us for hiding that Dada was unwell. Mom and aunt went to the extent to scold me and Umair for not informing them and were only calmed when Dada told them that he had told us not to inform them.

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