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"It's now or never Jahan. I can't let you be someone else's wife." Usman spoke as he gently cupped her face. They were in a do or die situation, if they didn't get married today they'll probably lose each other and Usman didn't want to lose her at any cost.

Jahanara moved back, she didn't want to go on her parent's and dada's bad side, she didn't want to do something that would disappoint them.

"Usman, marrying you like this isn't what I want. Let's return home and discuss it with our parents and dada jaan; I believe they'll agree for our nikkah." She urged him to reconsider his decision.

"We are getting married Jahanara, right now." His demeanor had changed, the calmness that once filled his gaze vanished, replaced by a fierce intensity that ignited the air around them.

He dragged her inside the masjid, where his men were already waiting inside. "Go, get the molvi," he barked at them and they walked out, leaving Usman and Jahan alone.

As they turned to walk away, she whipped her hand across his face with a sharp slap. "You really think you can force me into this? Don't forget, I'm a Wazir too. I won't stand for your selfish, controlling ways any longer. I am leaving, right now!"  Her voice thundered, and the fury blazing in her eyes was unmistakable—she was beyond frustrated.

She was about to walk away when he yanked her hand, pulling her in close. His grip was fierce, not giving her a chance to escape, her heart racing as he dragged her closer, those stormy eyes of his blazing with fury.

"You either leave this place as my wife or you'll be the reason for my death." he growled, their faces just inches apart, the tension in the air palpable. "You are not going to do something like that Usman." she said, her voice dripping with disbelief.

"Try me Jahan." His voice might be soft but his eyes burned with intensity and the intensity in his eyes conveyed that he was serious. Jahanara knew all too well that he always carried a gun, and if she chose to walk away at that moment, he would act on his threat.

She calmed down and tried once more to convince him, she gently placed her free hand on his, "Usman, let's go home and talk about it," but he harshly yanked it away, "we can talk all you want but only after the nikkah." He stated firmly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Anger surged within her, a fiery wave that threatened to consume her composure. How could he be so dismissive? The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, suffocating the warmth of their earlier conversation. She felt her heart race, a mix of frustration and hurt bubbling just beneath the surface. For a moment, silence enveloped them, the atmosphere heavy with unexpressed thoughts and lingering emotions.

"Fine, we can get married, but just so you know, I won't love you. It will only be a marriage in name, nothing else. Don't expect anything from me." Once she was done, he grinned with a sense of victory.

"You can say that all you want Jahanara, but I know you better than anyone. you might act like you don't, but deep down, you will fall in love with me." He moved closer, his breath against her ear as he leaned in, his words a velvety promise.

"You won't be able to hold out against me for much longer. You are mine, and I always get what's mine. We were destined to be together" Jahanara shot him a fierce look, seeing him as a devil in that moment, and to her, he truly was.

"Qubool hai" Jahanara glared at him as she gritted out the words for the third time, sealing their fate as a married couple.

Once the imam had officially declared them husband and wife, Usman's smile widened.  "Congratulations on our nikaah, Mrs. Usman Wazir."

"Take me home now." She hissed, stressing each word, as if challenging him to ignore her command.

"Sure biwi," he gave her a cheeky smile and gently guided her out of the masjid to his car, "He literally dragged me here and now he's leading me out like a gentleman, what a chameleon!" Jahanara thought to herself as she gave Usman dead glares as they walked out together.

-

"I swear, if I had a clue you were gonna be such a jerk, I would've put you in your place long ago!" Abad's voice echoed through the haveli, filled with fury.

As Usman and Jahanara strolled back home, fingers intertwined, the atmosphere was thick with doubt, and everyone shot them wary glances until Usman finally decided to drop the bomb on them.

"What were you thinking when you took my daughter out for nikkah without even bothering to ask us?" Mahtab fumed, yanking Usman's collar.

"I asked your dad twice, but he thought it was a brilliant idea to marry her off to some random guy instead of me, the one who actually loves her," Usman shot back, trying to justify himself.

"And did you bother asking my daughter's opinion?" Mahtab retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He took a step back, fighting to control his anger.

"She definitely wants it, but she won't admit it because she's afraid of disappointing everyone. What kind of twisted rules are you all following? Just because your sister eloped with her lover  doesn't mean love should be off-limits, nor does it mean that no one in this family can marry who they truly want.

What makes you think love marriage is a wrong decision dada? Don't you see how happy phuppo is with her family? It's all your mindset dada, change it.

This old-fashioned beliefs  from you elders has wrecked so many lives. Many people have been pushed into marriages they never wanted, and countless others have had to sneak away, break ties with their family just to be with the ones they love. Loving someone and marrying them doesn't have to tarnish your reputation; it's your outdated views and traditions that need a serious update." Usman's mother held his hand trying to stop him but he was determined to give Abad a piece of his mind.

"Are you trying to peach me now?!" Abad bellowed, his voice resonating with anger. "If only I could break through your stubbornness," Usman muttered, his frustration reaching a boiling point as he marched up the stairs.

_

"His point of view isn't wrong but marrying me forcefully was definitely wrong." Jahanara sat on the bed, in her room with her mother and sister beside.

"I honestly have no clue what to say, bacha, but Usman isn't a bad guy. Now that you're married to him, I hope you can find it in your heart to accept him." Anum gave her daughter a gentle pat on the head before stepping out.

"Seriously? Amma bhi unsey naraz nahi hain?" Manahil was shocked at her mother's reaction, "mein toh unhein maaf nahi karny wali" she spoke dramatically as she sat besides Jahanara.

"Why?" Jahanara questioned again, clearly confused. "He never even mentioned that he loved you, and he didn't bother to tell us you two were getting hitched. We could've at least organized something for you! Sath hi chal letey yaar masjid mein, minimal aesthetic decorations krty, phir achy sy aap dono ka nikkah hota--"

Jahanara's expression had changed within a second as she heard her younger sister's plan, "niklo, niklo merey room sy aur nazar na ana tum mujhey" Jahanara literally pushed Manahil out of her room.

"Minimal aesthetic ki bachi!" She gritted out while locking the door, she couldn't believe her sister was serious.

-

It had been a week to their nikkah, Jahanara avoided interactions with Usman and she made sure to stay out of Abad's sight. She didn't want to be a prey to the old man's anger.

She was strolling down the hallway when Zara and Manahil appeared out of nowhere. "Api, humein na permission chahiye...shadi mein janay ky liye." Zara said, gripping Jahanara's hand. Jahanara shot them a look and then said, "han toh jao." Zara's face lit up with a grin, but then Manahil jumped in.

"Arey apki ijazat thori chahiye? Usman bhai ki ijazat chahiye." Manahil's remark earned her a deadly glare from her sister, "do I look like Usman?! Uski permission chahiye toh usky paas jao." Jahanara snapped at Manahil.

"We need you to convince him for us. Pleasee" Manahil was back in line, and both girls grabbed her hand, pleading her.

"I've been ignoring him for the week, how am I supposed to convince him and what makes you think he'll agree if I ask?" Jahanara thought of excuses to get herself out  the situation. She wasn't prepared to face him yet.

"What's going on here?" They turned back to see Usman standing behind them, "bhai, Jahan api wants to tell you something.." Zara spoke up first and nudge Jahanara to speak,

'What am I supposed to say?!' Jahanara mentally cried.

"What is it, do you need something?" Usman's voice softened as he turned his attention to Jahanara, "woh-Zara and Manahil need your permission for some function that they wanna attend" she said in a single breath.

"And where is the function held?" He asked her, Jahanara was clueless as none of them told her the address, "Muzaffarghar" Jahanara's eyes widened as she heard Manahil, there's no way Usman will let them go.

"Zara, you can go and Manahil can ask for her brother's permission," Jahanara noticed Usman's tone changed when he looked at Manahil and he spoke as if taunting her.

Jahanara and Manahil were left back as Usman asked Zara to make him a cup of tea. Jahanara turned to Manahil and questioned, "Why did Usman speak about you like that?"

Usually Usman would treat Zara and Manahil equally as his sisters but today he asked Manahil to get permission from their brother, Agha. This didn't sit well with Jahanara, she was sure something was off between them.

Manahil sighed and told her sister what happened,

*Two days after Jahanara & Usman's nikkah*

"Bhai, I'm ready, let's go." Manahil was all set for college, and usually, Usman was the one to give her a ride. So when she announced she was ready, he jumped up from the breakfast table, eager to head out.

"I didn't ask you to take me. I asked 'my brother' Agha to drop me," she snapped, her tone sharp. It stung Usman a bit; her words felt a little harsh.

_

Jahanara hit Manahil on her head, "that was so silly of you Manahil" she scolded her younger sister. Jahanara knew Usman loved Manahil just as his own sister and such harsh words from her must've hurt him.

"You're going to apologise to him Manahil, now." Jahanara spoke sternly. Manahil knew she was wrong so she agreed.

In the evening, Zara and Manahil were sent to Muzaffarghar with Agha. Jahanara was alone so she spent some time with her mother and tayi who also happens to be her mother in law. She was fine until she was given the dreadful task of giving the chai to Usman, who is in his room. She couldn't say no when her tayi asked her to, and now she regretted it.

She walked in with a straight face, she was glad that he was nowhere in the room. She rushed to keep it on the nightstand and run out before he's back.  Unaware that he was standing behind her, as she turned to leave she got startled by his presence and lost balance but Usman was quick to grab her hand and pull her close to himself.

"Ab kis cheez ki ijaazat lene aaye ho?" He questioned, still holding her hand in a tight grip. "Why would I need your permission for anything, I was just here to give you the tea because tayi ami asked me to." She gave a witty reply, trying to pull her hand back.

"You have time for everyone and everything in this world except for us. Did you even consider thinking about our relationship or you don't have time for that?" He scoffed.

"You're right I don't have time for it. I'm busy" Jahanara retorted. Usman leans in, "busy dreaming about me?" He playfully winks at her making her glare at him.

"I have better things to do." Jahanara's mouth was shut as Usman mimicked her usual reply.

"Acha suno, I'll be late tonight, intezar karogi?"  His voice was soft as he asked her, but Jahanara couldn't bring herself to reply with the same gentleness, "No."

"Aur wapis na aya toh?" Her brows snapped together as she looked at him in utter confusion, why was speaking like that?

"Stop messing with me." She pulled her hand out of his grip and walked out of his room. Leaving him alone, a corner of his mouth lifted as he picked up the cup from the nightstand.

_

It had been a week to the incident, Aryan's wound had recovered but his relationship with Azara was hanging by a thread.

Azara was staying at her parents home. She went to  Sialkot the very next day. She didn't want to leave Aryan in that state but she knew he probably wouldn't want her besides him so she went to the Malik mansion with her brothers.

"Azara beta, your mother-in-law is here," her aunt Meerab informed. Imama constantly called her and checked up on her.

She walked downstairs and greeted Imama, "I'm here to take you home, we've been waiting for you to be back so we could start prepping for Arzan's wedding." Imama spoke to her in a cheerful tone.

"But Aryan-" Before Azara could complete her sentence Imama interrupted,

"What Aryan? You guys have to sort out everything and you're coming with me now." Imama said with a relaxed and playful vibe.

_

Azara was feeling a bit anxious about how she would handle seeing Aryan, but for the moment, she was grateful it was afternoon since he usually stayed at the office during this time.

When she entered her room, she was surprised to find Aryan lounging on the bed, focused on his laptop. He glanced up at her as she closed the door, and she made her way to the vanity table. After a moment, he shifted his focus back to the screen and resumed typing.

All day long, she brainstormed how to talk to him, but it was clear he was avoiding her. So, she figured, why not return the favor? They ended up just going through the motions, completely ignoring each other's presence the entire day.

After dinner, she felt it was time to make a move. She was determined to break the silence. He remained focused on his laptop, so she yanked it from his hands. "Yeh kya badtameezi hai?" he snapped.

"Are you planning to ignore me forever?" she shot back, perching herself on the edge of the coffee table right in front of him.

Aryan stood up from the couch and headed to the bed, dismissing her as he remarked, "I need to sleep, I have to wake up early tomorrow."

She slammed her feet down in frustration and marched over to the bed. Once she flopped down, gazing up at the ceiling, a sly smile crept across her face as she planned how to win him over.

_

Author's note

╰┈➤ I planned to write a long chapter so that the story will end in the next chapter but I guess now I've to write a few more *short* chapters before the end

• vote target on this chapter- 10

-Thanks for reading 🤍⚘️