17| the kiss

TBH, I didn't have any will to update; the reason is simple: you guys don't vote!!! Vote if you can!!

ZEESHAN'S POV:

"Zeeshan!" Ahaan bhai jerked me out of the chains of my thinking. I looked at him only to make contact with his questioning countenance. "What?" I couldn't get what he wanted to ask me. "We left Shayan's workplace at least two hours ago and it's only a 30-minute drive from his office to home. Where were you?"

"I drove to the mall," which was true. "You hate going to malls," he snapped at me. "I wanted to..... buy a watch," I lied. "You went to meet Waniya," he was not asking he was remarking as if he were there with me. How does he fucking know?

I didn't say a word. "I ought to carry a word with you after dinner," he said, leaving my room.

I had just reverted home after a very happening day. I am still pissed off after having a conversation with Shayan.

~

"What's the matter with you, Shayan?" I barged into his cabin. He looked at me with the constant smirk dancing on his lips.

"Oh, well we have a guest here. Coffee or tea?" he scorned. "Stay away," I snapped at him. "Well, it looks like a lover boy is trying to get his ex back," he mocked.

"Let me remind you, Waniya is engaged to me, and she is the moth-" I held his neckbands. "Don't you dare take her name with this filthy mouth of yours, and Ezzah's not your daughter," I roared.

"You can't do anything, Zeeshan. And if Ezzah is your daughter you don't own a single proof. Even if you try to, Waniya will never believe you, and I will marry her," I punched him in his face, not deeming satisfied I punched him, more strenuously this time.

I didn't stop beating him. Blood oozed from his lips. His state was cluttered but I couldn't care less. I smacked him again, my anger igniting a blaze inside me. "Leave him, Zeeshan," Ahaan bhai liberated him from my grip. "Your destruction would be done by me," he brushed the blood oozing from his lower lip.

Purple bruises covered his face. I took a step to punch him again, but Ahaan Bhai blocked me.

"Leave him," Ahaan bhai hauled me out of his cabin. "Zeeshan, are you of your mind? He could have died," he was precisely right. If I hadn't ceased, he could have relinquished his consciousness. "You ought to soothe your rage," he said.

He went back home but I wanted to go somewhere else. I made my way towards the mall. No, I wasn't stalking Waniya. Ezzah told me that she would be going for ice cream at her favorite ice cream parlor at the mall. I just want to catch a glimpse of Waniya, for one time.

I thought I wouldn't be able to see her, but the heavens were on my side. I spotted her amidst the crowd, she was with Mirha and Ezzah. I could perceive Waniya was scolding Ezzah, something in my heart ached, seeing Ezzah resentful.

I made my course towards her. And she bumped into me. Her fragrance was exquisite the same way it existed years ago. Ezzah was crying and I couldn't witness her cry. She wanted a teddy; if she wanted, I could buy every teddy she would desire.

~

But, I couldn't shake off the weight of Waniya's words as they echoed in my mind: she had called me a stranger. The term felt so unfamiliar, so drastically inaccurate.

We had shared moments, memories, and a connection that ran deeper than mere relationship. We weren't, and we could never be, strangers. Not now, not in the future. She needed to grasp this truth. I desired she would come to realize what we meant to one another.

"Zeeshan, Ahaan is calling you," Zoya Bhabhi broke my trance. I told her I would be there in a while. I made my way toward the study where Ahaan Bhai was waiting for me. "You called?" I said, entering the study. "You are leaving your job?" I didn't ask how he knew. I nodded.

"Zeeshan, do not lose your calm," he took a pause, "Shayan called Ezzah his daughter. Why would he lie to us?" he was right, why would Shayan lie to us?

I am in need of concrete proof, and even if Ezzah is Shayan's—which is not possible—I don't care. And he mentioned proof, proof for what? "First, I need to unveil Shayan's real self in front of Waniya," I said.

"How will you do that?" Ahaan bhai enquired. "We need to talk to Mirha— Waniya's best friend—and she can help us," Waniya was close to Mirha, and Mirha was my only hope. I told him about the plan.

WANIYA'S POV:

"Ezzah, you need to do your homework first," I said. Ezzah wants to play, but for the past few weeks, she hasn't even opened her books once at home, and I don't see her drop in her studies.

I grabbed her bad took out her books. "Mamaaa," she pleaded. "Ezzah," I said, and she quietly sat down and opened her books.

I had a look at her books, there wasn't any incomplete work. Her workbooks were complete, even though, I never made her study in the past few weeks.

Maybe Mirha helped her. She got busy with her homework and I wanted to write some points for tomorrow's meeting. "Ezzah, I will be back, don't move," I moved towards my room and grabbed a pencil and my diary so I could note down some points.

I could have noted them on my iPad, but it was dead. I joined Ezzah, and to my luck, she was still doing her homework.

"Mama, where's Massi?" Ezzah asked. "Ezzuuu," Mirha chirped with happiness. "Massiiiii," Ezzah said.

"Ezzah, homework," I warned. "Massi, ye mama itna gussa kyu karti hain?" she whispered to Mirha but I was able to hear it.

(Why is Mama angry all the time?)

"Mama thori si pagal hain?" Ezzah gasped.

(Your Mom is a lunatic.)

"I can hear you guys," but they decided to ignore me. "Ap mujhe ice cream khilao gaye?" this girl and her obsession with ice cream. (Will you buy me ice cream?)

~

"Kitni ice cream khao gi, Waniya?" Zeeshan was way too done with me as this was my third popsicle. "Jitna mera dil kare ga," I snapped at him. (As much as I want.)

I don't get why people don't understand my love for ice cream. "Tresor, let's go. We need to get you home," he was right. It was getting late. If I got late my mom would kill me. "Shan, can we get another ice cream?"

"Waniya, the weather is changing, and you have already had three of those," he scolded.

"Kitna gussa karte ho Shan. I wasn't asking for myself," I huffed. (Stop the grumpy behavior, Shan.)

"So, you want me to eat the ice cream?" I didn't realize the air between us thickened. He tucked a strand of my hair which was blocking his view.

"Shan," it came out like a whisper. "So, you want me to eat ice cream? "He leaned towards me. "May I?" he asked for my consent I simply nodded at him. And he pressed his lips against mine.

~

"Mama, are you crying?" Ezzah broke my trance. "Are you done with your homework?" I asked, ignoring her question and wiping my tears. She was done with her homework, packed her bag, and took the bag to her room.

"Waniya, are you alright?" she asked me. I nodded at her.

"Where's Shayan?" I had no idea where he was. Most of the time, he used to return home at five in the evening, but now it's almost seven.

I was about to dial his number when we noticed someone penetrating the house, probably Shayan.

"Shayan? What happened?" His face was surrounded with light purple bruises and a band-aid under his lips and on his nose. It felt like he was in a fight with someone, more like someone smashed him.

"Nothing, just something at work," he moved towards the table, taking the water bottle there.

"Tum baitho, main deti hu," I made him sit and gave him water. He smiled and took it. (Let me grab it for you.)

"Shayan, did you get into a fight with someone?" Mirha asked. If he got into a fight, then who could it be? Zeeshan? No, that's something—

"Yeah, Zeeshan kinda attacked and struck the shit out of me in my office," he touched the band-aid under his lips with the pads on his thumb.

Okay, that looks painful. "Zeeshan?" It came out like a question. He nodded. It's not that I don't believe Shayan but the fact that Zeeshan beat him can't settle with him.

"Okay, come, let's have dinner," I said, and Mirha went to call Ezzah. "Sha?" Ezzah ran towards Shayan, like always, but this time, he didn't smile at her.

Shut up, you are just overthinking. I said to myself. "Ye ap ko kya howa hai?" her expression mutated into worry. (What happened to you?)

"Kuch nahi, ap batao theek ho?" he picked her up in his arms. She nodded. "Shayan, put her down you aren't feeling well." (Nothing, are you good?)

"It's okay, Waniya," he said and we all positioned ourselves on the table. The dinner moved on in a blur. I took Ezzah into her room and made her sleep. Certainly, Mirha was already asleep too in her room. I made my way towards my room.

"What!!" the vase fell from the counter table, causing a shattering sound.

AUTHOR'S POV:

Shayan entered his room and made his way toward the restroom, to have a good look at the gifts given by Zeeshan on his ugliest face. A hiss left his lips when he touched the band-aid on his lower lip—what a dramatic queen!!

"Fuck Zeeshan, I will kill you," he huffed taking off the band-aid. He had prepared himself for the possibility of a strong negative reaction from Zeeshan, expecting anger or disappointment.

However, he couldn't have imagined the extent of what actually unfolded at that moment. The scene played out in ways he had never anticipated, leaving him utterly taken aback and unsure of how to respond.

"Fuck you, Zeeshan," he hissed applying an antiseptic to his wounds. The reason he chose not to harm Zeeshan was his desire for Waniya's sympathy and compassion.

He understood that inflicting pain on Zeeshan would alienate her, driving her further away and extinguishing any chance of winning her favor.

In his mind, maintaining a facade of vulnerability was crucial; he believed that by keeping Zeeshan unharmed, he could elicit Waniya's pity and draw her closer to him, ultimately fulfilling his need for emotional connection and support.

He was playing a victim in the situation he created himself. And he was getting what he required, a reaction out of Waniya, making her skeptical.

The primary source of his discomfort and growing disgust was the unsettling reality that he was cohabitating in the same house as the daughter of his sworn enemy.

The carefully made facade he had maintained for so long was beginning to crack, revealing the truth. He felt the weight of his mess pressing down on him, yet he was no stranger to navigating such unsafe waters.

Deep down, he understood the complications of manipulation and persuasion, and he remained confident in his ability to arrange events to bend them to his will, ensuring that things would play out exactly as he desired.

He was acutely aware that Zeeshan had long been granted the benefit of the doubt regarding the paternity of Ezzah. It wouldn't be long before the truth, which had remained hidden for years, came to light. The implications of this truth weighed heavily on him, filling him with a sense of urgency.

Until that revelation surfaced, he felt he needed to marry Waniya. Not only did she represent a strategic alliance, but her significant wealth would be a crucial asset to him.

This financial cushion would be essential in case Zeeshan ever claimed Ezzah, his presumed daughter. He needed to ensure that, should the worst happen and Zeeshan demand his child, he would have Waniya—and her resources—standing firmly at his side.

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Zaar.