Here comes the trouble

It's only been two days since Amaan got married to Asmaira however, to add up to his frustration things started changing for him, a change which he was not ready for, which he deliberately avoided. With his father's persistence to join the office and his mother's behavior at home he was furious. As if they are hell bent on mending him to their whims.

On his first day back to office Fariya made him sit next to Asmaira much to the latter's horror. He could not take the torment and went out without having his breakfast. Earlier, he thought he would play along to see what Asmaira was upto, however, he was a broken soul who could no longer strain his already muddled brain.

In one month, while life was difficult for Amaan who acted as if caught in a cage, things were looking brighter for Asmaira as she learnt to survive with him in the same room along with taking care of Kabir. Amaan usually leaves early for the company and by the time he is back Asmaira has already shut in to her haven leaving no chance of facing him. With his absence, she got to spend more time with Kabir and he also got habituated with her being around him. Fariya was happy with how Kabir was progressing with Asmaira around and slowly her hope arose for her son.

'May be things will also fall into its place for Amaan too', she sighed.

Asmaira spent most of her time with Kabir and was more than pleased too, as she didn't have to face the rest of the family. It's only during their meal time when she actually had to face others including Salar. Much to her relief Amaan never came back by dinner time and this was something which was ignored by Salar. He thought as long as he was away from drinking and focusing on business it was none of his concern to think about his relation with Asmaira. He failed to notice that Amaan was going back to his penthouse after finishing his work to drink and would deliberately come at the late hour of the night. Noticing Kabir's changed behavior, Salar softened a bit towards Asmaira.

In all Asmaira was getting comfortable in her new house, cordially behaving with the rest of the family who seemed to be pleased with her, with minimal contact with Amaan and most importantly she got to do what she came for; being Kabir's mother. There were hysterical instances where Hania and Ishaal tried persuading her to start changing her simple appearance. She knew they were secretly planning so as to make Amaan fall for her. She, everytime politely steers clear of their attempts.

Nevertheless, her happiness didn't last for long with the arrival of 'Mehwish Khan'.

Mehwish was an arrogant woman unlike the rest of the family and held high air about herself. Though she worked as an economic professor at an American university, with her haughty aura she looked down upon people with poor backgrounds. She never liked women from the middle or lower class as she felt they are good for nothing and wooed rich men for money. She never liked Raina. For her, Raina was a gold digger with a sharp tongue. She always wondered how her favorite brother could fall for her.

When Amaan called her to help him in stopping the marriage, she could not help him due to her university schedule, however, she promised to help him as soon as possible much to her shock a few days later she heard about his wedding. She got furious upon hearing the news and flew back to the mansion to confront her parents.

"How could you Ma? You were so eager about the whole wedding thing that you could not wait for me? I mean he is my brother and I didn't get to attend his wedding", Mehwish spoke while pacing back and forth.

"It was necessary". This time Salar spoke, defending his wife before his daughter lost her calm.

Both father and daughter have the same temperament and hence when he spoke Mehwish had no way to retort.

"Where is she?", not hiding her resentment Mehwish said

"Take some rest as you must be tired, you will get to meet Asmaira at the dinner". Fariya said.

"Asmaira, is that her name?", Mehwish snorted.

Not waiting anymore minutes she stormed out of her parent's room. As soon as she reached her room, she stepped towards the balcony to calm her anger, closing her eyes. Suddenly she heard giggling and laughter sound, turning her head. She saw a toddler and a girl playing and laughing in the garden.

'It must be her! Another gold digger', she sneered.

While Asmaira was busy with Kabir, she heard an arrogant voice, "So you are her?".

Confused, hearing a new voice she turned and saw a woman in her late thirties, wearing a gray formal business suit and black heels with crossed arms. Her snobbish aura made Asmaira feel like trouble. Upon hearing no response from her Mehwish again asked, "You must be enjoying the luxury here", spreading her arms. Her sarcasm didn't go unnoticed by Asmaira who started wondering who this lady was and how she offended her.

"What! , cat got your tongue?", Mehwish said irritably.

Hearing the fuss, Maya and Amber came running, on seeing Mehwish both bowed and greeted her.

"This is Madam Mehwish, Amaan's sir elder sister", Maya introduced, seeing the confusion all over Asmaira's face.

'Oh boy! Here comes the trouble', Maya thought, feeling pity for Asmaira.

"Are you deaf or are you acting dumb?". Mehwish lost her cool this time.

"I...I am sorry, I didn't mean to offend you", Asmaira finally got over herself and said.

Asmaira noticed that Mehwish was cold towards her and didn't understand her disdain.

"Take him away, I want to talk to her alone", Mehwish commanded Amber pointing towards Kabir.

Asmaira frowned, noticing her lack of apathy towards Kabir.

"Don't be under an illusion that you became a part of the Hashmi family and can enjoy the status of the young mistress. I know girls like you, who play tricks to marry rich men and use their money. You are nothing but just a maid here. Don't forget your status and remember I am watching you". Emphasizing on her last sentence, she made her point clear and left without waiting for a reply.

Asmaira was confused hearing that and couldn't stop wondering, ' how did I offend her?'. She always thought to steer clear of any trouble in the mansion and hence quietly went to Kabir's room mentally noting not to be around Mehwish.

"Is this what you called a presentation?", Salar howled at his youngest son throwing the reports he submitted a minute ago.

Amaan didn't answer, clenching his fist, trying to ignore the embarrassment in front of his team members.

"Jamshed! What were you doing? Didn't I ask you to assist him", Salar said, turning his gaze towards his elder son.

Jamshed was speechless, knowing Amaan's business expertise, he was confident he would be able to pull up the presentation, much to his shock he never thought to be disappointed at the end.

"Two days, I am giving you, I don't know how but get an actual presentation and not some disgust made by a 3 year old", Salar warned and before leaving added, " or whoever is involved in this project can submit their resignation".

"And you", pointing towards Amaan, "Come to my office right now".

He slammed the conference room door much to everybody's relief.

When Amaan went to the cabin, Salar was standing near the glass railing of his office balcony.

"If you are thinking, by submitting a lame presentation like that I would let you off the project, then you are highly underestimating your father".

Amaan cleared this throat and replied,"I thought you called again to threaten me". He clearly wanted to irritate his father and yes, he underestimated him.

"For you it might be a trick to get off the project, but for your team, it's their future. For once think about how life is unfair to them, yet they diligently work to support their families. Your stubbornness will impact them. If one fails the entire team fails. Think about it and you may leave now".

Though his words were plain, but his message was clear. For his mistake, the rest of the team will be impacted. He didn't use a threatening tone, but also made his message clear. He sighed, seeing his son's retreating back.

While Amaan was contemplating, he received a call from Mehwish, seeing his sister was back, Amaan could not be more than happy. "See you at home", he said happily.

"Amaan, umm..come to my room first, I need to talk to you", with that she disconnected the call, leaving him bewildered.

With Mehwish's arrival, he felt at ease as the sudden change in his parent approach was making him irk.

Both brother and the sister were sitting in her room where Amaan was telling her how he ended up marrying Asmaira and how things started being difficult for him. While listening to him Mehwish fury was rising thinking how her parents forced him to marry someone like Asmaira and why they were so persistent for her. She didn't need a reason to hate Asmaira on top of it; she thought it was Asmaira who was the mastermind behind his brother's misery.

'He is still the same emotional fool, first Raina and now Asmaira can also play with him', she thought.

She always hated Raina but she was smart enough not to fall in her brother's bad books but now she won't back down. She won't let him get entangled with a middle class filth. Listening to Amaan's side of the story she realized that he doesn't want Asmaira to be near Kabir and he was unaware of her closeness to Kabir. Her eyes flash as she thinks of a scheme.

"I am sure Amaan, Ma has given a thought about her and she was right. I can see Kabir was happy with her, she is good at taking care of him. Why don't you let things be how they are?", she said while sounding concerned.

"What?", he replied.

"She is good........", Mehwish was interrupted by Amaan's next words, "What did you say, she was with Kabir?"

Amaan was infuriated, because of what was happening in the office, it completely slipped out of his mind that Asmaira will try to be near Kabir. He suddenly stood up and strode towards Kabir's room.

'Well, good luck with that girl', Mehwish was beaming and now she has to wait for the results.

Inside Kabir's room, Asmaira was trying to calm him down as he was cranky due to high fever. He was continually crying in her arms, while she was rocking him to make him sleep. She herself was worried and was on the verge of crying seeing him in such agony.

Finally, much to her relief he closed his eyes not before murmuring "Mumma".

The room was silent and hearing him Asmaira froze. Her eyes were already welling up with tears and after listening to him she couldn't control herself from crying.

'I don't deserve to be your mother, how can I be your mumma when I am the reason she left you', she could not stop crying thinking.

The moment Kabir called her mumma, Amaan happened to be at the door and when he heard it, he lost his cool.

"AMBER", he yelled at the top of his voice startling both Asmaira and Kabir.

Kabir started crying again and for Asmaira, she stood like a statue while Amaan was glaring at her. She at that moment was blank and didn't know how to react. When Amber came, Amaan was still at the door, glaring at Asmaira and commanded, "take Kabir with you".