He laughs. “You certainly think very highly of yourself Ms. Haseeb.”
I snort. He wasn’t wrong there.
“What are you doing here?”
He flicks his cigarette. “Having a smoke. You?”
I point towards the building. “I live here.” I blink, my eyes were starting to grow heavy again. “Why are you here?” I ask again.
He steps out of the shadows.
It might be the sleep getting to my head, but in the dark lighting, he looks intoxicating. Otherworldly even.
His chiseled jaw stands out sharply, further highlighted by his sharp, proud nose and arched eyebrows.
His features are stern and bold.
But what makes his beauty truly dangerous is his smile.
A face like this, with lips like his, shouldn’t be smiling.
But he smiles.
He smiles a smile that hides secrets only he knows, jokes only he understands.
A warm smile on a cold face.
The stark contrast thrills me.
“Your Aunt invited us to dinner.”
My eyebrows rise. “Should I be expecting a wedding?”
He chuckles. “Now, why would you think that?”
I shrug, holding back a yawn. “For starters, she’s already met you. And we both know how excited she got-” A yawn finally escapes my lips, and I press my hand to my mouth to stifle it. Khizer’s eyes light up in amusement. “When she learned you’re a business man.” I finish.
It might be my imagination, but his eyes harden at my words.
“I’m not interested.” He says shortly.
“In my cousin?” I stifle another yawn.
“In marriage in general.” His tone is flat, an obvious sign that he doesn’t want to talk about it anymore.
But my sleepy self can’t shut up to save her life.
“So you one of those man who prefer to pull out their stick in different beds?”
I regret it the moment I say it.
I’ve crossed a line, and we both know it.
We stare at each other, Khizer silently scanning my face before he speaks.
“Just like you’re one of those women who puts money above all else?”
I’m so shocked by his reply, I say without thinking, “What makes you think that?”
He shrugs. “What make’s you think I’m a womanizer?”
“Aren’t all men?”
He tilts his head to the side, scrutinizing me. “And aren’t all woman after the money?”
I remain silent, not knowing how to reply for the first time.
He considers me for a while, before speaking again, breaking the tense silence. “Tell me, aren’t they? You’re so quick to criticise the men, and how they’re such assholes. But aren’t the woman as well?” He let’s out a bitter laugh. “Even your dear aunt. You said so yourself, she likes me because I’m a business man.”
He looks at me, expecting a response, but I can’t bring myself to give him one.
He takes a step forward, now mere inches away from me, his stance challenging.”Tell me, isn’t that true? Isn’t that the first thing woman look for in a husband? Their money?”
My stomach is in a knot of nerves. It might be because of how angry he looks, or because he’s telling the truth.
I think it’s the latter.
“Not all woman want the money.” I try to sound convincing, but even i dont believe myself.
“Not all man are assholes.” He counters.
Night time is the most scary time of the day. It’s dark, dangerous and full of secrets.
Secrets you wouldn’t even think about during the day, you tell at night.
And I can feel that Khizer is a question away from telling his.
I search his marble gaze, looking for answers, trying to guess if that’s a hint of pain I see there.
Wondering what caused this easygoing man to hold such bitterness. Or who.
Another reason the night is scary is because it makes you reckless.
In the middle of the night, you forget your actions will have long lasting consequences.
You do things you wouldn’t even think of doing during the day.
“Let’s get married.” I blurt out.