Mansha’s POV:
I don’t know how long I’ve been observing Khizer fidgeting in his seat before he looks up and catches me. I don’t know what look he sees on my face, but he smiles reassuringly. I don’t smile back.
“Stop gawking at each other and focus on finding a dress you two!” Grandma suddenly chides. I tug my gaze back to the salesman, and Khizer does the same.
One look at the sea green gown laced in gold, and I turn my head away again. “I’m not wearing that.” I say.
Mom sighs. “It’s been three days Mansha, come to a decision will you?” I purse my lips and glare at her.
“I told you I wanted-”
“Black? Black is bad luck sweety. Plus, Khizer doesn’t like that color.” Grandma interrupts.
I force myself to smile. “Then what color does Khizer like?”
“He likes-”
“Whatever color you want.” We all turn to Khizer. “Buy whatever color you want. Even if it’s black.”
His grandma bristles. “She can’t wear black it’s a bad omen!”
Mom nods. “I agree. I don’t want my daughter looking like a goth on her wedding.”
Khizer pins them both with a sweet smile. “But I wanna see my fiancee in a black dress.”
The wheels in my head turn, and the same thing repeats in my head. Something’s wrong.
My eyes don’t leave Khizer as the two ladies reluctantly agree under the sweet male’s needs, and tell me I can get a black dress after all.
I nod. “If you two can go back to the shop where we saw it, I’ll be there in a while with Khizer. I want a drink.”
They agree, and after a while, we’re alone, walking down a crowded sidewalk in silence.
“What’s wrong?” I say, breaking the silence.
“Is something supposed to be?” He replies half heartedly.
“You’re acting weird. Something is wrong.”
“I just wanted to see you in a beautiful black dress.”
I stop and turn to look at him. “Or you just wanted me to go home quickly.”
He holds my gaze. “I heard you got fired.”
My entire body stiffens. “How do you know?”
He grabs my hand and guides me through the crowd, until we’re standing in a crowded subway. We make our way upstairs and find a table in the corner, a family with a bunch of kids sitting across from us.
“Khizer.” I snap. I don’t like this silent demeanor of his. “Tell me. How do you know? Is that what your bodyguards do? Spy on me?”
He shakes his head. “The mayor told me Mansha.”
Saying that my entire body freezes is an understatement. The events of the past few days whirl in my head, until it all makes sense. I got fired because of him. I look at Khizer, a mix of fear and anger causing my heart beat to quicken. “And? Why would he threaten you about me?”
“We’re both on his bad side right now.”
I stare at him. What did he do? “What did you do?”
He shakes his head. “Thats a story for another day. But right now, Mansha, you need to lay low.”
I frown. “If you think I’ll drop that case, you’re wrong.”
“He’ll get you killed Mansha!” Khizer hisses.
“If I die, then we’ll both know how fucking useless your bodyguards are, but I am NOT dropping that case simply because he said so.”
He stares at me for a long while, before nodding. “I’m not exactly hailing his orders for me, so I didn’t expect you to either.” I raise a pointed eyebrow. “It was worth a shot.” He clarifies.
I sigh. “Those bodyguards. I’m ready to pay double if that means you’ll increase security.”
“I already did. And there’s no need to pay me.”
I frown. “We had a deal. I’m not taking any favors from you, ever.”
He grins. “You just got fired ma’am. You might wanna hold on to that favor.”
I glare at him. “Don’t bring my job into this. I have plenty of savings.”
“Keep them. I don’t think you’re in the mood of getting a job anytime soon.”
Why does he know that? I ignore his comment and turn to the menu. “What do you want?” I look up at him. “It’s on me.”
He sighs. “You know I don’t eat fast food.”
I grimace. “Well, give it a try today.” I look back at the menu. “How about the barbeque? I think you’ll like it, you like spicy food don’t you?”
×———×
The wedding is four weeks away, and the family is ripe with preparations. Huge ?????? in my honor, or Khizer’s, shopping, packing, celebrating and eating. It was so bright and consistent it felt almost surreal, because everyone but me was happy.
A large ball of anxiety had taken permanent residence in my stomach, and I was left watching my surroundings with an eagle eye, fearful of everything and everyone. It was the fear that was killing me, and increasing my determination at the same time.
I felt alone. Completely and utterly helpless and foolish. For faking a marriage with someone, for going against the mayor, for fighting for a lost cause and having no one to share it all with. No friends, no family who understands you, no one who’ll listen and help. Makes you really rethink your past decisions.
It makes you hate yourself.
Khizer on the other hand, seemed to be handling it all beautifully. He was being loved by everyone, be it my family or his. He was the sunshine, smiling and joking around, getting things done his way. He seemed to be getting everything he wanted, had everything under control. A friend who loved him like crazy, and grandma who didn’t meddle in his business, and a society that recognized and respected him.
But if there’s anything I’d learned about Khizer Malik, it was that things weren’t as easy as he made it seem. He was just very good at acting. And that observation of mine was confirmed by Ahmed, when we had our meeting yesterday, about how to proceed further with his case.
I told him I was marrying the man he asked me to fight against.
He wasn’t surprised. “I already knew.”
I let out a incredulous laugh. “Everyone but me seems to know everything about me.”
Ahmed smiles. “Welcome to the business world.”
“It is indeed more messed up then just buying and selling.”
“Shouldn’t be very hard for a criminal lawyer to cope with it though.” He leans forward. “Plus, now you have Khizer to help you.”
“I can make do without help.” I say bitterly.
He nods. “As you should. The first rule of living in this world is to not trust anyone.”
“Your implication being?”
He doesn’t saying anything, looking at me thoughtfully. “You trust Khizer don’t you?”
I don’t reply immediately, thinking. Do I trust him? To my surprise, the answer comes to me immediately. I do.
I sit back. “I don’t.”
His eyebrows rise up. “You don’t trust the man you’re marrying?”
“I never mix my private life with my business. Khizer is my rival still, Mr. Ahmed, and rest assured that my marriage won’t come in between our business.” I say honestly.
He nods. “I’m not worried about that Ms. Haseeb.” He leans in further. “I’m worried about you.”
I resist the instinct to show my surprise. “Don’t be.”
He ignores that. “Khizer is…. a complicated person. He says something, but does another. He’s a pretender, some might even say an actor. A wise man once said to beware of people who hide their emotions behind a smile.”
I consider him, rather then his words, because there was nothing he’d just told me that I didn’t already know, but the way he seemed to know what he was talking about was intriguing.
I hadn’t really thought about it before, but now it got me thinking. What really was the deal between him and Khizer, behind all that property drama?
“You certainly seem familiar with my finacee.” I finally say.
He shrugs. “There is certainly more to it then meets the eye, but it’s really not my place to tell you when your ‘fiancee’ didn’t.”
I smile. “Since you’re my client and quiet obviously very familiar with Khizer as well, would you honor us by attending our wedding?”
Ahmed smiles back. “I’d love to Ms. Haseeb.”
It goes against my guidelines, but it was about time I found out who the man I’m marrying actually is.