"If you want to be happy, be."

-Leo Tolstoy

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C H A P T E R    N I N E

Saturday, 4th November 2021.
12:28 pm.

Since from the beginning Hammad had a very bad feeling about the party, he shouldn't have gone to the party in the place if not he wouldn't have met with his uncle to even give him a chance to talk nonsense to his face.

Hammad kept clenching and unclenching his jaw as he stared down at the short-rounded person standing in front of him. It is his uncle by the way.

"If your father was here, he wouldn't be happy seeing you like this."His uncle stated, pushing his hands into his pocket and heaved a long sigh.

"Of course, he wouldn't. And do you know something? If not for you my father would've been here with me."Hammad retorted with a serious face.

His uncle snorted and shook his head. "Agree to this, my boy! Get married to my daughter it'll be a bigger success for you, don't you think?"

"Me? Your boy? Wait your daughter? Pfft!"Hammad chuckled shaking his head. "That's probably the least thing I wanna do right now, marriage! That too with your daughter?" he paused and laughed again. "What makes you think I'd like to marry your daughter? Couldn't you find a better life partner for her that you came running after my life out of the blue?"

"Getting married to your daughter won't bring any bigger success for me, my success is only by Allah. To hell with marriage and your damn daughter! I'm not interested."He ended with a hiss.

His uncle was very much angry at the look on his face but he kept his cool. "Think about it." he tapped his shoulder and left.

"There's absolutely nothing to think about he—-"he stopped when he saw a shadow by the left side of the door as if someone is standing there. Probably eavesdropping on their conversation.

With slow and delicate steps he reached the place only to see that lady- what's her name again? Uh...uhmm...yes! Mahreen! That's the girl. She had her phone firmly gripped between her palms and her eyes shut as if she was scared or something.

Scared or not it doesn't matter to Hammad, he quickly jerked her by his elbow and she was now standing right in front of him, breathing louder than usual.

"What are you doing here?"His voice was thick and laced with anger she could sense it from every blood vein of hers.

Mehreen slowly opened her eyes to look at him, but she shut them quickly. In this case, she is at fault, she eavesdropped on their conversation by mistake, she didn't mean to but it happened, it's a bad day for her it seems.

He gripped her elbow tighter hurting her in the process and yelled directly into her ear. "Are you deaf? Didn't you hear what I said?"

"My...hand...you're hurting...me."She stammered in a whisper. It was so hurting that a tear escaped her eyes.

Shit! Hammad released her elbow slowly, he was just angry and pissed off already by his uncle and it wasn't a good idea to vent out his frustration on her. Now he made her cry, such a crybaby she is.

Mehreen sniffled and reached for the place, rubbing it continuously to reduce the pain.

"Speak up! What the hell are you doing here? I want answers girl."

"I came here to make a phone call."She hiccuped, her eyes looking everywhere but at him.

"Then why are you hiding there."He pointed at the place. "Do I look that stupid to believe your lies?"

"Well, I guess you are! I told you I was here to make a phone call and it was too loud inside that's why I came here do I need to explain more?"Her voice was getting louder, even though she was scared as hell.

"Don't try to act smart with me young lady, I just don't understand why it's always YOU all the time, that's why I'm always suspicious of you! Wherever I go I see you there it can't be a mere coincidence."

"Says the person who was looking for information about me."

That shut him up for a while. How did she come to know about it? Gosh! That receptionist with a runny mouth must have told her about it.

"What? Cat caught your tongue?"Mehreen furrowed her brows at him, she was trying so hard not to laugh because of the expression on his face. It was a sight to behold!

"I thought so too! Was it that important to you that you wasted your time, and your energy and kept your arrogance aside just to look for information about me? Tell me!"She bit her lower lip and smiled at him.

"You wish! I was just being cautious, so don't even think that you're important to me in any way."He answered back with an eye roll.

"Oh really? Cautious? Such an insecure lad lmao." she muttered under her breath shaking her head slowly.

"What did you just call me?"

"Did you hear anything?"She replied with a question.

"Just answer the question," he stated pissed off.

"Why don't you answer mine?"She rolled her eyes.

"Cause I asked you first!"

"And I decided to ignore it."

"Also learn some manners because that's not a good way to talk to your uncle," she added, taking him by surprise.

Who the heck does she think she is to say that to me? He moved closer to her and she moved back and gulped. Oh no!

"How dare you! Just look at you! Now I understand why you're so short and tiny! You don't know how to mind your business, all you do is eavesdrop on people's conversations! Wow! I'm not surprised, at all. I know your types."

Mehreen gulped hard and raise her head. "I've heard enough! Stop calling me short! And I wasn't eavesdropping I was here to make—-"

He cut in. "To make a phone call." he mimicked and she rolled her eyes.

"You don't know anything about me, so it'll be better if you stay away from me and never say anything about this! Because if you do..." he paused pointing his index finger at her almost touching her nose. "You'll regret it." with that he made his way to the exit but her voice stopped him.

"What will you do? I'm not scared of you and your miniature threats!"

He tilted his head to look at her, with a daring smile on his lips. "I guess you don't want to work with Diana anymore!" and he left.

I guess you don't want to work with Diana anymore! That one last sentence of him kept ringing in her head as an alarm, giving her a very good and tangible reason to stay away from him. He can do anything to make her regret what she said, he should do everything but not her job, please!

Ya salam! Should I go apologize? Her subconscious mind started.

Nope! I won't! I wasn't at fault! He just took things the wrong way and blamed me! For real! I shouldn't have listened to their conversation, but it was very tempting and I was being the curious cat I am, gosh! Ya Allah, save me from this irk-guy.

So I won't apologize, and that's it!

She stomped her feet before angrily walking back to the hall. The music was still loud, luckily she spotted Taheera and was quick to go meet her. "What are you doing he—"she stopped when she saw that Taheera was talking with a guy.

"Hey..."Fahad waved and Mehreen only smiled at him with a confused face.

"Reen you're back! I've been looking for you for like forever."That made Mehreen roll her eyes.

Was she even looking for her? It doesn't seem like it.

"I can see that," she replied curtly and rolled her eyes again.

"Oops sorry, Reen meet Fahad, Fahad meet Mehreen but you can call her Reen."

Mehreen furrowed her brows at Taheera she has that "No he can't call me that" look all over her face.

Fahad smiled and said. "It's nice to finally meet you Mehreen, I've heard so much about you from a friend of mine."

Mehreen's confusion got doubled up by his last statement "A friend of yours?"She questioned with an amused expression.

"Yeah."He answered and looking up he saw Hammad coming his way. "Yep, here he comes."

Y'all know how eager Mehreen can be, she was so curious to see the guy who has been talking a lot about her, the funny thing is that she has no idea who he is, where he is, how he looks and so much more. Immediately she turned, her anger increased to a thousand with imaginary smoke gushing out of her ears and fire-spitting dragons.

Yep, she is that angry. How she wish she wore one of her grandma's slippers they'll surely come in handy in slapping the hell out of the fool in front of her.

"Talk of the devil," Fahad stated and gave Hammad a slight nudge on his shoulder.

"We should get going." that was the only thing he said before turning to leave.

"Not so fast Mr. Snooty pants you've got some explaining to do." and that was Mehreen. Hammad turned he was neither smiling nor fuming. "He is your friend right?"She pointed at Fahad.

Hammad ignored her.

"Hammad this is Taheera Mehreen's best friend."Fahad introduced with a wide grin.

"And do I look like I care? If you aren't coming I'll go by myself."He replied rudely, his hands glued to his pocket.

"Taheera let's go." she dragged her hand. "And a small piece of advice for you Hammad or whatsoever your name is, try to be a little nicer, less egoistic, and happier because this life ain't permanent, we all gonna leave one day so all these won't matter in heaven, know that and know peace." with that they left.

"I'm so gonna kill you Taheera!!!"

Ria❤️