Wafa was working in the Fakhri Enterprises for last three years and in those three years luckily she never crossed path with their CEO Shahzor Fakhri until three weeks ago. Shahzor, as his name meant, was a man full of power and authority. Whoever had entitled him with this name must be a sharp observer. Or maybe he had this powerful aura around him since his birth. However, exactly twenty-two days ago, she witnessed his vulnerable side. And she wished she was never present in that lift when he got asthmatic attack. Because since then every night that scene will replay in her mind.

“Wafa, you again zoned out. Go in, he is calling for you.” Shahzor's secretary Asha pulled her out of her thoughts.

“Oh, sorry.” Wafa mumbled.

“Just don't do it in his presence.” Asha patted her shoulder.

Wafa nodded and gently opened his cabin's door. She was curious to know why, all of a sudden, he had summoned her to his cabin. It must be something related to that lift incident. Maybe he wanted to thank her for helping him during his asthmatic attack. Yes, he wanted to thank her. What else it could be?

She knocked on the door before stepping inside,“You called for me, sir?”

Shahzor looked her way and nodded, “Yes, Miss Bukhari, please have a seat.”

She nodded and moved to sit in front of him. Shahzor, without beating around the bushes, put a file in front of her. Wafa looked at him in confusion.

“Read it,” He told.

With hesitation, she opened the black leather file. ‘Marriage Certificate’ was written on the heading in bold, black letters. Her eyes widened as she saw her name printed on the wife's name. Shahzor had already signed the document. She couldn't understand what the heck was going on.

“I want you to marry me,” Shahzor dropped the bomb, making her shoot daggers at him.

“Is this a joke, Mr. Fakhri? This is ridiculous.” She threw the file on table and stood up to leave.

“Tomorrow is my birthday,” He blurted out.

Wafa turned around and passed him a weird look,“Happy birthday then.”

“If I don't marry today, my property will go into charity.” He explained while raising up from his chair.

Wafa turned around completely to stand face to face with him,“I don't want to be dragged into any of this, Mr. Fakhri.”

“You will get money to do this. The marriage won't be public. I just want the property, that's it.”

“You can marry someone other girl, Mr. Fakhri. How about Rabiya?” 

“That flirt receptionist!? I would prefer dying over marrying her.”

“Then maybe Qudsia? She will be willing to marry you.”

“Wafa, I want you...” He paused,“I mean, I want you to marry me,” He completed his sentence,“You have a brother, right? You have taken loan for his studies. I can help you with the loan. And I will secure your brother's future.”

Wafa stayed quiet. The offer was tempting. She had taken loan of eight lakh for her brother's Btech degree and she was in no condition to fully repay it anytime soon. She could only pay the interest with her monthly salary. But marrying him?

“Our marriage will be a secret?” She asked.

“Yes,” He nodded.

“I'll have to live with you?”She asked again.

“Only for a while,”He replied. 

She pondered over the issue for long moments before asking for a pen,“Alright give me a pen.”

Shahzor smiled and gave her his fountain pen. Wafa took it from him and opened the file to sign on the marriage certificate. She dropped the pen and stared at her signature beside his. In less than a minute, they were now legally married to each other.

“Thank you, Wafa.”  He thanked her as he picked up the file.

“I don't want to tell my brother about this entire arrangement. He lives in university campus so he won't get to know about my absence at home,” She explained.

“Alright, I'll come to pick you up from your house... tomorrow evening?” He asked.

“Okay,” She nodded.

“Good. You may go back to work now.”

She nodded again before turning around and exiting his cabin.

Wafa had just exited the cabin when Asha asked her eagerly,“Wafa, what did he say?”

Wafa went nervous. She couldn't think of an excuse,“He... he said he heard the rumour that I am having affair with someone in the office. So he just wanted to clarify if it's true or just a rumour.”

“What? You and affair? And he heard it before it reached my ears? That can't happen.” Asha said dramatically.

“It was just a rumour, Asha. Just chill.” Wafa faked a smile and walked away.

“Wafa Shahzor Fakhri... No, Wafa Bukhari is alright.” She mumbled to herself and went back to her work desk. Just in a matter of fifteen minutes, she became a married woman. Could life be any more unpredictable?

•••

Chapter Two

Three weeks ago, he had entered the office lift where Wafa was already present. It was the time of evening. Almost everyone had left for home. Wafa mumbled a good evening to him, to which he replied with a curt nod. A few minutes passed in silence. But then they realised that the lift was slowing down and with a loud thud sound it stopped in the middle of its way down to the ground floor.

Shahzor tried his best to calm down his senses, but almost immediately he began to feel suffocated in the small, closed space. He checked for his inhaler in his pockets but then he remembered that he forgot to bring it to office that day.

“Sir, are you feeling well?” Wafa asked when he began breathing heavily.

“I have asthma,” He replied, his breaths getting heavier by every passing second.

“Mr. Fakhri, take deep breathe,”  She held his cold hands and began rubbing them with her warm ones. He felt some sort of comfort. Shahzor tried to take deep breaths as she instructed him to.

Soon they heard another thud sound and the lift began to move again. Shahzor sighed in relief. Wafa let go of his hands.

“Thanks,” He mumbled as the lift door slid open and he left from there.

✿ ✿ ✿

Shahzor was driving the car. Wafa was sitting beside him silently and looking at the passing views. She had never entered this part of the city. The area was known to be the residence of rich families living luxurious lifestyles. Her brother Aaban on many occasions told her that one day they will buy a house in the south of the city, where all the rich people live. She would just laugh and shrug. Because she knew his this dream will always remain a dream.

“We are here.”

The car stopped in front of a penthouse. Shahzor stepped out of the car, followed by Wafa. He handed the car keys to the watchman,“Bring the luggage inside.”

“You come with me,” He told Wafa, who nodded and silently followed him inside.

Shahzor halted his track once they entered his bedroom.

“I am sorry, but we'll have share this bedroom. There are other rooms in this house. But my half-sister is going to visit tomorrow. I don't want to make her suspicious,” He explained to her.

“No problem, I'll manage.”

The watchman put the luggage inside the room and left.

“You can arrange your stuff in the closet,”  He opened the door that led into his closet.

Wafa was surprised to see an entire closet. He must have a lot of clothes that he needs an entire separate room to keep them. She could count her dresses on her fingers. With these thoughts on her mind she entered the closet while carrying her suitcase. Everything was perfectly organized in his closet. All the black suits were hanging in one left corner, nave blue next to them, then white, grey, royal blue and lastly brown. Even his shoes were organised as per their shades of colour and all the drawers were dedicated to accessories worn by men like cufflinks, wristwatches, glasses, chains, rings and bracelets. She didn't want to ruin the perfection of the closet by throwing her worn out stuff among those expensive apparels.

“Wafa.”

She heard Shahzor call for her from the entrance of closet.

“Yes?”

“I have informed the family lawyer about our marriage and he said he is coming to meet you immediately. He will be here in a few hours,” He spoke while leaning against the wall.

“Why immediately?” She asked in confusion.

“Because he must be doubting the honesty of our marriage.”

“You mean he knows it's a contract marriage?”

“Yes, and we need to make him believe that we are a real couple.” He stood straight and walked two steps ahead.

“How? We are not a real couple,” She frowned.

“We have to act like one. Wait, do you know how to cook?” He asked hopefully.

“Yes,” She nodded.

“Great, he is a big foodie. Cook some nice meal to win his heart.”

“Alright, show me the kitchen.” She was more than happy to cook. After her parents died, she dearly missed cooking family meals.

After a while, they were present in the kitchen. Shahzor was standing at a corner because he didn't know C of Cooking. While Wafa was looking for something in the refrigerator.

“Is there any meat or chicken?” She asked because she couldn't find any in the fridge.

“No, and he is vegetarian.”

“Let's go for paneer then. I am cooking Shahi Paneer,” She said while pulling out a packet of paneer from the freezer.

“Very well, should I help you with something?” He was praying to listen a No as her reply because his culinary skills were non-existent.

“Oh, yeah, tell me where are the ingredients.”

“Oh, wait a minute. Let me grab them for you.”

He quickly put the spices on the kitchen slab. 

“Anything else?” He asked.

“No, your expectations told me you know nothing about cooking.” She smiled and pulled out tomatoes and onions from the fridge,“But you can cut the vegetables if you are so willing to help.”

Shahzor passed her a sheepish look before picking up a knife and began chopping tomatoes.

In less than an hour Wafa had prepared the meal with Shahzor's help. Now they were waiting for the family lawyer to arrive.

•••

Chapter Three

Arvind Singhal was the family lawyer of Shahzor's family. The man was in his seventies and yet he didn't retire from his job, which was troublesome for Shahzor. The man was keeping an eye on him since Shahzor acquired the company and constantly reminded him of his grandfather's will. That his share of property will be donated if he does not get married before turning thirty. It may sound insensitive, but Shahzor was praying that the old man dies before his thirtieth birthday. But death, life's evil stepsister, decided to go on a vacation after taking so many lives during pandemic.

“It's delicious!” The old man exclaimed as he savoured the tasty Shahi Paneer cooked by Wafa.

Shahzor's eyes were twinkling with elation. Wafa very easily won the grandpa's heart by pleasing his tastebuds.

“Shahzor, you are a lucky man. You'll get to eat tasty food everyday from now on.”

“I deserve it, Arvind uncle. My eyes are still stinging from chopping onions.”

The old man chuckled at his remark, “Well, I doubted that you did a fake marriage to acquire your inheritance. But now I am relieved. I'll start the paperwork as soon as I reach home.”

Shahzor's eyes again twinkled with happiness. Finally he got what he wanted for so long.

✿ ✿ ✿

The next morning, Shahzor was waiting for his half-sister Insha to arrive. She had told him that she was coming with the guy she liked. And he was in full mood to scare off the said guy.

“Happy Birthday, Shahzor.” He heard her as she stepped out of the bedroom wearing a simple white palazzo suit.

He was caught off-guard. He wasn't a birthday person. He doubted if anyone had ever remembered his birthday. They never did, neither he wanted them to. But still it felt nice.

“Thanks.”

“So we aren't going office today?” She asked.

“No, my half-sister is coming, as I had you yesterday.”

“Oh, yeah. Umm... should I cook something for her?”

“The cook will be here anytime soon. You don't need to bother. Yesterday was a different case.”

“Ah... cooking is much better sitting idle. So I am going to kitchen.”

“As you wish. By the way, there's a good news for you.”

“What good news?”

“You'll know that very soon. Be patient.”

•••

Shahzor is a decent short story. But while writing it I realised that the story wasn't supposed to be like this. It ended up becoming something totally different from what I wanted to write. So I guess, that discouraged me and I failed to complete the story.