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Merzia reached the hospital and rushed towards the room where her father was shifted. With a rush to her steps she sprinted in the hallway and reached the door. Taking in a deep breath and steadying herself Merzia opened the door quietly, not wanting to disturb her father's peace.

She slowly walked towards him and sat on the chair next to his bed. His face looked pale and weak but better than before the heart monitor beeped once in a while and the silence in the room deafened her ears.

"M-Merzia beta" a weak and frail voice spoke making her him softly and run a hand over his head.

"Jee baba" she said holding his hand. She brought up the fragile hand in her hold and kissed the back of it. He opened his light green eyes looking at his daughter lovingly, a small smile spread on his face as he patted her lowered head.

"Aap ko kuch chahiye? Hum doctor ko bolaen?" She asked worriedly when he kept staring at her without uttering a word.

(Do you need anything? Should I call the doctor?)

"Nahi mera bacha." He said bringing his hand up to her face. He cupped her face and caressed her cheek with tears in his eyes. Merzia Nuzzled her face in his palm feeling the lack of warmth in his hands.

(No my child)

"Kia hua baba jaan. Dard horaha hai kaheen hum doctor ko bola kar aate hain ruken" she said getting up and ready to run but Razzaq caught her hand. He tried to sit up but he couldn't.

(What happened baba jaan. Are you in pain. I'll go call the doctor wait)

Merzia used the paddle to bring up the bed a little and helped him sit up properly, Razzaq smiled in gratitude and gestured her to come back to her place. 

"Sab theek hai na?" She asked worried.

(Everything's well right)

"Mere baad tumhara kia hoga" Razzaq said wiping his tears from his eyes. The man shuddered as he felt goosebumps rake his body when he realized hoe she must've been left all alone in this world if he had not woken up again and he couldn't stop thanking his lord for it.

(What will happen to you after me)

"Mere baad kon sambhale ga tumhe" he said in a low voice.

(Who will look after you after me?)

His concern for his daughter was flowing in his veins. The daughter he loved more than his life, the one to whom he has devoted himself to after his wife. When his wife died while giving birth to his girl he promised himself he would do anything he could to keep her safe and happy. He never married in fear that a step mother wouldn't be able to give her the love a mother could. He worked his way to the top of the business world along with the fantasy world of his girl.

Merzia is her Baba's princess who was cherished and loved with no boundaries. Being a man it was hard for Razzaq to handle her once she went through puberty but he never gave up, he became her absolute best friend who she could turn to whenever she needed help.

She never felt the absence of her mother since Razzaq played both the roles marvellously. It was exhausting but he never gave up and looking at the woman his baby has grown into he couldn't help but thank Allah for every hardship and struggle he went through.

"Baba aap aisa mat kahen. Na aapko kuch hoga na humme kisi aur ki zaroorat pare gi. Aur waise bhi aap ki tarah koi aur humara khayal nahi rakh sakta" she said sincerely. Her words were the truest she had ever uttered.
(Baba please don't say such things. Nothing will happen to you neither will I ever need anyone else. Besides no one can ever take care of me like you)

Merzia Malik was a woman who always spoke the truth no matter how many hearts she broke. Her motive was to stay straightforward no matter what or how sensitive the situation was. She had seen people saying something positive but the same thing being used against them, which ends up making them the bad guy. The experience she had gained from her staying abroad and attending meetings with her father she had learned this world had no place for people who beat about the bush.

"Merzia beta yeh Allah ne dekhaya hai ke zindagi ka koi bharosa nahi hai. Aur abhi tu mujhe tumhare farz se bhi faarig hona hai. Mazhar ek acha larka hai meri aankhon ke saamne bara hua hai tumhara haath uske haath me thamate mujhe kisi baat ki fikar karne ki zaroorat nahi hogi" he said remembering Mazhar's confession about his feeling to his daughter.

(Merzia my child Allah has shown this to me that life is unpredictableand I also have to be free from your responsibilities. Mazhar is a nice guy he has grown up in front of my eyes marrying you off to him wouldn't be worrisome for me because I know him)

He had confronted Razzaq before anyone else. Razzaq was furious for him to even utter such a thing about his daughter but this attack had him thinking that maybe he should give Mazhar a chance. He had seen how respectfully he had asked for her hand in marriage unlike other men his age. Sure Mazhar was alot older than Merzia but he himself was a decade older than his wife.

Mazhar was like his own son he had seen him grown into a man who never once looked at any woman. He knew his morals and stuck to them.

Merzia didn't like it. She never even glanced at Mazhar that way in fact she never even looked at him properly. All she knew about him was that he was her Baba's assistant and the son of his friend. Just thinking about him gave Merzia goosebumps. She had sometimes caught him staring at her but she either left the place or ignored it for most parts.

"Baba aap ek baar theek hojaye phir hum ghar jaakar is baar me baat karen ge. Abhi aap araam karen" she said tucking him in nicely.
(Baba once you get healty get discharged then we will talk about this at home.)

She sat by his side running her fingers on his forehead till he fell a sleep. Her thoughts wandered off to what her baba said and dozed off when she heard someone clearing their throat, she looked up to see Mazhar standing in the threshold of the door.

His white kurta climbed to his built mascular form in the right places. His black eyes set on her small form hidden under her black shawl and the black dupatta that covered her head.

His dark hair sat clumsily on his head, his jaw covered with light stubble, merzia at once averted her eyes realizing what her traitorous eyes were doing. She fixed her dupatta on her raven hair that merged with the dupatta well. Her cheeks felt warm all of a sudden and toes curled in her pumps feeling his heated gaze on her.

"Jee?" She asked looking away to her fathers sleeping form.

(Yes?)

"Us bache Ahmed ki Ammi ko issi hospital me admit karwadia hai. Tumor hai unhe doctor ne bataya hai ke surgery last resort hai. Aapke hukum ke mutabiq surgery ke intizamat karwa diye hain" he said. His voice sounding deeper than before. He had heard the conversation that took place between the father and daughter duo. His confidence grew listening to his bare sahab trying to give him a chance.

(That kid Ahmed. I have gotten his mother admitted in this hospital. She has pancreatic tumor. The doctor has said that surgery is the last resort. According to your order I've made all the arrangements for her surgery)

"Behtar. Kis floor per hain woh? Aur surgery kab tak hai?" She asked not once looking at him.

(Good. Which floor are they on? And she is the surgery?)

"Fifth floor. Corridor 9. Surgery shuru hogaye hogi abhi tak toh" he said looking at her. Even her side profile made his heart go in a frenzy. The innocence and royalty that flowed around her, made his knees weak.

(The surgery might have been started by now)

"Theek hai hum kal millenge unse take woh aram karlen aaj surgery ke baad. Aap yahan baba ke pass rukiye hum canteen se hokar aate hain" she said getting up from her chair. She made her way to the door but he stopped her.

(Alright then I'll meet then tomorrow so that she can rest a little after the surgery. You stay her with baba I'll comeback from the canteen)

"Aapko kuch chahiye tu me le ata hon." He said offering his service.

(If you need anything I'll bring it for you)

"Nahi hum khud le aayen ge aap bus yahan rukiye" she said looking over his shoulder which was a little difficult for her based on their height difference.

(No thankyou I'll bring it myself you just stay here)

"Bare sahab khafa honge mujhse agar mene aapjo akele bhej diya tu. Aapki hifazat meri zimedari hai aakhir." He said stepping a little close to her. His words came out more dominant and heavy than they actually were. The double meaning behind his words made Merzia take a step back.

(Sir will not be happy if I let you go alone after all your protection is my responsibility)

"Baare sahab ne jo aap se kaha uske baare me soochiye ga zaroor" he said looking at her whose head snapped up to look at him with wide eyes. She blinked her eyes a few times and forced herself to not stare at the man infront of her, shaking her head she looked up again.

(Please think about what sir has said)

"Jahan tak baba ke mashware ki baat hai uske baare me hum soochen ge magar agar aapke behaviour me humme Zara sa bhi farq mehsos hua tu is meharbani se bhi jaayen ge aap. Umeed hai samajh gaye honge aap?" She while looking directly in his eyes which had sparkled listening to her decision of giving him and his pure love a chance.

She raised an eyebrow at him who at once lowered his eyes looking at her feet adorned in black pumps. She bit her lip to stop that traitorous smile from spreading on her face by seeing a fully grown man smiling at the ground with his hands clasped together infront of him.

(As far as what baba said is considered I'll think about it but if I ever see any change in your behavior then you'll be ridden of this opportunity as well)

Mazhar couldn't stop the happiness from showing on his face. For a 34 year old man he was acting like a teenager who had fallen in love for the first time. He was smiling like a bride gazing at the ground. And why wouldn't he. He had loved and adored Merzia ever since he got hold of his emotions.

He didn't realize when his respectful gaze for her turned into love but when he did he didn't care about the consequences and confessed his feeling to his bare sahab he still feels the tingling of the slap he had gotten in return but he never once disrespected him. He knew Razzaq had set the bar way up high for the man who marry his daughter but love is an emotion which doesn't see any bars or boundaries.

"Mazhar sahab ab agar aap humare raaste se hat jaayen tu humme jana hai" she said taking a step forward. He at once moved aside his mind still fazed. She left the room. Stepping outside she couldn't help the smile that took over her features making her look like the glowing moon that had taken the place of the sun by now. She walked to the canteen to get herself to eat something since she hadn't had anything since morning because of her worried nerves.

(Mr Mazhar now if you'd move out of my way I've to go)

"Apne hosh sambhalo larke. Woh chali bhi gaye aur tum ne kuch nahi kia. Kahan gaye tumhari responsibility ab?" Razzaq sahab chuckled seeing Mazhar still standing by the end of the bed.

(Get back in your senses boy. She left and you couldn't do anything. Where did your responsibility go now?)

"Woh.." He tried saying something but couldn't, his ears warned up and he rubbed the nape of his neck feeling embarrassed.

(Um..)

"Baat suno larke agar tumhe mauqa diya hai tu ab meri umeedon per poora utarna. Uski aankh me ek aanso aur tum aapni jaan se jao ge yaad rakhna meri beti bojh nahi hai mujhpe. Usse agar waqai muhabbat karte ho tu saabit karni hogi" Razzaq said threatening the man infront of him.

(Listen here boy if you're given a chance then you'll have to be upto my expectations. If I see a single tear or pain in her eyes you'll be dead remember that my daughter is not a burden on me. If you really love her then you'll have to prove it)

"Aapko mayoos nahi karon me" he said with his head bowed down in a respectful manner. The determination that his eyes held told Razzaq he had made the right decision.

(I will not disappoint you)

"Hmm theek hai. Ab jao dekho kahan gaye hai woh. Responsibility nibhao apni mere ab aram karne ke din hain" Razzaq said yawning and shooing Mazhar away.

(Hmm Alright. Go see where she had gone. Fulfill your responsibility now these are my resting days)

Mazhar didn't have to be told twice as he took off striding out of the room leaving an emotional Razzaq Malik who prayed for the well being of both his children.

***************************

On the other end of the city Zalaan sat in his study thinking if the beauty in black who had captivated his heart and mind with not only her beauty but by her personality. He wanted to see her again, his mind wanted him to capture her and keep her in his sight for the rest of life, his heart had already given up on him, it had forgotten to beat for his feelings rather it only worked to pump blood in his veins.

Her brown eyes and flushed face had taken over his every thought. Her smile had him craving for more. He wanted to have more of her even if that meant to steal her from her safe heaven.

His blood boiled at the sight of the man who was with her that day. Mazhar, Razzaq's assistant that. The assistant of the man he despised, the man who never bend down to his terms and conditions and had immediately become an enemy in his eye.

"Mer-zia" he clicked his tounge making a tch sound, a devilish smirk spread on his face as he narrowed his eyes on the picture in his hand. His men were fast to comply to his orders, moving the office around he chuckled darkly.

"Aapko ko haasil karna pare ga ab" he smirked flicking the picture on the table and picking up another one.
(I need to have you now)

"Tayar rahen aap. Merzia Malik se Merzia Zalaan shah banne ke liye tayar hojaye. Ek maamoli businessman ki beti se shah sarkar ki begum banne ka intezaar karen aap. Araha ho me apni amanat lene keliye Razzaq sahab" he smirked puffing the smoke out creating a halo of smoke around him. He caressed Merzia's face on the picture that he had gotten from the file that held her information.

(Be ready. Be ready to become Merzia Zalaan shah from Merzia Malik. Wait for becoming the wife of king shah from the daughter of an ordinary business man. I'm coming to take what's mine Mr Razzaq)

He looked at the smiling faces of the father and daughter duo. Their happiness filled the photo as they laughed over something Razzaq had said. In one picture Merzia sat by her fathers feet while in the other the roles were reversed.

Razzaq Malik didn't feel any shame in sitting by his daughter's feet he showed how a man can fall to your feet if he loved you. Her raven hair was covered in a red dupatta as well as her figure which was claded in a deep red anarkali with gotta on the ends.

Zalaan couldn't help but feel jealous even of the man who was her father. He wanted her to smile for him like that but right now she didn't even know he existed.

"Bohat jald aap tasveer ke bajaye mere sammne hongi meri jaan" he said flapping the picture of the woman who hadn't even been touched. All he could think of was her in his arms and her smile.

(Every soon you'll be infront of ne instead of the picture)

On one hand was the new beginning of Merzia's life with Mazhar while on the other her single smile had caught the heart of the most dangerous man known to all of the state.

Assalamualikum guys how are you all?

Here is another update. I hope you enjoy it like I said this was an unplanned book so it might get long or even shorter I don't know but we're making progress..

Kia yeh Sahi hoga agar me kahon ke aage dono taraf barabar lagi hui hai?😕

I hope you enjoy this and also tell me who could win our Merzia. Who do you prefer to be the man of our girls dream?

Honestly even I'm confused😂😂

Vote and comment pleaseeeeee😗😗

For Mazhar🌹🌹

For Zalaan 🔥🔥

Let the game begin...

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Hafsatahir58