▬▬▬▬▬

▬▬▬▬▬

The next day brought a new visitor at the doorstep of Malik house hold. Zalaan had kept his promise of coming to ask Razzaq for the hand of his daughter respectfully for the last time after this he wouldn't ask before taking her away.

Dressed in his expensive black suit, the top button undone, Zalaan looked like a model straight out a magazine. The type of a man who could easily corrupt any girls dreams but what more could he do when his own sanity has been corrupted by an angel.

"Kaise hain aap Razzaq sahab?" Zalaan said while shaking hands with Merzia's dad.

"Waalaikumsalam" Razzaq replied making Zalaan roll his eyes. He was guided in a separate portion in a wide hall, his calculated gaze roamed around for a moments taking his surroundings in before sitting down.

Zalaan sat down while opening his coat button with his left hand. His posture straight and confident, a 5 o'clock shadow casted on his features, his intimidating aura made the young maid shiver a little as she served the two men and scrammed away from the scene immediately.

"Razzaq sahab mera khayal aap jaante hain me yahan kion aya hon." He said in a stern tone.

(Mr Razzaq I think you know why I'm here)

"Agar tu wahi baat duhrane aaye hain Zalaan mian tu mera jawab ab bhi wahi hai" Razzaq said leaning back on the sofa. Looking at the way Zalaan's jaw locked, he knew he had triggered a nerve.

(If your here to repeat what you said earlier then my answer is still the same)

Zalaan clenched his fist. His jaw set and eyes fierce, he looked at the old man sitting infront of him with such ease that it ticked him off even more. How was this man sitting here so leisurely when he knew full well just how effortlessly his daughter can be taken away, never to return again.

"I thought by now you would've known I'm not taking no as an answer" he said in a deathly tone.

"I also think by now you should've figured out that I'm not going to marry my daughter with a man with such an awful background." Mr Malik said picking up his tea cup and sipping his tea without a care in the world.

Razzaq didn't pay any heed to the heated glare he felt on himself, rather he stirred the sugar in his tea in a calm manner, glancing up at the other man once before lifting his cup to his lips.

Zalaan inhaled sharply. He shut his eyes trying hard not to loose his temper infront of this man.

Zalaan took out the gun from the holster and put it on the coffee table. Just as a threat he wouldn't kill his Angel's father, or would he?

Razzaq felt a smirk tug at his lips as he raised an eyebrow at the weapon sitting on his table. Tilting his head to the side he smiled softly making Zalaan curse him under his breath for looking so unbothered.

"A gun would never scare the father of a daughter, Zalaan." He said getting up and moving over to the window. He stood there on his full height of.

He was an intimidating man which he had turned himself into for the sake of his daughter's protection. He was tall and well built. Dressed in his white shalwar kurta he looked like he owned the world. He stood with his hands behind his back. His back turned towards Zalaan who stared at him in utter distaste.

Not only was he his rival in business but a little less fortunate than him. He looked down on him as one would on a peasant but here he stood like the king of the world in front of him with. His calm and composed face and body language infuriated Zalaan to the point where he just wanted to pick the gun up and shoot him but Zalaan was not the one to attack from behind.

"Then what will scare this father into marrying his daughter to me" Zalaan said standing up as well he was a few inches taller than Razzaq but that was not a matter since the power of the situation was in the hand of the man in white.

"Nothing." Razzaq announced clearly. He knew who Zalaan was and what he was capable of. Yet he wasn't a coward who would hand over his precious gem to someone like him out of fear.

"I'm Zalaan shah, Malik I don't ask for things I take them yet I am here standing in your house asking for your daughters hand in marriage..." Zalaan stopped before putting more emphasis on "marriage for the last time. Next time I won't ask" his threat didn't go unnoticed by Razzaq. He saw the determination in Zalaan's eyes and clenched his jaw in rage. His reputation was the biggest red flag for any father out there to take their daughters away.

"Exactly my point. Just as you stated you don't ask for things. My daughter is not a thing she's a human being most precisely a girl. Your reputation with women speaks louder than your ownself. And that's not something I'm looking for in a man for my daughter" he said walking past him shoving him back from his shoulder.

"Besides what sincerity can I expect from a man who couldn't bother to bring his parents with him for this purpose" Razzaq said with raised eyebrows and Zalaan gritted his teeth hearing him.

Zalaan was ready to pounce at him not caring about his age or anything else now but a sweet soft melodic voice stopped him. The voice had his heart racing. The anger that burned his soul now extinguished.

"Assalamualikum!! Baba jaan" the voice echoed in the house as Merzia entered inside. She placed her shawl on the stool near the entrance along with her bag. Removing her duppata from her head she moved towards the staircase that lead to her Baba's study thinking he might be there.

Razzaq's heart was in his throat. He didn't want the two to interact. He heard her foot steps getting closer and gulped his nervousness down, he watched as Zalaan's eyes stayed rooted on the door like a starved man waiting for his first meal in ages.

Merzia saw the lights in the hall was on and she thought to check who was there since they don't normally have guests over, biting her lip she slowly walked over to the room and smiled widely as she saw her baba jaan standing in room from the doorway.

"Oh.. Are aap yahan hain. Hum aapko dhoondne oper jaarahe the. Aap ko malo-" her rambling came to a halt as she finally acknowledged the other man in the room with her baba.

(Oh... You're here. I was going upstairs to look for you. You kno-)

Zalaan's eyes settled on the figure standing in the door way. Dressed in a blush pink dress and churidaar pajama with her dupatta loosely hanging on her shoulder leaving her black threads of hair uncovered to his eyes. Her eyes widened with the sudden realization as she quickly pulled her dupatta on her head and looked away to her Baba.

"Humme maloom nahi tha ke aapke mehmaan aaye hain. Maafi chahte hain hum aapse baad me millenge" she said and was about to leave when Zalaan's words made her stop in her track.

(I didn't know you had guest over. I'm sorry I'll meet you later)

"Razzaq sahab ta'aruf nahi karwayen ge humara?" Zalaan smirked looking at the distressed expression on Razzaq's face. He knew he didn't want her to even be near him but what could he do the lamb herself walked into the lions den. He took the gun and put it back into it's holster away from her innocent eyes.

(Mr Razzaq won't you introduce me)

Razzaq glared at Zalaan who was smirking in triumph and then looked at Merzia whose back was to them. She turned around making another mistake. Giving Zalaan the chance to gawk at her beauty like she's some kind of eye candy.

The woman eyed him from too to bottom, observing everything about him with a stoic face, the way he stood with arrogance, her head tilted to her left as she saw the outline of his gun before her cold gaze met his.

Merzia kept her curiosity and anxiety to herself as she turned her gaze back to her father, silently asking him if she was needed or not. Razzaq's expression told her that she should not be here at the moment and she nodded before turning around to leave once again.

"Aapke baba tu bataen ge nahi me kon ho tu me khudhi ta'aruf karwa deta ho" he said looking at her back intently. Merzia rolled her eyes in annoyance, this mane reminded her so much of the man who called her that night.

Clingy and entitled.

She had concluded.

(You father won't tell you who I am. I'll introduce myself then)

"Agar baba jaan zaroori nahi samjha aapka ta'aruf karwana tu phir aapke khudse batane ka bhi koi faida nahi hai. Aapki meeting disturb karne keliye maafi chahti ho" she took a quick glance his way and smiled in her fathers direction then left not paying much attention to him. Her reply made him feel worthless, her lack of attention left him craving for more. Her stern voice did something to his heart and he wished to tame that tine of hers, to have her speak with the warmth she addressed her father and that man with.

(If baba didn't find it important to introduce you then there's no point in doing it yourself. I'm sorry for disturbing your meeting)

Zalaan turned towards her father who had a peaceful expression on his face. The little smile told him that he was happy with his daughters response, truth was even he was impressed but this man's smirk of triumph made the feeling go away as soon as it came.

"I believe that's enough for you to know neither me nor my daughter are interested in what you have to offer" he said shaking his hands with Zalaan's.

"Then you better start counting days you have left with your daughter because when I want something I take it. I tried the easy way but now I guess I'll just have to snatch her away from you" he said buttoning his coat and picking up his phone that was previously placed on the coffee table.

Razzaq looked unfazed on the outside but only he knew what his heart was going through. Zalaan smirked his way one last time and started making his way out the drawing room.

Just as he stepped outside the house the sound of laughter filled his ears. Fascinated he started walking towards the backyard, a place which was restricted for only Merzia and her father. No regular guard was allowed there not even Mazhar was allowed to go there.

Normally there would be guards at the staircase but today they were off duty. The view was more than what Zalaan ever asked for. She sat on the grass with her cat and her kitten in her lap. Another black kitten sitting in her palm his tiny paws playing with her long slender fingers.

"Ow" Merzia imitated as the little kitten bit her finger rather softly than expected from a kitten. Zalaan felt jealous of the kitten that got to be that close to her, the small frown on her face melted his heart and her smile had him rooted to his place. In that moment he wanted to be that black kitten in her hand, to be able to feel her touch on his skin. The thought itself ignited a fire inside him.

She tapped its small pink nose with her forefinger and grinned lovingly at it.

"Aise kaatte thori hain." She said to the kitten who was purring in pleasure as she stroked her finger in its fluff.

(You don't bite like that)

"Baji andar chalte hain and andhera hona shuru horaha hai" her maid said looking the sky changing it's colour from blue to purple with hues of orange spread on it like a canvas.

(Ma'am let's head inside its getting dark here)

"Hana aap tu aise darrahi hain jaise magrib hote hi kisi jinn ne aap pe aashiq hojana hai" Merzia chuckled remembering Hana's stupid conspiracy about aashiq hone wale jinn

(Hana you're getting scared as if right after magrib a jinn will fall in love with you)

"Baji aap humari baaton ka mazak mat urain. Aur waise bhi aap Mashallah itni haseen hain Allah na kare koi jin aap pe aashiq hogaya tu. Ek tu waise hi aapne kaali billi pakri hui hai. Jin hui tu." Merzia shook her head on her theories.

(Ma'am please don't make fun of the things I say. Besides you're so beautiful Mashallah what if a jin really falls in love with you. You're also holding a black cat what if its a jin)

"Tauba hai Hana. Seedhi tarha kahen aapko shadow pasand nahi hai." She said kissing the head of the black kitten and then setting it free only for it to return to her lap. Unaware of the man standing in the shadow watching her intently.

(Oh god Hana. Speak clearly that you just don't like shadow)

She got up to leave but she felt as if someone was watching her. She looked here and there but didn't see anyone. The remaining residue of sun had also sat now it was only the little glow of the sun which was only enough to see shadows.

Her eyes got stuck on the figure under the tree. It looked like the silhouette of a man but she ignored it as one of the guards who must've returned.

She stared at it till it blended in with the shadow of the tree. She decided to prank Hana so she called her.

Zalaan's heart went in a frenzy as she stared at him intently. Her eyebrows furrowed but she looked away and called her maid. His felt his throat tightening as she smirked mischievously turning towards her maid.

"Hana" she whispered beckoning her near her.

"Jee Merzia Baji" hana said once she stood beside her.

"Kia tumhe bhi won aadmi nazar araha hai?" She asked in a scared voice. She pointed to where Zalaan stood unaware of the real man there.

(Can you also see that man)

"Merzia bajiii" Hana's voice wavered as she caught the sight of a man's silhouette. She clutched Merzia's arms while Merzia stopped her laughter.

"Mene tu tumhe mana kia tha na yaad kia karo jinon ko itna. Ab kia hoga?" She said moving away from Hana who stood rooted in her place still staring at the man.

(I told you not to remember demons so much. Now what will happen)

Merzia picked up shadow and walked towards Hana. Zalaan kept playing the jin in her prank silently just to see what she would do. For a minute she fooled Zalaan into believing she really saw him as a jinn.

Merzia walked closer to the girl who was close to fainting. She leaned closer her ear and lifter Shadow upto her face level staring at the little cat who stretched his paws out to touch Hana's face.

"Hana....." She whispered in a creepy voice making her shiver. Hana slowly turned her right and at that moment Merzia released shadow onto her.

Hana shrieked and stumbled back falling on to the grass with one hand one her chest breathing heavily. The poor soul started reciting every dua she remembered with her eyes closed tightly when she heard her baji laughing hysterically.

"Merzia baaji" she whined while Merzia laughed her head off. Zalaan couldn't stop the grin forming on his face without his permission. He was mesmerized by her laugh. It sounded like music to his ears. Her childishness drew him towards her like a moth to the flame.

"Aap hamesha mere saath aisa hi karti hain." Hana pouted. She was close to bursting into tears.

(You always do this to me)

"Tu meri jaan itna daro mat karo ke tumhe darana itna asaan hojaye..." Merzia's laughed and Hana huffed in fake anger

"Acha sorry ab apni Merzia baji ko maaf nahi karo gi" Merzia cooed while sitting beside her. She held her ears when she saw Hana was not having it.

(So my love don't get scared so much that it becomes easy to scare you. Ok fine sorry now will you not forgive your Merzia Baji)

"Ok fine I forgive you" she said rolling her eyes. Then both the ladies were inside when magrib azan was heard leaving an aashiq behind.

"Merzia ji. Yeh jinn tu aapke husan ka aahiq hogaya hai aur ab chaahe jo bhi karlen aap yeh aapko chorne ko raazi nahi hai" he said looking her retreating back and laughing face. Then left the place only to comeback and this time to take what's his.

(Merzia. This jinn has now become the lover of your beauty. And doesn't have any plans of leaving no matter what).

Assalamualikum guys how are you all?

So what do you think? I think I did pretty good.

So the dress code for merzia in this story is the simple plain anarkali dresses that are in now a days with churidaar pajamas and khussas. This attire just gives off a royal feel that merzia lives for so yeah.

Vote and comment.

By now you guys must've found out that I'm obsessed with cats so if most of my characters have cats don't mind I'm just fulfilling my desire to own a cat through them. My mom doesn't allows😭 lekin koi baat nahi😂

Comment kijiye. Honestly Merzia is taking a tol on me. I've started taking to my friends just like her with 'aap' and 'janab' like my teachers wanted me to and I'm loving the way it sounds. Ahh so royal😂😂

Acha bye 😂😂

Love
Hafsatahir58