Shehroz.

I look at the screen blankly and ignore everything that is happening around me. I couldn’t believe that Aminah would say something like that, but I shouldn’t be surprised because I know she say what she feels. I don’t understand that why she was saying that I send Aqeel somewhere to keep him away from her when I actually give him off for a month and call him on the company ceremony with Aminah. 

I was snapped out of my thoughts when the lights turned on and the screen goes black. I look at everyone and saw them looking at me hopefully. The meeting was about the new kids magazine that we are going to publish for the first time. We didn’t publish anything like that, but now we are. The designs of the magazine were already decided and now we have to see how it comes out. I looked around for the last time before nodding, making them smile.

I stood up and button my coat before walking out of the board room. I walk in an open elevator before pressing the button of my floor. I sigh and leaned back on the steel wall when the door close. I don’t know why I keep thinking about Aminah when I made promises to myself that I will try my best to forget her. I was good before she showed up earlier. I was finally start forgetting about her, but she ruined it and get in my mind again. I just hope she isn't in my office or else I will do something that I will regret later. 

When I step in my office, I saw no one there, a part of me hoped that she would be here and other was relief that that she wasn’t. I shake everything off my mind and quickly get back to my work as I have lots of meetings today and the day just started. In between my meetings, the time I get I try to call Aqeel but his phone was switched off. I don’t know Aminah number as she changed it a few years ago when she was trying to get rid of me. I don’t blame her because this is what I did to get my ex out of my life.

When my work is finished, I locked up my office before leaving the empty building. Everyone was gone two hours ago as the office closed at 7 but I had to send some important email and decide to do it from here instead sending from home. When I reach where my car was parked I unlock it, slide inside before driving home.

***

"Come in." I called out when someone knock on the door. I signed my name at the bottom of the paper and close the file before putting it aside. I looked up when I heard my name. I saw Aqeel with his hands behind his back. 

"I am here to say sorry for my wife if she says something to disrespect you." He says with an apologetic look, but behind this look I see anger and hate but I wasn’t sure.

"No, it's okay. I can understand her anger but why do you lie to her that you are working late and gone on a trip?" I asked, leaning back in my chair and saw as he gets nervous and try to think. 

"I-I was just up-planning a perfect h-holiday and gift for her to make it up for lying but it didn’t end well."

"Oh. Okay." I shrugged, but my heart clenched listening to him. I know he is doing all this to impress her nothing else. "Have a good vacation." I force out a smile toward him and nodded. 

"That is the other reason I am here." I raised my eyebrow at what he says. He didn’t give me a chance to ask him anything as he answer me. "I am canceling my vacations. I think my wife needs some time to calm her anger before I take her somewhere."

"As you wish. You can join from tomorrow." I told him making him nodded before leaving. I don’t know if I should be relied or suspicious of his behavior, the way he talk about Aminah.  

I shrugged it off and go back to my work. After an hour working in an office, I went downstream to attend meetings that were rescheduled. Meetings were good and now on ceremony, which is in 3 weeks we are going to promote people who deserve.

"Yeah?" I answered, my office phone when it rings. 

"Sir, you have visitors." Receptionist from the main lobby inform me. I told her to send them up after getting their names, even it wasn't their first time in my office. They came before and they don't even need my permission to enter in my office because whatever I am actually today was because of them. If they hadn't ignored my mistake and forgive me then I wouldn't be here.

"Assalam-o-Alaikum." I looked up with a smile on my face and stood up. 

"Walaikum Assalam." I give my Salam back to my brothers making them look at me shocked. I rolled my eyes at them and give them a brotherly hug before sitting back in my chair as they sit on visitor chair. I resumed back to my work and listen to their conversation or the reason they are here.

My Mom sends them here to bring me back to home with them so they could fix my marriage. I had no problem marrying someone. It is just that I need some time and someone who could accept me with my past, but no one is ready for it. I can go with my Mom advice and didn't tell any girl who was supposed to marry me about my past but I couldn't. I don't want to feel her betrayal when it comes in front of her. Once Aminah told me when we were at Hira wedding that if we spend our life with someone then we shouldn't keep any secrets with them and I want to do exactly what she said because I don't want to ruin someone's life again. I already ruined many people and now I can't do with others. 

"I am not coming back" I tell them my final decision after Shaheer says that Mom had found a perfect girl who will accept my past and all I had to do is do engagement this weekend and Nikah next week. I am not stupid, I know Mom very well. I can tell that she lied and want me to marry as soon as I can so she couldn't know about my past.

"What you mean?" Rauhan asked me confused. I looked up from file to him and put the pen down before leaning back in my chair. 

"I am not coming back. I can't ruin someone's life because of my past. If you all really want me to do this engagement than I will talk to that girl before because it is my right to know about her before taking a big step of my life." I give them a reason for not going back because I know they wouldn't agree for me meeting her.

"B-but you can talk her after your engagement." Shaheer interrupted Rauhan reply. I shake my head and sit straight on my chair. 

"No. If you want me to get engaged, then I will talk to her before. If you won't let me then I wouldn't do this engagement." I told them my final decision and get back to my work. They sigh heavily, knowing that they lost and muttered a fine before walking out. I shrugged them off because I don't really care what they think about it.

When all my work was done, I pack my things and leave from office to go my apartment. I didn't call it a home because I didn't feel the warm feeling that I feel that I get back from work when I was back at home. I don't know where Rauhan and Shaheer are staying, but I know that they will be back tomorrow with something different to blackmail me and take me back.

When I step into my apartment, I heard noises from inside. I freeze on my place and groaned mentally. They are here. I shouldn't have given the key to Shaheer when he visited me last time. Taking a few deep breaths to calm my annoyance down, I enter into a living and saw Rauhan and Shaheer watching soccer and cheering. I rolled my eyes and walk in my room, ignoring their yelling. 

After showering and relaxing for half an hour, I went in the kitchen and heat the left over some yesterday before taking it in my room. I know Rauhan and Shaheer are probably going to order something for dinner for themselves.

I sigh heavily as I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling with a blank look I don't want to but again I think about Aqeel behavior in my office today. I know him since I start this company and I can tell whenever he is nervous or angry. Today I saw both in him. I don't know if I should feel scared or worried for Aminah but I know that Aminah wouldn't let him do something to her. She is strong. She knows how to fight against someone. She knows how to handle people who lost their selves.  

I close my eyes and smile slightly as I think about her. I just want to see her once to make sure that she is okay. I don't know if Aqeel would bring her own ceremony or not. I just hope he would because if don't then I don't think I would stop myself from going at their house to check on her.

I yawned and rolled on the other side to get some sleep. It was hard to sleep when those two idiots yelling in the living room, but I finally managed to sleep after a few minutes.