We searched for him in every site possible, with every combination possible. But our one hour was fruitless.

I sigh and drop on the bed feeling disappointed. At first I wasn't interested but then going through all the profiles and the thought of actually seeing him after so many years made my heart thump loud and fast inside my ribcage, it even caused my palms to sweat, goose bumps to erupt on my skin.

I got really excited but then the excitement turned to be waste. Gunjan would have given up half an hour earlier but I insisted, half an hour is too less time to give up. She eyed me suspiciously after that but I didn't care.

As I lay on bed I wondered about Arham. Usually I had always blocked his thoughts, whenever I thought of him I had controlled myself. But tonight I didn't stop myself. I wondered how will be his life? was he guilty? did he think of me? did he marry?

Irony of my life, he had once been the guy I imagined by whole future with and now he is the guy whose future I don't know.

That night I had a very restless sleep.

Two days later, I find myself sitting in the centre stage of a posh hotel surrounded with many chatting women, gossiping girls, fooling around kids.

Tonight is my engagement with Aamir. I feel no less than a cartoon dressed up with a heavy Orange and Maroon lehengha and even more heavy dupatta, it's really difficult to manage them. And to add to my misery is a heavy Necklace around my neck almost choking me, with a long golden chain which reaches till my stomach, it was a big round locket.

My golden Jhumkas are equally heavy and these damn bangles. Orange and Maroon bangles adorn my wrist, they are so many and make cling-cling sound when I move my hands. My mom had also forced me to put on Mehendi, that too till my elbow. I had requested her not to as I will have to go for work in two days.

I wanted to be done with this namesake engagement and go back to where my heart belongs, my work, my passion, my ad agency.

'Haye! She is looking so pretty. MashaAllah' one of the aunties, which my mother introduces to be my NRI aunt, who is my father's third's cousin. Oh wait! Second, I think. Arghh...so annoying. She hands me an envelope. Everyone has given me some gifts, it's mostly money in an envelope. I have already said my mom I am not keeping any of this money and they can use this for my marriage if they want, and jewellery is useless for me, I am not much of a jewellery person.

'Your Mehendi is so dark, Aamir loves you a lot' another aunty says. I roll my eyes, I and Aamir have met only once and spoken few times on phone. The more I talk to him, the more he annoys me. I wonder if I will commit a murder if I stay with him.

In few conversations that I had with him I tried to bring up the topic of me continuing my work after marriage but he had always very slyly changed the conversation. I am not liking this, but do I have a choice.

I wanted to meet him face to face and confront him but he always made excuses of his busy schedules. I am tolerating him only because of my family, else I would have given him kick in the right place. No one treats me this way. No problem, once this engagement is done with I will show him his right place.

Gunjan is sitting beside me on the arm rest of the sofa. She is dressed in peacock green and golden saree, it's her engagement dress, she has tied her hair in a loose bun with Ghajra around it and matching Jhumkas, her neck is bare. She keeps nudging me and annoying me. I glare at her but she doesn't stop annoying me.

Few minutes later, there is chaos in the ladies section. Aamir and his parents enter the venue where all the ladies are. I look up and watch him come with his parents. He is dressed in Maroon shervani and cream pants. I must admit he looks handsome, but what is the use of a beautiful face when his personality is garbage.

'Jamadji is so handsome, you are so lucky' the NRI aunt whispers into my ear, I didn't bother to look at her. I stand there with my head held low.

He comes and is made to stand next to me. My mother hugs his mother, Tasneem. She seems to be lovely woman; she hugs me too.

My dad also comes, he is holding a small red velvet box, it has the ring for Aamir. My mother places her arms around my shoulder and makes me stand.

Before the ceremony I was given strict instructions to be perfect bride to be, shy types.

Gunjan comes and stands next to me, 'Jeeju is so handsome' she says happily, I wanted to glare at her but I am not supposed to look up or anywhere else except, of course the floor.

My mother held my arm and extend my left hand. I see Aamir extend his hand and held mine, I flinch.

Gently he slips a golden solitaire ring, it's a small one. They want to show off yet be in their budget. Honestly I have brought bigger ones myself, I like them better as it is from my own hard earned money.

Then it's my turn, my father hands the red box to my mom. She opens it and brings it to me. This ring is my father's engagement ring which was my Nana's which was passed down by his father-in-law.

I take out a silver ring from the red box, it has a small cute diamond in the centre. I take his hand. This is our family ring and I don't feel he deserves to have this. As I bring the ring towards his finger I purposefully twist the ring and it drops.

I hear people gasp. I look at Gunjan and slowly nod my head. She nods back. As everyone gets into searching for the ring Gunjan takes out a similar fake ring, she had been hiding it in a knot at the edge of her saree.

I and Gunjan had made this plan two days ago. We searched every marketplace possible to get a fake. No way in million years can I let an unworthy man wear my Dad's ring. Gunjan too pretends to look for the ring and after a while

'Here found it' she says quickly.

My father gets the ring from her quickly and hands it to me. He shoots a deadly glare at me, I gulp.

'It's okay, Dad. She must be nervous' Aamir says confidently. He sticks out his hand and I slip the ring into his finger.

The whole venue echoes with loud applauds, everyone is overwhelmed with joy. My mother hugs me.

I look at my father's bright face, he is smiling broadly. I have never seen him this happy ever since I had shamed him back in school. Seeing his happiness, I feel my sacrifice worth.

*

'Here' Gunjan hands me the original ring. I had just come out from shower feeling refreshed after the tiring event.

I look at the original ring as I wipe my wet hair with a towel. I smile sadly taking the ring and placing my towel on the bed.

'This ring is special...this is my father's...I won't let just anyone wear this' I say looking at it.

'But Aamir is just not "anyone", Zahra' Gunjan says seriously. She did have a point, I look at my engagement ring and Sigh. He might be my fiancé to the world, but for me he is just "anyone".

I put the ring carefully into my bag. Just then my phone beeps. It's Aamir's message, why is he texting me so late in the night

You were looking so beautiful, I couldn't take my eyes off you and now I am missing you staring at your photo

Great, now he is going to flirt with me. I ignored his message, Gunjan looks at me concerned

'Zahra, I don't think you should be doing this...' she says softly

I look at her sternly. We had discussed this before. She like a loyal true friend who keeps advising me and I am very grateful to her for being there for me. I know myself what I am doing is not right...but I deserve this. If I back out from this engagement, then I will be hurting my parents again. Ever since that day I had always been praying for a chance to make them proud of me and when finally, I have got this chance then why not.

*

My plane landed around 5am and I landed at my agency around 9am. I am a workaholic after all. I wore a yellow full sleeved formal shirt; I had buttoned my sleeves so that my Mehendi isn't seen much but I can't hide my palms. I stand near the elevator

'Good morning, Maam' Mr. Kapoor greets me, I smile at him. Mr. Kapoor is my best employee, he is dedicated and very loyal employee of my agency. He seems to be little younger than my father, but he is really wise. He advises me like a father, I look up to him for advice and know he will never disappoint me.

'Maam,' he says as we enter the elevator 'After David was fired we quickly started searching for the replacement and we have appointed the new head of marketing department.' Mr. Kapoor notifies me and I nod.

I knew I can depend on them.

'He is very qualified and efficient,' Mr. Kapoor goes on as I sit on my chair, a peon enters carrying black coffee for me.

'But last year he had quit his job. He had a nasty divorce with his wife last year, he also lost custody of his two-year-old daughter. He is little cranky because of it. It's two days of him working here, he speaks very little and looks really depressed, he stays away from everyone. But he is very dedicated to his work. He is handling his stuffs really well.' Mr. Kapoor says

I sip my coffee and wonder who is this brooding angry young man they have selected. But if Mr. Kapoor says he is good then he must be good.

'He previously worked in top firm in Indore' Mr. Kapoor says

'I see you have done a lot of research on him. But I am least bit interested his personal life...I want details of his professional career.' I say in a very business-like tone.

Mr. Kapoor nods. He hands me a black file.

'Here Maam,' he says forwarding me the file. I place my mug on my desk and lean forward to get the file

'His name is Syed Arham Hooda' Mr. Kapoor says.

Hearing his name, I froze mid-way.

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