Zara's POV

It's nearly midnight and I am lying in bed, thinking back to the events of today. Aunty Laiba is lovely, and Asad seems like a nice guy. They're not who I'm thinking about, though. There is only one person on my mind right now, and he is the same person who has somehow managed to make a permanent place in my mind and heart. Zaid. He was acting crazy today.

What was he doing in the kitchen?! Why did he fake that coughing fit, which made him look like a crazy idiot? I don't know what he's up to, but there is definitely something going on in that mind of his. The way he...came so close to me in the kitchen, what was that all about?! I'm not gonna lie to myself and say that I didn't like it, but...what is he up to? He was teasing me, and I liked it. I liked it a lot more than I should have.

I remember his exact words, they are imprinted into my mind. Remembering the things he said to me this evening makes me blush again. I can't control my damn blush around him at all! It's like I automatically start blushing whenever he is around.

'Why are you telling me to move away? Zara, you're saying something, and your body wants something else.'

What is that supposed to mean? That I want him?! He's damn crazy. He's lost his mind, but then again, so have I.

I blush even harder, biting my lip to stop my silly smile from escaping. I'm in bed, there is full darkness in my room, but I still feel as though Zaid will know that I'm blushing. I know, I've lost it. I'm now remembering what he said to me after that. He's so bold and blunt with his words, he's crazy!

'Your fast heartbeat is telling me that you like our closeness very much. You're telling me to move away, but you want me closer.'

'Your complexion is flushed. You're trembling because you like my touch.'

'The way your legs are pressed together right now is driving me insane.'

Zaid will be the death of me one day. I'm driving him insane?! More like the other way around. And what on earth did he mean by that last line?!

Was he just teasing me, or did he mean what he said? He was being possessive of me. 'That blush is only mine. Do you hear that?'

He's right. I was telling him to move away, to leave me alone, but I didn't want him to. I did like our closeness. I feel my heartbeat increase as I remember his words. Zaid is the only guy who has ever made me feel this way. No one else did, and no one else ever will.

He asked me for a freaking kiss?! Why?! He really has gone crazy. I have never seen this side of Zaid before.

The words which keep replaying in my mind the most, though, are 'You are mine.' What does he mean by that? Does he mean what I want him to mean? This behaviour today made me think that maybe, just maybe, he feels something for me, too. I have no idea how and why he would feel something similar for me, but he wouldn't behave like that with me for no reason. I know that for a fact, because Zaid would never do anything to hurt me. Zaid is honestly like my hero. He's always been there for me, whenever I needed him and also whenever I didn't. Even when I refused to tell him anything about my past, about Hamza, Zaid was still there for me. He still did whatever he could to help me. He didn't force me to tell him anything, but he was still supportive. He can never hurt me. I trust Zaid with my life. I have feelings for him, I know, but he is also my friend. That's why I can completely be myself around him.

I chuckle, remembering that I called him a 'watermelon'. In front of Aunty and Mum, too! I really have gone crazy. I love our playful arguments and teasing. I would hate to think about Zaid teasing another girl like this, too. He can't. I hate it whenever I see random girls trying to flirt with him. He doesn't respond to their flirting, but it still annoys me so much. I mean, can't they just keep away from him?!

I check my phone, and realise that it is really late. It's nearly 2am, and I have work tomorrow. I need to get to sleep, otherwise I won't be able to wake up on time in the morning. And if I do wake up on time, I'll look like a mess. I don't want to look bad in front of Zaid, even though he's seen me several times with absolutely no makeup on. I fall asleep about ten minutes later, with a silly smile on my face.

********

Zaid's POV

'Zaid bhai? What were you doing yesterday?! First of all, tell me one thing. Why did you fake that coughing fit!' Hafsa asks me incredulously.

I frown. She noticed that. "I didn't fake it, Hafsa," I lie, continuing to eat my breakfast.

She rolls her eyes. 'I've been your sister for nineteen years, bhai. For my whole life. I'm not stupid, and I'm not blind. Why did you fake that coughing fit? And why did you keep glaring at Asad?! He seemed like a pretty nice guy!' She says.

"Why would I glare at him?" I ask. True, why would I glare at him? He's no challenge for me, because Zara is only mine.

'Zaid, Hafsa is right. You kept glaring at him, like you wanted to hit him or something! I was sensing a bit of jealousy if you ask me,' Mum says, winking at Hafsa.

I chuckle. They know me so damn well. "Why would I be jealous of him? Are you crazy, Mum?"

Mum shakes her head. 'No, Zaid. I think you're going crazy, though. It was cute how you were arguing with Zara, though.'

I ignore her.

"Mum, Zara called him a watermelon! And Zaid bhai said to Zara that at least he's not as thin as a piece of paper!" Hafsa laughs, remembering.

Mum and Dad both burst out laughing. 'Tell me, Zaid. What's going on? We're your parents, and you know that we would do anything for you. Anything at all,' Mum says gently.

"Mum, me and Zara are friends. I like teasing her. She teases me, too. And she will definitely not stop teasing me if I'm late for work. So, I think I should be going," I stand up from the dining table, but Hafsa grabs my arm.

'Are you sure nothing is going on in that mind of yours, bhai? If you want, I can tell Zara that you-' Hafsa starts, but I interrupt her. And have I told you how excited and mischievous she looks right now?

"No. Don't say anything to her. You've all gone crazy. Zara is my friend," I say, laughing. Lies, lies, lies. I don't just want to be her friend. I want to be much more.

This time, Dad speaks up. 'Zaid, I just want to say that Zara is a lovely girl. She is the only girl who can make you laugh like this. If there is something going on in your mind, then you should know that me and your mother would be the happiest. Zara is already a part of our family.'

I feel my cheeks heat up. Am I seriously blushing right now, like Zara!? I don't blush. What's Dad saying?! "Dad? What do you mean?"

Mum grins. 'Okay, Hafsa, please don't scream. Zaid, we have always known that you don't want to get married yet. But, we have also always believed that Zara would be the perfect girl for you. The perfect...wife. She is the only one who is able to control you, with all your moods. She would take perfect care of you.' Why am I suddenly feeling like I'm the happiest guy in the world right now?

"Yes, Zaid. I know that you want your own choice about who you want to marry in the future, but if you asked me or your mother, it would be Zara only. There is nothing more we would love than for Zara to become a part of this family," Dad says, smiling.

That's when Hafsa starts screaming. At the top of her lungs. I cover my ears, frowning.

When she finally stops screaming, she jumps on me. She hugs me as tight as she can, and again starts screaming. 'Bhai, do you like Zara?!'

Oh god. What am I supposed to say to my family? They're going crazy! No, they've already gone crazy!

"Hafsa, Zara is my friend," I reply.

Hafsa raises an eyebrow. 'It all makes sense now, Mum! Oh, god! Zaid bhai! Why didn't you tell me, you idiot?! If he hurts her in any way, I'll kill him.' She says, trying to imitate me. I just stand there, watching her. She punches me lightly (not too lightly, though) on the arm.

'Why will you kill him?! That's why you were glaring at him, too! And the way you were smiling so much when she was angry with you yesterday! Okay, I'm gonna cry now,' Hafsa says, tears filling her eyes.

Mum and Dad are sitting at the table, watching us with smiles on their faces.

"Hafsa, you've gone mad. I need to get to work. Can I leave now?"

'NO! You will see her, bhai. Don't worry! I know you can't wait, but have some patience, my dear brother! Why can't you just man up and tell her you like her?! And don't even try to lie to me now, because I can see clearly by looking at your face that you like her. Actually, forget that. You love her. That's it. I'm calling her.'

"No, Hafsa. You will not call her!" I shout.

Who listens to me in this house, though? She has already dialled Zara's number, and it is ringing. Zara answers on the third bell. Hafsa puts her phone on loudspeaker. Mum and Dad are listening, too.

'Hafsa? Hey, what's up?' Zara says. I smile, hearing her beautiful voice.

"Nothing much, babe. I was just missing you! What are you doing?!" Hafsa shouts.

'Hafsa, why are you screaming? I'm going to work, I think I'm gonna be late. I don't want to be late, because that crazy brother of yours will get mad,' Zara replies. What?! Crazy? I'll show her my craziness.

Hafsa bursts out laughing. Mum and Dad are also laughing silently. "Yeah, he's a right idiot, isn't he? Babe, when are you coming over? I miss you so much!"

Zara laughs from the other end of the phone. 'Hafsa, you saw me just yesterday, baby! I don't know, maybe in a few days.'

"Zaid bhai wants to talk to you!" What!? Hafsa.

'Zaid wants to talk to me? Why? I thought he would have reached the office by now,' Zara says, chuckling.

"I have no idea, babe! He needs to talk to you, though. It must be something important, he's glaring at me. Okay, I'll give him the phone before he gets even angrier," my sister says, winking at me. She hands me the phone, before whispering, "Don't you dare turn off the speaker, bhai."

I shake my head and take the phone from her. She's gone crazy.

'Hi, Zara,' I say, trying to sound as normal as I can in front of my family.

"Zaid? Hey," Zara says. I hear her laugh nervously. She's nervous now, is she? I smirk.

'Are you at work?' I ask her.

"No. Are you?" She asks me, knowing very well that I'm not. Mum and Dad chuckle. Hafsa grins.

'I'm about to make my way out now, I'm running slightly late. Are you...okay?' I am such an idiot.

She chuckles. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be? Oh, by the way, just in case you've forgotten. The new receptionist should be here today. The one who will work with Alicia on the seventh floor."

'Oh, yes. I'd forgotten about that. Thanks, Zara. So, I'll see you at the office,' I say politely.

Mum rolls her eyes at me, as does my sister. "Okay. Wait, Hafsa said you needed to tell me something important? Is everything okay, Zaid?" She asks me. I smile. Very soon, Zara. I promise. I'll tell you how I feel very soon.

'Hafsa was just being crazy, as usual. I'll see you in twenty minutes.'

"Okay, I might be slightly late though. I'm stuck in traffic," Zara tells me.

'That's no problem. Bye, Zara,' I say.

"Bye, Zaid." I turn off the call and hand Hafsa back her phone. She's standing a few feet away from me, raising an eyebrow at me.

'See, Hafsa? Mum? Dad? There is nothing going on. Zara is my friend,' I say. Why am I lying, even after knowing that my parents would be the happiest if I was to marry Zara?

Mum laughs, coming over to me. "I can see very well, Zaid. I'm your mother. You can't lie to me. I'm the happiest mother in the whole world right now." She hugs me gently, tears filling her eyes. I sigh. I don't know what to say anymore. My family have noticed, and they've noticed correctly. I do like Zara, I like her a hell of a lot. And there is nothing more I want than to marry her and make her mine. Even though she already is only mine.

Hafsa kisses me on the cheek. 'I love you, Zaid bhai. You're the best. Now go to work, before you're late.'

I chuckle. "I already am late, Hafsa. I'll get going now."

********

Thankfully, there isn't any traffic during my journey to work. I reach the office twenty minutes later, feeling happier than I've ever felt before. I greet everyone happily.

'Hi, Paula? I hope you've been well? How are Katie and Ben?' I ask the receptionist on the ground floor. Katie and Ben are her children.

Her eyes widen with shock. "Mr Malik! I'm fine, thank you. I hope you're well, too? Ben and Katie are doing great! Thank you so much for asking!"

'I'm doing great, Paula! And that's good to hear!' Her eyes again widen with shock, before she gets back to her work.

I greet a few of the other employees on the ground floor. They look even more shocked than Paula did. I know why they're shocked. It's because I never greet anyone like this. I'm usually in a bad mood when I enter the building every morning, and everyone prefers to stay out of my way. I've fired employees before, when I've been in a bad mood, when they were not at any fault.

They all look at me like I've gone crazy. This is definitely not the Mr Malik they know. I make my way to my cabin on the 7th floor, and log onto my laptop and desktop computer. I first need to send off a couple of emails, and then later this afternoon I have a meeting.

I get started on the emails, and then read quickly through a file which is on the project we are currently dealing with. I don't think Zara has reached yet. I can't wait to see her this morning.

Zara Ahmed. She's changed my life in ways I didn't know we're even possible. She's made me feel things I didn't know exist. She is the most beautiful girl in the world.

I smile, remembering yesterday. Especially the event with her in her kitchen. She felt nervous around me, but I could also tell that she liked my closeness. I liked it very much.

I will not lie to my parents about this. They have noticed the feelings I have for her, and I will tell them. Hearing that they would be so happy if I was to marry Zara and make her a part of our family made me the happiest guy. I can't describe how happy I felt, hearing my parents say that. I want to spend the rest of my life with Zara. She is worth everything. I will not at all miss my previous life, when I'm with her. I used to be with a different girl each week. I toyed with girls' hearts and feelings, without feeling a thing myself. I didn't care when I hurt anyone, it didn't matter at all to me.

Zara is different, though. I would never hurt her, because I have very strong feelings for her. I like her a lot, I didn't know it was possible to like anyone this much. I wouldn't ever hurt her that way. All the other girls I've been with in the past, they were all with me for my money. For my status. One specific girl in my past proved that to me. No one was ever with me, for me. They were with me either to show off, for my high status in society, for popularity, or for my money. Zara doesn't care about any of this stuff, though. Zara knows what I'm like on the inside, she knows exactly what kind of guy I am. She knows what I was like in the past, and she knows that I've changed a lot. However, what she doesn't know is that I have changed only because of her. I've changed because I have fallen for her. I want Zara to like me, I want her to like everything about me. I've changed myself for her, and I much prefer this new form of me. I'm a much better person now than I was before.

I will tell my parents that I have fallen for Zara. I will tell them how I feel, and I will tell them that I want to marry her. It kills me to see her with another guy. Yes, I want to marry Zara, and that too, very soon. I want to protect her from the world, keep her safe and very close to myself. I will not let her out of my sight, for even a single second. I will give Zara so much love and care, that she will forget everything. She will forget that a guy tried to hurt her, to break her, in the past. She will forget everything else, because I will give her so much happiness. Being with her will make me the happiest guy in the world. The luckiest guy, too. I won't hide my feelings anymore. I don't want to lose Zara, she is too important for me.

Right now, I will continue to tease her, to make her realise her feelings for me. Because I know that she feels something for me, too. This is not just wishful thinking. Zara feels something for me, too. Maybe it isn't as strong as what I feel for her, but she feels something. I will make her fall for me, too. And then I will tell her how I feel about her.

I smile, imagining the shocked expression on her face when I tell her that I've fallen for her. She will be shocked, but she will also be happy. I can't wait any longer. This girl has turned me crazy, just for her. I want to marry her.

A few minutes later, as I'm reading through the file, or more correctly as I'm daydreaming about Zara, there is a light knock on my office door.

'Come in,' I answer, my voice loud and authoritative.

The door opens, revealing Alicia. It's not Zara. "Mr Malik, the new receptionist is here. She is demanding to meet you."

I raise an eyebrow. 'She's demanding to meet me? Why?' She's demanding? Does she not know who I am?

"I don't know, sir. She has the job, but she is adamant to meet you right now." Alicia looks down towards the ground, nervously.

'Alicia, please go and inform her that I'm busy. I will meet her later. After all, she will be working on this floor,' I order, taking my attention to the file sitting in front of me on my desk.

Alicia is still standing at the door a few seconds later. I glance at her, raising an eyebrow.

"Mr Malik, she keeps saying that you know her. She says that you would always allow her into your office, without anyone's permission."

'Oh, really? Who is this girl who is so adamant on meeting me? I will meet her. Alicia, is Miss Ahmed not here yet?' I ask her.

She shakes her head. "No, sir. Miss Ahmed hasn't reached yet. Shall I bring in the new receptionist, then?"

I sigh. 'Very well, Alicia. Bring her in after five minutes.'

She nods. "Yes, sir." She leaves, gently closing the door behind her. Why does this new receptionist want to meet me so badly? I roll my eyes, looking back down at the file. She can wait. I only want to see Zara right now, and she still hasn't reached. Zara informed me that she is stuck in a traffic jam, but she should be here by now.

A few minutes later, my phone starts to ring. It's Aaron, my close friend. I stand up and walk to the ceiling-to-floor windows behind my desk, and answer the phone. Standing here, I can see the hustle and bustle of the whole city. The view is magnificent from here. I can see the traffic on the roads, people hastily walking to work, taxis parked on the side of a nearby road, the coffee shop opposite the building full of jolly customers. The weather is cold and windy.

'Hey Zaid, how are you mate? Haven't seen you in ages!' Aaron says, laughing.

"I'm good, Aaron. You? I know," I reply, chuckling.

'I'm good, dude! We need to catch up, I need to tell you something!' He says, excited.

I smile. "I need to tell you something, too." Aaron is one of my best friends. I will tell him about Zara.

Just then, I hear the door of my cabin close from behind me, and a voice calls my name. 'Zaid!' I tense, staring out of the window at the view in front of me. No way. I know this voice too well. It is imprinted into my mind, it is the voice I had almost forgotten. What is she doing here?! There is no way that she can come back into my life, at a time like this. Not when I'm moving on, with Zara. What does she want from me now? Why is she back? I switch off the call without another word to Aaron. Why is she here?

"Layla?"

********

Hi, everyone! How are you all? What did you think of this chapter? So, Zaid's family find out about his feelings for Zara, and they're very happy about it! Hafsa especially!

What was your favourite part of this chapter? Please let me know!

And...someone returns at the end of this chapter. Layla. Do you remember her? What do you think will happen next, with her return?! Don't hate me, guys!

Thank you all so much for reading, it means a lot to me! Don't forget to vote and comment if you enjoyed this chapter! And also if you didn't enjoy it, tell me why! I don't mind constructive criticism at all...just be nice! Don't say it in a mean way, lol! This may be a turning point of this story, a major part of it. Layla's return.

What do you think happened in Zaid's past? How did Layla hurt him? And now that she's back, what will she do? She is the new receptionist, so she will be working very closely with Zaid and Zara....

Hamza also may or may not be back soon...

Bye guys! I love you all! ❤️ x