Chapter 11: 7. 𝗜𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝗵𝗶, 𝗮𝗹𝗳𝗮𝘇.

‘Jo choo lia hai tune ab mujh ko,

Apna qaidi bana lia hai dilbar, tune meri rooh ko.

Rihayi ki koi chah nahi hai meri,

Tere bahon ke siwa koi panah nahi hai meri.’

~ Mehek Syed.

Third Person's POV:

"Pachpan rupay se badh ke ek rupay nahi dungi main ab."

"Dekho beta.."

"Kya dekhu, chacha? Dusri bandi pe saath rupay kilo beetroot de raha hai aur aap sattar mein de rahe ho kyu ke yeh size mein bade hai."

"Arey waha sabzi mandi se hum logo ku bhi mehenga hi milta hai isiliye toh wahi bhau lagake aapku bechhre!"

"Pachpan rupay main dena hai toh do, varna aapke chukandar, aapko Mubarak!"

Mahoor turned around to leave, "Arey bacchi le lo."

Mahoor smiled in triumph and swiveled around, "Teen kilo dena."

The vendor nodded and Mahoor started to put beetroots in the basket to have it measure as much as she wanted.

Altan stood beside her with a huge carry bag in his both hands with a neutral face.

A week ago, if someone would've told him that he'd be in India holding carry bags which were given to him by a lady, he was getting attached to or he actually got attached to, he would have buried that person alive in the soil even for putting those images in his mind.

But life doesn't go as you plan.

Mahoor was supposed to go with Zorawar to buy groceries, to pick her and Seyran's customized dress, also her khala's saree, matching jootis and some other stuff to take to the Philippines as she was leaving the next day after the valima.

In short, two days were left for her to leave the country and her dreams to come true.

But Zorawar canceled it at the last moment as his father hooked him up with several tasks and Seyran was on her duty, so she couldn't leave.

Zorawar advises her to go with Arya or Altan but she hesitated and said she'd either ask Rehan or Zubair to accompany her as she had no ideas about the directions but those two men weren't available as well and she was left with no option.

Near eleven in the morning, Zorawar rang up Arya but the guy was out for Altan's work so, he requested Altan to take out his time for an entire day and take Mahoor for her errands.

Altan didn't beat around the bush and said yes in a heartbeat.

The offer of spending time alone with her was tempting to him as he'd get to know more about her without any interruption from the third party.

They moved to the other vendor and Mahoor began to negotiate the price and Altan rolled his eyes.

"Tumhe kya bargaining karni hai? Le lo na, yeh bazar se ek toh aisi badbu aa rahi hai. Ghinn aa rahi hu mujhe yeh jagah se. Log aise pasine mein nahaye hue bazu se mere guzar rahe hai, meri non-existent OCD bhi trigger ho rahi hai."

Mahoor turned around and narrowed her eyes at Altan, "Ohho, Bade Nawab log!"

She crossed her hands across her chest and her sassy remark rolled off her tongue, “Koi baat nahi agar Afghanistan mein kabhi mauka nahi mila toh. Yaha iss mauke ka anand uthaiye aap. Agar aapko pata nahi hai toh main hi bata deti hu. Aisa hi hota hai bazar, thoda bardasht karein aur apni nonexistent OCD se kahe ki sabr kar lein, itni si baat pe narcissistic men ki tarah trigger nahi hote.”

Altan's lips formed into a thin line and his fingers curled into a fist. Her come-back was literally a blow to his ego, his manhood, his soul.

One after one, the woman in front of him was breaking his boundaries and making him experience new feelings but he never knew she'd also make him feel furious.

Altan took a threatening step towards her, to give a piece of mind in his style but Mahoor turned around, took the polythene bags from the seller and put it into the huge bag Altan was holding.

“Chalein ab. Varna aapki non-existent OCD ne fir se comeback kar lena hai.” Mahoor remarked sarcastically and moseyed to the car.

Altan glared at her retreating back and followed her, he unlocked the car. Mahoor settled in the front passenger seat and Altan carefully placed all the groceries in the trunk.

‘Ek baar mujhe jaan jayegi toh aise alfaz nikaalne se pehle sau dafa sochegi.’

“Yeh sab kaam mere aadmi karte hai. Yeh ek aurat ke liye kya kya karna pad raha hai.” Shutting the dikki of the borrowed SUV, Altan murmured to himself.

He made his way to the driver's seat and gestured for Mahoor to wear her seatbelt to which she obliged.

"Kaha jana hai?"

"Charminar. Tailor se jode uthane hai aur mere ko jute lene hai."

Mereko..

Altan nodded and ignited the engine to life. The car sped swiftly on the road and there was a silence between the two which was making Mahoor uncomfortable.

Altan felt the awkward air but he shrugged it off as her sarcastic replies were still roaming in his mind. It was more like a disrespect and he wouldn't accept it but his ego did hurt.

Mahoor cleared her throat,"Aap baat nahi karte kya?"

Altan looked at her then back at the road, "Jab zarurat ho tab hi."

Mahoor eyebrows darted up at his statement.

'Boring' she thought.

She crossed her legs in the car seat,"Maine aap ko aaj tak muskurate hue ya fir haste hue bhi dekha nahi hai. Kya aap ko yeh sab feelings se allergy hai?"

'Tumhare liye jo na chahte hue feelings jaag rahi hai, unse hai.'

"Kuch hasne layak ho toh insaan hase."

"Hein?"

Altan shrugged and continued his driving. Mahoor looked at him as he came from Jupiter that is why he was behaving so weird

Or was he factually like this? Or was she judging him too soon because she really didn't know anything about him?

"Accha, thike. Main aap ko hasane ka try karti hu."

He drummed his fingers against the steering wheel and muttered okay.

Mahoor clapped her hands in excitement as a joke swirled in her mind.

"Why doesn't God drink cough syrup?"

Altan looked at Mahoor and gave her a 'Really?' questioning look. However Mahoor batted her lashes and gave him her puppy eyes which melted him.

He huffed and grunted, "Fine. Why?"

"Kyu ke Khuda na khasta." Mahoor bursted into the cracker of laughter and Altan looked at her as if she had grown two heads.

She snorted and laughed hysterically, the sound of her chortles was like a vintage scooter running on the road and unwillingly Altan lips curled up and it vanished in a second as if it was never there. But Mahoor noticed it, which made her laugh more.

Altan shook his head and stopped his car at the red lights. Mahoor came down from her high and resting her head on the seat, she peered at Altan with a smile on her face.

The man lost himself to her again.

"Baji.. kuch de do.." A poor lady knocked on Mahoor's side door.

Taking out his wallet from his kameez, Altan pulled out a single five hundred note and gave it to Mahoor to hand over it to her.

Mahoor eyes widened, she looked at the note and back at Altan, "Oh Shahenshah Akbar, paanch sau? Bees rupay bhi bhot hote hai."

"De do aisa intizar karwana achi baat nahi."

"Par bhai yeh zyada.."

"De do bass." Altan snapped in anger because he heard the term, 'bhai.'

Mahoor was silenced by his blunt tone. She only wanted him to spend less as who knows what they'd be doing with the money but his rude pitch saddened her.

She handed the note to the lady whose eyes lightened up at the amount and she patted Mahoor's head in affection.

"Allah tumhe aisa hi ek dil loota ke kharcha karne wala shohar de, ameen."

Altan glared at the lady, 'Aisa shohar se kya matlab hai? Yeh keh nahi sakti thi main hi milu?'

Mahoor's jaw dropped and she snatched the note from the woman, making her frown.

"Yeh shohar wali duaon ka mangne walo ke paas kya copyright hai? Dusri dua do aunty varna yeh note aap bhool jau."

"Bacchi, tu naraz kyu hoti hai? Tu jo bhi kare, Allah tujhe uss mein kamyabi dein. Bass?"

Mahoor smiled stiffly and handed the note to her, "Shukriya, aapka. Par yeh paise yeh janab ke hai, inko do dua."

The lady looked at Altan and smiled, "Allah tujhe aisi kanjoos biwi na dein."

Mahoor's mouth fell open and Altan laughed.

His eyes crinkled with shine and his body vibrated with pure ecstasy whereas Mahoor was left gobsmacked.

Putting her head outside of the window, Mahoor yelled at the lady's retreating back.

"Kanjoos nahi hu main!"

Altan shook his head and his chuckles gradually faded.

The signal turned green and Altan drove away.

“Shadi se itna kya masla hai tumhe jo itna chidti ho? Ya tak ki duaein bhi badalne laga rahi ho.” Altan asked as he was really curious and adamant to know the reason behind her detestation for marriages.

Mahoor ignored his question and focused on the scenery passing by.

Altan waited for an answer but got ignored instead. He waited for a whole minute and still got nothing in return from her.

He looked at her and then back on the road.

“Kuch puch raha hu main.”

Mahoor huffed loudly enough audible to Altan's ears and moved herself more into the seat towards the window.

“Aap bahri bhi hai, yeh mai nahi jaanta tha.”

“Yeh bhi aap zara gusse se, ya fir chid ke kehte toh maza aata. Thodi aur awaz unchi kar lein aap, dil bagh bagh hojayega mera.”

"Kya keh rahi ho? Maine kya kiya?" Altan asked innocently as the man was really unaware of what deed he pulled to be treated like this.

Mahoor cleared her throat and changed her voice into a manly one,"DE DO BASS!"

Altan arched his one eyebrow perfectly at her and Mahoor continued, "Aise koi baat karta hai? Narmi se keh sakte the na? Awaz yu oonchi karne ki kya zaroorat thi? Aap ek aurat se baat kar rahe ho, koi aadmi se nahi."

'Ab isey kaise kahu ki mujhe narmi se baat karne aata nahi? Aur yeh iska bhaichara mujhse khatam karegi toh gussa bhi na aaye.'

"Ainda se aisa nahi hoga. Mujhe muafi maagne tou nahi aati na sorry kehne aata hai. Tumhe khush karne ke liye kya karu?"

"Mujhe baat nahi karni aap se."

"Baat nahi karogi tou pata kaise chalega?"

"Khud pata kar lein."

Altan thought for a few minutes and looked at his wrist watch. It was three in the afternoon and they were out since twelve past thirty.

Food can make anyone happy. So he stopped by a nearby van cafe.

"Kaho kya khaogi?"

Mahoor didn't reply. Altan scratched his fake beard as it was pricking his skin.

"Ab tum jawab nahi dogi tou mai bhi kuch nahi lunga. Bhook lagi hai mujhe bhi aur tumhe jo khana hai bolo, bill ki tension nahi lo. Woh mujhe pe hai. "

Mahoor turned around and squinted his eyes at him, "Ab aap ko main kanjoos bhi lagti hu? Main pay kar sakti hu dono ke liye."

"Nahi mai tumhe kanjoos nahi keh raha. Hum bahar hai aur tum meri zimmedari ho kyu ke Zorawar ne bharosa kar mujh pe, tumhe mere sang bheja hai isiliye maine pay karna hai."

"Nice try, bhai."

'Yeh bhai ka alfaz kisne ijaad kia hai?' Altan thought to himself.

Ignoring the term, Altan asked, "Ab kaho bhi, kya khaogi?"

They both mutually decided their orders and Altan placed them. It'd take a good few minutes to prepare it as the place was filled with people. So the Mafia man asked them to bring it to the car and paid a few hundred bucks for it.

"Now tell me, shadi ne bigada kya hai tumhara? Itna kyu chidti ho yeh topic se?"

"Shadi karne ke liye lagta hai ek asli mard. Aur woh asli mard na mile toh woh ban jata hai ek zindagi bhar ka dard."

"Yaha mushaira chal raha hai? Joh tum rhyme kar rahi ho?"

Mahoor groaned in annoyance, "Ek aurat ki zindagi mein shadi hi sab kuch thodi na hoti hai. Career naam ki cheez bhi toh hai. Shadi ke baad hota kya hai? Ek amma ka nikamma beta gale padd jata hai. Phir usey sambhalo, phir uske maa baap ko sambhalo. Phir yeh teen namune kafi nahi hote hai ki, baccha on the way hota hai. Matlab ladki ki life shuru hone se pehle hi khatam. Aur aaj kal ka zamana aisa hai koi mard pe bharosa tak nahi kar sakte. Shadi se pehle ek rang, shadi ke baad alag rang. Ussey accha bechari ko jeene do apna career banane do, galti karne do aur uss galti se sikhne do. Jab woh karna chahe, tab karau. Main toh bolti hu kunwara hi maaro, mard zaat bharose layak hi nahi."

Every word, every sentence, Altan listened calmly.

She had a point but people needed a mind to understand it which many people wouldn't use.

"Tum mujhe pe bharosa karti hu?"

"Maine itna sab kaha aur aapne bass woh bharose wali baat pakdi?"

"Tum jawab do sirf. Kya tum mujhe pe yaqeen karti ho?"

Mahoor turned her face away from him. And this action of hers didn't make him happy. He kinda had a hunch of what was coming but he wanted to hear it from her.

"Bhai karte hai."

"Main tumhari baat kar raha hu."

Mahoor looked at him and a lock of her hair fell on the side of her face, "Nahi."

"Bura na manaye, maine apne baap ke siwa koi aur mard pe yaqeen nahi kia hai. Janti hu hypocrite lag rahi rahungi kyuke mera behavior sabke saath aisa hota hai jaise mere sagge ho aap sab. Main Allah pe bharosa karti hu par uske bande pe nahi. Yahi soch ke bhi main aapke saath aayi hu."

Altan wasn't surprised. He didn't trust people either. He lived in a world where trusting anybody was like committing a sin or inviting them to his own funeral.

However, he wanted Mahoor to trust him. He didn't know from where this ounce of hope rose but what he knew he'd never break her faith in him.

"Kuch bolein bhi ab aap."

He didn't want to ask the question which was lingering in his mind nonetheless, he did. "Agar maine kuch tumhe kar dia toh tum kya karogi?"

She looked him dead in the eye,"Kuch nahi mera khanjar nikaal ke aapko maar dungi, simple."

Altan tilted his head in amusement. He should have been angry but he was quite impressed and entertained by her answer.

"Mujhe apne aap ko bachane ke liye jo karna hua woh karungi. Maar nahi dalungi. Magar itna nuksan toh karungi hi ki main aapko niche dard mein sula ke, khud aram se bhaag saku."

"Tumhe khanjar chalane aata bhi hai?"

Mahoor chuckled, "Yeh meri speciality hai. Jab mere pappa zinda the unhone sikhaye the fir unke jane ke baad, main sab bhool hi rahi thi par mera dost jo hai woh martial artist hai, so he helped me in getting better at it."

Altan smirked, "Kabhi fursat se apne tricks dikhana, main bhi toh dekhu how trained you are."

"Aap toh aisa keh rahe hai jaise aap ko knives use karne aati ho."

'Ab tumhe kya batau? Yeh toh roz ka kaam hai mera.'

"Aisa samjho maine bhi kahi se li hai training. Isiliye thoda bhot chala leta hu."

Mahoor perched her chin in her hand and raised her eyebrows at him, "Kyu aap mafia mein hai joh aapko training leni padi?"

Altan didn't know what or how to answer her question. Only Zorawar was aware of his real background. If he didn't disclose it, then Altan wouldn't either.

And opening up to Mahoor about his profession would mean inviting distance from her which he didn't want to.

Before he could answer her, someone knocked on his side of the window and, sliding down the glass, he took the tray of food from the waiter.

"Uff, khana aa gaya varna mujhe laga hum bhooke pait hi pura Charminar ghumenge."

Altan kept the tray in between them and together they gobbled on the feast.

Sometimes they ate in silence and sometimes Mahoor, the chatterbox would talk about anything which Altan would calmly hear and memorize, if it's something about her.

After filling their stomachs with a satisfying amount of food, they made their way to Charminar.

As he continued driving in silence, Mahoor's gaze fell upon him.

She didn't notice him or his features but now was the moment her eyes were taking in the male beauty.

The man in front of her was tall. Too tall. The tallest and fairest person she has ever seen. His eyes were a shade of brown and thick long lashes guarded the enchantment of those organs of sight. His squared sharp jaw was darkened with a long ducktail beard which was hiding half of his features, confusing her a bit for what he actually looked like.

His complexion was as white as milk. Because Mahoor could see pink blemishes on each part of his skin which did nothing but enhance his form. He had a thick nape length, jet black wavy hair. He had a mole on the side of his neck and on the left cheekbone.

He had a super fit physique. The broadness of his shoulders and wide chest reminded her of Henry Cavill. His muscular build recalled the glimpses of Chris Evans.

The man was a chalta phirta art of Allah.

But one thing or one intuition Mahoor couldn't ignore was the guy had a menacing aura. One that screamed from a distance to stay away from him and out of his path.

If his body wasn't intimidating enough? His voice surely was! The man in front of her had a very deep and gruff voice which was laced with dead emotions.

She observed that whenever he spoke, his tone never had emotions. His words had a meaning but the feelings of his sentences were dead.

Mahoor didn't say or make it look like it but she was highly intimidated by the man in front of him.

As there was always this strong and dangerous energy emitting out of him.

Nonetheless she decided to stay calm and kind to him because in her eyes every human being deserved a generous treatment.

‘Itni khubsurti ladkio ko hi de dete toh Allah Miya! Kaunse tare girr aane the zameen par?’

‘Yeh mushtande itne lambe, mote, curly lashes rakh ke kar kya lenge? Jab ki inki zyada zarurat toh hum ladkio ko hai.’

‘Na insafi hai yeh khudaya.’

“Main aapko ek fukat ki advice du?”

‘Fukat’

‘Iske alfaz,’ Altan thought.

“Advice dene ya lene ke liye charge lagta hai?”

“Nahi par fir bhi!”

“Farmau fir.” Mahoor sat up straight, “Beard trim kar lo aap apni. Clean shave na keh rahi kar ne ko main, trimmed stubble type rakhoge toh aap par aur chaar chand lag jayenge.”

Altan raised a brow, “Aise huliye mein nahi lag rahe char chand?”

“Jhoot bol kar aap ka dil rakh lu ya fir sach keh ke aap ka dil tod du?”

The car came to a screeching halt as they reached their destination.

Altan peered at her with gentleness, ‘Kuch bhi kaho, par mera dil toh tumhara hi hogaya hai.’

He cleared his throat, “Jitna tum tezi se bolti ho, sach ki hi umeed karunga main.”

They unlocked their seatbelts and stepped down from the car. He parked the four wheeler far away from the main market as there was not a parking lot near the bazaar.

Altan locked the car and Mahoor came to his side. She covered her head properly, “Sahi kahu toh aap koi gaanv ke sardari gunde se kam nahi lag rahe ho yeh look mein. Shave karoge acche lagoge. Koi ladki fida bhi hogi tab ja ke bhabhi bhi aayegi humari!”

Altan looked at the rear view side mirror of the SUV and indeed he looked like a ganv ka sardari gunda!

But did he care? No. However her opinion has begun to matter to him and he came to know that she'd prefer a man who'd keep a stubble not someone who'd go for a thick beard.

‘Koi ladki fida bhi hogi tab ja ke bhabhi aayegi humari.’ her words rang in his ears, his jaw ticked and his eyes narrowed at her.

“Toh aap meri advice ko kabhi kisi din seriously lena. Ab chalte hai kyuke time itna yaha lagega ki sham hojani hai.” Mahoor smiled and moved towards the bazaar, Altan just stood there.

“Nahi matlab yeh itne sacche dil se apna behen hone ka rishta mujhse nibha rahi hai ki bhabhi ke khyal aane lag gaye hai isey,” He looked at her retreating back, “Mere irade jab tum janogi phir tab kya kahogi, Hoor?”

Altan jogged and covered the distance between him and Mahoor. They  together entered the market. He sighed in frustration by seeing the mob of people.

Mahoor felt a strong body against her back and she was about to turn to see if it was Altan or some other pervert but Altan held Mahoor by her arms and her eyes widened.

He lowered himself to her ears. His breath caressed the side of her face and goosebumps polished her skin. He huskily whispered, “Tum mere aage aur mere saath hi raho.”

She gingerly turned her face to look at him and made a mistake by doing so as his face was dangerously close to hers. She could see his clear skin and those thick lashes through her eyes which were covered with glasses.

Mahoor gulped and nodded. Altan shook his head, “Ishare nahi, alfaz.”

She nodded and stuttered, “Ji.”

Altan smirked at her submission and eyed the direction they were going to, “Chalein?”

Mahoor licked her dry lips and bobbed her head. Altan arched his one eyebrow and Mahoor shook her head.

“Za..zaroor, chalein.”

Altan gazed at her with a smug look and withdrew his hands. His smirk only widened seeing her release a breath which she seemed to have been holding in.

Altan backed off  and the heat behind Mahoor faded. She clutched her handbag to her chest and moved through the crowd.

He took his sweet revenge from her for calling him bhai and even for thinking to get him a wife who's not her.

There were several men and ladies pushing each other and this only raised the concerns of Altan.

He plastered his build to Mahoor's back and by one hand, he held the edge of her shawl. The other arm came out around her body, protecting her from the bumps of the people.

Her eyes broadened and she felt like they'd pop out.

Her back was literally glued to his front and she felt small around his body due to his huge build.

Her mind was in a haze and it was as if her senses had shut down.

She walked ahead because Altan made her to or else due to the proximity between them, she wasn't even able to move a muscle.

Mahoor tripped a number of times but she thanked Altan several times for holding her firmly and never shouting or yelling at her for tumbling down on the road.

He didn't even tell her to be careful. Whenever she stumbled, he held her more vigorously.

Mahoor pointed at a stall of juttis, behind which was the shop of the tailor from where she had to collect the dresses and the saree. They together made their way there.

Not bothering to talk, Mahoor paid the expenses of her and Seyran's dress and took away the saree.

She went to the jutti’s stall and without bargaining, she bought it. Altan's brow shot up in surprise, seeing her not negotiating for the first time in the day as wherever they went and purchased anything, Mahoor bargained.

She bought the matching juttis for her joda but the one jutti slipped from her hand and she lowered herself to the ground to pick it up.

Altan stood beside her holding the carry bags. Before Mahoor could rise up, a violent shot rang through the air, piercing a man's shoulder who was standing at a distance from Mahoor.

People screamed in terror and rushed away to save their lives.

Altan's head snapped at the man and back from where the gunshot came. He saw a man on the shop's roof, picking his gun and running away. From a distance, he saw a group of men running towards him with guns and knives.

Mahoor stood up, she looked at him and her surroundings in the background, where people were not caring about anything. They were pushing everyone in their way and sprinting to God knows where.

Before she could see the person shot in the shoulder, Altan immediately clasped her small wrist in his calloused palm and made a run for their lives.

He ran not knowing what the directions were. A gunshot chimed in the air, making Mahoor shriek and scared for both of their lives.

They crashed into many stalls, increasing the chances of getting injured but Altan balanced them both.

He was searching for a secluded alley or at least a place where he could hide her.

Mahoor was getting out of breath. Surely she went to the gym thrice a week but her energy was draining. She looked back and saw people running back and forth, and some men chasing them which intensified her distress.

“Yeh hamare piche kyu aa rahe hai?”

“Mujhe kya pata.”

Mahoor looked at Altan, “Fir hum bhaag kyu rahe hai?”

“Kyu ki woh hamare peeche aa rahe hai bandook aur khanjar ke saath.”

“Ruk jate hai phir nahi aayenge woh humare peeche.”

Now how could he say to her that he was the Mafia Lord and also, he didn't know which enemy of his came to know about his whereabouts and has sent a bunch of people to make him vanish from this earth.

“Ruk gaye toh hum mar jayenge. Tum mein dimag ki itni kami hai yeh maloom nahi tha.”

Mahoor scoffed, “Ab main offend ho rahi hu!”

Altan looked at her and rolled his eyes,“Jaan nikalne se accha, offend hona thik hai. Muh bandh karo aur bhaagti raho.”

“Nahi hoga mujhse aur. Usain bolt se inspire nahi hu main.”

“Main bhi nahi hu magar yeh bags ke saath aur tumhe leke daud toh raha hu na!”

Altan took the right direction and saw an abandoned car. He sprinted towards it, taking Mahoor with him.

They hid behind the car and lowered themselves to the ground. He pulled Mahoor to himself who was trying to catch her breath.

He rubbed her back and pulled out a water bottle from the carry bag he was holding. He tried to make her drink the water but she didn't as it was getting harder for her to breathe.

‘Abhi nahi, abhi nahi! Please!’

‘Doctor ne kya kaha tha, Mahoor? Ginti karo!’

‘1, 2,3,4...’ she counted in her mind but seeing her wheeze, Altan's anxiety escalated.

Altan held Mahoor's head and buried her face in his chest. Rubbing her back, calmly. He turned them around even if someone were to see them, they'd only get to look at his back. Nobody's gaze would even fall on Mahoor; that's how huge his build was.

Her small palm grasped the kurta over his hardened chest. Gradually, her breathing stabilized and her nerves relaxed with relief.

Altan closed his eyes at the warmth of her body. His heart was pounding in his chest and his mind was put into a trance. It was as if he was living in a delusion not being able to believe that she was really here, in his arms.

She felt soft against his stone hardened build. He opened his eyes and gazed at her. Her face was contorted with fear and right hand was clutching his kurta as if her life was dependent on it. Her left hand was trembling at her side and unknowingly he held her.

As if she was hypnotized, Mahoor snapped back to reality. She moved her head from his chest and looked into his eyes.

His eyes.

Something felt fishy about them. Whenever she gazed into them, they were always void of emotions. Even from up so close, she couldn't see or detect anything in those organs of vision.

“Aap.. aapki aakhein real hai?” Mahoor blurted out her intrusive thoughts and at an instant, she slapped her hand on her mouth.

Altan was left flabbergasted. He had disguised himself a number of times and fooled many experienced men and none of them was able to distinguish the truth.

However, a twenty one year old woman seems to be smarter and more attentive than them.

Before Altan could answer, they heard the footsteps near them and Mahoor's eyes widened, she gasped.

Altan palmed her mouth and placed a finger on his lip, he signed her to keep quiet.

Mahoor nodded but her eyes were saying something else. The flood of tears hit her up, the tank of her patience blew up and the terror of panic struck her in full force as one by one tears slipped down through those captivating eyes on Altan's hand.

His insides churned and an agonizing pain rose in his head, seeing her cry. He knew she was scared to death but he couldn't do anything.

He'd let himself fucked up but not her.

He didn't know how to calm her down or how to stop those dams of tears. He let her cry on his chest whilst his hand on her mouth.

He looked up and saw through the dusty slide of the car that there was no one. The footsteps eventually faded away in the distance and he respired in relaxation.

He retreated his hand back from her mouth and her silent cries turned into sobs.

Mahoor freed herself from him and Altan could hear his heart crack. She buried her face in her hands and wept.

Altan sat down beside her on the ground and he rested his head on the wall.

She was crying and he didn't know how to comfort her. He turned his head in her direction and whispered, “Tumhe yu rota dekh, mujhe meri saansein lena bhi koi gunah se kam nahi lag raha hai.”

He shifted beside her and provided his body heat to her.

Her sobs changed into hiccups. He pulled her hands away from her face and gently wiped away her tears.

Mahoor looked at him with red eyes and nose with a pink tint on it. She wondered if he was really the nice guy as he portrayed to be.

Because there were many people in the bazaar, the goons chased no one but them. She hadn't done something massive for her to be hunted down with guns and knives.

She surely beat people in the past, had huge fights and arguments but not to this end.

So was Altan aka Haider bhaiya, the bad guy here?

If yes, she'd maintain her distance from him as she didn't want to get involved or get any of her loved ones in danger.

Altan peered at her with a neutral face. He thanked his Lord for saving her.

It wouldn't have bothered him if something would have happened to him, however if Mahoor would have gotten hurt, the monster in him would have been unleashed and the hell would have loosened.

He'd have made every single man who chased them taste the fire of hell in the world itself.

He was unarmed and whenever he was in India, he didn't get attacked. This was the first time, he was about to get charged and he wasn't alone which was eating him from inside.

Altan pushed a strand of Mahoor's hair behind her ear. Now that she has come so close to him and touched him, no other woman will stand a chance.

Somehow she was able to get away with his mind and heart, after she had let him cage her in his brawny arms, no other species of woman was coming to him.

Mahoor looked away and they gazed at the sunset through the dusty glasses of the car.

The sun was settling down, pink and purple hues of ecstasy scattered throughout the sky, promising a night full of stars and a morning full of hope.

From the distance, they could hear Maghrib azaan and they prayed.

One prayed for her and her loved ones to be away from any torment. The other urged his Lord to never let any harm come near her.

•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•

This is the first chapter where Altan and Mahoor actually had a “moment” and I literally went EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I hope you all do agree with me ;)

“Tumhe yu rota dekh, mujhe meri saansein lena bhi koi gunah se kam nahi lag raha hai.” MAIN HI APNE BANAYE HUE CHARACTER KO DIA HUE DIALOGUE PE SIMP KARKE MARJAU AB!!!

What is your favourite scene from this chapter?

Also, what type of a couple would Altan and Mahoor be?

Like after seeing their conversation, can you all guess it?

Pure chaos, lovey dovey or something else?

Don't forget, Altan is a mafia leader as many twists and turns are around the corner.

Vote, Comment, Follow and Share.