8| reality

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AUTHOR'S POV:

Shayan sat at his desk in the office, his brow furrowed in concentration as he meticulously plotted his strategy to vandalize Baig's Enterprises. His resentment towards the company had been brewing for years, ever since his college days when Amna, the charming and intelligent sister of the enterprise's owner, had captured his heart.

Their brief romance had ignited a fire of ambition and jealousy within him, fueling his desire to see Baig's Enterprises stutter.

He believed he could exploit her affections, drawing her into his web of manipulation. Shayan's mind raced with possibilities as he crafted a plan that intertwined his vendetta with a calculated approach, knowing exactly how easily Amna could be swayed if he played his cards right.

Shayan's actions of vandalizing the Baigs were deeply rooted in his personal history. His father, Alyas Riaz, had been one of the most trusted employees within the Baig family's enterprises, known for his unyielding dedication and hard work.

Alyas had poured his heart and soul into his job earning the respect of his colleagues and the Baig family.

Tragically, everything changed at one of the Baig's construction sites where a devastating accident claimed Alyas's life.

While the Baig family offered support to Shayan's family during their time of grief, he was unable to accept the circumstances surrounding his father's death.

To Shayan, the accident felt less like a mishap and more like an act of negligence, leading him to believe that the Baigs were the murderers of his father.

This conviction fueled Shayan's grievance, pushing him into a path of destruction as he sought to express his pain and frustration through acts of vandalism against the very family he felt had betrayed him.

Each act was a manifestation of his unresolved sorrow and an attempt to confront the injustice he believed had befallen his father.

His primary objective was to infiltrate Baig's Mansion, a task that he had meticulously prepared in his mind. However, his scheme fell apart at the worst possible moment when Amna, his girlfriend, caught him red-handed cheating on her.

He tried to explain himself, desperately searching for the right words to mitigate the damage.

Yet deep down, he understood that his explanations were futile; Amna wasn't naive. She was perceptive and had always seen through his lies.

The gravity of his situation weighed on him; he was indeed trapped in a web of his own making, and he feared there was no way out.

His business was growing, a testament to the legacy of the enterprise he inherited from his maternal grandfather. Following the dismissal of his mother and grandparents from their previous roles, he saw an opportunity to expand the business. With bold ambition, he made the pivotal decision to relocate to the bustling heart of New York City.

Where he encountered Waniya, a captivating figure who immediately drew his attention. From the moment he laid eyes on her, an instinctual thrill coursed through him; he recognized her as his next target in a long line of pursuits. Waniya's allure was irresistible, and he was determined to draw her into his plans.

His relentless quest for wealth overshadowed any deeper connections. Driven by an insatiable appetite for money, he was consumed by the thought that no amount would ever be sufficient.

Each venture and every relationship became a means to an end.

He carried an intense desire to dominate others, and maintaining his facade was becoming increasingly challenging. Waniya's self-made success was undeniable, and he recognized the power that came with her brand's peak.

In a calculated effort to gain her trust, he pretended to support her daughter, Ezzah, all while concealing his true intentions. He had no genuine affection for either; his only goal was Waniya's wealth.

He was willing to manipulate and exploit anyone to achieve his ambition, driven by greed.

And currently,  when he's back in Pakistan. He's endeavoring to annihilate Baig's Enterprises, desperately but unfortunately, this is just not conceivable for him as they are indeed very decisive, and he oughts a lot of budgeting for that.

And he will use Waniya for that as Waniya's brand is spawning more profit than his whole company.

He still has some funds that he would use to buy the shares of Baig's Enterprises. He already started his work with the help of his assistant Waleed.

"Sir, we have purchased almost thirty percent of their shares," Waleed, his PA and his best friend who has been equally involved in his hideous doings, informed him the moment he got into his cabin. A smirk danced on his lips.

"Goo-." Before he could complete like a gush of cold wind, someone barged into his cabin. Before he could apprehend any such thing, a guy emerged before his very eyes— the same guy he met at the airport holding him by his yokes. Shayan skimmed over his right shoulder and saw Ahaan and Farhan Baig.

"So, is he Zeeshan?" A thought lingered in the chambers of Shayan's brain. Shayan had never encountered him individually, he had forever despised him to the very fleece of his being. It was his first time.

"Slow down brother," Shayan slowly removed Zeeshan's hand from his collar and set his collar in a mere weird way.

Zeeshan was demoralized not owing to the fact that he had bought his company's shares but because he just admitted that he was the one who hurt his sister.

He had not once requested anyone who was the guy but now he couldn't control himself when he was standing right before him. Amna requested, precisely pleaded not to after Shayan he was not and would never be worth their time.

"So you are Zeeshan," a smirk danced on Shayan's lips— that smirk never left it's place. Zeeshan desired to unalive him right there on that very certain spot. He moved forward but Ahaan stopped him.

"Stay the fuck away from our family," Farhan roared.

"Looks like the kid has started to speak." Shayan mocked.

"Don't you dare!!" Zeeshan gritted his teeth.

"Just stay away," Zeeshan growled and they left the cabin.

~

"Guys, I need to meet a friend. I'll join in a while," Farhan notified them and contacted the driver to fetch the car to the not far off mall as he would be going there.

He spent some with his friend and gave a call to his driver once again to make sure he was outside waiting for him, owing to the fact Farhan hated waiting. You anticipate any such thing from him but lingering is not his cup of tea.

He was moving out when he collided with someone.

"Excuse me? Can't you see," Mirha yelled when someone bumped into her.

"Mirha," Farhan blinked his eyes twice, to believe his vision.

"Farhan..." she couldn't believe her eyes, either.

"Oh my goodness, look at you, you have changed," Farhan complimented her. Mirha couldn't help but smile at him, or maybe she was blushing.

Farhan and Mirha completed their studies at the same college and university. They only had a few rare interactions with one another. Farhan didn't even have a slight idea of Mirha having a crush on him in their college years. Mirha was good at hiding her feelings, maybe owing to the fact of her past.

She never had the instinct to approach him because he was one of the famous guys in her batch and every other girl desired him. He was always the talk of the town.

Little did she know, certainly, Farhan wanted her but he never approached her thinking that she was one of those introverted girls who just needed their books with them all the time—which was true—and she would never come into a relationship, especially with him.

Mirha has indeed changed over the years. But here they are meeting after six years.

"Where have you been?" Farhan asked. "New York," Mirha said.

"You are....," he thought for a while, "Changed," he added.

"Changed? As in good or bad?" Mirha raised her brows, hiding her smile.

"I mean you seem like a social butterfly now," Farhan said.

"Yeah, that's kinda true." She chuckled. "Actually I'm kinda busy but if you want we can catch some other day," Mirha suggested.

"Yeah, yeah, sure. Wait I'll give you my number," he gave his number to her and she gave him a call, they saved the numbers and moved. Mirha couldn't control the butterflies in her belly.

Getting your crush's number was a big yes for her. Farhan thought that it wasn't that hard, precisely, it was easy. He felt delighted after giving her his number and he wanted her to call or message her for a coffee or anything.

A constant smile crept on her lips and she couldn't help but blush on her way back home. All she wanted was to go to her room and scream into her cushion, she was just too busy in her lalala world.

The moment she entered the house. Waniya couldn't help but realize that she was continuously blushing.

"Irha," Waniya broke her trance. She looked at Waniya and gave her a huge grin.

"What's the occasion?" Waniya asked, before Mirha could say something Ezzah saw and ran towards her "Massiiii."

"Massi ki jaan," Mirha pecked her cheeks. "How was your school?" It has been four days since her first day at school. And Ezzah loves her school a bit too much now. And Waniya always ponders why.

She was all gloomy after her first day at school but on the second day when her Grumpy pants gave her a chocolate with an apology—which she expected without an instant—she was happy.

They were completely unaware of the truth that defined their relationship. She was forming a deep emotional bond with the man she affectionately referred to as her "Grumpy Pants" completely unaware that he was, in fact, her biological father.

Meanwhile, Zeeshan experienced a strange softness in his heart whenever she was around, a feeling he couldn't quite explain.

It was as if an invisible thread connected them, drawing him closer to her with every laugh and every shared moment.

How could he not feel this way? She was inherently a part of him, even though the truth of their connection was hidden from both of them, no matter how badly Waniya could endeavor to obscure the fact.

He was her father—her real father—and yet they moved through life in a dance of proximity and emotional closeness, neither aware of the bond that truly linked them.

The truth loomed silently in the background. Their connection was destined to remain shrouded in mystery for now.

Waniya was consistently brought aback whenever Ezzah mentioned her teacher saying he was her Grumpy pants.

Waniya always told her that she shouldn't anoint him that but she said that Grumpy Pants aka her teacher didn't have any tribulation with that.

Waniya had witnessed the spark in Ezzah's eyes whenever there was a conversation that included her teacher.

Waniya wanted to meet her teacher but due to her dynamic timetable and the engagement preps, she ain't getting time. But Waniya didn't like the way she adhered to her teacher and talked about him. She just didn't like it. Or maybe she was scared.

"Guys come let's have dinner," Waniya called them. They settled down.

"Shayan won't join us?" Mirha asked. Waniya shook her head and told her that his company ain't doing well and he's giving it over time.

"Mama, can we call Grumpy pants someday at home?" Ezzah requested.

"That's not possible, Ezzah," Waniya said. "Why?" Ezzah genuinely wanted Zeeshan to visit their home.

"Because he's your teacher," Waniya said. "No, he said he's like my Dad. And he treats me like his daughter," Waniya choked on her food. Mirha passed her water.

"Enough of the discussion you need to sleep," Waniya's tone was a bit harsh, which scared Ezzah, and tears collected in her eyes.

"But I need him to come," Ezzah said, tears glistening in her eyes.

"Ezzah, that is enough, come we need to sleep," Waniya scolded her. She didn't move.

"EZZAH," Waniya yelled at her and she burst into tears. Waniya didn't like the way she called someone her Dad. She couldn't see Ezzah calling or looking at someone as her Dad. Her Dad will—and always—be Zeeshan no one else, no matter where life takes them.

Waniya didn't want to reprimand her anymore so she just left the table. Mirha got up and tried consoling Ezzah but she was constantly hollering.

"Ezzah, we will go and get some ice cream," Mirha offered. But nothing was helping her.

Mirha didn't know what to do. The ringing of a phone caught Mirha's attention, somehow it caught Ezzah's attention too, Mirha made her drink some water which slowed her crying. Mirha looked at the phone and it was Farhan. Ezzah didn't stop crying for a moment.

"Ezzah, okay I'll make you talk to your grumpy pants but first stop crying," Mirha didn't have another alternative.

Ezzah brushed her tears and waited for her to dial his number. Mirha had saved Zeeshan's number as her teacher. He picked it up in two rings.

"Hello, is this Ezzah's teacher? I'm sorry for calling at this time but she's crying continuously and she wants to talk to you. Can you please talk to her?" Mirha requested.

"Yeah, sure," Zeeshan said.

"Little cute heart, what happened, why are you crying?" Zeeshan's voice turned soft the moment he heard her sobs.

"Grumpy pants, mama made me cry," If an outsider were to witness this scene, they might easily assume that a daughter was venting her frustrations to her father about her mother's actions and behavior.

"It's okay, take a deep breath and stop crying," Zeeshan coed her.

"Do you have water near you?" He asked and she hummed.

"Drink it," she drank it.

"Now go to your Mama, give her a hug, and sleep," he said.

And was enough for Ezzah to calm down and listen to him. They cut off the phone. Mirha was surprised by the way her teacher calmed her down.

Ezzah went to Waniya, who was in the room, crying because she was helpless. Ezzah did the same as she was described and Waniya hugged her tight. Waniya loved Ezzah so much that she couldn't envision a life without her.  Mirha was there all the time admiring their bond.

Zeeshan was kinda apprehensive regarding Ezzah, why did her mother make her howl when she knew her father died? Her mother should be very sensitive towards her child. These questions were disturbing him more than they should.

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aesthetics

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I tried my best to explain why Shayan dislikes the Baig's, I hope I was good at it. And we all know there's always room of improvement so leave your *positive* criticism below.

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how was the chapter?!

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You can find spoilers related to the novel that will keep you hooked on my Instagram.

I'd: @bibliozaar (link in the profile.)

Ignore all kind of mistake as English isn't my first language!

Take care!!!

Zaar.