One more time : Where Oblivion meets Obsession

#29 – QUESTIONS, PROPOSALS AND REGRET

Shahmeer picked it at the first ring like he was waiting for it. "Zehnaseeb (Exceptional Good Luck). I thought you would never call back."

"Who are you kidding Shahmeer? We both knew that I would call back."

"Im…pressive. So, what have you decided?" He asked straightaway.

"I decided to agree to your condition. In exchange for Matteo, I am ready to marry you."

"I knew this would be your answer. You will have him back within 7 days."

"I can't wait that long."

"fine then. 4 days. Tomorrow will be our engagement, after which you will move into my house. And three days later, our wedding. And right after the wedding, I will hand you over Matteo Moritz."

"What?" She asked in shock. "What are you doing Shahmeer?"

"My friends, family, everyone is invited and yours too."

"Urgh! Are you crazy?"

"No Myra this is the biggest event and the happiest day of my life. My lioness is going to be mine. I deserve to celebrate." Myra was hardly controlling her anger. "Now I am doubtful. Why do I believe you Shahmeer? I have no reason to believe that you even have Matteo. What if after the wedding, it turns out that it was a hoax?"

"That is not my style. And you would believe me because you have no other option. Okay I have a lot of preparations to do. See you tomorrow. In the evening at 6 o'clock. I'll message you the address of the function hall." He said casually like it was the most normal thing and hung up.

She wanted to bang her phone on the wall but she threw it on the bed and held her head in her palms. 'How am I going to tell this to everyone now? This man never leaves a single stone unturned in embarrassing me, humiliating me. Why is he behaving like this is some fairy tale wedding that we have planned for years?'

She walked downstairs and didn't know how to announce it in front of everybody. She could see so many pairs of Eyes on her.

"Now what?" Rose asked, seeing her grim face.

She sighed deeply and told them, "Guys, I don't know how I am going to get out of this one but this man is crazy ." She said slumping on the couch. "You know what he did just now. When I called him to tell him that I agree with his deal, he said that tomorrow is our engagement. And I should be there with my friends and family. Three days after which, our wedding will be held and on that day, he will release Matteo."

"Wow! this man looks like he has a thing for parties." Bryan said. "I've to select a suit now."

"Bryan!" Yousuf sat straight and said, "You don't need to worry about anything Myra. I know it's tough but if we can figure something out within 3 days, we will just-"

His talk was interrupted when Myra's phone rang again. She received it and after a few yes-no, cursing and arguments, she hung up angrily.

"What happened?" Nisha asked curiously.

"It was him!" Myra shouted. "He says he needs some time for preparation and the wedding will be held after 10 days."

"10 days! So we don't get Matteo back for 10 days." Sherry asked in shock.

"You better shut up! You are the root cause of all this trouble." Seeing him her anger just resurfaced.

***

"Boss, I think you hurried it too much."

"Why do you say that Rajat?"

"Because there is no way Matteo can be in a condition to be handed over within 3 days. It would take him at least five days to be fully conscious and ten days to be able to walk."

"Oh man! how could I not think about it?" Shahmeer said, holding his head.

"You thought about it.l now. Now do something."

"Yes you are right Rajat. I have to call her and inform her that the wedding will take place in 10 days."

"Okay. But be extremely cautious while doing so. They should not doubt Matteo's condition."

With those words, Rajat turned around to walk away when Shahmeer asked him, "Is there something wrong Rajat? Are you not happy for me?"

Rajat was like snapped out of a daze at those words. "W…why would you think so?"

Shahmeer shook his head and said, "no it's just... your voice, your tone sounds a bit different these days."

Rajat shook his head in a no. "It's just that... when she comes here, she is going to ruin the discipline and management of the house. You know how reckless, wanton and curious type of girl she is."

Shameer smiled. "Yes Rajat. She is different and that is what took it so long to make her mine. If she had been anyone else, I would have just brought her to the mansion the day I realised my feelings for her and never let her go. But I couldn't. It couldn't happen that way. But now when it is happening, my happiness knows no bounds. I am feeling ecstatic. like I am on Seventh Sky."

Rajat placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "may God grant you all the happiness in life."

"You too." They both smiled at each other.

"Boss are you sure you can trust her enough to bring her here? I mean… your family lives here, Main base is in the other wing, Important conferences are held, our clients come and go."

"Exactly Rajat. My family lives HERE. I will not insult her by keeping her somewhere else."

Rajat just nodded and left. He had another reason to keep Myra away from himself. Why was he feeling this weird sensation... sadness and loneliness overpowering all his senses.

Myra sat leaning back in the window frame. She was not such a person. She respected marriage, her parents, her family and they were the most important in her life. How everything changed? I guess when Amaan died, he took my conscience, my sanity, the warmth of my heart and all my emotions with him. They all lie buried in his Grave.

'How beautiful things were in his presence? How I learnt to Bend, to change, to love, to care, to lose and not feel sad about it. I wish you were here with me.'

She drank more and more of alcohol directly from the bottle to prevent those memories from clawing her further. She remembered the time after her father agreed for her marriage with Amaan. A sad smile appeared on her lips remembering those lovely days.

—9 Years Ago—

That was the beginning of the end of Myra's happiness. Her downfall. She married Amaan and came with him to Pakistan. As expected, his family did not accept them. Amaan was shocked because he had expected that after seeing their marriage they would. Or maybe after a few months. But they never did. But that didn't weaken Amaan's resolve a bit. He left with her and they decided to start your life elsewhere. How perfect everything was!

Amaan was an engineer and easily got a job based on his talent. Myra was too young and hadn't completed her studies so she couldn't be of financial help to him but she took care of everything else to help him.

This was the point where life was going to reveal itself to her-It's true ugly self. Parents cover a child from social, economic and all kinds of problems but when the shield is gone, you find yourself standing exposed, taking these wounds on your bare skin.

She had Amaan, his love, his support but at what price? The price of a life that she had dreamed of. Never before had she touched the household chores but she found herself doing all of them... cooking, cleaning, washing clothes etc. At first because they couldn't afford a maid. It was extremely difficult because she was a princess who would just be ordering people all day and nothing more. Her Lifestyle was no more. She could no longer dress up to her choice or go to fancy restaurants, or buy expensive stuff without thinking, giving the second thought. Many times it did happen that she looked at things in stores through a glass window and it hurt her respect to see that prices were more than Amaan's monthly salary. But that did not deter their love. They were still living in heaven–the heaven of their mutual love.

Myra's Dad came to know about her condition and he came to her, yelled at her for hiding all this and decided to take her away but she didn't. Even when she had a chance to come out of all her miseries, she chose to live this life of miseries with Amaan rather than being a princess without him.

According to her, if Amaan could fight his family for her, she could do the same. Her Dad felt heartbroken and insulted at this decision and never tried to contact Myra later.

Amaan could see her struggling with this life. But he assured her that we are not rich until we have something money can't buy.

***

Tough times don't last but tough people do. Even the worst of our days have 24 hours only.

Soon, Myra started to adjust to her new lifestyle and slowly their condition kept getting better. Amaan got a promotion, his hard work finally paid off and he could establish himself in the upper middle class society. Finally everything was falling into place. Their happiness was returning. They were learning to live without the people who abandoned them. All they had was each other and they were happy with it.

—Present—

'Then why did God have to take him away from me after making sure she had nothing but him?'

***

An old man was standing in a window pacing around.

"Are you sure what you are saying is true?" "It's a hundred percent verified news Sir."

He moved his hand through his grey and White hairs in frustration. 'Shahmeer offered marriage to Myra? This cannot happen. This should not happen. These two people, very powerful people with the same cause, same mindset, when they come together, it will be so devastating to people like me.'

He walked to a cupboard and opened a huge casket. This marriage won't happen. He promised himself with a devilish smirk.

Myra stepped out of the car nervously. She was wearing a black gown with sheer full sleeves and tied her hair in a Messy loose bun. She never loved smokey and dark makeup but she did it today because it was her engagement. She nervously kept fidgeting with the shining sequin belt on her waist, which made her curvy figure much more visible. The thin fabric clung to her pale skin and up to her ankles. Shermon held her hand and she could feel a bit of relief.

All of her friends except Ron and Yuka came. They were too busy with their experiments and those weirdos didn't like the public anyway.

The six of them walked inside. It wasn't like the team didn't know these people. They had encountered them on missions. Most of the people won't recognise them but Myra and her team recognized them well. She had dealt with them sometimes directly and sometimes indirectly.

After entering through the huge wooden door of the enormous hall, Shahmeer came to them and welcomed them inside. He couldn't take his eyes off Myra. She looked gorgeous.

There was no need for an introduction to her friends. Only Nisha remained who excitedly introduced herself.

'What was this woman thinking?' Myra didn't know why but Nisha had a thing for marriages.

Shahmeer extended a hand and Myra placed her hand in his. He went on introducing most of his guests. After almost 40 minutes, they headed to the stage where he proudly announced the engagement. He introduced her as his Fiance and they all looked happy. Ofcourse, they had to fake happiness. This party was no more than a business get together.

Rajat brought the Rings and they were exchanged. Myra felt a weird sensation after he held her hand and made her wear it. She had never imagined seeing this day.

She looked at the ring and it was beautiful. It had a huge princess-cut diamond neatly embedded on a platinum ring. People clapped and cheered and raised Toast to them. She could feel herself getting comfortable in Shahmeer's presence and all her friends too.

Myra then asked the question that has been bothering her for so long. "Shahmeer? Didn't anyone from your family come?" Myra asked.

"No love. We will go from here to meet them after the party. There was no way I was going to bring them here."

'What did he just call me?'

She ignored it and totally understood his concerns. A person like him who cared about his family would be very cautious with his enemies.

"Love?" He whispered close to her ear, startling her. "I didn't get a chance to say but you look breathtaking, more beautiful than I dreamed of. So is tomorrow fine?"

"For what?" She asked, confused.

"We made a deal that you are shifting to my Mansion after the engagement."

"I'd like to strike off that condition." Myra said.

He was about to say something when she beat him to it. "No arguments on that one!" She hissed angrily. She had enough from him.

"Fine." He shrugged and she was surprised. She didn't expect him to let it go that easily.

After the engagement, Shahmeer asked all her friends to leave. And that he was going with Myra to his Mansion to meet his family. Sherry was hesitant and confused but Myra gestured him to leave.

Rajat came there hurriedly. "Boss The car is waiting."

"Didn't Jahangir Kareem come?" Shahmeer asked, remembering it suddenly.

"Did you expect him to come?" Rajat said unbelievably and turned to Myra, faked a smile and said, "Congratulations."

"Oh you don't have to fake that smile." Myra replied.

"Thank you." He said curtly and went back to his stern self. "Finally someone who understands me." He said, looking at Shahmeer.

***