A Tale of Hearts

Chapter Seventeen

Fahad's POV:

I watched the GPS tracker intently. She hadn't stepped out of her house in the past two days except to go to Misha's but I was sure that wasn't the prior engagement she was talking about. My gut feeling could tell she was up to something.

Suddenly, the red dot on the map started moving. So today was the day huh? She was headed out. Just where are you going, ice queen? Good thing I had stayed behind in Lahore. I want to deliver the news to her face to face. Even if she is out with family, they all know me so there won't be a problem even if I go up to her.

Grabbing the keys to the Audi, I threw on a cologne and slid my fingers through my hair as I decided to make my move. Just the thought of seeing her perfectly refined face gave me shivers. She was so beautiful no matter how little emotions she had on her face. It was odd really. Women smiled and blushed at me to gauge a reaction and then there was her.

It was hard to know what she was thinking. I couldn't read her eyes. She gave me the smallest of smiles. Her favours were of the silent nature too and yet somehow, her face had managed to get engraved into my head replacing most of the girls from the past. They were just a blur compared to her. It was amazing how someone with such little expressions could do so much. It was refreshing.

I placed my phone on the car holder as I turned on the voice navigation. The guards opened the door as I reversed out of the farmhouse. Seeing her thrilled me. There was this child like excitement within me that I couldn't explain properly just yet.

'Do you miss me, Fahad, is that it?' The sultry voice in my head returned and I shook my head to get it out of me. 'Can't wait to meet me, huh?' She whispered while laughing gently but mischievously in my head.

The Rubab in my imagination had become quite common. She would pop up at the most unexpected moments. Like right now.

"What do you want? When are you planning to leave me alone?" I said to no one in particular. It was weird that I was talking to myself or a voice that my mind had created for me.

'Are you sure you want me to leave?' She whispered giving me goosebumps.

"Pretty sure." I took a left turn and glanced at the gps app. She had gone to a restaurant? Somehow the idea of her sitting in there with a guy ticked me off just a bit too much. It shouldn't matter to me. Only one way to find out though. I pushed hard on the race. The growing annoyance within me triggered my impatience.

'Don't worry, I will leave when you start accepting the feelings you are denying yourself.' And with that, her voice faded yet again. I didn't want to reply to her words. Because I didn't have an answer to them.

It didn't take me long to reach the restaurant since I had practically drove at 130. I am pretty sure I broke a few signals on the way but it didn't matter. The idea of her sitting in a restaurant with a man was echoing in my head. No matter how I imagined it, I didn't like it one bit. She probably wouldn't meet another guy after saying those words to me right?

The moment I saw her, I realised just how wrong my guess had been. The sight before me was disappointing but more than that, it angered me more than it should. She looked beautiful. Refined and elegant. Her dark brown hair flowed till her lower back in loose curls. Her skin was glowing. Her eyes seemed kind. What pissed me off was the fact that she had a smile on her face. A smile that wasn't directed at me.

Was he able to make her smile like that? Shouldn't I be sitting there instead? She hadn't noticed me yet and I was glad she hadn't because she definitely wouldn't like the dark look on my face. I didn't want to show it to Rubab. It would scare her and I wanted her to trust me. I had to approach them carefully. Being violent wasn't the way to go. I could deal with that guy later. That wasn't an issue. For now, I needed her to lean on me and I knew just the way. With that, I decided to join them.

Rubab's POV:

The man before me kept looking at my face while trying to initiate a conversation. He was awfully cute for a man his age. His presence was soothing but I kept zoning out for some reason. I was constantly reminded of the embarrassing sentence I had said to Fahad that day. Oh God, just thinking about the fact that I let my guard down made me want to slam my head in a wall.

On a side note, Zoya really had a great taste in guy friends. I understood what she meant when she said 'he would keep speaking and all you would want to do is listen even if you don't understand a word.'

Haider was so different from a certain someone. I sighed internally as I remembered his mischievous grin and those playful eyes. I shook my head to get his image out of my head. Fahad is out of the question now. He is cancelled. Especially after that stupid thing I said that day. Let's not think of Fahad right now. I don't want to see him right now. It's been hard enough to avoid him as it is.

The moment I erased his image from my head, I saw someone who looked a lot like him, scratch that, I saw his doppelganger coming my way with a dangerous look on his face. Wait, that wasn't his lookalike. That seemed a lot like the real deal. Fahad stopped at our table and I didn't have the time to respond as he bent down and kissed the top of my head leaving me speechless. Did he just? How did he? Why? What just? I was at a loss for words.

"Hey babe, I was looking all over for you and-" Fahad spoke in a sickly sweet tone although his eyes said the complete opposite. He then turned to look at the guy accompanying me. "Oh, I didn't know you were sitting with company. I am Fahad Abroo. Rubab's fiancée. And you are?"

Fiancee? Did I hear that right? When? When did this happen? In his dreams? Was he high right now? It was broad daylight outside. Was he drunk out of his mind?

"Oh I am Haider and-" Fahad cut him off before he could even get a chance to complete his sentence. He gave him a curt nod before turning to me with his signature devilish grin. This man, his eyes were twinkling as if he just came up with something purely sinister. I was a little scared right now to know what he was thinking.

"Ah I see. Well love, I wanted to know if I can have my clothes back." I snapped my head at him so fast I felt my neck cramp up. What clothes?! Forget that. How did he even know I was here? What was he talking about? I felt my eyes widen as I looked between the two of them quickly.

"What? What clothes?" He grinned as he placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it gently.

"Oh you know, the ones I made you put on that night." It took me a few seconds to process the fact that he was talking about the stupid leather jacket. The fact that he said that a little louder than normal made me question his intentions.

"Oh you mean your j-" He placed a finger on my lips and hushed me.

"Love, we are in public, we don't need to mention the intimate details here do we?" The jacket was intimate? Why the hell can't he say it straight? Oh my God, he is going to give Haider the wrong idea. Wait a minute. Is that what he is trying to do? I brought down his finger and gave him the iciest look I could, causing him to flinch.

"Oh, that. Yes, I accidentally threw it out." Fahad gaped at me while Haider stifled a laugh. "There was no place in my closet for your jacket that you gave me outside." I emphasised each word clearly to make sure Haider didn't get the wrong idea but even more than that, so Fahad couldn't have his way.

"Oh? That's harsh, love. I wanted to keep it close to me since it was something you wore after all. Well, no worries, you can always wear more of my stuff. Shirts precisely. Plenty more from where that came from." He winked and I sighed inwardly. He didn't give me a chance as he clicked his fingers and asked the waiter to bring another chair to the table that was placed between Haider and me.

I was about to rebel when he gave me a look and whispered something dreadful to me in my ear. It was three words but they made every hair on my body rise.

"Zohaib is back."

Author's Note:

Hello and Asalam o Alaikum Lovelies!

I hope everyone is well. I wanted to thank everyone who were asking about my health and well being. I am alright Alhamdulilah. Just getting by. God bless your wonderful souls. ✨

Also, keep the comments coming. I absolutely love reading about your reactions and commentary on the chapters. Y'all so amusing.