𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 [𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡]

ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ 37

Alia was washing the breakfast dishes. The maid had quit as she had to go back to her village for a month. Well technically she didn't quit but if Alia was going to do her work for a month then she was sure that she could hire another worker.

So she had fired her.

The feeling was great.

But now, as she washed and cleaned the house the regret was constant. She had to clean up everything.  Finding a new maid was extremely difficult and she had not found anyone by far. from the sudden change, her entire body ha started to ache. 

The doorbell rang and she looked at the clock, at 11 am on a Thursday?
Nevertheless, she washed her hands quickly, removed the apron, and walked to the door.

"Yes?" She saw a lady standing there and the weird thing was, she had a broom and a mop. "Are you..okay—I mean in the right place?" Why would you ask her if she was okay or not? Alia squinted her eyes on the woman. why was she here? 

"Yes, I was sent by someone." She turned around and pointed to someone on the road. "That guy. Now can I work?" She seemed eager.
At least she wants to do it. Her mind argued.

Alia had half a mind—scratch that, she wanted her to do it and be free of the shackles of the housework but for all she knew, she could die and get robbed.

"Wait a minute," she stepped out to see who was the one. "Who..oh.."

It was Armaan.

"Has he paid you already?" If he did-

"Yes," she nodded firmly. "For five days."

"Ah," she looked at Armaan who nodded firmly and she understood what it meant. He had paid her already too. "You can go in." She walked the woman inside and explained whatever she could find. The way the dishes were kept, the cleaning supplies, and anything of interest.

There were not very expensive things in the house that Aliya could be worried about. The cash in her mother's wardrobe was in a locker, a limited amount, and had an alarm attached to it and as for the mobile phones the one that was in use Alia took with her and others do not even switch on.

She had pocketed Shaan's phone with hers as she walked out of the house and stood in front of the man of the hour.

"What was that?" She pointed to the whole scenario. 

"You accepted it anyway." He pointed out and damn he looked hot as he leaned against the new BMW. That's when Alia noticed it. It was the version she liked. The one that she had liked in the post saying it looked amazing.

...but it couldn't be, right?

"That's not the point." She shook out of it and stood her ground. "I needed it so yes, I took it but why did you. I was fine doing it anyway and you paid her for five days already?!"

He shrugged. "The woman I love isn't supposed to do housework especially when I can afford a good number of workers for it. Also, you accepted because I had paid her, so yes, I took advantage of that detail."

Alia sighed and looked away from him. That was not fair. she could have done it. 

"Hey," he touched her arm and she didn't react. She liked his touch, to be honest. "Alia, What I said yesterday was out of pure worry and fear. Your mother isn't here and your brother is just twelve years old, none of them would have been able to act in the situation as quickly as possible and I won't be there for you because, I won't know and the other, they won't know me to tell me." He ran his finger over her forehead, lightly tracing a scar of hers. "Please try to understand my concerns and do not take them the wrong way."

She looked at him and she saw the concern and vulnerability in his eyes. She could see was concern and love instead of the cold, calculating, and emotionless look. It confused her. What was she to look for? 

So she nodded with a slight smile and said, "Just don't take that tone with me again and never mention my father's side of the family." She held his hand in hers, "it's just something we don't talk about."

He nodded and kissed her head making her smile. "So, I have a few things with me." He teasingly said as he opened the car door and pulled out food. "Would you like to..?"

She glanced inside and it was full plater and noticed something else. "You bought plastic plates and bowls for it?"

He chuckled and nodded back. "I don't want you to clean anything so you'll just have to toss these out."

"Now can we go up?" He asked pointing to her house on the first floor. The door was open as the maid was working. 

"What?" She looked at his face. "Where?" Her house? 

"Your house alia." He answered as he frowned a little, "Do you not want to? I was hoping we could eat it and preferably not in the car but that's fine. We can—"

"No, no," she shook her head and held his hand in hers. "Let's go up and eat." She smiled and walked to her house with him.