THE CONTRACT MARRIAGE

12-MEET-CUTE

OMNISCIENT

In a small, fancy cafe sat two people, a male and a female. The male's face was covered with a mask, shades and an oversized hoodie that made him look stylish in a unique way, it looked as though he awoke from sleep just a few minutes ago. The skin around the lady's eyes was filled with dark circles as she closely observed the man she once thought she knew. It was as though he changed everything about him except for his name during their time apart. Even with that, none of them lost feelings, or maybe, someone did.

The waitress wheeled in the trolley and brought a mug of hot chocolate, a cup of iced caramel macchiato, and two large plates filled with hot waffles beneath whipping cream, strawberries and Nutella. She then left after dropping their orders but not without wondering who the man in the hoodie was due to the impenetrable aura that oozed from him.

"Eat," He uttered. Just like that, the lady started munching on the hot waffle with trembling hands, knowing that an observer was sitting opposite her.

"I'm not someone you should fear. I'm still the same person and I know you are too, except if there is something you are hiding from me..." He intentionally paused and scrutinized her every move.

Tahira stopped biting on the waffle and looked straight at his dark goggles but soon lowered her eyes, the intensity of those dark lenses and overly confident nature terrified her to the core. Even though dressed in clothes that covered her entire body, she felt as though she was stripped naked in an overcrowded market square. Perhaps, it was the consequence of her actions that was hunting her down.

"I didn't have an idea until you made me conclude, now that's my girl," Maheer smirked and leaned in, placing each of his elbows on the table.

"You've proven yourself guilty even without attempting to, T. Tell me what it is you're hiding," He whispered, the sound of his deep, husky voice with a thick British accent made her roll back her eyes in ecstasy, as if absorbing it.

"Maheer, I promise it wasn't my fault. Please forgive me, I was made to do it, I was driven by my anger, pardon me, I still love you and would do anything for you, anything," She beseeched and allowed the tears to gush out of her eyes. Instead of offering her support, he watched her bawl her eyes out without a care in the world, as though he wasn't the one who thought that he still loved her the same.

After what he heard from his brother, all the feelings he had for Tahira dissipated into thin air, just like they never existed. He felt her become a stranger in his heart, not that his feelings for her weren't strong, the intensity of such emotions made him numb. Everything and everyone seemed like an object to him, black objects in a cold, dark world.

"Anything? Even breaking off your marriage and taking me to the person who planned my destruction?" He cracked a humourless laugh that gave her the chills. Maheer might have changed but this side of him, she knew all too well never to mess with. Nothing good comes out of his laughter, nothing good.

"It was Saif who told you, right?" She stuttered.

"Will you and the mastermind find a way to drug him just like you did to me five years ago? It'll be better if you don't try that with my brother, you know the extent I can go for him," He sounded treacherous, the coldness radiating off him made her grit her teeth in trepidation.