A Contracted Alliance

3

Parisa ran away from her house, she couldn't face her father and her nightmares. She was still haunted by her mother's death and couldn't really come in term with that loss, she tried to take professional help but it all went in vain, all she needed were a closure and clarification. On her way out, she collided with Maha, her sister. They both looked a lot alike except their eyes, Parisa had emerald green eyes while Maha had pitch black eyes and she was a bit shorter than Parisa.

"Hello sister! I think you weren't expecting me here?" Maha said surprised seeing her there, eventhough she was a bit envious of her looks but she knew that her older stepsister was someone to watch out for, she could strike anytime.

"It's your house Maha, you don't have to walk on eggshells because of me." Parisa tried to salvage the situation but as they were talking Malika came down the stairs like a predator comes for its prey.

"What a lovely surprise, Parisa! How are you, child?" Malika said in her sugar coated tone, while Maha was surprised and Parisa was indifferent. "I'm good so far, I'm sorry I came in without permission. I came to talk to mr. Khan about inheritance." Parisa tried to clarify but Malika was quick to cut her off, "so what are you planning to do? I'm sure you won't like to take what is your siblings share, afterall you are Jannat's daughter." Parisa was shocked on how this woman hasn't changed a bit, she is still that manipulative and cunning lady she met when she was twelve, after her mother's demise.

"I agree I'm Jannat's daughter, but I have my father's blood in me as well. You must know how stubborn we are, I don't intend to take your kids share but I must take mine. Afterall, I'm the legal and legitimate heir of Jahangir Khan." Parisa left, but Malika could feel rage and anger at her words, she knew that her kids would never be considered legal kids because she wasn't a descendant of nobility, but a mere commoner with no clue about her parentage. Her mother had her out of wedlock, so she basically was a bastard child.

Parisa reached back to her guest house and Zara was waiting for her, she calmly explained her secretary all the things that unfolded in Khan's mansion. Zara advised to think carefully before taking any decision. "Look! This is a big decision. Marriage is not easy and as far as I'm aware you aren't interested in anyone. So please don't take a decision to just avenge your family." Zara explained calmly but she knew her boss was going to choose a forbidden path. "I know that, Zara! But I need the inheritance just to prove my stepmother wrong. She wronged my mother, she started an affair with my father knowing that he is committed." Parisa said angrily while Zara was confused, "if we see clearly it's the man's fault on how he couldn't keep his hands to himself." She tried to put some sense in her brain.

"I know that but I want to claim what's mine and I'm ready to do anything for it." Parisa said with her firm tone and Zara was shocked. "So you are going to marry someone just to get the inheritance?" Parisa looked at her and nodded, "I mean not a proper marriage just a marriage based on paper like a contracted alliance." Zara was confused on listening to her plan, she knew that is not possible in Pakistan because who would marry her on contract knowing she is Khan's heiress.

"Your plan sounds good on paper, but it isn't realistic. Who would you marry just for paper marriage and how can you be soo sure that he will be genuine?" Zara tried to find some loopholes in this plan so Parisa will just drop it but her boss was adamant that she is going through with it. "I don't know, I just need to find someone as desperate as me and from our own class." Parisa replied thinking of ways to find a man who will be willing to go through with her plan and be cooperative, but Zara wasn't happy, she wanted Parisa to experience love and then marry this was a total bullshit plan. Parisa went to sleep while Zara was thinking different ways to change her mind.