The Stake.

2

"Shahwar go and wear an eastern outfit." Farhana told her looking at her knee length dress.

Shahwar was going to meet Rehaan and it had slipped her mind that she wasn't in Spain anymore. It wasn't on purpose, she had been completely disturbed thinking about how her classmates would right now be celebrating their results and she was in another continent, helplessly reading their messages on the group chat. Looking down at her outfit she loitered back in her room and changed her clothes not caring a bit about how she looked.

"Apke dulhay ke liye yeh theek hai?" She came out asking Farhana wearing her three piece suit.

(Is this fine for your groom?)

"Astaghfirullah, Shahwar. Kyun iss umar mien Salman sahab ko dil ka daura dena chahti hain aap. Mere nahi, apke dulhay miyan hain." Farhana replied trying to hide her giggle.

(God forbid, Shahwar. Why do you want to give Mr Salman a heart attack at this age?)

"Bye." She walked out shaking her head towards the car and got inside.

The driver drove to some office like building and stopped the car. Shahwar got out and looked up at the tower thinking what kind of place was this to meet up for. She went inside and looked around and saw an information desk. Walking further she stopped in front of the desk and asked where she could find the Rehaan guy. The man at the desk first asked for her name and when she told him her name she was instantly led towards an elevator. The entire building seemed too posh and she stepped out of the elevator looking around in an awe for the one who must've done the interiors.

She was taken to a room with glass doors and it looked like some kind of office. It was empty and she sat down on the huge couch across the desk chairs and coffee table. She was waiting till she felt sleepy already. Maybe it was the jet lag but she didn't like the wait. Placing her palm under her chin she sighed loudly, "Abhi time pe nahi asakay yeh, agar hamaray bachon ko school se pick karnay bhi dair se gaye toh mere bachay ronay lag jayenge."

(He couldn't make it on time for now, if he'll go to pick our children from school late as well then my kids would start crying.)

"Kiske bachay?" The voice from behind alerted her and she stood up at once turning around.

(Whose kids?)

A man who most definitely looked like he could empower the whole world with his looks was staring at her with a stern face. Shahwar at once moved her eyes away to not make it obvious that she'd been staring at him.

"I'm Dur e Shahwar." She met his eyes again.

"Rehaan Kazmi." He sat on the chair opposite to the table.

She sat in front of him and tried to not stare again. "You want to marry me?" He said and Shahwar gave him a puzzled look.

"I want to marry you?" She rephrased it for herself.

"Answer." He was cold with his tone.

"Yes, I wanted to marry you since I was a kid. Bachpan se yehi khwaab tha." She smiled at him cutely.

"What?" This time Rehaan was the confused one.

"Exactly. Pehli baar I've met you and you're asking me as if you were my dream man all along." She pointed out her sarcasm in the same polite tone.

"Whoever your dream guy is, I'm not that person. I can't provide affection or any other emotions in this marriage." He was being direct with his words.

"Okay." She had known deep down that it was obvious that no man would want to marry a woman he'd never known.

"I am serious. Don't ask me for anything once you're married. There's no leaving either." He was trying to figure out what did this woman have in her mind. What was her plan?

"Okay." Her voice was slowly faltering.

"There will be no divorce, ever. So think before you say yes." His view fixated on her.

"I've already said yes." Her voice and eyes were dim, too much for anyone to not notice.

"I'm a cruel man so don't you dare humiliate me if you get cold feet and try to-"

"I won't run away. I never go back on my word. Yes, means yes." The softness in her voice was making him furious, she wasn't meeting his eyes and he wanted to stay calm.

"I don't want any nonsense like love to be mentioned ever." Another demand came from him. "I won't love you, ever."

"Hm." She lowered her gaze and didn't want to talk anymore. A man who didn't know anything about her was right now treating her like this because of her father. What was her fault?

"I expect a proper response."

"I understand, everything." She said looking down.

Rehaan was feeling too baffled within himself, he hadn't expected this. A girl who looked like she could have any guy in the world was sitting and nodding to every wretched sentence coming out of his mouth, without any arguments. Either she was too dumb or she was playing him he thought. He was told she'd come from Spain so he felt like she really couldn't be dumb. It was definitely the latter. Who knew what games she had in her mind.

"Fine then." He stood up. "I've work to do. And you do know that we'll be moving to Paris, after marriage?"

She was now surprised at that, "No, wait. What?"

"Yes. I'm going to shift there permanently. My main offices are there. So you'll be there too. Now that you've confirmed your say in this matter I'll book your ticket. We leave Saturday morning." He moved his hands in his pockets.

"Uh—"

"Still want to marry me?" He raised his brow at her.

She quietly nodded and stood up.

"Take care. Bye." Shahwar smiled at him leaving him in complete shock.

She walked out of his office and he kept thinking what was the problem with this girl.

If only his parents had not implied that they wanted him to go ahead with this marriage he would've never married anyone ever. Especially since he loved someone else. At first he had refused his parents but when they pestered him for bringing a girl of his own choice then he had given into their proposition. He thought this meet-up with the girl would make things easier and he would make it clear for her to say no to this marriage but she definitely was up to no good.

They get married in the next chapter.🤧