LET ME HATE YOU

Do or Die!

Amaan couldn't stop himself from yelling, "I don't want to get married."

He was in his penthouse, lost in memories of Raina, when the persistent ringing of the doorbell broke his concentration. Initially, he thought it was housekeeping, but the urgency suggested the intruder knew he was inside. Annoyed at the disturbance, he opened the door and froze, seeing his parents.

His father spoke first, wrinkling his nose at the strong smell of alcohol, "Thirty minutes, and I want to see you at the house."

Before Amaan could fully react, his parents had already stepped into the elevator, and the doors had closed.

Since the day he chose to leave his mansion and live in the penthouse, clinging to Raina's memory, he hadn't bothered to visit his family or answer their calls. Salar Hashmi, a ruthless and well-known businessman, had failed to connect with his own son. He knew his younger son was incredibly stubborn, but he never expected him to stop living entirely. Though he had many ways to force a conversation, as a father, he was reluctant to make things even harder for Amaan. In business, no one could defeat Salar Hashmi; as a father, he felt helpless.

His son was clearly in denial. Still, Salar struggled to bring him back to reality and encourage him to start living again. The Hashmis were known for their brutal effectiveness in business, never failing to achieve a goal. Yet, here they were, desperately trying to convince their youngest son. Salar Hashmi was not known for leniency, even with his family. He valued honor and prestige above all else and would never let anything tarnish the family name, even if it meant disowning his own son.

When Amaan finally freshened up and arrived at the Hashmi mansion, he noticed the entire family was present. His two brothers, who would typically be at the office, were sitting beside Salar. What truly surprised him was the presence of his sisters-in-law, Hania and Ishaal. A gut feeling told him this was a bad sign—that he had been lured into a trap. Daughters-in-law in the Hashmi household were not just decorative trophies; their involvement signaled that the family had gathered to make a serious decision.

"We want you to get married." Salar's words struck Amaan like a splash of cold water.

"What about Raina?" Amaan gritted his teeth.

Salar Hashmi had always respected liberal women, which was how he fell in love with his wife, Feriha, who started her NGO at a young age. For this reason, he had always been fond of Raina, treating her like his own daughter. She was a woman who held onto her individuality and didn't waste her life on luxury or lavishly spending her partner's money. Coming from a middle-class background, she had built her own small business, including three coffee shops. She was a girl full of life and fiercely hardworking.

'Raina will never come back. He has to move on; I am not letting my son's stubbornness ruin his life,' Salar thought.

While Amaan was breathing heavily, trying to control his anger, his parents remained completely calm and composed.

His mother spoke, addressing his stubbornness. "How are you planning to spend the rest of your life? Hmm? In that stinky penthouse? Or drowning yourself in alcohol?"

She was struggling to maintain her composure. She knew the colder she acted, the quicker she might convince her son. She understood that if Amaan wasn't cornered from every angle, he would never agree to marriage, even if his life depended on it.

"Even if I'm forced to marry, there's no way I'm going to marry her, even if she's the last person on earth," Amaan said, smashing a nearby vase in a fit of rage.

He couldn't understand why, of all people, his parents had chosen her. Whatever the reason, he'd rather die than marry her.

Angered by his son's outburst, Salar abruptly stood up and declared, "If that is your decision, then I, too, have made mine. Either you marry her, or you are no longer a part of our family. It won't take much for me to announce that you are no longer a Hashmi. I won't allow a drunkard to ruin the family name. You can take your stubbornness somewhere else and leave."

Hurt by his father's words, Amaan swallowed the lump in his throat but couldn't speak. He knew well that when his father made a decision, he meant it. Being disowned from the business wasn't what bothered him, but he couldn't lose the rest of his loved ones. He still needed his family.

Amaan looked to his elder brother, Aslan, for help.

Aslan shook his head and said, "Dad is right, Amaan. Don't let your ego be bigger than your family. What you are doing is only ruining your life, and we can't turn a blind eye to it. We are not your enemy."

Frustrated, Amaan raked his hands through his hair, gathering his agitation. He couldn't afford to lose his temper now; he needed to think calmly. His anger had weakened his position; the best way to convince his family was to act rationally and make his point clear.

"I understand you want me to be happy and move on. You want me to settle down with a woman and live blissfully. But how can you be sure I will be happy with her? If your main concern is my happiness, then shouldn't you be considering someone other than her?"

Salar was stunned. He hadn't expected such a smart retort from his usually unhinged son. He looked at his wife and shook his head helplessly. What more could he do when his son was accepting marriage and wasn't afraid of being disowned anymore?

"Amaan, do you remember the promise you made to Raina?" Feriha asked.

She didn't want to resort to using the promise, but her son had left her no other choice. She was ready to do anything if it meant saving her son's life.

Amaan froze at his mother's words. How could he forget everything he had said, everything he had promised? He shook his head and said, "Ma! Please don't do this to me."

"Do you remember or not?" Feriha asked assertively.

He couldn't believe his otherwise compassionate mother had become so inconsiderate toward him.

He just nodded.

"What was the promise?"

"I promised her I would do the one thing you requested of me," he said, looking at his mother. She could see his glassy eyes, but she knew this was necessary.

Amaan could recognize where this conversation was heading, and it was definitely not in his favor. He regretted the day he made such a foolish promise. If only he had known what it would force him to do in the future. That day, all he wanted was to make her happy, even if it meant promising something sight unseen.

He was rapidly searching for a way out of the mess without breaking his word. Suddenly, an idea struck him. He knew he had to take the risk; he had to accept the bait.

He knelt in front of his mother, looking straight into her eyes, "If this is what you want me to do, I will do it."

He could see a flicker of hope in her eyes, "But I have one condition."

"I don't want someone else to be forced into a marriage with me. You should only consider this proposal if she is willing to marry me," he lied.

He didn't care what happened to her; she could burn in hell for all he cared, but he knew manipulating the situation was the only solution for him without breaking the promise.

He didn't realize that his arrogance had blinded him, making him assume things would work in his favor. Why would he not be sure that woman wouldn't marry him when he already knew how much she hated him? He was sure of her answer.

As if on cue, a memory flashed in his mind.

"Trust me, baby, she would never talk to you, forget about meeting you," Raina had said, irritated by his constant pestering.

"But why? What have I done to her?" Amaan asked, confused that anyone would ignore him.

"Because..." Raina stopped, feeling sad and unsure how to answer him.

"Oh, come on, what happened?" he asked, holding her close and comforting her.

Raina looked up into his eyes and said, "Because of me, she hates you. She wished you never existed in this world."

'Why?' he thought.

Amaan wanted to ask her, but he stopped, seeing how disturbed she was. He knew why she was upset, but he couldn't help her. He felt helpless.

Amaan was still in the flashback when his mother agreed.

"Okay."

Inwardly, he sighed in relief. However, unknown to him, destiny had already played its hand, and he was bound to lose.