Chapter 10: Getting Her

Armaan's POV

The next days proved to be the longest days of my life until it was finally Friday. Okay so I was nervous for the first time in my life I, Armaan Malik was nervous.

I had all the information on Mr Hassan Murtaza. He seemed like a good person. An honest hardworking person. He would not let Haya breath in the same air as I do if he knew what I did for a living.

But he was never going to find out. I was damn sure of that, still I had a sinking feeling about the situation.

Their house was not that big but it was decorated in a fine style. Everything was welcoming and cozy. She lived in a good place.

"Please sit down Mrs Malik." Mr Hassan motioned towards a sofa on which my mother sat down.

"Armaan Beta you too." Mrs Murtaza smiled while saying that.

Once we were all settled, a girl who I recognized from the wedding came with tea and other things.

"Thank you, Zainab." That is the first time I saw Mr Murtaza smiling. Well seems like he is good to his daughter. Good that means he is good to my Haya.

"So," Mom started the conversation "where is Haya?"

"Haya had important tests so she had to go to college." It was her father. He was not being downright rude but he was not very hospitable either.

"Okay." Mom smiled. "I am sure Faria has already told you why we are here."

"Yes, Mrs-" Mr Murtaza interrupted his wife.

"Yes, she told us and-" he stopped as the door opened.

"Haya!" He was panicked as he got up and walked towards the door, "what happened, Beta?"

I looked back. Mr Murtaza held Haya's arms as if supporting her.

"Twisted my ankle." Her voice held pain. I wanted to support her and soothe her but restrained myself.

"Okay I am leaving," that was when I noticed the girl with Haya. She said goodbye and left.

Haya walked forward "Assla-" she stopped as her eyes landed on me. I smirked.

She took a deep breath, collected herself and finished, "Asslam o Alaikum."

"Waalaikum Asslam, Beta how are you? How is your ankle?" Mom was smiling so I think she liked her.

Haya said she was fine. Her father took her to her room. She was really limping, maybe her ankle was really bad. That got me worried.

Mr Murtaza came back in a minute.

"How is she?" Mom was also worried.

"Nothing really. She just fell in her Physical Education class. It's nothing to worry about." He reassured us but I was not satisfied.

"I know a good doctor for these kind of things. Do you want me to call him? I can-"

"Mr Malik," he cut me, "she is my daughter. I can take her to a doctor."

I assessed him for a few seconds. I could see where this was going. "Of course."

"Mrs Malik," he turned towards my mother. "I know why you are here. Please don't think I am being rude. I do not know if you know that my daughter is only sixteen at the time and I am sure you will agree with me that it is a very young age for her to get married."

"I understand that."

"But Sir-" he cut me off again.

"Armaan I am sure that you are a good person but I love my daughter and I can not marry her off at the age where she does not understands theses things. I want my daughters' married lives to be happy and that will be possible only if they are mature enough to understand their responsibilities."

He stopped to take a deep breath. "This world is a cruel place and I can send off my daughters, telling them to be wicked and always think of themselves but I will not do that. I want them to be mature enough to understand how to deal with certain matters and make their positions strong without harming others and I do not think that Haya is old enough to understand these things. I do not think that she is ready to face the world."

"I understand all your concerns." Mother said sipping on her tea. "But please know that Haya will be as sheltered with us as she is with you. I promise that if you give her to me I will love and protect her like I would have loved and protected my own daughter if I had any. Please give it a thought.

Mr Murtaza just nodded. We talked some more.

"Beta I still think you are being irrational." Mother said on the drive back.

"How so?" I asked.

"Mr Murtaza was right. She is too young to understand the world and marriage is a huge commitment. She will not be able to handle all this."

"Mother," I said taking her hand and kissing it. "I promise to never expose her to the world. I will take care of her as long as I live."

"I do not think her father will agree." She expressed her concerns.

"He will don't worry about that." I said assuring her. "Leave all that and tell me what you think of Haya."

"She is really pretty and by what I saw, she looked really innocent." She smiled.

"So you like her?"

"Of course I do. I just hope she is as pretty on the inside. Her mother is really nice." She remarked.

"Her father not so much." I said.

"Armaan. A random stranger came to his door and asked him for his daughter. How do you expect him to react?"

I shook my head.

Three days passed. I heard from Khawar Haya was staying home for a week but she was fine. I am so glad he got married to Faria Bhabi.

Mr Murtaza had not contacted in anyway. I again convinced Mother to visit them. She was mad at me but did as I asked.

Mr Murtaza was surprised to see us.

"I am sorry that we came without informing you." Mother apologized as she sat down.

"It's okay." Haya's mother was again being hospitable.

Mother smiled at her. "Actually you still had not given us an answer."

"Yes Murtaza and I talked about it and-" she hesitated for a minute.

"And," Mr Murtaza continued, "the answer is still the same."

My temper flared for a second but I controlled myself. "Sir, if you would think about it once more."

"Gentleman, I have already thought about it. The answer is same." This man was getting on my nerves.

"I am sure if you give it some more thought. You will see it is better for your daug-"

He held up his hand. "I know what is better for my daughter." His voice was raised.

It was really hard for me to control myself this time but I did it for Haya. "I request you-"

"She is my daughter and I can do as I please with her future."

"She is going to be my wife and I will do as I please with her."

"Armaan!!" It was my mother. Mr Murtaza stared at me with shock for a minute. I stared back.

"I apol-" Mother stopped as Mr Hassan Murtaza got up.

"Thank you for visiting. The answer is still no so please do not bother coming back."

"Bhai Sahab, I am really sorry." But he had already left the room. I also got up and walked out. Mother did not talk to me the whole day and when she did, it was just to warn me to stay away from Haya.

I was at his office the next day.

"You are here again." He stated.

"I wanted to apologize for what I said.

He looked at me for a second. "You can leave now."

Despite his words I sat down. "I just wanted to tell you that I love Haya. I love her a lot."

"Stop taking my daughter's name." He said with clenched teeth.

"Please sir, give me a chance. I promise I will not disappoint you."

"Young man why don't you understand? I do not want my daughter to marry yet."

"You have not even thought about it once. You just formed a opinion about the matter. Think about it."

"Don't tell me what to do."

"Consider it." With that I left.

Two more days passed. I had worked day and night for Danish's case. He was taking drugs abroad. He sold them and instead of returning the money, he framed another one of my men and ran away.

My men had caught him and recovered all the money. He was going to be back soon then he would know what messing up with me meant.

I got out of my building and thinking something drove towards Mr Murtaza's.

He frowned looking at me. "I told you to never come back."

I sat down ignoring him.

"I know what you do."

I was shocked for a second but then composed myself. "I am a businessman."

"I know your business. So now don't expect me to even think about giving you my daughter."

"Haya-"

"Don't take her name!"

"If you think that any other man will get that honour. You are wrong. I will kill him with my bare hands." I was gritting my teeth now.

"You have no right to even think about her. She would never belong to you."

I scoffed. "She was mine the second I laid my eyes on her."

He got up. "Get out! I will see how you lay as much as a finger on her."

"No Mr Hassan Murtaza I will see how you stop me." With that I walked out.

I had to do something on my own. This man was going to be stubborn. Fine I know how to convince people. Haya was mine. He had no right to keep her from me.

I was talking with Khawar on the phone the next day.

"I am sorry, what?" He was shocked.

"I am going to marry Haya." I repeated.

"You are what?"

"Dude seriously?"

"Her father agreed?" He asked again.

"Umm no."

"What!?"

"You are becoming more and more retarded as your married life is progressing."

"No my Brother you are becoming more and more retarded."

"Whatever I am getting married."

"And how do you plan to do that?"

"I am kidnapping her."

"WHAT!?" He shouted. "You are not serious are you?"

"I am completely serious."

"You are not going to kidnap her."

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because it's not a normal thing. You can not go right ahead and kidnap someone."

"I am doing it no matter what. Are you with me or not?"

"I love my wife why do you want her to leave me?" He was close to crying.

"I also love Haya. Why do you want me to stay away from her?" I imitated him. "For the sake of my love please."

"Fine." He gave up. "Do whatever you want. Just don't involve me in anything."

"You are not coming to the wedding?" I asked.

"The girl you are going to kidnap and force to marry you is my wife's cousin. What do you think?"

"Oh yeah right." I sighed. "I will do it without you."

I arranged everything for the wedding. Only the bride was missing now.

I got her the next Monday. It was her birthday too. I know what I was going to do was not right but for the sake of my sanity I kidnapped her. I told the fools not to do anything unless it was absolutely necessary but they were fools.

Thankfully the drug wore off quickly.

She was scared as she gained consciousness. It was funny. If only the silly girl knew what she did to my heart. If only she knew how my insides reacted when she licked her lips.

I liked being close to her. She looked so fragile. I wanted to hug her and protect her. But the stupid girl was scared of me.

That is when she said my name. It came so soft almost rolling off her tongue. I raised my voice at her telling her to say it again but instantly regretted it.

I made a mental note to always treat her gently. She deserved so much. She was my Queen. I did not want her to be afraid of me.

I found it amusing when her eyes widened when I suggested continuing kissing her. I loved that she was so innocent.

She finally agreed. I had to kidnap her. I had to drag her. I had to threaten her and I had to make her cry but I promised myself that it was going to be the last time I ever do any of that.

I wanted her to love me not to think of me as a cruel man which as much as I hate to admit it, I was then.

Even though I hated myself for all I did, I had never been happier in my whole life.

I hugged her and kissed her forehead. "Finally love you are mine." I realized the enormity of those words as I whispered them.

Finally, finally she was mine. No one could take her away from me now. No man could ever think of her in anyway. She was mine, finally mine. I looked at her and all I could feel was love.

Maryam interrupted by taking a picture. She asked for more but Haya looked pale. I wanted her to rest but Maryam convinced me to take some more. I looked at Haya and agreed.

I could tell she was nervous being so close to me. I smiled at her. She looked so innocent. Every second I spent with her made me fall for her more and more.

Finally when everyone left, I took Haya upstairs to get some rest and even forced her to eat.

I wanted to talk to her but she fell asleep. Atleast I got to tell her how much I loved her. I also told her thatshe would start living with me only after her father agreed for her to marry me and also that he would know nothing of this.

She looked so cute in her sleep. I wanted her to stay. I wanted to talk to her. I wanted to know her more. I wanted her to be comfortable around me. But she had to leave. All because of that old man.

If it was not due to Haya, I would have done something about him already. It was such a good day, I wanted to spend it with Haya but that old man was the problem again.

Although Haya defended him all the time I was glad she did. It meant he loved her a lot and no matter how much that love was interfering with my love atleast Haya was happy.

I wanted to give her my present but she left in such a hurry so I asked one of my men to do it. I would have delivered it myself but I was not sure if Haya would open the door.

If she did not, I had asked Amir to just come back. I did not want Haya to be in trouble because of me. Thankfully she received it.

I missed her a lot so I called her the next day.

"Hello?" Her sweet voice answered the phone.

"I was hoping I was not late."

"What do you want?"

"Just wanted to hear your voice."

"Okay bye."

"Wait, you did not tell me if you liked my present or not." I don't know why I sounded hopeful.

"I did not open it."

I laughed "Then open it."

"Now?" Why was she surprised?

"Yes now."

"I am getting late."

"I know you are not."

"Well, I don't want to open it." That's my girl.

"Do you want me to do it for you?

"What do you mean?"

"Just that if you don't do it, I will have to come to your Baba's home to open it for you." For some reason I wanted her to know that it was not her home.

She huffed. "Fine I will do it."

"You are such a good girl." I smirked.

She was silent for a minute.

"So do you like it?"

"It's beautiful." Her voice told me she really thought so.

"I am glad you like it. Wear it today." Why was I being such an obsessive jerk? "And go to college. I don't want you to fail. I love you. Bye." I said quickly and hung up.

I was acting like a love sick teenager. I even sent her a letter. What was wrong with me. I was never affected by any girl. What was she doing to me?

A week passed since I last saw her so I asked one of my men to bring her. I was waiting for Danish. I would kill that bast**d the minute I see him but Haya came before that and saw me killing him.

I had to threaten her again. Sitting in Khawar's office, when Faria Bhabi called I knew she would tell her Baba everything.

That stupid girl did not that it was not going to affect me in any way. I wanted to keep it from him for her sake. I know he already heard about my business from someone but I also know he was not sure wether it was true or not.

Hearing it from his daughter there would be no doubt in his mind. He would never agree to our marriage and Haya would be the unhappy one. But that stubborn girl would never listen to me.

So I held his Baba for sometime to send her the message she would understand. I had to do it again. I had to threaten her again. I wanted to kill myself. Why was I being so selfish?

I had to go to Brazil for some business for a month. I heard about Haya's nightmares from Khawar and that she was not doing well.

I felt something piercing my heart. It was all due to me. I made her so scared of life. I wanted to go to her and comfort her but I restrained myself. She needed some time away from me so I stayed away.

A month passed. I did not contact her. It was killing me to stay away from her but I deserved it. Finally I could not take it anymore. I heard from Khawar about her sister's wedding.

That night I asked a girl to ask her to come and get a charger from Khawar's car. I was not sure if I should see her or not so I left it to fate.

If we were not supposed to meet than she should be smart enough to remember that Khawar left hours ago but she was not. I was so relieved to see her but at the same time it broke my heart to see how weak she had grown.

I took her to my house and to my study. She was literally drooling when she saw all the books. I knew she loved them. I had something much better for her back at home.

I was right it was due to Danish's murder that she was having those nightmares. That guy was a jerk, he was involved in human trafficking. I know I was a bad guy but I would never fall as low as that.

As expected Haya did not believe me so I had to show her the video. I quickly took back the laptop so she would not see what happened next. I don't need her to have anymore nightmares.

She was in a really bad shape so I had to feed her. She looked so cute when her stomachs grumbled hearing of pizza.

She looked even cuter when she was jealous of Maria. I was going to tell her that she was a young beautiful girl who was going to be my second wife but I saved it for a later date and told her the truth. I needed her to eat.

I took her to my room. I had decided just to give her a quick little kiss but I almost lost my mind when my lips touched hers. I had kissed other girls but I never lost control like I did with her.

And when she started kissing me back it took everything in me to stop. We were both gasping for air.

"I am sorry. Let's just sit and talk. Okay?" I was still breathless

She sat on the couch and I sat with her at some distance. I was not sure if I could control myself. She was looking so delectable and I did not want to do something she did not want me to do.

I saw hurt flash in her eyes for a second but I was doing it for her. Why can she never understand me?

"So what is your favourite colour?" I asked.

"Why are you asking?" She looked cute when she talked like that. A kitten who was trying to be furious.

"I want to know more about you."

She was quiet. That's fine. I knew how to make her talk.

"Do you want to talk or..."

"Or what?"

"Or do you want to do something else?" I asked looking at the bed meaningfully.

"Blue."

"Blue?" I was surprised. "I never thought a girl would like blue."

"But I do."

I chuckled. "Of course you do. Okay favourite food?"

"Biryani." She smiled at that. I was relieved she was finally getting comfortable with me.

"Why does everyone love Biryani so much?"

"Because it is biryani."

"Favourite novel?"

"My Heart's Secret."

"I never thought a teenager would read classics." But she was definitely not any normal teenager.

"Yes but I do."

I laughed and asked her more questions. I could tell she was really tired. Her eyes kept drooping. Although I wanted her to talk with her I could not help but smile at her sleepy form.

"Favourite sister?" It must be my fifty something question.

"You see," she stopped to yawn. I resisted the urge to kiss her. "Both of them are good but you see th-" her eyes were closed now and head on the back of the couch "That Api Zai-" she softly smacked her lips and fell asleep.

I laughed and got up to get some blankets. I waited for her to slip further into her sleep then lifted her from the couch and laid her on the bed.

I changed into some comfortable clothes and shifted under the covers myself. I turned off the lamp and took her in my arms. She felt so right there. I stared at her for a long time before finally drifting off to sleep.