•||Chapter 2: Surprise Attack||•

||Mishal's POV||

I looked out of the window of the car and Zayaan was busy typing on his phone. We were going to the hall where our reception was.

His mother told me in the morning that there were a huge number of guests which were invited. I didn't want to go but the bride had to be present for the reception along with her groom.

Driver stopped the car in front of the wedding hall entrance. Zayaan got out of the car while I was trying to smooth my lengha with my sweaty hands.

The door from my side opened and Zayaan helped to carry my lengha and also helped me climb out of the car. Once I stood beside him, he held my hand and we both started walking.

“I will leave tomorrow for some important work. You don't have to worry about anything because the driver and maids will be there with you at my house,” He said in a low voice but the volume was enough for me to hear.

I smiled looking at the guests who were smiling and looking at us. He had explained to me that we didn't have to live with his parents and he had a separate house for us where no one would know what was happening behind the closed door and servants would keep everything confidential.

“When will you come back?” I asked, quietly and maintained a small smile.

He didn't answer which made me think maybe he hadn't heard me clearly. We both sat on the stage and his parents came to us. His mother hugged me and kissed on my both cheeks.

“Ma shaa Allah! God Bless you! You are looking gorgeous, dear!” She said, looking at me with a big smile.

“Thank you!” I said, smiling back at her but my smile was too small compared to her.

She looked at Zayaan who was talking about some business with his father. She rolled her eyes at them and pulled her husband away from her son.

“They just recently married. Let him enjoy the starting days of his wedding life. I don't want you to talk about business with him at least today,” She ordered her husband who smiled at his wife.

“OK! OK! I will not talk about business today,” He said with a soft tone.

They both went to greet the other guests. I and Zayaan were sitting together and guests were congratulating us one by one.

“I don't know,” Zayaan spoke to me, suddenly.

“Huh?” I looked at him in confusion.

“I don't know when I will come back,” He answered my earlier question.

I nodded my head and thought what would I do in his absence while being all alone in his house.

“You can go out whenever you want,” He answered while I was thinking silently.

• • •

When I woke up the whole house was silent. I rose up from my bed and went to the washroom and changed my clothes.

After changing into comfortable clothes, I exited my room and looked at the door of Zayaan's room. He arranged a different room for me because I was uncomfortable sharing a room with him. I stood in front of his door, wanted to see if he was still here or not.

Waiting for a few moments after knocking on the door, I opened the door and met with the dark and silent room. His room was dark and the curtains were closed, not letting the sunshine peak in the room.

Seeing the empty room, I felt relaxed and a little guilty for feeling relieved and relaxed in his absence. I was closing the door when I saw a photo frame in the dim light that was coming through the hall. In it were two men of the same face features but different temperament.

I frowned slightly but nevertheless closed the door. I was walking to the kitchen and heard sounds from there. The relief which I felt was gone again now. The sounds were coming from the kitchen. When I entered the kitchen I saw a man who was cooking. Seeing a strange man in the house, I was scared and stared at him in alarm.

“Who are you?” I asked in a frightening voice.

He turned around and looked at me. He narrowed his eyes at me then a smile formed on his lips like he knew who I was.

“So, you are the famous Mishal who tamed our boss. Nice to meet you, ma'am. I am your husband's cook, Kamal,” He introduced himself.

“Oh! It's… nice to meet you, too,” I mumbled, awkwardly ignoring his first sentence.

“Ma'am, please wait at the dining table for five minutes. Your breakfast is almost ready,” He said, pointing towards the stove.

“You don't have to cook for me. I can cook for myself,” I told him.

I had an old habit of cooking three times of meals myself and it felt strange not following this old habit.

“It's my job to cook. People called me cook for this reason. If I stop cooking then what will you call me?” He asked with a sly smile, moving towards the stove.

“Maybe one day I can let you cook then we both will see who is better cook,” He said or more like challenging me.

I smiled at him but it vanished when I felt dizzy. Not having breakfast made me dizzy again. I looked around the kitchen and moved out of the kitchen for the fresh air.

“Are you fine, ma'am?” I heard his voice from behind me.

“Yeah!” I answered him, quietly and weakly.

I sat in on the chair in the dining hall and Kamal came with a glass of water. I gladly accepted the glass and drank it.

“You look so weak. I should have made your breakfast earlier. I will make you healthy with my healthy recipes,” He said, vanishing in the kitchen.

I held my head and closed my eyes. He came back with breakfast which made my mouth watered with its aroma. He placed it in front of me and I ate it happily and held the moan.

“I knew you would definitely like it. People don't call me Kamal in such way,” He said with a wink.

“Don't flirt with her, Kamal. Sir will kill you if he comes to know you are flirting with his wife and also your fiance will kill you,” A girl said, appearing in the dining hall.

Kamal's face made me smile. I looked behind him at the girl who was also smiling.

“I am Rouza. The housekeeper,” She introduced herself with a shy smile.

"Hello," I nodded my head at her.

“So, who is your fiance?” I asked Kamal as I filled my stomach with delicious breakfast.

“My angel,” He said with blushing cheeks and a dreamy sigh came from him.

I chuckled and Rouza giggled at him. Anyone could tell love was in the air in Kamal's life.

• • •

I was sitting in the living hall when the doorbell rang. I didn't know we were expecting any guest and Zayaan was also not here.

“I’ll check!” Rauza said and went to see who was here.

I stood up in surprise when Zayaan's parents entered the living hall. Mom came near me and pulled me in a bear hug.

“How are you?” She asked looking at me.

“I am fine,” I answered her with a smile.

“But you are looking a little pale. Are you really fine? Do you need to visit the doctor?” She asked as she examined my face.

“No!” I quickly said, “I am fine. I just have a little headache because I ate my breakfast a little more than usual,” I added, slowly.

She nodded her head with a concerned look and told me to have breakfast on time. They both sat on the couch and mom looked around.

“Where is Zayaan?” Dad asked me.

I paused and thought of lying but that was something which I couldn't do. I wasn't good at it and also felt all the excuses flew away from my mind.

“He is out of the city,” I said, slowly and fidgeting my fingers.

“Without you?” Mom gasped, loudly.

I looked away from her eyes and was hesitant to look at her again.

“Silly girl. You both recently married. How could you let him go? And why are you not ready like a newly bride?” She asked pointing at my simple dress which I wore.

• • •

Mom made me wear a little fancy dress. According to her, the newly bride should always be ready and look more beautiful with her elegance makeup.

Surprisingly, mom, somehow, came to know where Zayaan was and told the driver to take me there. She also packed some clothes for me and handed the small suitcase to the driver to put it in the car.

I didn't want to go there to interrupt him and was also feeling nervous but when mom strictly told me to go then I had to listen to her without any choice. The most annoying fact was that I had no number of Zayaan saved in my phone which he gave me before marriage.

I didn't know where we were going and couldn't do anything other than looking out of the window at the blurry scenery.

Maybe he was going to be angry after seeing me there and that thought was making me scared. He had warned me before to not leave his house because of some issues.

A loud scream escaped from my mouth when I heard gunshots and the windows shattered in many pieces.

. . . . . . . . .