Contract Of The Heart

"Will you help me to zip my dress?", Zoya said while trying her best to pull up her zip standing in front of the mirror. I came in my senses as she called me.

"Did you say this to me?", I asked her being a little surprised.

"Is their anyone else in my room?", She asked, throwing me a black look.

"Are you going out?_, I asked her as I walked towards her and pulled her zip up.

"Am I supposed to tell you that?", She replied as she shifts her hairs behind from her neck. I shook when her hairs touched my face.

"I was just curious to know ", I stepped back. "Let me make the breakfast "

She nodded while wearing a heart -shaped pendant around her neck. I peeped at her, the tiny heart looked beautiful on her milky white skin. I couldn't drive my eyes away from her as she wears a thick layer of eyeliner. Her black eyes looked more gorgeous in the red salwar Kameez.

"Little", I couldn't stop myself to call her. She turned around and looked at me. "Wear those red bangles. They will look good with your dress", I smiled at her. However, she didn't seem to like my opinion and I didn't want her to do so. I didn't wait for her answer and walked out of the room.

"Listen", I couldn't stop myself to call her. She turned around and looked at me. "Wear those red bangles. They will look good with your dress", I smiled at her. However, she didn't seem to like my opinion and I didn't want her to do so. I didn't wait for her answer and Walk out of the room.

I went to the kitchen and make some sandwiches for us. When I served the dishes on the table Zoya came to the dining room and took her seat. My eyes wandered around her as I found her wearing the same bangles I asked her to wear. A tiny smile appeared on my face. Those bangles completed her look.

"Are you going to your mom's place?", I asked her as I took my seat in front of her.

"How many times do I have to tell you that don't interferes in my personal life? I will go wherever I want to. I don't need to seek your permission for that", she shrugged while taking a bite from her sandwich. I knew she didn't like it but I couldn't help worrying about her.

"It's not about permission, Zoya. If you tell me, I won't be worried", I said.

"Excuse me? Did you forget our contract?", She asked while glaring at me.

"No!", I immediately replied.

"Then don't ask me anything", she said, focusing on her breakfast. I don't bother her more. We quietly had our breakfast and she moved to leave.

"And one more thing", she uttered, carrying her bag. "You don't need to cook from today",

"But why", I inquired her, being surprised. ", Aren't you liking the meal?

"There is nothing wrong with your cooking. But you work all day in the office and then you need to prepare meals for the whole day. I don't want to pressurize you ", she said. I felt little good that she thought about me, she was concerned for me.

"But who will cook then?", I asked her.

"We can hire a maid*, she beamed.

"No. Let it be. I will manage", I said since I can't afford a maid right now. She knew that I had a reasonable job which paid me a decent amount but not a luxurious one.

"Then I will do it", she replied after ten seconds.

"You?", I exclaimed as I couldn't believe what she just said to me.

"Do you have any problem", she asked in a cold tone.

"I was just... ", I couldn't complete.

"It's final then", she said and walked towards the door without even waiting for my reply.

"Ok", I agreed as I couldn't argue with her. I wasn't allowed to do that. When I looked at the door she had already left.

I got for the office in my room. I and Zoya had different rooms. We didn't share one as we aren't husband and wife yet, neither a couple. After getting ready for the office I went to Zoya's room. As per my expectations, it was messed up. Her clothes were spread all over the bed, the cupboard was open, makeup kit laying open on the dressing table. I folded her clothes nearly and put them inside her cupboard then clean up the whole room. While leaving the room my eyes went to the photo frame that was placed on the dressing table. Zoya was smiling lovingly in the photo. She looked beautiful while smiling which she hardly did. I wish I could express that to her.

I went to the kitchen and checked the utensils. If Zoya comes home early, she can have her lunch. Then I made my way to the door and left for office.

My head was pounding. I had a lot of work to do. Besides, I was worried about Zoya. Why doesn't girl inform anything? I would never stop her but at least she should tell me where was she going. I keep turning the pages of the files as I couldn't focus on my work.

"Abrar", Kaif snapped from his desk.

"Yes", I come out of my thoughts

"You haven't prepared a single report. Is everything ok?", He questioned. Kaif is my colleague and a kind of companion to me. I don't make friends as I prefer to be alone and less attached to anyone.

"Everything is fine. I am just....", I mumbled.

"Worried about Zoya?*, He raised his eyebrows as I shockingly looked at him." It's not unexpected for me. She owns your mind completely man "

" There's nothing like that ", I mumbled.

"Really? I don't think so. Tell me what has she done now?", He asked

"She hasn't done anything. I'm being overprotective for her. She has gone somewhere and when I asked she refused to tell me ", I signed.

"Why are you wasting your time after her Abrar? She is not your wife ", he reminded me of the fact. I haven't forgotten that she isn't my wife.

"But she is my responsibility ", I replied.

"Does she respect you that?", He shrugged. "She always keeps reminding you that you have no right on her. Still, you keep worrying for her. She is a spoiled bitch ", he spat.

"Enough, Kaif, I roared at him. My eyes turned red as I looked at him. His expression changed since he realized about her in front of me. I drove my eyes away to focus on my work.

"You can't tolerate a single word against her. But she keeps behaving ill with you", Kaif threw me a black look. I didn't turned to him.

"That doesn't mean you have the right to utter nonsense, Kaif. However she is, I can't run away from my responsibilities towards her", I said.

Kaif didn't reply to me and got back to his work since he knew there was no use of explaining me the same thing repeatedly.

I know Zoya is ill-mannered, short tempered but I can't tolerate anyone uttering nonsense about her. I still remember the day when I saw her for the first time.

I was returning home from my office while crossing the foot over bridge reminded me of my high school girlfriend Nikhat. We used to go to school and come back together through this bridge. This was the only place where I could hold her hand for a few minutes and she used to blush like a hell. I could only remember those moments and smiled like an idiot at that time, a smile of pain.

Suddenly my steps stopped when I saw a girl sitting at the corner. She had rested her forehead on her knees and she was sobbing. I noticed her carefully. She had worn a well-designed salwar suit and her hairs looked silky and well organized. No doubt she was from a notable family. I was clueless about what I should do. Should I call her? Maybe she was in some sort of problem. Or should I ignored her because I have heard about a gang of girls who used to rob while pretending to be in a danger? I thought a lot about it and preferred to ask her.

"Excuse me? I came near her and went on my knees. She immediately looked at me. Her eyes were swollen because of crying continually. She kept staring at me without uttering a single word." Are you ok? What are you doing here so late?", I asked her.

She didn't reply to me. I didn't find it good to leave a crying girl like this. She looked too young.

"You can tell m", I added . She looked at me again and exclaimed me carefully.

"I'm Zoya ", she uttered in a heavy voice. I became a little surprised as she spoke up finally. He intense eyes met mine. I could see her clearly now. She was an average looking brown girl but if you noticed every details of her face carefully she had an amazing spark into her eyes. Her pinkish lips matched her skin tone completely and her chubby cheeks made her cuter.

"Nice Name ", I said, I uttered the most stupid line as I was confused about what I should say to her. " I'm Abrar. Tell me where's your home? I will drop you ", I immediately came to the point.

"I can't go home ", she said in a broken voice as she lowered her head.

"Why? Did your parents scold you?", I asked her in surprised. She looked seventeen to eighteen years old, I just guessed by seeing her. Usually, this is the reason for most new adults to leave their homes. She replied nothing. Maybe I guessed right.

"See. I know parents becomes strict sometimes but that's for our betterment. You shouldn't leave your home like this. At least you have parents. I don't have that too", I explained to her as she looked at me surprisingly.

"You don't have parents?, She exclaimed.

"No ", I half-smiled, a smile of pain. " Now let's go. Tell me your address "

"No ", she muttered. "They won't accept me "

I got shocked by her statement. What has she done?

"Why?", I asked her.

"Because I have fled from my own home ", she sobbed. I couldn't believe that. However, there must have been some reasons.

Before I could ask her something she again spoke.

"For Anas ", she added.

"Who is that?*, I asked though I knew it must be her boyfriend or something. Girls only run away from their homes for their boyfriends whom they are loyal to.

"I love him. We both love each other. My dad doesn't want me to get married to him. He wants me to marry Danish his business partner's son. But I don't want to. I left a note and ....", She signed.

"Then? Why are you here? Where is he? ", I asked being curious. Her eyes filled again but this time she controlled herself.

"I had been calling him the whole day. He didn't answer. At least, he picked up and told me that he can't marry me. He is too young to get married. He doesn't want to take responsibility", she busted into tears. I became speechless as I had nothing to say to a girl who was just betrayed by her lovely boyfriend.

I let her cry and smiled at her. I don't know that girls like her actually exist in the part of the world. Wasn't it strange? This girl had left everything for a guy who didn't even ready to take her responsibility whereas my ex-girlfriend Nikhat had left me for her parents even when I was ready to take her responsibility. I wish Nikhat was like Zoya. But maybe Zoya should be like Nikhat. It's not right to leave parents for that person whom you recently met or loved.

"What are you thinking?", She asked me as she stopped crying. I looked at her, she wiped her tears with a tissue paper.

"Nothing. You are okay now?", I asked her.

"Yes", she stopped sobbing and looked normal again.

"Give me his number. I will take to him on your behalf.

"He won't agree ",

"Let me try for once ",

She passed me her phone and I called him on my phone and I put it on speaker.

"Mr Anass ", I said as he picked up.

"Yes ", Anas replied.

"I'm Abrar. Listen, the thing is I have found Zoya crying near the street. You had asked her to leave her home and now you not taking her responsibility at least think about her ", I said.

"Excuse me? I didn't ask her to do that. And if you are so much concerned for her, why don't you handle her? He spat. I got shocked by his statement. He proved himself a jerk. He was lucky to have a girl like Zoya who left everything for him and he was behaving like a dick. I was about to say something but before that Zoya snacked my phone.

"You bloody moron!", She shrugs. "You don't want to marry me, right? You don't need to. I'm not dying to marry you. Idiot! Duffer! If you didn't have guts, who told you to make a relationship? Get lost with your fucking attitude, you prostitute", she abused him in a breathe and cut the call.

I looked at her shockingly as she busted into tears again. The sudden change in her behavior surprised me. Her cheeks turned redder that made her look cuter than before. She was still a child who messed-up her life completely after a guy. I waited for her to stop crying. After she controlled herself I looked at her.

"Don't panic. You should be glad that you got to know his reality", I said as she shook her head. I knew somewhere that guy was right. What the hell these two would do after taking this immature step? Both are still very young to understand a relationship. There was no point in getting married at that age.

"Let's go and eat something. Looks like you haven't eaten anything the whole day", I said as I stood up. She too obeyed me and we silently walked away.

We reached a street food vendor and ordered two plates. She ate impatiently. I was right. She hadn't eaten anything for the whole day. Her chubby cheeks looked cuter when she filled her mouth with food. I smiled at her. We quietly finished our food and I went to pay the bills as she stopped me.

"Take the half", she said while handling me half of the bill.

"No. No. That's fine", I tell her.

"You looked exhausted. I can tell seeing you that you maybe work hard at your job ", she looked at me carefully.

I was actually tired and my clothes were old enough to make people know that I am broke.

"Please take it. If I didn't have money, I wouldn't have given it ", she insisted. I was too worried about my meal for the next day as I was going to pay for her too. I preferred sharing the bill to save myself from starving the next day.

"Ok then, Let me drop you off ", I said as we paid the bill. She shook her head and we walked by the road towards her place.

We reached her place when it was 11pm. Her huge residence was decorated beautifully like a bride. It seemed that she was from a rich family.

"Today was my engagement ", she said, lowering her eyes.

"Engagement? Isn't it so soon?", My jaw dropped.

"Engagement? Isn't it so soon? My jaw clenched, "N! I'm twenty six? But she didn't seem to be twenty six. Her face had still the teenage vibe and girls of her age don't do this kind of stupidity for a guy.

"Anas is twenty three", she added. I understood the whole situation right then why he wasn't ready to get married. I didn't say much to her.

"Ok. Go inside and explain everything to your parents. They will definitely understand", I smiled at her but she didn't move and kept looking at me ", What happened?", Go", I told her again.

"Come with me please ", she requested me, making a tiny face.

"Me?_, I exclaimed.

"Yes. Please", she pleaded." I'm scared. Please save me from my parents. They are going to kill me", She spat most of the children used this phrase to explain how strict their parents are.

But how can I....", I couldn't complete as she dragged me to the door and rang the doorbell.

"I hope the guests are gone otherwise they will start their nonsense ", She shrugged. I was still confused about her behavior. Till then, I could know a few things about her -1) she is immature -2) she is childish -3) she is from a very rich family -4) she is scared of her parents a lot. It was enough for a meeting of two hours.

I heard the sound of the door and we both looked up. A servant opened the huge metal door revealing the lavishing house. I had never seen such a big house in my life as I had lived in a tiny apartment of two rooms. One of them was the kitchen. When I was busy looking at her house I sensed some flashes on my face. I I looked in front of me. A bunch of paparazzi were clicking pictures of us. I got stunned and looked at Zoya who was nervous too. I didn't know what had just happened. Soon they scrambled with each other to reach us.

"MISS ZOYA ALI is it true that you have gotten married against your parent's choice?", A reporter spat.

"Why have you rejected one of the most successful businessmen Danish?", another one snapped.

"In your earlier interviews, you said you were single. Was it a lie?", Another reporter asked, looking at me

I wasn't ready for this situation. Everything seemed to be messed up. I looked at her, she looked normal as she had experience this kind of situation before. But I don't. She was about to answer but a gang of guards rushed to us and controlled the paparazzi. Guards dragged them aside as we could see Zoya's parents and a few guests who were not in a good mood. I looked at her father carefully. His face seemed familiar to me. I got a huge shock when he turned and I saw his face clearly. He also got surprised.

"Sir ", I mumbled, looking at him. I wasn't ready for this. I was at my boss Mr Ali's house where no other employee had ever entered. Last but not the least, I was with his daughter who ran away from her engagement and returned with me.

"You?", Mr Ali shrugged.

"Do you guys know each other?", Zoya asked confusingly.

"I will deal with you later", he said to me. I was afraid of losing my job then. My heartbeat rose. "What is all this, Zoya?", He screamed. Zoya lowered her eyes. "Hadn't I told you that you will be marrying Danish?", He spat.

"Dad... I", Zoya tried to say something but Mr Ali didn't let her speak.

"Shut up", he yelled. "See what you have done to my reputation. This news has become a talk of the town now. "How will I face Danish's parents? You just left; leaving a crap note that you are getting married?",

"Calm down. Let her speak ", Mrs Ali said holding her husband's shoulder.

"You keep quiet ", Mr Ali kept yelling", and you..., He screamed at me. My heartbeat almost stopped. Is he going to fire me? How will I find another job? How am I going to pay the rent? Where will I go if I am thrown out of my apartment? My head started pounding.

"Didn't you get anyone else? Why my daughter?", He said, being frustrated. I couldn't speak. What the heck he had just said! He thought his daughter had run away with me! Nothing can be more terrible than this.

"Sir... I", I tried to explain but he was in no mood to hear anything.

"How can you do this to me while working in my company?", He shrugged. Zoya kept quiet as she knew her father is not going to hear anything now.

"Sir, she didn't eloped with me", I mumbled.

"I know. You can't do it. She must have forced you", he spat at Zoya. "You are a decent guy Abrar. I know you can never influence anyone", he smiled at me. I didn't know what was happening to me.

"You?", Mr Ali shrugged.

"Do you guys know each other?", Zoya asked confusingly.

"I will deal with you later", he said to me. I was afraid of losing my job then. My heartbeat rose. "What's all this, Zoya?", He screamed. Zoya lowered her eyes. "Hadn't I told you that you will be marrying Danish?", He spat.

"Dad.... I", Zoya tried to say something but Mr Ali didn't let her speak.

"Shut up", he yelled. "See what you have done to my reputation. This news has become a talk of the town now. "How will I face Danish's parents? You just left, leaving a crap note that you are getting married?"

"Calm down. Let her speak ", Mrs Ali said holding her husband's shoulder.

"You keep quiet", Mr Ali kept yelling." And you...." , he screamed at me. My heartbeat almost stopped. Is he going to fire me? How will I find another job? How am I going to pay the rent? Where will I go if I am thrown out of my apartment? My head started pounding.

"Didn't you get anyone else? Why my daughter?", he said, being frustrated. I couldn't speak. What the heck he had just said! He thought his daughter had run away with me! Nothing can be more terrible than this.

"Sir... I", I tried to explain but he was in no mood to hear anything...

"How can you do this to me while working in my company?", he shrugged. Zoya kept quiet as she knew her father is not going to hear anything now.

"Sir, she didn't eloped with me", I mumbled.

"I know. You can't do it. She must have forced you ", he spat at Zoya. "You are a decent guy Abrar. I know you can never influence anyone ", he smiled at me. I didn't know what was happening to me .

"Zoya please say something", I whispered as she threw me a helpless look.

"Daughter of the renowned businessman Mr Rehmat Ali and the to be the owner of his empire Zoya Ali has gotten married to their employee Abrar Zafar", I heard a reporter saying in front of her camera. What the fuck she is saying! The situation was out of control. Especially Zoya's silence was making me more furious. I tried to help her but it seemed like I was the one who got affected by it the most.

"At least you have some sense left to choose a good person. You should've told me who the guy is. I had never refused if I knew it was Abrar", Mr Ali said to Zoya. I guessed it was going out of my hands.

"Now forget everything. I accept this marriage", he smiled.

Which marriage? Whose marriage? I wanted to screamed but none was going to listen to me. Soon, other guests came one by one and greeted us. I angrily looked at Zoya. I was about to say something but paparazzi surrounded us again with questions.

"How did your love story start?"

"Did you know that you were dating your boss's daughter?"

Where did you meet first?"

"Being the daughter of a billionaire how did you gather guts to marry a common man?"

Blah! Blah! Blah!

I was pissed up. Zoya looked at me and signalled to be calm. How could I keep calm? The guards pulled away from the paparazzi again as I grabbed her arm and took her to the corner.

"What the heck is going on Zoya?", I spat as she didn't look at me. "Will you answer me? I want my answers"

"I'm sorry", she said, lowering her eyes.

"It's ok. But now go and clean this mess", I tell her.

"You have helped me a lot. But I have one last request", she mumbled.

"What", I asked.

"Pretend to be my husband", she replied, making me surprised. What had she said? I asked myself again. Did I hear right? Did she tell me to pretend to be her lovely husband?

"What", Exclaimed.

"I know I am asking for something stupid. But it's a huge mess now. These reporters have already taken our pictures and telecasted it . They won't believe if we disagree with the news. Moreover, it's about Dad's image. It's already damaged after my engagement called off with Danish. Now again this.... He won't tolerate ", she explained. Where was she concerned when she fled for a guy! She got some brains after getting ditched.

"I've hurt him because of Anas. I don't want that again. If he is happy to see me with you...." She couldn't complete as I interrupted her.

"Won't hurt him when he will get to know the truth? It's a stupid idea ", I shrugged.

"Please don't say that. How will I manage the situation? There are a bunch of paparazzi, our guests, relatives and business partners ", she said nervously.

"You should've thought about it before running away ", I said rudely.

"I didn't know that Anas is going to ditch me ", she lowered her eyes. "I thought if we get married and come to Dad, he will accept us and I wouldn't have any problem then. But now there is everyone "

"Then you shouldn't bring me here, Miss Zoya Ali. Didn't you know today was your engagement? Didn't you know there will be reporters and relatives in your residence? Didn't you know it would be a risk if you came here with me? After knowing everything you brought me here. Does it make any sense?", I told her angrily.

"Will you help me or not?", She asked me rudely.

"It's a stupid idea and I am not going to help you in this crap. That's about your image and your reputation. You should handle it. It's not my business ", I drove my eyes away.

"That's definitely your business Abrar Zafar ", she said in a completely different tone. I surprisingly looked at her. She gazed at me while smirking.

"What do you mean?", I exclaimed.

"Soon I will be the owner of my dad's massive empire and you will be thrown out of my company if you don't do what I said ", she shrugged while looking at me with her blood boiled eyes

Was she the same girl I met 2 hours ago? No. That was not her. The girl I met on the streets was completely the different one. She was a little childish, a little immature, her eyes had a calmness, her cheeks looked pinkish when she pouted. And right now she didn't seem to be the one. This Zoya was threatening to fire me.

"What?", I muttered.

"You have ten seconds to decide. You what your job or not?", She looked at me