The Betrayal

I could hear the joyful laughs emitting a door away from me. They were loud and blatantly happy, making my weak heart hide further into its shell. I had worked hard to work with steel and develop a rigid layer, but all that took to break past my shield and tear me apart was a single vulnerability; my attached feelings.

I truly cared for Iyaz and tolerated his careless ways

to keep him happy. He would disappear for days, with people warning me about him having another family, but I simply listened to the rumours with

calm. I believed that his absence meant little because of him

always returning back. My fragile and naive heart had assumed

that him coming back was hinting towards his heart caring for

me. Trust makes you do that...it makes you pick up every single gesture and colour it with hope 6 and maybes.

I was so used to ignoring my husband's heartless ways, always turning my nose in the other direction when he claimed to be attending a business meeting, yet people had seen him in places hanging out with a young woman

and a child. He depicted all signs

of disloyalty, and I let him.

My helper, Pinky-a young caucasian girl-she would often scold me for my weak and forgiving ways. She was adamant in convincing me that what I felt was nothing but toxic harming.

I wasn't having any of it. What Pinky didn't get was that I believed my feelings...completely trusted Iyaz's promises.. His secrets meant nothing to me. They couldn't tear up what I presumed to be the most real experience of my life. Yet, I had never been proven so wrong, until now.

Deciding to, for the first time in my life, follow my husband to one of his business meetings, park my car a street away from his, watch him enter a house where a child called him father and a woman (who used to work at his office)

was referred as his wife, stand outside that house's window and just stare at how Iyaz was treating his son with so much adoration...stuffing his arms with gifts, I was struck thunderously

by reality.

My hopes and dreams had so badly been crushed.

And suddenly, I was lost,

spluttering between what I had always assumed and what was

real. The harsh face of reality had literally made me feel suffocated.

The happy laughs were too real to

be faked. Only a strong emotion

could make one laugh like that.

Thus, rushing away from the house, I ran under the thundering sky and collapsed ona bench that was placed a few blocks away from the house. Strong wind was doing a good job in camouflaging

my tears and making me shiver with emotions. I deserved all the pain for being so foolish, for being so naive.

While hating myself in an empty street, I heard low shouts of my name floating over the pondering rain. Soon, the shouts seemed to grow anxious and louder as they neared me, and I finally managed to make out the silhouette behind the noises. It was Pinky.

Fuming, she neared me with anger and increased her phase

at my sight. Her fragile ways were making it hard for her fight against the wind and run. Quickly engulfing me in a warm hug, she then moved away and scolded.

"Are you out of your mind? What were you thinking?" She scowled, wiping her face. Seldom

wind was making her shake. She seemed like a much-needed friend in this midst of pain.

"I have lost him, Pinky," I glumly spoke, staring at the closed shops right across the road. "I have

finally realized that he never

cared." I sniffed, feeling a pang as

I said it out loud. Speaking made

this epiphany more real. | 4 |

"There, there," she sympathised, sitting down next to me. "Tell me what happened?" She tilted her head towards me, making me turn and meet her eyes. The warmth in her gentle eyes and the familiar vibes of strength and pure concern emitting from her soul made me grow even more emotional and broken. Iyaz had left me feeling so lonely

"Pinky, he doesn't care," I sobbed, crying my heart out. "I chose to be patient, accepting and even kind with him, but that wasn't enough.

I wasn't enough," I emphasized

now pushing my face into the

palm of my hands. The sound

of the seemed to be making me

more antsy and emotional. 2 |

"Don't cry," she cooed. "It's his

loss. I always knew you were too

good for him. Now, it is time for

you to see that, too." She tried consoling, making me wince and

pull away from my palms | 2 |

Wiping both tears and rain away from my face with exaggerating gestures, I frowned.

"But that's where you are

wrong, Pinky. I have never been strong; always terrible with relationships, horrible with achievements. I am the one who has lost here-not him, and it pangs me how easily I had fooled myself into thinking otherwise,"

I confessed, lowering my gaze

while shifting away from her.

My thoughts were all mellow and depressed.

"You are right. Maybe you are not the one for him," she supplied, making my soul turn silent. I wanted her to agree, but having her agree to with my words made me feel shattered; I was such

a confused mess. "But, I don't think anything will ever be good enough for that selfish brat, and you need to find someone who truly values the treasure you are." She continued. I tilted my face back towards her.

"How?" I gave a completely helpless and broken look. I was literally so lost and down at the moment.

Intently holding on to my attention, she gently

reprimanded, "It's time to

stop hiding behind books and clouding your mind with negative presumptions, Mahira. The world has done enough by making you see things from its perspective. Now, it's time for you to take a stand up and show your strength. No need to keep fearing the what ifs. If the world doesn't classify

you as good enough, then who cares. Happiness doesn't believe

in good enough, and you need

to do just that; you need to ° experience being cherished."

"But I was cherished. Iyaz." I glumly countered, slumping my shoulders, "Iyaz was my hero, but he just doesn't see that."

"And he might never, but someone else will," she consoled, making me give her a tiny smile. She was trying, unlike most

people in my life.

"Thank you," I then softly spoke after a few minute, with my gaze turned back towards the shops ahead of us. Their presence was soothing for some reason.

"Now come on." she then

spoke, "It's time to go home

now. Any longer, and cold will

be our companion for days,"

she supplied, getting up. Her comment made me smile. This woman was a gem.

Now walking beside Pinky, I kept quiet as we both headed back towards our home.

A soothing cup of tea was what I desperately needed at the moment. My pain was new, and I was sure that a cup of tea was needed for being able to

bandage my wounds; I had never thaught that I would be the one to be experiencing the blues

of a heartbreak, but now that I

was defeated, I needed to find strength in me to fight-to stop

hiding and make a change.

No more vulnerable Mahira.

With a frightened heart. I was going to show the world that I was Strong, and that no selfish smiles could destroy me.

I was going to prove myself as a

warrior.

The world is one delusional place. There are some people who choose to manipulate us with

lies and deception, and those who lack the fight against these delusions endure the dust and dirt of pain. Sadly, I was one of the naive ones that had to learn it the hard way where she stood in this world.

Bound in an arrange-marriage by my parents, I had vowed to make my parents proud. My family belonged to a middle-class background. For us, money was a luxury and family was a wealth. We were always there for each other and hoped the very best for each other's futures, so when an extremely rich and accomplished business tycoon decided to choose me, my family was thrilled; it was so exciting to see a powerful billionaire be meant for their gem.

Luck was loved, especially when we all knew that I had faced some serious cases of hate in my life to convince anyone of any grace in my pain. In fact, my wedding was a sheer epitome of how grateful my parents and siblings were

and just how much they doted on me; I was literally showered with hugs.

Albeit during the few get-togethers of Iyaz's family in the primary stages of this arrangement, I had been made clear that it was mainly Iyaz's grandparent's decision to choose me for their grandson because Iyaz's grandfather was a very good friend of my late grandfather, I didn't let that deter me because I had grown up with the concept of adoring all who entered my life, and Iyaz, my gaze gleamed at his sight, my smile would widen by the single glimpse of him being happy, so I vowed to myself that I was not going to cause him any trouble. Also, one of my naive presumptions had made me believe that fairytales started with a single promise.

Hence, caught up in my delusions, I didn't not even protest when Iyaz ordered me to move overseas with him and let go of my home soil. Fully supportive, I had tolerated his ignorant ways, tried to familiarise myself with the alien-like atmosphere of Terama and worked hard to settle in the new chapter of my life.

Iyaz's suspicious ways had been accepted because I wanted to

keep him happy. I believed that sacrificing my self-esteem for our happiness was the only way of expressing my feelings, but I had failed to realize that no one could respect an obsessed, lost soul. Sincerity doesn't demand to lose

your own self.

Finally caught up with the harsh reality of life and aware of how some hearts worked, I finished drinking my cup of tea and curled up with my blanket, closing my eyes. My cooling fan seemed to be soothing in a weird way.

I was actually a stress eater, and this moment seemed like the best to start munching on a packet of salt-flavoured lays packet, but

the exhaustion earned from the mental pain and epiphany had made me too lazy to eat away my

tears.

Iyaz...wanted to scream at him, protest, cry but instead, I just messaged him to take care before switching off my phone. This was

a bitter-sweet goodbye, before

finally moving on and letting go ° of the pain

From tomorrow, I was going to

let go.

I was sitting on the kitchen counter when I saw him drive his Royce Rolls out of our driveway.

He had been

so caring and kind when having breakfast with me. He had

made morsels of food for me

and tenderly asked about my

plans for today. I could feel tears brimming, yet I hid them.

Pinky seemed to have no words for me, as she quietly made me pancakes and placed them on the empty plate in front of me.

"Ready?" she then broke the silence, once I had munched on my food.

"Yes," I solemnly nodded.

"T'll call my brother," And with that, Pinky walked into the living room, leaving me behind with my thoughts.

The plan, for today, was that Pinky Was golng to ask her brother to come and pick us up and have us leave this place, forever. No more compromises, no more heartbreaks. I was going to put this behind me. And fortunately, Pinky was going to tag along. I didn't want her to suffer with me, but she was firm about her decision of joining me; she had even called her family and arranged a room for me at her family house. I couldn't wait to meet her motherand sister.

Being grateful, I sat patiently as Pinky arranged for our 'getaway' arrangements; she was going

to have her brother talk to the mansion-door guards, so they wouldn't stop us from leaving.

I had decided to take nothing but

my clothes and my gold sets with

me. I didn't want to take them but knew money was needed until I attained a proper job. Also, I guess Iyaz owed me this.

"My brother will be here ina few minutes. Also, I have our suitcases placed in the garage, Pinky now stepped into the kitchen, "You ready?" She inquired.

"In a minute," I gave hera half-hearted smile and got up. Quickly scribbling on two pages of the kitchen's sticky notebook and pasting on the fridge, I swayed my eyes across my written message.

This was it.

Pinky seemed to want to give me this moment of my own.

Feeling nostalgic

Ever laugh out loud when Iyaz did often acted playful and joked around? He and I were happy. When available, Iyaz would make an effort to take me out

for lunch and dinners, make promises that he had fallen...that his world seemed bright around me. He was a good man, knowing pretty well how to treat me like a queen-respect me. Yet I wasn't the only lady in his life. Sigh!

No longer wanting to ponder

on these depressing thoughts, I walked out of my kitchen and stepped into the garage. Pinky was already standing there. Turning her gaze towards me, she gave me a comforting smile.

"I will be with you," she assured. "I know," I nodded.

Soon, our Car arrived and we were On our way-away from pain, away from the past.

This was going to be my new beginning.

Stepping out of his Royce Rolls, Iyaz took off his black ray bans and threw his car keys to the nervous-looking valet.

"Park it in my usual place,"

he ordered, without even glancing at the valet, and began heading inside his building.

His employees seemed to grow nervous and panicked at his sight. And soon, many of them were standing near the door, politely greeting him.

"Good morning, Sir," His manager, Jehan, spoke, now following after him, as he headed

"Morning," Iyaz responded dismissively, not even sparing the poor mana glance, but Jehan was used to that by now. His boss had always extremely callous and cold towards his employees. With banks filled with money and powerful fists, Ilyaz had always been a sheer example of a rich, cold billionaire. And sadly, that was why people tried to be friendly with him.

However, being cold towards

the world, he was caring and obsessed when it came to dealing with his sweetest second wife, Mahira, extremely protective if someone even decided to harm her. He was her shield, and

she was his world. And despite having a first wife, he knew

that his extremely innocent and soft-hearted Mahira had his black-heart captured. Mahira was

the one who had the power of crushing him, and he didn't mind

this defeat.

Mahira was so kind, loyal and caring. Just being in her presence softened his heart. He adored shielding and protecting her from the evils of this world, seeing

her eye him as a hero. However, he was strict about Mahira not knowing about his tainted world. His dark ways were no way business of hers, and he was stern about making sure she didn't interfere in his matters. She didn't need to mingle with such things. She was too soft-hearted and unharmed, and he wanted her to

stay that way.

Now ruffling his hair, he finally reached his office and began walking towards his chair.

"Course," Jehan nodded his head, scurrying out of the room. He knew better than to work lazily on Iyaz's commands. His boss was known to quickly lose his temper.

Grabbing his coffee cup from

the desk, Iyaz leaned against

his chair and began thinking of

what gift he was going to buy for Mahira, today. At the time of their marriage, she had been so quiet

and an introvert, but now, she

trusted him. It was sweet to be the ° hero of sucha kind soul.

Finishing his cup of coffee, Iyaz frowned as someone knocked on his door, followed by its opening.

"May I come in?" It was Nadia, his first wife, along with his son, Shahmeer.

Placing the cup down and folding his hands over his desk in boredom, Iyaz simply nodded. "You may."

"I was wondering if you would like to go and have lunch with us today?" Nadia smiled, as Shahmeer excitedly rushed towards him. Iyaz hugged the little boy with joy.

Nadia would often come to his building and ask him to join the family for lunch. It would be Shahmeer's request. She was only allowed here because Iyaz didn't really bother about her. He didn't bother about her whereabouts...but he made sure that Mahira stayed away from this place. He was often busy with some on-field work projects so didn't want her to be roaming around unattended in this workplace. He would

personally crush anyone in the mast tarturnus wav ever if busy with some on-field work

projects so didn't want her to

be roaming around unattended

in this workplace. He would personally crush anyone in the

most torturous way ever... if

they dared to make Mahira feel unwelcomed.

"Sure," he shrugged, picking his

son up and closing his laptop.

This woman irritated him, but he didn't mind spending some time

with Shahmeer.

Ever laugh out loud when Iyaz did often acted playful and joked around? He and I were happy. When available, Iyaz would make an effort to take me out

for lunch and dinners, make promises that he had fallen...that his world seemed bright around me. He was a good man, knowing pretty well how to treat me like a queen-respect me. Yet I wasn't the only lady in his life. Sigh!

No longer wanting to ponder

on these depressing thoughts, I walked out of my kitchen and stepped into the garage. Pinky was already standing there. Turning her gaze towards me, she gave me a comforting smile.

"I will be with you," she assured. "I know," I nodded.

Soon, our Car arrived and we were On our way-away from pain, away from the past.

This was going to be my new beginning.

Stepping out of his Royce Rolls, Iyaz took off his black ray bans and threw his car keys to the nervous-looking valet.

"Park it in my usual place,"

he ordered, without even glancing at the valet, and began heading inside his building.

His employees seemed to grow nervous and panicked at his sight. And soon, many of them were standing near the door, politely greeting him.

"Good morning, Sir," His manager, Jehan, spoke, now following after him, as he headed

"Morning," Iyaz responded dismissively, not even sparing the poor mana glance, but Jehan was used to that by now. His boss had always extremely callous and cold towards his employees. With banks filled with money and powerful fists, Ilyaz had always been a sheer example of a rich, cold billionaire. And sadly, that was why people tried to be friendly with him.

However, being cold towards

the world, he was caring and obsessed when it came to dealing with his sweetest second wife, Mahira, extremely protective if someone even decided to harm her. He was her shield, and

she was his world. And despite having a first wife, he knew

that his extremely innocent and soft-hearted Mahira had his black-heart captured. Mahira was

the one who had the power of crushing him, and he didn't mind

this defeat.

Mahira was so kind, loyal and caring. Just being in her presence softened his heart. He adored shielding and protecting her from the evils of this world, seeing

her eye him as a hero. However, he was strict about Mahira not knowing about his tainted world. His dark ways were no way business of hers, and he was stern about making sure she didn't interfere in his matters. She didn't need to mingle with such things. She was too soft-hearted and unharmed, and he wanted her to

stay that way.

Now ruffling his hair, he finally reached his office and began walking towards his chair.

"Course," Jehan nodded his head, scurrying out of the room. He knew better than to work lazily on Iyaz's commands. His boss was known to quickly lose his temper.

Grabbing his coffee cup from

the desk, Iyaz leaned against

his chair and began thinking of

what gift he was going to buy for Mahira, today. At the time of their marriage, she had been so quiet

and an introvert, but now, she

trusted him. It was sweet to be the ° hero of sucha kind soul.

Finishing his cup of coffee, Iyaz frowned as someone knocked on his door, followed by its opening.

"May I come in?" It was Nadia, his first wife, along with his son, Shahmeer.

Placing the cup down and folding his hands over his desk in boredom, Iyaz simply nodded. "You may."

"I was wondering if you would like to go and have lunch with us today?" Nadia smiled, as Shahmeer excitedly rushed towards him. Iyaz hugged the little boy with joy.

Nadia would often come to his building and ask him to join the family for lunch. It would be Shahmeer's request. She was only allowed here because Iyaz didn't really bother about her. He didn't bother about her whereabouts...but he made sure that Mahira stayed away from this place. He was often busy with some on-field work projects so didn't want her to be roaming around unattended in this workplace. He would

personally crush anyone in the mast tarturnus wav ever if busy with some on-field work

projects so didn't want her to

be roaming around unattended

in this workplace. He would personally crush anyone in the

most torturous way ever... if

they dared to make Mahira feel unwelcomed.

"Sure," he shrugged, picking his

son up and closing his laptop.

This woman irritated him, but he didn't mind spending some time

with Shahmeer.

There were times when I wished for knights on white horses, princes with noble hearts, but now, I was really grounded by the true reality of life. To live means to endure the pain and love the flaws. I had aimed for perfection, caring with a whole heart, yet that was the teenager in me dreaming. I should have hated those who disrespected me, loathed Iyaz for treating me like a fool. Falling for someone isn't about only liking the good side of their personality, it is about eyeing the vices of one and figuring out if they are worthy of being appreciated. Iyaz's ruthless attitude wasn't.

Now wiping away my seldom tears, I jolted forward as our car stopped in front of a huge farmhouse. Pinky was sitting in the passenger seat while I was sitting in the back seat.

Turning around, Pinky smiled at me. "Ma''am, we are here." She

joked. | 2

"Okay," I nodded.

After having Pink's brother unload our luggage, Pinky began to walk beside me as we headed towards her home. Hardly being able to knock because of the luggage we were carrving in our hands, we waited as the door finally opened and an elderly woman stepped out.

"Oh, Tanvir," She cooed, immediately engulfing Pinky into a hug and patting her shoulders fondly. Oh, so her real name was Tanvir. I would still call her Pinky, though.

"Mama! Guest here," she whined, dropping her luggage, even though she looked quite happy to see his mother.

"Course," Her mother smiled, stepping away from her

"Ahh," a sympathetic look suddenly dawned on her mother's face as she turned towards me. "There, there," her mother gave me an understanding look. "My daughter has told me all about your qualms. This house is as much yours as it is hers. You are welcomed to stay here as long as you want." She consoled, making

. : g me beam at her in gratitude.

"Thank you, Ma''am. I promise not to be a burden for long," I assured.

"No, no, my dear," the women, at once, shook her head, "You are no burden. In fact, call me Sana. Now come inside. The storm will be here any minute." She moved away from the door, making me nod and head inside.

This was going to be the start

of my new life. I hadn't told my parents about this new change in my life. I didn't want to worry about them. In fact, the sticky note I had left behind actually consisted of details of what to tell my parents. I didn't want my parents to ever feel guilty about forcing me into this marriage, and I never wanted to disappoint

them

After packing a couple of boxes

of Chinese platter for his girl back home , Iyaz got up, watching

as Nadia and Shahmeer began waving him goodbye.

"Lunch again, tomorrow?" Nadia smiled, tilting her head slightly towards him

"Maybe," he rolled his eyes, absently ruffling Shahmeer's hair who was eating nuggets. This was Iyaz's mood after spending time with his first family. He loved his son, tolerated Nadia, but it was

adorably-sweet Mahira whom he really bothered about, he felt unsettled about not having lunch with her, instead.

Thus, deciding to treat her with some delicious box of food, Iyaz cancelled all of his meetings

of the day, walked out of the restaurant, snatching his car keys from the valet, and settled down in his black Royce Rolls. He didn't even bother buckling his seat belt as he pressed his foot against the race and went speeding out of the parking. He was a fast driver.

Upon reaching his mansion and having his 'personal' security guards open the main gate,

he revved his car down his driveway, jamming the brakes right in front of the entrance. He was looking forward to seeing Mahira''s reaction to him bringing boxes full of Chinese food for her, no matter how much it confused and surprised her .

Stepping inside his mansion's threshold, Iyaz grew slightly alert at the tangible feel of emptiness in the air.

"Mahira" he called out sternly. "Where are you?" He started rushing around his mansion, slamming open all of the doors. She was nowhere to be seen.

What on earth!

Feeling confusion and frustrated anger grow, he now stepped

inside the empty kitchen and

halted as his sharp eyes caught

sight of a pink sticky paper

pasted on the kitchen's fridge

door. What the heck! Snatching

the paper off the fridge, he let his narrowed eyes sway over it.

Iam sorry for being a burden

all these years. I am grateful

for all you have done for me,

but you and I both know that

there is no point in me holding

on, so I am finally letting you

go. And in return, I just want

one thing: Don't let my parents know about this. I will be really thankful. ©)

Good Luck for a new beginning.

P.S: Don't worry about me.

I didn't take a taxi. Pink is

with me: her brother is our ° designated driver.

Upon reaching the end of the note, scorching fury made lyaz clench his fists. He was literally fumed with anger and jealousy at this new found information. So

fumed with anger and jealousy at this new found information. So his wife, who asked his permission before everything, had decided to leave because she claimed to think of a burden? What rubbish! She couldn't, and he would be darned if Pinky

and her brother tried to take her away.

Also, some of his fuming anger

was directed towards his security guards. Where the heck were they when Mahira had tried escaping! They needed to be fired! Yet, Iyaz knew that he couldn't fully blame them. It was under his order that none of his guards could dare

to approach or even question

Mahira.

Now cracking his knuckles, lyaz let a small smirk appear as he threw away the page. Sweet,

little Mahira was mistaken if she thought she could leave. He was going to snatch her even from

the edge of this world and punish those who convinced her to leave. He didn't know why his adorable doe just decided to pick up her stuff and leave, but she wasn't going to make that same mistake

again.