Chapter 3. Milady

"Hell no! I am not doing anything!" Rayan said sternly, walking around his house and Isra was following his trail.

"Come on, Rayan, for the sake of friendship-" She tried to persuade him but to no avail, he stopped and pointed his finger at her.

"I am not your friend," She gasped dramatically, "So mean, Rayan." She faked sadness.

"Don't act. And how dare you ask Sateesha. Does my consent have anything to do with anything or not?" He asked sternly, putting his hand in his trouser. Frowning at her.

"Come on, Rayan. If it has to be a girl, I would make Zain shave and pretend but I can't do this. Please, please, please."

"Shut up." He said, giving her a weird look at her absurd statement.

"What do you want in return?" She asked, still coming after him as he walked away.

"Nothing, just leave me alone." He said in irritation.

"Rayan, I don't want him to come to my place, just stop him." She said, grabbing his arm. He pulled his hand away and turned to her.

"Why are you coming after me? Go to Emraz bhai now, you always complain about me to him." He scorned, closing his arms at my chest.

"He is my boss. Of course, I can't do it. It would bring so many troubles." She reasoned, giving him puppy eyes to listen but he only looked away,

"Listen, Isra. I have no intention of helping you." He told her calmly.

"Rayan, you-" She was about to speak but Mrs Ahmed came.

"Why are you two kids bickering about?"

"Aunt look at him, He is not helping me out." Isra faked sadness, holding her shoulders. Rayan's mouth gaped at her acting.

"You are now doing this with Mama,"

"What happened?" Mrs Ahmed asked.

"Aunt, you know Farhan."

"Yeah, Haider's brother... What about him?" She asked, turning to Isra who looked down, mumbling in a dejected tone.

"He wants to come to my home to ask for my hand in marriage but I don't want it. At least, not with him so I asked Rayan to tell him he is my boyfriend. I even asked for Sateesha's permission but he is not helping me." Isra explained and then glared at Rayan, "Boss would surely help me but you know it can arouse misunderstanding at work and he is not helping me." Isra said, turning to Rayan.

"It's just for a day, Rayan. Why are you refusing?" Mrs Ahmed asked. "Because I didn't want it." He shrugged. "I also didn't want to become your dance partner in farewell but I did and you can't do this for me." She reasoned.

"That was years ago."

"Then repay this debt of years now. Isn't it Aunt?" She smiled, turning to her. "Come on, help her."

‘I don't want any false hope.’ He thought.

"Rayan please.." She looked at him innocently and finally defeated against her stubbornness towards him, he sighed.

"Fine.." He muttered.

"Yay!" She grinned, hugging Mrs Ahmed. "Okay, okay, you can rest assured now." She smiled, patting her head as Rayan left. "Why don't you want it anyways?" Mrs Ahmed asked.

"I just don't want him to come." She replied. "I see. By the way, Isra, do-" Mrs. Ahmed was about to ask if Emraz has a girl who likes him in his office but speaks of the devil he came from.

"Ah, Isra. Thanks for the flowers." He smiled. "You're welcome, Sir. I know you love lavenders." She smiled back. "I sure do, they freshen my mood. Anyways, What brings you here?" He asked.

"Ah, I need a favor from Rayan." She told him what happened, he chuckled, "Good luck for that." His gentle smile didn't fade as he looked at her. She tugged her hair behind her ears.

"Since you are here, why don't you have dinner with us?" He offered. "I would love but I need to go."

"Oh, I see."

"You.. gave him flowers?" Mrs. Ahmed asked, baffled. "Yeah, she does it a lot. She even makes yummy kheer." He praised her. Isra chuckled, "I learned from Zain."

"Great. What's for dinner, Mom?" Emraz asked, turning his face to her. "Um... Mutton Biryani." She replied vaguely.

"Your favorite, isn't it?" Isra asked, noticing how his face lit up in elation. "Yours too." He replied. "Sure."

"Then you must stay."

"I would love to but I have to leave. It's getting late." She told him nervously. "I see. Shall I drop you?"

"No, It's fine. I can go. I was just here to convince Rayan. I better get going." She said politely.

"Goodbye." She said, bidding goodbye to Emraz and Mrs Ahmed, and left.

After she left, Emraz noticed his Mother who zoned out for a moment, "What happened, Mom?" He asked, arching a brow perfectly.

"Huh?" Her thoughts were interrupted by his calling, She looked at him and shook her head and left after saying.

"No, nothing." Emraz also shrugged his shoulder and went to tease Rayan,

"So, one day Bf. How are you doing?" He asked, leaning on the wall, smirking at Rayan who's constantly abruptly faded and changed into a grimace. "Don't ask. She even complained to Mama."

He laughed a little, "I can see a glow on your face."

"What? No! I am not." Rayan said, touching his cheeks, closing his eyes, and inhaling deeply to clear his mind.

"Just kidding, make sure to act like one and not mock her." He told him and left. Rayan frowned but soon a smile adorned his face again, thinking happily, I don't think I would act.

The next day, Rayan told Hoor about it and she couldn't help but laugh at their childish effort. "Hoor, I am serious."

"Okay, okay. You're most welcome." She told him and cut the call. Rayan went to Isra's workplace and called her to come down as he was waiting for her in the parking lot and met him in an uninterested tone.

Exhilarated, Isra came, "Hey!" She chirped, Rayan only wore his glasses.

"Get inside.'' He told her sternly, sitting back. She frowned, "Is that-"

"Just come." Sighing, she mumbled a curse under her breath and looked down. Closing her arms at her chest as he drove off to Hoor's place. Isra was pissed the whole time, glancing at Rayan from time to time to know what he was thinking of doing while his unaffected form only drove the car.

"Hey, Rayan, what are you planning to do?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Whatever it is, you just play along." He told her.

"What else am I supposed to do anyways?" She muttered, shrugging her shoulders as they reached their destination.

He got out of the call and offered her his hand. Raising a brow at her, she took his hand and got out. "Just smile." He whispered.

She nodded and smiled brightly. Rayan's heart skipped a beat when she held his hand tightly. But putting up his facade he walked with her, not letting go of her hand.

"Oh my, Rayan. Come come." Hoor's Mother-in-law greeted them, motioning him to come inside. They both walked in, greeting everyone. "Sorry to disturb you, we were just passing by. I thought why not pay a visit." Rayan said politely. "Sure. Take a seat."

They both said down, Isra who looked around, talking to everyone sweetly while Rayan reflected his gallantry. "Isn't your work hour, Isra?" Farhan asked.

"Oh, it ended." Isra replied, "So I thought why don't we go on a long drive after it?" Rayan added. "But, don't you have a girlfriend?"

"Yeah, I do. She is sitting right beside me." He replied, smiling at Isra. Farhan's eyes widened in shock, "But, wasn't the blond from the wedding?" He asked hastily.

"Nope. She was just a friend. Isra is my girlfriend." He told him casually and Isra could see Farhan's hopes breaking apart. Making an apologetic face, she turned to Rayan.

They stayed for a while and talked and assured them about their 'love' and left.

"Take care, Bye!"

They walked outside where their car was, Rayan was still holding her hand. They stood near the car for a few seconds and Isra began to laugh.

"Ah, did you see his face? Finally, Thank you so much, Rayan." She grinned, soothing her loud laugh with a cute smile as he stared at her face only, an invisible smile plastered on his lips as well.

"Thanks... you can let go now." She said, trying to leave his hand. "I didn't hold it to let go." He told her, taking a step closer. Isra chuckled, "Nice compliment, now let go." Sighing, he let go of her hand and moved away.

"Let's go back." He told her, coming back to his rigid self.

They were coming back as Rayan asked, "Why don't you want to get married, Isra?"

"No, that's not it. I don't like him." She replied, looking out. "Do you like someone else?" His heart skipped a beat in fright of hearing a 'yes' but he gulped hard, tightening his grip, patiently waiting for her response.

"Not now. I didn't want to get in a relationship after Edgar cheated."

"So.. you're waiting for a proposal?" He asked. "I mean if it's the guy I like, so why not give it a try?" She shrugged, turning her face to him. "So what kind of guys do you like?"

"You know. Loving, caring, and most importantly open-minded. Not someone who will even consider us talking wrong and question my love and most importantly I don't want him to be over-possessive." She told him her tone changing to 'over-possessive' his lips formed a thin line, looking down, trying to ignore her emphasis.

"Anyways, leave me. Tell me, when are you going to meet Eshu's family?" She asked excitedly, changing the topic instantly. "I haven't thought about it, why not leave it to that time?" He replied nonchalantly.

"You're no fun." She mumbled. "Then keep your mouth shut." Clicking her tongue at him, she looked out.

Later they reached her home, "Good night." He smiled. She smiled back, getting out of the car and coming to his side, "Thank you for today." She said sincerely and moved away.

"Bye." She grinned waved at him and left as he watched her leave, lost in captivation his heart felt for her speaking to himself,

"Anything for you, Milady."