Chapter 1

Abrar

    "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 there anyone else in my room?", she asked, throwing me a blank look. 

    "Are you going out?", I asked her as I walked towards her and pull 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 step 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 and obviously, she too looked beautiful in the red salwar kameez.

   "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 interfere in my personal life? I'll 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's 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 wanna pressurize you", she said. I felt little good that she thought about me, she was concerned for me.

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

   "We can hire a maid", she beamed. 

   "No. Let it be. I'll 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'll 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 ready for the office in my room. I and Zoya had different rooms. We don't share one as we aren't husband-wife, 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 neatly 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 looks 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 this girl inform me 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 okay?", 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 look at him. "It's not unexpected for me. She owns your mind completely man"

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

   "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 sighed.

   "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 for 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 turn red as I look at him. His expression changed since he realized that he unknowingly spoke nonsense 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 blank look. I didn't turn 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.